Captain's Log, Stardate 280512

Hey everyone that I love!

 

I don't have much time, but I wanted to take this bit to say how much I love you. You have been with me from the beginning and I hope you are still with me at the end. I have received blessings because of your faith and because of your prayers. I am so grateful for them.

 

It has been such an amazing experience here in the UK. The people here are wonderful and I have a strong love for them. I love being a missionary so much, and I will forever treasure the experiences I have had and will yet have here.

 

I know that Jesus lives and that this is His church! It's true! I know it is!

 

I love you all so much!

 

Pray for Sally! and Paul and Maggie!

 

I love you!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Ah, good times.

Hey Everyone that I love!

 

We had a great week here in Swinton. Maggie came to church yesterday, and she loved it again! We haven't been able to see her very much, in fact only twice, but on Saturday we had a lesson with her and she told us that she had been trying to read a page of the Book of Mormon every night before bed! The language it uses is a bit tough for her, so we gave her a copy in her native language, Shona. She is so good! Her faith is already so strong. Amazing!

 

I hope we didn't scare Paul, though. We had a pretty bold lesson with him on Saturday, and I was pretty...passionate about the things we were telling him. But I think he's okay because he called us this morning and told us that he had read from the Book of Mormon, which he hasn't really ever done before! He has been struggling a lot to keep any commitments recently and hasn't been to church in weeks. So things are looking really good.

 

Sally wasn't able to come yesterday, but she's doing great. We taught her tithing on Friday and she accepted and agreed with it, and she hasn't been drinking tea! There is just nothing like the feeling when your investigators actually do what the Lord asks them too. I love it!

 

Elder Sutton is great as always. He's a good man. We have good times together.

 

Well, the other day, we were in a lesson, and one of the investigators turned to Elder sutton, Pointed at me, and said to him, "how come you don't eat as many burgers as he does?" meaning me. NIce one. I think "In my face" is the correct term for that one. Then she turned to me and said, "you should take a leaf out of Elder Sutton's book. I was laughing pretty hard. It had been a while since anyone had cracked a fat joke like that, so it was almost refreshing. Persecution. Bring it on.

 

Well, I love you all so much! Thank you for everything you are and everything you do! I love you so much! Have a great week and Keep the Faith!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

There is Sunshine in the Soul

Hey Everyone that I love!

 

I wrote that subject because it was nice and sunny when I wrote it, but literally it just went cloudy. Welcome to England. I love it!

 

It was so great to see you all yesterday, even Shanna and Branson though it was only for like a minute. You all look like a million quid! And everyone sounds different as well. A bit weird, actually. But I still love you. No worries.

 

Well, not much has changed since yesterday, but we did teach Sally about the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom, and she accepted them both, which is great! We talked to her about a baptismal date, and she said that she prayed and asked God for a sign if she should wait, and then her phone fell in the toilet...go figure. So she took that as a sign that she should not get baptised on the 26th of May. That gives us a bit more time to prepare her anyway, so maybe the Lord works in mysterious ways. Interesting.

 

I'm glad that all is well back at the ranch. Oh hey, it's sunny again. Wait. never mind. No it is now. Okay. yeah. Still sunny. Alright. Anyways, life is great! I love being a missionary so much! It's incredible!

 

I love you all so much and I am eternally grateful for your support and love. It means everything to me that I have you all praying for me and cheering me on. You are the best!

 

I know that Jesus Lives! He really does! I promise! I know that this is His Church and that the Book of Mormon is true! He lives!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

 

Swinton's Swell

Dear Everyone that I love,

 

We had such a great week here in Swinton! Sorry the email is so late, but it was bank holiday on Monday and yesterday was Sports day for the mission, where we all just got together and played sports for most of the day, so we didn't have time. Hence, another Wednesday email.

 

We found a great woman named Maggie, who is from Zimbabwe. She's so good! We taught her on Friday and then she came to church on sunday, and she absolutely loved it! So amazing! Miracles are happening. Sally came to church as well, and it was so great. The members just ate them both up and made them feel like part of the family. I love it!

 

Paul's brother was in town from London and so he wasn't able to come, but hopefully he will be able to next week. Great things!

 

We also took Sally to a fireside at the mission home on Sunday, and Elder Aulenbach was there. Apparently he's going to have an operation soon, so if you would please keep him in your prayers, that would be great. And also Paul, Sally, and Maggie.

 

Sports day was a lot of fun. A lot of good missionary friends were there, and it was a blast. I'm not sure if I've gotten better or worse at football since I've come out, but it was a grand old time. They got some Costco Pizzas for us as well, so it was a pretty great day.

 

Right now I'm on exchange with Elder Eggers, for Sacramento California. We have been good friends for most of our missions, and so finally we've bee able to go on exchange. He is one of the Zone Leaders of the Manchester Zone and he is fantastic. His mission call was to manchester, chinese speaking, and so he wears a chinese badge and speaks Chinese. He's really good. We have a lot of fun together. Good times.

 

Well, I love you all so much! Thanks for everything! have a great week! Keep up the good work and Keep the Faith!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Guam, HAHA! Hurrah for Israel!

Dear Everyone that I love.

 

I tell you that there is no greater feeling as a missionary than finding out the your little brother has been called to serve a mission. HAHA! I am so happy now! Congratulations Bashcraft!

 

Wow. I am just speechless right now. Amazing.

 

Well, for starters, Elder Sutton and I are both staying in Swinton! But one of the sisters in the ward and our District Leader got transferred. Sister Hull and Elder Reynolds and I are good friends, so I am sad to see them go. But Sister Hull is going to Preston where there are a lot of Chinese and her companion is Chinese, so I'm very excited for her, and Elder Reynolds is going to Porthmadog, which, if you remember is a fantastically beautiful place. But yes, I'm happy to stay here in Swinton. Miracles and good times ahead.

 

Guam. AH that's so good! I'm so excited!

 

We were able to teach Paul again, which is good. We hadn't seem him for like 2 1/2 weeks because of his work, but he has this week off and he wants to see us everyday, so we're excited about that. And Sally is doing really well also. She came to Stake Conference and she really liked it, so she wants to come to Swinton Ward this week. Miracles! I love it!

 

Well, as I'm sure you all have gathered by now, I have a testimony of the Divinity of the Saviour. Jesus Christ lives. He truly does. I know it. He is there for us. As Elder Holland once said, "Even as he calls us to come to him and follow him, He is unfailingly running to help us."

 

I love you all so much, and So does the Lord! He Lives!

 

Have a great week and Keep the Faith!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft