Another Baptism and More Life Lessons

1.25.10
I'm glad to hear everything is going well back home. We had a baptism this weekend, her name is Karen. She is twenty-one and has three young daughters. She has one set of twins, both three years old (mom here: I thought twins were always the same age as each other...), one named Renoa and the other named Zoey, and then a two year old named Sky. It was a neat experience. I spoke on the importance of baptism, and also was called later to tell everyone why I decided to go on a mission. Then Elder McFarland performed the ordinance. Afterwards Elder Izatt spoke on the Holy Ghost, and I performed the Confirmation.

Things are getting better here, for me and my new companion. We have had a pretty rough start. It has been difficult to be motivated for the past few days, and really I don't know why. However, we spoke for a few hours on Sunday about it all, and concluded to work better as a team. Then afterwards the Zone Leaders came and spoke to us, told us to repent, change, get over it and work hard. Of all the things to be chastised for, I'm glad it is for that thing and not something worse.

Yet, I'm learning a lot about myself in the midst of the "burned out" ordeal. I'm starting to see why I burn out. Why I don't always enjoy myself. I think it goes back to football, baseball, and experiences with friends and coaches. I think of when I was eight and nine years old and how much fun I had in little league football. I loved every bit of it, I'm sure everyone can remember clearly. Always carrying a football around. Always wanting to go play pass. Always wanting to tackle someone. Always wanting to score touchdowns. Always wanting to share my love of football with everyone else. I don't know the exact moment in time, or even exactly what happened, but I do know something caused that passion to seemingly go away. I'm sure it has to do with allowing others to chisel away at my soul, and steal away bits and pieces of me, and then do nothing about it but suffer from the pain as I watch myself slowly melt away (then comes Senior year high school). I am sure, however, that I finally realized all this midway through the baseball season. I think that I realized this and I knew that I needed to do something about it, but the only thing that came to my mind was to leave and serve a full-time mission. I know it was an inspired thought. Because where else would I relearn to give my whole heart to everyone around me, and to share happiness once more instead of sadness. It is similar to the book, "How Full is Your Bucket". I am sure that I have been close to empty several times, and am positive I didn't want to do anything about it, more or less because I was too blind to see that the only way to overcome such depression is by giving unselfish and unconditional love to all those I meet. I know this applies to everyone.

Why was it easy for me to feel that happiness and joy when I was so much younger? Because I shared it. Why wasn't I as happy when I was older? Because I tried to keep what "little" hope I had to myself, and it continued to shrink. It is funny how such things work. It is no wonder the Savior exclaimed that the first and greatest commandment and the second which is like unto it both require the giving of one's heart with all his might, mind, and strength to our Heavenly Father and all those who surround us. It is the only way to be truly happy, the only way to find lasting and even eternal happiness. It is a much more pleasing way of life than being negative and full of darkness all the day long. I think it would be safe to say that love, and light, and truth, are all the same thing. This thought brings me to another scripture in the Book of John, in the eighth chapter, verses thirty-one and thirty-two:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

So there we go. That is how we become free. Love is the first commandment, or the word. Those who follow the word are the Savior's disciples. Those who are His disciples will know the truth, or will know of light, or more importantly love, and the truth, or light, or love they have gained will MAKE them free.

Anyways, I hope each of you know I love you very much, and that I know this is how each of us are going to become free from our doubting selves. I'm glad we are members of this Church, because I do not know what I would do without this knowledge that brings so much peace and joy. A gospel that allows us to continue in growth and learning forever. This is the place!

I love you,

Austin

Sorry About Last Week...

1.18.10

I thought I'd send a letter home finally. I actually just started writing the letter on Microsoft Word and the program closed and deleted my letter--how wonderful. I think computers have an issue with me. Oh well.

Anyhow, last week was a rough week. We just had our transfers, as well as our mission conference. President Newman spoke to us for a while about what is appropriate mission clothing and what is not. He decided that for this year we as a mission need to more fully consecrate ourselves to the missionary work. In order to do that he has asked us to sacrifice certain styles of clothing not found in our missionary handbook, that we may more fully set ourselves apart from the world, and that any clothing we have that causes us the slightest degree of doubt, we need to send home. The thought came to mind, what would an Apostle of the Lord be wearing, and am I in alignment with him with the clothes I am wearing? So basically that means I will be sending home a few choice things of mine...but iIhave been asked to do so, and it is something I need to do in order to be more focused. As you may guess, most of my ties will be coming home. Please save them for when I do return home, because I love them, but as of now, that is one thing that I felt needed to go. I think it's because it is one thing that is hard for me to give up. So when you receive 17 of my 20 ties, don't be alarmed.

As far as the work goes, we are trying as best as we possibly can to be exactly obedient. It is interesting to see the blessings that flow from being obedient. Monday, we chose to be exactly obedient and it cost us emails and laundry, and almost groceries; but as we began proselyting, we had many neat experiences. I'll go into them another time, however. Later in the week we slacked off and it cost us almost all the blessings we received. We set 12 baptismal dates by Wednesday, we slowed down on Thursday and Friday, and because of that almost all of our dates went away. I believe we had 1 date after Friday night. Saturday we refocused, but still ended the day with 1 date. Sunday was a much better day because of our efforts on Saturday, and our decision to once again pursue exact obedience. We ended up having 4 baptismal dates...by the end of church. I guess it truly shows that obedience is the key to all things.

Later this day, I hope to have more time, but I want to send home more thoughts about being exactly obedient (1 Nephi 3:7, going and doing), how it applies to faith and charity, and how all three apply to living life in the moment, or, in other words, being in the zone (from an athlete's perspective). All these things hit me last night as I was trying to fall asleep, but it may take a while to get these thoughts on paper, so I'll do it later.

...ahhh, it is so difficult to write sometimes. I have so many things to say but am confined to so little time. I never expected to be doing so much WORK!!!

Oooh, that also reminds me, I have one other thing to include in my letter--it has to do with finding joy while serving the Lord, and how more opportunities to serve equate to a greater chance to find joy. I'll explain later. I can't remember if I mentioned this or not, but one scripture President Newman mentioned was in Doctrine & Covenants 88:119-121, and it talks about establishing a House of God, and that is what our President wants us to establish in our apartments. It is interesting when you apply that scripture to your life, and consider yourself (since our bodies are a temple) to be the house spoken of in the scripture. It is a good example of how to live a good and faithful life.

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needfull thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

"That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High,

"Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings."

Doctrine & Covenants 88:119-121

Anyways, my mind is all over the place at this moment, mostly because my knowledge of what is now required of me, but I know it will all work out.

Anyhow, I plan on writing again soon. I love each of you and really enjoyed reading all the emails this week. Hopefully I don't ever have to miss a Monday again, because if I do, pretty much all writing time goes out the window.

I'll talk to you soon.

Love,

Austin

P.S. I Love You!

On Sports and Life...

While we wait to see if Austin's email is going to work this week (this seems to be a common problem with myldsmail.net)...here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote home in December:

12.19.09
...The ward sent me a package...I thought it was neat for the ward to send me something. I really appreciate it. I'm especially excited to read the new book [they sent], but I have to finish the Book of Mormon before I do any more outside reading. (P.S. the other elders give me a lot of crap for reading these books, for the most part I tell them I don't care. I love to read, but more importantly to learn--and each of these books help me to understand so much more!)

To me, it has been very interesting to see how much my experiences in baseball and football have prepared me to be on a mission, as well as having an understanding of what it takes to overcome difficult situations. Both the good times and the bad were essential for my personal growth. I am so glad I chose to push through all the difficult times instead of giving in, although I came pretty close a few times. It would seem to me that life works exactly the same way, aside from the actual playing of the game itself, but the emotional ups and downs associated with the sports [are the same].

Through baseball and football I have learned many important things, for example: how to fail 9 out of 10 times and still push through it all; to understand the amount of sacrifice it takes to ultimately win the championship game; the love that is required to be able to overcome adversity (not just love of the game but of family, friends, teammates, coaches, etc...); what it is like to deal with public humiliation, consistently, and the mental strength it takes to endure the pain; what it is like to be the greatest and the least, the MVP and the last out, the team captain who gets benched--going from one who works the hardest with all his heart, to having his heart broken and attempting to pick up the pieces while doing his best to make it through the day; to end without much notice or attention from the world, but a sure knowledge that his family loves him dearly and that the friends he has now will always be his friends; and most importantly, having the least glimpse, hardly worth any comparison, of what the Savior must have went through in His lifetime here on earth--I can never fully understand how He did it, because I could never come close.

I take solace in the the fact that He went through my life experiences before I ever did and the knowledge I have that He was there with me every single step of the way (and still is now). I think it more incredible that He has been through every individuals trials and sufferings that ever existed, considering that I am only one in a limitless number of all God's children; and yet, He still knows me! I am beginning to understand the only worthy thing we could give back to Him is our utter, complete faith, our whole hearts and nothing less. I imagine the sacrifice is great, but nothing is more worthwhile.

Love,

Austin

Transfer Week and a New Companion

1.04.10

Hello Again,

Things have been going pretty well these past few days. Transfers are here and as it turns out, I will be getting a new companion this coming Wednesday. Elder Pelo is being transferred to the Palatka 2nd Ward and Elder Chadburn is getting transferred to the Gainesville 3rd Ward. I will still be here in Normandy as well as Elder Izatt. I believe my new companion is Elder McFarland (or McFarlane, I'm not quite sure how you spell it) and he is 24 years old.

...I have gotten up on the stand [in sacrament meeting] at least once every month to bear my testimony, and to be perfectly honest, I don't get nervous speaking in front of a crowd. I guess it has to do with talking to so many random people throughout the day that it isn't as bothersome anymore.

About that letter I said I would send, it left my apartment on Friday, so it should be there soon. I can't really remember what I wrote, but I'm sure it has to do with those two that were baptized on Sunday last week. They didn't come this Sunday to be confirmed, so that will have to wait until next week...

Everything else is going good. I've had a couple long days, but most of them rush by. It is so weird to me that Nathan has his farewell this coming Sunday, I'm so excited for him. It is amazing to see how much he has grown and is continuing to grow. Each time he emails me I can tell the difference through his writing. this is such a big step for him and I know he will do great. I won't be surprised when he has the most success out of all of us. His heart is certainly the biggest and most enduring. To think of him when I first met him in 1st grade until now, he has overcome so much. I know he'll be blessed forever because of his choice to serve a mission.

One other thing before I close; here is something I've been thinking about over the past few days, or maybe weeks--I can never tell--and that is the importance of a testimony, and what it truly means to have one. Consider this passage from the 12th Chapter of Revelations:

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Pay special attention to verse 11, then tell me what you think next week. I'll respond with my thoughts later. There is so much to the scripture, but I guess it's easier for me to apply it considering all I do every day is study the scriptures and apply them to my life, but it is cool to think about nonetheless. Here is a hint: try to figure out who the accuser is, what it means to be an accuser, and how the accuser is finally defeated.

Anyways, I love you all and am glad to hear everything is going well back home. Tell everyone I say hello and wish them all a Happy New Year's for me! I love you so much and am thankful to be a part of our family, I know I am blessed.

Until next week!

Love,

Austin