Yes!

Dear Everyone!

 

Derek is getting baptised this week! We are so excited! He is so great and he loves the book of mormon. He has progressed really well and we are so jazzed.

 

We got a new stake presidency this week and they are all quite young. So we are eager to work with them.

 

This Christmas season, I want you all to make sure that you put More Christ in the Holidays. That's what this is all about. It's about Him and the things that He has done for us. He is our Saviour, and He lives. I know He lives.

 

Sorry this is so short, but I love you

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Be Grateful

Hello everyone! Seeing how it is the season for being grateful (well really, every season is the season to be grateful), I thought that I would let you know a few of the things that my mission has made me even more grateful for.

 

I am grateful for a loving mother and father who loved each other, loved me, and most importantly, loved the Lord. I am grateful for righteous brothers and sisters who have loved me, been great examples to me and shown me how I should live my life.

 

I am grateful for the freedom to worship how, where, and what I may. I am grateful for those who have gone before to pave the way for that right, as well as to bring about the knowledge of how, where, and what we should worship.

 

I am grateful for friends who have supported me and loved me and accepted me. I am grateful for happiness.

 

Most importantly, I am grateful for the sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for His courage and His determination to accomplish what He came to earth to do. I am grateful that our Heavenly Father let Him suffer so that He could comfort me in my time of need and redeem me from my foolish mistakes. I am grateful for the truths that I know and for this opportunity I have to share them with others who don't know what I know.

 

I love you all, and I am truly so grateful for each and everyone of you, and the impacts that you have had on my life. I love you so much, and I hope you have a truly grateful Thanksgiving! Keep the Faith!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Seen his shadow...or not...I always forget. Which one means six more weeks of winter?

Dear Everybody,

 

I'm staying in Newcastle for another six weeks! If you couldn't guess by the groundhog day reference in the subject line. Elder Jones is staying, too, so the Salt Lake City companionship lives on! It was a bit of a surprise, because Elder Jones has been here for 6 months already, so we thought he would leave, but I guess the Lord has other things in mind. I'm really happy that he's staying.

 

Well, Things are going so good here! We are teaching two men from Sierra Leone who happen to be a part of the music group that just won Best music group in Sierra Leone for 2011. Josiah and Alfred. They are so good! Josiah has received his answer that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and he is progressing really well!

 

We are also teaching a Chinese boy (oh yeah!) named Derek, and he loves the Book of Mormon. The Lord is really blessing us right now and we are working hard. It's such an amazing thing, being a missionary. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had for all the wealth in the world. Truly, I would not. Please pray for Derek and Josiah and Alfred. Also, Brian, a 67 year old man we're teaching. Great times in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

 

Well, I hope that everything is going well at home. Keep up the good work and Keep the Faith! I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ lives! I know that the church is true! I love you all so much! Have a great week!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Yes please.

Hey everyone!

 

Sorry I don't have a ton of time, but real quickly, I want to tell you that the church is true!

 

Evelyn got baptised this week, which was amazing! But also, I found out that Steve Wood, one of my investigators from Moreton, got baptised as well! And then I found out that Yogesh and Priyanka, two Indian people that I taught in Liverpool were also baptised! The Lord has been so merciful to us and has blessed us beyong measure.

 

I love being a missionary so much! It literally is the best thing ever. The Lord is on our side and He is helping us every step of the way!

 

I know the Church is true! I know that Jesus Christ Lives! I know that Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet and that the Book of Mormon is True! I love you allo! Have a great week!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Happy Hallowe'en!!

Hello everybody!

 

Well, the first thing I have to say is EVELYN'S GETTING BAPTISED!!! She accepted a date a few days ago and she is getting baptised on Friday! So thank you all for the prayers and please keep praying for her!

 

It's been a great week. President Kopischke, the Europe area president came and did a mission tour. He is incredible. I learned loads form him. I absolutely loved hearing him speak. He is so spiritually sound and just so good! I loved it.

 

One thing he said that has really stuck with me is the Circle of faith. In Alma 32:27-28, it talks about what we need to do to exercise fatih and then in turn what the Lord does to show his power and increase our faith. We must have the Desire, and then we need to give place in our hearts and not cast out the seed. That is our part. Then the Lord causes the swelling motions and the enlarging of our souls and then our faith increases! It's amazing! I love the gospel so much! It's so true!

 

I've learned so much on my mission, and I really do know that the church is true, and that Jesus is the Christ! I know He lives!

 

Thank you all for everything and I hope you have a great week! Keep the Faith!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Nuke Hassle

Hello everyone!

 

It was a great week here, ending with Roy's baptism! He is so funny. He felt like he would be too indecent just in the white clothes, so he wanted to wear a bathrobe as well. We were able to talk him out of that, though. It was a really good service. Elder Merl (the missionary that was here before me) travelled back from his area in Manchester and baptised him. Side note, his companion, Elder Holman, and I are singing a musical number on thursday, for when President Kopischke (area president) comes to visit the mission. I hope it's good.

 

Things are going great here in Newcastle. Elder Jones is great and we get along really well. I love serving with him. The ward is fantastic as well. I really love it. We have been trying really hard to strengthen our relationship with the members, and so we've been making a lot of brownies during our lunch breaks. It's amazing, missionary work. But it's more amazing when you work together with the members.

 

Well, I hope that all is well back in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Things in England are really amazing. The field is white, and we are called to harvest! I love the Gospel! The Church IS TRUE!!! I love you all!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft

Proper English

Hello Everyone!

 

This week was a great week. Newcastle is really good! We are teaching some high quality people, including Roy, a 77 yr old man who is getting baptised on Saturday. Please pray for him! He is quite stubborn and very english, but he's great and we're excited for him.

 

We're also teaching a Filipino lady, Evelyn, and her family. But her daughter is giving her a little bit of grief. so Please pray for them as well.

 

Being a missionary is so amazing, and sorry i don't have very much time this week, but I want you all to know that this church is true and that the principles of the Gospel form the one and only true path to success and happiness.

 

I love you so much! Keep up the good work and Keep the Faith!

 

Love,

Elder Ashcraft