...Pic from a member

Susie Curtis, a member in the Emerald Acres ward, has an aunt who lives in one of the wards that Ashley serves in. She fed them dinner and then sent this picture to Susie.
Thanks, Susie, for passing it on!!!

What a week!

We had a great week with lessons and seeing people change and grow! Monday was a great night! We had a lesson with a less active family, the Borens, who have a daughter that just turned 8 but she has not been baptized yet. She wants to but the problem is that she has only been to church a handful of times so her parents asked us to teach her so she can be ready for baptism and understand things. The kids are so cute and ready to participate in everything concerning church but the parents are just fine without going....So thats kinda hard but the kids always have fantastic questions about the lessons. when we were teaching the Plan of Salvation. The boy asked what happens if you die without getting baptized and so we were able to teach about baptisms for the dead and he really liked it and wanted to do it! He will be 12 next year and I hope the parents will let him go to church and to do baptisms... We will see tho! Sister Pavalak is another Less active member that we are working with. She has been reading a bit here and there and is getting even closer and closer to coming back to church! She has decided that she just needs to set aside time just to read the Book of Mormon! Otherwise she won't ever get to it! Priorities as SOOOOO very important! 

   We had a service auction for Relief Society and Sister Glover bought an hour of service (with fake money of coarse) and we had a BLAST! We cleaned out two of her daughter's rooms, who are now married and have been for a couple of years, closets and updated her grandkid's wall. We laughed soo hard and just had a blast doing it! While I was on the floor of the first closet it hit me that I was in some strange ladies basement that I have only known for 4 1/2 months....It's crazy what happens on a mission and how many people that you grow relationships with real fast! We went on splits with the ward missionaries that night and I went with Sister Powell and we saw quite a few people. We went to this one house that the lady pretended not to be home, although we heard her, and Sister Powell told me about when she was in Japan on her mission they had video cameras that would turn on a light to see who was outside and who the rang there door bell then just ignore them... Ha! People! 

  Wednesday we had SUCH  a great lesson with Neiva! We talked about faith and what it means to her and how it is everything in our life! I like to say if we don't have faith we have nothing! She has a lot of friends of different religions and she loves to learn about them and experience them by going to church. She told us that every time she talks with her friends about their religious beliefs she always comes back to what we have taught her! There is a PULL!! My friends, that is the Holy Ghost testifying to her spirit that what we are teaching is true! She just hasn't connected the two quite yet, but its coming! We are so excited to see her and her family progressing! Sister Smith, the sick sister I was in the MTC with, is now in the district!!! We had lunch the other day at Costa Vita! yumm!!! I love being able to just have lunch with good friends! We volunteer at an assisted living care center and call out Bingo! It is really fun to go and have them remember your name! We also went to make paper flowers and there were some real flowers there that they get for the residence to have fun arranging them, like last week. We worked on the paper ones while some other ladies fused about not having knives to cut the flowers with....man these workers have sooo much patience....it's a good thing that I'm working on Charity this transfer :D! hahaha 

  On Thursday we are suppose to do weekly planning where we plan for the week and for the lessons we will be teaching but,like always. we never get it done on Thursday. And this time we never even started! Right after we finished saying a prayer to start we got a call form Elder Sorensen. He is the  housing coordinator for the mission, and he told us we had to move out and move into a basement apartment that some other sisters are living in. So we started packing and then went to a lesson with an investigator who said the most wonderful prayer and thanked her Heavenly Father for everything Jesus Christ has done for her! She really wants to be baptized but her parents don't make an effort to get her to church or themselves. Then back to packing and cleaning...I've learned I have turned into my mom, which isn't bad, but I couldn't leave that apartment to the Elders without cleaning it really good! So we spent most of our day doing that and moving into our tiny bedroom and bunk beds. I keep hitting my head on the Ceiling when I wake up in the mornings...plus the lady is trying to sell her house as well so we most likely will be moving again....Oh the life of a missionary! hahah LOVE IT!!!! 

    So this week I got my travel itinerary, which I'll send a picture of next week! It really hasn't sunk in that I'll be leaving soon and I don't think it will till I get on that plane. During Zone meeting tho Elder Scott went around the room and "Released" us from our missions to prove a point that we only have this short time to serve and we need to understand our role and how important this time is. I had another Zone Leader do that about a year ago and this time it hit even harder and then I "released" him and we both just sat their with tears rolling down our faces. I will never forget this time of my life, that I have put so much of my heart out on the line for others and have really understood my purpose in life and what REALLY matters! Anyone and I mean ANYONE who is thinking even contemplating the idea of serving, whether young or old, just DO IT! You will NEVER regret it!!! And it will help you through the rest of your life, I promise! I love all of you and wish I could just pour out everything I feel in my heart but there aren't enough words or time to do so! I pray that my example will be able to help those I serve around and my family and extended family back at home! Like Elder Holland has said lean upon my testimony if yours is waving till you can find your feet planted firmly upon our Savior Jesus Christ! I love you all so much and can't wait to be reunited as a family and friends! Till then Stay strong and carry on!

--

<3 Sister Ashley Clawson

3rd 6 month area!!!

  I think I might just have set a record! hahaha nah! So me and Sister Dale are staying together this transfer! We are super excited! There are soo many Less Active members that we are working with who are changing and coming back to church again! Sister Pecora has come twice now after not coming for the past 20 years! AND she has a desire to read the Book of Mormon! Its AMAZING!!  The change I have been blessed to see in her! Linda also came to church again this week! It is the most exciting thing when people come to church that have never been to church or haven't been in a long time!  We received some referrals this week for Less Active members that we didn't know lived in our ward boundary's and one that just moved in! Holly has lived by BSU for about 6 months now and she's been up and down with religion and guys. She was baptized back in 2001 but hasn't been coming for about 15 months, and her daughter is about 15 months...get the picture? I wish the culture of the church was different. If people make a mistake, which face it! We ALL do, we should be there to support them and love them through their trials, not make them outcasts! Now off of my soap box which I'm sure I'll jump back on in a bit! hahaha The other family who just moved in is the Larrson family. They are from Utah and they have moved here for a change and to start going back to church! He is a convert and she has been a member her whole life, just has gone down some undesirable paths. But the fact in it all is that they are making the change they sought out help and guidance!

  We were able to do some good old hard work this week! I mowed the Andersons yard and then we raked all the leaves that were pretty solidly compressed on the ground because of the early snow fall this year! It was good to work hard again! Its been a while! Sister Dale told Brother Anderson who was worried that I would hurt myself "She's tougher then she looks!" hahaha 

  I love watching people grow and being able to help them build their faith on Jesus Christ! I have such a testimony about becoming like a little child, meek, submissive, humble...we are teaching an 8 year old whose parents aren't active whatsoever and she is so excited to be baptized and really wants to go to church and so does her brother. Next year he is able to get the Priesthood and go do  baptisms for the dead and pass the sacrament but his parents wont take them to church so they can grow...This kiddo know what is right because the world isn't a distraction to them yet! I know its easier to say that i wont let the world be a distraction for me out here on my mission and I know it will be a challenge when i get home but i hope and pray that i can keep my eye single to the Lords and that i can focus on what really matters in this world! Yes its great to have things that can help us  in this life like a car a house money food and even fun things that we can enjoy as a family but if the gospel is not our strong center in the gospel then all of those other things really don't matter! 

 --

<3 Sister Ashley Clawson

 

Pictures!

 

 I think Debbie Farr would be so proud of my beautiful arranging skills! hahah only if the flowers weren't almost dead!

 

This was one of the most alive flowers and it fell off so I wore it in my ear for the rest of the day! hahaha

 

  We got Beenie Babies from Sister Pecora!!! 

 She thinks she is Sister Clawson now! hahaha

I LOVE Giving Talks now!!! Who woulda Thunk?

  So yes! I do like giving talks now! Me and Sister Dale both gave a talk on Sunday and we had 4 investigators there! It went sooo well!!!!! They all seemed to get quite a bit out of what the Spirit confirmed to them!

    Joey would be soo proud of me! The Elders convinced me to play basketball with them and I made a 3 point shot!!!! Don't know where that one came from but it happened! Watch out, Joey! I might just be getting better then you! hahah I love being able to relax and play some sports with the missionaries here on P-days! Yesterday was super funny! We went on two bike rides about 10 miles each and the went ice skating as a district because it was one of the sisters last P-day. Turns out she can't ice skate....ha! I was in charge of helping her out! I followed her around once, holding her belt loop because if I didn't she fell! hahah and she had one of those little kid helps that you hold onto to teach you how to skate! haha It was a great day! 

 As I'm sure ya'll know by now that I got on the blue turf of the BSU football field! It was great! It looked like all the gates were locked then Sister Vranes calls to us and tells us to walk fast! hahaha! Maybe I'll be able to march on the blue! ;)! 

  There is this new website JustServe.org and we are the first group of missionaries in the Idaho Boise Mission to start using this site for service oportunities. We went and cleaned out an Assistant living house garage! it was a really good thing that I was there or NOTHING would have gotten done! hahaha We were sweeping up the floor after we moved everything out and I had noticed a couple of mouse traps but the elder helping me sweep didn't know what it was so he picked it up.  He asked me what it was then turned it slightly and I saw a tail and told him. He dropped it and freaked!!! hahahaha so gross yet soo funny!!! I love being able to get my hands dirty and help people out! 

 Speaking of getting my hands dirty, Ma knows that ! LOVE to paint! and I LOVE even more to get paint everywhere! I have quite a knack at that! We got to help paint the outside of the Meredeths house! It was super fun! We got down 30 mins before it poured! Thankfully, the wind blew before the rain and dryed all the paint!  

  We were able to take Rick to the temple to do a lesson on the grounds and take him into the waiting room to feel the spirit! It was really cool! He pulled us aside before we started talking and asked us if we could feel the spirit! He said that he's been coming to the grounds just to pray for about 5 years now! How cool huh?! Plus! There were 3 couples who just got sealed and I got to see wedding dresses! That's always a pluss! I know ma!!! hahahahahaha 

 Trasfers are this week and I have NO idea what is going to happen since I only have 2 transfers left....12 weeks.... I love my mission and the people that I have been able to help and those that have helped and strengthened my testimony! Boise, Idaho will always be my home away from home! But one thing i have learned on my mission is that my home is where my family is, NO matter where that is! I have such a strong testimony about the Plan of Salvation! Every time i teach it I think of how much  I want my family to be together forever, even Joey, and it brings such warm feelings to my heart that words just can not explain! I love you all so much and pray for you!!!! Stay strong and carry on!

--

<3 Sister Ashley Clawson

 

pictures

 We got caught in the rain while we were biking!

This is my friend mr squirl! I don't know how to spell it tho.....

 Even tho these are Westwood colors, I love them when they are BSU colors!!!! hahaha 

  Look who beat the wildcats!!!!! thats what im talken about!

  It decided to pour and hail out of no where for about 40 mins while we were planing for our week...yah we didnt get much done for that 40 mins! hahaha

 Painting the house!

 

...From Sister Zandra Vranes

Hi Sister Wellesley and Sister Clawson! I got to hang with your lovely ladies again this evening. We may or may not have snuck onto the Boise State smurf turf...☺️. Clearly your girls are spiritual their steaks caught the Spirit of God like a fire is burning...LOL! We went out for Argentinian food tonight and then they were off to teach a new investigator! Hope you Moms had a great Mother's Day, the ladies couldn't stop gushing about how great their Skype calls were.

Don't tell the Elders but we just love having Sister missionaries in the ward, I think they even smell a little sweeter than the boys. ;)

So many meetings!

 This week has been a very interesting week. We had two huge meetings, one was for the new missionaries and the other was our zone conference! They were both super good and we learned a TON! Missionary work itself went kinda slow but we were able to see quite a few people between all the meetings and service projects. We were asked to help at an elementary school festival with the fishing for prizes booth and man, little kids can swing pretty hard. We both got hit a couple of times!Then we learned to stand back! hahaha Not much to talk about this week but I'm sure I'll have more next week sorry! I love you all so much and hope that everyone is doing well! I do know that the church is true no matter what ANY body says! I know what I have felt and experienced and I can NOT deny it! I love you all!!!

--

<3 Sister Ashley Clawson

Mothers Day!!!!!!!!!!

 I gota say that this week was super hard because of the anticipation of seeing my family!!! AND it was SOOOO worth the wait! I love them soooo much and it was definitely that pick me up that I needed!

 On Monday, we had a super fun time doing sports with the Zone! We were playing ultimate football and Sister Dale went to block me but couldn't stop so she ran straight into me and I had no chance I fell straight on my butt!! It was the FUNNIET thing ever! hahhaa only like a couple weeks into being companions and she is already tackling me!!! hahaha Then Sister Pahuloo ,a big Tongan Sister who is HALARIOUS, was trying to protect herself from Sister Dale and was telling her that they were on the same team and not to tackle her! hahaha much too funny! We went on a huge bike ride that night with Bruno and man along side the Boise river, there is a bike/walking trail that is called the green belt! It is so beautiful! Something I want to ride completely when I come back to visit!

 One thing I have learned on my mission is when it's not someone's time to accept the Gospel, it's just not their time...We have a very nice family that we see cuz they wanted some questions answered and at first, they were very nice, then it turned into a bash the Mormons and make the New Sister cry....it's really hard because his daughter was promised in a blessing that her dad would join the church...hopefully, one day his heart will be softened...but that time is not now. During times like these I have to remind myself that EVERYONE is a child son or daughter of God!

   Exchanges=Miracles! We switched companions for the day and I got to be with Sister Maness!!! She is stinken awesome! We have served in the same district before but never together! Well that morning Tre emails/texts us and says that he wants to meet! So we plan it for that morning at 11 am! Some scary stuff happened at his place last week so we took him to the institute building and talked about Faith, Repentance, Baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Sacrament! Then he brought up something that made me sooo happy! He said that as soon as he has completely stopped smoking he said he will pray about a date to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo!!!!! We also received a referral that is super interested! His boss is LDS and they were already planning on inviting missionaries over..hence the referral! haha

  We had Zone meeting this week and we talked about how to introduce the Book of Mormon to people better by actually emphasizing the fact that it is another estimate of Jesus Christ! Something that a lot of people leave out for some reason! Something super cool is that the first time the Book of Mormon mentions Christ by this name is in 2 Nephi chapter 10! just a fun fact :) I started the Book of Mormon over again about a month ago and have been marking every time it refers to Christ and says his name and all and man my eyes have been open to how much it talks about Christ! I always knew that it was about Christ and His teachings but I never realized that it is ALL about Him!

  I love when dogs escape out of their house and don't listen to their owners....we chased the dog down and finally caught her and I was all muddy, which was perfectly fine with me. I didn't care but the member did and instead of telling us to come back, which he was about to do before the dog darted out of the house, he had us come in and we were able to talk with his wife! She is a member and we have been trying to get her to read the Book of Mormon and she told us she hasn't started yet but her desire is there she just has to sit down and do it now! haha When we were talking about her desire that she has she started to tear up and said its all because of me! She said that for some reason I was sent here to help her come back to the church and she doesn't know what she is going to do when I leave! It was such a sweet tender mercy from the Lord showing me that I am doing what He has sent me here to do and that I am touching peoples lives! She wants me to come back next summer and go float down the river with her since she has never gone! I love being a missionary!!!!

  Speaking of people coming back to the church we got to see Mike and get to know her a bit more! I think she wants to set me up with her son too! At first it was flattering when people would say that but now...not so much! haha

 Mothers day was great! Loved the primary children's songs and yes, I teared up and I had the funniest conversation with the kids that were sitting behind me. They are super rambunctious and this is how it went when their mom had to take their youngest brother out:

  me:  Do you think you can pretend that your bottom is glued to the seat? 

  boys: no

  boys: Do you think you can pretend your eyes are glued to the speaker?

  me: can you?

  Boys: no

  me: then no and shh!

  Boys: you can't make me shush, no one can!

  me: you want to bet? I can just come sit next to you ;)

  boys: never!!!!

hahaha, This boy has attitude but he's a sweetheart! I love little kids!!!!

 

  I got some super cool news during my Skype time! Justin, my friend from high school got baptized and invited me to come!!!! It was the coolest news ever! As I was thinking about that this morning I was looking back at my life and realized that I have had many missionary opportunities in the past but have never done anything about them or really realized it! I love what the Gospel can do for peoples lives! I have seen it first had transform peoples lives in ways they never expected!!! I know that Jesus Christ is MY Savior and he died for MY sins! I know I can't ever do anything that will repay what He has done for me but I will do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to let Him know that I fully appreciate, even though I still don't fully understand everything that He has done for me! I love you all and pray for you! Stay strong and Safe and carry on!

--

<3 Sister Ashley Clawson

 

Pictures!

 

 

 

 

1. I like taking pictures what can I say? haha

 

2. Flowers are my favorite thing to take pictures of if you cant tell! haha

 

 

3. Oh, I totally forgot! This sister got home in July from her mission and is up for the weekend and ran into the AP's and asked if there were any sisters in the area and they gave her our number so she drove us around and we had a blast seeing people and talking and she took us to Sonic before we went home! I want to be like her! She called us up and said that she was bored so why not go out with the sisters! hahaha

 

4. We painted flowers with two older folks at the retirement center and helped set up and serve for their Mother's day tea it was a lot of fun! I love service!

 

5. AZ! Home sweet home! For the both of us!

 

6. Our bike ride! Just beautiful!!!!!

7. A shot with Bruno down by the river!

 

8. Me and Sister Dale!


--

<3 Sister Ashley Clawson