Week 23

Jan 26, 2009
Hey!

Did my week 22 get to Dad? It had a picture in it. Ace sure does have good vocabulary. Alone? Sounds like me sometimes. Although, I only feel alone. Good gosh, if I realized anything today it is that one of my companions loves to take his time. We are late to basically everything. IT DRIVES ME NUTS! But, luckily the squirrels come and take those away. I encountered a moose out here! It was cool! I got a pretty up close and personal picture with it. It came through the wall!

No mail from anyone. I did however get Gran a card and will be sending it soon. It is a good one. And yes, the check should be cashed by now. My companions saw Uncle Chuck and Aunt Sharon at a baptism. I wasn't there, had to help with something elsewhere. I am up to 36 pushups a day. Woot! (Woot is an expression of excitement, Katie Baldwin asked)

I am telling you now. Serving with two Canadians is crazy. Literally. Especially driving. I get in the car, then once the door closes, I am struggling to get my seatbelt on. Really don't like that part. Both of them play the guitar...and the same songs....over and over and over. I have been charged by everyone else to keep them in line. That part is fun, now they just need to listen to me more or I am gonna tell them my charge (contract more or less with the AP's). Still, it is fun. Until we get late for things again.

My first journal is about done, so in the next couple of weeks I will send it home. After this transfer is over, I will have been gone for a quarter of my mission. Kinda fast.

So, Dad, hang in there. Ace might sleep a lot, but he can still provide a...small amount of entertainment. Mom, I'm surprised you can withstand the cold. For a couple days here, we got NC weather. Rainy and warm. Fog got really crazy here too. Kinda spooky. But I loved it. Humidity! No, I haven't been able to keep a record of those letters you send, but I still have them. So you like digital scrapbooking better than normal scrapbooking. A little easier to put together. I'm trying to see if I can get a small instrument out here so I can be a little more creative and have a better atmosphere. Just make me happier. I'm still trying to sell my bike. I'll have to call Elder Peters to see if he actually did what I asked him to. Will do that tonight. Well, will talk later.

Love,
Elder Austin Waller

I, mom, am in Illinois taking care of my neices and nephew while my sister and husband take a trip to Hawaii. It was above freezing the day I landed but far, far below that since then. I got word from the guys in Hawaii they met a couple from Minnesota, who experienced a 90 degree temp change. Wow!

Week 22

The picture is of Brandy, Garth, and Devon (the kid) Shilling

January 20, 2009

Hey!

Sorry it is a day late. You were probably freaking out. Well it was MLK day! Libraries and Family History Centers were closed and we cannot use members computers. That is why.

The Urgent message was recieved. I could not cash the check because there are no RBC banks out here. So I had to sign the check over to Sis. Telford so she could go cash it. In the end, all is well. The check should be cashed soon. I have the money.

By the way, I have been transferred! Riverton! Currently the highest baptizing zone in the mission. I am with Elders Baker and Thomas, the Zone Leaders here. We are a threesome. I have been promoted their Secretary of State. Both of them are Albertans. Canadians. They like to sleep with the window open. Well...poor little me gets to sleep on an air mattress, where all the cold air gets sent. Not a pleasing experience. At least they are fun to hang out with.

I did get the mail, physical and electronic, from everyone. It has helped a lot. To name those I remember off the top of my head, Katie Baldwin, Bro. Hanna, Gran, Aunt Sheryl, you.....uhhhhhh Shanna. Who is this boyfriend? Is he a member? Do I need to interview him? I know how! Honestly dad, your quick witted humor has transferred over to your son out here. It is very useful. By the way, the Baldwins said that if we ever wanted to go to Hawaii in the next two years they would be willing to let us use their guest room. Will it happen? No clue. Don't really want to think about it right now. I keep trying to remember to get Gran a card, but I keep forgetting. Please tell her that I thank her, but don't tell her that I will still get her a card!

So, Riverton. Yeah, I am in one of the largest zones of the mission. Also, I am with the Zone Leaders. This means we have the responsibility of covering what goes on in the entire zone. So....it is huge. We have almost every single store you can think of here.

Neat experience had out here. We had to give two talks on Sunday. Everyone came up to me and thanked me for my testimony and talk that I shared. It didn't really hit me till yesterday when my companions talked about it while coming to our apartment. They said that I must know a lot about the gospel. Why? They noticed that I went to the pulpit armed only with scriptures and a testimony. They also noticed that the congregation went completely silent when I talked. It made me feel better knowing that I have a strength to talk like that. An investigator, Carrie, said that she liked it when I talked because my voice was just a complete comfort to her. She wondered if it was baritone. I just smiled. I'm learning a lot more here in Riverton than I did back in Cottonwood. Our area alone covers 24 wards. Yeah. It is really hard trying to keep up with the names of the leaders.

Thanks for the picture everyone. It is good to see the majority of the family smiling there. It helps me get through the day when I come to the apartment after a entire day of proselyting. Just builds me right back up. I have two scriptures for you. Helaman 5:12 and Alma 48:17. Those are my two favorites. My story about Raven, suprisingly has a lot more to compare with my mission than I had previously thought. If only I knew to look at every single detail, large and small. Everything in a story will make a difference, even the smallest of details could make a story or a movie worthwhile. As long as we focus on those small details, all the big ones will come clear. Small changes make the biggest of differences.

With love,

Elder Austin Waller

(The picture is of Brandy, Garth, and Devon (the kid) Shilling. They are by far my favorite family out here. I need to write them.)

Week 21

Hey all!

Uhh...the last e-mail didn't come all the way through. Some of it is apparently missing or you didn't finish it. I got the instructions for crown molding. We will be helping a family put some up for a service project and it could possibly help us talk to someone named Moses (indeed).

Brandy was baptised yesterday! WOO! I got her a blue quad with her name on the front. She totes it around proudly. Peanut and Elaine, her sisters, were there to support her, as well as her dad and grandma. Garth baptised her, having been ordained a priest that day. They are really cool and possibly some of my best friends out here.

Learning a lot about filming out here. We film a lot of choreographed fighting because of all the energy we have needed to be spent. Lightsaber thing! WOO! It is good. Of course...it is amatuer. I should actually be in some other ones we do. I've gotten good behind the camera, now I gotta be in front. It is pretty amazing how much you learn out here, even when you are not trying to. Just step in and do things. The best training is through experience. So, I've done cameraman, director, now I need to do acting (the part I want to do most).

We have been putting our pedal to the metal out here. We will be having 7-8 baptisms this month alone, in our area. Many interesting stories to tell, but not right now. Some are confidential. Until later that is. The real way to go about things is just to use what you know. What did I learn in college? What do I do for fun? Do I have any hobbies? Those are typically the best ways to become friends with someone and get in the door. Just some of the most random things can get you in the door.

Things are lightening up out here. I'm finally getting much better sleep. My joints and back no longer ache as much. It is probably because I started taking a multi-vitamin. A lot easier to focus on things now. It might get dark once again, or even lighter. Why? Transfers are coming this week and I am pretty sure one of us is being transferred out. So, my next companion (if one of us gets transferred) could either make me miserable or help me learn more and be a good friend. Stress comes in many different forms.

Oh well, I know how to deal with things now. I learned that I have a natural strength at being a middle-man. I can see both sides of a picture. Do I like it? No. Is it needed in life? Yes. It is a curse and a blessing.

Keep sending the mail! It helps more than you think.

Love,
Elder Austin 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 19-20

This is Austin in his "Winter" clothing. What should we title it? Ninja Snowman? Abominable Snowman in Classic Black?

Beware, the following letter is very negative. Austin was obviously not in a happy mood. I included it, because we all go through frustration. It is a natural part of our mortal experience. Also, remember he has just gone through his 1st Thanksgiving and Christmas away from home. We did get to talk to Austin on Christmas and he sounded very good. I commented on how mature and good he sounded in my letter to him after the Christmas conversation and this letter was his reply. Life can be hard. mom

December 29, 2008
Hey,

I might sound good and that is probably the reason why no one believes me over here. The books, got them for free and want to read them when I get back. Mail? It is very confusing out here and everything costs money.

Awww....forgot most everything. What about the crown molding?! Kinda need that. I've just been getting very frustrated out here. Pains are at a high intensity again. Not fun at all. That and I hate this slow pace that we are going. Well, it's not slow....it is stop sprint. Cannot take that. Then it goes to here is the plan, oh let's go here first, oh wait we gotta do this, wait a second lets stop here. It is driving me insane! We always get to our appointments late! AGHHHHH! Stress is driving me up the walls and exercise doesn't help! Anyways...sleep hasn't gotten any better, just to let you know.

I can't find any stress relievers. Trust me, I'm looking. It is just getting harder for me to stay sane. I honestly have no idea how to solve this.

Snow, we actually got 12" or somewhere close. Not to mention ice and parking next to a snowbank so I step in this deep snow or slush salt mix. I've nearly died (expression, not real) from slipping on packed snow and ice more times than I wish to count. Didn't fall...yet.

Any good news? None, nada, zip, zero. For some reason, everything just took a complete fall off a cliff ever since Christmas. I'm trying my best to look around me to find something to grab onto just to keep myself afloat. Needless to say, treading water only lasts for so long. I'm trying, but all my strength (both physical and spiritual) is being exhausted just keeping myself afloat. Keeping my mind focused. It is hard to do this when sleep is severely lacking and stress is abounding.

Love,
Elder Waller

Austin countinued to strive to come home. I sent him a letter suggesting his successful completion of a mission would be for his good. It would give him experience to endure his choice of a career. The field of tv/film which he knows could be very carnal in nature. mom

January 5, 2009

Heya!

About the carnal field thing. Had I not stayed, I wouldn't have met the person I did yesterday at a Genesis Group Meeting. Rick Macy is in The Restoration (the DVD we use to visualize the vision) as Joseph Smith Sr. and The Testaments (another movie we use) as Helam. Got some good advice from him and wrote it in my journal. I have a picture with him. Also learned the strength of my own testimony during one of the meetings earlier in the day.

The thing that really kept me from coming home was I was talking to President Brew and the phone died. That was hard because I was telling him something really important. Talk about a blessing in disguise. I guess it brought out my true feelings as to why I wanted to go. I never knew these feelings, but once this was answered, I felt completely better.

By the way, the dark suit from Jos A Banks is ruined from an irreparable hole and vomit. Luckily, I got money from Christmas to buy a new one! WOOT! The jacket is fine. I will be sending it plus some pants, and maybe the larger suit home, sometime soon. New Years Eve, five people ate a certain ham. Three of them got food poisoning. I was not one of them. But Thursday night, I became sicker than them and was out for two days instead of one. Was not fun. Then, yesterday, had a full meal, then was pressed to eat another with an Armenian couple by a spanish sister companionship of three. Guess what, the lack of a gall bladder acted up and I have felt horrible since. I will tell you this, I will not be hard pressed ever again like that.

Just a really tough time. Found out from President Brew that I was supposed to be getting monthly mail from them. I have only received one, while in the MTC. If there is anything I need, it is support. Support will really help.

Uhh....anything else this week? We hit black ice and hit a mailbox. No damage to anything, just a bent liscense plate. Uhh......nope, that is pretty much it. I just wish these aches and pains would leave me alone. WHOA! Oh yeah! The family that I connected with through Dungeons and Dragons. Brandy is being baptised after 5 years worth of missionaries! WOOT! She has been on a long trek through this and is being baptised on the anniversary of her mothers death, Jan. 11. After her confirmation on the 18, she will go and do baptisms for the dead, one being her mom, at the SLC temple. IT IS AWESOME!!! They got me a tie for Christmas! Yay! That is the best news I have right now.

See if you can rally some of the ward to send me some supportive mail, e-mail or not. Both really help. Thanks for the Christmas cards everyone! Transfers are next week on Wednesday. Don't know if I will move or stay.

Love ya,
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 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

...................................................................................................................................................................
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
..............................................................................

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

Week 11

Austin's e-mail was a couple of days late. He explains why.
Here is his address and e-mail address again so you don't have to scroll down.
Elder Austin D. Waller
Utah Salt Lake City South Mission
8060 South 615 East
Sandy, Utah 84070

adwaller@myldsmail.net

Hey!

Sorry, we had a Zone Conference on Monday. So today is my P-Day!

Good news. Had a leg and knee doctor look at it. From the X-Rays and other stuff he concluded that something happened with the cartilage under my kneecap. I have a brace on and can already walk better because it is being held in a sturdy poistion. It only hurts when there is pressure on it. I will not be biking because of the grinding that occurs. Do not want this problem to happen again!

News on Great Grandpa Waller. The one who was in Utah is not ours. In fact, it is highly likely he was never even IN Utah. It looks like he was born in Kentucky and died in Ohio. I feel strongly....very strongly that this is him. Why? I have prayed about it several times and kept getting that strong feeling that this is him. Just tell me who I should send this information to. I am getting extremely excited about this.

At Zone Conference, I gave possibly my strongest testimony. I do believe that this is the reason why President Laney kept calling me "a good one." During the testimony, I was shaking, but firm. It was powerful. Everyone saw and felt it. There is a long entry about it in my journal, so I could remember what I said. YAY!

Cabin fever is not good at all. However, we found ways to combat this. Cleaning (mostly Elder Peters), studying, contacting investigators with the phone. Not much we could do. But, we are coming through.

Dad, the violin's tone is fine. It might not be giving the SOUND you want because it isn't very good quality. Another thing that will help with your tone and sound will be your bow control. You do remember that we had the Pirates Music already right? It didn't have the accompaniment and was for piano, but we had it. Yours might be different. I don't know.

Not much else to report. Oh yeah! We had a baptism of a 9 year old girl named Alex Halkney. My first one that I taught every lesson! WOO! Don't have my camera with me, so I can't give you the image now....bummer. Anything else? It snowed at least 6" today. The "fleet" (cars) got grounded for a while. They are back up now. The nasty slush is around now...boy is it nasty.

Anyways, I still get that feeling that Great Grandpa Waller was never in Utah. I only get the strong feeling whenever I think about this one who was born in Kentucky and died in Ohio. I'll look at this more and pray about it everyday till I hear back from you about it next week.

Love ya,
Elder Waller