Dear Brother and Sister Magnusson,
Your son, Elder Magnusson has been called to serve as a Zone Leader. I have confidence that he will perform his new calling well. He seems excited to assume his new responsibilities.
Your missionary's call to be a Zone Leader is an indication of his effectiveness as a missionary. He will be responsible for training the missionaries in his area to be more effective missionaries, to help them to be successful and happy and also to set an obedient example. He has to conduct baptismal interviews, work closely with other leaders and direct the work in his area. Besides his duties as a Zone Leader , he is still responsible for finding and teaching and being an effective missionary.
You can be proud of his strength and leadership. His training here will help prepare him for future service in the Church. We love and appreciate your son, and appreciate your sacrifice in sharing him with us and the people of Uruguay.
We appreciate your support. Anything you can do to encourage your missionary and stay in touch with him is good. We love these missionaries as dearly as our own children. Our desire is that they find joy in the Lord's service. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
President Ronald Heaton
Uruguay Montevideo West Mission
Friday, April 15, 2011
April 12, 2011
Hey family!
This week was great. The Pio family and Claudia were baptized on Saturday and confirmed Sunday. This next week, the entire Eijo family will be baptized, along with Freddy Rosa, Nacho (Marìa Paz's nephew) and the son and daughter of a recently reactivated family. It will be an incredible service...that I won't be here for. :( I got the call yesterday morning that I'm off to a city called Fray Bentos.
It will be good I guess, but I was pretty disappointed to have to leave here after the culmination of a lot of time and energy, prayers, etc... a lot of families I've been teaching for a long time are finally coming around, and we have 2 marriages next week...man. Elder Barrios is staying with a Paraguayo named Elder Leiva, who's about to finish the mission, so it should be great. I really hope they keep pushing hard the area. The ward is excited and working so hard, they ought to see many miracles now :)
I am going with a missionary named Elder Schumann. I have seen him before, but don't really know him well, but only heard good things, so I'm excited :) Fray Bentos is a small town, but has the biggest paper factory in Uruguay (woo hoo haha) so there's lots of hard workers there, so thats good. I have no idea what to expect, so I'll let you know more next week heh.
Today to finish out the change we had a big asado with tons of meat. It was delicious :) I am going to miss Tacuarembo, home of the gaucho and the Guayan cow. Pah.
When Ammon got to the Lamanites the first time the king asked him his intentions with his people and he said that he would like to dwell with them, perhaps until the day he dies. I'm starting to feel a lot like that here. Many people just have such a higher quality being. Willing to share with anyone what they have, even when they have so very little, while us up there complain we have no time or money to do things, when its our fault we filled up our agendas and budgets with useless things (Elder Uchtdorf).
Congrats to Levi on running and to Kayli on swimming! I can't wait to see you in the fall!
As for the camera, if the way you send it isnt going to touch postal man hands, it's fine to send, but DO NOT send it through normal mail haha it would be way better to send it that way, though, they are twice the price here! Put it in Elder Barrios' box please :) If you can access my account, you can transfer the money to pay for it, if not, I'll pay you back when I get home :)
Congrats to Marcos and Sheena! Are they still in the same house? Did they put a pool out back yet? heh
So its Courtney Peterson that Karl is dating! Everyone keeps telling me Courtney, but noone had said the last name yet!!! Hahaha that's great! Is she living with Julia at BYU-I? I sure hope I'm there for the wedding, but if not, after this last general conference, I wouldn't be surprised.
It's change week, sorry I don't have much to say! I love you all, you are in my prayers. Work hard in all you do and be happy. Take care of one another. LOVES!!!
Elder Magnusson
P.S. My "trunky" papers are coming next week, and I need the info to fill them out, as for which airport I am leaving South America from. WIll it be possible to go from Uruguay to Iguasu Falls and visit the Grau's, and leave from Asuncion to the States? Should I land in Tucson, or should we go straight to Phoenix to pick up the kids from Grandmas, or whats the plan? The time has arrived to plan!!! heh, let me know asap, even today if possible send it in a gmail and I'll get it Thurs.
This week was great. The Pio family and Claudia were baptized on Saturday and confirmed Sunday. This next week, the entire Eijo family will be baptized, along with Freddy Rosa, Nacho (Marìa Paz's nephew) and the son and daughter of a recently reactivated family. It will be an incredible service...that I won't be here for. :( I got the call yesterday morning that I'm off to a city called Fray Bentos.
It will be good I guess, but I was pretty disappointed to have to leave here after the culmination of a lot of time and energy, prayers, etc... a lot of families I've been teaching for a long time are finally coming around, and we have 2 marriages next week...man. Elder Barrios is staying with a Paraguayo named Elder Leiva, who's about to finish the mission, so it should be great. I really hope they keep pushing hard the area. The ward is excited and working so hard, they ought to see many miracles now :)
I am going with a missionary named Elder Schumann. I have seen him before, but don't really know him well, but only heard good things, so I'm excited :) Fray Bentos is a small town, but has the biggest paper factory in Uruguay (woo hoo haha) so there's lots of hard workers there, so thats good. I have no idea what to expect, so I'll let you know more next week heh.
Today to finish out the change we had a big asado with tons of meat. It was delicious :) I am going to miss Tacuarembo, home of the gaucho and the Guayan cow. Pah.
When Ammon got to the Lamanites the first time the king asked him his intentions with his people and he said that he would like to dwell with them, perhaps until the day he dies. I'm starting to feel a lot like that here. Many people just have such a higher quality being. Willing to share with anyone what they have, even when they have so very little, while us up there complain we have no time or money to do things, when its our fault we filled up our agendas and budgets with useless things (Elder Uchtdorf).
Congrats to Levi on running and to Kayli on swimming! I can't wait to see you in the fall!
As for the camera, if the way you send it isnt going to touch postal man hands, it's fine to send, but DO NOT send it through normal mail haha it would be way better to send it that way, though, they are twice the price here! Put it in Elder Barrios' box please :) If you can access my account, you can transfer the money to pay for it, if not, I'll pay you back when I get home :)
Congrats to Marcos and Sheena! Are they still in the same house? Did they put a pool out back yet? heh
So its Courtney Peterson that Karl is dating! Everyone keeps telling me Courtney, but noone had said the last name yet!!! Hahaha that's great! Is she living with Julia at BYU-I? I sure hope I'm there for the wedding, but if not, after this last general conference, I wouldn't be surprised.
It's change week, sorry I don't have much to say! I love you all, you are in my prayers. Work hard in all you do and be happy. Take care of one another. LOVES!!!
Elder Magnusson
P.S. My "trunky" papers are coming next week, and I need the info to fill them out, as for which airport I am leaving South America from. WIll it be possible to go from Uruguay to Iguasu Falls and visit the Grau's, and leave from Asuncion to the States? Should I land in Tucson, or should we go straight to Phoenix to pick up the kids from Grandmas, or whats the plan? The time has arrived to plan!!! heh, let me know asap, even today if possible send it in a gmail and I'll get it Thurs.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
April 4, 2011
It was a great week here! General Conference was exhausting but wonderful! The stake center is a 30 minute run from our house and to and from between every session we went back and forth bringing investigators running around in our suits. It was GREAT!! Tons of people went to the conference and we saw tons of miracles. This weekend the Pio family and Claudia will be baptised. The following week, the Eijo family (a single mother and her 3 children) will be baptized, along with another nephew of Marìa Paz. Graciela is working on stopping smoking, but will probably be baptized sometime this month as well. The work is going very strong and up up up! Lots of great eternal families.
I learned so much from conference, but it made me feel weird because most of what I got out of it I felt like was more applyable after my mission than right now. hahaha lots about how to treat my family and such. The service talks were great and I learned a lot of methods I am going to teach to investigators.
Dad that message you sent me made me feel soooo sick. Elder Enciso was my 2nd companion, I killed him in the mission (was his last comp). I pray that everything is okay. Tell (Elder) Victor Jimenez to send me a gmail if he can asap and send him a big hug from me too to him and his new wife.
Also, I'll keep the Clonts in my prayers. Dang. So much tragedy, good thing there's so much happiness as well.
This is the last week of the change, we're going to spend it all taking care hardcore of the people getting baptised and finding new people. I am stoked, I am almost sure I'll stay a 4th change here, and stay with Elder Barrios! There's so many exciting things happening!!!
Also to conference, that family from Ansina came. I got the daughter enrolled in long-distance seminary, and they are stoked to be baptised. President said he'd call me tonight or tomorrow with instructions, I think we're going to open a dependent branch (it has no president, the bishop presides, but with one aaronic priesthood holder, they can hold sacrament meeting, etc...) and so we'll see what happens.
Have a good week, I am so happy you are all working hard and seeing so much success! Remember that blessings don't just come for doing good things, but for being good people. I know that this is the Lord's work and that it will continue to grow and progress with or without us, but if we commit ourselves and remember our covenants, peace is the reward in this life and eternal life in the world to come. It is so worth it!!!!!!
Love, Elder Magnusson
I learned so much from conference, but it made me feel weird because most of what I got out of it I felt like was more applyable after my mission than right now. hahaha lots about how to treat my family and such. The service talks were great and I learned a lot of methods I am going to teach to investigators.
Dad that message you sent me made me feel soooo sick. Elder Enciso was my 2nd companion, I killed him in the mission (was his last comp). I pray that everything is okay. Tell (Elder) Victor Jimenez to send me a gmail if he can asap and send him a big hug from me too to him and his new wife.
Also, I'll keep the Clonts in my prayers. Dang. So much tragedy, good thing there's so much happiness as well.
This is the last week of the change, we're going to spend it all taking care hardcore of the people getting baptised and finding new people. I am stoked, I am almost sure I'll stay a 4th change here, and stay with Elder Barrios! There's so many exciting things happening!!!
Also to conference, that family from Ansina came. I got the daughter enrolled in long-distance seminary, and they are stoked to be baptised. President said he'd call me tonight or tomorrow with instructions, I think we're going to open a dependent branch (it has no president, the bishop presides, but with one aaronic priesthood holder, they can hold sacrament meeting, etc...) and so we'll see what happens.
Have a good week, I am so happy you are all working hard and seeing so much success! Remember that blessings don't just come for doing good things, but for being good people. I know that this is the Lord's work and that it will continue to grow and progress with or without us, but if we commit ourselves and remember our covenants, peace is the reward in this life and eternal life in the world to come. It is so worth it!!!!!!
Love, Elder Magnusson
March 28, 2011
Thanks for the pictures, I have a super cute neice and nephew!
Happy birthday dad, hope your cake is delicious.
Just barely got back from visiting a national landmark called Batovì (if this email gets to anyone who speaks Guaranì....sorry), a huge hill with a rock formation on top. It was a lot of fun and we got some GREAT photos :) You could see for miles in every direction from on top, it was so pretty!!
This week was another fantastic week. We are working hard to get lots of people to the general conference and seeing tons of miracles. The Pio family is excited for the baptism on the 9th. The mom still doesn't stay for the lessons, but she now smiles and greets us haha. We're going to try and set up service with her husband and see if we can soften her heart a little. Dad and 3 kids are great though and inviting lots of people to church with them, so some of their friends made it to church this last week. Claudia is also getting baptised on the 9th, and her husband is also softening up and said he would go to the baptism. Claudia found all her old church books from when she went years ago and brought her own hymn book, principles of the gospel, etc.. to church haha its amazing how the Lord prepares people in His own time and way.
My companion is wonderful. We are working hard and I'm learning a ton from him. I need a quick favor though. He doesn't get letters or anything since his whole family is mad he's on a mission so since I'm running out of contact solution and needing a package (muahahaha) it would be cool if you sent him one too.
Marìa Paz's sister got her answer to her prayer and is going to be baptised next month with her son Nacho!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH! We also found out that the Pio's are cousins of Marìa. Somehow we found this huge family of great people. Then again, EVERYONE here is related hahaha small town :) April is going to be a really good month here and I'm praying I stay again. Changes are already coming in 2 weeks, I don't know how the time flies so quickly. I am soooo excited though, lots of good things happening in the Matutina. I hear my son Elder Harris is tearing it up in Rivera, too.
We went to take out a marriage date on Saturday for Jorge and Marìa Alvarez and the judge didn't show up, so we are going again tomorrow. They are stoked to be getting married, and their son Eduardo who was baptised 10 yrs ago and now has 21 years, started his mission papers. I found a judge in another city that will do the marriage within a month since he wants to get married before his knee operation in June.
Other news...we had interviews with President this week, lots of changes happening in the mission, rules, and such. People just don't want to be obedient, so they wait to be forced. Good stuff though. It's not fun to drop cane on others, but sometimes its necessary.
You are all in my prayers!! Look for miracles and have a GREAT week! Enjoy General Conference, remember that revelation unwritten is revelation forgotten.
Love,
Elder Magnusson
Happy birthday dad, hope your cake is delicious.
Just barely got back from visiting a national landmark called Batovì (if this email gets to anyone who speaks Guaranì....sorry), a huge hill with a rock formation on top. It was a lot of fun and we got some GREAT photos :) You could see for miles in every direction from on top, it was so pretty!!
This week was another fantastic week. We are working hard to get lots of people to the general conference and seeing tons of miracles. The Pio family is excited for the baptism on the 9th. The mom still doesn't stay for the lessons, but she now smiles and greets us haha. We're going to try and set up service with her husband and see if we can soften her heart a little. Dad and 3 kids are great though and inviting lots of people to church with them, so some of their friends made it to church this last week. Claudia is also getting baptised on the 9th, and her husband is also softening up and said he would go to the baptism. Claudia found all her old church books from when she went years ago and brought her own hymn book, principles of the gospel, etc.. to church haha its amazing how the Lord prepares people in His own time and way.
My companion is wonderful. We are working hard and I'm learning a ton from him. I need a quick favor though. He doesn't get letters or anything since his whole family is mad he's on a mission so since I'm running out of contact solution and needing a package (muahahaha) it would be cool if you sent him one too.
Marìa Paz's sister got her answer to her prayer and is going to be baptised next month with her son Nacho!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH! We also found out that the Pio's are cousins of Marìa. Somehow we found this huge family of great people. Then again, EVERYONE here is related hahaha small town :) April is going to be a really good month here and I'm praying I stay again. Changes are already coming in 2 weeks, I don't know how the time flies so quickly. I am soooo excited though, lots of good things happening in the Matutina. I hear my son Elder Harris is tearing it up in Rivera, too.
We went to take out a marriage date on Saturday for Jorge and Marìa Alvarez and the judge didn't show up, so we are going again tomorrow. They are stoked to be getting married, and their son Eduardo who was baptised 10 yrs ago and now has 21 years, started his mission papers. I found a judge in another city that will do the marriage within a month since he wants to get married before his knee operation in June.
Other news...we had interviews with President this week, lots of changes happening in the mission, rules, and such. People just don't want to be obedient, so they wait to be forced. Good stuff though. It's not fun to drop cane on others, but sometimes its necessary.
You are all in my prayers!! Look for miracles and have a GREAT week! Enjoy General Conference, remember that revelation unwritten is revelation forgotten.
Love,
Elder Magnusson
March 21, 2011
Hey! On my way over here, tons of people stopped my to tell me my country just went to war in alliance with UK and France to free Libya! A lot of people were really happy about it, I guess it must be something pretty exciting in the world right now.
This week was WONDERFUL!!!!! Maria de Lourdes was baptized and her entire family is receiving the lessons now. Marìa Paz is on fire preaching the gospel to all her friends and inviting everyone to church. Her brother is a huge evangelical pastor here in Tbo who claims to be a prophet, he does tons of miracles, healings, giving blind people sight, etc... and he freaked out on her pretty bad again, and she stood up to him and said "You are no prophet. Joseph Smith was a prophet. President Monson is a prophet. They act by God's power, and I must assume that you work by the Devil's!" and stormed out of his house hahahahahaha I about died laughing when I heard!
The ward is super excited with the progress, this week and next week there aren't any baptisms, so we'll have time to coordinate things and get lots of investigators excited for general conference. It's going to be a HUGE deal here. We organized divisions with members most days for these next 2 weeks to visit every single people in my area (theres only like 1500 people max haha) and hand out and invite to the conference and teach about prophets. I figure if people go, their testimony go from nothing to everything pretty easily. I've never felt so excited for General Conference either!!!
The week after conference on the 9th, a family (the dad and 3 kids) will be baptised. The mom still doesn't want anything, but little by little shes softening up :) Also, this last week a woman stopped us and told us she had just moved in front of our house. We had helped them built part of their house in random service a few weeks ago, and she told us 5 years ago, her whole family was baptised, but she wasn't married and couldn't, but went to church for 2 years. She asked us where the church building was and we told her and invited her to be baptised the 9th, and she said yes with a lot of excitement. She came to church, and is progressing strong already. Her husband (they barely got married) is a great guy thats reading the Book of Mormon with a sincere desire to know, so I think in very little time he'll come around too. Another eternal family!!!! We are focusing only on families and are seeing so many miracles!!! On Friday we are going to take out a marriage date, and in June another marriage!
I love you all so much, sorry this one was pretty short, but I have so much to say, and it's hard to put it all in words. I'm feeling really good though, I hit the 18 months mark this week, and so I'm going to double my efforts and hope to see some good miracles :) I love you all a ton! Keep working hard, having fun and success, and congrats on the job possibilities, Jason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Magnusson
This week was WONDERFUL!!!!! Maria de Lourdes was baptized and her entire family is receiving the lessons now. Marìa Paz is on fire preaching the gospel to all her friends and inviting everyone to church. Her brother is a huge evangelical pastor here in Tbo who claims to be a prophet, he does tons of miracles, healings, giving blind people sight, etc... and he freaked out on her pretty bad again, and she stood up to him and said "You are no prophet. Joseph Smith was a prophet. President Monson is a prophet. They act by God's power, and I must assume that you work by the Devil's!" and stormed out of his house hahahahahaha I about died laughing when I heard!
The ward is super excited with the progress, this week and next week there aren't any baptisms, so we'll have time to coordinate things and get lots of investigators excited for general conference. It's going to be a HUGE deal here. We organized divisions with members most days for these next 2 weeks to visit every single people in my area (theres only like 1500 people max haha) and hand out and invite to the conference and teach about prophets. I figure if people go, their testimony go from nothing to everything pretty easily. I've never felt so excited for General Conference either!!!
The week after conference on the 9th, a family (the dad and 3 kids) will be baptised. The mom still doesn't want anything, but little by little shes softening up :) Also, this last week a woman stopped us and told us she had just moved in front of our house. We had helped them built part of their house in random service a few weeks ago, and she told us 5 years ago, her whole family was baptised, but she wasn't married and couldn't, but went to church for 2 years. She asked us where the church building was and we told her and invited her to be baptised the 9th, and she said yes with a lot of excitement. She came to church, and is progressing strong already. Her husband (they barely got married) is a great guy thats reading the Book of Mormon with a sincere desire to know, so I think in very little time he'll come around too. Another eternal family!!!! We are focusing only on families and are seeing so many miracles!!! On Friday we are going to take out a marriage date, and in June another marriage!
I love you all so much, sorry this one was pretty short, but I have so much to say, and it's hard to put it all in words. I'm feeling really good though, I hit the 18 months mark this week, and so I'm going to double my efforts and hope to see some good miracles :) I love you all a ton! Keep working hard, having fun and success, and congrats on the job possibilities, Jason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Magnusson
March 14, 2011
Dang, I couldn't believe it when I heard about Japan! Its not as bad as I they are reporting it to be here, though. The numbers they report here in Uruguay are over 1,000,000 deaths, I about died when I heard, but I guess it's only a tenth of that so not quite so bad. That's crazy though, the world is flipping over. I don't know if it's just here or if it's the same everywhere, but for a while the 2012 was sort of a joke, but this last week, people are serious about it, believing that the world truly is ending. Fortunately, I am in a country that has never participated in a war since it's independence, never had any sort of natural disaster, and lives between 2 allied strong countries. I'm in probably the safest country in the entire world.
Yesterday we had our first sign of Fall. 2 nights ago, a huge strom came in from the Arctic that took temps from 120 to 45 in about an hour, huge rains and winds, and yesterday was the most beautiful day of my mission. The sun was warm with a cool breeze, and today its the same. Leaves are starting to change colors, and...ah. The best time of the year. Church was incredible. Attendance has maintained the last month at about 150, and we're setting new goals as a ward to have 200 by the end of the year. The bishop is seeking plans to extend the little sacrament room we're hot and crammed in fold-up chairs :) Everyone is doing really well and all are very excited to work hard.
This last week was Marìa Paz's daughters baptism, and this week is her neice's. We're now working with her sister and family (mom with 4 kids 22,15,10,9), and her father. It's a big, great family, so I hope to see them all make it!! Marìa is on FIRE sharing the gospel holy cow!!! She has been sharing the gospel with everyone (she was born in the house where she lives and knows everyone, she's 40) and we have a ton of people to teach through her. She goes and gets them for church and all hahaha. So many beautiful miracles.
My companion is a GREAT missionary! Super humble, good hearted guy that just wants to work hard. This is going to be a good change together. SO many things coming up soon, it's going to fly by so quickly!
I can't believe you mentioned your passport already, mom, you are pretty trunky! haha, I wanted to ask you if we could tour my wards, and then at the end go to Iguasu Falls (where Paraguay, Brasil, and Argentina meet) with the Graus? I think it would be such a shame if I was so close to one of the great wonders of the world and never saw it! Who knows when we'll be back in South America! I have friends up there we could stay with and everything!
Give Erynn a huge hug from me, I'm excited for her and I promise to write. I have a few missionary buddies that live in that mission, so she's bound to meet someone ;-) hehe
I love you all so much and am happy things are all working for your good. Keep good attitudes in all you do, work hard, smile, and share the gospel. Blessings will come.
Love, Elder Magnusson
Yesterday we had our first sign of Fall. 2 nights ago, a huge strom came in from the Arctic that took temps from 120 to 45 in about an hour, huge rains and winds, and yesterday was the most beautiful day of my mission. The sun was warm with a cool breeze, and today its the same. Leaves are starting to change colors, and...ah. The best time of the year. Church was incredible. Attendance has maintained the last month at about 150, and we're setting new goals as a ward to have 200 by the end of the year. The bishop is seeking plans to extend the little sacrament room we're hot and crammed in fold-up chairs :) Everyone is doing really well and all are very excited to work hard.
This last week was Marìa Paz's daughters baptism, and this week is her neice's. We're now working with her sister and family (mom with 4 kids 22,15,10,9), and her father. It's a big, great family, so I hope to see them all make it!! Marìa is on FIRE sharing the gospel holy cow!!! She has been sharing the gospel with everyone (she was born in the house where she lives and knows everyone, she's 40) and we have a ton of people to teach through her. She goes and gets them for church and all hahaha. So many beautiful miracles.
My companion is a GREAT missionary! Super humble, good hearted guy that just wants to work hard. This is going to be a good change together. SO many things coming up soon, it's going to fly by so quickly!
I can't believe you mentioned your passport already, mom, you are pretty trunky! haha, I wanted to ask you if we could tour my wards, and then at the end go to Iguasu Falls (where Paraguay, Brasil, and Argentina meet) with the Graus? I think it would be such a shame if I was so close to one of the great wonders of the world and never saw it! Who knows when we'll be back in South America! I have friends up there we could stay with and everything!
Give Erynn a huge hug from me, I'm excited for her and I promise to write. I have a few missionary buddies that live in that mission, so she's bound to meet someone ;-) hehe
I love you all so much and am happy things are all working for your good. Keep good attitudes in all you do, work hard, smile, and share the gospel. Blessings will come.
Love, Elder Magnusson
March 7, 2011
FAMILIA!!!
I'm glad to hear everything is turn out successfully with Colton's mess at school. I'm sure it has helped a lot of families out that wanted to keep quiet just because they didn't know what to do. Make sure you find ways to share the gospel through all this too.
My companion is Elder Barrios from Barranquilla, Colombia (the hometown of Shakira!!! haha) He is the only member in his family, and was the main provider of income (he worked fixing computers). His parents are split and his mom lives with her parents and his dad drives taxi. All are very Evangelical, and his dad even burned a Book of Mormon in front of him to make a point once, but his younger sister is now taking the lessons! His family had to sell the house and find a small apartment since he wouldn't be around to provide the income they had before. He has a STRONG testimony. There's few people that I have gained so much respect for so quickly. Since he comes from pretty humble circumstances, he came with very few things, and doesn't even have a camera to keep these memories and show his family what he's doing. So...this next week I set up divisions with some missionaries in my zone so I'll be in centro to buy a camera, (which are expensive here) so between $150 and 200 will be taken out this week. I don't know if their card scanners automatically take from credit or debit and they never understand the difference when I explain, so please go on to USAA next week and pay from me savings if I take it from credit :)
This was another wonderful week here in Tbo. Marìa Paz in on FIRE!!! She asks for more church materials to give to friends every visit. She has given many references that have been great. I think we could work solely with her and see tons of success hahaha Elvira goes out the with sister missionaries in centro 2-3 times a week. GOLDEN family! Her other daughter's baptism is Friday, and her cousins the following Saturday. Another High Priest's family we reactived also is working hard with their neighbors, and the stepdad doesnt want anything to do with the church, but the mom and the 2 oldest of the 5 kids have been going to church and also will be baptised at the end of next week! Lots of happy things going on, too many miracles to count. We keep finding people so prepared to hear the gospel.
Today was possibly my favorite Pday ever. The youth of the stake have their yearly camp (like girls camp, but with everyone...about 120 went!) and held it in a small town that has never had missionaries there. We found out and got permission to head out with them for the day to do proselyting and see how it was. This little town called Ansina has about 4000 people, out on the riverside, and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! We had some great experiences there.
The very first house we knocked the lady looked out smiled, and said WAIT! I'll be right back! We waited for the little bit and then she answered the door and let us in with a huge smile. We sat down and I noticed the Book of Mormon open on her table. She explained that she was baptised 22 years ago in Montevideo and now was 40 and had her husband, and 3 kids (14, 10, 4). She had always had FHE, family prayer and scripture, etc... but just no church. Her family knows the gospel, but none have been baptised. She told us that the night before she had a vision that the Lord would send her His messengers again. Tonight I get to inform the president how the trip went and I think knowing that there is already one future Melchidezek Priesthood holder literally waiting for baptism, their house could serve as a temporary chapel and we'll open a new branch. We had so many incredible experiences like that I feel so full of energy now I wish we could stay there and work full time!
I know that this work is true. Anyone that can deny that hasn't put any effort into finding out. I love this gospel so much and am greatful for this beautiful opportunity I've had to serve a mission. These are good people and this is a good work! The ward is doing fantastic, and there's lots of excitement in the air! Keep working hard in that part of the Lord's vine making good things happen! I love you all!!!!!!!
Elder Magnusson
I'm glad to hear everything is turn out successfully with Colton's mess at school. I'm sure it has helped a lot of families out that wanted to keep quiet just because they didn't know what to do. Make sure you find ways to share the gospel through all this too.
My companion is Elder Barrios from Barranquilla, Colombia (the hometown of Shakira!!! haha) He is the only member in his family, and was the main provider of income (he worked fixing computers). His parents are split and his mom lives with her parents and his dad drives taxi. All are very Evangelical, and his dad even burned a Book of Mormon in front of him to make a point once, but his younger sister is now taking the lessons! His family had to sell the house and find a small apartment since he wouldn't be around to provide the income they had before. He has a STRONG testimony. There's few people that I have gained so much respect for so quickly. Since he comes from pretty humble circumstances, he came with very few things, and doesn't even have a camera to keep these memories and show his family what he's doing. So...this next week I set up divisions with some missionaries in my zone so I'll be in centro to buy a camera, (which are expensive here) so between $150 and 200 will be taken out this week. I don't know if their card scanners automatically take from credit or debit and they never understand the difference when I explain, so please go on to USAA next week and pay from me savings if I take it from credit :)
This was another wonderful week here in Tbo. Marìa Paz in on FIRE!!! She asks for more church materials to give to friends every visit. She has given many references that have been great. I think we could work solely with her and see tons of success hahaha Elvira goes out the with sister missionaries in centro 2-3 times a week. GOLDEN family! Her other daughter's baptism is Friday, and her cousins the following Saturday. Another High Priest's family we reactived also is working hard with their neighbors, and the stepdad doesnt want anything to do with the church, but the mom and the 2 oldest of the 5 kids have been going to church and also will be baptised at the end of next week! Lots of happy things going on, too many miracles to count. We keep finding people so prepared to hear the gospel.
Today was possibly my favorite Pday ever. The youth of the stake have their yearly camp (like girls camp, but with everyone...about 120 went!) and held it in a small town that has never had missionaries there. We found out and got permission to head out with them for the day to do proselyting and see how it was. This little town called Ansina has about 4000 people, out on the riverside, and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! We had some great experiences there.
The very first house we knocked the lady looked out smiled, and said WAIT! I'll be right back! We waited for the little bit and then she answered the door and let us in with a huge smile. We sat down and I noticed the Book of Mormon open on her table. She explained that she was baptised 22 years ago in Montevideo and now was 40 and had her husband, and 3 kids (14, 10, 4). She had always had FHE, family prayer and scripture, etc... but just no church. Her family knows the gospel, but none have been baptised. She told us that the night before she had a vision that the Lord would send her His messengers again. Tonight I get to inform the president how the trip went and I think knowing that there is already one future Melchidezek Priesthood holder literally waiting for baptism, their house could serve as a temporary chapel and we'll open a new branch. We had so many incredible experiences like that I feel so full of energy now I wish we could stay there and work full time!
I know that this work is true. Anyone that can deny that hasn't put any effort into finding out. I love this gospel so much and am greatful for this beautiful opportunity I've had to serve a mission. These are good people and this is a good work! The ward is doing fantastic, and there's lots of excitement in the air! Keep working hard in that part of the Lord's vine making good things happen! I love you all!!!!!!!
Elder Magnusson
March 1, 2011
Changes came, half my prayer was answered. I get to stay, but a new companion is coming :) I get to pick up Elder Barrios from Colombia at the bus station tomorrow at 5:15am. I am so excited I get to stay and see some more miracles here, and find all the other great people that are waiting for Elder Barrios. Elder Harris went off to a little tiny city called Tranqueras in the department Rivera, only about an hour away from where we are now haha. He's with a good Argentino friend of mine I think they will do good!
Marìa Paz and Eimy's baptisms were this last week. It was GREAT. Tons of people showed up, and it turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL service! Sacrament meeting the next day was full, too, lots of great things are happening in the ward!
This last week we worked really hard to prepare all of our current investigators for baptism soon and dropped everyone that isn't progressing. This week we are going to find like crazy! The month will be great, though. Lots of people are going to church and are preparing for baptism, and a number of converts from Salto sent me letters this last week that they are receiving their endowments and being sealed as families. Life is so happy :)
I'm glad to hear that things have worked out so well in the anti-bully campaign, and that everything has moved so quickly! That's incredible! Also, congrats Kayli for swim! Take some videos!
I laughed when you said it's snowing this morning, because this morning here (in dead summer) I had to put on a good jacket to go out. It is COLD at night and in the mornings. This was a really hot but short summer and the seasons are already changing months early. Everything takes it to mean the end of the world haha
Erynn is going on a mission!? Sweet! Let me know where and when she's off! I knew she would heh
How are my neice and nephew doing? Jase found a job yet?
Today for Pday we went to the Patria Gaucha. Look it up online, its super famous in South America, and I saw a lot of people from the States and Europe there. It was awesome! Its a huge rodeo, with tons of great food, souvenirs, etc... Our Pday today even fell on the first day which is free, so we lucked out! A good way to spend the last day with my companion.
Sorry the letter is short today, but I love you all a ton and I pray for you daily. Keep working hard at all you do, and be happy! Take it upon yourselves to do good things without being asked and without being rewarded. I'm learning a lot about the importance of doing things just because it's the right thing to do. Èsta es la iglesia verdadera. Lo sè.
CON CARIÑO,
Elder Magnusson
Marìa Paz and Eimy's baptisms were this last week. It was GREAT. Tons of people showed up, and it turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL service! Sacrament meeting the next day was full, too, lots of great things are happening in the ward!
This last week we worked really hard to prepare all of our current investigators for baptism soon and dropped everyone that isn't progressing. This week we are going to find like crazy! The month will be great, though. Lots of people are going to church and are preparing for baptism, and a number of converts from Salto sent me letters this last week that they are receiving their endowments and being sealed as families. Life is so happy :)
I'm glad to hear that things have worked out so well in the anti-bully campaign, and that everything has moved so quickly! That's incredible! Also, congrats Kayli for swim! Take some videos!
I laughed when you said it's snowing this morning, because this morning here (in dead summer) I had to put on a good jacket to go out. It is COLD at night and in the mornings. This was a really hot but short summer and the seasons are already changing months early. Everything takes it to mean the end of the world haha
Erynn is going on a mission!? Sweet! Let me know where and when she's off! I knew she would heh
How are my neice and nephew doing? Jase found a job yet?
Today for Pday we went to the Patria Gaucha. Look it up online, its super famous in South America, and I saw a lot of people from the States and Europe there. It was awesome! Its a huge rodeo, with tons of great food, souvenirs, etc... Our Pday today even fell on the first day which is free, so we lucked out! A good way to spend the last day with my companion.
Sorry the letter is short today, but I love you all a ton and I pray for you daily. Keep working hard at all you do, and be happy! Take it upon yourselves to do good things without being asked and without being rewarded. I'm learning a lot about the importance of doing things just because it's the right thing to do. Èsta es la iglesia verdadera. Lo sè.
CON CARIÑO,
Elder Magnusson
February 21, 2011
Sorry I still haven't gotten the name for how we are related, but Elder Harris can't find his email that says. Contact his mom and find out maybe? His name is Trenton Harris from South Jordan, Utah. You can look it up on facebook or something.
This was another incredible week! A man we reactivated named Miguel Granada baptised his 10 yr old daughter, and the bishop baptised his mother (she's lived with him for years, but was always super evangelical). They are super strong and bore their testimonies after the baptism. We are working super hard in reactivation and between investigators and less actives, church attendance was up from 100 to 145 these last couple weeks!!! The ward is working so hard now to rescue, and to find new people and so many miracles are happening. This coming weekend, the neice of a member of the Stake Presidency will be baptised (her parents were also inactive the last 10 years or so) as well as Marìa Paz, Josè and Elvira's mom!!!! We are seeing so many miracles and blessings. The blessings come after the trial of the faith. There are 2 companionships here in the ward, and we're hoping that the 4 of us can stay a 3rd change all together. I don't think it's ever happened, but theres hope haha
Today we bought a ton of meat, and had an asado. Our taxi driver (he's a member, all the missionaries in Tbo use him haha) and his wife cooked all the food and we went to the stake center to play dodgeball and all.
We had a funny experience this week. The Uruguayan people generally are a very paranoid people. They are very prideful that Uruguay is a peaceful refuge from the world. A couple funny things that are taught in the High School here as fact is that Mormon missionary companionships are assigned by the US government to be spies. They say that one is a CIA and the other is military weapons expert and martial arts specialist. Me and my comp argue often about who gets to be who. Anyways, the other day a man stopped us and was like "How's the investigation going?" I was confused at first and said "What?" He just pushed it being like "Ya, I know why you are here..." I started with the "We are representatives of Jesus Christ...etc.. until we realized what he was referring to and I was like "Oh no, but you aren't going to tell anyone, right?" he walked away with a frown on his face. They teach in public schools that we are sent to prepare for the war. They believe that World War 3 is going to happen because the US is going to run out of fresh water, and since there`s the worlds biggest aquifer under Uruguay, and the biggest freshwater river next to it, the US is going to come here to take over. I try to explain that the US isn't under any sort of urgency with their water supply, nor do most realized that there is a country between Argentina and Brazil, but they are convinced hahaha It is pretty funny, but sad.
Ya, dad, Tacuarembo has some great history! The Carlos Gardel hotel is one of the best in South America they say. This is a pretty poor city, so noone from here ever goes there, but some people come just for that hotel and museum.
Next week is the Gaucho festival, so we've seen in the centro people from all over the world! Gauchos are south american cowboys, but the way they dress is pretty awesome. I'll take some pictures, and I'm thinking about buying some gaucho supplies as well :)
Im glad to hear that the funeral was nice, and that Colton came out okay as well. Keep building him up.
Changes are next Tuesday (a week from tomorrow). I can't believe how quickly flies the time. It is going by far too fast.
This work is so wonderful, and great things happen not when one organization does good, or just the missionaries, but when the ward works together. I'm learning a ton about unity, the power of the ward council, and the need to do things of your own will, without being asked or forced to do it. I also realized that I learn something new that makes me so frustrated that I didn't know and put it into practice earlier in my mission. I feel like when I finally learn to do everything right and be a good missionary, my time will be up. I guess it must be that way with life as well, though.
I ate armadillo again this week. It is the best, I promise to try my best to catch one and roast it for you all one day.
Stay HAPPY, work hard, be smart, and love.
Elder Magnusson
This was another incredible week! A man we reactivated named Miguel Granada baptised his 10 yr old daughter, and the bishop baptised his mother (she's lived with him for years, but was always super evangelical). They are super strong and bore their testimonies after the baptism. We are working super hard in reactivation and between investigators and less actives, church attendance was up from 100 to 145 these last couple weeks!!! The ward is working so hard now to rescue, and to find new people and so many miracles are happening. This coming weekend, the neice of a member of the Stake Presidency will be baptised (her parents were also inactive the last 10 years or so) as well as Marìa Paz, Josè and Elvira's mom!!!! We are seeing so many miracles and blessings. The blessings come after the trial of the faith. There are 2 companionships here in the ward, and we're hoping that the 4 of us can stay a 3rd change all together. I don't think it's ever happened, but theres hope haha
Today we bought a ton of meat, and had an asado. Our taxi driver (he's a member, all the missionaries in Tbo use him haha) and his wife cooked all the food and we went to the stake center to play dodgeball and all.
We had a funny experience this week. The Uruguayan people generally are a very paranoid people. They are very prideful that Uruguay is a peaceful refuge from the world. A couple funny things that are taught in the High School here as fact is that Mormon missionary companionships are assigned by the US government to be spies. They say that one is a CIA and the other is military weapons expert and martial arts specialist. Me and my comp argue often about who gets to be who. Anyways, the other day a man stopped us and was like "How's the investigation going?" I was confused at first and said "What?" He just pushed it being like "Ya, I know why you are here..." I started with the "We are representatives of Jesus Christ...etc.. until we realized what he was referring to and I was like "Oh no, but you aren't going to tell anyone, right?" he walked away with a frown on his face. They teach in public schools that we are sent to prepare for the war. They believe that World War 3 is going to happen because the US is going to run out of fresh water, and since there`s the worlds biggest aquifer under Uruguay, and the biggest freshwater river next to it, the US is going to come here to take over. I try to explain that the US isn't under any sort of urgency with their water supply, nor do most realized that there is a country between Argentina and Brazil, but they are convinced hahaha It is pretty funny, but sad.
Ya, dad, Tacuarembo has some great history! The Carlos Gardel hotel is one of the best in South America they say. This is a pretty poor city, so noone from here ever goes there, but some people come just for that hotel and museum.
Next week is the Gaucho festival, so we've seen in the centro people from all over the world! Gauchos are south american cowboys, but the way they dress is pretty awesome. I'll take some pictures, and I'm thinking about buying some gaucho supplies as well :)
Im glad to hear that the funeral was nice, and that Colton came out okay as well. Keep building him up.
Changes are next Tuesday (a week from tomorrow). I can't believe how quickly flies the time. It is going by far too fast.
This work is so wonderful, and great things happen not when one organization does good, or just the missionaries, but when the ward works together. I'm learning a ton about unity, the power of the ward council, and the need to do things of your own will, without being asked or forced to do it. I also realized that I learn something new that makes me so frustrated that I didn't know and put it into practice earlier in my mission. I feel like when I finally learn to do everything right and be a good missionary, my time will be up. I guess it must be that way with life as well, though.
I ate armadillo again this week. It is the best, I promise to try my best to catch one and roast it for you all one day.
Stay HAPPY, work hard, be smart, and love.
Elder Magnusson
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