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!
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