Sister Ashley Marie Clawson: !!!!! Finished the Bible! People

Man this week went by super fast! This week was a little slower with lessons. We taught 13 lessons and most of those were to investigators so that was nice! Life goes by sooo fast! that's for sure! I can't believe I have 6 months left of my mission! Missions are one of the most special sacred times in anyone's life! I have learned what the Atonement actually is and how repentance can help us change to become the son of daughter of God that we really are! How it can take away the rough edges and show us the diamond that we have inside us, the diamond that we really are! I also just finished the Bible and MAN is that book inspired and such a gift to us! And let me tell you Paul is awesome! I definitely want someone like him in my future!

So we didn't hike table Rock on Monday. We went and played ultimate football but that's not where the excitement started! hahaha soooo I'm new with this whole down town Boise thing so we got lost! We had Alex, an investigator, following us to another church building and she knew the area a lot better than we did so we went in circles downtown trying to find our way! I swear I got a 6 pack from that car ride! It was great!!! Alex is soo ready to be baptized! She really likes getting tattoos but she understands all of it and she is really praying about it! She told us that she probably really might consider being baptized before she goes down to Logan on March 20 for school! She says to start new! How great would that be? I absolutely love her! She is technically a YSA but the elders are letting us teach her since we all ready have a relationship with her and she will be leaving so soon! We will be besties forever!, that's for sure! She invited one of her friends to church! How cool huh!??! and to a lesson this wed! her name is Janelle but she lives in star so if she's really interested we will be sending missionaries over there to her! So I got to geek out with her a bit! She marches for Santa Clara Van Guard in California on the color guard! it was nice for some one to actually understand me and my passion! hahaha

Speaking of YSA investigators Samuel is another one he is 27 and super sweet and we think that he is very sincere about learning but he has a lot of addictions he is going to have to overcome. We are praying that he will take everything seriously! He has been on this spiritual journey for about a year now and he really enjoys learning! It's great! He said he would start reading the Book of Mormon! When I get home I can't wait to be the member missionary/ fellowshipper for people like Samuel that I wish we had for him! We are going to teach him the Plan of Salvation next week and then pass him over to the Elders if he is ready.

Drake is another investigator and this man is awesome! He thinks the Gospel library app is the coolest thing on the planet and he has had it for years now! Not really sure where he wants to go with the church. He loves fast and testimony meeting....I know right?! He should just go get baptized already!!!! hahahahaha

We had 2 lessons with Carl this week and after the first one he said he doesn't want to leave and we should just keep teaching him all day! We do the lessons in the church house and the spirit is soo strong all the time! It's sooo great! Then last night we were talking about the Preisthood and he pulls out his cigarette box and chucks them at Sister Delang and says "I'm done!" We were all speechless! He has been struggling for such a long time with smoking and stopping as well. He's done great in lessening how may he smokes. Miracles man! they are the BOMB!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I love you all so much and please pray for opportunities for yourselves to have your eyes and minds open to hear the promptings of the Spirit and see who in your life around you is ready to hear and embrace the Gospel of our lord and Savior Jesus Christ! This work is the greatest work that we can do and the best gift that we can give ANYONE and EVERYONE!!!!!! I promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that as you prepare yourselves to see and witness miracles in other peoples lives it WILL happen! I know that to be true with all my heart! One more thing to remember those young men and young women who have black pieces of plastic on their shirts aren't really the full time missionaries....they come and go but YOU are the ones that stays and that makes you the full time member missionaries in your ward! So take pride in that and know that you are placed in a certain stop just like we as missionaries are called to where ever Heavenly Father needs us. We here so we can do the most good, you can too! I love you all and most of all I Love my Savior Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father! I know the church is true and that by reading the Book of Mormon we can like Joseph Smith said can grow closer to our Savoir then by any other book there is in all the universe!!!!!!
<3 Sister Ashley Clawson