THIS Is Happiness

Well, I absolutely love being a district leader. I have a responsibility to call the district each night, check in with them, help them with problems or questions, give advice, and just be a friend to them all. I absolutely LOVE it. I love my fellow missionaries. We're all united in the same cause and things are just going GREAT. As District leader I also get to give baptismal interviews- I gave my first this week to a man named Ruben in Pecos. It was such a spiritual experience for me. I say it again, and again, but- I LOVE THIS WORK! The promise in preach my gospel is real- "greater happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children." 

 I give my first district leader meeting tomorrow so wish me luck! I've had the opportunity to learn from two companions as to how to be a good leader so I feel well prepared. I figure the Lord knows what he's doing, so I'm happy with where I'm at. I know that this calling will continue to help me grow. The Lord puts us in places that we can help, but also, he's helping those he puts in those positions. No matter how much I give, the Lord continues to give back more. 

Writing in my Journal. Haven't missed a day yet!

So its been a bit of a screwy week. I'm sick again- the Doctor's think it's a sinus infection. *sigh* I'm getting a prescription today from the pharmacy and I'm hoping I recover quickly. I've been waking up at 3 in the morning like clockwork and I have to take ibuprofen for throat pain, and so my sleeping schedule has been trashed. I'm still doing missionary work, but I'm trying to rest as well, knowing that's the only way I'll get better. The new responsibilities don't help me get much rest either. But I've got faith the Lord will continue to see me through, just like he has with everything else up to this point in my life. I know He's got a plan for me. I'm doing my part in his plan right now. So whatever happens in the future- whoever I end up with, whoever I become, wherever I go, now and after my mission, is what I know is meant to happen. Everything has a purpose and a reason. God knows what it is. Putting my faith in him is all I can do at this point. It may be frightening, and his plan may not be what -I- want, but it'll be what's BEST. Aligning my will to his has been the struggle of my life, but I'm working on it, and I will continue to work on it. It's by having faith we walk the path of happiness and the path of least resistance. Fighting against God's will is like trying to swim upstream- no matter how much progress you make, the current will ALWAYS win.

Me with the Day Kids: Tyler and Nicole

Modesto is continuing to progress. We're taking him to the temple in a few weeks for baptisms for the dead. We're helping him out right now with family history work, and he's excited to be baptized for his son that died in an accident at the age of 19. This work is eternal- and God wants us ALL to have the opportunity to return and live with him some day. I have a testimony of eternal families. I know I can one day live with mine forever- my best friend, and my children as well as my brothers, sisters, father, and mother. Death isn't just "the end". There's so much more. I hope and pray my family, present, and future, are doing well and are happy and proud of me. I know that I am doing the Lord's work. THIS is happiness.

I love y'all. Take care, be safe, work hard, love life.

Your never deviating friend,

Elder Austin Sork

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Some murmur when the sky is clear

and wholly bright to view,

if one small speck of dark appear

in their great heaven of blue:

And some with thankful love are filled, 

if but one streak of light,

one ray of God's good mercy,

Gild the darkness of their night.

-Unknown

Look for the light in the Dark. It's there- everything has its opposite! 

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad

... and if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery." 

(2 Nephi 2:11, 13)

Smile, and choose to look for the light. 

Thinking of you!

Stay strong, and be of good courage!

Love,

Elder Austin Daniel Sork