Monday, August 4, 2014

Words from Elder Austin Davis in Oregon

 
"Well family this is my last week here in the Oregon Portland mission
kinda crazy. Don't understand it. I'm tired for sure. I have learned a
lot of life lessons some I don't even understand why I went through
the trials that I did. And others it's perfectly clear. This is just a
weird email to be typing time went by fast and slow but defiantly
faster than anything else. This week I had the opportunity to see the
cha's and Ing family they are from Woodburn. Sis.cha was like no way
it's only felt like six months since you left. I assured her it had
been 18 months :) we talked about change and the atonement and
baptism's and everything it was great to catch up. Then I started
thinking about my knowledge of the scriptures and just how much change
has happened.

Anyways going on to Tuesday we had a couple lessons then we went on
splits I went with good ol brother Johnson one of the funniest guys in
the ward. we had three lessons fall through so he was like let's go
get a blizzard and he talked about his mission and how much change he
saw in himself and how good it was for him.

Then Wednesday rolls around and we are with our WML and he brings it
up holy cow you have less then a week and a half. Thanks man:) ha it
was good to talk to him and just talk about the life lessons that have
changed the way I view things. It's just weird how much you grow and
learn. I think once principle I have learned a ton about is just
forgiveness either it's for me or my companion or me again. Or members
just tons of things you make everyday choices either to forgive or not
and it will have an impact on whether your friends with them or not.
The Lord forgives those who forgive. Sometimes it's so dang hard to be
humble and repent but once it's over it's fine you feel better that
person feels better and you know you did the right thing. And
sometimes you don't even mean to hurt feelings but the other person is
totally offended. That's when you have to rely on The Lord and just
act as he would and repent with a full heart. I know it's hard but if
you need to apologize to someone do it. You will never regret it and
it will add to your testimony, promise.

Well moving onto Thursday today we had the opportunity to have a
little weekly planning and to call a lot of people and try to set up
lessons and we have a lot of lessons set up finally so that will be
good. The life lesson I learned today would probably just to know how
kind God is. He truly knows us it's weird to think yeah there are so
many children we think, "oh how can he know me there are so many
people?" Sometimes Heavenly Father answers my questions before That
question comes to mind. I know God is kind. He has forgiven me and
will continue to forgive me. Even though we feel like we suck
sometimes we screw up. But this life is about progression not
perfection. So keep your head up God didn't provide a savior for us
for no reason. Use that atonement that he performed for us.

Friday what a joy I went on an exchange with elder mike Johnson a good
friend of mine. We saw a lot of curve balls and knuckle balls today. A
man walked up to us and all he could Talk about is pornograpghy & sex.
He was so engulfed in it. It was disgusting it was hard to see some
one have all of that and not want to rid themselves from it. So this
is the lesson I learned today is you must "Look in the situation
slowly."kinda like baseball you have to look in he pitch slowly! This
experience he did not want to give it up satan, satan had ahold of his
mind and his will. So as we look situations that might seem harmless
will lead us down trails we should not travel. He did not truly
understand why we are here on earth! It is to come closer to our
eternal maker. I wish I would have kept a journal of the life lessons
I learn daily I would have had 730 I have less because I've forgotten
some. I'm just thankful for my savior and I read this a couple days
and it came into my head as I was typing so I felt like I should
share.
Enos 1:4-8
4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I
cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul;
and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came
I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven
thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?
8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast
never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall
manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made
thee whole.
Talk to him The Lord is kind as we are humble and seek him.

Saturday ah Saturday today we had two lessons his morning. Then we
went out to lunch with Oregon city second elders. Elder dunshee and
elder Lewis they are goofy and just funny weird but they grow on you
ha:) today I learned how valuable true friends, real friends just put
things in to perspective. I'm thankful for true friends because they
are not afraid to put you straight and give you the answer that
sometimes you don't want to hear. But you will always heed to your
true friends council. I received a priest hood blessing this week and
how thankful I am for my friends holding the priesthood just as the
apostles of old. Tonight we had the opportunity to go to a baptism and
how cool it is to see people to make an eternal covenant with God.
Thankful for covenants that we make because covenants brings
blessings. The temple is such a sacred place. Thankful for it. Well
this is my last week of being a missionary I'm just going to treat it
like I have been out a year. It still hasn't hit me yet. Onto Sunday
:)

Oh good ol Sunday well bishop ask me to bear my testimony today. There
are so many things I can bear my testimony on. How about a mission how
about I bear it on my mission. Missions might not be your first choice
if you have scholarships if you have a job. If you have just a bunch
of opportunities of worldly things. But this is your one chance your
one opportunity to wear his name for two years. We are so indebted to
him, I am so indebted to him. I may not be perfect but I'll always try
to be progressing. Because I know he doesn't need perfection right now
but I do know he needs my will and my heart and everything else I can
give him and he can save my soul. Missionary work is hard. It's even
harder when your going through trials. It's even harder when you are
rejected and struggling win your testimony. So I guess my simple
testimony that I have earned in the past 24 months is just that
Heavenly Father needs for us to go through hard times to see how much
we really love him to see how strong we are. But he wants to see where
we will turn when we fall will we turn to the dark and ignore God or
at our weakest state will we be humble enough to ask God for help. Ask
him prayerfully that we may have safety for our souls. My mission has
provided me the tools and capabilities for safety for my soul and for
that I am eternally grateful for my companions that gave up two years
to save my life. My mission presidents have given up three years. The
members giving up hours out of there day and weeks to come out to
teach and visit. For this I'm grateful for a great change has been
written on my heart. I know that Christ lives. I know that pain that
he felt when the nails went through his hands and feet were for me. I
am eternally grateful for his service and the atonement he preformed
for me.


Alma 7:11-14
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled
which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his
people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of
death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to
the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his
people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God
suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins
of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according
to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony
which is in me.
14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the
Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of
heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be
washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who
taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to
cleanse from all unrighteousness. Well I'm on my last week I have to
push myself. Thanks for being so steadfast and being an example to me
I love each of you. You probably know that.
With that I would like to say Thank you to everyone that has supported
me. Those who have said prayers for me and fasted for me thank you for
all you do.


Love from a servant of The Lord"

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