Letters from Elder Scott Austin August 18, 2013

So today was Sunday and our church starts at 11. I love my ward. There's only about 50-60 members, but there are some good, strong saints here. There's a Spanish lady in my ward who is struggling with the language. I speak a little Spanish with her, but it's hard for me to understand. She was very discouraged, so she asked for a blessing. I was shocked, but honored when she asked me to give it. Our ward is hosting a barbecue called "Meet the Mormons". It's gonna be big and all of our investigators are gonna be there. It's a great idea, you should pitch it to Bishop King! Members should be much more involved in missionary work, it makes it so much easier. I challenge you and Dad to talk to the missionaries and help in anyway possible, especially in JOINT TEACHES with investigators, please do it for me, then tell me about it. We are teaching a 13 year old girl named Yolanda and her mother Lindi. We saw them today and we taught them about the Sabbath, praying, and scripture study. Please convince dad to have family scripture study. I never realized how important it is until now. The blessings are countless. I'm tired, the Garda (Irish Police) busted a drug dealer in our apartment complex late last night. It kept me up late (yawn). Love you! Elder Austin

Letters from Elder Scott Austin Dated August 17, 2013

Not much happened today. We taught a less-active, went to a member's house, then taught some Filipino's. The Filipino's is a member who brings all his extended family over for dinner and a lesson (they're all non-members). They made a whole roasted pig! It was delicious, and they make so much food. We taught them the Word of Wisdom. They're all of different faiths so I don't think these lessons are going anywhere. They think as long as you have faith, you'll get to Heaven. The kids are interested though and that's our target. They do this every week and Elder Johnson thinks we should keep seeing them but I said we should drop them because these lessons aren't getting anywhere. Oh well, love you. Elder Austin

Letters from Elder Austin Dated August 16, 2013

So today wasn't that exciting. More people canceled on us today, but I was feeling better. We did have a few interesting things happen though. The first experience was when we were walking to the bus stop. We saw our bus coming so we literally sprinted to try and make it. The nice bus driver stopped for us. When we got on, he said, "Sorry guys, you won't qualify for the Olympics." It was funny. The second experience was when we were tracting. A young woman who was VERY immodestly dressed answered the door. She reeked of marijuana and her whole body was shaking as if she just did cocaine. She told us that there was no God. We gave her a pass-along card anyway and she got really excited. She kept giving us hugs and it was really awkward because we're not allowed to do that, but we didn't wanna tell her that and offend her. She then sprinted back inside and slammed the door. Weird, huh? Well, that was my unusual day. Love you! Elder Austin

Letters from Elder Austin Dated August 15, 2013

So Today was a little tougher for me. We were supposed to have a jam-packed schedule of teaching investigators and less-actives, but everybody kept canceling. We tracted instead, but nobody wanted to listen and most people were rude. I became discouraged and questioned my effectiveness as a missionary. I just figured this is another trial I have to face. I remember Dad always saying, "Nothing ever gets accomplished when your frustrated or emotional". So I've just got to put it all behind me. What else helped me is a quote from President Uchdorf in the Ensign from this month. The article is called "Worlds Without End". It's pretty cool. He said "Compared to God, we are nothing; but we are everything to God." It made me think about a story President Monson told about a gardener cutting down a bush. At first, the bush asked why, but would soon come to realize and say, "thank you for loving me enough to cut me down". At the end of this, I have to say the same thing to my Heavenly Father. Elder Austin P.S. Look up that Ensign article and that conference talk about the gardener. They're good.

Letters from Elder Austin Dated August 14, 2013

I've only been here for a week and I'm talking like the locals. I use the phrases like "I need to use the toilet" or "that's a really posh area". It's crazy! Sooner or later I'm gonna be saying "tanks" instead of thanks or "tink" instead of think. I had a bitter-sweet lesson today with a less-active older lady who lives alone. We talked about the importance of faith and how trials make us stronger. She said because of all of the deaths in her family and the trials it brought, she has all the faith in the world. She had a couple of newborn babies die so she used to have a hard time. She even said she felt the veil being removed right before someone died. She said that even if she never went to church again, because of what she went though, she could not deny the truth. I was so happy because of her faith, but so frustrated because of her inactivity. I don't get people sometimes. Oh, well....that's all! Love you! Elder Austin

Letters from Elder Austin Dated August 13, 2013

So today we did something called companion exchanges. That's where I go with the district leader and his companion goes with Elder Johnson for a day. The district leader's name is Elder Van Den Bron. He's from England. He is probably one of the funniest Englishmen I've ever met. We went up to his area which is Bray, Ireland. It's a very posh (means rich) area. We went to lunch with our district after our meeting and had kebabs, they were delicious. But the bad news is we had a dinner appointment two hours later. I did all I could to eat and not offend this Portuguese family. Their house was total chaos. Their little kids and teenagers would not listen to the lesson. Van Den Bron said that's how it always is. We just did some simple tracking and street contacting, but no luck with that either. So we just went back to our own apartment after that. Sorry there wasn't much excitement today. I'm staying the night here in Bray then going back to Clondalkin in the morning. Love you! Elder Austin

Letters from Elder Austin Dated August 12, 2013

So today was P day and we did some fun stuff! We first went to the Dublin City Center. It's a big outdoor shopping center right in the middle of Dublin. We went to an internet cafe and did our emailing. I emailed you, dad, Lyssa, Jake (or Elder Meyer I should say), Marisa and Darrell. We then met up with some missionaries and ate at a place called Toleca which is basically a Chipotle, it was good! Then we walked around a little bit and saw all the street performers. After that (sorry the pen ran out) we played volleyball with all the missionaries in our district. We then did all our grocery shopping. (Yes Mom, I know how to make food other than Pop Tarts.) P-day was over after that so we went over to a less-active family FHE. We taught the importance of repentance and then we played a little game. They made a LOT of food and we took some home. And that was my day! Love you! Elder Austin

Food of the locals & a mug shot! Email from August 26, 2013

1-The Mug Shot and description that is hung up in the Clondalken Building. Thanks for talking me up Bishop! 2-I have officially been kebab-tized in the name of the donner, of the lamb [meat], of the holy coke! 3-Me and my district in front of a monument in Dublin on P day. A face only a mother could love :p (I don't know what monument.)

(Scott forgot to download the last picture of him and his district!) Everything is well here. I should have my first baptism here in the next couple weeks. It is a 13 year old girl named Yolanda and her mother. They are so excited to get baptized and I am too! When I tell people that I've only been out for a month, they are so surprised. Some people say that I look like I've been out for a year! A random guy on the train asked about the mission I was on and he said he was shocked at how young I was and my dedication. He left the train telling everybody that, "See this kid, he's a star in the making". It made me so happy and I feel like Heavenly Father was proud of me. To end on a funny note, there was this drunk guy in the park by our flat (as usual on a normal Wednesday afternoon). He saw us and said, "Guys, I like drugs, so infect my mind." I laughed for a good 10 minutes after he left. I love you and miss you! Have a good week. Elder Austin

Email from Elder Scott Austin dated August 19, 2013

Here is Scotty's latest email. He was basically answering all my questions from a previous email. He would love to receive letters from everyone, also. I'm doing great! That guy I invited to be baptized, his name is Ian. He's 22 and lives alone. He says he feels really good when he meets with us, and wants to continue. I think his baptismal date is September 14, or somewhere around there. I don't know if I'll baptize him or not, it doesn't matter if I don't, but either way it'll be a great experience for both him and me. P days are great. Last week we just hung out with all the missionaries in our district and played volleyball. We mostly stay in Dublin. That blog idea is cool! I don't know if I can write anything in it, but you should keep adding stuff. I'm sorry I don't take a lot of pictures, I'll try to work on that. My ward is great! There's only about 50-70 people in it, but they are a great group of latter-day saints. Some of the youth just got back from EFY in England and they all bore their testimony, it was awesome! I love our ward mission leader, he's just a young guy in his late 20's, but he helps us out a lot! We're currently teaching about 5 or 6 other people at the moment. We do all sorts of things to try and find people to teach. It's really hard to tell you about all the cool experiences that I go through, so what I did is I sat down and wrote a letter to you every night telling you of my experiences of that day. I'm putting it the mail today or tomorrow. Elder Johnson says it takes like 2 weeks to go through the mail. I'm so excited about all those letters!!! I can't wait to read them!! Yeah I know Edi. I'm so glad he's made that decision!!!! He's a great kid!! I love you all so much and miss you tons, but I am having the time of my life out here! I'll talk to you in a week! Love you! Elder Austin

Elder Austin's first teaching exeriences in Clondalkin

Arthur's seat is actually something we call Pratt's Hill. It's because Orson Pratt climbed to the top and dedicated Scotland for missionary work. Up there, all the new missionaries (including me) prayed and made goals with Heavenly Father about what we want to accomplish on our mission. I won't tell you a lot about it, but one of my closing statements to Him was, "I want to see the people I teach in the Celestial Kingdom. I wanna see their children and their families and their families' family. I want them to look at me and say,'Elder Austin, you made a difference to me and my family." That's the only little thing I'll say about that. Yeah we drove to Scotland, then took a ferry over to Ireland! It's so green and beautiful. The weather is great! The people are kinda hard to understand but I'm getting used to it. Me and Elder Johnson live in an apartment. The food is alright, I haven't eaten a lot at member's homes. Elder Johnson is from Green River, Utah. He's a good guy and I'm learning a lot from him. We're teaching people of all ethnicities! (They're much more open than Irish people). We have a few people with baptismal dates already! I even invited someone to be baptized myself, and he said yes!! We visited one less active family called the Hans. They're an African family who are kinda sad because life has been hard and the husband can't find work, I think that's why they haven't been to church. I shared with them that through Christ, weak things can become strong (see Ether 12). That put a smile on their face and we saw them at church on Sunday!! It makes me really happy when I can make people happier, that's the best thing ever. I use you guys especially my family a lot when I teach. The view from top of Pratt's Hill. (Arthur's Seat)

Elder Austin Arrived in Scotland

Brother & Sister Austin , Just a brief e-mail to let you know that your missionary, Elder Austin, arrived safely in Scotland from the Preston, England Missionary Training Center. Upon arriving he had the opportunity to climb Arthur's Seat where he committed to serve the Lord, similar to what Orson Pratt, an Apostle of the Lord did in 1840. His trainer is Elder Johnson , and they are laboring in Clondalkin. On Monday you can expect an e-mail which will provide you with more information about his companion and area. Thank you for all that you have done to prepare Elder Austin to serve the Lord for the next two years. Alan H. Brown, President Scotland/Ireland Mission