Weeks 17-18

December 15, 2008

Hey,

No, I don't have a new companion. It was a temporary exchange for the day since I was having so much pain. No, I didn't get the push-up things today. Things are getting hard for me. Of course, everyone around me says to stick through it. I'm trying, but no one understands exactly what I am going through. It is hard to focus on anything. That plus lack of sleep does not help. It is still a rollercoaster right now. I'm just really glad about the advice Uncle Chuck gave me.

Other than that, plus other things which just piled up, the week has been alright. We had a baptism Saturday. Marie Gonzales. She's cool. Yeah. Had a lot of success yesterday as far as getting referrals, giving blessings, learning stuff, and finding out how to meet Elder Perry's baptismal, activation, and teaching goals.

I'm only giving this one more shot. I read in D&C today that 3 times is the charm. I forget the section. I have had more injuries, sicknesses, and problems in the time spent here so far than I have ever had in several years at home. It is official...Utah hates me. I'll stick it out as long as I can. Just know that I am doing my best here.

Love,

Elder Waller

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December 22, 2008

Hey,

Not a good week at all for me. All the things that happened were great. But physical pain is just getting intense. I'm playing it off that I have none because they only say the same things over and over. "Rely on the Lord. Trust in Him." They don't realize that I have been doing this ever since it has started. I even tell them this. I have been praying and fasting recently, exercising my faith just so I can get a complete answer to things. Mental anguish is again on the rise. I have set a specific date and place in the basement where I will pray. Dehydration is far to hard for me to control out here. I can't focus on multiple things at once. So it is either missionary work or hydrate. There is only one person here who was a missionary and is now a nurse that really understands my issue. There is far too much stress right now. Far too much. It is all going downhill once again.

I got the Perfect Push-up box today. Didn't get to go all the way through it right now. Some of our investigators are really excited. Two have given me Christmas cards with some uplifting messages. One gave me a hot chocolate mug (YAY!). That is pretty much it.

Don't think I am homesick. I'm not. If anything, I'm having far more spiritual experiences right now than I have ever had. I have been studying on revelation, guidance, the Holy Ghost, and other things relating to that. Prayer has been extremely important for me since all this started. I feel as if I am being prepared for something big. The missionaries tell me that I am going throgh more these first months than they have seen. It is as if I am on this extreme grinding stone, being taken to the very edge. It is hard to explain what is happening. My journal could explain it better. Just please support me all you can. It is hard to do anything right now.

With all the love I can muster right now,

Elder Waller
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December 22, 2008

Hey....again,

I just sent a package to you with stuff I don't need to be lugging around. Also, I need to know how to put up crown molding. Yes, crown molding. One of the people we are working with is doing this and I remember vaguely how to do it. There is a potential investigator that comes from this service.

Love again,

Elder Waller

Austin's address is:

Elder Austin Waller
Utah SLC South Mission
8060 South 615 East
Sandy, Utah 84070

e-mail: adwaller@myldsmail.net

Weeks 12-16

Austin's knee injury kept him and his companion from going out much and created some doubt about being on a mission. His Mission President, Uncle Chuck, Stake President, mission companion, Bishop and us, his parents nurtured him through this difficult time. I will keep the contents of his letters from weeks 12-15 private but week 16 (2 e-mails) are as he sent them.
As a family, we love movies and the ones with great musical scores are purchased and listened to regulary. Lord of the Rings, a composition of Howard Shore and is one of our favorites. Austin often played several of the tunes on his viola.
December 8th, 2008 (week 16)

Hey,

A lot of things are better now. Back and joints hurt for some reason. No idea. I already wrote you what I want. I want a picture of you two. Framed, one I can put on a shelf or something.

Heavenly Father really knows how to help me out. Through that thing I was going through recently I kept praying and praying, trying to find a way out of it. Then, something simple happened. A song that MoTab sang, But In Dreams. It is on the LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring CD. I heard that song and immediately thought of those two and what they had to go through. I compared myself to Sam and what he had to go through. He volunteered, like me, no pushing involved. He knew he had a mission to accomplish and he did it. That is really what I realized I had to do. A simple song made me think of something I could compare with. It has helped me tons.

I have seen two extremes now on the mission, both comparable to each other, because they are opposites. Both of these families have similar issues. One is prideful and covetous, the other is humble and grateful. The same Ward Mission Leader is helping both. Talk about the one being stubborn. They treat us as kids, not knowing what we are talking about and having no idea how to help them. Sadly, we know exactly what they need. Yeah...sad.

By the way, I did the transaction today. My coat wasn't keeping out the wet snow....yes...it is snowing now. Curses. I believe the cold is making my joints hurt, but my spine, I have absolutely no idea why it is hurting. It has been doing so for the past two weeks now. We even replaced the mattress. Still hurts. It stops hurting whenever I lay down. I'm going to the mission doctor tomorrow, but I refuse to take pain relievers because they only reccomend those that are fever reducers. Those have actually been inducing fevers. Yeah...bummer.

Anything else? Uhhh....not really.....but I have a really cool picture for you! Haha! Tis funny. By the way...it will be impossible for me to use all of the memory you sent me...even on the highest setting. It is insane how much I have. It shall work though! HAHA!

Love ya,

Elder Waller

The really cool, funny picture!

Far right, is Austin and to his left, Elder Peters.

I asked Austin about Thanksgiving and this was his report:

The day of the giving of the thanks? Otherwise known as Thanksgiving?

Let's see. At 10:00 am we went to Bro. Stephens for Thanksgiving breakfast. It was really good, especially breakfast consists of cereal.

At 1:00 pm we went to dinner with Sis. Neff. It was...insteresting.

At 2:00 pm we went to our landlords for dinner. It was from a restaurant called Marie Callendar's. They are known for their pie.

At 3:00 pm we went and checked on refferals and were hated for it. People don't like it when you do proselyte on holidays. Especially bishops, unless they are from South Africa.

At 4:00 pm we went to Bro. Moore's for another dinner. He is another Ward Mission Leader. He has some amazing stories from the post office of all places. Interesting people there.

At 6:00 pm we went back to Bro. Stephens and had dessert. We also did a lot of correlation at the time.

The rest of the night was going and checking refferals for people who were not home. I was alright as far as eating. I know how to keep myself from getting sick. Elder Peters on the other hand, ate way too much and was sick the rest of that night. He keeps forgetting that he cannot eat as much as he used to because we are no longer on bikes. I thought it was hillarious.

One request...can I get my push-up things sent here? They should be on the lower shelf of the thing on the right when you enter into my room. They look like handles, and they rotate. Yeah.

Love ya,
Elder Waller