Elder Austin's Missionary Journal Letters February 24th - March 2, 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

In my opinion, today was a very productive day.  After emailing and shopping, I got a haircut, got my contact solution, and got some other supplies.  The solution cost 17.50 (Pounds), about $25 for three bottles.  You'll never guess what I bought today, you'll probably think I'm silly.  I bought a musical recorder!  I really miss music and my piano skills are gone.  I bought it for cheap 5 (pounds) and I've had a blast playing it.  I got your journal letters today and I'm way proud of Dad for working out.  Tell him I said "Atta Boy Hauncho"!  Also tell him that one day he might be as strong as me.  Nothing really happened after that.  People were mean when we were knocking on doors, so nothing new!  It was a good day though.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Well, the day started off good with district meeting in the morning.  Over the course of the day it just got progressively worse.  Since our top 3 investigators are fading out, we're pretty much back to square one.  It's a whole lot of knocking on doors and talking to people on the street.  I don't know why, but there's been a lot of hostility towards us lately.  Oh well, like I said in my email, I choose to be happy.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Today was actually a pretty good successful day which was nice for a change.  We met some pretty good people who invited us back.  One was a guy named Graham and he said the closest he came to God was when he almost died.  I boldly claimed that God gave him a second chance to prepare him to meet us.  He invited us back for a return appointment.  He had a beautiful dog named Kiya.  She is a Czechoslovakian timber wolf.  I absolutely loved her!!  The only bad part about today was when a member told us that she found some anti-Mormon material and that it shook her testimony.  Please, Please, Please, Never, EVER look at material like that.  No matter how curious you are, no matter how strong you think you are, it is evil and will only tear you down.  Unfortunately, I have seen too much of it, but I am lucky because I feel the Spirit in abundance here.  This is my warning to you!  Other than that, it was a good day.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Happy Birthday Mummy!  I'm sure you already know this, but today at Bethany's, we celebrated your birthday!  They put up birthday banners and we even had a cake.  I took some pictures so I'll send them in this letter.  Believe it or not, this really helped Bethany because it got her mind off things and she was smiling.  She's doing a lot better now so hopefully things can go back to normal.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Today was a really good day and I enjoyed it.  We were on exchanges so I was with my district leader, Elder Johns from West Jordan, Utah.  We found SO many good people who are interested in the gospel.  One of them asked me "How do you know if God is there?"  I replied with, "Because I asked and He told me."  You could see her countenance changing right there on the street.  That was only one of the miracles of the many that I saw today.  Me and Elder Johns really work well together, so it was an awesome day. 

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Well this weekend starting with today was Stake conference for the Paisley Stake.  The Saturday night session started at 7 pm and it's 2 hours away from us, so traveling took up most of the day.  It was a really good meeting though.  They were hammering missionary work for the members since that is what the 1st Presidency was doing.  Since tomorrow's meeting is at 11 am, we are staying the night at our zone leader's flat.  Elder Benesch (Scott's college roommate) is here too so I get to catch up with him which is always nice.  We always re-live the glory days back in college!

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Round 2 of Stake Conference started this morning and it was another great meeting.  Bethany got a ride with some members so she got to see it too!  She absolutely loved it and she even wanted to see the baptismal font.  She later texted us saying that her prayers have been answered and that she wants to be baptized!!!!!  AHH, she finally got the spiritual confirmation that the church was true.  WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BAPTISM!!!!!  I'm so happy.  That's not the only good news we got today either.  Today was our moves call and I have been promoted to train a new-coming missionary here in Stranraer!  I'm going to pick him up in Edinburgh at the mission home on Wednesday.  I'm so excited.  It was an awesome day!!

Love you!!    P.S.  I got your package.  Thank you!