Ashley Ltr: 2012-11-26

Hey family!!

I was thinking about that last night that Christmas is just a month away! Crazy!! But also that I get to talk to ya'll!!! Ahhh I'm so excited!! :) :)

Yah Signal Mountain is beautiful!! Man I really hope ya'll can come here someday I know you'll just love it! Honestly I don't know what people here do for work, I'd assume that yah they go to Chattanooga, Signal Mountain itself is mainly just homes.

My address now is 101 South Dr. Signal Mountain, TN 37377. And yes it's that tiny one room apartment... It kinda sucks. But I guess it's free which is really nice its just so small and cold! The floor is made out of marble which makes working out in the morning hard. But the family we live with is nice, I don't really know them all that well they kinda keep to themselves, except the two boys, William and James (9 and 7 years old) they are a lot of fun. They'll come down sometimes and we'll play. James looks a lot like Jace! Man it threw me off the first time I saw him.

So my companion is awesome! We seriously get along so great and have so much fun! But we also work really well together and work hard. We both feel this area has incredible potential and feel like big things will happen soon if we just do the absolute best we can. Our branch president, President Iverson, is great too. He works with us a lot and gives us ideas on what to do to help the branch. The branch is pretty good, not as friendly as the Dalton ward which kinda stinks but I think with time that'll get better. It's small and there are several less actives but the members that do come are strong.

Sister Gonzalez and I taught primary yesterday, the 5 year old's, we weren't nearly as prepared as we should have been but we winged it the best we could and they had fun so I think overall it was a success.

No her call isn't Spanish speaking she just grew up speaking Spanish. Her parents are from Mexico, it's been really cool hearing her teach these people who wouldn't really have the chance to hear the gospel right now without her. It's just frustrating for me cuz I hate not knowing whats going on, she translates for me but still I don't like it. She's teaching me some Spanish and I'm kinda getting it, slowly but surely, it's hard though!! 

I think I got pictures of my whole apt in Chatsworth, I'll send them to ya'll soon. And yes I gave Sister Walker that skirt, it just looked kinda little girly on me but it looked really cute on her so I gave it to her as a parting gift.

So we had kinda a scary experience on Monday... Just after we had gotten done e-mailing we were headed over to meet the rest of our district. We came to what we thought was a 4 way stop, so we stopped then went to turn left and then got t-boned on the back drivers side door. The lady was going about 30 when she hit us so it skidded our car a bit, but not into on coming traffic thank goodness. We are all okay, and I was totally calm and collected, Sister Gonzalez later thanked me for not freaking out because she would have but because I stayed calm she stayed calm and we handled everything okay (tender mercy!). The other ladies car wasn't damaged to much just some small scrapes on the front bumper and she was very nice about it but our car didn't come out so well... There is a huge dent on the door and the back bumper is all scraped up. But I know Heavenly Father was totally watching out for us that day, it could have been a lot worse but wasn't. I think that's the first wreck I've ever been in and I'll be just fine with it being the last!

Thanksgiving was fun! I missed all of you a lot but we stayed pretty busy the whole day so I didn't have much time to think about it which was nice. We went over and sang at the nursing home in the morning which was fun, I really love doing that. Then we headed over to they aren't really investigators just a couple who absolutely love us missionaries for our first dinner and oh my lanta it was soooooo good!! Wow! It was way fun, this couple is older, Kenny and Ruth, and their 2 kids and a neighbor kid were all there we fit right in and felt like part of the family. That was a huge blessing for me, Heavenly Father knew the holidays would be hard for me so he sent me to someone who would take me in and treat me like family. :) Then we headed over to a members home, the Challens, and had a second dinner with them which was just as good but I felt like I was going to explode afterwards!

Sorry!! This is a quick ending but I'm running really short on time so I gotta wrap it up, I'll tell ya'll more about our investigators next week. I love and miss you all!! xoxoxo

Love,

Sister Bedke :)

p.s. I do want to be a part of the Christmas gift exchange so who do I have this year?? I was thinking also I'd like a pair of good slippers for Christmas :) The ones that have a hard sole and look like a shoe not just a slip on. Also I don't want to ruin the surprise or anything but are you getting me a new bag? I just need to know cuz if not I'll go get one my poor bag is really falling apart! :(

Ashley Ltr: 2012-11-19

Hey family!!

 

So I guess I'll start out with the big news... I'm now serving in Signal Mountain, TN! Which is still in the Chattanooga zone and stake, its about 40ish minutes north of Chatsworth. Oh my heck it is so beautiful up here! Seriously the homes and and the trees everything is gorgeous! Well I guess it's kinda ugly right now because all the trees are dying but I can see the potential haha, we're right above the Tennessee river. It's soooo different from Chatsworth, it's more suburb and and Murray county is very country. I miss Chatsworth though... I keep refering to it as my area but slowly I'm starting to feel like this where I need to be. My companion is Sister Gonzalez from South Jordan and she is awesome!! We get along great and are a lot alike it's been fun.

 

I'm in a branch up here, so it's small but so strong! I guess this branch has the most worthy and strong priesthood holders in the stake. They also are so nice and welcoming, it's going to be a good next few months. :)

 

Yes President and Sister Irion made it back for transfers! It was a miracle. He was supposed to be out for 6 weeks but he was able to make it back in 2! It was because of all the prayers and fasting they said, it is so good to have them back! President was really emotional while we were all in there together, he missed Tennessee a lot.

 

Yes! I was able to fit everything in my suitcases barely haha! Not nearly as nicely as mom and grandma did but it all made it! I do want to send home a box that has a few things I'm not using so you might get one soon. And yes church insurance covered everything.

 

I haven't heard from Emily for a few weeks, I'm writing her today but I think she's doing good. I don't know if her area was affected by the hurricane or not. And yah I hear from Brielle every couple of weeks usually. :)

So I still am kinda in a daze as to whats going on up here on the mountain but I can fill you in a a couple of people we're working with. The main one we're working with is Oralia and Reynal, they are hispanic and speak NO ENGLISH Sister Gonzalez is fluent in Spanish though so she'll do all the talking and then translate and I'll throw in my two cents. But I hate not knowing whats being said I wish I could speak Spanish so bad! Sister Gonzalez is going to teach me a little bit so maybe I can learn a lil somethin somethin.

We're also working with a few more people who I haven't met yet because of the holidays or they haven't been home when we've gone over. So hopefully I'll have more of an update for ya'll next week.

 

As of right now we have 3 dinner appts for Thanksgiving... pretty sure I'll be waddling by the time the day is over but it'll be fun. They're making it a regular day which stinks so we're trying to fill it with as much as we can so we don't have to tract. It'll be weird not being home... don't have to much fun without me k?

 

Court don't over do it! If you're hurting be smart! Take it easy. I hope ya'll have a good season. You still need to write me woman!

 

Jace I don't owe you 3 letters! I think I maybe owe you 1. I'm sorry I'll get it to you soon hopefully.

 

Sorry this is short I just don't have a lot of time or to many updates right now. I love and miss you all so much!! Thank you for all the love and prayers.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

 

Love,

 

Sister Bedke

 

p.s. If ya'll wanna send me some of grandma's rolls I would love you forever! :)

Ashley Ltr: 2012-11-13

Hellooooo family!!!

Wow, wow, wow where to even begin? I guess first off thank you so much for all the prayers in my behalf, I am sitting here crying in the library because I just got word that those prayers have worked! The doctor just called me and said that everything is okay! He said it looks a little inflamed so just to keep icing it and don't over do it and I'll be just fine!! For awhile there I really thought I'd have to come home, but I had a good long talk with Heavenly Father and I told him that I would accept whatever happens and I would be at peace with it. I feel like this was a small trial that I had to overcome that really has brought me closer to my Savior. I went and got an MRI done yesterday, which was an experience! Man those things are loud! But prayers do work!!! The Lord is watching over me and I feel so incredibly blessed right now. Thank you for the reminders from my blessing, I truly have felt several of those words come to pass. I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!! :) :) :)

Yes you read the subject of the e-mail right, I'm being transferred... :( They are making Chatsworth into an Elders area now. Talk about a huge shock! I am super bummed honestly, I'm going to miss this area a lot especially the ward, I've met so many incredible people! But I know that I was sent to this area for reason and you know I think it was more for me than anything else. This wonderful ward has made me feel so welcomed and loved since day one. They truly have changed my life, I've learned so much and have a much deeper love of the gospel and a much stronger testimony of going to church each week. It really is so important, the privilege we have of partaking of the sacrament each week is amazing that we can start fresh each week. I used to take it for granted... never ever again! I bore my testimony on Sunday in Relief Society (and of course cried) but I thanked the sisters for being so kind to me and making me feel loved. Several ladies came and hugged me afterwards, told me they loved me and thanked me for serving in the ward.

These last couple of days we have been going around visiting a lot of people saying good bye. It’s been really good, I really would like to come back here and visit before going home.

It's kinda silly but I feel like I'm leaving my child haha. Sister Walker and I have been leaving very detailed notes about different people like you would for a babysitter. We had an awesome lesson with Austin and Laura Payne on Sunday. The Spirit was so strong and Laura prayed at the end of the lesson! She was super nervous at first but then we shared with her the scripture that says the devil teacheth not a man to pray and it's like she got this determined look in her eye and prayed out loud for the first time ever! It was awesome!

We went and said good bye to Christy also and she said that she'd still be interested in the Elders coming over, she'd just like to take it slow. It's just frustrating cuz she was so excited about the gospel just a couple of months ago... So I don't know maybe the new Elders will be able to reach her and Jimmy both. I really think they'll both get baptized eventually but it might be a few years down the road...

In answer to some of your questions... We met Phyllis out tracting. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get back in touch with her she works nights and sleeps all day but we left a note for the Elders. :) Some ladies from the ward threw Keyaundra her shower, they got her lots of stuff needed on the list. She is so ready to go its fun to hear her talk about it, she will seriously be an incredible missionary!

CONGRATS COURT!!!! Of course I knew you would make it but that's awesome! Will you start JV? How's the team looking this year?

And CONGRATS BROOKIE!!! That's awesome! Do you not get to play? Do you just scrimmage?

So transfers are tomorrow! I'm super excited! I really have come to love Sister Walker but I'm ready to love her from a distance. This will be my first official transfer, they're making a lot of changes so I could go anywhere! I'm ready for a change. The Youells from the ward will be taking us down, it's like a two hour drive ugh but I'm super excited!!

Well I better wrap it up. Sorry this is late getting to ya'll we've been busy all day! We had two lunch appts and a dinner appt tonight, yah pretty sure I'm going to explode. But it's been so fun. Oh one more thing! Dad, I think I've told ya'll about Bud Thomason from the ward but he had a picture of you and him and Elder Paxman! He gave me a copy so I'll send it soon. I got one with him to so you can see what he looks like now.

I love you all so much! Thank you again for all the prayers. I have the best family, friends, and ward in the entire world!!! xoxoxo

Love,

Sister Bedke

p.s. Jace I knew you were my favorite brother! :) That last comment totally made my day!

Ashley Ltr: 2012-11-05

Hey Family!

I'm glad to hear Brooke is doing better, leg pain is no fun at all.  My knee really isn't getting any better...  When I went to the doctor's they really that much help at all, I got it x-rayed in Dalton and they said that nothing is wrong with the bone but they think it might be my cartilage, my meniscus, or a torn ligament.  I can't remember if I told ya'll what happened but it was about 5 or 6 weeks ago and I was coming down a really steep gravely drive way and slipped and my knee went out to the side.  I really didn't think much of it because it'll kinda go in waves of when it hurts but the past few days it’s been really sore.  It feels like its pulsing and several times a day I'll get a shooting pain of the inner part of my knee.  The doctor said the next step would be going to an orthopedic doctor and getting an MRI but so far they haven't taken my insurance and there's no way I can afford to get one without insurance.  She prescribed me an anti-inflammatory medicine and told me to go get a brace so I did and I've been wearing it and I've been icing it 2 or 3 times a day.  I just don't know what to do...  Part of me is like just tough it out because I don't want to come home yet but the other part is saying I don't want to cause permanent damage to it either...  I'm getting a blessing today so I hope I can get some answers.

But onto happier topics, stake conference yesterday was awesome!  Unfortunately we didn't have any investigators come but the messages given were so powerful.  The vision in this stake is baptizing every week!  I'm still struggling to see that vision but slowly I think I'll get there.  President Griffey (stake pres) spoke about finding the lost sheep but also making sure we take care of the 99 and keep them strong and supported.  Then President Drewes (the temporary mission president, President Irion is in Utah getting his knee replaced and will probably be out for the next month or so) talked about 4 steps on how to keep our faith strong and to become fully converted to the gospel.  1. Study the scriptures daily.  2. Pray powerfully.  3. 3 Nephi 27:21- Be a doer! and 4. Be like the Savior.  It was an awesome conference, I just love the people out here!  They're so great!  :)

We were finally able to meet with Jimmy and Christy this week!  We are starting the lessons over with them because Jimmy hasn't heard them.  So we taught the Restoration which went really well, Jimmy was very interested in the priesthood and asked a lot of questions (which is a first!).  We weren't able to see Austin and Laura this week but we'll catch em sometime this week.  The Bells are doing alright, we did have a really good talk with them a few days ago about the temple.  They were all set to go but something happened and now they aren't coming to church.  But we talked about how they shouldn't let anything stand in the way of going to the temple especially pride.  I hope and pray we did some good.

We finally found a new investigator this week!  Her name is Phyllis Gaddy, we had a really good discussion with her about the Restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon.  She is Catholic and an Obama supporter but I like her anyway.  :) We're really hoping something good will happen there.

In answer to some of ya'lls questions...  Yes my bad is not much bigger than my purse, I'm thinking one of those American Eagle bags we already have will work.  Yah I'm doing fine money wise and yes our money rolls over each month thank goodness!  Transfers are next week on the 14th and yes Sister Walker is excited to go home.

Please send my love to Aunt Sarah, I will definitely remember her in my prayers.  I had a flash back to when we thought you had cancer mom, man that was so scary.  Thank goodness for the knowledge we have of the gospel and that families really can be together forever!  I don't know how other people can live not knowing that...

For Halloween we had to be in by 6 so we spent the night carving pumpkins!  Sister Walker had never done any cool carvings before so I showed her the ropes, I think I've opened her eyes to a lot of things haha.

Last night we had a mission shower for Keyaundra, which was lots of fun!  We had dinner and then she opened her gifts.  It ceases to amaze me the goodness of a ward family, this ward reminds me a lot of our ward so loving and willing to help in any way possible.  They're all great!  :)

Well I think that's about the highlights of the week...  I love and miss you all!!  xoxoxo

Love,

Sister Bedke