October 12

(sorry, she was putting the portions for everybody in mom's email and i wasn't aware of it.)
We have been having a lot of wonderful lessons here in Plattsmouth area. The people are hardworking and faithful. Many people of skills here that you would never have guessed people did. We met a couple who built there own log home. It was a HOME too not a cabin really. They hand varnished everything and hand fitted each plank. The husband is an electrician and he has built a few homes. He and his wife had been checking out how to be able to make the best kind of log home for a while and then they just did it. They were so well pleased with their home and the work they did. It was beautiful workmanship too. It reminds me of what I want my life to be like. I want to study and work hard at my life. Find the best way to live and build my life to those standards. So that when the time comes I can look at my home and say" yes I worked hard and it was all well worth it." To do that I have to let the lord guide me in everything. To follow his example through everything. It isn't easy and some times I know I could do it better but I know it will be worth it. That's what we share out here in Nebraska or in any mission. We share to whom people can turn to to help make there lives better. I am grateful to be here. Thank you for all your prayers and helping support the missionary work. It won't be easy but in the end I can promise you it will be worth it.

October 18

I love learning to listen to the spirit and putting my desires off to the side. I love learning that YOU CAN"T JUDGE ANYONE! because the next man on the street you come across may have just been praying for who knows how long to become closer to his heavenly father, to know if he is loved, and what's the point to everything. I think about how much I have needed the answers to those questions. How much it has changed my life to know where to find those answers, and it pushes you forward. This work is tough it whips you spiritually into shape. I am constantly reminded though that this is the lords work. It is his words and his guidance not mine. That the Holy ghost is the converting power in all of this. The Holy Ghost is the comforter, teacher, and testifier. And my ONE job is to be worthy to constantly have it as my companion and listen and act on it's promptings. I have learned how to listen to the Holy ghost and how to know it IS the Holy Ghost the answers are in the scriptures and through a modern day profit. When I question the lords guidance I remember Galatians 5: 25-26 and I know then exactly who it's from. Most importantly I learned how to pray. I learned that Heavenly Father listens to all our prayers and there is no such thing as a prayer done wrong. There is a correct order but if it's from your heart that's all that matters. and you will receive your answer(Moroni 10:3-5). The gift of being able to communicate to your Father in Heaven and truly know that he answers has brought me so much peace. Then having the desire to act on that answer literally changes your life every time for the better. I have learned to do something we call Pray, Pause, Ponder. As you pray you ask for specific question in your prayer and after you ask you pause for how ever amount of time, then you ponder about the feelings and impressions you are receiving leaving an open mind to any feelings you may receive. Heavenly Father does answer every time! and it has been the most wonderful experience!!

Oct 4

What's that noise you say? Well that my friends is the north wind a' blowin cause it's FALL!! It's chilly! It's fall! It's awesome! This work is so amazing. It shows you how to think nothing of yourself and everything of other people. How to loose yourself in being of help to others. It has taught me how to look to the lord for all my guidance. That the Holy Spirit is real and does help you understand what your Heavenly Father wishes you to know. Wasn't Conference wonderful?! It was exactly what I needed to hear. I love knowing there there is a living prophet on the earth today. That Heavenly Father loves us just as much as in olden times as he does now. That we do not have to be alone or lost. We can know for ourselves if it's all true. The gospel of Jesus Christ is restored on the earth, and is a wonderful, and powerful reminder to the children of men that God is forever, and so is his love. We are opening the area here and it's been a little tough some times you wonder how it will work. Then you remember that this isn't your work but the Lord's and he has sent my companion and myself here to serve and help the people. That HE will be the ones to heal there hearts and there sorrows and that we are only meant to bring to remembrance what the forgot. Heavenly father loves us all. he cares for us all. Our savior suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross so we may not be alone. What infinite love that must have taken to know what was to come and still drink the bitter cup. I take that reminder with me where ever I go. I will not be selfish and refuse a gift given with so much sacrifice and love that is for everyone. I hope all of you are safe.

If you are thinking of going on a mission truly search out the answer between you and Heavenly Father. Do not think you are not smart enough or know your scriptures enough. That is what your mission is for. Start studying Preach My Gospel and the scriptures. Make sure you are worthy by talking to your Bishop. Make sure you are worthy so that you do not have to deal with the burden of guilt wile you are out in the field. But do not be ashamed that there maybe something you need to repent for. Remember Christ did not die on the cross because we were already perfect and it was insurance. He payed the ransom because we are NOT perfect nor can we be in this life and our Heavenly Father loved us enough to make sure we had a way to lift the burdens of guilt. If we only can repent, be baptized, and receive the holy ghost. We can endure all things and act on the faith we have by applying the atonement. What a precious gift.

I love you and pray for you,

Becky

September 27

Plattsmouth is getting cooolllldd the corn fields have fog that hangs above them in the mornings and lingers. It's beautiful here! The people are so amazing! Mostly everyone in the plattsmouth bellevue and fairview area work on the military base. the members of the ward Sister Hale and I attend are so humble and hard working and I don't think you would ever put their personalities together. But when the lord is involved happiness can be found any where and that is definitely what you find in the Plattsmouth ward. Most of the members are converts and when we visit just hearing them remember their conversion is so wonderful. All the members keep encouraging Sister Hale and I not to give up. That it will be hard and that people will reject us but keep pushing forward for those people who are readied by the lord and whom the lord guides us to. I keep seeing it day by day that this is not my work, this is not my gospel, and it won't by my words that help people have that change of heart. It's Christs work, and Christ's Gospel, and the revelation by modern day prophets and those called to help the missionaries whose words will change peoples lives. We are simply the messengers the reminders the bringers of hope. We missionaries simply bring the light and understanding back into there lives. Sister hale and I have had so many experiences where all we were doing was being were we planned to be and doing missionary work and we would find people who would say " Yeah, actually I've wondered those questions and I feel I want to know more. You know I don't believe in coincidences I know I met you girls for a reason." ISN'T THAT AMAZING! It's just proves every time that the lord is preparing people who sincerely want to know his guidance. I feel so blessed to be out here doing this work. It's not easy by any means. You HAVE to learn to quit thinking of yourself and truly trying to do what Heavenly Father is asking you to do. But when those hard times come you just have to remember that the exact same things happened to Christ and remember his example, as we do with all things. We are not perfect, we make mistakes and we have weaknesses. I may not be able to answer every question. But I have been called by a prophet of God to share what I know, and I know the message we share is true.(preach my gospel). I used to think that some of the things missionaries did was cheesy, but if you can only FEEL the spirit in those moments when you put your heart into those revealed truths... I finally began to understand that it is NOT cheesy, but a wonderful blessing to repent those words and truly gain a testimony of them. I know this church is true, the more and more I learn the more conviction and knowledge of that truth I have. I had a great faith of it before I came out here to do the lords work. Now I have the opportunity to put that faith to action and let the lord grow that faith into a knowledge. And everyday I am, through the rain and mud and muck. I am grateful I am here and that I am working harder spiritually and mentally then I ever have before. The missionaries here are AWESOME! Especially the sisters! They strive so much to be the best they can for the Lord it's AWESOME! They are so kind and they really support each other through their struggles. Pray that the miracles will continue and that our footsteps will be guided to the people the Lord has prepared. That we will have the Holy ghost as our constant companion, and safe guard, and we will have the words of our prophets and Heavenly Father to comfort our hearts through this work. THANKS! Love,

Sister Askren

Sept 14 and Sept 20

September 14
The Alaska companions left and now there is only four of us from our district here until tomorrow morning. I have had so many blessings here! The teachers really help us to know how to teach preach my gospel. What is difficult isn't using the material it's how to study it, and learn from it, and then listen to the spirit so he can guide us on how the lord wants us to teach the investigator. We have to learn to tie everything back to the gospel and guide everyone to Jesus Christ. Before I came out here I honestly thought the way missionaries taught was a little over bearing, but I see the wisdom in it. That the Holy ghost is the teacher not us we just help them know the basics and guide them to Christ and the holy ghost does everything else. Testify, Comfort, love, knowledge, understanding all of it comes from the Holy Ghost and we just have to be worthy vessels. Preach My gospel is an inspired book I know it now with how I have used it and the scriptures to teach investigator after investigator. We constantly here from other converts that what brought them to the church and kept them going was the spirit they felt with the missionaries and the support from their wards. I am so grateful I can do this work the same work Christ did when he was here. The same work many have died for. The same work that through the resorted gospel has blessed millions. they are trying to help missionaries to learn while they help the investigators to learn. How we can take what we will go through on our missions and help us be stronger people and I already see it happen. It is an amazing opportunity. Most of all I am grateful the lord saw fit to let me do his work.

September 20

I am here in wonderful Plattsmouth, Nebrask my VERY FIRST AREA! and Sister Hale is my trainer she is from centerville, utah! lol Looks like Utah may be a common factor with my companions. It's all corn fields here and soybean fields NOT EVEN KIDDING. It's beautiful though all green and trees and blue sky. It was FREEZING the last two days Sister Hale and I wore four layers mostly to keep warm while we went proselyting. We found an amazing family the Ramaro family and they have heard of the Book of Mormon before and went to a few church sites. They are wonderful! They are Catholic ( most people seem to be here ;) ) and Michelle( the mom) is really kind. There are two boys and two girls the oldest is a boy named Jake( he is a senior in high school) and the youngest is Adam( he is in first grade). We see them again this week pray that there hearts will be softened and that they will be willing to here and act on what we will teach! please. Also we have the Klinetobe family and a lady named Sarah and a man named Don. Mom these people are so awesome! Everyone here is really humble even when they are mad and they are being rude to make Sister Hale and I leave they do it in a nice way it's pretty cool. We are staying with the Bucksbee family ( which is really brother and sister bucksbee because there kids are all in there mid twenties and older) until we can get into our more permanent place. Sister Hale is a wonderful trainer and is really patient with me. The ward members are all REALLY excited to have us here and are being really wonderful with helping us out. Sister Hale showed me that actually most of our work isn't going around knocking on doors. It's helping the members in there missionary work and looking at referrals and seeing who is ready to listen. President and sister Kunz are wonderful and really kind. I am so surprised at how organized missionary work really is and how it goes so perfectly together. Of course it would because it's the lords work and the lord is organized but it was still a little surprising. How much detail is thought out is just really cool.