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