Meet Ashley
Age: 21
From: Panama City, Panama
Family: Ashley’s mother served a mission in Honduras; her stepdad is from California and served in Panama; her brother just got baptized, and she was able to come home in time to be there!
School: planning to attend BYU-I
Work: Before the mission, Ashley played the saxophone at restaurants and weddings
Hobbies: music, playing the saxophone, singing, playing volleyball, and playing at the park with her brother
LDS Mission: Scotland and Ireland, 2023-2024
What was the process like for you in deciding whether to serve an LDS mission or not?
I always wanted to serve a mission. My mom served a mission and was always sharing her experiences. There was a time where I was a bit flaky with the Church and had a lot of struggles. For about 2-3 years I was trying to find my way, and then I started going back to church. My mom encouraged me to go to church. I learned that true happiness comes from the gospel of Christ.
As I went back to church, I started feeling a desire again to serve a mission. I talked to my bishop about serving, but I also felt like I couldn’t serve a mission anymore. I prayed a lot about it, and it felt right to go on a mission. I viewed it as a way to make it up to God for lost time. I decided to serve, because I wanted to share with others the good feeling that I had lost and gotten back.
Also, I felt joy as I shared my testimony with my friend. I was scared to invite her to church, but one Sunday she showed up at church, because my mom had invited her! I had thought, “No way she’ll come,” but she did, and my friend got baptized. The missionaries in the ward were a good example to me as I worked with them and shared the gospel with my friends. I wanted to be a good example too, and along with my mother’s example, I decided to serve a mission.
What was hard about serving an LDS mission?
I was so excited for the mission! I had experiences with the missionaries before my mission, so I thought, “I got this!” However, I didn’t speak any English before my mission, and I got called to serve in the Scotland/Ireland Mission. The accent was tough for me at the England MTC. Then, my first area, Glasgow, it was the hardest accent ever! So English was my biggest challenge on the mission. It was frustrating at first, because I wanted to share my testimony and my experiences, and I couldn’t do it in English. I prayed and kept trying, and I feel like my first 6 months was a lesson in humility.
Although it was difficult, I feel like being sent to one of the hardest areas for the language during my first transfer helped me have a stronger foundation in the English language. It helped me speak with more confidence.
The Lord knows we are more capable of things than we realize. I have a strong testimony of the gift of tongues and the Spirit’s help in learning a language. In school, I was bad at English, but on the mission, I was able to learn English.
What did you love about your mission?
I loved getting to know people! Before my mission, I only had a few international friends, and now I have made friends from all over.
Also, it was amazing to see people who didn’t know God feel the Spirit for the first time. It was really beautiful and special to me to see people feel God’s love.
What did you learn about yourself and about God?
I learned that I can do hard things. At first, I felt weak, like I needed a stronger testimony, but those things weren’t true. Satan tries to attack you, but we have a loving God who listens to our prayers. Miracles, and little tender mercies, remind me that God is always there.
Your advice on: How to prepare for an LDS mission?
It doesn’t matter what Satan has to say, or what doubts he tries to plant in your mind, you are called to serve, and God knows you can do this. Preach My Gospel (an LDS guide on how to share the gospel) is so useful, and you can learn everything about being a missionary from it. You’ll learn more on the mission, too. I’m still learning things. You can also prepare spiritually, that’s most important. Also, as a missionary, remember your purpose. You’ll have amazing times, but it’s important to remember your purpose, sharing the gospel and serving people.
How to Be Confident as a Missionary
I had a lot of exchanges and many companions. I noticed that many sisters were worried about what other missionaries, the mission president, and members thought of them. I felt it sometimes, too. But our purpose isn’t to be perfect, we are human beings. We have different personalities and qualities that make us capable to do God’s work. When you are sent to a specific place at a specific time, God needs you there. Don’t worry about what others think of you, just strive to serve people.
Also, it’s okay if sometimes you don’t want to do things. It’s okay if you don’t want to wake up at 6:30am, we’re human, it’s natural. Sometimes, I felt that way. But I still got up and did it, and as we do hard things, gradually we’ll develop a desire to do them. [You don’t have to be perfect or want to do everything, you just need to keep trying and the Spirit will help you]. To learn more about being confident and combating perfectionism, read YOMO! You Only Mission Once: A Guide for Sister Missionaries, coming in spring of 2025.
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