Week 105

ONE LAST RIDE.....

Tuesday: Well let's just say it was the craziest week of my mission by far!!! We had our final multi district meeting in the morning all focused on "the faith to receive revelation." We gave a training where we set the whole gym up as a maze! (Our district leaders helped us set up on Monday) There was tables and chairs everywhere. We had two people be our guinea pigs and go through the maze blind folded. There was someone representing the spirit and walking the course with them. One listened to the spirit and one did not. We were able to see how imperfect we are when we try to do things through our own talents and abilities. When we seek and are guided by revelation we will be am instrument in the Lord's hand. After the meeting we had to drive to the institute building to let Elder Alarcon do a baptismal interview for Erik who was being taught by the YSA sisters. Later in the day Elder Alarcon went to a lesson for some different Elders since he knew Spanish.  It was for family who has kids was on the verge of being baptized. There was an unfortunate series of events and the kids are not going baptized on the weekend. We were trying so hard to get things to go the right way because there was 12/13 companionships that were able to help someone come into Christ this transfer through baptism and they would have made it 13/13 which has only happened once in mission history. 

Wednesday: We had to drop off the bikes we used for the temple to temple run in the morning. We also emailed missionaries serving missions right now to see if they know anyone we could share the gospel with. At night we had some good ward visits. I went with Brayden Crook who is by far one of the funniest people I know! We had a good visit with Josh Boska who was recently baptized. We finished the night off with ward basketball. 

Thursday: I had my departing missionary interview in the morning with President Lansing and it was a great opportunity to seek revelation through my anointed priesthood key holder. Later at night we had ward visits in the mountian view ward and we say Brad who wants to be apart of the gospel but for some reason he is holding himself back. After that we visited Parley Beagley who was recently baptized. He amazes me every day. He is one one the most faithful members in his ward and was mad that everyone leaves after sacrament meeting! He will do wonders for the ward. 

Friday: We had our departing missionary temple trip to the salt lake temple. Man was I amazed at the temple. It was build by the pioneers and everything was made by hand and it was too beautiful to not to be the house of the Lord. I think it was my favorite temple to go through so far. I learned so much from President and Sister Lansing during the temple trip. After the session we all ate at the restaurant by the temple. When I got back to the mission I was with Elder Mullenaux and Henley because Elder Rodriguez took Elder Peterson back for a baptism. It was a blast being with Elder Henley and Mullenaux. We finally all got back together and Elder Bucklein was stressed out of his mind! He said within 30 minutes of me leaving the zone fell apart with all sorts of problems haha! It must have been a great growing experience for him. We finished our night off by doing baptismal interviews for Dave and Shalayne Saunders. 

Saturday: We went to Eriks baptism in the morning and then gave Elder Alarcon a blessing after the baptism. We then went to Dave and Shalaynes baptism. Then to top it off we went to Austin's baptism. (Elder Bucklein interviewed him while we were at our temple trip) There were 7 souls that came into Christ this week through baptism and I felt the spirit so strongly as I attended the various baptismal services. 

Sunday: We had the ward council meeting for the mountian view ward in the morning and then went to the rose Canyon And Butterfield canyon sacrament meetings. I think I had the one of the funniest interactions on my whole misison with someone we were teaching. She sent us an address and asked if that was the church building and I looked at the address and it looked very familiar so I said yes. Well we couldn't find her and she said she was there. Come to realize she was at the other church which was just up the street. Only in Utah would you have to worry about going to the wrong church building haha! At night there was a face to face event with Elder Cook from the quorm of the 12 apostles. The did a Q and A about church history and man was it good! I learned so much and it strengthened my testimony of the early saints. 

Thank you all for your support!

Love you all,
Elder Aaron Ashby

Pictures of my battle scars from Monday!!!

Week 104

Tuesday: We went to Elder Fultons first district meeting as a district leader. He focused a lot on consecration and charity. Elder Fulton did so well for his first district meeting, I remember back to my first district meeting and how scary it was Haha! He has a lot of runway in front of him. At night Elder Bucklein did a baptismal interview for a 9 year old boy Ben Cannon. He is planning on being baptized on Saturday. 

Wednesday: We gave Elder Fulton a blessing in the morning. He must of had some food poisoning. After that we started planning for our multi district meeting for September 4th. I did a baptismal interview for a lady named Luina. She goes to the Samoan ward in Riverton. At night we did ward visits from the butterfield canyon ward and we had some good contacts. We finished the night off with some ward basketball. 

Thursday: Well our Thursday night was the definition of YSA. We had ward visits in the mountian view ward that started at 7pm. We didn't leave the church till 7:30pm to go have a lesson at Parley's. Well Parley kept saying he was like 15 minutes away, or that he was super close. Well turns out that we waiting at his house till 8:45pm then had a lesson haha! We wanted to get out and work so bad but didn't want to just bail out on the lesson. We ended up having a good discussion with Parley and man has he come a long way! It has been a true blessing to see Parley's conversion on my mission. Half the mission knew who Parley was and I was there when he finally decided to get baptized. He has blessed my life and my testimony. 

Friday: We went out to Sandy to go get two bikes for the temple to temple run on Labor day since we are the "medics." We took Elder Vegamora and Walkers bike and then Elder Bucklein practiced a musical number for a baptismal service he was going  to on Saturday. (The Elders area was where Elder Bucklein came from) We had a fun time at night exploring our newer areas in Harriman that are being built and we found a couple apartment complexes and townhomes that should be good places for us to find more YSA people. 

Saturday: Well it was a super hectic day with attending baptisms. We dropped Elder Bucklein off in Sandy to watch Ramon get baptized, while I went to Ben Cannon's baptism with Elder Alarcon and Crockett. Then Elder Bucklein met us back up and we went over to Luinas baptism. It was cool to see the Samoan family ward. Right after dinner we got together as a RNNATION to do a zone fast. Right now we have 12/13 companionships in our zone who are looking to have someone they are teaching get baptized this transfer.(transfers are 6 weeks) There has only been one time in mission history where the whole zone has helped someone get baptized. The thing is, is that the one companionship has someone who is on the verge of being baptized and we should know by Tuesday if the Dad think his kid is ready to be baptized. It is so nerve wracking since my time in the mission is coming to and end and there is so much that can be accomplished and it is that close! 

Sunday: We had a stake correlation meeting with our Stake President, President Bradshaw. He is such a good stake President and does all he can to help all three companionships that work in the Riverton YSA stake. He has some great ideas on how the work can he furthered in the stake. I wish I could serve here forever! We went to rose canyon ward council in the morning and they loved it when we told them we sometimes find YSA people by the cars outside haha. For example there was this tricked out Nissan and we knew that only someone 18-30 would drive it. We knock on the door and sure enough a 20 year old YSA anwswred the door. We went to rose canyon and butterflies canyon sacrament meetings. After sacrament meeting we went to the Oquirh mountian temple parking lot to end our zone fast. 

Monday (Sept 3): Happy birthday Mom!!!! Hope you have a great birthday! We did a temple to temple run as a mission with the community. It was about 5 miles but as stated above, we were the medics so we biked it and it was all down hill so it was pretty easy haha. It was good to see a former companion of mine Elder (Jacob) Gehrett. Looking forward to seeing him after the mission as he will be living in Sandy haha! 

Hope you al have a great week!

Love,

Elder Aaron Ashby