November 1, 2010

We had a good week. Monday we went to Granada for our preparation day. We went to the Alhambra but the cool part didn't open until later and we didn't have time to go. Still, it was fun. Later that night we had a meeting about things we can improve in our Zone and set some goals.

Tuesday we visited a man that lives in a little pueblo (town) about 45 minutes away on bus. The Stake Patriarch also lives there and we had the lesson at his house. It went really well and I felt the Spirit there. I love being here.

The rest of the week went well and I continue to learn things every day. Each of us have opportunities to learn and improve each day. It's true, sometimes life gets a little hectic, and we get a little crazy trying to keep up with everything, but just remember, even Moses was a basket case once. Seriously though, we really can draw closer to the Lord in every experience that we have. I know that is true and I know that the Savior lives and loves us.

And I love you.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

October 25, 2010

Hola,

We love Almería. Somebody asked me about this, but I don't think I answered - yes, the members feed us. ...Every day. Not an exaggeration either. Well, okay, actually, they don't feed us on Mondays because that's p-day. Every other day, yes. Is it a lot of food? Yes. Is it delicious? Yes. We are quite lucky here. Every Sunday one of the sisters in the ward, her name is Mirta (from Argentina), goes around talking to people about feeding us and then hands us the list at the end of church. It's pretty nice.

This is not the only reason we love Almería. The people are just as willing to help us in lessons as they are to feed us. The young single adults help us most of the time. Now that school has started again it is a little bit more difficult to find time when they can come, but they are still willing and ready. We all come closer when we help in this work.

Random fact about Spain: Very few things are refrigerated here.

Elder Adams and I are now teaching a lady named Jaqueline. She is reading and praying and coming to Church. She and her husband, Orlando, and their son, Jason, left after sacrament meeting yesterday because they were kind of sick, but they're all right. It was just a little cold. We have been working with them for a couple of weeks now and things are going well.

In the past few weeks I have thought a lot about the Savior's atonement, and the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. It is a perfect plan. Like Elder Adams has said, it just makes sense, and it gives purpose to this life. The atonement of Jesus Christ makes the plan possible and when we accept it we find true happiness. Obedience is essential to true happiness. Like Nephi asked, can we follow Jesus save we are willing to keep the commandments of the Father? (2 Nephi 31:10)

We have been commandend to have faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, to repent, and come unto Him. In the end, all of this is intended for our happiness. Dad, I am beginning to understand why you have always loved teaching the plan of salvation. It gives us true hope. It gives us something worth-while. It gives us the promise of eternal families and a pure fulness of joy.

I know that my Redeemer lives. He loves us. The invitation is extended to us. The way is prepared.

I love you!

Love,
Elder Fagersten

A small favor...

Could somebody please tell me how the Yankees are doing?

Elder Hurley has gotten a few updates about BYU - not so hot. Are they really 2-5? How are the Hawkeyes looking? What are the NCAA rankings anyway? And the Iowa High School Football Rankings.

Believe me, I'm staying focused, it's just fun to see what's goin on each week. It's more distracting to be wondering about it.

Love you all tons.

- Joe

October 18, 2010

¡Buenos días!

Well, things are great here in Almería, Spain. The weather is cooling off a little bit, Elder Adams is wonderful, and we are loving this time together as full-time missionaries.

This past week we had a "Specialized Training" in Granada. We talked about the Book of Mormon, how it is crucial to our testimony and conversion to Jesus Christ, and that through the Spirit we know that it is true. The confirming voice of the Spirit then brings us to the knowledge that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the Lord, through Joseph Smith, has restored his true church and gospel, along with proper Priesthood authority to administer the ordinances of salvation and direct all the affairs of the church. I know that this is true.

Thank you for all of your prayers and love. I feel so grateful to have so many blessings in my life. This is hard work. It's really hard, but I am absolutely sure that I am in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. I often think of what President Eyring said in a General Conference a little while ago, that when he thinks he has just completed a hard task, and feels ready for a break or some time to relax, he thinks to himself, "Remember Him!" Jesus Christ gave everything for us. We can find strength in Him as we remember that, come unto Him, and allow His atonement to change our hearts. For this I am and will be forever grateful.

I love you!

Love,
Elder Fagersten

October 11, 2010 Story #2

A little more than a month ago we met Jesús while enjoying the lunch buffet at Telepizza. He was sitting alone and we decided to go talk to him. We invited him to the Young Single Adult Family Home Evening at the church later that week. He came, and after that Elder Adams and I began teaching him. During the last four weeks he has prayed, read from Book of Mormon, attended sacrament meeting, and even a session of General Conference. Throughout this time he has grown in his testimony and received a personal witness, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's true church, restored to the earth with priesthood authority, through the prophet Joseph Smith. He entered the waters of baptism on Saturday, October 9, 2010, and was confirmed a member of the Church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday, October 10, 2010.

There are a couple of pictures attached to this email. One picture of Jesús (who is wearing the glasses), Joel (who baptized him), Elder Adams and me, and the other of Jesús, Joel, Elder Hurley (the blonde one on the right), Elder Dunoskovic (Elder Hurley's companion), Elder Adams (my awesome trainer, who I'm standing next to), and me.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and has indeed been restored in our day through the prophet Joseph Smith. We have the opportunity to participate in our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness, to enjoy all of his blessings, and live together forever with our families.

I love you and thank you for all that you do, for who you are, and for who you are becoming.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

October 11, 2010 Story #1

Yesterday Elder Adams and I were contacting people in the street and trying to follow up with some of the people we had talked with before. Here in Spain we don't really "knock" doors because most people live in apartment buildings, so they have a thing called a timbre, which is like a doorbell, you here it buzz or beep or whatever, but it hooks up to a phone in the apartment which rings and they talk to the person down there at the door through a speaker thing. Anyway, Elder Adams and I are pressing these on an apartment building and Elder Adams presses one and it gets stuck. He tries to press it again to get it unstuck but it just gets stuck more. So he looks at me and I have already almost wet my pants laughing and he says, "Let's go!" So we swiftly walk down the street and turned at the first corner we came to. It was hilarious.

October 4, 2010

Hola from "still making me sweat it's so hot outside" Almería,

Here is this weeks fact about Spain - besos. Besos are how the people greet each other here in Spain. It's a kiss, first on the left cheek, then on the right. Men greet men with a handshake or a beso, but all others, men to women, women to women, are besos. We, as missionaries, stick with handshakes for everyone.