Realizations that are life changing...

Hey mom, 

So like I told dad not much is new here. Im in a hurry we are meeting a family that S. Tupai knows at Notre Dame at 2. But for the most part this week was rough, just stressful with getting everyone prepped for baptisms working with members who dont want to work with us, and trying our hardest to work with other missionaries as well. It was a tiring week and S. Tupai and I got these massage things from this member lol anyway we gave eachother a back massage that felt like heaven.

We went and watched conference at the church but i still havent seen most of it, with the time difference and missionary schedule we wont be able to finish it until wednesday. I loved the talks though and Utchdorf in General Womans broadcast just brought me to tears.. Its hard as a missionary and when we were watching it all i could think about was my amis. Like im literally in charge of their salvation.. AHHH! What if i mess up or something.. ah it scares me to take on this responsibility at judgement day will I be able to say I did everything I could for these people and worked my abosolute hardest for them. Ah its begining to be stressful. 

Tell Amy and Grandma I said hi, the back of my planner this transfer is Psalm 23 just for Grandpa. I hope all goes well and you will still have fun on your trip! I love you and pass on the Loves to grandma and Amy and her family.

I met the new district also at the church we all had to watch general conference together in english. They are all super nice, and we get along great. Im so blessed to have been put with such amazing missionaries. I really love them all. I loved watching conferences as a missionary. Really i learned so much. Im so thankful for them. 

This week I taught the Retab now pretty much by myself, we have an investigator familly that is really open and the dad said something that just really touched us after we had asked them to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet he said, "I cant becuase if he is, everything i have ever believed in my life will be wrong. My entire life will have been wasted thinking about something that isnt true. If Joseph Smith is a prophet, it would change everything I've ever known" That was  crazy! The lesson was so good, and I know they both really felt it. So he already knows its right and hes just so scared, but knows its the right thing to do. 

It really opens my eyes, these people literally have to change their entire life! Its such a sacrafice and I pray for them that they will be strong enough to make that change as hard as we know it is. 

Im so thankful I was born into the gospel. 

I love you and read dads emial i wrote him some more. 

Love you tons have an amazing week in CANADA! Know that we are working hard as ever and learning and growing so much I love it here always even through the rough times "Alma 38:5" I think its a good verse for us as missionaries. 

Love,

Ashley

Rabbit Stew & Leadership Opportunities

Hey Roberto,

Not much is different. It was a rough week just in general, we were so busy, and my comp was just frustrated because of transfer week, we had to go "mother" the new blues because we are in the Paris area. 

Explination (on why Addison is a trainer also):

So basically we go to the church in Paris that day and take all the new missionaries contacting in Paris for a couple hours while they are waiting for interviews with President. So she and I got a call saying they needed us to come help, so we went. No other sister equipes were there! It was a disaster, so we took one new sister out for a bit and we got back and theyre like hey we have to split you two up (my comp and I) So we could take all the new sisters in time. !! That means i had to go contacting in Paris by myslef with just the new missionaries.!! And i was kinda freaking out but I was the only one willing to do it! I ended up taking two brand new missionaries around paris for an hour contacting in French! That was crazy! #1 I cant believe I can speak french well enough to do it! #2 I cant believe i know Paris enough to do walk around and not get lost! haha) so that was really cool, and it showed me that I could do more than I thought I could, and just today I asked S. Tuapi how my french conj. was and she said I have improved drastically, and I am much more fluid in my speach! By the end of this transfer I am hoping to be able to speak with confidence. Ok about the whole training thing. All the sisters on the mission that were older that would normally be the "trainers" are all done with the mission so 9 of them went home this last transfer and only 4 left that werent from my group or the transfer ahead of me. So natually with 10 new sisters coming they had to have all of addisons group train and the four train that were older and two from my group train someone already! And i just read presidents email and he said "learn all that you can from Soeur Tupai, you will need it for your next companion"... I freaked out, and now S. Tupai thinks i will train or something next transfer.. either way its getting crazy here because all the old sisters are pretty much officially gone after this except a couple, and now most of all the new ones are already trianing! I have an interview with President this friday at our huge zone conference... im scared.!

Anyway so some crazy stuff that happened this week.

We for the 2nd time were officially invited to eat with a member family. They made us lunch and guess what it was a 3 course meal. For starters we had pasta with guess what...RABBIT stew on top!!! I got the spinal column with the vertbrea and cord still attatched.. yep that was wierd I have officially eaten a little bunny... then we had baguettes and cheese and salad... and then icecream and cake... so that was an experience and a TON of food! I still can not believe I ate that... and they cooked the rabbit with prunes and the dad was sitting next to me and was like "you should eat the prunes they are the vegatable of the rabbit".. ehhhhh so then I had to eat these soggy prune rabbit thing... ah I cant believe i did that.. haha that poor little bunny... oh well, it all goes down the same tube. 

Also heard about EBOLA VIRUS!!! Can you believe it!!! They are starting to tell people to be careful here!!! Ah im freaking out! Im going to die before I even get home! Do you know how many africans i kiss everyday! And their vacation is in just 2 weeks! Tons of africans coming and going,... its going to spread and I will die! haha there have already been 3 cases in France! and i heard it might have even showed up in the US? Idk but i havent heard of a cure for it yet either. It will kill in just 2 months! CRAZY!! ok so yeah theres that...

Sounds like the new computer system has been good! Im glad you caught on quickly! Hope it all will continue to run smooth! That SUCKS about BYU!!! Ah i cant believe it! Darn. And still no Chick fil a :( Also we can get all the canadian candy here too except crunchies!! Send them please :) hehe love you!! Hope all is well for another week! I give you my luck for trying to beat Tom and Jeff again at another round. Sounds like they need to step it up a notch. lol Glad to hear Andrew and Court are both doing well too! 

Love you tons,

Ashley

Anxiety-Relief over first transfers and Quirky everyday Paris happenings- followed by Ashley's testimony in French

Typed from a handwritten letter posted 9/29/2014 ( the French portion was typed by Rob as it made more sense to him!)

Chere Mere & Cher Pere,

I haven't written a letter to you for a while, so I thought I would update you! The weather is getting colder here! It really does remind me of Oregon here. I love it. I just need to figure out my boot situation lol. So this week has been super stressful, not because of anything other than transfers, as far as amis go , it could not get any better! We have 8 new amis, 2 in progress and 1 ami with a date for baptism! So between that and Soeur Tupai and I getting along so well and being so comfortable in Nogent we're so so stressed we will be transfered! Tonight we get phone calls from President and the APs if we have responsibilities this next transfer ( i.e. trainer, STL) So super nervous, this is one reason: at legality ( OFII the medical apt that makes us legal for living in France) S Erickson got a call from President saying her trainer is becoming an STL and she's getting a new trainer and a visa waiter franc phone so she'll be in a trio! Anyway he told her that this transfer will be crazy and everyone practically is changing because the old Mission Pres Poznanski got a call from church headquarters saying our mission has the possibility to hold 300 missionaries. ( we only have 230 now) and a ton are leaving  because they all came in the waves of age change. So they're sending in more missionaries than missionaries here, so he has to open up a ton of new places and take every trainer possible for these next two transfers because so many missionaries are coming into the mission! Its so good, but stressing me out so much! So we shall see what happens! But that and in our formation ( announcements) from Pres. he said EVERY missionary needs to be ready for transfer week so it will go smoothly, which was a surprise because he usually doesn't talk like that. I just really want  to stay in Nogent. I love the people " my africans" LOL, I'm used to them , the place, I love being in Paris! I love my trainer! Ahhhha! Oh, but I think all the stress is making me lose weight! We went to OFII and I think I've lost a couple lbs…hope lol.
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     Well its the next morning, last night no phone call! Yah! We went to the Paul Cardell concert! We took our amis. It was so great, he plays so well, and has a very cool life story. Went great with his testimony. I'm so happy here in Nogent, there is so much going on and so many people to teach, and S Tupai is just an amazing missionary that has helped me in every way. I want to be in Paris for fall/winter and Christmas, how cool would that be?
     Ah! Ok this next sunday is missionary Sunday in the ward so I just have to speak in French about the Restoration, so not looking forward to that… but its ok, hope all is doing good there in Oregon. How is everything? How are the pups? Is Moki still with us? lol. Its weird I'm already on my 2nd transfer! Time is flying by! Is almost October! C'est FOU!  I think my comprehension of French is coming along a lot better than I thought, I'm understanding more and more! Even when they talk super fast I can finally make out a little of what they're saying! I just really need to work on vocabulary. I need flashcards or something- IDK. Still thinking about how I can improve. I'm about 1/2 way through Jesus the Christ. Its a really good book , I've loved it.
     The hardest part of teaching investigators is they always say " I've already been baptized" Nobody here understands the Priesthood! Its really sad, but given me a great testimony of it and it' power.
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     Ok back again, just got the official transfer list and I am so happy to be staying put. Although now I know it will be my last transfer with her. OUr district haws 2 new missionaries Elder Ruttan left so we have a new zone leader Elder Mattson, and Gaule and Powelson are in a trio with a franca phone visa waiter Elder Taochy. We're so excited to meet everyone and that is all  about the same almost! Next transfer will be crazy because elder meg, Powelson, and S Tupai are leaving! 2 sisters in my group had to train this transfer! But they're in small towns  not Navigo zones. I think when you are in Navigo you stay for a long time so I will probably stay in /around Paris for 6-8 months is my guess. I also keep asking to stay here lol. Theres always something to do, and I can get close with the headquarters so when I want to leave one can pretty much choose where lyon want to go. Ok so beyond that, it finally feels good to know people! Whooo!
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     We have so many amis that we know are just ready for baptism and we think this month will be awesome for it!
       Ok, now some of the daily things I forget to say in emails:
- all the RER's/Metros have jungles and S. Tupai and I have memorized them all lol.
-the names here are crazy!
-Africans wear bobo's ( traditional clothing) and want to give us some ( kind want one)
-A lot of people here speak Portugese
-A lot of street vendors selling grilled corn.
-Nobody in the mission know where Nogent is, they just call it Paris East lol
-We have district meetings every week in Paris Lilas ghetto with the Elders, they're hilarious and we're all super close.
Teaching families is my favorite thing to do!
-I'm getting more used to the food here, learning to love it ( i.e. the bread diet)( horrible milk).
-  I absolutely love the city! I love the big villas!
-I still can't get used to the euros coins here, but trying.
-the language really is beautiful and learning to love it.
-the worst thing is getting on RER/Bus/Metro to a warm wet seat…or it being 8:30 and I'm in the south which takes 1 hour by RER to home and having the RER come late because it broke(happens quite frequently)…thus forgetting reading materials because nobody is ever outside here after 8:00…it's the ghetto lol
-the best are the stories with Africans trying to pass through the same stall/ticket line as you.
-I've been hit by many a metro door/once there was  a swinging door and it swung back right as i lifted my hand and cracked all my knuckles…that one was the worst…or having the Navigo not register as you run into the bar and break your pelvis, Sis. Tupai has got that on lockdown(I think those are the best Metro doors because Sis. Tupai and I just laugh at each other when it happens.
-everyone who meets me wants to know if I'm from Utah too when I say no they are alway happy to meet someone from another place lol.
-Ok now I will bear my testimony in french because it might be language study and I need to work…lol much love Soeur Stevens.
Je voudrais rendre ma temoinage, je suis que Dieu nous aimons  et dieu et Jesus Christ vivre aujourd hui au travers l'expiation nous pourrons vivre avec Dieu  et Jesus christ encore.  Je sais que Jospeh Smith a était un propret qui a vu Jesus Christ et Dieu dans la priemer vision. A travers Jospeh Smith et Dieu a rétabli son évangile.  Je suis très reconnaissante pour le Saint-Cere et les alliance que nous faisons quand nous prenons le Saint Cene.  Je sais que le livre de Mormon est au autre témoignage de Jesus Christ et juste comme le Bible, il donne un grand témoignage de la vie de Jesus Christ, et quand j'ai lu le Livre de Mormon j'ai ressenti l'amour de Dieu.  Je sais que mes priers reçoivent des reponce si nous avons la foi.  J'aime l'église et le propret Thomas S. Monson.  Je sais que Dieu est rétabli son évangile et parce que Joseph Smith a reçu la pretise nous avons les clés et l'autorité pour faire des alliances avec dieu Au mon de Jesus Christ. Amen.
   

Starving missionary, but baptisms coming!

Subject: Re: Nogent

GUESS WHAT!!! We didnt get transfered! Im so happy, but a lot of people in my group did, and some are already training! Its crazy so many missionaries are leaving and not a lot here to keep everyone going. They just keep closing more and more villes! I was sad to hear it was Blois :( so now im not sure if id ever go around there. Mostly just Paris area, and North is where sisters are, its very possible for me to go to Caen thought, being in Paris im close to the hub of the mission, so hopefully i can just say hey really want to go to Caen and I bet they would try and get me there haha theyre really arent that many of us so lets hope!

That would be fun to go to Utah again! And word on the street is that BYU is kicking butt this year! WHAT!! thats so cool! Yeah I would if they keep up this winning streak! 

So we were supposed to go grocery shopping but our cards dont work so we have literally no money for anything so im actually emialing at the church this week. So buying food... not sure how that'll go this week and the missionary in charge of the cards wont answer the phone, (hes rough to work with) so were at a loss of what to do this week about even buying milk, bread, and such, there is never any red meat we have money to buy, if we can get our cards to work i will try and get a hamburger at McDonalds tonight lol. 

And DAD come on their is a patisserie on every corner lol we have like 20 just on one street no joke.. its a little crazy. and yeah we try a lot! Its all soooo good! Its also nice because you can buy bread for like 50 cents!! yeah!

Also what!! I really hope we get a chik fil a! That would be awesme! yeah seriously its the best food around nobody cares about politics, just love the food! haha

Hope all goes well with the new computers! That sounds rough, how was the remodel too, send pics! did everything get finished? 

Love you tons! Missionary life is soooooo busy and the time is flying by! Went and did OFII so now im officially legal in France!! Major dr. apt and I got a chest xray and only me and one other missionary understood what the lady's instructions were because she said them all in French! haha i was kinda pround,, shouldnt be i need huimility, but it was nice to know im making progress! So we had to help the other missionaries with what papers to show and such. It took all day! It was crazy, and the dr was just like I cant believe how healthy all of your lungs are! Really nobody smokes?! hahaahah its was great.

Weve had some sketchy experiences but luckly we have the spirit, and just yesterday we had to run out of a neighborhood, turns out it was an Elders Only sector lol oops, so we learned our lesson to always check our sectors before we leave for contacting thats for sure! But nothing too crazy! The africans are awesome prepping them for baptism and this one old chinese woman is also progressing a lot she speaks Mandrin and French with a Mandrin accent, so we have to teach her with a Mandrin equipe of elders and its just hilarous hearing the french and mandrin back and forth... it reminds me of what andrew is doing right now lol. Shes pretty aweome so we think she is ready for baptism, so were really pushing for 3 baptisms this transfer which is more than theyve had in years in Nogent! Its crazy! Weres so happy!

Love you tons!

Ashley

A Late night conversation with my girl, what a treat!

I had noticed that Ashley always sent my Pday email at the same time and so I woke up at 3:15 am to have a little chat with her and felt very blessed to converse via email with her! Here are her responses to my questions.
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Hi I'm Here!!! Jelly of the hawaiian hamburgers lol!! I miss your food, Eurpean food is still not as good as yours!

Love you so much mom! This week we got 8 new amis!! Can you believe it! The lord is blessing us so much, and S. Tupai and I get along so well its crazy were best friends, i really just needed to change myself. We are having such an amazing time in Nogent were so scared for Saturday to see the transfers

Today is just Lux gardens, and shopping in Paris :)

Just chilling around the city!! But we go there a lot now for contacting lol

i cant believe how much im actually in paris!

YES the package was just in time the next day it poured on us lol. I loved the note you stuck in my pocket, yes i really do follow the spirit and so does s tuapi there are several times when we feel urged, "dont go down that street" or something. Yes we go door to door a lot here, so far nothing has come from it. but you never know! We found most of them from contacting, so just walking up to people and telling them about the church! Its really fun and makes me break out of my bubble of shyness! Im really working on locking my eyecontact,,, so yeah its good. others were from amis who told thier friends and they came to church with them and we scheduled apts !!! YAY!! power of missionary work! Also i loved the scripture tea, after a long cold wet day its nice to come do planning with it!

the luxumberg gardens? idk ive never been but ive heard theyre cool so well just walk around, I think i really like Notre Dame area of Paris, but it might be because im biased its in my zone hehe its the Paris Lila elders, Oh I was going to tell you about them! 

If you stay ill send some more pics! Did you like the last ones lol, did you watch the videos that were embarrasing

awesome, yes i bought another at the MTC. also i wonder if someone stole my blue jacket from my luggage, there were a lot of sisters whose bags were opened and clothing items missing. so i wouldnt doubt it

The grey one is awesome! I just need to get some tights and boots for the weather its getting cold!!

Oh, there are some members who are awesome! 

Ill look for boots here because i think i will buy more fashionable books ish like ankle boots they will go better with skirts than big boots

haha yes it costs so much to send a package though, i can just buy it here, but i just really wish i could get my debit card!!! Its such a struggle, i am going to paris agian on judi for legalite (doctors appt which is like all day testing) its required for my visa everyone has to do it. anyway ill talk to the senior couple about it then again

my knee is good but sometimes just gets super tight and numb feeling, wierd, but my comp is good about it she always helps me if we need to sit or stretch it for a second

Thanks mom! LOVE YOU SO MUCH, and seriously if we thought our ward had difficulties, no ours is awesome compared to here... but on saturday the AP's will call us if we are doing anything crazy i dont think so, i think i will stay in Nogent for a while longer! ok got to finish dads letter and go,! Love you but Paris is calling :)

Hardest missionary moment so far & the healing power of the Atonement...

Handwritten letter dated 8/28/2014 ( Just before Grandpa's passing on Sept. 5th)    

One of the hardest things I've ever had to do as a missionary ( might ever have to do let's pray) was to visit a widow who's husband just died of cancer two weeks ago. She's only in her forties and they have a 5 year old son. She's from Tennessee so she spoke perfect English so I pretty much took over on that one, ha ha. But the minute I walked into her home I felt an immediate love for this woman. I have never felt anything like it before. I felt the healing power of the Atonement working in her. I felt most of all God's love for his grieving child. As I sat there and talked with her my heart was pained and I could feel exactly what love and charity are. She told me of her last moments with him and how she's been coping with his loss. It was so hard to hear her, but for some reason I was so full of the spirit and for a brief moment got a much bigger picture of the Plan of Salvation. The knowledge that God was telling her He's right here and you will be together forever. Though the father left behind a young family, she told me she knew that God needed him up there more than he was needed on earth.
     In a quote by Thomas S Monson, he says it best. " Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us is immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be."
     The trial that she is going through I have never experienced, but through the Spirit and power I have been given somehow I can grieve with her. My love for her and knowledge for her future was enlightened by my calling. As we left I was able to say a prayer, I felt the Holy Ghost working with me and I gave a blessing on the home, and family. Something I did not fully know I had the power to do as a Sister, but as a missionary we are given a much greater authority. I'm not sure I even knew how great my purpose was until I was given the opportunity to use it. So far it has been the greatest and hardest moment as a missionary. We asked to come back ands she gladly said yes. For some reason we connected, and I'm so grateful to have had that experience to go to her home. I've been reading a lot on the Atonement and in that moment I could see it more than I ever have in my entire life, at least the healing power over trials. Christ's atonement was the greatest gift of all mankind and I got  to witness it.

Challenge of the week: Preparation Pays off with great lesson on Restoration

Hey mom,

Im so glad everything went well this week I was praying a lot for you and the family. I love you all! I have seen countless miracles this week. First off, after the letter on pday about grandpa i was really sad, and we actually went to Chateau de Vincennes in Paris, but in my area, wierd i have Paris in my area, we can see the Eiffel tower whenever we go south on the RER, anyway I was laying in the courtyard grass at the chateau there was nobody there, just my comp and I, which was awesome, and sat under a chesnut tree with the blue sky and just finally got a moment to think about everthing in life, and family, and it was just some time and space i needed. Then i prayed for a letter from you just a note or something, and the next day I got your card! It was a miracle i think you were inspired to send it because HF knew I would need it. Ok, so something really cool that might sound wierd... I really think grandpa is helping us here, because this is the first week out of weeks of finding and contacting we found 3 new amis!!!!!! Can you believe it! And the baptismal date is progressing, but they didnt come to church, so were thinking we will have to push it back, but still! Its literally the miracle we have fasted and prayed for for so long, all of our prayers are being answered its crazy how life is working. I think its because grandpa is doing missionary work. but thats just me. 

Im so sorry to hear about Gerry Anderson. i will try to write something. But yeah thats rough. Maybe she could help Peter better in heaven who knows. I just know that I have been thinking a lot about life on earth. I have such a strong testimony of Christs ressurection, and just knowing that he lives means everyone else will too, death is such an important part of the plan, and such a step towards eternal progression, why we always associate it with heartache and sorrow, i think sometimes can be selfish. It is sad dont get me wrong, but its so good for them. they are one step closer to eternal life! How cool is that! The sister whos husband just died said if anything the fact that he is gone now only makes me want to live more worthily so i can return to live with him once more too. we should all strive to live so we can be with our ancestors too. I love you so much and thank you for everything and sending my coat. Its taken an odd hot streak and it feels like summer again randomly lol. Im not complaining.!! 

Oh so one of my challenges this week was this one less active single mom with three kids we visited. The first time we visited I didnt say much because im still learning french it was only my 2 weeks in France, well she just insulted me so much for not knowing the language already, and not trying harder to speak, and that i was just a horrible person. THen at the end of the lesson she said you have to come next week and S. Tupai I dont want to hear a word from you , only S Stevens can say and give the lesson. Ok, See you then. 

WELL CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! yeah so we had to go again the next week much to my utter dissapointment. but i planned an entire lesson, and prayed all day for a miracle that she would soften her heart towards me and not utterly dispise me so much. Well I gave a lesson on the Restoration and how we can build our foundations on Christ, she didnt say a word the entire lesson, and at the end answered my questions, followed up on our privious commitment, and then I told her she needed to come to church. GUESS WHAT! She came to church for the first time in 6 months her and all her kids! IT was crazy then she asked for the  elders number to get a blessing so she can come more often or somthing idk. But it was an utter miracle. I still cant believe it happened! Faith is a power, not just an expression of belief!

LOVE YOU! So happy to finally be settling in here and being ok with missionary life.

LOve you tons

Ashley