The Office

This week calmed down a little bit. There is still so much to do here!

We work and work and work. It really does give me a whole new

perspective on the mission. I see the whole business side to it now!

It's really neat though. The rules are a little different here so that

I can do my secretary work and help out others. Between all the four

secretaries we have here, we each play a part in helping the mission

flow smoothly for the other missionaries. We help them focus on our

purpose to help others understand the truth about Jesus Christ. With

all the work we do, the other missionaries don't have to worry about

anything besides missionary work. They can dedicate themselves

completely to the work of salvation without worrying about money,

houses, travel, records, and many other more worldly things, in a

large part because of 4 missionaries who stick it out in an office

from 10 to 5 (at the least) every day helping everything go. We still

get to do proselyting work, but it's a much more limited time

schedule. However, we see many miracles happening to make up for the

time we spend in the office. We met a young man who was going into his

house when we stopped and talked to him. He's super smart and

understood and took a lot of interest from our message! It was super

cool!

General Conference was wonderful again! I got to watch it in English

at the stake center like I have the other times. I loved the beautiful

talks that were given about improving ourselves. I loved when the

apostles talked so much about owning up to own mistakes and taking the

blame for our own. It was cool to see Elder Bednar talking to everyone

who isn't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

and inviting everyone to participate. To see for themselves! This is

something I try to do every day, invite others to come and see for

them themselves. It's hard for me sometimes, because so many people

reject our offer to see what wonderful things await them. But I

encourage everyone reading this to experience for themselves the

wonderful blessings that come from Christ's true church on the Earth!

Unfortunately, I didn't even get to watch all of Conference. I was

blessed with permission from our President to watch the Priesthood

Session, which was great, but Sunday Evening I had to listen on the

internet as I continued typing the baptism records for the mission in

September into the church's baptism record program. They were all due

on Sunday, so I had to stay way over time typing up records. That's

the way it goes!

The pictures that I'm sending this week are from last transfer. My old

companion, Elder Vieira, and I went to Applebee's here in Brazil for

lunch and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! I had barbecue ribs and he had

a huge american cheeseburger. 

I also bought matching ties for us for

his birthday that had already passed the week before. 

Then, I got to

reunite with some other missionaries from the MTC when we had

transfers. I'll send some pictures of the office new week!

I love you all! I hope that everyone has a great week and works hard!

I have a firm testimony about Christ and His church here on the Earth!

The work that I'm doing here is divine and essential! I love it!

Sincerely,

Élder Ashford

Secretário Registrador

Missão Brasil São Paulo Norte