Happy Birthday to Me

WOOOOW this week has been awesome!!! I honestly don't know how much

I'll be able to write before I have to get off, but I'm gonna try to

relate everything I can!!!

I want to say a big Thank You to Marcilia. None of you know her, but

she's a lady in our ward that really helped me out this week. If you

take a look at the last photo, that's here. She's the mother of

Vinicius, my very first baptism in the mission field. We had the

tremendous honor to have lunch with her this past Sunday, on my

birthday. She made a truly fantastic, big feijoada feast for us. We

ate a ton, and it was delicious! She also prepared a cake, complete

with candles for my birthday yesterday. She and her family and my

companion sang Happy Birthday to me and I felt truly blessed to be

right here right now with these people. Afterwards, we were talking

about things a little, and she said she really wanted my to feel at

home on my birthday, especially since I was so long from my family and

my home in Texas. I couldn't help but start to cry a little. It was

super touching, to know that this lady, who lives in a little one room

house down an alleyway, who struggles for money would do all this for

me. It was an act of total and complete charity and I thank her very

much for making my birthday spectacular, despite being long from home.

This week was truly phenomenol though. I had the opportunity to have

my interview with my mission president this past week. It was awesome

to be with him and hear some of his wisdom and get help. I also

participated in my first zone conference. I learned a TON and am

excited to work harder, smarter, and help more people! It's been a

little rough will no baptisms this week, but we're prepared and

determined! I know just how true this Gospel is and how much it can

bless the lives of everyone! I wish everyone a great week! Work hard

and have fun!

Love,

Elder Ashford