Season 14 Episode 3 - February 27, 2017

We had a very good week. Today we went and walked around the mountains around here called Mount Tabor. It's pretty fun, it was just a park that we walked around. We took some good pictures.

Tuesday was a very interesting day, we had a pretty open day so we tried to find some new investigators. We didn't have much success in the afternoon, we went around and tried to contact by a community college. They wanted nothing to do with us at the time and there were not very many people out at the college. Seems like we got there just as class was starting. Then we made the usual drive out to the Institute building. There's another community college out that way and we felt like we needed to go knock a little bit in an apartment complex. After a little bit we wanted to find one person there. Turns out we did! We found Vanessa. She said she usually doesn't open the door to missionaries but she felt like she needed to this time. She told us that she has a belief in God but feels like he is very distant. After talking to her for a little bit we shared a message with her about how she can come closer to her Heavenly Father. She was golden. That's what our story is been the last little bit - finding some people aren't YSA but are down for the cause. We are also getting poached a little bit this week meaning that other areas that we are over are teaching YSA  people. So that is a little annoying. 

Wednesday was zone conference. We learned a lot and had a very good meeting. We are starting to do those every transfer now. President taught us which group of people is most likely to stay active in the church and we learned better ways to go about finding some new investigators. Then we had a lesson with David. He is from Rwanda and he is a refugee. He speaks really good English. We are excited to teach him. 

Thursday we were on exchanges. I want to the Portland ward with Elder Webb. (Mom note: Elder Webb’s mom was in my home ward in Arizona.  Her family claims that my family was instrumental in the conversion of her family.) He is a good guy we had a hard working day. We biked and walked around all day. We talked to close to 40 people. We had a really good exchange. 

Friday was our planning day and we had a lesson with a recently returned Marine. He was telling us all the things that he had going on in his life and that he needed some peace and comfort. It was a good talk  - he'll fit in really well. 

Saturday was a usual day - nothing special just working to build up the teaching pool. 

That is all for us. 

Season 14 Episode 2 - February 20, 2017

We had a good week I am trying to remember everything that happened because it was kinda a blur. 

Tuesday We had an awesome day. We had a killer district meeting today. Then we did a little experiment. We called a couple of the less actives we are working with and some of the active members and had them pray that we could find somebody who was ready to be baptized. Then we went out and did it. We were up today by the University of Portland. We have had a hard time finding people but it was a fruitful day. We found Andrew and taught him about family history. He has a kid so we sent him to the other area. Right after him we met Amie. She is a college student and was out walking her dog. We started teaching her and she was really open to learning and open to meet again. Then we headed out the drive to the institute building which took about an hour and we hit it hard. Right before institute we saw this guy down the way. We were like, let's go talk to him. So we were right outside the institute building and we started talking with this guy and he said he needed some peace. So we told him if he came to institute with us he will feel some peace. So this guy was Hispanic, he knew English but he would definitely benefit from the Spanish missionaries. We called up the line to get ahold of the Spanish Elders. We told them what happened and then they said they would come. So they got there and talked for a bit and then they taught him. He accepted the invitation to be baptized. So we were so pumped. All we really did was bring him to institute. So what I learned today is the truth in “Where two or three are gathered there will I be also.” When we combine the faith of others and our faith plus our works the crazy miracles happen. The Lord wants us to find people  so we just have to do what it takes to get there. 

Wednesday we had our interviews with president. It is pretty stressful for us to put together but it worked out. We taught a few people in a mega apartment complex. Right now we are trying to be the most effective so finding people is tough because YSA is everywhere. But the apartment complex is much more efficient for us because that is where the people are. 

Thursday was a good normal day besides the meeting in Vancouver. It was a good meeting and learned a bunch. I think those are the best meetings. 

Friday was different since usually we have our planning but because of the interview we did it on our Wednesday. We went out and spent a bunch of time trying to find some new people. We found a couple that seemed solid but they didn’t keep their return appointment. We are working hard just weeding out the fruit from the weeds. 

Saturday we did an exchange. We had a good day. We decided to go to a mall and contact people. We taught a really awesome guy named Alex. Then not but a second after talking to him, this guy comes up and asks us if we are passing out Bibles. We actually had one in our car. So we went and grabbed it for him. Then he tells us he is from France, but he didn't look like he was. He asks us if we know Spanish/ Jewish  history. We were confused but we said not really. He goes on to tell us he is a Muslim. He says I am going to show you what your people did to my people in  history. So he pulls a lighter out of his pocket and tried to light the Bible on fire. I had to stop myself from laughing because it was surprising and the Book didn't light on fire! It should have, scientifically it should have burned, but it didn't. He got pretty mad it didn't burn and then threw it in the trash. We just walked away after that. It was like the most disrespectful thing that basically anyone could do but I wasn't too bothered. It was a very interesting experience. Also I ate some bad food so I got some food poisoning Sunday morning early. It wrecked me. 

Sunday we had church and nothing unexpected happened. 

Season 14 Episode 1 - 2-13-17

Well to start off we had a good week. I learned a bunch. 

This week we did another zone meeting. It was a blast. We had a lot of the other companionships train on something so it got the whole zone involved. It was one of the best ones I have been to. It was just fun. Then later that day we headed out to teach a guy named Chris. He is a way nice guy who just flakes out a bunch and never keeps his appointments. This time we just stopped by and taught him a bit on his door step. We aren't sure how to help him progress. 

Wednesday was transfer day so we made necessary plans we needed to for the upcoming transfer. We got everything all situated and then president asked us what we are going to do to baptize 10 in March. So we made our new plans, set our goals and tried to get companionships to help us out. We are excited for it. We can see it already in the works. Then later that day we were teaching Nate. We stared talking about the priesthood but it didn't feel right. So we switched and focussed on  the sacrament. It was so good. 

Thursday was a good day - it was a learning day. So when I was first here things were going pretty well. So since then either they progressed or they got dropped. So the last little bit we have been doing things our way. We have had a lot of works, but not very much faith. As a result, we learned that valuable lesson that faith without works is dead but works without faith is stupid. That was a good one to learn. 

Friday was good we had our planning day so that is always good to plan and get everyone caught up. We also had a little zone meeting and because of that we didn't get to plan for our own day. So we just rolled with it then when our time to find people came around it was brutal. It just was so ineffective. So another lesson learned there for me. 

Saturday we had a stellar day. We called the missionaries in our area and asked if there was any YSA that were active that we could go by and recruit them. We spent a good chunk of our time looking for some new people but it was an awesome day. 

Sunday was sweet! The YSA is always a party. We had some less actives show up to the church. That was nice. Then we had a crazy night - we will just leave it at that. We got warned by the spirit to get out of the area so we did. 

Love,

Elder Astle 

Season 13 Episode 6 - February 6, 2017

So we did have transfers and I am staying. Elder Thompson is leaving. This is kinda unusual but I am really excited. My new companion is Elder Davenport. I like him he is a stud. 

This was a really awesome week!

Monday we gave a baptism interview for the Mount Tabor Elders. She was solid. I really like doing those. 

Tuesday we were on exchanges with the Alameda missionaries. I got to go serve there again. It was a blast! I loved it. We talked to so many people. We taught a sweet guy named Theo. He was just down to learn and down to meet. It was a good day. I was with a new missionary. He needed a pump up and Theo was just the guy for the job. Then we taught a less active lady. She just has a hard time reading for herself. We helped make it easier for her. It was a good lesson. We had a stellar day, I was pooped! We worked it to the ground. 

Wednesday we had a zone conference. We had a training on planning. It went well. We had to make it fun because nobody likes a long sermon on planning. We did a good job and we definitely prepared for it. It was a really good meeting. We all learned a bunch of things. A lot of the trainings were about faith. Then we had a sweet lesson with Nate. He is a less active that is turning his life around. He has made some really big changes. It is cool to see. 

Thursday we had a good day. We have been working really hard to find some new people. 

Friday was our planning day and we have learned some new ways to plan. It doesn't take as long anymore. Then we had an exchange with Elder King and Elder Pabst. They are way awesome! We went up and blitzed their area. I learned a bunch on how to ask for referrals. It was a bunch of fun. 

Then we went out and tried to find some new gators. We applied what we learned and it seemed to help us out a bunch. 

Sorry this letter isn't very long - we had to run up to Vancouver and drop of an Elder to go home. 

Elder Astle 

Look over the shoulder of the Elder in the yellow tie...Yup, Alex