First Pday!

Today was Austin's first pday. He sounds like he is having so much fun!!

Well this has been a crazy first week! I cant believe I'm a missionary now. It still hasnt hit me. I got here first and met my companion. His name is Elder Sudweeks. He is such a great guy. I couldnt think of anyone who could be more different than me, but thats probably good because it helps me! The first few days were rough. I got in here the first day and every body told me that it is just plain hard until the first Sunday, so stick it through. I made it to Sunday! Sunday was so nice. I have spent so much time with my cousin Elder Lamb and my best friend Elder Yocom lives on the same floor as me. We do everything together. Dutch is a tough language. Very tough. My teachers are amazing though and I know that if I rely on the Lord, He will work through me and I will be able to accomplish whatever I need to accomplish. I have met so many friends here and my room is full of some of the nicest kids i know! we all are so alike! It's like a sleepover every night. So much fun here! I already cant wait to go the Netherlands though. My district is so amazing and we all help each other so much. My favorite kid in my district are Elder Bean and Elder Bosco. Elder Bean because we are both exactly alike, and Elder Bosco because he is Robbie Bosco's son.... haha. He said he wants to go to BYU games and stuff when we're back! He is such an awesome kid. I'm sitting next to my best friend from high school, Elder Yocom, right now as we are both emailing! Its so amazing here! My branch presidency is amazing and they let us email as long as we want because "P-Day is Family Day". It was hard saying bye to my family and friends, but this is where the Lord needs me to be! I'm so grateful that I will be blessed here, so that He can bless other peopls lives! I love you all so much and I will write you all whenever I can! Thanks so much for the support!!!!

Tot Ziens,

Elder Elkins

Austin's Companion!

Ausin's cousin Elder Lamb! 

Elder Vandemerwe , Elder Elkins, Elder Yocom

First letter!

I am so excited to say that we got the first letter from Elder Elkins! He is having so much fun in the MTC.

"Family,

First day in the MTC. So crazy. So many mixed emotions today. It was hard saying goodbye that's for sure. I love you all so much!! It's so weird here. Everything happened so fast. They took me through the doors where I got a pamphlet full of a few things. It had two name tags. 1 for suit, 1 for shirt with magnet. Also my MTC ID i use to open doors, buy stuff, and just use as an ID. After this we took my bags to my room where I put all my bags on the bottom bunk. There are 6 elders in my room! Then I went straight to the Dutch classroom. When I got there, the two teachers swormed me with Dutch. So hard!! Then I went to the computer room to watch a video about the MTC. After this we went back to the classroom where everyone's companions started coming in. Mine was late. haha."

My companions name is Elder Sodweeks. He loves art. Then we went to the Presidency introduction meeting where we heard good talks. Then dinner. This is where I saw Dillon! (for those of you who don't know Dillon, it's one of his best friends)

After dinner, we did this thing called 'learning experience' where we had a room full of missionaries probably 60-70 and the investigators would randomly call on us to answer one of his questions. After 3 investigators, 30 minutes each, I didn't answer a question. The last investigator wanted a companionship to teach a lesson to him. My companion volunteered us HAHA!! I was nervous but we did GREAT! After this we met our zone leaders and they're sick!!

When I was making my bed, someone came into my room and said 'Is there an Elder Elkins in here?' and it was ZACH! (for those of you who don't know Zach, it's his cousin) I was so happy! He found me and it was amazing. We took a picture together and talked for 10 minutes. I'll see him a lot probably.

It's been such a long day, but one I'll always remember. I have such an amazing family. I love you guys so much. so much. I'm so blessed at home and I already realize that.

I love you! Tot ziens. (something in dutch. probably i love you. who knows)

-Elder Elkins''

It was so good to heard from him and knowing that he is doing so good. Can't wait for the next letter and pictures! His pday is Tuesday, so I will keep you updated!

MTC-

Hey everybody! Austin's sister here. My name is Emily and he asked me to blog his mission so you all can see how he's doing! It's crazy that I'm making this first post but I'm so excited to share with you all about his mission. Yesterday, Austin left to the MTC. And as amazing as it was, it was also very hard. But what was so cool was when we dropped him off, there was so much peace seeing him walk away knowing he will be taken care of and he's doing what he's supposed to do. 

So this is how the day went: 

He woke up at 6:30 for companion study with my dad. and then after went into my mom's room to lay on her bed and talk to her. My husband and I arrived at the house at 9am and then we were on our way! While we were driving, we came across this overpass:

Once we got down to Provo, we went to eat at Mimi's Cafe. My husband and Austin are very close, so the whole time we were at breakfast Austin kept asking stuff about the MTC. I could tell that my husband loved talking about it and giving Austin pointers.

After breakfast,we went to the Provo Temple to take pictures. While we were walking up to the temple, Austin saw his best friend Dillon (who is also going to the same mission) and Dillon's family. That was really cool to see him and I could tell it gave Austin some peace.

Here are some pictures at the temple:

Elder Yocom and Elder Elkins

Mom and Son.

Dad and son.

Brothers.

Brothers and Brother-in-law

His sisters. 

We dragged the temple as long as we could. and then got in the car to drop him off. While we were driving my mom kept saying "Not yet! Not yet". and then at 12:42 we got in line to drop him off.

We stopped at number 11 and his Escort was SO nice and SO welcoming to Austin. We gave him hugs, shed some tears, but stayed strong for Austin. When he walked away, he was smiling so big. He was so happy to be there.

We love you Austin, and we are so excited for you to serve a mission. You will be deeply missed but we will keep you in our prayers always. Now its the countdown til you come home instead of you leaving!