Hello All!
How is life down in Utah? It's the middle of August now, and I bet that it is a tad bit on the warm side. I hope that everybody is having a great time finishing up the summer plans and getting ready for school to start. It is that time again - kind of weird that I am not a part of it. I hope that all goes well and that you are all able to get everything ready.
Canada is, as usual, being a great experience for me. I am
learning a lot from my companion and my study. I have been going through
the Book of Mormon again and I just have to reiterate how incredible that book
is! Joseph Smith was truly correct when he said that it is the most correct of any
book on earth, and that a man will get closer to God by reading it and abiding
by its precepts than any other book. We have given a lot of them away
this past little while, as we have tried to utilize it more in our missionary service. We have gotten into the habit of carrying one in our hand
the entire time we are out. It is great, although at times I just want to
start reading while I am walking down the street. It is such a learning environment
out here. On one hand, you want to study all day just because you are
learning so much, but you also want to get out and share what you know with the
world. It is an incredible feeling that I wish everyone could experience.
Our investigators are proving to be an interesting challenge. We passed Susan on the Sister Missionaries (one of which looks like Nicole Richardson - I will have to send a picture) and they have been teaching her. She got antied and had not come to church. We saw her in the bus stop and talked to her a little bit. We walked with her over to the Tim Horton's (Canada's Equivalent of Starbucks - Interesting place for a missionary lesson, I know, but that is where she was going...) and we taught her a little bit there. It got pretty noisy, so we convinced her to walk with us across the street to the park, where we were able to teach her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We also committed her to be baptized this Sunday and set up an appointment for the Sisters to go teach her. The sisters taught her and the lesson went well, but she didn't come to church again. She said that she wasn't feeling well, but later she expressed a concern that she felt she wasn't ready to be baptized. It has been an interesting roller coaster with her.
Jean Guy, our other investigator that was going to be baptized this Sunday, has had a hard time quitting smoking. We went over the workshop with him a while ago, but when I talked to him, we went over the 15 steps and he has been skipping a couple. Hopefully he will have kicked it by Sunday so we can baptize him. His testimony is strong, he just has that smoking problem. We talked to him last night, and he asked for a blessing, which should help him. Hopefully he will have kicked the habit. We taught another lady, Elaine, who reminds me of Aunt Helen. She was fairly receptive to what we taught, and we scheduled a return appointment, but when we showed up for the appointment, she was not home. We will try to talk to her later this week.
So in about an hour we are going to drive down to Brampton. Elder Packer from the Seventy is coming and all the missionaries are going down to meet with him. I am excited. It will be a long drive, though, and that is something that I am not used to. It will be good, though. It will give me a chance to study and write letters. But anyway, life in Sudbury has been good. The work is progressing and I feel that I am as well. I am so grateful to know what I know. We are a peculiar people, with a peculiar knowledge. Use it well.
And now for something Completely Random....Boyos, have fun at scout camp. You will have to let me know how it is. I don't really know anything about it, seeing as though you never write me (just kidding - love you), but let me know. I still want to hear about youth conference (Especially the picture of Al as Fabio) and everything else - all your summer adventures....Taylor - did they ever figure out what is going to happen with yearbook because Hyatt is leaving? I hope that you are able to find another adviser. If you have any input, try Ms. Bishop - that is what we were shooting for, but it didn't work out.....Bryson - Happy Birthday! I hope my letter got there in time. It was kind of random, but I hope you enjoyed it.... Dad - Congrats on the ALPS contract. It is good that the SafeSpot is doing well. I hope that everything goes well with that....Chad is going into the MTC - All I can say is Have Fun, Learn lots, and don't lose your enthusiasm for the work! (and just so you know, mom, the practical jokes are not too bad out here <knock or wood>)....I got both of the picture packages this week - one on Friday and one yesterday. That was wonderful! I love getting pictures! It is so much fun. (By the way, mom, I thought the Tithing Envelope was hilarious). Pictures are great..... Anyway, Good luck to everybody starting school in the next little while. Bryson - good luck in High School. Taylor - Have an Awesome Senior Year (Don't be too lazy). Tan - Junior High, Baby! Love it! And to everybody at CEU, try to have fun without me. It is weird not going down to Price, but I hope you are all able to survive (at least temporarily) without the Duck. But, Alas! My time to e-mail doth draw to a close. Anyway - I love you and miss you all!!! Don't be strangers! I would love to hear from you!
Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft
No comments:
Post a Comment