December 31, 2010

Hola,

It was awesome to talk with the family on Christmas! I loved it and I wish we could have talked longer, but I still appreciate the chance I had. You're all so wonderful.

New Years isn't too different here in Spain. They do have a tradition that at midnight, they eat 12 grapes (one for each month of the year) in hopes of a year of prosperity and plenty, or something like that. It's interesting.

New Years is always a time of renewal, reflection, and resolution. Goals for the new year are always something that people think about, and I hope that we all will think about them, set them, and do our best to complete them. This past year has been quite a special one for me. I received my mission call on February 1st, and began my missionary service on June 16th. It has already been 6 months since I began! The time is going quickly, but I am enjoying it. There are always things to improve, always things to change, always things to learn, but I am grateful for them. I am grateful for the opposition there is because it gives us opportunites to grow. This is another reason why goals are so important. With goals, we have purpose in our lives and we strive to change, and improve, and apply the things that we learn. I am so, so grateful for the Savior, Jesus Christ. His atonement makes it possible for us to leave those things that hold us back, the things that drag us down, the things that stop our growth and slow our progress. We leave those things and apply the principles of the gospel, which bring peace and happiness into our lives. We establish a pattern of living that is in harmony with His will. This invitation is extended to each of us.

I love you all. Thank you so much for helping me. Your love and prayers make a difference in my life.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

December 13, 2010

Buenos días,

I want you all to know that I love you sooooo much. Your lives have blessed mine and I am grateful for each of you.

The weather here is nothing like Iowa, that is for sure. This past week, Elder Han and I wore short sleeve shirts three days in a row! It rains, it doesn't snow, and I think the coldest it has been so far is about 40º F.

This has been an amazing week, a week full of miracles. Elder Han and I are both staying here in Huelva. We are really enjoying our time here and we continue to grow stronger in our determination and testimony. The Lord is helping us in the work we do, and as we have relied more upon Him, we have seen His influence and blessings.

I love this time of the year. Christmas is always special. It's a wonderful time to think of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The First Presidency Christmas Devotional was wonderful. We watched it last night. True, it was a little different for me to see it translated into Spanish, but I still loved it. Daniela, a girl we're teaching, came to it and she said she loved it. It really helped her feel the Spirit.

President Eyring's talk, especially when he referenced the words of Isaiah, were particularly meaningful to me. President Uchtdorf, President Erying, and President Monson all invited us to ponder and reflect on the true spirit and meaning of Christmas - the life and mission of Jesus Christ. His love, His atoning sacrifice for us, is the way in which we find purpose and peace in this life. The Savior said that if we have faith like a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Like so many of the Lord's teachings, this applies to us spiritually. For some, it might be a mountain of guilt from mistakes made in the past, for others it might be a mountain of pain from the actions of others. It might be a mountain of fear, not knowing what the future holds, or a mountain of distractions that call our attention to less important things. Whatever the mountain might be, through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, it can be moved. This was the purpose for which He came to this world - to provide the way for us to overcome these things, to live in happiness, and be prepared to return Home to our Heavenly Father's presence, with our families in joy that will never end.

I know that the Savior loves you. He knows your name. He anxiously waits to help you, to forgive you, and heal you. Through His atonement, all of us can be made whole. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be serving a mission, sharing this message of hope and peace that comes through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope that His light and love will fill your hearts as you remember Him this Christmas season, and invite others to come unto Him.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

December 6, 2010

Hola,

This week was awesome. Monday night, Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two biggest and best "soccer" clubs in Spain played each other. Although Elder Han and I did not watch it, we heard it, and heard about it this whole week. We were walking home from an appointment when the game was on and all of the bars were filled with people. When Barcelona scored we heard everyone cheering. It was pretty cool. Barcelona ended up winning 5-0. It was crazy.

Tuesday we had a great Family Home Evening with a family. We felt the Spirit and enjoyed each other's company. We are going there tonight and Elder Han and I are going to make some good ole fashion chocolate chip cookies. Well, kind of. They don't have chocolate chips here, so we buy a bar of chocolate and break it up into little pieces and put it in the dough. It works.

On Wednesday we went to our Ward Mission Leader´s barber shop and he cut our hair before we went to his house for lunch. His wife is an amazing cook and we enjoyed the food a lot. When we were there, their son turned on the show "Extreme Home Makeover," and we saw the end, where a family came back from a vacation and a brand new house was waiting for them. The father of this family had died of cancer, and the town all pitched in to get them this new house. There was something that the father said to his family, while he had cancer, that they engraved on a stone bench in the backyard. He said, "There are a lot of things to think about, but nothing to worry about." That really impressed me, and I think it's true. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us hope and strength, despite the many, many things there are to think about. Seeing this community work and sacrifice for this family to have this new home made me think of the Savior, who worked and sacrificed His whole life for us to have a Home with Him.

I don't have time to write about all of the rest of the week, but it all went really well. I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life and in the lives of many people here. I know that He loves us and is anxious to help us, anxious to forgive us, anxious to bless us, lead us, and guide us. He lives. I love each of you and thank you for your goodness.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

November 29, 2010

Hola,

December is almost upon us and I don't think I will see snow on Christmas. It has rained all week, and it's raining again today, but I doesn't really snow here. Oh well.

Things are going well. Elder Han and I had a great Thanksgiving. We even ate pumpkin pie.

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach us the gospel, the plan that our Heavenly Father has revealed for us to be happy. Elder Han and I have had some great experiences teaching people these things.

On Sunday, the Primary children presented their program during sacrament meeting. I played the piano for them. They did a wonderful job and I felt the Spirit as they shared their testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I love hearing them read the scriptures and sing songs that help me remember who I am, that I am a child of God. The Lord is very aware of who we are. His hand is in our lives. I have seen it in my life, in very sacred, important experiences, but also in very small, simple experiences. I know that He loves us. I know that the Savior lives. By being humble, being obedient, having faith, repenting, and honoring our covenants, we grow spiritually. The Holy Ghost has a greater role in our lives, and we are changed through the atonement of Christ. This gospel is a gospel of love, a gospel of progression, and a gospel of transformation. We become happier, we become more like the Savior, as we strive to keep His commandments and simply do the best we can. His commandments and teachings are the way to happiness, true, eternal happiness.

I love you all so much.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

November 25, 2010

Plaza de Espana, Sevilla
Hola,

Happy Thanksgiving. This week we changed our preparation day because Elder Han and I came here to Dos Hermanas for District Meeting, and in a little bit, we are going to the house of one of the members near here that is serving in the U.S. Military and stationed at one of the bases here in Spain. I think it's an Air Force Base. So, we're going to have Thanksgiving dinner with them!

Just one thing, as much as I wish I could, we are only allowed to email members of our immediate family. That is our rule as a mission. Just for your information. Some people have sent me some emails and I just wanted to let you know I am not ignoring you.

We had a fantastic week. On Saturday night we went to the dedication of the new Stake Center in Sevilla. That building took 12 years to get the land and permits and everything else to construct it. It's beautiful and we enjoyed it a lot.

On Tuesday, the Assistants to the President came to Huelva and we spent the day on exchanges. I was with Elder Solari, and we had a wonderful day. We felt the Spirit really powerfully in our companionship study while reading the Book of Mormon and talking about it. It helped me a lot.

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the atonement. It is through the atonement, and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel that we are happy. At times we have difficulties, challenges, and things we have to change, but can just slow down, and take life one day at a time. Slow progress is better than no progress. Every effort we make to come closer to the Lord will make a difference for good. The atonement changes our hearts, we become more loving, and our lives have purpose no matter what we experience.

I love you and want to give you thanks for your love. I know that the Savior lives. He wants you to be happy. He has prepared the way for us. He is the way. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a full-time missionary. It is wonderful.

I hope all is well. May the Lord bless you.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

November 16, 2010

Hola from Huelva,

This is where I am now. The city of Huelva. Elder Han is my companion (see attached picture). He's Korean, but he grew up near Philadelphia. He's awesome and I love serving with him. We are working hard and really putting our faith in the Lord as we do this work.

Almería was really amazing. I had wonderful experiences and I love the people there. Elder Hurley went home last week. I left on Wednesday morning, about 10 minutes before he did. I really enjoyed being with him. Elder Adams and Elder Dunoskovic are in Almería now, just those two. Elder Adams was great. He was such a patient companion and he always looked for ways to enjoy this experience of serving a mission.

The train ride was about 5 hours from Almería to Sevilla. In Sevilla, I waited about an hour and a half for my train to Huelva. Elder Han and I are the only missionaries here in Huelva, so we have the piso to ourselves. We are about a 10 minute walk from the Church. I love the ward. They are good people and I'm excited to serve them and get to know them better. Here's our address:

Avda. Costa de la Luz Nº 27, 5-D
21002 Huelva, Huelva
España

Yesterday, we had Zone Conference. It as wonderful and I learned a lot. We talked about having faith; having faith not just to serve, but faith to succeed. With the Lord, all things are possible. Through His atonement we change and become converted - we do and become what He would have us do and become. Through this process, which we work on and go through our entire life, we find joy and peace in Him. I know the Savior lives and loves us. We have the opportunity to come unto Him. He has extended the invitation. He is there. 2 Nephi 9:21-23

I love each of you and think of you often.

Love,
Elder Fagersten

November 8, 2010

There is loads of stuff that went on this week. First, some random things:

Yesterday, I saw a John Deere tractor.

In Spanish there are some words that are very similar but mean very different things. For example, casado and cansado. We were at a Family Home Evening and I was asking Sofia if she was tired. Well, I thought I was. I said, "¿Está casada?" She looked at me wierd, then I asked her again, "¿Está casada?" She started laughing and I realized what I had been saying. I had been asking her if she was married instead of asking her if she was tired (Sofia is 18 and she is not married). Casado means married, cansado means tired. So, that was interesting. But yes, she was a little tired.

Anyway, this week, I went to Fuéngirola, to the Mission Home, for a meeting there along with about 25 other missionaries. Elder Hurley came with me from Almería and we really enjoyed it. We learned a lot about becoming better teachers, better missionaries, and how practicing helps us develop the skills that the Lord wants us to use in inviting others to come unto Him.

Yesterday we had Stake Conference in Granada. There was great counsel given to us about changing our perspective and developing Christlike love - charity. I really felt the Spirit and it strengthened my testimony of the Savior, of his atonement, and how it changes us.

When we were at the Mission Home, President Clegg took me into his office and told me that I am being transferred to Huelva. It's on the west coast of Spain (the opposite side of the country) and I will be in the Sevilla Zone. My companion will be Elder Han. I am going to miss Almería a lot. I love these people.

I know the gospel is true. Jesus Christ restored his church and gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The truth has been restored. I know that the Savior lives and loves us. His atonement gives us the opportunity to change, to repent, to be healed, and to be happy.

Love,
Elder Fagersten