CONFERENCE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND EASTER SUNDAY IN SHELBY !!!

Hey Y'all! Did you have a Happy Easter?

Hey you guys!  This week was a little strange.  Between helping Sister B pack, Sister B getting sick, Me getting sick, and Sister G getting Sick... we weren't able to accomplish much... but despite that, WE HAD AN AMAZING WEEK!  So many silver linings!

So instead of the day by day that I usually do, I will pick probably 2 or 3 experiences worth sharing, and write about those.  So it will probably be a little shorter this week.

Anyway... Here was a few things that stood out to me this week.

On Monday night, we were able to go out to dinner with the H's!  They made us laugh the entire night!  I think the funniest thing said by Sister H was when we were talking about them coming out to visit us sometime next year.  We started to talk about the things they could do, the food that was there, etc.  When we told brother Hthat he had to try Cafe Rio, Sister H got soooo excited!  She said, "Ooooohhhh my gosh.  It's soooooo good!  But I have to tell you girls.  One time, someone asked me if Cafe Rio was as good as Chipotle.  That's like asking if the local McDonalds is as good as the Outback Steakhouse!"  I pretty much died!  Y'all have to meet them if they come visit!  They're the best.  Sister H and I have adopted each other as best friends.  She even made a special trip to the church on Wednesday to tell me when they found out the gender of their baby!  WooHoo!  :)

We were also able to do some yard work for a member of the ward this week.  She and her husband really appreciated our help.  We lifted things and raked, and moved things, and spread mulch, etc.  She gave me the nickname muscles because I was lifting all of the heavy things.  But we were able to learn more about she and her husband because of it.  They are such amazing people.  They were actually sealed in the Los Angeles temple.

I loved how many opportunities we got to talk to recent converts this week before General Conference.  We were able to share of the importance of General Conference and how to apply the teachings that are shared to our daily lives.  Both as missionaries, and as members.  Adam was really excited.  He came up with questions that he wanted answered and everything.  The B’s were excited, but I still don't know if they came to know of the importance.  But they enjoyed it.  And with time, I know that the things they learned will be of great value to them.

This week we were really focused on strengthening ward members.  We have two new missionary faces in the ward which is good for the members.  They love to be able to work with us, and I know that this combination of missionaries in Shelby right now will really get the work progressing.  We even got a new Ward Mission Leader.  Our stake president in the Gastonia stake got released, and we are fortunate enough to have him in the Shelby ward.  And he got called as Ward Mission Leader the Sunday after he was released.  We hadn't been having coordination meeting, member splits, anything.  After he was called, he asked if we could meet between conference sessions yesterday.  It was amazing.  He asked us who we were working with, how he could help, who could go out with us, how we can help them progress, etc.  He was even calling the members to go out with us as we were in the meeting!  He's great!  We also went over less-actives that he and Bishop would like us to go see and things like that.  Now we just have to work on finding techniques.  IF ANYONE READING THIS HAS ANY FINDING TECHNIQUES THAT THEY FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE ON THEIR MISSIONS... PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY.  IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE ON A MONDAY – YOU CAN SEND THEM ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.  JUST SEND THEM, SEND THEM, SEND THEM!  :)

But now for the most wonderful, amazing, spectacular, indescribably outstanding part of my week and yours.... GENERAL CONFERENCE!

Yes - I was able to watch all 4 sessions.  I would have to say my Favorite was the "powerhouse session" as us missionaries are calling it... Sunday Morning Session.  Really though, who wouldn't like a session where you get to hear from President Monson, Elder Holland, AND President Uchtdorf?!?!?!?!  I think I cried for a lot of that session as well because of either intensity, happiness, or gratitude to our loving Savior Jesus Christ.  Did you like Elder Holland's story about the two brothers that went rock climbing?  I think my heart stopped when he said that he jumped.  I thought the story was going to end in disaster.  But then I cried because of the reality of the Metaphor.  The Savior is always there.  He never leaves us.  He reaches out to grab us when we fall and he will not let us fail.  It was sooooo good.  I also loved the prophet's emphasis on temples.  However, it was horrible for missionaries to hear that in my mission.  Because at this point in time, we can't go to the temple.  But on the bright side, it makes us that much more excited to go I suppose.  :)  And of course I loved all of President Uchtdorf's talk.... as I always do.  I took two pages of notes on it.... Whoops?  ;)

Although, I (as well as my companions and a few ward members) find it really strange that President Monson didn't do a "Welcome to Conference" and he didn't close the conference either.  People were saying it is because he felt sick... so I hope he gets feeling better soon.

The other really strange thing about conference is, they focused A LOT on marriage in both of the Saturday Sessions, but more so in the afternoon session on Saturday.  Sister G said she felt a bit reproved, but I just felt like they were telling everyone to get married and keep your marriages strong.  We were all making fun of each other and saying that we will have 3 months, 6 months, 1 month, etc. when we get back, before each of us gets married.  It was pretty funny!  

I think my favorite thing said on Saturday is when President Packer said, "All you need for a successful marriage is a cookie and a kiss."  So simplistic, yet so profound!  

But yes.  Conference was absolutely amazing and sooooo not long enough.  I feel as though it whips by when you are on your mission and I wish that it would have lasted longer.  However, I am noticing that the weeks are doing the same thing.  Already, one week of the new transfer is gone, and it felt like nothing.  My companions, who are both "older" than me in mission time, say that it only gets worse as the time goes by.  So you have to make EVERY MOMENT count.

I also really liked what the member of the 70 (I believe) said that he was told on his mission that as long as Heavenly Father and you, know that you are doing your best and working your hardest, you are effective in his eyes.  :)  I could go on and on... so if you have any specific questions about General Conference, write me and ask and I would love to answer them!  But as for the questions and such you sent in your original email...

PARKER IRWIN!  I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT CALLED TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY!  YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN!  I am so excited for you!  (If you even get a chance to read this).  You, Lindsay, and I will have to compare mission stories!  I can't believe we are all going to be out at the same time!  When does he leave?  What MTC is he going to?  And what language is he speaking?

Transfers went really well!  We were so nervous that we were going to have a companion that wouldn't get along with us very well... but we definitely don't!  Yes.  We are still in a trio.  We actually had to stay in Shelby the whole day and keep working, so we didn't even know who our new companion was until about 6 at night.  Are you sick of me postponing who she is?  Should I tell you now?  How about now?  haha  Just kidding!  Her name is Sister B.  She is amazing!  She is from Greenwich, Utah.  She is 20 years old, just like me and Sister G.  She is really laid back, really willing to work, and soooo funny!  She has been out her mission the longest, in fact, she only has 5 weeks left.  So as she says, "Sister G and I get to kill her off."  haha  She is imparting so much knowledge and experience on us though... so I couldn't be more grateful.  Now we are just putting our heads together to progress the work in Shelby.

We also got a new elder named Elder M.  He is from Rexburg, ID, he is like 6'4'', and he is super funny.  By new missionary, I mean brand new.  Elder C is training this transfer!  :)  I will attach a picture of all of us together in another email.  Speaking of which: Unfortunately, since this week was so slow, I didn't get tons of pictures.  But I have a few.  So hopefully that will suffice for now.  :)

Glad to hear Easter was fun too!  :)  Our new convert L made us each an Easter Basket, it was so nice of her.  Thank you again for all the things you do for me and the wonderful goodies you send to me!  I love them every single time!  If you can, (if you haven't sent it already), see if y'all can get letters written to me.  I love reading your letters. 

I am so happy to hear that you invited one of Emily's friends and her family to participate in the temple celebration.  Let me know how it goes!  :)  I am so glad that you guys have the desire to be the missionaries that I encourage you to be.  I know that I am going to try my hardest to do the little things that I can when I return from my mission to keep spreading the gospel, but I also understand that it is a little harder where we live.  But at least we are trying and doing our part!  :)  Love you guys!

I have on and off contact with L.  We usually try to write at least a paragraph to each other every week.  But sometimes we run out of time.  But she is doing really well.  Did you know that she is training?  I am so proud of her!  :)  Look forward to hearing from y’all soon J

Loves and Hugs from NC!  

Ash

It's Fun to Zone Out !!!

Ashley Irwin

Mar 23 at 12:07 PM

Hey y'all!  Hope your week has been amazing!  Because mine's been pretty great!

On Monday,

We were able to go hike Crowder's Mountain as a zone for zone activity.  It was so fun!  The only thing is, as Sister G put it, "Thank you hiking for reminding me that I am not in shape."  We got to the fork at the bottom of the mountain and it gave us two trails to take.  One that was slightly longer and not as exhausting or the other one that is very steep and treacherous.  Now, normally, being in the shape that I want to be in, I would be all in for the steep one.  But that day, our companionship almost died!  ;)  I hadn't really had any water, for lack of remembering, and my comps were really tired.  So was it exhausting?  Yes.  Was it soooo much fun and very exhilarating?  YES!  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  When we got to the top, it was a big party full of selfies, Sasquatch calls, dorky elders, adrenaline junkies, and tree climbing!  Best zone activity ever!  And of course the second best part was the walk down.  ;)

On Tuesday,

We were able to go help a member chop some wood again. That was both fulfilling and disgusting.    Fulfilling because again, we were able to provide them with something they either can't do for themselves, or don't have time to do.  Disgusting because probably a good 1/4 of the wood was infested with grubs!  Ewwwwww!  I had never seen one in real life.  I thought they were something Diseny made up for the movie the Lion King.  And my companions say that the summers in North Carolina are full of strange bugs who have no purpose and just plain freak you out.  I'm sooooo excited!  (In the most dramatic and sarcastic tone I can muster with the most outrageous eye roll ever !)  But after we got over that, we were able to chop most of the wood for him.  It took way longer than we expected though.  We were getting wood thrown at us, getting sunburned, and at risk for heat stroke.  So we stopped.  It was about 86 degrees outside that day.  But hey, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the mission?  Haha  I'm a dork.  But you love me!  ;)

On Wednesday

What I would like to share with you is actually what I learned from a member dinner that night.  The L's took us out to Chick-Fil-A.  We didn't think much of it, asking how their day went, etc.  but then she started to share her conversion story with us.  She said that she had been raised a Lutheran, but had attended the Catholic churches, Presbyterian churches, amongst many others.  Her parents rule was that she could choose whatever church she wanted to join when she turned 18.  And that is right around the time that the missionaries found her.  Isn't that amazing?  She said that for a little while, she wasn't sure about everything the church had to offer, but after she prayed and read about it, she knew it was true.  She and her husband got married and were insurance agents.  When he started to investigate the church, he REALLY wasn't sure about it.  But again, as soon as he came to know the truth for himself, he never looked back.  Since then, they have both held numerous callings in the church including bishop, relief society president, etc.  It's amazing what ones personal study and testimony of our Heavenly Father and the church can bring to your life.

On Thursday

We were able to go talk to the Bs' about doing family history and temple work.  They seem kind of excited, but it is harder for new members to grasp the topic of baptisms for the dead and temples in general.  The seemed to be looking at family history work from the worldly perspective.  You're just searching for names with no end result or accomplishment.  So we took Brother S with us and
he... "Put her on a bus."  He gave her this example: Imagine you are at this bus stop.  You go every morning to the same stop and wait for this bus to come.  When it arrives, you hop on with about 30 other
people.  You all take this bus ride to the same destination every single day.  As you are on the bus, you feel the bus come to a screeching halt.  You look out the front window, only to see a large brick wall that there is no way to get around.  So what do you do? 

The bus driver turns the bus around and takes you home.  You repeat this same journey over and over and over.  Until one day.  You come to that brick wall and someone comes onto the bus as it's stopped.  They call your name and ask you to follow them.  You exit the bus and go to the brick wall.  You ask, "why did you only call my name?"  The person responds, "because it is your time to move on."  They open this big door in the brick wall that you hadn't seen there before.  As you look through, you see your (husband, wife, brother, sister, child, cousin. Or whoever it might be) standing there with their arms outstretched. They say, "Come.  We have done your work and it is time for you to keep moving forward."
Isn't that example amazing?  It took me right back to grandpa's dream he had about genealogy that one time.  It just re-emphasizes the fact that it is of the upmost importance that we do this work for those who
do not have the opportunity or capability to do it themselves.

On Friday

We awoke at 5 am for mission conference.  We were really excited because Elder Kopischke of the 70 would be joining us that day.  That man is amazing!  I don't have all of my notes with me that I took this weekend, but there were many!  I think the main thing I learned from him was that there is something we can learn in every situation.  He kept asking, "What are you learning here?"  And then he would take comments from the audience.  It was amazing!  Plus he is German!  So win-win!  After mission conference, we went to a place called "Hwy 55" – it was us, the Mount Island Sisters, and like 30 elders!
It was soooooo much fun!  Pictures to come.

On Saturday

Before stake conference, we were able to meet and teach a woman named R by offering to help her with yard work.  She wasn't too happy with the idea of us getting all dirty in our skirts, but she did stop to talk to us.  The best part about this lesson, is that I have really been working hard on letting the spirit talk through me instead of me planning out what I am going to say.  I could really feel the spirit strong during  this lesson.  I could tell that what we were saying was exactly what she needed to hear and how she needed to hear it.  I was very pleased.  Even though she couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the idea that we need a prophet, in her view "Jesus was enough and his mission is already complete,".  We could tell we had planted a seed and that someday, she will want to know more. We did invite her to General Conference though.  So maybe she will show up and be amazed by what the prophet has to say.  Speaking of which, have you guys been working on inviting people to watch General Conference as well?  I know in Utah, there aren't many people that don't already watch it, but there has to be someone for you to invite to watch it.  So be on the lookout.  Also, the church's new Easter video initiative comes out on the 28th.  So be ready to share that with everyone!  Share it on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, etc!  Get some positivity on the Internet!  The world so desperately needs it!

On Sunday

We were able to go to stake conference with Elder Kopischke. He was there to reorganize our stake presidency.  That means that president P is no longer our stake president. :(  Boo! But that's okay, because we are so excited to see how President H will do things.  The one thing that stuck out to me though, is how both of them shared their testimonies with the stake yesterday and both of them shared the same message:

"Brothers and sisters.  I have said it before and I will say it again. If you want to have successful families, businesses, etc, you must do the following three things:

- Read the scriptures daily
- Pray Daily
- Hold weekly family home evening"

It was just amazing to me that by doing those little things that the Lord expects of us, he will bless us beyond measure.  It was also amazing that two men that have been called by God, said almost the
exact same thing, without consulting each other first.  It is just another witness that the times and the people may change, but the message of God stays the same today, tomorrow, and forever.  :)

I am so excited to hear that Elder B will be joining us here in the great NCCM soon!  He is going to love it!  Tell me if there is anything that I can help him with in the way of information, packing, etc.  because you know... I'm on the "inside" and stuff!  ;).   Maybe one of my friends will even train him!  We will have to see!  It'll be so fun!  Tell him to bring (or buy here) bug spray!  The summer bugs don't seem like much fun!  Speaking of which, what do you want me to buy for bug spray?  Since I have decided that it is going to be my perfume this summer, I need something good.  I need something that will repel ticks, chiggers, and mosquitos especially.  So if you could get me information on that, it would be great!

It sounds like y'all have been keeping busy!  I'm glad to hear it! Caitlyn wrote me and said, "We're lucky to get 1 or 2 family dinners a week."  I was thinking about it, that really isn't any different than any other summer we have ever had, and I wouldn't change it for the world!  I love being busy when he spring and summer roll around.  It's better than sitting at home all day!  That's for sure!

I am so excited to hear more about the cultural celebration!  So please keep me updated as that moves forward.  Have you told me yet what my sisters are going to be doing in the program?  If not, let me

Know.  I hope you have fun over spring break.  Me I am enjoying exploring new parts of North Carolina.  I have been taking note of what things I want to bring y'all back to see.  So look forward to that! ;)

The praying for my investigators had been helping.  We are continuously finding new people to teach.  The main problem we are facing right now is people who want to CONTINUE learning.  We don't
have anyone with a date right now, and no one is progressing.  But... We have some amazing people, with tons of potential and we are hoping that changes in the next week or two.

I haven't gotten a chance to read the talk by President Uchtdorf yet, but you can be sure I will.  I love that man.

I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT TRAVIS AND CIARAH ARE ENGAGED!  HOW DID HE PROPOSE?  IS HE GOING TO GET MARRIED WITHOUT LINDSAY?  Like... What!? I am so happy for them!  I am also so excited to hear the news about Paul and Aubrey.  You'll have to keep me updated on that!  Also, let me know when Greg and Danielle's baby comes.  If they don't let me know first... ;)  Well, I'd better get going.  I am going to go mini-golfing with my comps and the elders I suppose.  At this golf course in Shelby we have never even heard of.  Wish me luck!

Love you guys so so so so much!  Even more than I love this Reese's Cup that a member just made us!  And that's a lot! Hugs and loves from North Carolina!

Ash