Dear Family,
Howday from Texas everyone. Poor, poor Riley. Thats no fun. I bet you could finish the Book of Mormon pretty quick with all that free time. It'd be sweet (dulce).
That's really cool that Brandon's friend is taking the lessons. Its interesting you talk about how giving a Book of Mormon can make a difference. I was a back-up speaker in sacrament meeting on Sunday (I didn't speak), but the talk I was going to give was about that. How one member gave a Book of Mormon to a friend in high school and how that changed the lives of a lot of people. I planned on sharing the story of how Grandpa Wagner came in contact with the church. His friend in high school gave him a Book of Mormon and now, 50+ years later we really see the impact. 4 sons served missions, 4 grandsons (and more to come) have or are serving missions. All five of his children were married in the temple and 7 of his grandchildren have been married in the temple!!!(and more to come...) I doubt his friend in high school realized the impact she would have on the lives of hundreds and thousands of people, just by having the courage to share the truest book on the face of the earth with a friend. I love that. We hardly realize the amount of good we can do until way after the fact.
Thats cool to here from Alex about how it was just a spanish group here in Nac. Next step, wards!!! Well, the Ortigoza family is doing awesome. The two boys are really loving church and the oldest when to a stake dance on Saturday. The dad's records came in from Mexico. So now he can advance in the priesthood. We are hoping to plan the baptism for the 10th of May (Mother's Day). So honestly I'm more excited for that. The dad, Ignacio, should be able to baptize his wife and two sons. They are so excited about the church and sharing with all their friends too. Its hard to believe that two months ago, the mom wouldn't really even talk to us. The Lord really works miracles. The spirit can change the hearts of all people.
Elder Haslam and I are doing good. We're having fun and really seeing some success.
Oh there is some sad news, Hermana Dolores Toledo, passed away sunday morning. She had been baptized a few years ago I think... She was older and sick but a car wreck from 3-4 weeks ago was really hard... Its really sad because in the last 6 months her son and son-in-law have passed away. Right now Hermano Hilario (her 'husband') is really down. He doesn't have work, and last September a tree fell on their house in the hurricane, not to mention three family members passing away. He hasn't been to church in a while either.
But in other news, a soon-to-leave missionary, Enoc Macias, got his call to San Fernando California 'spanish'. Its a crazy mission, its like the San Fernando area, Palmdale, Mojave and up 395 all the way to Yosemite... like all of the desert out there. And a missionary is about to get home on may 7th from Nac, Patricio Corpus. I'm excited to meet him.
Well family. The church is true. Read your scriptures. Pray. Go to church. Be more like Jesus Christ. Its simple. Do those things and you'll be happy.
Love,
Elder Wagner
P.S. I got the debit card mom!!!! thanks!!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
All my cousins are going to be married....
Photo: Elder Wagner, Elder Haslam, a member of the branch who is waiting for his mission call, Yadira, and her great missionary friend, Liz! (Easter Sunday)Hi family!!!
Yes I got your package and the one from Aunt Cathy! Thanks for all the candy! I think it will last me a few months. Its sounds like the Wagner family had a really exciting week.
Congrats to Kim for getting married in the right place, the temple! It was fun to see all the pictures. I bet I'll be the only Wagner cousin not married by the time I get back...
We are really doing well here in Nacogdoches. Elder Haslam and I are really improving our teaching and we are working really hard. Sometimes I have to push him, but he is a great Elder and isn't afraid to do hard things. For the last half of this week we were on the bikes since our car is in the shop. It was challenging for various reasons. But we were blessed especially yesterday afternoon when we found a super awesome new family. Elder Haslam and I are getting along great. So Friday we were in Longview (1-1/2 hrs north) for Zone Conference and then Interviews. We left at 7am and got back at 8 pm. It was a whole bunch of meetings but I learned a lot and it should really help us improve. This transfer they are focusing on studying effectively and preparing lessons. Personally I really need to do better planning lessons and it should make a difference.
Yadira got confirmed on Sunday in sacrament meeting which was really cool. Its so cool to see the change in her and to see how happy she is, even though nobody from her family came to the baptism, she has a solid testimony. As far as our other investigators, they are coming along well. This week we should be committing a few people to baptism. The branch is doing well, but it still has a ways to go.
I did receive a letter from Michael Shafer this week. He mentioned some of the people he baptized while he was here and I know most of them. The one lady from Lufkin, Isabel Rueda, isn't active. Lufkin has its own spanish branch now with Pres. Rodriguez and its own set of spanish elders. I gave them the pictures and hopefully it helps re-activate her. Michael also mentioned the Arroyo family. The girls are coming to church right know and we are teaching Hna. Arroyo's live-in boyfriend, Jacobo, which is going well. Oh something else interesting for Michael, Leslie Sanchez, Nancy and Loly's little sister got baptized last week and they are active (the parents got divorced and the dad is less-active.)
Well all that is a lot more interesting for Michael, but the branch is doing well. It think its amazing that 3 missionaries from Olive Knolls ward have all served here with President Castillo in the Nacogdoches 2nd branch.
I know the Lord loves us and we really live happier when we live the Gospel teachings. The Lord works miracles in our lives daily, we just have a hard time noticing them. I love you and miss you.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Baptism
Dear Family and Friends,
Sounds like you all had a great time in Yosemite. One thing I noticed in the pictures was that Marissa was more tan than everyone else! Riley and Andrea look like they are getting taller too. Fun stuff.
Well yesterday we had a great baptismal service right after church. Yadira got baptized by one of the young men in the branch. Her best friend who invited her and everything, Liz, was so excited. Now her best friend is a member of the church. President Castillo (the branch president) had Elder Haslam conduct the baptism meeting, in spanish of course. He was way nervous but he did a great job. I'll send the pictures next week.
So we had a good week. Its a big change switching from having a companion who just jumps in and starts talking in lessons to a brand new missionary. Its been hard for both of us because I find it hard to remember to have him explain some of the principles too. I remember being in his shoes and you never know when to talk or when not too. We are doing our best and the Lord will make that work.
So this one part-member family that we've been working with is doing great. The dad, who is a member, said the opening prayer in sacrament meeting. He is really excited and as soon as they get his membership records from mexico he can get a calling and advance in the priesthood. The two sons aren't baptized as of yet but in the near future they will be. The older one is 14 and hasn't really like church because he doesn't get along too well with the young men and at the other church they went to he had friends. We had a little heart to heart with him in english, since we speak it a whole lot better, and then his parents can't interrupt because they don't know what we are talking about. Since then he has seemed more interested. Its awesome.
One random thought. There are a few less-active members who work nights. They work a shift saturday night and then don't go to church. Their shift isn't even long just 8 hrs or less. I love telling them about my dad, who would work all night, get back and go right to church. I tell them that he knew what was most important and he didn't let anything get in the way of him going to church. Its way cool that I can tell them that, thanks Dad.
The priesthood leaders in the branch are getting excited about reactivation and missionary work. I've really learned that us as missionaries are really not very effective at finding people to teach. Our calling is to be teachers. Yes we are guided to those who are really prepared, but we have to talk with a lot of other people to find those ones. So basically, when you invite friends to church and activities and are talking to people about the church, get the missionaries involved!!! Be creative and just tell your friends what you like about the church, whatever might appeal to them. If they ask about beliefs, tell them that there are two guys who can explain it a lot better and they'd loved too!!! There are people around you, in school, work, etc. who are prepared to hear the gospel. Talk about the church, invite them to the house and get the missionaries involved!!! Miracles will happen.
I love being a missionary and love that the gospel is for everyone. Living the Gospel will bless everyone in the world. They just don't know about it yet.
Love,
Elder Wagner
PS. Mosiah 2:21
Sounds like you all had a great time in Yosemite. One thing I noticed in the pictures was that Marissa was more tan than everyone else! Riley and Andrea look like they are getting taller too. Fun stuff.
Well yesterday we had a great baptismal service right after church. Yadira got baptized by one of the young men in the branch. Her best friend who invited her and everything, Liz, was so excited. Now her best friend is a member of the church. President Castillo (the branch president) had Elder Haslam conduct the baptism meeting, in spanish of course. He was way nervous but he did a great job. I'll send the pictures next week.
So we had a good week. Its a big change switching from having a companion who just jumps in and starts talking in lessons to a brand new missionary. Its been hard for both of us because I find it hard to remember to have him explain some of the principles too. I remember being in his shoes and you never know when to talk or when not too. We are doing our best and the Lord will make that work.
So this one part-member family that we've been working with is doing great. The dad, who is a member, said the opening prayer in sacrament meeting. He is really excited and as soon as they get his membership records from mexico he can get a calling and advance in the priesthood. The two sons aren't baptized as of yet but in the near future they will be. The older one is 14 and hasn't really like church because he doesn't get along too well with the young men and at the other church they went to he had friends. We had a little heart to heart with him in english, since we speak it a whole lot better, and then his parents can't interrupt because they don't know what we are talking about. Since then he has seemed more interested. Its awesome.
One random thought. There are a few less-active members who work nights. They work a shift saturday night and then don't go to church. Their shift isn't even long just 8 hrs or less. I love telling them about my dad, who would work all night, get back and go right to church. I tell them that he knew what was most important and he didn't let anything get in the way of him going to church. Its way cool that I can tell them that, thanks Dad.
The priesthood leaders in the branch are getting excited about reactivation and missionary work. I've really learned that us as missionaries are really not very effective at finding people to teach. Our calling is to be teachers. Yes we are guided to those who are really prepared, but we have to talk with a lot of other people to find those ones. So basically, when you invite friends to church and activities and are talking to people about the church, get the missionaries involved!!! Be creative and just tell your friends what you like about the church, whatever might appeal to them. If they ask about beliefs, tell them that there are two guys who can explain it a lot better and they'd loved too!!! There are people around you, in school, work, etc. who are prepared to hear the gospel. Talk about the church, invite them to the house and get the missionaries involved!!! Miracles will happen.
I love being a missionary and love that the gospel is for everyone. Living the Gospel will bless everyone in the world. They just don't know about it yet.
Love,
Elder Wagner
PS. Mosiah 2:21
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
A Long Week...
Dear Family,
So this past week was an adventure!!! On monday Elder Hendrickson and I rode back into Dallas. He was really quiet and sad because he had been in Nacogdoches for almost 8 months!!! That night we stayed in the asistants' apartment with all the new missionaries in Dallas. There we only 2 new spanish elders so I knew I was going to be with one of them. Tuesday we had transfer meeting. It was a pretty exciting one for the mission. They just set up two new zones in the mission and the overall number of missionaries is still increasing. It's neat to see the work expanding here. The mission is doing great and the Lord is working tons of miracles.
So Elder Haslam is a great Elder. Funny note: In the MTC he broke his hand so he had a brace and its still sore. Playing basketball... He is pretty quiet, but his attitude is great. Its hard for new missionaries with Spanish and everything. And he still has to learn how to eat a lot (lol). We had a good week. It was a big change for me. I've never had to be senior companion in an area and I still don't know a lot about the area, but the Lord is helping me. The branch is pretty interesting here. The number of real strong, temple-going members is few. However, that is going to change. We are going to really work more closely with the Branch to reactivate, complete part-member families and strengthen all the members in their testimonies.
So Yadira didn't get baptized this week but will this sunday. Basically she hadn't told her parents too much and about how serious she was about it and needed another week to discuss it with them. She is so determined to get baptized and as she said herself, 'Before I wasn't even considering getting baptized!' but now she is really excited. The spirit works miracles.
This partmember family we've been teaching came to General conference and is awesome! The non-member mom basically asked me how to do the whole 'pray to find out if its true'. They are going to get baptized this transfer, even though they don't know it yet...
Elder Haslam is going to be great. He has great desire and potential. One thing I realized throughout General Conference and last week is that we all have divine potential. We all have the capacity to be great and we are all great. The only thing that holds us back is how we use our agency and time, the gifts God has given us. I LOVED General Conference. Its like the Thanksgiving of spiritual food! One that really hit home was Elder Perry's talk from Sunday about member missionary work. I've gained such a testimony that without member's help, missionaries are pretty helpless. Of course we find the elect, but we are just two people. Imagine if everyone in a ward was looking for the elect. Inviting people and giving them a chance to learn. When two young white boys knock on someones door they rarely listen to us or are rarely impacted. They see us and automatically shut down and don't listen. But if they are invited by a 'normal' looking person or even better, their best friend, they are more willing to listen. I'm so excited for Yadira to get baptized. Even more excited is her best friend Lys (liz), who is a member in the branch. We have something great and its our purpose and duty to share it. Not everybody will listen but if we don't try, we will be held responsible in the last day.
I love ya'll and I'm so excited to be a missionary and love this work!
Love,
Elder Wagner
Ps. I haven't gotten the package yet (i'm really really far from dallas and civilization).
PSS. Have fun in Yosemite!!! Don't feed the animals!!! Enjoy the mountains. There are none here.
So this past week was an adventure!!! On monday Elder Hendrickson and I rode back into Dallas. He was really quiet and sad because he had been in Nacogdoches for almost 8 months!!! That night we stayed in the asistants' apartment with all the new missionaries in Dallas. There we only 2 new spanish elders so I knew I was going to be with one of them. Tuesday we had transfer meeting. It was a pretty exciting one for the mission. They just set up two new zones in the mission and the overall number of missionaries is still increasing. It's neat to see the work expanding here. The mission is doing great and the Lord is working tons of miracles.
So Elder Haslam is a great Elder. Funny note: In the MTC he broke his hand so he had a brace and its still sore. Playing basketball... He is pretty quiet, but his attitude is great. Its hard for new missionaries with Spanish and everything. And he still has to learn how to eat a lot (lol). We had a good week. It was a big change for me. I've never had to be senior companion in an area and I still don't know a lot about the area, but the Lord is helping me. The branch is pretty interesting here. The number of real strong, temple-going members is few. However, that is going to change. We are going to really work more closely with the Branch to reactivate, complete part-member families and strengthen all the members in their testimonies.
So Yadira didn't get baptized this week but will this sunday. Basically she hadn't told her parents too much and about how serious she was about it and needed another week to discuss it with them. She is so determined to get baptized and as she said herself, 'Before I wasn't even considering getting baptized!' but now she is really excited. The spirit works miracles.
This partmember family we've been teaching came to General conference and is awesome! The non-member mom basically asked me how to do the whole 'pray to find out if its true'. They are going to get baptized this transfer, even though they don't know it yet...
Elder Haslam is going to be great. He has great desire and potential. One thing I realized throughout General Conference and last week is that we all have divine potential. We all have the capacity to be great and we are all great. The only thing that holds us back is how we use our agency and time, the gifts God has given us. I LOVED General Conference. Its like the Thanksgiving of spiritual food! One that really hit home was Elder Perry's talk from Sunday about member missionary work. I've gained such a testimony that without member's help, missionaries are pretty helpless. Of course we find the elect, but we are just two people. Imagine if everyone in a ward was looking for the elect. Inviting people and giving them a chance to learn. When two young white boys knock on someones door they rarely listen to us or are rarely impacted. They see us and automatically shut down and don't listen. But if they are invited by a 'normal' looking person or even better, their best friend, they are more willing to listen. I'm so excited for Yadira to get baptized. Even more excited is her best friend Lys (liz), who is a member in the branch. We have something great and its our purpose and duty to share it. Not everybody will listen but if we don't try, we will be held responsible in the last day.
I love ya'll and I'm so excited to be a missionary and love this work!
Love,
Elder Wagner
Ps. I haven't gotten the package yet (i'm really really far from dallas and civilization).
PSS. Have fun in Yosemite!!! Don't feed the animals!!! Enjoy the mountains. There are none here.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
A Letter from President Smith!
Dear Family and Friends,
Today we received the following letter from Elder Wagner's mission president. We loved it and thought we ought to share it with all of you! Thank you for supporting our missionary!
Jim & Judy
Dear Brother and Sister Wagner,
It is a pleasure to inform you that your son, Elder Kevin S. Wagner, has been called to serve as a Trainer in the Texas Dallas Mission. I consider the position of Trainer to be one of the most important callings in the mission. We feel that it's the Lord's counsel select trainers from those missionaries who have prepared themselves well, have been obedient to mission rules and have been exemplary missionaries. Your son has qualified himself for this very important and responsible assignment.
Your son's new companion is Elder Alex P. Haslam from St. George, Utah, who recently arrived from the Missionary Training Center. It will be Elder Wagner's responsibility to assist him in becoming fully aquainted with his proselyting area, learning the missionary lessons, mastering a number of scriptures and developing various teaching, finding and other missionary skills.
We are delighted to have your son in the Texas Dallas Mission and we are particularily pleased that he has qualified himself to be selected for this important assignment.
Sincerely,
Barry M. Smith, President
Texas Dallas Mission
Today we received the following letter from Elder Wagner's mission president. We loved it and thought we ought to share it with all of you! Thank you for supporting our missionary!
Jim & Judy
Dear Brother and Sister Wagner,
It is a pleasure to inform you that your son, Elder Kevin S. Wagner, has been called to serve as a Trainer in the Texas Dallas Mission. I consider the position of Trainer to be one of the most important callings in the mission. We feel that it's the Lord's counsel select trainers from those missionaries who have prepared themselves well, have been obedient to mission rules and have been exemplary missionaries. Your son has qualified himself for this very important and responsible assignment.
Your son's new companion is Elder Alex P. Haslam from St. George, Utah, who recently arrived from the Missionary Training Center. It will be Elder Wagner's responsibility to assist him in becoming fully aquainted with his proselyting area, learning the missionary lessons, mastering a number of scriptures and developing various teaching, finding and other missionary skills.
We are delighted to have your son in the Texas Dallas Mission and we are particularily pleased that he has qualified himself to be selected for this important assignment.
Sincerely,
Barry M. Smith, President
Texas Dallas Mission
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
