Dear Family,
The Lord is really blessing us with many people to teach. I feel humbled to be in his service. I'm so grateful for the time I've been a missionary and the time I still have left.
I love reading Elder Zach Wagner's and Elder Jensen's emails. They are great missionaries and are blessing so many people. I hope that they both read, study and love Preach My Gospel. I still find amazing things in that manual.
So the title of my email means a lot to me. I found a conference ensign from Nov 1990 and there were two awesome talks that helped me a lot this past week. One by Elder Maxwell about putting off the natural man and the other by Pres. Hunter called 'Come Unto Me'. President Hunter talked about Matthew 11:28-30 'Come all ye heavy laden....' and described the background to that passage. Yesterday we had dinner with a long time less-active family (20 years) and their nonmember teenage kids. We taught The Gospel of Jesus Christ for the lesson. As we taught this scripture came to mind. Christ makes the invitation to take his yoke upon us. A yoke is a big hunk of wood that ties two oxen together, thus balancing the yoke. Just imagine how much more peaceful our lives would be if we were yoked with Jesus! Our Savior wants to help and strength us. If we follow him we will find rest for our souls. Does that mean that there won't be trials and pain? Of course not. But we will be forgiven of sin and healed spiritually.
I find that I like to figure out my own solution to problems and too often I harden my heart in pride and choose not to humbly submit to the will of the Lord. All of us suffer from the same problem in varying degrees. However, the solution is the same for all. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is the only way to overcome our weakness. I love all the challenges in life. Sometimes they seem overwhelming but if we think of Jesus and trust him, He will guide us and strengthen us. In our greatest trials we grow closest to God. How grateful I am for the Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without the Restoration we know very little about our Savior and how to follow him.
This Saturday, Caleb will be getting baptized and then right after get married to Wendy (a member). We thought that Caleb would have to go to another ward, but since they are getting married he will live in the ward boundaries. He is really cool. He is like thirty years old, but has really changed his life. A lot of his extended family will be coming to see because they can't believe that he is getting baptized (regardless of the denomination). He said that they view him like the Prodigals Son. It is such a great blessing. It definitely wasn't us, but the Lord changing and preparing him.
I love you all. Take care.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Infamous "Trunky Papers"
Dear Family,
It was a solid week. The Texas heat is in full swing, but don't worry, Dad, we stay hydrated.
So Jessica and her family were in Austin this past week and then with their dad on Sunday, but we are going to teach them on Tuesday.
The family that we saw sealed in the temple was the Elmore's, they are from here in the Dallas 6th ward. However, the family from Nacogdoches, the Ortigoza's, are soon to start temple preparation classes. It means that the will probably get sealed after I leave Texas, but it would be a good reason to come back. :)
This past week I received the infamous 'trunky papers,' meaning that I received my departure flight information. It said that the 'average cost' for sending a bike back home is 70 dollars. The other luggage costs at the airport are covered by the mission.
Random 'small world' moment: So Elder Olson (who I trained in Garland) had a greenie named Elder Solis who is training an Elder Moorhead (sp?). I spoke to him and he was in the same MTC district as Zach!!!! Tight!!!!
Yesterday at church I heard a quote that goes, "One true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others." I thought it was profound and an important principle of missionary work. I'm so proud that Andrea is being a great missionary to her friends. We can't force anyone to accept the Gospel, but it is our duty to invite.
Oh, before I forget, Riley, have fun at camp and I think you should do cross-country. It will be a great experience. I loved the time I had doing cross-country. And also, if you could, I'd love to eat tri-tip!!!!! Maybe with potatoes and creamy peas and whatever else.
Last week we had dinner and a lesson with a very cool part-member family. Geno Garcia (less active member) and Beth invited us to come over for dinner. The lesson was amazing. I don't think Elder Dytrt and I had ever taught that well together. We taught the Restoration. It was great because they took a trip to temple square in Salt Lake a couple of months ago. We also gave a blessing to his daughter at the end of the lesson. I was so grateful for the spirit being there to testify of the truth.
I love the 'ah-ha!' moments that I have about the Gospel. As I was reading in Alma 34:8-17, I realized that Christ's Atonement is the key to us being able to repent and change. Maybe I already knew that but the Spirit helped it enter into my heart in a different way. I love the Book of Mormon.
love
Elder Kevin Wagner
It was a solid week. The Texas heat is in full swing, but don't worry, Dad, we stay hydrated.
So Jessica and her family were in Austin this past week and then with their dad on Sunday, but we are going to teach them on Tuesday.
The family that we saw sealed in the temple was the Elmore's, they are from here in the Dallas 6th ward. However, the family from Nacogdoches, the Ortigoza's, are soon to start temple preparation classes. It means that the will probably get sealed after I leave Texas, but it would be a good reason to come back. :)
This past week I received the infamous 'trunky papers,' meaning that I received my departure flight information. It said that the 'average cost' for sending a bike back home is 70 dollars. The other luggage costs at the airport are covered by the mission.
Random 'small world' moment: So Elder Olson (who I trained in Garland) had a greenie named Elder Solis who is training an Elder Moorhead (sp?). I spoke to him and he was in the same MTC district as Zach!!!! Tight!!!!
Yesterday at church I heard a quote that goes, "One true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others." I thought it was profound and an important principle of missionary work. I'm so proud that Andrea is being a great missionary to her friends. We can't force anyone to accept the Gospel, but it is our duty to invite.
Oh, before I forget, Riley, have fun at camp and I think you should do cross-country. It will be a great experience. I loved the time I had doing cross-country. And also, if you could, I'd love to eat tri-tip!!!!! Maybe with potatoes and creamy peas and whatever else.
Last week we had dinner and a lesson with a very cool part-member family. Geno Garcia (less active member) and Beth invited us to come over for dinner. The lesson was amazing. I don't think Elder Dytrt and I had ever taught that well together. We taught the Restoration. It was great because they took a trip to temple square in Salt Lake a couple of months ago. We also gave a blessing to his daughter at the end of the lesson. I was so grateful for the spirit being there to testify of the truth.
I love the 'ah-ha!' moments that I have about the Gospel. As I was reading in Alma 34:8-17, I realized that Christ's Atonement is the key to us being able to repent and change. Maybe I already knew that but the Spirit helped it enter into my heart in a different way. I love the Book of Mormon.
love
Elder Kevin Wagner
Monday, July 12, 2010
Finish to the Wall!
Dear Family,
So Sunday morning we were scambling before sacrament meeting to make sure our investigators were coming. As I turned around I see Uncle Russ, right in front of me. We gave each other a big hug. It caught me offguard. It was very cool to see him though. He is right, there is a great missionary spirit in the ward. I love it.
I'm so glad to hear that the Family Reunion went well. I loved seeing the pictures of everyone. Riley and Andrea are like giants now. We can't call them 'the little kids' anymore. Its very cool that Brandon and Garrett are taking off on their missions right now.
This last week the Quorum of the Twelve make some significant changes in the way missionaries are trained in the field (not MTC). Zone conference and interview are now every 3 months instead of every six weeks. They gave us some new things to focus our trainings on, most importantly, teaching with the spirit. I think it is much needed and a great blessing. Its strange to me because I'm finishing, but the Lord's work never ends. It means I won't have another zone conference on my mission, but I'm fine with that.
Saturday we went to the Dallas Temple. A family of four who were baptized last march (09), went and were sealed. Elder Dytrt and I had a chance to go which was awesome. I had never been to a sealing before and to see it was amazing. And guess what, the sister missionaries had knocked on their door. How cool!!!
So about the title of the email. Finishing to the wall is very important to us swimmers. (I still call myself a swimmer despite not being able to swim right now.) Its easy to give up and coast into the wall, but you'll lose lots of races. I'm working to finish to the wall on my mission. It doesn't mean guaranteed baptisms and lots of them, but it does mean that I'm going to work as if I was staying. We set a new baptismal date last week with Caleb (who is dating a member), but he lives in another ward. But it was still cool. A new family came to church which was a MIRACLE!!! Two weeks ago we had nothing to do at like 7:30pm Sunday night. We started knocking a street. We met a college-age girl home for the summer, her name is Jessica. So we gave her a Book of Mormon. This last Friday we got to 'teach her' at a local McDonalds, since her parents are going through a divorce. We invited her to church. Not only did she come for all three hours, but brought her three younger siblings (all baptismal age...).
Lots of great things are happening. I love being a missionary. Words can't explain the joy of seeing others accept the gospel. Be missionaries to those around you. Please, please greet new faces at church. It is so important. I love you all.
God bless.
Love,
Elder Kevin Wagner (since Zach is Elder Wagner too)
So Sunday morning we were scambling before sacrament meeting to make sure our investigators were coming. As I turned around I see Uncle Russ, right in front of me. We gave each other a big hug. It caught me offguard. It was very cool to see him though. He is right, there is a great missionary spirit in the ward. I love it.
I'm so glad to hear that the Family Reunion went well. I loved seeing the pictures of everyone. Riley and Andrea are like giants now. We can't call them 'the little kids' anymore. Its very cool that Brandon and Garrett are taking off on their missions right now.
This last week the Quorum of the Twelve make some significant changes in the way missionaries are trained in the field (not MTC). Zone conference and interview are now every 3 months instead of every six weeks. They gave us some new things to focus our trainings on, most importantly, teaching with the spirit. I think it is much needed and a great blessing. Its strange to me because I'm finishing, but the Lord's work never ends. It means I won't have another zone conference on my mission, but I'm fine with that.
Saturday we went to the Dallas Temple. A family of four who were baptized last march (09), went and were sealed. Elder Dytrt and I had a chance to go which was awesome. I had never been to a sealing before and to see it was amazing. And guess what, the sister missionaries had knocked on their door. How cool!!!
So about the title of the email. Finishing to the wall is very important to us swimmers. (I still call myself a swimmer despite not being able to swim right now.) Its easy to give up and coast into the wall, but you'll lose lots of races. I'm working to finish to the wall on my mission. It doesn't mean guaranteed baptisms and lots of them, but it does mean that I'm going to work as if I was staying. We set a new baptismal date last week with Caleb (who is dating a member), but he lives in another ward. But it was still cool. A new family came to church which was a MIRACLE!!! Two weeks ago we had nothing to do at like 7:30pm Sunday night. We started knocking a street. We met a college-age girl home for the summer, her name is Jessica. So we gave her a Book of Mormon. This last Friday we got to 'teach her' at a local McDonalds, since her parents are going through a divorce. We invited her to church. Not only did she come for all three hours, but brought her three younger siblings (all baptismal age...).
Lots of great things are happening. I love being a missionary. Words can't explain the joy of seeing others accept the gospel. Be missionaries to those around you. Please, please greet new faces at church. It is so important. I love you all.
God bless.
Love,
Elder Kevin Wagner (since Zach is Elder Wagner too)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Final Transfer!!! I'm Staying!!
Dear Family,
So Elder Dytrt and I are staying in the Dallas 6th ward. We were suprised but excited to stay. We have a lot going for us here in the area.
This past week was filled with lots of rain, thunderstorms and humidity. It was great though, we saw lots of miracles. On Tuesday morning we rode in the rain and mud to teach Sal Parada. His wife couldn't sit in on the lesson but it was a great lesson. We read Alma 32 had a good discussion about he can really find out for himself that this is true. The spirit was really strong during the lesson which was great. Sal and his wife and three kids came to the pancake breakfast on Saturday. They are a great family!!! I'm really excited for them.
The pancake breakfast was great for us. We had like 10 nonmembers there that we had invited. Some members also brought friends. This ward is smaller in size but very united and close. Its such a blessing to be here.
So we were going to email on Wednesday but the assistants changed their minds on us, so we are doing it today. Tonight we are taking a new missionary out for his first night in the Texas Dallas Mission. It should be fun.
Its surreal to me that its the start of my last transfer. The time seems to have flow by. I'm so grateful to have made the decision to come on a mission. I went on an exchange last week with Elder Davis, who flies home to Oregon on Wednesday. At the end of a good, productive day, we talked about how great it is to be missionaries. We talked about how we never expected to feel how we feel, to know what we know and to have done what we done before we came out on the mission. I though I would come here to help others come unto Christ. I have, but I feel like I've benefited so much too. The Gospel means so much more to me now. What a priviledge it is to be members of Christ's church.
Something I've been learning about is how diligence is not working at a superhuman level, but is rather doing our best consistently. 'Don't run faster than you have strength' is a phrase used often in the scriptures. It doesn't mean we cn slack off, but to have reasonable and realistic expectations of ourselves. I'm grateful for the Gospel. The scriptures bring me peace and clarity of mind. I love my Savior. Have fun in Idaho!
Love
Elder Wagner
PS. Frisco IS in my mission! Its the stake just north of ours.
So Elder Dytrt and I are staying in the Dallas 6th ward. We were suprised but excited to stay. We have a lot going for us here in the area.
This past week was filled with lots of rain, thunderstorms and humidity. It was great though, we saw lots of miracles. On Tuesday morning we rode in the rain and mud to teach Sal Parada. His wife couldn't sit in on the lesson but it was a great lesson. We read Alma 32 had a good discussion about he can really find out for himself that this is true. The spirit was really strong during the lesson which was great. Sal and his wife and three kids came to the pancake breakfast on Saturday. They are a great family!!! I'm really excited for them.
The pancake breakfast was great for us. We had like 10 nonmembers there that we had invited. Some members also brought friends. This ward is smaller in size but very united and close. Its such a blessing to be here.
So we were going to email on Wednesday but the assistants changed their minds on us, so we are doing it today. Tonight we are taking a new missionary out for his first night in the Texas Dallas Mission. It should be fun.
Its surreal to me that its the start of my last transfer. The time seems to have flow by. I'm so grateful to have made the decision to come on a mission. I went on an exchange last week with Elder Davis, who flies home to Oregon on Wednesday. At the end of a good, productive day, we talked about how great it is to be missionaries. We talked about how we never expected to feel how we feel, to know what we know and to have done what we done before we came out on the mission. I though I would come here to help others come unto Christ. I have, but I feel like I've benefited so much too. The Gospel means so much more to me now. What a priviledge it is to be members of Christ's church.
Something I've been learning about is how diligence is not working at a superhuman level, but is rather doing our best consistently. 'Don't run faster than you have strength' is a phrase used often in the scriptures. It doesn't mean we cn slack off, but to have reasonable and realistic expectations of ourselves. I'm grateful for the Gospel. The scriptures bring me peace and clarity of mind. I love my Savior. Have fun in Idaho!
Love
Elder Wagner
PS. Frisco IS in my mission! Its the stake just north of ours.
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