Week 34

Good morning friends! How are we all doing? Well last week was crazy! Definitely one of the most stressful/strangest weeks in my mission. Monday was crazy. We had service and got to help pour concrete which I was super excited about because it reminded me of the things I got to do in Peru and it just felt like home. Monday morning we got a call from our investigator Tiffany who I've told you about. Out of the blue she called us and said she didn't want to be baptized anymore and that she was going to find another church. Sister Labrum and I were completely silent on the phone and didn't know what to say. It was heartbreaking. That day was by far the most heartbreaking day I've had on my mission. I was pretty much in shock all day so I didn't have time to cry. Later on that night we had dinner with the Stake President and his family and I lost it. The next day I was so sick and sad from what had happened we stayed home most of the day because I just couldn't get out of bed. We later had lessons that day and the craziness just continued. One day we decided to go into these apartments that everyone told us not to go into but Sister Labrum and I are rebels so we did it anyways. They are called the guardian apartments. After being in there for 30 minutes we came out so sick. We had a headache for two days straight and later came to find out that they cook meth there! I WAS ON METH! We didn't realize what was going on but we were so hungry and dizzy we realized that we were second hand high. It was awful. The next morning we were both so sick we stayed home for a little and it was rough. Lots of sick days last week! Our week just gets better. So at this point we are still sick and not feeling good but we went to our lessons anyways. We show up to this appointment thinking we were going to teach a new investigator but it all went a different direction. The lady we met started to give us directions on how to take care of her mother. Her mother is 80+ years old and has Alzheimer's. She then didn't give us time to speak then was out the door and said thank you for us staying with her mom. Sister Labrum and I looked at each other and were like wow we are babysitting a 80+ year old right now who barely talks. Her name is Myrl and Myrl loves stories so we told her stories for and hour and now she probably thinks we are crazy. 

On the bright side of everything we found so many new investigators! We found five people just by calling them and asking if they wanted to take the missionary discussions again! It was awesome! Heavenly Father really has been placing people in our path. 

The smoke here is pretty crazy so a member gave us masks and told us to wear them so below there's a cool picture of us. 

This week I studied a little in Moroni 7 and read about charity. Something that I have never noticed before was the answer to everyone's question at times. How can we have and feel every good thing? 

20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?

21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.

22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.

23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.

24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them. 

In Christ everything can be made good. Trust in him. This time around I am studying christlike attributes in the Book of Mormon and it's amazing all the things you can discover. I have a testimony of this church that it can do everything to make one happy. Have faith and trust in God. Keep the faith. 

I invite you all to read 1 Nephi 8. This chapter is so applicable to today. Be the person that goes towards the tree of life and is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all! 

Love,
Sister Austin Miles ♡

1557 COLORADO GULCH 
HELENA, MT 59601

Montana Billings Mission 🇧🇿

Week 33

Good morning friends! Wow what a week! Obviously transfers happened and I'm with Sister Labrum! She's from Kansas! Shocker right, not Utah! She's the best! We have so much in common and get along great, I just love her! Shes so dang funny. Her alarm in the morning says "You're beautiful and you don't deserve this." Haha, shes a blast! With transfer week it's been pretty stressful since I am leading out the Helena 4th area. Poor Sister Labrum has to direct me everywhere because I don't know where I'm going here! I'm slowly starting to get the hang of it though! 

Guess what? I'm coming up on 8 months! How crazy is that? This transfer ends on my half way mark...time is starting to fly by! Anyways...

This week we found five new investigators and this whole transfer we are shooting for 50 more! The Lord truly is preparing people and putting them in our path. One of the families we met is so dang cute! The moms name is Jolene and she has two cute daughters! They were just chatting up a storm with us! It was cool at first because Jolene was really unsure about us but by the end of our conversation she had said that we could come back and share more with her. The spirit truly does soften people's hearts it's amazing. 

We had quite a bit of lessons this week so we have been super busy! Today I am so excited because we are helping the Lay family pour concrete in their backyard! I'm excited because it reminds me of Peru and I actually know how to do it! Pictures to come later! 

So Tiffany one of our investigators is getting baptized September 9th so it's coming up and we are excited! Meeting Tiffany really was a miracle when Sister Packer and I met her. Saturday we taught the word of wisdom. Right when she opened up the pamphlet and saw that we couldn't drink coffee she yelled out "WHAT NO COFFEE?" She was saying how she has coffee every morning and how she didn't think she could give that up. I shared with her Greg's story (investigator from great falls) and she felt more comforted knowing that if someone like him could give up something so big in his life, she would be willing to. After she cried and shared with us how hard it would be she then got up and gave us all of her coffee and told us to throw it out. She didn't even think twice! Tiffany is truly the elect. I had asked her one day what made her so interested in the church and she said "I was just tired of living in sin in my old life." Now here's the scare that Sister Labrum and I had. Sunday morning Tiffany called us out of the blue and said "This is too hard. I don't understand why coffee is a sin. I won't be coming to church or be baptized." I was silent. It was the most heartbreaking feeling that I had ever felt on my mission. I felt Gods sorrow through me for Tiffany. We worked out to come over to her house and talk with her about what she was feeling. After my tears and hers she got up and immediately got ready for church. I had no idea what I was going to say to help Tiffany. I just let the spirit guide me and surely enough the spirit never fails. We had told Tiffany that the adversary will get to her approaching her baptism. This goes for all of us. Satan likes to bring us down to a place we never could imagine. 

I have a testimony that this church is so true. That the spirit truly does soften the hearts of men. I am grateful for my mission experience. Even after all the tears, anger, disappointment, and trials I know that this is the Lords work and he will always prepare a way for those who stand in need of it. 

I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in my life last week. I started it in the MTC and read it on and off until now. After I finished it and closed the book, I starred at it for a good five minutes with tears in my eyes. I had finished the most true book ever. I began in the MTC not having a testimony of my own and not knowing if the church was true or not. I then read the Book of Mormon and it filled the missing piece in my life. I never knew that there was more to my purpose on this earth. I didn't think a book could change my life but it did. This is where I invite you to study the Book of Mormon each day. I promise it will enrich your life and give you so much peace. Keep the faith! 

I love you all so much! I hope every one has an amazing week! 

My facebook: Sister-Austin Miles 

My blog: http://sisteraustinmiles.blogspot.com/

Funny story of the week: We knocked on some one's door and they were like "Are you from CPS (Child protective services), what's going on?" I've never gotten that one before! 

Below are some pictures of me with our investigator Libby, the Bromlies throwing their couch over the railing after we moved it and more fun stuff! Libby is the one who gave us the flowers! Tiffany is the one with me and Sister Packer! And our good ol mouse problem :) 

Love,
Sister Austin Miles ♡

1557 COLORADO GULCH HELENA, MT 59601

Montana Billings Mission 🇧🇿