June 6th, 2017 Hi!!!

Hello everyone!!

This week definitely went by fast than last week, but it was still super long. Some of the highlights from this week included learning Khmer script and moving classrooms. Moving to a new classroom may not seem that cool, but we have been stuck in a super old classroom with a chalk board and an A/C unit that sounds like the shrills Buddy makes in Elf. We would put hymn books over the openings to mask the sounds but then we would get super hot, so it was a lose-lose situation. Now we are in a newer classroom with a white board, larger desks, and a nice view of the Provo Temple. Not many people know, but the Provo MTC has been undergoing some major construction, and they just opened the brand new buildings yesterday! I walked around them a few times this week and they are some of the prettiest rooms I have ever walked in. You can really feel of the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us missionaries and the work we are doing.

My favorite part of this week has been learning Khmer script, and how to read! We are still fresh since we only learned yesterday, but it has been super fun trying to read and write words. We also tried to sing "I am a Child of God" as a district from reading Khmer script and it was hilarious trying to read and sing words we had no idea how to say :) But I am completely amazed by how much piasaa Khmer (Cambodian language) my district and I have learned in just a short two weeks time!! I have a wonderful zone and we have so much fun together.

Something I have been trying to work on a lot this week is patience. Patience with myself, the language, my companion, my teachers, and my Heavenly Father. Being a missionary is hard, and even though I am just at the MTC, it is way harder than I could have ever imagined. But as I have read the Book of Mormon and prayed with all my heart to my Heavenly Father's help in learning the language and having more patience, I have found that my heart has been lifted during my low points and I find more happiness in the little things. I miss all of you but I know that what I am doing is right! I could not be happier learning how to be a missionary, and learning how to invite others to come closer to Jesus Christ!

Ciamuay seck?deisr>lan (with love [romanized]),

Sister Bashford

P.S. For some reason I can't get my photos to work so I will try to send them next week!!

5/28 Text: "This is Michelle Graf.  I ran into sis Bashford at the MTC while visiting my in laws here today!  Bashford grandparents were in my Tempe ward growing up!  We randomly started talking!  She says she's doing great!!  Just had dinner and P-day is Tuesday."

6/7 Text: "Hello Sister Bashford!  This is Ahser Cramer.   I was just at the MTC applying for a job and I ran into a missionary you might know!  She is doing great!"