Europe: Sicily, Italy

Sorry for the long pause with our Europe trip... but it's back!!

we started out by going to the highest point we could get to in Sicily so that we could see all around us

At the top of the hill, there was a beautiful cathedral

then we headed to the beach for a while and had lunch :)

up next: Naples, Italy

iPhone love

Just some pictures from my phone and instagram from the last few months!

My cute chan chan in her vans. Her first time wearing shoes.

Matchy matchy with my girl.


Gotta love Halloween nails :)


Love this cute girl. Chandler at 9 months.


Chandler, my mom and I went up to slc for a weekend. One of my bests Megan and her cute Zoey.


Some of my favorite people. The Wilkey's, my mission president and his wife.


Sometimes you just need a change. Hello fall. Hello dark roots.


We got a little festive for Halloween. Stuffed orange peppers.


One of my favorite things to do at Halloween time. Thriller at Tuacahn is a-mazing.


This girl. Bouncing on a mattress is so much fun.


My beautiful roomie Natalie got married.


I just love her.


All the girls on Thanksgiving.


So much to be thankful for. Love my little family.


Giesha for Austin's 25th birthday.


Daddy is currently her favorite. Sharing his banana blizzard with her.


Already addicted to Disney channel. (maybe I am too? ha)

To see more... follow me on instagram @ashleyhunt5

Have some fun :)

9. Work as if everything depends on you... because it does. But when the day is over, be finished with it. NO REGRETS.

I feel like I've touched on this already... but I seriously can't stress this enough. Just like Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Forget yourself and get to work." That's what we are out there to do. We're there to work, to serve, to love. And if you go to bed every night completely exhausted and when you finish your prayers, you truly feel like you've done everything you could possibly do that day, then that's all that matters.

(Hay... from the field!!! ha ha get it??! ...sad missionary humor)

10. If you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong.

I've touched on this too... but I really did struggle with this. And after a few weeks of feeling like a "robot" I had had enough. I was seriously comtemplating going home because how could I really feel good about what I was doing for 18 months not having fun? Once I realized that I needed to be myself and I needed to have a little fun, it seriously made all the difference in the world. It kind of goes along with this post, because everyone needs a little pick-me-up now and then... so do it. As long as you're being obedient, have a little fun :)

(preaching to anyone who will listen)

Well, there ya have it. This was seriously so much fun being able to reminisce about my time as a missionary. Maybe more fun for me then for all of you, ha! Anyway... I hope you're all excited because my final posts from Europe are coming up next! Come back soon, okay?? :)

Miracles

8. Remember, God is an UNCHANGING God of miracles. Believe in miracles. BE THE MIRACLE.

Be ready for them. Because you'll witness miracles. Every. Single. Day. They might not be the huge, in your face kind of miracles. But they will happen. I'll share a story with you that I don't share too often...

In my first area of my mission, the first apartment we were living in just so happened to be right above a bar. Fitting for the missionaries right?? We didn't mind at all, but it probably wasn't the best idea for our living quarters. So, after living in a sister's attic for a few weeks (bless her heart. we loved it up there.) We got our very own cute little house. A house! It was a two story house with 3 bedrooms upstairs. Anyway, one night I got woken up around 2:30 a.m. by someone banging on our back door. I'm a very light sleeper, so of course I sit right up and freeze. It happens again. So I wake up my companion...

"Sister... SISTER... Someone is at our back door."

My poor companion... still trying to wake up... now hears the banging because they keep doing it. So we jump out of bed and try to look out the windows to see if we could see anyone outside. Then the banging turns into jiggling the door handle. (I should also tell you that all of our windows were open, it was super nice outside. AND our cell phone and car keys were all downstairs. We. Are. Brilliant.) So, we panic knowing that someone is trying to get INSIDE our house at 2:30 in the morning... and hide in the nearest closet. And... to make matters worse... just as we were trying to close the closet door, we hear our back door open and footsteps make their way into our house.

Just a little side note: If any of you know me... you KNOW that my biggest fear is someone breaking into my house... so you can imagine what was going through my head at that moment. The closet we hid in had those accordion type doors that you could only close completely from the outside... So we couldn't close the door all the way. We only had a teensy little crack that we could look through and you better believe that I was focused on that crack of light the entire time we were huddled in that closet.

("the" closet. I went back and had to get a picture)

My companion and I were squatting (yes, squatting. not sitting) and holding hands for over an hour just praying to know what to do. I can't even begin to tell you how hard I was praying for some sort of miracle to get us out of there. We both kept whispering to each other not to move... and after squatting and praying, squatting and praying, we both looked at each other and said, "let's go!" And we did.

I picture us being in some high action movie busting out of the closet and running down the stairs... grabbing our car keys and cell phone and getting the heck out of there! We never did find out who was in our house... they never came upstairs and didn't take a single thing. (unless they helped themselves to a BoM or a Word of Wisdom pamphlet) But I do know that God was watching over us that night... That we were part of a huge miracle... And I'm so grateful that nothing happened and we got the heck out of there!

Be yourself.

6. Remember, God never asked you to be perfect. He just asked for you to try your best.

I kind of touched on this in my last post. And I feel like this applies not only to missionaries, but to everyone. I think sometimes we get caught up in trying to do everything and wanting it all to turn out perfect... and when it doesn't, we feel like we failed. NOT true. I remember meeting with my mission president for the first time on the mission and having a TOTAL breakdown. (I'm not crazy I promise.) But I could not get over the fact that I felt like I wasn't doing all that I could and that I wasn't being myself. My mission president's wife looked at me and said:

"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."

I can't tell you how much that helped me. They also told me that I just need to be myself and that Heavenly Father will be happy with that. From that moment on, I did just that. And I was content. I knew that I was putting my best self forward and in turn, I was doing my best. And that was all that mattered.

(some of the sisters in the NHMM at zone conference)

7. Be 100% obedient. Because you want to. Not because you have to.

I love this one. And I couldn't agree more. We all know the mission rules guidelines. I put it like that because they are not rules. We're out there all on our own for the most part. Yes, we check in with District Leaders and our Mission President... but we all know how easy it could be to not follow the schedule set out for us. The thing is, is that before we submit our papers and before we get out mission call, we know what we're in for. So why not live it. And love it. If you're going to DO the missionary work, BE obedient. It's one of the only ways that missionary work WORKS the way that it does.

(my first baptism in the field. Sister PJ Bushee was baptized in Westport, NY)

happiness and treats

4. you can go home... perfect your language, go please every missionary or member who you weren't able to get through to... you can have the best number record left behind you... but you cannot get back being happy.

I have to admit, I struggled with this at the beginning of my mission... not that I like to admit that or anything. But man, missionary work is hard! You can't help but feel like you could've done MORE every night when you go to sleep. Often times, I prayed to know that was I was doing was enough... that I was doing all that I could. Once I understood what true missionary work was all about, I was able to let go of those fears and worries and just do my thing. And I was happy. I was happy with my work, I was happy with my studies, I was happy with my companion. Happy is a key word to a successful mission.

(ps. this was a huge mistake! 90 degrees outside and 90% humidity... and then having to wear a sweater all day? not smart.)

5. Treat yourself. Everyday. Whether it be a scoop of ice cream, a nice shower, or jammin out to the hymns before bed (or jumping on the bed... we've done that too) everyday. DO IT.

AMEN. TO. THAT. I should leave it at that... but I won't. Because my saving grace during my mission happened to be McDonalds or Taco Bell every single p-day. Yes, I chose to treat myself with fatty, non healthy foods once a week. And yes, I loved it. My weekly diet coke was seriously a life saver. I'm not sure if it was the extra dose of caffiene that helped me throughout the week, but I don't even care. I needed that. And so will you. Maybe not caffiene. Or french fries. Or a bean and cheese burrito. But everyone needs a treat. So make sure that when you "forget yourself and get to work" that you take a treat or two along the way.

(the "colossal" breakfast... which the owner told us it was free if we ate the whole thing. and I'm a little embarassed to say I did. however, my companion did not... which meant that we did pay for our breakfast. shooooot.)

words of service.

2. Satan will work his hardest on you before you leave and those first few months. He knows the difference you will make. But you know who also knows? Your Father in Heaven. And you know who doesn't have a body? Satan.

But seriously. Oh. My. Goodness. Those few months before I left were really hard. Not only was my mind filled with doubt... Did I know enough about the Gospel to actually teach it? Was my testimony enough? Was this really what I was supposed to be doing? But I started to think about dumb things... things like missing out on friends milestones, what family trips I was going to miss, how far behind I was going to be in life. 

None of that matters. Yes, you need a testimony. Yes, you need to know the Gospel (well, the basics). But more important, you need love. You need charity. You need listening ears and a thoughtful and pure heart. With all of those things, you'll find that you're not missing out on anything. And after all, this work isn't about you. Not at all. It's about the Lord's work and this glorious and perfect Gospel and if you keep those things in mind, I promise you'll be the happiest you've ever been serving the Lord.

3. Serve, Love and Pray for and with your companion 

Serve. Love. Pray. Learn to love those three words.

Your companion is one of your best resources during your mission. He/she quickly becomes your best friend, your lifeline. A friend told me right before I left, "If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to get along with your companion. Find something you have in common. Even if the only thing you have in common is that you are both out serving the Lord, build on it." Embrace it. Love it. Because 6 weeks (or often times, longer) is a long time to be with someone 24/7 and not get along. That companion will become your teaching partner, and you will need them to lean on. And I guarantee that they will need to lean on you as well. People can tell when you and your companion aren't in harmony with each other. It affects teaching, it affects finding, it affects the work. Love them. Pray for (and with) them. Serve them. I promise, you will not regret it... and you will have many close friends because of it.

taking a little detour

Sorry guys... My Europe posts are on hold for the time being... I promise I'll finish them... soon.
But being that it's fall... and october... and the leaves are turning all sorts of pretty colors... I've been thinking a lot about New England and my time as a missionary. I'm coming up on being home for 3 (yes, threeeeee) years now... and I've just been reflecting (or reminiscing if you will) about my process of deciding to serve a mission and what-not. I stumbled upon a sister missionary's blog the other day and she listed off 10 things she lived by throughout her mission. You know those days when you're thinking hard about something... and then something comes along that totally fits right along with what you're thinking about??

Yea. Mind blown. This was it for me.

So here you have it... Throughout the week I'll be going through the list...

1. Your call is inspired, your father in heaven trusts you and accepted your desire to serve and called you to the work because he TRUSTS YOU.

I've got 2 things for this...

first... read D&C Section 4... "if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work" and then... "but faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

Your desire to serve God counts. It really does mean everything. Having christlike qualities are what qualify you for the Lords work. And I promise, if the desire to serve is there, those qualities quickly follow.

second... I'll share a little experience I had with you. So, it took me about 9 months to complete my mission papers (okay, like 1 day to complete them, 8 months and 29 days to submit them). Not because I had stuff to take care of, but I was a tad bit hesitant. I wanted it to be the right time... Anyway, right after I submitted my papers, I really wondered where I would go... Japan, England, Temple Square, Mexico, Nebraska... the options seemed endless. I really (and when I say really, I mean reeaaallllyy) wanted to go foreign. Anywhere foreign and far, far away... you know, so I wouldn't really have the option to go home. Ha.

I fell asleep one night and in my dream, I had recieved my mission call. Now, I had never ever in my life seen an actual mission call... so this was all new to me. All it said was, "Sister Tresner, you have been called to the Kirtland, Ohio Mission New Hampshire Mission."

Exactly like that. Words crossed out and everything.

WHAT?? First of all, why can I not go to Kirtland, Ohio?? And second, do people actually live in New Hampshire??

No, but really. So, I rolled out of bed, got onto handy dandy Google... and typed in "LDS Missions"... scrolled down right to "New Hampshire Manchester Mission".

Ahh, it does exist. People do exist there.

I shrugged my shoulders and went on about my day.

Well, I got my mission call... opened it...

NEW HAMPSHIRE MANCHESTER MISSION.

Jaw. Dropped. I. Lost. It. (literally... watch the video here. And yes, that's my mom in the background. She knew about my dream.)

Mission calls are truly inspired. I can't even begin to tell you have happy I was to be able to serve where I did. Heavenly Father sends you exactly where you need to be. Whether it be stateside or foreign, English speaking or Mandarin Chinese, He knows you and He knows where you need to be and more importantly, where people are that need you. There is not a doubt in my mind that I was supposed to be in New England. I met so many people who have forever changed my life and will forever be grateful for the opportunity I had to be a missionary.

Europe: Florence, Pisa, and Lucca Italy

this day was action packed... and i'm not exaggerating. lets start out with the morning... we knew this day was going to be busy so we all planned on getting up, getting ready, and heading off the ship as early as we could. once we got off the ship, we rented a little van for the day. so off we went in this teensy fiat european van. we decided to stop and get gas before we got too far into town. so we're getting gas when austin's dad comes around to the side of the van and said he thinks he made a big mistake. the van that we were driving takes diesel fuel... and in the US, diesel is the green pump. so austin's dad just assumed it was the same and continue to fill up... about half way through he realized that in europe, diesel is the black pump. 

what do you do? we couldn't just drive away... so, we ended up (i say we like i helped... i should say the boys) finding a little pump thing and had to drain out the entire gas tank. pretty quick fix you think?? oh no, this took about an hour to do. so after we got almost all of the gas out of the tank, we filled in with diesel fuel and prayed the van would run. Thank goodness it did... that would've been one hefty bill to pay to fix that van!

first, we headed to florence, italy. we went to the Galleria dell'Accademia which had the famous statue of David.

then we headed to The Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral. uhh... all of their architecture is a-mazing. absolutely amazing.

the little city of Lucca was our next stop. this is the only city that is completely surrounded by walls. we didn't have much time so our visit was quick... but it seemed like a really cute place.

and finally, we got to see the leaning tower of Pisa

up next: Naples & Sicily, Italy