Life is good. We're working hard. Elder Evans and i are getting along great. We picked up some great new investigators this week. One is a mom with three kids. Her name is Patricia. She just went through a divorce, but her ex-husband sneaks in sometimes and beats her up. Not a good situation... But she's got a baptismal date for Jan 2. A great lady, very sincere and committed.
Thanksgiving was great. Very filling. We had 3 dinners. haha. One of those days you wish you could spread the meals over the next week.
Haha. Mom, by this point in your mission you were getting ready to go home. haha.
This work over all is great. Sorry i haven't filled you in one everything. We've been extremely busy. Elder Evan crashed last night and said, "if i'd know being a zone leader would be this hard and stressfull i probably wouldn't have said yes." haha. Leadership is a wake up call. Our zone covers the whole east side of Dayton. The areas are: Bellefontaine, Springfield, Piqua, Sidney, Huber Heights, Xenia, Beaver Creek, and Fairborn. We also cover the Dayton singles branch. It's a much small zone than columbus, but there's a lot of great wards.
Thanks for taking care of the ticket for me, and for the debit card. Before you have a panic attack, mom, there's not much left in my account. I bought some winter stuff, then found it cheaper somewhere else. I returned the first purchase today. So my money's in my dresser, and not my account. Sorry, just wanted to save you from a heart attack.
Oh, Southlands during the holidays. Reminds me of working with Hannah at Banana Republic. I wish i had the people skills i have now back then. I would've sold a whole lot more.
We picked up a christmas tree at goodwill this week for a couple of dollars. We had decorations in the apartment, just no tree. Needless to say, we are now properly festive.
Oh, i just remembered. I had a favor to ask. Mom, do you remember those cuff links we got for prom my senior year? If you happen to know where they are i would love for you to send them out. Elder Tanner left me with a nice french cuff shirt, and i would love to be able to wear it. Thanks.
Well, our more comedic note for the week came the other night while we were tracting. We knocked on a door and a guy answered and with a few words mormons can't say he told us he wasn't interested. As we walked away a woman came to the door and told us we could come back. She let us in. We started to talk and immediately realized she was a tad bit intoxicated. She told us she really respected what we did and asked if she could give us a hug. We said no. She continued to talk about her religious background, then all of the sudden she said, "give me a hug!" and lunged at Elder Evans. He stiff-armed her. We set up a return appointment and got out of there. I was laughing so hard i was crying as i walked to the car. My companion got raped by a crazy drunk woman.
On a more spiritual note...
I've been studying recently about what it means to "take upon us the name of Christ." It means that we're are going to do all in our power to become like Savior and progress to be like our Heavenly Father. It means we will constantly see for spritual nourishment. We will consistently learn true doctrine and apply it. Nephi was the master of this. As he would learn new truth from the Lord he would immediately look at his life and figure out how it would change his character and choices. Our choices define us, and the most important decision we make is to exercise faith in the Savior.
I miss you. I hope you had a wonderful Turkey Day!
-Austin
Friday, November 27, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Faith
I've only got about 5 minutes to write. I'll probably take some money out this week. As far as the white shirts go, the reason i left those at home was because they didn't fit. I had them set aside to return them, but i guess i make do with wearing them. Their are a few things i do need to buy for winter, but it shouldn't be too much. As far as christmas goes, it'd be easier for you to just add a little money to my account to buy neccesities than to pay to ship them. Honestly, a little something under the true would be a slight morale boost.
My due date for the ticket is Nov 24. The problem is that there's no cost for the fine on the ticket, so i'm not sure how much to pay. I'll take care of it though.
I'm glad Dad is excercising so much faith. Even i'm ok with utah right now. You'd be closer to me at school anyway. Plus the stability of a church job sounds great.
I'm training a new zone leader named elder evans. He's from the salt lake area. Lacrosse player. Great missionary. I'm excited.
Well that's all the time i've got. Sorry, i'll try and send some snail mail soon.
Love,
Austin
My due date for the ticket is Nov 24. The problem is that there's no cost for the fine on the ticket, so i'm not sure how much to pay. I'll take care of it though.
I'm glad Dad is excercising so much faith. Even i'm ok with utah right now. You'd be closer to me at school anyway. Plus the stability of a church job sounds great.
I'm training a new zone leader named elder evans. He's from the salt lake area. Lacrosse player. Great missionary. I'm excited.
Well that's all the time i've got. Sorry, i'll try and send some snail mail soon.
Love,
Austin
Friday, November 13, 2009
Bad News
Now for my bad news for the week. I got in a fender bender yesterday. Nothing serious, but you should get my ticket in the mail at some point. It's for failure to yield, and the cop said it shouldn't be too expensive. Let me know when you get it, and if you could make sure it get's paid i would appreiciate it. I'm really sorry about that. My guilt and stress levels are really high right now, and car accidents don't help at all.
On a good note, our investigators are doing well. If all goes well we should have a good number of baptisms in December. We've got some great progressing investigators and some that need a little work. All in all life is good though.
Our zone meeting this week was on repentance. Devin would've loved it. Elder Tanner and i had everyone write down there "favorite sin" on slips of paper and put them in a jar. We then proceeded to poor in lighter fluid and light it on fire. Repentance is awesome! haha. The doctrine was hopefully as good as the object lesson. We started by discussing a large number of definitions of repentance.
- The movement from prison to paradise
-To convert to another state.
- To turn around.
- The process of becoming like God.
and my favorite:
-Repentance is the Plan of Salvation.
It's interesting how the change that comes to a repentant sould is not based about the trials we recieve, but how we deal with those trials. I spend a lot of time trying to imagine how the Savior dealt with emotion and struggle.
Well, I gotta run. I will talk to you all soon. Thanks for being so awesome.
Love,
Austin
**this message has been edited for privacy
On a good note, our investigators are doing well. If all goes well we should have a good number of baptisms in December. We've got some great progressing investigators and some that need a little work. All in all life is good though.
Our zone meeting this week was on repentance. Devin would've loved it. Elder Tanner and i had everyone write down there "favorite sin" on slips of paper and put them in a jar. We then proceeded to poor in lighter fluid and light it on fire. Repentance is awesome! haha. The doctrine was hopefully as good as the object lesson. We started by discussing a large number of definitions of repentance.
- The movement from prison to paradise
-To convert to another state.
- To turn around.
- The process of becoming like God.
and my favorite:
-Repentance is the Plan of Salvation.
It's interesting how the change that comes to a repentant sould is not based about the trials we recieve, but how we deal with those trials. I spend a lot of time trying to imagine how the Savior dealt with emotion and struggle.
Well, I gotta run. I will talk to you all soon. Thanks for being so awesome.
Love,
Austin
**this message has been edited for privacy
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Timing
Life's good and busy as always. The toughest part is get the morale of the zone boosted. They're not finding a lot of people, and therefore not teaching much. That can get discouraging, so we're working to rekindle their fire a bit.
Our area is doing well. We started teaching a man named Ron this week. He's the principal of a high school in Dayton. He's also the president of Ohio's Lay Ministers' Association. He works with over 1000 ministers. So we concluded if we can convert him we'll convert ohio.
We started teaching a few other people this week including a kid that's Devin's age and a few others. Lots of fun.
Thanks for taking care of that card for me. No, i couldn't call in and cancel the card, so apparently Heavenly Father really really loves me.
One good thing this week was that I got to go on exchanges in Bellefontaine. I talked to Mike and Gina for a bit. Mike just got the Melchizedek Priesthood and they're preparing to go to the temple. Hopefully I'll be able to attend their sealing.
Ohio is treating me well so far this week. It's stayed pretty mild and hopefully it will stay that way.
My spiritual thoughts for the week concern the topic of "timing".
Elder Maxwell said, "The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? The same is true with the second coming and with all those matters wherein our faith needs to include faith in the Lord’s timing for us personally, not just in His overall plans and purposes.”
Everything has a method, a purpose, and a time. (Eccl. 3:1–7) And as we learn for Nephi the Lord doesn't do anything except it be our good and benefit. (2 Ne. 26:24, Moses 1:39)
We must place our abiding trust in the hand of the Lord. His power is perfect, his knowledge is perfect, and his timing is perfect. His words will not fail. (D&C 64:31–32)
The first principle of the gospel is faith. Faith and trust are one in the same. Even the Savior has full confidence in the Father. He does not know the timing of the his second coming among the children of men, yet he is prepared knowing it will come to pass. The lord knows the timing of everything. (D&C 88:68)
There is one thing that we can control the timing of: the use of our agency in response to the trials we are blessed to endure. This is our time to overcome and apply the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Alma 34:32) "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..." (D&C 121:7-15, 25-29)
My last note comes from a phrase we all are familiar with "And it came to pass..." (1 Ne. 16: 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-15, 18-28, 30-35, 39 Jacob 5: 4-7, 10, 14-17, 19-21, 23-24, 26, 28-31, 35, 38-39, 41, 48-49, 55, 70, 72, 75 Hel. 5: 1, 4, 13, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 26, 28-30, 32, 34, 36-37, 40, 42-43, 46, 50, 52 etc. etc. etc. haha.) I note this because it is a true prophecy, all things shall come to pass. We just have to exercise patience and faith.
I gotta run. Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Austin
Our area is doing well. We started teaching a man named Ron this week. He's the principal of a high school in Dayton. He's also the president of Ohio's Lay Ministers' Association. He works with over 1000 ministers. So we concluded if we can convert him we'll convert ohio.
We started teaching a few other people this week including a kid that's Devin's age and a few others. Lots of fun.
Thanks for taking care of that card for me. No, i couldn't call in and cancel the card, so apparently Heavenly Father really really loves me.
One good thing this week was that I got to go on exchanges in Bellefontaine. I talked to Mike and Gina for a bit. Mike just got the Melchizedek Priesthood and they're preparing to go to the temple. Hopefully I'll be able to attend their sealing.
Ohio is treating me well so far this week. It's stayed pretty mild and hopefully it will stay that way.
My spiritual thoughts for the week concern the topic of "timing".
Elder Maxwell said, "The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? The same is true with the second coming and with all those matters wherein our faith needs to include faith in the Lord’s timing for us personally, not just in His overall plans and purposes.”
Everything has a method, a purpose, and a time. (Eccl. 3:1–7) And as we learn for Nephi the Lord doesn't do anything except it be our good and benefit. (2 Ne. 26:24, Moses 1:39)
We must place our abiding trust in the hand of the Lord. His power is perfect, his knowledge is perfect, and his timing is perfect. His words will not fail. (D&C 64:31–32)
The first principle of the gospel is faith. Faith and trust are one in the same. Even the Savior has full confidence in the Father. He does not know the timing of the his second coming among the children of men, yet he is prepared knowing it will come to pass. The lord knows the timing of everything. (D&C 88:68)
There is one thing that we can control the timing of: the use of our agency in response to the trials we are blessed to endure. This is our time to overcome and apply the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Alma 34:32) "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..." (D&C 121:7-15, 25-29)
My last note comes from a phrase we all are familiar with "And it came to pass..." (1 Ne. 16: 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-15, 18-28, 30-35, 39 Jacob 5: 4-7, 10, 14-17, 19-21, 23-24, 26, 28-31, 35, 38-39, 41, 48-49, 55, 70, 72, 75 Hel. 5: 1, 4, 13, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 26, 28-30, 32, 34, 36-37, 40, 42-43, 46, 50, 52 etc. etc. etc. haha.) I note this because it is a true prophecy, all things shall come to pass. We just have to exercise patience and faith.
I gotta run. Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Austin
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