A Good Week

Hey y'all,

This week was a good week, we had a missionary fireside activity this week and Sri Ram one of our investigators that is Hindu came to it and had lots of fun. We also played Cricket on monday as a zone, it was very different than baseball, and not as fun.. The Americans were not doing as well as the Indians, and we were batting like you would in baseball which is not how you would in Cricket. The Chiddapi family came to church on Sunday and seemed to have a good time, and got them to learn more about our church. They are a great family! Deepte (the mom) asked us to give her a small photo of us so that she could remember us, and so Elder Conrad gave her a photo of him, and I pulled out a photo of Matt Thompson (one of my white friends) and told her that it was me before I came to India and that the heat was changing me.. Catherine (The mother-in-law) ACTUALLY believed me! There has been many weddings lately and was told that it is wedding season. Today for P-day we went to a member's village (Ramakrishna and Naresh) it was a lot of fun, its called Gundugolanu kunta  ! It took us an auto, 2 bus rides and a 2 kilometer walk to get there! Once we got there we met Ramakrishna's family and a couple other part members families who have sons on missions right now. Most the homes there are shacks, and there is one big farm that everyone in the village farms over. We went to it and there were a bunch of men in the palm trees cutting down limbs and getting to the top so they can get this weird round ball that has oil in it. Meanwhile there are a bunch of monkeys in the trees and there is a man on the ground shooting them with an air soft gun. One of the village people climbed a tree, and pulled some coconuts off and we drank out of them. Later, after many snacks and a meal we went to Naresh's family's home so we could meet them. It is truly a village, there is no one there except tractors and motorcycles. Other then that it was a great week! Talk to y'all until then!

Love,

Elder Magnusson

Hittin a Chicken

Hey Y'all,

This week we have had little bit of success with our work, and were able to find 5 new investigators this week. In the middle of the week I was able to learn how to make Chicken Curry which was helpful. This week we did a lot of finding, but were not able to find people in the beginning, we were able to get a referral from the church of a guy who is Hindu but has christian parents. He originally thought we were there to teach English to people, but we told him as we teach him the lessons he will learn English naturally. We also were looking for a less active members home and when we knocked on the door, this lady and her family came out, it wasn't the person we were looking for, but started talking to her, and told her we had a unique and special message we would like to share. Her family (Chiddapi Family) joined in with us, and we began teaching about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the middle of our lesson we started to introduce the Book of Mormon and what it was, and how we have it. All of a sudden she got up and got a notebook out and opened to a certain page in it (now this sister goes to a one of the biggest churches in the Rajahmundry area and the pastor there is named John Wesley), apparently this pastor gave a sermon a year ago telling his congregation if there are any books that his congregation should be reading is the Bible and The Book of Mormon. This lady has been trying to find a copy of one, and obviously we had one to give her. It was very interesting that a pastor of a different religion was able to read it, and have the spirit testify the truths of it unto him. A lot of people dont know what the Book of Mormon is, or have false information on what it is and what its about. The only way I know and y'all can know of the divinity and truths of that book (just like the bible) is to read it and ask God through sincere prayer , if the book wasn't true I would definitely not be in Rajahmundry India teaching strangers in a country that doesn't speak English (very well that is) and eating foreign food thats pretty questionable for two years of my life, when I could be doing something else with my life..The temperature was 95 degrees, so its very warm compared to the U.S... We went on an exchange this week, and my companion for the day was making a turn into a neighborhood when he ran over a chicken. We are pretty sure it died because when we were leaving the neighborhood the people wouldn't let us go that way, we had to go a different way, just in case he didn't re hit the chicken again. Other than that it was a good ole week here in Rajahmundry India.

Love,

Elder Magnusson

Levi had a few extra things to say directly to me, so thought I'd share...  He is an amazing son, and missionary!

I was pondering last night on my mission and the blessings I will receive from it, and I think the main reason I'm out here was not to just bless other people and their families but also mine.. As I am out here, I hope that y'all have seen blessings, I stay out here and work hard so that God can bless y'all at home if he blesses anyone for my hard work I want him to bless you and dad and my siblings. (I know he really wants us all to have good health)

My testimony about the book of mormon has grown a lot this week, I was reading about a missionary named Joseph who was brutally murdered (he served in the 1800s when the church was new) near Rome, Georgia.. I thought it was interesting how he was murdered for what he was believing in.. and as we know the south doesn't do well with the Mormon church.... Baptist vs Mormon haha, but it effected me a lot because we live 2 hours from there and our religion was not accepted and that guy died.. I'm in India where Christianity is not accepted and I know I won't die, but people have yelled at us for what we believed.. And I, just like Joseph am willing to go through those same trials to fight for God's Truths.  (Family scripture study truly pays off)!!!

...and its my Job to prepare the people and bring them unto Christ.. It is truly interesting, as I have examined my purpose as a missionary..  

Honey Bee

Hey Y'all,

This week went by pretty fast, I think this is the first week that I haven't counted the days till I can email next, so that's good! This week we have had some good success, we were able to get Pradeep on a baptismal date, which is on March 6th. As we were teaching him one day (in his Christian book store) there was a man that came in and was spittin a bunch of false rumors about the Mormon church, He said he did his "research", but Im sure two Mormon missionaries know a thing or two about the LDS church. It was a waste of our hour, when we were trying to teach Pradeep. But later we talked to Pradeep and he told us that he knew what we were teaching is true. Pradeep's testimony is very strong, he has laid a strong foundation, and only through his prayer and scripture study could he do so. While we were at the church there was a wedding that was about to happen.. It was very interesting to see how Indian weddings work. The fact that its arranged marriage and you meet your wife/husband like an hour before the wedding blows my mind. While we were there I met a lady who used to live in Pune, India (where I was born). It was mind blowing to me I met someone that lived where I was born (part due to the fact that I never planned to come to this side of the world). On Sunday when we went to go pick people up for church we saw all these flies flying around. I wasn't sure why they were all in this one spot. Then I looked a little closer and realized they weren't flies... They were BEES. Thousands of them flying around, Elder Conrad started freaking out, because apparently he is allergic to them. Im not quite sure why, but  a man just had a hive out on the side of the road, but people reacted as if it was normal. Naresh was confirmed a member yesterday, and I finally got him to smile for a picture! We were able to find a lot of investigators that we were able to extend baptismal dates to, and have hopefully 3 more and some of them have Hindu backgrounds.. But luckily know Christ is real and they want to follow him. A guy named Sri Ram is on baptismal date for the 28th of Feb, he is a pretty new investigator and is excited to learn more about our savior! Until next week!

Love,

Elder Magnusson

Last Week of the Transfer

Hey Y'all,

This week was a good week, it wasn't busy per se but it was a very interesting one. We were able to pick up a good amount (to the India mission) of investigators, and will hopefully be able to teach them, some of them are Hindu. Naresh was baptized on sunday and was so happy to of been. I gave him a white shirt and a tie, and he wore it and wouldnt stop smiling and looking in the mirror ( and also taking selfies). Satish passed the sacrament in church for the first time on Sunday, and I got him to bear his testimony in chuch. He was so scared, but am happy he built up the courage to do so. The new mission president will be here in the beginning of July, his name is President Mortenson and of course from Utah, I wait for the day one comes from Georgia. We are also told that we will be in an area for 6-8 months. So I dont plan on leaving till May.  Rayadu  (a less active member we have been trying to get them to come to church for months) finally came today! It was so good to see him sitting in church. A member wanted to give me papaya and I refused because it is gross, and so she goes back into the kitchen and brings out a plate with half a watermalon for me to eat. Yay. Good thing I didnt eat it anyways, because Elder Conrad said that was the worst papaya he's ever had. Will less active members we try to teach the basics. PCB. Now to me I would be thinking Panama City Beach, but luckily its the complete opposite. P is for prayer, C is for church, and B is for Bible/Book of Mormon study. Something people in PCB may not do. Its important we do those things or else we draw farther and farther away from God. The best way to come closer to the gospel and utilize it is to PCB. My last experience this week was an interesting one.. After we were finished teaching Satish, we left his home and there was a lady sitting on the stair case with a 6 day old baby in her arms. She asked us to pray for her baby's health. Elder Conrad gave the prayer. During the prayer I couldnt close my eyes. I just stared at this baby and felt weird. As we were finished we got on our bikes and rode back to the apartment. All of a sudden I started crying. I dont know why. But I did. That poor baby who was brand spanking new, was being cuddled by his mom on a stair case in the hot sun and had a little piece of cloth covering its eyes from the sun. As we got to the apartment I fell to my knees and kept crying, and asked God why I was. I got my answer, but find it very interesting and humbling to have experienced that. Until next time!

Love,

Elder Magnusson

Cow in the House

Hey Y'all,

Life in Rajahmundry is still the same; very hot, no rain; and weird smells. This week they had republic day where they do a flag raising and celebrate it as if we were to celebrate July 4th. We were able to see lots of people this week, and are going to be visiting with new investigators tonight. Sadly none of our less active members came to church this sunday even though they said they would. I asked elder Conrad what it would be like if we became beggars (because there are lots of beggars here begging for money) and his reply was; "We are beggars...Please come to church".. And it was funny and true. Its interesting how some of the members here share their testimony about the gospel and how God has helped them in their lives, but none of them will come to church. 

We went to the Augustus family's house and talked about the Indian culture, and about his mission he served 21 years ago. I told him I was adopted and that I was raised in the U.S. He told me he really appreciates me now after telling him that. I wasn't quite sure why he was.. But as we were heading out he  told me that his daughter who is a BYU right now, was adopted. He told me his opinion about adoption and how much he appreciated me. I thought it was interesting how he was very touched by my adoption story and how he too has adopted someone himself. 

This week as we were riding to someones house, there was a cow poking his head inside. Its quite funny, because I would freak out if I was just sitting and watching TV and a cow pops his head in. Elder Rajendran, one of our Zone Leaders who is from India told me that if a girl has a ring on her leg fingers then it means she is married. I asked him what in the world a leg finger was, and then asked if he meant toes? He said "I think so". I love hearing the way the people here describe things, because the English is obviously very different. Transfers are next week, so I could possible leave Rajahmundry, but dont plan on it for 2 more transfers. Until next week,

Love,

Elder Magnusson

The Never Ending Translation Chain

January 25, 2016

Hey y'all,

We didn't have many lessons this week, mainly because everyone was out of "station" or in other words town. I found out last week that one of Elder Conrad's good friends is Mitchell Dunhams companion who happens to be my good friend, which is cool. We did lots of finding this week, but only found one guy who happens to be a members neighbor, the guy's name is Pradeep, and in our lesson with him he shared a very interesting story about his experience in finding his faith in God. He was raised Christian, but didn't have much to do with his church, and him and his family were going through a tough time. So he made the conclusion that he was gonna commit suicide, so he went to the local train station and was gonna lay on the tracks. And was gonna do that right when a train was coming, but somehow he tripped right in front of the tracks, and just barely missed the train. At that exact moment was when he felt the love of God and excepted Jesus Christ into his heart. Pretty cool story something I have never heard before. Anyways he loves learning about Jesus Christ and likes having us over. My bike was in the shop yet again for a day, my rim was missing some spokes, and they didn't have the right size. In addition to seeing a kid squat and pee on the sidewalk I witnessed another kid squat and poop right in front of her house. Its kinda interesting how that is normal and "accepted" here. I have realized through out my time here, that when I talk to members and investigators (whether teaching, or just talking) they need Elder Conrad to translate it to them (though he too is speaking English) When speaking english here we need to talk slowly for them to understand. And people dont exactly talk slowly in the south ( they also cant understand the accent), so when I ask a members something, Elder Conrad translates it to them. And when they respond Elder Conrad translates it to me. He has been here for almost a year, I would assume that when I have been here for sometime I too will be able to talk slower naturally. I (as I did in the MTC) have a tough time staying awake during lessons, which is not good, because it may make them think that I dont care about them or something but I do. Its usually in the afternoon time between 2-4. I have also learned that most the people here dont like Gandhi, and their reason is a pretty good one. They say if Gandhi didn't try to make India free from the Brits, then India would be more developed, I thought India loves Gandhi, but turns out most the people I meet, hate him and what he did. Anyways until next week!

Love,

Elder Magnusson

P.S: Elder Conrad didn't​know who Ralph Lauren was