Last letter from the MTC!

Ciao Mama! I am leaving the MTC tomorrow morning, so I'm allowed to do laundry and e-mail today, which is awesome, because I've had some great experiences lately I wanted to tell you about. First of all, I can't describe how excited I am to get to Italia!! I know it'll be super difficult with the language and all, but still, nothing could put me down right now, because I'm just so excited to able to be a part of this great work. I can't make this e-mail very long, but I wanted to describe some cool stuff that happened yesterday. Well, me and my collega were just kind of having a normal day, but since this was our last Sunday, we felt like we needed to offer the new, and the current sisters and elders of our zone, the opportunity to receive a blessing if they felt that they needed it. So we went to the branch president and asked if that was a good idea, and he said it was a great idea, so he brought it up in the leadership meeting. So after that we were given the chance to get that all figured out, so we went and asked the sisters and 11 of them (counting new and old), said they would like one. So after we decided who would do blessings for them, me and my companion blessed four, and I had my first opportunity to say a priesthood blessing. I was kind of nervous to be honest, because I know how much faith the sisters have, and I wanted to be sure that what I would say would help them. Before I gave my blessing though, one of the new sisters told us how grateful she was for us specifically, because she could tell that we were doing what we were supposed to, and when she thinks of how missionaries should act, she could see that in my companion and I. That was really comforting for me, and a boost for my desire to serve my mission well. I hope that when I arrive in Italy others will be able to view me and my next companion the same way, it'll be harder, but that just means I must have to work harder. Anyways, I feel like my missionary fire is burning bright again, it kinda dimmed down near the middle a little bit, but I am very grateful that I stayed obedient and hard-working, even if I wasn't super happy about it the entire time as I should be. What's helped me the most is kind of like what Sawyer said, I think of you and Dad and how I need to serve faithfully so that I can come home and tell you I did my best. Beyond that though, I also think of Jack, and all the little cousins. I know that Owen, Sam, Ellie, Lucas, Logan, and all the other 20 or so little buggers (I can never keep a count), will be more able, and willing to serve their missions well, if I continue to pave the way. I know that for me, having Sawyer, Coleman, and Taft on missions helps me feel like I can live up to how they serve, and do my best. On my name-tag are two names, Anziano Vaclaw, and the Jesus Christ, above any other thing, I'm going make those two names as close to being one and the same as I can. Some business type things though, tomorrow, I could call kind of early in the day, so be ready! I might not be able to though, so yeah, just keep your cell phone around you all day, ok mom? And also! If you mail something to Italy, I hear you want to put stickers all over it, and to keep the price listed low, I'm not sure how to say it, so ask Uncle Brian! I'm sure he'd know. Anyways, I love you mom! Hope everyone has a great week.

Austin's entire MTC Zone Ti voglio bene, Anziano Vaclaw