March
31, 2017
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| Temple Square in Fairyland Dress |
This is early spring with plum blossoming trees, tulips, hyacinths and daffodils on Temple Square. We have been enjoying the break from season to season in spectacular color. As we drive up to work in this very historic location – Temple Square – sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure this time of our lives is really happening here in Salt Lake City, Utah. The history of Temple Square with its spired Temple, domed Tabernacle, gathering Assembly Hall surrounds our daily modern activities in the Family History Library right next door.
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| Sister Ashby at Family History Center |
April 17, 2017
I have been fulfilling a four-year mission there
on the International Floor. Lee is just finishing a two-year mission. We’ve
been working with many people searching for ancestors mostly from European
countries. We’ve also been studying with a small group of missionaries focusing
on learning German terminology and genealogical research tools. It’s very
surprising how many European ancestors being sought come from Germany. (We had
no idea how this was preparation for our future mission.) There are many books and
paid workers as well as volunteer missionaries who are trying to help. We had
learned many skills which will be helpful in our future, I am sure. Often we
worked with French, German, Australian, English, Canadian and, of course,
America missionaries. Previously there were many different reading machines which
were very helpful but laborious to use. They permitted great record reading,
but the computers which have replaced them have allowed us to be much more
helpful through far more historic time and geographic areas. The claim that
computers were invented to assist in the work of family history research seems
very substantiated as we learn to use these modern Urim and Thummims. We served
for two days of the week. At the time that seemed like many hours.
However,
there was so much to learn and so many to help that the days went by very quickly.
This photo shows our posting board with our floor moto: “BE ONE ON B1” (B1 meaning
the Basement of the Library floors). This particular poster board wall also
contained notice of our Farewell from the Floor. It was a great time of sharing
and learning.
During this time of learning, I had also the “blessing” of learning to walk with two total knee replacements.
Because of these surgeries, time passed and I had several with several Zone Leaders. One couple
was a wonderful husband and wife from Paris, France. He was a doctor and had a distinct
French accent. She spoke English very clearly. It was a delight to work with
them then. Interestingly enough, they would return home, but they were just planning
on returning when they received a call to become part of the Paris Temple
Presidency. We were terribly disappointed on our side at this time. However,
before we finished our Freiberg Temple Mission, we would come into very close contact with them
as we visited the Paris Temple on one of our two-week temple closure times.
They accompanied us to their home there after we attended a temple session. They
also escorted us to some very beautiful sites well known in Paris. |
| Elizabeth the Grad!!! |
We are waiting for Elizabeth to finish her degree at the University of Utah. She’s
been working a long time to complete that. It’s very important for us to
celebrate with her! She began her studies at BYU and then through a few years of
planning and study, she’s decided to graduate from the U of U. As I was up at
our last rehearsal for a concert with the Salt Lake Choral Artists and headed
home, I noticed that there were many brilliant red flowers all across the front
of the U. As the next few days were graduation activities there, I called
Elizabeth to see if she would like a few photos with her graduation robe, etc.
We managed to find a time when we could both meet there. I was delighted – I think
even more than was she! Here’s just one pic of the happy girl taken by her
overjoyed Mom.
When
she’s completed these many years and her hard work, we plan on submitting our
missionary papers. As we’ve been organizing our thoughts and plans, I am
becoming very excited. I will be fulfilling a part of my patriarchal blessing about
working with those who will want to hear of the Gospel and to whom I can bear
my witness of the Savior. It’s been many years that I’ve read that unfulfilled
promise. I am so happy that Lee will enable me to complete that. We were working
with my Mom during her difficult last year and then settling her estate. That
was another important family issue we needed to complete before we could start
final plans for a mission together. Working through those moments with and for
her were difficult times. The completion of this goal by Elizabeth was a
wonderful time!
