Some very insightful answers to questions I asked Ashley…..Immeasurable joy sharing the gospel & a mountain and a shovel.

You brought up many good points in your email, that i have time to talk with you about. 

1.One of the biggest and hardest things we deal with as missionaries is always as you said being charitable, serving constantly, and never judging. For example, we worked with one of our amis "Mary" for months, always asking ward members to help, worrying about how to get her to church, if she will follow up on our commitments, and so on. But in the end the question of baptism came, and she was just not ready. It was super hard, when they cant change thier lives, and you look back on the time and effort you put into making sure this person would feel so ready, and then in the end nothing happened. Its very disheartening, but we must push forward with the work. In Preach my Gospel it says it best, "

When people choose not to investigate the restored gospel, your work is not wasted. Your consistent efforts in serving and teaching as many people as you can is one way God prepares His children to eventually receive His servants. He often reaches  out to His children through you. Even when people do not accept the opportunity to learn the gospel, your service and words are evidence of God’s love for them and may plant seeds that future missionaries and members of the Church will harvest.   When people do not accept the gospel, do not be discouraged. You have raised a warning voice. You have given them a clear choice. Disciples of Christ feel sorrow when people choose not to repent, but they maintain a vision of who they are and what they are doing. They continue to diligently move forward.|

We must strive to help everyone we can, and yes many and most will reject the message, we just have to understand that, but if we didnt try all that we could with ever person, we might not ever have anyone. We did the same with our other ami Clara, and she did choose to change her life, shes being baptised this Saturday! And the joy we have is just immeasurable. Just to see that one person come unto Christ, it can really change your perspective. 

2. About the foreign missions, honestly just about every missionary here wishes that they could be in a state side mission at one point or another, its really hard, the language, the people, and especially adjusting to not only thier culture but life as a missionary too. I feel like god really has given me a mountain with this mission, and handed me a shovel. But I try my best at it, and the work is going well. We struggling to find amis that can progress towards baptism. Its really hard here in France, and as a missionary we dont get sent to the cute touristy towns in France, we get the ghetto, where peoples hearts are open and willing to hear to gospel. Its really hard, but in the end everything is worth it. 

I love you mom, and this week flew by i cant believe how fast! On saturday we will have our next transfer already! 

EVERYDAY LIFE UPDATE

Hey dad! Yeah this week has been pretty chill, really fast! And yeah we do a lot of door to door and street contacting, nothing ever comes from door to door though, but because its winter we cant contact on the streets, so its pretty chill nights of just "coeuring" door to door. Yes also if you can please send some classical music! But if you dont have any you can just send the christmas! S.Tupai was praying we would get it before she leaves lol shes like "I want an american christmas!" lol. But send it whenever works, shes gone anyway lol. I dont think ill train next transfer, idk who will come to Nogent either. Glad to hear that Halloween went awesome and the pumpkins were as cool as ever lol. I want mom to learn FRENCH! You can come pick me up and spend a week in France :) and we can all speak the language! No news on Ebola, except they didnt let a ton  of people back from vacation lol because they wouldnt take planes from african countries with ebola, so its kinda sad a lot of people cant come home yet. Madeline and i just walked the champs together, not much. 

Im really nervous for transfers and my next companion, and i guess my exchange with the STL in Nancy well... i think she didnt like me very much because president wrote to S.Tupai that i had no social skills in contacting.. it was horrible, mostly because the girl i did exchanges with is HORRIBLE! she took us to a neighbor hood that had 3 women walking on the street, and i was like ok, im the missionary dont you want to see how im contacting people but she contacted each one of them and it was super awkward... oh and it was like pelting rain in my face so it was a horrible exchange, we didnt do anything and S.Tupai was so mad it was crazy!! So now shes writing the president how much this girl was not doing what she should have lol... anyway enough of my ranting.

Excited for the baptism this saturday and such!!! YAY!!!!!! Tell you more next week. But now i dont think the president trusts me to be a trainer, and i really dont care. But i think i will email him and just tell him whats going on, My district leader was really mad at the STL's too lol. So we will see..

Thanks for the music! I really appreciate it, i dont have much else i can think of to go on it but i love you and have a fun time in Oregon!

Sister Tupai and Sister Stevens

The latest…..

Hey dad, so this week was super long, Im finally feeling better though which is really good, We went on our transfer to Nancy, so kinda next to Strasburg, saw a lot of the French country, really neat Nancy is a great town its so cute!!! I forgot my camera though so ill try to send pics next week. Ah we worked a lot with members this week everyday we had a mangez vous with a family and our ami who is getting baptized this Nov.8th! So were excited about that! Shes really cool shes 27 and wants to marry in the temple! So we’re really happy we found her. Ah, so this saturday we went to the baptism of an ami we had to pass to the Torcy mandrin elders. But it was just fantastic and she was so cute she just said that it was the best day of her life! So that was really awesome! My first baptism that i helped with! Ahhh..... oh S, Tupai is now pretty sick lol passed it on, so i think we will spend the night in for a while. Its getting really dark here, so we cant do much contacting anymore so we are trying to plan better. Oh and transfers are on Nov. 10. Im freaking out because S. tupai is leaving me!!!! I dont know who will be my next comp but i get a new one in 2 weeks!!! Ah im really sad! But s. Tupai thinks if i train it will be a Francophone becuase i know how to work with one, rather than an american, so im not sure. I dont think my french is good enough yet to train someone! Especially in Paris! Im really scared! Ill know though Saturday the 9th so.... Yep, also yes i did get to hang out with Madeline, shes been super busy with school it sounds like a lot of stress. But she is dying to having me come to her house for Christmas haha, but its not possible with the mission rules :( Unless i get transfered to her sector lol not probable but we will see. Yes its really nice to have a washer and dryer in the apartment, i think its because its more money now to go to a laundry mat and pay to wash clothes. Today im meeting Addison again, she started in Charleroi Belgium, but then it was going down hill so they closed it after 1 trasnfer and shes been in Evry ever since. 

Ok as far as christmas music. We can listen to pretty much anything, like all the classics and such. So if you can put it on a USB all the songs, each apartment has a DVD player that can play music on a USB, its pretty crazy lol, but yes we would love it!!!! Also any other classical music or something you find just throw it on there too! WE LOVE YOU!! Yes, ive only seen a few people here with the iphone 6 but it seems pretty cool! Hope there is a phone waiting for me when i get home????? haha jk thats not for another year!! But can you believe i will be back next Novemeber, it seems like I just left and I am almost hitting one year left! AH well love you tons! Hope this week goes well for you at work and home! Give the dogs some love for me and especially some treats for baby koko!! hahah miss her!! And moki lol.

LOVE YOU!!!!!

Ash

Hey mom,  Im glad to hear everything is going well in Oregon, its been pretty stormy here too, but also really really cold.. less rain, but just bone chillin cold. They have started to just really go all out for Christmas here!!! Im so excited! S. Tupai leaves in 2 weeks so im super sad. you can read dads email, I dont have much time because we are in Paris just close to the Notre Dame right now for emails. lol long story about why we came here today, but it was a long week. We went to Nancy for exchanges which is right next to Strasburg. It was such a cute town, really really nice. I really think S. Tupai will be an STL next transfer, and so many people keep telling me that i will train, but i feel so inadiqute to be a trainer so i really dont think it will happen. I cant speak the language well enough or anything. Ah im super nervous for transfers because i know i will get a new comp. Anyway thanks for being so prompt with the package. i really appreciate it, i send my love to you all, it sounds like you will have an amazing halloween and just a HAPPY HALLOWEEN to you both, sending my love and watch a scary movie for me!! Maybe Silver Bullet lol, i remember that one. 

Love, Ash

"If there really is a God? and the value of reading Jesus the Christ

Ok, so hows life have you been to the pumpkin patch? Decorated for Halloween, passing out candy this year whats the deal?! Miss you tons this week was hard, I was sick all week because we just plum ran out of gas lol, we just slept all week and i had the worst nose and throat, ah it made me miss you so much! But its ok because now we are better, and working at things again.

Yesterday was super hard we told our investigator that was having her baptism this week that she wasnt prepared, which was super sad because she was so excited to be baptized but we knew and the spirit told us she hasnt repented quite fully yet, that was hard. She was discouraged, but we told her we were always there for her and excited to see her progression move on. When it comes down to it, we are Christs representatives, and our objective is to bring others unto Christ through faith, and most of all repentance. Its the number one thing. As a missionary we do have a unique ability to see into others hearts, and in this case the spirit has told us she needs more time. Thats really hard as a missionary. We know the blessings that come with the promises we make at baptism, so its difficult to have to refuse someone the blessings because they havent repented fully yet. I almost cried just looking at her and telling her, it was really sad. 

I learned a lot this week about repentance and teaching by example. I read a really good discourse in the ensign "the healing power of grief"

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/01/the-healing-power-of-grief?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng

They are really good, a lot of our amis always ask the question, "If there really is a God, why is there so much suffering in the world" Literally I have had that question so many times. I think these two talks kinda help answer it. 

Also another question that was asked us was about preordination and such. Shes super catholic, but is really searching for the truth, she knows something is missing and asks us hard doctrinal questions the last one was, "Judas had to beytray Jesus, it was all part of the plan, someone HAD to be Judas, so why would God suffer him to be the beytrayer?" Thats a hard question in english let alone to answer in french lol, but S, Tuapi had nothing, so i did the best I could from what I had read in Jesus the Christ and such. But she really does have good questions that make us think, and study, but in the end everything in this Chuch makes sense. Its the true church, because its fondation is on Christ. The more I study and learn and see the world the more thankful I am I know the truth, and the more I realize this church is beyond the power of man, the only way something this large could have been made is through Christ himself. 

Anyway going to meet Addison today and Madeline in Paris!! YAH!

Hope this week is better but love you tons and so glad everything went well in Canada! Hows the job btw? 

Love you so so so so so much! Always thinking of you! 

Ashley

Zone Conference and the latest mission happenings...

So glad everyone in Canada is awesome, Dad seems lonely lol he sent a pretty good letter. Hope you get home soon for him. Love you tons!!! And you can ask him: here is the emial i sent him just forwarding to you! Also hope its ok i use the debit card i have no money and i really need boots, havent got the package yet either, so sorry hope it will come sometime soon. 

Love you tons!
I know about the zone conference it was AWESOME! We had really good training and we had interviews with Pres and Sister Babin, my interview with sis babin was in english, but then president was like nope FRENCH muahhaha so yeah that was pretty cool to have my interview in french and actually know what he was asking and respond! And there is a new fracophone visa waiter in my district his name is Elder Taochy from Nancy France and he doesnt know english, so i talked to him for a good hour or two in french which was pretty cool, and my entire district thinks im training next transfer, kill me. But ca va. This week was really cool though we are preping two baptisms and we have some really solid amis right now who are really striving to change thier lives, and its just really neat to watch. We are teaching this one couple and we've only just introduced the book of mormon to them and they already have hour long discussions with us about everything, the wife kinda runs the show and she asked us to bless her to be able to stop drinking becuase she knows its hurting their relationship and she needs to stop. Its neat how much they trust in us to help them, but they are really changing and its so cool.
Other things... not really much, just constantly working on French, speaking it more and more and more now. S. Tupai and I mostly speak french now lol. It was funny last night she asked if we could speak english but i just would automatically respond in French and she was just like "hey! I cant change languages that fast haha my mouth doesnt work like that" lol we laughed at how different things are getting. Im so glad andrew is having fun in China! Sounds like his language is coming along very good too! So cool, I really think he could work as a translator, he has really good pronounciation, which is hard to find. Even though so many people here can speak a lot of languages their pronouncation is terrible. especially in english haha. LOVE THE PICS OF KOKO AND MOKI!!! Miss them so much! Cant wait for the skype on christmas! Thats coming up so so so soon! Addison writes to me and we just chatted yesterday night on the phone, sounds like shes doing great in Evry.I havent heard from Madeline but we will get together soon, because the vacations is coming soon. Also because of that the scientists are predicting France will have an Ebola outbreak on Oct.24th so super scary, and at the zone conference S. Babin said if it does become a big issue they will send us all to England, or if you have more than 12 transfers home. so pretty crazy stuff! But Im not too worried about it, I think i heard they had almost got a cure or some drug they were trying has cured some people. Either way, its a HOT topic in france right now. Also yes they do celebrate Halloween, not as big as the US. but they do! They have winter, and halloween displays in the window and the Disney parc has been advertising it a lot too. 

On Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 12:18 PM, Ashley Stevens <stevens.ashley@myldsmail.net> wrote:

oh and Elder Powelson dated a "Tegan Schnoor" her dad was Kim Schnoor??? haha i laughed for a while small world! 

On Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 12:09 PM, Ashley Stevens <stevens.ashley@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Ok this is my first district!!! Ill tell you about them (starting left):

7: Elder Powelson from Cardston Alberta Canada!!!!! hahaha he's really cool, they own a farm and have alberta beef, and stuff... idk, but hes just really cool, so humble and willing to serve.

1:Elder Gaule same transfer as me we were in the MTC together. He is just about the funniest guy ive ever met. just stories of investigators and life in Paris, if you ever want to laugh just talk to him. Also he;s from Surry England. Has a pretty thick accent so its hilarious to hear him in French.

6: Elder Meng: he's one of the elders in Nogent with me, hes our District leader, he is from Kennewick,WA and went to BYU for 2 years before the mission, he wants to do something with computers but everytime we ask it changes lol. Hes just about the nicest person ever. Just puts everyone before himself. Great DL. 

8: Elder Hall: He;s one of the zone leaders (their equipe is in my district) he's pretty cool, but i havent had much chance to talk to him, but hes straight out of high school. yet already half way done with the mission! and we graduated the same time!

13: Elder Ruttan: From Vancuver BC Canada haha hes pretty much done with the mission hes our other zone leader. He was aka "Grandpa" lol he was really a good example though his french was almost perfect, according to s tupai. She said he really went above and beyond to learn the language. I hope I can be like him with the language. 

43 & 41: The Senior couple thats techniqually in our district but its the first time theyve ever come to a meeting and theyre freaking hilarious, they are leaving home in 2 weeks though.

8: Elder Vance: He's from N.Carolina, but also Parc City Utah, idk, but hes pretty cool. really loves the people and cares so much about them. He;s the other elder in Nogent. So i know him and Elder Meng super well.! They are good friends

Just some funny photos lol :

​ok so im not sure why i sent these lol but... its funny