Missoula Zone

Elder Isaacson on the far right and Elder Gunnerson in the middle sticking out his tongue, they both went to Salem and were friends in High School.  They said they both knew Amaya. 

Elder Anderson on top row second from far left is from Pleasant Grove, UT.

Stuffed like a Turkey!

Well, Thanksgiving was definitely different since being away from family. So for Thanksgiving I went to two members thanksgiving dinner. The first one was with the Dinoias at 3, they are an awesome family and enjoy being around them. Then we went to the Heileson at 5 for a second meal, and boy was I stuffed. So, Thanksgiving was pretty good, we weren't allowed to go see people since it was a Holiday, so we didn't really do much in the early afternoon, but it was a pretty good Thanksgiving.

No way! Leah got called to Colorodo, Denver Mission?!?! So when does she leave to the MTC?  That is awesome that Amaya is thinking about serving a mission too! That is great that Braden is going to Boston, Massachusetts, the last time I saw him was when I went with Brandon to see Avengers on opening night and I was able to tell him I was going to Montana, he was telling me how he was uncertain about serving a mission, I'm glad to hear that he is going on a mission. It's great to hear all these people who are deciding to serve a mission!

So, to answer your question Dad, Missoula has 4 wards, in my area I have 3 branches. The Clinton Branch, which covers East Missoula (small town 3 miles outside Missoula) all the way to Beavertail(7 miles past Clinton). I live in Clinton and we go to East Missoula everyday and they are 15 miles apart, so about 20 min. drive everyday. Then Drummond has its own branch, Drummond is 32 miles east of Clinton. Then Seeley Lake has its own Branch, which is 36 miles North of Clinton. A huge area and not enough miles to visit them, we switch from seeing Seeley Lake and Drummond once a transfer, which is unfortunate.

Transfer call is this Friday, I have grown to love my area and hoping I don't have to leave, but I don't really have a choice in that matter.

Hmm, just curious, so whats happening back home in Clovis, anything new, interesting, or exciting happening?

So, our investigators, the Spragues unfortunately went back to smoking, so we are going to recommit them to live the word of wisdom and we are going to set another baptism date for them. Not sure if I told you this yet or not, Bro. Sprague finished reading the Book of Mormon and is now rereading it. So, hopefully things will turn out for the best.

So, apparently the Sister missionaries in my zone are planning activities today and everyone in our zone will be here today, so today should be fun. I also heard that we might be getting 9 new missionaries next week. Oh ya, our message for the week was Our Life on Earth from Preach My Gospel, and we shared Alma 34:32-33. It talks about our purpose here on Earth and how we must do our labor here on Earth to prepare to meet out Heavenly Father.

Love ya!

Elder Ashcroft

Bald Eagle

Raking Leaves

Well, nothing real special happened this week. There isn't too much to write about this week. We raked some leaves for a potential investigator this week then we saw her on Friday. She said she doesn't feel like joining the church right now in her life but invited us to come back anytime. So I had tea for the first time in my life. Don't worry I didn't break the Word of Wisdom, I had Herbal Tea, and I didn't particularly like it so I won't be having it ever again. To answer your question, Parker's restaurant is in Drummond. It isn't really too cold yet here so I haven't really worn my coats yet, just my suit coat. I also don't really need to wear boots yet either, all the snow already melted. It will be in the 20's one day then be in the 50's the next day. So, the weather here isn't very stable.

I'm really bummed I can't go to Julia's wedding, I wish I could just go out for the wedding, I wonder if I could. Oh well, there is nothing better than doing the Lord's work. Julia's wedding after Jordan and Jessica's anniversary huh, it'll make it easier to remember their anniversaries I suppose.

Well, not much else to write about, I guess I could share a message that Elder Lieberum and I shared this week with members at dinner appointments. We talked about how the Gospel Blesses Families and about having the Gospel in our homes. We Shared Alma 56:47-48, Helaman is writing an epistle to Moroni about the 2,000 young stripling warriors. About how they were taught by their parents and were raised in the gospel. Anyway, we expounded on that, so that was our message last week. I'll tell you what our message for this week in the next email.

Love ya!

Elder Ashcroft

Me and Elder Rust. He's in Wyoming now. Elder Rust is a great missionary!

Elder Peschke

Anita's Baptism

The Library is closed today, which explains why I'm writing my email late today. The older Sister missionaries that work at the Stake Center here are letting us use their computers to write home. Well, this week was pretty good. It is starting to get pretty cold and starting to get snow. It is in the low 20's or in the 10's right now and my area is in a canyon so we get a lot of wind which makes it much colder than it really is.

So last Saturday Anita was baptized! Seeley Lake does not have a baptismal font so she had to go down to the Clinton Branch to be baptized. It was great. President Carlin Baptized her and I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Then we went up to Seeley Lake for Church and Elder Lieberum did the Confirmation. I think things are now going to slow back down now that Anita and Teresa have been baptized. We are still seeing John and Jane. The last time we saw them Jane still has problems with her gall bladder, we are praying that she will get well soon.

I'm not sure if I said this already or not but I'm not driving anymore and Elder Lieberum is driving now. It is taking him a long time to get to know the area so I have to keep telling him where to go. I wish I could just drive it would be so much easier but I just need to be patient with him. He is also not the greatest of drivers so I have to pay extra attention when he is driving, but as long as we are safe and arrive to our destination I suppose i will be fine.

So we had a member call asking for some help. Her trampoline was tied down, but the wind still blew it over their fence into the park behind their home and was in the baseball diamond backstop. So we took the trampoline apart and put it in the back of their car. It took about 30 min. and it we did it during a small snowstorm. It was super freezing and windy. Despite all that it was quite fun. Afterward we had hot chocolate. :)

Well, I got more free winter clothes from Bro. and Sis. Dalhquist this week. They gave me a nice coat and some good winter boots. :) they were the one who gave me winter clothes from before too.

I can't believe Julia is actually engaged! Too bad I will miss the wedding. Have they decided what temple they want to go to yet? At least I don't have to worry about helping with the wedding and the clothes. Too bad you can't postpone it for another year so I could make it. Oh well. Well, I hope you have a great week!

Elder Ashcroft

Teresa's Baptism!!! :)

I went from a bad week to a great week. :) So, on Tuesday I went up to Seeley Lake and we taught Anita the Plan of Salvation. Then Wednesday we taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Commandments. We will be back up there for her Baptismal Interview This Tuesday and her baptism is this Saturday. That should go through. Then Thursday Teresa, in Drummond, had her Baptismal Interview and was set for Baptism. So Saturday was her Baptism and she was baptized!!!! :) Her brother came out from Utah to baptize her and for her confirmation. He is a convert also who was baptized in 2006 and he has gone to the Temple. He was saying how his life was a mess and was praying for guidance and he said the missionaries knocked on his door and he yelled at them to go away and he slammed the door in their face. He said he regretted it and wished them back, then two days later they came back and knocked on his door and they asked if he was sure he didn't want to see them and he accepted them and he became a member. Anyway, back to Teresa, it was an awesome baptism and she is my first investigator baptized in my mission. :)

As for "John" and "Jane," I think I forgot to mention that they did stop smoking through the Stop Smoking Program that Elder Scott and I started with them and they are now nonsmokers. :) Anyway, we are back in term with them. We don't have a set date with them anymore but "John" said he just wants to go to church and get to know the members before he get baptized. He is still reading the BoM. They have been unable to come to church the last two week because "Jane" is ill and has gallbladder problem and will have surgery this Friday. I hope she is doing well and will recover soon. They are still interested and we are still meeting with them.

Things are going great and I hope you have a great week!

Elder Ashcroft