Austin's Missionary Journal

  t feels really weird being the only one out   of   my siblings that's currently out on a mission. It isn't bad, per say, but it just feels... strange.   Of   course, maybe that's what I get for not starting my mission papers earlier. Though now that I think about it anyways, I'd still have this feeling even then, so oh well. Hey everybody! This first off, transfers have come, and I'm loving where I am now. I'm currently down  in  Mountain View Ward, which is a combination  of  Toledo and Winlock Wards, just south  of  Centralia. This is what most  of  the area I cover looks like: That's right, I'm now  in ... FARMVILLE! (dun-dun-DUN!) Joke Dedicated to Robin Heuer (AKA. My other Mom) Anyways, jokes aside, I'm loving the new area!  In  the more open parts  of  the area, you can look to the left and see Mt. Rainier, a little tinier than what it looked like back  in  Lakewood. But then you...

  The Quarter-Mission Mark has passed and time continues onwards. AAAAAGH! I miss everybody so much! Everything this week looked so fun  in  the emails, and I really wish I had been there to join  in  the fun  of  the birthdays and Ben's farewell. But 'tis the sacrifice  of  a missionary. I'm just glad to hear that I'm missed as well. Hey, Ben! I got your farewell talk  from  both  of  our mom's. I think you did an awesome job! I know that everything you talked about  in  it is true, because I can very much relate. Though, the mission will kick you  in  the butt  in  more ways than just homesickness; That's something they told me  in  my last week at the MTC. But I know you'll do better than I have because you've always been more mature than I ever have. Also, something  in  your talk stuck out to me. The phrase, "An instrument  of  The Lord" is something that I u...

  Hey Everybody! This week has been pretty long, though I blame that on the fact that this transfer is a week longer than usual. If that weren't the case, I'd probably transferred out  of  this area by tomorrow. But for now, still got another week at least here  in  Lakewood. But that's alright; This area has been the craziest one I've been  in  so far, and I doubt any other will be crazier as far as the people I meet go. But I'm glad to hear that everything is going great back home. It sounds like this is going to be a busy week. Good luck on everything! Oh, and Happy Birthday Krista and Kyler! In  contrast, I don't have a lot going this week, besides transfer calls this Saturday. This week was a bit  of  a downer, mostly because we were going to have a baptism last Wednesday, for this guy we've been teaching the whole transfer, and finally he had committed himself to stop smoking so he could be baptized. He went nine days without smoki...

Hey everyone! I miss you all, too! This was my first General Conference away  from  home, and I sorely miss watching the sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning. It was always a highlight for me, even if I didn't always pay attention. Though now I wish I did. Conference was so enjoyable, even when I couldn't quite find a way for some lessons to apply to myself... yet. There was a lot  of  talks about the roles  of  a husband and a father, and I'm not there yet, but there's the whole point  of  the phrase, "You get to choose the parents  of  your unborn children". I know I've got a lot to improve on if I want to be the man  of  the house I want to be. By far, I loved Elder Holland's talk at the end there. I love it when apostles show they do have a sense  of  humor (mostly because it reminds me that God Himself has a sense  of  humor as well), as well as an overflowing love for everyone. I know, even out...