Week 11

Hello all,
I hope everyone is doing well back home.  Things are going OK here in Williams.  We are having some trouble with some of our investigators canceling, but it has still been a good week.  Serving the Lord is always a good week.  I have a bunch of pictures that I am going to send today so I hope you all enjoy them.

I love you all!
Elder Ashby

Bob Robinson Baptism (baptized by Bro. Grimes)

 

MTC fun...
We called this group the Unconscious Club (we are 3 point bombers)

 Phoenix Temple (we got to go with a Part Member Family on Friday)

Some fun pictures....

Williams sunsets and some deer...

Week 10

This week was a really slow week for missionary work here in Williams.  We had a bunch of lessons set up and just as many lessons cancel!  We weren't able to meet with Cassie or the Payne family this week.  We talked to Josh and invited him to Church, but he didn't show.  We actually didn't have any investigators at Church.  We will keep working hard and I am sure that things will pick up.  We will be having a Zone Activity again today.  We are playing flag football.  That should be fun.  The sisters in our Zone are down at the Temple Open House, so when they are gone all the Elders like to play something athletic....Hope all is well with everyone.

Love you all,
Elder Ashby

More Conference notes:

Quentin L. Cook
Decisions determine destiny
Getting school done and getting a job before marriage is acceptable to the world, but doesn't show faith (don't worry about it).
**Aaron - prepare for your mission, don't just have it happen.  Read Preach My Gospel.
Exercise  greater discipline.

Craig C. Christensen
Gain a testimony for yourself.
The testimony of others will carry you only so far.

Dean M Davies
Care for the poor and needy
Law of the fast.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Look inward..."Lord is it I?"  Jesus telling Apostles one would betray him.
See ourselves clearly.
Those who try to become more like Christ will be the ones to experience the miracle of the atonement.

Henry B. Eyring
Aaronic Priesthood
We all have an obligation to prepare to help others to be prepared.

President Thomas S. Monson
We have been provided a way to know which way to travel.  The German ship Bismark.
A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.
Nothing will bring greater joy and success than living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we see help from God our rudder will not fail like the Bismark.

More to come next week!!!

Week 9 - Two Month Mark Today!

You are all probably wondering how Bob's baptism went....It went great!  Bob is a super, awesome guy!  I don't know if I had shared how we came to find and teach Bob.  We actually tracted him out (by the way...I don't like tracting much). I was part of his entire progression to baptism.  That is a great feeling.  Bob is very excited for the Temple trip we are planning for all the recent converts in our Ward to do Baptisms for the Dead!  We should be able to go with them when we get this all planned out.  I can't wait!  I don't have my photo converter with me right now, but I will try and send pictures of the Baptism soon.

All of our other investigators are doing well.  We actually taught Josh and his family this week which was awesome!  We were supposed to meet with the Payne's last night, but they rescheduled for tonight.  Cassie is progressing slow, but just won't commit to Baptism....at least she is still having us over and letting us teach her.  We have a new investigator that we are going to try and set up another appointment with and some potentials that might become new investigators!  Things are going well for us.

For those of you asking...here is a typical day in our mission.  We exercise (yes, I said exercise) until 7a.  Then we eat, shower and study from 8a to 11a.  We then do online proselyting until lunch.  We then take from after lunch to 5p where we make visits and appointments.  Dinner from 5-6 and more visits from 6p-9p.  We then plan the next day from 9p-9:30p and then in bed and ready to do it all over again!  We normally tract once a week.  Before the new Mission President our mission didn't allow tracting....

We also will be part of the cultural celebration with the Phoenix Open House.  I think it airs on the 15th an it is broadcasted on BYU TV and online....

Now back to my notes from Conference....

Eduardo Gavarret (Spanish)
Follow the right voice.
Easy to follow the Savior with a good wife by my side.
Knowing truth does you no good unless you turn knowledge into action.

Jeffery R. Holland
Lift the burden from the poor in spirit
Christianity is not a statistical endeavor
God is not overly preoccupied with percentages
We are all beggars
Pray for those in need
If you don't act on the things you pray for the needy then your prayer is in vain and you are a hypocrite.
Help ourselves before we seek help from others
Cherish the chance to fast and be generous with fast offerings and God will be generous back
Because I have been given much I too must give.

L Tom Perry
The only way to find lasting peace is to look to Christ and live it
Don't let the noise of the world stop you from hearing the Holy Ghost
Homes must be holy places
"Who can put a price tag on the influence of a mother" -- Gordon B. Hinkley
Mothers have no greater opportunity than to strengthen the home
Fathers give blessings and perform ordinances for the family
Lead in scripture study
One on ones with your kids
Fathers set example of faithful gospel service
Parents should never be to busy to each an important lesson to a child.
Instill strong reliance on the teachings of our Savior.

More to come next week......

Love you all,
Elder Ashby

Week 8

Hello all,
Well it is Tuesday and I am writing now.  You may ask yourself why Tuesday, isn't Pday on Monday?  We have transfers every 6 weeks and when that happens our Pday changes to Tuesday and the transfers happen on Wednesday.  My companion and I are not being transferred on this go around.  We are with our trainers for 12 weeks, so next transfer time one of us could be moved.

Bob is still on schedule to be baptized this coming Saturday (Oct 11).  We are very excited for him.  Please pray for him this week that his baptism will go as planned.  We have talked to Josh a couple of times but still have not been able to teach him since I have been here in the area.  Cassie is doing well, but she doesn't want to make the commitment to be baptized, but I think we will get her there.  The Payne family is also doing well.  When we went to visit them this week the wife was not home so we didn't teach them the Restoration, instead we talked about Conference and answered some questions.  I think it is a matter of time for them before they commit. 

I want to challenge all of you who read this message (especially you Aaron).  Read the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony for yourself.  Also read Preach My Gospel.  I know that it may seem undesirable to do those things right now, but it will really help you out.  Aaron this will help you prepare for your mission in a couple of years.  I wish I had done that before my mission.

Aaron...I forgot to include in my email last week....Happy birthday!  I hope you had a great day.

Conference was great this weekend.  We actually had to go over to the Stake Center in Flagstaff for the sessions.  We went to our building here in Williams, but there were only sisters there, so we couldn't stay.  I am sending some of my notes that I took in conference and will list them here for those that didn't get to watch.

Saturday Morning Session
Choose you this day whom ye will serve (man or God)
Sacrament should be a spiritual experience.  Focus on the prayers.
When blessing and passing the Sacrament, you are representing the Savior.

Chi Hong Wong (Cantonese)
We have to work together united to serve the Lord.
Christ died not to save, but to offer repentance.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
To know if the Gospel is true, you first have to live it
The Church isn't for perfect people, it's for people to be perfected in Christ

Saturday Afternoon
Neil L. Anderson
Offer kindness to those who deny Joseph Smith.
Internet information does not have a truth filter.
A good tree can't bring forth evil fruit and an evil tree can't bring forth good fruit.  Know the fruit.
Adjust your own spiritual oxygen mask now so you will be prepared to help others.
Aaron- Gain a testimony of Joseph Smith by reading the Book of Mormon as Elder Anderson challenges.

Tad R. Callister
Magnify your calling as a parent, teach your kids...be an example
Have the Gospel in your home.
Make sure kids have morning and evening personal prayers.
Honor our responsibility as parents.

Jorg Klebingat
What if you had an interview with Christ right now?
   1. Take responsibility for your own spiritual well being
   2. Take responsibility for your physical well being
   3. Embrace voluntary obedience
   4. Become good at repenting thorough and quickly
   5. Become good at forgiving
   6. Accept trials, setbacks and surprises in your life
Acknowledge your weaknesses but don't be overwhelmed by them.

I will share the rest of them next week....

Love you all,
Elder Ashby

Picture of the Flagstaff Zone