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