Austin's Missionary Journal

 Hey everyone! I don't have much time to write home today, but suffice to say that this week wasn't that eventful. All  of  our investigators fell off date for baptism, which is strange. One  of  my companions, Elder Ellis, has been here  in  Lakewood for almost 6 months, and this is the first time  in  the area where he's had no one on date at the end  of  the week. Usually this area is booming with baptisms, so I'm starting to wonder what we're doing wrong. We probably just need to turn our focus to getting more lessons though. Thanks for the Easter Package, Mom and Dad! I got the package before Easter, but that's only because we had to stop by the office to grab something else, and it was just sitting there on the counter for me, freshly delivered; a little tender mercy. I loved the card, too!  From  the pictures, it looks like everyone else had a great Easter, too. Also, Happy Birthday Kenzie! I'm super pumped for Gene...

Hey everyone! I don't know why, but this week just seemed to be very long. I don't know why, but whatever it's been, it's been getting better, so no worries there. Nothing much different has happened this week than what we've been doing the past couple  of  weeks, just the usual knocking, visiting investigators and people we've found. Though it stinks whenever we find somebody with at least some interest  in  joining the church, but they won't put  in  any effort to get to church or to read the Book  of  Mormon, and no matter how many times we re-commit them and teach them more, it's gone  in  a downward spiral until we have to end up dropping them. That's been the case with a few people this week. But on the other hand, the whole mission had a really good week for baptisms. I think it was 18 baptisms just this week, and that's really good! We're not about to lose hope on getting more, just because some people aren't using their agency...

  Here we are, twenty weeks into the mission. If I've done my math right, that means I'm at least a fifth   of   the way complete with my mission. Though I should really stop counting, because I should want to stay out here as long as possible, and time would fly faster anyways without thinking about it. Anyways...BEN GOT HIS MISSION CALL?!?! whoops, who turned on the caps lock? Sorry about that. But you've got to be kidding me! He's going to Seattle? I'm so excited for you, Ben! There's a lot to see and do out there, a bit more than there is here  in  Tacoma, and I'm sure you're going to enjoy it. Better put all your personal affairs  in  order sooner than later! I didn't even start packing until the day before I left for the MTC, so don't make that same mistake.   Also, don't get fat at the MTC. They tend to feed you a little too well. But I'm also glad that Kyler still thinks I'm the best uncle!  I definitely put a lot  of  ...

  Hey everybody! Happy Birthday Zac and Kennady! Just know I'll be missing one more  of  those before I can celebrate it with you again! So, I've officially transferred over to Lakewood. And let me tell you, it is different. My area covers the heart  of  the city  of  Lakewood, and there are some parts here that I definitely wouldn't walk into if I wasn't wearing a missionary tag. Why? Well, I'll answer that by giving an account  of  what happened just two nights ago. Right now I am  in  a foursome  of  missionaries. Me and Elders Clark, Ellis, and Evans were driving down into an area that's wedged right between I-5 and Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord. Among missionaries and the locals, the neighborhood is called Chocolate City, mostly for the large number  of  blacks living there. That night, we were going to check up on a potential investigator, so when we pulled up to the guy's apartment, Elders Ellis and Clark hoppe...