Dear Family,
Well Elder Dytrt and I are staying together for at least one more transfer or 6 weeks. I'm really excited to be staying here and staying with him. I probably drive him crazy sometimes but we get along well.
Honestly I'm feeling better than I have in a couple months which is good. There are still lots of challenges but I'm dealing with them better. We have some good people we are teaching and several less-actives who seem receptive and willing to come back. For my entire mission I've heard about how dysfunctional the Sunbeck Branch is, but I don't believe it. We have our work cut out for us but I think we can really make a difference to build our area.
I know the Gospel was restored through Joseph Smith. I love the purity and philosophical soundness of the Gospel. Its definitely not an interpretation of the truth but light and knowledge straight from the source, God the Father and Jesus Christ. Pray and seek answers to life's problems and the joy of the Gospel will come into your live. I know it because I've felt it. Take care!
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Ice, Ice Baby
Dear Family,
I'm doing good here. I'm feeling better recently. We had a good week. We had stake conference here too!!!
I've got a couple of cool stories but before I forget, I'd really like to go to the temple that week that I get back with the whole family and do baptisms for the dead. We could go Friday or Saturday, whenever, but I'd really like to go to the temple with the whole family.
Here is a funny story. So in Farmers Branch (a city in the area) there is a high school called RL Turner High. Turns out that the one hit wonder pop artist 'vanilla ice' went to high school there. We heard it from the Sisters here, who heard it from someone else. So yesterday we were like a block from the High School and we talk to this guy. Turns out he's lived there for 40+ years. He went to that high school so I asked him if he knew 'vanilla ice'. He said that he knew him and that he would race him in his 68 camaro in high school. He said 'vanilla's' real name is Robert. We gave the guy a 'libro de mormon' since he speaks english and spanish. Ice, ice baby.
I went on Exchanges with Elder Gunnell in the english wards last week. We taught the dad of an awesome family. The mom and teenagers are members, and the dad got baptized saturday. Like 100 people went, including the stake presidency in between conference sessions. It was very cool to see how much the members of the wards had fellowshipped the family back into activity. They were all less active and the teenage daughter started going to church because someone picked her up each week. Eventually her brothers got baptized and her mom came back. Now the whole family is strong and excited. It was a blessing just to see their excitement and feel the love of the ward for that family.
So this is the last week of the transfer. Elder Dytrt is convinced that he is leaving here and I'll get a new companion. We'll see. I love the gospel and the scriptures. I hope all goes well. Be examples of the believers!
Love,
Elder Wagner
I'm doing good here. I'm feeling better recently. We had a good week. We had stake conference here too!!!
I've got a couple of cool stories but before I forget, I'd really like to go to the temple that week that I get back with the whole family and do baptisms for the dead. We could go Friday or Saturday, whenever, but I'd really like to go to the temple with the whole family.
Here is a funny story. So in Farmers Branch (a city in the area) there is a high school called RL Turner High. Turns out that the one hit wonder pop artist 'vanilla ice' went to high school there. We heard it from the Sisters here, who heard it from someone else. So yesterday we were like a block from the High School and we talk to this guy. Turns out he's lived there for 40+ years. He went to that high school so I asked him if he knew 'vanilla ice'. He said that he knew him and that he would race him in his 68 camaro in high school. He said 'vanilla's' real name is Robert. We gave the guy a 'libro de mormon' since he speaks english and spanish. Ice, ice baby.
I went on Exchanges with Elder Gunnell in the english wards last week. We taught the dad of an awesome family. The mom and teenagers are members, and the dad got baptized saturday. Like 100 people went, including the stake presidency in between conference sessions. It was very cool to see how much the members of the wards had fellowshipped the family back into activity. They were all less active and the teenage daughter started going to church because someone picked her up each week. Eventually her brothers got baptized and her mom came back. Now the whole family is strong and excited. It was a blessing just to see their excitement and feel the love of the ward for that family.
So this is the last week of the transfer. Elder Dytrt is convinced that he is leaving here and I'll get a new companion. We'll see. I love the gospel and the scriptures. I hope all goes well. Be examples of the believers!
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, May 10, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!
Dear Family,
May 10th is the day they celebrate mothers' day in Mexico. So its mothers day again!!!
It was fun to talk to you all and to hear your voices. I guess we talked about a lot yesterday but there was one thing I wanted to run by ya'll. I think that maybe the week I get back we should run down to the temple in LA and go do baptisms as a big family!! It'd be fun and we could eat In-n-out afterwards. It'd be cool because now everyone is old enough to go do baptisms.
Thats crazy Jeff will get back sooner. I figured something like that would happen though, so he can get right back into school. It'll be fun to see him again and hear his australian accent.
I'm going to start writing out all the mexican 'dichos' (sayings) that I've learned. Its fun to learn them and to learn all the mexican league soccer teams and mexican states. Its an easy way to build trust with people and show them we really care and respect their culture. Someday I really want to go to Mexico to visit. I'd like to go to the southern parts like Cancun or Acapulco or Veracruz. There are supposed to be some beautiful beaches there.
Its amazing the appreciation I've gained for the simple truths of the gospel. I love finding new scriptures that teach principles I already know. It strengthens my testimony when I can find scriptures in the Bible and Book of Mormon that teach truths. My spanish scriptures are near and dear to my heart. I know the Gospel is true and that Christ's church was restored some 180 years ago. We are greatly blessed to be members of the only ture and living church of God on the face of the earth.
Love,
Elder Wagner
May 10th is the day they celebrate mothers' day in Mexico. So its mothers day again!!!
It was fun to talk to you all and to hear your voices. I guess we talked about a lot yesterday but there was one thing I wanted to run by ya'll. I think that maybe the week I get back we should run down to the temple in LA and go do baptisms as a big family!! It'd be fun and we could eat In-n-out afterwards. It'd be cool because now everyone is old enough to go do baptisms.
Thats crazy Jeff will get back sooner. I figured something like that would happen though, so he can get right back into school. It'll be fun to see him again and hear his australian accent.
I'm going to start writing out all the mexican 'dichos' (sayings) that I've learned. Its fun to learn them and to learn all the mexican league soccer teams and mexican states. Its an easy way to build trust with people and show them we really care and respect their culture. Someday I really want to go to Mexico to visit. I'd like to go to the southern parts like Cancun or Acapulco or Veracruz. There are supposed to be some beautiful beaches there.
Its amazing the appreciation I've gained for the simple truths of the gospel. I love finding new scriptures that teach principles I already know. It strengthens my testimony when I can find scriptures in the Bible and Book of Mormon that teach truths. My spanish scriptures are near and dear to my heart. I know the Gospel is true and that Christ's church was restored some 180 years ago. We are greatly blessed to be members of the only ture and living church of God on the face of the earth.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, May 3, 2010
New Area, New Comp
Dear Family,
So I'm in a new area. Its pretty fun and kind of big for us to be on bikes, but its cool. My companion, Elder Dytrt, is from Mesa, Arizona. He's been out on the mission for 6 weeks less than me. So we are in the Sunbeck Branch. Its a cool branch and the work seems to be going well here and we were able to teach a lot.
One cool experience was teaching a referral from some english elders. Turns out that this lady's brother and family lives in Garland and I even ate at their house one time. It was a 'small world' moment. She already loves the church's emphasis on the family and she is very open. As we taught she understood the need for the 12 apostles and the apostasy very well and had lots of questions. It was a neat lesson and I'm excited to teach her and her sons (she just got divorced.. .like a month ago) I don't think its coincidence that we are teaching her right now.
My new address is
4015 Vitruvian Way #302
Addison, TX 75001
Our area covers part of 5 different cities, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch and Irving. Its pretty crazy. Lots of hispanics and a lot of work.
I realized this last week how much I love spanish and working with the hispanic people. Their culture is different in good ways and bad ways but its really rewarding to be able to serve them. I feel like spanish will be something I'll keep and use the rest of my life. I can't speak english as well now and I probably sound like a Texan but its fun.
I'm excited to talk to all ya'll next Sunday. We should be calling around 5pm texas time or about 3pm california time. We don't have firm plans but we're going to shoot for that time.
We have Zone conference this week which is always fun.
Well, have a great week
Love
Elder Wagner
So I'm in a new area. Its pretty fun and kind of big for us to be on bikes, but its cool. My companion, Elder Dytrt, is from Mesa, Arizona. He's been out on the mission for 6 weeks less than me. So we are in the Sunbeck Branch. Its a cool branch and the work seems to be going well here and we were able to teach a lot.
One cool experience was teaching a referral from some english elders. Turns out that this lady's brother and family lives in Garland and I even ate at their house one time. It was a 'small world' moment. She already loves the church's emphasis on the family and she is very open. As we taught she understood the need for the 12 apostles and the apostasy very well and had lots of questions. It was a neat lesson and I'm excited to teach her and her sons (she just got divorced.. .like a month ago) I don't think its coincidence that we are teaching her right now.
My new address is
4015 Vitruvian Way #302
Addison, TX 75001
Our area covers part of 5 different cities, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch and Irving. Its pretty crazy. Lots of hispanics and a lot of work.
I realized this last week how much I love spanish and working with the hispanic people. Their culture is different in good ways and bad ways but its really rewarding to be able to serve them. I feel like spanish will be something I'll keep and use the rest of my life. I can't speak english as well now and I probably sound like a Texan but its fun.
I'm excited to talk to all ya'll next Sunday. We should be calling around 5pm texas time or about 3pm california time. We don't have firm plans but we're going to shoot for that time.
We have Zone conference this week which is always fun.
Well, have a great week
Love
Elder Wagner
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