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