How excited we were when we got THIS picture of Elder Wagner!! Elder Wagner's cousin just got his mission call to the Texas, Fort Worth Mission- Spanish Speaking! I had to post this so that he could get super excited about going to TEXAS!!!Friday, February 5, 2010
Only in TEXAS!!
How excited we were when we got THIS picture of Elder Wagner!! Elder Wagner's cousin just got his mission call to the Texas, Fort Worth Mission- Spanish Speaking! I had to post this so that he could get super excited about going to TEXAS!!!
Monday, February 1, 2010
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
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
Monday, January 25, 2010
Lame technology....
Dear Family,
So I just typed a wonderful email that got lost. Plus 1 for technology (just kidding)
Well, I got transferred to two english wards out in East Texas. English! Crazy!!! My new companion is Elder Jensen. He is from Utah.
I hove no more time to email. Its the Longview 1st and 2nd wards. We got doubled into the area. I'm glad to be here. It'll be awesome. Expect a letter.
Love,
Elder Wagner
So I just typed a wonderful email that got lost. Plus 1 for technology (just kidding)
Well, I got transferred to two english wards out in East Texas. English! Crazy!!! My new companion is Elder Jensen. He is from Utah.
I hove no more time to email. Its the Longview 1st and 2nd wards. We got doubled into the area. I'm glad to be here. It'll be awesome. Expect a letter.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, January 18, 2010
Getting Transferred!!
Dear Family,
So I'm out of the Rowlett third ward. Elder Olson is staying. Well I'm going to be a District Leader somewhere. Tomorrow I'll find out where I'm going.
We had a good week. I'm sad to leave an area not feeling like I've accomplished a lot. The ward is kind of interesting. I hope Elder Olson and the new missionary in our area have success. Last night we had a great lesson with Erica and Victor Ruiz. Now all the seven kids are living there. We taught the plan of salvation and it was sweet!! At the end Erica was crying and said that now she knows waht she needs to do. We taugh about how she can be with her family forever. It was a powerful.
Well you'll find next week where I'm going to be.
Love,
Elder Wagner
So I'm out of the Rowlett third ward. Elder Olson is staying. Well I'm going to be a District Leader somewhere. Tomorrow I'll find out where I'm going.
We had a good week. I'm sad to leave an area not feeling like I've accomplished a lot. The ward is kind of interesting. I hope Elder Olson and the new missionary in our area have success. Last night we had a great lesson with Erica and Victor Ruiz. Now all the seven kids are living there. We taught the plan of salvation and it was sweet!! At the end Erica was crying and said that now she knows waht she needs to do. We taugh about how she can be with her family forever. It was a powerful.
Well you'll find next week where I'm going to be.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Monday, January 11, 2010
Below-Freezing!
Dear Family,
This last week we had near record lows here in Dallas. Very, very cold. No snow but the high on thursday and friday was like 28 degrees with 20-30 mph winds. And we went tracting. The crazy things you do on your mission.
I'm glad you had a fun weekend with the reception and everything. In spite of the frigid cold, we had a very uplifting and postive week. I'm glad to be done with the holidays and glad for the great things happening here. In the ward now there are three families that come to church who used to go to Casa Linda. They were active when I was there but two went inactive during the year. One moved to our side of the boundary and one lives in our area and used to go to Casa Linda anyways. Anyways, I'm glad to see all these families coming here, its a boost to the ward.
Yesterday I had a cool experience. You'll remember Rudy and Alma from when I was in Casa Linda with Elder Barney. They weren't legally married and when we left Rudy wanted to be baptized. Alma is a member, by the way. Anyways, they finally got married and coming back to church and yesterday Rudy got baptized!!! I got to go since it was so close. It was very special.
This is a very scatterbrained email but this awesome family we are teaching is getting close to baptism. The mom, Erica has been reading and praying to know is the church is true. Pray that Erica gets an answer soon! She has 7 kids!! 5 from her first marriage and 2 with her current husband. Just 6 of the kids live with her but 4 of them are over 8 year old. We've been teaching them for about a month but only about once a week b/c they are super busy (she works nights half the week and Victor (her husband) gets off very late). Anyways. Pray for them, the Ruiz family, that they'll know the church is true and have a desire to be baptized.
I'm scared for transfers but I've learned and grown a lot in the last three months here in Rowlett 3rd. We haven't had lots of success but I've learned a lot about the importance of diligence and obedience. The gospel is true.
Love
Elder Wagner
This last week we had near record lows here in Dallas. Very, very cold. No snow but the high on thursday and friday was like 28 degrees with 20-30 mph winds. And we went tracting. The crazy things you do on your mission.
I'm glad you had a fun weekend with the reception and everything. In spite of the frigid cold, we had a very uplifting and postive week. I'm glad to be done with the holidays and glad for the great things happening here. In the ward now there are three families that come to church who used to go to Casa Linda. They were active when I was there but two went inactive during the year. One moved to our side of the boundary and one lives in our area and used to go to Casa Linda anyways. Anyways, I'm glad to see all these families coming here, its a boost to the ward.
Yesterday I had a cool experience. You'll remember Rudy and Alma from when I was in Casa Linda with Elder Barney. They weren't legally married and when we left Rudy wanted to be baptized. Alma is a member, by the way. Anyways, they finally got married and coming back to church and yesterday Rudy got baptized!!! I got to go since it was so close. It was very special.
This is a very scatterbrained email but this awesome family we are teaching is getting close to baptism. The mom, Erica has been reading and praying to know is the church is true. Pray that Erica gets an answer soon! She has 7 kids!! 5 from her first marriage and 2 with her current husband. Just 6 of the kids live with her but 4 of them are over 8 year old. We've been teaching them for about a month but only about once a week b/c they are super busy (she works nights half the week and Victor (her husband) gets off very late). Anyways. Pray for them, the Ruiz family, that they'll know the church is true and have a desire to be baptized.
I'm scared for transfers but I've learned and grown a lot in the last three months here in Rowlett 3rd. We haven't had lots of success but I've learned a lot about the importance of diligence and obedience. The gospel is true.
Love
Elder Wagner
Monday, January 4, 2010
En sus marcas! Listos! Fuera!
Dear Family,
In other words, On you mark, get set, go!!!
You had asked me, Mom, a couple of weeks ago, but I had forgot to tell you after I asked a member. (I wanted to know this for the timed math test I give at school every day!!)
So this week is the second to last week of the transfer. I honestly don't know what is going to happen. Its been really cold here in Dallas. Last week it snowed, but didn't stick. And I'm not sure if I'm 5'9" or not, it was at the entrance of a Little Caesars. We'll just have to see when I get back if I'm taller than Dad.
So I found out something crazy. A member family that lives close to us was baptized by Alex Shafer. They are the Lopez Family (Gonzalo, Juan Carlos...). I asked who had baptized them and they said Elder Shafer, so asked what he was like. They said he had glasses and red hair and I said, I know him! It was cool. They kinda active, they come to church every once and a while but maybe if you could get Alex's info I could pass it on to them.
We had a slow week. Erica and the five kids were out of town all week so we couldn't teach them and they couldn't come to church. However, yesterday we had a good talk with the husband, Victor. We read part of the family proclamation. I showed him our family picture and talked about how much the gospel has blessed me and my family. He thought it was pretty cool that my dad had been a missionary as well. As we were explaining how the Gospel blesses our families I asked him what he considered to be the most important thing in his life. He said that raising his kids right and giving them what he didn't have was the most important to him. It was powerful. I'm really excited for them and the upcoming weeks.
I hope that all goes well in this year. Good luck in school and work. I hope that we can all progress and come closer to Christ this year.
Love,
Elder Wagner
In other words, On you mark, get set, go!!!
You had asked me, Mom, a couple of weeks ago, but I had forgot to tell you after I asked a member. (I wanted to know this for the timed math test I give at school every day!!)
So this week is the second to last week of the transfer. I honestly don't know what is going to happen. Its been really cold here in Dallas. Last week it snowed, but didn't stick. And I'm not sure if I'm 5'9" or not, it was at the entrance of a Little Caesars. We'll just have to see when I get back if I'm taller than Dad.
So I found out something crazy. A member family that lives close to us was baptized by Alex Shafer. They are the Lopez Family (Gonzalo, Juan Carlos...). I asked who had baptized them and they said Elder Shafer, so asked what he was like. They said he had glasses and red hair and I said, I know him! It was cool. They kinda active, they come to church every once and a while but maybe if you could get Alex's info I could pass it on to them.
We had a slow week. Erica and the five kids were out of town all week so we couldn't teach them and they couldn't come to church. However, yesterday we had a good talk with the husband, Victor. We read part of the family proclamation. I showed him our family picture and talked about how much the gospel has blessed me and my family. He thought it was pretty cool that my dad had been a missionary as well. As we were explaining how the Gospel blesses our families I asked him what he considered to be the most important thing in his life. He said that raising his kids right and giving them what he didn't have was the most important to him. It was powerful. I'm really excited for them and the upcoming weeks.
I hope that all goes well in this year. Good luck in school and work. I hope that we can all progress and come closer to Christ this year.
Love,
Elder Wagner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
