The best time to teach is when people are willing to listen

Hello family! This week has been an interesting one. Three times we have run into people who really want to bash it out with us. One of the guys honestly got me really angry. He said your wasting your time and that 20 years from now we will look back and wish we had never come out. And I said to myself “if only you knew.” We promised the guy that the gospel could bless his life amongst other things to which he replied “I’m too far gone I have experienced to many things.” I thought to myself again. “ If your conceding to the fact that what we share might be true, than are claim that it will bless your life may be true as well and that if you really wanted to change your life you would, which you  just admitted that you wouldn’t. Sooo in about 5 years from now you’re going to look back and wish that you listened to us, because your life is going nowhere but downhill.”

                Of course these are all thoughts in my head and I really shouldn’t be thinking them. It is not very Christ like haha. But on another experience I went a little farther and said exactly what I was thinking. This grumpy old guy who knew everything was testing our knowledge on how well we knew the bible. It turned more into guess what’s in my head game which I am pretty sure most everyone is terrible at. Anyway he would ask us a question and the moment our answer was beginning to make sense he would ask us another silly question before we could answer his first. It was so frustrating..  It finally got down to the point where my companion was literally trying to pull me way because it was worthless but I had to get at least one complete thought out there and if I was going to, it would have to be a good one. He had a lot of problems with the Book of Mormon ( which he had never read ) So I said “Sir I promise you if you read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it’s true you will be answered by the source of all truth that Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph smith is his revelator in these last days and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints is Gods kingdom restored on the earth.” To which he replied The only reason I would read the Book of Mormon would be so I could tell all you Mormons how wrong you are!” Then I said “Please do that, because once you read it, any words of anger and hate towards the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints will go no farther than your throat and when they reach that point you will choke on them.” And then we walked off.

                We had a couple more experiences like that, but I won’t go into them. However I did learn something. We were taught that the best time to teach is when people are willing to listen. And if they aren’t its best just to walk away. So next time I will be a little more courteous. \

                Spiritual experiences... On Splits me and member from the ward taught a young family about the plan of salvation. At first the lesson was kind of scatteres but as soon as we started testifying of eternal mfamilies the spirit was there and I know they felt it. Hopefully we plan on having Family home evening with that same family tonight

               We gave Reginald a baptisaimal date but we just found out that he has a real bad smoking problem that he doesn't plan on getting rid of anytime soon. I am sure we fix that though ;)

               We are still teaching the basketball dude his name is Jujuan. He loves the BOM!! I'll send you some picks of him :)

            Well I love you all remember the gospel is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love-Elder Wagner.

Future Missionaries advice

Hello Family,

 I appreciate the pictures! It is so good to see your faces. This email is dedicated it to answering the Q's and saying what is going on. 

  If you could give future Missionaries advice on preparing for the MTC so they will be more prepared than you were what would you tell them?

There is nothing you can really do to prepare for the MTC. It will be a shock no matter what you do. However The number one thing I would suggest would be to go out with the missionaries as much as humanly possible. No amount of Mission prep classes or studying Preach my Gospel will help as much as hands on experience. I look back and I am so grateful for  the missionaries letting me go out with them so often. I can still remember Elder Gabbitas and Elder Mckenzie as clear as day being incredibly bold with people and leaving me feeling incredibly awkward just sitting there watching, but that was the number one thing that helped me prepare for the MTC and 10x more important for the mission field.

Dad really whats to know how you ended up in the mud puddle? The mud Puddle... There is this power line trail that is a huge short cut that takes us to the mall. The trail though is extremely rugged and steep. And there are some muddy areas. If you look to the left of the picture there is a small little path that goes right beside the mud puddle that we ride on. As I was going to get on that little path my tire went side ways and I flew over the handle bars right into the puddle. I was soiled and my bike was spotless haha.

  What has been your favorite meal at members home? I don't really care about food as much as I used to haha. Now it's just like putting fuel in the tank. So no meal really sticks out to me.

 Are you teaching any of the kids that took a Book of Mormon after they watched you play basketball and you taught them? We are still teaching the basketball dudes. One of them in particular is very interested and loves to read the BOM. However he likes it because its history not because he thinks it's true..... I don't get it either haha

 Anyway I have to get going but I love you all Stay strong and carry on. -Elder Wagner