Sounds like another rough week there, holy cow! Give Colton a big hug from me please. Grandma too! and send Aunt Liz an extra big one.
Here it was a week full of miracles. Leonardo (26) stopped selling drugs a week ago, and said goodbye for good to his girlfriend on Saturday night and was baptised right after church on Sunday. A man named Miguel that we reactivated stopped drinking after Christmas and is now ready to baptise his daughter on Wednesday! On Saturday the bishops mom is getting baptised by him. I think that will be really special. The bishop is so incredible here. He's been my favorite bishop by far. He's going 10 years strong as bishop (since the ward was formed and the building got built), and I think he'll be bishop for a while longer. He's just the best. The following week, another inactive Melchizedek Priesthood holder gets to baptise a daughter. We are working hard in the rescue plan and seeing TONS of miracles because of it. On Sacrament meeting there were so many people they blessed and served 3 times! Lots of people that have been inactive for a long time are coming. The Rescue Plan is going super good here. How is the planning working up there? Is it the same plan?
Next week Josè Marìa and Elvira's mom will be baptised. She has changed EVERYTHING. She went from such deep depression and anger from the abuse of her husband and now is so profoundly happy. She is always smiling and laughing. Those changes are nice to see.
The man who baptised Leo was inactive for the last 6 years and we thought he was normal, but we quickly realized he is not all there. He repeated the baptismal prayer about 300 times in front of us and COULD NOT SAY IT RIGHT hahaha it was so frustrating. When he got in the pila to baptise we had lots of investigators there and all so we were super worried, but by some miracle he said it right the first time and when he went to baptise part of his chest and his entire arm were still above the water and I yelled ¡MAS, JHONNY! and he dunked him to the ground hahahahahahaha it turned out being kinda funny, but I think it was a good experience for him to use his Priesthood.
President went out to work with us last week and it was a lot of fun. We had some good lessons and gave out baptismal dates like no other. The President has a really humble and sincere way of speaking that touched our investigators very strongly. The only bad part was when we were talking with our neightboors in front of the house about 8 kids across the street started to throw rocks super hard at us. They flew past us in every direccion breaking on the fence and house wall, dozens of rocks, but the President just kept testifying and didn't even notice. We felt a little bit like Samuel the Lamanite. I had desires (how do you say ganas in english?) to curse those little demons, send some she-bears or something after them.
Elder Grau called me last night to say good bye. He goes home tomorrow morning. He's sending me a DVD player and a bunch of other stuff, including a mini Preach my Gospel in spanish thats only found in Paraguay. We are to write our name in the cover and pass it down to our oldest son forever. A good tradition haha :) Dang, he left a good legacy, I'm going to miss him a lot!
On the mission I've grown to love the scriptures so much. I always read the scriptures pretty good, but I prided myself in knowing who was the son of who and what year so and so died, now I realize how much more the scriptures are than a history book. The power that the Book of Mormon has to change someone's life in one night is surreal. All it takes is a sincere heart, real intention, and faith in Christ, and throught the spirit, God can manifest it truthfullness. I have learned that any doubt we ever have can just be thrown right back onto the Book of Mormon. If it's true, so is ANYTHING the prophet teaches us. I love that book so much and I hope you have maintained family reading! Its so important!!!!
I love you all, keep your chins up and be happy, work hard, and Choose the Right. Let the fire come, you will only that much more pure afterwards.
Elder Magnusson
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
February 7, 2011
Thanks for the letters haha:)
I'm glad to hear the kids are owning in sports. I'm sorry to hear Uncle Tom isn't doing too well, but God's will shall be done. You never need to call the President, no matter how bad anything ever happens, even within my own immediate family. An email will always be enough. He has too many other things to worry about.
Dad, it's sorta funny imagining you hooked up to a machine to sleep. hahahaha good luck, I'll have to try it out when I get home. Fortunately, I think that gene (from both of you) skipped me. I sleep all night every night and my comps haven't heard me ever snore, they say I just sometimes laugh in my sleep. They say it's creepy, but it's not like I try to.
It's interesting hearing about your crazy weather changes there, we are going through the same thing. 3 days ago, it broke 120, and then the following morning, we had frost and I wore a sweatshirt in studies. People here are super paranoid too,and so all they talk about is how the world is going to end in 2012. I've gotten tired of explaining that it's not, so anytime people ask if it will end then I just say "I hope so" now :) The times are sure changing fast, though.
I also couldn't believe Kayli's schedule. Dang, it's weird to think how close she is to graduating.
I'm glad you found a connection to Quinn! That's so cool! I can't wait to hear his stories when he gets back. That will be super fun!
This last week we saw many blessings long-awaited for. Elvira was baptised and bore her testimony and promised in her testimony to prepare to serve a mission. This week she has divisions a couple times with the sister missionaries here in Tbo. Her desires to share the gospel have influenced me a lot already and she is going to change a lot of lives. This Sunday Leonardo gets baptised. His buddy Jhonny was inactive, but on Saturday we asked him to come to the baptism to say a prayer and he came, then on Sunday he came, and all Sunday afternoon he went out to work with us. He went inactive because he was told he can't serve a mission a year ago because he has a brain tumor and takes heavy meds to keep problems down. On Sunday he gets to baptise his buddy. Sunday night we also found a youn g blind man. He was military officer that because of diabetes he lost his vision a year ago. Military has huge benefits and he sold his big farm out in the country and now has a BEAUTIFUL home where he lives alone. His older brother comes every morning and night to make food and clean a bit. We challenged him to come to church on Sunday just to feel the Spirit and he thanked us for helping him to believe in God again. Jhonny did such a good job he taught most of the lesson.
We had been given 15 families to reactivate and this last week we had time to really focus on 4 of them. All came to church Sunday and the ward JUMPED to greet them!!! The bishop stood in the doorway (he's such a stud, he stands outside the church every sunday morning to greet people) with a HUGE grin on his face. The chapel was full and 2 of the less actives couples went up to bear testimony. We are using them to find new people too. One man is named Miguel that has (and his wife and 5 kids) been inactive for 4 years due to alcohol. His family haven't all come back and his wife gives little support, but he has repented and prepared to baptise his daughter on the 19th! And then we also found the brother of the stake president inactive and him his wife and 4 kids are coming to church and he will baptise his daughter on the 26th!
Also, we found a couple that are already married, he was raised in the church but went inactive around age 8 or 9 and was never baptised, and his wife has a ton of family in the ward. They went for the first time to church yesterday and the ward was so welcoming! Tonight we have a lesson with them to give them a baptismal date for the 26th. President Heaton is going to spend the afternoon on divisions with us today, because tomorrow is zone conference! I LOVE zone conference.
We have been doing a reference activity with the members and have 7 members families working with their neighbors without us. They are visiting regularly 22 people and teaching them the lessons we taught them, preparing them to hear us. It's so much more effective to joyfully teach members how to find references than to be one of those missionaries that complains how lame the ward is because they don't automatically work. I've learned a lot about how to get people excited and working in the mission and I am stoked to apply that to the rest of my life.
Well I wrote the novel today, just because I have so much to say I actually wrote the whole 30 minutes haha I love you all so much and I pray for you daily. The church is true. Jesus is the Christ, and we are to be his disciples. When he told us that, it was a commandment, not a simple invitation. I love the Lord and I know he is carrying you through each and every one of your trials, be it big or small. Just be worthy of that or you will lose it, and we cannot afford to lose it. Never be a murmurer.
Elder Magnusson
I'm glad to hear the kids are owning in sports. I'm sorry to hear Uncle Tom isn't doing too well, but God's will shall be done. You never need to call the President, no matter how bad anything ever happens, even within my own immediate family. An email will always be enough. He has too many other things to worry about.
Dad, it's sorta funny imagining you hooked up to a machine to sleep. hahahaha good luck, I'll have to try it out when I get home. Fortunately, I think that gene (from both of you) skipped me. I sleep all night every night and my comps haven't heard me ever snore, they say I just sometimes laugh in my sleep. They say it's creepy, but it's not like I try to.
It's interesting hearing about your crazy weather changes there, we are going through the same thing. 3 days ago, it broke 120, and then the following morning, we had frost and I wore a sweatshirt in studies. People here are super paranoid too,and so all they talk about is how the world is going to end in 2012. I've gotten tired of explaining that it's not, so anytime people ask if it will end then I just say "I hope so" now :) The times are sure changing fast, though.
I also couldn't believe Kayli's schedule. Dang, it's weird to think how close she is to graduating.
I'm glad you found a connection to Quinn! That's so cool! I can't wait to hear his stories when he gets back. That will be super fun!
This last week we saw many blessings long-awaited for. Elvira was baptised and bore her testimony and promised in her testimony to prepare to serve a mission. This week she has divisions a couple times with the sister missionaries here in Tbo. Her desires to share the gospel have influenced me a lot already and she is going to change a lot of lives. This Sunday Leonardo gets baptised. His buddy Jhonny was inactive, but on Saturday we asked him to come to the baptism to say a prayer and he came, then on Sunday he came, and all Sunday afternoon he went out to work with us. He went inactive because he was told he can't serve a mission a year ago because he has a brain tumor and takes heavy meds to keep problems down. On Sunday he gets to baptise his buddy. Sunday night we also found a youn g blind man. He was military officer that because of diabetes he lost his vision a year ago. Military has huge benefits and he sold his big farm out in the country and now has a BEAUTIFUL home where he lives alone. His older brother comes every morning and night to make food and clean a bit. We challenged him to come to church on Sunday just to feel the Spirit and he thanked us for helping him to believe in God again. Jhonny did such a good job he taught most of the lesson.
We had been given 15 families to reactivate and this last week we had time to really focus on 4 of them. All came to church Sunday and the ward JUMPED to greet them!!! The bishop stood in the doorway (he's such a stud, he stands outside the church every sunday morning to greet people) with a HUGE grin on his face. The chapel was full and 2 of the less actives couples went up to bear testimony. We are using them to find new people too. One man is named Miguel that has (and his wife and 5 kids) been inactive for 4 years due to alcohol. His family haven't all come back and his wife gives little support, but he has repented and prepared to baptise his daughter on the 19th! And then we also found the brother of the stake president inactive and him his wife and 4 kids are coming to church and he will baptise his daughter on the 26th!
Also, we found a couple that are already married, he was raised in the church but went inactive around age 8 or 9 and was never baptised, and his wife has a ton of family in the ward. They went for the first time to church yesterday and the ward was so welcoming! Tonight we have a lesson with them to give them a baptismal date for the 26th. President Heaton is going to spend the afternoon on divisions with us today, because tomorrow is zone conference! I LOVE zone conference.
We have been doing a reference activity with the members and have 7 members families working with their neighbors without us. They are visiting regularly 22 people and teaching them the lessons we taught them, preparing them to hear us. It's so much more effective to joyfully teach members how to find references than to be one of those missionaries that complains how lame the ward is because they don't automatically work. I've learned a lot about how to get people excited and working in the mission and I am stoked to apply that to the rest of my life.
Well I wrote the novel today, just because I have so much to say I actually wrote the whole 30 minutes haha I love you all so much and I pray for you daily. The church is true. Jesus is the Christ, and we are to be his disciples. When he told us that, it was a commandment, not a simple invitation. I love the Lord and I know he is carrying you through each and every one of your trials, be it big or small. Just be worthy of that or you will lose it, and we cannot afford to lose it. Never be a murmurer.
Elder Magnusson
January 31, 2011
Empty inbox, come on, guys! :)
This was another great week! Some of the great things that happened:
I ate armadillo for the first time. They gifted me the back shell thing too, so I'll get to show proof. It was super delicious and an addition to the crazy things we eat. I don't know if it's legal to hunt them in the states, so no promise that I'll make it for you. I've come to learn on the mission that pretty much everything is edible.
I had fallen in love with milk straight from the cow, but Sister Heaton says I need to boil it always. It doesn't taste as good after being boiled, but I guess I can make butter with the nata that comes up. I learned how to make the most incredible hot chocolate in the world, so prepare yourselves.
Marìa Alvira is getting baptised this weekend. Also, we've set a marriage date in May for a man and his wife (Ramon and Nury, in their 40's) to be married and then he and the 5 kids will be baptised (she's wasn't active for the last 20 years or so). We promised him work if he went to church and went for the first time last week, and got excellent work with Saturdays and Sundays off. The Lord listed to our prayers. Its interesting that you can follow the spirit and promise blessings and the Lord justifies you. It is a powerful feeling.
Our ward mission leader is about to be released, he should be getting his mission call any day now.
Today we left the house right when we got up and went fishing at the river. I only caught one little tiny sucker, and threw him back, and my comp caught a really nasty little fish, so we just going to buy lunch today. We went with the priest and teachers quorum. They jumped in the river at the end and had a good ol time throwing mud at us on the bank. It was pretty funny. It was so pretty there we took some great photos! We went on bike and the bikes we borrowed were so junky the chain came off, so on of the priests put his hand on my back and pedaled hard and pulled the 2 haha It turned out to be one of the funnest P-Days ever. I can't wait to shower though I am very dirty.
Every day I'm recognizing more and more how beautiful a city and country this is. Out here where there isn't a whole lot of people, buildings, and all that it's wonderful I am pretty dang blessed to be here.
Leonardo is progressing to baptism, the only thing keeping him still and old drug clients are bugging him pretty bad (he's a pretty big drug dealer here) and so during lessons every 5 minutes there a knock at the door. We'll see if he can make it in February. He finished the Book of Mormon and reads a TON every day, more than I do in studies and all and has a really strong testimony, it's just hard to get out of all that. The first step was stopping using drugs, now he's got to keep the law and not sell. I think to my life before the mission when I thought the world was going down when I saw on the news someone caught for drugs or something, and now here I am having made best friends with drug dealers and murderers. Another main investigator, Rafael, this week we found out that he too committed murder, so here's another long repentence process to kick into gear. Dang, sometimes I wonder why God prepares the toughest people to receive us. They get so close and then something keeps them. Marìa the older one is getting baptised in 2 weeks, possibly with Josè Marìa and Marìa Elvira's mom. We are working with her to get the legal stuff done so that she can leave the house haha
Tomorrow we finally get the 15 names of inactives that we are to visit. Is it the same plan everywhere in the world, or just in this area for 2011: Rescue! We are to reactivate these people and Elder Arnold promised us that if we focused on this we would find lots of nonmembers to work with to baptism. So, we will be obedient to the plan and hope that everything turns out good. Hopefully we'll see plenty of miracles :)
I love you all and hope that as soon as you get this you write me a big long letter and send it to the gmail so that they print it and I get it tomorrow. You have to do it fast though!
God lives. This is His church. It's the only one with the fullness of the Gospel restored. I love it. Work hard, be happy!
Besitos, Elder Magnusson
January 24, 2011
I'm glad to hear that the funeral went well! I'm also glad that this week was a little calmer.
This week was incredible for us! After a lot of enduring, we saw tons of miracles. Josès oldest sister Marìa Alvira (22) is only in town on Sundays, because she's studying Business Administration out of town. Last week she went to the baptism and confirmation of her brother and felt the spirit really strong, so we gifted her a Book of Mormon and she read it all week and received her answer and when we met with her after church Sunday she asked when she could be baptised, because the Spirit had brought her to tears when she asked if it was true. She also said that her goal is now to serve a mission as well :) She is a HUGE miracle and an answer to many prayers. Her baptism is on the fifth.
We reactivated a man that was the Young Mens Pres a few years ago, and now he's come every week for a month and quit drinking and all, so in a couple weeks he gets to baptise his daughter as well!
We also found a lady named Marìa that reminds me a ton of grandma the way she cooks, the way she talks, the smell of her house, and all hahah She had been going to church regularly when the missionaries both left and she never got baptised. She knew all the doctrine and all, and now is preparing for baptism the 19th :)
A family of 5 that we've been teaching for a while finally came to church the first time after nearly a month. They are one of the few in the neighborhood with a car, so that made it easier haha They LOVED it and we have a lesson tonight with them to set a baptismal date. The mother, father, and oldest son will, the younger 2 sons are 7 and 6 mo.
We are also visiting the wife and children of a high priest that was excommunicated a while ago. The bishop is working with him, and we are preparing his family now. His wife and son came to church yesterday. We also have a lesson with them today to set a baptismal date.
I have come to see that the blessings always come after the trial of faith, which is sometimes pretty exhausting.
Let Sister Beeston know that Steven is doing well hahaha we send eachother a letter at least every other week or so :) I'm glad to hear that Karl is dating someone, but in Idaho? Has he actually met her?? How is Will doing? Trevor back yet?
Any marriages or engagements? How are Devin and Haley's twins?
Tell Matt and Shelly congrats for me!
Dad, I kinda laughed about the sleep apnea thing hahahaha not much of a shocker.
How are Dad and Jason coming along with the work hunts?
Me and Elder Harris are doing great, he's been a huge blessing to me. He forgot the names by which he's related to me at home again, so we'll try to remember next week!
Hope Kaylis and Grandma had good birthdays! Almost yours, mom...heh
I love you all very much! Prepare some friends for the missionaries. Work hard this week in all you do! It's a miracle that the Lord lets us, being so imperfect, do this perfect work. We've got to make it happen.
Elder Magnusson
This week was incredible for us! After a lot of enduring, we saw tons of miracles. Josès oldest sister Marìa Alvira (22) is only in town on Sundays, because she's studying Business Administration out of town. Last week she went to the baptism and confirmation of her brother and felt the spirit really strong, so we gifted her a Book of Mormon and she read it all week and received her answer and when we met with her after church Sunday she asked when she could be baptised, because the Spirit had brought her to tears when she asked if it was true. She also said that her goal is now to serve a mission as well :) She is a HUGE miracle and an answer to many prayers. Her baptism is on the fifth.
We reactivated a man that was the Young Mens Pres a few years ago, and now he's come every week for a month and quit drinking and all, so in a couple weeks he gets to baptise his daughter as well!
We also found a lady named Marìa that reminds me a ton of grandma the way she cooks, the way she talks, the smell of her house, and all hahah She had been going to church regularly when the missionaries both left and she never got baptised. She knew all the doctrine and all, and now is preparing for baptism the 19th :)
A family of 5 that we've been teaching for a while finally came to church the first time after nearly a month. They are one of the few in the neighborhood with a car, so that made it easier haha They LOVED it and we have a lesson tonight with them to set a baptismal date. The mother, father, and oldest son will, the younger 2 sons are 7 and 6 mo.
We are also visiting the wife and children of a high priest that was excommunicated a while ago. The bishop is working with him, and we are preparing his family now. His wife and son came to church yesterday. We also have a lesson with them today to set a baptismal date.
I have come to see that the blessings always come after the trial of faith, which is sometimes pretty exhausting.
Let Sister Beeston know that Steven is doing well hahaha we send eachother a letter at least every other week or so :) I'm glad to hear that Karl is dating someone, but in Idaho? Has he actually met her?? How is Will doing? Trevor back yet?
Any marriages or engagements? How are Devin and Haley's twins?
Tell Matt and Shelly congrats for me!
Dad, I kinda laughed about the sleep apnea thing hahahaha not much of a shocker.
How are Dad and Jason coming along with the work hunts?
Me and Elder Harris are doing great, he's been a huge blessing to me. He forgot the names by which he's related to me at home again, so we'll try to remember next week!
Hope Kaylis and Grandma had good birthdays! Almost yours, mom...heh
I love you all very much! Prepare some friends for the missionaries. Work hard this week in all you do! It's a miracle that the Lord lets us, being so imperfect, do this perfect work. We've got to make it happen.
Elder Magnusson
January 18, 2011
Wow, Giffords is still hanging on there! Is she expected to make a full recovery? What a miracle!
I can't believe Shane died. Even less on a hang glider. That was his favorite thing in the world. How is his family? Dang, that is so weird how the world is changing. The mission is like a time warp, you go in and lose yourself in the work for 2 years and go back and everything is so different. Fortunately I have lots of time still :) Wow, that's so crazy, poor Shane. Thank goodness for the Plan of Salvation.
We had a phenomenal week this last week. O ya, We got the change news last night I am staying with my son :) Thank goodness too because after a tough change we saw so many miracles these last few days! On Saturday was Josè Marìa's baptism. He's 14 and his mom is our key investigator in the family, but she can't leave the house legally for calls of abuse by her husband who abondoned them almost 4 months ago. So, she is stuck inside. However, the oldest daughter (22) came with the other siblings and she had been pretty anti since she's very catholic, but came and felt the spirit and her and almost all their brothers and sisters will be baptised the 5th of Feb. The mom will follow towards the end of March when the trials and such are over. She's a valiant lady!
Miriam and her son Nacho (Ignacio) are progressing well too, and will also be baptised on the 5th. Also, a super rich lady and her daughter named Griselda and Adara the same day. It's so hard to bring strong priesthood members into the church here hahaha If they aren't married, they work out of town on weekends, and if not that, they've committed a grave crime. So, hahahaha we are still in the search, but for now we continue working with a lot of fatherless families.
Saturday we found another lady that had received the lessons a while ago and was going to church and all, but the missionaries closed the area and noone ever came back. She'd had a date and all but they had left so she never got baptised. We invited her to be baptised on the 12th and she acepted, so we've got a LOT of work to do these next couple weeks!!!!!
Friday night I got a phone call from 2 loud ladies that said Surprise! We're in Tacuarembo! It was Rossana and Mary. They "surprised" by coming up and ran into some sister missionaries in centro who gave them my phone number. So, right away I called President to see what to do haha cause I had 0 idea. He said to just follow the Spirit, so I invited them to the baptism and church and came and participated really well. It was just super awkward as a missionary to have 2 ladies come to see you. And then they called at like 11pm to say they arrived safely in Deo on Sunday and I explained that they couldn't call me and they promised not to, and then last night at about the same time they called again to tell me that Elder Stevens is coming to Tacuarembo too...so I don't think they get it quite hahaha I REALLY hope they don't try to come and visit again. Cause that is NOT okay eesh. Pres. said to have patience.
I hope you get that job, dad! That would be sweet! If you can wait to get transferred and moved until late October I would appreciate it, though! :)
We are being so blessed right now and I am grateful for the opportunity to be in this city right now. It's a good place and these are good people. I love them a lot for being able to see them grow and change.
Have patience with all the difficulties there in Tucson. These are the last days and they are going to be hard. We've seen nothing yet. I love you all! Have a good week and send me some letters :)
Elder Magnusson
I can't believe Shane died. Even less on a hang glider. That was his favorite thing in the world. How is his family? Dang, that is so weird how the world is changing. The mission is like a time warp, you go in and lose yourself in the work for 2 years and go back and everything is so different. Fortunately I have lots of time still :) Wow, that's so crazy, poor Shane. Thank goodness for the Plan of Salvation.
We had a phenomenal week this last week. O ya, We got the change news last night I am staying with my son :) Thank goodness too because after a tough change we saw so many miracles these last few days! On Saturday was Josè Marìa's baptism. He's 14 and his mom is our key investigator in the family, but she can't leave the house legally for calls of abuse by her husband who abondoned them almost 4 months ago. So, she is stuck inside. However, the oldest daughter (22) came with the other siblings and she had been pretty anti since she's very catholic, but came and felt the spirit and her and almost all their brothers and sisters will be baptised the 5th of Feb. The mom will follow towards the end of March when the trials and such are over. She's a valiant lady!
Miriam and her son Nacho (Ignacio) are progressing well too, and will also be baptised on the 5th. Also, a super rich lady and her daughter named Griselda and Adara the same day. It's so hard to bring strong priesthood members into the church here hahaha If they aren't married, they work out of town on weekends, and if not that, they've committed a grave crime. So, hahahaha we are still in the search, but for now we continue working with a lot of fatherless families.
Saturday we found another lady that had received the lessons a while ago and was going to church and all, but the missionaries closed the area and noone ever came back. She'd had a date and all but they had left so she never got baptised. We invited her to be baptised on the 12th and she acepted, so we've got a LOT of work to do these next couple weeks!!!!!
Friday night I got a phone call from 2 loud ladies that said Surprise! We're in Tacuarembo! It was Rossana and Mary. They "surprised" by coming up and ran into some sister missionaries in centro who gave them my phone number. So, right away I called President to see what to do haha cause I had 0 idea. He said to just follow the Spirit, so I invited them to the baptism and church and came and participated really well. It was just super awkward as a missionary to have 2 ladies come to see you. And then they called at like 11pm to say they arrived safely in Deo on Sunday and I explained that they couldn't call me and they promised not to, and then last night at about the same time they called again to tell me that Elder Stevens is coming to Tacuarembo too...so I don't think they get it quite hahaha I REALLY hope they don't try to come and visit again. Cause that is NOT okay eesh. Pres. said to have patience.
I hope you get that job, dad! That would be sweet! If you can wait to get transferred and moved until late October I would appreciate it, though! :)
We are being so blessed right now and I am grateful for the opportunity to be in this city right now. It's a good place and these are good people. I love them a lot for being able to see them grow and change.
Have patience with all the difficulties there in Tucson. These are the last days and they are going to be hard. We've seen nothing yet. I love you all! Have a good week and send me some letters :)
Elder Magnusson
January 10, 2011
Holy cow I heard about the shooting here! A member in my ward heard and knew I was from Tucson, so he printed me off a list online of the names of people dead and in the hospital and I saw Gabrielle Giffords` name. Thats so weird to think. I shook her hand!!! I'm glad a few people had the courage to take the guy down. It makes me mad to think that the world is getting so dangerous on my own home turf. I've seen it in the mission plenty, but when a person mentions the US here, it's practically a holy land of money, opportunity, etc... don't think of that sort of thing. What kind of man calls war on his own people?
This week was another week of lots of trials, until SUnday turned out GREAT! Josè Marìa will be baptised on Saturday, the following Saturday Miriam and Nacho, and the following Griselda and Sophìa, and Pablo. All good families. This changed we've struggled so much because we concentrated on bringing adult male future melchizedek priesthood to the gospel and one committed murder, one works in another city on SUndays where there's no church, and the rest aren't married and can't get married for a long time. It's been a challenge, but with the trials have come many blessings! The lady Griselda thats getting baptised just happened to have a best friend ex-missionary in Montevideo who just happened to come up to visit her and her family the week after finding them and could join us in lessons and take her to church and all. SO many miracles.
We are using a GREAT reference activity with every single member in our area now and are getting TONS. THe beauty of it is we don't do hardly anything. We teach them how to present a message of the gospel that fits in with their needs exactly. We talk about each person they know and the last one we did was a family that this week has 8 different people they are preparing. It is going to do wonders, I just hope I can stay a little while here to see some fruits haha we'll see. Changes are next week already. My kid is a STUD. He taught me a ton and I am excited for him. I assume I'll stay here for another change, but who knows!
I cannot find my camera charger anywhere, so if I can't find a new one this week to buy I'm gonna ask that you send me one. FOrtunately my comp has taken a bunch cause I have no pics from this change.
I love Tacuarembo and am learning the value of love and patience with people. Helping someone to change their life and have faith a perseverence to get over addictions, regret, hate, etc... That's what the work of the Lord is all about I think, is reminding people of the promises they made with God before this life and giving them the tools to make such miracles happen. It's somehting that you can do on that side of the work too. Make good things happen! I love you all dearly!
Elder Magnusson
p.s. We have the same relation going back to James Magnusson. I'm a descendent of Peter, and him from his sister.
This week was another week of lots of trials, until SUnday turned out GREAT! Josè Marìa will be baptised on Saturday, the following Saturday Miriam and Nacho, and the following Griselda and Sophìa, and Pablo. All good families. This changed we've struggled so much because we concentrated on bringing adult male future melchizedek priesthood to the gospel and one committed murder, one works in another city on SUndays where there's no church, and the rest aren't married and can't get married for a long time. It's been a challenge, but with the trials have come many blessings! The lady Griselda thats getting baptised just happened to have a best friend ex-missionary in Montevideo who just happened to come up to visit her and her family the week after finding them and could join us in lessons and take her to church and all. SO many miracles.
We are using a GREAT reference activity with every single member in our area now and are getting TONS. THe beauty of it is we don't do hardly anything. We teach them how to present a message of the gospel that fits in with their needs exactly. We talk about each person they know and the last one we did was a family that this week has 8 different people they are preparing. It is going to do wonders, I just hope I can stay a little while here to see some fruits haha we'll see. Changes are next week already. My kid is a STUD. He taught me a ton and I am excited for him. I assume I'll stay here for another change, but who knows!
I cannot find my camera charger anywhere, so if I can't find a new one this week to buy I'm gonna ask that you send me one. FOrtunately my comp has taken a bunch cause I have no pics from this change.
I love Tacuarembo and am learning the value of love and patience with people. Helping someone to change their life and have faith a perseverence to get over addictions, regret, hate, etc... That's what the work of the Lord is all about I think, is reminding people of the promises they made with God before this life and giving them the tools to make such miracles happen. It's somehting that you can do on that side of the work too. Make good things happen! I love you all dearly!
Elder Magnusson
p.s. We have the same relation going back to James Magnusson. I'm a descendent of Peter, and him from his sister.
December 31, 2010
Sorry my cpu time is weird right now. Next time I'll write will be the 10th. Pday changes with the holidays. The cyber closes in 15 minutes so this one will be short!
This week was fantastic until today was a pretty hard trial. Our golden investigator Oscar that had changed EVERYTHING for his baptism tomorrow had his interview this morning and it turns out he had committed murder when he was 23, so now he has some higher repenting to do. He has to write to the First Presidency and he is extremely depressed about it all and is not sure he can go through all that again. Please pray a ton for him!
Cristiàn (18) will be baptised this week and the following week a few other investigators are preparing for baptism, including his two brothers and father.
We're spending a lot of time with a family of a mom and 6 kids whose father left them all 2 months ago. They are progressing a ton and are really good people. They love church and are working hard to stay happy and united as a family.
We're teaching a lady named Griselda and her daughter that are in a part of our area that missionaries have not been to very much. They are reading several chapters every night and already received their answer this last week. We challenged them to baptism the last week of January.
Theres so many great people here I am loving this area. We are facing our share of trials with everything, but the Lord blesses us so much afterward, so I'm looking forward to some pretty grand miracles next week haha
I love the mission and my comp (we discovered we are related) is doing GREAT! I love you all, it was great talking to you, and I hope you enjoy a happy new years!!! We're going to spend it with the Araùjo family.
Love,
Elder Magnusson
This week was fantastic until today was a pretty hard trial. Our golden investigator Oscar that had changed EVERYTHING for his baptism tomorrow had his interview this morning and it turns out he had committed murder when he was 23, so now he has some higher repenting to do. He has to write to the First Presidency and he is extremely depressed about it all and is not sure he can go through all that again. Please pray a ton for him!
Cristiàn (18) will be baptised this week and the following week a few other investigators are preparing for baptism, including his two brothers and father.
We're spending a lot of time with a family of a mom and 6 kids whose father left them all 2 months ago. They are progressing a ton and are really good people. They love church and are working hard to stay happy and united as a family.
We're teaching a lady named Griselda and her daughter that are in a part of our area that missionaries have not been to very much. They are reading several chapters every night and already received their answer this last week. We challenged them to baptism the last week of January.
Theres so many great people here I am loving this area. We are facing our share of trials with everything, but the Lord blesses us so much afterward, so I'm looking forward to some pretty grand miracles next week haha
I love the mission and my comp (we discovered we are related) is doing GREAT! I love you all, it was great talking to you, and I hope you enjoy a happy new years!!! We're going to spend it with the Araùjo family.
Love,
Elder Magnusson
December 20, 2010
It was a fantastic week here in Tacuarembo. SUPER hot and humid, but BEAUTIFUL! Everything is so green right now. Unfortunately, however, these last 2 days have been full of rain. AFter 3 months of drought not a cloud in the sky, these last 2 Sundays it has rained! It's tough for investigators to walk so far in mud and the rain with sick children, so I really hope next Sunday clears up a bit. Oscar, who got deported from New Jersey 2 months ago after his wife died, came to church on his brother-in-law`s moto this Sunday and is progressing REALLY well! He's an incredible guy with an incredible story and he's getting baptised on New Years Day!
Before I forget, please call me at 3pm on Christmas (my time). My number is 463-21046. My address is Diego Lamas 921 (casi Rep. Argentina). That road from one end to the other end and everything on either side is my area. It is LONG and there is NO shade hahaha but right in the middle is a house that sells ice cream for 1 peso (about a nickel) that we buy just about every time we pass it (3-4 times per day or more) haha If you can see houses on google earth its a house with lots of land around it, painted pink with red heart metal rejas (no idea how to say that in english) in the windows. Maybe they'll send sisters here soon. heh
We met our next door neighbors yesterday! Its a father that lives along, but during the summers, his 17 yr old son is now here from his mom's in Montevideo. He asked us to pass by and practice english. Turns out he (the son) goes to a private bilingual school and speaks pretty much perfect. We taught the Restoration in english, it was sweet! Amazingly enough, most of our strongest investigators speak english! It's pretty rare haha especially out in the middle of nowhere!
A funny story this week... Elder Harris was showering when he shouted out of nowhere to hurry and come over and when I went there was a tarantula in the shower hahahaha Then we looked over at the splashing coming from the toilet, and a frog had swam up the line and had leaped out onto the seat. All the creatures decided to invade at once.
This week there was a Christmas concert where a choir from our Stake and a choir from the Catholic school sung together, a huge annual comunity event that had a huge turn out! A few missionaries performed on the piano and violin. All in all it was a success and hopefully people will continue softening up to us because of things like that. We are taking a different approach this change to the way I've done things. We don't let people say no. If someone is working shoveling, cleaning, etc.. We take their things and do it for them and serve. We begin teaching right when we meet people instead of taking time to get to know them, and AFTER they've heard the gospel and are interested we bother with the other things. It's turned out great! We are finding a lot of fantastic people that have never heard our message just because they had always turned us down. I guess just walking into someone's house probably wouldn't fly in the US, but it's been a lot of fun here haha
Dang, another funny thing that happened this week came to mind. Our door lock broke in the rain 2 days ago so we were locked out of the house, so I let my companion kick in the door, and now we take turns each time. We can lock it but not unlock it, so we have to break in each time. Hopefully noone else gives it a try!
This week a family we are teaching goes on vacation with a member family. Turns out they've been best friends for years! They are going to the beach together and the members got permission to have sacrament meeting in their rented house on the shore, so our investigators are going to go to a special meeting.
Tomorrow we have interviews with the President! It'll be fun, it's been weird not being around them all the time!
I love this area, and even thought there aren't a lot of people we are working hard and seeing MANY miracles. I love this work, it is the Lord's. I sent off a few letters this week, so finally some people will hear from me. haha.
Love, Elder Magnusson
Before I forget, please call me at 3pm on Christmas (my time). My number is 463-21046. My address is Diego Lamas 921 (casi Rep. Argentina). That road from one end to the other end and everything on either side is my area. It is LONG and there is NO shade hahaha but right in the middle is a house that sells ice cream for 1 peso (about a nickel) that we buy just about every time we pass it (3-4 times per day or more) haha If you can see houses on google earth its a house with lots of land around it, painted pink with red heart metal rejas (no idea how to say that in english) in the windows. Maybe they'll send sisters here soon. heh
We met our next door neighbors yesterday! Its a father that lives along, but during the summers, his 17 yr old son is now here from his mom's in Montevideo. He asked us to pass by and practice english. Turns out he (the son) goes to a private bilingual school and speaks pretty much perfect. We taught the Restoration in english, it was sweet! Amazingly enough, most of our strongest investigators speak english! It's pretty rare haha especially out in the middle of nowhere!
A funny story this week... Elder Harris was showering when he shouted out of nowhere to hurry and come over and when I went there was a tarantula in the shower hahahaha Then we looked over at the splashing coming from the toilet, and a frog had swam up the line and had leaped out onto the seat. All the creatures decided to invade at once.
This week there was a Christmas concert where a choir from our Stake and a choir from the Catholic school sung together, a huge annual comunity event that had a huge turn out! A few missionaries performed on the piano and violin. All in all it was a success and hopefully people will continue softening up to us because of things like that. We are taking a different approach this change to the way I've done things. We don't let people say no. If someone is working shoveling, cleaning, etc.. We take their things and do it for them and serve. We begin teaching right when we meet people instead of taking time to get to know them, and AFTER they've heard the gospel and are interested we bother with the other things. It's turned out great! We are finding a lot of fantastic people that have never heard our message just because they had always turned us down. I guess just walking into someone's house probably wouldn't fly in the US, but it's been a lot of fun here haha
Dang, another funny thing that happened this week came to mind. Our door lock broke in the rain 2 days ago so we were locked out of the house, so I let my companion kick in the door, and now we take turns each time. We can lock it but not unlock it, so we have to break in each time. Hopefully noone else gives it a try!
This week a family we are teaching goes on vacation with a member family. Turns out they've been best friends for years! They are going to the beach together and the members got permission to have sacrament meeting in their rented house on the shore, so our investigators are going to go to a special meeting.
Tomorrow we have interviews with the President! It'll be fun, it's been weird not being around them all the time!
I love this area, and even thought there aren't a lot of people we are working hard and seeing MANY miracles. I love this work, it is the Lord's. I sent off a few letters this week, so finally some people will hear from me. haha.
Love, Elder Magnusson
December 13, 2010
Hey family!
I am in Tacuarembò now :) It's super toasty and I'm loving it!
On Saturday I found out I was training here, and it's exactly what I wanted. I hoped I would train in Tbo or Rivera and I got what I hoped for haha
So much has happened!
On Tuesday I finished training Elder Crandell on all the office stuff he has to do, and met with all of the oros (greenies) I didn't know which would be mine so it was super cool to meet them all. On Wednesday we lined up in front of the temple and sand from behind them Called to Serve. They turned around and we met and it was sweet! My companion is Elder Harris from South Jordan, Utah. After lunch and all that we went straight out to work in a tough area in Montevideo just to kill some time before our bus left and we did a ton of contacts, taught a lesson, and gave out a baptismal date. Elder Harris did most of the contacts, he came pre-trained haha
We were sent to open a new area here in Tacuarembo. We are pretty close to nowhere on the outskirts of the city. Look up the street Diego Lamas in Tacuarembo and basically up and down that street with the neighborhoods on either side is our area. The hardest challenge will be getting people to church I think because it's a pretty humble area (very few have cars or motos) and church is about a 45 minute walk away. When it rains most everything turns into mud, so it's quite a challenge. But, in the last few days we found 22 people (10 are 18+ males heads of household) so we're going to be focusing hugely on families. Hopefully we'll start seeing success quick, but we've got to whip the ward into shape. There are 20 8-12 yr old kids that have been baptised in the last 6 months that have no member family, live nearly an hour from the church, and their parents don't want them in the church (basically, the missionaries went and rounded them all up 3 Sundays in a row, baptised them, and dropped them for numbers). The ward isn't too happy with missionaries that create burden, so we are going to have to do some mending.
My comp is the hardest worker I've had yet, he's going to be an incredible missionary. I am super excited!
We found the greatest ice-cream stand already right in the middle, so we stop there pretty much every time we pass it (it costs 1 peso or 5 cents american for a prety good size ice cream)
Our most promising investigators we found this last week are named Andres and Sandra. They are in their early 20`s with a daughter. Today they went to get papers for marriage and on Friday they get to take out a date for January. They will be baptised at the end of January or early February, we'll see. We've taken the area President's advice and given a baptismal date in every first lesson, so we had 20 with baptismal date until Sunday when it rained and everyone got swamped in. Just pray that it never rains on Sundays here, please! It is so hard for people to go so far in mud with no coat, poor shoes, etc... It's a trial.
You asked in the email if I ever use the piano. In every ward I've been in I've been the pianist, and as of this last SUnday I already am here too, so I've gotten really good at the hymns! I know almost all of them now. (Although the same 3-4 hymns are pretty much used every week hahaha) This last Sunday 2 of the hymns were the same: 77 Let the Holy Spirit guide I think in English hahahahaha
Also, we're trying a new tactic here to get into houses. We just walk in and sit down haha and people are so nice they sit down right with you and chat. I'm grateful to be in such a beautiful, tranquilo city. We have a nice view of rolling green hills, and there are more cows than people here, but it's nice small-town.
I love you all! Thanks for your patience in responding to letters, now I can start writing everyone back that I've neglected for the last few months :)
Oh, I started opening those CHristmas gifts one at a time (on Christmas this way I have 5) and the first 3 I opened were bandaids, floss, and q-tips, so I got made fun of quite a bit FYI. The 4th this morning was mints, so you redeemed yourselves haha. FYI, those things are attainable here hahaha I'm not THAT far from civilization hahaha it got me thinking where you imagine I am heh.
Take care and have a GREAT day! Work hard and be happy :) Tell Devin and Haley congrats on the twins, and I can't believe it that is CRAZY! Ya, Elder Steven's sister is getting married to Bryson, who is Elder Leatham's cousin. small world, huh?
Elder Magnusson
I am in Tacuarembò now :) It's super toasty and I'm loving it!
On Saturday I found out I was training here, and it's exactly what I wanted. I hoped I would train in Tbo or Rivera and I got what I hoped for haha
So much has happened!
On Tuesday I finished training Elder Crandell on all the office stuff he has to do, and met with all of the oros (greenies) I didn't know which would be mine so it was super cool to meet them all. On Wednesday we lined up in front of the temple and sand from behind them Called to Serve. They turned around and we met and it was sweet! My companion is Elder Harris from South Jordan, Utah. After lunch and all that we went straight out to work in a tough area in Montevideo just to kill some time before our bus left and we did a ton of contacts, taught a lesson, and gave out a baptismal date. Elder Harris did most of the contacts, he came pre-trained haha
We were sent to open a new area here in Tacuarembo. We are pretty close to nowhere on the outskirts of the city. Look up the street Diego Lamas in Tacuarembo and basically up and down that street with the neighborhoods on either side is our area. The hardest challenge will be getting people to church I think because it's a pretty humble area (very few have cars or motos) and church is about a 45 minute walk away. When it rains most everything turns into mud, so it's quite a challenge. But, in the last few days we found 22 people (10 are 18+ males heads of household) so we're going to be focusing hugely on families. Hopefully we'll start seeing success quick, but we've got to whip the ward into shape. There are 20 8-12 yr old kids that have been baptised in the last 6 months that have no member family, live nearly an hour from the church, and their parents don't want them in the church (basically, the missionaries went and rounded them all up 3 Sundays in a row, baptised them, and dropped them for numbers). The ward isn't too happy with missionaries that create burden, so we are going to have to do some mending.
My comp is the hardest worker I've had yet, he's going to be an incredible missionary. I am super excited!
We found the greatest ice-cream stand already right in the middle, so we stop there pretty much every time we pass it (it costs 1 peso or 5 cents american for a prety good size ice cream)
Our most promising investigators we found this last week are named Andres and Sandra. They are in their early 20`s with a daughter. Today they went to get papers for marriage and on Friday they get to take out a date for January. They will be baptised at the end of January or early February, we'll see. We've taken the area President's advice and given a baptismal date in every first lesson, so we had 20 with baptismal date until Sunday when it rained and everyone got swamped in. Just pray that it never rains on Sundays here, please! It is so hard for people to go so far in mud with no coat, poor shoes, etc... It's a trial.
You asked in the email if I ever use the piano. In every ward I've been in I've been the pianist, and as of this last SUnday I already am here too, so I've gotten really good at the hymns! I know almost all of them now. (Although the same 3-4 hymns are pretty much used every week hahaha) This last Sunday 2 of the hymns were the same: 77 Let the Holy Spirit guide I think in English hahahahaha
Also, we're trying a new tactic here to get into houses. We just walk in and sit down haha and people are so nice they sit down right with you and chat. I'm grateful to be in such a beautiful, tranquilo city. We have a nice view of rolling green hills, and there are more cows than people here, but it's nice small-town.
I love you all! Thanks for your patience in responding to letters, now I can start writing everyone back that I've neglected for the last few months :)
Oh, I started opening those CHristmas gifts one at a time (on Christmas this way I have 5) and the first 3 I opened were bandaids, floss, and q-tips, so I got made fun of quite a bit FYI. The 4th this morning was mints, so you redeemed yourselves haha. FYI, those things are attainable here hahaha I'm not THAT far from civilization hahaha it got me thinking where you imagine I am heh.
Take care and have a GREAT day! Work hard and be happy :) Tell Devin and Haley congrats on the twins, and I can't believe it that is CRAZY! Ya, Elder Steven's sister is getting married to Bryson, who is Elder Leatham's cousin. small world, huh?
Elder Magnusson
December 4, 2010
Hey family! This is going to be a pretty short letter, since pretty much everything I did was preparation and planning for changes, and now I need to do a lot more still. haha
This week was great, we visited every member in my area to make sure Elder Crandell can navigate, and challenged references from each one....and EVERYONE had someone in mind. So, after all the hard work pulling teeth to get people to share the gospel with their friends, next change they'll be getting a lot of references. We've got a few investigators with a baptismal date and found many more people this week, so him and his new companion will have plenty of people to teach.
Thank you so much grandma for your letter to Carlos, it was exactly what he needed! I'm sending you off a letter about the experience soon :)
Dad, congrats on your test hahahaha that's pretty funny! I can understand Portugues listening and reading, but speaking I can't say hardly anything. I plan on studying it when I get back, though.
As for changes, what I WANT to happen is to train up north, but we'll see what happens... I have no idea what to expect! Whatever happens is the Lord's will, and it will be great :)
Nope, still no packages, I hope they come Monday, or it will be a few weeks before I get them in the interior. I head out Tuesday night, and my next P-Day will be in 2 Mondays, so don't expect an email next week.
Hey dad, I've realized more and more that I have no idea about your mission! You should tell me more about experiences you had!
I'm so sorry this letter is so short, but I promised I will make up for it next week!!!!!!!
I know that this church is true. This work is perfect, and it is the Lord's. I have been so blessed in my mission and I love the blessings that come from obedience. It's so important! I love you all, answer some prayers!
Love, Elder Magnusson
This week was great, we visited every member in my area to make sure Elder Crandell can navigate, and challenged references from each one....and EVERYONE had someone in mind. So, after all the hard work pulling teeth to get people to share the gospel with their friends, next change they'll be getting a lot of references. We've got a few investigators with a baptismal date and found many more people this week, so him and his new companion will have plenty of people to teach.
Thank you so much grandma for your letter to Carlos, it was exactly what he needed! I'm sending you off a letter about the experience soon :)
Dad, congrats on your test hahahaha that's pretty funny! I can understand Portugues listening and reading, but speaking I can't say hardly anything. I plan on studying it when I get back, though.
As for changes, what I WANT to happen is to train up north, but we'll see what happens... I have no idea what to expect! Whatever happens is the Lord's will, and it will be great :)
Nope, still no packages, I hope they come Monday, or it will be a few weeks before I get them in the interior. I head out Tuesday night, and my next P-Day will be in 2 Mondays, so don't expect an email next week.
Hey dad, I've realized more and more that I have no idea about your mission! You should tell me more about experiences you had!
I'm so sorry this letter is so short, but I promised I will make up for it next week!!!!!!!
I know that this church is true. This work is perfect, and it is the Lord's. I have been so blessed in my mission and I love the blessings that come from obedience. It's so important! I love you all, answer some prayers!
Love, Elder Magnusson
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