Before I forget, I tried taking money off of my PLatinum card and it rejected my PIN. It's the same as my other card, and my account online, right?
Wow, it's sad to hear about all the fires up there! That's pretty scary, but all the life that will follow will be really pretty in the mountains!
This week was full of miracles in the zone. It was Artigas's bday Sunday and all the schools had required activities, and none of the members went to church but the branch pres. and family, and investigators. The same thing happened in all the wards in the Stake, but all the people preparing for baptism went in the zone so that was a HUGE miracle! The Ferreiras are excited for their baptism Saturday. Yesterday we had a FHE and made torta fritas and played UNO. They are doing super well and Ing Wei the oldest son (18) we have him pretty excited to serve a mission. Hopefully he's done with cigarettes. He said it would be hard to quit, but he only smokes 2 a day, so we challenged him to man it up and quit cold turkey. Young people quit so much easier than old people!!!
All morning I worked on binding my Preach My Gospel in spanish that I've had my whole mission to gift to Javier Weisbach in Salto my convert that today turns 1 in the church :) (By the way... HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLTON!!!!) and now he's nineteen and should be done with his mission papers in 2-3 weeks. Just has a couple interviews more and medical papers to go. Hopefully he'll have his call by the time you come to pick me up and maybe I can convince him to wait for us to open it up :) haha I sent a letter to his dad and his uncle (Terecita's dad, she told me she chats with you guys on facebook haha) challenging them to listen again to the missionaries, so I hope to hear a good miracle from them. They need to get to the temple!!!!!!!!
We're doing really well here in Fray Bentos, I'm learning a lot about working with church leaders. I love this city a lot and hope to stay here for the rest of my mission. Elder Stevens is a great comp, we're working well together and he'll be a great friend after too. We have been doing divisions several days of the week with missionaries in the other cities for training and these last 2 weeks its my turn, so I'm pretty tired of traveling haha It feels so good to sleep in my own bed.
We had the zone conference with Elder Foster of the 70 on Thursday. It was on the doctrine of prayer and on working through missionaries. He put missionaries into 3 columns and showed us the success that we'd have in each. The first was missionaries working by their own efforts, the second members serving the missionaries, and the third was missionaries serving the members. We're about halfway between 1 and 2 as a mission and our goal is to get into column 2. Then the challenge is convincing missionaries that they can't do this work on their own and humbling them into service. It'll be lots of fun haha We have the Lords promise that we can double baptisms in the next year, so there's no excuse not to do so.
Well, I'm out of time ya, but I love you all a lot and I'll let you know which days we'll be where and hotel info next week. Don't be trunky!!!! haha Levi be humble, Colton be smart, Kayli be happy, and Mom and Dad be patient. I'll try and be all of those. Good luck with preparation for you new job dad, and congrats!
Stay safe and work hard in all you do!
Elder Magnusson
Thursday, June 23, 2011
June 13, 2011
¡Feliz Cumpleaños Colton! Que sea los mejor 12 posible.
Dang, that last paragraph made me trunky, dad hahaha Kimball in Cali, Nate and Andrew are old in the mission, Seth leaving to Honduras (we're all going Spanish-speaking!), Austin putting in the papers... wow I remember when our we were all so much younger in young mens. Soooo weird!!! Steven and I are getting pretty close here to the end... BAH! Don't want to think about it!
That's totally fine about the trip! No problem at all, it will be a lot less stressful for us all I think. Just let me know how many days we'll have and I'll plan accordingly. It is going to be AWESOME!
Ya, the ash has reached Uruguay pretty bad, but nowhere as bad as Argentina I'm sure. Today with the cold and humidity, the ash has blocked the sunshine, though. It's like a big gray cloud-filled sky. But, it comes and goes with the weather, nothing really falling from the sky or anything. There's been a lot of research here in uruguay since the earthquake last year in Chile and they say there's a big fault here thats never erupted right through the heart of the country. The only time it ever shook was in the 1830s and it was very very minor. So... just like everywhere else in the world, everyone is paranoid hah I can only imagine what's on the news these days...
Congrats on the job, dad! One less thing to worry about!
This week was wonderful! No baptismal service to plan, so we just worked hard to prepare the others for this month and find a lot of people. We found 2 AWESOME families that of course neither are married, but accepted everything and we're going to work on getting a marriage date taken out this week. We had a priesthood activity of a ping-pong tournament that had a pretty good turn out. Its a lot easier to get investigators to activities than church haha We've been working a lot through activities and making a lot of effort to get investigators at evening things such as baptismal services and it helps a ton. Sometimes, going to church at 9:30 am on a Sunday is something they just won't do unless they understand truly why they need it so much.
Orlando is officially off smoking for 1 week. 100-0 in 3 days IS possible. He's having such terrible reactions, though, hehe he's constantly scratching his neck and face and has marks to prove it! Poor guy is suffering pretty bad, but after 10 years of fighting for his answer to his prayers, now that he has it, he's not letting anything hold him back. He's such a good example!
The Ferreira family is doing great, too. They came to church again this Sunday, and are excited for their baptism the 25th. Today we went fishing all morning with them, Hugo, and Orlando. I caught the biggest fish, the biggest I've ever caught in my life! I didn't have a reel or anything, just the line wrapped around an aerosal can (ghetto, but it worked great haha). Elder Stevens caught a bunch of little fish for bait and I landed a huge sucker alright, hes not HUGE, but for a river fish from just the bank side, it was a 10 pounder Dorado with teeth like a Piranha haha Tonight we have FHE with the Ferreiras and it's on the menu.
This week Elder Foster of the 70 is coming in town for Zone Conference. We have some stuff to prepare, but it will turn out really cool. I'm excited to see what we learn new. This last week we had a training for our weekly planning. We are planning in one go every hour for the entire week with a back-up. It takes a LONG time, but saves time during the week thinking what to do next. I constantly wish I could start over the mission knowing what I know now! MAN!
I love you all so much and am glad everything is working out. Give Seth a big hug and see you in 2 years hehe. Keep working hard enjoying your vacations!
Elder Magnusson
Dang, that last paragraph made me trunky, dad hahaha Kimball in Cali, Nate and Andrew are old in the mission, Seth leaving to Honduras (we're all going Spanish-speaking!), Austin putting in the papers... wow I remember when our we were all so much younger in young mens. Soooo weird!!! Steven and I are getting pretty close here to the end... BAH! Don't want to think about it!
That's totally fine about the trip! No problem at all, it will be a lot less stressful for us all I think. Just let me know how many days we'll have and I'll plan accordingly. It is going to be AWESOME!
Ya, the ash has reached Uruguay pretty bad, but nowhere as bad as Argentina I'm sure. Today with the cold and humidity, the ash has blocked the sunshine, though. It's like a big gray cloud-filled sky. But, it comes and goes with the weather, nothing really falling from the sky or anything. There's been a lot of research here in uruguay since the earthquake last year in Chile and they say there's a big fault here thats never erupted right through the heart of the country. The only time it ever shook was in the 1830s and it was very very minor. So... just like everywhere else in the world, everyone is paranoid hah I can only imagine what's on the news these days...
Congrats on the job, dad! One less thing to worry about!
This week was wonderful! No baptismal service to plan, so we just worked hard to prepare the others for this month and find a lot of people. We found 2 AWESOME families that of course neither are married, but accepted everything and we're going to work on getting a marriage date taken out this week. We had a priesthood activity of a ping-pong tournament that had a pretty good turn out. Its a lot easier to get investigators to activities than church haha We've been working a lot through activities and making a lot of effort to get investigators at evening things such as baptismal services and it helps a ton. Sometimes, going to church at 9:30 am on a Sunday is something they just won't do unless they understand truly why they need it so much.
Orlando is officially off smoking for 1 week. 100-0 in 3 days IS possible. He's having such terrible reactions, though, hehe he's constantly scratching his neck and face and has marks to prove it! Poor guy is suffering pretty bad, but after 10 years of fighting for his answer to his prayers, now that he has it, he's not letting anything hold him back. He's such a good example!
The Ferreira family is doing great, too. They came to church again this Sunday, and are excited for their baptism the 25th. Today we went fishing all morning with them, Hugo, and Orlando. I caught the biggest fish, the biggest I've ever caught in my life! I didn't have a reel or anything, just the line wrapped around an aerosal can (ghetto, but it worked great haha). Elder Stevens caught a bunch of little fish for bait and I landed a huge sucker alright, hes not HUGE, but for a river fish from just the bank side, it was a 10 pounder Dorado with teeth like a Piranha haha Tonight we have FHE with the Ferreiras and it's on the menu.
This week Elder Foster of the 70 is coming in town for Zone Conference. We have some stuff to prepare, but it will turn out really cool. I'm excited to see what we learn new. This last week we had a training for our weekly planning. We are planning in one go every hour for the entire week with a back-up. It takes a LONG time, but saves time during the week thinking what to do next. I constantly wish I could start over the mission knowing what I know now! MAN!
I love you all so much and am glad everything is working out. Give Seth a big hug and see you in 2 years hehe. Keep working hard enjoying your vacations!
Elder Magnusson
June 6, 2011
This last week was Nahuel and Agustin's baptism! It was sweet :) They were references of a lady in the ward without her rights, she's working hard in missionary work to repent and seeing tons of miracles too.
This week Orlando fell through for smoking, but he should be good for next week on the 18th. He's down to 1 cig (from 100/day). He's just got to kick in a good mindset and drop the last one. He's having a lot of physical and mental reactions to it though and it's tough. He'll make it though without doubt :)
We found an AMAZING family! Some members that we helped move in last week had just bought a new bigger house in preparation for her 5 nephews that were coming to move in. Her sister passed away in March, and here noone marries they are all "concubinato" just living together, so her "husband" of 8 years had no legal responsibility to take care of them and jumped ship. So...they were going to get turned over to the state or go live with her, so she took them in :) They are aged 18 Inguei, 14 Florencia, 13 Fernando, 11 Oriana, and 10 Gian. 2 more priesthood bearers haha they went to the baptism and church the following morning and LOVED it! They have a baptismal date for the 25th now. Such good people.
An excomunicated member we've been working with had his 2nd interview this week for rebaptism with the Stake Pres. It should be within a month or so that the approval comes from Salt Lake. He's needed pretty badly here right now. He's an ex-missionary that was on track to be the next Stake Pres. super stud, but made a mistake and lost his rights. Soon he'll be back on track though.
All the people being baptized here are all references, we're working pretty much only through members, and seeing lots of success. The people that are being baptized are getting interviews and callings fast, and working really hard. Muchos milagros!
Zone is looking strong. We're going on lots of divisions outside of the city, it makes the week fly soooo fast.
All those fires sound pretty crazy! I'll pray you have rain. It's weird to think of heat and droughts, when I wake up to below freezing temps in the morning!
Congrats Shelly, and even bigger grats to Matt who got his son!!! ;-)
Dang that will be weird if you work at Cienega ha, I don't promise to ever visit you there hehe.
This next week we have lots of Zone training and such and the following Elder Foster of the 70 is coming, so lots more preparation to do. I'm excited it will be great :) We have tons to learn. It frustrates me so much though when I learn something new, because I look at the time I've spent in the mission not doing it. I wish I could have started the mission knowing what I do know! I guess that's how a lifetime is spent though, wishing you could have foreseen things and done it all a bit better. But, we have to learn and move on is all!
I love you all a ton and am very proud of you. I talk a ton about my family every day in every contact, lesson, etc.. and I'm grateful for the many things you taught me, from washing clothes to sharing a testimony. Never have fear to open your mouth and declare the gospel to every living creature!
Loves,
Elder Magnusson
This week Orlando fell through for smoking, but he should be good for next week on the 18th. He's down to 1 cig (from 100/day). He's just got to kick in a good mindset and drop the last one. He's having a lot of physical and mental reactions to it though and it's tough. He'll make it though without doubt :)
We found an AMAZING family! Some members that we helped move in last week had just bought a new bigger house in preparation for her 5 nephews that were coming to move in. Her sister passed away in March, and here noone marries they are all "concubinato" just living together, so her "husband" of 8 years had no legal responsibility to take care of them and jumped ship. So...they were going to get turned over to the state or go live with her, so she took them in :) They are aged 18 Inguei, 14 Florencia, 13 Fernando, 11 Oriana, and 10 Gian. 2 more priesthood bearers haha they went to the baptism and church the following morning and LOVED it! They have a baptismal date for the 25th now. Such good people.
An excomunicated member we've been working with had his 2nd interview this week for rebaptism with the Stake Pres. It should be within a month or so that the approval comes from Salt Lake. He's needed pretty badly here right now. He's an ex-missionary that was on track to be the next Stake Pres. super stud, but made a mistake and lost his rights. Soon he'll be back on track though.
All the people being baptized here are all references, we're working pretty much only through members, and seeing lots of success. The people that are being baptized are getting interviews and callings fast, and working really hard. Muchos milagros!
Zone is looking strong. We're going on lots of divisions outside of the city, it makes the week fly soooo fast.
All those fires sound pretty crazy! I'll pray you have rain. It's weird to think of heat and droughts, when I wake up to below freezing temps in the morning!
Congrats Shelly, and even bigger grats to Matt who got his son!!! ;-)
Dang that will be weird if you work at Cienega ha, I don't promise to ever visit you there hehe.
This next week we have lots of Zone training and such and the following Elder Foster of the 70 is coming, so lots more preparation to do. I'm excited it will be great :) We have tons to learn. It frustrates me so much though when I learn something new, because I look at the time I've spent in the mission not doing it. I wish I could have started the mission knowing what I do know! I guess that's how a lifetime is spent though, wishing you could have foreseen things and done it all a bit better. But, we have to learn and move on is all!
I love you all a ton and am very proud of you. I talk a ton about my family every day in every contact, lesson, etc.. and I'm grateful for the many things you taught me, from washing clothes to sharing a testimony. Never have fear to open your mouth and declare the gospel to every living creature!
Loves,
Elder Magnusson
May 30, 2011
Great week! Changes were this week, yep I'm back with Elder Stevens, I've officially spent basically my entire mission with him, it's right that he would come here with me. haha
This week was a GREAT baptismal service! Super powerful! The Alvez twins and the Martinez twins were baptized together haha 2 sets of twins...that's a first :) Mom had her interview and will be called soon hopefully to young womans to be with her daughters. She's working really hard with her older 2 kids (19, and 16) to help them come back as well. A man recently reactivated named Jorge baptized the twin boys David and Brandon. It was his first time baptizing and he was so nervous! We said a little prayer together first and afterwards he couldn't wipe the grin off of his face. About 60 people attended the baptism, many investigators and inactives!!! After the baptism we had a branch game night and had so much fun! Most of the parents just looked on laughing though while the kids were going nuts. That's alright though, at least people when and participated. Progress!
This week will be the baptism of Nahuel and Agustin. They are two young men brothers that have been coming for several months, but we wanted to work more with the mom so that they could progress together. She still won't budge, but will be going to the baptism, so hopefully she'll feel the spirit strong and desire to follow her sons.
Next week a man named Orlando that for 10 years has been coming to church will be baptized. He always had a question about the Fall that missionaries couldn't answer (it was a pretty ridiculous doubt) so he never would progress, but in that time he's studied the Book of Mormon a ton and knows it well enough to quote a lot of scriptures. Anyways, lately we've been working hard with his nephew Hugo (under direction of the Branch Pres.) who is a returned missionary who was excommunicated a year ago to help him through the repentence process (he has his first interview this week...within a month or so he might have his rights back!!!!! WOOT!!!) and he shared his experience with his uncle who got touched. He came to us again with this duda about the Fall and we basically read about agency and then told him that what he wanted to know really didn't matter, but thanks to agency he can have his own life...sorry this is a story hard to explain. He accepted a baptismal date and came to church excited, inviting people and all. It's funny how a missionary always finds himself at the beginning, middle, or end of a miracle, and it has nothing to do with their own timing or ability as to where they find themself in the miracle. Shows me just how little we are in this big work.
Church attendance was over 70 for the 4th time, things are looking great and people are very very excited.
Elder Foster of the 70 comes in 2 weeks, so preparation time starts now. It will be a really cool conference I think, I'm pretty excited to see what things we learn from him. A lot of the big focus now is how missionaries worked before, ironically enough. Preach My Gospel was made to force missionaries to teach by the spirit, and not by a set of contructed lessons. However, missionaries have gotten a lot dumber, saying that they don't need the scriptures, or to plan, etc...using excuse that the Lord will guide their words, and show them where to go throughout the day, stuff like that. Mission apostasy is so frustrating. The Lord isn't going to use an inkless pen to write his Book of Life. If we want miracles to happen we must earn them.
I love you all so much!!! I'm proud of you for your achievements and am excited to see you all soon, but not in a trunky way haha Keep working hard and don't you dare keep a calendar of how much time I have left heh
Besitos,
Elder Magnusson
P.S. Give Grandma a BIG hug when you see her. Sorry I haven't written in a long time. Last change we had P-Day and district meeting on the same day. I'll send one off asap :)
This week was a GREAT baptismal service! Super powerful! The Alvez twins and the Martinez twins were baptized together haha 2 sets of twins...that's a first :) Mom had her interview and will be called soon hopefully to young womans to be with her daughters. She's working really hard with her older 2 kids (19, and 16) to help them come back as well. A man recently reactivated named Jorge baptized the twin boys David and Brandon. It was his first time baptizing and he was so nervous! We said a little prayer together first and afterwards he couldn't wipe the grin off of his face. About 60 people attended the baptism, many investigators and inactives!!! After the baptism we had a branch game night and had so much fun! Most of the parents just looked on laughing though while the kids were going nuts. That's alright though, at least people when and participated. Progress!
This week will be the baptism of Nahuel and Agustin. They are two young men brothers that have been coming for several months, but we wanted to work more with the mom so that they could progress together. She still won't budge, but will be going to the baptism, so hopefully she'll feel the spirit strong and desire to follow her sons.
Next week a man named Orlando that for 10 years has been coming to church will be baptized. He always had a question about the Fall that missionaries couldn't answer (it was a pretty ridiculous doubt) so he never would progress, but in that time he's studied the Book of Mormon a ton and knows it well enough to quote a lot of scriptures. Anyways, lately we've been working hard with his nephew Hugo (under direction of the Branch Pres.) who is a returned missionary who was excommunicated a year ago to help him through the repentence process (he has his first interview this week...within a month or so he might have his rights back!!!!! WOOT!!!) and he shared his experience with his uncle who got touched. He came to us again with this duda about the Fall and we basically read about agency and then told him that what he wanted to know really didn't matter, but thanks to agency he can have his own life...sorry this is a story hard to explain. He accepted a baptismal date and came to church excited, inviting people and all. It's funny how a missionary always finds himself at the beginning, middle, or end of a miracle, and it has nothing to do with their own timing or ability as to where they find themself in the miracle. Shows me just how little we are in this big work.
Church attendance was over 70 for the 4th time, things are looking great and people are very very excited.
Elder Foster of the 70 comes in 2 weeks, so preparation time starts now. It will be a really cool conference I think, I'm pretty excited to see what things we learn from him. A lot of the big focus now is how missionaries worked before, ironically enough. Preach My Gospel was made to force missionaries to teach by the spirit, and not by a set of contructed lessons. However, missionaries have gotten a lot dumber, saying that they don't need the scriptures, or to plan, etc...using excuse that the Lord will guide their words, and show them where to go throughout the day, stuff like that. Mission apostasy is so frustrating. The Lord isn't going to use an inkless pen to write his Book of Life. If we want miracles to happen we must earn them.
I love you all so much!!! I'm proud of you for your achievements and am excited to see you all soon, but not in a trunky way haha Keep working hard and don't you dare keep a calendar of how much time I have left heh
Besitos,
Elder Magnusson
P.S. Give Grandma a BIG hug when you see her. Sorry I haven't written in a long time. Last change we had P-Day and district meeting on the same day. I'll send one off asap :)
May 24, 2011
Changes are this week! Elder Schumann leaves for Montevideo today in 4 hrs, and Elder Stevens, the one I was in the offices with from arizona, is my new companion. It will be lots of fun, we've got some baptisms coming up. 2 sets of twins will be baptised this weekend. They are so happy haha it makes me laugh because the girl set of twins cry every time they pray. Its sweet, but pretty funny at the same time. They are ready and excited to continue progressing. We will get some fun pictures with them.
I've got a lot of struggling missionaries coming to the zone, so it will be a new challenge, but everyone is here for a reason, so I'm sure the Lord will provide guidance and help. The districts are now to stay for district meeting, so as before where all the missionaries from the different cities met together every week, all will stay in their own cities. So, I'll be doing divisons all over the department every week and have a lot less time in my own area, but it should help out all the missionries a ton to give them more responsibility, so I'm excited.
I set up surprise birthday party for Elder Schumann on Saturday night it was so cool! We had it with the Durè family and few other families from the branch. Lots of food and cake :) I assumed he knew it was coming just cause it's pretty hard to set up a surprise party for someone you are with 24/7, but it came through, haha
The Durè family is doing so well...it is absolutely incredible the progress made. Last night we had dinner with them and they told us about the stories they are reading in the Book of Mormon as a family each night. The spirit is so strong in their home, and the love the service they show to one another is unbelievable. I can't imagine not being there for the sealing in a year, so I might have to come back! I'm going to save up as soon as I get home. I tear up hardcore every time they talk about how happy they are to be an eternal family, it's overwhelming. They are just so perfect, were so ready to hear the gospel and accept it.
Weather is getting very cold, and Sunday for Elder Schumanns bday we made a huge pot of chili. We overcalculated the beans though, apparently they expand when soaked, and we didn't even use 1/3 to fill a 10L huge pot. haha so we'll be eating beans for a long time.
The branch has gotten so excited, the Pres. is having an activity every other Friday now starting this week. We are in charge this time, but with the next we can already pass the ball.
Well, this computer is super slow and Im out of time. I love you all so much! I know that families can be together forever and it's worth whatever sacrifice necesary to reach that. Work hard to show love and serve one another and BE HAPPY!
Please make the flight plans you want THIS week and if you need help, ask Chelsea Thatcher (now Chelsea Martin). She's in charge of travel for our mission and can help you.
Love you all!!!
Elder Magnusson
I've got a lot of struggling missionaries coming to the zone, so it will be a new challenge, but everyone is here for a reason, so I'm sure the Lord will provide guidance and help. The districts are now to stay for district meeting, so as before where all the missionaries from the different cities met together every week, all will stay in their own cities. So, I'll be doing divisons all over the department every week and have a lot less time in my own area, but it should help out all the missionries a ton to give them more responsibility, so I'm excited.
I set up surprise birthday party for Elder Schumann on Saturday night it was so cool! We had it with the Durè family and few other families from the branch. Lots of food and cake :) I assumed he knew it was coming just cause it's pretty hard to set up a surprise party for someone you are with 24/7, but it came through, haha
The Durè family is doing so well...it is absolutely incredible the progress made. Last night we had dinner with them and they told us about the stories they are reading in the Book of Mormon as a family each night. The spirit is so strong in their home, and the love the service they show to one another is unbelievable. I can't imagine not being there for the sealing in a year, so I might have to come back! I'm going to save up as soon as I get home. I tear up hardcore every time they talk about how happy they are to be an eternal family, it's overwhelming. They are just so perfect, were so ready to hear the gospel and accept it.
Weather is getting very cold, and Sunday for Elder Schumanns bday we made a huge pot of chili. We overcalculated the beans though, apparently they expand when soaked, and we didn't even use 1/3 to fill a 10L huge pot. haha so we'll be eating beans for a long time.
The branch has gotten so excited, the Pres. is having an activity every other Friday now starting this week. We are in charge this time, but with the next we can already pass the ball.
Well, this computer is super slow and Im out of time. I love you all so much! I know that families can be together forever and it's worth whatever sacrifice necesary to reach that. Work hard to show love and serve one another and BE HAPPY!
Please make the flight plans you want THIS week and if you need help, ask Chelsea Thatcher (now Chelsea Martin). She's in charge of travel for our mission and can help you.
Love you all!!!
Elder Magnusson
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