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