7/14/14

That's awesome that you got to listen to Easton and Matt speak!  One leaving and the other one coming home.  Reading that email, especially about Matt, made me feel like I was coming home soon.  I didn't like that too much.  I actually got very sad thinking about it.  I've got so much more to learn and do here.  Seeing miracles happen all around me and being a part of them, helping people and seeing them accept the gospel in their lives is an experience one does not ever forget.  Great, now I'm getting teary eyed because I'm thinking about how much time I have left and now I don't want to come home, ha ha!  Nine months is not much time.  I'm just going to be a missionary forever, I'll keep the tag on and just go out with the missionaries when I get home and never let President Baker release me! :)  In all seriousness though, I know where Matt is coming from.  The mission life is life changing, as long as you become a missionary on your mission.

Brenda is going to be out of town for the 3rd week in a row.  Her baptism will no longer be this weekend because of that.  She is going to church in Chesapeake though, so that is great!  We've rescheduled her baptism with her to the following weekend, the 26th!  There is never any time to rest when you share the gospel with others.  We're literally at war with Satan.  Brenda is so prepared though and ready for the gospel, as I have said before.  We're excited for her!  Ray is still on date for the 23rd of August!  He could hop in the font right now if he wanted to!  At least that's how I feel like at times.  Now Chad, is the man who has read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and is doing it for the 2nd time!  He has such a strong testimony of the Gospel!  He came to church last Sunday and he was looking sharp in the suit of his!  He told quite a few people how we found him just as he was in his darkest moment in life and how much we've helped him and done for him.  It's weird because all we've done is point him in the right direction.  He's taken every step on his own.  We just called him one day after looking through the area book and feeling like we should call him.  I really don't want to sound prideful or conceited, but missionaries really are inspired and guided by the Spirit!  I love Chad, he's awesome!  We feel like he can be set on date for August 9th.  That's what we plan to talk with him about this next Friday.  I'm excited!  Missionary work is wonderful!  It brings you joy and you have fun doing it because you enjoy it!

I'm not kidding when I say some people can't read here.  In the more secluded parts of the state, out in the country, some people can't read.  I didn't believe it either until I tried getting investigators to read the Book of Mormon.  They could just be messing with us but with most of them you know after meeting with them a lot that they can't read.  That's why we're trying to get the CD's.  And the comprehension part, like reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon for example.  In first Nephi where it's pretty simple, we find out what people have understood through asking questions.  When it all went over their head that's when we break down.  And when we know that they didn't understand that's great!  Then we know what we have to do and do what we should always be doing, which is teach according to their needs.

Elder Langford and I are still companions, but the 29th is transfers.  We're pretty sure one of us is leaving.  We are still in a car and we got a new car this last Wednesday! ...It's Red... I wanted ANYTHING but red.  Red sticks out way too much.  They're more likely to be pulled over too. It's a Toyota Corolla.  I like the Corolla.  It handles well.  Our day is always different but we usually try to teach about 3 people in a day and we'll do what we can to make that goal.  Sometimes EVERYTHING falls through.  That happened this last Friday and we had nothing all day.  It was a little frustrating, but that happens.  We got over it though.  Other days we find people to teach pretty easily!  On Thursday, we were going to see one of our investigators, just a drop by, and two people across the street called us over and wanted to know what religion we were and how our religion was different from the Baptist religion.  PERFECT TEACHING MOMENT!  We answered their questions and ended up teaching the restoration to Randy and Necole.  Randy started reading the Book of Mormon as soon as we left and said he had been searching for a religion that fit more with the teachings of Christ.  Well, he found it!


Elder Langford has taught me a few things.  How to be patient is the biggest with him, he has to be right most of the time (usually it's at home about something there).  However, we've worked on it though and we work really well together.  He's also taught me about humility and sincerity.  He always is turning to the Lord in all things.  I admire that about him.  He's a great companion and he knows why he is out here serving the Lord.  he's an awesome friend.

It's weird that I'll be 20... I'm the oldest out of the 4 missionaries serving here.  Both in mission time and in years.  I used to be the young one, ha ha!

I love y'all!

-Elder Austin Mounts