Elder Austin Ainsworth: January 2018

Monday, January 29, 2018

This Gospel Was Sent to Bring Families Together!

Hello Everybody! Everything is going great over in Maryland! The temperature goes up and down from one day to the next. It was 60 and then it will be 20. I wish this state would make up its mind!

It's still been really tricky to get in contact with our investigators. Some of them have been very busy, as of late. Dolphin, however, is doing fantastic! I love that man! It's been such a privilege to teach him and really see the light of Christ come into his life! We have set a date for baptism on March 10th! I'm hoping that I'm still around to see it. Jadan has been pretty sick lately, so we haven't been able to have a lesson with her yet. Karen is still out of town, but it sounds like she's doing good.

I promised to talk more about the Kougino family this week. We saw them come to church a few weeks ago. Due to family circumstances, as well as other private affairs, the wife, who is a member, has not been very active in the church for quite some time. Her husband has generally not been very interested. The biggest miracle and part of the story that I wish to share, is how everything lined up for them to come to church. So, months ago, Elder Worsham and his companion, Elder Palmer, challenged families in the ward to pick a date to invite someone to take the missionary lessons. A family that the missionaries worked with, decided to accept the challenge. They fasted and prayed over their date. During the fast, the husband had the thought to go and visit the Kougino family. They were his home teaching family, but in the past, he was never able to get in to see them. This time, they allowed him to share a message! This lead to him finding out the Kougino's were planning on moving to a different part of the area. I was able to participate in helping with the move and when we visited them a few weeks ago, they told us that they would come to church! It was amazing! We are planning on sharing a family message with them, hopefully this Saturday!

I know that as we take the time to involve the Lord more in our life, we will not only grow closer to Him, but to our families, as well. This gospel was sent to bring families together and it's been a true blessing to witness that, while I serve as the Lord's missionary. I hope you have a good week!!!

Mom Note: Elder Ainsworth said in his email to me today, "This week has been busy! I actually wasn't able to take any pictures this week!!!! Sorry!!! This week we have a Zone Conference and Mission Leadership Council, so I should be able to take some pictures."

Monday, January 22, 2018

An Amazing Miracle!

Hello Everyone! It's been a warmer week, over here in sun shiny Maryland! Lately, it's been in the upper 50's which has been a welcome change from the low 10's. Everyone this week has been fairly busy, and we actually had an investigator tell us to stop coming by, so that was sad to see. But all of that was eclipsed by an amazing miracle that we had. Before I get to that though, really quick, an update on Dolphin, who is doing so well! It's amazing! He has set goals for himself to overcome some problems he's had and his desire to change is strong! He's reading better and really feeling the spirit in his life! He also was able to make it to church yesterday and his wife and mother were there, as well! It was soooooo cool! Especially since they haven't been a part of our lessons.

The biggest miracle however, was with the Kougino family! I don't have the time to write out all of the details of how this lined up, but I’m hoping to have time next week. Basically, the wife is a member and hasn't attended church in 10 years. Yesterday, their whole family showed up! They loved it! We met with them a few days ago and we are planning to have a Family Home Evening with them this week! The Lord has prepared that family! Thank you all for your love and support. I hope you have a great week!

The New Apartment. Sorry there's not more!

I will see if I can take some more pictures this week!!

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

I'm Staying!

Hello Everyone! This week has been a crazy week! It was super warm, then just a few days ago it went right back into the freezing temperatures of last week. It's been chilly! Elder Bakker, the missionary who was with us last week, went home for medical reasons. He was pretty bummed about it. Yesterday, during our preparation day, we bought him a Maryland Flag Hawaiian Shirt, since he loved Hawaiian shirts. We are planning on mailing it to him next week. He was a fantastic Elder, with a Spirit to match! It was a total blast serving with him.

With that out of way, the big news!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm staying! Wow! I honestly didn't think that was going to happen! I'm still a Zone Leader and Elder Haynie is still my companion, but we are moving apartments! We lived outside of our area and there are new missionaries coming into the zone, so to help with everything, they moved us into an old sister missionary apartment in our area. It's nicer! I'll take pictures this week and show you.

This week was also our mission’s temple week! It was awesome to be able to go the House of the Lord and feel of the Spirit there. This is actually the last time that I will be going through the Washington D.C. Temple, due to its closing for two years in March. It's a wonderful building and I love the time I spent there!

We had a super awesome week! A lot of our investigators have had some busy weeks, so it's been hard to see them, but there was one investigator whom we picked up this week, who is awesome! Last Monday, we met with Lashae for the first time! She ordered a Book of Mormon and Bible online, so we stopped by to deliver it. Since then, we have met with her three times and she knows the Book of Mormon is true. She is loving what we are sharing with her! It's been awesome!

I hope you have a good week! Stay warm out there!

Temple Pictures for the week.

Zone Preparation Day!

We gave out awards and I got one that was pretty funny!

Monday, January 8, 2018

Hello Everyone! It's been a frosty week over here in Maryland, but it's also been a huge spiritual week! One of the crazier things that has happened this week was that we got a new companion for the next week or so. Elder Bakker! He is awesome and has only been out for 5 weeks, but he is loving the work and it's been a blast so far!

We also had a Missionary Leadership Council once again and we talked about the smartphones that our mission will be receiving in the next few months. It's truly been a testimony to me that the Lord is hastening His work! We also had the privilege of meeting with Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy over the weekend. He talked about the Book of the Mormon and how important it is for us to heed the counsel that Thomas S. Monson gave us. It's been such a neat opportunity to hear the inspired counsel of the servants of the Lord.

Our investigators are doing well this week. We had our Stake Conference over the weekend and we were able to have Dolphin and Luwana, our investigators, attend. Dolphin went to the adult session and loved it! Luwana made it to the general session and she also enjoyed it. It's been amazing to work with Dolphin, because we have truly seen a desire to repent and change with him. We even committed him to baptism on the 27th and he agreed! The 14-year-old girl that we have been working with, Jadan, also agreed for baptism on the 27^th, as well! It's been remarkable to see the change that has come into their lives, as they have lived the Gospel. Karren is still out of town, so we're just waiting to hear back from her.

I hope that we can remember the life and ministry of our Prophet Thomas S. Monson, as we move to sustain and support, Russell M. Nelson, as the Lord places the mantle of a Prophet on him. I know the Church is true and that the Lord is at helm, guiding and directing His servants, in all ways for the salvation of His children. I know that Russell M. Nelson has been prepared by the Lord and will be a great strength to us all, as we move forward. Thank you all for your love and support and try to stay warm out there!

Trying to clean all the salt off our car!

Missionary Leadership Counsel

Elder Bakker with Elder Haynie and me!

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Big Things are Happening!

Hello Everyone!!! Wow, this has been a crazy week! It’s been awhile since we have been able to email.

It's been an adventure, going out in the cold to find people to teach, but it's been worth it! We have seen miracles in the area! We haven't met with Karen lately, since she's been out of town. But during a brief visit we had with her, she is still staying strong with no coffee! It was also neat to learn, from another member, that she was engaged over Christmas! So, big things are happening!

One of our investigators, Jadan, is a 14-year-old girl and she made it to church on Sunday. She loved it and it's been great to see her progress. So, I have some mega massive news. We learned over Christmas that the Maryland Baltimore Mission will be authorized to use smartphones by the end of February. Super exciting! We will also be a Facebook authorized mission, as well! Lots of new changes!

I hope with the change of the New Year that all of us will look over ourselves and see the changes that we need to make. As hard as it is, it's also a big part of the Gospel. The biggest thing that I have learned from being on the mission, however, is that we are not left alone to struggle, as we strive for this change. I know that Jesus Christ and our loving Father in Heaven watch over us and help us to become who They know that we can be. We are never alone in our trials. I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year’s!!!!! Make it a great week to start off the New Year!!!!