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

Week 24 in Uruguay: Plowing and Lots of Travel

1/22/18-1/29/18

Ask the Lord to see yourself as He sees you.

Tuesday-Wednesday
     We had a district meeting, which was great. We did practice situations and had to figure out what the person was struggling with. My struggle was that I didn’t know what gender I liked. Then I had to teach about prophets and why our church is correct. All I know is that if we think God has turned his back on us we are the ones that need to turn around to walk to Him. His arms are always extended. Never feel like your situation is too much. He knows all and loves us more than we can comprehend. Pray the hardest when it’s hardest to pray! SMILE!
     Wednesday, I did an intercambio with a newbie. It was so fun to be in charge for the day. We made french toast and found 5 new people. One of the people we found was this older man that only believed in God and nothing else. I gave him a pamphlet, then I had a feeling to give him a Book of Mormon. He was funny and saying all for me, kinda of sarcastic, but I said ya, its just like Christmas.  We then made chicken pasta and I have to say it wasn’t too bad. Chef Knell is progressing. Lol ! Well, to end the day, Elder Purnitt, the newbie wanted to go home so I said one more house. I said a prayer and we found someone that is so interested! Such a cool feeling.

Thursday-Friday
     Thursday we had a service project. We worked for 2 ½ hours on a farm. I plowed with a 3 inch garden trident. It was so much harder and took longer, but the look on the investigator's face was so worth it. Serving brings joy we never thought was possible. After, we went and got our haircuts. I got a fade, this time on purpose. I love the people that cut our hair, they are super funny! They took about an hour to cut my hair. I wish people cared about my hair that much back home haha.
     Friday was crazy! We didn’t even work in our area as we had to do baptismal interviews. We went to Santa Lucia and then Canelones.  In Canelones, we bought ice cream, I asked for a cone and I figured out real soon why no body gets cones. The cones here fall apart with the humidity. My shirt and tie was covered with ice cream haha. Not a best day for me. Afterwards we played futbol with a bunch of kids, which was pretty dope. This guy that was about 30 loved that I played ball and that I talked to him. Haha. When we left he gave my comp a high five and then turns to me and gives me the biggest hug, too funny.

Saturday-Sunday
     Today was a crazy day! We finally got to work in our area. We talked to this one lady and her dog almost killed me. It was a great dane and almost bit my ankle off. I definitely had angels looking out for me on that one. She was a nice lady though. After we took a bus to do an entrevista baptismal (interviews) for the hermanas. It was good and then we headed to Santa Lucia for another interview for a baptism. I was the witness. After, the older lady we found last week saw me and wouldn’t stop talking to us. We got home and taught this kid, He had a flexing contest with us haha. He loves us! He showed me a picture of America’s Got Talent. I totally have forgotten about everything back home, movies and everything!
     Sunday was a good day. We had 4 investigators come to church. One kid who is 18 wanted us to pick him up. AKA a walk by haha. We don’t know if he is serious or not yet. For lunch, we ate tuna and raviolis. Not a fan of either lol. We then walked, which felt like 30 miles, to meet with our investigator which wasn’t home, neither was our backup plan. So we went and taught Albero. He could be baptized in a couple of weeks. We will have to see. Pray for him. We played checkers after and ate some squash. Then we ate a green pumpkin, which wasn’t too bad. Well, remember this one thing from my email. We can NEVER be led in the wrong direction if we are going to the temple!

Elder Knelly

“Solo Porque no podemos ver algo con nuestros ojos fisicos, no significa que no exista.” 

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