Week 27 in Uruguay: "Good thing we have angels"

2/12/18-2/19/18

Tuesday-Wednesday

We taught this man named Oscar who is super funny! My comp wasn’t saying anything so I literally talked the whole time! When we were about to leave, I had a strong feeling to just invite him to be baptized and he said yes! Hopefully it will happen. The spirit was super strong in the lesson. Then we went to the church to wait for our Bishop to arrive and passed out on the dirty floor lol, we were so tired! We then had a lesson with the daughter of familia Bouti. It was the best lesson! I talked and testified a lot about the Book of Mormon and families. I also felt prompted to say the first vision. The spirit was so strong, it was incredible. On the way home, I had some choice words thrown my way by people on the street. Some people can be so nice lol. Best thing to do is to keep moving forward! Don’t dwell on the bad only the good.

Wednesday we had zone conference. It was about faith and miracles. It was kind of a coincidence because that’s all I have been studying. It was super good! It was all about doing our part and writing down the miracles in each day because when we remember we are putting ourselves in a position to receive more. After the conference, we took pictures and talked with all the missionaries. One of the missionaries said he is excited to go home so he can tell his family when they are watching BYU play that he served with me. It was pretty cool. After, we waited forever for the bus to pick us up from the zone conference. I pulled out a letter my lovely mother sent me. It was the newspaper of the BYU/ UTAH basketball game. I have never been so excited to read the newspaper before! I bet it was awesome!

Thursday-Friday

Thursday was the best day of the week! We had lunch with this family and they love BYU lol. It was so fun to talk with them. They said they are excited to watch me play and they love having us because we have a piece of heaven with us. After, on our way home, I clocked my head on a stupid pole. It hurt so bad and it was bleeding all day. Everything is so short here not for tall guys haha. We had a lesson with this lady named Andrea. She was awesome! I have never testified so much! The spirit was so strong! I teared up talking about Jose Smith. He died so we could have this gospel. I asked her to be baptized and she said YES!!! Albero, our other investigator is a different story. He wants to receive an answer. Please pray for him, he needs all our help.
     On Friday, we had our family night activity that Elder Maza and I started. I came up with all the games from my last area but it was so fun! Man, I miss being a kid again. It was funny when we got all set up, we only had 3 people but we ended up having 10 people that showed up. At the end of the activity, we had everyone sing “ I am a Child of God”. The spirit was so strong, it was amazing!

Saturday- Sunday

We helped the guy that is building the house again. We almost finished the house and helped with the walls. It is looking really good! The guy is hilarious. We then planned an activity to play soccer. No one showed! On the way home, I was dribbling the ball and a car mounted the curb to hit me. It was inches away from hitting me. Miracle! Then we taught Albero again and on the way back a guy who was drunk swerved to hit us. I don’t care what anyone says, angels are real! I know they were protecting us both times.

Sunday was a funny day. We taught this member that is inactive. She said the church isn’t true because people didn’t say hi to her at church. Oh boy! It was a long lesson with her. After, we taught an investigator’s son. He tried to trick us into drinking wine saying it was fruit juice. It was so close! After that we taught Andrea the Word of Wisdom and gave a blessing of health to a man. The spirit was super strong. The hermana said the power of the Priesthood is amazing! The man was so happy afterwards, it was really cool.

Well, that wraps up the week. Always remember the little things and live diligently to be happy!

Elder Knelly

Elder Trevin Knell
Misión Uruguay Montevideo
Dalmiro Costa 4635 Bis
C.P. 11400 Montevideo
Uruguay

Trevin Knell: trevin.knell@myldsmail.net

Trevin Knell Blog: eldertrevinknell.blogspot.com

Trevin Knell Instagram: @trevinknell 

Week 26 in Uruguay: With Faith and a little Hope Miracles can happen"

2/5/18-2/12/18

“With Faith and a little hope miracles can happen”

Tuesday-Wednesday
     We taught this lady named Gladdis and I said a prayer with her. It was one of my most sincere prayers in Spanish I have given. The words were just coming out. It was pretty cool, the spirit working miracles. Afterwards, we had lunch with our stake president and his kids. I spun the basketball on my finger and switched fingers. They thought it was magic lol. It was so cool to see their faces! After we taught this 17-year-old named David. He is so funny, I love him! He likes to tease my companion. He is literally one of my favorite people.
     Wednesday, we had a district meeting. The older lady that loves me was there again at the church. She interrupted our meeting 3 times to give me presents and food. She told everyone that they should follow the things I do and I’m going to baptize a lot of people. After we gave a blessing to one of the hermanas and then we bought a huge pizza for us. We only ate half of it and then I gave a little to a hungry dog and the rest to a homeless man. He was so excited to get something to eat. We taught the couple that got married last week. She is a member but I had to make a deal with Albero, her husband, if he gets baptized, he gets one of my ties. Haha.

Thursday-Friday
     Today was a complete down pour, we froze! We were excited because we found a zoo though. Hopefully we can go on a pday. We then taught a couple of people and taught Civa Y Peda. It seemed like I gave the entire history of the United States to them during the lesson. Haha After, we went to a family home evening with our Bishop. He is so cool. There was a couple of families there and they made us food. It’s the best thing ever! I love love the people here! Pretty special place!
     Friday was so fun! We went to see Julio Y Anna. Love them! After, we made popcorn and cookies for our family home evening. We watched 17 miracles. We had 8 people that came. My companion and I started having a family night with whoever wanted to come. We sing hymns and read scriptures. After we watch a church movie that they love. It was great; I understood what most of the movie was saying in Spanish. When we got home my comp and I had a good talk. You never know how much you can impact someone’s life.

Saturday- Sunday
     Well, today we did a service project! It was so cool! This guy didn’t want anything to do with us so we just grabbed a shovel and helped him. He loved the help. We made cement and started building a house. We got so dirty! Later, we found out he worked on the Angel Moroni on the temple in Uruguay, how cool! After we planned an activity to play sports with just investigators. Sadly, not one of them showed up but I got to shoot a little bit while waiting for them. On the way back, we taught a couple more people but it was carnival night and they weren’t about it. Haha
     Sunday was fun. In Sacrament meeting, they didn’t have people to speak so we had to talk. After church, I played catch with the cutest little boy ever! I love the little kids here! We taught this family and I did my basketball tricks for them. This time I did dribbling drills for them too. It’s great, they love it. On the way home, we taught David. We had fun with him at first and then we got serious. I told him about baptism and how he needs to stop smoking and drinking. Pray for him! Well, this week was on faith and hope. Please don’t lose your faith or hope in difficult times. I promise it will get better! Just smile and look forward not back!

Elder Knelly

Elder Trevin Knell
Misión Uruguay Montevideo
Dalmiro Costa 4635 Bis
C.P. 11400 Montevideo
Uruguay

Trevin Knell: trevin.knell@myldsmail.net
Trevin Knell Blog: eldertrevinknell.blogspot.com
Trevin Knell Instagram: @trevinknell 

Week 25 in Uruguay: What's better than service?

1/29/18-2/5/18

What’s better than service!?!

Wednesday-Thursday
     Well, to start things off, I have gotten over the fear of insects! Better late than never, right?  I still hate them but they are everywhere here especially with how hot it gets and the humidity. Well, we found this elderly couple that are just perfect. They asked me so many questions like why, is the church called the “Latter-day Saints” and questions about the Book of Mormon and the prophets. It was so the best thing ever to teach them and answer their questions. The best advice I can give to those of you getting ready to leave on your mission is please read the Book of Mormon, all the way, cover to cover and be ready to answer anything that comes your way. Your most powerful tool is your testimony, so grow it! After, we found this lady, Victoria, and her cutest little kid.  We said a prayer with them and she had tears in her eyes. The spirit was so strong. We then did a service for our branch president of our area. We helped him move his entire home to another location.  I’m definitely growing to love this area and the people I meet. I feel connected to all the people here. The spirit is the best thing ever!

     Thursday, we went to see an old investigator, Dalia that we have been trying to teach. She told us off before we could say hola. After, we taught a family that was recently converted about the Plan of Salvation using photos. It was the best way to teach. Afterwards we taught the Ten Commandments, it ended up being a pretty chill day.

Friday-Saturday
     Friday we “resolved” our companionship problems haha. Elder Maza told me, I smell too many foods lol, it was pretty funny. Well, we taught this guy that said he doesn’t have sons because his mind is perfect. It was a long lesson explaining repentance to him. Later we taught a couple of families and talked to a member who had these dogs that loved me. Afterward, we went to a wedding. Our investigator, Albero, finally got married! He might get baptized now, please pray for him. He wanted us in their big family wedding picture and gave us part of the cake. It was awesome!
     Saturday, we had to clean the church. None of the members wanted to so we did it. Then we taught Julia y Anna. Julia is still struggling with smoking. He smoked 4 cigarettes in 20 minutes, pray for him. They are some of my favorite people here. Well, we went to get my comp’s eyes checked so I was talking with this receptionist. She talked to me and I understood everything she was saying.  She said I talk really well! Heavenly Father has a funny way to keep me humble though. After, I was feeling good about talking in Spanish, we had lunch with a member. The member asked me what this word in Spanish means in English. I had no idea, so he goes you don’t know anything lol. The word was kneading bread like I’m going to know that in Spanish. After, though they said that a study was done and for a person to learn Spanish is the hardest in Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. It is one of the hardest languages in the world because of all the different words and how many ways you can conjugate things.

Sunday
     It was testimony meeting and a guy bore his testimony and then fainted. It was crazy! He is good but I think he fasted maybe a little too long. After church, Elder Grigor, a missionary that is going home came by to say goodbye with his parents. They came to Uruguay to pick him up and to see the places he served. They stayed for about 2 hours and it was great. They are from Alberta Canada. He was an awesome missionary! Later, We taught Victoria and her son again and then we went Hermana Anna house. She told us that her life is so much better after we teach her.
   Well, that’s about it for the week. Always remember that hard times pass! In the scriptures, it always says, “ And it came to pass” doesn’t say “ And it came to stay” so enjoy the ride!

Elder Knelly

Elder Trevin Knell
Misión Uruguay Montevideo
Dalmiro Costa 4635 Bis
C.P. 11400 Montevideo
Uruguay

Trevin Knell: trevin.knell@myldsmail.net
Trevin Knell Blog: eldertrevinknell.blogspot.com
Trevin Knell Instagram: @trevinknell