Elder Lane Alexander Ashmore

January 31, 2010

2010-01-31T20:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom,
Hey you were sick it is way okay. I got really sick like a couple weeks ago or last week. i probably told you about it. Anyway, I cant believe that is already set up**.
Crud this stuff is going fast. I really only have like 2 weeks left. I am freaking out. Like don't get me wrong I am way excited to come home but I am really scared at the same time. I just thought this whole thing would last longer. Sometimes I wish it would.
So those two baptisms are still set up for tomorrow. I am way excited too. Man on my birthday. What better present can you ask for. I am just so excited right now. And we have an investigator from this area coming too to see it. Hopefully he will be baptized too soon.
Man I really cant believe this is all coming to a close. I cant believe it. I am scared to get on with a new life. This one has been so great. Freaking hard at times yes, but just so great. But, I have learned a lot. About myself and about the gospel and what I really need to do to help others and make sure I am doing what I need to do. I love this work.
I love you mom, and cant wait to see you again. I miss you. Talk to you later.
Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

**about his mission release with the Stake President after he comes home!

January 24, 2010

2010-01-30T19:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Dad,
What?! It is only 24 days left. Man I can`t believe that. I thought it was still like 30. Time is just moving so fast. I really can`t believe it. I am really excited to be home soon. And I cant wait to go camping. I have missed that so much. **So I get to talk then huh. That is way sweet. I hope I will be able to remember English when I talk. It may be a little problem. I have only given talks in Japanese for the past two years so it is a little weird to talk in English. I think. ***Hey personally I think you shouldn't practice at all, because like I haven't been able to practice for the last two years. I mean that would just make things a little bit fairer.
****Oh man they got sick that is way weird. The other day I thought I just caught a little cold. Like in the morning my nose was stuffed and stuff, but then like an hour later I was laying in bed with a big fever and just shaking so much. I thought I was going to die, but my companion gave me a blessing and it was gone that day, so I am doing good now. Hopefully everyone back home will get better soon.
So news way cool news. So in my old area there are a couple of people that are going to be baptized right. One is a lady about the same age as mom, she is way cool and she told me she wanted me to baptize her. Then like a couple of days ago the other lady called me and she was like, "hey I have some news I want to be baptized and I want you to do it" I was so excited and I asked her what day she was going to be baptized and she said FEBRUARY 2ND. Crazy huh, they are actually both going to be baptized that day. So I get to baptize two people that day. On my birthday. Man what better present can you get on your birthday. I am way excited. I was the first missionary for both of them. My comp and I started teaching them both in that area. Way cool story on how we met them. Tell you when I get home, it is a little long. I am just way excited for that.
Man time is moving fast but we are seeing so much great things happen here. I am way excited to be here sometimes way sad thinking I have to leave soon, but I have seen great things happen here. I am excited to go home don't get me wrong but it will be hard. I am trying hard to focus. Make sure I am doing what I need to. Well, that is all for this week. I cant wait to see you too dad. soon. really soon. Love you. Talk to you later.
Elder Lane Ashmore

**on learning he has to speak the first sunday he is back...three days later!!
***His dad challenging him to bowling on the Wii
****his mom and sister getting so sick they couldn't write that week!

January 10, 2010

2010-01-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

Be grateful you are in an American primary. Trust me the ones here are like 10 times worse. I mean these kids are wild as can be. I am way surprised sometimes the things that they do. It scares me sometimes thinking, what if I am a primary teacher someday. Freaky thought. Anyway, things here are doing good. I am back in my bean area and loving it. Got in touch with some old friends that were investigating before and stopped, but now are again. They are really promising, and way excited to see me. I was the first missionary to start teaching them. It was way cool. And their kids love me. She said I was the only one that the kids really were not shy with and remembered the most. That is pretty cool. I really love this family. I really hope they will be baptized while I am here. Man I am so excited to be back here. To see a lot of things happen. It is just crazy that this is my last transfer. I got a thing in the mail listing all my companions and my areas and it said "dear returning missionary" I was like AAAHHH!!! I can't believe this is it. Time has just moved too fast. I am suppose to get my itinerary, I have no idea how to spell that, anyway that thing that tells me my flight plans and when I am suppose to be there and stuff. It is going to be really hard when I get those. But, I will do my best to focus and work hard to the end. Well, I love you mom and I will try to get some pictures to you. I just need to chose some. I have taken a few since I last sent some which was like a year ago so I have taken a ton since then so I will try to get some to you soon. I love you and miss you. Talk to you later.
Elder Lane Ashmore

September 2009

2009-10-04T22:59:00.000-07:00

Kyoto Zone Conference

Check out the guy that looks like he's got a beard!!!

September 2009

2009-10-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Elder Ashmore and Sister McIntyre during interviews!!!

2009-08-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

The gateway to sightseeing on Lake Biwa, this fountain (having a length of 440 meters) is one of the longest fountains in the world. At night its shape and color changes regularly as it is controlled by a computer. White, orange, and green lights show the splay of the water beautifully.

Otsu Citizens Oath

2009-08-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

As Otsu citizens;
We will love our native land and cherish the beauty of Lake Biwa.
We will treasure our abundant cultural properties.
We will develop suitable customs for the times.
We will lead healthy and happy lives.
We will welcome travelers with warm hearts.

Aug 25, 2008

2009-08-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
Well, first thing first I did transfer. I am in an area called Otsu. It is right by the biggest lake in Japan. And when I say big I mean huge. Well, I am in japan anything big looks huge. I am here with elder Shinozaki. Another Japanese companion. Oh and he speaks English too. But, I am trying to get the Japanese practice in as well. We are doing awesome. He is way cool. He is actually really new. This is only his 2nd transfer. But things are going awesome. The second day here we found two new investigators. That was way cool. Both are way cool guys. The ward here is way sweet, they just have, what we call dendo fire, which means they really want to work hard with the missionaries. I am really excited to work here right now. I feel like things are going to be really awesome here. Right now I am doing the District leader thing. It has been really fun, but I feel so old. The district is a bunch of young guys. I feel so old. Man this is really weird how time is just moving so fast. It is a scary thought sometimes.What I really like about chapter 6 (preach my gospel), and if I am correct, sorry I am not carrying my PMG with me, but if I am correct that is the Christlike Attributes section. And what I like about it is at the end there is that test you can take to kind of rate yourself and see areas that you need to improve and then you can focus on those areas. Really study those things you need work on. It has really helped me a lot. I am really grateful I have been raised in the church too. Yet, I am not perfect. I have made some mistakes, some really stupid mistakes. Like I...we strive to become perfect, but what Elder Stevenson said when he was here, "you are not perfect." We will make mistakes throughout our lives, but from those mistakes we learn, and become better. I have had "I wish I had..." moments, but that is in the past. What we should do is look learn and look to the future. Make things better for our future, cause the past is already done. I am truly grateful for this gospel. For the things it teaches me, and how from all I learn in the scriptures from living prophet`s words today, I can learn how to be a better person. That through Christ i can be clean from my sins, from my mistakes. This is really a truly amazing gospel. And I get to share it with the Japanese people. In Japanese. I still think that is weird sometimes, that I am speaking Japanese. So things are going great right now and will get even greater. I love you mom, and miss you so much. Talk to you later. Love Your son,
Elder Lane Ashmore

A Letter We Received From Elder Stevenson

2009-06-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

Click on it to make it larger...unless you have really good eyes!

June 14, 2008

2009-06-14T23:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
Man the weeks are just moving by so fast. I really cant believe that this week is already gone. I am still in Takatsuki with my comp. We are working hard each day trying to find those that are ready to hear this amazing message. Man it seems that everyone from Washington wants to move down to Arizona. That is crazy. Well, what can I tell you about this week. Not much has changed since the past week. We have been working hard and we have found some really awesome people to talk to. A couple of them came to church yesterday, it was way cool. We had a lesson and at the end of the lesson one of them prayed. It was way sweet. This work is hard sometimes. There are the days that I feel like I am working so hard and nothing is going on at all, and I just think, "Am I doing something wrong", I know it is at those times that I think about my weaknesses, I pray that I may become strong. Then the next thing you know we meet a really cool guy. Everyday I pray to become stronger. And a better person. I am trying to serve. We do the little things like pick things up for people and pick up fallen over bikes, those little things I think are really good. It is actually really difficult because the culture is that they really don't believe in receiving help, they think if they cant do it on their own they are good for nothing. but, we still try and help any way we can. I really have grown to love these people.Well, I really don't know what else to write about. OH WAIT!! You wont believe what happened, I made no bake cookies the other day, and I got it. I finally got it right. and they were good. That is all about that. So that is really what is going on right now. I love you and miss you so much. I will talk to you later and see you much later. LOVE YOU!!!

Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

June 7, 2009

2009-06-08T16:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Mother,
So you want to know how things are going then. You really want to know huh. Well, I will tell you how things are going in one word, FREAKING AWESOME!!! Okay that was two words, but that is how it is. The baptism did happen. I am going to send you a picture. I only got one picture though. It was amazing. The ward we are in Hasn't had one for more than 5 years. They were way excited about it. The man is Takase. We has a way sweet testimony. He was totally prepared. We found taught and baptized him in a week and a half. It was truly a miracle. Yet, this week we will most likely have another baptism. Soga san, a way cool guy we met when we got here. His story is just amazing. We met him the day he was thinking about God, and He took a wrong road and I mean he was prepared so much. He will be getting baptized this week or the next. We are shooting for Wednesday. There are miracles happening here in this area right now. It is so amazing. Man I am way excited right now. We are just working really hard and we are meeting amazing people. People that we know are just so prepared. The other day we met this young guy that is catholic, but he doesn't go to church much, but we invited him to church and he got excited and said he will bring his friend because the friend started to be interested in religion, I mean we are seeing miracles here and it is just so amazing. Man I am just so happy right now. There are so many miracles. And I am able to be apart of it. It is awesome. I myself have changed from this all. I have so much more faith. So much more desire. I want to talk to as many people as possible. Man this is so cool. So, ya things are going amazing. Oh, hey, Ryan is probably going to tell you this but, this transfer is over that means that we get calls really soon, I mean like tomorrow. We get the call to see who stays and who goes. So just in case don't send anything until I tell you next week. If you are going to send something. Life is full of things that aren't planned. Sometimes Your expectations are just totally changed. I loved Elder Wirthlin`s talk about "Come what may, and love it" that was such an amazing talk. Sometimes Things are not what they seem, but no matter what, we take it for what it is and love it. We have faith that things are going to get good no matter what.Man I love this work. I love this gospel and I love the chance I have to share it right now. I love you mom and I miss you so much. But, time will fly by as it has been these past 6 weeks. I will work hard everyday. And when I get off that plane you will not recognize your young man anymore. I love you and miss you. I will talk to you soon.
Love.
Your Son,
Elder Lane Ashmore

June 7, 2009

2009-06-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

His latest baptism on Sunday, June 7, 2009~~ Brother Takase

2009-06-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Exercise in the apartment!!! One....

Two....

Three!!!!

2009-06-08T00:07:00.000-07:00

Elder Stevenson, His Wife and an MTC pal (elder stevenson also!)

Elder Stevensen's Visit

2009-06-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

Where's Lane??? You earn "Brownie Points" if you can spot him!!!

May 31, 2009

2009-06-01T22:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
This week has just moved by so fast. I really can't believe how fast this week has moved by. This transfer is almost over. I am getting so old. So there is some really exciting news. We have two baptisms coming up this next two weeks. These two guys are guys me and my comp found our first transfer here and we have been working with for a few weeks and another we found this last week and he is getting baptized this coming Sunday. Way exciting things going on right now. There have been many miracles happening since we have gotten to this area. I am really excited about this work right now. We are working hard everyday, and we are seeing blessing from it. Two are coming into the fold of Christ. I am just so grateful to be here right now.
Right now we are doing email a little later, we are having a basketball activity right now. It is pretty fun. There was sad news today though, a ward that meets is the same building as us, the missionaries for that ward heard this morning that their bishop just had a heart attack and he passed away. Please remember the family in your prayers and the ward.
Things are really going great right now. I am so happy right now. I really have been seeing miracles lately and it is such an amazing blessing to be able to see those.
I haven't heard any of the news going on. So when you get the chance just email me. if you can or if you are still up that would be cool. I will check my mail later too.Well that is really everything for right now. I love you and miss you so much. I will talk to you and see you soon. Time is moving fast. Too fast. I have so much to do still. I will work harder everyday.I love you. Miss you. Talk to you later. Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

May 3, 2009

2009-05-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
Well another week has just flown by so fast. I really cant believe how time is just flying by. I am really excited that i am going to be able to talk to everyone this next week. So guess what, i did transfer. i am now in a new area with a new comp oh and guess what he transferred here with me. Ya a new area for the both of us. We opened up a new area. yet, we are in an apartment with two other missionaries. They are in the area next to ours but they live in the same apartment. It is really fun. Our district leader who is in the apartment with those that live in the apartment with us is my old mtc companion. It is really fun. We are having a great time and really trying to work hard to get this new area moving along. It is really cool. I am really happy. So next week you will be calling me but i am not really sure at what time right now i am going to have to see when you guys are at church and stuff and hopefully things will work out with my comp and him calling his family. he is from California and his family is on the same time as Arizona. i will write another email telling about the times and everything. So things are going good here. just trying to work hard and everything.Oh some of the names that i wanted. hey something crazy the other day I met a member here that knows someone that was in my Japanese class back home. he was so excited. It was really strange. crazy how small this world is. Well, that is all for now. I will try to get more pics home i just haven't been taking too many lately. Well, that is really all i can think about right now. I love you mom and miss you so much. I can not wait to talk to you next week. I am so excited. But I am staying focused here. I love you. Talk to you later.
Love your son
Elder Lane Ashmore

2009-04-24T01:36:00.000-07:00

This is our Christmas Day baptism! I got to Baptize him after talking to my family and celebrating Christ's birth...what a wonderful day!!! Miyamoto

At the Baptism...all the single adults, missionaries, and one little japanese boy hiding!!

Yep, that is raw salmon! Yep, I eat sushi now! My favorite is raw tuna!

New Years Morning 2009...it was early and really cold...it was worth it!

This was my comp Elder kimura...one week before he went home...I believe my muscles are way larger!!

Don't worry the train missed us!!!

lanes latest letter and pics!!! April 12, 2009

2009-04-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
Man I just got all of your guys emails from when you were actually on the computer and I was like they might have been on the same time i was...weird!!!! I had like 10 emails and stuff I thought i was just really popular at first then I found out they were all the short messages that everyone sent that day. Well, I guess I am still popular everyone wanted to talk to me.So anyway, i got the easter Package. Thanks. We actually thought it was going to be for my comp who said his family sent him a package a while ago, but when I opened the door I saw my name written on it. I was really surprised, yet really excited. There was so much candy in it. And toys and stuff. I only have a year left now. And though it is exciting that I will be able to see you guys really soon, if I could I would stay for a little bit longer. I really honestly have fallen in love with this work. There is so much going on right now. So much is changing. I wish i could be here for all of it. It has been a really exciting time lately. I am really starting to understand things. I mean really starting to understand things a lot better than I did in the past. About the studying thing, make a study plan. That has helped me so much, and have those questions in your mind while you study. Just something you have been thinking about a lot lately. You will find that your study goes deeper and the desire to really study is there so much stronger. That is really the key is that desire. So why is gabe getting nervouse. She has done it before. There is something I loved about the Sunday evening session of general conference. They focused a lot on the temple. And the blessings that come from the temple. Now I not saying anything bad will happen, but if we just remember those blessings those covenants that we have made in the temple and that if we know we are doing the right things, we don`t need to be nervous about life or scared. We have a reassurance that everything that is is the Lord`s will. Don`t worry, Dont`t be nervous. Just have faith and that will just disappear. We didn`t watch any movies for easter. Well, that isn`t entirely true. We did watch Conference. I really loved this conference. So much was focused on the youth and the temple and making sure we are worthy to enter into the temple. I don`t even think I can choose a favorite talk. I really can`t wait to be able to go to the temple again. In less than a year. Yet, I am doing a wonderful work right now. trying to help others obtain that blessing. Well, I need to get to writing to others. I love you mom. I miss you so much. I can`t wait to talk to you. In less than a month. Pretty crazy.
Love you.
Love Your son,
Elder Lane AShmore

2009-04-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

So this is my new comp....the tall one!!!! Elder Hinton

Mom, I am looking longingly out to sea for you...oh how I miss you, and love you....

2009-04-14T02:46:00.000-07:00

Lane's Birthday....ice cream? In Japan you are an adult at 20!!!! Finally!!!!!

April 5, 2009

2009-04-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Mother that I love so much and have missed emailing,
Well, I am back. I have finally come back to the convenient part of life. Well, what should tell you? A lot has been going on lately. We have been working so hard, and getting a lot of Books of Mormon out to people. it has been very exciting lately. We have talked to a lot of people and hopefully some of them will become investigators soon. Keep praying for me please. I still can`t believe how the time is just flying by. So high in the sky. Like a bird. I have less than a year now before I will be back home. That is a very scary thought. It is exciting, yet scary to think I do not have that much time left over. I am trying to do my best for this last year of my mission. I am just really excited because there is so much changing at this time. We are part of an amazing work here in Japan right now and I am just so glad I can be here for it. So ya, I don`t remember everything I have told you in letters, but I do have a new comp. He is Elder Hinton. He is still pretty much a bean. He has only been in Japan for about 2 months. So there is a lot of helping, well translating with the language for him. It is cool, and pretty dang hard. But, we are working well together and trying to get things done here in Sennan. It has been a great time so far. Well, I am really not sure what else I should tell you. I really missed emailing, but now I don`t really know what to say. Isn`t that funny. HAHA. Well, just know that i love you and miss you and that i am working hard. I can`t wait to hear from you.
Love, your son,
Elder Lane Ashmore

February 8, 2009

2009-02-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

What!? No emails today?

Oh well. So how is everything going? This week was pretty good. I am in my new area, and it is pretty good. My new comp is Elder Nielsen. He is from Utah. I finally have a non Japanese companion. Pretty weird. But, ya he is cool.
Well, I really don`t know what to write this week. Well, I am doing good. We found a new investigator yesterday. He seems pretty cool and all. Hey did you get those pics that I sent you from my birthday? It was a good birthday. Yet it is still weird to say that I am 20. Even now when i just said it is was sort of weird. Well, I really have no Idea what to say. I miss you and I love you. I am sorry this is short. Hopefully next week will be better.I Love you and can`t wait to talk to you again. BYE!!!
Love Elder Lane Ashmore

January 26, 2009

2009-01-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom,
Another week has gone by. It has gone so fast. I am doing pretty well actually. Not much is really going on right now as far as work wise, but things are going pretty well. Speaking of The Book of Mormon... We have been trying to get those out more and more lately. There is a new translation for Japanese, yet in order to get those we need to get rid of the old ones so we are trying to get those out more. Yet, I have not been able to get any out. Unless we find a new investigator then it is easy, but other than that it is way hard. I am about to tell you something really amazing by the way. So, one day we were out and I was trying to think about how to get people to want to take the Book of Mormon, but I honestly could not think of anything. So we went home pretty discouraged, not being able to get book of mormons out. Then that night, I had an awesome dream. We were streeting, and we were talking to some guy, and luckily it was in english and i was able to understand. So I asked him, if you could know that God speaks to his children, and that there was book to prove it, something you could like hold, wouldn`t that be important? And what should we do with that book? He was like ya that would be important and we should read that book, and learn from it. Then I was like "YA, thats it, I want to give you this book." and then the dream was over and I woke up. Honestly, that was the answer I have been looking for to be able to hand out Book of Mormons. I know that that answer came from Heavenly Father. I needed help, and he did, he helped me out. I have also come to love reading the scriptures. They are amazing and I want to get them out there. I now know how. So ya, things are going pretty well right now. I actually sent some pictures home last week, they had to go through snail mail, sorry, but they should be there by tomorrow, maybe. I am glad that the ward got the letter. I really had no idea what to say in it.
So anyways, we are going bowling today. We are going with some investigators and PI`s, that is potential investigators. So we are going to have some fun today. So ya that is really all for right now. I love you all. Talk to you later.
Love Elder Lane Ashmore

December 31, 2008

2008-12-31T19:31:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom,
Christmas was great of course. I was able to talk to you guys. And then afterward, the baptism was amazing. The feeling was just amazing. I was able to baptize someone into the true church of Christ. It was really amazing. So, today is a bit earlier than last week. And on Thursday. We switched our P-day to the 1st. And we are going to a far place today so we needed to get email done earlier. So other than that, not much else is going on. I definitely missed you guys after the phone call was over. Maybe even a little too much. But, I think I will make it. So ya, with this new year coming up I have definitely made some new year resolutions. Especially as a missionary you can see how you have been doing and then see the things that you can change that will help this mission move along. I am excited for this new year to come up. So that is really all for now. Except for one or two things. First, I want freaking letters. I honestly have not gotten a letter for the past few months. I did get that package and that was great. I am glad that I got that. Yet, each day we see if someone has sent us a letter, and lately my comp has been getting tons and moi nodda. It is actually a sad thing. If you can get some people to send letters that would be great. And last but not least. I love you and miss you so much. I can`t wait to talk to you again. I love you. Bye.
Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

November 10, 2008

2008-11-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Hi Mom,
You probably won`t read this for a while. I heard about the things that are going on right now. I can`t believe it. Why the heck is everything that is bad is going on while I am on my mission. I seriously hate getting this kind of news. I am getting really stressed out now. I really hope things are going good. I really love you mom. You will probably here that a lot more in this email and many more to come. I really love you mom. I might even add it in places that might not make sense. I love you mom. So let me tell you about this week. Or maybe this transfer. Lets just say it has been a good transfer. My comp now is going to be on his way home. and I am getting a new comp and now am the senior missionary. Ya I was made senior. AAAHHH!!! I can`t believe that. I heard it when they called and I was just so confused. I love you mom. I really hope that I can be a good senior though. my new comp is Elder Matsuoka. Ya he is Japanese. Yes that is the third one in a row. Pretty crazy. This one is different though. I love you mom. He is real Japanese. I mean cannot speak english japanese. So this will definitely help with my japanese. I just hope I will be able to make it through this transfer. So that is that for the end of the transfer now here are some other things. We have had some incidents lately. I have them written down hold on. Okay, I love you mom. My camera, for some odd reason the screen has cracked. i cannot see pictures that I take now. It is not fixable. That may be a problem. Second, I love you mom. Third, my patriarchal blessing has a part missing to it. just a sentence. It is on the first page at the bottom. Like the last sentence about the holy ghost. I just to know what it says. Fourth, I love you mom. fifth, I have eczema. I am in need of some meds to cure it. I am not sure what it is like in America, but here it is a prescription. sixth, I lost 30 pounds since leaving the MTC, I thought you would just like to know. and last but not least, I LOVE YOU MOM.So yes that is what is going on right now. It is getting really cold actually. I am actually wearing to sweaters that you sent me. They are a life saver right now. It is so cold. I am way surprised. So everything is getting ready for christmas is coming up soon. Weird they totally skip thanksgiving. So, ya I am way excited for christmas to come up. I can wait to be able to talk to everyone. So ya that is what is going on right now. I love you mom. I really hope you are doing okay. I miss you so much. I love you mom. I will talk to you later. BYE!!!
Love Elder Lane Ashmore (your son, that is on a mission in japan. he is way awesome and sweet, like candy. candy sounds good. maybe i should get some candy)

November 3, 2008

2008-11-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom,
Well, emails this week have been really different. I got about 7 I think. I was very excited. From what I recall I got nothing last week. So the change has been nice. Well anyway, I am glad to hear that everyone is doing good. I was pretty worried. I am a little worry wart. Probably not a good thing. Yet, maybe it is. I am not sure. So Grandma and Grandpa Ashmore have moved down to Arizona. And now Jim and Charn are thinking about it too. Wow, I think Arizona will be the new family place. We just need the Johnson side to start moving down there. But, that is pretty exciting. Wow, I did not know that Obama was that bad. That is just rediculous. Our four fathers would definitely been displeased on how the country has gone so far. So much has changed since back then. Even though I wasn`t alive for it, it seems that things would be better if it was still like back then. I really hope and pray that McCain will win the Election. I will pray for it as much as I can. We just need to make sure that we are doing what the Lord has said, "as much as you shall keep my commandments..." he will bless us, "ye shall prosper in the land." Now when we think about prospering, what do we think? Is it gain of wealth and goods? I don`t think that is always the case. I think it is also that God will protect us from the things of the world. That as long as we do what is necessary, He will bless us with spiritual needs as well as physical. Now what does this have to do with the elections. We have our choice right? Now, if we are doing what is right, following God`s commandments he will protect us from the wrong things of the world. As I have heard, you believe that Obama is a false prophet, that is wrong right? If we trust in God and Keep His Commandments, He will protect us. That is what I have right now.So as for the Christmas package. HMMM, I can`t really think of anything right now. Yet, my comp just said brownies are good in a Christmas package. As are cookies, with frosting on top, and sprinkles. But, ya as far as clothes and things goes I think I am doing good. WAIT!!! I want a 259 CD, and John Denver and the Muppets CD, I forgot mine. It is in a case thing at home. Ryan might now where it is. Ya I really want music. I got none. And maybe some John Bytheway stuff. That would be cool. Ya that is all I can think of right now.So, ya everyone is getting old. I am getting old. Think about it. In 3 months I am going to be 20 AAAAHHHH!!! That is scary to think about. But, life will yet go on. AAAAHHH!! Sorry I scared myself again. So, ya I totally understand about recommitting myself. It is hard to be out here. People know what we are here for. They don`t know the message we have to share, but they understand we want to talk to them and they don`t want to hear it. It is tough to keep going after so many rejections. But, as I see a lot there is that one person that is waiting. Waiting for something more. To find answers to life. I want to find that person. I need to recommit myself a lot. Well, I can`t think of anything else to write about. this week was a good week. We got a lot of things done, and found two new investigators, very exciting. It has been really good. Since my comp will be going home next week, we have a lot of others things to do so that he can get prepared to go home. That takes a bit of our time, but we are trying to make up for it. I am loving this work. I love the Lord. I am so glad that I am here to share this gospel. I love you all. And miss you so much. I will talk to you at Christmas.
Love Your Son Elder Lane Ashmore

October 27, 2008

2008-11-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom,
Well, this has been a first for a while. I did not get an email from anyone this week. To tell you the truth it is worries me a lot. I usually freak out cause I don`t know what is going on back home. I don`t know if everything is alright. Especially now hearing about the economic issues going on. I have no idea what I am going to go back to. It kind of scares me. But, I am doing fine right now. It is a slow P-day right now. Not much is going on. It sucks sometimes. So after we are done emailing and stuff we will go back to the apartment and hang out for about 3 hours. Most likely I will write some letters to some people. Even though a lot of people have moved away from where they lived so I don`t have their addresses or I don`t have the addresses to some of my friends from back home. Hey do you think you could get me some addresses so I can get some to people we know back home. like the Andersons. And other people you might think would be good to write to. I have no idea. I just want letters. I don`t get any that often, and my comps do. Yes it sucks. Letters seems to be the bread of life for missionaries. I don`t know why.So how is everything going back home? I know dad`s birthday is coming up soon. He is going to be 51 right? Man that is way old. I want to get him something and send it to him I just don`t know what though. I will try. It most likely will be a little late. So did ryan get his package yet. I sent it a while ago. I can`t remember how long ago. But, it might should be there by now. I am not sure.So how are you doing? Did you have that surgery done yet? I hope everything went well. So this week has been pretty slow. We are trying to get a couple of new programs off the ground so that we can find some more investigators, which we found one when we housed an apartment building, she had to of been around 90 years old though. Way funny story, we knocked on the door and told her we were missionaries and wanted to share a message about families, and asked if it was okay and she said yes, so we went on and then she said hold on. So we waited for a little bit and she came out with 100 dollars in her hand and said you know, here you go, but we had to reject it. Then she was totally confused, and we just said we wanted to share a special message of God and how he wants to bless families, she was so confused after that. But we made another appointment to meet her and her husband. So that was cool. But, about the programs we are trying to make. We made some new flyers for them, and then started to hand them out. No one has come yet, but we hope soon. Pray for us.So my comp is getting pretty trunky. He barely got his flight plans to go home. So is trying to finalize everything before he has to leave. Which is really soon. It has been a good transfer with him. I have learned a lot. We are more alike that I thought we were going to be. Two outspoken people that agreed on pretty much everything. So it has been really cool. Pretty fun transfer.So ya that is what is going on right now. We are just trying to get to it all. Trying to get this work moving here. Hopefully something will come along with the new programs.Well, I love you and miss you. I hope you hear from you soon. I will talk to you later. BYE!!! Love YOU!!!
Love Elder Lane Ashmore

2008-10-01T22:18:00.000-07:00

Lane's new city is about in the blue, bottom center of this map!! Himeji, Japan

One of Himeji's sisters cities is.....Phoenix, Az!!!

Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona. Phoenix is located in the center of the Sonoran Desert and is surrounded by a chain of mountains. It is well known as a city of tourism and leisure at the same time as being a city of cutting edge technology.Affiliated on November 3, 1976.

INTRODUCTION TO HIMEJI CITY
Himeji is located at the center of the Harima Plain in the Surrounded by mountains and the sea, Himeji has developed as a transportation hub of western Japan. Blessed by mild climate and natural beauty, the city has realized excellent cultural characteristics through its long history as a castle town.
Since Himeji became a city in April 1889, its population has increased together with expansion of the city area, and now currently exceeds 530,000, including more then 10,000 foreign residents.
While evolving as a center for economy,culture and education in the Harima region, the City now comprises a large economic and cultural bloc in the region. since himeji was upgraded to a "Core City" in April 1996,the City has been working toward further advances as one of japan's leading cities.

Designated on May 3, 1969)The elegance of Himeji Castle is symbolized by this flag. The “White Heron” which displays hope of the city is designed to look like the katakana character “ヒ”. This flag expresses hope and dynamism, freedom, and progress.

(Designated on December 17, 1901) The Chinese character for “Hime (姫)” is symbolized in this mark. The 臣part of the Chinese character is placed in the space in the middle of the 女 part of the Chinese character. It is a simple and clear design expressing the developing status of the city.

(Designated on August 18, 1966)This flower belongs to the Orchidaceae family and it is characterized by a smooth white flower which looks like a white heron in flight opening its wings. Recently, the habitat of this flower has deceased and the city has been promoting the raising of this flower in homes.

(Designated on April 1, 1989)“White Heron” is a collective term for the ardeid bird species such as the small egret which lives near water. Himeji Castle is also called, “White Heron Castle” because the castle tower looks like a flying heron.

(Designated on October 5, 1972)The tree, which is fagaceous evergreen tree, grows naturally in warm areas of East to Southeast Asia. This tree was selected for the city tree because the vigor of the tree matches the creation of a “Green Himeji” and the citizens of the city are familiar with its presence.

Septemberr 29, 2008

2008-10-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

here are some pics we took recently of a truck we found that was imported from America, it is a tundra, way sweet. Kind of weird cause the roads here are way small.

my clean workspace!!!!!

Dearest everyone,

Well, this week was pretty busy. We went out of our little area a lot for district meetings and an exchange thing we did. We went to the train station and sang and handed out some English class flyer's. It was pretty fun. So I got some news today. I am getting transferred. I am going over to Himeji. It is like on the other side of the mission. So that is pretty exciting. Going to a new area and all. Finally getting out of the bean situation. It is said that you are a bean until you leave your bean area. I am finally leaving. So now not a bean any more. YEAH!! So right now if you want to send anything you might want to send it to the mission home first and they will get it to me since I don`t have the address yet.

So, ya that is about it right now. I love you mom and pop. Oh wait there is something. Today is going to be a fun P-day, we are in Nara, a touristy sort of area, and going to a really cool park, dad might get jealous of the pics i will send, but it is going to be cool. Okay now that is all. I love you. I miss you.

Love Elder Lane Ashmore

September 8. 2008

2008-09-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Dearest Mom, Mom, who is at home and way busy so the son understands,
It is fine. I learned in the MTC to not get mad or anything if you don`t receive anything from home. Just expect that something horrible has happened that they weren't able to get to the computer. So that is what I did... worry for the whole week. But, I am okay now that I hear everything is going okay. Wow, home is going to be so different when I get back. I will be so confused. I will probably be confused anyway cause I will be so different and everything will be bigger and just way different than here. I just hope I will be able to adjust faster than I adjusted here. That took forever it felt like. So is there a badminton net in the backyard then. That is so cool. That is pretty popular here. We have a sports night in the branch here and we always pretty much play badminton. I am pretty good cause of all the practice that I had in High School. Ya I was a pro then, and I am a pro now. You best get ready cause when I get back, the challenge will begin. Oh ya tell Ryan he can practice all he wants but I will always come out on top, there will be no contest, I already won. Ya, anyways. So it is still kind of on the edge with Grandpa then? I will remember him in my prayers all the time. It is just a little crazy to think about. But, everything will be alright no matter what happens. Its hard for people to believe that here. It is sad sometimes, when I hear that they think family and life just ends. I still don`t understand that one. I am just glad that we have this gospel to reassure us that there is something more. So, I think I told you last week that I was able to see the video of Riley finally. Holy Cow she is so big. That is just so crazy. She is going to be so huge when I get back. Hopefully she will remember me. I sent a bunch of pictures and videos home. So you all will be able to see what I am up to. Some of it don`t worry about. It isn't as dangerous as it looks. Plus it is just way fun. I mean getting pulled behind a boat is probable more dangerous.
So teaching was not very good this week. At least housing anyways. People just didn't want to listen, which is normal. But, we did find a new investigator which is way exciting. He has been a potential for a long time now and last week he became an investigator. Way exciting. I think before I get transferred, which will probably be very likely this next transfer, he will have a baptismal date. I really hope so anyways. Keep praying for me though. So we can help him out. Hey tell Ryan, I appreciate him more now that I am gone. It is really weird waking up and not being at home sometimes still. Like this morning I seriously thought I was at home still and I was about to call Ryan, but he wasn't there. It was some weird Japanese guy, well, my companion. But, it is okay. Ya I can`t wait to talk too. I can`t believe how fast things are going though. I have been gone for half a years now. Way crazy. and only 3 months til Christmas. AAHH!!! And Ryan and dads birthday are next month and Andrew's is this month and braxton`s is next month. Okay everyone stop growing up now. It is just ridiculous. Anyway, I love you all I best get going I have some things to do. Like shopping and laundry and lunch. So we should get going. I Love you all. I miss you so much.
Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

Fireworks, Fireflys and MONKEYS!!!

2008-09-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Below you will find video's that Lane has sent...there are quite a few, all taken with his camera...don't forget to pause the music player on the right so you will be able to hear what he says!!! Enjoy, and don't forget to comment!

2008-09-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

The Videos in this post are Lane's Bike rides...some are pretty crazy, and he seems to like to talk~you will have to pause the music player to the right (the black box) to hear the video's!!!

Just hanging around

2008-09-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

Lane eats peanut butter.....

2008-09-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

Lane Eats Fungus!

2008-09-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

August 25, 2008

2008-08-30T03:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Mom,
I got the package that you sent. Thank you!!! I am so excited for the cheese dip. I am going to make it tomorrow for a district meeting that we are going to have. They will all love it I am sure. Hey by the way. On the list it says that there is soap and books in there. Where were the soap and the books. There wasn't any of that in there. I hope that they didn't loose any of it while it was traveling about. ***Well, this week has been a good week. Elder fukui ***is cool. He is Japanese so that is nice to have him as a translator, I mean companion. It is really going to help out with my Japanese. Well, I hope at least. so guess what I had for dinner last night. SUSHI!!! and not just raw fish, but even worse than that. RAW SQUID!! AAAHHH!!! But, really it was pretty good. Just really chewy. which for some reason they don`t have a word for chewy in Japanese. Kind of weird. So ya it has been nice here. they weather has been great. It has been really cool right now and pretty rainy. I am actually kind of cold. My companion makes fun of me cause I think it is cold. But, it is really cold. blankets gallor (spelling) at night. But, I am just glad that I am not hot when we go out and go proselyting during the day. Which has been really great lately by the way. There is a lady that me and elder bohman met one time. she was way cool when we talked to her then, so me and elder fukui went back yesterday i think and talked with her some more and loaned her a book of Mormon and she said she was going to read and call us back. So way exciting. Also the other night at English class, we teach English then at the end of the night we share a message. Well, I was sharing the message and I was talking about the restoration, in English though since everyone there can pretty much understand, so I was talking then I got on the topic about the atonement and how it can help us find peace when we are struggling with things. I think I said because Christ performed the atonement he knows how you feel when you struggle with life, with school, with family, with work, and type of struggle or pain or hurt you have felt he has felt, and you can find relief through him. Well, at the end of class a girl came up to us, and she said she has been having trouble at work and when I said he can help you with struggling with work, she said she just started to cry. So she asked what she could do to get help with that, so we taught her about prayer and stuff. It was really great. This work is so awesome. so she is going to pray and hopefully call us back. Way cool, way cool experience. So ya some pretty exciting things have been going on right now. Things are changing. Its going to be great here. Well, other than that not much else is going on. Going around each day to try and find those that Heavenly Father has prepared. It is a great work and I am so glad that I am a part of it. I just wish this language would be easier to get. But, that is part of it all, the struggle right. If we didn't have struggle we really wouldn't be able to understand the atonement more and more huh? Man I love this work. Okay well, I have gone on long enough. I best get going. I love you. Talk to you next week.
Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

PS The card didn't work in my camera, I think the card is just too old or because it is a canon card. or its too small. I am not sure, but it didn't work. that's all.... Wait just kidding. I want to print a bunch of pictures to have here with me before I send the card back, but it you want me to do something else, then tell me I will wait til next week to do that. Also I was looking at electronic dictionaries the other day, and the lowest amount was about 120 dollars. I know Andrew said that not using one is better but it is just really tough not having one. but, if it is too much tell me and I will do my best with what i have. I know if I try heavenly father will help me. okay, that is all for this PS usually they are smaller but hey. alright. Bye now.

***there weren't any books or soap, but i didn't want to say on the customs report what was really in there...I didn't want it to get stolen!!!
***New Comp!!!

August 18, 2008

2008-08-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

Dearest Mom that is at home,
Everything is going really great right now. Actually the transfer is now over and my companion is being transferred to a new area and I am staying in Nabari for a little bit longer. It is really cool though cause I love it here. The people are so great, so nice. Teaching wise it has been really great. Each day, recently, we have been teaching like 8 to 9 lessons a day which is really good. We even found a new investigator which is really exciting. Hopefully something will come of it after we meet the next couple of times. I was actually told by my mission president that he wanted me to see a baptism before I left here. Which I think is definitely possible. There are so many with the potential to do so, they just need that extra little push. Some things to overcome still. I am sorry, I didn't get a chance to do that. ***But, don`t worry I will write it down as for personal study topic tomorrow, I am writing it down now... Alright it is now written. But, hey I liked how you followed up on the commitment. Way good. I am impressed. I have a lot of time to study the scriptures now! Well, ya everything is going good right now. We are actually going to visit with an investigator today for dinner and hopefully if everything goes will they will have a baptism day set. I really hope so. Well, I guess I best get going. I love you mom. Tell everyone that I am doing great. Alright that is it. I love you!! I will talk to you later.
Love,
Elder Lane Ashmore

*** I asked him to study about prayer in the bible dictionary!

August 12, 2008

2008-08-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Mom,
You have probably wondered why you haven`t gotten an email until now. Well, this week we had to switch our preparation day to Wednesday because we are doing something with some investigators today and the dad only had Wednesday's off. So anyways, this week was a good week. Went and did a lot of housing in the hot, hot weather. But, it seems as though it is cooling down right now. Hey, by the way about that gross food, the other day some investigators took us out to this sushi place you know with the conveyor belt and everything. Well, lets just say I ate a ton of raw fish the other day, and it was good. I am so weird. So... Ryan's a Junior then huh, ya that is a little weird. I am glad that I will be there for his graduation though. I think I will be there. If my calculations are correct I will be home two months before he graduates. Weird!! I am going to be so old when I get back. So, ya, things are going good here. The Japanese is still coming along. Its pretty cool to know that when you speak to someone in a different language and they understand you, well most of the time. They still don`t understand sometimes because the words we use are old church words. Japanese changes so much. Like the older generation and the younger generation now are speaking pretty differently. Its pretty tough. But the people are nice and they are glad that I am trying. Its pretty cool. So this transfer is almost over, I will probably be getting a new companion but not getting transferred. Which means that I will be the area senior which means I need to show the new one around and stuff and be the front man for a lot of things, it scares me a bit, but I think I can do it. Well, that is what is going on right now. Not much other than that I think. Alright, that is everything going on right now. I love you and miss you. I'll get to reading about prayer today.** I will talk to you next week. BYE!!!LOVE YOU!!!
Elder Lane Ashmore

**I told him to read "Prayer" in the bible dictionary...I love what it says! rho

2008-08-02T04:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Mom,
ITS ELDER ASHMORE!!! So this week was a very exciting week. Way exciting things have happened that I did not expect when I came to Japan. First of all, bugs here are like cats and dogs it America, they are huge. So we were housing one day and Elder Bohman was dinging the doorbell and I see somthing out of the corner of my eye, and i was like, "WHAT THE HECK!!??" and stepped back then Elder Bohman looked and stepped back. It was a huge bee thing carrying a huge spider in it mouth and when I mean huge I mean huge, like make a circle with your pointer fingers and thumb and thats how big the spider was and stick out your pointer finger, that is how big the bee was, well maybe a bit bigger than your finger, hehe. Anyway it was huge. So we got pictures of it and then the freakeist thing happened, the bee saw us dropped the spider and pretty much tried to attack us. So we ran. It was scary. Then that same day, we were going back home I think and we were going down a huge hill going pretty fast, and I saw something dart across the road, it was pretty big so I quickly stopped, in a way that was safe, and looked to see what it was. IT WAS A MONKEY!!! Then we saw like 40 more monkeys just dart across the road. I really did not expect that. They were actually wild monkeys, it was just crazy. I got a video of it which I will be sending home pretty soon. Lets see. We are working hard everyday. Hopefully soon we will have some new investigators from some people we have met recently. They are really cool and way nice. We just need to pretty much introduce them to the gospel. Its tough to make friends and then try to make it so that its, not just a friendship but I am here to teach you, sort of thing. But, that is what i am here for. To help them come to Christ. So I will do my best. So ya that is whats happening now. Japanese is getting better I am speaking more and more each day. Hopefully they are understanding it though.
Well, I need to get going. I will make sure to pray for grandpa and grandma each day. I am being focused, don`t worry. I love you mom, and will talk to you again soon. Say hi to everyone for me. I don`t have much time left so I can`t really email everyone. Well, I love you.
Love your son,
Elder Lane Ashmore

June 30, 2008

2008-07-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
Wow, I can`t believe that Grandpa is this sick. That just sounded so weird to me when I read it. I have been praying for him and grandma. If something does happen, I do know that things will be alright. Its definitely hard. But, since I have been out here it seems that everyone has cancer or has had many of their family die of cancer and there want for something more. And knowing this gospel can fill that want. Yet, I pray he pulls out of it. Let them know I love them all. Wow, this is tough right now. Well, I guess I will tell you now of other things. If I can focus. Things have been going good. We are working hard everyday and trying to find those that will listen to the message that can improve their lives and bless their family. We are actually working with this one man that has had his Mother, Father, Wife and Brother die of cancer and he really wants to know what we are teaching him is true he just won`t pray. It is really tough. Its strange that people think that just because we have the name of Christ on our tags or that when we say his name they just shut off and don`t want to hear about it. It has been really tough lately. On a lighter note, We went to the water falls last tuesday. There are suppose to be 48 of them, I didn`t count but i guess there was 48. I don`t know. I got a lot of pics and some video, I really like video better it gets more of the story. I might just do that and save them, but also get pics and send some home. That would be a long night of video and not just pics when I get home. Maybe I will take a lot of pictures and do videos. Ya that sounds good. But, ya that was a relaxing day. Oh ya lately we have had to ride up some huge hills. I hear they sent me to the hilliest place in the mission so its fun getting up those hills, but coming down is more fun, and yes I am being careful, I make sure I slow down okay. Man stop wiggin out. so ya thats fun. Oh ya and when we going housing, every home has an intercom thing so people don`t have to come to the door, and it was my turn to talk, so I starting talking and I introduced myself and she seems interested in the message, but then she hung up on me. that made me a little mad. so ya that is my housing story for now. there will probably be more. The language is coming along. I can understand most of what is being said, and in the last week I have memorized over 300 words, that is tough. Flashcards help. Oh ya and it is way hot right now. so i sweat a lot. Which reminds me, I am down to one stick of deodorant so I may need some more. Oh ya and it rains a lot so that rainsuit really helps out. I can`t believe I have been here a month now. Its seems like it has just flown by. next thing you know I will be back home. That is a scary thought. so ya that is really all that is going on right now. I love you. and miss you. I will keep praying for grandpa and grandma and everyone else. Keep me informed seriously. If you have to call me. well, if it is aloud I mean. I love you, and will talk to you soon.
Love Your son,
Elder Ashmore

June 23, 2008

2008-06-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
I will definitely remember Grandpa in my prayers. That is way scary. So is he getting better or what? But, yes I will remember him and grandma.

The bike riding is getting better. My bum is so so so so sore like everyday. Supposedly I got sent to the hilliest place in the mission, so it is way fun. Actually yesterday, well first because the ward is so small here, the boundaries are so spread out and yesterday we had to ride an hour away to where there are some members out there. so that was a lot of fun. And now that it is the rainy season, it rained a lot on the way home. Ya so that was a lot of fun. I get wet a lot here. But I hear it is only for the month of June so it is will stop and then be all hot and humid, even though it is humid now. Pretty crazy. So what does Riley remember about me. I need details here and I haven`t seen any new pics of her. Send me some. And video send me some video of whats going on. I need to know what is going on at home other than emails. Well, anyway lets see here. right now the work is tough. People just don`t want to hear the message. there are the select few that do, but other than that, people just don`t want to listen. But, as my comp has said he sees that things are changing, he says there are more that listen now than he saw before. so that is very exciting, even though I have no idea what to say. Like yesterday, we went housing and this lady came to the door and I introduced who we were and what we were talking about and then I was like, "okay I have no idea what to say take over, take over." I whispered that to him. That was a very scary moment for me. But, I am getting better recognizing more what people are saying and how they say it. Now I just need to say it like them. It is way tough. But, ya this week went by way fast. I can`t believe that it is Tuesday already. It is actually my comps birthday so we are going up to some waterfalls, supposedly there are like 48 of them there so we are going up there and taking some pics. Its going to be a fun day. Oh ya about the bike thing. I had my first crash. Nothing huge I got some scrapes and bruises, but nothing bad, nothing broken. I just got a little too close to the curb. So, exciting times. Oh ya Erin has a spider story. So ask her for that. I will send pics of the spider. But, ya that is really what is going on right now. I love you mom.
Love your son,
Elder Ashmore

2008-06-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

This is a really cool car that I saw and knew ryan would love to see, this is in Nabari while we were tracting.

Missionary Work in Nabari!!

2008-06-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

ON the flight from USA!!!! Pretty Cool!!!

Hey All,
So this week was pretty crazy, well, I think. I am getting a little better at talking to people, well only when they come to the door. Oh ya, I never heard about the ward split I heard that it got huge and I thought that it would split but I did`t know when it would. And I didn`t

know about Brother Randall. that's cool. Well, anyways, everything is getting better. I have a little homesick this week, but it has been getting better, Andrew told me that that would come and go. I just need to focus on the work. I miss you too, but yes I am now serving the Lord and need to focus more on that than what I would be doing at home right now. So, ya this week was really busy. We go tracting a lot house by house, we teach lesson after lesson but even after the lessons the people just don`t understand what it really means and how it can really help them. It is really tough thinking about people that don`t want to know about this, when I have grown up with it and understand it and what it can do. I really can`t get over that. But, supposedly according to my companion he believes that Nabari is the place he thinks has the most potential, it is small but he thinks that when the members start to get going in the work also it will just take off. That is a lot of what we have been doing recently also is getting the ward mission plan going. I guess they haven`t had a written one for a long long time. So, that is a big focus right now. So we are really busy. I just wish I could understand what people are saying. And getting the words out. It has been tough. But ya, going to the temple every week was the thing that I missed the most about the MTC. But, when I am done here there will be a temple sot the missionaries can go. I can`t wait to be able to go the temple again. So ya that is really all that is going on right now. I am actually eating just to let you know. It is just really weird food. I have now tried, mushroom, which is good, and octopus which isn`t bad just really chewy, and some fish, which I didn`t like very much but I will need to get used to. When I get back I will be eating a lot of weird things. Well, I love you and miss you.

Love your son, brother, uncle, friend, etc.,
Elder Ashmore

Lane from Nabari!!!!

2008-06-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom & Dad,

Well, she is finally here then. that's cool. I wasn`t able to see the pics though. But, man she is big. So ya, everything is going good tell everyone that or this letter will probably go on the blog so it doesn`t matter. I am trying my best here. I still have the fear of talking to people, like going up to someone and just talk to them, mostly because I will have no idea what they will be saying back to me. Its definitely a scary thought. But, ya everything is going good. I am learning as much as I can right now which isn`t very much. But, I hope I can get through it. And don`t worry about the talk, last week I had to give a talk in church, IN JUST JAPANESE!! That was tough, be thankful you can speak English. Anyways, the teaching is going great. There are some lessons we teach in English so I can understand it, but I hope that the people we are teaching can. We also teach an English class for those that want to learn English, but it is really weird cause they are all way older than me. like 50 years older than me, and I am teaching them. Its weird. But, it is fun too. Oh my goodness, guess what I tried the other day. OCTOPUS. And I have to admit it wasn`t bad, it was chewy. But it also wasn`t that good. But, ya I am trying a lot of new things. It is really weird. So I am going to be really different when I get back so beware. But, ya this week has been pretty tough for me. I have had to introduce myself a lot with pictures, cause for some reason people here love to look at pictures, but I have gotten pretty homesick. Its still really weird being here. Waking up each day and seeing that I am in Japan. Being away from home, and I mean AWAY from home. Its just really weird. But, this place does have its things about it that are way awesome. It is gorgeous. I mean wow, it is amazing here, but right now really humid. I will definitely be sweating a lot. so i will get pretty skinny pretty fast. So i will get through it pretty well. Oh ya, I didn`t tell you. My District Leader is Hancock.** I have seen him like 2 times now for district meetings, and he is still really tall, and will eat anything. That is weird.But, my comps name is Elder Bohman. He is from Alaska. He is way cool. Likes to have fun. so ya he would probably love to get a letter from you. 140 dollars?!*** what the heck was he doing. tell him to slow down. Or don`t let him drive, I would hate to hear he got in an accident. My goodness. he better get his little lead foot cut off. that's is ridiculous. Well, I need to get going we got some shopping to get done. I love you. and miss you.

Love your son,

Elder Ashmore

**Elder Hancock is a young man that was in our ward in Washington! He and Andrew took Japanese together...I believe they made a really interesting video using a barbie and ninja turtles for class...don't know what was said in the video...it was all in Japanese! So...it is pretty cool Lane gets to see someone he knows once in awhile...I think Brendan is coming home pretty soon though!

***Refers to the SPEEDING TICKET that Ryan got last month.......

Lane's first Message from JAPAN!!

2008-06-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Well, yes I am in Japan and things are going great. It was weird the first day here cause like everything was backwards, well the driving and the money, and this key board is backwards, and am actually messing up more than you can see. The plane ride was amazing. It was so high up there I actually got pictures of when we were in the air so you will be able to see even thought you have probably already been on an airplane and know whats its like, but it was just cool anyways. So ya I am not in Osaka, we just had to by my bike there because where I am at it is so small there really isn`t any bike shop. I am in a city called Nabari. It is really nice because it is small. Well, small according to Japan standards. There are about 80,000 people here but supposedly that is small. Yet, there are only 27 people in the ward here so that is really small. Its really weird going from so small to so big, but it is cool. We go out a lot of try to find people but it is really hard when people don`t understand about Christ or are very into their religion. But a couple of days ago we met a woman that seemed interested so we are going back and are going to talk about a pamphlet we gave her. And hopefully this other man that has been investigating for about 20 years, so we are trying to get him to realise that what he knows about the church is all true and that he needs to be baptized. I just hope that goes well. So ya everything is going great. By the way for some reason here they don`t really do debit, the only place that i could take money out is at the bank that is pretty much the international one i guess, so everything did work out. Oh by the way, if you want to send me food and stuff there is this place my companion told me about it is theflyingpig.com or just flyingpig.com i am not sure you might have to try both, anyways, it is a costco place and you can by it there and have it sent to me, and since there is a costco here in Japan it is a little easier. SO, speaking of food if you want to send me some stuff that would be cool. Like A crud load of cereal, corn flakes, cheese dip supplies, with the chips, no bake cookies supplies with the recipe. And anything you might think of. I would love you even more if you did. So ya that is what is going on right now. Oh ya about the other thing, the bad thing, I really don`t like saying that word. Anyway, don`t worry about me, I know what the Lord wants me to do and don`t do. I will stear clear. I don`t need crap like that to make me happy, I have family for that and this gospel. That is what makes me truly happy. Well, I love you all. I need to get going we are going to do some shopping in Japan. My first time YEH!!! Wait Something else I had soup for dinner last night and guess what it had in it. Beef, onions, carrots,potato, broccoli, and mushrooms and I ate it and it was good. Just thought you might want to know. Oh ya and I tried a massive chunck of tomato, it wasn`t bad but it was good either. Well, that is my life right now. I love you all.
Love,Elder Ashmore

*Mother's note...the "bad" thing is pornography...I talked to him about it in my last email, since it is so prevalent in japan.....

Letter From Lane

2008-05-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 13:32:31

Dear Mom,
Yep this is my last email here in the MTC. I have gotten my flight plans, and I will be leaving Monday. I need to leave the MTC at 6 in the morning but my flight from here isn't til like 9:40 or so. I get into LA aroung 10:32 and I will have a 3 hour Layover so that is when I get to call you all. I wrote down the numbers, and can't wait to be able to talk to you. Oh ya I am getting really nervous. Pretty much the plane ride is the part that is making me nervous. I have never been on a plane and being that high in the sky it sort of freaks me out. But, I think I will be able to get through it. Oh ya and I was made Travel leader that sucks, you know how bad I am with directions. It will be an interesting experience. > Don't worry mom, the MTC has been amazing. Its pretty much everyday that I can feel the spirit and it is great. I do know that this is the most important thing I could be doing right now. And I would not want to do anything else. I just can't wait to get out there and start working. I too Love this gospel. It is so amazing the think how much Heavenling Father loves us and what he wants for us. Man I can't wait to get out there. > And mom just because I talked back to dad doesn't make me a strong person. That showed how weak I was. That didn't show guts. I look back and know how things could have been different between us. The strong thing would have been to just keep my mouth shut and restrain myself from talking back. Please tell him I am sorry. > So today, is the last day that I get to go to the temple for the next two years, but don't worry we will be getting a few new temples while we are all in Japan. I don't have time to get the thing to you but look up about when the first time the mission in japan was opened and what was said. So many have said that is now. So I am going to work my hardest to make that now. I love this work, and can't wait to get to work.> I love you all and can't wait to talk to you. Tell everyone hi for me or just read this to them either one doesn't matter. I need to get going I have some laundry and letters to do. I will talk to you soon.
Love, Elder Ashmore

Video From the MTC!!! PUSH PLAY!!!

2008-05-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

Lane

2008-05-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

Hello to All! I decided to start a blog for lane and his mission stuff, to keep everyone posted and to be able to show his pictures to everyone!! I am a novice at this of course but will do my best! I will also post excerpts from his letters, although they seem to be very short sometimes!

Lane will be leaving for Kobe, Japan on the 26th of May...He is really excited, but scared at the same time! He has loved being in the MtC...It was a real growth experience for him.

Some MTC Highlights:

District Leader: He wrote that the first day he was there he was interviewed and given the assignment as District Leader...there were 7 in his district and he said he learned a lot and to be patient.

Singing: Lane sung in Sacrament a solo of 'If You Could Hie to Kolob"....don't know why, but it is one of his favorite songs...as far as I know it went well!

GAS: He said he gets a lot of it...due to the food...whatever! He does say that he is eating better, which is good because I don't think he could have eaten any worse! He was definately my pickiest eater!

That's all for now, but I will post again when I hear more!

love, rhonda