Homecoming Weekend

Kurt flew home from Utah State University Friday afternoon.

Heavenly having the 4 boys all together!

Your Pie, Sally, Swimming, Basketball and a little rain and lightening too.

Friends and Family together again~

Brandon shared some thoughts and stories from his mission at church.

How he's grown!  What a blessing Brandon is to our family~

Home

Last pictures of the mission

Waiting at the airport...not patiently:)

 Brandon did not come up the escalators because of departing the plane
at the T gates.  After he went to baggage, Brandon wandered over and
found us waiting and came up to us from behind.

 Oh Happy Day!

Some serious walking throughout his mission...

Brandon is Home - Ye Ha!!!

the name tag is written in my heart

Well, this week was a pretty good week! Sadly...it was my last full week that I have being a fulltime missionary, not a missionary though... that name tag is written in my heart. I have loved my mission so much! The people, the country, some parts of the culture haha, but also I have grown to love my Savior Jesus Christ.

When I came out to the mission, I didn't make a promise to follow him for 2 years, but throughout all of eternity. I am looking forward to seeing how much I have grown when I get back and although it will be hard, it will be better because of the rock I am built upon.

I am looking forward to seeing you all if you can make it This Sunday in church for my homecoming talk!!! I will explain so much more! I don't have a ton of time right now, but I am so, so happy I came out here. I wouldn't take this back for anything. I will be going back to El Salvador tomorrow and Thursday I will be with my AMAZING family :)

Thank you so much to ANYONE who ever prayed for me or sent me an email or talked to my mom about me or anything! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I will be forever grateful!
See you all soon! - Elder Austin

*Brandon will speak in church on Sunday at 1:00pm (101 South Peachtree Pky).  Would love to have y'all there ~ everyone is welcome!

we are everything to God

Hey! This week was busy but good!! We had our last interviews with President and our last multizone meeting. I love all the people in my group. Those of us who are here in Belize, we gave our last testimonies. It was super amazing! Very spiritual. 

Also it rained SUPER HARD here. Everything got flooded. Lots of houses. Luckily our house is raised up. But we don't have water and won't for a while. Maybe we can get permission to go in the river in our backyard haha.

But besides that...time is FLYING!! The days just keep coming and I tell them to stop but they don't. This is my last normal week as a missionary :/ I am very excited to go home, but sad, because there is still so much to do here. But sorry all these emails are short. Everything is going good though. I am still learning every single day!!

And another HEFY (Humanitarian Especially For Youth) group came out with us yesterday and we are going to have another one starting Saturday that will be doing activities in the Bullet tree branch every single day for like 2/3 weeks. Very cool.

But have a great week!! Also I haven't seemed to grow too much on the mission... but I was reading and realized many things. In 3 Nephi 13;27 or it's also found in the Bible in Matthew 6:27 ("Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"). Cool scripture that helps me realize that compared to God we are nothing, yet we are everything to God.

My comp killed a spider...picador.

The rain was crazy...the church flooded.
This was a couple hours after it had all drained.

when we are obedient we are immediately blessed!

Things have been going pretty normal this week. Pushing along trying to get the branch back up. It is the rainy season now!! It is starting to rain almost every day here which is super nice because it cools it off. It is hot sometimes haha.

But, surprise for my mom, I have had a random strong desire to learn how to cook this past week and I have been practicing, and telling members how to teach me so I know before I go to Utah haha. The food here is good. But besides that, pretty normal.

I lead another HEFY (Humanitarian Experience For Youth) group on splits and it was pretty fun. There will be one more group that I will see as well.

I have been practicing basketball in the mornings and on sports night, and I have been gaining the respect of the youth here. Pretty cool :) But besides that, people still don't want to get married... but we are going along :) Keep your prayers up!!

And I have learned that when we are obedient we are IMMEDIATELY blessed! Don't wait for those blessings :)

I learn a ton every single day

Hey things were super cool this week. We had a surprise multi mission conference and we heard an apostle speak to us (Elder Renlund https://www.lds.org/church/leader/dale-g-renlund?lang=eng), and it was super amazing! The work this week wasn't too good and we were super busy the whole week... and it rained almost everyday...but we have been happy :)

My companion made my agenda.... kind of baggy... but it's alright. I'm really trying to enjoy being a missionary and helping people because although I tell myself I have a lot of time left... I know sadly it's not true.

I am still learning so much everyday just like when I started... I learn a ton every single day. That is something that I love.

But sorry... I'm really not sure what to write anymore... haha sorry, but things are going good! I love the challenge from the prophet about reading the Book of Mormon. The blessings are real!! I just started 3rd Nephi :) I challenge everyone to beat me!! haha but I read super slow right now! It's possible!

trying to have lots of success...

Well... I turned 20 this week but I feel pretty normal haha. Things have been going good!!! I don't have a ton of time so I have to make this short!! But I hope everyone is doing okay!!

We had a group of gringos come to Bullet tree yesterday and they went on splits with us. 4 gringos with me and four with my companion. That was super nice although it was kind of weird haa. It was a Humanitarian EFY group. But it was super awesome and they had a great time even though it was raining the whole 4 hours they were walking with us.

Still trying to have lots of success before next change!!! Also I saw Elder Hallman!!! I love that guy!!! But I hope everyone has a good week!! Take care!! Bye!