Dear Family,
God bless America. Especially Texas.
I feel really blessed this week. Ethan's baptism and confirmation went very well and a lot of good things are starting up here in the ward. The Lord was really directing everything. We had a lesson with him and Brother Davies, a recent move-in to the ward. I felt like they clicked which is a big deal for Ethan. Last Sunday, independent of us, the Elders Quorum president assigned Brother Davies to be Ethan's new home teacher. So we had Brother Davies baptize Ethan which was very neat. The Lord really guides us.
There were a couple really hard days for me during last week, but after 'tribulation comes blessings.' I feel that I'm happier and closer to the Lord and Spirit than I have been in some time. Just like a cold Scout campout, sometimes it takes what seems like an eternity for the sun to rise and bring an end to the hard, cold night.
Its sobering to think that I'm approaching my last transfer here. Only the Lord knows what will happen here in the area. Since Elder Dytrt and I are spanish missionaries, its very probable that we get doubled out. But I can only guess. That reminds me, next monday the 5th is a federal holiday which means no emails until wednesday the 7th. By then we'll find out what happens for transfers.
Yesterday at church we had some great talks on America and how God guided the founding of the nation. It took me back to good ole 'We the People' days. I'm really grateful for the nation we live in. Its such a blessing. How grateful I am for the restoration of the Gospel. The truths of the Gospel mean everything to me and are the only way to find lasting happiness. I hope that we can give our all to the spreading of the restored Gospel.
Have a blast at the family reunion and maybe have all the family write the missionaries (me, Trevor and Zach) a letter or something. Just an idea... take it or leave it.
Thanks for your prayers and love.
Love,
Elder Kevin Wagner
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
El Solazo
Dear Family,
'El Solazo' doesn't have a good literal translation that I'm aware of, but basically it entails the beating rays of sunlight and heat. 'Sol' is sun and the suffix 'azo' means to be hit or slapped with.
Random Spanish lesson of the day and a good description of the weather here. I'm not complaining, just saying how it is!
That is exciting that Marissa and Jacquie are in Provo-land and all settled in. Congratulations Riley and Andrea on swimming excellence! I hope you keep swimming hard and practicing hard. If you practice with good technique (esp. on turns and streamlines of walls) you'll race very well and beat everyone!! Winning isn't everything but it is fun!!
Crazy news!! A sister missionary in our district had to go home today because of stress fractures in her feet. She will rest and get better and come back out for the last 7 months of her mission. Its pretty crazy.
So Ethan's baptism got postponed a week because he had his wisdom teeth out on Saturday and it made him really sick. He's doing well and it will be this Saturday.
I completely forgot that Father's Day was yesterday until yesterday! I feel bad for not sending Dad anything but I hope he knows I love him and am grateful for his example.
Today one year ago is when I left Nacogdoches so yesterday I called the Ortigoza family to see how they are doing. They want to go to the temple and get sealed but they haven't done temple prep classes yet. They just switched the Branch Presidency and because of that, a teacher hasn't been called. It'd be cutting it really close, but they could still finish the classes and get sealed before I leave Texas. It would be really neat. It was so awesome to talk to them and hear how they've been. It made me feel so grateful for having come on a mission. It's an experience that has no comparison. I know that I've been an instrument in God's hands to further His work. The Gospel means so much to me now. I shudder to think that the mission will end, but I will work to the wall.
I love you all and pray for you all.
Love,
Elder Wagner
'El Solazo' doesn't have a good literal translation that I'm aware of, but basically it entails the beating rays of sunlight and heat. 'Sol' is sun and the suffix 'azo' means to be hit or slapped with.
Random Spanish lesson of the day and a good description of the weather here. I'm not complaining, just saying how it is!
That is exciting that Marissa and Jacquie are in Provo-land and all settled in. Congratulations Riley and Andrea on swimming excellence! I hope you keep swimming hard and practicing hard. If you practice with good technique (esp. on turns and streamlines of walls) you'll race very well and beat everyone!! Winning isn't everything but it is fun!!
Crazy news!! A sister missionary in our district had to go home today because of stress fractures in her feet. She will rest and get better and come back out for the last 7 months of her mission. Its pretty crazy.
So Ethan's baptism got postponed a week because he had his wisdom teeth out on Saturday and it made him really sick. He's doing well and it will be this Saturday.
I completely forgot that Father's Day was yesterday until yesterday! I feel bad for not sending Dad anything but I hope he knows I love him and am grateful for his example.
Today one year ago is when I left Nacogdoches so yesterday I called the Ortigoza family to see how they are doing. They want to go to the temple and get sealed but they haven't done temple prep classes yet. They just switched the Branch Presidency and because of that, a teacher hasn't been called. It'd be cutting it really close, but they could still finish the classes and get sealed before I leave Texas. It would be really neat. It was so awesome to talk to them and hear how they've been. It made me feel so grateful for having come on a mission. It's an experience that has no comparison. I know that I've been an instrument in God's hands to further His work. The Gospel means so much to me now. I shudder to think that the mission will end, but I will work to the wall.
I love you all and pray for you all.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, June 14, 2010
English Ward
Dear Family,
We had a very good week (besides the chigger bites). We really got to meet a lot more members and the investigators. This ward is top-notch when it comes to member missionary work and ward organization. Its easy for me to say that they are best ward I've served. It's smaller for an English ward but really fun.
This Saturday we have a baptism for Sam. He's a 19 year old college kid and is one of a kind. Cool thing is that he quit smoking (2 packs a day!), drinking, coffee, tea and weed!!! Talk about lifestyle changes. A 17 year old, Jonathan, is going to baptize him. Jonathan and his mom, dad and younger brother all got baptized last year and are getting sealed in July. Very cool family!!!!
There is a great member family (the Aguirre's) that spoke in sacrament meeting. They have 5 kids and the dad is a school teacher. They gave great talks about raising a righteous family. Lots of funny stories that reminded me of our family. The best part is their friends, the Villacres family came to church to hear them speak. The Villacres's aren't members and have been talk off and on for two years, but haven't been baptized yet. The funny thing is that the wife of the Villacres family was the kindergarten teacher for 4 of the 5 Aguirre kids. We taught Gospel Principles Sunday and I felt like the lesson was perfect for their family.
Being in this ward reminds me a lot of back home in a good way. (I'm not trunky ... lol) There are lots of great member missionaries. They all seize the opportunities to invite friends to activities and church. I just think of how much better of a member missionary I want to be for the rest of my life.
Throughout the course of the week and with most of the investigators, a common theme of praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true through to power of the Holy Ghost came up. It reminds me of how I came to know it was true. When I was 13-14 they challenged all the YM/YW to read the Book of Mormon in a year. So I did. After finishing I decided to kneel and pray to find out if it was true. I knew thats how it worked. So I prayed. I asked 'is the book of mormon true?'. I waited. Nothing. Frustrated, I got up and went about the next week. I was puzzled why God didn't answer. Like a week later I read Moroni 10:4-5 to find out where I had messed up. As I read it came to me that I had asked if it the Book was true, NOT if it wasn't true. It seemed to be clear as crystal in my mind. I knelt and prayed. 'is the Book of Mormon NOT true?' I inquired. Immediatly the thought came to mind that I had asked a stupid question. I read the whole book and knew that it was all good. Quietly the peace of the Spirit entered my heart and my mind. Since then I've known the Book is true. I love it with all my heart and love reading from it, spanish or english. Its the best gift we could give anyone. Let us all work a little harder to share what God has given us.
I miss ya'll and love you!
Love,
Elder Kevin Wagner
We had a very good week (besides the chigger bites). We really got to meet a lot more members and the investigators. This ward is top-notch when it comes to member missionary work and ward organization. Its easy for me to say that they are best ward I've served. It's smaller for an English ward but really fun.
This Saturday we have a baptism for Sam. He's a 19 year old college kid and is one of a kind. Cool thing is that he quit smoking (2 packs a day!), drinking, coffee, tea and weed!!! Talk about lifestyle changes. A 17 year old, Jonathan, is going to baptize him. Jonathan and his mom, dad and younger brother all got baptized last year and are getting sealed in July. Very cool family!!!!
There is a great member family (the Aguirre's) that spoke in sacrament meeting. They have 5 kids and the dad is a school teacher. They gave great talks about raising a righteous family. Lots of funny stories that reminded me of our family. The best part is their friends, the Villacres family came to church to hear them speak. The Villacres's aren't members and have been talk off and on for two years, but haven't been baptized yet. The funny thing is that the wife of the Villacres family was the kindergarten teacher for 4 of the 5 Aguirre kids. We taught Gospel Principles Sunday and I felt like the lesson was perfect for their family.
Being in this ward reminds me a lot of back home in a good way. (I'm not trunky ... lol) There are lots of great member missionaries. They all seize the opportunities to invite friends to activities and church. I just think of how much better of a member missionary I want to be for the rest of my life.
Throughout the course of the week and with most of the investigators, a common theme of praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true through to power of the Holy Ghost came up. It reminds me of how I came to know it was true. When I was 13-14 they challenged all the YM/YW to read the Book of Mormon in a year. So I did. After finishing I decided to kneel and pray to find out if it was true. I knew thats how it worked. So I prayed. I asked 'is the book of mormon true?'. I waited. Nothing. Frustrated, I got up and went about the next week. I was puzzled why God didn't answer. Like a week later I read Moroni 10:4-5 to find out where I had messed up. As I read it came to me that I had asked if it the Book was true, NOT if it wasn't true. It seemed to be clear as crystal in my mind. I knelt and prayed. 'is the Book of Mormon NOT true?' I inquired. Immediatly the thought came to mind that I had asked a stupid question. I read the whole book and knew that it was all good. Quietly the peace of the Spirit entered my heart and my mind. Since then I've known the Book is true. I love it with all my heart and love reading from it, spanish or english. Its the best gift we could give anyone. Let us all work a little harder to share what God has given us.
I miss ya'll and love you!
Love,
Elder Kevin Wagner
Monday, June 7, 2010
Crazy Week!
Dear Family,
So life is slightly back to normal, considering we are having preparation day today. However last week got even crazier on Thursday. At leadership and accountability meeting our zone leaders were talking to President Smith and the assistants and President Smith made the decision to switch our area. So now we are doing English work in the Dallas 6th ward. The sister had previously been covering both the 6th ward and the north part of the Spanish branch. The change was quick and very unsuspected.
Pretty much this counts as getting doubled into the area (which is the 5th time on the mission!). Its stressful but I've felt the spirit confirm that it is where we need to be. Yesterday at church we met the ward and everyone. It was a great testimony meeting. We already knew some of the members since we lived in their ward boundaries but there are still a lot we don't know.
I'm glad to hear that Heather's baby is doing better. I loved the pictures of graduations. Riley and Andrea are like giants now!! They probably will both be taller than me at this rate. Have a fun week at Newport.
Saturday we played soccer with some members and investigators. It was indoor and really fun. We played in white shirts and ties which probably looked hilarious. It was somewhat of a final hurrah for Elder Dytrt and I in the spanish branch. Not speaking spanish is lame, but the ward support and area are great. I know its what the Lord wanted for us and for the ward.
There are 4 more weeks in this transfer (July 4 is the last sunday of the transfer). We'll see what happens now that we are doing English work. Hopefully we can leave this are better than we found it.
This email feels really scattered and not organized but hopefully you get it. More than anything I feel grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives. If we seek the will of the Lord humbly, he will make it know to us. The testimony I have of the principles of the restored gospel has not come all at once, through some grand event, but line upon line and precept on precept. The quiet confirmations of the Spirit teach me what I need to do and quicken my understanding. If one doesn't remember their covenants and rebels against God in any form, the Spirit departs and before we realized it we are left on our own, without God. I know these things for myself. I love you all. God Bless
Love
Elder Wagner
So life is slightly back to normal, considering we are having preparation day today. However last week got even crazier on Thursday. At leadership and accountability meeting our zone leaders were talking to President Smith and the assistants and President Smith made the decision to switch our area. So now we are doing English work in the Dallas 6th ward. The sister had previously been covering both the 6th ward and the north part of the Spanish branch. The change was quick and very unsuspected.
Pretty much this counts as getting doubled into the area (which is the 5th time on the mission!). Its stressful but I've felt the spirit confirm that it is where we need to be. Yesterday at church we met the ward and everyone. It was a great testimony meeting. We already knew some of the members since we lived in their ward boundaries but there are still a lot we don't know.
I'm glad to hear that Heather's baby is doing better. I loved the pictures of graduations. Riley and Andrea are like giants now!! They probably will both be taller than me at this rate. Have a fun week at Newport.
Saturday we played soccer with some members and investigators. It was indoor and really fun. We played in white shirts and ties which probably looked hilarious. It was somewhat of a final hurrah for Elder Dytrt and I in the spanish branch. Not speaking spanish is lame, but the ward support and area are great. I know its what the Lord wanted for us and for the ward.
There are 4 more weeks in this transfer (July 4 is the last sunday of the transfer). We'll see what happens now that we are doing English work. Hopefully we can leave this are better than we found it.
This email feels really scattered and not organized but hopefully you get it. More than anything I feel grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives. If we seek the will of the Lord humbly, he will make it know to us. The testimony I have of the principles of the restored gospel has not come all at once, through some grand event, but line upon line and precept on precept. The quiet confirmations of the Spirit teach me what I need to do and quicken my understanding. If one doesn't remember their covenants and rebels against God in any form, the Spirit departs and before we realized it we are left on our own, without God. I know these things for myself. I love you all. God Bless
Love
Elder Wagner
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
June!!
Dear Family,
Its a pretty crazy day today since its Wednesday and its preparation day. It was supposed to be yesterday but we had interviews with President Smith. Interviews were great. I had a temple recommend interview since my expires this month. It was neat to see how much more the Gospel means to me now that I've been on the mission.
Sounds like life is crazy for all you all. Riley is quite the superstar. He's probably going to be taller than me by the time I get home, haha. Getting Jacquie's graduation announcement threw me for a loop, I can't believe that the little freshie is about to graduate.
Marissa, it is a super small world because last night I was on exchanges with the assistants to the President. They got a call from none other than Jon Hart, and I talked to him for a little while and he said that he met you. Small world. Your job sounds great too, maybe they'll convert you to be an engineer. muahaha.
We are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. I love the chance that I have to be a missionary. Yesterday was sweet. We had a box of thirty old VHS church movies sitting around in the apartment. So we went down to a super hispanic area of Dallas to a school. Right at three when all the parents walk to get their children we stood on the street corner and handed out all the videos. We would have to talk spanish real fast and explain what we were doing but it was a blast. We will have more exciting activities in the near future. This Saturday we are going to play indoor soccer with investigators and members to get pumped for the World Cup. Several members have told me they already have work off for the Mexico-South Africa opener. Its funny.
Elder Dytrt is great. He makes me laugh and I drive him crazy I'm sure. His trainer came out to Dallas and took us to dinner which was pretty crazy.
So one of the biggest spiritual highlights of this week was a lesson we had with a couple from Brazil. They speak Portuguese and a little Spanish, but are here studying English at a community college. We taught the 'cup lesson' which explains the Church Christ established and the apostasy and restoration. They are in their late 50s or early 60s and already served a mission in Mozambique in Africa (Portuguese speaking). They both joined the church in Brazil as teens. They told us how Pres. Kimball came in '78 when there was barely a stake in Brazil. Now there are over 200 stakes, multiple temples and a million members. I asked them why they are here studying English. They said that they are learning English so that they can serve more missions in Africa in other parts where English is a necessity. Modern day pioneers. It was cool.
I love ya'll.
love,
Elder Wagner
Ps. thanks for being awesome missionaries mom and jacquie.
Sounds like life is crazy for all you all. Riley is quite the superstar. He's probably going to be taller than me by the time I get home, haha. Getting Jacquie's graduation announcement threw me for a loop, I can't believe that the little freshie is about to graduate.
Marissa, it is a super small world because last night I was on exchanges with the assistants to the President. They got a call from none other than Jon Hart, and I talked to him for a little while and he said that he met you. Small world. Your job sounds great too, maybe they'll convert you to be an engineer. muahaha.
We are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. I love the chance that I have to be a missionary. Yesterday was sweet. We had a box of thirty old VHS church movies sitting around in the apartment. So we went down to a super hispanic area of Dallas to a school. Right at three when all the parents walk to get their children we stood on the street corner and handed out all the videos. We would have to talk spanish real fast and explain what we were doing but it was a blast. We will have more exciting activities in the near future. This Saturday we are going to play indoor soccer with investigators and members to get pumped for the World Cup. Several members have told me they already have work off for the Mexico-South Africa opener. Its funny.
Elder Dytrt is great. He makes me laugh and I drive him crazy I'm sure. His trainer came out to Dallas and took us to dinner which was pretty crazy.
So one of the biggest spiritual highlights of this week was a lesson we had with a couple from Brazil. They speak Portuguese and a little Spanish, but are here studying English at a community college. We taught the 'cup lesson' which explains the Church Christ established and the apostasy and restoration. They are in their late 50s or early 60s and already served a mission in Mozambique in Africa (Portuguese speaking). They both joined the church in Brazil as teens. They told us how Pres. Kimball came in '78 when there was barely a stake in Brazil. Now there are over 200 stakes, multiple temples and a million members. I asked them why they are here studying English. They said that they are learning English so that they can serve more missions in Africa in other parts where English is a necessity. Modern day pioneers. It was cool.
I love ya'll.
love,
Elder Wagner
Ps. thanks for being awesome missionaries mom and jacquie.
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