"Didn't I have a principal by that name?"

My comps did not come and get me at the airport. Imagine my surprise to see President Slaughter standing there waiting for me as I left the plane. I was able to spend the whole day with President and the new missionaries. I spent a decent amount of time riding in his car, just the two of us, and I was able to pick his brain on some things. He asked about what I had observed in the Atlanta mission and I was able to pick up some good study ideas. I was with the Assistants to help pick up the missionaries and I went to the Alamo and helped them pass out copies of the Book of Mormon. I even got to test my Spanish with a man who was from Chile! We ate dinner at the mission home and had some absolutely delicious brisket. Of course, the reason that I stayed with the Assistants all day was because I MADE IT UP TO AUSTIN!!! I'm in the city of Round Rock in the Brushy Creek ward. I can already tell this will probably be a great area. The members are super missionary minded and accountable to the goals they set. It's a fairly well off ward, similar to ours without most of the Shiloh area. I had In n Out for the first time and it was soooo good!!! My companions are Elder H and Elder H and they are both ballers. Elder H is probably the next best player and Elder H is pretty good, too. Elder H goes home on January 3rd. We have too much fun together! 

Our apartment is fairly nice. Nothing too crazy. We have access to perhaps the best gym in the mission because there's a member who's a personal trainer who lives in the apartment complex next to us. We also play basketball with a bunch of church members and their friends every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. I'm getting lots of exercise in. We're being fed every day. In fact, my first dinner, a member took us out to a great wings place called Pluckers. He's from Idaho Falls and he asked what your family name was and so I said Holtom. Then he looked at me and said, "Didn't I have a principal by that name?" His name is Doug A. 

Good to hear Katie played some good minutes. If she keeps working, she'll be able to play a lot. I did hear about the games, in pretty decent detail actually. There are a lot of Utes fans here and one of them even googled me before I met him. I was flattered. The Bishop here is super cool and he said he was in the MUSS before it was even famous. So I've got the hook up there. 

Our party is this Wednesday. We have a great investigator named B. He's super close to getting baptized. He came to a baptism and ward Christmas party on Saturday and church yesterday. He is the man! Our party is on Wednesday. I love being a missionary again!!! It's tremendous that I get to preach, speak, and teach of Jesus Christ, especially during this wonderful season of Christmas. There really is nothing else I'd rather be doing!

Love,

Elder Montgomery

Triumphant Return

After an extended illness and being home for four months. Elder A. Montgomery returned to the Mighty TSAM today. 

 With his younger sister in the fall.

Last message before he boarded the plane to San Antonio was wishing his team the Utes Good Luck against the Cougs tonight and he will see you this summer. Go Utes!

No Message This Week, due to Elder Montgomery being Ill.

Elder Montgomery has been quite ill for the last week and unable to do a whole lot of his missionary work. He is working with Dr's in trying to find out what is going on.
Please let Elder Austin Montgomery he is in your thoughts and prayers.
I feel he could use a little "lifting up" from home. 
A quick note or card to him would mean more than you could know. 
Elder Austin Bruce Montgomery
Texas San Antonio Mission
404 E. Ramsey Rd., Suite 105
San Antonio, TX 78216

pic taken a week before getting ill.

Mormon Missionaries.. What you need to know:

We Rode 30 miles Saturday!

The outcome of the wreck was that... We have to take the car into the shop Wed. morning and we'll be riding our bikes for the next few days. I didn't get a ticket and we were both at fault. I'm still driving, though sometimes I wish I wasn't. I do not recommend the Chevy Maliboat to anyone. Not too much is going on. It's been really hot lately and we rode 30 miles Saturday! New record!!! It's been in the 98-102 range all week and it's supposed to stay that way. We don't really have any investigators right now but I'm positive we will find some soon. The miracles come after the trials of our faith so we must keep the faith! I love the mission! There are so many valuable things I've learned in my short tenure here that I wish to be able to implement when I'm released. The Ward is great. We're still being fed every night. We'd prefer teaching their friends and family but all in due time ;) 

It definitely sounds like Zach has got it good right now, at least on the outside view. I'm positive he'll do absolutely fantastic! They mentioned Pioneer day but we didn't really do anything special for it. I'm glad to hear that volleyball is going well. Katie will eventually figure it out. I assume that I will be staying for the next transfer but I do not know so I'd hold off on sending anything. I'm doing great wardrobe wise. Maybe some more healthy snacks like granola, or dried fruit, or something. I'm sure whatever you send will be great (Don't think sending me any of your delicious desserts trying to fatten me up will work, though ;) I know lots of missionaries who would eat them. I know you don't follow recipes but maybe recipes for the dishes you make. I've really been craving the Chicken Curry Broccoli casserole. I'd say the ones that I've missed the most would be that one, Red Beans and Rice, every single and last one of your desserts/baked goods, and the classic Mormon Sunday dinner. I have no idea how long I'll be home before I leave again, but I'm sure I'll spend a lot of the time observing how such delicious food comes out of our kitchen. I'll try my best to make sure we have no wrecks! 

Love,

Elder Montgomery

The Son Of God.. I've heard lots about that movie from people we talk to. Hahahaha Ben is a clown! Confidence is good! Most of the time. The Lord will shape him, no worries. 

(Yes, right one) The Lord will not allow us to be tried more than we can handle. I read that somewhere in the scriptures recently but I can't tell you exactly where. Where there is faith, there are miracles. Sometimes we have to be humbled so that we realize that normal day things are miracles. How much more blessed are we when we humble ourselves and God doesn't have to do it to us? There's a lot more happiness in that method. I'm glad to hear about Elder Kotter. 

So true!!! As you seek to help others, you will be helping yourself and God. Mosiah2:17. Pray for the gift of charity and remember to study it out in your mind. It takes a lot of effort, but truly seek to understand and discern the true character of people. The Holy Ghost will reveal it unto you. The week was tremendous as always!!! There are good prospects here but we haven't found them yet. We'll baptize them soon, enough, I'm sure. The Lord has his eye on every one of us. I could have a conversation with them but it would have to mainly center about the Gospel. My vocabulary is still fairly limited. I'll see what I can do about pictures. Maybe I'll be transferred to an English ward and they can take care of that for me. Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Montgomery

Don't play on Sundays. Plain and simple. It's a commandment

I'm glad that you got the package! I had almost forgotten about it. The new shoes are doing much better. No worries at all! Interestingly enough, I've eating a lot of American food lately. Burgers and chicken. nothing too crazy. I judged a pie contest at the Pioneer day activity. The pecan pie was easily my favorite but I'd say that none of the pies there could compare to the baking in the kitchen back home. Which reminds me, What do you usually make for dinner? Elder C and i were talking and we both agreed that there was always plenty of delicious food back home but we couldn't remember how often or what you would cook. My flounder was alright. I'll give you a more informative report this next week. This is very true about why people don't get married. It seems that we can never get over that stumbling block, though. I'm glad you were able to talk to Zach! The Lord always answers our prayers! He just waits for us to ask. 

Sounds like a fun time at the volleyball camps!!! I'm very impressed with everyone. I would say don't play on Sundays. Plain and simple. It's a commandment. But i won't give a very specific answer because I'd prefer other people to study it out on their own. I'd suggest Preach My Gospel Chapter 3, Lesson 4, as well as the scriptures. And then there is always lds.org for more information. 

I don't need anything. At least, not yet... I was in a wreck this morning. Very slight damage to our front bumper but the lady's door was dented pretty bad. I was turning out of HEB and as I was turning, all of a sudden she was there, and boom. Crash. None of us saw her or where she came from, but asi es. So we're all healthy but I don't know what the results will be. i'm sure we'll find out soon, though. other than that, I had a tremendous exchange with Elder Jackson. He's grown a lot and we had some great conversations. I learned a lot from him and I hope we'll be able to spend time together after the mission. he only has 2 weeks left. Have a great and accident free week!

Love,

Elder Montgomery

I'll definitely hit the bike trails with you when I get back. I don't ride very fast and my skills aren't super great, but I'd love to give it a shot. I'd write more but I have to fill out a traffic accident report... See mom's email. Say hi to everyone for me. I hope they're all doing great. Don't worry too much about the shoes. Everything is going well. If I'm ever in dire need, I'll let you know. Just make sure that the spiritual and temporal needs are taken care of at home first. How's FHE and daily scripture study going? Even if it's a few verses, we learned in General Conference that those things do take precedent over temporal things, even chores. Just keep trying to find that balance. 

Love,

Elder Montgomery

5th Ward is Fantastic as Always!

5th ward is fantastic as always! I'm excited to hear more about this tall girl volleyball camp my sisters are going to as well. That's fantastic that they have these opportunities to go to these camps. I hope that they prepare accordingly. 

I thought Elder Z. Montgomery might be leaving here pretty soon. Just think tomorrow he goes to Utah and we'll be be in the same state for a little bit. Then in another year we'll be in the same city. I hope his phone call is more insightful than mine. I've heard it's dangerous but there are still missionaries out in the city nonetheless. I've heard that they have some tremendous street food, though, from our members. Cheap, delicious, and lots of it. The work is going well. 

A lot of our people have been in Mexico or just disappeared for some reason so we're always working on finding people. It's fun being on the bike. Lots of fun. Elder C and I get along great. He is from Delta, Utah. He likes basketball and played Varsity Soccer for 4 years. The food we are getting has been pretty good lately. Our Bishop took us to a hamburger joint which was delicious! It's called TJ's. And then the next day the member made hamburgers. And then the next day the members gave us some delicious broiled lemon pepper fish from a good restaurant. So nothing eventful at all.

I'm excited for the opportunity to play with some of the NBA players. Sounds like great things are going on in the world of basketball! 

The Book of Mormon is the cornerstone of our religion. Without it, where are we? Nowhere. It is a testament of Jesus Christ and all those who truly want to develop a relationship with their Savior must study and ponder the message contained therein. The ancient prophets who wrote in the book declared that they did so that they might convince and persuade their brethren (all of us) to come unto an understanding of their relationship with God and his Son, Jesus Christ; than we might learn his doctrine and live his Gospel; that only through repentance made possible through Christ's Atonement, could we be perfected and live with God again. The Book of Mormon is the foundation of my testimony of my Savior. The Bible helps and they testify of one another, but one will grow closer unto God by living the precepts outlined in the Book of Mormon than any other book. All good things come of God! Have a tremendous week and study Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel.

Love,

Elder Montgomery

Sounds like a fun time with all the work at Lakeview! I don't most people know how hard you work there, esp. in the summer. I'm glad my work is something that I enjoy as well. Nothing like Preaching the Gospel! I'm doing fantastic. I really enjoy the bike even though it's going to be over a 100 degrees all week. I'm going on an exchange with E. Jackson on Friday and I'm super excited for that! The diet isn't too hard to maintain. I just portion accordingly. I bought some flounder today. I sure hope it tastes delicious. I'll let you know. Love you too and have a great phone call with Zach.

Love,

Elder Montgomery