Austin's Missionary Journal

Hey everybody! I might make this email a bit shorter because I've had a pretty rough morning. Last night there was a big storm going, which woke me and my companion up about three times during the course   of   the night... which ended up with both   of   us sleeping through the alarm and waking up when we were supposed to start studies! So yeah, still super groggy. Ugh!!! I miss Grandma and Papa's! Thanksgiving there looked like lots  of  fun! Thanksgiving here was pretty good, too. We spent the morning and afternoon serving at the Lion's Club, a local community club  in  Ocean Shores. Every year they hold a big free Thanksgiving Dinner, so we helped set up and get the food ready. Here are some pictures: The place before people arrived: ​ We cut up all  of  these pies: ​ A lot  of  people showed up: ​ After we finished serving there, grabbing a nibble on our way out, we went to the Giles' for dinner. It was great! Sister Giles...

  Oh, COME ON! SERIOUSLY? KRISTA AND JOSH WENT SKYDIVING WITHOUT ME?!?! I'm just kidding, but oh, I'm pretty jealous. That looks like so much fun! That snow looks fun, too. The little kids look like they enjoyed it. I miss snow. It's too humid for snow most  of  the time. The only times it has snowed during my mission was last December; It only snowed twice, and both times the snow had melted by the end  of  the day. Although this week we did get some hail, so that was cool. And way to go at that TKD tournament, Kamryn and Kyler! Both  of  them got first place? Awesome! This week has been pretty busy busy, what with transfers and all. I got my new companion this week. Meet Elder Devenburg: ​ Yeah, he made that sword himself, out  of  duct tape, foam, and pbc pipe. He's really creative, very athletic, and overall just bursting with energy. I don't think I've ever seen him stop moving. There was one time he was trying to show me a picture on hi...

So transfer calls have come, and I am.... STAYING, for a fourth transfer   in   Ocean Shores. Instead   of   me, my companion, Elder MacQueen, will be heading out to Silverdale. Meanwhile, I'll be getting Elder Devenburg. That's kind   of   funny, because Elder Devenburg came out with me to the mission   in   October. He will officially be the youngest companion I've ever had, and he's just as old as I am. LOL! So, not a whole lot happened this week. It was mostly just suspense for transfer calls, because neither Elder MacQueen or I knew what was going to happen. I kind  of  thought I'd be leaving, while MacQueen stayed, but it turned out to be the opposite. But I'm not worried. By the end  of  this new transfer, I'll have spent 6 MONTHS  of  my mission  in  Ocean Shores. Even where I am now, I already know this place like the back  of  my hand. I think this transfer will go by incredibly fast, for...

  Hey everybody!! This is how my week went: Monday: HAllOWEEN! After emailing we went shopping for groceries, then we traveled back to Ocean Shores for a Halloween party! The Ramirez' family put on a fun, small party with a few other families  in  the branch. They had great food and lots  of  games. That was the first time I went bobbing for apples. I didn't get the most apples, but I absolutely wrecked everybody  in  limbo... My legs were sore  from  that for the next day or two though. We partied there until the end  of  the night. Tuesday: We had to run to Aberdeen  in  the afternoon for interviews with the Mission President. We were the last ones to be interviewed, but there was no way we'd drive all the way back to Ocean Shores because we had another meeting that night  in  Elma, which is even farther out past Aberdeen. So, we just worked  in  Aberdeen, even though it's the ZL's area. It was an int...