Where in the World is Austin? Orange Park, of course!

I'm glad to hear everything is going good. It seems crazy that baseball is already starting. It is a little weird to not be a part of it, or at least to watch any games, or even hear of "fun" practices involving all the running and other stuff. But I guess it is ok, my new apartment is literally right on a baseball complex, so there are little league games almost every night. So maybe I'm still slightly part of it, if not from a distance anyhow. It seems as if everyone I have talked to in this new ward loves baseball, who would have thought?

My new companion is Elder Olsen. He is from California, near Barstow. I believe he said he is in the middle of somewhere around 10 children. He is a neat guy. He was assigned to be the District Leader, and so we are constantly doing things. Our new area is a much nicer area, however, people are much less willing to listen. So far we have tracted well over 100 houses and have taught well under 30 lessons (mind you, these lessons usually last a solid 2 minutes). It's been fun. Let me tell you.

On the bright side of things, this past week Elder McFarland and I were teaching a woman by the name of Angela and her family. She is a very sweet person. She was certainly prepared to hear the message and was so happy she finally found something that made sense to her. She has spent her whole life in search of something that actually agreed with what she read in the Bible, and basically gave up her search. Nevertheless, although her search wasn't quite the ongoing process, the need for truth always lingered within her. When the missionaries arrived at her door and began to teach her, she knew that this was the place she needed to be. The Timiquana Elders referred her to us since she lived in our area, but they met her before we did, and we began teaching her. She had already finished the Gospel Principles book when we met her. Her boyfriend, Amor, was actually baptized last week (on Valentine's Day), and confirmed a member of the Church just yesterday. Angela and her daughter Ashlee were baptized together at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. It was a neat experience. Angela has 5 children. She has 3 sons and 2 daughters. Ronnie, Ashlee, Michael, Amber, and Gino, in order from oldest to youngest. The ages range from somewhere between 15 to 3 years old. I took a picture of them and I'll send it home as soon as I fill up the new memory card.

This first Sunday, I forgot to mention, I was asked to give the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting. Afterwards I was informed that I was teaching the Sunday School class as well. I didn't exactly have much time to prepare, but I chose chapter 30 out of the Gospel Principles book. Charity. I have decided that this is the most important thing I could learn while I am out here, so I figure everyone else can learn it with me. I do know however, that without it, we will never be able to progress throughout our life, or the eternities. It is so essential to everything that we do. As long as we continue working on it every day, we will eventually come to the point where it IS the basis of everything we do, and not just an afterthought. Charity is so needed in the world today, yet it is so hard for people to let go of themselves and just give. I'm sure as the mission goes on there will be other things that draw my focus, but for now, this is the thing. Who knows?

Before I go, I want each of you to know that I love you and am so thankful to be a part of this family. And for everyone, I love each of you and will talk to you soon as well!

Love,

Austin

Transfer Day...Where in the World is Austin???

That's a big yawn! He must be pretty excited!

Elder Robbs chatting with Elder McFarland

Sitting behind the Zone Leaders :)

A Transfer is on the Horizon...

Dear Family & Friends,

I don't have much time today...I'm getting transferred this week to who knows where and I have to get everything packed and whatever else. So I decided I will begin writing a letter as soon as I get back to the apartment. Expect a letter within the next few days...

Anyways, this past week was a lot of fun. I'll tell you all about it in my letter. The packages were pretty sweet. I really liked the cook book.

Within the next few days, I'm sure I'll send it with my letter, I'm sending home another package...President declared all MP3 players are now void. Our music choice is now Mormon Tabernacle Choir, only. CD's and CD players are the only form of music devices we may use, all else must go home.

I'll be sending home my memory card... It is filled with pictures. Many of them aren't the greatest, but I finally have figured my camera out and am using it much more. I just bought an 8 gb memory card and it is working out nicely. There is a piano song on the card that Aaron can learn if he wants, I almost have it figured out (it's Elder Chadburn playing).

I will talk to you soon! I have to go now! I love you and you'll get my letter and package ASAP!

Love,

Austin

ps. thanks for the emails and the treats!

pps. I hope you enjoyed the email

Austin "The Not-So-Fabulous" Dog Whisperer

2.08.10
...The Spirit definitely knows all things. I certainly don't, haha! Anyways, Eureka Gardens has been going downhill quite rapidly. Our investigators don't seem to want to work toward their goals any longer...who really knows why? There just so happened to be a murder right in front of the people we were teaching. I believe it happened yesterday or possibly Saturday. We saw an officer interviewing the people nearest the crime scene, but he told us that "of course nobody happened to see or hear anything." At first when he saw us he asked if we were lost. I laughed quietly under my breath and told him "no". He told us the Eureka "horseshoe" we were in was the hotspot for all sorts of crime. Wonderful. We will probably be over there for the next few days anyhow.

The other day we were out tracting in a somewhat country style neighborhood. There was a lot of property between each house, and every home had two or three guard dogs. All of them barked, and all of them wanted to tear us to shreds. I don't recall how many pitbulls I saw, but there was plenty to keep us on the lookout. We went to one of our investigators (who we later dropped because of lack of interest) and their neighbor happened to have a very athletic, and very aggressive brown and white pitbull. Elder McFarland and I enjoyed throwing sticks over the fence to make the dog go and chase them. All the while the guard dog continued to bark at us. I walked up to the fence to see if I could get him to calm down and to my surprise he jumped for my throat! I got out of the way, luckily. I wasn't finished with the dog, however. We came back the next day to visit this person (for the last time), and the dog was there again on the other side of the fence screaming and yelling at us. I pretended to throw things over the fence to try and trick him. He fell for it a few times. As we were about to leave, I started making quick moves to make the dog flinch. He wasn't too happy with me. As I got on my bike to ride down the street, I began to ride around in circles in front of the neighbor's property just to see what the dog would do. As I did so, the pitbull ran to the side of the fence, hopped up onto a tree stump, straddled the fence for what seemed like a lifetime (while I watched, slowly realizing that I was about to become lunch meat for this angry monster) and hurdled himself straight at me and my companion. the thing took off at lightspeed. We peddled as fast as we possibly could, and he just about got us! Whooh! I learned my lesson. No more messin' with lockjaw pitbulls that would happily eat you for breakfast!

As far as everything else goes, nothing new has happened. Pretty much everyone in our district has been sick lately, so not a whole lot of work got done this week. I do know, however, that I'm finally starting to understand the work of a missionary. All these things I've been figuring out lately are finally culminating together and I'm positive I can see the light. I think a lot of times we think that in order to be successful we need to do more things, to focus more on the mechanics of the situation instead of viewing the thing as a whole. It is kind of like trying to perfect the baseball swing. You can spend all the time in the world trying to make your swing flawless, always worrying about what it looks like, and why it isn't working, and never going anywhere with it--or you can forget about your swing, and trust that you've practiced enough and go out there and hit the ball. I don't know how many times I've been told this, but now it makes sense.

Throughout my life I have searched for ways to be happy, focusing on whatever I could to make things work for me. I listened to my own instincts for the most part, and allowed that to control my decisions. Not that I shouldn't. But the downside was I spent my energies and focus on myself instead of letting go, and trusting the examples of those around me. I have found that when you try to do something completely alone, it usually never works. You need the help of others to be successful. Why was I so happy in my first year of football? Because I trusted that Dad knew what he was talking about and I did everything I could to do what I thought he would do. Why was my experience much more enjoyable, because I allowed others to support me. I finally realized this a few days ago, and it has been a major help in all that I do. Sometimes I wonder why it takes so long to learn such easy lessons.

For the record Dad, I hope you know I love you and am glad that you are mine. Your example has helped me to overcome many things and will continue to do so throughout the rest of my life. I remember when we were a team when I was much younger, and how much fun it was and how happy I was. Well, I'm back! I've moved past my own pride and I trust in you as the one I can count on. I love you too Mom, I'm lucky to have you as my parent. Your unconditional love has been my stronghold for as long as I can remember. I know I have the best parents this world could offer. I also know I have the best family this world could possibly offer. How great it is to know that we can count on each other in all that we do! What a wonderful thing! Let's always keep it that way.

Anyways, we'll talk soon. I may be getting transferred this coming week, I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Love,

Austin

Letting the Lord do His work and Life in Eureka Gardens

Things are going pretty good here in Jacksonville, for the most part. We have been teaching quite a few people lately, most of whom are working their hardest towards being baptized within the next two weeks. We, Elder McFarland and I, are doing everything we can to make it happen.

I find it interesting, however, that at our Stake Conference just yesterday, Elder Gibbins, a member of the Seventy, spoke on how we need to quit trying to do everything ourselves and let the Lord do His work. He quoted a scripture, I'm not sure where it is, but it states, "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" I thought that was a bold statement, but perfectly true. I guess it comes back to having faith that the Lord will do what He sees in His infinite wisdom to be necessary. So whatever happens with our investigators, as long as we are trying our absolute best, will be what is meant to happen.

This last week, although fairly succesful, was another stressful week. We have been teaching in the Eureka Gardens apartment complex; and if you have any idea what that place is like--let me just tell you, it is definitely NOT a garden. It would probably be more equally compared to a bottomless pit. I'm sure most of the people who live in this complex at one point or another aspired to do great things--to serve others, to build others up, to be happy--but they lost it somewhere along the way and doubts and fears took over their lives.

Another clever thought brought up in our Stake Conference was by (I believe) the General Young Women's President...she said something along the lines of, "isn't it interesting that every one of Satan's attacks are directed at our bodies?" How true. I guess it is easy to say that all Satan really has to get us to do is begin criticizing ourselves enough so that we'll make a habit out of it. Once it's a habit we send ourselves hurtling downward on a destructive path to nowhere important, and the best part is we bring others down with us, at least those within our grasp. That seems to be the case of the Eureka Gardens apartments. Every time I walk in there all I can hear is yelling and screaming, loud music, much complaining, and constant anger. I see people smoking. I see drug deals. I see drunken men and women meandering about. I see abusive and abrasive parents, most of whom are young and unmarried. When we walk through, I find it odd that everyone seems to disappear into their rooms, almost as if they're afraid we're going to do something to make their lives worse than it already is. I don't get it. Sadly, I have only met a few who were willing to change and find a new and happier life. One girl, Antoinette, gave up smoking so that she could prepare herself to be baptized so she could come closer to the Savior and feel His love. That was a really neat experience, especially considering her circumstances. I am willing to bet that there are many more within the confines of Eureka who would drop everything to follow the Savior if they had someone with much courage to lead them.

I don't know where I'm going with this, but I guess it all that comes to mind. Next week I'll probably have more to say. Right now, I'm simply tired. Things will improve, no need to worry. These are just my observations, whether they be right or wrong, we'll find out.

Tell everyone I love them and look forward to writing again next week.

Love,

Austin

p.s. Sorry if my letter sounds random, my mind is burned out. I'll be fine! I love you!