Goals

Hello! It's good to see that you have set some goals. I have found that if we are not trying to improve ourselves we begin to decline. That's why as missionary's we are set daily and weekly goals so that we are always progressing or at least trying to. The area that I'm in really needs a set of dedicated missionary's who want to see results. The branch can see our desire to work and has given us work to do. There are a lot of less actives so we are spending a lot of time visiting them, but we also tract every single day which  helps us to not get complacent. We have set up about five different lessons with investigators  this week and if they all work out I am going to literally jump for joy. We will see though.                               3 of those 5 were practically next door neighbors which is super convenient. One of them was washing his car and we came up and just started helping him. He seemed a little confused at first, but he eventually warmed up to us and invited us back on Wednesday. There are basically two types of people over here. 1.) Baptists 2.) People who dislike organized religion (Inactive baptists). We try to get lessons with both, but it is very difficult unless they are older. We have one progressing investigator named Mitchel who is a very bright young man attending Long Wood University. I love teaching him because he is not critical, but has a lot of questions which we just love to answer. We are going to try to get him a baptism date this next week.                            

Funny story I forgot to tell. On My first day on the mission after we received our new companion, President Wilson challenged us to have a opening song at every lesson. I thought that might be a little weird, but I was willing to try it. Then we sung a closing hymn. My companion is very loud and bold with his singing which would be just great if he could hold a tune... The only lesson I let him sing at was with a 90 year old man who has Amnesia haha. Its all good though, I think he is getting better.                                                                             I have inherited a bike which is awesome! But Elder Jorgensen's bike is broken so we walk every where, which is fine with me because we get to talk to more people and it fills up the day a little more.                          

   I will send some more pictures next week if I can remember to bring my camera. I love you all. Keep striving to improve yourself and you will. -Elder Wagner                                                                                                                                                      

Made it to Virginia

Hey all! I am Finally in Virginia. Yess! My new companions name is Elder Jorgensen. He has been out for 6 months and I am his first trainee. He is a really good guy and I happy to have him. Apparently his last companion was super lazy so he said it was a relief to get a fresh greeny haha. Meeting the mission President was cool there was 20 people in our group so I never had a chance to really talk to him. I did mention Grandpa and he said he knew him pretty well and that was about it. He is actually a pretty funny guy though he cracks jokes a lot. I don't think they have any yogurt places out in the east, I haven't seen one yet so next time you go to yogurt hut and they have a buy one get one free day get one in memory of me ;) Oh I called your cell phone Dad in the airport, but you didn't answer so I left you a nice message (you should check your voice mail). I'm glad you finally got rain over there turns out every once in a while God does answer prayers! He has definitely answered mine these last three weeks. I'm in Farmville and they have a small branch here. I will send you a video that shows how small. (Its in an out let business place haha). There are about 80 members and there is a lot of work to be done. There is also a language spoken here that I havn't mastered yet it's called "old black man". I seriously cannot under stand a single word they say! My companion says I will eventually start picking it up, Apparently he can understand them haha. Everyone here is super friendly and nice. At first walking up to random people and talking about our church was out of my comfort zone, but I think I am getting better. Whenever I am about to approach someone I just say in my head " Be Bold" and "they are Gods children". That kind of helps me out. Being a missionary is different than anything I could have imagined. It is full time and I need to embrace that. Any way I'm going to end here so I can up load some pictures, but I love you all . Help the missionaries out they have family at home that miss them and want them to be successful give them your support as you have given me. Pray everyday and know that God loves you. -Elder Wagner

 Oh yeah Please send me some CD's!! like "Piano

Guys" they have a lot of good music that we can listen too. my address is 801 Griffin Boulevard Farmville VA 23901 please post it to my Facebook page if anyone would like to write me.

Kalebs new companion Elder Jorgensen

MTC District, they are all going to Texas and Kaleb is going to Virginia :)

Airport Advenure

Hey all! I had quite an interesting day today. last night I set my alarm for 2:30 in the morning to be on the bus for the salt lake city airport. I woke up at 3:45 to frantic knocking on my door. Apparently, though I set my alarm I forgot to turn it on (Face Palm). So I frantically get all my things and head for the bus. We are now about an hour late so we were all rushing to the airport to get there on time. When we arrive at the airport I notice that I had left not only the one belt I ever loved, but also the only belt that I had brought on my mission (Face Palm). We then find out that our flight to Virginia has been canceled due to bad weather.So now we have to go back to the MTC till Friday which is when our next flight leaves. I almost face palmed myself again, but then it dawned on me that me and my lovely belt would be reunited. Then it wasn't so bad :) haha.                         So for the next two days me and  my two new companions will just be chillin at the MTC, and by chillin I mean doing service stuff. Anyways I'm sure we will get to Virginia eventually, I just got to work at being patient. While at the MTC it turns out there are a lot of things I need to work at if I want to be an effective missionary. 1.) Humble. Turns out I don't really know anything even though I like to think I do. 2.) Loving. Having a companion is an eye opener. 3.) I need to learn how to be selfless instinctively. I feel like I have to always be checking myself. I want to just be able to help and not think twice about it, just do it. Though I see all these flaws in myself I am feeling really good about this whole mission thing. It's away for me to work out all my kinks dinks and scratches and I am loving the process. Oh yeah, me and Elder Chaves committed a REAL investogator to be baptized and we hadn't even left the MTC! BOOYAH! It was really awesome :) Anyways I love you all. You are in my thoughts and prayers -Elder Wagner

MTC Life

Hey all! I was about 90% sure Kyle would get engaged before the semester was out and I’m so happy I was right. They will be great together :) I never found out what happened to my companion. If he is not here it is probably for a good reason. So I found other elders going to Richmond Virginia there is 5 in all including me, except the total number of people heading to the mission is 19... do the math, there are a lot of sister missionaries. I sat and ate with the MTC president and he said that the number of boys to girls is almost 1 for 1. Pretty crazy and cool at the same time. Me and my companion were made zone leaders. We have to help and advice other missionaries as they go through this unique process, which is weird to me because I think I am  the one who needs the most help ha ha. It really is a blessing though to cheer and lift people up. I went to the Temple today it was absolutely huge! I think I got lost about every 5 seconds. The first 4 days of the MTC were pretty rough and I realized that I have a lot of changing to do before I can help change anybody else. In the end though being here has taught me so many valuable lessons mainly getting over my pride and loving my companion. Imagine me... now imagine the opposite of me... That’s my companion. He has really taught me a lot though. Oh some important info. I can call you at the salt lake  airport except it will be pretty early in the morning on the 12th. So if you hear the phone ringing at 4 in the morning answer it. I don't really know any of the details. I'm so glad that everyone is happy and doing well I love you all and pray for you often –

Elder Wagner  

P.S. Make sure you don't burn down the house while I'm gone I had a dream that happened and it wasn't pleasant. 

Oh one more thing. I found a way to send you guys pictures so next Friday Expect some! It will probably take a little longer to upload them so next week I will answer just one question so I have time to send you some pics.

Oh and let Kyle know I like the string thing.

Hey Dad I have been thinking about you a lot. I can't express how good of a father you were and still are to me. Sometimes when I'm about to fall asleep I think of a young dashing Elder Charles Wagner walking around the MTC. I am grateful for that sacrifice you made and now that I am here I realize that it was not a sacrifice, but a blessing to your family for generations to come. Thank you for that.    

  To Kysa honestly I can't even remember what I told you haha but I am sure it was good advice so yes keep at it! I love you Mom and Dad so much stay strong and make each other laugh its the only thing that has kept me sane and I don't want to come home to a bunch of crazy people ;) 

First Week

I have to be quick so I will just let you know what is going on. On the first day my head almost exploded. I never realized how big of a commitment this was till I was laying in my bed at night trying to sleep (which was impossible). The spirit is so strong here though so it really helps. The first thing I realized is that I know nothing haha. My companion is a scripture wizz and I need to catch up. Funny thing happened my original companion never showed up! No one knows where the hizzle he is which is kind of sad. Im in a district with seven elders and they are all going to Housten texas so Im kind of a loner.... Not really though haha They are all great and super fun. The MTC is nice and all, but I just want to get out there. Some advice for aspiring missionarys go out with the elders or sisters in your ward as much as possibe I can't begin to tell you how helpful it is to have some real hands on experience.Im not even goin to try to fix my spelling errors cause I am short on time , but I promise I can still spell. I love you all and I am thinking about you. Remember that God loves his children and wants them home, see that they get there. Love Elder Wagner