Family....

Hello! Great to hear that you all have had a wonderful week. I was really happy to hear that Mark and Cynthia and family were up at Redfish!!! That made me really happy! I bet it was sad to say goodbye to Cassidi -- She has been a wonderful nanny and friend. Glad Julie and the girls could come up as well as Brennens friends. Wow what a full house you have had!  Dad - For sure lets do Braxon. I have the goal to climb five peaks next summer, but that can wait. I met a Hermana Squire this week who knew Landon from High School. She went to Lone Peak. I am also glad to hear that Mikesell is doing well and that she could enjoy the weekend with the wonderful Putnams. That was so nice of them to allow her to share in their family time. Sounds like everyone is doing well and that is the greatest blessing that I could ask for... How is Grandma Daw? I have been really praying and thinking of her and Grandpa.

This week was one to remember. Mon- Thur was a mad house of getting ready for Elder Viñas. Full of organizing the sleeping arrangements and travel of 100 missionaries to Mar Del Plata and 120 missionaries to Bahia Blanca. The office was been really busy. We also prepared a presentation, and that was awesome to talk to half of the mission in Mar Del Plata. We left for Mar Del Plata on Thursday with President and Hermana and that was great to be with them.  We spent that whole night moving tables from churches and getting everything ready for Friday Morning. I was able to see a few families that are from Mar Del Plata that we worked in Miramar, the family Isquidero. We slept that night in the car in the church parking lot because all the houses where full. I saw a ton of Elders and that was great. Elder Yost is doing great and it was really neat to see him. Elder Viñas is awesome, we got to talk with him (us 4) for like twenty minutes alone and asked him questions and that was... unreal. I asked him how he got a knowledge of scriptures like he has and he gave some great advice. The two conferences were awesome. He talked a lot about the Atonement, and the difference between Doctrine and the Application. An example he used was how there is the doctrine that families can be together forever through temple ordinances, an application of this doctrine is FHE. He talked about how application changes, not doctrinal. He is so wise and I am still digesting everything that I learned a little.

                          Elder Yost and Elder Clegg - (He is from Burley, ID and is our nanny's brother!)

In all of this we were extremely blessed to still have a little time to teach Nelly and she was baptized yesterday. President and Hermana Parreño were there and it was so special. Nelly is so sweet and after her baptism she turned to the audience and said ¨thank you brothers, thank you” and was so emotional.

                                                               Baptism of Nelly

I cannot tell you how much I have loved my time with Presidente and Hermana. The love that they have is incredible. Hermana, is not human. She has a love that is only comparable to that of my Grandmothers and my Mother. She is something else. President, is quiet and is very wise and has a ton of love and knowledge. It is incredible. It all is such a blessing!!

Also yesterday my Branch Presidents family from Nechochea were here because President set apart there daughter, that was so good to see them and to talk about Necochea.  She is going to Costa Rica and we took her to the airport this morning. It was awesome. A tender mercy for me. 

Dad- I am way excited to knock out that hike. I will enjoy it until then. Thank you for your advice on planning and everything. I will take all that I can get. I love you and I hope that the smoke in the air goes away that you are able to enjoy the week with the family before school. I love you.

Mom- I love you so much. I am so glad that you are doing well. This week will be a very busy week for you and I will be praying for you. I hope that all goes well. I don’t know how you do as much as you do. Thank you so much.

Mikesell- I am so glad that you are doing well. I hope that you are loving every second!! Enjoy it you will be glad when Cass and everyone gets down to Provo too!  I miss you and hope that you are staying strong. Tell the RMs to keep walking. I love you!!

Brennen- I hope that you are excited for school. David and Rio really are so great and I am so glad you had such a great summer with them. I love it.  Are you going to run this year?  I love you bud. 

Alex- I love you and keep being awesome!!  Keep being great and I hope that you are able to enjoy registration…school is right around the corner!

Harrison- How is life? I sure love you and hope that you are excited for school!! Are you reading much?

McCall-I love you and I hope that you are reading a ton. Jerome is right around the corner!  A big kiss!

Mom and Dad-  Happy Anniversary yesterday!!  Your letter is still in my hand…I will send it this week. I promise! I love you both so much and I hope that you are able to get away this week. I am so grateful for you both and hope you know that your annivarsary is one of the most important days in the year for me. I love you both!!!

I studied weakness this week and found the following scriptures...

2 Nephi 10:17 

Eter 12 :26-28 ,37

2 Cor- 12: 9-12

Jacob 4 7

D & C 135:5  136 32-33

D&C 1:28 

I love you all so much!!!

Hey , Mom  Elder Caicedo is a great missionary friend who wants to go to BYU and he wants to know some info about immigrant studying at BYU.  If you could send the info for how to apply he would really appreciate it.

Also I am sending a letter with yours for Bryan Harper, if you could send that to him.

I love you all so much. 

Have a wonderful week!

Love.

Elder Clegg

Hello Family,

My thoughts and prayers have been with you this week especially the last couple days, knowing that Mikesell was going to school and the hard time that would be. I have prayed for you all sincerly and hope that all is well. Time passes and these times make us stronger.

I loved to hear that everyone is doing well.  I can´t believe that the summer is winding down a little. It has been a nice week here. I don’t think spring is here yet, but it kind of feels like it.

This week in the office, to be honest has been the craziest and fastest week ever!!  Ill try and sum it up..

Monday- Was a really special day. The day was spent getting everything ready for the Family night with the leaving Elders. That was a really special night to be with President and those great Elders and Hermanas. It was a really special time.  I love having so much contact with President now.

Tuesday- We took all the Elders to the airport and said my last goodbyes to my comp Elder Connolly. it was so weird to watch them get on the plane. They were so happy yet, peaceful with their missions. It was great and a really sweet moment. I love those Elders.

Wednesday- We had two sets of emergency transfers in the mission, so this day was filled with terminal funs and other fun things. I had my first day in the office.

Thursday- We traveled to Mar Del Plata. I was able to drive a little. We drove through Miramar and Necochea. That was great, I wanted to see all those wonderful people that I love. We got back late and that was the day.

Friday- We had a 3 o clock terminal fun to pick up some elders.

Saturday- I finally got to work in my area. We have an investigator named Nelly that will be baptized the next week. She is great and I am grateful for her. She has like 65 years.

Sunday-Got to know the area and the ward. It was a good day.

This week Elder Vinas from the Seventy is coming. Friday we get to give a presentation with him. We will be in Mar Del Plata and then back in Bahia Blanca on Saturday.  It should be a great week.

This week I read about the Title of Libery. I was studying wiht the question about how do I help myslef stay focused and help other Elders stay focused on their purpose as missionaries. I was reminded that the Title of liberty was just that. It was the reminder of the why, and then the covenant to always remember. How great is that! I love that. I loved my studies this week.

I still feel a little overwhelmed and not sure why I got this call. But I am really grateful and love it. I am learning a ton. My companion is great and it is great to have a companion from Argentina I love it.

I just heard that we have to go the airport because an Elder is going to be leaving to his real mission in Venisula because his visa came in.

This week I will see Elder Yost for the first time.

Dad- I love you!  I hurt with you saying goodbye to Mikesell. She is something special.  I know this will all pass. Keep strong. I love you.

Mom - Thank you so much for your letter. I miss you.  Thank you for the addresses. You are an angel. I am so glad you are with Mikesell for these first days and such a crazy time for her. Drive safe!

Mikesell- I love you so much. Be looking at the moon. I know that you are going to do so great!!

Brennen- Keep it up. You are the leader now. Fall sports? I love you so much buddy.

Alex- You said that you having a little harder summer. I love you and I know that this will help you grow. Keep the faith and a happy attitude. Keep doing good things. I love you so much!

Harrison- I love you man thanks so much for your letter!! Have a great  week. Big hug little man. Keep praying for Mikesell.

McCall- I love you so much Cally. Oh how you must miss that big sister. Pray for her and she will be praying for you. Call her a lot. I love you Cally

Sorry my letter is so rushed. I love you all with all the energy of my soul. May Heavens richest blessings be yours.

I know that Heavenly Father can make weak things strong.

Thanks for your prayers.

I love you and I love Heavenly Father and our Savior.

Have a great week.

All my love,

Elder Austin

 

 

Hello dear ones –

 I am so deeply pleased to hear that you are all doing well and that it has been a great week for you.  What fun adventures you are all having!! This week was in all complete honesty, one of the craziest weeks of my mission, possibly even my whole life. The Family Peñalva did it! They all got baptized!! I am so incredibly happy for them. They are converted, they are in this. They are so happy and it was really an amazing experience.  Juan Cruz, the boyfriend of the daughter Victoria also was baptized. We were not sure about him… but man, this weekend he just turned it around and felt it was the right thing to do in his life.  He wore the suit that Elder Connolly gave him this weekend to church for his confirmation. He wants so badly to be missionary. We also did 4 baptism interviews. The zone reached the goal and baptized 14 people this week. I am so happy for Elder Connolly, it literally was the most perfect ending for a missionary that you could ask him. I don´t know how I am going to pull a repeat when my name is called and it’s time to go home.

Penalva Family Baptism

 This week has also been one of the most humbling weeks. Thursday was the day that we finally set the date for Friday for sure for the Peñalva family to be baptized and finished all the interviews. That night after I got done doing the calls with the district meeting, I received a call from President and he has asked if I would be his Assistant with three other Elders. It honestly shocked me. I did not sleep well that night. The next morning we got the transfers, had the baptismal services of the Peñalva family and I didn't tell anyone I was leaving until Saturday. I really loved that branch and was super stoked to work there for a few more months, but this is a great opportunity to learn and to grow. I got here into Bahia Blanca last night at 8pm, took the stats for the mission, got done at 12:30, DROVE a car - that was a weird experience with my awesome stud comp Elder Costanzi from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  I maybe slept an hour because we kept having to go to the bus terminal to pick up sisters missionaries who were arriving at their areas. Good stuff... I am really grateful for this experience. I already today have been able to have tons of contact with President and his wife and they are so awesome. I love them so much. Here we go!!  My last year of my mission just got a lot faster. I am really excited to serve and get to know all the missionaries more. It is going to be a great opportunity. Next week an Area of the Seventy comes and we are doing a mission round so that will be doing a lot of traveling.

Leaving Necochea

This week I was reading in Alma 43 and really enjoyed studying the importance of preparation, and to see how Moroni received revelation, ideas, and inspiration through his preparation.  I am in Acts 12 now and am enjoying the Bible as well. I loved what Papa said last week in his letter about pondering the scriptures. I tried to start all my studies with questions this week and it helped me to have a deeper thought time. I LOVE MY MISSION!!

 Dad- I am glad to hear that things are going well there at lake.  I love it when you give me updates on all of the kids. My favorite letters. I love you Dad and will be thinking about your example a lot this week. Thank you for your prayers. I love you with all my heart Dad. I sure miss you.

Mom- Yesterday I bore my testimony in church and told the congregation that they all need to meet my family - especially my Mom. I talked about how you told me that it is important to show love to each person with the time that you have with them. Love others to the fullest everywhere you are.  That lesson has helped me a lot. Mom, I sure love you. I am so grateful for you. You have no idea. Have the best day ever. Good luck with your wedding this week. I love you!!

Mikesell- Wow... My thoughts, prayers, and fasting have been in your direction this upcoming week. I cannot believe that this is your last week in the big Stanley ID. Enjoy it. Mikesell, my first few months at college were some of the funnest times, but also some of the hardest. I challenge you and encourage you to be strong, pray, read, build strong friendships, be firm in mind, and to just attack it. At one point it will all hit you - that you are growing up. Mikesell.... I really love you. I hope that you just eat it up there at UVU. I will be praying for you always. You are going to do such great things there. Just tear it up, tear it up. Burn that campus with your spirit.  You have institute class right? For sure get involved in that. Mikesell you’re the best. Go get em!!

 Brennen- I am so pumped for all the good things that you are doing!! Bagged another two peaks this week!! I loved that picture that Dad sent me on top of Elk Mountain... That was incredible. All I hear is that you do great things and are just destroying it. I am so proud of you and the great example that you are. I love you bro. Thanks for being a warrior. Keep putting on the armor every day!! I miss you bro. Keep it up!!

Alex- I am so happy for your buddy. I also loved seeing that you are working out on the ranch with Del and Wheaton. You will learn a great lot from them. You are such a stud. Alex, I love you man. You are the best. Keep reading those scriptures and praying…it may little but so important.  Keep it up.

 Harrison-I am glad that you are super happy buddy. I bet you are just growing a ton. You will have to send me pictures of your summer experiences! I just think you’re the best Harrison. I love you man. Live the dream! 

McCall- Hey sugarn- I love you and am so excited for you and for your attitude! I am super excited to see how you have grown. I sure love you and I want to give you a huge kiss. I love you.  

I love you all so much and I hope that you are having the best week ever. I love this work and testify that this is true.

Love,  Elder Austin

July 30, 2012

Hello there~~

Thank you so much for your letters:

Mikesell- Thanks sis for taking the time to write me a hand letter - you sound so good!!  

Stephanie Bingham- I believe tomorrow you will be in the temple -that is so wonderful. Congratulations to you and Josh!!  I hope that you are doing really well. Thanks so much for writing and for your example.  

Sister Tateoka- Thank you so very much for your very kind and thoughtful letter. I have already written a reply and will be sending it soon. I hope that you and President Tateoka are doing wonderful and thank you so much for your prayers. I am so grateful for your examples and love. I love you both. If I can do anything for you both let me know. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for thinking of me~~

Wow, what an eventful week for you all. I am glad to hear that Grandma Daw is doing well. I actually for some reason thought a lot about her this week and yesterday we had a family history class and we made a family tree. Please send her all my love and I will be praying for her, for Grandpa, and for all of you. I appreciated very much Papa’s letter and please send my love to them also. What a wonderful example Grandma Daw is. She has built a legacy of faith that will never fall. I am very glad to hear she is getting better.  I am glad you were able to go to Jerome and see her Mom. Please send her my love.

It sounds like there were lots of fun little adventures between everyone in the week. I will also be praying for the Fuller family.  I haven’t had time to read through the letters completely but I will read them tonight. 

Here in the land of Argentina things are going well. The olympics are on everywhere and we catch parts when we enter houses. It is a big deal in the whole world.

Some highlights of the week are...  Estefenia Gomez was baptized! She is so prepared. I was talking to a member yesterday after the confirmation and a member came up to me and told me that Estefenia had a question about tithing. She paid it right then and there her first Sunday as a member. That makes me happy. I really think she will go on to a mission and get married in the temple. She is reading the Book of Mormon like crazy and loves the strength for the youth pamplet. It is super fun to see. Yesterday we had the interview with the Peñalva family and they all passed the interview - except the 17 year old daughter who wasn’t there. So they will be baptized this Saturday. YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! This week is transfers, so this weekend will be crazy because I will be in charge of the traveling of the Elders. Elder Connolly is going back to the big Arizona. I am super happy for him. I am glad because we will finish with a 5 baptism week. That is the way I want to go. He is really focused and I am just super happy for him. Some of my favorite Elders are leaving this week to go home and it is great to see Elders finish strong. It has been a good week.  I learned a lot and loved my studies. I learned that humility leads to progression, that the atonement makes up for our weaknesses - as we strive for the VISION.  I enjoyed my reading in Helaman 6, the Book of Mormon has so many solutions to the worlds problems. The zone found more investigators last week.  I am super proud with the Elders and now we need to focus on getting church assistance up. We have 15 baptisms planned for the end of this week, which for this zone has never happened before. I am way excited and hope everything continues through. Extra prayers!! 

Dad- The Brave- I hope that your talk went well, sounds like quite the week. I sure love you Dad. I hope that you are doing well. I am glad to hear that you are reading. I hope the crazy time with the employees settle. Dad - Keep being happy and enjoy the Fish. I love you. Thank you for your awesomeness.

Mom The "I can do it all¨- You sound like you are doing so well. I am so happy for that. I think you start the weddings this week again?  I hope that goes well. I will be praying for Grandma a lot this week. I sure miss you and am so grateful for you. Sometimes praying for you all in the mornings I just get so happy and grateful I just can’t take it. I am excited to read your journal and thank you so much for doing that each week. I am on my second journal now I am love writing every day. Have a great week Mom. You are the best.

Mikesell - the light in the woods. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with Mackenzie. Hey, Mikesell seriously, watch Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration with her and get the missionaries talking with her. You have the testimony...and with the missionaries you can help her to make those hard changes. Oh man that is so awesome. Keep praying on her behalf. Tell her it is the best thing she could ever do in her life. Has she gone to church yet? Oh man that makes me so pumped. Good work sis... I love you Mikesell. Keep being great. I am glad that you are working so much. I love you.

Brennen  -the stripling warrior- sounds like you talk went well and I loved skimming it and printed it and will read it tonight. I am excited. Thanks for growing your testimony. I am so excited for you to get your call down the road a little. Keep preparing and just learning and getting all the great experiences that you can. I love you buddy. Thank for being a wonderful example!!

Alex the young wolf- Hey man. How is life? I haven’t heard from you in a couple weeks. I will be sending the tic tac toe soon. How is the summer? How did your talk go? I hope it went really well. I sure love you buddy. Keep reading and praying. Are you working on your balling at all?  I love you buddy. Keep being awesome.

Harrison the Noble- I sure liked your letter last week. I love you so much! I hope that you have a great week. I miss you buddy. Hang tough and you and I are going to do some way fun stuff together. You can’t tell me but you have to make plans for next summer ok?  How is your praying and are you giving Cally a hug for me every day?

McCall the Strawberry- Hey Cally How are you?  I love you so much and am so glad you are happy. Cass tells me funny stories about you. I sure love you. BIG KISS. BESO Have a great week. Are you reading lots of books?

 Mom. I loved that you ordered those books. I miss reading books like that and will pick it up. Hey, if you could send, could you send instructions on how to sew pants? I ripped mine. I will try to learn from an Elder in our house also.

I love you all so much and I hope that you are doing so well. Have a great week.  I know Christ lives and that he wants us to achieve our best.  Keep doing your very best!

Hello there incredible Clegg Family!

What a crazy week you have all had. I am glad that Alex had a great time at Scout Camp and that the Mountain Mamas Craft went well. Sounds like you couldn’t put another person at the lake it sounds so busy! 

Thank you so much Grandma Clegg, Cass, Dad, Mom, Mikesell, Brennen, Harrison and McCall for the emails. They meant the world to me.

This week was a terrific week to be honest. I am still in a little shock. Last night Miguel Peniabla (the Father) told us that he is going to be baptized. Tonight we meet to put a date as a family. I love this family because they do everything together. He has stopped drinking, accepted tithing fully, and we were able to teach with a lot of spirit…AND  they went to church. We are going to try to have them baptized this Saturday. The problem is that Estefenia is getting baptized this Saturday at 11 in morning and they might have to work… so I don’t know if we are going to be doing a double session baptism or what. Hey, but I will take the problem of trying to schedule baptisms anyday! I am quite grateful for it. Estefenia went to an EFY activity and so did the Peniabla kids this week. They loved it. We were there Saturday with half the zone and organized some presentations. It was really great. There are some great youth here. They have to be so strong because they are faced with so much stuff here. We watched that Tyler Haws video again. That always gets me. The zone is getting better with our numbers a little and obedience I hope. Elder Connolly is a stud and clydesdale of a example for the zone. Last night after the lesson with Peniabla we were so stoked. I am so happy that he gets to end his mission this way. He is a great Elder and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with him. Cass - he is planning on going to BYU and just so you know I give approval of him. :) The branch is doing well, They struggle to retain the baptisms here so we are working a lot with the less active. The members that are here are awesome. I love them a lot.  I will try to send pictures here in the next weeks letter.  It was a great week and it has been nice weather. That is so sad about the shootings in Colorado. Everyone has been asking us about it. All eyes and ears are always on the states, just so you all know. 

Dad- I sure love you I hope that you have a great week. I hope that all the employees are doing great and learning a lot. 

Mom- I hope that your events and days go well. I hope that you can have some great family time this week. I admire your patience with so many visits at the cabin continually. You are truly a angel. I love you so much Mom. Thanks for being the ultimate in everything. Have a great week.

Mikesell- I love you so much! I am glad that you are having a great time with the buds. Saying goodbye is strange and not so fun. But you are just turning a page of the great book of Mikesell. Keep a good perspective and work your tail off. I want to see a picture of your hair cut. I love you.

Brennen- Hey Stud. I sure love you man. I am glad that work is going well. How is that frisbee throw coming? What are you going to climb this week. I sure love you buddy. Thanks for being a worthy priesthood holder. Always bring others to Christ my man. I love you buddy.

Alex- hey stud... I hope that all well, I am glad that you had quite the shot in rifle shooting at camp! You are a stud. I miss you man. Keep being awesome. I love you. 

Harrison- I was thinking about you extra this week…. and when Mom told me that you were thinking of me too that made me happy. Harrison I love you. I am excited to be with you, but we do this because we love Heavenly Father and want to help others buddy.  Keep being a stud. How is your tramp tricks? Big hug little bro.

McCall- Hey there missy!! I love you so much. How are those teeth that you don’t have!? Are any others lose? I sure love you Cally. I hope that you are having a lot of fun and that you are able to do lots of good things this week. I love you Cally.

This week I had some great studies of Alma 41… which is a excellent chapter on DESIRE. I loved that and had some great fun. I also was reminded of one of my favorite scriptures in Alma 38:12. I am always reminded of Papa when I read that scripture and also Mormon 9:27- 28. May each of you have desires to do good and act and be diligent in your examples. 

I love you all with all my heart. May you know that Heavenly Father has a vision and a plan for each of you and your lives. 

TO THE SUMMIT! 

I love you.

Love Elder Austin

Hello Champions...

Great as always to skim your letters and see how well you are all doing and

that you are all enjoying the summer. Couldn’t believe that Grandma Clegg

told me that is was 108 in Boise. That is the highest that I have ever

heard in Idaho. But I also saw that it rained as well so that is a great

blessing!!

Grandma Clegg- Thank you so much for your sweet letter. I hope that you

are not all melting up there. It sounds like you and Grandpa are doing

really well. I hope that you are enjoying the summer. I am sure excited

also to hear how the dedication of the Boise Temple goes. Here in Sept,

they will also be reopening the temple in Buenos Aires. The members are

excited because it has been closed for two or three years. Please send my

love to Uncle Alan. I pray for all of you daily and am so grateful for your

legacies.

Well this week was a rollar coaster. I honestly can’t really place every day

in my head. I had a lot of great experiences this week, I am grateful that I

have been able to keep a faithful journal, if not I am afraid I would be

forgetting quite a lot. On Tuesday I was in a city called 3 Arroyos and we

did divisions there. It is a really pretty town with some really pretty old

Catholic Cathedrals. We were able to find some people and I was with

Elder Oldham, for a little while, he is from Rexburg and knows the Hayes family.

On Wednesday we had a good day in our area. We had a great spiritual

experience. We were walking down a street and Elder Connolly and I saw a

house with a new baby and a Mom. Obviously we are going to knock that one.

We knocked and a 16 year kid named Augustin answered the door. I asked if

we could come in and he let us in, there were three people sitting at the

table. I went to introduce us and Augustin walked to the back of the

house so it was just us with the three at the table, kind of funny. But we

started to talk and do the normal start to teach pattern and we could tell

that something was strange. There was a sadness with the Mother of the

baby. They were not opening up much and so we asked if we could say a prayer with them and first

asked  if they would like for us to pray for anything in specific. The

brother looked at his sister, (the mother of the baby) and asked if he could

tell us. Turns out the Father of this baby was shot in the street three

months ago…only a couple of weeks before the baby was born. The gloom

made a lot more sense. Also the brother of the Father who had passed away

was there and got really emotional and put his head down. It is hard

because I know that the best thing in the world for them is what I have,

but you are trying to figure out what is the best way to present it to

them. We taught a lesson about the Atonement using some scriptures but it

was rough. I learned just to be really loving with them and they both ended

up in the back of the house before the lesson was over. They both were

crying, the hurt was still very much there. I asked if I could go to the

back of the house to the room to say goodbye to the two and just tried to

show as much as love as possible. We will be teaching them in the weeks to

come and I will keep you posted.

The next day was the Zone Conference and so he was able to have a interview with President. The

Zone Conference went well and I am grateful for a Wedding Coordinator Mom

who has taught me a lot about set up!! :) I love President and his wife so much.

Friday I was thinking about what all had happened and I made the

connection about how the Gospel can be some a blessing to our lives. Wednesday

I was speaking with a family who’s lives had been shattered because of a

sudden death and three months after the pain was still so real and recent.

Thursday, one of the Elders here had a call from home to the mission president concerning a matter at home…the Elder because of what he knew and what he taught everyday was real, and after a

couple hours of prayer he had a hope and only wanted to give more to Heavenly Father, even though he was thousand of miles away from the person most important in his life. That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is why I am here. Friday we fasted for this Elder and his family. Saturday President called us and told us that they had received a call from his home and that everything was going to be okay.

.... Wow.

Sunday I was asked to give a talk about the Book of Mormon and that went

well. I love that book and its power to change lives.

The familia Penialba are doing well. They had some doubts about the word of wisdom, and didnt come to church yesterday. We were really nervous and went to their house yesterday and had a heart to heart and a really good lesson. We were really guided by the spirit and found out that they had stopped drinking (the Dad) and that the Mom , who has got to be about 40 plus is 2

months pregnant. That was a surprise. Please pray for them, they are so great just have a little further to go. The Mom will be baptized, but we want to baptize the whole family. Estefenia is doing well, she came to church and her family is coming again too. Her sister is coming to

church also, and she is doing really well. .... I could say more but I am getting short on time here.

And Mom, yes I will have lots of stories to tell when we are together again. haha

Dad- I hope that your week goes great at Camp Bradley – back and forth at the resort. I imagine that it is really busy at this time. I love you and hope that all is going great.Thank you so much for your example. Go get em.

Mom- What a week with a lot of visitors!!  I hope that it went well. I miss you. Thank you for the copy of your talk and I hope that it went well. I love you so much. I don’t need anything. I would prefer that whatever you are spend to send me just save for something fun that we can do when can get back or use for someone else. I am doing great. I sure love you Mom. Thank you so

much for all you do. You are a true angel. Have a wonderful week.

Mikesell- Your days are numbered up there at Redfish....college is around the corner! I loved your letter. I am glad that you are having fun. I am sure excited for you. Who are you going to be

rooming with ? I love you so much sis. Have a great week.

Brennen- Hey stud. How are those dishes? What peaks did you dominate this week? I sure love you Bro. Thanks for your great example. Have a great week and keep living the dream!

Alex- Hey buddy. I got your tick tac toe paper in the letter. I am thinking this game will end in a "cat" but hey we can start again! I hope that you have fun at scout camp and that you can get a lot of Merit badges and learn a lot and make some fun memores. Scout camp is a good time. I sure love you man. Keep being awesome. Have the best week ever.

HARRISON- What is up little buddy? How is summer time. Did you like the Fire truck that Papa brought up? That is pretty neat huh? I love you buddy. Keep saying your prayers! I love you!

McCall- One tooth less!! Wow, your smile is still as beautiful as ever. I am excited for you. You better stop eating that ice cream your teeth will fall out quicker!

I love you all very much! Give it all you got!

Love,  Elder Austin

Hello you adventurists...

I so enjoyed all of your letters and am so happy to hear that the week was a great one! My first week home I want to summit every one of these peaks you are knocking out Brennen and Alex…. but that is another day!!!

Mom -When I went to Bahia on Wednesday I got the package. It was sent to Santa Rosa and so Elder Garrison who is up there brought it down for me. Thank you so much and it was very thoughtful!! 

This last week was really good on Tuesday we had District Meeting and it went well and the zone seems to be progressing, Wednesday morning at 1 am we left Nechoea for Bahia Blanca. All day Wednesday we were with Presidente Parreno and Hermana Parreno in their house. It was incredible. They are so amazing and I am very excited to get to know them.  They have a ton of energy. They told me that the Mission President in Spain when they left was a Clegg. I told them I would ask you if we were related or anything? I don’t believe so…. They speak with the heavy Spain accent Dad!  It was great!! I understand them perfectly though. ..Presidente kept speaking in vosotros instead of ustedes. They are both so filled of love and I already fill the same love for them that I felt for Presidente Defletson. They talked about the motives behind missionary work, (see Isaiah 62: 17 I think)  I am super excited to get to know them more and this Friday they are coming to Nechoea  for our zone conference. We will be planning that this week I am excited for that. The rest of the week was great. Mikesell wanted a story... I could tell a lot of stories…but one funny  little thing. On Saturday we went to a baptism in our zone and I met David Archeletas trainer, he has been home from his mission for a month. How crazy is that!? He is a really great person. I love the members here so much. We had 8 investigators in church last Sunday and 7 of those our (I pray) are going to be baptized the 21st and 28th. The family Panialba are awesome. I am seriously without words because they are so great and so ready. Miguel the Dad is the only one with some doubts but as he was leaving the church on Sunday he turned to Elder Connolly and I and said something like "you almost have me convinced or I am getting really sure".  I feel so blessed to be teaching them and I am way excited for them. Please send all your prayers for them. Also for Jaun Cruz, who is the boyfriend of the 17 year girl. This next week is crucial, oh man, I am excited. Also Esfenia is a 17 year girl whose mom and sister are members but inactive. We are teaching them and she is really prepared and the members are helping out a lot here. Alos Jaun who is the boyfriend of a inactive member who we just found knocking one night, they are changing a lot, but have to get married so we will see what goes down. She was really distant with us the first day, but now is really nice. It is one of the biggest changes I have seen in my mission, really quickly.  Other funny story Mikesell - today my comp and I went to the Terminal to look for the mail from the office and as we were leaving we went to get in a taxi… there was a GPS comp in the windshield but we figured it was a taxi with the call center. My comp and I opened the door and realized that is was just a normal car with a scared person inside. We laughed. Today is Independence Day here but it is nothing compared to the states, mostly just almost all the stores are closed.  I feel for certain that I am having spiritual experiences every day. I love missions because they expose your weaknesses- and puts you on your knees in every way.

Dad-It sounds like your birthday was good and that you put up quite the fight for the water and won. Good work. I am glad that you got the letter for your birthday. I hope that you can all get a solid wet, rain storm without lightning. From the pictures it looks like there still is a good snow pack up high. I guess it is still pretty early. I sure love you Dad and feel real close to you listening to our mission President. I enjoyed learning more about the Spain culture and it was neat. Love you Dad. Have a great week. Exicto

Mom- Sounds like you are doing really well and that this coming week will be one full of visits from many. I don’t know how you make everyone feel as important as you do while things are so busy. That is funny that you make that connection with the fireworks. It could be. (I told him that at the 4^th of July here in Stanley there were red/green fireworks…which I thought were odd colors…then I remembered that Austin had told me that Christmas in Argentina is like the 4^th of July…BBQ’s…fireworks… etc. it occurred to me that little ol Stanley probably got some of their fireworks from a clearance sale from South America! Red and Green Fireworks aren’t really USA style huh?) The elders in our house are from: Stuz -Bingham Ut, Anderson - Gilbert, Az Woods - Cedar City, Ut, Gonzalez - Salta ARG, and Landriel -Santa Fe ARG. It is not like crazy cold, but some nights it gets really cold. I have long johns and gloves and a beanie most days, but mostly just because of the wind. We are sleeping in the garage and we just have a dinky plug in heaters so Ï am grateful form my sleeping bag that does a good job.  I love you so much Mom. Am glad to hear of your testimony of the scriptures. I love learning from them so much. You are the best Mom, I love you.

Mikesell- Sounds like you are having a great week….really busy. Tell me where Terran gets his call to when it comes. I am way excited for him. I hope that exercising goes really well. I sure love you Sis. Have a great week and keep enjoying your summer. I miss you and am so grateful for you. I’m glad you got my letter.

Brennen- I can tell that you are doing really well. Know how?  Because every email that I get tells me so!! I am super proud of you and am glad that you are experiencing so much. That is really important. Knowledge and expereinces like that give you vision and will help you become the best Brennen. I am grateful for your prayers and I sure love you man. Remember those routes to those peaks…we are gonna need that info! Keep strong my brother. All my love bro,

Alex- You are a stud. I am so glad that you are getting to hike so much. I am glad that you enjoyed time with the Ovesons and Weaton working at the ranch. They are really spectacular people. I miss them. I hope that you have a great week buddy. Keep up the good work. How is your frisbee game? I am going to be a joke, but that is ok. Keep doing the basics bro. I love you man.

Harrison- Sounds like you are really happy and doing really well. I sure love you buddy. I hope that you like the fireworks!! Jump in for me. How is your swimming? I love you Harrison. Thanks for being so awesome!!

McCall- That picture of you that mom sent of you on the beach is so great. You are a Doll. I sure miss you and love you a lot. Have a great week and keep being fresh. You the 7 year old. Big kiss. 

I learned a lot this week.  This morning I was reading in Alma 36 and thought about how we should place our ultimate visions in the eternal life in Christ and how important it really is to be spiritually minded. Repentance is a change of vision, of motives, and desires. I love you all and appreciate your happiness, your experiences, and prayers. May heavens richest blessing be yours this week and may you continue to be examples of our Savior.

Go ATTACK THE SAWTOOTHS

All my love,

Elder Austin.