Lake Butler, FL
Dear Mom, Dad, Aaron, Billy, Kendall, & Everyone~
Sounds like last week was pretty eventful--I can't believe the crazy weather that is going on in the world lately. Apparently, at least I heard, and besides the oil spill which I also just heard about, there was an earthquake in India. I have yet to see flooding in Utah, so I guess you'll just have to enjoy it for me. I guess food storage IS important. Things are going well here in Florida, although it has been very hot. I think the average temperature has been 94 degrees, but with extremely high humidity--and a few days ago it got up to 104 degrees. We're cooking out here in the South!
Aside from the exciting weather, the missionary work in Lake Butler is in a forward motion. For the coming week we have two baptisms scheduled and both of these individuals are doing so well. It is amazing to see how much they have been able to grow these past few weeks and it is because they are taking the steps necessary to gain a testimony and all we do is invite and give them the opportunity to decide, and they take it. The Spirit is a powerful tool, and without it, all of our teaching would be useless; but we have been working extremely hard to be worthy of that Spirit and because of it we are able to teach in ways that we haven't ever been able to do before. I can also say the scriptures have opened up in ways that I have also never known. One of the things that has always boggled my mind was how General Authorities were always able to pull a story out of the scriptures they read, when seemingly there is hardly any detail. I mean, when you read a novel you can tell all the twists and turns, yet sometimes with the scriptures it is hard to visualize that story.
Well, recently I was able to see just how perfectly the scriptures were placed together. It was an incredible thing to witness and it happened as I was studying to teach the early morning seminary class. We had been asked to attend so that we could get to know the youth of the ward a little better, and the seminary teacher asked us to teach for one of the lessons. It was on infant baptism in Moroni 8; let me tell you as I read that chapter I had no idea what to teach the class...So I studied and studied some more and finally it all came together. I discussed what I had learned with Elder Bagley and at first he was a little skeptical, but as I showed him and reasoned with him, he too was able to see the incredible truths I had discovered. It was really a neat experience for both the both of us. Perhaps I'll let you try and discover what me and my companion discovered as well. That way it will be more interesting and exciting. Let's just say that it connects the purpose of Moroni 7 to Moroni 9--and how chapters 7-9 teach us about the importance of certain divine characteristics which enabled Christ to do what He did. Sounds fun, doesn't it? :)
One of the lessons I learned from this study was how important it was to ask questions about what you read and then using a pen and paper to write down those questions, and to ponder the answer. I realized that the more questions you ask, the more knowledge you gain. In order to ask good questions you need to study so you can have the knowledge to ask good questions. Prayer unlocks the ability to find these questions and answers and the Spirit teaches you the truth as you study with an open mind and heart. Sunday I got to teach the 14 & 15 year old Sunday school class and we had a lot of fun. It is crazy to think of all the things you learn as you actually take the time to prepare and ponder on the lessons. Hopefully I can maintain this attitude throughout my life; as long as I'm persistent I think I'll be okay.
Anyhow, things are going well and they will continue to go well. One other lesson I learned the importance of good friendships--I'll explain another time, if I remember. Read this month's Ensign article Elder Bednar wrote and you may get an idea of what I learned. There is another article that talks about the need to not be in such a hurry, also a good one.
Anyways, my time is running short, but I want each of you to know I love you and am grateful for all that you do. I finally got the pictures Grandpa sent of Aaron and Billy (playing baseball), and man, it was hard not to cry--it is strange how much you can miss just being there. I'm glad to know that we can always be together because being on a mission would be too difficult if that weren't true. Tell Trisha and Glen thanks for their funny emails. It's always good to have some humor in your life! Tell everyone hello for me and tell them I love them. I'll talk to you soon and I hope you have a wonderful week! :)
Love~
Austin
ps. first time in my life, I have been subject to itching and annoying warts on my hands--I thought they were insect bites, but I guess not. Apparently frog urine can give them to you and I just so happened to get pissed on by a couple tree frogs...what is the world coming to?! Haha. Oh well, I 'm going to freeze them off anyways, so it isn't so much a problem as it is irritating. Also, I made the cake with the Heath Bar Bits and I shared it with everyone again, everyone loved it. I think Skor bar cake may well be the best cake ever, Mom. It's crazy though, no one has ever had anything quite like it before, but everyone enjoys it! Love you!
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