1/27/14

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This week we had a lesson with Amy at Sis. Russell's again. This lesson was on the Law of Chastity. Amy is moving right along, it is really great to see! Madeline has been coming with her to church which is really awesome as well!!

 

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On Thursday, there was a Health Fair at the college. The church had a booth on 72 hour kits so from 3:00 to 7:00 we manned the booth. Before going, I had been praying for those who are prepared to come by the booth that we would be able to talk to them. We decided to bring all the languages of The Book of Mormon that we had. Then, 10 minutes into it a guy comes up and says, "hey that's my language... Can I look at that?" It was Arabic. We tell him about it and give him a card, 20 minutes later a girl walks up and says, "hey that's my language... Can I look at that?" And again it was Arabic!! Then a college student walks up, and I bet you guessed it, he says, "hey that's my language... Can I look at that?" It was Arabic!!! At first I was thinking that it was just by chance after the 3rd I realized it wasn't. I knew that I was prompted to bring that Arabic Book of Mormon. The college student that came by brought his friend by so he could see and he asked if we had Swahili. We told him, "no, but we can get it." Another college girl hurriedly walked by and grabbed a card. That day we talked to around 100 people with in those 4 hours. It was an awesome opportunity!

 

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On Friday, we had a lesson with Brian and we challenged him to pray about Feb. 22 as a goal for him to be baptized. He said that he would need to talk to his Mom first and a RM in the branch named Matt.

 

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It feels like I am building up the area so Elder Raffensparger can have people to teach when I get transferred next week! 

 

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1/20/14

This week we had a lesson with Amy, at the Russell's house. We taught her The Word of Wisdom. On Thursday, we finished teaching Laura the Laws and Ordinances. This was a first time for me as she is the first investigator that has been baptized. Karla wasn't home when we went there. We were going to start getting her ready for Temple Preparation Class. On Friday we had our lesson with Brian it went really good, he is still talking to us!  He invited us to go to breakfast with him on Saturday. We ended up going to a pancake place and I got to try Chicken Gizzards!!! It was nice to be invited by him though. Yesterday at church Amy and her daughter Madeline came to church as well as Brian. It was exciting that they all could make it! After church the Burch's invited us and Brian to go out with them to the state park for a fire and dessert. We went to there house after and I gave there 3 kids hair cuts until it was time for dinner. While eating dinner we watched The Best 2 Years (Approved by President Anderson) and then Bro. Burch gave us and Brian a ride home. I think this was all good for Brian. That way he could see how we are outside of just church.

Chadron Barber Shop

<-------------Elder Wolfgramm & Elder Hildreth------------->

 



 

In Memory of Brian Scott, My Brother, and Friend

I have never really understood and still don't fully understand "The Lords Tender Mercies". I think we all can see the tender mercy in Brian's passing.. Brian fell asleep and when he woke up he was "Home"! As it says in Alma 40:11 All... are taken "Home" to that god that gave them life! Not only did he wake up "Home" but he has been freed from his Leukemia and other sicknesses for the last and final time, as it says in Alma 40:23 The soul... and the body... shall be restored to their proper frame!

 

 

In Marshall Minnesota at the time in my mission where I was planning on going home early I received a blessing, and in the blessing it said that "There are others on the other side of the veil that are watching and helping you"! Just as Brian was my "BodyGuard" in this life I'm sure he is doing the same in heaven! 

 

Brian came into my life at a point in time where I didn't have very many friends and was still being made fun of etc. Whenever Brian was around and someone purposefully said something rude to me, Brian ended it and would make sure it wouldn't happen again! When I think of the fun times that I had with Brian it always involved 2 things. The first being four wheelers or dirt bikes and the second being camping! I spent countless nights camping with Brian from Timberline Scout Camp to Dumont Sand Dunes! I hope and pray that there are sand dunes in heaven for Brian and I to play on when it is my time to return to home as well!

 

In D&C 121:7-8 it reads: My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; I know that Brian was and is exalted on high for "enduring" his trials which our father in heaven placed before him, I know that each and everyone of us who love Brian will see him again and I leave this testimony with you.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

1/13/14

1/13/14

On Tuesday, we decided that we were going to go tracting. After walking around a little I thought we should go to the north side of town because we haven't been over there very much. We went to go see an excommunicated member but as usual wasn't home so we kept walking down the street. When we turned the corner I saw an old man shoveling his sidewalk. I thought that it would be a great service opportunity but as we were getting closer he picked up his shovel and was heading back inside. I walked up to him and asked, "can we talk to you for a little bit?" We started with asking if he goes to church. Then asked, because it was snowing, "do you have a place that we could sit down and talk so we are not keeping you out in the cold!?" He let us in and then we taught Bob and Bernice Blair or Blaire the Plan of Salvation!

On Saturday, we went to the Seventh Day Adventist Church and on that night we went to Catholic Mass. Before church yesterday, Sunday, we also went to the Episcopal Church. It has been a really great experience and I'm glad that I have been able to go. Even if it is just these few churches that we did. I look forward to going to other churches as well!

On Sunday, in-between 1st and 3rd hour for some reason I started driving home. While we were home we made a progress record. We wanted to go over something new with the Branch Mission Leader (Bro. Margetts) before heading back to 3rd hour. I was waiting till the last minute for some reason. We got in the car and started heading to church. I looked to the right and saw a black college student walking towards the college. I asked my companion if we should go talk to him but didn't listen to Elder Raffenspargers response before I turned the car around parked it and got the backpacks out. I went and talked to him, next thing we knew he is in the back of our car and we are taking him to church!

After dinner and our meeting with the BML we went to go have our lesson with Brian Sanders (the college student that we took to church) he wasn't home so we started walking back. On the way we saw a guy in his mid-twenties, kind of rough looking, walking towards us so we asked him about church. Again, next thing we know we are in his apartment teaching him about different points of the church. Yesterday was an awesome day for missionary work!

This week I also had a missionary that used to be in my district call me, out of the blue, just to talk to me. That was really awesome to know that someone was thinking about me. Yesterday, the sister missionaries in Marshall gave me a call to ask about a LA member. That was also amazing to know that they were reaching out to me for help! This last week was a pretty good week for me.

Elder Ashcroft

1/6/14

Yesterday church was cancelled so we called the Mission President and he said that we could go to another church. It was an awesome experience! We ended up going to the First Baptist Church here in Chadron. The people were very friendly to us. Our purpose behind this was we invite people to come to church everytime we see someone. So, how fair is it of us to ask them to come if we are not willing to go to their church. On Saturday we will be going to the Seventh Day Adventist Church and then to St. Patrick's Catholic Church. I am excited to see how their services are.


**side note to everyone** Today is Elder Ashcroft's Birthday. If you get some time shoot him an email andrew.ashcroft@myldsmail.net. That is the best gift anyone could give him.

12/30/13

This week we hit rock bottom, our entire district was extremely low on lessons. So, it really is the time of the year that makes the work dead. As I was walking to church I came up with a poem. I would like to share it with you all.

 

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As the ice breaks beneath my feet

I wish I could be back in the heat.

 

As the cold wind air blows on my face

I know I should be no other place.

 

A mission is hard I'll tell you why

I've been on my knees and continued to cry.

 

As I walk through the Dakota snow

I think of how I'll continue to grow.

 

So this is why I'll continue to serve

And bring the gospel they deserve.

 

Don't think about all the things you can't

Just think about the blessings He will grant.

 

It's all worth it in the end 

Knowing I have a closer Friend.

 

Elder Andrew K. Ashcroft

12/30/13

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