Fourth of July Fun and Bingo for Bananas

Dear Family and Friends

Happy Belated Fourth of July! We had a very fun fourth down here in Conway. First we went to a zone meeting and met our new mission president and his family. President Wakolo is from Fuji and he is so cool! His accent is a little thick so you have to really listen when he speaks but he is powerful and has such a love for the missionaries. He is excited to move this mission forward and I think we are going to have a lot of success under his leadership.

 

After our meeting, we visited a few people and then went to a member's house for dinner and fireworks. The people had dinner with, live right in between their brother's house and their sister's house, so we really ate with the whole family which included two sets of grandparents, 9 little girls and one lone boy. All of the kids love the missionaries and we were surrounded all night long. One of the best parts of the night was when Brother Davis pulled out his guitar and played while his nieces sang and all the other kids danced including Sister Mecham and I. So much fun! Fireworks were lots of fun too though as missionaries we aren't allowed to set any fireworks off it was still lots of fun to sit and watch. 

Sister Aase & Sister Mecham - 4th of July

 

The rest of the week was good though it started a little rough. After emailing last week we played games with some other missionaries which was lots of fun. Sister Mecham got beamed in the face by a volley ball by one of the Assistants which resulted in a baby black eye. Then we found out that the car we were suppose to be getting the next day ending bike week was in the shop. Apparently the elders who had it got into a little fender bender. However they also had driven through some flood water and totaled the engine. SO after lots of confusion and complications we had an extra bike day and are now on a new bike/car rotation. And of course after having an accident free bike week, I totally wiped out on our extra bike day. But fortunately all those years of ballet payed off and it was a very graceful bike crash which resulted in only a few bruises and no bike damage. 

After that rough start though we have had a very good week. We are still teaching Tami Scroggins and getting her ready to be baptized later this month. She is so excited and we just adore her! We have also found a few new investigators that we are excited to start teaching. 

Another highlight of the week was bingo. As missionaries we have many opportunities to serve in the community and one of our regular service gigs is calling bingo at an old folks home. The old folks sure love bingo and the prize for winning is candy or bananas. The old folk also really like their bananas :) It is a lot of fun and Sister Mecham and I really enjoy ourselves. Bingo is no joke to these people though and they get very upset if you call too slow or too fast. But they also can't really hear and so we often have to repeat things and they get very upset if someone breaks the rules or takes more candy than is allowed. We have a blast and we are always given a huge bag of goodies to take home. 

I truly love serving down here! I love getting to meet new people and serve them and help them to come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. The people we meet have all sorts of challenges and are often in need of hope. The gospel brings that hope into their lives and even though their challenges may not go away they are able to get through them and to have that hope. I love that I get to a part of bringing that hope into their lives. 

Thank you as always for all the love and support. 

Love 

Sister Aase

Sister Mecham & I in our apartment

 

 

Y'all Look like Angels!!

Dear Family and Friends,

My companion and I were visiting a lady in our ward in a nursing home when a big black lady exclaimed this at us. We talked to her for a little bit and she just kept saying "y'all must be angels" and so when we asked if we could stop by sometime her response was "YES m'am I could definitely use some angels in my home." We see her tomorrow I'll let you know how it goes. 

So this week was BIKE WEEK!! And it was awesome! It was a very rainy week which is unusual I'm told for this time of year but it was great for us because lots of ward members felt bad and offered to drive us. Also it made it a lot cooler so we weren't biking in the heat as much. Also for most of the week we didn't get rained on, the Lord was looking out for his servants. We would bike somewhere and it would be fine and as soon as we walked inside it would down pour. Then it would rain during our entire lesson and stop right when we needed to leave again. This didn't just happened one time but throughout the entire week. Until Saturday when we got poured on and had to take refuge in a member's home. But none the less we were very blessed this week. Also biking in a skirt was a new adventure for me. Binder clips saved my life…well my skirt's life. 

The best part of the week was meeting Tami. In the words of Mr Monk "Here's what happened." Sister Mecham and I were out biking on Tuesday and the appointment we had fell through so we biked around the corner to call this lady to see if she was avoiding us or just not home. While we were calling, Tami pulls up in her driveway and starts to unload her groceries. So Sister Mecham and I call out to her and ask if we can help and she says sure. Sister Mecham informed me later that that never happens. So we help Tami in with her groceries and talk with her for about an hour just about her life and such and we set up an appointment for the next day. The next day we come in and teach her the first lesson and she is so into it. She got so exited when we talked about Joseph Smith and the Apostasy. She said it just made so much sense. We invited her to be baptized and she said yes! And then announced to everyone on Sunday she was getting baptized. The coolest thing about Tami is that she is so in tune with the Spirit. She has told us many times that she just felt a peace enter her home the first time she met with us. When we teach her she looks right into our eyes and she does that because she can tell is someone is genuine by looking into their eyes and that she knows that we are telling her truth because she sees it in our eyes. 

It is amazing to me that people are able to feel and see something different about us as missionaries and as members of the Church. Whether they feel a peace when we walk into their home or we look like angels. I don't think we often recognize our own bright countenance. But others definitely can! We have the light of Christ in us and it shines through. And I think that is so cool and such a blessing. It is because of this light we have that the people we meet on the street are willing to open up to us about their lives and invite us into their homes. Tami told us later that she never lets people help her or come into her house but she just felt that there was something different about us and that we were good people. THAT IS SO COOL!  As we are keeping the commandments and doing those things that keep us in line with the Savior we truly have light that shines from us and other can see it. I have seen this many times on my mission and I know I will see it more. 

Thank you as always for the prayers and the support and the love, it is definitely being felt! 

Love Sister Aase

Missionary Party!

(sung to the tune of Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA)

Verse 1
Hopped off the plane at LTR, with my tag and my cardigan.
Spending the next 18 months right here, woo. Am I gonna fit in?

Look around, here I am for the first time. Look to the left and I see the Little Rock sign.
This is all so crazy! So many people to teach!

My tummy's turning and I'm feeling kinda homesick,
Lots of pressure but I'm not nervous.

Because this is the Lord's work and He's on my side.
So I say bring it on --- I say bring in ON!

Chorus
And I put my hands up I'm singing my song, called to serve everyday.
Preaching the Gospel yeah!  It's the work of salvation yeah!

I'm gonna stand up, declare what I know,
Live my purpose each and everyday.

Yeah   Yeah   Yeah   My mission starts today.

Verse 2
One week down in the mission field and I'm starting to wonder how.
I'm gonna learn all these new things, wish I could know them all now.

Talk to everyone -- it's call Spiritual Harvesting. Not what they teach back at the MTC.
But I'm loving every minute.  Few more days and I'll get it.

No tummy turning - no feeling homesick,
It's kinda hard, but I can to this.

With an awesome trainer by my side,
and a Book of Mormon in my arms,
and a handful of pass-along cards.

Chorus 
I'll lift my head up and work all day long, nothing will get in my way.
Talking with everyone yeah!  Sharing the Gospel yeah!

We get up and we work hard
as a missionary every day.

Yeah   Yeah   Yeah   Going HAM everyday.
Yeah   Yeah   Yeah   Loving life here in Conway!

Go HAM or go home

Dear Family and Friends,

Greeting from the South! I officially made it to Arkansas this past Tuesday after a long day of traveling. I was appointed travel leader so it was my job to make sure the four elders and one sister I was traveling with all made it on the plane and didn't get into trouble. It was a long day but I kept my troops happy with candy and we all got to Arkansas safe and sound. We met President and Sister Petersen and immediately fell in love with both of them which was unfortunate because they leave this week and our new Mission President arrives. They fed us and got us excited about the mission and sent us to bed. Then the next morning we were up and off to get our new bikes and companions.

My companion's name is Sister Mecham and she is AMAZING!! She is super cute and fun and has a strong testimony of the Gospel. She has a genuine love for everyone we come in contact with and is bold and talks with everyone. I've been with her six days and I'm already learning so much. She is a great trainer and makes me do hard things but they are good for me :) We are serving in a town called Conway. It is a great place and the members here are awesome and excited about the work. They are also very excited about feeding us every night and I have been told that I will gain weight here…we'll see what we can do about that. southern hospitality is a real thing, the people here are so nice and genuine. They are also super honest and I have been told quite a few times that I'm too quiet, guess I'll have to work on it :)

This week was suppose to be bike week but things got all switched up so we ended up having the car. We didn't ask questions just said thank you :) Next week will be bike week I'm sure I'll have some good stories for you. It is really hot here and they haven't even hit summer yet they tell me. But the Lord is looking out for me. I know because it will be super hot and I feel myself melting and then we will start talking or teaching someone and a breeze comes and it cools down. #TENDER MERCY!

We have one lady getting baptized this week and two others that will be getting baptized soon. They are both the BEST people and are so ready for the waters of baptism.

This week our District leader called us and told us that it was "go HAM week." HAM stands for "hard as a missionary." So Sister Mecham and I got to work. We have been talking to EVERYONE and yesterday it finally paid off and we have a new investigator to teach. Going hard as a missionary isn't just something we do one day or one week but something I strive to do every day! Missionary work is hard work but it is so worth it. This is the Lord's work and he is right there working along side his missionaries. There is a huge smile on my face every night before I go to bed because I love what I get to do each day. 

I love what I'm doing and every time I start to feel a little overwhelmed or incapable Sister Mecham is like here read this quote or this scripture I just found and it totally is what I need to hear and picks me right up. #TENDERMERCY.  I know that this is where I'm suppose to be and what I'm suppose to be doing and I am loving every minute of it. I am excited to find new people to teach and share my testimony with others. I have a lot to learn but I'm not overwhelmed because I know that I can do it and I'm just taking it one day at a time. I truly love this gospel and I love this work!

Thank you for all the support and prayers and emails!
Love
Maddie

Greetings from Conway, AR

We received a sweet text from a church member in Conway, AR -- I'm guessing this is her new area and trainer companion.

Greetings from Conway, AR!!  My name is Marne Eggleston and I just met your fabulous daughter, S. Maddie Aase.  Thank you so much for letting us borrow her.  If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know.  S. Aase is doing great.  We're having a 'green' lunch in her honor!!  Then it's off to work!  This is a fabulous area.  She's in great hands with S. Mecham.

Your daughter has safely arrived in Little Rock!

Dear Brother & Sister Aase,
We are grateful to you for raising your child such that she is worthy to serve as a full time missionary.

We promise to watch over Sister Aase while she is in our care. We will love her and do all within our power to keep her safe and happy.  We want the next 18 months of her life to be a positive, life changing experience.  President and Sister Wakolo will love and watch over her as well.

Thank you for taking the time to share with us some insights into your daughter’s personality and life experiences; it is very helpful as we counsel with her and make companionship assignments. She was thrilled and touched to have your first letter awaiting her arrival at the mission home. 

Missionary work is difficult but is also extremely rewarding. Miracles happen on a daily basis. We will quickly get her to work so she can experience the joys of sharing the gospel and serving others. 

Thank you for sharing your daughter with us for a short time and entrusting her care to us. We will love her for eternity. We promise that great blessings will come to her and to you as she magnifies her call as a full time missionary.  It is truly a great honor and blessing to share the gospel and serve the Lord every day in every way. 

With Love and Gratitude,               

 

 

President and Sister Petersen 

ONE DAY MOOOOORE!!

Dear Family and friends,

Thank you for all the dear elder letters and emails this week! They are very appreciated! Special shout out the Brother Brad Taylor who sent me and my companion a Disney Quote quiz it was awesome and we passed with flying colors :)  Oh and yes, you do know Sister Davis. 

So as you may have guessed from the title of this email I leave for the mission field tomorrow!! AHH! Where has the time gone. Sister Davis and I celebrated by singing a beautiful rendition of "one day more" from the hit musical Les Miserables. Side note Sister Davis does a scary good impression of Russel Crowe's singing voice...like really scary.  Anyway as sad as I am to leave the MTC I am so excited to be out in the field starting tomorrow.

This past week has been really good. Sister Davis and I had the chance to teach an investigator named Rachel who was the most adorable thing ever. She is a year younger than us so it was really easy to relate to her and teach her. It was really cool to see her faith increase as we taught her. She didn't have a church background at all so getting to teach her about Jesus Christ for the first time was really really special for me. It is sad that we don't get to continue teaching her because we are leaving tomorrow but it makes me so excited to get to help other people like Rachel once I get to Arkansas.

Also this week we got new missionaries. YAY! It has been a lot of fun showing them the ropes and pretending that we know so much about the MTC when in all honesty we have only been here a week longer and still figuring out most things. But they are great and are going to be awesome missionaries.

Yesterday Sheri Dew came to give our Sunday Devotional. She is amazing! Her testimony is so powerful and she is such a great speaker. she talked about how grace is the divine enabling power of God and what we can do to better access his grace. I know that without grace I would not be able to do my job as missionary. I have a lot of shortcomings and weaknesses but through the grace of my Savior I can do anything. This is His work and He is not going to make me do it alone.

I love this gospel and I love this work! I can't wait to start my mission in Arkansas tomorrow!! I know that this is where God wants me to be and that He is with me everyday. Next time you here from me I'll be in Arkansas :)

Love Sister Aase