Levi's Mission News

Levi's Mission News

Monday, November 30, 2015

Rajahmundry, India Week 1

Hey Y'all,
This week I was sent to Rajahmundry.  It took a plane and a 3 hour car ride to get here from Bangalore. Before coming here, I was told Rajahmundry was the most non westernized place in the mission. My companion is Elder Spencer Conrad. He is a great guy and we get along very well. Nothing much really happened this week, besides going around and meeting some of the ward members and our investigators. The place I'm staying at is very clean, but the A/C is broken. Our water heater is also broken so no hot water for showers. It is very hot here, even though its basically winter here. I would rather take a cold shower anyways. I have been adjusting to the food, and am having less problems eating it. We talked to this girl Shanty who is investigating the church. I asked her what Americans eat. She told me, Burgers, Turkey, and Chicken Lollipops.. I looked at her funny and asked what a chicken lollipop was, she said it was a chicken's leg.  I laughed and told her we call them drumsticks. The majority of the people here don't speak much English. They all speak Telugu so it is hard to communicate with them. We helped a family move into their new home yesterday and couldn't help but notice they didn't have a toilet. Instead it was just a room with a hole in the ground, which is called a "squat-er". During our process of moving them, their next door neighbor who happens to be in the ward bathed himself right in front of us. It is an interesting experience watching a 50 year old man bathe on the side street. One of the missionaries had a birthday yesterday so we woke up at midnight to sing happy birthday to him and eat India's version of a cake. I did not get a Thanksgiving this year it was just a normal day for us. We will have something for Christmas though. Until next week!
Love,
Elder Magnusson

The first photo was taken in Bangalore at a members house.... the lovely large cow and the little dog are in Rajamundry... Levi says he'll take more photos this week!




I asked Levi some specific questions, so here are his answers:

Me:  What is Rajahmundry like?

Levi: its not too big, and is a very back woods indian town. The people are nice and humble though, but are still very poor. There are some wealthy people here,. but even to american standards its very poor. They dont have any american restaurants but they do have them in Bangalore but they dont taste as good so I've heard.

Me:  Do the missionaries end up learning the language, how do you communicate?

Levi: no its english only, only few times can we use Telugu to teach lessons. But thats what the indian missionaries do. We just use simple words they understand. If you point to stuff they will know what you're saying

Me:  How many elders in your apartment?

Levi:  4 so that is two companionships

Me:  Is there a branch there?

Levi:  Yes, we cover Rajahmundry third branch

Me:  Where do you send your emails from?

Levi:  The church

Me:  Are you on bikes or do you walk everywhere?

Levi:  Bikes

Me:  Are you adjusting okay? Remember that time will go fast when you start to love what you are doing!  Truly love!!  Give yourself time to adjust!  I warned you that you might feel funny for awhile.. part of it is the emotions of being from there... but never having experienced things there.. it's emotional as well as physical!!

Levi:  It's a hard mission, and am trying to not think about how long of a time I have left.  I do have a bed so that's good.  It's good it's shaping me to be the man I need to be in life, but dang does it hurt!  I've been praying for motivation and I'm finally starting to truly see how short my time is here.  But missions are really hard and I knew that going into it.  I just wish I was more like 6 months in because I'm tired of being the "new" one here.  

I'm praying for love.  It's hard to love this place especially when it's exhausting work!  I am hoping to love it soon!


Me:  Do you know yet the plan for Christmas?  Do you get to call or Skype?

Levi:  Skype.  Can you send me your Skype address?

Me:  Yes!  Can't wait!  Remember, YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!!  Love you so much!!



Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Letter from Levi's Mission President....

Dear Brother and Sister Magnusson,

We are grateful for the arrival of your son in the India Bangalore Mission.  He arrived safe and in good spirits.  We have great need for him as a missionary. 

Elder Magnusson has been assigned to work in the city of Rajahmundry.  He will be serving with Elder Conrad From the U.S.

Many parents have asked about sending packages to their missionaries. Postage is expensive for those sending from outside India and custom charges are often assessed. We recommend that for birthdays and holidays that you put money in their personal account to save on customs charges and risk of damage.  If you send a package, especially from outside India, it should be sent to the mission office.   THE FIRST LINE OF THE ADDRESS MUST READ -- “Indian Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” This is for customs purposes. The missionaries name should be written elsewhere on the package. Please keep in mind that most of our transfers are done by air travel. The local airlines have a 15 kg (about 33 lbs.) weight limit.  Missionaries struggle to keep within that limit so they transfer very light and discard items not necessary.

The mission office address is as follows:

The Indian Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
No. 2, Rear Building
Garudarcharpalya, Mahadevapura Post,
Opp. ABB Tech Park         
Whitefield Road, Karnataka
Bangalore 560048
India

Thank you for your help in your son's preparation and your support of him as he serves.  The people of India are so grateful for the truth and knowledge the missionaries share.  I know he will come to love the people with a deep love. He is a great young man and we were grateful as he shared his testimony with us.  He expressed his excitement to learn new things and then be able to compare how he is now and how he will be at the end of his mission.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

President and Sister Berrett
India Bangalore Mission



                                                   Levi with President and Sister Berrett


                                                   Levi with his companion... Elder Conrad

Monday, November 23, 2015

Episode 1: Indian in India

Hey Y'all,
Yes, I will still use that word even though I'm in India. I took a long plane ride Tuesday afternoon to get here to Bangalore India. I first stopped in Denver, and then Frankfurt, then finally Bangalore. Upon arrival to India, we went through customs and they questioned us lots, on why we Americans wanted to come to India.  Next we went to baggage claim to pick up our bags and learned our bags weren't even put on the plane. So we (Elder Tuscano and I) were without our checked bag for a day. They paid us 4000 rupees (I think that's $65 U.S dollars) and then met the mission president outside the airport.  Indian traffic is insane and doesn't quite make sense how no one crashes. I was put in the Bangalore area and have been out with three other missionaries for the past 4 days. I am temporarily here and will find out  the area I'll be serving in  later today.  

This week I have had lots of Indian food, and have smelt certain smells I didn't even know existed.  The people here are very poor and it shows how blessed we are in America. Lots of people eat on the floor, and I saw a man eating lettuce off his house floor. The accents are very thick here and takes sometime to understand. They can understand me just fine. When we go to peoples homes and I tell them I'm an American they get me a chair to sit on and silverware to eat my food (not complaining one bit). 

They don't wipe their butts with their left hand (or at least most don't), but they use a sprayer. I have adjusted pretty well here so far, but still working on the food and their accents. They always want to feed people for some reason and constantly ask how many languages I know  (but when they find out I'm American they assume I only know one, which I do).  

We ride our bikes through all the traffic here and am surprised I haven't been hit yet. They use all motorcycles and small cars. I wait for the day when I see a Ford f150 rollin down the streets. Many people use the bathroom wherever they please, and you can litter wherever you want. There is trash everywhere. No one here has trash cans in their homes or even paper towels. The American food here is expensive, and I have been eating Chocos (Indian Coco puffs) and Nutella. I thank the Lord for all we Americans are blessed with, and am very humbled by the way they live here. Most people sleep on one mattress on the floor, for the whole family to share. I cant drink the water here it needs to be filtered, and it surprised me cause the Indian people also can't drink their OWN water without it being filtered. 

Everyone is very friendly here, and will hear what you have to say even though I'm a stranger. We do not do service in this mission only proselyting. We only Proselyte to fellow Christians that speak English. The mission president said none of the American missionaries gain Indian accents (So take that, all of you who think im going to). India is definitely an interesting place and is an eye opener for sure.  One of the companions I have been with is from India, and is obsessed with Lil Wayne.  He thinks everything in America is free for us, and wants to visit New Orleans, LA (cause that's where Lil Waynes from). I told him to not step foot there cause its a weird place, and will not bode well for him especially cause he's foreign. I have enjoyed my first couple of days here and can't wait to experience more. 
Love,
Elder Magnusson






NOTE FROM MOM:  Levi says the missionaries there tell him he may be going to Rajahmundry, because it's the most "non western" and if the missionaries can survive there, they can survive anywhere.     I think he might be joking.  Just don't know.  

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Arrived in India!!

Levi:
i am now in India, didnt have time to call y'all in Denver. Long plane ride but it wasnt too bad. Big cultural difference, but cant wait to learn more. Interesting to hear the way indians live. I'll be a day ahead so email me on saturday!

Me:
Where will you be, do u know yet?

Levi:
yes but its a hard name to say and could tell you monday
 
Me:
Ugh!
Are you still at the mission home?
 
Levi:
Yes
 
Me:
Met your trainer yet? Are you going by plane to your city? Bus? Walking?
 
Levi:
no, Ill be driven there, gotta go ill email on Monday ( or at least monday in India)
 
Me:
Love you, glad you are safe.
 
 
 
 
This I'm sure is our last conversation... as I'm up in the middle of the night waiting to hear he had arrived, so chatted briefly.   I'll wake up to his emails from now on! So proud of that young man!  I'm sure as he gets to work, he'll be happy to serve!  I'm curious about how Indians live as well, haha... I stayed with some Indians in a guest house when I went over to pick up Levi, and it was nice enough, minus the mice that ran freely up the curtains each night.  They probably ran up the bed too, but I was asleep, haha.  

If you are emailing Levi, remember that he will be reading emails on Sunday (which will be Monday for him), so as he says, write on Saturday!    I'll post photos as soon as they start to come in!

Final Week from Idaho

Hey y'all,
This was my last week in Boise, Idaho. I will be leaving for India tomorrow at 2pm. I have packed a lot and will hopefully fit everything in my bags. This week hasn't been too crazy, we have had plenty of appointments this week, and have done a lot of less actives visiting. I was able to find a Bible written in the Hindi Language. So while im on the plane I can learn Hindi or something. We had exchanges this week and was able to go to another area again just for the day. Elder Thompson (my companion) is now going to be the District leader, and will be training again. I had a few sad moments this week thinking about leaving some of the people here. I may not see some of these people again, but it was good getting to meet people here. It snowed a little last night but nothing stuck to the ground. So im assuming that's God telling me its time for me to leave and go to India haha. The plane ride will be 20+ hours of travel time. We have done lots of yard work still, and lots of people are putting their Christmas lights up. Nothing else really happened this week, cant wait to write next weeks letter, cause the next couple days will be quite interesting. My companion in the MTC (elder Tuscano) and I will be flying together so I wont be alone thank goodness. Ill miss the American Luxuries, and being able to stay with Dwayne and Julie Denison in their home. My next place most likely wont have nice showers, heated tile floors, or a good working toilet. But im up for the adventure and cant wait to see what I can make of it! The Denisons were able to get their family (their kids and their family) to come over and we took pictures before I head out. I also found out there is another missionary here, from our stake who lives in Cumming, Georgia. His name is Aaron McChesney. So that's cool, its a small world. Until next time!
Love,
Elder Magnusson

Monday, November 9, 2015

Week 5 - Boise

Hey Y'all,
 This week went by pretty fast and have been doing lots of service and what not. The leaves are falling down fast here, so we have helped the community with raking their yards, and they put their leaves in bags you can by at Lowes and a truck hauls them away. I thought that was interesting cause I'm  used to just raking the leaves back into the woods. We helped Thomas with lots of service this week, and he helped me make a Georgia Plaque. It's Georgia carved out of pine wood. Its pretty sweet and was an idea I got when I was moving firewood. Elder Thompson has been spray painting a mural in Thomas' garage and looks pretty sweet, I'll attach a picture, but It doesn't show the complete painting. We have a baptism this Saturday for Derek a guy I'm sure I've talked about before. I also attended a funeral this Friday for a lady at the church that died of cancer. We had the primary program yesterday and will have another one for the other ward (congregation) we cover. We were also able to pick up a new investigator this week, who has relatives who are LDS and wants to learn more about the church. A man also gave us green tomatoes so we fried some and put it in a sandwich and gave some to him. I had the same experience as Layne did, cause we knocked on a lady's door and she looked through the window and never answered the door. I also told some one that their cooking makes me wanna slap my momma and they took offense to it cause they thought I was saying its so horrible I want to slap them. I guess the definition of phrases change where every you go. I also enjoyed Layne's email it was very funny, I lived in Colorado long ago and don't remember people being so weird and high. I will be leaving for India in a week so I'm excited and will be flying from Boise to Denver to Frankfurt Germany (however its spelled) to India. From then on I can only assume I'll ride an elephant or something down to where I'll be living. Anyways life is good and can't wait to get outta the cold! I have also been thinking about writing a country song, that I can sing to the people of India, have any Ideas on how it should go our what I should talk about?
Love,
Elder Magnusson



Monday, November 2, 2015

Week 4

Hey Y'all,
 This week went by pretty slow, but was full of meetings. We had a zone meeting and a missionary training meeting on two different days this week that lasted 6 hours each. We haven't taught too many lessons this week. We were helping Thomas with his RV still, while my companion is going to do some graffiti art in his garage. We helped a guy with his bike and are close to finishing it, but he'll be in the Bahamas for the next two weeks. We also helped set up a haunted house at the local middle school which was lots of fun. I was a guide through the haunted house so no one got lost or had a panic attack. It was interesting being in a middle school and being around middle schoolers. I can't believe that once upon a time I acted as bratty as they did. It was still fun and brought me back to my middle school day memories.That was on Thursday and FridaySaturday we had to be in by 6:30 since it was Halloween, and we carved pumpkins and I made a (cruddy attempt) batman logo. I would of done something about cars, but didn't have a template. Also that night a lady from the church made an Indian dish ( Chicken Tikka Masala). The next night we had pizza, and at the persons house they had built a pizza oven outside and we could custom make our own homemade pizza. That's about the extent of my week. Also I got to watch Kameron (the Denison's son) skin the head of a deer you might want to close your eyes for that one Kayli! (my sister). I found out that I will be receiving my OCI card shortly and will be heading to India in 16 days! I'm excited to go, I have the feeling its gonna start getting really cold soon, and I don't want to be here for that. Apparently a year ago it was snowing right now. So I'm happy its been pretty warm! I'll send some pics, apparently it only allows  me to send two pics at a time per email idk why.
Love,
Elder Magnusson







WARNING!!!
Okay, for these next two... if you are squeamish, DO NOT LOOK!  I did and I that did me in for food for the rest of today.  I'm sure Levi is laughing at my remarks back to him on that one.  He did try to warn me, but the thumb size was little... until I opened it up to my very LARGE computer screen.. and that poor deer was looking right at me!!!!!!  



 I warned you!!!!!