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

Wait! What Was That? Was That Transfers??

Holy smokes this week has simultaneously flown and crawled by.

Transfers were this week, but I totally didn't even feel the

anticipation or excitement that I normally feel at this time. Sunday

was cool. We were getting ready and President calls everyone saying

that he's ready to pass out the transfers. We all ran to the office

and watched as everyone switched spots. I had a bunch of friends from

the MTC become leaders, which was super cool! I also gained a second

companion, as Elder Machado is now training a new Housing Secretary.

Should be fun! This transfer is actually going to be only 5 weeks

long, because of Church Travel deadlines before Christmas. It'll

compensate itself though on the next transfer, which will be 7 weeks

long! Woah!

We got to see all the new missionaries come in, sort of. We have like

all their information, we just don't get any time to meet them. With

transfers now being on Tuesdays, the newbies arrive at President's

house for lunch, and then we only see them for the training we give

right before they leave to their areas. We got 16 new missionaries,

and only 5 went home! It was a super crazy week though. We had to stay

in the office really late getting everything ready the week before.

Everyone got this cool binder that President bought and had the

secretaries put together, and it's full of awesome talks. I hope that

all the missionaries here appreciate my effort!! What was super weird

though was the day after transfers. 4 of the 5 missionaries going home

went and stopped by the temple one last time, except for one. They all

had to get to President's house though for lunch, so I got elected to

go with the single missionary to the temple to pick everyone up and

then go to President's house. I didn't have anyone to go back with

though, so I totally had to sit there and eat with everyone who was getting ready
to go home. SO AWKWARD. I'm totally not ready to eat at the "going home" table yet. I

still have another 8 months from today! I got to learn lots though

from President and Sister Farnes, as well as the veterans who were

going home, so it was cool to see it all.

It has been raining a little more, which has saved us for now. At

least it stops São Paulo's water reserves from getting any lower.

We're already sucking up tons of water from other places as well, but

we have no idea how long it's going to last. Oh well. We just keep on

moving and doing our work. We're not too worried about it, especially

with the backup supplies we've been instructing the mission to do.

Oh yeah! How could I forget!! One of the biggest changes this transfer

was with the assistants. First off, I got SO EXCITED! If anyone

remembers Elder Carney from Colorado with whom I lived in Itapetininga

almost a year ago, he got called as an assistant!!! So I'm living with

him!! Sort of! There are actually 4 assistants to the President now,

and they totally do nothing but travel. They go in pairs and they are

spending a week with each zone leader pair. The spend all week doing

splits and helping the leaders learn to plan and work better then come

home Sunday night to meet with President, have Monday off, and then go

back out on Tuesday! That'll be so crazy for them, but super fun as

well! I thought it was an awesome idea that President had. They'll only

be doing it for maybe two transfers though, so then it'll go back to

normal. It's super cool though!

Finally, we had a really cool experience this week. We didn't get to

do proselyting work like all week as we were stuck in the office. Our

one appointment even fell through. Finally, Sunday night we got to go

back to that canceled appointment and it was super spiritual. We

talked with them and were super sad to find that they hadn't read much

of the Book of Mormon. We talked with them about it, and one of them

said that they'd read a little. We asked here what she'd read and how

she felt. She just kind of paused and then turned to a page we had

marked. She had read all of Alma chapter 32, which says a lot about

faith. She almost teared up while she was talking. She explained it

super well and said that she'd just felt this peace in life. She

explained the difference it had made in her life and she asked to be

baptized, saying that she knew that the Book of Mormon was true and

that this church was the right one. We almost didn't now how to

respond. I felt so happy. We marked a baptism date with her, and she

should be baptize in a week from tomorrow. YAY!!! I'm super excited.

We lose so much time in our area taking care of the missionaries here

in São Paulo North, but God truly blesses us with miracles. I love how

Moroni talks to us at the end of the book how God is a god of miracles

and that He hasn't changed. It's true, and He continues to show his

love through modern revelation by living prophets and the many

scriptures that we have. It's so great! Christ lives and loves us and

is so merciful. We can decide our own fates and choose who we want to

be. We were given that power through God's plan and the atonement of

Christ. It's marvelous! I hope that everyone studies more to truly

understand the sacrifice that Jesus Christ suffered for us. It's truly

something amazing and worthwhile. I love y'all! Have a great week!!

Elder Ashford