March 23, 2015, "WOOHOO!!"

"This is Summer! She turned 22 on her BAPTISM/Birthday!"
People are shorter here in Minn., "I FEEL TALL!!"

Companion: Sister Hunt

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Snail Mail:

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission

5931 West 96th Street

Bloomington, MN  55438-1715

"WOOHOO!!"

Hey Everyone,  

            I am so excited for Conference.  During October's General Conference I was in the MTC!!! It was the most wonderful thing I had ever experienced!!! I feel like a kid on Christmas waiting for conference this spring!! I am so grateful that we have modern technology available so that we can see it here in Minnesota :)

"Selfie, filling the font!!"

          This week has been amazing!!! Summer our wonderful investigator got baptized!!!! She is the first baptism that I have been able to be a part of in my mission!! It was truly a spiritual experience to see someone who I have been teaching for the past few months decide to make such a wonderful promise with our Father in Heaven. The Spirit truly touches those that are prepared to hear the gospel!!!! I am so grateful to be a missionary here in Minnesota and to be able to see the Holy Ghost touch these sweet people’s hearts!!! 

Monday, March 16: The exterminator came and got things taken care of! Thank heavens!!!! So after we emailed we went shopping. Next, we went to the global market which is a really cool place with different stuff from all over the globe...hence the name. Anyways, we got some really cool dresses that a lot of people wear here. They are so comfy!!! We call them our ‘African dresses’ but I think they were made in India..... We taught the girls tonight. That was lots of fun, as usual!

"Happy st. Patricks Day!"

Tuesday March 17: St. Patrick’s Day! I realized I don't own any green.... so I borrowed Sister Hunt’s green dress. She has a lot of green.... anyways I didn't get pinched. We went to Sister Edgington’s and helped her organize her kitchen. Oh my gosh, she is the best cook! I love Brazilian food.  I especially like beans, rice and meat. I don't know what she does to it to make it different, but it is so good!  We actually stirred plantains into our beans and rice, and it tasted really good! She also had me try some Farinha Lactea which is like Cream of Wheat, only better! Bryan you had good food on your mish!!!!! Desirae and the kiddos were next.  We had dinner with her, also Elders Ford and Fuller. It was so nice outside, so we played with the kiddos for a little bit. The Elders played soccer with the boys and we played with the little girls. It was so much fun. Anastasia, who is 4, loves the Elders. She wanted to say the opening prayer and blessed the Elders like 6 times ha,ha so cute! Then Tori said the closing prayer who is 2 which is just 

adorbs, and Anastasia kept saying remember to bless the Elders!!!! Little kids are so flippin cute!!!! We also taught Hope, who is preparing for Baptism!!!! We are so excited!!!!!

Cute Ann Pettit sent me a leprechaun letter with cuteness in it!!!!

Wednesday March 18:  Nothing too exciting happened. We just taught some of our peeps, and wore our new African dresses.  We got like a billion compliments, haha these things are great!!!! 

"Blazin Challenge-Elder Youngberg & Elder Ford"

Thursday March 19: Thursdays are when we have district meeting and bishops meeting. Always fun stuff, long, but fun. I gave the White Handbook Training during district meeting. I did it on relationships with others. I focused on ‘your relationship with your companion’. I thought it would be a good one since we are all loving our companionships that we are with :) Sis Hunt is just so amazing! Then we went to lunch at B-dubs, of course....  Elder Ford and Elder Youngberg did the Blazin' Challenge!!! It's where you have to eat 12 of their hottest temperature spicy wings in 6 minutes with no drink or napkin. If they make it they would get a shirt. It looked miserable to do. They had to sign a waiver before they did it!!!! Elder Youngberg was close but didn't finish, but Elder Ford finished and got a shirt!  Their faces were so red and puffy from the sauce!!!! That stuff was hot!!! The B-Dubs gave them a glass of milk for free and water, but they finished that in like 10 seconds. So without them knowing, I bought them another glass of milk. They were dying because their mouths were on fire.... kinda sad but at the same time it was really funny! The Elders and Brother Shaffer came to our apartment building and helped get rid of some furniture. That was nice to get that out of the apartment!

Friday, March 20!!!!: We went to ‘Feed my Starving Children’ today as a Zone. After we all went to Chipotle. It was funny seeing eight missionary cars with bike racks following each other. It looked so cool! A lady we passed kept flipping her head like what the???!!! Ha,ha!! After that we went to FILL THE FONT for Summer's Baptism!!!!! It was so cool!!!!! I loved the sound of water running in the Church!!!! I was so excited ahhh!!!

      A recent convert named Roger from the other ward who takes really good care of missionaries bought us some really good authentic Mexican food from Papitos!!! Then, Summer came and game on!!!!! We started taking pictures and it was so great to see how happy she was!!!! When everyone came her little sisters skyped Sister Hulet, Sister Smith and Sister Noe in who also taught her. It was fun to see Sis. Hulet; kinda weird though!  Sister Dearden gave a beautiful talk on baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then Bishop Chrysler baptized Summer.It was such an amazing thing to see someone who I have been teaching for so long, enter into the waters of baptism!!!!! I teared up. Then we watched a Mormon message called ‘Earthly Father, Heavenly Father’ while she was getting dressed. We then shared our testimonies on being a child of God. Summer then shared a poem she wrote for her baptism. It was so cool!!!! Also it was her 22nd birthday, so it was double the fun!!!

Saturday March 21: We and the North Elders, Marvin and Jackson went to Sister Edgingtons to help clean her attic. She fed us breakfast and then we helped grab stuff since missionaries aren't allowed to climb ladders. She was up there handing stuff down to us, so that was good exercise to go up and down her stairs to the garage and attic opening. We then met up with Summer and went to the Stacey’s for lunch. They are just the best people ever!!!!! Then we taught Annika. After we taught her, Mary her mom wanted to take us out to TJ's Pizza which is a yummy hole in the wall place here in Edina. We got gluten free pizza, and had a great chat about the gospel!!!! Mary then bought me a 32 oz. Diet Coke for the road!  haha she is so nice!!!!

"Birthday Celebration for the Elders"

Sunday March 22: Summer got confirmed today by President Stacey!!!! It was such a cool experience!!!!!! We typed her confirmation up for her so she could have a copy and remember it forever!!!!! Today is Elder Fuller's 20th Birthday, so we made brownies last night and bought ice cream. At 4 we had a party with all the Elders. He was bashful about it being his birthday, but it was fun to celebrate anyways! He loves Elsa and Rapunzel, so we made him a picture frame with them in it haha, he loved it!!! We also got Elder Ford a T- Swift picture because he loves her. It was pretty funny. We told them not to be distracted by them!!!! We went to Sis. K's house for dinner with her twin girls! They are too cute! Then it started snowing hard core, which is a bummer. We ended by going to Sister Hill's and watching the Lamb of God with her. 

"Sister Twins!"  Love from Sister Forbes

We have had an amazing week, busy and amazing!!!!

Love you to the Moonisota and Back!

"Edina"

Sister Ashlee Young

"Edina!"

"African Dresses!!"

March 16, 2015, “Bugs will bite, but it won’t stop us from doing what is Right!!”

"Summer's Baptismal Interview!"

Companion: Sister Hunt

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Snail Mail:

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission

5931 West 96th Street

Bloomington, MN  55438-1715

Hey Everyone,  

      The Lord truly has his hand in our lives; especially here in the Lake Nokomis Ward!!!! I am so grateful for the investigators he has blessed us with. He has led us to 4 of his precious daughters who are ready to be baptized and have set a date!!!! I am so excited…… I can't wait to help his daughter’s progress towards entering into the waters of baptism!!! I know that Heavenly father truly blesses his missionaries, and though I am not perfect I continue to strive to be the best missionary I can be for my Father in Heaven. I am grateful for this gospel, for prayer, and for the faith that the people here in Minnesota have to follow in the Saviors footsteps.

"Sarah & Annika, with me & Sister Hunt"

     So, we may or may not have seen a bed bug in our apartment and we may or may not have an exterminator in our apartment killing them right now.... Don't have a cow Mom…… I won't bring any home. But, we saw one last week and killed it.  I was flipping out; called the housing Elder in the MMM Elder Thompson and he got right on it. The landlord called the exterminator and he came the next day. They said they found some bed bugs but they were in the early stages of life and should be easier to kill. So today we had to get up at 5 am so that they could heat our apartment up to 140 deg. F' and spray to kill the little buggers. So rewinding to a few days ago, the Elders had to come to our apartment to move all of our furniture into the middle of the room, so that the pest people can do their job. So, we kept the rule of 3! Don't worry…… but it was soo funny seeing Elders in our apartment, haha! So anyways, we have slept on the floor the past few nights and man is that rough when you are a missionary!!!!! Last night when we got home we had to go through our apartment and fill boxes with stuff and label it; “Do Not Heat.” We stayed up cleaning until 1:15 am!!!! I don't remember the last time I stayed up that late. Then we got up at 5am to let the guy in!!!!! We were so dead to the world!!!!! So we have to leave the apartment obviously...so we went and got breakfast at McDonalds, drove to the church and attempted to sleep on the couch.... now my neck hurts and we were both freezing!!!! So we gave up on that and here I am..... The Elders came to the church and just laughed at us because we had to put stuff in our car so it looks like we live out of our car. We told them how late/early we were up, we have ZERO makeup and our hair is well….. you've seen me in the am... they were cracking up with how tired we are!!!!!! So yeah, bed bugs “bite!” lol

"Original Arbys!"

       The Elders called us the other night. We were talking and said goodnight; and they were like “Don't let the bed bugs bite!!!” ooohhhhhh!!!!  I could’ve slapped them!!!! But, it was funny!! We saw the Lake Nokomis Elders a lot this week. We had lunch with them at Panda and that was fun. Last Monday the Saratov Approach was soooo good. It was weird watching a movie like that on your mission. I could understand how the Elders felt love for the person who wanted to kill them. It is kind of a bizarre feeling, but after I was so appreciative for my companion. Let me tell ya those Elders had the longest comp inventory ever!!! hahaha I am grateful; for Sister Hunt!  She’s da best!

     We had a miracle this week. Our Stake youth performed ‘Journey with Joseph’. It was a play about Joseph Smith.  It was so good.  We got to go and Heavenly Father blessed us immensely there. TWO of our ‘gators were IN the play and both set a date to be baptized! Summer is getting baptized this week and then ANNIKA’S MOM WANTS to get baptized too. We taught her yesterday.  She felt the Spirit and cried. She wants to learn more #thechurchistrue.

"Journey with Joesph, Summer, Hope & Shania"

      SO, YOU READ IT RIGHT….. WE HAVE 4 BAPTISMAL DATES!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE ON FIRE RIGHT NOW!!! Lake Noknomis is the best!!! President’s fireside was last night and I saw my MTC District there.  It was so fun to see my friends!!!!!! Sarah Edgington came and she is the sweetest thing ever!!!! Well, can you post Sister Hunts post too from this week? Hers will have more details and she said it would be okay to add it under mine :)

Love you all to the “Moonisota” and back!!

Seester Ashlee Young

"Cool Plane - for Bryan!"

"Tiffani"

"Package from Sister Hulet!"

"Annika & Sarah with us"

  

"Zone P-day, an apostate missionary....hahaha"

"Journey with Joesph"

"Lake Harriett"

"Reunited with my MTC District!"

"Elders in our apartment...Bed bugs!!

"Our Apartment - to be heated to 140 degrees!"

"Packed up and out and centered in the room"

"Zone P-day, the evolution of a Missionary!!"

"Zone Leaders, Elder Fuller Byme & Elder Ford" 

"How the Elders parked (crazy!)...my car is the gold one!"

"My eyes look scary!!  hahaha!"

"Elders at our apartment, helping clear it for exterminator!"

March 9, 2015 "Obedience - Walking the Straight & Narrow!"

"Walking the Plank"
or as a missionary would say:
"Walking the Straight & Narrow!"

Companion: Sister Hunt

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona 

Snail Mail:

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission

5931 West 96th Street

Bloomington, MN  55438-1715

Dear Family & Friends,

      This week Pres. Forbes sent us an inspirational email on obedience. I know that as I have strived to be exactly obedient that my mission has been blessed. I know that the Savior set the perfect example for us to follow Him and to be the best missionaries we can possibly be. I know I have a long way to go but I am getting closer each and every day. I pray that I can be as exactly obedient as possible while I am on my mission. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve my Heavenly Father's precious children here in Minnesota. I want to do everything I can to help them come closer to Him. I understand that I can only do that when I am being the best I can be. This week has been full of fun things. I am so grateful that I have been able to come on my mission and have fun while doing the Lord's work!  It is work, it's exhausting and sometimes difficult but it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done!  I am so grateful to have a wonderful companion like Sister Hunt to make me laugh every day and feel the Spirit while doing it. I have honestly been so blessed to have such wonderful companions! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has allowed me to serve in the best mission, with the best President, best areas, and best companions ever!!! I am truly blessed.

"At Church March 15, 2015"

     The highlight for lessons this week would have to be our 12 year old investigator. She is so prep

ared to be baptized on the 20th! We taught her The Gospel of Jesus Christ this week. The Spirit was so strong!  Sister Showley came with us to teach her. She was able to share her testimony with her. Members honestly make such a huge difference in lessons!  When I return from my mission I am going to go teaching with the missionaries, because having that 3rd witness brings such a strong spirit into the lesson. It also totally helps our ‘gators connect with the ward even better!

     So I don't have a ton more time today because it is ZONE P-DAY BABY!!!!!! We will be watching “The Saratov Approach” as a Zone. Then we are doing a selfie scavenger hunt and eating of course! Then later we will be going to see the “girlies!” You asked for more info. so to finish, I am going to give you the highlights from the past week.

Here we go!

"District Lunch"

-Cute Ann Pettit sent a “heart attack” in the mail with scriptures! What a doll! 

-We had dinner with Sister Stacey. She is soo cute. She is going to be our mission mom; she is da best!

-We saw "mom" with all of the Elders. She fed all of us a 2nd dinner….. we were so sick after!

-We went to “Feed my Starving Children” again and our table packed 45 boxes, woot woot!!

-Sister Callicutt fed all 6 of the Lake Nokomis missionary’s dinner. It was super fun!

-Visited the Walkers and had cornashin for dinner! A small chicken like bird haha !!

-Went to B-Dubs of course as a district

-We ate at Sister Wortleys home with her kiddos

"Sister Hunt makes me feel the Spirit!"

-We taught the girlies

-We visited the psych ward with the North Elders... it was crazy!  lol get it;)  I thought they were going to lock me in there! It honestly was creepy. We had to go through a lot of security things. (I kept thinking about Taylor!)

-We had dinner with Des and the Chidlets

-We cleaned Sister Page’s house and then she took us to Taco Bell

-I woke up at 5 am on “spring forward” but it really felt like 4am on Sunday that was brutal.

- FHE with Sister Kraus and her twins….. that was fun

-We visited Sister Stacey at her house for a bit about some YW stuff :) She is adorbs!!

-We cleaned our apartment really well since we are moving at the end of the month

- Did I mention we cooked a lot this week, #sickofdoingdishes

-On Sunday, we invited and they all showed!  7 investigators to church!!!!!!

-The temperature was 43 outside so we didn't wear our coats, had the windows down and enjoyed the warm weather :)

Well, I have to go.  I love you both to the MOONISOTA AND BACK!!! TALK TO YOU NEXT WEEK!

Love ya!!!

Seester Ashlee Young

SNAIL MAIL ME, MUAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

"Lake Minnihaha Falls-Frozen"

"Lake Harriett"

"Bro. & Sis. Walker are the cutest!"

"Minnihaha Falls"

Cold....

Ya-hoo!!

"Ducky"

"Kissed a Seal or Sealed with a Kiss!"

"The Twin Cities"

"The Girls"

"A Bit Blustery"

March 2, 2015 "Adventures & Miracles in the MMM with #young&hunt"

"I already have been out 5 months!"

Companion: Sister Hunt

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Snail Mail:

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission

5931 West 96th Street

Bloomington, MN  55438-1715

Dear Family and Friends,

Can you believe it?  I already have been out 5 months; only 13 to go mi familia! You can do it!!! I can't imagine how hard life must be without me?!? jk I love and miss ya'll but the MMM is taking good care of me:) This week has been so amazing I don't even know where to start with the Miracles & Adventures we have had! Let's just take it day by day and see how this method goes.

"We were Blown
 Awaaayyyayyyayyyyayyy!"
 #stilllovecarrie #young&hunt

Monday, February 23, 2015:

   P-day is the best day! Why does it always go by so fast? Jk….. It's not the best day; but it is nice! I went and got my hair trimmed. It was very hard, but I needed to do it ... I had 2 inches taken off.  My ends were so dead.... anyways when we were done with P-day we went to see the girlies. They fed us dinner. It was a New Orleans jambalaya.  The girls even made gluten free for mi compenera. It was so good! They made it with beans, rice, veggies, some yummy spices, and some brat. It tasted delish!  We played some FHE games with the girls. We all just laughed our heads off ……we had so much fun! Probably too much fun considering how much we were laughing! 

Tuesday, February 24, 2015:

    The wind was blowing sooooooo hard! It was FREEEEEEEEEEZINGG!!!! We went and saw Sister Edgington. She asked us to help give her dog Ben a “tubby” so we did. It was kind of sad giving a different dog besides Maggie Moo a tubby. It just wasn't the same. It made me miss her a little bit. Then we went and saw Mom and that’s when the wind was literally pushing us back while we walked! It was CRAZY!  Then we had a very spiritual lesson with one of the “girls”. She is so ready to be baptized!

Wednesday:.... nothing too exciting just some “stop bys” with our peeps!

Thursday, February 26, 2015:

"Kiyomi, the Chocolate Lab"
 #puppywhisperer #only3monthsold #sheiswild

      Today we had district meeting. Sister Hunt and I gave training on commitments. We did a role play thing with ice cream and brownies. We brought some for everyone, but when we were doing our training, we didn’t share them at first; we just ate some in front of them. Everyone was so jealous of the food; little did they know we had some for them! After District meeting we have Bishops meeting with the coolest Bishop. Bishop Chrysler really is awesome! He makes us laugh and feel the Spirit all at the same time….. I love it! After all those meetings, we  (meaning us, the North and South Elders) were all starving so we went to Taco Bell. Always entertaining to be with the Elders! After that the South Elders (Ford & Fuller) followed us to a couple of potentials that we were passing off to them. It was soooo Cold!!!!! Then we taught the girlies again:)

Friday, February 27, 2015:

"Seester hunt with the puppy,
 Kiyomi the Chocolate Lab"

        So a couple of days ago Sarah Edgington (pronounced Sada have Bryan say it Portuguese)  called us and said "Sisters I have a friend who is interested in the gospel, WHAT DO I DO???" It was so dang cute!! We told her to have her meet with us. They talked to their moms and planned to have a sleepover on Friday. Friday rolled around and we went to Sis. Edgingtons house. We met Sarah and her friend there. They were so cute! They had been making cookies for us:) They both were so excited to have us over.   We asked this sweet girl how she had become interested in the church. She told us that Sarah always seems so happy.  She talks about how fun church is. She tells her about how much fun she has in YW. So let that be a lesson in “Every Member a Missionary!” #teamsistersarah! She said she has been looking for the Book of Mormon on Amazon.  Thanks to Sarah who told her not to get one; she had friends that would give her one! We just happened to be the friends who have one for her! When we gave it to her she “lit up” and immediately gave both of us a BIG HUG!!!!! She was so grateful.  She treated it so gently; it was really a tender mercy to watch. Then we taught her the restoration discussion. She was so moved, we invited her to be baptized and guess what? She decided to get BAPTIZED!!!! She set a date for March 28! We were so excited! She came to church on Sunday and had already announced to everyone she was getting baptized. She even asked President Stacey (Pres. Stacey is in the mission presidency, and lives in our ward) to baptize her! Sister Hunt and I were so thrilled to have such an amazing experience!!!!

Saturday, February 27, 2015:

"Hair train!"

      A day to remember!!!! One of the ladies in our ward's son died this past week.  They are Native American. We went to the funeral today to help out! It was at the All United Indians Nations Church in Minneapolis. Oh boy, I was not prepared for what was about to happen. I know I have the funeral business down, but I had no idea what was about to hit me! We walked in and they are all eating, drinking coffee, with a dog running around. The people are being loud and we are all sitting in a circle. He is in his casket dressed with a full Indian headdress. It was kind of cool. His mom cut her LOOOONNNG hair, and made it into a braid that she wrapped around his wrist. It is a tribal tradition. There was a big drum going the entire time with chants. At first it was neat but became annoying after a while! I was asked to talk when we got there... I was like what? Are you for reals?  I did it and it was good. Just felt strange having never met the dude. The lady minister had us repeat prayers and stuff after they burned sage. Then they had us fan the smoke from it onto each of us. Next, they passed tobacco around to each person who took a hand full. They pray with it and then throw it in the fire pit. I wanted to take a picture so bad of Sister Missionaries holding tobacco..... it smelled like poop. Then Bishop Chrysler gave a talk and man, oh man alive was it good! HE LAYED THE GOSPEL DOWN!!!! IT WAS SO GREAT!!!!! I really could feel the Spirit when he spoke. He shared things from the Book of Mormon and when he testified he related it to the Natives!! It was so powerful.  That Bishop has got it going on!!!!! After the service, his wife asked if she could have a Book of Mormon to put in the casket. We hurried out to the car to get a Book of Mormon. Everyone circled up to say bye to the body. Then we got back and went through the line. We basically were there all day. They even had us eat with them after. After, we cleaned up the church because that's what missionaries do!   Ooh, we also got to play fun loud instruments and sing a song!  Definitely something I won't forget!

Sunday February 28 2015:

"Hi poppy!!! I wuv you
 and your crazy hair..., am I your kid?"

After church a Sister wanted a blessing, so the Elders came with us to her house. While we were there, she asked if we could rearrange her furniture.  We and the Elders did it for her. It was fun playing interior designer! Later, we went to the Walkers and had some juice. They said they were so happy, because Sister Hulet called them! That was so nice to see how much it meant to them. We next visited Sister P. who said she is coming to church.  We then went to the K.’s for FHE. We played “prophets jeopardy” with the girls it was fun.  Oh, before I forget…. we had dinner with the K. family.  They are the definition of Minnesotans!!! They literally talk like "Oh yahhh" "don't ya know" "fer sure" "you betcha" "up north" "hot dish" "uffda" "out and about". It is so cute!  They showed us pictures of their cabin about 200 miles up north with a “sawnaah” (sauna) and showed us pics of the fish they caught… haha! Then they showed us their condo down on the beach in Florida. They said we can go when we get off the mish!!  That's all I got for ya this week folks. 

Love you to the Moonisota and Back!!!!!!!!

Sister Ashlee Young

"she hangs like that sometimes" haha!