"HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUSTIN!"

Austin turns 21 years old today. Sending happy thoughts to him today!

Charity

Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 1:45 PM


Family!
You guys are the best! Thank you for all your support. This week has
been a bit better. I'm trying to keep my enthusiasm and excitement up
despite the lack of success. I found the problem. It is in our
companionship. We are not united in purpose and desire, which has
been an obstacle in everything. We work hard, we go through the
motions, we're nice to each other, and we are using the help of the
members. But that isn't enough. It's always emphasized that charity
must first be applied in the home before being applied outside of the
home. That applies perfectly to a companionship. Dad, your advice
was priceless. Thank you. I've been thinking about Doctrine and
Covenants 121 where it emphasizes the need for increased love after
reproving somebody. I haven't cultivated the gift of charity. I feel
motivated to find a family that's ready for the Gospel. I feel like
I'm more focused than I used to be, but my companion is still new and
learning. I need to help motivate him to change some things. I need
to be more charitable toward him before I can motivate him (and that
goes for all the missionaries in my district). My companion has a lot
of little struggles, but all of them combined turn into a big one. I
have to help him. I say that recognizing my own faults, but I'm the
one with more experience and understanding. That will be my focus
this week.
Thank you guys for your letters and your prayers.
Aubrey, sounds like work is stressful, but a huge blessing! And those
pictures of the fish are awesome! You guys are so cool! I went to
Midway once, but it was at 10 oclock at night to visit the hotsprings
haha! It was sketchy. Alex Leonard was there! Good times. I
haven't posted any pictures in awhile, I'll get on that next week!
And thank you for your support and for telling me your proud of me.
Sometimes that's a good thing to hear.
Haley! Sounds like the race was awesome! What was your finishing
time? Sounds like this coming year is going to be great! You've got
a good schedule. You're still gonna be crazy busy and stressed, I
recommend coming up with a plan for when that comes. Remember
facebook is a waste of time haha! Oh btw, did Amy Austin get my
letter while she was in Bolivia?
Dad, thats such a huge bummer getting the ticket and the whole food
poisoning thing! Thank you for all those quotes and
advice. And it's true, the Spirit is the most important thing. I
bought a watch, it was 150 quetzales (20 dollars I believe). But my
soccer ball popped today and I lost my bath towels (I only have one
left). So I think 50 or 60 would be so great to include a dinner or
something for my birthday. That's so much money! I'm sorry, I'll pay
you back when I get home and start working. But thank you so much!
Mom, they told me my package is waiting in the mission office, I
should get it next week. Thank you so much for that. And how long
ago did you send the other shoe? Thank you for everything you do.
Seminary is going to be so great! I think you'll learn to love it. I
love you!
Not a whole lot happened this week. One thing that I am so grateful
for is the attendance level at church. It's up to 135! The members
have been visiting each other and it's helped so much with the unity
in the ward. The only problem is the chapel is too small for so many
people. They have plans to build a new one within the year, but the
attendance is going to continue to grow during that time ha! Should
get pretty interesting.
Yesterday we were visiting investigators before church, helping them
get ready to attend and all. A man stopped me in the street and
explained that he was from El Salvador and on his way to the States.
He was speaking English and explained that his family is over there in
the States and he's just trying to get back to them. He asked me for
money. I explained that we don't carry money on Sundays, so
unfortunately we couldn't help him. He got angry and explained that
God would help him because he has faith. I told him take care and we
left. We went to visit a family and started to head back. I said a
quick prayer in my heart that the guy we had just met would be safe
and all. Then suddenly he was coming toward us. He showed me that he
had gotten about 7 quetzales (enough to cross the border into Mexico).
He said, 'See!? I have faith, and God helped me. You didn't help
me, you aren't of God. You're a liar!!!!' He said it with hatred in
his eyes. I could have said a lot of things. He started to walk away
and I yelled to him, hey I prayed for you man! Haha but I think I
contributed involuntarily to the stereotype that all gringos are rich,
stuck up, and racist. I felt sad about that. The guy probably hates
Mormons now too. I want Christ to come and fix everything in the
world. I've never wanted that as badly as I want it now. How great
will be that day!
Well that's kind of a sad story to end on, but this week went better
overall! Thank you guys for everything. Thank you for the birthday
wishes and your prayers, I can feel them! I love you guys so much.
More than you know. You're the best.
Elder Austin Tyler

A lesson learned

Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 12:32 PM


Hey err'body!
Sounds like Utah was fast, but fun! Summer is almost over! I feel
like your guys' lives go faster than mine does. That's weird.
So Alex Leonard told me that Troy is an AP. I totally called that.
Is it true? How in the world is he doing?? I haven't heard from him
in forever! Haha I miss him and I can't wait to see him.
Sounds like a lot of big stuff is coming up. Haley with school and
your half marathon (make sure you definitely change your schedule.
SpeightHausse might be a good one to keep. She's easy and that would
be a nice break during the tough schedule you've got. Just a
suggestion). Brock with the new semester. Mom with seminary. Dad
with strap plan. And then me coming home haha! Yes, time is flying
that fast.
Sounds like fishing was fun! In which canyon did you guys go fishing?
Haley, good luck with your half marathon!
Mom, it sounds like you're studying up a storm. Don't you love it the
more you do it? At least that's how I am sometimes. Good luck with
all of that, it'll be great! YOU will be great! I know it!
Well this week was kinda crazy. I got to see all my buddies from the
MTC group. They're in our neighbor zone. It was so great to see
them. We had a conference on Wednesday. President got everyone
really fired up about using the temple open house and dedication as a
way to get the work moving along. Just some statistical information:
when President Maravilla came, the mission baptized 60 in the month of
August. When he came in he put a goal to baptize 250 every month.
Everyone thought he was nuts. In May and June of this year we
baptized about 150. July: 171. Haha it truly is phenomenal what he's
done to help this place. I feel so blessed to be working with him.
During the conference, we got a quick break and I went to talk to the
APs about the stuff that happened last week. They told me to talk to
President. So I went and explained everything that happened. I
explained that the kids that got baptized were not ready, and I knew
that. But then I explained that my zone leaders told me that we
should baptize them to reach the goal because that's what he
(President) wanted us to do. They then told me that he (President)
told them specifically that we should baptize the kids. He looked at
me and said, 'even if I had said that, you knew they weren't ready and
should have held your character in doing what you knew was right. I
didn't give them permission. You are a leader. You've learned a
powerful lesson.' Then he smiled and clapped me on the shoulder haha.
I felt relieved to know that what I had been feeling was right, but
then I felt foolish for not being more steadfast in what I knew was
right. I'm not happy with my zone leaders.
Luckily, the kids are still excited about the gospel, and we're still
working with the parents.
This week was incredibly difficult. I kept thinking, all of this is
just opposition, something good is on the way! But it just kept
getting more difficult. I was trying to coordinate a blood donation
for an investigator's dying mother and nothing was working out. I
kept making phone calls while trying to take care of district
responsibilities. It was all going downhill and the district wasn't
doing well. After all the phonecalls stopped, I just sat there dazed.
My comp had long gone to bed. It was all just too much. I'm treated
like a zone leader, but I have to take care of my fledgling companion
and look out for the other elders in my district, some of which aren't
too motivated right now. It was just too much. After sitting there
for a bit I went to my bed to pray. I went one by one with each
problem and just prayed it all out. I closed the prayer and waited to
listen. That moment of listening made it all better. Heavenly Father
listens to our prayers and I love Him. He knows everything.
Everything.
The day after that was better, I think it was just my attitude and
realizing that I can't change the world. I can't obligate people to
work. I can't force a baptism. But there is a lot I can be doing to
guide people and help motivate them.
Speaking of which, how do you motivate someone who knows what they
should be doing, knows the blessings involved (as well as
consequences), and simply lacks desire? How can that desire be
sparked or ignited? I need some help there.
We got the confidence of our bishop back! Haha we bought a watermelon
and I carried it a mile or so to their house (that thing weighed more
than my backpack). We showed up at their house and I told them I
brought our fast offering for the month haha! The bishop's wife
looked confused. I set the watermelon on their table and explained it
was a gift. They started laughing and said thank you so much elders!
And then we shared a message with them. It was cool and it's a relief
to have their confidence again.
Well, I gotta write President. It was a tough week, but things are
getting better! The Lord is with me and I've learned so much in such
a short amount of time. I love you guys so much!
Oh, I came up with birthday ideas haha. My watch is starting to fall
apart, I can buy one here, but I feel like I don't have any money. I
hate asking for money, but I guess it's my birthday. I just feel bad
because Mom already sent a package.
Mom, I love you and I want to write you a letter. I'm going to start
that soon. Dad, Brock, Aubrey, and Haley, I love you too. So much!
Have an awesome week and good luck with everything!
Love,
Elder Austin Tyler