Well, that was unexpected!!

Hello one and all! Guess what! Transfers were this last week and I

broke my pattern! Until now I've only stayed two transfers in each

area that I've worked in, but that was crushed when I was blessed with

the opportunity to stay here in Vila Medeiros! Elder Hossaenian and I

are working together again for one more transfer, and more

surprisingly still, I was asked to be District Leader here! It's a

little nerve wracking, but it's all good because I know God helps His

servants fulfill what He asks them to do! As District Leader, I get to

help out more people, missionaries and their investigators. I check up

on a couple other areas and make sure they're okay and try to give

advice when they're not sure what to do. I will also be giving

training to missionaries during our weekly meetings, and even cooler,

I'll get to interview people in other areas to see if they're ready to

be baptized or not. Super crazy, but I know that I have help and I'm

glad to be able to help more people in a different way.

This week was super cool, as we met lots of people who are loving the

Book of Mormon and who are really trying to find out if this church is

true. So much faith here! Several people are really reading and

praying to know if Joseph Smith really was a prophet, called by God,

to restore Christ's church on the Earth again. We are working hard

with these people and others to help them come to this knowledge,

because I have a certainty that they will come to know with a

certainty that these things are true by proving the Lord's words and

reading the Book of Mormon and asking Him in prayer if these things

are true. It's just too cool being here!!!

That's really all I have, but I'm seriously so grateful. I love being

a missionary! I'm doing well and pushing on always! I'm sending love

to everyone and prayer for you all! Keep working hard, and always

searching for God in your lives! Have an amazing week!!

Elder Ashford

"God is weaving His tapestry according to His own grand design. All

flesh is in His hands. We have no need to fear. We have no need to

worry. Our imperative need is to be found doing our duty."

     -President Gordon B. Hinckley