Sis. Young is Called to Serve in the MMM: October 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

"Meet the Mormons!"

October 28, 2014

“Meet the Mormons”

Hi!

We saw “Meet the Mormons” with Sister Brooks, Sister Vang , Brother Brack and the Osborne’s! It was so fun! We went to dinner at McDonald’s because Sis. Brooks is playing monopoly. Then we went to the theatre. It was so exciting it felt like it was Christmas! We felt kind of weird there. Haha! It was strange being in a really normal place. “Meet the Mormons” was amazing. I liked the second part with the football team. When they did a fly over I thought of Bryan, the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. It gave me chills, hahaha! The last part about the missionary mom made me bawl. I wanted my mommmmmyyyy so bad!! Seeing SLC, the airport, Snowbird and my LCW canyon, I just couldn't help bawling. I said “those are my MOUNTAINS!” I miss those things; it's weird not seeing them. I’m lost without them.

A sweet lady was baptized Saturday! It was so great to watch that!! She is a mother of 4 kids. Her oldest is 9 and wants to be baptized. We hopefully will be able to teach her this week.

Oh wait! The police were called on us, hahahahahahah. We were at a less active member’s home and knocked. When the man came to the door and saw it was us, he literally slammed the door in my face! I was so ticked off. When I got into the car, I was yelling “that rude old man; he was so rude!” hahah. His neighbor apparently doesn't like Mormons either, and came over by the car and was taking our pictures, then wrote down our car license. He waited for the police and talked to them when they came. Can you believe it? Calling and talking to the police for no reason at all. Some people….. it is hilarious here. Anyways they all love to talk!

“I wanted to share with you some great counsel President Forbes sent to us below”.

President Forbes:

“This past weekend, Sister Forbes and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Elder Golden at the Rochester Stake conference. It was a wonderful experience to spend time with him and feel of his spirit. One of the question Sister Forbes asked him was – What should we be teaching the missionaries? His response was - Teach them to become disciples of the Savior Jesus Christ.
The primary purpose of our earthly existence is to prepare to meet God and inherit the blessings he has promised to his worthy children. The pattern for how we prepare was set by the Savior during his earthly ministry.
The following has been written about discipleship: “The word disciple comes from the Latin [meaning] a learner. A disciple of Christ is one who is learning to be like Christ—learning to think, to feel, and to act [like] he does” (Ensign, Sept. 1974, 81).
As “set-apart” ministers of the Savior, our lives reflect His example. May God bless each of you as you earnestly follow the Savior Jesus Christ.”

Week 1 Oct. 15-20, 2014 Report:

I am so happy to finally be in MMM!!! I have been waiting a long time to be here and to serve the people of Stillwater!!! One of our 6 Progressing Investigators is a cute older Brother who looks like Santa Claus in overalls!!!! As Sister Kitterman and I met with him this past week I was so impressed how he studied The Book of Mormon. He doesn't just read it, he studies it. He writes in the margins, asks a lot of questions and is very accepting of the spirit. I believe that this week we will invite him to be baptized, I feel confident that he is ready to make that promise with the Lord.

When you invited all the new missionaries to invite someone to be baptized in the first 24 hours we were in MMM, I was scared out of my mind!! I thought I wasn't ready to ask someone, but I knew that is what you had asked of me and what the Lord has essentially asked me to do. Therefore as Sister Kitterman and I went tracting, we had a prompting to go to an elderly woman's house. When we knocked I was really nervous. When she opened the door, Sister Kitterman started teaching about the restoration. I helped a little but I was really nervous. As it came time to invite this Sister to be baptized I said a prayer in my heart; and I extended the invitation. She politely declined but she did say she was going to read the Restoration pamphlet and pray about her experience! We are definitely going to go back there this next week! I pray that she will be home and will be open to the spirit.

I have learned a lot of things this week. The field is very different then the MTC!! I love Stillwater but I do miss My Utah Mountains!! I have learned that prayer is really the key in this work and without prayer we can't have the spirit to be with us. I know that my Father in Heaven is with me and that he hears my prayers and he answers them, all I have to do is kneel and listen.

Week 2 Oct. 21-27, 2014 Report:

Stillwater has been great this week! On Saturday our investigator was baptized!!! She is a mother of four kids. Her oldest daughter, who is 9 wants to get baptized! We will hopefully start teaching her this next week!!! Our other investigator is 12 years old. She committed to and is following the Word of Wisdom! It was really hard for her to give up coffee but she is doing it! We are hoping that she will commit to a baptismal date this upcoming week!!

Besides this sweet sister being baptized we had another miracle! We found a new investigator who is also a woman. She has been looking for a church that is for her. She has seen the Mormon commercials and felt really happy when she watched them. When we came to her house she let us in. We invited her to be baptized and she said she didn't want to commit to a specific date but she would be willing to be baptized!!! It's amazing how the Lord helps his missionaries find those who are preparing to hear the gospel. Heavenly Father truly amazes me!!!

Did I tell you Sister Travis taught me to crochet? Yeah, I am sending home something I made!! Happy Birthday Dad, Ammon and Mom past, present and future! I love you all; remember to pray often the Lord is always with you.

Love,

Sister Ashlee Young

Monday, October 20, 2014

"MMM-Minnesota Minneapolis Mission-1st area Stillwater, Minnesota"

My First area

"Stillwater Minnesota!!!!

"President &Sister Forbes"

October 20, 2014


"Mission Home in Bloomington to Stillwater"

Hey y'all!!!

My life has never been this crazy!!! Sorry that I didn't get to finish last week’s email, but I am working on it. Mom will you please send that one out next week? Ha, ha, oops....... I am scatter brained, but what's new?!? I am here, and I am safe and sound!!!

Tuesday October 14, 2014/ Wednesday October 15, 2014 (Last night in MTC to Airport).

I will put Tuesday "day" in last week’s letter but Tuesday night needs its own spot........so here it is. So after running around like a bunch of wild jabonies, Sister Turner and I got some laundry done and we went to a devotional. It was so spiritual and we felt all that good stuff. After, we actually got locked out of the building forgetting it was locked so we couldn't get back in, and then I am so grateful our Elders! They came out of the devotional then went to the bathroom and as they walked by where they could see the door we were at, we pounded on it and they looked and saw it was us and busted up laughing and came and let us in! We were like "you are an answer to our prayers!!!" Elder Esquivel and Elder Oliver saved us from literally kicking down that door and from freezing!!!

After that excitement, we had a district prayer. Then we went to the office to pick up Sister Turners package, it was HUGE! IT LOOKED LIKE THE SIZE OF A PERSON!!!! It was from her boyfriend....... he sent a "party in a box" seriously it was adorbs...... they are totally going to get married after their missions!!! We then got our laundry and headed to the laundry room which we broke the rules to do, (which is no bueno) we were in there until 1 am!!!! Sister Woolley gave us Martinellis and we decided to celebrate and drink it while we did laundry. But then, it just exploded all over my purse!!! Uggghhh!! How do you clean a leather purse? I am sending it home because it is sticky and smells like bad apples. We felt a little red "neckish" drinking the rest of it straight from the bottle in the MTC, it looked pretty dang funny....but it was a tasty treat! After laundry we ran to our room because it was so scary to be alone there that late at night.... but it wasn't that scary because it IS the MTC; a very safe place. Next, we attempted to pack our bags but we were so tired it was ridiculous, so we were slap happy... I have pictures but I forgot my cord today, so you will have to wait till next week... my bad... anyways we took showers and tried to sit on our bags and zip them....... it didn't work out. The very next thing we knew it was time to go and meet the elders to leave! We left at 2:45 because we were supposed to meet them at 3:00 am. It normally takes us 2 minutes to get to the bookstore from our residence, with our bags it took us 20 minutes! We were crying, laughing and yelling all at one time, we were so out of it! We didn't even have time to clean our residence....... so we left it with the light on, door open, and a disaster inside. I felt bad, but you know planes won't wait. The cleaning ladies would just have to roll their eyes at room 153.
We couldn't pull our heavy suitcases that wouldn't zip by ourselves; but there was no other option. We attempted to get the dumb things in the elevator; almost died doing that, then getting off the elevator was a big disaster too. Our bags tipped over and they were so heavy, we couldn't lift them. Our stuff began falling out, so naturally I started yelling "ELDERS COME HELP US!!!" We couldn't get our bags up the ramp, so we sat down and just started crying! We were growling, laughing and yelling for the Elders all at once. We made quite a scene..... we will be quite embarrassed when we look back on that day with Heavenly Father.....

We then had to go over sidewalk bumps and barely made it; next we came to rough pavers for the blind people, and started to bawl. It took us 20 flippin minutes to walk and the dumb Elders weren't there to take our bags and save us, so we were stuck. Finally, we got to the meeting point, collapsed on the ground only to have the Elders walk up with their suitcases. They were all happy, saying all cheery-like "Good morning sisters!".... We had no makeup on and our hair was disastrous!!! We were "cry laughing"..... it was madness! After we calmed down they asked us if we wanted a blessing.....Why yes; yes I did!! I really needed one. Elder Esquivel gave me a beautiful blessing. I wish I could remember what it said, but I do remember how I felt and that is what was really important! I will be eternally grateful to him for that...... it really set the tone for the rest of the day and my mission. Thanks Elder Esquivel!!!
Elder Lowe then gave Sister Turner a blessing and it was beautiful as well!! He is going to be a patriarch one day; I swear that kid is in tune with the Spirit. Then we had to go to the busses. Hurray! The Elders grabbed our stuff..... Elder Esquivel grabbed Sister Turners and my bags. He is a very kind and generous young man. The other Elders loaded the bags on the bus.

Sis. Turner and I did our makeup on the bus....We didn’t realize we had the Elders staring at us until it was like real quiet.....they were like what is that for and why do you do that? Does that hurt? Oh my you’re going to poke your eyeball!! We almost died laughing; guys are clueless when it comes to makeup!!!!!

We then got off the bus and went to the front runner station, where we had to load the dumb suitcases on the dumb train. Thanks again for the Elders; they are angels. Then I fell asleep for 20 minutes on the train. We got off the train in SLC, got on another train, to the airport. “I love my district”!!! I had to distribute my suitcase into theirs so I wouldn’t have to pay more! I have a lot of things in those bags!!!

We almost got through security and of course you guessed it, they stopped me and searched my bag! I accidentally brought my diet coke….. Dumb! Anyway, we decided to go eat because we were all so hungry. Naturally at 6 am we wanted Cafe Rio. Sooo, we all got Cafe Rio and a DIET COKE WITH ICE!!!!!!!! I WAS IN HEAVEN!!! We had all forgotten what real food tasted like!!!! Bless that restaurant; I love that place!!! After we ate, we went and all called home. It was crazy hearing your voices Mom and Dad!! There’s a lot I wish I could have said but the important thing is I LOVE YOU!!!! Then it was time to go to the plane. As I got on the plane I said, “See ya (801)” and then planes, trains and automobiles, we were off!!!

The flight attendants name was Maria. Long story short, she felt inspired to give us her contact info, yes!!!!! I gave her my card!! She was excited!! I was like yeah baby!!!!!!! That was fabulous`!!!!

Then we got off the plane, what the heck..…it is F L A T!!! BEAUTIFUL, but flat. There are lots of trees and colors, but no mountains. There are some hills, but they are smaller than Flat Iron Mesa……..ridiculousness!

We went to get our bags and were met by President and Sister Forbes!! Oh my heck, Sister Forbes is hilarious!!!! Seriously the cutest lady ever!!!President Forbes is so nice!

We “Sisters” were invited to ride with Pres. and Sis. Forbes. The Elders rode with the assistants in the van. The assistant’s names are Elder Wilson and Elder Hicken; I called him “Hicken Chicken”. When we arrived at the mission home we got to go meet all the office people. They were adorable! They showed me that I already HAD A BUNCH OF PACKAGES THERE!! Thanks, Mom! We went and made lunch with Sister Forbes…. it was delish. We were able to see the mission home which is very homey….. which seemed nice. Sister Forbes is just adorable.

We next watched a slideshow about MMM and then got all our papers, binders, cards and stuff together. We each met with President for a personal interview. Following our interviews, we met with Sister Forbes to talk about life and health etc. She is adorable.

BTW, the squirrels here look like they are on steroids! They are huge and they are EVERYWHERE! They also are all sorts of colors.

Not a lot of time left…. We have to go… my comp is Sister Kitterman; I have been assigned to Stillwater, Minnesota. It is a huge area. We see Sis. & Bro. Osborne a lot, they are cute. Sister Brooks and “Mama Monicale”, Sister Travis & Brother Brack, AKA “Santa in overalls”, Tica and Kaitlin. We have so much work here to be done. It is great; I love you all so much! We live in Brother and Sister Schwab’s basement where it is 62 degrees at all times of year, I am already frozen!!

Love you all,