Time is passing by quick!

Man ive been out for 10 months now, this is starting to pick up speed! So i was talking with a member yesterday and he was telling me that about this time in the mission field is when you have everything down and have more time to focus on working and helping others. So im pumped that im not worried about the same things as i was at the start of my mission. 

And then i came to think about how god works, the ways and the times he works. I probably will never notice much of it but as i begin to think and read my patriarchal blessing i can see it all so much better. I dont want to get into detail cuz its obviously personal. But one example of how god works to me is about my schooling. I applied after high school to all the byus and told myself if i didnt get into hawaii or provo i would leave on my mission. So i did that and had my mission call and everything. But one night i thought to myself i had to reapply, not thinking anything of it. The deadlines were just about to come up and i was leaving on my mission anyway, so why not. And i was surprised to be accepted to hawaii. So i still dont know exactly why things have happened this way but maybe one day further down the road i will understand more. I just thought i would share that even though it will be a while longer till i get any studying. Its crazy how god has all of this planned out. I read the Miracle of forgiveness by spencer w. kimball two times and it is really good. It has some strong stuff in there but it helps me see a lot better. 

Saying our goodbyes 

So just a bunch of crazyness this week with my comps bike getting stolen and the member pulling out his gun and shooting to scare everyone away. But things just keep getting better for me:) Thanks for being there, i love all you. Have a good week! Just takin some pics by our house and next to some horses haha. Nothin special  -Elder Austin Jaeger 

Morning view from bedroom

Gearing up to bike in the cold rain - staying warm and dry - when you ride in the mud

What a great week!!! Climbed Mt Santiago

Zone Leader & old comp back for a day.  Watched 17 miracles & ate popcorn. pday/siesta

It was awesome this week to see our recent convert M receive the priesthood and share the sacrament. He had a smile on his face and kept looking at me, he bought a gray suit and brown shoes like mine:) And we brought many less actives to church, especially the young men, we ended up with a ton on sunday!

I have been doing pretty good with all that has happened. One thing that really got to me was a death we had in our branch. It was the grandmother of the family who we brought to the temple last week. It came unexpected, on day she was fine with us, and the next day she was in the hospital. One of the last things she said was take care of my missionaries. She was like a mother to me and always gave us so much. We are passing by the family often to visit, and are helping the best we can. We are still trying to keep the members active and energized! But as missionaries we have to always been an example to everyone and i am trying my best to keep showing them the good things in life.

The 4 of us play the best futbol.  we dominated & wore same jaeserys.
played with zone & members.

I love my life and everything i have, i am doing great right now:) very happy and losing myself in what i do:) Thanks for all your support with everything, im moving on to bigger and better things!

Cleaned up after falling down Mt. santiago

Oh and in the picture i am pretty beat up after getting back and changing my clothes. We got to the top of the mountain and i started to run down and biffed it, haha so my jaw is all jacked up and i have a bunch of bruises on myslef, and one of my veins even popped haha but its all good. But, "im on top of the world eh," no matter what has happened:)

Crazy week, mixed emotions

Welp this has been crazy. But i feel a lot better talking about things with many people. I have seen much love from thos who mean so much to me. Many members who have a place in my heart have helped me and given me advice. 

Interchanges with Elder D.  Elder burning his half way tie.  

I have found a great importance in love for others. We came across these two young boys and their mother who mean so much to me in just one visit. We knock on the door and immediatly the mother invites us in. We didnt expect that to happen. And as we enter there is two little boys. They both run to get their scriptures and hymn books. We ended up singing a few hymns and letting them read what they wanted. The mother started to tell her story of the family. She explained that little O has had many surgeries on his head as you can see the scars. He has brain tumors and is set to die in any moment. That is where many of my emotions started to go crazy this week. We try to visit them as often as we can now as we wont to cherish these small moments.

But after everything it was a good week. Getting to meet our new awesome mission president who has so much trust in us and love for us. We are all excited for these coming months and the changes being made. My companion Elder M and i are now working with less actives as it has been hard to find new investigators. We were surprised to have 5 of the less actives who havent been to church in years come on sunday.

I am blessed to have been given my comapnion in this moment. He has been through some of the same things as i have and we talk very openly. He has a great energy and is crazy which is just what i need in these moments. So actually after all that has happened i feel really chill about everything. I love you guys and hope you have a good week.

crazy week!

Futbol with zone Leaders

so this week was crazy! a lot of stuff happened. so im just gonna be throwing some stuff around. Firstly how in the middle of the night the other day Elder F heard a noise in his room. it ended up being a rat in the house. so we all grabbed brooms and tried to get it as it was running for an hour. and that thing was the size of a shoe that could jump! he jumped on my legs three times and i was just laughing with the camera in one hand and a broom in the other. and then a different night there were cats screaming outside all night. 

Kept us up all night

M was confirmed this week and received the holy ghost! it has been great having him in the branch as the strongest group of the branch is all of the young men. He has also been an example to his family who has definitely changed and we can feel more peace in the house. I can really see the difference the gospel brings into the lives of many. I have been blessed to have grown up in the church with all of my family and am very grateful for that in my life. 

I really didnt know how blessed i was before the mission. But out here it is a huge difference. Like many of the little things i have i never really noticed how much i have.  that reminds me of a story from the mission president in the ccm who talked about a young missionary who came to serve with a pair of jeans not knowing what exactly to do being the first member in his family. and how the president took him out to get new clothes and necessities. there are many who drop family for coming on the mission. 

But thank you all for always being there for me:) im excited to skype sunday:) I wanted to spend sunday doing something nice so i told the other elders that we are going out to visit some of the sisters of our ward to bring them flowers and especially the single sisters. that will make me the happiest on sunday:) oh and Happy Anniversary mom and dad! and my bro Garrett will be turning 17 soon! love you guys. talk soon! 6 days!

P Branch - Ward Pictures with my roommates Elder B , Elder F & Comp Elder A