Life is a game of progress

5.23.11
Fleming Island

Dear Family & Friends~

I am thankful to hear that things are going well back home. I'm sorry to hear that SLCC wasn't able to finally pull through, but the progress they made was exceptional. This will hopefully give them the momentum they need to go out and win it all next season. It is difficult to look much past a single season, but when planning for success, sometimes one needs to look years in the future. No worries, because life is a game of progress and as long as you're moving forward that is all that ever really mattered anyways... We don't go backwards--sometimes we fall, fail, and falter--but we always get back up and try again.

This coming transfer will be much different than the last seven and a half months of my mission. I will no longer be serving as a District Leader. I will continue with Elder Kiracofe in Fleming Island and stay in the same district; however, I will be serving as a Senior Companion instead. Honestly, it was a little sad to be released, but deep down, I know that it is the right thing. I've done a lot as a District Leader, and grown much, and helped others to grow and become better. It has been very rewarding and also at times extremely overwhelming. Nevertheless, I'm grateful to have a change of focus. All the things I've learned can now apply to a singular area. I can't wait to apply everything I've learned to this great ward. I feel as light as a feather, like a great burden has been lifted off my shoulders.

From the time I've been serving as a District Leader, I have been able to take part in seeing three of the Elders I've been serving with become District Leaders, I've seen one Elder become a Zone Leader, I've seen one become a Sister Leader, several others become Senior Companions, and a few others become trainers. it has been a major blessing to watch everyone progress and do their very best and continue upward. I may not have known what I've been doing the entire time, but I can say that I have loved these missionaries. So many of them have been so much greater than myself and I feel I've learned more from them than they have from me. Perhaps you always feel that way...but I am grateful for their examples to me. I don't think you get called to be a leader to be "in charge" of everything, but to humbly learn from everyone else all the great things they have to teach you and to love them with all your heart and to help them stay united with love one toward another. They'll learn all they need to become as you love them and give them permission to be their true selves--or even to see their true selves so that they can become all they are capable of becoming. Elder Oaks says that when you have a vision of what you can become your desire and power to act increase enormously--by sharing a true spirit of love and kindness toward others you inadvertently give them a vision of all they can become. Their hearts expand and their vision increases and their great hopes and dreams suddenly seem possible to them. By striving to look at those you serve through Heavenly Father's eyes, you can share with them what you really see in them, and who they really are to you, and to God. We can't see it in ourselves. Someone has to show us. No matter how many times I stand and stare at myself in the mirror will I ever be able to figure out my own worth. I learn my worth when I discover that God loves me and that I am His child; and so often that is learned through the selfless love and care of others. By having our existence affirmed by those who deeply love us are we lifted to our fullest and highest potentials.


We found a total of four new investigators this week, which is really good. This week we've also gone to several members homes and invited them to mightily pray to have investigators be taught in their homes within the next few weeks. To my great joy, all of them have accepted the challenge. I know it is a scary thing to ask of someone, but despite whatever apprehension they may have felt, they said yes! For all the hard times, the faith of these members have swept away the stress and pain I've felt these past many weeks because of our lack of apparent success. But the real success hasn't even been so much who we've found, it has been the growing relationship we've had with the wonderful members of the Fleming Island ward. I am so grateful for them and for all the members I've come to know on my mission. I am grateful for this Church. Life can be so hard, but there is always a home wherever you are or at whatever stage you are at in your life within the Church. Family is everywhere. How blessed we are!

I love each of you and wish you the best week ever! I love you and I'll talk to you next week.

Love~
Austin