HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA, and ALDEN TOO!!!
Your letters are getting trunkier and trunkier every week! Dang. I hope you know I'm not trunky at all :)
This week was GREAT!!!! Orlando Dolci finally got baptized. He's been investigating a lot over these last 11+ years or so. He's had so many witnesses testify of the truthfulness through people and experiences but had never accepted it yet. He's suffered a lot in his life without understanding truly why, and although his family (nearly all are members) has been there for him, he never understood his purpose in life and always felt lost. Now he's finally found what he'd been looking for, and all it took was for him to read, ponder and pray the scriptures and his answer was so powerful! After his baptism, he got up to bare his testimony and it was so powerful!!! Whenever I see my converts bare testimony, or receive a calling, etc... I always think in what point in my life would I have been ready for that. Sometimes I feel like they understand so much better than I do the Atonement, service, faith, basic gospel principles. I feel like the longer I spend as a missionary, the less I discover I know. I don't know if that makes sense, but lately I've been feeling really small, in a good way I think. To just think how much more these people had to sacrifice than me, to think that I ever complained about life being hard, etc... it makes me laugh!
After church yesterday we got a phonecall from the bishop of the next ward over saying that a family had showed up at church in their ward asking their baby to be blessed, and it turns out they are in our boundaries. At church they blessed the baby, and the father of the family was sick and they also gave him a blessing. That night we went over to their house and the Lord had them so prepared to receive the gospel...the mom was baptised when she was young with her family but has been inactive most of her life. We taught about the restoration of priesthood keys and the power that the Lord wants to give to every worthy man to bless him own family and they felt the spirit strong. We gave them the Book of Mormon and invited them to read and pray, and the father and their 10 yr old daughter accepted baptismal dates for the 27th of August. I hope to be here still. This change flew by so quick, we are already in the last week. I'm about to start my last change as a full-time missionary in Uruguay and I'm going to FLY. I am going to give it all I've got to finish stronger than I've been my whole mission. I know the Lord will provide people waiting for me.
The rama is going strong, this week we will have ward council for the first time since it was all reorganized and all are waiting on training, practically everyone in the presidencies has been a member for less than 3 months, so they are all a bit lost hahaha we're teaching less and less of the missionary lessons, and more and more out of the manuals every day :) There's so much to be done still, the work is just beginning and the excitement is on a rise. I love these people a ton and wish there were more hours in the day to visit them all.
Alright, I copied and pasted and edited a little bit the itinerary...here we go! It doesn't have what we'll do, just when we drive and where we stay :)
Thurs. Sep 29 Go to the temple, sleep in Montevideo.
Fri. Sep 30 Drive to Fray Bentos in the morning. Sleep in Fray Bentos.
Sat. Oct 1 All day in Fray Bentos, conferences, etc..Sleep in Fray Bentos.
Sun. Oct 2 Drive in the morning to Salto. Sleep in Salto.
Mon.Oct 3 All day in Salto. Sleep in Salto.
Tues. Oct 4 Drive to Tacuarembo, sleep in Tacuarembo.
Wed. Oct 5 Drive to Montevideo. Sleep in Montevideo.
Thurs.Oct 6 Shop in Montevideo, go home. Sleep over the sea.
It will be a lot of fun :)
As for my birthday, I am having my party at the Durè's house :) It's going to be epic!!! Asado, torta, chorizo... PA!!! I'm not going to spend any money from home, besides I can't my card doesn't work anywhere here.
I love you all so much, don't be trunky.
When's Karl's sealing? In Mesa?
Elder Magnusson
Thursday, August 11, 2011
August 1, 2011
Sorry I keep forgetting to let you know that I did get the package with the camera and all, thank you so much!!!
This week was AMAZING!!! It was spiritual experience after spiritual experience.
The first of two big highlights was on Friday. The stake president assigned us to work with an excommunicated member, and these last 3 months or so have been really cool working with a 26 yr old man that served a mission in Paraguay a few years ago and was a REALLY good missionary! You'll get to meet him and his family when you come. He made a mistake and lost his rights, but on Friday was his baptism. He asked me to be a witness and wow was it powerful. It was the first time I had been to a baptism of readmission, and the spirit and the tears were so thick. There aren't words to describe the power of the testimony he gave after he received the spirit. Him and his wife and son are now going to prepare for the temple for in a year or so :)
Saturday was the baptism of Miguel Muñoz and the Villagran family (Julio dad, Iris mom, Manuela 14, Lautaro 10) Most of the branch went, and there were nearly 20 non-members there! The other missionaries brought a number of people, and the members brought lots of friends as well. Both Miguel and Julio bore their testimonies and cried a lot and as Julio stepped down he walked back over to the mic and invited all those present that hadn't yet taken that step to be baptized and BAM, the spirit hit the room so powerfully! They are going to be great leaders in the church!!! Javier Durè the father of the last whole family who were baptized 2 months ago is now a ward missionary and he baptized them all. He didn't make a single mistake, all on the first try. You could hear and feel the authority in his voice.
Adrian and Sabrina had problems at the court and couldn't get married on Friday, the judge said for august, so hopefully this week or next they can get married before changes so I can for sure be there! Fortunately, however, Vaneza and Edgar successfully were married on Friday and Edgar will get baptized on the 13th.
This week Orlando, a man that E STevens and I taught forever and was about to be baptized but his girlfriend moved in when she got kicked out onto the street and he took pity, she stole from his sister (whos in the RS Presidency) and he got super mad and discovered she had been stealing from him too, and he kicked her out. Well, he's been going to church for 10 years, and this week he's FINALLY going to be baptized!!!!!!!!!! Also, Rocìo has been bringing her niece to church for the last couple months and will be baptized also :) Lots of miracles happening still. We are maintaining the branch with an attendance above 100 people and all the recent converts are in the presidencies and all, everyone is learning fast because they have to!
This week we are in the search for another golden family. We have been greatly blessed, but I know the Lord has even more in store for this branch, and we'll search under the rocks to find them. This Wednesday we have ZL Council, which means a lot of new things to learn, and really good food made by Hna. Heaton!!!
I love you all, and am excited for you Karl. Is he and Courtney going to be living there in Tucson, or other plans? Give all the Beestons a huge hug for me and a good luck in wedding preparations. Thats so crazy that Erynn is beginning a mission now...wow it's weird to look back and see where I'm at. Incredible. Time flys so quickly its unreal.
Any news from Trevor? I haven't heard from Steven in a while either, I need to write him asap! Is Will still in Tucson at Pima?
I love you all so much!!!!! I'm sorry I didn't finalize the itinerary this week, I haven't had time. I'll get it done before next week :) It's gonna be great!!!
Elder Magnusson
This week was AMAZING!!! It was spiritual experience after spiritual experience.
The first of two big highlights was on Friday. The stake president assigned us to work with an excommunicated member, and these last 3 months or so have been really cool working with a 26 yr old man that served a mission in Paraguay a few years ago and was a REALLY good missionary! You'll get to meet him and his family when you come. He made a mistake and lost his rights, but on Friday was his baptism. He asked me to be a witness and wow was it powerful. It was the first time I had been to a baptism of readmission, and the spirit and the tears were so thick. There aren't words to describe the power of the testimony he gave after he received the spirit. Him and his wife and son are now going to prepare for the temple for in a year or so :)
Saturday was the baptism of Miguel Muñoz and the Villagran family (Julio dad, Iris mom, Manuela 14, Lautaro 10) Most of the branch went, and there were nearly 20 non-members there! The other missionaries brought a number of people, and the members brought lots of friends as well. Both Miguel and Julio bore their testimonies and cried a lot and as Julio stepped down he walked back over to the mic and invited all those present that hadn't yet taken that step to be baptized and BAM, the spirit hit the room so powerfully! They are going to be great leaders in the church!!! Javier Durè the father of the last whole family who were baptized 2 months ago is now a ward missionary and he baptized them all. He didn't make a single mistake, all on the first try. You could hear and feel the authority in his voice.
Adrian and Sabrina had problems at the court and couldn't get married on Friday, the judge said for august, so hopefully this week or next they can get married before changes so I can for sure be there! Fortunately, however, Vaneza and Edgar successfully were married on Friday and Edgar will get baptized on the 13th.
This week Orlando, a man that E STevens and I taught forever and was about to be baptized but his girlfriend moved in when she got kicked out onto the street and he took pity, she stole from his sister (whos in the RS Presidency) and he got super mad and discovered she had been stealing from him too, and he kicked her out. Well, he's been going to church for 10 years, and this week he's FINALLY going to be baptized!!!!!!!!!! Also, Rocìo has been bringing her niece to church for the last couple months and will be baptized also :) Lots of miracles happening still. We are maintaining the branch with an attendance above 100 people and all the recent converts are in the presidencies and all, everyone is learning fast because they have to!
This week we are in the search for another golden family. We have been greatly blessed, but I know the Lord has even more in store for this branch, and we'll search under the rocks to find them. This Wednesday we have ZL Council, which means a lot of new things to learn, and really good food made by Hna. Heaton!!!
I love you all, and am excited for you Karl. Is he and Courtney going to be living there in Tucson, or other plans? Give all the Beestons a huge hug for me and a good luck in wedding preparations. Thats so crazy that Erynn is beginning a mission now...wow it's weird to look back and see where I'm at. Incredible. Time flys so quickly its unreal.
Any news from Trevor? I haven't heard from Steven in a while either, I need to write him asap! Is Will still in Tucson at Pima?
I love you all so much!!!!! I'm sorry I didn't finalize the itinerary this week, I haven't had time. I'll get it done before next week :) It's gonna be great!!!
Elder Magnusson
July 25, 2011
Yesterday we won the Copa America in soccer!!! That's a huge deal, we were the smallest country to enter and came out champs. The selection right now is great! The streets were full of screaming people and fireworks all night long :) Today everyone is on hangover mode, the streets are quiet and covered in confetti. Fun memories!
So many miracles are happening right now here... I don't know where to start!
The Villagran family is stoked for their baptism on Saturday. They are going to be another pillar in the branch forever. The biggest key to strengthening investigators is to get their family involved. Julio didn't want anything to do with us until we persuaded his wife Iris to invite him to family prayer, and then he started involving himself, and now HEs the one getting everyone up to go to church and such. Heads of families activity is key to the salvation of an entire family.
Sabrina and Adrian are excited for their marriage on Friday and her baptism Saturday. We're throwing their wedding reception at the church, the relief society gets all giddy about marriages, we'll see what they come up with :)
Miguel is also doing very well and is now working on getting his brothers to hear the gospel too. His family they are good hearted people, but theres just a lot of opposition with his dad. Little by little I think the whole family will make it. He's almost 30, and we set goals to get him married haha its about time, I better not take that long!
This last week was the baptism of Evelyn. Her whole family has been inactive for a long time until one day she told her older sister, 22, that she wanted to be baptised, so she took her to church and we began to teach the family again. Her mom gave her testimony at her baptism and is excited to stay strong now. Her husband is in a peace mission and is excited to be active again when he comes home. Its funny how the Lord works through a kid to bring back the whole family!
These last 2 Sundays church attendance has broke 100 and all the recent converts are receiving callings within a few weeks of their baptisms, and we're at 100% retention for this year up until now which is a miracle!! We're quickly running out of time in the week to make all the visits we would like, but fortunately, the ward is stepping more and more up to fill needs.
An excommunicated member that we were assigned to work with will also be baptized this weekend, after the normal baptismal service and everyone leaves, the stake leaders will all come. He's amazing, and is going to be a great leader soon. It's a tough repentance process, I had no idea what went into it.
This is going to be a crazy and exciting week, so keep these people in your prayers, opposition is very strong up until the last second!
Thats crazy you already have plans! I'll figure out our itinerary this week and next week I'll have things set so you can make hotel reservations :) Weird!....
I love you all and I'm praying for you!!! Enjoy school, vacations, work, kids, grandkids, and friends. Send my love to Sister Fellows and the whole family, and remind them how lucky they are to have a dad needed so much in heaven to lead legions of angels.
Elder Magnusson
So many miracles are happening right now here... I don't know where to start!
The Villagran family is stoked for their baptism on Saturday. They are going to be another pillar in the branch forever. The biggest key to strengthening investigators is to get their family involved. Julio didn't want anything to do with us until we persuaded his wife Iris to invite him to family prayer, and then he started involving himself, and now HEs the one getting everyone up to go to church and such. Heads of families activity is key to the salvation of an entire family.
Sabrina and Adrian are excited for their marriage on Friday and her baptism Saturday. We're throwing their wedding reception at the church, the relief society gets all giddy about marriages, we'll see what they come up with :)
Miguel is also doing very well and is now working on getting his brothers to hear the gospel too. His family they are good hearted people, but theres just a lot of opposition with his dad. Little by little I think the whole family will make it. He's almost 30, and we set goals to get him married haha its about time, I better not take that long!
This last week was the baptism of Evelyn. Her whole family has been inactive for a long time until one day she told her older sister, 22, that she wanted to be baptised, so she took her to church and we began to teach the family again. Her mom gave her testimony at her baptism and is excited to stay strong now. Her husband is in a peace mission and is excited to be active again when he comes home. Its funny how the Lord works through a kid to bring back the whole family!
These last 2 Sundays church attendance has broke 100 and all the recent converts are receiving callings within a few weeks of their baptisms, and we're at 100% retention for this year up until now which is a miracle!! We're quickly running out of time in the week to make all the visits we would like, but fortunately, the ward is stepping more and more up to fill needs.
An excommunicated member that we were assigned to work with will also be baptized this weekend, after the normal baptismal service and everyone leaves, the stake leaders will all come. He's amazing, and is going to be a great leader soon. It's a tough repentance process, I had no idea what went into it.
This is going to be a crazy and exciting week, so keep these people in your prayers, opposition is very strong up until the last second!
Thats crazy you already have plans! I'll figure out our itinerary this week and next week I'll have things set so you can make hotel reservations :) Weird!....
I love you all and I'm praying for you!!! Enjoy school, vacations, work, kids, grandkids, and friends. Send my love to Sister Fellows and the whole family, and remind them how lucky they are to have a dad needed so much in heaven to lead legions of angels.
Elder Magnusson
July 18, 2011
Wow, sure took me for a surprise when you said Karl's engaged!!! Ask him why he couldn't just wait a week more for our campout? heh, that's okay. Tell him to send me a letter with the details of how it all happened, what his plans are now and all! Dang, we're all growing up I guess :)
This week was amazing. All week we did service for a number of member families and investigators, spent many many hours cutting wood, house fixes, etc... The Lord also provided many opportunities to give blessings and serve people with the weather (huge, cold rain storms). Today all morning we spent doing service in our own house haha the big wall behind our beds has progressively darkened these last couple weeks with the humidity, and I took it to battle with a tub of bleach this morning. It smelled so bad haha but it all looks good now. They say that prevents more from growing, as well.
The Villagran family is progressing realy well, they came to church again the entire family and are excited for their baptism the 30th. Miguel is doing great, still in the job search, but he's helpìng us in a lot of service opportunities we've had. Getting investigators to serve other people teaches them a LOT! Sabrina is also doing great. Her husband got his job back, and he's excited to use his priesthood authority thats laid "dormant" for the last 20 years of inactivity and baptize his wife. They are so firm and he's working really hard to share the gospel with others. The wards together in Fray Bentos are going to throw a big wedding for them and another couple getting married the same day.
This last Sunday was one of the most powerful days of my life. After years of struggling, in the last 3 months, attendance in the branch has officialy tripled!!!!!!! We finally broke our goal of 100 people in attendance with 101. The Stake President came to the branch and congratulated the members for their hard work in bringing back people and giving us references. The branch is so excited! They all thought it would be shut down, and now there are hopes of becoming a ward! We are the only branch in the Stake, all the rest are wards, and now we have higher attendance than any of them. I am so lucky to be here at this important time here. I am so proud of the members here and the huge sacrifices in time they've made to help missionary work and do their visits and such. Every area has its difficulties and such, but the way things are going now, I couldn't think of the slightest complaint. There are so many great people to visit, and the Lord is providing so many miracles. The organizations are almost all done being made and all.
The Durès are giving talks next week. Elder Torres gave a great talk this last Sunday about taking responsibility for your children and the difference between giving them their agency and being indifferent to their bad decisions. It was GREAT. The Stake President spoke directly to our investigators and challenged every one present to reaffirm their testimony that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and spoke about how if the First Vision realy occurred, everything is true. It was exactly what we have been focusing on so much lately in the mission, is the converting power of the Book of Mormon.
Every doubt everyone has goes back to that one question: is the Book of Mormon true or not? If it's true, EVERYTHING that we've learned from the prophets of this dispensation is true also. I love the Book of Mormon and know that it's true. In reality, to know that God has provided physical evidence for us shows he knows that our faith is weak, but loves us and wants us to have instruction. I am so grateful for the guidance of a living prophet!
This next week is the prepation for Evelyn Pereira's baptism, and next week will be even crazier, so keep me in your prayers.
Rocio is my hero. She waited so long to be baptized and sacrificed everything to get there, and this last week I understood even a little more. On Sunday we had to count the tithes with the Pres. and there were 2 envelopes with her name on the outside. We opened them up and inside each were just a few pesos and the tithing slips, one with the name of her daughter of 5 years and one from her son of 3 years. That was a HUGE example to me of teaching your children principles of the gospel. I think some people that have just recently received the gospel understand it a thousand times better than me. There's always a lot to learn!
I love you all so much and am grateful I was born to goodly parents. Be grateful for your triumphs and trials alike. They are many for a reason!!!
Keep working hard and smiling, and enjoying the summer storms.
Elder Magnusson
This week was amazing. All week we did service for a number of member families and investigators, spent many many hours cutting wood, house fixes, etc... The Lord also provided many opportunities to give blessings and serve people with the weather (huge, cold rain storms). Today all morning we spent doing service in our own house haha the big wall behind our beds has progressively darkened these last couple weeks with the humidity, and I took it to battle with a tub of bleach this morning. It smelled so bad haha but it all looks good now. They say that prevents more from growing, as well.
The Villagran family is progressing realy well, they came to church again the entire family and are excited for their baptism the 30th. Miguel is doing great, still in the job search, but he's helpìng us in a lot of service opportunities we've had. Getting investigators to serve other people teaches them a LOT! Sabrina is also doing great. Her husband got his job back, and he's excited to use his priesthood authority thats laid "dormant" for the last 20 years of inactivity and baptize his wife. They are so firm and he's working really hard to share the gospel with others. The wards together in Fray Bentos are going to throw a big wedding for them and another couple getting married the same day.
This last Sunday was one of the most powerful days of my life. After years of struggling, in the last 3 months, attendance in the branch has officialy tripled!!!!!!! We finally broke our goal of 100 people in attendance with 101. The Stake President came to the branch and congratulated the members for their hard work in bringing back people and giving us references. The branch is so excited! They all thought it would be shut down, and now there are hopes of becoming a ward! We are the only branch in the Stake, all the rest are wards, and now we have higher attendance than any of them. I am so lucky to be here at this important time here. I am so proud of the members here and the huge sacrifices in time they've made to help missionary work and do their visits and such. Every area has its difficulties and such, but the way things are going now, I couldn't think of the slightest complaint. There are so many great people to visit, and the Lord is providing so many miracles. The organizations are almost all done being made and all.
The Durès are giving talks next week. Elder Torres gave a great talk this last Sunday about taking responsibility for your children and the difference between giving them their agency and being indifferent to their bad decisions. It was GREAT. The Stake President spoke directly to our investigators and challenged every one present to reaffirm their testimony that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and spoke about how if the First Vision realy occurred, everything is true. It was exactly what we have been focusing on so much lately in the mission, is the converting power of the Book of Mormon.
Every doubt everyone has goes back to that one question: is the Book of Mormon true or not? If it's true, EVERYTHING that we've learned from the prophets of this dispensation is true also. I love the Book of Mormon and know that it's true. In reality, to know that God has provided physical evidence for us shows he knows that our faith is weak, but loves us and wants us to have instruction. I am so grateful for the guidance of a living prophet!
This next week is the prepation for Evelyn Pereira's baptism, and next week will be even crazier, so keep me in your prayers.
Rocio is my hero. She waited so long to be baptized and sacrificed everything to get there, and this last week I understood even a little more. On Sunday we had to count the tithes with the Pres. and there were 2 envelopes with her name on the outside. We opened them up and inside each were just a few pesos and the tithing slips, one with the name of her daughter of 5 years and one from her son of 3 years. That was a HUGE example to me of teaching your children principles of the gospel. I think some people that have just recently received the gospel understand it a thousand times better than me. There's always a lot to learn!
I love you all so much and am grateful I was born to goodly parents. Be grateful for your triumphs and trials alike. They are many for a reason!!!
Keep working hard and smiling, and enjoying the summer storms.
Elder Magnusson
July 11, 2011
I'm glad to hear you got your Patriarchal Blessing, Kayli! I remember how excited I felt after I got mine, I couldn't stop thinking about what it all meant.
This week was fantastic here, too. We saw a lot of incredible miracles, the most important being the reactivation of an old High Councilman and his family, and the baptism of his 10 yr old son. The Zapata family are doing well now. Also, Rocio was finally baptized! She has been through soooo much these last 3 months since we found her, and now that she's seperated from her abusive husband, she's so happy and got up to bore her testimony after her baptism on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the restoration. She had her interview right after her confirmation and will have a calling next week. She already had a visiting teaching assignment and all. Another rock in the branch. Elsa Silva also got a calling as a counselor in the Relief Society! Everything is finally able to be organized and we'll be able to work on a whole new level in the branch. It's so exciting!!!
This week, a family we've been working with came to church for the first time. Julio and Iris Villagran have been married for 13 years, they don't drink or smoke, and they have 4 great kids. It's a perfect family that's just been waiting for the gospel to enter into their lives. They have a baptismal date for the 30th. The dad was a little harder than the others at first, but Iris and the kids just kept pushing and pushing, and inviting him to family prayer and scripture study each morning and night. He's slowly coming around and fa...he's just such a good man!!! It's amazing to analyze how perfect the Lord's plan is and to ponder on what we must have done in the pre-earth life to deserve such great blessings!
This next week, will be baptized Ebelin Pereira, the daughter a strong family that we are reactivating. They came these last 2 weeks to church, and the dad is coming home soon from Africa on a military peace mission and they are going to surprise him being temple-ready :)
Adrian and Sabrina are working on wedding plans for the 29th. It's going to be a great big party, and Adrian is ready to baptize his wife on the 30th with the Villagran family. They've been coming for almost 3 months now as well. Good people. Adrian will probably be the next Branch Pres. Also, a man named Miguel Suhr we found last week came to church this Sunday. He loved it, felt great, and told us he's been reading often the Book of Mormon. He's 29, so he's already past missionary age, but will be another Melquizedek Priesthood holder in the ward, which is what's needed most. He lives alone, and doesn't drink or smoke...another HUGE miracle. We are up to a Priesthood attendance of 14 people.
This little branch is the Lord's way of teaching me that the field is white, already to harvest. The miracles are being poured out upon us, and wow! Members are giving us a lot of good references that they have already prepared, and for the first time in my mission, I feel like JUST a missionary. Usually here the missionaries serve every position, we give the talks, organize the activities, reactivate, baptize, etc... but what we wanted to do is really focus on using the members to their full capacity, and it took a little while, but now we are seeing so many great things happen!! I'm gaining a testimony on the power of service, also, and how much better it is to love people and serve them, and show them how to do things than to tell them what they are doing wrong. I'm growing to love the people here a TON. All day Thursday we will be doing service for a single mom of 8 that moved here a few months ago from Chile when she lost everything in the earthquake. She was a teacher fairly well-off there and now she makes her living going out into the forest with her kids to cut wood and sell it. A member donated his truck for the day so we can go get a ton of wood for them and give her a little break. Sometimes good people just need a little boost :)
I have so much to say and I'm out of time, but I love you a ton and pray for you daily. Blessings will come when we work hard, serve, smile, and be obedient to our covenants.
Besos,
Elder Magnusson
This week was fantastic here, too. We saw a lot of incredible miracles, the most important being the reactivation of an old High Councilman and his family, and the baptism of his 10 yr old son. The Zapata family are doing well now. Also, Rocio was finally baptized! She has been through soooo much these last 3 months since we found her, and now that she's seperated from her abusive husband, she's so happy and got up to bore her testimony after her baptism on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the restoration. She had her interview right after her confirmation and will have a calling next week. She already had a visiting teaching assignment and all. Another rock in the branch. Elsa Silva also got a calling as a counselor in the Relief Society! Everything is finally able to be organized and we'll be able to work on a whole new level in the branch. It's so exciting!!!
This week, a family we've been working with came to church for the first time. Julio and Iris Villagran have been married for 13 years, they don't drink or smoke, and they have 4 great kids. It's a perfect family that's just been waiting for the gospel to enter into their lives. They have a baptismal date for the 30th. The dad was a little harder than the others at first, but Iris and the kids just kept pushing and pushing, and inviting him to family prayer and scripture study each morning and night. He's slowly coming around and fa...he's just such a good man!!! It's amazing to analyze how perfect the Lord's plan is and to ponder on what we must have done in the pre-earth life to deserve such great blessings!
This next week, will be baptized Ebelin Pereira, the daughter a strong family that we are reactivating. They came these last 2 weeks to church, and the dad is coming home soon from Africa on a military peace mission and they are going to surprise him being temple-ready :)
Adrian and Sabrina are working on wedding plans for the 29th. It's going to be a great big party, and Adrian is ready to baptize his wife on the 30th with the Villagran family. They've been coming for almost 3 months now as well. Good people. Adrian will probably be the next Branch Pres. Also, a man named Miguel Suhr we found last week came to church this Sunday. He loved it, felt great, and told us he's been reading often the Book of Mormon. He's 29, so he's already past missionary age, but will be another Melquizedek Priesthood holder in the ward, which is what's needed most. He lives alone, and doesn't drink or smoke...another HUGE miracle. We are up to a Priesthood attendance of 14 people.
This little branch is the Lord's way of teaching me that the field is white, already to harvest. The miracles are being poured out upon us, and wow! Members are giving us a lot of good references that they have already prepared, and for the first time in my mission, I feel like JUST a missionary. Usually here the missionaries serve every position, we give the talks, organize the activities, reactivate, baptize, etc... but what we wanted to do is really focus on using the members to their full capacity, and it took a little while, but now we are seeing so many great things happen!! I'm gaining a testimony on the power of service, also, and how much better it is to love people and serve them, and show them how to do things than to tell them what they are doing wrong. I'm growing to love the people here a TON. All day Thursday we will be doing service for a single mom of 8 that moved here a few months ago from Chile when she lost everything in the earthquake. She was a teacher fairly well-off there and now she makes her living going out into the forest with her kids to cut wood and sell it. A member donated his truck for the day so we can go get a ton of wood for them and give her a little break. Sometimes good people just need a little boost :)
I have so much to say and I'm out of time, but I love you a ton and pray for you daily. Blessings will come when we work hard, serve, smile, and be obedient to our covenants.
Besos,
Elder Magnusson
July 5, 2011
First of all, hotels in Salto...check out prices at Los Naranjos. It might be too expensive. If not, look for something else close to the hot springs. I don't know of any hotels in town mom would be willing to sleep in haha Here in Fray Bentos, I know which one it is but I can't remember the name. I have a convert that works there and I'll get the reservation made, maybe a deal!
Also, ya thats fine to use the telescope, just be careful please!
This week was super cool. We had Stake Conference and Pres. and Sis. Heaton came up to talk about losing your fear of talking to your family and friends that aren't members. I think thats what impedes missionary work most from progressing is the fear of opening your mouth. But even rejection serves its purpose, so we always must speak with every person we know!
Elder Patañia of the Seventy spoke on unity within the wards and branches, and WOW it was a super cane.droppy talk it was GREAT. He reminded the endowed members temple covenants with God of 1) Obedience 2) Sacrifice 3) Keep the Commandments 4) Obey the Law of Chastity 5) Consecration. It reminded me of a lot of things as well, and the members started putting it in practice right away! On the bus ride home, 3 members told us they had a family for us to visit and asked for a Book of Mormon to take to them before passing the reference. The branch is going UP!!! So many great miracles are happening right now :)
I got the call to stay here another change. Unfortunately, E Stevens is gone, so thats a bummer. He promised to be at my homecoming though, so you'll get to meet at least one of my companions :) My new companion is Elder Torres of Peru. I've only met him a couple times and really don't know anything about him or what to expect, so I'll hope for the best.
The best news of all is that my kid E Harris and my step-kid E Barrios are both training in their 6th change, the earliest anyone I've ever heard of training in our mission. They are super nervous, but they are studs and will make a lot of miracles happen. E Harris is opening a tough area in Montevideo, so keep him in your prayers. I'm going to be a grandpa!!!
This week we found an amazing family. The mom was a reference named Gisselle, and we found her with her 14 yr old daughter in the first visit. Then we met her 3 sons aged 10, 7, and 5. The 3rd day we visited her and she had said her husband would be there, and when we arrived he wasn't still, so she asked us to come back later that night. We passed by and he was there and we had an incredible lesson with the whole family. They are married, don't drink, don't smoke, have great jobs and a beautiful home, and are just looking for a way to be happier and more united as a family. SO PREPARED!!! It's amazing how many times a missionary has probably knocked that door without any success, and then one day because a member opened her mouth and invted them to listen, everything changed. If all goes well, they'll be baptized around the end of the month.
Rocìo whos been going to church for about 3 months now got fed up with her husbands abuse (they are not legally married, and can't be for a long time because he didn't get divorced...laws are tough here...) and took the kids and left. We had talked to him and told him he had to treat his family better and he's gone nuts since she left, telling her he's going to kill her, himself, the kids, etc...She is now living with her parents, who are really old, but funny great people, and will be baptized on Saturday, something she's longed for ages now. She told us last night that she fasted on Saturday for security and that day her ex sent her a text asking that WE pass by. So, we prayed first to know if our lives were in danger, visiting a man that believes it very much to be our fault he lost his family and when we got there he sat us down and started crying. He looked me in the eyes and said "I hate you. Because of you I lost everything I am. But I'm not angry with you, I hate you because you were right, and I know I should've listened. Now I need you to help me save myself." He accepted that Rocìo may not return to him ever because you can't simply erase scars that deep, but we set some goals so that he gets his life in order and maybe has some kind of happy future. The first goal was to stop drinking and we watched him as he poured out the rest of his whisky. Tomorrow we'll work on smoking and little by little I hope he turns out okay. I've never seen someone so completely broken down. Man, it's powerful to see repentance.
Well, things are looking up always. I am loving the mission and just wishing life would slow down a moment so I can enjoy it. Keep working hard in all you do and BE HAPPY! You know the plan of salvation!
Love,
Elder Magnusson
Also, ya thats fine to use the telescope, just be careful please!
This week was super cool. We had Stake Conference and Pres. and Sis. Heaton came up to talk about losing your fear of talking to your family and friends that aren't members. I think thats what impedes missionary work most from progressing is the fear of opening your mouth. But even rejection serves its purpose, so we always must speak with every person we know!
Elder Patañia of the Seventy spoke on unity within the wards and branches, and WOW it was a super cane.droppy talk it was GREAT. He reminded the endowed members temple covenants with God of 1) Obedience 2) Sacrifice 3) Keep the Commandments 4) Obey the Law of Chastity 5) Consecration. It reminded me of a lot of things as well, and the members started putting it in practice right away! On the bus ride home, 3 members told us they had a family for us to visit and asked for a Book of Mormon to take to them before passing the reference. The branch is going UP!!! So many great miracles are happening right now :)
I got the call to stay here another change. Unfortunately, E Stevens is gone, so thats a bummer. He promised to be at my homecoming though, so you'll get to meet at least one of my companions :) My new companion is Elder Torres of Peru. I've only met him a couple times and really don't know anything about him or what to expect, so I'll hope for the best.
The best news of all is that my kid E Harris and my step-kid E Barrios are both training in their 6th change, the earliest anyone I've ever heard of training in our mission. They are super nervous, but they are studs and will make a lot of miracles happen. E Harris is opening a tough area in Montevideo, so keep him in your prayers. I'm going to be a grandpa!!!
This week we found an amazing family. The mom was a reference named Gisselle, and we found her with her 14 yr old daughter in the first visit. Then we met her 3 sons aged 10, 7, and 5. The 3rd day we visited her and she had said her husband would be there, and when we arrived he wasn't still, so she asked us to come back later that night. We passed by and he was there and we had an incredible lesson with the whole family. They are married, don't drink, don't smoke, have great jobs and a beautiful home, and are just looking for a way to be happier and more united as a family. SO PREPARED!!! It's amazing how many times a missionary has probably knocked that door without any success, and then one day because a member opened her mouth and invted them to listen, everything changed. If all goes well, they'll be baptized around the end of the month.
Rocìo whos been going to church for about 3 months now got fed up with her husbands abuse (they are not legally married, and can't be for a long time because he didn't get divorced...laws are tough here...) and took the kids and left. We had talked to him and told him he had to treat his family better and he's gone nuts since she left, telling her he's going to kill her, himself, the kids, etc...She is now living with her parents, who are really old, but funny great people, and will be baptized on Saturday, something she's longed for ages now. She told us last night that she fasted on Saturday for security and that day her ex sent her a text asking that WE pass by. So, we prayed first to know if our lives were in danger, visiting a man that believes it very much to be our fault he lost his family and when we got there he sat us down and started crying. He looked me in the eyes and said "I hate you. Because of you I lost everything I am. But I'm not angry with you, I hate you because you were right, and I know I should've listened. Now I need you to help me save myself." He accepted that Rocìo may not return to him ever because you can't simply erase scars that deep, but we set some goals so that he gets his life in order and maybe has some kind of happy future. The first goal was to stop drinking and we watched him as he poured out the rest of his whisky. Tomorrow we'll work on smoking and little by little I hope he turns out okay. I've never seen someone so completely broken down. Man, it's powerful to see repentance.
Well, things are looking up always. I am loving the mission and just wishing life would slow down a moment so I can enjoy it. Keep working hard in all you do and BE HAPPY! You know the plan of salvation!
Love,
Elder Magnusson
June 27, 2011
Wow what a good week! We had the most special baptismal service ever. This whole week Ing Wei (18), the oldest son of the Ferreira family has struggled with his decision to get baptized with the rest and had decided to wait. But, on Friday night we convinced him to do his baptismal interview anyways with Elder Fackrell and see how he felt. After the interview he still said no. Saturday night came and he went to the baptismal service and saw his family dressed in white...and we brought clothes for him and all just in case a miracle happened. Then, I pulled him into a room alone in front of the font and we talked alone for a little bit about his goals and life and how important it is that he serve a mission, being a commandment from God that every young man worthy to do so ought to, even though he's not a member of the church he has the responsibility to set that example for his 2 younger brothers. We knelt together and said a prayer asking for guidance and after the prayer he said "Give me 5 minutes." We got up and he grabbed Elder STevens from the other room and asked him the same things he asked me and he said the same. I felt so strongly that it would all work out so I had prepared his clothes and waited til he came out of the room and handed them over. Long story short, he'll be ready to serve a mission in a year. He came to church for his confirmation in a suit and all and man...he's going to do great things. I have planned to go fishing with them when we come back. It's going to be a blast! HUGE miracle.
At the same baptismal service, Elder Fackrell baptized a 9 yr old son of a family he reactivated. This kid is so sweet. He's been in a wheel chair most of his life and doesn't have much longer to live. He speaks really softly and is super sensitive to things people say. The first day they found him he asked to be able to follow Christs example and be baptized. He was the last to be baptized on Sat and as he watched the others he cried and said he was scared of the water. When it was his turn, E' Fackrell held him in his arms and slowly entered the water, and Juan just kept crying and crying saying "I can't do it, I can't do it! I'm scared!" His mom and his aunt we're at the waters edge encouraging him, and Elder Lopez also entered the water to do the ordinance. Me and E' Stevens were testigos and finally he calmed down and they baptized him, but when E' Fackrell put him down into the water, the hand grabbing his neck never entered and we looked at eachother, not wanting him to have to do it again, but it was necessary and he cried even harder saying "not again not again!" They calmed him down a bit and E' Fackrell just stood there hugging him trying to calm him down, and slowly knelt and then sat in the water. The ordinance was redun and they went all the way down together. When he came up he was smiling and gave a big thumbs up. It was funny how much he changed in that moment. E' Fackrell yelled with joy and gave him a big hi-5. It was a moment so powerful to see him clinging on for life terrified of something he wanted so badly, and even though he worried a lot, the moment he put trust in the Lord, all his fear left and he was happy. I have a photo of when he came out of the font smiling and all. All in all, it was a day of many miracles. We met our companionship goal and zone goal for baptisms and we're going to throw them an ice cream party / testimony meeting. This weekend is Stake Conference and E Patañia of Argentina is coming to preside. It should be super cool. Pres. Heaton will also come up for the Priesthood Leadership session and talk about losing fear of talking to friends and such. Great things are happening in the stake slowly.
SUnday some organizations were reorganized and over these next few weeks, everything will be set and we'll have a functioning unit finally haha I'm super stoked for the upcoming people getting baptized, we are teaching some more great families and seeing TONS of miracles.
The rough draft for our trip will be like this:
Thurs. Sep 29 My last day as a proselyting missionary. Go to the temple and such. That night visit a few in Deo and sleep there.
Fri. Sep 30 Drive to Fray Bentos in the morning, visit some people and go fishing late afternoon at the anglo with the Ithurralde and Ferreira families and evening to watch amazing sunset on the Uruguay River. Sleep in FB.
Sat. Oct 1 Visit people all day and go to conference and have FHE with Durè fam that night. Here we can drive late to Salto, and sleep in til conference, or sleep in FB and drive early Sunday morn and go straight to conference there. Whichever you prefer. I suggest sleeping there again and driving in the morning with light.
Sun. Oct 2 Conference day in Salto!!! Have asado with the Piedad fam, and visit people all day. They say theyre going to have a party for me there haha Sleep in Salto.
Mon. Oct 3 Go to the Salto Grande international bridge and cross so you can say you stepped in argentina, too, mom! Spend the day with the De Souza and Perez fams, FHE at the Perez that night. Sleep in Salto.
Tues. Oct 4 Travel to Valle Eden to see a beautiful national park in Tacuarembo, spend the morning there. Spend the afternoon and evening visitng converts and members and have FHE with the Paz family and sleep there at the Carlos Gardel.
Wed. Oct 5 Travel to Deo in the morning and spend the day visiting my very first converts in Sayago, mostly wealthy old ladies haha Sleep in Deo.
Thurs. Oct 6 This is your shopping day, I'll take you to all the best artesan shops in the city of Montevideo and take you to some pretty spots for pictures and such. Sleep in Deo
Fri. Oct 7 I don't know when the plane leaves, so I don't have plans for this day :)
Let me know what you think. I'm stoked it's going to be GREAT!!! You are going to eat more in this trip than the rest of your life combined!!! haha Let me know if there's anything in particular you want to try, or something you want to see here in the Guay!!
Love you all, dont be trunky!
Elder Magnusson
At the same baptismal service, Elder Fackrell baptized a 9 yr old son of a family he reactivated. This kid is so sweet. He's been in a wheel chair most of his life and doesn't have much longer to live. He speaks really softly and is super sensitive to things people say. The first day they found him he asked to be able to follow Christs example and be baptized. He was the last to be baptized on Sat and as he watched the others he cried and said he was scared of the water. When it was his turn, E' Fackrell held him in his arms and slowly entered the water, and Juan just kept crying and crying saying "I can't do it, I can't do it! I'm scared!" His mom and his aunt we're at the waters edge encouraging him, and Elder Lopez also entered the water to do the ordinance. Me and E' Stevens were testigos and finally he calmed down and they baptized him, but when E' Fackrell put him down into the water, the hand grabbing his neck never entered and we looked at eachother, not wanting him to have to do it again, but it was necessary and he cried even harder saying "not again not again!" They calmed him down a bit and E' Fackrell just stood there hugging him trying to calm him down, and slowly knelt and then sat in the water. The ordinance was redun and they went all the way down together. When he came up he was smiling and gave a big thumbs up. It was funny how much he changed in that moment. E' Fackrell yelled with joy and gave him a big hi-5. It was a moment so powerful to see him clinging on for life terrified of something he wanted so badly, and even though he worried a lot, the moment he put trust in the Lord, all his fear left and he was happy. I have a photo of when he came out of the font smiling and all. All in all, it was a day of many miracles. We met our companionship goal and zone goal for baptisms and we're going to throw them an ice cream party / testimony meeting. This weekend is Stake Conference and E Patañia of Argentina is coming to preside. It should be super cool. Pres. Heaton will also come up for the Priesthood Leadership session and talk about losing fear of talking to friends and such. Great things are happening in the stake slowly.
SUnday some organizations were reorganized and over these next few weeks, everything will be set and we'll have a functioning unit finally haha I'm super stoked for the upcoming people getting baptized, we are teaching some more great families and seeing TONS of miracles.
The rough draft for our trip will be like this:
Thurs. Sep 29 My last day as a proselyting missionary. Go to the temple and such. That night visit a few in Deo and sleep there.
Fri. Sep 30 Drive to Fray Bentos in the morning, visit some people and go fishing late afternoon at the anglo with the Ithurralde and Ferreira families and evening to watch amazing sunset on the Uruguay River. Sleep in FB.
Sat. Oct 1 Visit people all day and go to conference and have FHE with Durè fam that night. Here we can drive late to Salto, and sleep in til conference, or sleep in FB and drive early Sunday morn and go straight to conference there. Whichever you prefer. I suggest sleeping there again and driving in the morning with light.
Sun. Oct 2 Conference day in Salto!!! Have asado with the Piedad fam, and visit people all day. They say theyre going to have a party for me there haha Sleep in Salto.
Mon. Oct 3 Go to the Salto Grande international bridge and cross so you can say you stepped in argentina, too, mom! Spend the day with the De Souza and Perez fams, FHE at the Perez that night. Sleep in Salto.
Tues. Oct 4 Travel to Valle Eden to see a beautiful national park in Tacuarembo, spend the morning there. Spend the afternoon and evening visitng converts and members and have FHE with the Paz family and sleep there at the Carlos Gardel.
Wed. Oct 5 Travel to Deo in the morning and spend the day visiting my very first converts in Sayago, mostly wealthy old ladies haha Sleep in Deo.
Thurs. Oct 6 This is your shopping day, I'll take you to all the best artesan shops in the city of Montevideo and take you to some pretty spots for pictures and such. Sleep in Deo
Fri. Oct 7 I don't know when the plane leaves, so I don't have plans for this day :)
Let me know what you think. I'm stoked it's going to be GREAT!!! You are going to eat more in this trip than the rest of your life combined!!! haha Let me know if there's anything in particular you want to try, or something you want to see here in the Guay!!
Love you all, dont be trunky!
Elder Magnusson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)