Week 53

Friday: We had 24 exchanges with our Zone leaders. (Were we change companions for 24 hours)  I was with Elder Rodriguez, and Elder Sherman was with Elder Mullenaux. We were both working in their area, they cover half of the Draper young single adult Stake. (People 18-30 who aren't married) It was a really fun exchange with Elder Rodriguez.  We worked a lot in some of the apartment complexes they cover. Talked to a lot of people there. As I was backing up elder Rodriguez in the car a girl ran over to me and said, "Hey can I talk to you!" And I was like yeah haha? Turns out she knew that we give blessings and she was in tears and asked if we could give her a blessing. We have her a blessing of comfort and counsel. Afterwards we talked about how God loves her and that she is a daughter of God. She said she didn't believe in God and didn't have any faith. (Her middle name was faith so it was ironic) but we told her she had enough faith that we could give her a blessing and that it would work. We gave her a Book of Mormon and told her that she can have that comforting feeling all the time by reading the word of God. She was real hesitant that a Book could do that for her, but we were persistent that she needed to read this book to relief her depression and that it will work. She accepted eventually and was grateful for us being an answer to an unsaid prayer. At night we talked to three women outside their apartment and they were pretty cool. They were all Lutheran or catholic but wanted to talk to us. One gave us so many treats and I said okay well this ones for you. (A Book of Mormon)

Saturday: We ended our exchanges in the morning and went back to work in our area. We stopped by a Bishops house that we haven't had work in his ward and talked about some things we could improve on. He was basically chastising himself and his ward leaders for not helping us out in this good cause. We didn't have dinner that night so he took us to a restaurant called Carvers. Man was that some good but expensive food.... I felt so bad but he insisted we went there! We talked about how missions can be the foundation for your life. He said his only regret in life was not going on a mission and man I see how much my mission has changed me and I can't imagine the experiences I would have missed if I didn't go. I'm thankful for everyone who helped me decide to go on a mission. It has been the best year of my life so far and looking forward to another good year. At night we went over to a member's house to give her son a blessing for comfort and counsel for school and set up an appointment for next week and they have a 9 year old that isn't baptized.

Sunday: Man was today busy! We were up at 5:45 and started our day off with a ward council at 7:15, then one at 9, 10, then 12:30. We got a lot of good referrals and are getting members on board on how we can help those people. After dinner we went over to our ward mission leaders house to teach him the gospel of Jesus Christ and he invited everyone! His neighbors members from the ward, his sons, and his friends. It was a really cool lesson, because his sons friends were catholic and wanted to know some of the differences we have in our faith compared to theirs. When in fact there are a lot of similarities. One in particular had a lot of really good questions and it was just a good teaching opportunity. At night we went and visited a young man who was 17 and was ordained to a priest in the aaronic priesthood. He was recently activated and was on fire! He wanted to do all he can to prepare for a mission and we set up an appointment for Tuesday. We have heard rumors that not everyone in his family are members so let's see if there is some teaching opportunities there!

Short week.  Love you all.

Elder Aaron Ashby

Pic of the week is Elder Fitzgerald and Elder Schunk with Grandma and Grandpa Ashby.  Kind of weird...