Hey, another great week! After a very long time of little success in the ward, Adriana and Florencia are more than stoked for the 31st! They've marked up the entire conference edition of the Liahona and their Books of Mormon, they dropped anything necessary for the Word of Wisdom, are already paying their tithes, etc...STUDETTE investigators. The Assistants had their baptismal service last week, and on Sunday, the Financiers are baptizing a man named Elvis. The ward is SUPER excited to have some new solid families, and seeing success the ward is incredibly stoked for the mission work and are finally helping out a LOT! The ward is fantastic and it's getting better still. I am grateful that I still have at least 5 months here! We're finding lots more people preparing to be baptized over the next few weeks too, it will be a few months filled with miracles.
To answer your questions, some projects I'm working on is a chart with Salt Lake that shows the numbers changes over the last year by city in the mission. It will be SWEET when it's finished. Never though I'd use math in the mission, but, here we are haha.
Also, I'm programming a virtual map of our entire mission on google earth so that all the missionaries, bishops, and areas where all the wards are located is available. Most of the mission has no maps of their areas, so it'll be cool for now and I think a huge asset to the future of the mission.
Yeah, lots of missionaries are always being called to the mission. This last group was pretty good :) EVeryone in the mission starts out 100% obedient, but often in goes downhill, so I really hope the Lord is sending lots of persevering young men out here. The bar got raised, there's no excuse for giving anything but everything.
There's no elders in the mission home. Just the President and his wife. I live in an apartment with the other 3 office elders (Theres always 2 financiers and 2 secretaries at a time). And the 2 assistants are pretty often in here too, but they get to do a lot more proselyting than us usually, except when they travel with President to conferences and such.
We get enough time though. Almost every day we get our stuff done in time to leave at 4:30 til 9. So, it's not too bad at all. The Lord always provides a way to use our time effectively.
As for things I want for my birthday, I another 8BG memory card for the camera would be great, I'm going to gift one of mine to Elder Grau. One is filled and I'll need the other 2, so one to replace the one I give. Other than that....just other stuff I can gift to people. Ties are always WONDERFUL, I constantly run low. A big bag of Sour Patch Kids for my comp Elder Ashby cause those are his favorite :) Ummmm.... a pack of jerky for a returned missionary in my ward that fell in love with it on his mission, Napoleon Dynamite still for a High Councilman in my Stake that asked me for it like 7 months ago haha I want some of those Pepperidge Farm dark chocolate chip cookies. I want Annabel to send me pumpkin cookies haha that popped into mind for some reason. heh, thats a funny list, but its all I can think of. Peanut butter is always delicious, and maple extract. If cheese is transportable, a block of sharp cheddar would be great hahahaha but I don't imagine thats possible. All they have is Muzarella. Also, I found a guy that does huge leather posters like the one that dad has of Moroni, so if you guys wanted one of a church scene, or a temple picture or something like that you can bring money and the picture to have it done. He also does leather scripture binds if anyone wants their scriptures bound in decorated leather. Im thinking about getting it done, its just really expensive so I havent decided.
Hey dad, I'm giving your email to Elder Grau and he's going to pass it on to his parents in Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay (just outside Asunción) to invite you to dinner, just a heads up. Please accept that would be cool! Also let me know on gmail if it changes at any moment. Those gmails get printed out daily, so I'll get it right away and can heads up Elder Grau.
Anything in particular you guys want in YOUR box? I've already got a ton of souvenirs that converts have gifted that I'm going to send with dad, including something REALLY special someone made for grandma in particular that I never sent when I heard dad was coming. I'm sending for sure my memory card with all the pics and videos Ive taken. I'm sending some other random stuff ive collected as well over time to make room in my suitcases. Also, I'm going to get a few boxes of my favorite alfajors so you can all try them.
Sorry, weird email, but thats okay. I love you all dearly and think about you often but not TOO much ;-) I'm working hard and we're seeing success and I've learned that happiness truly comes from obedience, and any lasting happiness will never come from wickedness, so PLEASE be obedient in all things and you'll understand why AFTER the trial of your faith. Keep working hard in all you do! Good luck with your wrestling/soccer decision, Levi! I think soccer will always be my favortie sport to watch, but you ought to try other things too, so either way it will be great.
Oooo, I asked my comp if he needs anything from the states, and he gave your address and phone to some of his relatives in Mesa so they can get you a coat for him so they can save the huge shipping costs and not getting robbed.
Also, I just though of something else I want, so I hope you can keep track of all the thing Ive put throughout the email haha I would like you to make another baby blanket if you can for a boy, Some converts in Salto are expecting a baby today, so I'll be getting pictures in a few days, and I'd like to send them something for him. They named him Benjamin after King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. They still havent picked a second name, but Oribe (the husband) has his vote on Tylan haha She has the final say so we'll see hahaha that would be pretty sweet though.
K, now Im done, love you all!
Elder Magnusson
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
July 17, 2010
Another good week in Montevideo!!! Sorry to hear your plans changed dad, but thats alright :) I'm still waiting on Presidents word if I can see you or not haha Sister Heaton wants to make you dinner with them, though, so in any case you'll meet the President :) Also, Elder Grau wants your Paraguay info because his family wants to have you for dinner sometime!! Elder Grau says you always have a home in Asunción, and his dad is a counselor in the mission presidency there, so I bet Sister Grau makes good food too (all Presidents wives cook good). As of now, you've got 2 GREAT dinner appointments set up haha. If you want, I can make appointments for you to eat with converts here every night if you want to save on money haha
If you're looking for a nice hotel and price isn't a HUGE factor, I'd definitely recommend the Radison at Plaza Independencia. The nicest places to eat are mostly off La Rambla near the port where all the cruise ships enter, but theres lots of great places everywhere. You'll have to go to Chivito de Oro at some point to get the national dish (...chivitos) prepared SUPER delicious. Carrazco is the richest part of Uruguay and theres some great restaurants, but everything is way over priced.
The temple is on Calle Bolivia I think, but I don't remember the cross streets. You can find that easy on google im sure, though.
I don't live in the mission home, I live about 20 minutes away nearer to el Palacio Legislativo by Ciudad Vieja. Its on Agraciada and Suarez in the Crystal Torre.
We drive pretty much everywhere, or take taxis, because we have an Elder with us thats waiting on his foot to heal to go back out. I havent taken a single bus since I got to Montevideo this time!!! All car or taxi (taxi is dirt cheap anyways). There is no rail system within the city. You gotta remember that although its a big city, its still third world. At every stop light people ask you for change and legless women and children sit on the sidewalks waiting for someone with a bit of mercy to drop a coin. Its definitely NOT the USA, but it's still nice. Still lots of good people, and Im sure you'll enjoy your visit. Just NEVER mention that you have any affinity towards Argentines or they will hate you haha
With only 4 hours of tracting, we still get a LOT done! We're seeing a TON of success, and have 3 with a baptismal date on the 31st. In Montevideo usually this zone has maybe 2-3 baptisms per month tops, but the assistants have a couple tonight, the financers more on the 24th, and us on the 31, so just in the offices were seeing success, and then the rest of the zone is doing GREAT! Theres no where to go but up! Lots of wonderful miracles are happening and theres a lot of great missionaries in the zone right now, so these next few weeks should be happy ones.
Yesterday the President and Sister Heaton went with Elder Ashby and I to our lesson. It was their first lesson in the mission so far and it went really well :) We taught on prophets to the family thats getting baptised the 31st, and the language barrier didn't change at all the spirit that was felt by them. Hopefully dad can meet some converts here when he comes, that would be cool!
Congrats on your school stuff mom! I'm excited and a little jealous you get to fly out to VA to see my new nephew! I'm getting stoked for him to be born on my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep working on the timing Melissa!!! I'm glad grandma is still keeping so busy with things! It's gotta stink not to be able to drive and such, but it gives others the opportunity to serve her :) Hopefully they will take it.
This morning we woke up early and went to the temple! When we got out, Sister Heaton was waiting with pancakes! It was funny to have a good american breakfast again! Temple sessions are interesting in spanish just because some of the translations makes meanings a lot clearer, and then again others more vague. Languages are pretty cool in that you can say something in one that is meaningful but really has no translation. I dunno if that makes any sense, but ya. Ya era!
After the temple, we just got back from a Chinese food buffet, WOW, It was really good, but now I'm way stuffed. It costed 240 pesos....like 12 dollars, still trying to decide if it was worth it haha I guess so as long as its a one time thing haha. Im still surprised there was a chinese place though. The owner is a Chinese lady with a FUNNY spanish accent hahaha
Sé que Dios vive y que su hijo se sacrificó por nosotros para que podamos ser redimidos en el último día. Pero a menos que nos bautizemos, no podemos lograr la vida eterna. Sean misioneros cada uno de ustedes y busquen entre sus amigos por las personas que estén listas YA. Sé que hay miles. Les amo muchisimo y espero que estén trabajando con todo su mente y fuerza para llevar a cabo la obra del Señor.
Chaucito,
Elder Magnusson :-)
Also, you can email me any moment during the week and I'll get it printed off at the urugoest@gmail.com the same day :) I won't reply until the next Pday, but you can give that address to my friends that are too lazy to write and they should all send me an email with my name in the subject bar. We're constantly printing off mail for all the missionaries in the mission like that.
Love,
Elder Magnusson
If you're looking for a nice hotel and price isn't a HUGE factor, I'd definitely recommend the Radison at Plaza Independencia. The nicest places to eat are mostly off La Rambla near the port where all the cruise ships enter, but theres lots of great places everywhere. You'll have to go to Chivito de Oro at some point to get the national dish (...chivitos) prepared SUPER delicious. Carrazco is the richest part of Uruguay and theres some great restaurants, but everything is way over priced.
The temple is on Calle Bolivia I think, but I don't remember the cross streets. You can find that easy on google im sure, though.
I don't live in the mission home, I live about 20 minutes away nearer to el Palacio Legislativo by Ciudad Vieja. Its on Agraciada and Suarez in the Crystal Torre.
We drive pretty much everywhere, or take taxis, because we have an Elder with us thats waiting on his foot to heal to go back out. I havent taken a single bus since I got to Montevideo this time!!! All car or taxi (taxi is dirt cheap anyways). There is no rail system within the city. You gotta remember that although its a big city, its still third world. At every stop light people ask you for change and legless women and children sit on the sidewalks waiting for someone with a bit of mercy to drop a coin. Its definitely NOT the USA, but it's still nice. Still lots of good people, and Im sure you'll enjoy your visit. Just NEVER mention that you have any affinity towards Argentines or they will hate you haha
With only 4 hours of tracting, we still get a LOT done! We're seeing a TON of success, and have 3 with a baptismal date on the 31st. In Montevideo usually this zone has maybe 2-3 baptisms per month tops, but the assistants have a couple tonight, the financers more on the 24th, and us on the 31, so just in the offices were seeing success, and then the rest of the zone is doing GREAT! Theres no where to go but up! Lots of wonderful miracles are happening and theres a lot of great missionaries in the zone right now, so these next few weeks should be happy ones.
Yesterday the President and Sister Heaton went with Elder Ashby and I to our lesson. It was their first lesson in the mission so far and it went really well :) We taught on prophets to the family thats getting baptised the 31st, and the language barrier didn't change at all the spirit that was felt by them. Hopefully dad can meet some converts here when he comes, that would be cool!
Congrats on your school stuff mom! I'm excited and a little jealous you get to fly out to VA to see my new nephew! I'm getting stoked for him to be born on my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep working on the timing Melissa!!! I'm glad grandma is still keeping so busy with things! It's gotta stink not to be able to drive and such, but it gives others the opportunity to serve her :) Hopefully they will take it.
This morning we woke up early and went to the temple! When we got out, Sister Heaton was waiting with pancakes! It was funny to have a good american breakfast again! Temple sessions are interesting in spanish just because some of the translations makes meanings a lot clearer, and then again others more vague. Languages are pretty cool in that you can say something in one that is meaningful but really has no translation. I dunno if that makes any sense, but ya. Ya era!
After the temple, we just got back from a Chinese food buffet, WOW, It was really good, but now I'm way stuffed. It costed 240 pesos....like 12 dollars, still trying to decide if it was worth it haha I guess so as long as its a one time thing haha. Im still surprised there was a chinese place though. The owner is a Chinese lady with a FUNNY spanish accent hahaha
Sé que Dios vive y que su hijo se sacrificó por nosotros para que podamos ser redimidos en el último día. Pero a menos que nos bautizemos, no podemos lograr la vida eterna. Sean misioneros cada uno de ustedes y busquen entre sus amigos por las personas que estén listas YA. Sé que hay miles. Les amo muchisimo y espero que estén trabajando con todo su mente y fuerza para llevar a cabo la obra del Señor.
Chaucito,
Elder Magnusson :-)
Also, you can email me any moment during the week and I'll get it printed off at the urugoest@gmail.com the same day :) I won't reply until the next Pday, but you can give that address to my friends that are too lazy to write and they should all send me an email with my name in the subject bar. We're constantly printing off mail for all the missionaries in the mission like that.
Love,
Elder Magnusson
July 10, 2010
Whew, such a good week :)
Thanks for all of the pictures Rach is growing FAST!!!! Alden too haha
I just cannot get gmail to send my pics! I have the SD card for dad though. I filled one, but I still have 2 empty ones, so don't worry about bringing me another!! I jealous for all the fun you are having in Mesa up there, but that's okay Im having fun too :)
Alright to answer all the questions,
Yep Im all settled into the offices and all. Its a blast! I'm working just a few blocks from downtown centro, but I'm pretty good in the city. Yes, Plaza Independencia is the center of the Old City, a HUGE statue of the national hero (José Artigas) with a memorial below of a vase with his ashes and guards around and all that its pretty cool. Its located where the old palace was located originally (all thats left of it is the draw bridge gate behind the statue).
When Uruguay lost to Holanda, it actually wasn't too sad. The Uruguayos didn't have 3of their main players (2 injuries and 1 red card), and Holanda played REALLY REALLY well, so they were just happy they'd made it into the final 4. Today we play Germany, so as long as we play better against them than Argentina did, Uruguay will be in massive celebration...even if we lose. (Its possible that Uruguay hates Argentina more than loves itself....FYI dad haha) Last World Cup they didn't even get to play AT ALL, and everyone had them losing their first match against France, so every game has been a miracle and people are happy whatever happens.
Yep, I have my drivers license! Best recuerdo EVER! Driving in Montevideo is a lot like pod-racing in Star Wars. Thats the best comparison I can think of. The bigger, faster, and more tactical vehicle wins right-of-way. The lanes really don't mean anything and in most places aren't marked. There are NO traffic cops. Honestly I have never seen nor met someone that had ever seen someone get pulled over. haha its so much fun actually to be flooring it weaving in and out of cars. Its wonderful chaos. When you guys come to visit, mom will have to keep a blindfold on haha.
The chapel isn't on a corner, it's about 50m towards centro from Suarez on calle Artigas. Its yellow.
The temple is located in Carrasco, in the nicest and richest neighborhood in the country! The mission home is attached (backyard is the temple!) You should go visit the President too. He and his wife would love a visit, and they're pretty cool people :) I'll ask Sister Heaton if she forgot any US spices or something haha
My local phone number for the mission office is 022042703.
My Pday this week was yesterday instead of today because Elder Jimenez, one of the APs, had a birthday, so we went to the Parliament building for a tour (not open Sat's,, but we were late and missed the tour anyways ha) and for lunch Sister Heaton invited us all over for a DELICIOUS roast, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad, rolls, etc... It was like Sunday dinner back home!!!!!!!
Thats funny one of the moms called Prez for something. Please never call unless its a HUGE emergency, and even then use good judgement... Its RIDICULOUS the things parents call for.
Yep, I had gotten everything in those packages a few weeks ago, sorry I didn't answer that!
Eesh, out of time! Have a great week all, I love you all, keep working hard and having fun!!!
Elder Magnusson
Thanks for all of the pictures Rach is growing FAST!!!! Alden too haha
I just cannot get gmail to send my pics! I have the SD card for dad though. I filled one, but I still have 2 empty ones, so don't worry about bringing me another!! I jealous for all the fun you are having in Mesa up there, but that's okay Im having fun too :)
Alright to answer all the questions,
Yep Im all settled into the offices and all. Its a blast! I'm working just a few blocks from downtown centro, but I'm pretty good in the city. Yes, Plaza Independencia is the center of the Old City, a HUGE statue of the national hero (José Artigas) with a memorial below of a vase with his ashes and guards around and all that its pretty cool. Its located where the old palace was located originally (all thats left of it is the draw bridge gate behind the statue).
When Uruguay lost to Holanda, it actually wasn't too sad. The Uruguayos didn't have 3of their main players (2 injuries and 1 red card), and Holanda played REALLY REALLY well, so they were just happy they'd made it into the final 4. Today we play Germany, so as long as we play better against them than Argentina did, Uruguay will be in massive celebration...even if we lose. (Its possible that Uruguay hates Argentina more than loves itself....FYI dad haha) Last World Cup they didn't even get to play AT ALL, and everyone had them losing their first match against France, so every game has been a miracle and people are happy whatever happens.
Yep, I have my drivers license! Best recuerdo EVER! Driving in Montevideo is a lot like pod-racing in Star Wars. Thats the best comparison I can think of. The bigger, faster, and more tactical vehicle wins right-of-way. The lanes really don't mean anything and in most places aren't marked. There are NO traffic cops. Honestly I have never seen nor met someone that had ever seen someone get pulled over. haha its so much fun actually to be flooring it weaving in and out of cars. Its wonderful chaos. When you guys come to visit, mom will have to keep a blindfold on haha.
The chapel isn't on a corner, it's about 50m towards centro from Suarez on calle Artigas. Its yellow.
The temple is located in Carrasco, in the nicest and richest neighborhood in the country! The mission home is attached (backyard is the temple!) You should go visit the President too. He and his wife would love a visit, and they're pretty cool people :) I'll ask Sister Heaton if she forgot any US spices or something haha
My local phone number for the mission office is 022042703.
My Pday this week was yesterday instead of today because Elder Jimenez, one of the APs, had a birthday, so we went to the Parliament building for a tour (not open Sat's,, but we were late and missed the tour anyways ha) and for lunch Sister Heaton invited us all over for a DELICIOUS roast, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad, rolls, etc... It was like Sunday dinner back home!!!!!!!
Thats funny one of the moms called Prez for something. Please never call unless its a HUGE emergency, and even then use good judgement... Its RIDICULOUS the things parents call for.
Yep, I had gotten everything in those packages a few weeks ago, sorry I didn't answer that!
Eesh, out of time! Have a great week all, I love you all, keep working hard and having fun!!!
Elder Magnusson
Saturday, July 3, 2010
July 3, 2010
Whew, this was a CRAAAAZZZZYYYY week!!!
Changes were crazy enough, but this week we had to say bye to Pres. Peterson and his family (the temple President and wife took them to the airport) and we got to pick up the new President and his wife. Next week me and Elder Bell, the Financial Secretary are taking the President and his wife to Punta del Este to get all 3 of our licenses (and maybe convince the Pres. to splurge for lunch at a nice place) ;-) hehe It'll be a blast going on a mini roadtrip.
President Heaton is GREAT and so is his wife. She's such a sweet lady! He's very very quiet, humble, thoughtful man from southern Utah. There are already some HUGE changes happening in the mission (and in the area as a whole as the area presidency also changed) so we'll see how things turn out in the next few months. It'll be interesting for sure. Maybe I'll get to tour the country with some general authorities!!!!!!! That would be a SWEET roadtrip hahaha
The first day the President was here we spent half the day showing how to work all the systems and everything since when the President of a mission changes, they only see eachother for about 1.5 hrs and cannot talk about problems or give hints or anything. They start with a blank sheet of paper. It was a sad day because missionay after missionary kept calling with problem after problem while they were just trying to settle in. I guess God truly qualifies the called!!
Last night was the most exciting of my life I think. Uruguay beat Ghana in the World Cup and now we're in the top 4!! It's a position not reached in like 40 years. The President gave us permission to watch the games if it helps in some way to missionary work, since it's impossible to talk to anyone during a game, and proselyting is a waste of time, SO...we got to see the second half at an inactive members home. It was incredible!!! Ghana took out the US last game, and this one they were playing SUPER dirty. It was tied in the end so it went into an extra 30 mintues and since they were still tied, it went into penalty kicks. Uruguay has some of the best hard hitters in the world, and THE best goalie in the world, so we beat them and we're going to the semi-finals. We play Holland next game.
Afterwards, it was REALLY unsafe to be outside, so we sprinted back to the house early and worked on our map of the area. The entire population of Montevideo was throwing confetti, fireworks, screaming in the streets, running around crazy, screaming... it was the most exciting night in the history of my life. Crazy crazy crazy... I wish I'd had my camera on me. We were dodging fireworks blowing up constantly everywhere, people dancing on top of cars, taxis filled with 10 people hanging out the windows and on top flying by holding their horns, etc... It was just absolutely insane. Look up on youtube a video from Plaza Independencia when Uruguay won and you'll understand where I was, I'm sure there'd be one up now.
My comp is great, we're having a blast working on a number of projects for the mission. It will be a fun 6 months, although really tough maybe. We'll see :)
COngrats on swimming and all!!!
FYI, I'm in Barrio 5 at Bulevar Artigas y Suarez. The church is called Deseret because it's the oldest church building in all of uruguay, and some say the oldest in South America, although I don't know if that one is true. That could just be Uruguayo pride speaking. The mission office is now connected to the church building behind it.
We found a lady that will be baptized in 2.5 weeks if all works out, and another family that is progressing. We should see lots of success here if only we can get enough proselyting time in (last week we got about 4 hours the entire week, this week about 10). Things are just crazy busy, and this part is all European, so the whole zone usually has single digits baptisms each year. It's WAAAAY different than inside the country.
Yep it's been pretty cold here, except for this last week its been strangely warm :( I havent worn a coat in 4 days, but once the heat wave passes it will be freezing again. All say that the end of July and August are the coldest part of the year, so we'll see how it is.
Keep up the good behavior Colton!!!! Sorry I don't send more letters home to you guys, I really never have time to write letters, so when I do I write to grandma or people that don't get this email :( I'll try to get better at that for sure!
Love you all! Build your testimonies day by day, the best way to do it is to share it!! Work on getting Elder Cypers lots of references. Prepare your friends and co-workers this week to receive the missionaries!
Elder Magnusson
Changes were crazy enough, but this week we had to say bye to Pres. Peterson and his family (the temple President and wife took them to the airport) and we got to pick up the new President and his wife. Next week me and Elder Bell, the Financial Secretary are taking the President and his wife to Punta del Este to get all 3 of our licenses (and maybe convince the Pres. to splurge for lunch at a nice place) ;-) hehe It'll be a blast going on a mini roadtrip.
President Heaton is GREAT and so is his wife. She's such a sweet lady! He's very very quiet, humble, thoughtful man from southern Utah. There are already some HUGE changes happening in the mission (and in the area as a whole as the area presidency also changed) so we'll see how things turn out in the next few months. It'll be interesting for sure. Maybe I'll get to tour the country with some general authorities!!!!!!! That would be a SWEET roadtrip hahaha
The first day the President was here we spent half the day showing how to work all the systems and everything since when the President of a mission changes, they only see eachother for about 1.5 hrs and cannot talk about problems or give hints or anything. They start with a blank sheet of paper. It was a sad day because missionay after missionary kept calling with problem after problem while they were just trying to settle in. I guess God truly qualifies the called!!
Last night was the most exciting of my life I think. Uruguay beat Ghana in the World Cup and now we're in the top 4!! It's a position not reached in like 40 years. The President gave us permission to watch the games if it helps in some way to missionary work, since it's impossible to talk to anyone during a game, and proselyting is a waste of time, SO...we got to see the second half at an inactive members home. It was incredible!!! Ghana took out the US last game, and this one they were playing SUPER dirty. It was tied in the end so it went into an extra 30 mintues and since they were still tied, it went into penalty kicks. Uruguay has some of the best hard hitters in the world, and THE best goalie in the world, so we beat them and we're going to the semi-finals. We play Holland next game.
Afterwards, it was REALLY unsafe to be outside, so we sprinted back to the house early and worked on our map of the area. The entire population of Montevideo was throwing confetti, fireworks, screaming in the streets, running around crazy, screaming... it was the most exciting night in the history of my life. Crazy crazy crazy... I wish I'd had my camera on me. We were dodging fireworks blowing up constantly everywhere, people dancing on top of cars, taxis filled with 10 people hanging out the windows and on top flying by holding their horns, etc... It was just absolutely insane. Look up on youtube a video from Plaza Independencia when Uruguay won and you'll understand where I was, I'm sure there'd be one up now.
My comp is great, we're having a blast working on a number of projects for the mission. It will be a fun 6 months, although really tough maybe. We'll see :)
COngrats on swimming and all!!!
FYI, I'm in Barrio 5 at Bulevar Artigas y Suarez. The church is called Deseret because it's the oldest church building in all of uruguay, and some say the oldest in South America, although I don't know if that one is true. That could just be Uruguayo pride speaking. The mission office is now connected to the church building behind it.
We found a lady that will be baptized in 2.5 weeks if all works out, and another family that is progressing. We should see lots of success here if only we can get enough proselyting time in (last week we got about 4 hours the entire week, this week about 10). Things are just crazy busy, and this part is all European, so the whole zone usually has single digits baptisms each year. It's WAAAAY different than inside the country.
Yep it's been pretty cold here, except for this last week its been strangely warm :( I havent worn a coat in 4 days, but once the heat wave passes it will be freezing again. All say that the end of July and August are the coldest part of the year, so we'll see how it is.
Keep up the good behavior Colton!!!! Sorry I don't send more letters home to you guys, I really never have time to write letters, so when I do I write to grandma or people that don't get this email :( I'll try to get better at that for sure!
Love you all! Build your testimonies day by day, the best way to do it is to share it!! Work on getting Elder Cypers lots of references. Prepare your friends and co-workers this week to receive the missionaries!
Elder Magnusson
June 26, 2010
Hey, my Pday is now Saturday, so email me before then.
I have my own desk, computer, and everything its pretty fun being a secretary :)
Tuesday we're picking up the new President from the airport. I'm pretty stoked to meet them, it'll be fun to get to know them really well. That afternoon, President and Sister Peterson go home, leaving nothing for the new President to pick up on. Its pretty cool that each new President starts with a blank sheet again every time. Then, in October or next April, we're waiting to see Pres. Peterson called as a General Authority. That would be tight.
I got a couple pictures attached now :) My computer is way faster than the cyber ones haha
One is of youth converts, members, and an investigator that came to the bus terminal at midnight to see me off, and the other is of our last baptismal service there in Obelisco, Jennifer and Juan ended up not getting baptized cause Jennifer was really sick, but this Sunday they will be. I was very very sad I got to see them change everything and be a witness at there marriage and then miss their baptism, but I guess we can't see all the fruits of our labors :(
Well, haha I really don't have anything to say, this will be a crazy busy week with a new President, but a lot of fun, too. The area is pretty rough since there hasnt been baptisms in 3 years, and we only have 4 hours every other day to proselyte, but we'll see how things go. We're still shooting for 5 converts this change :)
It is nice to be in Montevideo again though, its such a beautiful city. Next Saturday, me and one of the ap's are going to go visit Sayago since we were both there. Im excited to see how converts are doing.
Have a wonderful week! I love you all!!!
Elder Magnusson
I have my own desk, computer, and everything its pretty fun being a secretary :)
Tuesday we're picking up the new President from the airport. I'm pretty stoked to meet them, it'll be fun to get to know them really well. That afternoon, President and Sister Peterson go home, leaving nothing for the new President to pick up on. Its pretty cool that each new President starts with a blank sheet again every time. Then, in October or next April, we're waiting to see Pres. Peterson called as a General Authority. That would be tight.
I got a couple pictures attached now :) My computer is way faster than the cyber ones haha
One is of youth converts, members, and an investigator that came to the bus terminal at midnight to see me off, and the other is of our last baptismal service there in Obelisco, Jennifer and Juan ended up not getting baptized cause Jennifer was really sick, but this Sunday they will be. I was very very sad I got to see them change everything and be a witness at there marriage and then miss their baptism, but I guess we can't see all the fruits of our labors :(
Well, haha I really don't have anything to say, this will be a crazy busy week with a new President, but a lot of fun, too. The area is pretty rough since there hasnt been baptisms in 3 years, and we only have 4 hours every other day to proselyte, but we'll see how things go. We're still shooting for 5 converts this change :)
It is nice to be in Montevideo again though, its such a beautiful city. Next Saturday, me and one of the ap's are going to go visit Sayago since we were both there. Im excited to see how converts are doing.
Have a wonderful week! I love you all!!!
Elder Magnusson
June 22, 2010
Hey everyone! First of all, Happy Birthdays to Ladybug and Colton, and a Happy Fathers Day to Dad!!! This week was insane but wonderful!
We had a huge baptismal service on Sunday after church and a TON of people came. Members, investigators, etc... just TONS. It was the best baptismal service I'd ever seen. I've had the opportunity to see the ward grow a ton. Now, the work is rolling on, we had 14 new people in church this last week, whereas the first weeks I started there we were pushing for 1 or 2. It is wonderful to now have 4 missionaries here, but unfortunately, the Lord had other plans for me than to keep seeing the fruits :(
I have been assigned as the Mission Executive Secretary for the next 6 months, so I'm going back to my Zone where I started. haha when I have a total of 15 months and leave the office I'll have only been in 2 zones! heh
I'll get to spend the next week in Montevideo with the President before he leaves and then usher in the new President next week, so it will be pretty cool.
It also means I'll be in Montevideo when dad comes! It's a rule that you cannot receive visits from parents, so for sure we couldn't go on divisions or anything, but maybe I can ask President if dad can drop something off in the offices and I can at least say a quick hello :) Or maybe you can go to church in my ward or something haha
I hope you get to go visit Colonia at some point here too, dad! Thats the prettiest part of Uruguay! Durazno isnt in our mission, so I don't know anything about there. Our mission includes Montevideo, Colonia, Rio Negro, Paysandù, Salto, Artigas, Rivera, and Tacuarmbò (a lot of different cities within those departments).
Also, I'll be getting a car next week!!! Which also means I get to go to Punta Del Este to get a license woot!!! haha it will be fun.
Today at 2 the wards throwing me a going away party, so hopefully a bunch of people will come and I won't have to spend the rest of the day visiting people at their houses or anything. I gotta pack eesh! The worst part of the mission is packing haha
Well, I don't know what else to say hahaha, I've been humbled quite a bit, please pray a lot for me, this will certainly be interesting! I'm going to be able to visit all my converts from my first 2 changes so that will be fun. Deo is always a blast anyways, so I'm absolutely excited.
My new comp is named Elder Ashby, but I don't know where he's from or anything. All I've heard is he's amazing, so I'm looking forward to the next 2 changes with him. It should be great.
I'm happy to hear that your business is succeeding and everything, keep working hard!
Have a good week!
Elder Magnusson
P.S. I broke 100 different alfajors this week in my wrapper collection. Quite a feat. WOOT!!
We had a huge baptismal service on Sunday after church and a TON of people came. Members, investigators, etc... just TONS. It was the best baptismal service I'd ever seen. I've had the opportunity to see the ward grow a ton. Now, the work is rolling on, we had 14 new people in church this last week, whereas the first weeks I started there we were pushing for 1 or 2. It is wonderful to now have 4 missionaries here, but unfortunately, the Lord had other plans for me than to keep seeing the fruits :(
I have been assigned as the Mission Executive Secretary for the next 6 months, so I'm going back to my Zone where I started. haha when I have a total of 15 months and leave the office I'll have only been in 2 zones! heh
I'll get to spend the next week in Montevideo with the President before he leaves and then usher in the new President next week, so it will be pretty cool.
It also means I'll be in Montevideo when dad comes! It's a rule that you cannot receive visits from parents, so for sure we couldn't go on divisions or anything, but maybe I can ask President if dad can drop something off in the offices and I can at least say a quick hello :) Or maybe you can go to church in my ward or something haha
I hope you get to go visit Colonia at some point here too, dad! Thats the prettiest part of Uruguay! Durazno isnt in our mission, so I don't know anything about there. Our mission includes Montevideo, Colonia, Rio Negro, Paysandù, Salto, Artigas, Rivera, and Tacuarmbò (a lot of different cities within those departments).
Also, I'll be getting a car next week!!! Which also means I get to go to Punta Del Este to get a license woot!!! haha it will be fun.
Today at 2 the wards throwing me a going away party, so hopefully a bunch of people will come and I won't have to spend the rest of the day visiting people at their houses or anything. I gotta pack eesh! The worst part of the mission is packing haha
Well, I don't know what else to say hahaha, I've been humbled quite a bit, please pray a lot for me, this will certainly be interesting! I'm going to be able to visit all my converts from my first 2 changes so that will be fun. Deo is always a blast anyways, so I'm absolutely excited.
My new comp is named Elder Ashby, but I don't know where he's from or anything. All I've heard is he's amazing, so I'm looking forward to the next 2 changes with him. It should be great.
I'm happy to hear that your business is succeeding and everything, keep working hard!
Have a good week!
Elder Magnusson
P.S. I broke 100 different alfajors this week in my wrapper collection. Quite a feat. WOOT!!
June 14, 2010
Hey family!
Another great week!
Another great baptismal service last Saturday, and another one coming up this Sunday :) Friday we're spending the day in Constitution again getting some people married and Sunday is the grand baptismal service.
For 3 changes I've stayed while the other 3 people always changed, so I'm thinking next Tuesday it's pretty likely that I leave, we'll see! Hopefully I'll stay and kill Elder Lundgren. If I do, maybe I'll stay a 5th change so they don't have to close the area!!!
I'm sooooo excited that dad is coming to Uruguay!! I'm going to ask the President if that will be alright for sure! It'll depend on his word, but since I've never had any obedience problems or anything I doubt he would say no unless he'd had bad experiences with that before. Probably you couldn't take us to lunch if it was going to take a long time, but I bet you could accompany us to lessons. Maybe we could go on divisions for a Pday and I can take you to all the cool touristy places in Deo. I'll have to be in Montevideo at that time unless you want to travel to where I am for a day (but you'd spend up to 14 hours in a bus there and back if I was in a far place, up to you!!). I'll just hope I go to Montevideo next change haha. That's cool that you'll get to learn a bit about the country and it's psycho politics right now and stuff. Will you get to meet with President Pepe Mujica here? hahahahaha he's so ridiculous.
This morning we went to seminary for comp study just like every Pday and this time we taught Alma 5. It also counted as a lesson with member, cause we have 2 investigators (both 17 yr old young men) going to seminary every morning now too haha TOmorrow we're going to invite them to be baptized as well THIS Sunday haha it will be GREAT!!!!
This change went by so incredibly fast I can't believe it's almost over. It was about twice as fast as the others, so I hope it doesn't keep accelerating like this!!!
We're going to see lots of miracles still this month in Salto. Theres a TON of people with dates and TONS of other possibles, so hopefully the other zones are the same and we'll finally reach the monumental goal of 210 baptisms in June to celebrate with the President in his last month.We often have between a fourth and a 3rd of the total baptisms in the mission in Salto alone, so if everyone is on track with that, and all goes well here in Salto, we should get the goal!!!!!!!
Im learning so much in the scriptures right now in Spanish, different things stand out to me in Spanish than in English and it's wonderful studying for a specific purpose and always finding exactly what you needed and then some. The scriptures are probably the 3rd most important thing in the world after 2, a prophet and 1, a testimony. Please use them every day, but not just to read and check off the day. Study with questions and concerns and things have a way of answering themselves. I love the scriptures so much and have found when a lesson is entirely based on scriptures, people understand so much better.
TIme is short, the APs asked us to print off our testimony on the Book of Mormon to send to the President for something, so I gotta go. Let me know whats up with everything up in North America!
Vamo' arriba Uruguay Mundial 2010!!!! We play South Africa Wednesday and we're gonna win. Grats on your win vs. England!
Yep I got the 2 boxes thank you so much!!!! They are fun ones :)
Keep working hard and being happy, good luck in all you do!
Elder Magnusson
Another great week!
Another great baptismal service last Saturday, and another one coming up this Sunday :) Friday we're spending the day in Constitution again getting some people married and Sunday is the grand baptismal service.
For 3 changes I've stayed while the other 3 people always changed, so I'm thinking next Tuesday it's pretty likely that I leave, we'll see! Hopefully I'll stay and kill Elder Lundgren. If I do, maybe I'll stay a 5th change so they don't have to close the area!!!
I'm sooooo excited that dad is coming to Uruguay!! I'm going to ask the President if that will be alright for sure! It'll depend on his word, but since I've never had any obedience problems or anything I doubt he would say no unless he'd had bad experiences with that before. Probably you couldn't take us to lunch if it was going to take a long time, but I bet you could accompany us to lessons. Maybe we could go on divisions for a Pday and I can take you to all the cool touristy places in Deo. I'll have to be in Montevideo at that time unless you want to travel to where I am for a day (but you'd spend up to 14 hours in a bus there and back if I was in a far place, up to you!!). I'll just hope I go to Montevideo next change haha. That's cool that you'll get to learn a bit about the country and it's psycho politics right now and stuff. Will you get to meet with President Pepe Mujica here? hahahahaha he's so ridiculous.
This morning we went to seminary for comp study just like every Pday and this time we taught Alma 5. It also counted as a lesson with member, cause we have 2 investigators (both 17 yr old young men) going to seminary every morning now too haha TOmorrow we're going to invite them to be baptized as well THIS Sunday haha it will be GREAT!!!!
This change went by so incredibly fast I can't believe it's almost over. It was about twice as fast as the others, so I hope it doesn't keep accelerating like this!!!
We're going to see lots of miracles still this month in Salto. Theres a TON of people with dates and TONS of other possibles, so hopefully the other zones are the same and we'll finally reach the monumental goal of 210 baptisms in June to celebrate with the President in his last month.We often have between a fourth and a 3rd of the total baptisms in the mission in Salto alone, so if everyone is on track with that, and all goes well here in Salto, we should get the goal!!!!!!!
Im learning so much in the scriptures right now in Spanish, different things stand out to me in Spanish than in English and it's wonderful studying for a specific purpose and always finding exactly what you needed and then some. The scriptures are probably the 3rd most important thing in the world after 2, a prophet and 1, a testimony. Please use them every day, but not just to read and check off the day. Study with questions and concerns and things have a way of answering themselves. I love the scriptures so much and have found when a lesson is entirely based on scriptures, people understand so much better.
TIme is short, the APs asked us to print off our testimony on the Book of Mormon to send to the President for something, so I gotta go. Let me know whats up with everything up in North America!
Vamo' arriba Uruguay Mundial 2010!!!! We play South Africa Wednesday and we're gonna win. Grats on your win vs. England!
Yep I got the 2 boxes thank you so much!!!! They are fun ones :)
Keep working hard and being happy, good luck in all you do!
Elder Magnusson
June 7, 2010
Hey family!!!
This was a great week again!
All week everything was falling through and with all the problems in the ward and all we spent most of the week in service rather than in lessons. So, we were really worried we wouldn't see many in church on Sunday, but a TON came, it was fantastic! We have baptismal services planned every week this month with a lot of people preparing.
This morning we went to seminary, and 2 youth investigators came! Half the class was either my converts or investigators, and now this ward has the biggest youth program in the stake! I REALLY hope I can stay here longer to see it keep growing, all my mission if possible!!!
We're still teaching the Landlord of the castle here in Salto, and he invited all the youth to play soccer in his walled off field behind on Thursday, and once the word got spread that we were playing there, almost 40 kids came to play and a bunch of them are now going to church too. Hopefully by the time I leave we'll have more than doubled the population of this ward, and we'll have lots of new active leaders and such hahah
I found out everything about whats going on with the Stake right now, why our Bishops relieved, etc... and its pretty bad, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully things will stay somewhat chill!!!
I'm so happy for your business mom, thats so cool!!! I hope it owns and you make bank :) It will be fun to see where it goes!!
I'm jealous you went to the Draper temple, its so beautiful!!! You gotta go inside while you are there. Ya, those big houses up top are way nice. You remember Abby Gifford that came up the cabin? She lives in one of those! Its a BEAUTIFUL house with marble floors and stuff. Maybe when you get rich off your business you can move up there haha
Tomorrow I'll be in a different city all day long. We're taking a couple to be married. They're winning at quitting smoking and getting married the 18th (tomorrow we have to bring witnesses to pull a date) and the 20th will be baptised. Theyre Juan and Jennifer, aged 22 and 24, and have a 7 yr old daughter together. (yeah, he was 15 when he got his 17yr old GF pregnant!!! fua!). Theres no missionaries in this other city and hasn't been for ages, so we're going to look for apartments for rent in our spare time up there and check it out and maybe let the President know it's available heh
All in all, we're seeing lots of success and having lots of fun :)
Have fun at camp, Kayli!! Keep working hard everyone!!!
Love, Elder Magnusson
This was a great week again!
All week everything was falling through and with all the problems in the ward and all we spent most of the week in service rather than in lessons. So, we were really worried we wouldn't see many in church on Sunday, but a TON came, it was fantastic! We have baptismal services planned every week this month with a lot of people preparing.
This morning we went to seminary, and 2 youth investigators came! Half the class was either my converts or investigators, and now this ward has the biggest youth program in the stake! I REALLY hope I can stay here longer to see it keep growing, all my mission if possible!!!
We're still teaching the Landlord of the castle here in Salto, and he invited all the youth to play soccer in his walled off field behind on Thursday, and once the word got spread that we were playing there, almost 40 kids came to play and a bunch of them are now going to church too. Hopefully by the time I leave we'll have more than doubled the population of this ward, and we'll have lots of new active leaders and such hahah
I found out everything about whats going on with the Stake right now, why our Bishops relieved, etc... and its pretty bad, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully things will stay somewhat chill!!!
I'm so happy for your business mom, thats so cool!!! I hope it owns and you make bank :) It will be fun to see where it goes!!
I'm jealous you went to the Draper temple, its so beautiful!!! You gotta go inside while you are there. Ya, those big houses up top are way nice. You remember Abby Gifford that came up the cabin? She lives in one of those! Its a BEAUTIFUL house with marble floors and stuff. Maybe when you get rich off your business you can move up there haha
Tomorrow I'll be in a different city all day long. We're taking a couple to be married. They're winning at quitting smoking and getting married the 18th (tomorrow we have to bring witnesses to pull a date) and the 20th will be baptised. Theyre Juan and Jennifer, aged 22 and 24, and have a 7 yr old daughter together. (yeah, he was 15 when he got his 17yr old GF pregnant!!! fua!). Theres no missionaries in this other city and hasn't been for ages, so we're going to look for apartments for rent in our spare time up there and check it out and maybe let the President know it's available heh
All in all, we're seeing lots of success and having lots of fun :)
Have fun at camp, Kayli!! Keep working hard everyone!!!
Love, Elder Magnusson
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