Hello family! I've now been in Salto almost a week!
I'm so glad to hear grandma is doing better!!!! Congrats on all your state stuff Kayli! Levi, I'm also camping and usually covered in mud haha Just kidding, the house is a step up this time. Its an apartment LOADED with roaches, but it's cooler inside and that's all that I care about.
My comp is on his last change, and he's great. Today we're on divisions and hes in Montevideo to take his english test and have a medical check for his arm which broke in half 2 months ago.
I do miss Elder Grau a TON though. I knew I had it lucky to start with him, and I've quickly realized that I'm going to miss having him as a comp the rest of my mission haha
This area had 7 baptisms the last 2 changes, and as this is the highest baptizing zone in the mission and I had more than that in the hardest, I'm shooting for at least 30 these next two changes (if I'm here for 2). The people are so chill, everyone is willing to listen and read, and they gain a testimony real fast, but everyone is too lazy to go to church. UGGHH. If you have any insightful tricks to get people at church, they would be nice.
We had a baptism Friday and have 3 more this Friday, and several more with a baptismal date, and several dozen others. This last week we found TONS of new people. I have crazy luck finding people.
As for the landscape, this place has INCREDIBLE sunsets, rolling green hills...ahhh its so freaking pretty I've already taken a bunch of pictures just of land. Across the street from where we live theres a little mall where Im at now, but the rest of our area is out in the wilderness haha like pretty much the rest of Uruguay outside of Montevideo.
The humidity is way stronger here than the city, but the sun is about the same. So...I sweat more AGH I can't wait till it cools off haha. Todays alright though. O Bob Marley is on the radio now hahaha
Nelida's baptism went through on Saturday too, back in Sayago, and Josè's and Martin`s on Saturday. I'm totally counting the people I found as baptisms in my mind hahahaha tell grandma I'm not keeping count though so I dunno how many I have in total. Plenty. I don't have time to write about any but my favorites in these emails.
It's rained the last 3 days and I'm using my boots a lot to tread through the marshes. Theyre way good Im so glad I brought them.
Today we were going to go to a cool dam, and we met at the bus stop and waited an hour without a bus until one of the zone leaders made a call and found out we were at the wrong stop. Ha. So we'll go next week and chill out today. Hopefully I'll get some letters written. I have hardly any time and have like 15 letters to respond to from the last 2 weeks of receiving. Speaking of which, could you send me a stamp book disguised as something else in the next letter?
Lets see, in other news...I'm waiting reembursals cause I had to use the money I had to pay old bills in my new home, cause they neglected and the company was going to cut electricity, so I have like $3 to use over the next 3 days, so I might have to pull something out of my account if I decide to eat. haha.
Sorry to hear about Charles mom, did he go down south to visit?
Be patient with the ward, I only wish crying babies were the least of our problems. Enjoy it!
Yay for the US in the olympics. We truly are the best nation in the world.
Be happy everyone, the problems you face are thousands times easier than most peoples here haha. Its the truth. I love you all, endure it all with a good attitude and a smile, and DO NOT GOSSIP. If theres one thing I could change about the mission, its all the gossip I hear from missionaries about other missionaries. It destroys companionships more than ANYTHING. DONT DO IT!!!!!!!
Tell Colton that when people make fun of him, just smile, because if he is a good boy, God will bless him in the end, and will curse them with ugly wives and bratty kids in the future.
Also, grats on your award for being a volunteer. Terribly ironic to have an award ceremony for best volunteer, but okay...hahaha
FInally, of what exactly does my blog consist? If it's a public thing that anyone can access, please delete it. I am anti-blog, and there's no way I'm going to email cool spiritual experiences and stuff like that if they're online for anyone to access. I really don't like that, sorry.
I love you all so much and am glad to hear your successes and frustrations too. I am being very obedient I promise and for that I need to get off cause Im out of time haha. O crap my divisions comp is on facebook. WIsh me luck... BAM! *sigh* heh
Elder Magnusson
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February 16, 2010
Congrats on the call, Quinn!! That's so tight! I have a friend in another mission in the same country (the city Kaoshiong or something like that), and HIS brother is in Quinn's mission. Sweet!
First of all, changes came last night and........
Elder Grau is staying here.
I am going to Salto, the chillest area in the mission with the most baptisms, with a comp on his last change thats a legend in the mission(Elder Enciso, another Paraguayo). I'm sad to leave Sayago, but I'm leaving it after we had more baptisms in the 2 changes than it had in the 2 years previous together woot! And there's 5 more that will be baptized within the next 3 weeks. Unfortunately we haven't found anyone new in quite some time, so if they don't find a lot, pretty much the whole area book will have me and Elder Grau's names on it hahaha
E' Grau's new comp is the only European in the mission, an Italian on his second change that doesn't speak much spanish or english haha but is learning super quick because the languages are so similar.
On Sunday we got a Bishop! We thought for sure it would be Daniel Barreiro, but he first was released as counselor and instead of bishop was called to be on the High Counsel! Even better! Next he'll be a 70, then an apostol I think :) The old counselors and new and the new bishop all gave their testimonies in Sac Meeting and Daniel talked about the missionary work and said that he's seen more growth in the ward in the last 3 months than ever before, "but no thanks to us (the ward), thanks to 2 awesome missionaries..." and then layed it down on the members for only giving us 1 reference this whole change (his wife gave it, and hes gonna be baptized next week haha, references are a blast). It was great, it made us feel good, and got a lot of people excited, so hopefully it'll inspire a lot more work from the members next change.
The best part of it all, though, is the fact that the people we baptized haven't missed a single Sunday since, are active in service, attend every baptism after, mutual, Jonathan is going camping with the youth this weekend, etc... Each and every one is a diamond, and WILL stay active. WIthout doubt some of the best members and future leaders of the stake and more. Ah, sorry if I sound like I'm bragging, but Alma 26, I can boast of my Lord and his success all I want! And these converts are the best in the whole world!
I think I forgot to tell you one of my favorite stories the last time I wrote, since I forgot my agenda. We have tons of spiritual experiences and all that with lessons, but this was just too awesome and funny. Jonathan, 14, had a tongue piercing and we'd nagged on him a bunch about it, but finally we took Bednars advice he gave us and instead of saying he should take it out, we taught the plan of salvation again with an emphasis on the importance of bodies and such, committed him to remove it to be baptized and he through his hands up in the air, rolled his eyes, said fine a bit exasperated, took it out and chucked it hahahaha it was so funny!!! Him and his grandma Mabel were baptized on Sunday and I got to baptize them both.
We gained a new missionary in the zone this last week, Elder Chavez, who has that disorder where you grow up really slowly. He looks and his voice sounds like he's about 7-8 (no exaggeration), but he's so cool! REALLY funny Paraguayo, it was weird to talk to him the first time since he's doesn't quite reach my waist haha, but he's so tight.
Next time you see it at the store, or if you don't plan on watching my copy soon, could you mail me Napoleon Dynamite in the next box? Daniel served in Ogden and was always told he HAD to see it (was on the mish when it came out), but can't find it here and I told him I'd gift it to him when I could.
As for Bishop Robison, I know who he is, I've played paintball with him a number of times :)
I'm glad to hear we're in the same ward as the Herr's, I'll have a friend in the ward when I get back. Oh crap, nevermind he's not leaving for a bit more. ha eesh. Hows Candy, Orion, and my other parents over there doing?
How's EVERYONE doing? haha, did Shannon have her baby? How are the Acostas, Petersons, and all that gang?
Què volazo que la asignaciòn humanitario fue rechazado otre vez. Esperemos que su general tenga los huevos para bajar la caña a los pinchi superiores. Da.
Give grandma lots of hugs from me, and I saw an Oxygen bar in the airport once, maybe you can find out where to find different flavors of oxygen haha that'd be way tight.
Grats on the call, hope you dont get sick mom.
Kayli, sneak Lady an extra treat from me. (and Boots one less haha just kidding). I'm waiting for that letter about Supernatural.
I had no idea the Olympics started, I haven't heard a single thing. I dunno if Uruguay even participates, especially in the winter haha. I'm pretty sure that anything that's not soccer, they wouldn't have any interest, though haha
Times up, I love you all, glad to hear of your trials, the more fire and pressure, the harder and more precious the diamond.
DyC 64:33-34
-Elder Magnusson
First of all, changes came last night and........
Elder Grau is staying here.
I am going to Salto, the chillest area in the mission with the most baptisms, with a comp on his last change thats a legend in the mission(Elder Enciso, another Paraguayo). I'm sad to leave Sayago, but I'm leaving it after we had more baptisms in the 2 changes than it had in the 2 years previous together woot! And there's 5 more that will be baptized within the next 3 weeks. Unfortunately we haven't found anyone new in quite some time, so if they don't find a lot, pretty much the whole area book will have me and Elder Grau's names on it hahaha
E' Grau's new comp is the only European in the mission, an Italian on his second change that doesn't speak much spanish or english haha but is learning super quick because the languages are so similar.
On Sunday we got a Bishop! We thought for sure it would be Daniel Barreiro, but he first was released as counselor and instead of bishop was called to be on the High Counsel! Even better! Next he'll be a 70, then an apostol I think :) The old counselors and new and the new bishop all gave their testimonies in Sac Meeting and Daniel talked about the missionary work and said that he's seen more growth in the ward in the last 3 months than ever before, "but no thanks to us (the ward), thanks to 2 awesome missionaries..." and then layed it down on the members for only giving us 1 reference this whole change (his wife gave it, and hes gonna be baptized next week haha, references are a blast). It was great, it made us feel good, and got a lot of people excited, so hopefully it'll inspire a lot more work from the members next change.
The best part of it all, though, is the fact that the people we baptized haven't missed a single Sunday since, are active in service, attend every baptism after, mutual, Jonathan is going camping with the youth this weekend, etc... Each and every one is a diamond, and WILL stay active. WIthout doubt some of the best members and future leaders of the stake and more. Ah, sorry if I sound like I'm bragging, but Alma 26, I can boast of my Lord and his success all I want! And these converts are the best in the whole world!
I think I forgot to tell you one of my favorite stories the last time I wrote, since I forgot my agenda. We have tons of spiritual experiences and all that with lessons, but this was just too awesome and funny. Jonathan, 14, had a tongue piercing and we'd nagged on him a bunch about it, but finally we took Bednars advice he gave us and instead of saying he should take it out, we taught the plan of salvation again with an emphasis on the importance of bodies and such, committed him to remove it to be baptized and he through his hands up in the air, rolled his eyes, said fine a bit exasperated, took it out and chucked it hahahaha it was so funny!!! Him and his grandma Mabel were baptized on Sunday and I got to baptize them both.
We gained a new missionary in the zone this last week, Elder Chavez, who has that disorder where you grow up really slowly. He looks and his voice sounds like he's about 7-8 (no exaggeration), but he's so cool! REALLY funny Paraguayo, it was weird to talk to him the first time since he's doesn't quite reach my waist haha, but he's so tight.
Next time you see it at the store, or if you don't plan on watching my copy soon, could you mail me Napoleon Dynamite in the next box? Daniel served in Ogden and was always told he HAD to see it (was on the mish when it came out), but can't find it here and I told him I'd gift it to him when I could.
As for Bishop Robison, I know who he is, I've played paintball with him a number of times :)
I'm glad to hear we're in the same ward as the Herr's, I'll have a friend in the ward when I get back. Oh crap, nevermind he's not leaving for a bit more. ha eesh. Hows Candy, Orion, and my other parents over there doing?
How's EVERYONE doing? haha, did Shannon have her baby? How are the Acostas, Petersons, and all that gang?
Què volazo que la asignaciòn humanitario fue rechazado otre vez. Esperemos que su general tenga los huevos para bajar la caña a los pinchi superiores. Da.
Give grandma lots of hugs from me, and I saw an Oxygen bar in the airport once, maybe you can find out where to find different flavors of oxygen haha that'd be way tight.
Grats on the call, hope you dont get sick mom.
Kayli, sneak Lady an extra treat from me. (and Boots one less haha just kidding). I'm waiting for that letter about Supernatural.
I had no idea the Olympics started, I haven't heard a single thing. I dunno if Uruguay even participates, especially in the winter haha. I'm pretty sure that anything that's not soccer, they wouldn't have any interest, though haha
Times up, I love you all, glad to hear of your trials, the more fire and pressure, the harder and more precious the diamond.
DyC 64:33-34
-Elder Magnusson
Monday, February 8, 2010
February 8, 2010
Hey everyone!
Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy pregnancy Melis and Jason! That's a cool name! That's cool you could find out he's a boy so quick, extra proud points for being well-endowed. haha.
Sorry to hear RR sucks, but I already knew that. We got pretty spoiled between SP and Vail, it had to turn around some time hahaha.
I got my package THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! I was so happy you have no idea. I almost got robbed by other missionaries cause I got that package and 12 letters that day, it was wonderful.
As for the language, I'm fluent enough that I can say whatever I want and if I can't say it I can explain it. The members say I speak way better than most after a year, so I'm not worried.
This is my last email in this change, next week I'll know if I'm staying or going. The same 2 comps in the same place for 3 changes has only happened once in memory of anyone here, so it's likely I or E' Grau is leaving almost certainly, unfortunately. I hope I stay, the work took a spike up! We have 3 baptisms on Saturday and 3 more with a date this month! The members completely filled our lunch chart this month through most of next and all-in-all this area has completely turned around! From no baptisms, to several other months, so if we leave, other missionaries better not screw it up now haha The bishop finally is said to be called next week. Its about time, after 7 months without. WIth good priesthood leadership, every aspect of the work suffers.
This week was pretty crazy.
On Monday after emailing we went to the tallest building in Uruguay and took pics from the top. Its in the shape of a giant shark fin! The Antel building if you wanna look it up. Only like 36 floors or so, so nothing like NYC or anything like that, but its big here haha.
On Wed-Friday I was on divisions with my District Leader in the Old City, and lived in a 2-comp house. House meaning vaulted ceiling big-city, 19th century apartment. It was way tight! We made brownies in the microwave, bought new ties, and French toast with maple syrup in the morning. Ahhh it was fun. UNTIL..... it's a terribly long story that I don't have time to type it all, but in a short, one of the missionaries in the other companionship we live with went home while his comp was in the bathroom. Put a bottle in the door so it wouldn't close, and skipped town (country, to Paraguay via bus through Argentina). Noone truly knew what happened until the other day his Stake Pres called Pres. My DL and I were the ones that figured everything out, so every single person in the mission has been calling constantly every day and rumors and racism are flying around the mission its bad. Things should chill out in a few days. It's not TOO common that a missionary just disappears!
Interviews are on Friday, once again just before changes haha
haha outside the window of the cyber theyre selling black market video games for wii for $3 each, let me know if you want some :)
Elder Grau wants to know if he could buy one of my 8 gig memory cards since I have three. I told him I'd ask you since you bought them and I have no idea how expensive they are (they cost almost $100 here, electronics are super expensive) or if you want me to just keep it.
One of the baptisms we have Saturday is a 62 yr old hippy named Mabel. Shes so freakin funny! Super retro hippy with big blonde hair and all, always has a huge bright, multicolored blouse and pants. She quit smoking in a day (and forced our other baptism, Jonathan, 14, her grandsom, to do the same haha). It's pretty sad that all the kids smoke, but pretty cool that he just through them all away and hasn't gone back.
Also, in testimony meeting, a lady in the ward said she had been smoking when we went to go visit her for the first time in 5 days (shes slowly quitting) and it was a sign to her she needs to repent, so she spent 3 hours in the scriptures and said she had the most euphoric feeling, and that reading the scriptures is her new addiction. She reads pretty much all day the last few hahaha
Josè is having a ton of problems, so keep him in your prayers. His testimony is strong, but his brothers a monster, and keeps calling cops on him and such. He'll receive the priesthood Sunday so thatll be a blessing.
Pablo was ordained a deacon on SUnday! WOOT!
Carmen and Nelida got back from COlonia and Bs. As. yesterday, we spent the whole evening over there it was a blast!
This week we set a record for lessons with members! 12! haha it doesnt sound like much, but I promise it's a good sign that our relationship with them is improving!
Well, I had written all that happened this week in my agenda so for once Id remembered everything I have to say, but for the first time ever, I left my agenda at the apartment! I have issues. ha
I love you all dearly, especially my neice and nephew, keep em coming, Melis and Jase!!!!! hahaha Carmen called Melissa a factory.
The church is true, there's 0 doubt. I'm so grateful to have a prophet that loves us so much and guides us. I love the mission more than anything in the world, its a blast!
Give grandma a huge hug for me and a kiss on the cheek and let her know I'm thinking about her every day!
Work hard all, and have fun!
Elder Magnusson
Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy pregnancy Melis and Jason! That's a cool name! That's cool you could find out he's a boy so quick, extra proud points for being well-endowed. haha.
Sorry to hear RR sucks, but I already knew that. We got pretty spoiled between SP and Vail, it had to turn around some time hahaha.
I got my package THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! I was so happy you have no idea. I almost got robbed by other missionaries cause I got that package and 12 letters that day, it was wonderful.
As for the language, I'm fluent enough that I can say whatever I want and if I can't say it I can explain it. The members say I speak way better than most after a year, so I'm not worried.
This is my last email in this change, next week I'll know if I'm staying or going. The same 2 comps in the same place for 3 changes has only happened once in memory of anyone here, so it's likely I or E' Grau is leaving almost certainly, unfortunately. I hope I stay, the work took a spike up! We have 3 baptisms on Saturday and 3 more with a date this month! The members completely filled our lunch chart this month through most of next and all-in-all this area has completely turned around! From no baptisms, to several other months, so if we leave, other missionaries better not screw it up now haha The bishop finally is said to be called next week. Its about time, after 7 months without. WIth good priesthood leadership, every aspect of the work suffers.
This week was pretty crazy.
On Monday after emailing we went to the tallest building in Uruguay and took pics from the top. Its in the shape of a giant shark fin! The Antel building if you wanna look it up. Only like 36 floors or so, so nothing like NYC or anything like that, but its big here haha.
On Wed-Friday I was on divisions with my District Leader in the Old City, and lived in a 2-comp house. House meaning vaulted ceiling big-city, 19th century apartment. It was way tight! We made brownies in the microwave, bought new ties, and French toast with maple syrup in the morning. Ahhh it was fun. UNTIL..... it's a terribly long story that I don't have time to type it all, but in a short, one of the missionaries in the other companionship we live with went home while his comp was in the bathroom. Put a bottle in the door so it wouldn't close, and skipped town (country, to Paraguay via bus through Argentina). Noone truly knew what happened until the other day his Stake Pres called Pres. My DL and I were the ones that figured everything out, so every single person in the mission has been calling constantly every day and rumors and racism are flying around the mission its bad. Things should chill out in a few days. It's not TOO common that a missionary just disappears!
Interviews are on Friday, once again just before changes haha
haha outside the window of the cyber theyre selling black market video games for wii for $3 each, let me know if you want some :)
Elder Grau wants to know if he could buy one of my 8 gig memory cards since I have three. I told him I'd ask you since you bought them and I have no idea how expensive they are (they cost almost $100 here, electronics are super expensive) or if you want me to just keep it.
One of the baptisms we have Saturday is a 62 yr old hippy named Mabel. Shes so freakin funny! Super retro hippy with big blonde hair and all, always has a huge bright, multicolored blouse and pants. She quit smoking in a day (and forced our other baptism, Jonathan, 14, her grandsom, to do the same haha). It's pretty sad that all the kids smoke, but pretty cool that he just through them all away and hasn't gone back.
Also, in testimony meeting, a lady in the ward said she had been smoking when we went to go visit her for the first time in 5 days (shes slowly quitting) and it was a sign to her she needs to repent, so she spent 3 hours in the scriptures and said she had the most euphoric feeling, and that reading the scriptures is her new addiction. She reads pretty much all day the last few hahaha
Josè is having a ton of problems, so keep him in your prayers. His testimony is strong, but his brothers a monster, and keeps calling cops on him and such. He'll receive the priesthood Sunday so thatll be a blessing.
Pablo was ordained a deacon on SUnday! WOOT!
Carmen and Nelida got back from COlonia and Bs. As. yesterday, we spent the whole evening over there it was a blast!
This week we set a record for lessons with members! 12! haha it doesnt sound like much, but I promise it's a good sign that our relationship with them is improving!
Well, I had written all that happened this week in my agenda so for once Id remembered everything I have to say, but for the first time ever, I left my agenda at the apartment! I have issues. ha
I love you all dearly, especially my neice and nephew, keep em coming, Melis and Jase!!!!! hahaha Carmen called Melissa a factory.
The church is true, there's 0 doubt. I'm so grateful to have a prophet that loves us so much and guides us. I love the mission more than anything in the world, its a blast!
Give grandma a huge hug for me and a kiss on the cheek and let her know I'm thinking about her every day!
Work hard all, and have fun!
Elder Magnusson
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1, 2010
I got a super slow computer today, so sorry this will be shortish!
This week, both the baptisms and confirmations went through, and we have 4 possibles for the 14th of Feb. which is 2 days before transfers :( We're hoping we get AT LEAST those 4 baptized this next month, we upped our goal to 5 woot!
After church Sunday, Daniel the counselor in the Bishopric called in Josè into his office and he was in there for almost 40 minutes while we waited for his outside and when he came out it was hilarious. I guess Daniel wanted him to get the priesthood ASAP so he had his interview to start to process and when he came out he was smiling so big hahaha The walk towards the busstop he had a whole new strut and kept saying how cool it was and how excited he is hahaha it was great! Pablo and Christopher had their priesthood interviews also, and their buddy Jonathan will be baptized shortly and he's a GREAT kid, 14.
On the way home from church yesterday we took Josè's bus to take him home before we went home and the when we were passing through a shady edge of town, a kid probably 16 or so robbed the busdriver with a HUGE knife! We didn't see it til a lady in the front started screaming for help at the top of his lungs and the driver chucked a handful of change and pulled out a baton. Noone got hurt , but today we went downtown to the Jew Ward (cheap shopping ferìa type stuff) and we were so paranoid of getting robbed with a machete hahaha
Yesterday I gave my first talk in church. Daniel asked me late Saturday so I spent a few minutes that night and an hour Sunday morning since it was on preparing to enter the temple. I applied my talk around missionary work and "bajè la caña" on the members, and only the people that always do what they should be doing said it was a nice talk, most wouldn't look us in the eye. Elder Grau "bajò la caña" the week before in his talk, so between a lot of calling to repentance and such our lunch schedule is more empty this month than ever before. Hahaha that's okay, we're doing our part, if the members don't do theirs....that's sad but not to OUR condemnation. dun dun dunnnnnnn....!!! If half our baptisms go through next month we'll have doubled the previous year, so I can only imagine the great things that could be happening if more members did their job! WORK ON REFERENCES FOR THE MISSIONARIES IN OUR WARD! haha, and prepare the people you give before they visit them, or it's just another door.
As for letters, I sent Nichole one the day after Christmas, and another a week and a half ago. Ask grandma if she regularly gets a letter from me I send one at least every other week. Michelle, too. The rest I write frequently are all on missions, so you can't ask them, so if they are not getting my letters, then I guess not all of them make it to the US, which is a shame, but there's not a whole lot I can do. They all go through the church mail service, so they never see Uruguayan hands so I dunno.
I learned how to cook some Uruguayan foods, so I can't wait to feed you when I return haha!
I'm glad to hear Seth made it home safely! Also, Titan is a freakin tight name.
As for the ward change, I was hoping for Saguaro Park :( Eesh, oh well. What's the new bishop's name? Usually the younger the better, not so burned out! I'm happy Bro. Egan is a counselor. If I had to guess on a new bishop, it would've probably been him.
Sorry to hear about Kaylis eye infection, if it makes her feel better, yesterday after cutting onion and garlic I put in my contacts. Needless to say, I wore glasses the rest of the day and today haha OUCH!!
I've heard so much about the super freezes in North America thats so weird. Here we're having record heat. Let's trade! I can't wait for winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing much new to report this week sorry, I always think of a thousand things that happened after, I should start writing down points to tell you or something cause my mind is always blank when Im here.
Sorry to hear about the Romanian missionaries. Thats a shame, but no worries about us we can't use heaters or anything in the winter because the President is worried about fires or something like that happening. We use blankets woot! haha lots.
Well, we are working very hard and having a ton of success among investigators, inactives, and actives alike, and having a ton of fun doing it! I can't wait til you guys come down here at the end of the mission so you can meet some of these people!!!!!!!!!!! I also hope that I stay here for at least another change! For everyone that I've talked to, this is their least favorite zone in the mission because it has fewest baptisms, so maybe since I love it Prez will let me stay here haha I'm learning a TON!
Well, times up, love you all, sorry this is a fairly boring email, work hard and share the gospel!
Elder Magnusson
This week, both the baptisms and confirmations went through, and we have 4 possibles for the 14th of Feb. which is 2 days before transfers :( We're hoping we get AT LEAST those 4 baptized this next month, we upped our goal to 5 woot!
After church Sunday, Daniel the counselor in the Bishopric called in Josè into his office and he was in there for almost 40 minutes while we waited for his outside and when he came out it was hilarious. I guess Daniel wanted him to get the priesthood ASAP so he had his interview to start to process and when he came out he was smiling so big hahaha The walk towards the busstop he had a whole new strut and kept saying how cool it was and how excited he is hahaha it was great! Pablo and Christopher had their priesthood interviews also, and their buddy Jonathan will be baptized shortly and he's a GREAT kid, 14.
On the way home from church yesterday we took Josè's bus to take him home before we went home and the when we were passing through a shady edge of town, a kid probably 16 or so robbed the busdriver with a HUGE knife! We didn't see it til a lady in the front started screaming for help at the top of his lungs and the driver chucked a handful of change and pulled out a baton. Noone got hurt , but today we went downtown to the Jew Ward (cheap shopping ferìa type stuff) and we were so paranoid of getting robbed with a machete hahaha
Yesterday I gave my first talk in church. Daniel asked me late Saturday so I spent a few minutes that night and an hour Sunday morning since it was on preparing to enter the temple. I applied my talk around missionary work and "bajè la caña" on the members, and only the people that always do what they should be doing said it was a nice talk, most wouldn't look us in the eye. Elder Grau "bajò la caña" the week before in his talk, so between a lot of calling to repentance and such our lunch schedule is more empty this month than ever before. Hahaha that's okay, we're doing our part, if the members don't do theirs....that's sad but not to OUR condemnation. dun dun dunnnnnnn....!!! If half our baptisms go through next month we'll have doubled the previous year, so I can only imagine the great things that could be happening if more members did their job! WORK ON REFERENCES FOR THE MISSIONARIES IN OUR WARD! haha, and prepare the people you give before they visit them, or it's just another door.
As for letters, I sent Nichole one the day after Christmas, and another a week and a half ago. Ask grandma if she regularly gets a letter from me I send one at least every other week. Michelle, too. The rest I write frequently are all on missions, so you can't ask them, so if they are not getting my letters, then I guess not all of them make it to the US, which is a shame, but there's not a whole lot I can do. They all go through the church mail service, so they never see Uruguayan hands so I dunno.
I learned how to cook some Uruguayan foods, so I can't wait to feed you when I return haha!
I'm glad to hear Seth made it home safely! Also, Titan is a freakin tight name.
As for the ward change, I was hoping for Saguaro Park :( Eesh, oh well. What's the new bishop's name? Usually the younger the better, not so burned out! I'm happy Bro. Egan is a counselor. If I had to guess on a new bishop, it would've probably been him.
Sorry to hear about Kaylis eye infection, if it makes her feel better, yesterday after cutting onion and garlic I put in my contacts. Needless to say, I wore glasses the rest of the day and today haha OUCH!!
I've heard so much about the super freezes in North America thats so weird. Here we're having record heat. Let's trade! I can't wait for winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing much new to report this week sorry, I always think of a thousand things that happened after, I should start writing down points to tell you or something cause my mind is always blank when Im here.
Sorry to hear about the Romanian missionaries. Thats a shame, but no worries about us we can't use heaters or anything in the winter because the President is worried about fires or something like that happening. We use blankets woot! haha lots.
Well, we are working very hard and having a ton of success among investigators, inactives, and actives alike, and having a ton of fun doing it! I can't wait til you guys come down here at the end of the mission so you can meet some of these people!!!!!!!!!!! I also hope that I stay here for at least another change! For everyone that I've talked to, this is their least favorite zone in the mission because it has fewest baptisms, so maybe since I love it Prez will let me stay here haha I'm learning a TON!
Well, times up, love you all, sorry this is a fairly boring email, work hard and share the gospel!
Elder Magnusson
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