Search, Ponder and Pray, are the things that I must do....

Hello All!

How are things?  I am doing just swimmingly up here (not literally, of course - Missionaries are not supposed to swim...).  But I am loving Barrie, Ontario.  The weather is starting to turn a little brisk - The temperature dropping, the Cold Northern winds blowing - it's magnificent! We had a good week.  A lot of finding.  But we were able to see some fruit from it, and we have a lot of appointments set up with the people we met last weekend.  The Lord truly blesses us and leads us to those whom He has prepared.  We were not able to meet with any of our investigators, but we found a few people who will listen to us.  Hopefully we will be able to help them realize that they need the gospel in their lives!  It truly is the greatest blessing that any of us could receive!  I love being able to tell people about it and seeing them change as they accept it.  This truly is God's work.

I am So excited for General Conference!!!  What an amazing opportunity to hear from the Prophet of God!  I encourage each of you to come up with a few questions that you have about your life, write them down, and then listen intently to conference.  You will get the answers that you seek.  The Lord wants us to be happy.  He wants us to have the answers.  We are promised all throughout scripture - "Ask and ye Shall Receive."  It truly is a promise with power.  Joseph Smith had a question, and he asked for an answer.  Look what has happened as a result of that!  Miracles can and will happen.  We will receive if we ask.  I know that.  I love you all and I wish you a happy Conference!  Have a Great Week!

Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft

Beautiful Day, of peace and rest....

Hello All!

How are things?  I hope that you all are doing well.  Things up here have been.  We found 3 new investigators last week.  One of them is Greg Thompson.  He is a friend of a member in Midland, and the missionaries there called us and gave us the name.  He is a great man.  He knows the Bible fairly well, and his views match up with ours.  As we met with him, he would ask us questions about pretty much everything in the church and each response would be greeted with "That's the way I feel as well.  It talks about that in the Bible."  Or something similar to that.  Oh - and by the way - he's blind.  So we were able to get him a braille copy of the Book of Mormon.  It's HUGE!  I carried it in to his house in a box that Brindy and Noelle Both could fit it.  It came in 6 massive binders stuffed to capacity.  He was very grateful for it.  He told us as we were leaving that with all the paper and the stamping, he would give the entire copy a ballpark estimate of costing about $1000.00.  He was very grateful and we are excited to help him progress in the gospel.

The work is progressing.  As Joseph Smith stated, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing."  That is very true.  As hostile and negative as people may be toward us and toward the Church, it can't change the fact that it is true.  I am very grateful for that.  Nothing can or ever will alter the truth.  I am grateful to be engaged in this tremendous work. Nothing else can compare.  I love it.  I love you all!  Have a great Day! Study, Share, but more importantly, LIVE THE GOSPEL!!!

Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft

I Love The Lord - In Him My Soul Delights.....

Hello All!

How is life in the Blessed Homeland?  I hope that you all are doing well.  I think Canada is a little  confused about the Seasons.  It is actually pretty warm up here.  It's like summer came late.  I am sure that I will be missing it though in a couple weeks.  But Anyway....

We had a good week.  We were able to meet with some of our investigators and Find a few more.  One of them, Steve, is working to be baptized on the 4 of October.  (Speaking of Which - I am so excited for GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! YAY!!! LIVING PROPHETS!!!! REVELATION!!! SPIRITUAL FEASTING!!!! YUMMY!!!! Be sure to enjoy it.  I have a feeling this conference is going to be the best one yet!).  We were also able to have Zone Conference on Monday.  What a great experience.  We learned all about how to be more bold and powerful as we extend commitments to people, and about how we should use ALL the resources around us to talk to ALL the people we come in contact with.  It was a great experience.  I just love missionary work and all that comes with it!  The Gospel is true.  I am so grateful for that knowledge and the privilege that I have of sharing that with others.  It is such an honor to be in His service, and to be an instrument in His hands.  There is no greater work than this.  I love it.  I love the Gospel.  I love God's Children.  I Love The Lord-  In Him My Soul Delights!

Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft

I Believe in Christ! He is My King! With ALL my heart to Him I'll sing....

Hello All!

Greetings from the blesse land of Barrie!  This week has been great, as we have been able to evaluate last transfer and set goals to improve this next one.  Elder Obando and I have addressed the concerns of the Zone and we are very excited for the group of missionaries that we have and the potential that we have.  We have a lot of good missionaries [Side Note - Sister Olsen (From Price, UT - GO CEU!) is serving in Keswick right now, which is in the Zone.  Her District Leader is Elder Ford (GO OLYMPUS!).  So that's
fun....].

                                                     

We have incredible potential and we are very excited for the miracles that we can  accomplish.  As always, I am grateful for your prayers and can truly see them being answered every day.  This is an incredible work that we are about, and the Lord truly has a hand in it.  His influence is far greater than any of us know.  We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have made promises to the Lord.  We are to stand as Witnesses of God at ALL times, in ALL things, and in ALL places. There is no exception, qualifier, or condition.  We are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We know He Lives and loves each and every one of us, and it is our duty to let everyone know that.  "Ye are the light of the world....Do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house....Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your god works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."  We have the Light.  We are the light.  And because we have that, we need to share our light with others.  A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.  Please, each of you.  Make a list of people that you know who do not know the gospel.  Pray over that list and pay attention to the name (or names) that come into your mind.  The Spirit speaks through the Thoughts in our minds and the feelings in our hearts. You don't even have to talk to this person about the gospel.  If you aren't comfortable with that, just call the missionaries, give them the name, and watch the Spirit work.  It is truly amazing.  I love each of you, and I pray for you.  If I can help you in any way, let me know.  Have a Wonderful day!

Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft

You can Make the Pathway Bright....

Hello All!

Transfers Happened - and I am  staying in Barrie!  My New  companion is Elder Obando.  He  will arrive later today.  I  am  excited for  that.  We had a good week.  It was a little bit of a struggle to get in touch with our investigators this week, but  we have  some definite potential for  more investigators in the next week as  well.  It is an exciting   time.  Elder Hafen,  Elder  Smith,  and Elder Shelley are  all leaving, so  yet again, I stay and everybody else goes.  Oh well.  The Church is still true.  I  hope that everybody is doing well.  Hopefully,  school has not  floored anybody too bad.  Good luck with that.  Do your best!  Have Fun!  Sorry to be brief! I love  you!

Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft