August 16, 2011

First of all, we got changes yesterday, and I'm going to stay here with E Torres for my last change. I've been praying hard that I would, and am grateful that the Lord has provided more people here for me to find. Now I've just got to work my heart out til the end. It's weird to think I'm going into my last change, sad but exciting.
Before I forget, I thought of a favor I need of you this week! When I get home, I'm going to work out a ton, and I need you to buy online something called an XVest. Its a workout weight vest that comes in different weights, I want the maximum one, 84 lbs (you can take weights out and such). Theres a website for them and I think they costed like $300 or so, or on ebay, I found them for $250 ish when I almost bought it, but didn't since I was about to leave on the mission. Please get a new one with a guarantee for me! Please use money from my account, if its a little more expensive than that its okay.
This week was AMAZING, the best birthday ever. We had ward counsel on Wednesday night and when I arrived, all the lights were out and the whole branch jumped out and sang happy birthday. It was really really special. Hugo (the member that was rebaptized a short while ago) works with metal for his job, and made me the most incredible aceitero (no idea what that is in english, the consecrated oil vial) out of metal pipe and screws. He handmade the chain and everything its incredible! A sister in the ward also made me a painting :) They sang me a friendship song as well, and when it ended they all stood up and sang God Be With you Til We Meet Again. I got it all on video! Can't really capture the feeling on film, but I tried :) I ate so many different cakes this week, I never want to see cake again!
This week, the Navarro family will be baptized, and this last Sunday, all of our key investigators went to church and the Lord is pouring out His Spirit on the branch right now. Tons and tons of miracles. With the Priesthood we have now, we qualify as a ward, the papers are being made!!! I'm grateful for the time that I've had here until now and so excited for the time that I have left to work.
We have an investigator named Gaston getting baptized on the 27th. He's 22 and recently left prison for stealing (he was in for 2 years) he lost his wife and 2 kids when he was in and now hes been living off of selling drugs and such. We found him a few weeks ago, and slowly he's been dropping bad habits and such. He's now been clean for a week. He's changing everything! That neighborhood is pretty dangerous and one of the members had a revelation that if we take out the apple thats on bad from the box, the rest of the apples will get better (that doesn't make much sense in spanish, but you get the idea) so he took us to Gaston the causer of all the havoc, and now things are calming down. He's going to be a great tool in the Lords hands to bring a lot of souls to Him.
The branch is so excited to receive my family in their homes, and I'm contacting my families from other wards that I've served in to visit them. I want this to be a powerful spiritual experience for you guys and also for them. We might get to go to a sealing of a family while you're here, we'll see.
I love you all so much and appreciate your prayers! Stay optimistic always and remember the great blessings the Lord has in store for families. Send my love to Grandma and the family, and the ward.
Elder Magnusson