Wednesday, August 16, 2017

August 15, 2017

Well I don't even know what to say or how I feel exactly right now,
but all I know is the time on my mission is just about over. It's
pretty sad that I have to leave all these people I love so much! I
will also miss the way people are over here. The members have really
helped us so much! I love them deeply. I also can't wait see see all
my friends and family again on the other hand. That will truly be
amazing. :) but I don't know if I'll be able to hold tears back while
leaving.

I am so so grateful for my mission! Words can't express how much being
here has done for me. If there is one thing I know, it's that I am not
the same person anymore. The experiences I've had, and things I've
learned on my mission have changed the way I see things, and do
things, and I have learned for myself how to truly be happy. More than
anything I hope to strive for this happiness when I get home. But I
also want to share it.

I know that this church is true. If I didn't, I wouldn't have done
this for two years.

Thank you everyone for all that you have done for me. I am so grateful.

I'll be leaving on the 23rd and my Farewell will be on the following
Sunday the 27th at the old red brick church in Hurricane at 11:00.
Following, we we also have food at my place. All are welcome, and I
hope to see many of your faces again, because it's been a while! :)


~Bis bald! LG euer Elder Ashcroft~

July 4, 2017

 
Hey everyone! Things are going great over here. The work is starting
to look due to a few miracles in the recent past. To start off, the
stake presidents son got home from his mission in London England about
a week and a half ago, and is now our new Ward mission leader. It's
great I love the kid! We are pretty excited! He's got a lot of energy,
and ideas so it'll be great! We have been getting a lot of referrals
from the members lately which is a major blessing! We are looking
froward to meeting with them. There is also a crazy festival going on
here called the "Landshuter Hochzeitsfest" or "Landshut marriage
festival". It's the celebration of the marriage of a king and a queen
from the 1500's if I remember right. It's absolutely crazy! It's only
once every four years, so it's pretty huge when they have it. But the
only down side is that there are a lot of tourists hah! :P but it's
cool because everybody wears tights with Peter Pan hats hahah! They
also have legitimate jousting tournaments on horses in knights armor,
so that's cool! We also got a new mission president this week which is
crazy!

Well that's pretty much everything new. I wish you all a wonderful
week and if you need something just write me! :) tschüß!

 ~Elder Ashcroft~

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

June 6, 2017

 

Hallo! I'm doing pretty good! Just wanted to send out a quick little
update as to what's gone down as of late.

     So I'm currently serving in Landshut Germany. It's in the state
of Bayern and about an hour away from Munich. I've been here for about
a month and a half now and I'm doing pretty great. It's a pretty big
city, but there's just a lot of old people and not that many younger
people so it's challenging to find the people who aren't so set on
their own religion hah. The work is going good and it's getting
better. I just got a new companion named Elder Mackris last week. He's
from Virginia and he is really cool. He's a well rounded guy and I
think we'll get some good work done together. I also love my current
district so much! We have some great people we're working with! We are
teaching a couple of people in the moment and they are slowly making
progress, but we will hopefully be able to find some new people too in
the next couple of weeks. I'm have also picked up learning Italian for
the past bit now and it's really helping us find a lot more people. I
would also like to carry on with Italian after my mission.
     It is just crazy to me how fast the time has gone by on my
mission I just wish I could stay here forever! I currently have about
three months left on my mission and I'm really torn about it on both
sides. But that is just all the more reason lose myself in the work
and to really improve these next couple of months so carry on after
that.

I love you all and wish you a wonderful week! Thanks for all of your
support! Phiat euch!
 ~Elder Ashcroft~

 

Sunday, April 9, 2017

April 4, 2017


Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing great! My week has been pretty okay. My trainee has been learning a lot, and can understand the language a lot better now.

Montag- we had district meeting in the morning, and we had to leave a little early to make it to a member appointment with the family Schär. Then we found a little bit, and taught an investigator some German. After that we finished weekly planning.

Dienstag- P- day. We took a train to Bern to go to the temple with the district. It was really nice to get away from the noisy world for a bit. After that we went to Basel for a while. In the evening we found

Mittwoch- we studied, ate, then went by some investigators, members, and less actives, then we did 12 weeks in the park. 12 weeks is a training booklet for new missionaries from the church. After that we took a train to Basel for an Austausch with the Basel Elders. We helped some members in the Basel Ward move into their new apartment, then tausched. Elder Visconti from France came with me back to Liestal, and Elder Vogel stayed with Elder England in Basel. When we got back, we ate some dinner, and talked for a bit before going to bed.

Donnerstag- in the morning we studied, then took a bus to Giebenach for a member appointment. It was really great, and the food was just fantastic! :) after we had an appointment with an investigator in Giebenach. It went really well. After the appointment we had to wait for the bus, but it wasn't going to come for 30 minutes, so we decided
to try and hitch hike. After about five cars someone actually stopped, and took us back to Liestal hahaha! It was pretty great, and we actually got the persons number to try and meet with them! When we got back we went by a Turkish investigator family. The mother was not home, but the husband was, so we had a lesson with him. He had already
read the some of the Book of Mormon, and thought it was really good! After we Tausched back, and the had another appointment with an investigator.

Freitag- we studied, did some weekly planning, then went and found a bit. After we came back to finish weekly planning, then had dinner with a part member family. After we gave a lesson to the Husband, because he is the nonmember. It went well.

Samstag- we played soccer in the morning with our district, investigators, and some members. It was really fun! After that we went back home to eat lunch, and study. Then we went to do a little work in Rheinfelden, in the evening we had a member appointment fall out, so we went to the church to watch general conference.

Sonntag- we basically watched general conference all day long!!! We did a little finding in between sessions.






 

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

March 20, 2017

Hallo! I'm doing pretty good still, and we had another pretty good
week! :) we were also able to make some good progress with some of our
investigators. Some other news is that I'm going to be training again!
I'm happy, but also kinda sad! :( I will miss all of the British
things elder jest does, and says haha! My new companion is German, so
that'll be an adventure! :)

Montag- we went to Basel, to a crazy huge festival called Fastnacht.
It was so much fun! I'll attach a video, or some pictures. In the
evening we had a member appointment with the family Wiesner. After
that we had a really good appointment with one of our investigators
named Mohammed. He really is a good guy, and  very humble

Dienstag- we had district meeting in Basel, then an Austausch with the
Basel elders. I was with elder England from England (no pun intended),
and elder Jest stayed in Basel with elder Visconti.  Elder England and
I had two appointments fall out, so we did some finding.

Mittwoch- the studied, and then Tausched back. After that we taught
one of our investigators, Issam. He is such a good guy! He already has
a strong testimony of the church, and the Book of Mormon. Sadly we
found out that he will probably have to leave Switzerland. :( after
the lesson, he bought us some pizza.

Donnerstag- we had studies, and then went to have lunch with the
Dätwylers. The are a pretty old couple, and they're so nice. She is
one of the best cooks I've ever met, and he was the mission president
of the St. Petersburg, Russia mission! after that we went to
Rheinfelden where we had an appointment fall out, then we had a lesson
with a couple that we are teaching, that we found dooring! After that
we had another appointment fall through, then we had a lesson with
Issam, then after that with Herr Bergamini.

Freitag- we studied, then helped a member family transport some things
for their business. After that we had weekly planning, then ended the
day with a member appointment/investigator lesson.

Samstag- we left pretty early to do a service project for two of our
investigators. It was really good, and we got to know them a lot
better. After that we took a train to Basel to help with a street
display. In the train we realized that we forgot the phone, and it was
the day we were supposed to get transfer calls... Face palm! Hahaha
but we got to Basel, and found out the news for transfers. We had a
really good time doing the street display in Basel, and had quite a
bit of success. Then the Zone leaders, and us went to the church, and
had a baptismal interview for one of our investigators, Issam.
Everything went great! :) after that we went home, ate studied, made
calls, and found.

Sonntag- Sunday was great! After church we went to a members for lunch
with one of our investigators. It was great to see them all bond, and
it made our job a lot easier! We had a lesson after that which went
pretty well. In the evening we studied, and had a lesson with Issam.

March 16, 2017

First of all I would just like to apologize that I have not been able
to respond to some of your guy's emails for the past couple weeks. It
has just been crazy here and I haven't had time! :P I am doing great,
and we are having a lot of success! The weather has been warming up a
little which is also good. :) we have mainly been working with three
investigators since I have been here, and they are all working towards
baptism. Issam from Tunisia  will be baptized on the 18th of March,
Brother Bergamini is Italian, but has grown up here in Switzerland. He
is an eternal investigator, and hasn't been baptized because of his
smoking problem. We have finally got him to stop smoking, and he is
really excited that he can now be baptized! :) he has a baptismal date
for the 25th of March, then there is Brother Rudschuck from Germany.
He is in a pretty complicated situation. He was excommunicated when he
was younger, but he is about 60 now, and knows that it's true. He has
a really strong testimony, and wants to g baptized again, but the
problem is that he lives with his Swiss girlfriend(pretty much his
wife), and she doesn't want to get married because she is unsure, and
has had problems in the past with marriage. But Brother Rudschuck has
a baptismal date for the 22nd of April.

I am loving it here in Pratteln and I'm doing really well! I will try
and get to your guy's emails today! :) if you ever need anything I'm
always here! :) Schöne Wochli!



Monday, March 6, 2017

March 6, 2017 Pictures





February 14, 2017

This week has been pretty good! Pratteln (my new area) is doing really
well! It is a little cold, but it is slowly getting warmer.

Montag- we went shopping on the German side of Basel to get everything
for the Month. After that we went to the church in Basel, and wrote
emails. In the evening we had dinner with Bruder Rudschuck, and his
girlfriend. It was really good, and we got to know them quite better.
He is going to get baptized on the 22 of April, but he needs to get
married first!

Dienstag- we had district lunch where we all brought stuff to make
Tacos. After that we had district meeting. It was good to meet the
district, and it was nice to get to know the district better. Then we
got home, and had the Thompsons (a mission couple) repair one of our
doorways in our apartment. After that, we had a lesson fall out, then
we had a lesson with one of our investigators, Jose. He is from
Cabinda in Africa, and is really nice! He just needs to accept
commitments. Then we had another appointment fall out, but this time
with a member. We decided to go dooring, and found a really cool
family from Afghanistan. They let us in, and we shared a message about
the family. They enjoyed it, and actually invited us to come back to
eat! :)

Mittwoch- we went to Rheinfelden, and went by some potentials, less
actives, and did quite a bit of dooring. We were able to have a couple
lessons, with return appointments, so hopefully we can go make some
progress with them. After that, we studied a bit more, and then taught
some investigators German. In the evening we ate Raclette with one of
the Wiesner families. It was supper good!

Donnerstag-  in the morning we had a lesson with Issam in the library.
He is from Tunisia, and also has a baptismal date. He already has a
testimony of the Book of Mormon, he just needs to understand the
principles, and doctrines more. Then we had lunch with a member. After
that, we went by a potential that wanted a Book of Mormon in Aresdorf,
and left her a book with a note, because she wasn't home. After that
we had two lessons fall out, but we made some calls, and had dinner
with the older Rudin family.

Freitag- we studied, then had lunch with the bishop, which was good
because he wasn't at church on Sunday so I finally got to meet him. It
went really well, and we were able to talk a lot about the work, and
the ward. Then we had weekly planning, and had a lesson with a member,
and an investigator named Annette. We tried to go by a potential after
that, but her husband wasn't home.

Samstag- we had 6 lessons fall out!!!..... But it was still ok,
because we played soccer with some investigators, helped and elderly
women mover her chopped wood into stacks, and had a Skype meeting with
the zone leaders, and other district leaders.

Sonntag- after church, we had a member appointment with Issam there
also. It was good to get a relationship going between him, and the
members. :) after we taught about the life of Jesus Christ, and the
atonement. After that we had a lesson fall out, so we studied a little
bit, and then had dinner with the Stahl Family.
 

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

February 6, 2017

This week has been pretty crazy, but a lot of fun! The good thing is
that the weather is starting to warm up again. Last Saturday we got
transfer calls, and I got transferred back to Switzerland. My new area
is called Pratteln, and is only about 20 minutes away from my old
area! The church is in Pratteln, but we live in Liestal.

Montag- we packed most everything, emailed, cleaned, and had a lesson
with Jeremy in the evening. They invited us to McDonalds after so we
ate there for dinner.

Dienstag- we took a train at 8:56 all the way to Freiburg for my last
district meeting in the Freiburg district! :( it was a really good
district meeting though. Elder Fröbel is the new district leader
there, and I'm sure he'll keep the district doing good work. After the
meeting we had District lunch together, and everyone brought
something. Then Elder Hofeling and I booked it back to Bad Säckingen
so I could unregister from Germany, then we went home, packed a little
more, then went to a visit a new convert family, the Rehms.

Mittwoch- we took a train at 6:55 and went to Zürich. I stayed in
Zürich for a couple of hours before heading to Pratteln with elder
Jest.  When we got there, I unpacked, then we went to go play
volleyball with some investigators, but couldn't find them, so we
found for a while, and then went to institute in the evening to get to
know some members, and the new district better.

Donnerstag- after studies, we went with a member to go home teach a
less active. Then we had lunch with the Dätwyler familie. Then we had
two lessons fall out, so we found, and called some people.

Freitag- we went to the Temple in the morning with the Bern zone
leaders. It was really nice, and good to be back in my old area! After
that we found, had one lesson fall out, had another lesson, and did
weekly planning.

Samstag- after studies, we had lunch with the familie Schoch, then
went by some people in their town that we have as potentials. Then we
took a train to Läufelfingen and went by people there, and had quite a
bit of success! :) after that we had three lessons, and finished
studies.

Sonntag- we had Ward mission correlation meeting before church. It was
awesome to see four of our investigators in church also! One of them
had to work all night long driving taxi, and still came to church!
After church we broke our fast with the familie Wiesner, then brother
Schulz came and picked us up and we taught his family a small
spiritual thought also. After that we had a lesson fall out, so we
called some people, and went by a potential, then had language study.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

January 16, 2017

 Montag- we studied, then headed downtown, to get lunch, and email.
We got some Döners, a Turkish meal, that's really good. After that we
headed over to the Rehm's home to get some signatures for baptismal
records from the two daughters, which took a while, because one of the
bike tires is flat, and we haven't had time to try and repair it yet.
Then in the evening we had a lesson with our supper mega golden
family! The family Schwarz. Since we've been teaching the family
Schwarz we have talked about them every Sunday in church, and the
members are all fighting to try and come joint teach with them hahaha!
The lesson went quite well. We taught the Plan of Salvation.

   Dienstag- we woke up a half an hour early to make it to the train
for zone training in Singen. Once we got there, we ate breakfast, and
studied a little at the train station, because our train gets there
and hour early. Zone training was ok! It was a random surprise zone
training, because we've already had one this transfer, and president
decided to do a spontaneous one so that we could be introduced to a
new self reliance program that our mission is going to try. I'm really
excited for it, because it has had a lot of success with members, and
it seems good. After zone training we took a train with the Offenburg
elders all the way back to Offenburg for an Austausch (exchange). The
train ride through the beautiful fresh snow covered Black Forest. It
really feels like a fairy tale when it's covered in snow! I was with
elder Fröbel from Germany. Elder Fröbel and I went to Freiburg with an
investigator, to play indoor soccer with some members. It was so much
fun. The crazy part was that there was a guy from Zürich Switzerland
there that looked exactly like Tobias Anderson, if you happen to know
who that is. Which I funny, because they both come from Switzerland,
and are really good at soccer hah! After that we came back, and had
dinner and planned. We spent 8 hours in trains that day!

    Mittwoch- after studies we had steaks for lunch, then split up.
Elder Fröbel and I had 4 lessons with investigators, and the other
elders had 2 lessons, and went finding the rest of the time. After we
all got home we planned, ate, then played some Schach or chess in
English.

     Donnerstag- we studied, and then took a train back to Bad Säckingen.

     Freitag- just a normal day of finding, and weekly planning. We
also talked with Elder Moreno from Basel, and he is going to come
teach one of are investigators in Italian about once a week. We are
really excited! :) she we hopefully start making more progress.

     Samstag- was also a pretty normal day. We were able to meet with
three new converts, and help support them.

     Sonntag- we had an awesome time at church. And were able to meet
with our new Ward mission leader which went really great!