Momentum Shifts

Fleming Island/Orange Park

Dear Family & Friends~

I'm grateful to have been able to spend a short time this Mother's Day to speak with each of you! I was happy to hear each of your voices. Too bad time moves too quickly...but the time is near that I will see you again, so all is well.

Elder Kiracofe and I had an interesting study this morning about attitudes and its effect on the success of individuals and teams. We talked a little bit about momentum shifts in sports games and its comparison to momentum shifts in missionary work. A momentum shift, as we defined it, isn't so much a physical thing as it is a mental outlook on the final outcome of the game--whatever the "game" may be. We thought of some good questions:


-When you were at your peak performance, was the game easy or difficult to perform?

-When you were having the most fun, did you often find you were having the most success?

-When you weren't having success, yet maintained a positive outlook, did you find that later you found the success you'd initially hoped to achieve?

I'm sure there are a million other questions you could think of, but we concluded that the times we had the most fun and the times we had the most success, no matter the level of intensity or difficulty, were the times that everything felt like it came together, and whatever it was we were doing felt easy...not that we weren't working hard or anything, but we believed and hoped for greatness and we worked for it; we loved the game and accepted it for what it was--a game.

In the same sense I can look at myself; I am imperfect. I am fallen. I will come short every single time of what Heavenly Father requires of me: but that is life. I am not supposed to be perfect today. I am supposed to be grateful for the life I've been given and to enjoy it. I am to do my best to be as obedient as I possibly can to Heavenly Father's will, but if I mess up, I need to trust that He still loves me and believes in me. So I ask forgiveness and get over it! Then do better the next time. And if I fall short again, SO WHAT?!! At least I'm trying. At least I'm doing my best. That is all Heavenly Father can justly expect me to do, is my very best! And if I do that, He can give me mercy and show me grace because of His Son. If I'm persistent and faithful and BELIEVING and HAPPY and SMILING, it will all work out in the end.

Next week I'm going to try and find some stories to share with you about the people that we meet. I have a feeling this week is going to be a good week. No matter what happens, I think that we are going to take some major leaps this week as far as "momentum" is concerned. We have a great ward and great people in it. The people in the area...are good people. They have open hearts and minds and all they need is for someone like Elder Kiracofe and I, and the members of the ward, to reach out and show them that we care and that we love them. Heavenly Father will do the rest of the work. I couldn't imagine being in any other area than this one at this time. People don't mind talking and being friendly. I have met so many people who have offered me and my companion water during the heat of the day. People here are looking to serve. (Sometimes it's easier to look at the bad things--but in the end, I don't think it really matters what bad things surround us, all that matters is what we choose to do with what we've been given--whether we build, encourage, and love, despite the negative, or choose to be defeated because we cannot overcome the negativity, because we let it creep in our hearts and eat us alive! YIKES!!)

Negativity is truly like poison! It is amazing to me how much a person's attitude can affect every aspect of his or her life.

This week, just pray that each of us will be able to witness miracles--whether it be finding people to share the gospel with, success in school or sports, or work--anything. Miracles come by faith and God wants to give us miracles. So let's show Him that we wish to be a part of His team so He can give us miracles. "The miracle is that you recognized the miracle when it came." -Anonymous

I love you and I love that you listen to all my preaching as well! I hope you have a wonderful week and that everything goes well for each of you! HAPPY DAY AFTER MOTHER'S DAY!! Talk to you next week.

Love~
Austin