E-mail March 26

Yes, the email came first. I probably won't have time to write you a letter this week, so this is all you will get. I will write again next week. I have gotted a package from you, which was amazing. Only a few of the cookies were broken. I also got one filled with goodies from Sis. Key. It had mike and ikes and nutterbutter bites. I have gotten a letter from emily every week and a couple from Heather. We did a lot of temple work today. We did ten names. It was good. no, I haven't learned too much in person study. For the most part, I have been studying the lessons and scriptures to go along with the lessons. I've started reading the Book of Mormon. I'm trying to read it all the way through before I get out to the field. Spanish is going good. I am learing grammer priciples slowly. We learned how to conjugate for the preterite, imperfect, present and the future. We still have a lot to learn. I am going to work on writing dave a letter in spanish today. My memory card for my camera went bad. I tried to turn on my camera the other day and it wouldn't recognize my card. So all the pictures I took in the last two weeks are probably gone. I am going to send it to dave and see if he can fix it. you may have to send me a new one. So I have to retake a lot of the picutures I had on there. I will try to get some printed off. One thing I love about the MTC is all the devotionals.. They are so awesome. The spirit is so awesome. I am still working things out with my comp. Things are getting easier. I am learning pacience. I am working my hardest. Now, the only thing to do is to try to get him to do the same. But things are going good. I now weigh 128. My lifting weights has been going very good. I don't know if all that is in muscle or not. We got a new district this last wednesday. They are good and it's cool not to be the youngest in the zone. In my district, there are 4 of us going to Nicaragua. The other three are going to California, Long Beach. The two elders already went to the spain MTC last week. Our zone leaders from last week went to Nicaragua as well. My branch president is awesome. He says stuff straight forward and exactly how it is. But everything is going well. I saw Austin Brown on Wednesday. But I am starting to sunderstand how to enjoy the MTC while still having a little fun. My comp and I are so good at teaching together. We, well my comp, commited our "investigator" at the TRC to baptism. But we are doing good. I know that the church is true with all my heart. I have probably learned more spanish in the last three weeks than I could have in 4 years. It is crazy. But I do know that this church is true. I can't wait to go out and preach the gosple to the people of Nicaragua. We share such a simple message. It is amazing how simple the Plan of Salvation really is. We share a message of such peace and joy. I know why I'm here and why we are all here on the earth at this time. Thank you for all the support from everyone. It has really helped me. Stay strong and keep writing.

Elder Ashby

e-mail March 19

Dear all

Sorry about my towel story. It is in the letter I'm sending today. O and we got locked out again last night when the branch presided was there and we were supposed to be quiet in our rooms. It was stupid. Tell me who wins idol. Thanks for keeping me in touch. I have had a cold that last two days, but i'm doing ok. Spanish is going well. I am trying to use it as much as I can outside of class. I am working as hard as I can. I'm tried, but I don't take naps all time like a lot of the other elders. I feel like I'm constantly studying, which is good. It makes me feel good when I am tired from doing the Lord's work. I'm lifting weights and am pleased to anouce that I have gained 2 pounds, I think in muscle. No, I havn't seen the elder i met at the temple. I think he was supposed to be here this last wednesday. I have seen elder clifton, from Casper. He worked at camp one summer. Tell Dave thanks for sending his letter. I understood most of it. It was great to hear from him. When I have some time I will write him a letter in spanish back. Tell Aunt Tanya that I am really greatful for her letter and ehr encouragement. And for Alyssa's letter. It is always great to get mail and hear how everyone is doing. We got to hear from Elder Cook last tuesday. That was really cool. I know that I am where I am supposed to be and everything will work out. I am here when I'm supposed to be here, and I am called to preach the gosple of Jesus Christ. I know I have an important calling. I know that this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith truely saw our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that 2 years is only a little time to give to the Lord and bring to pass the salvation of others. thank you for everyone's support. I love you all and hope everyone the best.

Van con Dios!!

Love,

Elder Ashby

Letter March 19, 2010

3-19-10

Dear Mom and Dad:

Wow, today was a crazy day. A lot of guys are not trying very hard to learn Spanish. Almost none of us are speaking Spanish outside, or inside class, for that matter. We got chastised by a sub, the tutor today. It was very intense. It is hard for me to do anything with my comp not wanting to do anything, but I am going to set a new goal and work harder to do stuff and everything I need to do in spite of him. I can’t make him work. That has to be his decision. I am going to invite him and do all I can in to help him do things, but I can’t force him. We really went over our purpose today. We are learning Spanish only so that we can teach the gospel, but our most important purpose is to be great teachers. Everything I study must help me to teach better, whether in language study, personal study, or comp study. It is so hard when the senior comp is the one who doesn’t want to do anything. I am and am going to do my bet. I have been learning Spanish for me, and not for my investigators. I have not been relying on God’s help enough. I am going to start doing everything I can to learn the language for my investigators. This morning during personal study, I was studying at my desk, and my comp was asleep on his bed.

I also got a cold today. I felt really bad. I hope I start to feel better. One of the elders in our district went home. He had the flu and was in quarantine for a week. When he finally got out, he was gone by the end of the day. He had met with some of the leaders and he told us he had some stuff to work out and that he would probably be back in 3 months.

Things are going well though. I’m sure you and Dad are doing fine without me. Oh, by the way, I did get the package. It was good. I enjoyed it. It was very nice to get something. Don’t worry about sending me lots of stuff. I have plenty. If I really need something, I’ll tell you later. So I have gained 2 pounds. I think it’s in muscle. I have never been able to lift this much weight in my life. I can’t believe I’ve already been here this long! It is crazy. It feels like it’s been a long time, but it doesn’t. It is hard to explain. I got my Spanish B of M, Bible, and hymn book that the MTC gives us. I had them embossed with “Elder Ashby”. The weather is quite nice. It’s cold in the mornings, but it’s been warming up slowly. I haven’t gotten your other package yet. Things are getting easier. Well, maybe not easier, but I am getting used to it.

OK. Well I thought I told you in my last letter about our towel experience but here it is. We all got back from gym and ran into the shower. My comp closed the door and it was still locked. We got out of the shower and of course no one had a key, so we stood outside our room in only a towel. We didn’t want to walk all the way to the front desk so we tried to break in with a card, but with no luck. Some other missionaries said they could break in. They said, “Get us a vacuum, a note card, a hanger and some floss.” I thought there was no way they could do it. It is a long, complicated process, but it involves wrapping the vacuum cord around the door knob and turning the door knob. It took them about 15 minutes, but they got it. We just stood outside our door in only a towel for like 20 minutes.

I’ve only gotten 2 letters from Aleena for your information. There’s one kid in my district who has only been dating his girl for 3 months and she writes him every day. It’s ridiculous.

Mom, Happy Birthday! I’m sorry I forgot. It’s been so crazy. I hope it was a good one. You probably just went out to lunch with your friends or went to the temple all day You are one year closer to being able to get the senior discount. I hope all is going well. Don’t worry about sending me any sweets. I get $6.00 each week and I haven’t spent hardly any of it. I don’t want to get fat anyway. I forgot to tell you that they gave us a water bottle with a filter in it. All you have to do it fill it up with water, and then as you drink, it filters it. Anyway, I hope you and Dad aren’t getting too lonely without me. How’s my mutual fund doing? Did you set up the online account yet? OK, well hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Elder Ashby


Oh, By the way, that pink marker I used to mark my shirts and shorts with bled on my shirts and some of my garments. I had pink on like 3 garments and all my shirts. I cut the tags off with my knife and then used that tide pen to go. I think it all came out, thank goodness. I will get pictures printed off and send them next week.

e-mail March 12

ok, first off, today is now my p-day. for the rest of my mtc time. i can only check my email on p-day. i can only be on my email for 30 minutes so try not to write too long of email, the dear elder is really great. i can recieve pictures. sarah, i got your pictures fine, but not your videos. i will try to send you a few pictures sometime. it is so great to hear what everyone is doing. we got to go to the temple today. it was really fun. it was interesting because i had never been to the temple with that many guys before. i forgot our names in the room. sorry mom. i will remeber them next week. sorry i haven't written any letters yet. we are technically supposed to only write on p-days too. thank you so much to everyone who wrote me this last week. it really helped me. it is nice to know that everyone is supporting me. tell bryan to write me????? (exlamation marks, but my shift button doesn't work) it has been quite the week. my comp's name is elder elllis. he is from somewhere in utah. we have had some up days and some down days. it's been a rollercoaster. it will be for a very long time. spanish is coming along. i can bear my testimony in spanish, introduce our message in spanish, and teach a few things in the first principle. it is quite the experience. my comp came in the same day as me. all of the elders in my district came in on the same day. they just picked the senior comps out of each companionship. the senior comps will probably change after a couple of weeks. i'm not sure if it will be any easier, though, if i'm the senior comp. my biggest struggle is that i can't control other people. i can only control myself, except when it affects the companionship, then i speak up. i'm sticking to my guns and trying to do what's right. i can't waste time. i don't want to waste the lord's time. but we are working through things. i'm staying focused and working hard.

i got locked out of my room with only a towel. mom, read my letter and then put the story on facebook. it's funny.

yo se (i can't do accents) que el vangelio de jesucristo es verdadero. yo testifico que tenemos un profeta en la tierra hoy. you se que dios no ama. yo testifico que la iglesia de jesucristo es verdadera.

thank you again for everyone's support????(excllamation marks.) keep writing. i will try to write back.

adios mis amigos, scott

letter March 12, 2010

3-11-10

Dear Mom and Dad:

I’m sorry that I have not written you already, but we can only e-mail on our P-day, Friday, from 12:45 – 3:00. I only have 30 minutes for e-mail. We are technically only supposed to write letters on P-day too. Yes, I have gotten lots of mail. Aleena sent me a dear elder and a written letter. Your letters were both very encouraging. It is the closest thing to scripture. I’m not so much discouraged as I am just beside myself. I know why I’m out here and that won’t change. I know what I need to do, but my companion is the most possible opposite of me. He doesn’t like planning and he doesn’t want to study. He just wants to talk. I can control myself, but I can’t control him. He knows that he doesn’t know the lesson very well, but he doesn’t want to study the lessons. He just wants to teach off of knowledge he does have. He never wants to listen to me, or any of my suggestions. It is so hard. I just don’t even know what to do about it. I am trying to love him and serve him. I was in studying, during comp study and he was out in the hall talking to another missionary. He was talking about how bad I was teaching in the TRC and how he was right and I had no idea what I was talking about. I went out and told him to come with me. We went outside and talked about it. It was better for a little while, and then it went back to normal. It isn’t a difference of good or bad here. It is a difference of good, better, best. I know what we should be doing and not doing and I do it. He only wants to do some of it. It is very hard, though. Tell Bryan to write me. I have a lot of advice for him. I am trying to be happy and love everyone. I don’t just want to endure this time. I want to enjoy it. I pray so much to know how to help my comp and help us get along. I just don’t know what to do. We are going to the temple tomorrow and I just pray that I can know how to get along with my comp. He hates planning and I have to plan. That’s about all, though.

We learned how to testify in Spanish. It is going. I’m just trekin’ along. The temple was awesome today. I know God will answer my prayer and help me with my comp. The MTC is definitely different than I ever would have thought. Oh, by the way, my estimated departure date is April 26. Does dear elder work when I’m down in Nicaragua? It is really weird that I can’t just call you guys any more. The temple was really good today. I have just been so beside myself this past week on what to do. I felt so much love from getting all those letters and from one of my teachers, and from my Heavenly Father. The temple was quite overwhelming. I was very emotional. I am just praying that I will know what to do, what to say, and what to learn from my comp. I didn’t really need that jacket that I brought. It hasn’t been that cold here. I will try to send some pictures in a few days. I am just taking it one day at a time. Thank you for your constant support. I love you both. I hope all goes well. Don’t worry about me too much, just enough! Through the Lord’s strength, I will be OK and serve honorably. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Elder Ashby

First e-mail

Well, since it is not my p-day and I have not recieved any mail or REAL email from you, I will just tell you how things are going. faris bulers day off is Bryan's. Thanks. Things have been very interesting. That would be great if you would send temple names. No, I didn't not get my patriarcal blessin in my journals. I have my lamanate one and my other copy. That's it. Thanks Emily for you email. It was great to hear from you. I would love some letters. Everyone has gotten letters but me. My comp has botten two letters and two packages. I'm not saying I need two packages, but something would be nice. The language is good. We had to start praying in spanish yesterday. All our prayers are now in spanish. We are learning and progressing. My comp it a very interesting guy. He is very outgoing and ofcourse I am the one to keep to myself. I am really struggling to love him and not get mad. I kind of get pushed around and told what to do, but we will see how things go. And, ofcourse, he is senor comp. It will be a real struggle to get along with him. This...half a week has already been long. We only have 30 minutes on the computer, so try not to make emails too long, but they are much appreciated. It is awesome here in the MTC. The food isn't too bad and things are good. I am lifting a lot of weights. I don't think I've gained any weight!!! I am trying to work hard always. Quite a few of the guys in my distric like to goof off quite a bit and it is hard. I hate wasting time, but I don't want to be a jerk and tell them to shut up. I will keep trying to work through it. We got to teach our first lesson last night. It was rough. We did alright, but we have a lot of work to do. My comp hadn't ever looked at the Preach my gosple before. He jumped around ALOT and..yeah. it was rough. Mom, can you tell Aleena she can write once a week for the next two weeks. I need some encouragement. Mom, you might want to take a look at dearelder.com. A lost of elders said it's cheeper and faster. I hope you got my address. but everything is going well. I am trying my hardest. Dave, I think you are right. The MTC will be the hardest part about my mission, but I will persevere. Thank you for all of your support and love. Please write, letters if possible. I love you all. Yo sé que la iglesia es verdadero. Yo sé que tenemos un profeta en la tierra. Yo sé que el libro de mormon es verdadero. Thank your for all that you have done for me. The church is true!!!! Love Elder Ashby

Letter from the MTC

Subject: Letter from Provo MTC Presidency
To: gwenashby@msn.com
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 21:34:15 -0700

Dear family of Bryant Scott Ashby,

We are pleased to inform you that your missionary has been safely checked in at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. We thank you for supporting your missionary and know that your family will be blessed as a result.

Your missionary's mailing address while at the MTC is:
Bryant Scott Ashby
MTC Mailbox # 141
NIC-MAN 0503
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Please note the following items:

1. Your missionary's service began today. Please do not arrange or request visits with your missionary, including meetings at the temple or in proximity to the MTC.

2. All missionary mail must come through the US Mail or commercial delivery services. Hand delivered items will NOT be accepted. Do not send pizzas, fast foods, ice-cream, or any items that will spoil if they are not refrigerated within 24 hours. Missionaries are not called out of class to receive packages, nor do they have access to a refrigerator.

3. Communicate with your missionary weekly through letters sent to the above address or through the email account that the missionary will set up within the first two weeks. This account is to be used by immediate family only. Telephone calls for missionaries cannot be accepted. Your missionary will correspond with you on his/her first preparation day.

4. Families and friends should not plan to visit missionaries departing to their field of labor at the airport or MTC.

Should you need to communicate with the MTC call 801-422-2602. Do not reply to this email.

Sincerely,

Provo MTC Presidency

The last Supper!

MTC here I come!

!

Mom and Dad took me out to dinner before being set apart. We went to Texas Roadhouse. Love it!

Adventure getting set apart

I wish I had thought of this blog earlier. Now I'll have to post some things that are out of order, but at least they'll be here. I wish I could change the order of things.

Scott's plane was scheduled to depart at 6 am Wednesday, March 3, 2010. We had called the Stake Executive Secretary many times in the weeks before Scott's departure to arrange the time and date for Scott to be set apart, especially because we had a change of Stake Presidency in the weeks before Scott left. Finally, on Monday night at about 9:30 pm we received a call and they told us to be at the new Stake Pres home at 8 pm Tuesday night. We took Emily to the airport for her flight home at about 4:30 and then took Scott out to dinner. We still had plenty of time, so we went home for awhile and then made our way to Pres Godfredson's home. I knew right where he lives because he lives one street over from a friend of mine in his ward. We arrived at his street in plenty of time only to find out it is a gated community and we can't get in because we don't have the code and there isn't an attendant at the gate. We don't have his phone #. I called a friend to have her look his # up in the stake directory. Of course the old Stake Pres is still listed and the change hasn't been made yet! I think, "there's no problem, I'll just call my friend who lives the next street over". She doesn't answer the phone. We start to get a little frantic, so we drive to her house and she doesn't answer the bell. Now we're getting very frantic. We call a few more people. The Stake Exec Sec doesn't answer his phone (he rarely does). Now we're almost resigned to the fact that Scott will have to be set apart at the MTC because there's barely time for us to get a little sleep before we have to take him to the airport. I'm racking my brain to see if I know anyone else in his ward who will know his phone #. I go garage sailing with a couple of gals in his ward. I frantically try to see if I have any of their #'s in my cell phone, because I never call them. Sure enough I have a number to call and my friend answers. (She almost didn't answer because my cell phone still have my Wyoming # and I've never called her on it before!) Luckily, she has the # I need. I call and let them know that we're at their gate but can't get in. She gives me the code and we're in. It's now 8:20 pm. When we get to the door, I told Sis Godfredson that we would have been on time if we had known the code. She told me they didn't think to tell the Exec Sec to give people the code when they had to come for appointments!

I don't know how many of you I told this story to, because we were so happy to get it done and get him on the plane. Anyway, here's hoping we hear from him soon. Thanks to everyone that has written letters.

Gwen Ashby