Welcome Home - Elder Austin Ainsworth!

Hello Everyone! This has been one of the craziest weeks! Last Tuesday was my final day to proselyte as a full-time missionary and it was also my last District Meeting. It was a great way to end the day, by seeing Joe and teaching him in a member’s home, as well as seeing Michael and Michelle! They are doing so good and are such a great couple!

Wednesday was the big day! It was transfers! I saw most of my companions, before heading off with Elder Fisher, Sister Degraffenried and Hermana Ward. We were with President Christiansen the whole day! We stopped at mission BBQ and ate a great meal, then drove through Delaware to Philadelphia.  We visited the temple, as well as historic sites like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We met with the Philadelphia Temple President afterwards and he gave us some advice on what we can do when we return home. I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful temple and feeling the spirit that is there.

That night, we got home late and never went to sleep!  We had a quick devotional with the Christiansen's, before heading off to the airport! A 4-hour flight later and I was able to see my family for the first time in two years. It was such an amazing day! It's moments like these that make me think what it will be like when we return to live with our Father in Heaven. I know that the family is so important. It's these relationships that will carry us, even through the difficult times. On Friday, I spent time with the family attending the Jordan River Temple open house.  I also had the opportunity to talk with Joe right after his baptism on Saturday. He was so happy! Sunday, I gave my homecoming talk in my home ward and it was good.  I appreciated everyone who came that day.  It was awesome!

It's definitely been a weird adjustment being home, but I still feel my Father in Heaven close by cheering me on, as I move forward in this new phase of life. Thank you so much for all the support that you have given me. It's helped me tremendously. I hope that the mission experiences I have shared over the past two years has helped you, as well.  Again, thank you so much! 

My mission funeral! 

Philadelphia Temple

Final pictures of transfers!

Mission BBQ

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

The Airport!

Hermana Ward and Sister Degraffenried

I'm home!

Meeting with President Hogge to be released.

Taking off the tag was pretty emotional.

Jordan River Temple Open House!

Homecoming Sunday

Elder Worsham!

Mission Plaque

The Last Blog Post!!!

Hello Everyone! Wow! This is it! This will probably be the last post that I write. I may do one next week, to cap off returning home, but as a missionary, this will be it! It hardly seems real to think that 2 years ago, I made the choice to serve my Father in Heaven. It has been a choice that has blessed me more than I could have possibly dreamed of. There is no greater service that we can render to our fellowmen, than that of being on the errand of the Lord. I have witnessed broken families come together, men and women who are at rock bottom be lifted in ways where there is no possible explanation, other than God was in their life.

I have seen that in action more so with our investigator, Joe, who will be baptized this Saturday. Joe's life has changed for the better, since he met the missionaries.  It's been really neat to see his progression and the light that has come into his life. If there is any spiritual truth that I have learned over the course of these 2 years, it is that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He is a real tangible being, whose love for us is more than we can comprehend. I know He is real, because I have witnessed things that are not just mere coincidence, nor easily explained. He loves and watches over all His children and if we let Him, He will make more out of our lives than we ever possibly could on our own.

Thank you all for your immense love and support, as I have journeyed through this chapter of life. Your prayers have sustained me over these 2 years and I know that I wouldn't have been as successful without them. Have a wonderful week and I will see you Sunday!!!!

Elder Tucker had the opportunity to make a stain glass butterfly! Really cool! 

Service for a member!

Me with Elder Tucker!

It's a Better Way to Live!

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a really spirit filled weekend with General Conference! It was such a unique occasion to sustain Russell M. Nelson as the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know for myself, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that he is called of God. I know that the promise in the 9th Article of Faith is still in full force, with these new changes.  The work of the Lord is hastening for His coming.

With His hastening, it has been a miracle filled week! By finding new investigators and having powerful lessons, the biggest miracle that I have seen has been with our investigator, Joe. As we have taught him, helped him to live the Gospel and he has come to church, there has been a real change in him. He is much happier and his living situation at his home has been slowly improving. He is a living witness of the power that Jesus Christ has to change and improve lives. It has been truly humbling to witness it.

With the end of the mission on the horizon, it has been comforting to know that the Lord is at the helm. He will guide us through the storms of life and be our closest friend in times of need. I know that the prophetic counsel that we received, to always have revelation in our lives, is true. As a missionary, I have had the opportunity to be very in tune with the Spirit and it is a better way to live. I testify that he is in the details of our lives and no matter what happens in the future, His arm is there to bear us up. I hope you have a great week!

I went back to Carlisle for a day and took a picture in front of the church building. 

I was able to see a family from when I first came into the mission! It was awesome!

Elder Brown and a member of the Carlisle ward, who gave us a ride!

Really cool sunset!

Elder Tucker doing the Chubby Bunny challenge during conference!

We Were Snowed In!

Hello Everyone! I hope you have all stayed warm, because over here in Pennsylvania, we were snowed in! There was so much snow! We had our District Meeting on Tuesday, the day of the snow storm, and the roads were so bad that we ended up staying with two other sets of missionaries in the Gettysburg Elder’s apartment! We shoveled a crazy amount of snow around the blocks, near their apartment and the Downtown Square. It was all worth it though, because the six of us were singing hymns, as we shoveled.  There was a lot of gratitude from people, as well as them taking videos of us. That was a really fun night!

With us being down for two days in another area, it was tricky to think of what we could do for our investigators, as well as find people to teach, but the Lord magnified our efforts! We have three members that we are working with in bringing them back to church.  One of them that we found, wasn't even on our record! We were told from a lady, to try them by door.  We set up a return appointment for last night and when we got there, it turns out the mom of this family is a member, who didn't know the church was here in Chambersburg! A member in our ward also talked with a lady at Wal-Mart, who ended up coming church yesterday.  We will be teaching them this Wednesday!

It's been a real blessing and tender mercy to see so many miracles this month. This is truly the Lord's work and He guides His servants to those whom He has prepared. I'm grateful for all of the love and support! Have a great week! 

Stuck in Gettysburg for two days!

Eating at a Chinese restaurant with some other missionaries!

Snowy streets of Gettysburg

Look at how much snow was on the Rav!

Elder Tucker and I with our car surrounded by snow.

We tried Hogmaw this week from the Rock family. It is meat, potatoes and other things cooked inside the stomach of a pig. A Pennsylvania Dutch original! It was super good! 

A car was trapped between 3 Semi's.  It was pretty funny!

Horse and buggy warning signs in Pennsylvania!