Monday, February 27, 2012

February 26, 2012


Subject: Because I have been given much....
Manuel Parreño, María Magdalena Piñol de Parreño! The new Mission Presidents of the great Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission!! You will have to read about them. They are from Spain Dad! Pretty great!!

Good Afternoon! 

Another week has passed by! I read in Jacob 7;26.  Where Jacob talks about how their lives passed as if it were a dream. That is kind of how I feel like right now. There is a scripture for everything. ;) 

Emails from-

Papa Crouch- I can not tell you how excited I am to read your letter more deeply. I have had an intrigued with the word desire for a long time. Knowing it has to do with seeking and hearts desire.  Thank you so much! I pray for you and Grandma daily. Words fall empty when I try to express my gratitude for you both. I love you and try to honor you in all that I do. Have a great week and thank you again for the letter. Please send my love to Grandma.

Grandma Clegg- I bet that you are tired from a very memorable weekend!! I thought about what a special experience this weekend was for you and Grandpa. I love you both and hope that the new ward adjustment is going well. You two will have no problems getting to know other people and jumping right in. Your ward is blessed to have you. I love you both and hope that all is well.

Amy Ellsworth- Thank you so much for you email. I look forward to reading it tonight. Please tell send my love to your family. I actually wrote you a letter today so it should be coming ¨around the mountain¨ in the next few weeks. Thanks so much Amy. You are great.

And of course the faithful fam. Thank you so much!!

This week was pretty awesome. It has been rainy and is cooling down quite a bit. I think it is just the first wave of Fall and it will get a little warmer here in a bit. On Tuesday, we had a great district meeting. Our whole zone has changed and it was great to get to know some other Elders. I truly love getting to meet all of these outstanding young people!! All of them have different back stories and you can learn so much from them. 
Wednesday was our normal weekly visit with the Beloqui family from Mar del Plata. They are so awesome. I think they are the greatest blessing of my mission so far. They are just giving everything to this branch. I attached a picture of them.

Thursday we had a good day of tracking and found some new investigators. The week has been pretty solid in all. The Gonzalez family is doing well. Three of the girls have committed to baptism this Saturday. The son has had some problems with drugs and we are working with him. Your prayers in the behalf of Ignacio would be really appreciated. Also the two Torres boys Ariel and Jesus David will be baptized this Saturday! I gave them the “HLJ” rings after we taught the Word of Wisdom and Chastity.  Ariel asked if he could have one more to give to his wife when he got married. He is 8 years old. What a stud. They loved the rings there are 8 kids and they all got rings. They just loved them Mom - you were inspired!! There are more stories of the week. But we will have lots of time to talk!! :) I would like you all to know that I am know a banana and tomato man!! Hard to imagine huh? Dad, I hope you were sitting down for that one!! haha  (he has hated them with a passion most of his life)

Sounds like you all had a really awesome week! That is so wonderful. I am glad that you could have the time with the family and everything went well. I am sure it meant the world to have all the family together for Uncle Alan birthday celebration. I felt almost apart of it on Saturday. What a great thing!! 

How is Elder Lott doing in SLC? I am glad to hear the Elder Williams is home safe and sound. Keep me posted on Jordy and Chase. If you could get me their MRC address I would love to write them!

Before I write you individually I wanted to tell you about a scripture and the experience that really taught me this week. I was thinking about the scripture in 1 Nephi 11:16-17 it may be my favorite scripture. I have felt that so much during my mission. I am learning more and more that LOVE is what brings people to Christ. This week also we ate with a member and we were talking about doing something for Elder Ochsebein who will be going home conference weekend. She gave him a nice compliment and said how she thinks that he will be a great father and that she has always admired his testimony, because he didn’t get active in the church till he was 17. I told Elder O this one day, a couple minutes later he lit up and said how something in his Patriarchal blessing talks about that. I thought about how important it is to give praise. I love the classic Og Mandino ¨when I am tempted to criticize I will bite my tongue, when I am tempted to praise I will shout from the roof tops¨. This compliment meant the world to an Elder who is going home and I am sure wonders if he has touched the lives of people like he wanted to.  I would like to encourage you all this week to look for ways to tell people that they are doing something good. Be sincere. Positive words change lives and help people feel there true worth.

Dad- Mom said you hurt your back digging someone out on their snowmobile at Redfish last time you went up…  How is your back feeling? That is not a very fun pain to deal with. I am sure that you had a wonderful time with your siblings this weekend in Boise.  To think everyone flew in, drove up, and spent the weekend together is just amazing. What a special time for Uncle Alan. I thought about you and what a special week this was for you. I hope that you enjoyed it! Thank you so much Dad. I hope that you have a successful week this week. Spring is rolling in there sooner than you know it!  Thanks for being not only a father but a best friend to all of us. I love you Pops.-  Go get em.

Mom- I was thinking that the train wreck was on the news up there. It was big here. They closed everything. It was really sad. Sounds like you had a busy week and you will have one again this week. Thank you so much for the letters every week. They mean so much to me. I love the little updates and it helps me know what to pray for. You are so amazing in your service to others. The thing is that you get so much joy out of it...selfless service.  Yeah, sometimes two years seems long. But we are eternal beings; it is less than a drop in the bucket. Eight months out scares me! I got to pick it up! ;) I love you Mom. I was praying this week in the morning and felt a zinger moment. I could picture you praying and felt your love and prayers in my behalf. Thank you. 

Mikesell- Oh that is rough to wait like you are having to hearing from BYU. I know that it will all be good in the end. I sure love you. I am glad you had a good time with Jake. Does Jake know about the Book of Mormon? Try and get him to ask you some questions before you talk to him about it. That makes it easier to teach him.  He is a great young man and his potential is huge. I hope that track is great. Hey, just work your tail off. What do you got to loose!? Tell Coach Nordquist hello for me and that I am running strong. I sure love you Mikesell. Thank you for your giant example and influence in my life. You are just incredible. Thank for being my best friend. Learn a lot in seminary now that you have it this trimester!!

Brennen- Hey there my tennis playing bro! I am so proud of you for making that decision. That is awesome! I hope you just eat it up! And Drivers Ed starting this week! That is awesome. I hope that you just love that. How is seminary?  You do still have it this trimester? I love you so much. Keep doing the REAL good things in life. Love you man! Thanks so much for your email.

Alex- Last game man coming up! Live it up! Are you going to do track this year? I sure hope so!! Keep strong in the face of all the things that you face. Elder Yarger and I were talking about the huge temptation that our brothers are facing. He was a brother the same age as you. I can not possible tell you enough how important it is to stay close to the things that matter most in life. I love you buddy. Keep being awesome. May heavens richest be yours! Mom says you sleep in my bed the night before a game- yea - thats okay with me!!! Maybe its good luck!?

Harrison- Braces!? WOW! Have Mom send me a picture! That is great! I bet your teeth are hurting a little right now! It will all go away. I didn’t think your smile could get any better, but with those straight teeth you will be unstoppable! Are you done with Basketball? Did you have fun with the cousins? I loved your valentine thank you! My companion is doing really well. He is my best friend! I love you little man. Watch an Andy Griffith for me. You’re the MAN!!! 

McCall- Hey there little angel! How is life going for you? Thank you for your story of the pillows with Allie. That sounds really fun and thank you for telling your teacher my name. You are so sweet. I love you Cally. Have an awesome week. You are so great. Have a fun family home evening!!! You are the best Cally!!! 

Well I love you all so much. Thank you all for your prayers, kind words, and just being you. I hope that you have the best week ever!! 

Life is what you make out of it!! 
¡¡¡CHAU!!!
Elder Austin
P.S. I sent three photos of just some funny things we've seen this week... Enjoy!

Monday, February 20, 2012

February 20, 2012

Hello All!!

Emails from-
The Jackson Family- So good to hear from you!!  I hope that all is well. Thank you so much for thinking of me. If I remember right Neil is in the Marines now. I hope that he is doing well. I love your family and am so grateful to know you. Have a great week. Thanks again for taking the time to write to me!!
Grandma Clegg- So good to hear from you… I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your letters each week. I just love them. I hope that the changes in the Stake go well. That is always hard, but you both can handle it really well. I sure love you Grandma!  I hope that you have a wonderful week and are able to enjoy every minute of your week! :). Thank you Grandma.

Letters from:
Bishop Prince- SO loved your letter - it was wonderful!!  I will send you yours tomorrow. Thanks for all the little updates. Have a great week!! Thank you so much for all you have done for all those you know. Thank you for writing~ I love you Bishop. 
Ethan Lopez. Hey buddy - I finally got your letter! I just loved reading about your experiences. It was just awesome! I hope that you have a great week at school. Your’e the man. Thanks for all you do!

….and letters from the faithful family at the ranch!!!

Well, here we are again:)

I am writing you from a little place we like to call... MIRAMAR. I did NOT get transferred!  I have been very blessed and I get at least one more transfer here in Miramar. I am so happy for that. This transfer is going to rock. We added a couple of zones to our mission because our mission is seeing a lot of growth. We get lots of new missionaries! It is great!!

This last week was really a good week! We did divisions between us four as a district and that went well. We also organized a big branch activity this last Friday and it was a huge success. We had like 15 investigators there! The age groups were all different and so we had to re-plan the activity and luckily the holy ghost brought back to my mind all of our nights of playing games and doing activities at Redfish!!!  ha ha. We had a great time and we are slowly growing as a Branch. To be honest right now, we are trying to baptize pretty much just to keep a Branch!! We work so much with less actives and some of them are not even letting us come in their houses now. But, all in all things really are getting better. The Branch has a lot more energy and things are looking up. Oh the stories I could tell you all....
After the activity on Friday night, we had 8 investigators at church so that was nice! We found a less active family with three kids who want to be baptized. The Mom and Dad were recently separated so it was great to have the 17 and 14 year old kids in church yesterday. Hopefully we can get a Young Men’s leader here soon!!  The Gonzales family is awesome! They will be baptized the 3rd of March - four of them….and the other two shortly after.  It was really touching because they always talk about their Dad and how he taught them.  (he passed away) He told them if they were ever to join a religion they should talk to the kids with white shirts and ties. I guess he talked with the missionaries before, they obviously didn’t have any success but that is the importance of planting a seed. Really neat experience. The family Henriqez is doing well. The mother is having a hard time because she lives next to her parents - who are very deep into their religion. But she says she is praying and reading and we are having lots of lessons with members so if she can just come to church… I have all the faith and vision in them. I can see them in white already!! Marta is also doing great, she is very involved and is part of the branch.  She bore a very sweet testimony. Other than that - we keep pluggin on!!  I love it here and am so glad to be here!!

Sounds like you all had a very great week!  That is so fun that you all could be with so many wonderful cousins – Putnams and Cleggs! Just Awesome! I hope that the trip to Boise to get the cousins back goes really well. Please send my love -

Dad- What an awesome week you have coming up. I hope that you can enjoy it and make some really good memories. Tell everyone hello for me and that I love them. So what is the deal with the Muldoon ranch house? That is terrible it got broken into! It sounds like lots of basketball going on…hang in there!  Thank you for sharing your insights about your lesson. I can’t tell you how much I crave and love my personal study every morning! Thank you so much Dad for all that you do. Thank you so much for your prayers. I hope that all goes really well this week. Have a great week!!

Mom- It sounds like you had a great week! I did get the package - Thank you so much! You are so thoughtful and I am amazed at your kind ways.  I loved the letters from everyone and all of the fun little things. Thank you so much! That was really nice of all of you. I am glad that you had a good week and that substituting seminary went well. I love to hear that! You would be great at that - right up your alley. I loved what you said about knowing really good people. Relationships are the most important form of ¨wealth¨ that we can have. Even when it comes down to our relationship with our Father in Heaven. I sure love you Mom! Thank you for all you do. Have a great week and a great time with the family today and meeting Grandpa and Grandma Clegg halfway to Boise today. Oh Mom, Elder Ochsenbien is on his last transfer. He will end his mission here in Miramar

Mikesell- Wow -sounds like a great week. Jake is a great kid. Your story about getting the flowers was great!  Your letters are so awesome. I love you. I hope that you find out this week about BYU. It will be hard for me to wait to hear. Tell Tanner that I love him and that there are lots of amazing schools out there – not just BYU. I love Tanner so much. I hope his bday was good! Good luck with finals this week Mikesell!  I am excited for you and YOUR LAST trimester of school. I was thinking about that today. That is just crazy. Enjoy it! Well sis, you are awesome. I love you and hope you have a great week. Hit your knees, run on your feet, and keep looking for what Heavenly Father wanted you to learn every single day. Your’e the girl!  

Brennen- Hey man last week when I went home at night and re-read Moms letter. I saw you dropped ten points in your last game! That is legit! What are you thinking for a Spring sport? Have you ever though about trying out for like speech or anything? I am excited to hear you play the piano! Good work ~  that is so awesome!!   I sure love you man. Keep learning and growing!! You are awesome!! Talk to you later – thanks so much for your letter!

Alex- Hey man, hope your doing well! How was your week? I sure miss you man. Have a great week this week and I hope that BBall is going really well!! Keep doing the important things that get you places -  REAL places. Well buddy I love you. Thank you for all you do! I hope your talk in church went well!

Harrison - Hey my friend! I sure love you! How is life? Thank your for your Valentines card. I hope that you have a great week.  I miss you man! How is school? What  are you learning right now? Keep up on your reading! Are you sad to see basketball end now?

McCall- The mighty 7 year old! I am glad that you had such a good day!! That is so wonderful! I hope that you also had a great first week as a 7 year old!! I sure love you angel!

Well my dear ones  - Tell Kevin Williams hello for me!  When I got here to Argentina there were some missionaries here going home from Salta and they spoke very highly of Kevin. 

Go do good things. This is the time!!

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and your letters!

Love,

Elder Austin


Monday, February 13, 2012

February 13, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY McCALL!!!!

I hope that you have a wonderful day!!! I love you so much and am so grateful for you.  I am glad you got my letter in time for your birthday!  You looked so pretty in your birthday picture that Mom sent to me today!

Letters from:

Kathi Lott- (Payson’s Grandmother) Thank you so much for your sweet letter!!  It meant the world to me. I hope that all is well with you. Your example has touched so many lives!

Amy Ellsworth- I loved your letter! It was great to hear from  you! I hope that all is well and I will drop you a letter soon. Have an awesome week! Thank you for writing…

Steph Bingham- So great to get your letter!  I hope that you have a great time in Hawaii before the big stretch of school! Have a wonderful week! Thanks for taking the time to write!

Emails from:

Ethan Lopez-  Hey I think I will get your letter tomorrow. We are heading to Del Mar and will be picking up our mail then.  Thanks for your email!! I love you Brother.

Grandma Clegg- I loved your email so much. I am glad that I am following in you’re footsteps… I hope I can in other ways too...  haha!  I love you Grandma - Tell Grandpa and Uncle Alan hello for me.

Oh side note right now the song “Who Says” by Selena Gomez is playing here in the cyber as I type this…Mikesell - you should appreciate that!

This week was seriously awesome!! Mikesell, whatever prayer you said was answered big time. Saturday we found five investigators, but not only that… they are GOLDEN!! For the first time in my mission I entered a home with a married family that is very united and wanted to learn about the church. I am still just grateful beyond words. Before that we found a family of four who’s father passed away and  they went to church the next day.   They said they saw us walk by the first time, but our appointment fell through and my comp said, “Hey let’s go knock that door with the car that was just leaving”. I didn’t remember the car leaving at all and we went back knocked and they invited us in.  Oh man Saturday was the best day ever! The two families are called the  Heriqez Family and Gonzalez family.
The week started out kinda bumpy but with a change of attitude and work ethic ~ it ended wonderfully. Thank you for your prayers. I hope the district here can maintain the wonderful people that are coming in now. It is an exciting time in Miramar!

I can not tell you how happy and just overwhelmed I am to hear about Zach.  Elder Suitter and I had a fast for him when I was in the MTC. But I have thought of him a lot and prayed. Tears came to my eyes when I heard that. Please just tell him I love him and   to feel free to drop me an email whenever.   I love the Leavitt family.

Well all of your letters sound awesome this week. That is wonderful. I loved your letter Mikesell. That was so touching.  I am short on time so I didn’t get to read very much, but I will tonight for sure.

Dad-  I hope your Redfish visit went well this week. I bet that was a great time and I am sure it is just beautiful there right now. To answer some questions: Yes, it is hot, but it is all good. The smallness of the house is ok. We are all excited for March to look for something bigger to live in for sure. Elder Yarger is a boss. I love him so much. He is quiet in lessons but has a hard work ethic and that is all I care about. We get along really well. His family are huge cattle ranchers. He almost has me talked into a career in ranching, after I get my Dr. :)  The language is coming. They understand me... or act like they do! haha Yesterday we found a new investigator who said after the lesson “You speak Spanish mixed with English words, but I still understand you perfectly”. I just laughed.  That about says it all!! I don’t know what English words I was saying but haha  its all good. I sure love you Dad! Give McCall two big kisses for me!  Have a great week.  Thank you for your prayers.

Mom- Thank you so much for your email!  I feel your prayers so much.   I hope that you have a great Valentines day tomorrow. I don’t think they celebrate here, no one has talked about it. I actually forgot about it until your email today. It sounds like everything is going very well. Hopefully I will get the package you sent tomorrow when we go to Del Mar. I loved your stories and can’t believe how lucky I am to have you and Dad as my parents and best friend!    I sure love you Mom. I will keep you posted on transfers and everything for next week. I hope to be writing from Miramar next week. Vamos a ver.  Love you Mom. Give Call a kiss for me!

Mikesell- I loved your email so much! It meant the world to me. I am glad that you had a good time and that all was well. I sure miss you.  Prayer really is very powerful  and especially when we have prayers like that. Write these experiences down in your journal! You have always been good about that. My guess is you will hear from the Y this week or the next. I will be praying for you and have no fear -God  has his eye on you.   I love you so much Mikesell. Go dominate life my girl. AND give McCall a kiss for me today!

 Brennen - What  a stud you are! Sounds like you finished the basketball season really strong. I love it!  GREAT JOB. You asked me what I thought between Tennis and  Track, I think they are both great!  Just do something... I loved track, but lots of people loved tennis.  Think, choose, and pray and do.  You will do great.   I love you so much brother. I was thinking this week about the temptations that you and Al and Harrison will face - in many things but especially in pornography and things pertaining to the Law of Chastity. DO NOT GO NEAR any of that which would destroy you. Being here has been very eye opening, it destroys everything good you have going for you and the family. You know that…. You three have too  much going for you. It is coming at you at a very young age. Fight it by doing good thing and staying busy. I love you man. Have a great week. You are a man among boys. Love you bro. Give McCall a kiss for me!

Alex-  ¿Que tal Maestro?  I thought they were the bears…couldn’t remember. Good work. I  hope you can get Wood  River again. What is your record? I sure love you buddy and I hope that you have a great week! Listen to Mom and Dad and don’t flirt with things that can lead to trouble.  Give me a report of your  scripture reading next week ok? I sure love you bro.  Keep rocking life. Give McCall a kiss for me.

Harrison- Hey buddy. How are you man?  Sounds like you got some cool things for McCall for her bday. You are a very giving kid.  How is b-ball?. I love you buddy. You are such a stud.  The picture of me with the dog is for you.  The dog is named Nala like the lion of Lion King.   She is our neighbors’ dog.   I love you bud. Give Cally a kiss you me and have a great week. I LOVE YOU!!


MCCALL- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I hope that you  have a wonderful birthday!!  You looked so cute in your picture. I hope that you have felt very loved today.  If everyone  completes with their assignments you should have received 7 kisses from me today.     One for every year. I hope that you like the letter and that it all made it there safe.  I love you so much. I prayed for you very much today and thought of you. I miss you!! Have a great night celebrating your day! I love you Cally.
                                       The paper says "Happy Birthday McCall" in Spanish

I thought a lot about the Atonement this week and how  it is not only for our sadnesses in life but it is to help us reach our eternal potential.   Improvement and progression our one eternal round through the Atonement.

Well I love you all so much. Please tell all those who celebrate with McCall I love them. Please tell Grandma Crouch how I loved her letter.  I have read it several times. I am so grateful for my grandparents…and all of the family!!


 I love you all so much!!

May Heavens richest blessings be yours!


Love, Elder Austin

P.S.  The other picture is of like 30 mins ago. I hope you can read the sign in my hand.


CHAU!!!!!


Monday, February 6, 2012

February 6, 2012

"What did you learn today?"

Good Afternoon!

What is happening under those stars and stripes?

Letters from:

Libby Baum- Thanks for the good laugh. Thank you so much for the kind letters and the sharing or your experiences at school and your testimony. It sounds like life is going well. Have a great week. You are awesome!

And the good old emails form the valiant family members – You all are so good to me!

Well, here it is again. I cannot physically believe that it is Monday again. Time went by really fast this week to me. It sounds like you all had a really great week this week and that everyone is “living the dream” and are doing good things. I am glad that Mom and Dad were able to get some getaway time / planning time in.....Glad Hailey had so much snow!

My week was really good. Marta Diaz was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was a really neat experience. She is an Grandma of Gold!  The second we knocked on her door and she was ready. It was a great blessing. I am not sure how often a missionary finds someone as her!  The other picture is of the first counselor here in Miramar, he is divorced but just a clydesdale. His daughter, Martina, was baptized also. It was a great day! 



Lissette however freaked out and didn’t come. She is going through a complicated divorce and it is hurting. Some days are better than others for her and I think she got cold feet. She still is open to church and will come some more she says and hopefully her heart will soften. I was going to baptize Lissete and Elder Yarger was to baptize Marta. Nevertheless, it was a great day! 

Our ward mission leaders invited a couple form their ward in Mar Del Plata and it was crazy she has family ties to Mesa, Arizona. You will have to ask the Ellsworth’s if they know any members named “Julio and Laura Nauman”. I didn’t get to talk to them too much because of the craziness of running around for the baptism and everything. Small world...huh? 

We had a great lunch with two investigators named  “Ezequel and Natila”. They are really kind people. I hope they can progress. They are planning on getting married in March and they told us that on their own… so that was pretty awesome!  They don’t like commitment though and are not promising church attendance or anything. Love ‘em till they come!  It was a good week. Elder Ochsenbien (my old comp) had his birthday and it was the same day was our ward mission leader – the one who comes down on Wednesdays and go does visits with us. We laugh a lot and work hard. Good people in the world as them are amazing to watch. They give it all. Other than that it was pretty much a normal missionary week.  It has been really hot this week!   Mom- you asked about Jose…  he has not come for a while. It is really sad. He is working 7 days a week right now for the farm and it keeps getting robbed. He is sleeping outside in the corn field with his gun. I hope he can come soon. We visit with him and he knows of our love for him and he knows where he should be. As for exercise - none of the three Elders much care for exercise - but they are good sports and one of them always comes outside with me so that I can run.  Life is good!

Dad- I was really glad to hear that you had a good time with Harrison at his game and that your time with McCall on Saturday went well. That is really a special thing.  Those one on ones are the best! I hope that you have a fun time with Grandpa Clegg up at “the fish” tomorrow.  It should be really pretty and fun.  I think of Redfish and imagine what it looks like with a blanket of snow.  I loved what you said about goals and the importance of a habit and routine. There is quote from Aristotle that ways something like “Excellence is not an act but a habit; therefore we are what we repeatedly do.”  I actually did the same thing with my goals for the year. Just tried to focus on the “day to day”. I sure love you Dad. Thank you for your insights from your Sunday school class and your testimony. I miss you. Have a wonderful week. I hope that things are going well with Redfish. Love you Dad ~

Mom- I loved your email this week. Sounded like you are dominating the world and that is typical. I sure love your drive. It is something that so many people lack. You were able to get so much done this week! You are truly superwoman! Yes, I believe the next transfer is that weekend. I read a scripture this week that I am sure you know about but you will to look it up anyway. Goes along perfect with your letter.   D&C 18:19.  I loved that quote you said in your journal. (The two best days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain) You know who you are and what you want to do while on this earth and in your lifetime. I believe the difference between the man at the top of the mountain and the man at the bottom really is the man on top has gratitude. You truly have a grateful heart. I sure love you Mom!  I think I will get the package next week. We don’t have district meeting this week so we won’t go up there to Mar Del till next week. I hope that you have an awesome week! I sure love you and just can’t say enough how grateful I am for you. You are truly an angel. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for serving so many. You are an inspiration for me! I will bust it out here and think of you~  Love you.

Mikesell- I love hearing about your friendships and the boy stuff.  You are a good sport. I am with Dad - if you were not so gorgeous and “happy” then it wouldn’t be a problem. Ha-ha. I am glad to hear that your week was good. Thanks for the email you typed from McCall.  Still no BYU response to anyone huh? They get later and later each year in their responses it seems…but soon the wait will pass. Full moon this week! I hope that you are enjoying all the fun times of school. How is the “work out stuff” going?  Cross fit sounds pretty intense.. I love you Mikesell and I love your letters so much. Your future is so bright. Go get me tiger!

Brennen- Hey stud, thanks so much for your email! It was great to hear from you. I hope that you enjoy your last games this week. I can’t believe your season is almost over. That is crazy! I hope that you have had a good time and that you have learned a lot. I hope you can read that talk this week. How is the Quorum doing?  Well my bro, grab to the iron rod like never before, two hands with everything you got. You are the man. I love you so much. Keep up the good work. I am glad to hear that you have such good friends ~ that will be a great blessing to you during high school. I love you! Have a great week.

Alex.- Hey man! I hope you got my other email that I sent just to you! _I sure love you bro. Go get them at Stuart today!  I can’t remember their mascot for the life of me. I know they are green and black.. maybe Bruins like Twin... anyway - go get em. I love you! Keep doing good things. God bless you brother. You mean a lot to me.

Harrison. Hey buddy, congrats on the basket!! However, baskets are for the weak. I will bring you back something awesome from Argentina if you take a charge and have an aggressive foul this week! Tell Dad he is corrupting you with all this “Ill buy you a blizzard if you make a basket bologna!”  haha! Have a great week. Keep being awesome. You are courageous!  I love you!

McCall- This will be my last letter to you as a six year old! I couldn’t believe your teeth you had in the picture Mom sent me!!! Wow!! What a looker you are. I love you McCall and miss you very much! I think you will get my letter in time before your birthday. I get to email you next week on your actual birthday - day! How cool is that!? I love you. I loved the story about you bearing your testimony in church yesterday. That is so special. Thank you for sharing that. You will be very blessed. …And YES ~ Heavenly Father does answer prayers!


Well, I love you all so much. I hope this is the best week ever for you. I write in my  journal every day and I have changed the way I write to see what Heavenly Father wanted me to learn this day. It is fun to pull lessons out of life. I love the scriptures and I love this Gospel. Most of all I love Heavenly Father. I love you all!! I am so glad to hear how each of you are growing and doing the good things!! Have a wonderful week!

Tell everyone I love them and tell Elder Lott good luck in SLC.  It will be good to be close to Drs until he is stabilized and well.  That is a sweet mission, one of the highest baptizing in the world I think! So glad he is getting to go to back into the field!! I love you all!! 

Thank you also for the political update!

Love,

Elder Austin