November 9, 2015 “Prepare to take the Sacrament”

Area: Anoka Minnesota

Companion: Sister Kiersten Mortensen 

Hometown: Driggs, Idaho 

Snail Mail:                                         

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission

5931 West 96th Street

Bloomington, MN  55438-1715

Email: ashlee.young@myldsmail.net

Hey!!! 

 Here's a quick rundown of what happened this week :)

Monday: We cleaned, shopped, emailed and then went with Mazie to “Two Scoops”. It was kind of a bummer because all of our appointments fell through; but hey it was still a great day!

Tuesday:  Happy 24th Birthday Sister Mortensen!!! First, I made her some breakfast then I made her bed to surprise her! I also bought a birthday card without her knowing………that's kind of hard to do when you are with someone 24/7! We then went to District meeting where we had the best training on the sacrament and what it truly means to us. I couldn't help but think about our dear Bette as she

partook of the sacrament for the last time on her birthday. The Spirit that I was able to feel there was so strong. Partaking of the sacrament should always be a sacred and reverent time for us. I know that too many times in my life I have taken the sacrament for granted and that is not ok. I want to live each moment preparing myself to partake of that sacred ordinance. The Spirit is amazing. The Holy Ghost can speak to each of us individually.  l encourage all of you to listen to the Spirit and prepare yourself each day to partake of the sacrament. I promise it will strengthen your relationship with your Father in Heaven, Savior and those around you each day.

After District meeting we celebrated Elder Johnston’s and Sister Mortensen’s birthdays. I had made a birthday cake for Sister Mortensen and Elder Johnston. (even though his birthday was the first)  We put 19 candles on, then after singing to him we added 5 more for Sister M. It was so funny! She had a hard time blowing out all her candles! Then we gave Elder Johnston his present from us. It was a “beach in a bottle” because he loves the ocean and warm weather. It's really funny to see him get cold and grumpy! We took a jar with a label and wrote Beach in a Bottle.  Then we put some little sea creatures inside with sand. We also got him a card that was a scuba mask! He loved it! It was really funny watching him get all excited about the gift. So…. then for lunch we ate squirrel. Yes, you read that right.  SQUIRREL. The Elders killed a squirrel and decided to cook it for lunch. It smelled so weird..... They wrapped it in bacon, and tossed it in the oven at church. I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the Relief Society President

walking in and seeing a dead squirrel being cooked! So after it was done we all ate some. It was pretty good.  It tasted like greasy chicken! It also could have used some spices….. but hey, it was free meat! We then went to the Library. Then, to Sister B. and Pats for Birthday dinner! It was a lot of fun being together and celebrating her birthday! They are like my 60 year old bff's haha! We then went and saw Gladys and her girls! It was really fun! Then the Andover Elders Oldroyd and Dygert called us and said they needed us to come to an appointment with them to a woman's home named Denice. We had a lesson about the Book of Mormon, which was really great. She said she would be baptized if she knew it was true. It was really amazing to see this woman who has been through so many trials in her life light up so much to read the Book of Mormon and ask us “what is my next step?” We then finished off the night with hot chocolate and presents from home.

Wednesday: We went to ACBC as usual then the Bishops house. The Elders in Anoka, Johnston and Coon, got a call from the Mission office. Elder Coon was being ET'd to Lake Nokomis tomorrow. He has only been out 7 weeks so he was pretty sad to go. I told him that he would love the ward and I printed off a LN ward list and wrote notes by people to help him get around. Elder Johnston’s new companion would be coming from the airport, Elder Fabrizio. He had been out previously but had to go home because he tore his ACL. A funny thing is that he and Elder Johnston were best friends back home and they are both committed to play football for the U of U. So he was way pumped to see him. Sister Jacklin and I went on exchanges. We saw Peggy, Pat, and Sister B. She had previously served in Anoka.  We felt that it would be good to go see the people she had really connected with. We also raked with the Elders. It was really good.  After, we taught the Preach my Gospel class on the Book of Mormon. It was really good.

Saturday: We filled the font to be ready for Gladys's baptism, but she didn't show up. She ended up being too sick to come. L  I have been sick also. I have been coughing up who knows what and so has Sister Mortensen. Don't worry!!  I will get better.  We're going to be at Bette's funeral most of Saturday. Please pray that we can do that.  The Elders have been teasing me that I sound like I smoke 6 packs a day. It's super nice outside. Oh by the way, Elder Johnston was kicking rocks and he kicked so hard, his shoe flew off! It seriously went about 50 feet up in the air! It got stuck in a tree so we tried throwing things at it. It wasn't moving at all, so I suggested we pray. We said a prayer and then threw rocks at it again, this time it came down!! So, after that we said a thank you prayer.

 I love you all to the Moonisota and back! Have a great week in the 801!

Sister Aunt Ashlee Young