Hola Mundo! Como esta? So this is my last P-Day at the MTC! I have such mixed feelings right now!!! I am super excited to get to Mexico! I am super nervous to get to Mexico! I am sad to leave my teachers! They are the BEST! But I think I am the most sad that I will not see my Elders and Hermanas everyday! I don't know what I will do when I only have one companion to be with everyday, or when I dont have the Elders to make me laugh because of all of there antics! Elders Barela and Harker love to make up songs. The two of them will beat box together and make up raps in Spanish :) they dont always make sense but then again raps in English dont always make sense :) So here is a quick update on what I have been up to. We have been teaching Carmen for a few weeks now. We were teaching her yesterday and extended an invitation to be baptized! She looked down, and for about 20 seconds we just sat there in silence.... it was the most excruciating 20 seconds of my life!!!... and then she looked up and said "Creo que sí.". "I believe that yes"... it is kind of awkward in english but it was the best think I could have heard in spanish coming from Carmen! Felipe is our other investigator. He sometimes drives me crazy because he is kind of stubborn :) but we love him anyways! Yesterday we taught him. I class we have been talking a lot about how we have the authority to teach with power because we have been called and set apart by go to teach his gospel, so Hermana Schaser and I decided that we really need to teach Felipe with power. It was such a cool experience! He had kept his commitment to go to church and said that it was a good experience. We invited him to be baptized, and although he did not say yes, we were able to better understand his concerns. We get to teach both Carmen and Felipe one more time on Saturday. This is so bitter sweet! So because it is so cold here we get to have gym in the "Bubbles"! They actually dont like us calling them that... they are the Domes, but Bubbles are much catchier. I dont have a picture but I will get one and send it next time. there are 3 of them and in one there is 2 basketball courts and 3 4-square courts (that is where my zone is all of the time! The elders are super competitive! they can put a spin on the ball that you would not believe unless you saw it!), in the second one there is a few basketball courts, but usually they set up footsal (is that how you spell it?) Hudson I know you would like that! From what I here it can get a bit physical in there, but no one seems to care that much. And in the last one there is a volleyball court. I have already mentioned that the Elders make up songs (especially Elder Harker) but it is getting to the point that I cant have a normal conversation with out having certain words trigger tunes in my head! I guess that is not that much different that English, except now it is in Spanish! For example: I can here the word "Por que" (why) or "Porque" (because) with out hearing Elder Barela singing "Porque, tu amor es importante en mi corazon." in a mariachi band style, but in a Kermit the Frog type of voice! or hearing Elder Harker singing "Como fue, como fue, como fue su dia?" (he found out after he made that song and got it stuck in everyone's heads that it is not grammatically correct, and that it should be "Como le fue".... he was kind of crushed, but he has sense decided that he does not care and still sings it all the time) It is awesome! I miss all of you sooooooo much and I love getting all of your letters! I dont know for sure how well mail is going to work in Mexico, but dont forget about me! I need your letters! I NEED YOUR PRAYERS! I love you all!!!!! Love, Hermana Ashcraft

4th letter

Hey Yall! Okay here is a quick update. Sorry it is so short, but hopefully the pictures will make up for that! I can not believe that we have less that 2 weeks here!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! I am super excited and SUPER nervous! I am going to miss my district so much! I wish I had more time to share all of the funny stories and things that happen! So last week I had a SUPER bad toothache, and it was decided that I will need a root canal. I had an appointment for Tuesday. Then on Saturday we were notified that our district would be flying to Las Vegas to get our visas. So my appointment has been changed to Monday. Pray for me please! I am not looking forward to it, but I guess I would rather have it done here than in Mexico! So on Tuesday we got up at 3:30am to meet the bus for the airport at 4:30am. It was so weird to be out in the real world! A nice lady on our flight offered to take our picture and send it to our moms. Mom did you get the picture? We were picked up in Las Vegas by Elder Greer (a service missionary) and then were held hostage at the UNLV Institute for about 5 hours... okay maybe it was more like 2 but it really felt longer! Then we went to the Mexican Consulate! It was so weird because we were so out of place! It was awesome!!!! We all went in and sat for a bit. Then we would get called up, get our finger prints taken, 2 pictures taken and then we were done and the next person would get in the chair. We were probably done in about an hour. So guess what!?!?!?! WE ALL HAVE OUR VISAS!!!!!!!!! It was one of the best sights I have ever seen! I did not want to give my passport back! It is such a relief that we will all be able to fly to Mexico together! I am really grateful for that! After that we went back to the institute for about an hour, and then we went back to the airport. We got back to the MTC around 9:00pm and were SOOOOO TIRED!!!!!!!!! But we celebrated getting our visas with sparkling cider (thanks mom, dad, and family for the package!) and it was awesome! The only bummer was that we missed the Tuesday night devotional and guess who the speaker was..... L. Tom Perry! Big bummer! Both Filipe and Carmen (my investigators) are progressing and I am really coming to love them! It is so cool how that happens! Okay cool story time! When I first got here all the Hermanas were talking about some of our quirks and I warned my Hermana that sometimes when I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I talk in my sleep. The other day Hermana Schaser goes "Hermana Ashcraft you were talking in your sleep last night..... IN SPANISH!!!!!!!!" WHAT!?!?!?!? How weirdly awesome is that?!?!?!?! Too bad I can remember my dream! Also Hermana Sumsion said that she thinks the MTC feels like you are in the protective bubble thing in Percy Jackson. That is probably the most accurate description I have heard! I love you all! I miss you all! But I am growing so much and I am so excited to go and teach the people of Monterrey! Love, Hermana Ashcraft