I don't want changes:(

So changes is this Wednesday and I'm really scared :( I love my comp and this area so much!! And we have lots of success in this area, but we will see. We had a temple activity Saturday for investigators and less actives, so that was pretty cool! Also I did a really hot and hard service project where we were helping dig a bathroom, haha and I got sunburnt, but I am doing good now!!

This week was a really relax week, where we had lots of our time taken up and we weren't really walking house to house or contacting a lot, but we are going to get back next week, if I still have a good companion :( But anyways, at the temple activity we saw people taking sealing pictures!! And that was pretty cool to see, I have never seen that before. and there was a little girl there so that was really special. Also I tried conejo (rabbit), for those of you who know what that is, and it tasted good, just it tasted like pure sadness. :( But It was still good haha.

Also I am getting really good at soccer. I was playing goalie, I 5 on 5 game, and I stopped a kick, then I was gonna pass it to someone, but they were all covered, so I set the ball down and started dribbling up the field. I should of got it on video because all 5 people on the field came up to me, and I juked them all out one by one jumping over people and running and it was crazy and I kicked the ball right under the other goalies legs for a goal and it was insane!!! I could never in my whole life do that again but I am getting better, even though the rest of the game I didn't do that good haha! But it is fun!

Just for those who knew me in Basketball before my mission, I used to be able to dunk a tennis ball in a 10 foot rim, and now I can't even touch a 9 foot rim. My hops are falling fast, but I can hike like no other haha.

Latinos for Easter go all out, and it's the whole week not just Sunday. It is crazy haha and lots of alcohol but it is nice. And I saw so many people walking down the street right by our house all holding candles, and I have NEVER seen that many people in my whole life. The whole street was crowded and wow, haha it lasted forever as far as I could see all walking by. If you want to know where a zombie apocalypse is gonna start, I know.

But this week was a good week, just I have come to realize something. I knew God was real and Jesus was real before the mission and had a pretty good testimony of it, but what I have gained a stronger testimony is that Satan is real. And he has power to do some really crazy things. But we are also stronger than him, and stronger than his power, because we are the literal sons of the highest being in all the universes. We have no need to fear. Just we have to fight to not let him take us over little by little, we have to bring ourselves closer to God and his power little by little.

But anyways, haha I hope you all are doing well! And take care and have an amazing week!!!! if you could pray for Glendy, Nubia, and Yesika please!!!

I helped dig a bathroom hole, haha 6 meters deep.

We got a shirt and went to the temple with investigators!

this mission is sweet

Well we had a baptism!! It was really cool and it is this lady and her husband has been a member for like 3 years and they are really sweet and cute together so that was amazing and their goal now is on the temple! We gave them a poster and they hung it up (and gave us so many pupusas!) and they are such and amazing family, really firm in the gospel now and it just makes me so happy!!! So that was the highlight of the week!

I have been feeling amazing and everything is doing good. We might have a baptism this Saturday with Glendy Nubia and Yesika as well but they need lots of prayers right now but they are amazing! Also last Tuesday we went to the temple and that was so sweet and I had an amazing baggy experience there and gave me lots of comfort. But ya.... that's about all the highlights haha. But I was thinking as I flicked a scorpion off my leg while I was teaching...that this mission is sweet. Because in that moment most elders would be on a sofa teaching a lesson in a house and I'm in a hammock in the middle of the jungle when I teach my lessons. haha It is pretty sweet and I am really lucky!

But wow I have been eating so much and being full is such an awful feeling, haha but the food is so good! But I'm famous if you guys wanted to know..there is a video of this interview this drunk guy took on a bus of me asking me about the states and what I am doing here and about the gospel and mormons and it was kinda funny..haha I sat right by him and he was out..but he said he wanted to be baptized lol.

Also I saw this homeless lady from Sonsonate, that I used to talk to all the time and she is kind of crazy... but wow..haha all the Elders are making fun of me for my 60 year old crazy lady following me from Sonsonate haha, but she told me something really cool. We talked for a long time, and she looked at me and said, "You are a really good missionary. I am really glad that you take the time to talk to me, I hope to see you and your family some time in the future. Thank you for the book" and she went over..sat on the street and started looking at pages in the Book of Mormon and I almost just broke down right there, and I haven't really cried on my mission. It was a really neat experience even though she is crazy.

So that was cool, other than that we have been without electricity for like half this week but we should get it back today, and Rigby and I decided to go running one morning, and the dogs aren't used to people running... haha I felt like I was in a zombie dog apocalypse, it was scary haha but things are going well!! I love you guys so much and thank you so much for all your wonderful support!!! Take care!!!

 Beautiful Temple!

A saber

Pues... I figured out that I actually don't know Spanish... I know a language called Castellano. The "real" Spanish is in Spain, haha but I love this language so much it's just really different, haha but things are going just I've been really tired!! But It's good :)

 Also...thank you for your prayers, we were going to have 5 baptisms this Saturday, but they all are slipping but I think we are going to have 1 baptism this Saturday (she already payed tithing this Sunday...) and 2, 3 or 4 on the 26th. So I realized whatever the timing of the Lord is, I will do and appreciate :) I'm just praying that the baptisms I have will remain strong.

But something sweet this upcoming week as well is that WE ARE GOING TO THE TEMPLE!!!!! Tomorrow actually and it will be really cool and really relaxing haha. I love the temple here! So thank you so much for all your prayers because today has been a really slow feeling week, not bad necessarily but slow, and I feel like everything is slipping but we are working so hard.

But if you guys could pray for someone, please play for Elder Rigby, he is having a hard time especially with his situation and who he is with. And not really having much success, and the one success that he was having (Mom please don't be scared because everything is amazing and I am REALLY safe :)), his positive investigator was killed yesterday before church. Some things I don't understand about the Lord's timing, but all I know is that things always work out for the better. But thank you so much for all your prayers and all that you guys do!!

I have been missing my mom this week a lot because we taught lots of family lessons and experiences and that made me "baggy" haha but things are going well now :P And another thing, so I got a little kind of bit sick Friday... and I had a headache until today, but I really felt all the prayers helping and it is amazing how fast missionaries over come sickness here. I am feeling great now though and everything is well!

I don't have it as bad as the person in "The other side of Heaven" which we saw a couple days ago and it is a really cool movie just kind of different and weird haha but really cool! I just wish that I could send videos, but just pictures which apparently are all on a blog my mom has if you guys didn't know. 

But I have learned many times during service this week to be thankful for running water. Getting water out of a well and into barrels is hard!! But I love you guys!! But one thing I've figured out is that even the poor of the poor people who don't even have houses here, have smartphones. And everyone here has more than 1... haha it's weird. The only thing they don't have is service but everyone has a smartphone. It is really annoying in church where there is wifi. But, take care you all and enjoy life but work hard so you can enjoy it after as well!! Take Care :)

Open Your Eyes

We are doing great!! I love my companion so much and it makes the mission so much easier!! And we have a great area too! I am so lucky!! But this was a really good week!! Thank you all so much for your prayers!!! They are working! These 2 guapo kids have 5 girls ready for baptism hahaha :P My companion is really good haha but they are all married or need to be married so everything is good and they aren't flirty :P Don't worry mom. But the only problem for most of them is that they are living together but don't want to get married. But we are doing really well.

I have been so tired because my companion works so hard! Just he is having problems with his knee so we can't walk as fast, and we went to a specialist so please pray for him. He is a great guy and needs to stay out here! We also had a sad experience. A hermana (sister) that we have been teaching left to San Diego to get baptized by her son, so really it is a happy experience just sad because we didn't get to see it. But we were part in the Lord's work by teaching. And if you guys could, please pray for Nubia, Jessica, Dora Alisia, Glendy, and Virginia, our baptisms that are coming up on the 19th. I would love that! Thank you guys so much!!

But anyways, a bunch of random stuff. I am finally getting closer on my R's!!! But I still can't yet, and our fish died :( So the mosquitoes are coming back :( but it is okay! Also it rained for like the first time in 4 months!!! But it probably won't rain again for a while but that was still really cool! I also solved a 4x4 Rubix Cube!!! :D Also our house used to be a school...I found that out so that's kinda cool, which I don't miss school btw haha.

We saw 2 talks by apostles this week, and one they showed us the original manuscript that Joseph Smith translated of 1 Nephi Chapter 3 so that was sweet! And the other was of Eyring (see below) saying "if there are any of you that think a computer picks where you go on your mission, you be careful. You be careful denying what I get to experience when I receive revelation on where you guys should go" That was crazy powerful!!!

Also other cool random stuff, I have recived MANY Miracles!! Especially about missed bus rides and I can't even begin to explain to you how crazy and cool answered prayers are if it's for the good. Thank you so much for your prayers. Also this week I was in one of the most powerful earthquakes that I have ever been in! It wasn't dangerously powerful but it was crazy and the ground was definately shaking! That was really fun haha.

But my comp, wow, haha please pray for him. He is so amazing and he deserves the best, and probably a different companion haha but anyways, I gotta go play basketball. Just last time we were playing football and the ball went out and the lady cut the soccer ball with a machetee..I don't know why, but haha some people here. But things are going well! I don't want to brag or be prideful, it's really all my companion but one day we had 52 LPE (people contacted), 13 lessons, 6 MARK (less active), 10 news (contacted and given date to return), and 21 invitations to baptism in one day! It was crazy!!

But I will talk to you guys later!! I love you guys and work hard to have miracles in your life!!! It's really cool :) Just need to "open your eyes"
 -Elder Austin

More info on Henry B. Eyring:
https://www.lds.org/church/leader/henry-b-eyring?lang=eng

ESO!!!!!!!!

So, ARMENIA IS AMAZING!!! And my comp is even better!! He is a mix between Elder Herrerra and Elder Hallman and all their perks haha. I'm so lucky and we are spitting fire here!

Just last Monday we spent all day only cleaning the house, but it is so clean and nice. I'm living in Paradise guys. But I have realized that whenever I ask for prayers from you guys for a person...they always get baptized...so can you guys pray for Nubia, Jessica, Glendy, Dora Alisa, and Juan Pablo...they are all so close and we could have the most baptisms for a change with my amazing comp! Thank you guys so much for all that you do!!! Also that I can stop losing my skill at basketball, because we play every morning now but I stink now hahaha!

But ya...so I got pretty baggy because we saw Meet the Mormon and I saw GA. GA is so pretty I hope the weather has been amazing! Speaking of the weather...I got sick, I still am. But because I got a cold. It is so cold here... The second time I have been sick. The other time was Chicken Guña (I don't know how to spell it) I'm not sure if I ever said I got that...hahah but I am doing great!!! I'm really healthy and I can see the Lord's hand in everything.

My comp left this Catholic person chapter 8 in Moroni to read...and we came back... wow haha he definitely read that chapter and wasn't too happy but it turned out to be one of the best chapters to have given him and one of the most spiritual lessons that I have taught. But this week I have really felt the spirit probably the most constantly in my whole life. It's amazing!! And such a good feeling!!

And my comp is so funny!! We were laying in the hammock talking with Aliens and I was worried where the moon went. And we couldn't find it anywhere. I went to the bathroom to go pee and while I was peeing my comp yelled in English "Thank you Chinese for bringing back the moon!!" And I was really confused so I went out and the moon was right in the middle of the sky...and there are no clouds...haven't been any since October..so I am really confused. And my comp just kept telling me it was the Chinese people haha.

But ya...haha we are doing a lot of service here and it is amazing and fun, but really hard haha. But, we told these investigators who "don't have time to read because of chores" that we would come over to help them so they could read. We went over and helped them with water for like 3 hours...and the WHOLE time they read the Book of Mormon and didn't move, and wrote down lots of questions...it was so amazing!!!

But anyways, we are having a hard time with Elder Rigby's comp, Elder Rodrigues, so please pray for him that he can have the desire to work and be obedient please, but other than that things are going PERFECT!!! And the hermanas (sister missionaries) are cooking for us today for lunch so I am excited haha! Take care you all!!!

 BEST COMP!!!

 Made Pupusas

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! :)