New mission President!

emailing and new hair cut

Sorry if this will be hard to read but my hands are freezing and its a bit hard to type. So this week our new mission president got here and we are all excited for the coming weeks to get to know him and see the changes that will be made. Things have been going good here in principal with the four of us. We talked with the second counselor of the branch yesterday who is in charge of the mission work here. And he had some great ideas to help us and what we can do. He is like our father in the mission. Him and his family have literally given us everything we need. And they care for us as their children. They are the family who has thrown the little birthday parties and the house we can go to in any moment and for any reason.

Many member have helped me through a lot and continue to help me here. I love this sector. We are working really hard to find new investigators and my companion and i have set many goals to help us. The other day in district class our leader gave us a paper of how we can be better missionaries. We read together for a while but one part was really important to me. I dont know how i havent read this scripture but i know love it so much "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." (Matthew 19:29) I can apply this so much to the mission and know that there are many blessings we receive for serving.

I love you and hope you have a good week and fourth of july! save a firework for me!

Not too crazy of a week. Turned out pretty good!

After church pics with new Companion Elder M & Roomates

So this week went pretty good. So my companion is Elder M from the south of chile. Hes been out for like 10 months now. We are getting a long good. Its just been a change to be with someone new. But he has been in like 6 or 7 areas and had like 10 companoins. Im just in my seconds sector still.

I am still thinking about all that Elder Robins said the other week. I loved how he spoke a lot on the importance of the Holy Ghost and the role it plays for us. And how peoples conversions always come about by feeling and being taught by the holy ghost. It was especially important to think of how he explained the holy ghost when were are confirmed. It is like the dimmer switch is turned up and that we can recognize and feel the spirit more. I can say this is true in my mission seeing the difference in my life and others lives as well.

Oh and last week i forgot to say that we were riding in a bus to get back to our sector after it had been raining pretty hard. And the bus driver was pretty bad and aggressive. Our bus ended up crashing into another car:/ but nobody was hurt. So we had to run and jump on another bus in the pouring rain. I thought it was pretty crazy.

Hope everyone has a good week. I love all you guys.- Elder Austin Jaeger

Elder Robbins came!

Waiting for the Metro

So this past week we had Elder Robbins come to talk to our mission. I didnt know much about him, but then found out he is in the presidency of the 70! He talked to us for a little bit and then said, "alright ask me anything!" so we were there for two or three hours asking him many questions we had about any church topic. I learned a lot from him, and took notes but forgot it in the house to write some things this week. 

One of the many great things that Elder Robbin said is that every person may feel and learn something different than another. Because the holy ghost brings it to that person with what thy need to hear. And i defintley learned something that might not have been important to others. He said that he grew up in the church as well and was always taught that these things are true. He never doubted nor question anything, just new it was true. And thats how i feel to. He said that we dont have to have any life changing event that converts us because for many it is a process that happens over time. That gave me a little more confidence in knowing that i have always felt and known the church is true.

It snowed today on the little hill in our sector

After the transfers we just had i am going to stay in this sector and lead and direct the work here. I am grateful that the lord has trusted me and will do my best to help all that i can. Just a little nervous and worried, but know that everything happens for a reason and i will put my trust in the lord. I hope everything goes good this week. Pray for me please. I love you all and hope you are enjoying summer!! love you bye

Saying my goodbyes

Everyone is pumped for the World Cup, even the dogs!  
Chi Chi Chi.... Le Le Le

Saying goodbye to my Companion Elder E :/

It's cold!

 Going to miss President & Sister Essig ~ Saw my Trainer

We were gonna go to the snow today but couldn't cuz the bus wouldn't make it though all the snow.  So we played soccer and took the wrong bus into the city.   It's nice and cold, I can see my breath in every moment, in the house even when we wake up.  The water heater doesn't work so we take freezing cold showers in ice cold weather. But it was all fun!

Chile winter weather before 6pm

So this week nothing crazy happened. No one was able came to church because of the cold and rain:/ only like 30 people. It was bad. And the family we have been teaching just moved. They will continue with the sisters in their sector now. But im happy for them. Now we just gotta find more people!

Everything is all good here with the rain and cold. A lot of it! And we have a conference on wednesday. We are lucky to always get apostles and some from the 70 to speak to us a lot. And then transfers on monday. Well see what happens. Thanks you guys, love you. Have a good week.

Futbol on the cold

Finding new investigators

Us Elders sleeping

Not much new has been going on here lately. Just getting used to all the cold. While you all have summer. It gets nice and dark early now, like at 6 the sun is down. Other missionaries change there schedule to eralier in the day to be home early. But we continue in the same routine out until 10 o clock. Some times the memebers are worried about us walking in certain areas. But were careful and nothing has happened.

Recently we are trying to find more investigators to teach. We have been thinking of many ways we can find more people. We had a great meeting with our Branch President, which was actually the first ive had with missionaries and a Bishop in my mission, and it went really well. We are putting on some activities and going to set goals for the members to invite people. Even this sunday we were suprised that some member and even investigators brought their friends to the church and introduce us to them. So with more time we are finding great people who have some interest.

Mailing pacakges ~ Interchanges with a new Missionary

But i love love this sector and am doing great here with everything. I found a dunkin donuts at the mall close to here to try and get as close to an american donut as i can. Taste like pure sugar and different but its the thought of eating a donut that counts. Anyways, hope your all doing good. love you guys. have a good week

I love chile!

It's getting cold here in Chile

We ate cow heart for lunch today and it was so good and I've tried octopus and horse meat, lots of stuff! So this week was fun. Im getting nice and used to the cold and rain. Its gonna come stronger in winter! I just bought some beanies and gloves and scarves. Were getting all prepped for winter. 

My Companion Elder A and I

This past week it has gotten quite cold and the rain started to come! Im all bundled up and have lots to keep me warm. The ghetto part we live in occasionally has power cut off. So we get to sleep nice and comfy without the heater. Just a tiny thing we plug into the wall haha. While and after it had rained it felt so refreshing. The air was all nice and crisp clean cold. I just thought of how i have come to love chile and the people. It may different here then back home in ca but I find this place amazingly beautiful. And the people are amazing. This is a wonderful place and im lucky to be hear sharing the gospel.

Gods Army needs to take a rest  ~  My desk

The family that we are teaching have all been progressing great! H, M, and the kids. They are a great family and love the church. They have known the church is true for a long time and have been attending for a month or two now. But they are all reading the scriptures together and going to all of the activities! The members are getting a long great with them which is a big help in coming to church. 

Just 3 more weeks of this transfer and the we will have our Mission President change. Everything is good down here, hope for you guys too. Love you Have a good week.

Another transfer here with my companion!

Im really stoked to be here for another transfer in this sector. Its crazy to be here my 3rd together! But this transfer is only 4 weeks because our Mission President is changing soon! Im pumped for that too. We are gonna get a new Chilean President. Things have been going great here in principal. Actually lots of problems with the house but its all good. Some guys are coming to tear out or bathroom and redo it because there was so much mold and crazy stuff. They said it was a terrible safety hazard! And we will see what happens because there are rats that live under the bathtub too haha! I find all this stuff fun. 

Prepping for lunch

This past week was good and I spent much time reading the book of mormon. I would study it in the morning and come back at night and sit down to read. I have found a great love for the scriptures in my mission. Before it was hard for me to read but ever since day one that i entered the mission i have had this great change. I now starve to read the scriptures and am disappointed when i have to stop. And in preach my gospel, there is a section on the attributes of Christ, one of them being knowledge. I can say that my life has dramatically changed due to my mission and the scriotures are now one of the most important things to me. 

Ill just share what i recently read the other day. I was in Alma 17 reading about the sons of Mosiah. They obiously had a big change in there lives and ended up serving missions for 14 years it say! Please read Alma 17:2-5 and think of the missionaries nowadays who are serving. There are many things it says the sons of Mosiah did. They would study the scriptures, pray, fast, recieve revelation and prohecy, and they taught with power and authority of god. This is the missionaries that are serving now. It even contines to talk of the aflicction and suffering they went through, Physically, mentally, and spiritually. I love every new chapter i read of the scriptures and am grateful to be able to share this with those i am privileged to teach.

Sorry i didnt take and pics this week:/ just one of when my comps were prepin lunch. Have a good week, i love you guys:)

happy mothers day mom, and happy birthday my bro garrett!

My view of family in CA and sister on a mission is Texas

I was excited to skype with all you guys:) until christmas! but i was good to see you all and share a moment.

This past week i had a great spiritual moment. i was in an intercambio with another missionary for the day. at the end of the night it was almost 9.45 to start coming home, the last appointment fell and we were ready to go back. But my companion said that we should pray to see what to do. As we did a house came to my mind and i told him i dont know why but we have past this house many times before without success, and the house was at the other corner of our sector. But he said to follow the promting as we started to walk. We got to the house and the mother opened the door telling us she was very occupied. When i asked her what it was she said "come in and see!" I was so suprised to finally enter this house after many tries.

As we were teaching she explained how she had the missionaries a long time before but dropped them because her husband didnt like the missionaries. While we were teaching the husband walked in and saw we were teaching the whole family, uncles and aunts and kids. He rolled his eyes and kept walking. But we invited him to listen to the prayer as we end. While my companion was praying the whole house was silent and it felt so peaceful for jsut a moment. And the first person to say anything was the father. He joked with us for a bit but we were able to see him changing. We are going to keep going back to tach the whole family as they have a great desire to listen.

Painting a sisters house

It was really special to give some flowers, chocolates and notes to some of the sisters in our ward. Some who have never had children, we wanted to make their days as special as we could:) love you guys, talk next week.

For the sisters in our Ward :)

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

1st Baptism

My 1st Baptism 

This past week was great! We were able to baptize M and all went well. All of his family came to church and the baptism. There was a little problem with the font so we baptized in cold water but i told him you get to do this once in your life and your obiously going to remember it forever. It was great and many others were there to see the baptisms of our ward. Many investogators came to church on sunday and stayed to see the baptsims. The work in this sector is amazing and the people are so loving and helpful.

so lets see, we have until 18 may in this sector then Elder F goes home and we will see which sector i stay or go to. haha so last sunday they choose me again to choose and lead the music. we started to sing the sacrament hymn and i noticed in the middle that i was singing alone and nobody knew the hymn. so i pretty much sang a sacrament solo haha, the only other ones singing were the other missionaries and one sisters who knows all the songs. 

Oh i got the letter from my sis Ashley and i got one from gf Kennedy! thanks for sending me the letters:) The other day we were in the house studying and Jehovas witnesses came to our door. No one wanted to get it so i decided to and ended up talking to him for a little in the doorway. I dont know if in the states you can still knock on doors to proselyte or do it in the streets but we still do it here. We have to complete with a goal of talking with at least 140 people each week.

Anyway everything is good here. the rain is about to start coming which will be fun! LOVE YOU guys, have a great week!

Elder F had a baptism that day too so we took a pic together.

Easter week

Sorry my letters short but ill be emailing monday anyway. We went to the temple today and that was great! I understood everything in spanish! 

Easter was fun. even though here they celebrate "the holy week". i ate fish and oyster and some new stuff the past few nights. but im used to it now, i just eat lots of bread and drink lots of coke when I need to. lots of food is always offered to the missionaries. i cant even eat that much. a normal day is a banana or fruit for breakfast and maybe a snack, then lunch which is rice and chicken or something, and then maybe a snack at night. its hard to eat. so im not gonna get fat! but dont worry im always full from what people offer me.

So this sunday is the baptism for M! we have one more lesson tonight with him and then an interview so we will see if all goes well! thanks for all you guys do for me. im excited to call soon for mothers day!!! its going so fast everything. hope you guys have a great week. ill talk on monday!

i recieved a mountain dew in the missionary mail which is sent between missionaries, but i dont know who sent it to me. a mystery. because mountain dew doesnt exist here so someone got it mailed to them and shared with me:) 

I´ll go where you want me to go dear Lord

Well this week was great as usual! I was excited to hear the news about my girlfriend
Kennedy! Im excited that youll be serving in the dominican republic where the Lord wants you.








It reminded me of a hymn that we ended up singing on
sunday. i dont remember how it goes in english, something like, "ill go
where you want me to go dear lord." and then in spanish it says "to where
you send me ill go lord, to mountains or islands of the sea" rougly thats
what it says. But i thought of how there is always something waiting for
us. The hymn is from 1 nephi 3:7 if you want to read it. I am excited for
you kennedy and know the people of the dominican republic will be blessed
as will you.

This week M has been progressing great! he came to church with his
mother and hes getting all of the lessons in. And we were lucky this last
week to teach a lesson with his father and his mother together who are
divorced. But they were both happy for their son and the decision he is
making. We want to postpone it one more week  just to make
sure he is fully prepared for everything. All of the work here is great as
we are finding more people. One family of a less active father and all his
non member family who have a great interest in the church.

All is well for me as usual! Nothing new really. Oh and how singing hymns
works here in chile is wierd. So because there arent instruments there is
one person who sings the first line as a solo to give the tone for the
rest. So for that song in sacrament meeting i was leading the music and
sang the first part to start it of. and thats your fun fact for the day. I
think im gonna put in a fun fact every week now. haha well bye guys! love
you

Elder F's birthday!

Chile Earthquakes and cold!

General Conference

This past week has been crazy tons of earthquakes lately. like huge. 

sounds like airplanes crashing and stampedes of animals. 

but i stay calm and actually pull out my camera to record it. 

lots of people panic and have anxiety which worsens the situation.

Our Zone

its been getting cold. Im using my winter coat and a beanie. I need to buy gloves soon and ear muffs cuz they are ice cold! oh and im so excited to be here for the next transfer with all 4 of us still together. Elder F is going to die here, well thats how we say it in spanish. But he is going to "end" is mission here! 

I loved conference, hearing it for the first time in spanish was fun! I understood it all suprisingly and got many things out of it. What i liked a lot was when they talked about the improtance of having faith in god, and that he is always there. It was great that M and his mother came to conference and sat with us. While we were listening to one of the talks about how everyone is a missionary I looked at M and said, "everyone is a missionary... like you." We are all excited for his baptism at the end of this month and i know that he will continue strong in the church.

In between general conference session at a members home

i still study spanish as much as i can to try and perfect it. in the house i talk with my companion in english to help him learn and he is doing great! 3 gringos and 1 latino, he is learning english just fine. welp im excited to still be in this sector and am pumped to keep working. Thanks for the emails and pics you guys send. have a good week.