Week 12 in Uruguay: My Comps Last Week

10/30/17-11/7/17

Hola !

Tuesday-Wednesday

We had a district meeting and we dressed my companion up for his funeral because he is going home in a week. It was pretty funny! We played the game signs and played on these really old swings for like 30 minutes. Gotta love being a kid again! In Uruguay, they have Halloween but they don’t really celebrate it. The stores close early and they try to have parties for the kids because it’s too dangerous in the streets. The cops go home or don’t work because it is too dangerous for them on this day. My companion was sick again and I was going a little stir crazy so I made cookies, cake and pancakes . I cooked all day! Lol I made a cake with a layer of chocolate icing in the middle, not bad! My pancakes turned more into tortillas haha. We finally got a DVD player and it only played half the screen haha. Of course it was a church movie so don’t worry everyone.
On Wednesday, I cleaned for more than an hour in the kitchen. After, we had such a spiritual lesson with Veronica. She has a goal to be married in the temple. That night we taught Nicolas. He has a baptismal date for the 25th. He is so amazing and asked so many questions that I was able to answer. The spirit helped me out on that one! He is growing marijuana though. Everyone here smokes, hopefully I won’t die from second hand smoke haha. We taught Daniel who drinks a lot and has suffered so much in his life. He has a dog and feeds it more than himself. He is so funny and he lives in the smallest house. It is probably the size of an office and it’s covered in mold. He is amazing though and so happy! I can’t wait to tell you all the stories here.

Thursday-Friday
We got our house inspected to make sure it was clean. The workers called and said they were coming in 15 minutes. I have never seen the house get cleaned so fast!  Note to self, 15 minutes is all you need haha. Well, I have been reading in 3Nephi 11-12 and it is so amazing. It talks about giving your light to people. We all need to do something to give our light to people in need. Ask yourself, did you do something to help change someone’s life today? A member who was supposed to give us food called and said she couldn’t give us any. The Lord works in miraculous ways because the workers brought us food out of nowhere. Such a tender mercy! Honestly we can all look for tender mercies in our lives. We experience them everyday. All we have to do is open our eyes. Today was like a mini hurricane; we weren’t allowed to leave our house. We lost power and it was crazy.  Its times like this I think about service and what we can do to help someone.

We taught Michael and Annabelle such a fun lesson. Words can’t describe the people here, I just love them. We met this guy from Japan and he spoke English. We met him at the airport and helped him on the bus with us. I started talking to him about the Church and he goes what is your guy’s purpose here if the people already believe in Christ? I was like good question haha. I said well, the people here believe in the Virgin Mary also and have a routine prayer. I told him if you call a friend are you going to say the same thing to him.  I told him no you are going to have a conversation with him. I said it’s the same when praying; you are going to have a conversation with God. I asked if he wanted to know more about this book and he said I just flew 9 hours and I don’t believe in God.  He went off about how it is stupid how kids dream about going pro in sports. I was laughing so hard. He said it is better to study then work to play a sport.  I told him that I am planning on playing basketball and I am so thankful that my basketball is paying for my education. His son is learning 3 languages and is struggling with all three. He kept saying how he doesn’t understand why; he is thirteen and should be able to understand.

Saturday-Sunday

I had the worst lunch ever haha. The familia Lucedo made this food. I swear it was rotten. The bread was moldy and I think the pasta and mayo had expired, it was so bad. I ate cow stomach that is tradition to eat the stomach with all the grass and bugs in it. I almost lost it. I don’t know how I survive some of the food here. Blessed!  

So we were trying to found this one guy and these two old grandmas decided to help us look for him. They yelled at like 20 houses for us. It was the funniest thing ever. This one house looked at us then slammed the door. The grandmas started climbing the fence after her, so funny.  Fast Sundays are always so good.  I bore my testimony and my Spanish is getting better.  Well, I am an official resident of Uruguay. Let’s GO!!! On Monday we had an asado with familia Gopar. It was so fun and he has like 5 dogs. They told us how well Elder Bailey and I work together, how we have a unity that rubs off on them. It was so good to hear. Well, for the exciting news! I get a Brazilian companion on Wednesday. Pray for me haha, it’s going to be a lot of quiet nights until I learn Spanish completely. Read D&C 84:88 and 3Nephi 12: 14-16. Be the light to someone this week!

Elder Knelly

Week 11 in Uruguay: Rough Week

10/24/17-10/30/17

Hola mi familia y todos,

Tuesday-Wednesday

Well, we had an intercombo with our zone leaders and it was so fun! We watched “The Best Two Years.” It’s crazy how realistic that movie is lol. We slept in this tiny space in their house and it was so hot. I split with the zone leaders and we taught this guy and I invited him to be baptized. He said yes and it was so cool. So I gave the zone leaders a guy to be baptized haha. They were so excited! We had lunch with Veronica and Bruno and their little boy, Valentine. We did “magic” with them and it was so fun to see how excited they get. Valentine is like 6 and we just took photo after photo together. He was so attached to me; it was so cute! Ahh, I love the people in this area! We then went and taught Maicol.  Julio, the 4 year old boy, comes up gives me a hug with wet sticky hands lol. It was so bad but hey, it was worth it. We got a text from Leonardo saying he needed us because he saw Satan. Not going to lie, it was a little creepy but we decided to give him a blessing. After, I finished he gave me the biggest hug with tears rolling down his face. The spirit was so strong! Don’t ever forget…” your situation is never too small or insignificant for a priesthood blessing.”

Thursday-Friday

Today we had lunch at familia Lucedo. Oh my gosh, they served us beets which were so strong! The food is so weird here haha. That night ,we met two people that I had a feeling to go talk to them. Their names were Albo and Alejando and hopefully we can baptize them. They are awesome! We then went and talked to this member, hermano Rayol , and my companion talked about getting married the whole time lol. He is so trunky! He goes home next week.  The weather on Friday was insane! It was so windy and raining so hard, more than I have ever seen. It was like a mini hurricane. My shoes were, no joke, overflowing with water. Got to love life on a mission! My mom sent me a thing about the movie “Rocky.” You have to see it; it’s the best ever! Well, my companion got really sick so that was it haha nah, the mission never stops with helping people. It’s awesome! A car got stuck and the roads were so muddy. The cars were stinking. I went in shorts, shirt and no shoes or socks to help get the car out. We tried for like an hour to get the car out but no bueno . I have the best quote though….

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain.”

Saturday-Sunday

Well, before anything… HAPPY BIRTHDAY or should I say feliz cumpleanos to the man, the myth, the legend, my DAD. Happy Birthday Ricky! What are you 30 now haha. Love you Dad more than you know! Well, my comp got really sick so we stayed in all day. It was so boring! I gave him a blessing, which was so cool. I love giving blessings and felt the spirit so strong. Well, I was bored so I made cookies and they were so good! My compliments to the chef! lol. I cleaned the entire kitchen! I almost threw up! My comp made beans from like a week ago and never cleaned it. It smelled so bad! I played this card game “war” with my comp. You better believe I won haha. Sunday came and my comp was still sick. We couldn’t go out and work so I read in 3Nephi 8-9, so good! Christ is our light and life in the world. Whatever is light will help us remember Christ. A quote that not only missionaries can apply, but everyone can use this…

“Lo que cree el misionero o persona es mas importante que lo que hacen.” Translated it means… What a missionary or person believes is more important than what he does.” Guys no matter the trials or circumstances we are in, it’s belief that will help change the area, feelings and people. Belief is what starts, then faith is acting and then God blesses us! The area I am in has not had a baptism in over 6 months to a year. My comp and I baptized two people. What a blessing and it all starts with believing. Believe first then do! Ask yourself this question… Did you do something to change someone’s day? Do something everyday to change someone’s life. Have a good week!

Elder Knelly

Week 10 in Uruguay: The Book of Mormon

10/16/17-10/24/17

Hola a todos!

Monday-Tuesday
Well, here is a little about last pday. The President invited me to come play basketball with his kids and some high school kids. Ahh, it was the best to play! We played elimination and I got the President’s wife out, Sis Eddy lol. President Eddy yells out, “no lunch for you Elder Knell.” so funny! I won, which is good haha so at least I can still shoot. Later I was able to invite someone (Camille) to be baptized. Spanish is getting easier so I am beyond grateful for your prayers. I still might need a couple more haha.  Tuesday was a good day! We read with Maicol and his family from the beginning of the Book of Mormon. We read 6 verses in an hour. It’s not about how much you read, it’s how much you get out of it. I challenge everyone to really read, read slowly and think about each word being taught. You will find so many more answers to prayers and questions. Later that night, I told my companion, I had a feeling to reach out to this older lady named Mercedes. Two seconds later, we get a call from Mercedes that she needed help. She needed a prayer from us because she tried to kill herself. We taught her and I gave her the scripture Alma 5:60. Such an amazing scripture. I told her how we are the sheep of God and then I read her the poem my dad sent me called Footprints. I told her how no matter what, Christ is with her walking beside her and when he isn’t, it is because he is carrying us. I told her sorry if I did not say everything clear and she said, “You talk with so much power and love that people like me feel it and feel it within my heart.” It was amazing! She started crying. It was such an amazing lesson. She won’t commit to baptism for some reason. If you could keep her in your prayers, that would be awesome!

Wednesday-Thursday
Well, the food finally caught up to me! LOL it was a long night on the “pot”! It didn’t help that we drank some rotten milk. Well, I guess it was bound to happen. We taught Carlos, the bike guy, the first 6 words in 1st Nephi for 45 minutes. It was so cool.  Then we ran 2 miles to get home on time. Thursday night we chilled with la familia Rodiguez.  The dude can cut hair so he gave me a legit fade haha! So funny! We listened to music, had cake, food, and sang to his mom for her birthday. It was the funniest night I have had here on the mish! So fun!

Friday-Saturday
We went to a wedding and it was pretty fun. They throw rice and this one kid threw it so hard at them lol. The groom asked me why I came on a mission. I answered him why and said I am serving because I have examples like my Dad who served and to be honest I relied on my parents testimony way too much. I wanted to gain a personal testimony for myself and I wanted people to feel the love I feel every single day from our Heavenly Father. He said how that was something he wishes more people would say. He said he felt the spirit. He accepted a baptismal date, which is so cool.  Well, I want everyone who is serving or have served to think of the reason why you are doing or why you served a mission. Ask yourself the reason? Is it for you, other people, mom made you haha. It really stood out to me. Also, I read Helaman 13:22, it makes me think of how we all need to be thankful for what we have. We need to be grateful for the things you have, I have everything I ever wanted and so much more. I am truly blessed!  Saturday we had lunch with Bruno and Veronica and the adorable little boy. I love them! The little boy asked me to read “Alice in Wonderland” to him. He helps me with my Spanish more than my companion does lol. We did contacts all day and I had to do every single one. It was fun and hard. We got rejected a lot!

Sunday
Today, I gave my companion a blessing. The spirit was amazing. I had no idea what I said after, but he was crying pretty hard. It is crazy how powerful the spirit is. Later that night, we tried to make cookies. My comp put in like 3 cups of butter. He measured it wrong lol. The cookies turned out so BAD haha. We were trying to make them for our neighbors but that didn’t work out lol. Well, guys, read the Book of Mormon every single day! You will find things that will help you in that specific day. My challenge is to look for the positive in every day! No matter what look for the good in everyday. When days are hard look  for ways to serve and have charity! Helaman 13:22 is pretty powerful. Well, this week was pretty fun but don’t worry next week we are making either a cake or snickerdoodle cookies!  I love you all!

Love Elder Knelly

Week 9 in Uruguay!

10/9/17-10/16/17
Hola familia y todos!

Tuesday-Wednesday

Well, we found a gym! We workout at 7:30am and the guy there is like our personal trainer, it’s awesome! We listened to “Remember My Name” oh my gosh, I died! It’s been forever since I heard that song. Ahh, I can’t wait to go home and ball lol. I am so sore, like I couldn’t lift up my arms to tie my tie haha. I am so sore!!!

I had a spiritual prompting to go to this house of a less active member, the familia Solano. They gave us avocados, which I’m learning to love. They have not been active for 19 years. I told them that they need to attend church. I promised them that if they do, they will have peace and happiness in their home. I promised a lot of blessings. I know it was God talking not me. I then went on to explain how my mom taught me how when I play sports or do things, I need to meet God half way, to do my part. I told them they will be blessed if they do their part. It hit the guy like a truck. He promised to come next Sunday to church so we will see.   

We taught this girl that had a nose ring, cuts, steps through her eyebrows and huge gauges. She SCARES me! Later Elder Bailey told me how he is really amazed that I have such a positive attitude all the time. He finally complimented me on my Spanish haha. We had lunch with familia Lucedo. They are funny and interesting people.  The hermono has the longest ear hair ever lol. They do make the best homemade bread! We also taught Leonardo and he told us how he’s had a rough life and had tried to kill himself. We taught him for 2 hours and he is ready for baptism on Saturday. We taught him about the natural man and to look for the good in life not the bad. We gave him a blessing and it was amazing! There is something special about being able to lay your hands on someones head and give them a blessing. It’s the best and how cool is it as Elders we have the power to bless others. It’s pretty amazing! Later, we went over to familia Gopar. They are my favorite! The hermana gave us food, like crackers and stuff for our house. We always have fun there. They like to make fun of my Spanish but it’s the best to hear their jokes. I bore my testimony about how I know that Jesucristo lives.

Thursday-Friday

I cleaned the whole house, so call me husband material lol. I was impressed! Well, we taught Maicol and I told him how he needs to set an example for his brothers.  He is such a great kid! I had this feeling that we should knock/clap on this house instead of going home. It was bitter cold outside but we talked to this guy named Nicholas. We call him “escogido” or the chosen. He is perfect and was just waiting to hear the gospel. He read the intro to us in the Book of Mormon. He is perfect but he smokes but we have a date for baptism set for  11th of November. We then taught Michael and Annabelle about keeping the Sabbath Day holy and how it’s a commandment to come to church. Then we started talking to them about the Book of Mormon. They asked what blessings will come and they asked it in a way that they wanted a specific answer not the normal answers of peace and joy. We told them straight up it would save their marriage. Michael almost started to cry and Annabelle jumped up and gave us a huge high five lol. It’s exactly what they needed to hear and without a doubt that was from God. The spirit is such a cool thing. I came to realize is that the spirit gives us promptings and we have to act on them! It’s a must! Well, I wish that is all that happened with Michael and Annabelle but you see a lot of weird things on the mish, like Annabelle straight up started breastfeeding her 3 year daughter in front of us. Lol.  SCARRED!

Saturday-Sunday

Well, we went to lunch and the Hermana that was suppose to give it to us forgot. We went over to this other members house, Bruno and Veronica and they made us food. We read, “ The Golden Egg,” and “ The Three Little Pigs” with the little boy. It was so cute and fun. I love the little kids here it’s the best thing ever! He told us of a story that he had a monster haha. The food we had was so good! The hermana asked if I have gained or lost weight. I am about 200lbs right now, She goes well that is impressive not be skinny or fat lol. So funny!

The baptism with Leonardo was amazing! He chose me ahh, so amazing! He talked, saying to us,  “Christ had nothing and still gave up his life. He had nothing and still served so while I have nothing I can do this! “ It hit me because we sometimes complain about the things we don’t have but we are all so blessed. We think of the bad too much. Think of at least 2 things that are good each day that is my challenge for you guys this week. I was reading the Book of Mormon and in Helaman it talks a lot about pride. Pride kills the spirit. Always strive to be humble because it can all go away and being humble can and will be bless our lives. I can promise that! Well, the baptism was amazing! The spirit was so strong. Leonardo had this smile about him, it was amazing. My comp filled the font with cold water! It was freezing!!!! It was funny teaching him how to hold my wrist. I baptized him, but had to do it twice because he wouldn’t let me dunk him lol. The feeling of baptizing someone is indescribable! It is complete peace, joy, love, and it’s like the whole world pauses! Ahh it’s amazing and the spirit was so strong! We have 4 dates for baptism now for November! So excited!  

Well, my favorite part about the mission besides the baptisms because they would win hands down, is the people! I love the people so much, you have no idea! It’s the best thing ever! I am already getting homesick thinking about leaving these people. I have grown so many relationships with the people here.

Well, have a good week!

Love Elder Knelly

Week 8 in Uruguay

10/2/17-10/9/17
Hola mi familia y amigos,

Tuesday-Wednesday
Well, today my companion and I played this game of who can talk or contact 5 people first. When we started, we went up to everyone. People thought we were crazy. We taught this group of kids and they called themselves Satan… so lame! We taught this one lady, don’t know her name, and she drank so much alcohol, it was insane. We could smell her from like 10 feet away…so gross. She couldn’t even walk straight. We went to the bike guy, Carlos and he wants to do splits with us but doesn’t want to get baptized, so lame. This one guy we taught said he thought all his sons had to be named Elder, ahh so funny. That night Elder Arias and my companion told me that I have this light and spirit that just attracts people and that they want to be around me. It was a cool thing to hear from them. Then they drop the you just need to learn Spanish lol! Yes, I am trying. I read Alma 56 (have to read) so good! It gave me more motivation and a better attitude on everything! Wednesday was the day Elder Bailey and I did not get along. We sat in our house for like 6 hours because we are moving!!! It was a rough day, definitely not good at all. If you have to know how to fix a bad thing/relationship it’s with humility and charity. You need to grow up haha and be the person to change it. So, I bought some ice cream for us, which we never ever have. It was so good and our problem was fixed. So, when in doubt, buy ice cream!

Thursday-Friday
We moved!!! We spent the whole day moving with the Wankers. It was the longest day but our house is so nice! We literally traveled all over Uruguay grabbing and putting stuff into our new house. The Wankers bought us the most luxury meal, McDonalds!  I got a chicken wrap, ahhh so good! We spent the rest of the day cleaning.  Our room gets so dark that you can’t see anything. My comp goes, “It is the same if you close your eyes or open them.” So funny! Friday, I lost the phone , go Knelly haha but lucky we found it. We also taught Maicol, he is getting baptized tomorrow and picked me to baptize him. Ahh, so excited! On the bus ride home, I jammed with this random dude on the bus. That night my comp burned the rice so we didn’t have any food and ruined the pan lol.

Saturday-Sunday
Today was the best day and worse day. Carlos told me how I am a very good missionary, haha, I love that guy. We woke up cooked beans, ran out of gas, had no lunch, and hot water heater broke. My comp and I were starving and went to an almacea that’s where I lost my wallet. We looked for it for like 3 hours. Satan does not want us to baptize lol. We left to fill the font for Maicol baptism. It takes 6 hrs to fill and we only had 4 to do it because we had to clean it first. We filled it with half cold half hot water, it was manageable haha. A total of 5 people came  to the baptism.  When we walked into the font together all I could think of was my Dad and how he did this. Well, I said he full name Maicol Daniel Valdenegro Lacaueva and I baptized him on the first try. When I baptized him, it was like a light came upon him out of the water.  Like I could see a light that no one else saw. He was illuminating, it’s hard to explain. It was amazing! I felt complete peace, joy and such happiness knowing we were able to baptize him! I bore my testimony after and told him how I will never forget this. It was awesome! The Bishop had the idea of having Maicol baptize Leonardo next Saturday. We gave him the Priesthood and baptized him all in the same day.  After, Bailey and I practiced our British accents while cleaning up haha. We finally went home and a guy fixed our water heater, got gas for us and food. Blessings happen if we endure the trial of the day! Sunday was a funny day. Leonardo came and bore a 25 minute testimony. It was hilarious, no one else got up! The funny thing that happened was our Bishop forgot the actual Sacrament and started testimony sharing, ahh so funny. Well, I love you all and thank you for all your prayers and emails!

Elder Knelly

Feliz Cumpleaños

Hola a todos,

What are the odds my comp and I have the same Birthdays haha.  Here are some birthday pictures and a video of the Bishop and his family.  They're the best!!

Elder Knelly