May 2, 2016

Hello Familia!

It's been an eventful week! It started with Elder Cowan getting the call to train on Wednesday and then Saturday the call saying I'm leaving the area. It has been the fastest transfer of my mission here in DC.. But it's was tons of fun. Sad to go but excited to see what the next transfer holds.

So with leaving I don't know my schedule. But let's plan on that call schedule unless I really can't make that work I will email you mid week! So unless I tell you otherwise that will work.

I'll run through the week pretty quick.. Wednesday we were able to go to the temple. I sat next to Elder McDonald of course to extend the streak!  I love the temple. It was so great to be in there again. As we go into the Celestial room President and Sister Cooke are always there to great us. When I walked in President grabbed me into a hug and then said "Be ready. Get prepared, you'll be great". So I've kinda been flipping out trying to figure out what that means. Elder Coombs knows the transfer board since he is serving as a traveling AP, and said I will love my new area and comp so we will find out tonight!

We had some other pretty cool experiences this week, example we had a surprise baptism. It's a long story... I will talk about that in our call home! But I wanna share this experience Elder Jenks and I had on Saturday. So Elder Cowan (comp) and Elder Chapman (other roommate) are both training so Elder Jenks and I got to go on exchange together!! We were so pumped. So we thought we would be so busy but all our appointments in both areas fell through. So what did we decide to do?? We walked the mall! We both have been super stressed about getting transferred (again) and just needed to talk. Plus we are the only missionaries in the world who can be the churches public representation on the National Mall. So we started at Union Station, walked to the Washington past the Smithsonaisn, up to the White House, and then back up to Union on the other side of the Smithsonian's. Long
walk. But It was so cool, plus we talked to some members and then a few contacts as well.

So as we walked past the Capitol I got a call from some Spanish Sisters saying they had a referral that wanted to be contacted that day. But it ended up being in Elder Jenks area. But since we were on exchange we were good! So we ran back to the apartment to eat dinner and laid down to take a quick nap. We ended up over sleeping by 20 min and got over to the address. Then we ran into a few catch up that all worked out. Then we finally met Samuel. And he is one of the most prepared investigators for the gospel I've ever taught on my mission. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I've taught, and Elder Jenks and I teach really good together. He ended up going to church with the Capitol Hill guys yesterday and is really set.

This experience was so amazing as all the little details that needed to line up. Samuel calls the Spanish Sisters and they don't know exactly how he had their number, our schedule was open to meet, we over sleep which if we had left on time he wouldn't have been home yet, and even other details that had to line up. I know us meeting
with him was designed by our Heavenly Father to happen exactly how and when it did. It was an answer to a lot of prayers, his seeking the gospel, mine and Jenks finding our purpose of why we did just 6 weeks and then leaving in our areas, and even the Sister who got the call. When I called her after the lesson to tell her how it went, She told
me how this was an experience she has been praying for since she got in the mission as a Visitor Center Sister. There are other details about this that I can elaborate more on when we talk on Sunday!!

Overall it's been a great transfer here in DC 3rd South. I'm glad for the people I've serve and got to serve with. I can't wait to talk to you guys on Sunday!!

I love and miss you guys!!
Love,
Austin

Elder Jenks and I on our National Mall proselyting walk.. Right before this picture we talked to a 

Secret Service officer who is a member in Virginia.

Our baptism of John! Like I said it's a long story so I will fill you in on our call home

Ceasar!! He is a mission legend.. He loves the Elders and has us over for lunch tons. One 

of my favorite people I met in DC 3rd!

April 25, 2016

Hey Familia!!

Sounds like it was a great week for all of you! This transfer is flying! We are going into the last full week of this transfer, transfer call outs are this Saturday and we go to the temple on Wednesday! Like it is so insane how fast it has flown. I guess it really is true that time flies when you are having fun haha.

Not much to say from this week.. It was really just a run of the mill missionary week. I think it's probably how all missions go, but we had so many appointments that dropped. For example we had five appointments scheduled yesterday and one held. So it's really frustrating but we keep plugging along.

I had another exchange on Wednesday with another Elder in my District. He is from Tanzania and is like the nicest guy ever. He went to the U of U and that's where he was converted to the church. He's 25,so he's a little older than most of us, but he's awesome. We had a great time getting to know each other a little more. I think that's one of my favorite parts of being a District Leader is the ability to get to know more missionaries really well.

It's been another good week and I think we will have another good one for our last full week of the transfer!

Love you all! Have a great week and talk to you soon!

Love,
Austin

We had DC Zone Activity today! Little known secret is there are sand

volleyball court by the Lincoln memorial.. So we a BBQ and played

volleyball all day! Tons of fun!! 

So story behind the trophy... it is a long passed down thing in the

mission that is just the joke when you win in Zone Activities. The

plaque said "Summer Coed Christian Singles Tournament Champions"

                                   

More Cherry Blossom Parade Pictures

                                  

April 18, 2016

Hi Everyone!

Well it has been a busy but great week! Honestly I haven't been more exhausted in my mission, which is saying something because I am always tired out here! 

The week was full, on Tuesday we did a service project as a district for the Salvation Army where we did some painting. It was tons of fun being all together with the district! Plus we all grabbed lunch together at a super good pizza place here in DC. It's only a DC thing, think subway make your own pizza. On Wednesday I went on my first exchange as a district leader, it was pretty fun. It's always interesting to see how other missionaries do work. The Elder I went with is a great guy but is trying too hard to be the missionary and not being himself as a missionary. So there's some tension between him and his companion as there is like 0 fun and he won't talk about anything outside the gospel or missionary work. Thursday I gave a workshop in district meeting and it was on Comp Study/Comp unity and I played this game as a part of it where it was a how well do you know your companion and I hope that companionship realized almost all the questions were non gospel related. 

So speaking about exchanges.. So my responsibilities as a District Leader aren't tons. The difference between DL and another missionaries isn't as big as the difference between DL and ZL. So yes I do the baptismal interviews for anyone who is taught by my district (still have yet to do one). Then I am responsible for or weekly meeting. At the beginning of each transfer there is a big leadership meeting day where President and the leadership of the mission determine what needs to be trained on. Then each week is given a specific topic for a workshop and training to be given. Also like I mentioned I go on splits with all the elders in my district at some point during the transfer. The last thing I can think of that I do is call ins on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday nights. Tuesday and Friday I collect information on things like baptismal dates and Less Actives they are working with. Then on Sunday's I collect their numbers for the week then call the Zone Leaders to discuss my district and talk about the numbers. Plus doing numbers with the iPad is so easy, we just have a big spreadsheet template intake the numbers then email that to the ZLs..

Oh also on Thursday we had a surprise birthday party for Shawn (guy who just got baptized)!

Friday we had a Visitor Center lesson with a guy in our Ward and a referral of his. It was awesome, the temple grounds are all decorated for spring with tons of flowers (pictures coming). We then taught 3 more lessons that day and got home to try and get to bed early because we had to get up at 4 the next morning.. Why? Because on Saturday we got to Volunteer at the Cherry Blossom Parade!! It was so much fun! We were balloon carriers, so like those huge balloons in the Maceys Thanksgiving Day Parade? Yeah we carried those. Ours was a huge cherry blossom. It was so much fun just having most of the day off to enjoy the parade with the whole mission! So cool to be a part of it. 

The weather has been amazing this week.. But we all got fried at the parade. Like the whole mission is sunburnt haha. But I made it out pretty good. Then we had another Visitor Center lesson with one of our investigators named Josie. She wanted to watch the whole JS Restoration video, which was amazing! How great of a man Joseph Smith was, I know he is the prophet of the restoration. My testimony of him grows daily as I testify of him and the Book of Mormon. We then made it back late and had to metro to another missionaries apartment to sleep over because we had an early Stake Coordination meeting at 7. So we were up about 5:30 on Sunday so back to back Saturday and Sunday were killer. 

Sunday turned out pretty good though. Shawn got confirmed and I was able to be in the circle. It's so amazing to see people change and come closer to the Savior! And then Lucie came to church again, so that's tons of fun to see her. Plus she is going to bring Ismael next time!

Last night was Why I Believe which was amazing as always.. But guess who was there!? So I saw Brother Heath (WP2 Ward Mission Leader) and made my way over to say hi, then he pointed and a few feet away was.... Brian and Josephine CHAMBERLAIN!!! WHAT?!? After months and months I guess Brian has agreed to take the lessons and he is slowly progressing. Emphasis on the slowly. Like really slow. Like we can barely say progressing... But he agreed to come to the fireside! Josephine grabbed me into the biggest hug and was so happy to see me and Coombs again! I was so happy after seeing them and sat with them for the fireside. They are honestly amazing. I know there are still people for me to meet and teach here, but the Chamberlains will always be near and dear to me. I will always keep up with them and visit them. Honestly I was just so happy yesterday to see Brian and Josephine at the VC!! I just hope Brian will keep letting the missionaries teach him. 

It was a busy busy week here in DC! 3 straight days up at the VC and tons of other things. But it was amazing, I can't believe how fast this transfer is flying! The mission goes so fast when you are with a comp and surrounded with roommates that it just feels like you are living with friends. It's the best. 

Hope you all have great weeks! Love and miss you all tons!!

Love,

Austin 

    

                                       

April 11, 2016

Hi everyone!

Sounds like it was a great week back home! I'm glad you guys were able to have such a great trip down in Moab! We will For sure have to do some of those sweet hikes when I get back!

So Brother Seay is a member of the Ward. He is one of the more solid couples in the Ward and his wife and him are super missionary minded and called as Ward missionaries. He loves reaching out to the missionaries families. Like you said it is crazy all of the picture and things you get about me since I'm stateside. It's fun to serve around all the tourist places because we always get stopped and hear "Hi Elders" yelled from across the way, super fun to be like the public image missionaries for the church around the DC Metro area! Elder Cowan and I talk about how cool it is that we serve in the area that everyone thinks of when they think of DC! It's so cool!! Well besides the fact we get a fake referral for Obama about every other week haha!

So this week was a pretty great one! I'm just gonna jump to Saturday and Sunday because that's where all the eventful things happened. 

So Saturday we had interviews with President and Sister Cooke, and have I ever mentioned how much I love them?? Like wow if I ever feel bad about myself I can guarantee they will make me feel like a million bucks after talking! I talked with President and he was just really complimentary of me and everything I've been doing. And we talked for a while because usually I don't have much to talk about because my approach has always been that I can solve my own problems and I don't need President to help out with stupid things. But he said that's great but he wants to help me out. Then he said he loves me tons.

Then I got to talk to Sister Cooke, and I LOVE that woman! Like she really is my mission mom. We were talking and she said "Elder Carroll you are really quiet" and I laughed and told her she must not know me very well. And she laughed and said what she meant was that I never call her with health or emotional related problems. (Back to my conversation with President). So she said I need to text her out of the blue sometimes and tell her how my days going hahah. She's amazing. 

Then guess who came to the Ward on Sunday?! Lucie!! (Ismaels mom) because I had talked to her about going to the DC 3rd Ward because of how she can't go to Laurel Ward with her work. So it was fun to see her and then I called Ismael later, I love that kid!! 

Then on Sunday we had a baptism! I can't believe I've forgotten to mention this before! But looks like I'm the closer missionary. I come in during the 7th inning and make sure the people get baptized. Because so far both baptisms I've had I've just walked into. So we had a Baptism for a guy named Shawn. He's investigated for a few years. Then he got serious and he's totally changed his life around to where he is now. It's amazing to see the changes that happen in people's lives as they draw closer to our Savior and come unto the gospel. He is amazing and I love him tons even in the short few weeks I've known him. He's so much fun to teach and he loves Elder Cowan and I. 

It's been a fun week, Sister Cooke said she was so happy that I'm happy with this transfer and to "soak up every minute because I know sometimes we don't always get to serve win people get get along with". Life is good. 

Can't wait to talk to you guys in 4 weeks! So crazy it's coming that fast!! I love and miss you all! 

Love you!

Love, Austin 

Shawn's baptism

April 4, 2016

Hi everyone!!

So for sessions of conference I watched the Saturday Morning at our apartment in our lounge. Then the Afternoon, Priesthood and Sunday morning at our chapel. And then Sunday Afternoon was at the Visitors Center. 

I really enjoyed Elder Duncan's talk in the Saturday Morning session when he talked about forgiveness and his quote about Saul like people in our lives that have Paul like potential. I also really loved President Owens talk in priesthood session where he talked about leaders. I love what he talked about how the best leaders are the best followers and the best leaders follow Christ. Also how he said that as leaders it's not enough to come onto Christ ourselves, but we have to help others come to Christ. Overall conference was great! I always get so much out of each talk as a missionary! It's the best.. So so crazy I only have 2 more!!  

So the week was pretty good! It's still a big adjustment to the city and all! But it's going good. I LOVE the city! It's crazy but it's been great. I'm scared I'm gonna loose Cowen since he's been here since he got here for 6 months. And Jenks just got told he's going ZL next transfer really quick because of the President change. So the apartment will change up really quick but it's all good, this transfer was suppose to happen. I've never been happier or more content with myself or my mission than I am now. 

So about conference and all your questions at the end.. We try to invite people but not lots come. So overall it's just the missionaries all across the chapel.. It's funny haha. The Visitor Center has some members but mostly missionaries and some investigators. Elder Cowen and I get along so good! I love him tons! So we don't love our bikes cause we are in the deep metro and it's kinda sketchy to ride our bikes. So we mostly metro and walk. So all the walking, kinda biking and 0 member meals I should drop some weight which would be good!! The Ward is about the size to fill a chapel without any overflow to give you a size. 

Oh another awesome thing about this transfer.. So (Elder) Jake Kohler is serving the the Mount Pleasant Branch (Spanish) which shares the building with us. So I see him tons and we pass people back and forth! It's great to be close to people from home! He even slept over last night since he's in the city and we just sat and talked all about home!!

All is well here in the nations Capitol! I love you all and think if you lots!!

Love,

Austin 

We had to get a comp picture for thank you notes we will give to members with our 

picture on it so we decided to have at least a cool picture for it. 

Conference Sunday at the Visitors Center and Temple

Elder Kohler slept over! So much fun to have someone from home out here with me 

and now serve with each other!

We just got back from a Capitol tour, which was so awesome! Honestly I
think it would be so cool to intern on the Hill at some point!

March 28, 2016

Hi Fam!!

Happy Easter to you all!! It has sure been an interesting week! I'm just gonna run down my week day by day because I think that's the only way I can keep it all straight. But to start off so you don't have to wait. My area is the DC 3rd South and my companion is Elder Cowen. Then my roommates are Elder Chapman (I came out with him) and....Elder Jenks!!! Hahah it's been so sweet! Out apartment is so stack! But so hard working and obedient together, it's great! So it's kinda interesting we are the only apartment where the roommates are in different zones. So we are in the DC 3rd Ward in the South area, in the DC Zone (stake). And they are in the Capitol Hill Ward in
the North Area, in the Suitland Zone (stake). So we live right on our area boundaries.  The DC 3rd ward has the most missionaries per ward in the mission, we have 12. So there's a North, East and South English area. Then 4 Amharic elders and 2 French Elders. So it's pretty crazy to see all the missionaries running around the Ward during the church block.

So Monday I got the transfer call saying my new assignment. I was also called as a District Leader for the DC 3 District. Which has lovingly become known as the Frat District because we are the only district in the mission that doesn't have sisters in it so that's fun. So the area is super cool, I'm sending a picture of the area so you can see it better, but the national mall is in my area! How cool it that!?

Tuesday was just the craziness of running around and saying goodbyes. I'll send all the pictures from the goodbyes! Ismael was pretty sad but we got an email chain started so we can talk and I promised we would keep in touch until I went home and the when I have a phone we can text and he can call me and all that good stuff!

Wednesday we transferred and I met Elder Cowen! I had known who he was but didn't know tons about him. He has been out for almost 6 months and he just split from his trainer. I am pumped to be comps with him! He is from Oregon and is such a stud! He played golf and basketball in HS and we get along so good! He just wants to work hard. he's such a good missionary and I'm looking forward to it.

Thursday and Friday were the annoying nitty gritty of learning the new area and trying to get a grasp. Let's just say city missionary work is much different than suburb missionary work. But I love it!!

Saturday I had to attend leadership meeting which was about 4 hours but it was really insightful! I've never appreciated how much gets put in behind the scenes of the mission. All the administrative side, but it was cool to be apart of those conversations and try to help the mission out.

Sunday was my first church in the city. And let me tell you it's pretty crazy haha. Just figuring out everything and city wards are not as strong. Plus dealing with all the visitors is hard.. But then here comes the real story. So we had a lunch at a members house (which never happens - ps.I'm gonna get skinny cause I'm kissing my member
meals goodbye), and got a call from the Chevy Chase Sisters who was having a baptism at our chapel because their buildings water heater was broken. Long story short they planned their baptism late and we had to come fill the font. We had a hose running from an outside spigot through a window and then carrying buckets from the kitchen in. So overall that kinda sucked haha. But it's all good.

So overall this transfer is a dream. I am so excited. Our apartment had this heart to heart talk on our roof where we all just talked that we felt like we have been good missionaries but there's more to improve, that we can
do even more. So this apartment is a dream with a comp and roommate that are awesome and then having one of my best mission buds as a roommate as well!! We also live in the nicest apartment in the mission so that's another bonus (you can see the Capitol and Washington from the roof). 

I hope you all have great weeks! I'll keep you updated on this great week to come!

Love you all tons!
Love Austin

Laurel Good-byes!

Lucie & Ismael

                                     

This is Brandon.  When I first got to the area he was on the fringe 

but now he says he wants to serve a mission.  I gave him a tie and wrote a note on 

the back! I'm gonna stay in contact with him for sure!

Area Map

The only picture I have of the apartment so far.  Me, Jenks, Chapman, and Cowen

For p-day we went to see the cherry blossoms which are in full bloom. 

Me and Elder Cowen

March 21, 2016

Well this week was an interesting one.. I'll give the transfer info to start out, I'm leaving Laurel this week. 

Sounds like it was a good week for you all! And I'm glad that the temple dedication turned out so great! Hope it's a great Easter for you all! Funny about Caleb mountain biking lots, We have actually been biking a little bit around since it's been pretty warm this week and it saves us come miles. Never felt more like a missionary then biking in some short sleeve shirts hah 

The week was pretty good.. I'm just gonna hit some of the highlights.  So on Wednesday we went to the Temple. I love getting to go to the temple, and yes Elder McDonald and I extended the streak haha. I sat in between McDonald and Jenks and Mellen was next to McDonald, it was the best haha! But after the temple we took a trip to one of the three Cafe Rios in the mission! That pork burrito was so amazing haha. 

So I didn't mention it, but last week we got a call from some of the Spanish elders and asked if we had some time to come help them out. Then we ended up helping get a refrigerator up two flights of stairs for their Obispo (Bishop). After he told us he wanted us to come to a BBQ and so we went on Friday and it was AMAZING!! I mean I might not have understood what was going on the entire night, but it was tons of fun to be adopted into the Spanish Program for the night haha. Plus there was a girl that just returned from a mission in Peru and knew Cole Parkinson!! 

Saturday night a single guy in our ward took us to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and it was amazing!! Then after that the Call Outs came! So I am leaving and Elder Schank is staying. Elder Mellen is training, then McDonald and Jenks are both leaving their areas and Coombs was just called as a traveling assistant. 

Sunday was kinda hard to say goodbye to people in the Ward.. It was rough. The hardest was telling Ismael, at first he thought I was kidding then he tried to keep it under control then started to cry. It broke my heart!! Plus he came over after church and said "I'm not going to go to Young Men's Tuesday so you can come say goodbye and be with me your last night.." Let's just say Tuesday I'll probably bawl like a baby. After church we had a Why I Believe and it was pretty good and then we came and slept over at Elder Coombs again. So I'm spending the P-Day with them and of course Elder McDonald came! Elder Mellen is from Payson and Elder Jenks is from Washington State. And all 3 (McDonald, Jenks and Mellen) are going to UVU so we can keep being friends after the mission!!

So update on investigators.. So Archibald and Yassa had to cancel their appointment this last week but rescheduled. So I still have hope they will get baptized eventually. They are both really amazing and humble people. Susan and Sarah fell off the face of the Earth.. We haven't heard from them for about a week! Super sad, but I'm sure they will turn back up. They were so solid and I can't see anything that changed them. So Elder Schank and his new comp have their work cut out for them. Lots of people that are close but still need some work. I can't wait to hear about their success and get to come back for some baptisms in the next few months! 

I have some guesses of where I'm heading, but I'll find out later today. So stay tuned! I'm a little mixed, I'm sad to see some people go here in Laurel, but at the same time I think it's time for me to go. I'm ready to have a little change. I've done lots of good things here in Laurel and hopefully the next guys keep it going. 

I'll talk to you all soon! I hope you all have a great week leading up to Easter! Crazy to think going to conference was a year ago!! I love you all and miss you tons! And a few weeks until we get to talk on Mothers Day!

Love you tons!

Austin 

Temple Trip

Elder Call and I after the temple and some Cafe Rio!

Adoption into the Spanish Program for a day! Elder Ord and Elder Smith are on either size of Obispo and they go home this week! Elder Ord was an AP when I got to the mission and he's an amazing missionary! Such a good example.

District

Zone  

Story behind this picture.... So the pink cowboy hat is a posterity gift. Meaning it gets passed from father to son, so it will be Elder Schanks later this week. I got sentimental and sad I'm parting with it so I wore it for the rest of the night after I got the call I was leaving. I'm on the phone with either Jenks, McDonald or Coombs I can't remember. Haha I was on the phone with people for a while trying to figure out where I'm heading.