All These Things are for Thy God
I knew serving a mission would not lessen the fac that I would have trials any more than joining the church would - in fact I knew that I would be subject to a whole new brand of trials
because I'm serving a mission.
Tuesday evening I received a Dear Elder from my mother informing me that in my absence there had been a death in the family. Her uncle, who I had earlier received word had suffered a heart attack that left him in intensive care for several days, passed away. I felt a little self-concious about openly crying in the middle of the weekly Devotional every missionary on campus attends and that evenign was one of the rare moments I ached for a hugh from my brothers. Every week after the Devotional we gather to discuss it and the speaker had referenced Scriptures that I read and brought me much comfort. Through a strained voice and tear-filled eyes I told them, "I said when I first arrived ehre that I know I am supposed to be here at this time, with this group." I felt it necesary to remind them, "That is still true."
Serving a mission never meant that I wouldn't feel pain or have trials. But because I am here I have resources available to me that aren't anywhere else, to handle these challenges.
In other news.....
I have my very own companion! Until the 28th, there is a Solo Sister down the hallway without a companion. So for another 11 days I have a companionship of my own instead of feeling like a tag along to someone else's.
It's a short term situation, but I will take it!
Don't let the start of this one fool you - I am still very happy here at the MTC and so very grateful for each one of you!
Just a quick reminder, though. I'll be leaving the MTC Mon, Jan 9th. I really wouldn't recommend putting anything for me in the mail headed this way after Mon, Jan 2nd - send it to Budapest instead! And don't Dear Elder me here after Friday Jan 6th. They print them off once a day, so if you miss the Saturday deadling I won't receive it all because I'll leave before the mail comes Monday morning.
It blows my mind that I get so much support that I have to put up an announcement in orer to communicate the information out.
I'm loving you all, Dear Ones.
- Ashley
Friend of the Week:The Ellsworths
Picture it: LDS Chapel - Caldwell, NJ - Aug 2005
A meeting begins of the Institute of Religion Advisory Committee. I was freshly (not even an hour ago) called Stake YSA Rep. and Institute Presidents and the new Senior Missionary Couple hwo would be teaching the class over which I would be presiding also make their debut entrance to New Jersey functions. Thus began the beginning of a very beautiful friendship. The Ellsworths were serving a mission from Boise, Idaho and were replacing another couple (who will also be featured here). Some growing pains were involved in the transition but they both became very beloved figures to everyone who knew them. My week often delightfully required me to touch base with them outside of class and they were the forerunners in the excitement to see where I would be called. She would always insist, "Boise, Idaho!" And he would argue, "No! They haven't sent the call yet because they have to finish building her hut because she's going to be the first sister in the Australian Outback!"
The support and love of the Ellsworths have been a highlight of my 24th year - the best one of my life so far. It began with an unexpected present as soon as they learned it was my birthday and I reckon it will end with an outpouring of love so strong I'll feel it in Hungary all the way from Boise. The whole year has been that way - a serendipitous birthday that will last for time and eternity.
There is no end to Love
Wow.
My opportunities to extend and receive love this week have been amazing. Flat out mind blowing.
It began last Sunday with "my British friend." He's an Elder serving in Berlin that I've had a few delightful opportunities to get to know. I knew from an Elder I don't know as well in his district that he would be leaving on Monday. So Sunday came and went until the last bit of the evening and I never even saw him that the two events all missionaries here attended. It was a fact I noticed but didn't give much thought to as my companions and I walked back to our dorm. The lights were on in the main walkway outside - those lights are no Rockefeller Center but they are so beautiful to me, so I asked my companions if we could take the slightly longer route home to stroll through them. Even though it was "FARKAS ORDITO HEDIG VAN!" or "Wolf Howling Cold!" they obliged. We were stopped by some Elders hoping to find a photographer for them, and by others we knew, so it took us a little while to walk though the 100 yard or so stretch. Just at the end, to my astonishment, I heard a familiar accent call, "It's my friend!"
It was the sprinkles on the cherry on the icing on the cake of a really wonderful day! We spent a few minutes expressing excitement - finally getting eachother's names straight, and exchanging mission addresses. He had his camera, so we took a picture and his ear turned toward his companion when we found them, "This is her! The sister with no name!" The companion turned to me and announced (it seemed a little to the embarrassment of my friend), "You're his favorite sister!"
It was such a sweet experience that my life would have been complete without, but it made my whole WEEK. I brought a handful of Kansas postcards to write short notes to those who touch my life throughout my service and it was fun to fill the first of them out. I told him, "It has always been the little things in life that have brought me the most joy." and making his acquaintance brought me much joy.
But the love doesn't stop there! My mom wrote me a Dear Elder that I received Monday to let me know some unfortunate news to say the least. At the end, she informed me that I am not the only missionary from whom she's been receiving mail. Completely without my knowledge, one of my sweet Elders in the District took it upon himself to write my mother. I don't know what he said because I feel their correspondence is their business, but the next time I saw him I've never ached so badly to give one of them a hugh. His kind action prompted by the Spirit explained perfectly when I told her, "But Mom - I love them all so much."
There are many more examples I could recount but for the typist's sake, I'll share just one more.
One day at lunch this week, I poked fun at one of my Elders (a different one). I always follow up a joke with "Szeretlek!" to remind them that "I love you!" What proceeded was the following conversation - but entirely in Hungarian.
I made the joke, then executed my reminder, "But, I love you!"
"I know."
"I know that you know, and I love it."
"I love that you love me - because I love you too."
Just for the record, in Hungarian there is a separate verb for "to love" that denotes a romantic connotation and we always use the
other one - I don't even know the verb for
that kind of love.
I was promised blessings like I had never experienced.
I had no idea just how amazing they would be.
Happy Holidays, Dear Ones! I hope everyone is enjoying the season. I know I certainly am.
- Ashley
Friend of the Week:Stacie
Picture it: June 2003, LDS Chapel, Caldwell, NJ
It is exactly the second week I've attended church where I'm geographically designated to and there is a young family who has just moved into the Ward - I look at the BEAUTIFUL wife with her 3.75 children and I see who I want to be in fifteen years. Heavenly Father, however, is the multi-tasker of all multi-taskers and assigns me to be her Visiting Teacher so month by month over the next two years where there was a hole in our hearts for missing our sisters - new sisters came to fill. Stacie is so funny and full of life. She takes her responsibility as a wife and mother quite seriously and is one of the best examples of righteous living I know. She has been since I've known her.
I gre to love Stacie and her family so much - I spend nearly whole days there for what was originally intended to be a Visiting Teaching appointment. One of the most painful parts of leaving New Jersey was that I was no longer able to be so geographically close to my Sister. I lived so nearby that as my endurance for running grew a little I could run to her house and back for a workout. Going to Stacie's was always fun and one of my favorite noises in the world was the anxious thunder of feet clambering to the door to greet me. I spent my days defined as the Big Sister, but only until I met Stacie.
Report from the Mission front
Things are WONDERFUL here at the MTC. I feel like I'm really starting to sink my teeth into my existence here and the transformation from "Ashalee" to "Pollock Nover" is almost complete.
I'm beginning to see that although I have many hours and much effort and beaucoup faith to exercise - I am going to learn Hungarian. I've been told several times that I talk in my sleep and since I arrived in Provo, I've been a regular subconcious chatterbox! The epiphany hit the night before last, though, when one of my roommates reported that I shouted - LOUDLY - in Hungarian! I hope my grammar was alright....
Being here for such an extended period of time has its definite perks and I am so grateful for the. I get to make lots of friends along the way and if I choose to take it - I can get to know the Elders in my district really well. It's dawned on me that although I'll serve with dozens of awesome young men - this group is special. I'll never have the opportunity to get to know someone the way I have these Elders - my Elders. I'll never spend twelve hours a day for three months with anyone but the companions I'll have. So instead of complaining about being "girl-starved," I've come to find that I need to take it for what it is - a very special blessing.
I love these boys so much. It's ok that I don't have the relationship I'd like to have with my own sibling, because I have them.
I've always wanted a little brother, now I have EIGHT.
Don't forget my used calendar drive at the end of the month!
I do hope all is well for each of you - I miss you so much but the joy I am experiencing right now simply cannot be measured - it is THAT great.
Until next Saturday...I'm loving you all, Party People :)
Friend of the Week:Tracy
Picture it: Jan 2003, the house on Country Brook Drive.
So the first time I walked into her hom - Tracy has been just an all around AWESOME person to be around. I had heard great things about her through Joni and I was looking for a job. It was high time to get out of Ho-Ho-Kus! I have spent many the hour in ther kitchen (one of the several she used while I was with her at least) girl-talking it away - which was an interesting experience seeing as how we represent such different generatiosn, backgrounds, religions, styles and histories. She's got to be one of the most generous people I know and I spent nearly three of the best years of my life under her employment.
Tracy is a super cute little woman and has the best laugh in the world! Well - the second best - her oldest son takes that cake. MNannies have a tendency to lose weight in her house and the joke is that she starves them. I knew I would miss the kids when I left the house on Scott Avenue - but I wasn't prepared for how much I would miss Tracy. She's been a little bit of many things to me but most of all, a friend, and I am so very grateful for that.
I made the joke several times about writing a book or a movie based on our experiences - but it wouldn't be a jaw-dropping horror story - it would be a side-splitting talke of laughter and joy.
