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