Hola,
This past week was fantastic. Olympia, a lady we have been teaching for quite some time, and missionaries before us as well, entered the waters of baptism, yesterday was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit was very, very strong at her baptism. It was a beautiful day.
I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It changes lives because it testifies and teaches of Christ with clarity and power. The Spirit bursts from the pages as you read and study the message it contains. On the plane ride over to Spain, I was reading the 34th chapter of Alma, where Amulek, Alma's missionary companion, testifies and teaches about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He says, "And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice," [so here is the purpose of the Atonement, number 1] "to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and [number 2] bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption." The Atonement fulfills a lot more than just 2 purposes but when I was reading that on the plane, the second one really impacted mean. The atonement, that sacrifice, that promise, is the means by which we can have faith sufficient to repent, and thus bring about the "great and eternal plan of redemption."
I know that these things are true. I love the gospel. I love my Savior.
Love,
Elder Fagersten
I apologize for seriously lacking in sending photos, so here are a few...
1) My one year mark in the mission and the "cake" that my companions prepared (a cookie with Mr. Choc on it - Mr. Choc is like the cheap version of Nutella... it's good)
2) A car that made me think of Nick DiMarco, for obvious reasons, that was sitting right outside our piso
3) Elder Ferreira and me
4) Olympia's baptism
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
7-4-2011
Hola,
Happy 4th of July! It will be strange to not have fireworks or anything, but that's all right. I like Spain too, haha.
Not yesterday, but the Sunday before, we, the missionaries, did a musical fireside here in Sevilla. It was a lot of fun, and it was another good opportunity to share the gospel. We centered it on Christ and the restoration of His church. It went really well and the people said they enjoyed it a lot.
Elder Kirkham, Stanley, and Walton all left, and Elder Ferreira came. He's awesome and I have been speaking Spanish 24 hours a day. It's helping me a lot. We are both really excited about this marvelous work.
I recently read a story about a missionary who had a companion who he got along with pretty well but his companion stunk! He smelled sooooo bad, and this missionary could not stand it. His companion didn't shower hardly at all and he could not understand it. It drove him up the wall. So, he told the mission president about it, how gross his companion was and that he smelled bad and all of that stuff. Then, the mission president asked him, "Did you know that where your companion grew up they had to travel 15 miles to get water? Water was precious to that family. They couldn't waste a single drop." In short, this missionary's perspective changed quickly.
It's easy to draw conclusions about people, especially when we see things that are different from us or that in our opinion "shouldn't be that way". The truth is, however, that we don't know everything. I know that every person on this earth is a special, beloved child of God. I had an experience similar to the one that missionary had, in that I found out something I didn't know before and my perspective, my thoughts toward him changed. It was a humbling experience.
By applying the atonement of Jesus Christ we can change our perspective, our attitude, and our character and put them in alignment with the Lord's will. I know that He lives and loves us so much.
Love,
Elder Fagersten
Happy 4th of July! It will be strange to not have fireworks or anything, but that's all right. I like Spain too, haha.
Not yesterday, but the Sunday before, we, the missionaries, did a musical fireside here in Sevilla. It was a lot of fun, and it was another good opportunity to share the gospel. We centered it on Christ and the restoration of His church. It went really well and the people said they enjoyed it a lot.
Elder Kirkham, Stanley, and Walton all left, and Elder Ferreira came. He's awesome and I have been speaking Spanish 24 hours a day. It's helping me a lot. We are both really excited about this marvelous work.
I recently read a story about a missionary who had a companion who he got along with pretty well but his companion stunk! He smelled sooooo bad, and this missionary could not stand it. His companion didn't shower hardly at all and he could not understand it. It drove him up the wall. So, he told the mission president about it, how gross his companion was and that he smelled bad and all of that stuff. Then, the mission president asked him, "Did you know that where your companion grew up they had to travel 15 miles to get water? Water was precious to that family. They couldn't waste a single drop." In short, this missionary's perspective changed quickly.
It's easy to draw conclusions about people, especially when we see things that are different from us or that in our opinion "shouldn't be that way". The truth is, however, that we don't know everything. I know that every person on this earth is a special, beloved child of God. I had an experience similar to the one that missionary had, in that I found out something I didn't know before and my perspective, my thoughts toward him changed. It was a humbling experience.
By applying the atonement of Jesus Christ we can change our perspective, our attitude, and our character and put them in alignment with the Lord's will. I know that He lives and loves us so much.
Love,
Elder Fagersten
6-27-2011
Hola,
Elder Kirkham is being transferred! Elder Stanley is going home, Elder Walton is also being transferred. I will be here in Sevilla with just one companion now. Elder Ferreira, from Uruguay. My Spanish is going to get soooo much better! haha.
Well, I don't have a ton of time, but I know that God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. I love all of you so much. The greatest miracle of all is the atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope all of us can experience and see and feel that miracle in our lives every day.
Love,
Elder Fagersten
Elder Kirkham is being transferred! Elder Stanley is going home, Elder Walton is also being transferred. I will be here in Sevilla with just one companion now. Elder Ferreira, from Uruguay. My Spanish is going to get soooo much better! haha.
Well, I don't have a ton of time, but I know that God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. I love all of you so much. The greatest miracle of all is the atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope all of us can experience and see and feel that miracle in our lives every day.
Love,
Elder Fagersten
6-20-2011
Buenos días,
Last Sunday, not yesterday but the 12th, there were two members that were visiting Sevilla from Latvia. I translated the meetings and classes into English for them, and they had a good time. I asked them if they knew the Hansens and they said yes, they did. Small world! So, Brother and Sister Hansen, Dainis Lepesh and Aivars Bite both say hello and wish you the very best.
Last night we had a Family Home Evening with the family of a recent convert. Candelario is his name, and he is from Peru. His two daughters, Lili and Juana, their boyfriends (who are Spaniards) Mario and Sergio, and Lili's daughter, Zesley, were all there. Candelario is the only member of the Church. We went last Saturday and taught about the restoration of the church and gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday, we went and talked a little more in depth about the Book of Mormon. They brought up questions and doubts and we gave each of them a different chapter to read in the book of Mormon that would help them resolve their doubts and answer their questions. At the end, Elder Kirkham and I sang "Our Savior's Love" and we closed with a prayer. After the prayer, Lili said, "I just wanted to thank you for coming here. I have kind of distanced myself from this stuff for a while, and I haven't felt the desire to learn much." Then, with tears in her eyes she said, "But you have filled me with that desire again." She quickly got up to "go prepare the food" but it was such a beautiful experience to see the Spirit work within her.
The Lord lives. He cares about us. He is our Savior. "And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever" (Moroni 10:7).
Love,
Elder Fagersten
Last Sunday, not yesterday but the 12th, there were two members that were visiting Sevilla from Latvia. I translated the meetings and classes into English for them, and they had a good time. I asked them if they knew the Hansens and they said yes, they did. Small world! So, Brother and Sister Hansen, Dainis Lepesh and Aivars Bite both say hello and wish you the very best.
Last night we had a Family Home Evening with the family of a recent convert. Candelario is his name, and he is from Peru. His two daughters, Lili and Juana, their boyfriends (who are Spaniards) Mario and Sergio, and Lili's daughter, Zesley, were all there. Candelario is the only member of the Church. We went last Saturday and taught about the restoration of the church and gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday, we went and talked a little more in depth about the Book of Mormon. They brought up questions and doubts and we gave each of them a different chapter to read in the book of Mormon that would help them resolve their doubts and answer their questions. At the end, Elder Kirkham and I sang "Our Savior's Love" and we closed with a prayer. After the prayer, Lili said, "I just wanted to thank you for coming here. I have kind of distanced myself from this stuff for a while, and I haven't felt the desire to learn much." Then, with tears in her eyes she said, "But you have filled me with that desire again." She quickly got up to "go prepare the food" but it was such a beautiful experience to see the Spirit work within her.
The Lord lives. He cares about us. He is our Savior. "And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever" (Moroni 10:7).
Love,
Elder Fagersten
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