Email Address
austin.montgomery@myldsmail.net
Awesome about the job interview! I really hope that you get it! That would be so great! Que suave! It's cooled down here the past couple days, too and it feels flat out wonderful! I hope it stays this way but who knows in Texas? Sounds like the JV team is getting better! Good to hear Madeline is winning some and playing well. Good to hear about Katie, too! Was it my imagination or was she spiking a ball? Could've just been the angle but it looked cool! Sam Allen is awesome and I'm glad Zach has the chance to work with him! I wish that I would've been able to! Haha of course Ben fumbled the ball! Doesn't he still have a cast?
Glad to hear about the Bravos! Are they projecting to win the championship? That's a miracle about Cousin Damond. I'm glad to hear that all is well.
Most memorable dinner was a missionary panel potluck thingy. The food wasn't great, but afterwards, Elder G and I and a couple return missionaries answered some of the youth's questions about missionary work. It was in Spanish so I couldn't really get out exactly what I wanted, but it went well enough! We go to Church On Sunday and then go about like a regular day. The new missionaries always come in on transfers. I understand the gist of what they're saying but I couldn't translate them. My favorite thing about Texas... I guess that it's so similar to home. We haven't really met any rude people yet. Of course, we mostly work with members so they usually aren't too rude. I've driven once and I haven't seen any Atlanta traffic yet but we're not usually on the interstate. We have a microwave, no crockpot.
We currently have one young man set for a baptism on Oct. 19th. His name is R, is 17, and plays a bunch of different sports. He's awesome! He was working with the 1st Ward Elders and we finally met him this week. We taught the Restoration and it was awesome! We've talked a lot about the Fall and the Atonement of Christ this week and the necessity of both. Without the Fall of Adam, we couldn't be here. We would be in a state of ignorance. It's basically like if the teacher handed us a multiple choice test, except there was only one bubble for each answer that could be filled in. What would that show the teacher? Only that we could bubble a circle. We couldn't show to our Teacher that we had gained knowledge and experience and are worthy to live with him again. That brings us to the Atonement. It's like if my sisters were in a fight with a bully (representing sin) and I stepped in to destroy the fight (overcoming both spiritual and physical death). I wouldn't ask my sisters for a repayment of money or anything. Rather, I would merely ask that they do as you and Father teach them because you know the way. Would they be indebted to me because of saving their lives? Technically, yes. But I would never put it like that. The best repayment that I could have is that they honor their father and mother and stay strong in the Gospel. It's just like that with us and Christ. He's done the impossible for us and all he asks us to do is to listen to the Father, to follow his commandments so that we can live with him again. I testify that this is the work of God, and just like Daniel saw in the King's dream, this is the stone of Christ that cannot and will not be stopped by the world! Stay safe in Georgia.
Les amo,
Elder Montgomery
The first full week was good in the Branch. It's still super slow because we're basically just going around meeting all the members and the less actives but it's starting to pick up. They have been feeding us and we're being fed almost every day this week. Nothing strange.
I did get the package and it came just in the nick of time because of the gift cards. I was starting to run low on funds on the card so they're awesome! Thank you so much! My favorite tie was the red paisley! Elder G is starting to collect paisleys so I traded it to him for an awesome wool Scottish tie. I have not gotten the letter yet but I probably will tonight.
That is good that you have a job interview. I was actually thinking this morning about how what you (referring to him mom a pediatric ER nurse) do can jade you. What happened was we helped at a mobile local food drive this morning at a church and I couldn't help thinking a little bit about the people that go into the ER. Everyone was super nice and the Pastor is from Nigeria and super cool. We went to help because the 1st ward Elders had knocked into a guy who went to the church and asked us to help. He was a WR/DB in the NFL back in like the 70's and he's super cool.
Groceries consist of... instant oatmeal, eggs, frozen foods, cheese, and lots of juice. Elder G is a huge fan of the Steel Cut oatmeal. He had never had it before. I'm not sick and hopefully won't ever be. I can't wait for Duncan's call! I hope he goes somewhere where everyone is short. So maybe here. People call me grande but they haven't seen Duncan!
Were most of the people at church investigators? That would be super awesome! Elder T sounds awesome! I actually had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday. They called us Sat. night and told us to talk about missionary work. Good thing that we think about that 24/7. I spoke for probably about 12 minutes and a lot of people said my Spanish was pretty good. I guess a gift of the Spirit really is the gift of tongues if they thought it was good Spanish! There were a couple things that I spoke about. One was the difference between full time missionaries and members. We have been set apart and have the authority, right, and privilege to represent Christ. But if we remember our baptismal covenant, we've all taken Christ's name upon ourselves. And if we all have Christ's name upon us, then we must do what he would do. And that would be sharing with our friends, family, and acquaintances, the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ by inviting them. We cannot force but we can invite and no friend would ever be offended at an invitation made in love. That's the way missionary work is going and what the First Presidency is really focusing on. We work mostly with members to help them be missionaries. The Lord is preparing people in my, your, and everyone else's path to receive the Gospel. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Share when you feel prompted to share! Hurrah for Israel!
Love,
The mail actually stays at the post office and we go pick it up so no worries about it getting stolen. We don't really get to go to the temple very often. Each missionary has their own pass for once a year. So I probably won't be going for a while. That's so crazy that Bill is going to Tokyo! Two people I know are going to Tokyo now! Yes I understood pretty much everything at church. I get the gist of everything but I'm always a little fuzzy on the details. Some of the members were acquainted with me but I got a lot of "El es muy grande!" There are probably about 60 active members in the branch so we're not too far off from being a ward. We pretty much aren't ever going to knock doors in any area. It's just not effective. The First Presidency is really emphasizing every member a missionary so we do most of our work by finding through the members. We don't have any solid investigators yet. The other Elders in Mission Creek took over the whole ward. Our new area is the new entire East stake but we mainly work in the Mission Creek and 1st Wards. I am indeed cleared to drive.
Hmm Oregon is an excellent pick for Duncan. I will say that he will go to Ohio but I think the Portland mission would be sweet! Do you guys not know yet where Z is going? I thought they would've told the parents by now.
Right now I'm doing an Atonement study while I'm reading the Book of Mormon and it's amazing the doctrine that you find when you are reading for a purpose of learning rather than just reading. One thing I realized/thought of was Christ's call that we all become as little children. As we know, little children are taken up by the grace of God and through the Atonement they are redeemed. We always think of the traits that the little children have and, yes, that is what we strive for. But the doctrine is a little deeper than that. If we have become as little children, and little children are automatically redeemed through the Atonement, then we have done our part and we are redeemed. The goal is much more deeper than just attributes. That's just a little connecting the dots think I was revealed this week. You probably already knew it but I thought it was interesting. That's about it for the week.
I'll see about pictures. I have to go ask Elder F for his picture uploader cord thingy.
Love,
Elder Montgomery
I am using a member's iPad today because everything is closed on Labor Day so I can't write very much. That's awesome that Coach E is interested. Make sure you get some film for him to watch. Oh yeah we have tons of people tell us that they'll be at church but they never are. You just have to hope for the best. Im sorry but i really don't have time to answer all the questions. Elder G is from West Valley City and has two siblings who are way older than him. He gets some packages. Our relationship centers a lot around sports. The Spanish elders at least will be coming from Mexico City. I will send the pictures next week but I don't really think it'd be wise to send you the apartment pictures it's pretty old. Yeah Elder L was telling me about all the lack of creativity for BSU. Is Southwick still quarterback? At least BYU lost. Make sure Ben isn't too annoying about asking to be kicker. Tell Sister G I got her package it was delicious and the photos were very much appreciated.
I'm doing an Atonement study right now while I'm reading the Book of Mormon and its amazing! The Atonement is for everyone regardless if they accept it or not. Those who have no law given to them are taken up by the Atonement and receive glory. We drive everywhere but We don't know if I've been approved to drive yet so only Elder Gonzalez drives. We get out at noon because of an hour for language study and an hour of training. Plus it's not effective at all to be doing anything from 10-3 so we mostly plan so we can be effective and do better finding. I am not getting a new companion but I am being "transferred." We are no longer in Mission Creek but are purely assigned to the Highland Hills branch. So now we will just be doing Spanish work. President Slaughter told us to double the sacrament meeting attendance so we'll probably be here for a while. We will still have the same address and apartment. It's sad to leave all the cool members on base but we're excited for working with Spanish members. I will do my best to stay in shape but that's really not the important part right now. I'll focus on that later when I'm about to be home. That's about it or this week.
Love,
Elder Montgomery
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