It's Time To Go For It!

Fleming Island/Orange Park

Dear Family & Friends~

My mission has probably been the most strenuous experience ever! But you know what? I don't think that it even matters. Life is not easty. Life was never meant to be easy. And it most certainly is never going to be easy. I have a few short months to sprint through the finish line. I haven't known what I've been doing almost all my mission and almost none of it has made sense to me, but one thing I have learned is that it is the biggest blessing I've ever been given. I'm excited to know that I can even recognize a blessing when it comes. To think how little I knew before I decided to serve until now, it is quite amazing to consider how far I've come. This week has passed me by quickly. The speed of the mission is going by quicker and quicker and I want to fight it. I feel that these last few months are where the real test begins. This is the culmination of everything I have been trained to do...so what am I going to do? Fight or flight? There has been so much going through my mind lately...a major mix of emotions and feelings. The attempt to stay strong and overcome the gravity of defeat has been excruciating. But I am realizing more than ever that the only thing the Lord wants me to realize is this: The work of gathering is His work and He will ensure its success no matter what I do or say. My job is to have a testimony of Him and His work and then to share that testimony with others. Those who are prepared will listen and those who aren't, won't. But as long as we do our part, He will bless us. So it is time to go for it!! Whatever that entails :)

I am basically out of time again today. I wasn't able to get on the computer until almost too late...but I do have a couple of other things to say:

1. Revelations 12:11 -- we overcome the adversary through the Atonement and by the word of our testimony.

2. We gain a testimony by studying the Book of Mormon and asking Heavenly Father in the name of Christ if it is true and by asking in faith, sincerity, and real commitment. (Moroni 10:3-5)

3. We can repeat this process over and over again

I realized something the other day, and I know I've been taught it before but I didn't ever think about it, and that is...if the Book of Mormon is true and that if this is the true Church, then nothing else matters. We give our best and do our best to do everything that God has asked us to do and He will take care of ALL the rest. Everything we know hinges on our testimony of the Restoration! So what greater thing to do than be empowered by the Holy Ghost through reading and praying about the Book of Mormon!

I really wish I had more time to write, but we will talk on Sunday! I love each of you and wish you a wonderful week. Good luck my brothers with baseball and KJ with dance!

I love you!

Love~

Austin