Hello All!
My last day at the MTC! How Exciting! I leave for the
airport at 6:00 tomorrow morning. We have spent the day so
far writing letters and packing (I apologize If my letters seem short or
If I don't write back at all this week. I only have so much time to
do everything and today is a busy day). I think I will be ready to go (at
least physically).
It is kind of bittersweet leaving the MTC. At times I have
loved it and didn't want to leave. At others I could not wait to get
out. I wish that I could stay and learn more here, but I also
realize that there is only so much you can learn while you are
teaching those who already know. It has been good to have teaching
practice (they have some volunteers come in from the community and
pretend to be investigators, as well as teaching our teachers and each
other), but I can't wait to get out and teach for real! It will be an
amazing experience.
Yesterday was one of the most spiritual days of my life.
We had a couple of amazing meetings. The mission Conference
that we had was great - the mission president and one of his counselors,
as well as their wives, spoke. We heard everything from parallels
between the Mission and the Temple, to Attitude, and the Atonement.
It was a good meeting. We had an absolutely incredible Fast
and testimony meeting. I felt the spirit stronger there than any
other sacrament or testimony meeting I have ever been to. I was able
to bear my testimony and it was a wonderful experience. We had a few
Elders (I'll fess up - I was one of them) who usually don't cry who were
bawling at the end of the meeting. Imagine Four or Five of these
Big, football player types sobbing their eyes out. It was a Pentecostal
experience. Absolutely incredible.
The new district came in on Wednesday, and all seven
missionaries are going to the California Santa Rosa Mission. Guess
who is in that district? Sister Heather Leigh Gray!!! It has
been so much fun to see a familiar face. She has been progressing
well and is going to be an incredible missionary. There is also
another Elder in that district that reminds me of Wes Lambson. I
will have to get a picture and send it to you.
The trip sounded like a lot of fun. Braden, Brindy, and
Pieface - I got your letters and they made me smile! Keep writing - I
promise I will write back when somebody writes me. Tell everyone and
their mom that.
I saw Curtis yesterday! He was working at the Cafeteria.
It was good to see him and I told him to say hello to everybody.
A few random things....I also heard that the pictures came.
I am excited to see them.....Shanna - Congrats on the new
job....Taylor - let me know how yearbook camp went. Have you decided
on a theme and signatures? Let me know..... Bryson - keep working and
saving money so that you can send me letters.... Tanner - How many books
have you read thus far this summer? I bet it's over a thousand....
Braden - hope you had fun at mill hollow.....Brindy - keep singing.....
Pieface - play some games with the boys and beat them for me..... Dad
- good luck with work and I hope you are able to get those units out.... Mom
- Love you most! Thanks for keeping me informed..... Maren and Mikenzi - I
hope you enjoyed the show and the Fourth with your family......
Anyway.... I love and miss you all! Thank you all for your
continued support and prayers! I'll be in Canada tomorrow, so
letters need to go there.... I will write from my new address so that you
will know where I am. Love You All!
Your Humble Servant,
Elder Austin James
Ashcraft
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