End of Transfer #1

Dear Family,


Well today is the first day of the new transfer. I'm staying here in Casa Linda with Elder Barney for another transfer. We had a pretty good week, except that Elder Barney has been sick for the past few days so we haven't been able to go out to much. Don't worry I'm fine and super healthy.

So on Friday I was on an exchange with Elder Luna. He is an English elder who has been out for 2 more transfers than me (1 really because I was in the mtc for an extra transfer). He is from San Diego and went to BYU last year. He lived in 2100 Merrill Hall... I was in 2200 ... Small world... but we didn't know each other... Anyways. The exchange was great, I stayed in our area. So, I had to do all the teaching and spanish stuff. It was great though. We had some good lessons. The lessons were mostly with members which really helped because they could understand the investigators' questions a lot better than I could. It was fun. The exchange really boosted my confidence and now I know that I can do all these things that I knew I could do but just didn't do. Kind of confusing, but it was great to not feel like a shadow to Elder Barney.

I'm so glad I'm a missionary. Its so neat to wake up every morning and put that nametag on that says I'm a representative of Jesus Christ. I love the feeling that I get when I'm bearing my testimony and witness of the truthfulness of the restored Gospel. It's never the same twice. I also love the testimonies of the recent converts and the members who are really living the Gospel. There is something so noticeable between members who just go through motions and those who really do love God with all their heart, might, mind and strength.

This week I've been making lesson outlines for chapter 3 in Preach my Gospel. The Gospel is so simple. It reminded me of a Fireside in the MTC. It was about how the 'primary answers' are really The Primary Answers. So 'primary answers' are the simple things children say when asked questions about the Gospel.

Example:
Where can I go to find peace?

World's Answer: Go camping, fishing, golfing, to the beach... etc...
Primary Answer: Go to church...

That was an example he used. Its funny but its so true. The 'primary answers,' like praying, reading the scriptures, going to church every sunday, follow the prophet, keep the commandments are all the primary answers to our problems. Life is hard and yeah, we have difficult times, but the simple things are what the Lord has asked us to do.

Wow that was a tangent. But all you all should read Lesson 4 in Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel and ask yourselves if you are really doing all those things. That's your homework. Keep up all the good work. Keep inviting the family you're working on to activities. Invite them to a family night in our house with the missionaries there. Have the missionaries teach a short lesson and then play games and whatnot. It will be awesome I promise.

Thanks for all the emails and letters. Oh and thanks Mom, Dad, Grandpa Wagner and Grandpa Shaffer for that package, it was amazing. It made my day/week.

• Thanks for quoting my letter Jacquie!
• Good luck with WTP Marissa. Opinion, Example, Opinion, Example!!! Thats tough you have someone who won't talk... maybe on a basic question (like one you get a lot) have no one else talk until after she does. Try it in a practice hearing sometime. Everyone except her can just keep their mouths shut. After a minute she'll figure it out...haha.
• Riley thats pretty cool you got all that shocking stuff.
• Andee, so you got contacts! Coolness.

Have a fun thanksgiving. Mine should be pretty good. (just like every other Thursday)

Love,
Elder Wagner

PS. The squirrels seem to be calming down now that its getting colder...

MEXICO!

Dear Family,

So I went to the Mexico City temple rededication last night. It was really neat. All the English was translated into spanish but there were a few talk that were just in spanish. It was so amazing. I can really understand a lot about church things. Its just the other vocabulary that I don't have. It comes a little bit at a time.

This week was alright. I wish it had been better. This next week will be great though. Next Saturday we have transfer calls when we find out if we get moved or not. I have a feeling that I won't be here for too long because President Smith wants to have Elder Barney train more and stay here in Casa Linda. Oh I had interviews with President Smith last week, and we went to the temple on Friday.

We tried to set a baptismal date with Juan y Maria Soto but they said that they had already been baptized in Mexico. they will take some work but they do their reading which is huge b/c most people don't like to read.

So we contact in Lavandarias (laudromat). Its pretty fun since we split up and talk to everyone, and there are mostly Hispanics. Its crazy that I can actually like start up a conversation and share a little message. Its wierd that its easier on my own though. For some reason with Elder Barney next to me its harder to speak up. But I'm getting better. I've been doing all the phone calls. I've had some pretty awkward conversations especially when I don't know what they're saying.

Well I took a bunch of pictures this week and will send it in a while. I really love being here and learning and helping people learn more about Jesus Christ and what he has done for us and how his church is here again on the Earth. Share the Gospel with everyone! It is the best thing we have and everyone needs it!

Love,
Elder Wagner

P.S. Yes mom all of my clothes are still doing good :) I had to sew a button on a white shirt but that was easy!

HOWDY!!

Dear Family,

Its raining. There was lightning and thunder last night!

Thanks for all the letters this week. Dad wants to know about dinner appointments. Well... we have one everyday except Mondays. Pretty much everyday we eat at a member's house. The food is really good. And since we ride in the car all day I'm feeling kinda pudgy. So Elder Barney and I have decided to start running in the mornings. The food is so good though. Sometimes its more American-like but most of the time its good old Mexican food. Tortillas, Rice, Chicken. Salsa (spicy salsa) And if you ask for more they give you so much!

The work is really good! So a recent convert and his wife brought two of our investigators, Juan y Maria Soto, to church yesterday. It was perfect. They sat with them and befriended them. They'll get baptized sometime soon. They are pretty timid because they've only been here for 6 months from Mexico. Which reminds me, the Mexico City temple re-dedication is Sunday and we're going to it (the broadcast in the building here...). Pretty exciting.

We had Zone Conference last Tuesday! It was great. I got to see Elder Richins! Oh yeah I saw Elder Messias but he left before I could talk to him. He has been out one transfer more than me, so he was only in the MTC for 3 weeks, not 9. The Zone Conference was great.

Oh and we got the conference Ensign!!!! I was so excited! It was like the best thing ever! I love it! I've read some of the talks two or three times already. Well I said I would think about my scripture for my plaque... but I didn't! Its a hard decision, but I think I'll go with Alma 36:24. Its said by Alma the Younger. But I'll let you look it up. Mormon 9:20-22 is a close second. Helaman 10:4 is probably third. Just for your information.

Keep up the good work back home. That will be great to invite the Fosters over for family night! Don't let Satan take away that opportunity. Search diligently, Pray always and be believing.

Love, Elder Wagner

PS. Squirrel Story- I don't really have a good one, but we almost hit one the other day.
PSS. Thanks for the stamps!

Crujir de Dientes‏

Dear Family:

Well that means 'gnashing of teeth' in spanish!

So this week has been pretty good. We had a rough week, lots of appointments fell through. I went on companion exchanges twice last week since Elder Barney is the district leader. The first one was with Elder Macgregor. He is a spanish elder who has been out for a few months. I went to his area which is a bike area (I didn't ride my bike though). His spanish really isn't much better than mine. For some reason it was easier for me to speak up because he doesn't speak much better. Like with my companion, its easy for me to not say much because he has really good spanish since he's been out for a year.

The next exchange was with Elder Young. He has only been here for like 3 transfers or something. It was a rough day but I got lots of practice contacting in spanish. The english elders cover our same area but for the two english wards and we have the one spanish ward. Lots of spanish elders just have a little group of spanish speakers with translators which would be hard.

The language is coming. I have to hear things twice or three time to get it fully. I have a general idea of what they are talking about but its hard to know exactly what they are saying. I understand way more than I speak. Its going well though. I read the Book of Mormon aloud in spanish for like 20-30 minutes everyday. It helps with pronunciation and i can actually understand what they are saying, sometimes.

We have zone conference tomorrow. The transfer is half over already. Its felt really long but at the same time its going pretty fast.

I can't decide on a scripture (for his ward plaque) but I'll figure it out this week. Oh I sent my ballot in last week. I hope there wasn't like a deadline, like I just figure postmarked before tomorrow so yeah. I had no idea on like the local officals (school stuff) so yeah....

I have taken like hardly any pictures since we aren't supposed to take our cameras with us. Well.

All is going well. Just trying to work hard, I'm tired and ready to sleep every night. Its awesome to see some of the investigators changing their lives through the gospel.

Love,
Elder Wagner

P.S. Squirrel Story: So the other day I was under a tree and some leaf stuff kept falling right on my head. I looked up and there was a squirrel eating some nut and dropping like the shells on my head!