do the daily service challenge...

Hey so this week was crazy! Well I guess since last Monday. I saw the ruins and that was cool, we are fighting the country trying to get my comp to be legal, he is only in Belize because he had a couple problems in El Salvador so they are going to keep him here or send him to another mission.  At the same time the country calls me like every other day asking me how much money I make and who is my boss...haha so that is interesting. We took a lot of time this week traveling and figuring everything out but it was fun.

Yesterday I met a guy, and he said "hey, I'm a member of the restored church of Jesus Christ as well. My Father is one of the 70, but I am inactive right now because I am not married but live with my future wife. But I will be back soon." And we had a crazy lesson with him and the spirit was so strong, so that was cool.

Also Monday we had such a spiritual meeting with Elder Duncan of the 70 https://www.lds.org/church/leader/kevin-r-duncan?lang=eng, and he was great. I was called up to play the piano and give a musical number for a choir without preparation but it went really well haha I was proud.

I WENT TO THE US!!!!! Just for a little bit.... haha funny story. I.......................................................... just........ walked into the U.S. embassy in Belize, haha so technically that is U.S. soil. But that was neat.

We are being stuffed by members like crazy...it is insane. And I have been learning a ton and fast. But anyways, I will write again on Monday. But I hope you all are doing well and will do the daily service challenge from the church:) God will bless you if you do I testify! Have a wonderful week!!!

these (below) were in Belmopan.  I worked there

with Elder Ostler for 2 hours and it was so amazing!!!

the man on the right is super cool. Brother Stamp and is always

talking about the States haha and gives us food all the time. 

Piano Story

Brandon didn't have much time today - this is all we got...

I am in corazal right now in a hoodie because it is cold!! haha we are going to the ruins again today

SISTER GARDNER YOU WERE RIGHT!!! So I went to this wedding...and everything was cool yay yay and then it was 5 minutes until the bride walked in. They had NOTHING ready..not even the person to lead the meeting. Some random guy who wasn't even dressed stepped up and did it..and it was 5 minutes before and then the branch president called me up like "hey can you play the wedding song while she walks in and then all the other songs" and I said "what is the wedding song" and he said "I don't know, what they always play at weddings" and I said "No I would need the music" and then he got mad and said "what are you serious?? We will need to postpone the wedding and he was getting upset and then I was about to say why don't you go play it but I was trying to be a good missionary and then the senior couple missionary found it online on their ipad and then everything went well after that and I played that... but that is my wedding story haha super random sorry. -Elder Austin

Wedding!! funny story...

by the example we set will change more than you imagine!!

So this week was normal too I guess haha. I'm not really sure what normal is. On Sunday all 6 of the missionaries spoke and that was really sweet. 3 in Spanish Sacrament and 3 in English Sacrament. It was...interesting haha it was wow...really amazing actually. Just we kind of spoke a little bold... Like I started off with the scripture Romans 5:19. haha but the missionaries did an amazing job. I spoke in English and wow Kriol is messing up my English...but anyways.

We have this guy close to baptism I hope. His name is Kent. All of his family, his wife and everyone, are inactive members. He would come to church though but stopped because of his job, but he just got fired so he has been coming every Sunday without his family for the past 6 Sundays and even pays tithing. President Nephi pulled him into the office yesterday and said "I would like to give you a calling but wasn't sure what priesthood you had" and Kent said "well don't you need to be baptized to have the priesthood?" and then President said "WHAT??? YOU AREN'T BAPTIZED!!!" haha he told it funny but anyways it was nice having that support and he helped push him on a date for the 26th of November. Please pray for him and that I will get to see that miracle baptism as well.

We are working pretty hard without success. But anyways... things are going good!! Drunk people are buying us coke, my companion is cooking for me, and the weather here has been really nice!! But anyways, have a fantastic week you all!! And keep doing what's right. As the scriptures say by the example we set will change more than you imagine!!

My comp and Sister May from Cancun completed one year in the mission
on Friday so we celebrated with free pizza and a cake haha

wearing the name-tag changes so much more...

Hey. This week was cool haha I guess pretty normal. I had many really sweet things happen to me. So lately in the Branch like no one feeds us...haha but things have begun to change. We are visiting the members more and we almost have a free meal set up for everyday and we have never mentioned anything about food to anyone! So that is a sweet blessings. For you missionaries out there...haha visit the members too!!

We were at this one house and she was like "so what do you all eat" and we told her we buy stuff. and she said "wow, I am sorry. I know you guys are representatives of Jesus Christ. Every Wednesday I want you here at my house and I am going to feed you all special as if Jesus Christ is coming" .... Whoah... So we will see how that goes on Wednesday haha I'm pretty excited.

But I have really been thinking about the mission a lot. How people prejudge the missionaries...haha sometimes in a bad way, sometimes in a good way, and how just wearing the nametag changes so much more than you can imagine.

But anyways..haha Abner (a young man I had the opportunity to help baptize) bore his testimony yesterday and the whole branch is talking about how he is on fire. He goes to EVERYTHING and helped leave to teach with us yesterday. But I would like you all to please keep him in your prayers. He has some sort of desease :( Yesterday he was feeling bad, and we gave him a blessing. And the blessing was really sweet and spiritual...until he started twitching and his heart was racing and he couldn't stop and was about to pass out. It happens to him all the time. Our branch president rushed to get him to the hospital but on the way he stopped and was okay, which was a really cool fulfilled promise. But please keep him in your prayers.

Also my companion is learning English FAST!! keep him in your prayers as well. Also I was thinking about how before I was a missionary, I have never before really thought so much about the sacrament and as a missionary I feel I need it more than ever! And I get a wonderful tender mercy. Our branch is slowly splitting. It goes from 8-12. At 8 is Sacrament in Spanish and then from 9-11 are classes and from 11-12 is Sacrament in English! I get to take it twice haha which really helps me think about Jesus more. But anyways... haha sorry to brag.

There are a ton of things I could brag about but I would just like to wish you all good luck tomorrow and America with the elections tomorrow...I just realized I am old enough to vote... wow... I always thought I would haha but I guess not. I hear though it's like picking the best of two evils but we will see. But thank you so much for all that you guys do!! And have a great week!!! -Elder Austin 

P.S. - Marilee (Brandon's piano teacher) asked him about playing the piano and this was his response: "Every week for Pday I play the piano because in my district it is just a bunch of girls...Pdays aren't the most fun..haha but I found a way to get along. They won't play sports so I play the piano and they bring tons of piano music and they just sing."
Ha - silly girls, not sure why he can't get them to play basketball:)

Another backpack and P-Day:)

Things are going great...

Hello this week everybody. First of all...I just wanted to say HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! I hope you all have a good day! Things are going good here in my area.

I have a new companion from Panama. His name is Elder Herrera and he is crazy! But it's a good crazy. So that is fun. He just came from El Salvador so I am trying to teach him English. Please pray that he can learn English soon he really wants to and is struggling. He is really cool though. He cooks for me even though he uses my food without asking haha and he put a pink dread in my hair..for Halloween pictures but I took it out before I left haha but we got costumes to dress up today in the church for pday so it should be fun!

We went to our branch presidents son's baptism and they randomly called me up to lead the baptism..again haha. That was amazing and there were a ton of people there. The branch is finally starting to pick up and grow! We are getting in the 80's 90's and 100's every week which is insane!!

It is starting to cool down here too!! I actually got a cold...haha I don't know how but I got a cold here in Belize...like what in the world...but I'm feeling great now. I am getting my temporary residency finally here in Belize which will last a while after the mission so I can just come back and visit and stay here easy now haha. But that's about all. Things are going great.

We are trying to visit the members more because house knocking doesn't seem to be working too well now...especially because we can't go very far without bikes or anything. But really that's about all...I hope things are going well for you all!! I hope everyone has a great week and a safe Halloween!!! Ah dah go eet sum cahndi now.

New sister from new york. Her first day in Belize

my companion cooked that for me...it was actually really good haha

If we are doing what is right, we will be blessed.

This week was a great week!!! Just there are changes tomorrow and I AM STAYING IN ORANGE WALK!!!! YESSSS!!!! haha but my companion is leaving, he is going to Belize City with one of my best friends Elder Burrell...but I love it here. I will have a companion that will come into Belize for the first time and I will try and teach him English haha.

We had a miracle baptism this Saturday. A cute 9 year old girl who is called Celeste. We didn't do anything for that, I didn't even know her name until Tuesday, but we had a miracle of having a baptism this change. Her dad baptized her which was really special. They have been inactive for quite some time. After the baptism the dad came up to me and said in broken English, "I never thought I would see the day when I would get to baptize my daughter. Thank you so much for all that you guys did. You have changed our lives forever." And I was super confused...all I did was talk to him last Sunday because he told me he wants his daughter baptized but I had no clue who he was. So I told him "Thank you sir but we didn't do anything." And he told me "No, you did so much for me. You know, there is something about seeing you guys just walk down past my house, walking back and forth, that makes one want to get out and do something, and be a better person. Even though you never knocked on my door, just seeing you guys walking by has changed my life." That was a huge testimony to me. If we are doing what is right, we will be blessed. And his 6 year old daughter was so happy yelling "My Sister is gonna baptize!!!" and she stood up on the chair in Sacrament to watch her sister get the Holy ghost and is so excited for her baptism. What a cool experience!

The rest of the week was pretty normal, except the sisters threw stuffed animals at me during a meeting with our branch mission leader who is getting married next month to an American girl who is coming down tomorrow. Also Abner is now the teacher's quorum president!!! Woohoo!!! And I am trying to learn creole now because studying English and Spanish is boring haha no offense and I broke a couple ankles in basketball while I was in Corazal and sent everybody home saying if you lost during sports night, you had to go because it was super late and they didn't want to leave. Cool stuff haha and my comp made me mac and cheese because we finally got gas for the stove. Good week! I hope you all had a great week!!! Take care and do what's right!!!


P.S.  Had to share this because it made me LOL...in Brandon's email to me he said the following:
"I'm still District Leader of 4 girls. Holy cow I am learning a lot haha :P"
I replied, "So what have all these girls taught you?!!!"
His response, "ummmmm...how to listen...how to listen..and listen..and listen...and listen.......and then listen...and then say everything is going to be okay... and listen... and listen.... and be more creative so they aren't bored at District meetings...and then listen....and then listen hahaha :P"

LOVE this boy and all that he is learning about the mission, life, and girls:)

i da go cuz i gon si da ruins!!!

Hey so as the amazing missionary I am I forgot my agenda so I forgot what happened last week...haha but I do remember it was a good week! I did exchanges with Elder Harris and that was super fun!  I practiced baking cakes, we are bringing TONS of kids to church every week and to every single activity, just the parents don't want anything to do with it...Adults here in Belize...haha but everything is going good.

We are going to ruins today again so I am pumped!! AND MY BROTHER IS TURNING 13!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!!!! He is my favorite littlest brother!!

And we have been working hard here in Belize without success and without any hope of success for this change, but we will have a miracle baptism on Saturday I hope!! So it was a less active family but we are going to have the dad baptize the 9 year old daughter. Such a wonderful miracle and experience. Just we have to go teach her everything or try to before Saturday so please pray for us, but I know things will go well.

Thank you so much for all that you all do and I hope you have an amazing week and it stays warm for the most part! but i da go cuz i gon si da ruins!!! (Belize Kriol) -Elder Austin