The Growth Of Our Elder!

I wanted to share a little bit of the letter we got from Austin today...
I always thought my personality would bring people to God and our church but everyday I figure out more and more how it doesn't matter how cool or good I am, it's the spirit and how much God helps. Without God it's just a cool story. You have to have the spirit with you to be a good teacher. So I am doing everything I can to keep it with me.

WOW! What more could a mom ask for then that statement in her own son's handwriting. I feel very blessed today!

E-Mail, March 25,09

Hey Mommy so how is every one I am good. Ya I’m glad I am going to be a zone leader its really scary to. We have to help home sick missionaries and interview all the time and meet with the branch pres every Sunday it’s a lot of stuff and its weird cuz we are still the youngest Elders in the zone by far and we are the zone leaders. I think we get new missionaries in our zone today so that’s good. We had the best fireside last night it was from one of the guys in the 70. He talked about forgetting yourself, he used an analogy. He said you can use a stumbling block as a stepping stone. Only you can decide what it is. So I guess I’ll surmount my stumbling blocks all I’ve got to do is use them as stepping stones right. I just really liked it a lot. He also said that if you are home sick it is cuz you are to worried about yourself. So I need to work on it cuz I am still struggling with missing you guys way bad. Its weird here time goes so slow yet so fast. The days feel like weeks but the weeks feel like days. I am learning a lot my scriptures are getting so marked up (lol) but in a good way. Spanish is starting to come. I can follow and get what they are saying I just can’t respond but they said you will learn how to talk in the field. Here we just learn grammar so we have a foundation. Oh I benched my companion last night it was so funny (lol) we always play around in the dorms so we don’t go crazy cuz we focus so much all day. Its so funny like we will sing songs so loud and have church song dance parties (lol) by the end of the night everyone is in are room. We even put a sign above the door saying “Elevangelio Club” which means gospel club in Spanish haha! Ya I know its weird but things are always the same here so we mix it up in our room. I love all of you so much thanks for everything.

All my loveYour son,
Elder Fackler

New Zone Leaders

The last two letters we have received from Austin have been amazing. The last one said "I am still struggling with homesickness sometimes but I never feel alone. I know that the Savior is always with me because he said he would always be with his servants and I am his servant." As I read that it just all hit home again why we want our sons to serve missions.

Then today we got another letter tell us that last Sunday Austin and his companion Elder Glade had been called to be Zone Leaders. I can tell he is excited and humbled by this calling especially since he has only been out just about 3 weeks. I am so excited for him and all the growth that just seems to be filling him. As much as I miss him I wouldn't want him anywhere else!

A Companion For Austin

I was not shocked at all to get this picture from Austin. This is so typical of him. This is his companion Elder Glade from Highland UT. I am afraid to think what the MTC is having to endure with Austin and a companion that might be anything like him

I call this

"Lifting Up The Work"

That is not my kid!

Mexico City Here He Comes

I don't know what it was about this moment but it about tore my heart out. I think it was the little boy look on his face and that he looked like he was pulling his wagon full of belongings so he could run away from home (pillow and all.)