February!

Dear Family,

Sorry I didn't get that letter sent, I wrote it and wanted to send it but I'm going to send it with the memory card since it is filled. So I'm in the Longview 1st and 2nd wards. Its the same stake as Nacogdoches.

My companion is Elder Jensen from Parowan, UT. We both entered the MTC the same day but haven't met each other until two weeks ago.

So Longview is bigger than Nacogdoches or Sherman. There are about 70,000 people in the city. Quite a few people here work in the oil industry, there is oil and lots of natural gas. Its strange to cover two wards but its cool. We got doubled in so its been a lot of learning new names and faces.

Last week we had a meeting with the whole zone in Nacogdoches. The Elders there said that the Ortigoza family is getting ready to go to the temple to get sealed in a few weeks hopefully. I'm super excited and hopefully I can go...

So I bought some zyrtec and claritin. I've been using to the zyrtec for two weeks now. Everything is dead right now so allergies haven't been too bad. It helps with the cats, smoke, etc. Everyone smokes out here! Its gross. They have drive-thru tobacco stores. Pretty sad.

Elder Jensen and I are here in this area to turn it around and get it rolling. Last year 1st ward had 1 baptism and 2nd ward had 2. We're working to change that. The missionaries before us didn't keep good records so its been hard and lots of planning and organizing. Not to mention the apartment was very dirty. We've been putting it all together though. Elder Jensen reminds me a lot of Jameson. He kinda looks like him but definitely has a very similar sense of humor. We've served in different circumstances in our missions which has helped us to have ideas of how to get things rolling.

Last week we had some cool experiences. For me a couple were when I received inspiration and guidance from the Holy Ghost to help me. We spoke yesterday in the first ward. I had prepared a talk and saturday night I was praying and basically going over my talk in my prayer. After I said one part the thought came into my mind that I didn't need that part in my talk, but that I should share a different experience. So I changed the talk and then went to bed. I don't really know why or what difference the change made, but it was cool. Another one was how I planned to go on an exchange as the district leader with one companionship. I had a distinct and clear impression to exchange with the other companion, not the one I had planned to exchange with. I hesitated but then I prayed and felt like I had to change the plans. The next day we did the exchange and I learned why I needed to do that exchange. The brand new missionary was having a hard time and still is. He is homesick and doesn't get along with his companion. We had a good talk and a good day because I followed the guidance of the spirit.

I'm glad to be a full-time missionary. its demanding but a rewarding experience. The Holy Ghost will be our constant companion as we stay worthy and seek to improve.

Love,
Elder Wagner