Letter Dated July 7, 2014

Hey Mum!

How are you doing?  I'm so sorry for not writing you last week.  I didn't get a P-day so I couldn't take time to write a letter.  I'll try to fill you in on what has happened.

Well unfortunately, me and Elder Fisher split up.  I'm really going to miss him! It's a good thing that we're in the same group, so we can see each other right before we go him. 

So on Wednesday, I went to Edinburgh to pick up Elder Livingston.  He's from Naperville, Illinois.  He's a good guy, so I think we'll get along great.  Right now I'm trying to help him see success, because every new missionary needs to see that.  It was a tough week work-wise.  Courtney is sick, so we couldn't teach her this week.  There is SO much opposition going on right now, it's crazy.  This week is looking a lot better, so hopefully things go well.

I conducted my first baptismal interview last week!  As a district leader, I interview all the investigators who have been taught by missionaries in my district.  The investigator was a 17-year-old girl and she was super prepared!  I just made sure she was ready and worthy to be baptized.  She was a little nervous at first, but I told her that I was too because it was my first time giving an interview that made her feel a little bit better and she passed!

This week I was reflecting on one of my favorite quotes by Neil A. Maxwell.  "Each one of us is an inn-keeper who decides if we have room for Jesus or not."  This week I felt a bit like Joseph knocking on all these doors and seeing if they have room for Jesus.  It kind of put things in perspective for me!  I guess I'm just looking for those wise men who are seeking him.  Let's be persistent like Mary and Joseph!  How about we challenge ourselves to spread the good news of Jesus Christ as best we can?  I'll do it if you do it.  Pray for these experiences and write me about them.  I'll be excited to hear about the miracles that can come from it. 

I hope you have a good week.  I love you.

Elder Austin

Letter from June 23, 2014

Hey Mum!

How are you doing?  Are you doing all right?  Your journal letters don't have a lot of feeling in them, whether they be emotional or spiritual.  Maybe that's just the downside to journal letters.  I just hope you're doing okay.  It also seems like you're missing me a little too much.  That's how it seems to me at least.  I don't want you being unhappy!  I don't know, I can't really read you in those letters.  Just know that I'm doing absolutely wonderful and that I'm happy where I am.

So do you remember Courtney from my last letter?  Well, she has a baptismal date of July 19th!!  Aahh she's so good and I'm excited for her.  She was all set up to go to church yesterday, but then her 15-month-old son got hit with the chicken pox.  She's been experiencing a lot of opposition lately which means that Satan knows that something good is going to happen!  That has been Satan's pattern throughout the ages.  He's done it with Moses, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and even myself.  Do you remember the day I went through the Temple?  I experienced so much opposition that day that I thought it was impossible, but great things came out of it.  That's why I'm praying really hard that she will overcome these trials and be baptized into the Lord's church.  It will be a great day when she does.

This week we also had zone interview training where we interview with President Brown.  I love doing that because I have such a great love for him and all the things he does for the mission.  The Spirit is so strong even when he steps into the room.  I asked him how I can love my enemies more.  There's been a lot of people who have yelled and done mean things to us lately and I want to have that Christlike charity for them.  He told me to pray for it and to pray for those people as well.  I never really thought about that before.  He is truly an inspired man and I love him so much!

Well that's all I have for this week.  It was a very spiritually uplifting and learning week.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love you!

Elder Austin