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