Elder Roney

Hey Everyone!
     So this weeks been pretty weird and went by pretty slow. So on Friday we got a call from our zone leaders with some weird news/information. President had them tell us that we arent allowed to leave our appartment until further notice. The reason was because there was going to be freezing rain and during the darker hours of the day/night it would all freeze and make the roads straight ice.   So it was going to be really slick and dangerous to be driving around.   So just about all day we were inside our apartment, and I figured out how to do the rubiks cube haha. We were only allowed to be out of our apartment for a couple hours if we had lessons planned, so we were only out of our apartment for about an hour or so that day. It was super weird. Then the next day, we went around doing our thing then at about 3 they called again and told us that because of weather and slick roads due to rain we could only be out and about until 6.   And Saturday night a lady in the ward called us and told us that because of slick roads and weather conditions, church would be cancelled on Sunday, so there was no church yesterday, it didnt feel like Sunday at all. I guess there were like 30 crashes/cars in ditches on the freeway between anchorage to eagle river. And anchorage is only about 30 minutes from eagle river, I heard anchorage had like 115 mph winds saturday or sunday night.  And again our zone leaders called us Sunday morning telling us that we couldn't leave our apartment because of road conditions. Then, just like before they said we could be out between 4 and 6.   So pretty much all we did on Sunday was watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional at a members house, then eat dinner at that members house and head home after dinner. It did not feel like Sunday, the only reason I remembered it was Sunday was becasue we were fasting. The Christmas Devotional was amazing, I hope you guys watched it or heard about it. It talked alot about the real reason for Christmas, the gifts God gave us, and charity. And it showed some of the new videos that they filmed in the new Jerusalem theyve been building. They were super good. So the weekend was the slowest weekend ever, the weekend felt like a whole week.
     So we picked up a new investigator this week! Her name is Joanne Thor, she's the lady that gave us the dolphin statue. We went back and visited her twice this last week, once to do a lesson, and once to remind her about church. Thats right, the first visit last week she told us she wanted to  come to church with us, she was telling us that she wants to stop using alcohol and went to the AA class the previous night. The second time we visited her to remind her about church she was super drunk again, but still wanted to come to church with us. She said she would be sober for church which was good and gave us her number so we could call her in the morning and remind her and make sure shes sober. Unfortunately we had to tell her that church was cancelled but she could come next week. So that's what she wanted to do, she told us that she would be there next week. We'll probably visit her again this week once or twice to see how shes doing, hopefully teach her a lesson and remind her about church. So thats the main new exciting thing thats going on here. The work here is slowly picking up and were finding more people to teach, so thats awesome! Elder MacPherson and I came up with another idea to help everything to get going. We made a sign up sheet that we passed around relief society to have short lessons with members. Hopefully this way we can get the trust of the members, earn referrals and get people more involved and excited about missionary work. I think it'll be good. Weve been tracting more too, and we've found a few more potential investigators, so hopefully that will turn into something good!
     Oh and guess what?! Ive worked off all the Thanksgiving dinners I ate and then some. But Im still about 5 or 6 pounds heavier that when I came out. Its better than 15 pounds heavier than last week. The slim fast diet works haha, Ive lost about 10 pounds since last monday!   Also, I got the christmas package that had the nativity, window clingons, 12 days of christmas bag for me and Elder MacPherson, that countdown chain and all that other good stuff. Thank you! I absolutely love getting mail, so keep mail coming if you can:)   That's so exciting that the weddings in 2 weeks, its coming up pretty quick. Its funny that my sister in laws older sister is so close too, maybe Ill get sent somewhere in Anchorage to serve sometime and Ill get to see her. Thats good that the Roneys and Borens are doing good. All of those many Christmas parties are going to be fun for you guys, its just gonna be one party after another, party time!  Christmas is going to be alot different this year for me, itll be good though. Hopefully people are more receptive during Christmas season as we share a message with them about Christ and the real meaning of Christmas.  
     Anyway, it sounds like everyones doing good, and staying busy. Hopefully it stays that way. This week was good for me, we're starting to see some good success here in Eagle River.   I'm excited about that.   It got into the 50s on Sunday, so that was good.   I didn't have to wear my coat that day, it was nice. The devotional on tv was great, loved it!    You guys should check out the videos filmed in the new Jerusalem that they have so far, they' re good. Also, you guys should make a mormon.org profile, I know Braedon wanted us to make one while he was on his mission too.   So you should do it.    

 Anyways, Im doing good and I love you guys!

                Love Elder Ashton Roney