Mr. Moreton knocked on her door, Mr. Moreton knocked

Top o' the mornin' to ya!

 

Hello Everybody!

 

Well, we got transfer calls on Monday, and Sadly, I am being transferred to Moreton in England. It's kind of a strange situation though, because I'm not going until next zone conference just because of travel convenience. so I'm still on the Isle for 7 more days! I'll take what I can get. My new companion will be Elder Mecham, and that's all that I know about him. Just his name. But i'm excited. It's good to go to new areas and meet new people and such. I'm definitely going to miss this place though. But i'll come back someday. Maybe with you, Mama and Big Papi. Or maybe a wife. Or maybe both? We'll see.

 

It's been quite a crazy week! With Christmas and Boxing Day, it's been a week full of people on Holiday. boxing day is big over here. Almost like a second Christmas. Kind of. Not that big, but they definitely celebrate it. But it's been fun.

 

On Christmas, we went to the Clagues and had a huge Christmas dinner and then I skyped to you, family. That was great. I love you :) haha smiley face. Long time no see. After that, we went to the Sayles' house and stayed with them for the rest of the day, and it was great fun. There are some wonderful people here in the Douglas ward. They took care of us this Christmas. It was great. I love it, love it, love it!

 

Then Boxing day, we were right back to work again, which was good. Being a missionary really is the best thing ever. I highly, highly recommend it. Seriously, though. It's fantasmagorical. I don't remember where that word is from. Oh well. The Church is still true.

 

Well, I love you all, and I'll email my address in Moreton as soon as I can, which will probably be in like a week and a half, or summat. But I love you all so much and I hope you have a cracking new year! I love you!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Christmas is coming, the Elder's getting fat...

Hiya peeps!

 

It's been a crazy week this week. People are so busy and a lot of them "don't have time" for God. Which is really sad, because that's what the season is about. It's not about us it's about Him. I had been telling Elder Metsaranta about how it didn't really feel like Christmas to me. I just brushed that thought aside, because I figured that Christmas as a missionary is a lot different than anything I'm used to. But upon further reflection, I realised that my perception of Christmas had been a little bit skewed. I realised the reasons why it didn't feel like Christmas to me: because I hadn't been to any Christmas parties. I hadn't spent oodles of money and oodles of time in shops buying things that I'll only see for one day and then will disappear. I hadn't watched any classic Christmas programs on the telly, and I hadn't listened to any cheesy Christmas songs. Then I started thinking of what I have done instead: I have testified of Jesus Christ every single day. I have shared with complete strangers the fulness of His gospel. I have taken time each morning to study His words and the words of His prophets. I have been praying constantly for His guidance, His love, and His protection. And then, finally, it hit me: It feels more like Christmas to me now than it ever has before. And I absolutely love it.

 

My Challenge to you all is to Testify to someone in this upcoming week that you know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour and that He Lives! I promise you that as you do, you'll feel His Love and you will feel the Spirit testify to you that it is true.

 

Have a great week! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! or day, or morning or whatever it is right now. Anyway, Merry Christmas! I love you!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

 

p.s. sorry this is so short, but time is of the essence at the Library! I love you!

Patience, my young Padawan.

Heigh-ho!

 

Hey ever'body! How are you all?! Good! Me too!

 

Well, it's been another good week here on the Isle. This is such a beautiful place! I love it so much! I can't believe it's already December 13th!! That's so crazy! Time has flown by like a shaved pig with a jet engine attached to the back, hopped up on energy drinks. Yeah, you're welcome for that image. I thought it was funny. But the work is going well. It's just tough sometimes because people get caught up in the frivolity and commercial side of Christmas that they forget what it is really about. So pray for the people here to soften their hearts and to remember the reason for the Season, the cause for the Claus. haha that was kinda clever. Yay, me!

 

Anyway, this week, as I studied patience, I really loved a scripture that I came across in Romans 5:3-5. It says: "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed..."

 

We should glory in the trials that God has given us, because it is those trials that help us become who and what the Lord wants us to be. So when the hard times come, just remember that Christ already went through this for you, and He is there to help guide you. Trust in Him, and "bear with patience thine afflictions."

 

I love you all! Thanks for everything, especially your prayers! I love you!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Hi there! (to be said like Doug from UP!)

Dear Peeps I love,

 

HAHA! I think that everything is better when there is laughter at the beginning, so, HAHA!

 

Anywho, it's been a cold week. Yeah, it's really cold here, but just because the humidity takes the cold straight to your bones. It's Crazy. But I love it. 'Tis quite amazing. But it's been a good week. We talked to a whole load of people, including this one woman who tried condemning me to Hell because I'm preaching that Prophets are on the earth today (yeah, pretty sure she's crazy, and also, pretty sure that she doesn't have the power or authority to condemn someone. That poor woman.), but it was good. Also, I met an American! But he wasn't very friendly. My countryman! What's gotten hold of your heart?! Knowest thou not the treasure that I long to share with the and thy brethren, and your wives, and your children, and your flocks, and your fatlings, and all manner of beasts of the field?!?! I guessest not. haha guessest isn't a word.

 

But really it's been a good week. As I studied this week about knowledge, I started to also think about wisdom, and the difference between wisdom. One morning, I was reading in Mosiah 12, where Abinadi is preaching against the wicked priests of King Noah, and in v. 27, he says, "Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore ye have not been wise." So when you apply your heart to the knowledge that you have, and therefore apply that knowledge to your heart, your understanding and knowledge becomes wisdom. As great as an attribute as knowledge is, I know that the Saviour wants us to turn that knowledge into wisdom. So BE WISE! What can I say more?

 

Well, the Librarian isn't in a good mood, so i'm going to go baptise her, but I want you all to know that Jesus Lives, and that no matter what so crazy people say, there IS a living prophet on the earth today, and his name is Thomas S. Monson. I know that if we follow his counsel, we will not go astray.

 

I love you all, and I want you to remember this Christmas season (not Holiday season, but CHRISTMAS season. It's not the holidays, IT'S CHRISTMAS!) that Christ lives and He loves us all! I love you all as well! just not as perfectly as He does. But pretty close! I love you!!!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft!!!!!!

 

P.S. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING BAPTISED, PIEFACE!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!