Hotttest Day Ever!

Hey all,

I'm gonna answer questions first since they are foremost on my mind today. (Asked him if Ossington was a town or street) Ossington is a street just outside of downtown. It is a lot like Payson Main except all the buildings are houses. I am actually there right now with Elder Sitton, Elder Te'o and Elder Duce. We are cruising again today. Pday is so much fun with those three.

(Asked him what the weather was like right now) HOT AND HUMID! Last Thursday was the hottest day on record for Toronto EVER. It was 51 C. That's about 123 degrees F. We had to go sit in the apartment for a while because it was so hot. Our apartment was around 75 but it felt soooo good. Most days are about 105, but today is cool because we had a thunderstorm last night. It is strange, when there is thunder it doesn't echo like at home. (Asked if he was getting enough to eat) I am not actually getting fat. I have lost about 5-10 pounds. I am being fed really good though. I have tried Filipino foods, curry, and everything in between. Love the food here, but you never know what you are going to get.

I also got news last night that Elder Duce is being transferred and I am staying in Don Mills. I am getting a new companion, Elder Bode, from Germany. He seems like a cool guy. Unfortunately he cannot drive so I am going to be the driver. The biggest town I have driven in is Salt Lake and that was cake compared to here. Ha Ha. I know how to handle it though after riding shotgun with Elder Duce. I will be fine.

We met some new investigators the other day. Axin is from Tanzania or something like that (Tanzania?) He was investigating the Jehovah's Witness, but he doesn't like their bible. He asked us how to tell them he wasn't interested. It was funny. He is now coming to church and we are going to baptize him this transfer. Kai and Brian are Pentecostal and Methodist, but they are interested in our church. It will be weird to teach without Elder Duce, but I need to step up to the plate.

So I met a sister a few weeks ago who had served part of her mission in Payson. She actually lived in the Close Apartments (in our ward) and in the Brinkerhoffs basement (our friends from Springlake). She was wondering if she could get their into, but she is moving to Ottawa on Saturday. I gave her Moms email, so don't freak out when a stranger emails you...again. (I didn't "friend" someone he had given my name to because I didn't know her)

We ran into the Muslim guy that was tearing down our ESL fliers again. We started talking to him and have made peace with him. He actually gave me a Quran. I read some of it. It is interesting but obviously I don't believe it as scripture. The best part about it is it challenges anyone to come up with a book that can compare. Joseph Smith found that book that can compare. I am going to use that, have them compare it and see what they think.

Sounds like all the boys are having fun. Gammon, you're a stud. Keep up the good work and get that EAGLE!!! Jex, when I get home you can hang out with me instead of going to craft fairs and junk like that. You're a crazy kiddo. Parker, let me know how football is going for you. I need to know how all that is going. Keep me posted and knock some heads, eh. Lyza, keep up with the seminary thing. It is a great program and I thank the Lord that I attended. I needed it more than I realized. Tell Alexandra hi for me.

That's awesome that Caleb is out already. Before he know it he will be gone two months AHHHHHHHHHH! I cannot believe how time flies out here. I just emailed you yesterday...or anyway that's what it feels like.

I hate using the library. I got to go. Next week the family history center will be up and running and I can send baptism pictures and such. Thanks for the letters and thank you Grandma for the box. Loved it. Keep praying for me as I am praying for you. Down the road.

Elder Ashton

Short But Sweet This Week

(Letter from the Editor: So sorry about the delay posting this. I live for Mondays (we call them eh day) and Braidens emails but when it was so short I was sad and forgot to post it.)

Hey, I don't have much time because I have to go to Ossington, but I just want to let you know I love you all. We baptized 2 people this week, Collin Tjroze and Priscilla Port-Louis. Exciting stuff. It's weird to baptize someone for real, but it is an awesome experience.

Gammon, I went to Schofield when I was a scout. Take the small boat sailing merit bade if you can. It is really fun and you get to go out farther on the lake. Keep me posted on all your scouting, school and football. I read every word of every letter. (Gammon had said that Braiden never replied to his letters and he was going to start writing jibberish to see if Braiden even noticed so I had to give Braiden a heads up)

You guys are great. Say hi to everybody for me. I will send some pictures and a longer email next week. Elder Duce and I are goint to Ossinton with Elder Te'o and Elder Sitton. We had to drive all the way to Eglington Town Center to use the internet. I am telling you all these places so you can look them up on google earth if you want.

You all have a wonderful week. Stay out of trouble.

Elder Ashton

Old Friends, Detox & Angry Muslims

Dad, I know exactly how you feel about everything falling apart and then working out alright. We had a recent convert hear some nasty rumors about racism in the church this past week and she decided to investigate it out...on google. That lead her to apostate websites and all this garbage. She is now trying to tear down the church. She will com around, hopefully. A good thing though is that Sonya decided to read SCRIPTURES and pray about them. She is now so solid and this apostate member can't touch her. Got to love the power of the scriptures and personal revelation.

Well, enough of that crazy crap. So to Shawn Hughes and Barry Prettyman (if I spelled them wrong, it's because of the water here:) I met an old friend of you guys in Scarborough. I'm really sorry if I spell these wrong. Just sound it out:) I was talking to her and she got excited when I told her I knew you two. It's Rose, the Phillipino Princes. She now wants me to transfer out to Scarborough. I laughed so hard. I also taught a man on an exchange in Southern Don Mills named Ken Wiseman who remembered "Elder Hughes". Kinda crazy. He is still working on the gospel, but someone needs to pick up the ball and run with it down there.

Collin was supposed to be baptized yesterday, but he got stuck in Brampton and was unable to get an interview. We were going to do it next week, but his immigration attorney called and wants him to come to Montreal. He was so mad he started swearing in the church! He has had his date bumped 3 times now. We decided to baptize him on Friday.

Priscilla is also getting baptized next Sunday. She is so solid. She believes everything and is willing to do anything to get baptized. She quit smoking and drinking because she ran out and didn't want to buy anymore. She is awesome. She surprised me though and asked me to baptize her. Hopefully the first of many.

I went on an exchange with Elder Sitton on Friday and Saturday. It was only supposed to be one day, but because of Collins interview fiasco, it bumped it to a two day. We were just outside of down town on King street heading west and Elder Sitton says, "I think we are in a really ghetto, poor part of town right now." Just as he said that, we came around a corner and saw a man taking a leak in his front yard. We busted up laughing. It was so funny in the contest of what he just said. Man I love Toronto. You never know what you're going to see next.

We are moving apartments right now. It's crazy. We lived in the south area on Broadview and now we are moving to St. Dennis, just down the road from the chapel. It's crazy going from a lowest level apartment to a penthouse, but it is awesome. We are about 18 stories up. The Mayo's used to live there and when they went home the church picked up the apartment. By the way, the Mayo's are from Pleasant Grove and own the Car Doctors. They came home after closing down the East Mission office. I guess I had better give the new office address. It is easier just to send mail to the mission office than trying to track me down wherever I am. In case it hasn't been given, 197 County Court Blvd. #203, Brampton, ON L6W 4P6, Canada.

I almost put the phone number. Ha ha. Grandma Spencer would be calling every week if I did that. Just kidding Grandma, I love you.

Another funny story. We teach a free ESL class and to get people to come to it we tape fliers on the posts. For the past few weeks, someone has been tearing them down. As a joke, I said it was probably an angry Muslim. Turns out I was right. While I was on the exchange Elder Duce and Elder Te'o caught him tearing them down. Elder Duce reamed him. He asked him why he had done that. He said it was because we were Christian. On the post right above our flyer was a Muhammad flyer so Elder Duce asked him if he could tear that down because it was Muslim. The man freaked out. "NO, that would be wrong!" DUH!! Some Muslims here are awesome and fun to talk to, others......well.

Along the lines of repelling, I have wanted for some time now to go repelling Zions. You repel down the cliffs and into the river. Look into it. That would be a blast!

Sounds like moms knee surgery went well. That's good. I got a letter from home (finally) and it said you would be going in on the 5th. It was the 5th. I laughed at that.

One thing that stinks about the mail right now is that I only get it every now and then. It now goes to Brampton, so I only get it at Zone Conferences and firesides. Oh well, it's not about the mail. That doesn't mean I don't want it though. Ha ha.

That's awesome that everyone is getting ready to go on missions. Tell them it is not at all what they can even dream of. No matter what, you will feel like you took a 2x4 to the face several times. The best thing is to laugh. My companion in the MTC, Elder Green, didn't laugh at first, he being a Marine and all. He had a rough time until he could really brush things off. It makes it easier when you can laugh. Tell them if they want to know anything about missionary work or the MTC, I will answer their questions. Just shoot me an email and I will get back to you on that.

Another BIG TIP for missionary work that I learned from Elder Sitton and I love now. ENJOY AWKWARDNESS!!!!! You talk to everybody on the street. Imagine walking down the street in Salt Lake and talking to pretty much everyone. It's a blast, but it is awkward. If you can enjoy it, it makes it so much more fun. Example, there were some girls on the escalator in front of us that were sunburned way bad. Elder Sitton started to laugh and asked them how they did that. One just turned and glared at him and he stopped laughing. Then they started speaking Russian to each other. We busted up as soon as they got out of earshot. It's those stories that I will love to tell when I get home. ENJOY AWKWARDNESS!!!

So, Alexandra will like this one. Yesterday we had a lesson with Priscilla. She did a "detox" thing for Sonya and wanted to do it for me and Elder Duce. It's the one that you put your fee in water and electricity brings the toxins out of your blood. I went last. I found out that I have a lot of toxins in my blood. In 5 minutes it was darker than Sonya's. In 10, it was darker than Elder Duce's and I went for 45 minutes. At the end, I couldn't see my feet it was so black. I have pictures to show you, but I forgot my camera at home with this moving thing. It was so gross. All this oil and garbage from working on cars came out. She now wants to do that until I get my blood clean. Can't complain, it's a 45 dollar treatment I am getting for free. Alexandra would like Priscilla. She likes reflexology and natural remedies.

WELCOME HOME CADE!!!! It is so good to know you are home safe and sound. I talk to a lot of people from Afghanistan here. Most all of them are so grateful for what you were doing. Thank you. You are a stud. A letter should be coming for you in the mail. It's a little more personal. Good luck and stay out of trouble. Down the road, Cuz.

Well, I guess this concludes another week. I have now been in Toronto for a month. Time is flying by....for me anyway. This is awesome. I encourage everyone to serve missions. I love you all and I think about you often. Keep the goin on goin on if you know what I mean. Have a good one.

Elder Ashton

The Mail is Moving!

It sounds like you guys are having fun. That is good. Just to show you what we are planning for this week, Monday, today, we need to go shopping, hit up the post office (THE MAIL IS MOVING!!!!!), do our laundry and then tonight we have a lesson with Pricilla. I will talk more about her later.

Tuesday: We will spend most of that day finding (I think this is what they say instead of tracting). I think we have an appointment at 2 with Michelle. We also are going to try and contact one of our Muhamads. That night we will be meeting our new mission president.

Wednesday: No district meeting so we will be doing more finding and then we will have 2 appointments, one with Pricilla and Michelle and one with Erica Tan.

Thursday: Same mostly. Baptismal interview for one of our investigators, Collin, who will be getting baptized on Sunday.

I would keep going but now I am getting tired. That is basically how my week works. We are constantly going. We still have 8 dates and are finding more and more interested people.

So a little about a few investigators. Pricilla is incredible. She didn't like who she was so she decided to change some things. She went and got a membership at a gym down the road from the stake center. On the way home she told the taxi driver to stop and see what time our church had "mass". The driver told her to google it. She looked on the internet and luckily, couldn't find anything. She came by on the 15th of June, which was my first day working, and we happened to be there. The AP's showed her around and committed her to baptism that day. She is getting baptized on 7/17, which happens to be her lucky numbers.

Audrey was confirmed on Sunday. It was really cool. Since the AP's are now in Brampton, Elder Duce had me do it. I have never done it before, but it was a cool experience. I have seen thew change in her. She is going to be an awesome "Mormon".

Michelle is an interesting one. She is Pentecostal, and was only interested in the church because of Elder Dewey, one of the AP's. Now she is reading the Book of Mormon and going to church. She wants to get baptized, if we teach her what we believe. She doesn't want to be in it half way.

Collin is sweet. He is from Namibia (southwest tip of Africa). We see a lot of them here. He is finally getting baptized on Sunday. He has been set before, but because of the building he lives in, it is difficult to feel the Spirit. He lives in 390 Dawes. Bad stuff happens there all the time. Killings, rapes and robberies are a daily occurrence. It's creepy to go there.

Ok, to answer some questions. (We asked him why so many go to Toronto) The whole world comes to Toronto, and Ontario really, to get free health care, disability and all that good stuff. There are also a lot of refugees here. For instance, 390 Dawes is where Namibian refugees are placed. There are also a lot of good schools in and around Toronto.

(Asked him if he saw President Monson or the Tabernacle Choir when they were there) President Monson was here, but he was in Mississauga and Etobicoke mostly. I would have gone there to see him, but I would have to leave my area and our work. It's o.k., we get General Authorities all the time.

(Asked him what scripture he wanted on his mission plaque) D & C 6:33-36.

(Told him a reminder notice came from the dentist and was wondering when he would like his appointment made for. (Make me an appointment for June 22, 2013 at 10:30, please. I am going to need to get my teeth cleaned from all this crap I take with a smile on my face:).

(Asked him about Canada day) What's a holiday? Ha Ha. I did notice that there were more drunks hanging around. Man are they funny. We had a drunk guy come up to us in the subway station trying to beg for money to get on the train. We started laughing because when you are in the station, you have already paid.

(Told him about Sister Kippens phone call) Sister Gail Kippen was a woman I met in the SLC airport just after I talked to you all. She was nice and offered to call you when she got home from Toronto. To clear up a couple of things she said, we actually by milk in a pack of 3, 1 liter sacks. It is cheaper that way, but is still 6 bucks for a gallon.

We have a 3 lane freeway. It is called the Don Valley Parkway. We call it the Don Valley Parking Lot. During rush hour, it's worse than Vegas. Driving here is insane. I don't drive now but I might be in the next transfer. There are no parking areas on the side of the roads and no turn lanes in the middle. It's like that game where you drive along and try to miss cars. Toronto is also packed with Afghanies and the like where they have no driving laws. It's a third world driving experience with first world cars. It's also funny to see Osama Bin Laden driving a Mercedes and flipping you the bird while swearing at you in Farcey. Ha Ha.

(Jex was concerned that Sister Kippens said he couldn't see the stars) I will probably get to see the stars and the sunset when I am out in the country...if I ever go there. During the winter is will get dark really fast too. It's all good but I would like to see what the stars back home look like compared to here. Oh, by the way, I am too far south to see the northern lights.

Message for Cade (his cousin that is on his way home from Afghanistan) is coming in the mail. Don't open it or read it because I am going to send it to our address with his name. Hopefully it gets there before I come home. The mail is sorting right now and there is a lot to do. Give him a big hug for me would you. Tell Alexandra that she has a whole mess of letters coming as well.

Well, I hope you all don't miss me too much. I have had hardly any time to think about home. I am having the time of my life. Toronto is an amazing city. I wish you could all come here and see the funniest things that I have seen. I got a picture of a Muslim dressed in his middle east clothes, carrying a hockey stick and a Nike bag. I have also seen Muslim women in their "ninja suits" playing badminton. That was funny and very unexpected.

I love you all. Keep working toward this younger brothers. You will never regret the decision to serve a mission, no matter how hard is was to leave everything behind. I love you all. Take care and have a good one eh?

Elder Ashton

Phone Call

No, not from Braiden. Thursday we received a phone call from a nice lady who flew from Salt Lake to Toronto with Braiden. Her name is Gail Kippen. She said that Braiden did very well on his first flight and that he was very kind. She said when they got to Toronto he offered to get her bags but she declined. Then she said she changed her mind because "if he had been raised to be a gentleman, then I should let him be a gentleman." She told me a little about Toronto. She said he will have a hard time getting used to the traffic. She said there are 8 lanes going each way plus 4 more in the middle (don't know what for). She said it never gets dark, even on the outskirts and that he won't be able to see the stars. She said it's just starting to get humid and that food is expensive, $6 for a gallon of milk. She sounded like a really nice lady and she wants to call every few months to check on him. It was a fun phone call but things like that make me miss him. Went and had a good cry when I hung up.