Ting Bu Dong?

Dear Family,

         I have run out of titles for my emails so now I am just going to insert random Chinese words/phrases.  I hope you didn't press the refresh button for too long yesterday Mom. Haha. I laughed out loud when I found out the library would be closed yesterday. It was SO AMAZINGLY GOOD to talk with you all on Sunday!!!!! You guys crack me up. Dad in his weird shirt.  I love the Mitchell Family.  Did you know that?

          Well... I wish I had thought out what I wanted to say more because there is SOOOOOO much I wanted to tell you. Guess it will have to wait until next Christmas! This past week was amazing. I had a great Christmas and loved all of the fun gifts you sent me. (In fact I'm wearing the orange watch as we speak...) We had exchanges again this past week and we had some really cool experiences. I was with Sister Montgomery on Wednesday. She is from Washington, graduated in engineering from BYU, and went to CHINA! So we have a lot in common and a lot to laugh about. We made a lot of visits that day and had a LOT of success! We were able to finally meet with an old contact again and help him rake some leaves. (He broke his ankle) He is a sixty-year-old retired Biology teacher who rides dirt bikes. LOVE him! He showed us his back yard and we found out his wife is an artist. She has a room where she paints and their backyard is the coolest place ever. It reminds me of our house in Tucson with the cool waterfall, and then they have a gazebo and everything. It was really peaceful and we sat out there and taught him about the restoration and about God's love for us. We went tracting and ran into a sweet lady who was outside gardening. (She has a rose garden) In conversation it came up that gardening relaxes her. She likes to get down in the dirt and forget about everything else she has to do. Her husband has brain cancer and doesn't have much longer to live. I have really come to have a love of gardening since being out here. I love being outside and just breathing fresh air. It was just an amazing day and we met so many wonderful people. I found myself just being so thankful to be alive and to get to smile and smell the roses. This is called the California ROSEville mission for a reason. Everywhere you go there is a rose bush and I love it!

         Anyways... the BEST part of that day was going to visit a family in our ward where the husband is dying of brain cancer. As a missionary, I learn things every day that are saddening. That are hard. I never knew how much suffering was here, in America; amongst the people we see every day. But as we met with them, we had an opportunity to share a message about God’s plan. We read in 1 Nephi 11:17. We talked about God’s plan for us. We talked about how we might not understand everything that happens, but we KNOW that God loves us. This brother can hardly find the strength to sit up but he bore a testimony that I will never forget. He told us that all we can do is live day-by-day. Every moment we must put our faith in God because we never know what tomorrow holds. That is so true! It was such an example to me to see someone who is going through so much pain, have so much faith!

          Well my thoughts are scattered today and I don't have much time to write because we have an appointment. (A woman who had started coming back to church lately)  But I do love you.  I am so happy to be out serving a mission. There were a lot of things you said on the phone Sunday that I really needed to hear. I am so grateful for you and for all you teach me. Have an amazing week! 

Love,

Sista Mitchell 

Feliz Navidad!

Dear Family,

         It has been an EXCELLENT week! We worked hard and have been blessed because of it.  I received both of the packages you mentioned and all the presents are gathered around our cute little tree. I just about cracked up when I opened the fake fireplace. I hope you know we are probably the two "best-cared for" missionaries in the field! Spoiiiiled! 

          I love the Christmas season! There was ice on our car the other morning and I got all excited to scrape it off. Sister Garfield just rolls her eyes at me when I wander off onto the grass so I can hear it crunch underneath my feet.  It’s cold here! (But not as cold as Utah I guess...) Up here in the North it’s "mandarin season." We keep getting mandarins from everyone left and right. In fact, there is this crazy old guy that we met from doing service at the "Senior Life" center at the Methodist church. He is from Mexico and always asks me, "You staying out of trouble?" In which my response is always, "of cooouurse not." He nods approvingly and says, "Good, Good, Keep it that way." He thinks I speak fluent Spanish because he talks to me all the time. I will use what little I know and then just nod and smile the rest of the time. I've been teaching him Spanish hymns lately and he likes those. Anyways, we went to his house this week and he had us pick a bunch and take them home. We already had a fridge full but couldn't help ourselves because he really wanted to help us out. But man are they deeeeeelicious! The north is the only place where they grow this sweet this time of year. (You may or may not be receiving a sample in the mail soon....) All I eat is mandarins!

          As far as missionary work goes. Things have been looking up. I regret the time I spent these past couple weeks feeling...down? Because as I look at this area and the great responsibility I have, I'm excited! There are people out there waiting. Many of which we ran into this week! We stopped and took the time, talked with people we would normally "leave be." Bottom line; we had faith. I drove by a woman this week who looked pretty angry and upset. She was yelling at her neighbor or arguing about something. We were on our way home for lunch we had tracted a little longer than expected and were super hungry. I drove by the woman and continued driving. I thought about her. I thought about what might have made her angry and why she was so upset. I kept driving for a minute until eventually I turned the car around. I had no idea what I was going to say to her or why I even needed to talk to her. She could have chased me out of her yard! But she didn't. We talked for a long while and came to find out she hadn't celebrated Christmas in 13 years. (Not since her grandpa died) I asked her why. "There was nothing left to celebrate." We talked with her for a long time. It was amazing to me to see the pain that comes from not knowing why? Why sometimes the ones we love leave us before we are ready to let them go. We were able to teach her why that happens and where he went. I have been grateful everyday that I turned that car around. That woman needed to hear that her Heavenly Father loved her. She needed to hear that, even in this time of pain, there is something to celebrate. The birth of Jesus Christ. He takes away our pain! How much more need do we have to celebrate his life as we face, (what seems to be) insurmountable challenges.

          Okay well I won't take up too much more of your time but I wanted to just tell you how grateful I am that we live in a country where we celebrate Christmas. It is so amazing to watch people come together and serve one another. I thought a lot this week about why that is. Why is it, this time of year, that everyone’s nicer, a little more patient, a little less hurried? It all comes from putting Christ at the center of our lives. It’s impossible not to give a little more when you think of what our Savior, Jesus Christ, has given. It’s impossible not to be a little kinder when we think of the love he has freely shown for all of us. It’s impossible not to slow down to recognize someone in need when we study his life and see the many times he went out of his way to help those that were maimed or wandered from the path. In a talk by President Monson entitled "what is Christmas?" he said, "True happiness comes only by making others happy--the practical application of the Savior's doctrine of losing one's life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Spirit of Christ that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to do kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring 'peace on earth,' because it means--good will toward all men." 

          I know that to be SO true. This has been, hands down, the BEST Christmas of my entire life!!!!!!!! I get to celebrate Christmas by witnessing of him who we celebrate. I have enjoyed serving others. I am happy when they’re happy. It’s really indescribable the joy that comes from just LOVING people to their core. I love the people here in California. I love my family. Mom, Dad, Alicia, Aunts and Uncles, My Grandparents that I know are watching over me. I love you all. I am grateful for my friends that have treated me like family and have taught me and spent time with me. I am just soooo stinkin' grateful for EVERYTHING! BEST. LIFE. EVER! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and remember that I love you soooooooooooooooooooo much!

Love,

Sista Ashley Rose!  

NEW INVESTIGATOR!

Dear Family,

         Wow. I have to be, hands down, the most spoiled missionary on the planet!  The pumpkin cookies couldn't have come at a more perfect time and I just... I love you guys. Thanks so much for all you do for me and for all the love you send my way.

Overlooking Penryn & Loomis. (My area)    

         This week has been a busy one full of goals and plans to make this area better. We have, what other missionaries might deem to be a "dead area." The work is slow and we have very few investigators. It’s humbling to admit that the "work" is never slow but sometimes the missionaries are.  I have vowed to never be a "slow" missionary.  There are doors I could be knocking on and people I could be helping and inviting that I have not been. There is about to be some change here in Loomis first ward.

         Speaking of change...the whole time I have been out here we haven't actually picked up (or started teaching) any NEW investigators. We have picked up former investigators. (People that previously met with the missionaries) And we spend a LOT of our time with the Less-active members of the ward. But this week we picked up a BRAND NEW INVESTIGATOR!  She used to run an animal sanctuary here in town. She LOVES animals and is super funny. She is a great lady who is going through some really hard times.  She was at a member’s house for dinner when we shared a thought on centering our lives around Christ.  Heleman 5:12. She came to tears when we talked about the strength the gospel can bring into your life. Things may not always be easier, but you will be stronger as you live the gospel and follow Jesus Christ's example. I am SO excited to start teaching her this week! We also have been doing a lot of tracting lately. As I have mentioned before, it’s not my favorite thing, but it has given me a great opportunity to work hard and never make excuses. There is so much potential here that is not being reached and so many people that are suffering, not knowing there is a better place to be.

Sister Garfield and I picking grapefruit.    

          Times haven't been the easiest the past couple weeks. Now, don't get me wrong, when I say it hasn't been easy... I don't mean I'm not still having fun! Haha. Things have been turning up. Actually... this week. Man I am the luckiest person alive. This week Sister Adamson was selected to go to a specialized training. Which means she had to drive past Loomis to get there. She may or may not have stopped by on her way home, met Sister Garfield and spent a little time with us. I can't tell you the relief that came just seeing her.  It changed my perspective and my week. I am so blessed to have so many good friends!  Seriously!  I just keep running into these goldmine people. Vanessa, Jackie, Meredith, Cyd, Natalie, Montana, Sister Adamson... all gold. I can't even believe how blessed I've been to have these awesome people be a part of my life! The list just keeps growing.

Persimmon orchards. 

They are EVERYWHERE here in nor cal.

Have you ever heard of a persimmon?    

          This holiday season has been so awesome! The leaves on the trees are gorgeous and it’s FREEZING outside! I looooooooove it! All is well here in Loomis and I am learning lots. I hope that Christmas preparations go well for all of you guys and that Alicia isn't eating too many of those chocolates from Sees!  Haha. Oh!  And Sister Garfield and I were wondering if you could send the pumpkin roll recipe? Thanks so much for all you do and have an awesome week!

Love,

Sister Ashley Mitchell

Thanks For The Package!

Dear Family,

         WOW MOM! Seriously!?!?!?! I can't even tell you how big I grinned when I put that CD in this morning. So classic! I forget all the little traditions we have until we are away from them. I was even trying to sing that "Christmas in Korea and something about CNN" to Sister Adamson a few weeks ago and kicking myself because I couldn't remember the words! So thanks! You even found a nativity set JUST like the one we have at home!??!!? How did you do that!?!?! It’s amazing! Thank you so much for finding a way to include me in your Christmas and make me still feel apart of things. As far as needing a coat goes... I'm all good. I bought one in China before I came out and even have my rain jacket as well so I'm all set. Thank you sooooo much for all the clothes you've been sending too. The skirt worked, I liked the orangeish shirt and the black sweater. Some of the sweaters are a little too big and baggy (grey pearl one) but there are some other Sisters here that were drooling over them so I passed them along. I hope that’s okay. I could send them back if you like. I’m more about the plainish sweaters. Anyways. I hope that answered all the questions you had. I know I always forget to answer them, and you are so kind to constantly remind.  I'm sorry! I'll do better! 

          Well this week I enjoyed reading the conversion stories that Dad sent me. Seriously?!?! Why have I not seen those before?!?! Amazing. What makes it even more real is to see your name in there dad. Elder Mitchell. Its amazing to me the things people will do through faith when they are truly converted. I especially love the part when Lisa said something like..."I didn't want to even go down stairs. I told them I wasn’t worth the wait, hoping that the missionaries would eventually leave. But when I walked down the stairs, I made eye contact with one of them and I felt something that I had never felt before." That’s paraphrasing but it stood out to me so much that these missionaries were living their lives in a way that the spirit could speak through them. They didn't say a word. All it took was one look for this woman to be able to recognize and feel the Spirit. Powerful! You are such a good example to me Dad and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your advice. Sometimes I wonder how you know what I'm thinking or what I need to learn that week because I never really have time to write it all in this email. I am so grateful to have parents that are returned missionaries! 

          I took Sister Garfield tracting this week. It’s something I don't have much experience with. It was a cold windy day and the roads back in our Penryn area are really long and windy and there are long distances in between houses. I sat in the car gathering all the materials I would need and it took me a few minutes before I could psyche myself up enough to actually open the door. Almost like right before you pull the wax strip off of your leg? Haha. You know what I'm talking about right Dad? Well. I did it. And I have got to do it more! It’s so weird to be the one... in charge of our day. We obviously decide together, as a companionship, what to do that day. But seeing as Sister Garfield has only been here two weeks... it’s kind of my job to set the standard as far as what is expected.  Anyways... the point of the story is that we found someone to teach! Other areas in the mission are booming with investigators. Ours... not so much. We have one.  And I don't want to take Sis. Garfield to see her just yet because...her lessons are.... a little harder to teach. I love her to death! She is a crack up. But she is wildly sarcastic and I don't want Sista G to take it personally, you know?  So... this was HUGE! We tracted out this man. He is an older guy who has two dragons outside his door, and loves everything oriental. We will go by to teach him this week! I AM SO EXCITED! I am trying to take your advice Dad. To take this opportunity to do more. To do this work in the way Heavenly Father would have it be done. I know there are many things Sister Adamson and I did that were good, but we have been given the opportunity to do BETTER, and I'm taking it.  It’s amazing what can happen when we are reliant on Heavenly Father. When we do all that is asked of us and have the faith that there will be success... There will be.

          I love you all so much! Again... if there were questions I didn't answer, please ask again. It’s hard to keep track. Maybe highlight them. Or just drive out here to Loomis and come tape it to my windshield.... Haha. I love you! Have a great week! I love reading all the little notes from people in the ward. I miss them! Xie Xie!

Love,

Sista Mitchell