Because I have been Given much, I too must give....

Hello All!

It sounds like winter in Utah.  The snow has yet to hit up here, although we keep hearing that it is right around the corner.  It has been pretty chilly lately with a wind that bites through you like Fat Albert eating a big mac (Thank You Taylor for that simile....)

So life up here is the like the biggest, fattest, fry-sauce covered French Fry there ever was!  It is great!  We were finally able to get in and teach Rina.  She is from Thailand.  We have had some problems getting in to visit her, due to the fact that she wants to meet in the afternoon when her daughter is at school.  That presents a little bit of a problem, because the members of the ward that usually go with us to visit single ladies all work during the day, but Brother Knight (Bless his big Jamaican heart) was able to come with us  to see her.  Without prompting from us (There was definitely some from heaven), Brother Knight right off the bat shared his testimony and his conversion story.  It brought such a sweet spirit into the room.  The lesson went very well, and we are meeting with her again tonight.  It has been really good to visit so many of God's Children.  It is even more comforting to realize that He loves each of them, without respect of age, gender, race, social status, etc.

I was reading this morning in 2 Nephi 27:33, which says, "he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. "  That was a great verse for me this morning.  If God is no Respecter of persons, then we, as his servants, should not be either.  We should love them all regardless.  That is what Charity is.  In the New Testament, we read that "Charity covereth a multitude of sins."  One of the many things that we can learn from this verse is that when we have charity, we are willing to look past all the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters and love them for who they are - Children of God.  That principle has been engraven on my heart more than perhaps any other - "I am A Child of God." We sing it.  We say it.  We know it.  I know that God is there.  He is aware
of and loves each of us.  I know that.

I love you all!  Have a great Day!

Your Obedient Servant,
Elder Austin James Ashcraft