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