Brian Sanders got baptized!!

.:PICTURES:.

 Car dealership building we were picking up out of the creek.

Tornado Cleanup

 

Manuel Cabrera

 

 Snappin Turtle!

 

Wessington Springs Service; Sister Johnson & Sister Sumsion

PICTURES COMING SOON!!!

Elder Ashcroft has sent pictures. They will be posted soon!

6/30/14

Last week we spent whole week out working as hard as we could "finding" We used up almost every hour of the day and had no visible success whatsoever. This week was alot better. On Monday all the missionaries in the Brookings and Sioux Falls Zones got together and helped clean up a tornado. It went through Wessington Springs this time. It was a really great opportunity to help the community and we were even able to share a little about our beliefs with a guy that was with the army there.

 

On Tuesday, we did service at the Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove. It is pretty awesome there. It is a tide pool where they teach people about the sea life that exists in that type of habitat. Part of what they teach them is how to touch the animals. My favorite is in the marine cove. We helped teach people about the sharks and stingrays. There was another place called "the flight room." We helped in there also to answer questions that people have about butterflies....and we make sure there weren't any excapees!

 

On Thursday, we had our first lesson here in Sioux Falls. It was with a recent convert and her husband. We read about Lehi's Dream and then had a discussion about it as to understand it better. When we finished there we made our way over to the Petty family. They had invited us over for Root Beer Floats! It was really awesome to just have desert and get to talk about missionary work.

 

On Friday, morning I recieved a phone call that my bike had been stolen in my last area. We decided to go to the thrift store to see bike prices. On the way we passed by a car lot. I saw that there was a key left in one of the truck doors. I went in and told a worker guy that it was left in the door, pretty simple, then we left. We were headed on our way again but as we were walking I saw a few more cars with keys in them. I decided to double check that this wasn't on purpose and went and told the guy about it. While in the talking to him this last time he asked us if we had a Book of Mormon on us. He had a friend wanting to find a church and thought he would get one for them. After talking to him for a little while he then asked for a Book of Mormon for himself, because he wasn't a member himself, and would like to learn more. He also mentioned he might have some referrals for us too. This nonmember is doing better missionary work then most of the members.

 

After, talking with Aaron, the guy at the car lot, we continued on to the thrift store. We were given bus tickets so we decided to take that home. While on the ride there was a lady behind me that had a little daughter. When exciting the bus I simple said, "here this is for you" and handed her a Plan of Salvation Pamphlet with our card in it. That one small trip to the thrift store was surely inspired.

 

On Saturday, we went out to Humbolt for a ward clean up for a differnt tornado. I was with a different group and while we were there a man pulled up with backhoe for us to load but then left. I asked if we were supposed to be using it to make the work faster and easier. Another guy asked if I knew how to drive it. I was like Yeah! (yeah what I didn't say was that I pushed the controls for all of about 10 minutes while sitting on my cousins lap) He told me to hop up in there and for the next little bit I operated the backhoe. It was pretty fun I picked up the piles they would make and hauled them off to the burn pile. IT WAS AWESOME!!

 

That night we were able to meet with Derrick Weaver.He is a decendent of Jospeh Smith and has alot of questions about the church. We were bale to teach him the Restoration and he came to church on Sunday along with Abraham, Mark and Sam.

 

On Sunday, we were able to finally get in with Abraham and his family to teach them about the Plan of Salvation and how through the Priesthood there family could be together forever! There is Thomas, Emma, Abraham is 19, Issac is 15, Samuel is 14, and Mark is 10. I will be really awesome if there whole family can all be baptized together. I am very excited for them. I already am feeling a love for them even with only teaching one lesson!

6/16/14

Hello from Sioux Falls, yup, you guessed it I've been transferred again! My new companion, Elder Hale and I are opening a new area in Sioux Falls. It's really awesome with trees, grass, and even houses. We cover some really nice neighborhoods. I am excited to get the area going!

 

Tuesday we went down to Dickinson, ND by 11:00 am and didn't arrive at our apartment in Sioux Falls until 11:00 pm. That made for a pretty long day.

 

Wednesday was pretty much getting groceries and going to the district meeting. Then we had a meeting with the sisters to find out our area boundaries. They gave us the records for all the people in our area which was good we didn't come into it completly empty.

 

Thursday we went to a huge city park and tried doing some finding. We decided to walk around the park pathway and this girl said, "you sure are dressed up nice to be coming to a park." This was a great opening so we went over and talked to her about what we do as missionaries.

 

Friday we went did service at the Butterfly House. On the way home, before our lesson, we were looking for a quick bite to eat. I saw a mall and thought that they might have a food court so we went inside and started looking around. While we were looking around a man saw that we were kinda lost and asked what we were looking for. I told him and then he followed up by telling us he was a "Born Again Chirstian." He started to ask us questions and things almost like a bible bash! I pulled out the scriptures and was able to explain many truths to him. I bore my testimony to him multiple times and told him that if he read and prayed with an open heart he would come to know himself. Such as Elder Hale and I and fifteen million other people have done.

 

***Elder Hale wrote a pretty good narrative of how our conversation went with this man. His story below.***

 

So one day my companion and I were heading back to our apartment to get a ride to a less active members house to help them get to church. We decided we were gonna find something fast to eat on the way. Nothin was really sticking out and we were short on time. Then we saw this mall right by us and decided to try it.

As we entered we walked a little ways in. To our disappointment there were no food stands or fast foods available. A guy named Paul asked us if we needed anything. We told him that we were looking for something fast to eat and thought this mall might have somethin. He shook his head and said, "sorry to disappoint you but this mall has nothin of the sort other than the restraunts on the side of it." We told him yeah we kinda figured.

Paul then said, "are you witnesses?" We replied "no" and told him we are Mormon missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint. He then said , " I know you guys, I've talked to one of you before." We like said "really? What did they say?" He then responded, "now I know that what I'm about to say your gonna agree with most of the things I believe in. Like being Christians and believing in a one God. But you believe in multiple Gods and contradict yourselves."

Paul continued saying, "there's no 3 beings but one God only." (The Trinity)

Elder Ashcroft responded, "I can point several scriptures in the bible that say they are 3 distinct beings." One of the scriptures we turned to was in Acts 7:54-55. Then Elder Ashcroft brought up the account of Christ resurrection and when he appeared unto Mary Magdalene. And made a response to her saying, "Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended unto the Father." Elder Ashcroft then asked him, "how would you interpret that?" I was looking at Paul and could tell he was stumped a bit. I then was observing Elder Ashcroft. With how he kept cool and collective and kept his demeanor. I was really impressed on how Paul came back at us with all these questions that would confound us, but instead of him trying to confound us, we confounded him. What really got him thinking was when we got to baptism. Elder Ashcroft told him that only by the proper authority can we be baptized. Paul said, "I have been baptized by my Pastor." Elder Ashcroft replied, "where did he get his line of authority?" Paul was silent. Elder Ashcroft then said, "I can trace my line of authority all the way back to Christ through Peter, James, and John." Paul then said, "wow, I haven't heard this before from the missionaries." He was puzzled. Im looking at Elder Ashcroft and saying to myself, go Elder Ashcroft. I could feel the spirit real strongly. We then gave him a restoration pamphlet and Elder Ashcroft said, "we cannot convince you of the truth ourselves. All we can do is help give you the tools to get there. I myself was a convert and learned this of myself as well as Elder Hale. And if you open your heart and mind and truly ask with sincere prayer God will testify to you with the Holy Spirit." Paul was so takin back that he had more questions. I told him we'd love to talk some more but we were pressed on time. So, we set another time that we'd come back. And that was our fun little adventure. :)

By: Elder Hale

 

***Now retuning to Elder Ashcroft's blog report.***

 

Saturday it was raining really bad and if you know me then you know that I hate sitting around. So even though it was raining I said Elder lets get to know our area and get a good journal entry in. Sure enough the rain started coming down and we were pretty wet and I took of my coat off sense I was sweating! Elder Hale said, "Thank you Heavenly Father, I feel so clean!!" It was hilarious we had a great laugh

 

After Church on Sunday we went and followed up with the refferals that we had gotten. One of which is an African family. One of the boys name is Abraham and he is one of four kids in his family. We left him with a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and told him after he talks to his family to call us so we could teach the whole family. Abraham is really open and willing to learn I hope his parents hearts will be softened.

 

Elder Hale and I are getting along great we are having lots of fun and laughs and are tearit up. I can't wait to see the success that is going to take place over the next few transfers!

 

Thank you all for reading and writing me and all the prayers that you have sent in my behalf.

-Love Elder Ashcroft

6/2/14

We were supposed to proselyte on Monday but due to it being Memorial Day we went to the Cook's for dinner. While we were over there it all of a sudden started hailing really bad. The hail was as large as a marble. A tornado touched down that same day and destroyed a members trailer. The Cooks invited them to spend the night at there house. Then Tuesday morning, even though it was Pday, we went and helped the Dewitts gather anything that was salvageable after the tornado. Surprisingly they were able to save quiet a bit. Thankfully no one was killed in the tornado. There were only 3 injured but last report was they are doing well. After all that mess, Wednesday, we went over and did a baptismal interview simulation with Kaleb and Claira. This is done so they would know what it was going to be like and what they needed to review before their interview on Friday. Thursday we watched The Restoration with Gary at the Kelly's. It love being able to go around and hear all the thoughts and feelings. Listening to what stuck out to them, in a way, allows us to look into their heart and mind. On Friday after District Meeting we had exchanges. I was in Killdeer with Elder Chugg so Elder Goodwin could go perform the Baptismal Interview in Watford City. We switched back Saturday for the baptism. It was good to see Kaleb and Claira's Aunt and cousins, who are non members, even took the time to come down and support them. I really think the baptism softened Bro. Nelson's heart. Hopefully enough he might want to take the lessons again. That way he and his family can work on being sealed together. Melissa, their aunt seemed like she is opening up to learning as well! All around the baptism was a great experience for everyone!

5/16/14

On Monday and Friday we had lessons with Kaleb and Claira to help make sure that they are ready for baptism on the 31st. We went over the baptismal interview questions, and reviewed the things that we have taught them. On Thursday we got a new investigator, his name is Manuel Cabrera Aaron. A RM invited him to come to church when he saw him fishing at Arnegard Dam. He ended up coming to church Sunday and then we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Thursday at the Pinto home. The library here in Watford City is being remodeled so we have been helping them move their furniture and books etc. It has taken up a lot of out time but it looks really good now.