Wal-Mart Contacting?

Sounds like everything is continuing to go well back home. Good! I'm glad to hear it. Things are going pretty well here also. We are working very hard, let me tell you. This past week, we literally ran from door to door. I wouldn't be surprised if we do it the rest of the transfer, if not the rest of the mission. We taught just over 100 lessons, but most of them didn't seem to be real great, just because people seem think we are slightly crazy. Oh well.

We did Wal-Mart contacting in the parking lot the last two days. That was a lot of fun. Yesterday we were kicked out because someone complained about us. I can't say that I absolutely love contacting in a Wal-Mart parking lot; however, it served its purpose and I got to enjoy plenty of awkward stares! I am sure by the end of my two years there will not be any person on this earth that I am afraid to go and talk to. Period.

I still find it odd that so many people in the South think we are some cult or another. Some guy yesterday tried to tell me that all we have to do is believe, and that doing missionary work is only going to get you sent to outer darkness. I told him that that was untrue and that he needed to prepare himself to be baptized into Christ's Restored Church, where God has called a living prophet and where the authority of God resides. He didn't listen. Our conversation ended nicely, at least.

I am certainly learning a lot each and every day. Especially about the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. I can't say that I spent as much time [reading] as I should have before I left, but I do know that is going to be changed for the rest of my life. I see the truth of the Book of Mormon every time I go out each day and I feel the words flow through me as I testify of this book. I know it is true and I am so glad I know. It would be so hard to be in this mission without that knowledge. There are so many distractions out there, but as I have focused more and more on reading and finishing the Book of Mormon, I am able to overcome all of those obstacles.

I don't have much time to finish writing at this time, we are at a member's home and he is about to leave for work. Tell everyone that I love them and that I am so thankful for our family. Tell all my friends I love them as well, they are the best. I know without each of you I couldn't be here.

Love~

Austin

p.s. I haven't been able to go to the (baseball) field yet, but I see the little kids out there running around all the time. I have been keeping in shape...I'm at a solid 208 at the moment ;)