Elder Austin's Journal Letter from April 28 - May 4, 2014

Monday, April 28, 2014

So as I explained in my email today, President Brown has instituted Zone Development Days.  It's where you meet as a zone and do fun things for the day.  He did this because there's a high level of stressed-out elders and sisters all over the mission.  Our zone went go-karting and had a barbeque thanks to a very generous and very rich member in our stake.  It was a lot of fun, but a little weird because we weren't working.  I'll feel better about it tomorrow!

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Since we got a whole day off, we only had a half of a P-day.  We emailed, shopped, and wrote a couple of letters.  Nothing too exciting happened today other than our dinner apt with the Obasuyi's.  They made African rice and chicken which was delicious as always.  We had a really good spiritual though with the husband and I feel like he could be making the journey back to our church soon.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Today was a little more exciting than yesterday.  Since Sister Campbell's surgery, she hasn't been able to walk her dogs, so we did it for her.  I haven't walked a dog in a long time, so that was fun.  We had a really good finding day!  We found 5 more potentials and they seem to be really good.  When things like that happen, it makes the day so much better.  We had dinner with the Corrigan's and we're focusing on missionary work a lot with them.  They're seeing a lot of opportunities and answers to their prayers.  We finished the night by FINALLY seeing john the fireman.  It was just him, not his family.  We went over the Restoration again to make sure he understands.  It was a good lesion, I just wish his family was there.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Some people from the mission home came down to look at our flat and make sure it's clean.  I guess they don't trust us or something.  I wouldn't blame them.  Today, we saw the lady named Kirsty who is about to be baptized into the Jehovah's Witness church.  She said she read and prayed, but the Book of Mormon was too hard to understand.  We gave her a DVD to help explain it better.  I think her mind has been fed with so much JW stuff that she's not open-minded.  Sometimes I wonder why the Lord wouldn't answer her prayer right there and then.  I guess He just wants to test her faith.  We had dinner with the Campbell's and a nice lesson.  They're having a tough time with tithing, so we taught about it.  It was a nice time.  They made jus what's called "American bean pie"  It's beans, mince and mashed potatoes.  Very delicious!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Today was a really good day!  First we had a lesson with a less-active named Jim McDonald.  He went from being a chronic alcoholic to only drinking 3/4 of a bottle per week.  He committed to come to church this week too!  The highlight of the day was teaching lady named Kirsty at the McRobb's house.  We now have 2 investigators with the name Kirsty!  This lady has a strong belief and has always been attracted to our church.  We taught her about the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost and the Spirit was HEAVY!  She committed to reading and praying plus coming to church.  I have a really good feeling about her.  I think she will go far!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Well it wasn't the most exciting day but it was a good one nonetheless.  We did service this morning for the McRobb's.  We did some gardening and planted some flowers.  We then went to the out-of-towners.  We couldn't see Peter because there's a bit of trouble going on at the rest home.  They told his son that we are there for 5 hours and that we are agitating him.  It's not true because we only stay there for 15 minutes and he's always happy to see us.  I think they're creating these false accusations because we're Mormon missionaries.  They could get a file of religious discrimination but we're not gonna do that.  Other than that, little mix-up, it was a pretty good day.  I'm so tired, good night!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Happy Star Wars Day!  May the 4th be with you!   Church was very interesting today.  Two less-actives who haven't been to church in years finally came this week, so that was the positive side.  The Negative side was that some members don't know what bearing their testimony means.  You have some people just telling stories expressing frustrations or just want to talk.  It just made the meeting kind of awkward.  On a sad note, it might have been the last time I bore my testimony in the Stranraer Branch.  The McRobb's fed us chicken which was really good.  They made my favorite Scottish dessert, banoffey pie.  PLEASE look it up, it's amazing!

Love you