7/7/14

It's great to hear from you guys every week too and see how y'all are doing!  I'm glad everyone's having an awesome time and doing well!  I always loved the 4th in Carnation!  Hopefully, I'll have one again.  My fourth was a normal proselyting day and I'll be honest...I do not like holidays one bit as a missionary.  They are a stumbling block for the work for one whole weekend, THREE DAYS!

The work here in the Burkeville Branch is progressing.  It can be frustrating though at times too.  Here in the more southern part of the state in the country, almost nobody knows how to read and those that can have a hard time understanding the Book of Mormon.  We're doing our best to help them and describe what the meanings of certain words are.  It also is a challenge when people are just content with having you come over and feel the spirit we bring.  It's a very...content area.  It challenges my patience as a missionary at times, but it's good for me, still a challenge though.  Kate and Ellie have a better understanding than some of the people we meet with, to give you a better understanding.  In the end, the most important thing we can do for our investigators is get them to church!  And that is something we are working on because that is where you can feel the spirit.  We're also trying to get copies of the Book of Mormon on audio to some people because as I said, reading in general for some people is pretty much impossible just because they don't know how.

Brenda and Ray are still on their scheduled dates for July 19th and August 23rd!  I love teaching them and it's always such an experience because they invite the spirit with their desire to learn as well and you see someone accept the Gospel in their life!  I've never been happier than when I see someone accept the gospel in their life!  I wish I could just take y'all with me to one of the lessons, Luke or Alex especially!!  You two could go out with the missionaries and help them out.  I know you are, but I just thought I would give some encouragement.  Luke, now that you are a priest, you have many opportunities to go!  DO NOT LET THEM PASS BY!!  I only went twice before my mission.  Alex, go out with the sisters in our ward.  You and Luke can go together!!!  There's nothing better that you both could do together as siblings than share the Gospel!  Your testimonies will grow as well as your relationship with one another.  The Lord is hastening his work now in these latter days and you both are a part of it, catch the vision. (Proverbs 29:18)  Be happy!

Chad is a former investigator that I may have told y'all about.  I guess I should say he WAS a former investigator, but we found him in our area book and I decided to call him up to see if he would like to meet with us again.  Long story short, he agreed!  We met with him for the second time today!  He became a former because his wife was anti towards the church, but she recently left him.  She didn't show up after work one day.  She came back briefly but it didn't work out.  He's very down right now, but we know that Heavenly Father has prepared him to receive the fullness of the gospel now!  We love Chad and we are doing everything we can to help him.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer!  Our last lesson with him I asked him before we left, "Chad, do you know that the Book of Mormon is true?"  Chad answered, "With all the surety of my soul!"  Everything we have taught him makes perfect sense to him and he is progressing rapidly!

I love y'all!

-Elder Austin Mounts