November 19, 2011

Hola,

Well, it's almost kind of getting cold here. It is definitely chilly at night time, but it's not as cold as it is there. However, the houses and apartments here are all made of cement and brick and tile, so there is no insulation and central heating is a luxury that few have. Because of that, it feels colder, especially inside the apartment. In Spain there are quite a few Chinese people, and they always have little shops just full of stuff - it's like the Dollar Tree. Anyway, one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Ferguson (don't worry, people never get our names mixed up, haha), showed us that the chinos (that's what we call the stores) have Jiffy peanut butter! That was an exciting discovery.

There is no such thing as Thanksgiving in Spain, but Presidente and Hermana Clegg have invited the Malaga Zone over for a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. We might also celebrate Thanksgiving with our American friend, Brice, and his family. It will be fun.

President Clegg has challenged the whole mission to read the Book of Mormon before Christmas. At Zone Conference, he handed out a paper-back copy to each missionary, in their native language, and invited us to underline or circle every reference to Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. Then he said, "If you've already done that, underline every reference to the gospel - faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. If you've already done that, underline or circle every time the word "remember" appears in the Book of Mormon." We are all excited to do this study. I love the scriptures. I love the Book of Mormon. I know that it's true - every page, every verse, every word. The Holy Ghost has witnessed that to me, personally.

I am really grateful for my companion, Elder Taylor. He and I have learned a lot together. We've butted heads a little, but we have both grown and learned how to better communicate with one another. Communication and forgiveness have brought us a lot closer together, and it has made a difference in our teaching, in our contacting, in our studies and everything in between. The guidance and companionship of the Spirit is worth every effort we make to align our will with the Lord's and live so that we might merit that gift and promise.

I love my family! I love all of you so much! Love is the great motivating force behind Heavenly Father's plan for our happiness. It was part of the power that sustained Christ as He carried the massive load of our sins and sorrows in order to bring salvation to our souls. He did that because He loves us. He laid down His life and took it up again to provide the path that leads to eternal life and never-ending happiness.

Love,
Elder Fagersten