HELLOOOOO!!!! From Armenia not America

I hope all is going well!!! Apparently my computer didn't send anything but I sent you all messages last week hahaha so sorry if everything is confusing now. But I got changed this week on Wednesday and I am with the best companion ever!!!  Elder Quintanilla and he is from Nicaragua. He is so obedient and a hard worker and a powerful teacher, and he is so funny as well! He has 6 weeks in the mission so I am finishing up his training but he is already amazing. And he knows lots of English and before he was in a house with 3 gringos so he is learning fast although now there are only 2.

So my new house is a house with 4 and it is so nice!! just, no water haha except for a pila with water in it, and a fish if I might add. but there are no mosquitoes here because of the fish and the temperature is AMAZING compared to Sonsonate which I get used to. I tell people I came from Sonsonate and they just drop there jaw like "how are you still alive" hahaha.

But this ward is a powerful ward and it is crazy seeing the difference when we have other members involved because in my last area it was just the missionareis doing EVERYTHING. But here it is different. Also our chapel is really pretty and it is 2 stories although it is still kind of small, but it is cool. So my last area was puny and I NEVER contacted a person who had never been taught by missionaries, but here the majority have never even talked to missionaries and that makes it so much easier.

This area is huge but it is SO PRETTY!!! Just my legs are so tired from all the mountains haha and my comp. is more used to it than I am :P Also here we serve a lot more than we did service in America although we always offered. And the people here are RICH compared to my other area, like a huge difference, and I heard San Salvador is even richer. The only reason that makes me feel like I'm in a 3rd world country here is our shower...because we don't have running water during the days. So lets just say I'm becoming the champion of the ice bucket challenge...

Our bishop here is amazing and his wife cooks for us and washes our clothes. Well we eat lunch there and dinner is on our own which is better! Just I am sick of Coke...haha so guys I have completely changed on my mission lol. I am kind of sad about changes and I will miss so many people!!! So many, but I know I am where I need to be and this area will help me be happy as well because this area is amazing too!!! And my companion..wow, I can't even express how amazing he is!!! Living with 4 missionaries is so fun and so much better I think, just they make fun of me for being FREEZING in the mornings wearing a hoodie around haha.

And we play baseball whenever we have 5 minutes of free time with a rubber ball and shoes :P Also we play basketball every morning because my district Leader is a gringo who came out with me, Elder Rigby, and we were such great friends in the CCM and always played basketball there so now we are practicing every morning here! Just I really do miss a piano..they play music through the speakers for Church hymns haha.

So before the mission I wanted a dog, and then I started to hate dogs, but I've been changing again and dogs are so cool and I actually want a dog again haha, it's so weird. But we will see. We set this date on a lady here but sadly she is moving up to Los Angeles next week with her Daughter who is a Mormon, and she said "I always told myself I would never be a Mormon, but you guys have really changed me. When I go to LA I want my son to come and baptize me, thank you guys so much." So that was really sweet and I got her email so I can see the picture. so although I won't be there for this baptism I am really happy I got to take a part in it. And that's about it.

So much to write, just I also wanted to say... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MOM EVER!!!! You are so amazing mom and wow...I can't even begin to describe the amazing good influence you have had on my life. Thank you so much for all that you have done, and continue to do, and I am forever indebted to you and I will NEVER be able to repay you. It really stinks how I can't explain how much of an influence you have made on me and I never think I will. I definitely did not appreciate you as much as I should have growing up and I'm sorry, but you are so amazing to love, and take care of, and to put your needs and desires behind everyone else. You are a crazy good example to me, and have inspired my life forever and I will never be able to explain, but thank you so much Mom and every little good thing I do in my life, is because of you. I would not be here in El Salvador without you. Thank you so much Mom I LOVE YOU!!!!!


Letter/Email from Brandon's Mission President
President Kai D. Hintze
El Salvador, San Salvador West/Belize Mission
February 17, 2016

Dear family of Elder Austin
It is with love that we inform you that Elder Austin has been called to serve as a Trainer in the Mission. This is a tremendous responsibility to supervise the development of a new missionary.

The mission president´s manual says, “One of the greatest expressions of trust that you can give a missionary is to assign him or her as a trainer of a new missionary. Choose only outstanding missionaries to serve as trainers”. That is the confidence that I have in Elder Austin.

We appreciate Elder Austin for the commitment that he has demonstrated to the Lords work. We thank you for your prayers and support.

Yours faithfully,
Kai D. Hintze
Mission President


Last week's email Brandon sent but we never received until today.

I'm still trooping in circles here in America getting dust everywhere haha. It hasn't rained for months and I would never have imagined there being this much dust in a jungle. But everything is going great!! I love it here!!! So this week I have been asking people how old they think I am and no one guessed under 21...haha it was crazy but I'm still 18.

My comp. (companion) has been hard, but he is getting better and I have really learned to love him and am going to miss things about him if I or him get changed this Wednesday.

There has been lots of snakes (girls) though and I think it's time I go hahaha but if I don't go I will be okay, haha I am careful :) Also I went to San Salvador one day for my comps papers to be legal here I forgot what day but I went to THE NICEST MCDONALDS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, or could even imagine!!! It was insane!!!! 2 floors, air conditioned, huge, high tech, English music and TV`s everywhere, soft seats coaches things, wow haha. Better than the states no offense.

I have also been gaining weight, and people have said I'm getting taller but I don't believe them because my pants still fit lengthwise... but only lengthwise. Also I figured out I just LOVE flan, I don't know if they have that there but I am going to look when I get back, I don`t know what it's called in English. Maybe the same but it is so good!!!

Also something cool, usually in my church we have about 50 people, 60 if we are lucky, but yesterday we had 96!! They couldn't even fit it was crazy and it made me so happy!!!!! It was insane!!! And another cool thing, there was this Pastor ratting out this member so me and my comp walked up and started talking to him and he was saying we aren't sons of God or don't do His will and we aren't blessed and don't believe in Christ and stuff like that for no reason and this is the time when I have really felt the spirit with me during a conversation/lesson and my comp and I just beamed him with questions that made him contradict himself and it wasn't me, and it wasn't my companion, and I felt really well because we were able to stand strong against a pastor who was condemning a member and she went to church the next Sunday strong in her testimony. What I loved about that situation was we weren't looking to fight or argue, but we were able to defend, and I think that's how we should be. We shouldn't go about fighting or arguing religion, but we should be able to defend con todo. (Spanish translation - with all sincerity)

I love you guys and I hope all is well!! I will see if I have changes tomorrow but I won't be able to tell you guys until next Monday, but take care!!!! :)

Also... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AN AMAZING BROTHER WHO I LOVE SO MUCH AND WHO IS SO HUMBLE AND NICE AND CARING!!!! YOU ARE AMAZING NICK AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY!!!!! I LOVE YOU BUD AND BE SAFE BUT HAVE FUN!!!! You have changed and helped me in my life so much more than you could ever imagine and I hope to hang out with you in 2 years!!!! Take care Bud!!!!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

I have been dying this week...haha. I got one of the worst sunburns ever and am still sore from the Volcano, but everything else is going good it just makes me tired haha.

So I was spraying bug spray that our ZL's (zone leaders) gave us on my arm and my comp is like "what are you doing??" and he said "That isn't for your body" and then I just kept spraying it on me haha and he took it and walked around spraying every corner of the house except around us... and I'm just standing there like what the...hahaha it was kinda funny.

My area is one of the dirtiest areas and it has been so windy and hasn't rained since like October, not even clouds, and there is so much dust everywhere and I am filthy but it is pretty cool haha.

I also got bit by a parrot, that kind of hurt, and I stepped in a puddle and it was awful but then I got new socks from a member and they are really cool so it was worth it!

My comp has been sick the past couple days so please pray for him if you wouldn't mind but other than that I just wanted to complain hahaha but everything is going great! It is so fast I can't even imagine!!!

But ya...hope you guys had a good Super Bowl, apparently it was a good year to miss even though it was the 50th. haha but take care everyone! Could be in a different area next week but maybe I'll stay here for my whole mission :)

  I bought Crocks!

 last weeks volcano

 

ouch haha glad my mom prepared me with Alovera! :) 

PHEW!!!!!

PHEW!!!!! I am dying!!! hahaha I just ran a mile to get a missionaries shoes and a mile back without stopping and I am OUT OF SHAPE!!! holy cow...and I did the hardest hike of my whole entire life climbing up a volcano, but everything is going good, just I'm sunburnt and so sore...hahahah hardest thing I have ever done physically haha but all the gringos finished first so I felt proud.

Also there were people from Canada and Israel who spoke English so that was cool. but anyways that was really cool looking in the Volcano just I was so scared...because there aren't rails or anything...I'm definitely not living in the states haha but everything is perfect!  It's like I could live here for the rest of my life except two things. The shower water has been FREEZING and I am dying everytime I take a shower and I miss my iphone to text everybody and take selfies haha.

There has been a huge lasting 2 week party in my area and the area just smells like alcohol but it's so fun talking to drunk people haha, and the least dangerous thing ever haha. I have honestly felt so safe here from everything. The Lord definitely watches out for you out here.

This week too was the first week I met with our ward mission leader so that was nice and we have been taking out this young guy with us who loves to come out with us, and he stays with us almost all day haha. Just this week I have been so tired and the volcano isn't going to help, but it is all going good and I'm lucky I have a small area haha.

But ya... anyways, had a really cool tender mercy in which we were placed in the right spot at the right time to help this family with a greatly needed blessing and they are LOADED hahaha and they said any time we need anything or clothes or are hungry, don't even ask just come over and they will feed us and help us with anything. None of their family are members except their dad who lives in California and he was on Skype the whole time, and he got his wife to search for us for a blessing and he wants them to be baptized and she is really receptive. So everything is going great!!!!

My companion is being good and I love this area! and I'm teaching a lot of English. I hope everything is going well there and take care you all!!!! Continue to pray for Adiel Ramos if you can, the investigator that hopefully will be baptized!!!

Hey we are at a different cyber and I don't think I can send pictures but I have some really cool pictures so I'm sorry :(
These were sent to me I just forwarded them.

Party!

HOLY VACA!!!

THIS WEEK WAS INSANE!!!!! I wore my suit for the first time and I SHOOK ELDER COOKS HAND!!!! AHHHHH!!!!! IT WAS SO COOL!!!!! And during his talk I felt the spirit the strongest I have in my whole life except for maybe my patriarchal blessing. IT WAS INSANE!!! And we went to Wendy's after so wow!

Also on interchanges people ask me if I know English, which they used to assume but now they believe me if I tell them I'm from Mexico and it is really cool, haha I really feel my Spanish is good. I am very lucky to be able to have learned it so fast.

Also I held a wild bird, just wanted to throw that out there haha, and I held a human bone and that was gross. But I still can play basketball!!!! I played 4 on 1 and I won...hahaha it was fun. Just yesterday it was COLD!!!! I was freezing!!! And I don't know what happened! I slept with a hoodie on and no fan. I don't know what happened to the weather or where all the heat went but I want it back!!!

This was also a crazy fast week and this week we are going to talk with the son of Hermano Siro, my first baptism, and try and get him baptized so please pray for him if you wouldn't mind. But besides that everything is going good. Everybody in my ward knows my name so I feel pretty happy haha, but not my companions. And they are so nice just this is such a small, not too strong of a ward no offense but I know I am where I am needed right now. We are doing tons of work with the members and less actives instead of investigators and we are having lots of success. I am so blessed!!! I hope all is going well with you guys and until next time!!!!

More info about Elder Cook:
https://www.lds.org/church/leader/quentin-l-cook?lang=eng

me posing haha

First Sunburn really out here

Mosquitoes, Package from Grandparents (cocoa pebbles)
and a human bone....

There is a huge ongoing party in my area... haha but it's kind of cool

Wow...almost half a year...

Good week this week!! Just CRAZY FAST holy cow it feels like just one day ago I was writing you guys and I don't have much to say haha. ummmm...how are you lol.

I saw "The Nights" music video not on purpose but it is a great video!! And song!! I love that song, also I want "it's been a long time" to be playing when I get home from my mission haha. But anyways...we didn't have water for 3 or 4 days so that was cool...my comp was sick one day so we didn't leave until four. Spanish is seeming really easy haha, I am very lucky there I just don't know how much I will remember if I go to Belize. But I have taught TONS of English and am still continuing to do so!!!

My companion is good and everything seems to be going good! We are helping our ward (local congregation) a lot cause our ward needs tons of help. One of the things I have realized on my mission was how lucky of a ward I had. How good and strong and amazing it was and that's honestly one of the things I miss the most, but I know I'm where I should be helping them be that kind of ward someday.

Today we are going to the beach...AGAIN! haha.  A box of Mac and Cheese here is only 15 cents, I'm not sure how much it is there, just letting you guys know. Sorry this is an awkward email I just don't know what to say haha. But thank you all so much for your support and Emails!!!! I love you guys and if you have any question feel free to ask!!! :)

Just something sad I figured out was that our last baptism apparently has a kid...that I did not know and he drunk on new years so if you guys could please pray for him to have the desire to stop I would love that! Thank you so much for all you guys do and have a great week!!! :)

todavia estoy aqui

Hey!!! For all of you who are asking, I am still in the same area...the smallest area of the mission haha just reknocking doors :P I must be missing something haha. Actually this week was the first time really in my mission where I had a witness that I am where I need to be with the right companion.

My new companion is Elder Echeverria. He has an interesting past, even in the mission but he is a great missionary!! We are doing so good and we are teaching amazing!!! He will have a year in the mission when I have 6 months. Almost everyone in the mission that came out with me except Elder Hallman is training. It is crazy, and I had a meeting with president and he said he didn't want to start me training because he wants to send me to Belize next change!!! :D I would be like the first one in our group to go!!

Also we get a new mission president in June and everyone is saying the mission is going to split. And if I am in Belize in that change, then I will most likely stay there the rest of my mission. That would kill my Spanish but I would learn Creole and Chinese!! haha super cool!!!

But anyways...my companion is amazing!! He is from Honduras and complains about this area but he works so hard! It`s kind of like a funny complain! haha. Also we found someone with a washing machine that will let us use it for free! Finally I won't use up all my mornings washing ahaha.

Monday we went to this BEAUTIFUL private beach and played football, frisbee, and soccer, and honestly it was the most beautiful and perfect beach I have been too, and it was one of the most fun times I have had in my life!

During changes I saw Elder Herrerra and I love that guy!!! He really was a great guy. He just ended his mission and honestly I kind of miss him haha.

But anyways, everybody here along with telling me I'm getting fatter, is telling me my Spanish is perfect except for my R's, haha but they don't really use the double R's or S's here in El Salvador. I love it!! I ate a pupusa loca nad it was HUGE!!! Holy cow...hahaha. But besides that everything is going great!!! I love it here :) Hope all is well up there!!!! I love you guys!!!

Bought this belt off a bus for a dollar and Elder Hallman drew me a map to help me out in Utah

PRETTIEST BEACH IN THE WORLD!!!!

huge pupusa and teaching piano

2016!!!!!

I have no idea how in the world it is 2016 but it is!!! My new years was pretty normal. Walked around and ate a lot of chumpe, which is pavo in other countries and turkey there in the states.

This was a great week!!! Elder Hallman fixed my hair because the hair cut lady messed it up, just he was being a brat when I had to go pee at a members house...he wouldn't stop talking -_- hahaha! But everything is going good! I`m kinda nervous for changes to be honest!!! There was a random gringa in our church this Sunday...that was kind of weird. Apparently she served here in this mission about 8 months ago.

We taught an English class to a ton of youth, and have been teaching piano to this investigator that we have. I've been saying good bye to a lot of people because I think I am going but I could stay!!! That would be really cool!! I watched the people kill the chumpe though and that was gross, and I found out nobody peels oranges with their fingers. Elder Hallman and I were doing that and they got mad at us because we weren't using a knife...haha.

New years was crazy at midnight and I felt like I was in war! There were fireworks EVERYWHERE!! And so close to our house!!! And also on new year I burned my "latter-day Saint shirt" and that was sad :( But besides that, it is still hot as ever. People are still calling us pretty gringos with pretty eyes and cool skin haha :P Elder Hallman is probably sick of me singing one of my favorite songs "Stressed out" from 21 pilots.

I have officially been bit by a dog which president says if you don't get bit by a dog then you aren't a missionary...but I kind of cheated because it was a newborn dog and I kept putting my finger in it`s mouth but it still counts haha!

Played and ran from an angry iguana in our house, and that's about it haha! I hope all is going well!! I heard Justin Beiber is getting famous again...I'm sorry haha! But I love you guys and hope you guys had a great new year!!!!

Sorry...ew haha!

Technically he wasn't our pet so we didn't break any rules hahaha. We only kept her for 15 minutes to get rid of her. I have so many funny videos but I can't send them :P