Merry After Christmas

So, don't look at the pictures yet. Save those for last. I have to explain them first!

Anyways, this week has been awesome! We had so much fun. Tuesday we had a fantastic Christmas Activity with all the mission. Man was that a mess to set up... With renting buses and transporting Christmas boxes and materials, it got a little crazier, especially when we were trying to leave and people tried to stay and chat! But oh well. It was fun. We had a super spiritual experience as we listened to Christmas messages given by President and Sister Farnes. It was great to remember the reason of the season! I liked it even more when we then read the story of Christ's birth in between singing songs. President had the assistants and the secretaries each read a part of the story in front of everyone. We would alternate in between reading scriptures and singing songs as a mission. So much fun! The spirit was super strong as we sat there and partook of the experience together. We then afterwards ate lunch, which was barbeque! Super great, but the most fun was the talent show. There were some pretty funny acts that were dumb, and the missionaries had us cracking up as they imitated other missionaries and people. During this whole time, there was a photographer paid to just take bazillions of pictures. So he did. Including when he gathered us all together to take a mission picture. He took seriously like 30 pictures. So, I don't exactly know what he was thinking when he decided to sent a sample picture

to us, and I WAS LITERALLY SITTING FRONT AND CENTER WITH MY EYES CLOSED. What nerve. I was not too happy. It's okay though, because I'm sure he'll drop off all the pictures here in the office, so I'll steal them all and send some better ones. Funny thing though, another Elder here in the office, Elder McArthur, decided to be creative. He saw the picture and decided to improve it. You may now look at the pictures. DON'T I LOOK GOOD?? Just saying. Yes, he stuck glasses on me in the picture, and he even took the liberty to take those particular glasses from my friend Elder Carney who's sitting two people away from me. I laughed SO HARD for like 20 minutes straight. I kind of loved it. I might have to buy similar glasses now and just always do my hair like that. Just saying.

So that was great. Christmas Eve and Christmas were kind of normal. We worked here in the office and spent time resolving problems with missionaries trying to talk with their families. There were quite a few anxious parents who called or emailed us just exasperated. It all got taken care of though! We had Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch with the same member, the relief society president, who is just super awesome, so that was fun. The best part, of course, was talking to my family on Christmas day. I called there around 7:30 at night here, so I had to wait patiently, but it turned out great! I loved, loved, loved getting to see everyone there. I miss my family so much! They are very dear to me. However, I'll get over the trunkiness soon, because this next week will be chaotic. Salt Lake wants all the baptisms for the year entered by the 3rd of January, which is three days earlier than normal. So I'll have my work cut out for me getting stuff done, but it'll go fine. It's almost 2015!!!! It's so cool. Seriously excited. So, in advance, Happy New Year!! I hope that everyone makes excellent life goals this year that will help you reach your true potential! If you're in need of a nifty, little goal, feel free to see the third picture included here! I love all of you and wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Elder Ashford

This Week in History: Part II (Return of the Ax)

Usually, the sequel doesn't even come close to the original movie. There's just always that air of difference that sets the follow-up apart from the main show. However, that's about to change for now, as Part II is going to be wayyyyy better than the first iterance.

We have access to a marvelous power, given to us by someone very special. Said person is also known as the Gift (see: http://www.mormon.org/christmas ). Jesus Christ is His name. He, being the first Christmas gift ever, also gave us another gift, given by His own suffering, death, and resurrection. That gift is the Atonement. That gift is a force for change. That gift is our shining hope to one day be united forever with our families in a world of perfect and complete happiness.

The Atonement comes from the sacrifice that Christ made for us. He, being perfect, wasn't required to pay for His sins, as He didn't have any. He wasn't required to suffer or hurt. He hurt so badly that He bled from every pore to be able to understand all of our sin and sadness. He did it because He loves us. That sacrifice facilitated our redemption. We can be clean because of Him. One day, after we die, when we stand before God to be judged of our works, we may have access to His mercy. He can let us pass by, be completely clean, and enter into the eternal rest that God has prepared for us. Christ will be our mediator. He is our Savior.

Yet, to gain a part of that mercy, it is required of us to act. No one can be saved in ignorance and we must act upon our faith to get what we want as an eventual outcome, eternal life and exaltation. The biggest gift that the Atonement has for us, is repentance. Repentance is the power we have to change. It's a gift given by Christ, by way of the Atonement, and His grace. His grace is the enabling power we've been given to change ourselves. We can change. We must change. Repentance is the chance to change course, to lead a new life. It is the gift we always can call upon. Without repentance, we would be lost, as there would be no way to change what we've done. We would be subject to all the justice of God and would have to suffer the price. However, with the sanctifying power of repentance, we can renovate ourselves with fresh attitudes, mindsets, actions, and consequences. We may have done something wrong, but we can be forgiven as we leave behind our desire to sin and strive to be better. We can solve the problems we've made and create a new pathway in life, yes, even a straight and narrow path which leads to an eternal life and exaltation. We can change.

This week I saw that change. The Portuguese word "Machado" means "Ax" in English. Elder Machado came back to the mission field. We received a simple text from our mission president Sunday night saying to buy a new ticket for this Elder. He had truly gone home, but wasn't satisfied. He realized the need for change and made it. He shifted his course and altered his future. God truly blesses us. Often He uses our circumstances combined with the still, small voice of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. Elder Machado went home determined to stay. With his return, Elder Machado's brother decided to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elder Machado was asked to perform the baptism and with that gained a new desire to continue helping people. He returned and is currently helping a new missionary be trained.

I felt so happy with his return. He was truly different when he came back. He wanted to work. He changed his entire outlook on things, all of which was made possible by the Atonement and the repentance process.

I testify that repentance is needed and joyful. Repentance shows our humility and is a marvelous gift we have. I hope that everyone can take advantage of this gift throughout their lives. I pray that this Christmas season, we can all see the things we need to improve and that we can strive together to be the good in the world. Christ lives and loves us. He wants the best for us. He has prepared a more excellent way for us to follow. He has already gone there and is willing and ready to support us. His love is unconditional and unending. Remember that this Christmas! Let the whole world be filling with joy as we search to help others and change ourselves in the process. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Merry Christmas!!

Elder Ashford

This Week in History

I learned a lot about staying tough and keeping in motion this week. We really have to stay strong, despite what happens in life. One of my companions here decided he'd had enough and went home. It was super sad. I know it can be hard, but we need to always keep going. Enduring to the end is an essential part of God's plan. To go back and live with him, we need to keep pushing. We need to actively push back against trials and problems. We never know what's lying ahead. God has already told us that he will not tempt us above that which we are able. We just can't ever lose hope. The moment that we lose hope, Satan can take control and help us make the wrong decisions. I got really sad this week with my friend, but it's what he wants. I know he'll be fine, and maybe he'll even come back out after realizing what good that the mission can do in our lives. I just hope that no one gives up with what they're doing! Dare to reach for the stars. I know that we have to be dedicated and that we have to work hard to get what we want, and what we want is all that our Heavenly Father has! So everyone, keep moving forward. Never give up. Dare to dream. While you're up to it, help others to reach their dreams as well. We have such great potential! Christ gave us that potential when he suffered and then died for us. I know that He lives and loves us and wants us to succeed. I want everyone to succeed as well! Sending love to everyone!

Elder Ashford

Let's Just Add Another DECADE to my Life

And there it goes. I'm officially not a teenager anymore. WHAT? Didn't see that one coming. I swore that I was gonna be 18 for another 5 years or something. Apparently not...

My birthday here was awesome. Simple, but wonderful. I got various calls from old companions, sung to several times, surprised with cookies in the morning, and cake at night. I LOVED opening up my letters from my family. It was fun to see their writing and hear from them. The package was great as well, but the letters were better still! President Farnes can only pass by the office on Mondays with how far he lives, but I was chatting with him about some stuff when another elder walks in and tells President that it was my birthday. I got taken to lunch by him, which was also super fun. It was an all around cool day and I felt really good.

Beyond that, I haven't had too much of an "exciting" week. I've had to be cooped up in the office most of the time typing up the baptism records for all of November. They're due this week, and lots of people just hadn't turned them in. I'm almost done though, and then things will calm down a little more until January!

I don't have much for this week, but I'm seriously grateful for all the birthday wishes and the friendships that I have. I love you all! I'm especially grateful for my family and the people they are and the lessons they've taught me. I am who I am because of them! I hope that everyone has a great week! Work hard everyone!

Elder Ashford