March 5, 2012

IT’S ALL GOOD!!!!

Well, here we are again!

Letters from:

Nanny Kim and Matt- Thank you so much for your sweet note. I loved hearing of your fun times.  I couldn’t stop smiling reading your letters. Thank you both for being such wonderful examples to me. I love you both. Keep pushing on! I am excited to see your brother Nate here in a couple of weeks! Isn’t it great we are going to be here together!?

Scott Maughan: I know Scott won’t see this but so you all can know. He is doing really well. He is so awesome. Tell his family hello and that I love them. What a wonderful roommate and friend he is to me.

Emails from:

Cameron Stauffer- Hey my brother~ so good to hear from you!!! Sounds like you are still the great Cam I know!  I hope that ISU is going great for you. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate your friendship. You are the man! Keep dominating life. Sure love you man.  Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me. I think of you often and we have a lot of good times together!

Grandma Clegg- Thank you so much for the update on everything Grandma. I loved hearing that you are doing well in the new ward. I loved hearing all the miracles with two weekends ago. What a special time. Please send my love to Grandpa and Uncle Alan, Julie and the girls. You are amazing.  I love you Grandma.  

And the Faithful Family:  I can’t tell you how grateful I am for each of your letters and support!! I love you!

This week was a great week. We didn’t find too many new investigators, but it was truly a week of true miracles. Well, on Saturday we had six baptisms. The entire Gonzalez family was baptized!  Ignacio included!

                                               Carmen, Maria Eve, Elizabeth and Ignacio.

                                               The Torres brothers, two were baptized

Last Sunday we fasted so that the entire Gonzalez Family could be baptized. We went and visited them on Wednesday and they were having a hard time because they didn’t have money for that days food. Maria Eve is looking for work. We were with the family Beloqui who came down for the day and they are awesome.  We were able to help them and hope that was an answer to their prayer.  That is the first part of the miracle. On Thursday we were in the Church for the interview and only the three girls showed up so we were happy but also a little sad because Ignacio was not there.  As were teaching with Elder Holmquist and Yarger… I was talking and I saw him walk by the window outside. I said to Elder Yarger, “Will you finish teaching?” and I left with Elder Holmquist to go find him outside. He looked at me with a little shock. Elder Ocsenbien was in the room next door interviewing so he wasn’t “too alone”.  We went outside and saw him walking down the street. We walked following after him for a little bit but we turned and we decided to give him his agency. I was just praying he would come back. We got done with the three interviews and he still wasn’t there. So they left and we were putting chairs away getting ready to leave when I see Ignacio and his two sisters walking back in the gate. I was so pumped. The four of them were baptized. And on Sunday, one of the cousins who has been visiting came up to me after Sacrament meeting and asked me if he could be baptized the 17^th of this month because he was going to be moving here. I told him that would just fine with us! :)  The Torres family is really special and has been through a lot.

Yesterday we had a great dinner with the Heriquez family. It was great and I have the faith that they are going to progress. Claudio was in the Church and he loved it. 

I want to thank Grandpa Crouch for his letter.  Papa thank you so much! I loved your insights and I have thought so much about that word on my mission. (desire) More than any other. Thank you for your time to write – I loved it so much.  I hope that all is well with you both!  Please send Grandma my love.   

Yesterday was a tender mercy day. I bore my testimony and got really emotional. Then right after me, Hermana Blanca got up and bore her testimony. She was recently reactivated when Yael,  her grandson was baptized. Then Branch President got up and bore his testimony and talked about how happy he was to have his wife in church with him. She never comes but hopefully she is changing. Then he told a story about me that was really nice of him. He said how the first day he met me he asked me a question and I smiled and said (beuno) and he looked at Elder Perez my companion and asked “what was up” and then Elder Perez told him that I didn’t understand much Spanish. Then he said how he was a little frustrated that the branch got a missionary who couldn’t speak well.  He was really nice and bore a great testimony.  It is going to hurt to leave this branch one day. I am just going to enjoy everyday. 

Sounds like you are all doing really, really well. I am glad to hear that.  Thank you each for your letters and your updates on life. I really enjoy them. That is an understatement.

Dad- Your email got cut off a little, but it sounds like you are doing really well. Glad to hear your back is getting better. Yes, this is the time when our weather is very appreciated. This week we had it all - we had rain, really hot weather, and wind. Today it rained like crazy, but yesterday it was so hot. We will go look for a house sometime this week we hope. I am excited for that. I hope that you have a great week Dad. I sure love you. I can’t not thank you enough for all you do. The other day he heard a Billy Joel song and I thought of you. I am excited to hear a little of the “Spain Spanish” when our new mission president comes in July.  You will have to keep me updated on the political race. It will be hard to not talk to people about it.  I sure love you Dad. Have a great week. Thank you for your prayers.  Hey! I just saw your other email. I just read that talk this morning by Elder Scott. I have read all of conference and just eat it up. I am seriously stoked for April.  Funny how you talked about that. I love you Dad.

Mom- You seriously freak me out. I am not kidding. This week I brought my shoes into a shop here to get fixed and he did a great job. Why in the world would you think to ask me about that this week? haha. Sounds like you had some crazy weather up there. Thank you so much for you letters. I just treasure them. Tomorrow is eight months. It is go time. Elder Oschenbein goes home at the end of this month and he is hanging in strong. He has had a rough mission and is a really great example. I am excited for him. I sure love you Mom. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts. I miss you bad; it doesn’t ever really go away. But we keep going forward, after the storm comes the Sunshine. You are the best Mom. I love you!

Mikesell- Oh my gosh - I am being tested with patience here also. Ya gotta hear from BYU soon it is killing me. You are so good to keep it up.  I am excited to hear. That is too bad about Jake getting hurt in the state game. Tell him I love him. What is he looking at for college? It is so wired to think that your class is Seniors. I hope you are enjoying your new trimester.  Bust it in Track. It will be awesome for you!   You will have to tell Lon Egbert hello for me. He was a great influence for me. I really respect him and think a lot of him. He does a great job there. You have a lot of great people to be able to work for three different people in Work Base Learning.  Well, Sis I think we go a full moon coming up here soon. I sure love you.   I miss you bad!  Keep doing good things.  Have a wonderful week.

Bdog! Hey my man -- How is tennis? I am so excited for you!! You are going to do really well. Sounds like you are really busy right now. You asked if I speak Spanish or English with my companions… we try to speak Spanish outside all day and at night we do tend to speak English. I set my alarm to go of every two hours to remind me to speak Spanish. I need to do it more; because that is the only way I am going to get better.   How is seminary? How is the Book of Mormon coming? Be sure you are in that book every day. I cannot beat that drum enough.   It is the determination of your future.  I sure love you man. You are such a great example to me.  Keep doing great things. 

Alex- Hey man!  Dude. I expect an email from you every week for the next 16 months. Deal? If not I am going to have to send some kind of torture devices for McCall to use on you. How are you? Are you making good choices? How is the Book of Mormon coming? I sure love you man. Do real things that bring real, results.  Half page letter next week deal? I love you buddy. Sure miss you so much. Have you thrown a disc in a while? I hear AAU basketball starts this week – right back into it!

Harrison -I love your braces that Mom sent. That is awesome.  I sure love you buddy! It sounds like you are doing really well!   What are you learning in school right now? Keep being awesome buddy!! You are the man! I hope that your teeth get better and your visit to the dentist goes okay!

McCall- Hey sweetie! How are you? I hope that you had an awesome week. How is school going? I am glad that you watched some Andy Griffith and that you are having some sunny days. I love you Cally. Thank you for your prayers. Keep being the special wonderful person that you are. 

l like the the scripture that I read in 2 Nephi 25:29 this week.. Helps you so see what is most important. 

I have so many blessings. I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough or live well enough to show my gratitude for all that I have been blessed with in my life. These blessings include you.

Love you all so much....

Until the next time!!!!!!!

Elder Austin

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!

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

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!!!!!

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

January 30, 2012

The four of us Elders- the ones all crammed into our one bedroom house! haha

"Give a little more effort!!!"

Hello my dear ones!

I hope that you are all having an awesome Monday!

Letters From:

Libby Baum- Thanks so much for the letter and postcard Libby. I got a kick out of it. I hope that life is awesome. I am sure that it is. Sounds like you have some really fun classes. Have a great week. I will get a letter off to you as soon as I can! Thanks so much Libby, you are awesome.

The Bingham Family- Thank you so much for your Christmas card!! I hope that all is well. Thank you for all you do for me and my family. Thinking of you…

Emails from:

Grandma Crouch- I am so looking forward to reading your email tonight. Thank you so much! I love you and am so grateful for your influence in my life. I am so grateful for you!

Grandma Clegg- I am getting your emails wonderfully. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful week. I appreciate you taking the time to write.  I love you.

Ethan Lopez- I am excited to get your letter Ethan. You are the man. Thanks for taking the time to write. Love you bro. I hope life is going well for you…I think of you often and our good times!

Elder Lott- SO glad to hear you are doing better. You are in my prayer! Thank you for the update. Go teach some families in good old Jtown. I love you bro. Hang in there. God is going to bless you like crazy. Thank you for your example. I am rooting for you big time!

And of course the faithful family! Thank you to each of you!!!

The pictures are of the baptisms last Saturday.

 The first is of Yael , then Guissermo, then his family!   It was a really neat experience. Yael asked me if I could confirm him and it was a very humbling and spirtual time.  The coolest thing about working with Yael has been to see his family come back to church. I hope that they can stay.

We found a Grandma of Gold this week. Her name is Marta and she is 65. We found her name in some old records and went to visit her. She is very kind and went to the baptisms and wants to be baptized. If all goes well and we do our part she should be baptized in two Saturdays. Lisbet will be baptized this Saturday! She is also very prepared to change and better her life. I can’t remember if I told you but her family has a resort here. It has been really cool to relate our life with her Family.  It is really pretty. They have a polo field surrounded by sunflower fields it is gorgeous. It is fun to walk out there to teach her.

Heavenly Father is blessing Miramar right now. This family from Mar del Plata, called the Beloqui family is something else. I mentioned about them in last weeks letter. They come down every Wednesday and just go out with us. They are working miracles here. I love them so much. Sister Beloqui brings us food every Wednesday and they really are just 5 star people. I am so glad to be able to learn from them. They are awesome!!

So some funny stories of the week:

The first: Elder Yarger and I were walking down a street that we always walk down. We went to turn a corner and a big black German Sheppard was lying down. I teasingly said, ¨I fear no German Sheppard¨ and started to walk on ¨his little patch of lawn”. Usually the German Sheppard’s here are pretty nice. Elder Yarger apparently has more dog sense then me and he started to walk in the middle of the street. I was looking at the dog as I turned the corner and it started to look like it was going to cough or something, then I realized that is was more of a lion like growl in its throat. I started to maybe fear this German Sheppard a little - but I was too late. They dog stood up and started charging me. I literally yelled and stuck out my black scripture bag like a bull fighter straight out in front of me. It bit my scripture bag and I ran to the other street. Elder Yarger was nearly dead he was laughing so hard.  I have a lot more respect for German Sheppard’s now, but it was good to use my quick reflex muscles for a minute. That is just a funny little story made us laugh and helped better the attitude of the day.

Also this week I was praying after my morning run upstairs by our window and I felt something on my back. I thought it was just an Elder teasing me and I didn’t do anything. Two seconds later Elder Holmquist who is Elder Cohesions comp came up the stairs and said ¨Elder Clegg, there is a bird on your back! ¨I jumped a little and the bird flew off outside again.

So I guess thinking back I had some experiences with “nature” this week. Good memories.

I can´t tell you how much I loved the story of Alex and Elder Lott. That is really touching... I really appreciate it.

This is what I wrote to Austin in my weekly letter and this is the story of Alex/Elder Lott:       

Here is the scoop on Elder Lott: So he came home from London, England on Thursday to SLC. They came home to Jerome on Friday night after Dr. appts.  Long story short...he has an anyurism (probably born with it) which is like a bubble in a garden hose in your vein. In that bubble...a blood clot has formed. They will test him again in few months for a blood disease. (clotting)  He has had to give himself shots in his stomach. (he hates needles) In a couple of days he will switch to blood thinner pills. After a few weeks if all goes well he will most likely be re-assigned to a stateside mission and to be close to a hospital for tests and treatment. He has not been released as a missionary and Andy/Annette are his companions. We saw him today at church. He looks so great...but we all know he doesn't want to be here... he wants to be on that mission!!! It’s heart breaking actually. We are all doing the same old stuff ~ he has bigger fish to fry ~ and he knows It ~ we know it ~ but I suppose you can’t do that if your health is not there. We are praying for him like crazy. Today (Sunday) was the sweetest... Alex passed the sacrament and afterwards was trying to come and sit by the family... we were in the middle of the row and hard to get to. Alex chose to sit on the Lotts row in front of us. He sat about 4 seats away space from Payson. Alex looked back at Mikesell after he sat down. Mikesell and I were motioning him to go scoot down and sit by Elder Lott (Payson). Alex was being shy and the look on his face was no...”I’m too shy”.  However upon realizing that Alex was there...Elder Lott motioned for Alex to "Come sit by me!!". As then Alex slid down next to Payson. Payson reached his arm around Alex and pulled him into his side. They visited quietly for a few moments. Even more touching was Payson left his arm around Alex for a long time. Like probably 20 minutes. It was so sweet. It meant the world to Alex. Payson has got that "missionary glow" and he has “love” radiating from him like crazy. Alex said to us in the car on the way home… “Payson is the coolest ever” – which translates to “I love Payson....and that meant the world to me that he showed so much kindness to me”. We pray for his quick healing that he can return to what his heart desires!!

I read a quote from Elder Eyring this week that says ¨I  can´t be a perfect servant every hour, but I can try to give more effort that I thought that I could¨.¨

That is my mission statement for my mission. I know I can not be a perfect missionary, but I can always do just that one more effort every day.

It sounds like you are all doing really well. I am so glad. I can’t tell you how much I love to come check email on Monday and hear from all of you. I feel so blessed to hear you are all doing well!!

Dad- I am glad that you were able to go get the “plan in place”.  Enjoy your time away with Mom!! Hailey sounds like a great place to get away to. Lots of planning to do for Redfish I am sure. Thank you for the update on the kids and on the politics also. Sounds pretty dirty... what a surprise!? I hope that you have a great week Dad. I sure miss you. I love you so much and am so grateful for you example in my life. I love you Dad!!

Mom- Thank you for your letter last week Mom. I have re-read it many times. You talked about leadership. One thing I learned at BYU is that it is lonely at the top. To be a leader you do have to stand for what is right, not what is popular. They more the kids do that- the more success they will have. You are so sweet to me in your letters. Your words are very humbling. I loved your note card idea! You have a lot of insight and the more you share that insight with others…the better! I love you so much Mom. You are truly an Angel. I hope that you have a very productive week. Thank you for your service for everyone. Enjoy your time in Hailey with Dad! You coming home Tuesday? You bless the lives of everyone who knows your name.

Mikesell: I love your stories and I am excited to read them all tonight. I can’t tell you how often I think about what a blessing you are in my life. I really miss you Mikesell. Thank you for your prayers. I hope that you can make a decision based on whatever is best for you for college. Both schools are really great. You will do awesome. I sure love you Sis. Go conquer the world and know that you also influence so many. - And be nice to those missionaries’ cars!! Ha-ha that is really funny. (Mikesell backed into a car while at lunch with her friends…left a note…got a phone call from the owner of the car…it was the missionaries! They said it was nothing…not to worry about it!)

Brennen- Sounds like you had a killer game man!! Good work. Are you enjoying ball? I hope that all is well with everything. I love you man so much and you are such a great example to me. I hope that you have a great week. Keep smiling and attacking people on the court. You are a winner! Glad you got a chance to go skiing! What a nice thing of the Holyoaks!

Alex- Whats up bro? Thanks for your email. Sounds like things are good. I miss you buddy. Keep making good decisions and being a leader “on and off” the court. Your potential like everyone in the family, is huge. Go after it and get the vision of your life!

Harrison- Hey man, sounds like you a defensive stopper! That is great. I hope that school is going well for you. I love you so much Harrison!  You are such stud. Keep doing good things and remember the Harry way. Who has treats for FHE tonight? Mom says you will be getting some braces soon for the old teeth huh?

McCall- Hey baby! Sounds like you are working the Mom taxi system! You are something else. Are you ready for you birthday? Tomorrow I send your letter. You should get it in time. I sure love you Cally. You are so special to me.

Well my family - We move forward through life trying to do our best and giving thanks for what we have. This week I really missed you all at different times. But I am really happy and living the dream. I want this mission to change my natural man forever. I know I can give more.

May you all have an awesome week!! I love you all so much.

Love,   

Elder Clegg

   

January 23, 2012

Live up to Your Potential!!!

Letters this week from:

Rachelle Miller- (Nanny) Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and sweet words. I am glad to hear that you are enjoying married life and that you are living happily. Thank you so much for your example. You are the best. I love ya.

  

Emails from:

Grandma and Grandpa Clegg- I got both of your emails! Thank you so very much. It is such a treat to hear how all of you are doing. I hope that all the computer problems were able to be solved. I love you both more than I can say. Your examples speak so highly of the blessings of Gospel Living. May you continue to be blessed. Have a great week and stay warm and dry!

Aunt Julie- Thank you so much for the inspiring letter. Thank you for sharing the story about the young missionary in the ward. Missions are not easy in the least and often times missionaries do feel like there isn’t a soul out there that wants to listen. But that doesn’t change the fact that it is still true. Thank you for your testimony. Please tell all the girls I love them and to keep being superstars in all the things they do! I will try to send a little Argentina sun your way. Love you Aunt Julie.

Cass!- Hey Squirt... Thanks so much for the address. I will be dropping a note in your direction. Yes, I remember very well the feeling of leaving and all the farewells and friends leaving. It is a bitter sweet time. I hope that you and Ash and Sadie are rocking life at BYU. I love you very much. Hope you are enjoying your hamsters every Sunday night. Have a great week and keep living the dream. Love you Cousin!

  

And of course the mighty faithful Residents of 380 East... haha!!  Thank you all very much for your letters!! I feel the prayers of everyone and am so grateful for the wonderful people that I have been blessed to know. You are all my inspiration...

   

Well, I can picture what this last week was like for all of you in my head. I remember the winter weeks filled with endless Basketball games, late nights, and busy times. It sounds like everyone is doing really well in school and that everyone is progressing nicely. Sounds like you have gotten a lot of rain / snow!

This week was pretty great week. I seriously love my new companion a ton! We laugh a lot but work a lot too. It is quite a change with four in our house now, but we are getting along. We have been like this for a week now. Today I went to a least four rent places and all of them said to come back in March. This place is like the Disneyland of Argentina sometimes. There are so many tourists here for the summer!!

I am trying to think of some of the highlights of the week and the first one that came to my mind is this one...

 Last Monday our appointment for an investigator fell through and so we were knocking doors and doing the normal “plan b” things. We walked past a house that I recognized from a few months back, and I realized that it was the house where Gaston, the twelve year old boy that was killed had lived in. (Burglers broke into his home when he was home alone and killed him) I recognized it because they had police outside for several weeks. We walked by and at first I was a little tentative to knock on the door. But then I said to my companion "We are going to try something a little bold here¨. So we knocked on the door and out came Gaston’s Father. We talked to him for a while and at first I played dumb... then we got talking about Gaston and he got very emotional. We asked him if we could come in and say a prayer with them and they let us. We taught a little about the Plan of Salvation and it was a really emotional time for all of us. We invited them to Church and set a return appointment. She was just leaving for the city and they didn’t come to church this last Sunday, but we are going to pass by them some more. More than anything it was just really humbling to enter that house and feel the pain that they were going through. I hoped we helped them in some way. They seemed really grateful and were very emotional. Your prayers in their behalf are much appreciated.

This week should be a great one. Gishermo and Yeal are getting baptized . Gishermo is a man of gold. He cries every Sacrament Meeting and is so humble. His wife passed away last August and he suffered a stroke and is recovering well. It is cool to see because we found him through street contacting his son. Elder Ochsibein and Elder Holmquist our teaching him now since there are four of us now we have divided our investigators, but I feel a lot of love for him. Yeal´s family is slowly reactivating also. It is great to see the change in his family. We also found “Lisette” this week. She is 23 and has a three year old kid who is just awesome. She is in the divorce process - which is rare here. Normally they just stay married if they separated and they having a court case over the children. She is very humble and we taught her all the lessons in one week. Her date is for the 11th but she is progressing so well and so we may change it to sooner. It is great to see some success and we are excited for the future. Alejandro will not quit smoking, mostly I just think it is because his heart really is not too much into this but hopefully it will change. We fasted for him and helped him with a plan and a goal and he is working with the members. Desires are powerful and can be good or bad.

We had interviews with President Defletson this week. (Mission President)  It was so awesome. He talked to us for two hours before the interviews but it felt like two minutes. I just soak up every word from him. I love him so much. He is a very inspired person and I love the things he talks about. I will never forget the things that he has taught me.

Some fun things about this week. Contacting two men on horse back in the street. Elder Yarger loves horses.

Elder Yarger and I in our matching "get ups" to go exercise

We also had a branch activity and I taught the branch how to play “signs”. The cousins would be proud!!  (It was taught with great difficulty!) I died laughing because we were playing with four elderly women and to watch them try to play and remember everything was just too much. Oh man -I will never forget that. I was crying. I wish you all could have seen it.

We got a new mission leader from Mar del Plata and their family is so awesome. He sacrifices so much for us. He comes down all day each Wednesday just to do visits and help us. He knows what it means to honor covenants. I love their family and I am going to have a very hard time saying goodbye to them some day.

All four of us gave talks this Sunday and it went well. I talked on President Monsons message and the ABC´s (Pretty great Brennen huh!? :)

Please send my love to the Lott’s and I will keep Elder Lott in my prayers. I hope that all is well... What a strange thing to happen. (Austins dear friend from Jerome is serving in England and has a blood clot...is being sent to SLC for testing this week) I did not see it coming at all. Please keep me posted.

Out Mission President has challenged us to memorize one scripture a day. It has really helped with my teaching and my study of the scriptures. I am really learning the importance of studying the scriptures for our investigators to apply in thier lives.

Dad-

I hope that you time in Utah today goes well and that the roads are all dry. That is great that you are going to Logan. It is really good to keep your options open for Mikesell and to have a second route. I hope that you are able to have a great week and do the things that you would like to do. I sure miss you Dad. But I am very grateful for this time. Thank you for the revelation and ideas that you receive each day to guide us kids. I think back on the one-on-ones we have had, the interviews with each of us kids, and moments like that...Those types of experiences are what keeps a family strong and centered in Christ. Thank you Dad. Have a wonderful week. You are looking great in all your pictures!   You are the man. Hey what’s up with Romney? Apparently there was a newspaper article down here about it?? I love you! Have the best week of your life!

Mom-

Hey there Sunshine- It sure is great to get your emails!! I loved what you said about “leadership” and I look forward to reading more tonight. Sounds like you had a good week filled with a lot of ¨things¨. I am glad to hear that you were able to stick to the basics and your ¨guns¨ through all of the games and hectic schedules. I don’t know how you keep it all together…you are amazing! I loved hearing how you are playing the piano a lot. That is a great blessing. To answer some of your questions - Yes I am feeling great - No, I still have not found my scriptures. I ordered some here from the mission office so no worries about anything. I will be fine and I am grateful for the experience. Mom - I sure love you so much. I hope that all is well for you. Hope you get that get-away with Dad soon! Thank you so much for your prayers. Keep up the great work! I love you Mom!  You are the best!!  (-Just got your email back to me in response about Romney- Thank you so much for your update! Your phone telling you when you get an email comes in handy!)

Mikesell-

Sounds like you are keeping busy but happy! I hope that Logan / Utah State recruiting today goes really well. Good to keep your options open until you hear from BYU. What a long day for you and Dad! Leave at 4am! What a great time to spend with Dad. I hope that everything is going well for you. You are in my prayers and thank you so much for your goals you sent for the New Year. I loved them. Have a a wonderful week and keep up with the good work. You are my hero. I miss you a ton. We are never far in spirit. God bless you sis. Watch an Andy Griffith Show for me when you have time…?

Brennen- Hey you stud muffin. I enjoyed hearing about Seminary.   Absorb every bit – it is truly a wonderful time of life. Those are the best moments of the school day.  You are blessed to have such an awesome teacher! Mikesell says the same thing in her letters. Jerome is blessed to have such a great man!! Mom told me about the Fireside. That sounds like a very great broadcast. I love Elder Packard. Thanks for sharing those ABCs from President Monson’s Message. I hope that you are enjoying the basketball life!! Some of those days you get tired of the same things but work hard and enjoy your time with the team and play hard. Did you read that talk this last week from the Priesthood session? Has Mikesell taken you out to lunch lately? I think you two should go to El Sombrero this week. That place is good and they have cheap burritos. Good luck with your games this week - it sounds like everything is going well. Keep smiling and naming 5 Things you are grateful for every day. You have loads of potential so go kill it man! Thanks for being my bro.

Alex- Hey stud muffin how is your life? Thanks for your email I love hearing from you. I hope that you have a really great week! I miss you buddy. Keep doing good stuff. How is your calling? Are you being a good Deacons Pres? You pulling straight A´s? Good luck on the court this week. I love you bro. Keep being  a stud and treating people like you want to be treated. That will bring you more success then any thing else in you life. Love you Alex! Drop 30 for me this week!

Harrison- Man I just love you so much. I miss you buddy. I loved the picture of your bball team that Mom sent. I hope that you are having fun. Have a great week and good job on your reading. You are doing awesome!! Less TV and more books means a world of success. I love you Harrison!! Thanks for your prayers.

McCall- Hey you old 6 year old! I will send you birthday letter tomorrow. Hopefully it will get there by your birthday Valentines girl! I hope that you had a good week. Sounds like you are doing really well in school. Thata girl! I loved your bball picture Mom sent.  I sure love you Cally. Keep being awesome and dong good things. Give all the siblings a big KISS for me.

I love you all and am so grateful for your examples. I challenge you to live to your potential. I know that we can do more and we can at the same time have gratitude for the blessing and abilities we have. That is how you dominate life. Please send my love to all. Have the best week ever!

Love,

Elder Austin