Ashley Ltr: 2013-08-26

Subject:          A trio?!?!

August 26, 2013

Hellooooooooo family!!

Thank you, thank you for the pictures!! Holy smokes everyone is growing up so much!! I hardly recognized Courtney! Sheesh!! All y'all are gorgeous!! And Jace you are such a stud.  Repelling looked fun! I'd love to do that someday! Dad good luck today! Looking forward to hearing about it! Have fun and please please be safe!

Well you read my subject correctly I'm going to be in a trio! Sister Burningham is leaving... :( and they are sending 2 more here! AHHHHH!!!! I think I'm still going to be a sister training leader and so will one of my companions and we'll both be training a brand new sister. HOLY RESPONSIBILITY!!!! It'll be fine I know it will, I've just been a little stressed the last couple of days, co-training is going to be hard. It'll definitely be a learning experience for sure. We head down Wednesday morning and will find everything out...

I seriously am so sad that Sister Burningham is leaving... We have gotten really close and become really good friends and its really going to suck saying goodbye, I guess it's not goodbye it's just a see ya later but still. I'm going into a whole new ball game this next transfer and I'm a little nervous. Some extra prayers this way would greatly be appreciated.

Other than having that curve ball thrown we've had a pretty good week! We picked up a new investigator Dylan Roberts, he came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it. He's kinda like Sydney in that he's just soaking everything up. Major potential there.

Cindy Harker is done smoking!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went over with the Elders on Friday to give her a blessing and she hasn't smoked since!! She is so determined to go to the temple it's really cool and that was really the only thing holding her back. There are some big miracles happening in that family, it's been really cool to watch.

Debbie and Sarah were out of town all week but they are both back now I think as of tonight so hopefully things will start moving there again this week!

We finally saw Gloria yesterday! Our lesson was so good! She knows it's all true she just keeps getting hung up on hell fire and brimstone all that crap that Baptists brain wash into people. We had a really spiritual lesson with her though and I think it's just a matter of time before she gets baptized, it's just her dumb work schedule that's holding her back from going to church.

Patty Nisbet is again still about the same, she'll get there one day it just might take some time. I sure love her a lot though. All these people I just love A LOT!

We haven't been able to see Amanda yet... Seriously we've been so crazy busy this week with seeing different less actives and just preparing for this transfer! I've never been so busy! I love it!

I've heard that you can do that at BYU-I... Transfers are January 2nd so I don't know that I'd be able to go home before Christmas... And I don't know if I want to go back so soon, I'd kinda like to be home for a little bit and work. I don't know yet I haven't thought to much about it really. I'm thinking that I still want to go there.

I think that's about it for this week... I'm just loving mission life! It's definitely got its ups and downs but I can't imagine doing anything else with my life right now.

Thought of the week....

"God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day, ours is the challenge to access the Atonement so that we can truly change, become more Christlike, and qualify for the gift of exaltation and live eternally with God, Jesus Christ, and our families." -Elder Nelson

I love and miss y'all!! xoxoxoxo

Sister Bedke :)

p.s. When does Kristen leave for the MTC?

Ashley Ltr: 2013-08-19

Subject:  Sometimes we get random calls and go to sketchy neighborhoods for people who want to learn about the church

August 19, 2013

Hey family!!!

Man what a great letter! Best. Family. Ever. DAD!! That's way cool about hiking the Tetons and losing all that weight!!! That's my daddy! PLEASE TAKE A CAMERA AND TAKE PICTURES!!! That'll be way fun! I'd love to do that someday!

So glad to hear work is going good mom, I loved doing customer service too, I really hope I can get on at Seagull Book again... Or doing something like that. That's so crazy y'all are praying for rain and we're praying it'll stop! Maybe I'll start praying it'll be sent that way.

Basically that's the story, my ward mission leader literally eats out of a dog bowl during dinner... hahaha!! 

It's been another good week! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Seriously life is just so good.

Debbie wasn't able to come to church this week because she has some major family problems going on. BUT she is getting baptized!!!! Her date is for Aug. 31st! It was so cool! She is so ready now! Hopefully her family won't hold her back... I just can't get over how incredibly blessed I've been in my life! Some people really have it rough. Yes she's the one that made us the wreath :) One of the members came by the other day and was like "It looks like you're having a baby boy" hahaha!

Gloria and Sarah both are out of town for the week so nothing really to report there unfortunately...

Patty is doing pretty much the same. We had an incredible lesson with her a few days ago and when we asked if she'd be willing to set a date for baptism this is how it went down...

Us: When you know these things are true will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?

Patty: Yes.

Us: Will you set a date to work towards?

Patty: I already have one picked out.

Us: Really?! That's great! What is it?

Patty: I'm not telling.

Are you serious right now??? Man that was way frustrating. She refused to tell us what it is and I guess she doesn't want to tell us because she doesn't want us or her husband to be disappointed if she doesn’t make it. We assured her that we wouldn't be but she still wouldn't budge. She'll get there eventually it's just going to take some time.

We didn't really get the chance to see Pam this week we're seeing her tomorrow though and most likely having a drop lesson.... :( I think the hardest part about being a missionary is knowing that someone has had a spiritual confirmation that the gospel is true and having it testified to them over and over and they still refuse it. It is absolutely heart breaking.

I haven't written Beth yet... I really need to! We tried calling a couple of times but she hasn't answered. I hope everything’s going alright. I miss her a lot.

So really cool story of the week! We've been working a lot with a LA Cindy Harker who really wants to get to the temple, she's been making leaps and bounds to get there but one big hold up she's had is smoking... (I HATE CIGARETTES!) So we learned about a quit smoking program that we figured we'd try out for her. The first lesson we talk about the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement and commit her not to smoke for 24 hours. Then we go back to see her every 24 hours (this is kind of a big deal for us because she lives several miles away but we really felt like it was something we needed to do for her). We started Friday went back the next day and she had smoked 3... Which isn't great but it's better than what she'd done in a looooong time. So we tweaked the program a bit for her and committed her to only smoking 2 the next day, she agreed. We go back Sunday and she said all I've had is one puff and I put it out, I couldn't even finish it it grossed me out so bad!!! WAHOOOO!! Dang it was so cool!! She's going to get there!

So story about the subject of my e-mail... A lady from the Rogersville branch called us and told us that she had talked to a lady in the grocery store parking lot Friday and that this lady had been praying to be able to find a church to attend, so she got all her contact info and passed it to us. We had a women's conference on Saturday (which is awesome!) and invited her to that she said she'd love to go. That's really all we knew about her so we go out with a member to her house which literally is in the middle of nowhere in a wayyyyy sketchy neighborhood, we really had no idea which trailor was hers so we just went up to one randomly and it was hers! She came and loved it! Her name is Amanda Stone, I think she weighs maybe 80 lbs and I think does some drugs but she came! And really has a desire to do something different with her life! So still not exactly sure how that one happened haha but hopefully there will be more to report on her later! :)

Thought for the week...

"The realization of your amazing, astounding, and true potential happens only in the hands of the Lord. But you and only you can place yourselves in those masterful, loving hands... Trust Him that He will make of you immeasurably more than you will ever, ever in all eternity, make of yourself. He will create of you a masterpiece. You will create of you only a smudge. You will create an ordinary man; He will create a God."

Well I think that about wraps up my week. I love love love y'all!!! xoxoxo

Sister Bedke :)

p.s. Maybe you could send some pictures next week?? :)

Ashley Ltr: 2013-08-12

Subject: Our ward mission leader eats out of a dog bowl... yep that's a true thing.

August 12, 2013

Hellooooooo family!!

Awesome letter from home!! So many great things happening! Mom! That's so cool about your new job! That'll be way fun! :) And Court that's way cool about your internship, is that what you're thinking you'd like to do? And still haven't heard from you in like a year, not cool.

Elder Corbridge is who wrote the 4th missionary which is the talk I pulled those quotes from. And yes pralines are a nut haha. I'm so stoked y'all got that book! Have you seen Brother Furniss yet??

This Elder, Elder Adamson I think, came up to me at a mission conference thing we had this week and said that he went to the Idaho Falls visitors center right before he left for his mission and that he met grandma and grandpa and had a little note from them for me! It was so sweet! Just a little hello from grandpa. :)

That is so awesome about Malyssa!! All these girls going from our family now it's awesome!! :) :)

We had another great week! Our biggest success of the week was probably an investigator Sister Burningham has been working with on and off for the last 6 months came to church for the first time yesterday! We hadn't been able to get in contact with her for the last few weeks but we were on exchanges Saturday and I just had this way strong feeling that we needed to go see Debbie Smith, now. So we headed over (in the POURING RAIN!!!! Seriously I've experienced more rain in 2 months here than I have in my whole life!) She answered the door but didn't let us in she said it really wasn't a good time but that we would probably see her at church tomorrow, this sounds awful but I seriously doubted it because we get told that a lot by people and then they don't show so I was like okay... Then we get a text Sunday morning that says I'm on my way!! She told us that we always seem to come right when she needs us too and that she knew she had to come. She stayed for all three hours and LOVED IT! We're seeing her tomorrow and hopefully we'll be able to set a baptismal date! She's so great! :)

Sarah Lowe is doing great! We had our first official lesson with her this week, we didn't realize how basic we'd have to start with her like as basic is who exactly is Jesus Christ. We answered a lot of questions and when she told us that she really feels like this is something she needs in her life. She's so legit!

Gloria McDonald is doing well, her stinkin work schedule prevents her from coming to church right now or she would totally be there, she is such an amazing lady with so much potential.

Patty Nisbet is about the same, she's amazing and I love her a lot but she wants a big sign from God telling her that she needs to be baptized and it's just not going to happen.

I think we're going to have to drop Pam... :( We haven't been able to get ahold of her for a couple of weeks now and she just doesn't seem very interested right now, I really have no doubt that she'll join the church at some point but I just don't know that it's right now.

We're probably going to pick up a couple new investigators tomorrow, it's a part member family that seriously has SO much potential! I'll keep you posted, their name is the Waddoups.

As I mentioned a little earlier we had a mission conference thing in Knoxville on Friday, we did like a mock district meeting which I got to be a part of, basically it was just showing how a district meeting should be run effectively. All of us leaders from the mission were there for that and then Elder Kopischka (sp?) and Elder Hymas from the quorum of the 70 came and spoke to us. It was so good! Elder Kopischka is an incredible speaker he was cracking jokes but also it was so spiritually uplifting it was awesome. We did a Q&A session and he would personalize people's questions to them but also include the whole group it was really cool, that is exactly the kind of teacher I'm aspiring to be.

A couple of thoughts for the day....

"We will get promptings of the spirit when we have done everything we can, when we are out in the sun working rather than sitting back in the shade praying for directions on the first step to take. Revelation comes when the children of God are on the move. So do all we can do. Then we wait upon the Lord for His revelation. He has His own timetable." -Elder Oaks

"The precious revelation that gives us a testimony is not an event but a process." -Elder Oaks

Well I think that covers the highlights of the week.Thank you so much for your continued love, support, and prayers. I couldn't do this without y'all. I love you!!! xoxoxo

Sister Bedke :)

p.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ashley Pics: 2013-08-05

District Hike at Bay's Mountain Park

Gorgeous Lilly Grown by Lady in Our Ward

Ashley Riding the Harley!!!

Sister Burningham and Sarah and Melvin's Freaking Huge Dog

Ashley Ltr: 2013-08-05

Subject Line:  Pralines from the south are a thing.

August 5, 2013

Hey hey hey family!!

I've decided to switch up the topics of my e-mails a bit to make them more fun I guess haha Sister Burningham does it and I thought it was a cool idea. Some members went on vacation to Charlton and brought us back real pralines. Literally the best things ever.

Girls camp sounds like it was awesome!! Haha I loved all the stories! Way to go dad for giving Court a piece of her own medicine hahaha I loved that! I miss you guys! And mom, I'm so proud you are one brave lady.

Amb went through the temple. That's so awesome! I asked President Irion this week if it would be possible for me to see her and he said most likely not but he'll think about it and it'll be up to Heavenly Father. Maybe we could pray for that?? Haha no I guess not if He wants it to happen it will.

Yah I saw Sister Parkinson at zone training but I totally forgot to talk to her about it! But I'll see her again in a couple of weeks for exchanges.

Our mission leadership council went great! And I hope our little blip went good too. It's so cool to see the leadership of the mission in action. Seriously I have so much respect for people in leadership positions they really do love and care about us, a lot.

Zone training was great too, we're breaking PMG down chapter by chapter each month and studying them and this month is chapter 4 Recognizing the spirit and the trainings were awesome! That's one of my favorite chapters, you can learn so much of how the spirit talks to you individually and how to recognize it. Preach my Gospel is amazing.

We had another pretty good week! We had a lady Sister Tina Frost come to church yesterday she is a LA and hasn't been for 10 years! And she came!!!! It was awesome. AND her husband who has been totally against the church for a long time is having his heart softened slowly but surely. We told her that it was going to be up to her setting the example for him.

Pam has another new baptismal date for August 24th... We'll see if it goes through. She is a TOUGH one to read... She seems sincere and says that she's been doing her readings but then she won't come to church. I'm just tired of people promising they'll do something and then not. I can take a lot of things but being lied to is not one of them.

We got an awesome phone call from Gloria this week! She called and was like, "I've been reading the Book of Mormon and you know how up to this point I've had some doubts? Well I don't anymore! I know it's true!" It was way cool! Now if we can just help her get to church... She is a caregiver for a lady in the other wards mother-in-law and as of right now she's always scheduled to work Sunday's, dang it. So please keep her in your prayers that something can change there soon.

Sarah Lowe is doing great! She is so excited to learn and I think will progress fairly quickly. I love her!

David (Junior) Ennis sounds really promising as well! He is a LA's son and has been reading the Book of Mormon a ton. He was going to come to church yesterday but he got stuck in North Carolina. We're meeting with him tonight though to answer some questions and teach him the Restoration. He wants to be baptized he just doesn't know it yet.

Beth is doing great as well! She texted us last week and said the ward here is great but I miss you guys a lot. And yes she is in Amber's mission! She lives in Lilburn GA I think it's called... I miss her. She's such an amazing lady.

We had another great exchange this week! I went up to Greeneville (which by the way is where The Band Perry is from) and was with Sister Hatch who is from Plain City she said that her brother and family live in Pleasant View, the Shifmans (sp?).... I told her that name sounds way familiar. Are they in our ward?

I had awesome personal studies this week and wanted to share a few things with y'all...

First... D&C 64:33-34 read it. love it. apply it.

Second.... "As you consider the questions of what kind of person you will become, you must understand the dynamic process of life. You not only can change but you do change all the time. Sometimes people do not believe this. They excuse their failures and weaknesses by saying, "that's just the way I am." To believe that weaknesses and deficiencies in your character are unchangeable is to reject the central truth of the plan of salvation. You are not cast in stone. You not only can change but you do change all the time. You never stay the same. You cannot stand still. You are responsible for who you are and you are responsible for who you will become." -Elder Corbride (The 4th missionary)

It's kind of a duh quote but it really affected me. There's no excuse for not being able to change yourself or something about yourself you don't like and it's never to late.

Third... This was a thought that crossed my mind. "Obedience is intelligence." When we're being obedient the commandments of a loving Heavenly Father we're being smart. He's given us all that we need to be able to return to live with Him again someday, we just have to be obedient.

Well I think that about wraps up my week. I love and miss you all. A lot. xoxoxoxo

Sister Bedke :)

p.s. I just love being a missionary.