Christmas Day

Elder Ashworth on Christmas Day!!!

It was awesome to visit with him. He looks great!

CHANGES

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week was great. We had some really good lessons and had some more really good divisions. In fact last night we went on divisions again. And i went with a brother in the ward that is in the stake presidency and is really good friends with our investigator. we talked to her about her baptism and how we are going to do it next saturday on the 27th and how she feels about it. She said that she still has alot more to learn. we assured her that we are always learning new things. And then Brother Silva, the member who was with me, told her all about the interview that she has to do and how the missionsry doing the interview wont let her get baptized if he doesnt think she is ready. She was happy about that. Then the brother asked her if the missionary thinks she is ready will she be baptized on the 27th and she said yes. He then set the interview date for this saturday so she can announce it in church if she passes the interview. She was really excited about it and knows that she has help. It was a great testimony of the power and help that members give when we do divisions. I didnt say very much during that time but the member helped her understand and commit to being baptized.

Also this week we had our Capilla Abierta. It started off a little slow and with nobody giving references but in the end it turned out good. We had about 30-40 references and a few were young couples who were really interested. One even asked hwo he can be baptized. So we are excited to go and visit with them. We also got alot of help from the ward members. It turned out great and everybody liked it. 

For service this week we went and helped a sister move from her old house to her new house. She was really happy because she didnt have anybody else to help. Its always great to serve.

This week we had changes but im still in Los Olmos with Elder Peterson. My Saturday went great. We had a Chrsitams devotional with the whole mission. We did service, Ate lunch, watched The Princess Bride, and have talks from President and Sister Cook, and his counselors. Things are going great here. We have lots of support from the members and our investigators are doing well. If all goes well we will havea baptism on the 27th. So the prayers are needed. Her name is Amber. But thats all thats going on this week. Talk to you all on Christmas

I Wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS. And talk to you all on Christmas Day!!!!

Love ya`ll,

Elder Ashworth

15 Months in Chile

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a great week. On sunday we watched the Devotional of the First Presidency. It was really good. Also after church the power went out because a transformer blew up by the chapel and everybody thought that somebody had blown up a bomb. So we had to move everything to the bishops house to do all of the computer work that we had to do. 

We have had some great lessons this last week and have left with a lot of members to visit people also. Not much exciting happened this week. So i dont have much to write about. But this next week i will. Because we have the Christmas Devotional at the temple that we are going to with a part member family and we have an activity in the chapel this sunday all day. We are going to have the doors open and anybody can enter to see whats inside. 

But i cant believe that its almost Christmas and that tomorrow i complete 15 months in Chile. That time has just flown by. And these last 6 weeks with Elder Peterson have just disappeared. 

I hope you all have a great week. And i would like to ask if you guys can write me your testimonies and temple marriage and not just co-living. And about how the Book of Mormon has helped you in your lives.

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

And i will send the birthday letter soon. I promise mom. I just dont have any place close where i can send it from. I have to travel 20 minutes in a bus to be able to send it.

This is a dog we found that is a mix between a basset and a rotty. And me on sunday.

ITS DECEMBER!!

Dear Family,

First off......¡¡¡¡¡¡HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!!!

Well i cant believe its December again!!The year has passed by so fast and im dying from the heat again. Im pretty sure i said it last year but i will say it again. Christmas is really weird without snow and cold temps. But its just the way it is down here.

This last week was a great week. We had some great lessons and had a reactivation of a sister in the ward. She is helping us to teach and visit Anbar one of our investigators that has a baptismal date. She is great and if everything works out, she will be baptized on the 20th of december.

Also we set a baptismal date with an investigator named Nadia. She is the daughter in law of an active family. We are trying to reactivate her husband and baptize her. They talk a lot about getting sealed in the temple so we are really hopeful that it will work out.

I would like to ask if you can help us out with prayers for Ambar, Nadia and Miguel, Maria Teresa, Jairo, and Florencia, and the Jara Family. They are our investigators or less actives that are progressing the most and most of them have baptismal dates or are close to being active again.

Sorry this email is really short but not much happened but what i have said and lots of heat and it rained for 2 days. But thats about as exciting as it got.

Thanks for all the you guys do and we will talk again later. 

Love,

Elder Ashworth

¡¡¡¡THANKSGIVING!!!!

Family and Friends,

This last week was interesting. We had a great week but something crazy happened on Saturday.

On thursday and friday they were just normal days full of lessons and everything. But on friday we had a lesson with a new investigator and her inactive husband. and we ate completo, which are like hotdogs but better. And the lesson was great. It was very spiritual and they loved it. And when we returned home i started to feel sick. I dont know what happened but i had been feeling weird all day. and finally in the house i just got sick to my stomach. But we did all of our planning and went to bed. I figured i would just sleep it off like everything else. Well i didnt sleep at all. At 1 in the morning i had a meeting with the bathroom and it was coming out of both ends! Then at 2 in the morning also. Then a third time at 4 in the morning. Then for the whole day saturday i was in bed sick. I would sleep for an hour and a half and go in to use the bathroom. Then sleep and do it all over again. I only threw up 3 times in the night but i was completely without strength all day saturday. I even only ate 6 crackers all day. But now im fine. I think i got food poisoning from something i ate. But my comp ate the same stuff and he didnt have problems. So i think something flew onto my food.

But then on sunday we had an investigator come to church. Her name in Maria Teresa and she even brought her husband who hasn't listened to any of our lessons yet but has promised us to listen to the next one. Then we changed the baptismal date of Amber to December 20. So we are trying to help her get there. Then today we played soccer and enjoyed the sun. 

Thanks for the package it got here. And Mom, i will be sending you a letter next week so it will arrive as a belated birthday letter but i dont have anywhere to send one off close by. So have a a great week and Love you All!!

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!

Elder Ashworth

A Really Hot Week

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week was a great week. But it was also really hot! we were about 90 degrees everyday. Until yesterday when we woke up to cloud cover and a strong wind. But by after lunch the sun had come out and it was hot again. So while you are all freezing up there im cooking down here. But is pretty nice, I already have a great tan because where my watch is its really white and the rest of my arm is dark. So this will be a really long, hot summer down here.

This last week we had a really busy week. We were running all over the place to get to appointments and everything. So today we just kind of sat back and relaxed in the house and ate tacos. But we are seeing lots of progress now in the ward. Lots of people are helping us and we are finding new people every week.

Also about 2 weeks, i forgot to put this in my last email, We had a meeting with Elder Nelson of the twelve, Elder Christensen of the Seventy, and Elder Viñas of the Seventy, and their respective wives. It was a great conference. we got shake everyone of their hands. Elder Nelson took the time to shake every missionaries hand. It was pretty cool. And then they talked about missionary work and our premortal existence. And how if we could see what we were during that time we would be amazed. So we need to work very hard in this life to live u p to who we were before this life. Because we ahve a mission here and every minute counts.

This saturday we ahve a meeting with Elder Evans of the seventy. We will be talking about a project we are doing here in my mission and in three other missions. It is called the Pilot Plan. And if it works well they will be instituting it in all the missions. So we will see what happens this saturday.

Last Sunday i also had to give a talk in church. They didnt tell me what i had to talk on so i gave it in missionary work. it was a good tlk because after we had a meeting with some missionaries from the office of the mission. It was about having an open house in the chapel for investigators and peoplel from of the street and how we can do missionary work with the members. So it wasnt even planned but it worked out great.

well i wish you guys all a great week and have fun in the snow and cold!

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

P.S. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

First Week in Los Olmos

Family and Friends,

This week was great. There is a lot of work here in Los Olmos. We set a baptismal date with an investigator named Amber. She is really excited to get baptized and live the Gospel. We also found a really good new investigator named Jairo that wants to change and receive salvation. We had an investigator named Maria Teresa who attended church on Sunday after we visited her with the president of the Relief Society. Then to finish it off we have a recent convert named Marcia who is Blind. So we teach her and she writes in braille so she can study it later. Its really cool.

My comp is awesome and we are doing well. We are enjoying the time together and we like some of the same stuff. So he is from my group in the MTC and his name is Elder Peterson. He is with me in the photo. Thats all i have for this week but i attached alot of photos so i hope you all like them.

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

CHANGES!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday was changes and it was a huge surprise. I got changed out of my ward Los cAstaños. I thought i still had 6 more weeks there. But things changed. Im now in the ward Los Olmos which is in my old Zone El Bosque and it touches my last ward boundries. It is a really small mission. Im with a gringo missionary named Elder Peterson. He was also in my groupp in the MTC and i met him in the airport in Utah. So ive just been with the same missionaries that i spent the time in the MTC with. we are having a great time. And we are in a great ward.

Today we went and hiked a mountain that had a tiny waterfall at teh end. It was really pretty. Just a bunch of desert mountains. But hey, At least i got to go to the mountains. But it was very hot today and i have some really pretty pictures but forgot the adapter for my camera in the house. So next time i will send photos. 

Nothing else really hapened this week. But this Saturday we have a meeting with Elder Nelson and other general authorites. It will be a good one. 

And lastly this one is for mom. You are more trunky then i am. It would make someone think that you want me to come home. But i still have 10 more months to go and im going to enjoy every minute of it.

 

 

Love you all and have a great week,

Elder Ashworth

Pastor Evangelical

October 29th, 2014

Family and Friends,

Sorry the subject is in spanish. Im not sure how to say that in english :)

This week was great. We got to do a service for a pastor of a church here in our sector. We went and cleaned up the land that his church is on. Then he fed us lunch and has invited us to a dinner with him and his family. It was really great.

Also we are seeing more progress here in our sector. More and more people are showing up to church which is a good thing. Also we are having a great time. A sister gave us a ton of meat to have a BBQ today. Its like 5 pounds of beef loins (not sure if that is correct) But it will be delicious.

Everything is going great here and im getting darker everyday. The sun is so strong down here. But i love you all and talk to you next week.

Elder Ashworth

I have no idea what to put as a subject

Dear Family,

This week was really good. we worked hard everyday in the hot sun and i have the sunburn to prove it. Lots of contacts and lots of changes. We have been trying to change what we are doing to find new people to see if it works. We will see what happens.

Sadly i really don't have anything exciting to tell you guys today. My week was pretty boring and today we just played soccer and basketball. And i just got sunburned more. I believe that my sunblock doesn't do anything. But its ok. I will live. I dont even have pictures to send you guys either. Im really sorry. Im kind of lame this week. I cant remember anything that we did. 

The only thing that i remember is that we changed our meetings on Sunday to start with the classes and end with sacrament meeting so that we can go out and pick up the people that didnt show up to church. 

Love you all and thanks for your support and prayers. Always great to hear from you all.

Elder Ashworth

October, October, and Sun!

Well, this week has been pretty goof. It is now October which means that the sun is coming out. Which leads to sun burn. I have received my first sunburn of the year. My nose is nice and red.

But other then that I'm good. This is just the start of 9 months of sun and heat. Its only about 29 degrees Celsius and i feel like I'm dying but it gets up to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer time. It going to be fun!!!

Today we tried to fly a kite and the wind just destroyed them. I think it was because they were old. So when they took off the wind ripped them to shreds. But then we played a little bit of soccer, which is always fun.

This last week we also had a zone conference. It was really good. President Cook talked about how we can break the barriers to our faith. And if we do it we can make great things happen in the mission and our lives. We also talked about how to use our faith. That its not just a belief but an action and promise with God. If we exercise faith, or do the action of faith. God is bound to give us blessings if we do what he says. 

These last few weeks we have found lots of new people to visit and teach so we are looking forward to seeing how they progress. I hope you all have a great week and thanks grandma for the letter. Letters are always appreciated and enjoyed. 

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

Pics: ME with my new hair cut, a hat from bolivia, and a hedgehog

 

 

a Good Week and Conference

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was agreat one. It had alot of walking but thats normal. But General Conference was great. I found the answers that i have been looking for because for the past few weeks i have been really stressed out. But i have now understood the answers and i am feeling great now. Its amazing what the prophets and apostles and great friends in the mission can do for you. 

I dont have tons to talk about this week but i did have a great day yesterday. It was really hot and we were doing contacts, But afterward i went to give an interview for a baptism to a youth the is awesoem he is ready to be baptized. But afterward is when the day got better. We were walking down the street and a dog (poodle) bit my thigh. Then my water bottle fell and got covered in dirt. Then my pen exploded in my pocket. And we didnt get any lessons for the day. Just the whole day walking and contacting. But when we returned home we were in good spirits and luaghing about the day. Sometimes you just have to laugh.

As for today we played soccer for three hours and now im just relaxing a little bit. Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Here are some photos,

Elder Ashworth

Una Buena Semana!! (A good Week)

Hello to you Rexburgians,

My week has consisted in walking, walking, and more walking. I have done soooooo many contacts this week its crazy. We have been looking for people like crazy. But we have had some really good lessons. Just last night we had a great one with one of our investigators. He doesn't believe that we have to receive the Authority of God but that we receive it through faith and not by the laying on of hands. We talked and talked and finally i asked him. If God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow why would it be different today if they people had to receive the Priesthood by the laying on of hands during the time of the Bible. He went quite for a few minutes and then changed the subject because he didn't have an answer. We left him with scriptures to read and the promise to pray about what he reads and what we teach.

Also as a mission we are reading the Book of Mormon together. if we read 3 chapters everyday we finish before Christmas. I have learned tons reading the Book of Mormon again. Its amazing what is inside of that book.

Well thats all i have for this week and i challenge each of you to read 2 Nephi 9 and study it really well, ponder it in your heart, and share what you learned with somebody.

Love you all and talk to you later,

Elder Ashworth

Changes!!!

Dear Family,

Well we had changes this week and i stayed in my ward and got a new companion. He is from Peru and his name is Elder Vasquez. He was in my group from the MTC and he is pretty awesome. We are walking all over the place trying to find people to teach and share the gospel with them. 

My week went pretty good. It was the independence day parties and everything so we walked a lot because everybody went out of town or had family over so they were busy. But we had a great week and ate empanadas and lots of BBQs. I dont really have anything else that happened this week it was a pretty normal boring week. Mostly because lots of people were out of town.

Sorry this email is a little short and is really lame but i will try to do better next week.

As for All you there in the family. I haven't seen a picture of the picture of the family since i left. I would like to see a picture of all of the family so that i can see if anybody has changed over the last year. And im trying to send photos but my computer isn't accepting the USB with my pictures on it. Its really lame. 

Anyways love you all and talk to you all later!

Elder Ashworth

Over The Hill - Sept 17, 2014

Dear Family,

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, PAPITO!!!!!

As for my week it was pretty good. AS you all know i have been in a trio as a companionship because Elder Thompson had to go to the office for his foot. Hes doing great but just has to take it easy for a few weeks.

AS for me, im doing great. My health is good just a Little more fatter, Thats all. Ive gained about 10 kilos on my misión so far. I guess i need to lay off the bread and Coca-Cola. We had a great week. We cleaned our house and painted it so now its looks way better. Also yesterday we got to be in a conference with an Area Authority and on sunday we had stake conference with another área authority. They are both members of the seventy. Its soo cool to hear them speak. They definatley have testimonies and know how to help us understand the Doctrine of Christ better.

Toda we went to the temple and its always cool to go there. I felt the spirit and it was a great way to recharge the spiritual batteries. I encourage everyone to attend the temple at least 1 time every month. We can learn so much in the temple and in this way we are the closest to heaven as we can get. It always helps us to recharge and to fight against the things of this world that are out there to make us fall.

As for me i have begun the descent of the hill. Everyone is telling me that i have reached the Summit and its all down hill from here. I guess i have to make it better then last year. Well i wish you all a great week and good luck!!

Love you All,

Elder AShworth

1 Year!!

Dear Family,

I have made it 1 YEAR!! Sunday at church an investigator asked me how much time i have on the mission and i told him 1 year. He then said, yup you have the face of, I dont want to go home. So thats a good sign it means that i love it here!!

First to answer your questions. The weather here is warming up a little but it still rains a little and gets cold at night. We are still in the winter months till the end of September. Everything i have is holding up fine. My glasses are good, my clothes are good (just a few tears), and my bag is fine because i havent used it because its huge and a little too nice for the area that im serving in. Yes i do brush and floss and i believe i have had a little problem with bed bugs but they went away so its nothing to worry about.

As for my week this week not much happened. We spent a lot of time in the house because of Elder Thompson's foot. He is now in the office because he cant put weight on it, its an order from the doctor, so i couldn't finish his training but i know that he will be fine. So now im in a trio with the other Elders in my ward. Its really interesting because now three have to talk and we have to join our schedules with the people that we teach and everything. But other then that our week was really good. We got to go to a BBQ for the festivals for Independence day of Chile for the Stake and we played volleyball and ate BBQ chicken. 

Now for tonight and tomorrow we have to stay in the house because its another holiday in Chile where it gets kinda crazy. But its all good, we have to deep clean our house tomorrow.

Well thats all i got for this week. Have a great week and i love you all.

Elder Ashworth

A Wonderful Week!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a great, wonderful week! To start off i will start at last wednesday. So, on wednesday we played basketball and during the game i hurt my finger. Well when i woke up the next day it was purple and swollen. So i called the doctor and they sent me to the hospital to get an x-ray. In the hospital a nurse came in and asked me what happened. I told her and then she left. About 2 minutes later another the doctor came in and asked what happened. I told him and he left. In two minutes more another nurse came in and asked what happened. So i told her and she left. Then about 15 minutes later another nurse showed up with a wheelchair and told me to sit down so she could take me to get the x-rays. I looked at her and said, "its just my finger." And she answered, "yes i know but please sit down." So i got a wheelchair ride with a hurt finger. After the x-rays i had to walk back to my room, I wanted to yell, "TAXI" and wait for my wheelchair but there was none. After all was said and done i had fractured my finger. So thats how my week started.

Then we had two days full of walking because nobody was home. Buts thats usual so we didnt lose our enthusiasm. Then yesterday we had to go to the doctor for my companions foot. We had to go get x-rays again but at a different clinic. And he had walk to get x-rays on his foot while i got a wheelchair to get x-rays for my finger. We were laughing at the irony of the two situations. And in the end nothing had happened to his foot. So thats ok. But it was a wonderful week!

As for lessons we had a lesson with an investigator that was listening but only with his ears and not his heart. So he doesnt want to believe. He started to counter everything we had to say. So i closed my scriptures, looked him straight in the eyes and bore my testimony. He got all quiet and didnt say a word because every time he tried to say to say something i would just keep bearing my testimony. Then when i finished my companion bore his and we ended with a prayer. I could tell that the man was a little taken back but he invited us back to speak more about the gospel. Its amazing the power of testimony. Just like in the Book of Alma. He used a pure testimony to convert Zeezrom, the antichrist. He was eventually baptized and ended up preaching the word of God.

So that was our week. I hope you all have a great week. And Good luck with your ride on Saturday!

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

Wet Week!

Dear Family,

Sorry my email last week was kind of lame. I didn't have very much time to write but this week i have a ton of time. So to answer your questions. First off, The scriptures would be for member that asked if i had a quad that i could give to him because he reads and studies the scriptures in English. He is one of the coolest members i have ever met. He has a very strong testimony of the Gospel and has seem many miracles in his 20 years as a convert member. In fact just yesterday we went and visited him for a little bit and he told us a story. And this is his story.

"One day a little boy went up to his dad and asked; Dad can we be without sin for a year? And the dad thought for a second and said, No we cant. So the boy left. Then he returned and asked; Dad, can we be without sin for a month? The dad thought for a second and said, No we cant. The boy left again but when he returned he asked another question. Dad, can we be without sin for a week? The dad thought for a minute and said, No we cant. The boy left thinking about the answer the answer his father gave him. When the boy returned he said; Dad, can we be without sin for a day? The day once again said, No we cant. So the boy asked for a fifth time; Dad, can we be without sin for an hour? The thought for a little bit and said, No i don't think we can. So the boy left more perplexed. When he finally returned he asked; Dad, can we be without sin for a minute? The dad thought for a while then said, Yes i believe we can if we strive hard enough to master our thoughts and actions for a minute. The boy then replied, Then why don't live life minute by minute."

This is a great story and has a great moral to it. If we strive minute by minute we can try to control our thoughts and actions. The only problem is that man lives for the long run and doesn't think of the minute to minute stuff. We also talked about how at the moment that you take the Sacrament you are perfect for a just a minute until our carnal state once again fails and we sin again. But we can learn day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute to master our bodies. It will take a lot of strength and it will not be achieved in this life but it CAN be achieved.

It was a really cool meeting we had with him. Then we had some really good lessons too. We have two investigators that have a religious background. One is a seventh day Adventist and the other is in a baptist church. So they have great questions and really want to learn about the gospel. It is really awesome. 

On Sunday we had two reactivation s. A Sister and her Daughter. They have been coming to church for a while and we are working with the husband to get him baptized. But he thinks that all of the churches are the same so its a little difficult but its possible.

Today for P-Day we played basketball for the first time in my whole mission. it was awesome. Now we are just sitting in a cyber writing our families. Also im sorry mom but i cant send photos right now because both of the cards i have for my camera received a virus so i lost all of my pictures for my whole mission. But we are going to an investigator tonight that says that he can save our lost photos. So we are paying and hoping that he can.

Well have a great week and a great school year. Send a shout out to the whole family for me.

Love, Elder Ashworth

A great Week

Dear Family,

This week was super great. I would like to tell all about it but i don't have lots of time to write today. We started to write late so this is going to really short. But i will fill you all the next week.

First off, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my mom and dad. You guys are great!!!!! i wouldn't be where I'm at without you guys!!! Love you!!!

Second we had interviews with President Cook again this week and they were awesome as always. We have a vision for the mission and it is to be 100% consecrated to the work. And i know that we can do it as a mission because we are ready to it. We are all in accord with our vision for the mission. 

Everything is going good here in the sector and ward. The investigators are progressing and the less actives are coming to church. I'm doing great and an really excited to keep working. I even think that i have been losing weight. Everybody tells me that I'm skinnier. It is awesome. I guess that all of those ab workouts are working. 

Anyways that's my week. So till next week. Love you All!!!!!!

and again HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

Love Elder Ashworth,

P.S. Pics will be coming soon.

11 Months and a Science Museum

Dear Family,

I have officially hit my 11 month mark and if we go by the date that i go home i have 11 1/2 months. But whose counting?

Anyways this last week was really great. We found another new family of investigators. Their names are Sandra and Washington. They are really great and told us that we can pass by whenever we want too and we will be welcomed in to their house. when we back to teach them we talked about the Restoration of the Gospel and we answered a bunch of questions because the husband knows a lot about the Bible. But that's ok because it makes it just that much more fun.

As for me and Elder Thompson we are doing well. We have now just finished a half of his training and i cant believe it. And to make things even more complicated i have been called to be District Leader now. So it will be a new challenging experience but im ready for the challenge and the fun times i will have. I just hope that i can do my best and help the good Elders that i will have in my District.

Then today we went to a science museum of Chile. It was really cool. It had a bed of nails. A place that simulates an earthquake. Things about electricity and all kinds of cool sciency stuff. There were even these tube things that we could run in and they felt really weird.

But thats all that i have for this week. And would just like to share a thought with you all. If we read in 1 Nephi 7:17 it talks about when Nephi prayed for strength. we need to pray for strength always because Jesus will help us, but he wont do it for us. He will put in the extra strength that we don't have when we give our all.

Love you all and have a great week.

Elder Ashworth

A long week but a good one

Dear Family,

Well, as you all know my P-Day has been changed to Wednesdays. We got it changed so we can go to the temple more often and visit museums and zoos. So we will doing more stuff now to get to know Chile and more about the temples.

As for this week we had a great week. We had tons of people show up to sacrament meeting and stay the whole time. We have been seeing alot of growth in this sector in just the 5 weeks that we have been here. And we still have 7 more weeks to go. 

Yesterday we had a great experience. The first one was that my companion had his first discussion with a Jehovah witness. That's always fun. But the really big on is that we found we a new investigator. 

We were doing contacts and we were both kind of down because nothing had happened all day. Well we knocked on a door and a man comes out wearing a Green Bay Packers hat. SO i start to ask him about the Packers and if he likes them. He said that he lived in the states for 9 years but now lives here in chile. We kept talking to him and then he just opened the gate and said, ¨Enter¨. He then told his family that we were friends. We just taken back that we got into a house that easy. So then we started to speak about the gospel. WE taught the entire lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel and he accepted everything until we said that angels came down from heaven to give the priesthood to Joseph Smith. Because then he had objections the angels cant visit the world and that when we die we are DEAD!! But we shared some scriptures with him from the bible and he said that he will study it out and ask God. After ward we shared a little bit with his family because they gave us once, which is like dinner but very late.(and you pronounce it like the word 11 in spanish). But it was great because he was interested and wants to know the truth. He is an adventista and knows the bible so his questions are really challenging because he knows where to find them in the bible. But that always makes it even more fun. 

Well that was my fun day yesterday.

Love,

Elder Ashworth

A Very Successful Week

Dear Family,

Well this week was full of things to do. First off i will tell you all that i am doing great. Also i miss carpeted floors and central heating but those are only small insignificant things since we are almost never in the house.

This last week we had Zone Conference. It was a really good one, as always. President Cook talked about the Trinity and Baptism. When he talked about the Trinity he talked about how we need to know who God is and Jesus Christ before we can really under stand the Gospel. Because in this day and age people dont understand fully who God and Jesus are. Meany people dont believe in God and oonly think that Jesus came down and died for us and that we will all be saved. Jusst to prove this point i will tell you two stories. 

One day we talked to man that told us that Jesus died in Getsemani and not on the Cross. So he doesnt understand who Jesus is. Another lady told us that she believes in Jesus not Christ because Christ was and Jesus is and God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are all Jesus. SO once again she is a little confused. So we all to study up on who God is, who Jesus is, and who the Holy GHost is. 

Also something else that he told us is that we have three fathers. I have the father of my flesh, which is my dad Doug Ashworth. Then i have the father of my spirit, which is our Heavenly Father. Lastly i have the father of the covenant, which is Jesus Christ. So Jesus Christ is also our father we should address him as such after baptism because we 'take his name upon us' when we are baptized.

Then this last wednesday we committed our investigator Marcos to baptism and he said that when he recieves an answer that the Book of Mormon is true he will be baptized without question. Which is way cool, so we are working with him on that. He also read and prayed about the Book of Mormon but hasnt recieved his answer yet. Then on Friday we took him and his family to the temple and they really enjoyed it and we had a great lesson on the temple and testimonies. I know that he will be baptized it just may not be on the date that we set with him. But he is super ready to change and has tons and tons of questions.

On thursday we had divisions and i went with an Elder named Elder Woodis who goes home in 2 weeks. I learned alot about how i can better myself. We also found a new Less Active member to teach. His name is Ernesto and he is super ready also. He invited right into his house and we shared with him and he invited us back. He said that when they inactivated he was a little kid so he doesnt remember much. But he has lots of questions too. 

To top of the week we had a super long, super tiring day Saturday. We had an activity with the youth of our stake saturday morning at 830. We went and took the youth with us to work for about 2 hours. Then me and my companion had to go to the temple to meet Marcos and his family there. Which is an hour and a half in metro and we left at 2 and we had to meet them at 3. It was a strech but we made it. Then we had a priesthood meeting that night at 6 back in our stake center which is where we started our day. Afterward we had some appointment we had to do and we finally entered into the house at 1030. It was a very long but successful day. 

Thats my crazy week for you guys. And you said that you were going to send another package eventually. Well when you send it i would like some fruit snacks and fruit by the foot because you cant find it down here. Thanks and i love you all.

Elder Ashworth

A great week!!

Dear Family,

This week was great. We had a lot of success with our investigators and finding new people. Our investigator that is trying to find his answer to the Book of Mormon still hasn't prayed yet but we are trying to animate him to do it. Also we found a new investigator yesterday. He is super ready for the Gospel and was asking us all sorts of questions about the Gospel and told us that he feels that our church is the true church! Super Cool!! He is a great guy and his wife is a less active member. They love the missionaries and are going to teach me how to cook Chilean Food!

Our sector is pretty sweet too. The people are super nice. They all try to talk to us in English. My companion is the bomb. He is an awesome Elder from Kansas and we get along great. We are the only two gringos in our sector so everyone looks us funny. We have 4 missionaries living in our house. Me and my companion and another companionship. Their names are Elder Facal and Elder Bejarano. They are pretty cool too. I think i sent you a picture with the four of us when we went to Cerro Chena. I haven't been too sick and i think i have a cold now but its bearable. Its been pretty cold here and down poured the other day too. We had rivers flowing down the street. Im pretty stoked for my mission and I'm having a great time, As for my friends i really don't email them all too much. I receive emails in a group email but that's all. I've talked to a few of them.

Well that's all that i have for this week. Have a great week and i hope you start to feel better dad.

Love, Elder Ashworth

10 MONTHS

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this past week i have hit the 10 month mark. I cant believe that it has passed so fast. This last week was really good. We were in the house for a while due to some complications that we had with a hurt foot but everything is back to normal. But we had a great a week and a super awesome with an investigator that we have. His family are members but he hasnt been baptized because he doesnt believe in the Book of Mormon. So we had a very powerful lesson on the Book of Mormon and he is going to pray about it because he really does have a desire to know the truth.

Other then that today we played soccer for about three hours and it was super fun. We played on turf fields with some ward members. Not much else passed this week except for the fact that its raining like crazy here and the streets are rivers. The water reaches up above your ankle.

Love you all! 

Elder Ashworth

¡¡First week in La Pintana!!

Hello from Santiago,

This week was pretty awesome. I'm training a missionary that is from Kansas. His name is Elder Thompson and is awesome. He is owning it up out here in the field. He talks to everyone and commits everyone to read and pray about the church. I can tell that it is going to be a great 3 months with him. 

As for this sector its pretty cool too. Nothing really happens here so there's not a lot to talk about. Except that we did meet a guy that believes that Jesus was never crucified but died in Gethsemane. He says that the scriptures say that. He belongs to a new church down here that just started up recently. But it was a very interesting conversation. We also met some really cool ward members. The ward here is really great. They are all willing to come and hep us visit people. we also got an investigador named Marcos. His wife and daughters are memebrs but he hasnt been baptized so we are working hard with him and are hoping for a baptism. But i will let you all know how everything goes. 

Today we hiked a hill called Cerro Chena it was really awesome. It was harder then i thought it would be or Ive just gotten wayyyy fat and am out of shape. I'm not sure which one, but we had a great view of the Santiago Valley. Then we had a prayer given by President Cook at the top for the mission and all the missionaries serving in our mission. It was a really cool experience. 

well, im glad that everything worked out with the move and that everything is in its place. I hope you all have a great week and recover from the crazy last two weeks!

Love you all, Elder Ashworth

Changes

Family and Friends,

First off im sorry to hear all about what happened this last week. That Heidi lost her job and has to move. That you guys have to move. That grandma Woolf passed away and that nobody showed up to help you move moms friend. It sounds like it was a tough week but that you all survived it. Also great job on winning during your football camp Preston. i hope that all works out well for you guys.

i will now tell you about my week. First off we couldn't leave the house on Monday or Saturday for the soccer games of Chile, so it was really a bummer that we couldn't go teach. Second, I got changed from my old Sector El Bosque. Im going to Los Castaños in a zone called Las Arucarias. I dont have a companion either. I will be receiving my companion tomorrow. He is a new missionary from the MTC. I will be training for the next two changes. And to make things better, im going to a whitewash. Which is where i nor my companion knows the sector so we will both be new in the sector. I will have to find things out for myself. But im really excited for this next change.

Other then that there is no other news. Im doing fine and havent been sick. Still trying to be the best that i can be and help those who i can help. Well thats all i have, so i love you all and have a great week.

Elder Ashworth

P.S. photos will come next week

¡¡¡¡CHILE!!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, the first thing i have to say is ¡¡¡¡VIVA CHILE!!!! Chile has made it into the semi-finals of the world cup. So they have a chance to win it all! We will see what happens when they play today. I had no idea that soccer was suh a big deal down here in South America but its crazy. The people are fanatics and we have to stay inside of our house when Chile plays just for the fanatics. But its a neat experience to feel the energy in the people who support their team.

This week has been just another normal week and not much happened. We did go to the temple this last wednesday and it was really awesome as always. It really helped to be in the temple and feel the peace that we all feel there.Its a place that we should all strive to go.

Also this next monday is changes again so we will see if im changed or not. I have 6 months in the sector that im in now so its very possible that i will be leaving. I will let you all know the next monday.

Thats all that i have for this week. I hope that your trips go well and that everything works out with grandma wolff. Good Luck and i love you all!

Love, Elder Ashworth

HAPPY BELATED FATHER DAY!!

Dear family and friends,

Happy Belated Fathers Day!!!!! To the best father in the world!!

Well this last was pretty good. We are still going strong. Except for the fact that we learned that Cristobal moved on Saturday to a different sector which really put a bummer on things. Right after he told us that he was moving my companion said "Well, this sucks. Talk about discouraging." It didnt help that he was/is our only investigator at the moment. But then he told us that he still want the lessons from us so he will be recieveing them in the house of his mother in law and will be attending our ward. So that helped a little bit. we still have him to teach.

Then we had the soccer game of Chile in the world cup. It was crazy. Chile won their game so people were screaming and partying until like 12 at night and the game ended at about 9 oclock. We also couldn't be outside during the game or after so we just sat inside of the house Friday afternoon. But it was ok. 

The only other thing that happened was that i completed 9 months on the mission last Wednesday. Wow! How the time just passes by but i still have awhile to go. 

Thanks for all that you guys do for me and the advice that you give me. And for sharing your experiences with me. Keep going strong and love the Lord.

Love, Elder Ashworth

Rain, Rain, and more RAIN

Dear Family and friends,

This week was a pretty good week. We didn't get to meet with our investigator because he was really busy with work and his car died so he had to be in the mechanics for a while. But other then that everything is going good. This last week we did a lot of contacts. And as always i have some stories. One old guy told me to leave or he was going to call the cops. Then the next house we went too, a dog came to the front from around back and lifted his leg to pee on my foot. Lets just say that it was a Great Day to do contacts. Then to make things better it was raining too. But that's the mission for you. And i love it.

It rained 3 days this last week and for two days in a row. It made for some really cold days. Because when it rains here the temperatures drop and its pretty humid so the cold air just enters into everything. it did help to get into houses because the people felt bad because we were outside.

Then this last Sunday we had about 35 people in our ward because it was raining. But it was really good. I had to give a 15 minute talk with 15 minutes to prepare. Its a good thing i can now talk for 15 minutes on about whatever topic i want to that has to deal with the church. After sacrament i had a good lesson with the youth in our sunday school class. It was about following the counsel of your priesthood leaders. I was told it was a good lesson.

Its great to hear that all of you are doing well and are healthy there in Rexburg. Enjoy this week and have fun!

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

JUNE 1ST: Conducting Sacrament Meeting?

Dear Family,

Well, this last week was pretty good. We visited quite a few people and were constantly busy. We are having a little trouble though because its hard to meet with our investigator that is doing really well, also we haven't seen him at church lately, which is a bummer. But we are still trying to help along the path. Its not easy to change your style of life to follow the Gospel sometimes. so we just have to be there to help them as much as we can. 

Also this last Sunday i got to conduct sacrament meeting. My very first time doing it and it had to be Spanish. But it went good and the bishop said i did a great job. It was interesting to see just how things have changed. I no longer have a fear to stand up in front of a bunch of people and talk, let alone talk in Spanish. But it has been crazy to be the young mens first counselor and second counselor to the bishop. I'm constantly running around trying to help the youth and helping all the other people in the ward. but i like it and i enjoy helping the people. And yes dad, you are correct. i ended up in a bishopric before you did. No, you can rub it in :) But its really not that bad.

Well that's all that i have for this week. Sorry its really short but sometime things are just same here on the mission.

Love you all, Elder Ashworth

Hello to All!

This week was pretty good. It was a little slower then the last one but had some good times. We are still having a hard time getting with one of our investigators because everybody works day and night here. Its crazy but what they have to do to support a family. 

This last Sunday i went to church and heard a miracle story. There is a brother in my ward that we reactivated. He has arthritis and can barely walk and cant grab anything with his left hand. Well Saturday night he was having a lot of pain in his left hand so he put it between is triple and bible and straightened his fingers out with a lot of pressure. He then prayed to have the pain go away in his hand. After a long time like that he removed the books and his fingers were straight and he didn't have any pain. When he woke up in the morning he still didn't have any pain in his hand, and his knees and shoulders didn't have any pain either. It was the first time i have ever seen him full of energy and pain free. He was jumping and running around and is a man of about 65 years. it was amazing to hear the story and the power of prayer. he sees it as Gods way of healing him so he can work better in the church. Talk about a miracle. 

Then i was also assigned as the Second Counselor to the Bishop in my ward this Sunday. This will be fun :). Then in my Sunday school class i shared about testimonies. I shared Alma 11:39-41, Alma 12:1, and Alma 15:13. This is part of the story of Alma, Amulek and Zeezrom. it talks about how the testimony of Amulek made Zeezrom tremble then Zeezrom was baptized and preached the word of God. He was an anti.christ that was changed by a pure testimony. It is a great example of how important our testimonies are. As a missionary i share mine every day. And i challenge you all to share yours this fast Sunday and in family home evening.

Thats all i have for you all this week,

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

Changes Again!!

Hey ya`ll!

Well we had changes again today but i stayed in the same ward and im with the same companion for at least another 6 weeks. Its great this ward is amazing. The people help the missionaries and the bishop is really into the missionary work.

As for our investigator his name is Cristobal and he is progressing really well. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is really excited about the Gospel. Its great to see how excited he is. I just hope that everything works out and that he can join with us in the church through the waters of baptism and the baptism by fire. It is great to see just how the Gospel changes the lives of the people. 

Im loving it down here and am learning so much. i can see just how the Gospel of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ has shaped my life. And how  it is still shaping my life today. I can see the touch of the Master`s Hand in this work, The Work of Salvation. Sometimes it can be tough but it helps if we just remember that it wasnt easy for Christ when he had to carry his own cross up the hill to be crucified after being whipped. Or how it wasnt easy for Joseph Smith when he was in Liberty Jail and the church was hasving lots of problems. Or even when Joseph died with his brother Hyrum to restore this Gospel that we have on the earth today. The only person that did more more the salvation of man on this earth was Jesus Christ. If it wasnt easy for them, why would it be easy for us? Jeffery R Holland Said, "Salvation is not a cheap experiance." That is why its not easy for us. Hang in there and the blessings of eternal life and exaltation will come.

Love you all and talk to you all next week!

Elder Ashworth

Some local art I found engraved on copper plates.

8 Months Out

Family and Friends,

It was great talking to you guys this last Sunday for mother´s Day. It was nice to see just how you are all doing. I also completed 8 months in the mission on Sunday. I Cant Believe IT! It passed by super fast and the rest will pass by just as fast. 

Well this last week we had two great lessons with one fo our investigators. We first taught him about the Book of Mormon and he was super excited to read the Book because he was interested in the stories that are in it. Then we had a Family night with them and the family of his wife. The family of his wife are members and they go to church every sunday. The Family Night was amazing. We taught the first little bit of the Plan of Salvation. We taught the preearth life, the creation, Adam and Eve and the fall and the ability to choose, and Our life on this Earth. He understood why we have agency and why it was important that Adam and Eve fell and that it wasnt a sin. The family really helped out too. They bore their testimonies and he seemed to have a good time. The only discouraging part is that they didnt show up on Sunday for church. But we have another appointment with them tomorrow so we will see what happened. 

This week has been full of activities and teaching. We have been seeing how the ward is really starting to be more unified and how they are helping the missionaries more with the work of Salvation. Its great to see a ward grow and strengthen. 

Well this next week is changes so i might be leaving my sector next monday. I will know this friday if i stay or if i go. I will let you all know what happens.

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth

P.S. We found a guy that makes copper pictures. Each on is hand made and unique. They are awesome. They cost about 300 dollars for the big one.

 

 

RAIN!!!!

Dear family,

Well, i would like to start out by saying great job to all of you who danced this last weekend that are in my family. you guys TOTALLY ROCKED the dance floor (or so i was told). And thanks for all of the support i get from all of you.

This week was pretty good. we got a new investigator that is really promising. He wants to become closer to God and came to church this last Sunday. But other then that the week was pretty much the same. Except that yesterday we walked all day long and didn't get into one house. It was crazy and my feet were killing me. But after a good nights sleep i was all ready to go in the morning! Today we went to Santa Lucia again and summit-ed the hill there. its really cool because it has a castle on top. 

Well that's all i really have for this week. I'm sorry its really short but things are just staying the same. Its crazy just how fast things are flying by also. 

Cant wait to talk to you guys this Sunday and i love you all!

Elder Ashworth

P.S. I cant remember if i told you guys but, I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish about 2 weeks ago! Its awesome to be able to understand everything.

Another Week down

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this week was pretty slow when it came to the work because a lot of our appointments fell and people were sick because the temperature is changing. Its getting colder and i have to wear a jacket when the sun goes down. But this week we did a service project at a school for little kids. It was like a preschool through 1st or 2nd grade school. We painted a bunch of rooms and the walls and playhouse in the yard for them to play on and around. It was really fun and great to see how happy the teachers were for our help in repainting the school for the kids. 

Also we got a reference this week for 2 people who are really interested in the gospel. We have an apointment with them tonight so we will see how it goes. Also we finally visited one of the less active members that we visit for the first time in almost a month. We talked about keeping the Sabbath Day holy and invited her to church. THe next morning she was in church for the first time in over 20 years. It was great to see  her there. Espescially since this weekend was stake conference so we got to listen to an area 70 from orsorno chile. He spoke alot about the missionary work and how the members can help the missionaries more with the work of Salvation. I hope that it reaches the members here and they start to help us even more so we can see more success.

Well thats all that i have for this week. Good luck this week with dance, drivers ed, school, and work! Love you all and yes mom that picture brings back memories of many days sitting in that same spot :)

Love you All,

Elder Ashworth

La Semana Santa

Hello Family and friends,

Its great to hear from you all. And HAPPY EASTER or FELIZ SEMANA SANTA! This last week a lot of things were closed on Friday and Saturday to honor the Pascua of Christ. It was cool to see that they do that bu interesting to see just how many people actually remember Christ. It is more the fact that it is a tradition to do the things, like eat fish and not meat, but the people don't remember Christs Sacrifice for us. We got to watch Son of God the movie today for P-Day and it was good and helped to show the sacrifice of Christ for us. 

As for me and the mission, everything is going good. The work is still going and we are still pushing forward. We are still teaching and visiting. I have a family that would like me to send you there salutations, "Hello" from the family Lagos. 

The weeks are just going by so fast i don't know what to tell you guys about the mission. This week we had a great lesson with an investigator but she didn't show to church with her family, which was a little sad but hopefully she will keep her commitment to pray. Other then that the other lessons weren't anything really big just normal lessons that we would have every week. 

Well i hope that everything is going well up there in Rexburg and good luck this week in work, school, dance, and all your other activities. Attached is the message we got from my mission president today it was really good. Hope you like it.

Love you all,

Elder Ashworth