Alma 17:1-2

 So R's baptism. It was great I got to go up to it with one of my favorite companions Elder Y. We were the ones who originally found and started teaching him. It was also good to see a bunch of familiar faces at the baptism, but most of all it was good to see Reginald again. In Alma 17:1-2 it talks about how awesome it is to reunite with old friends, but it is even better when your old friends are still in the gospel or have found it while you were separated. That was most definitely the case on Saturday. We got the baptism right the first time fortunately and we had a nice big hug afterword. When we were changing in the bathroom I asked him what got him to this point and he said "the missionaries and the members supported and kept on encouraging me and God helped me make the step and I thank him for it." 

   To tell you the truth I was not sure if he would ever do it, but he did. We just always need to be there to help and invite others who we may not be to sure about, because we all have unlimited potential. If someone has confidence in us the lord does and I have confidence in him so I need to have the hope that people can and will make changes to their lives if I do my part. 

   Other than that Me and Elder B went to a baptist church the other night. It was interesting, a couple of folks tried to "save us" but when we told them that we had faith in Christ as our Savior and that through him we can go to heaven they almost seemed disappointed haha. All they hear about us is that we worship Joseph Smith and do good things just so that we can "earn" our way to heaven. So false. Anywho It was overall a good experience. They were generally friendly and welcoming. 

   That's about it for this week as far as out of the norm things, I love you all! Stay strong and carry on -Elder Wagner

This week was an exciting one. We found a whole slew of gods elect. Probably the most we have found in a week since I was in Lakeridge second ward. Things are starting to happen here and its great. Speaking of Lakeridge second ward, I got a call form them the other night. Slightly confused I asked what was up. R the Ghanaian who I taught for almost 5 months has finally decided to be baptized and he wants me to do it! So this Weekend ( If I can find a ride) I will be going up to put him under. He has been ready this whole time he just had some road blocks in his mind that he could not get over. He will make an interesting member. He has got some unique ideas that he loves to share during gospel principles that make people kind of nervous haha but that's what makes church interesting!! That is kind of the reason that I liked Farmville so much. There was never a dull moment. 

   That phone call was the answer to so many prayers. I love R so much. I remember on the 4th of July we just went on a walk through the neighborhood with him for about 30min, to watch the Fireworks that people were setting off. We talked about his family, some of his goals and his struggles. He was well aware of our purpose ( we had made it known to him many times ) but just for a moment we enjoyed each others company. I don't know why I love that memory so much but I hold it very dear to my heart.

   I always learn something different form each of my companions And with Elder B I have learned how to really listen to people and what they are saying. He is very good at noticing  important details when people speak to him that I  tend to miss. We are getting along really well. I have also learned how to pick and choose my battles. In the past if I had a disagreement with someone I would stop at nothing to let them know that they are wrong. No matter how insignificant the disagreement was. For example me and Kyle would have heated debates on simple things like the definition of words haha.

Now however if it is something of no consequence I just drop it, or I try to really listen to what they are saying and I usually find that we are both on the same page but don't realize it. 

   The mission is great. I am doing the work and loving it as well (there is a difference). I am grateful to have such a happy family at home and that though there are things that come up. Everything is okay. Continue to pray and read the scriptures daily love -Elder Wagner

Catch up!

February 24

 I had the wonderful opportunity this week to baptize someone for the first time and the funny part is that I really had no role in this woman's conversion. One of the great blessing of being District leader is that you get to interview those are ready to be baptized. It is so wonderful to hear there strong testimonies and since I do it so often it continually reminds me that people are always prepared to hear the gospel. I had the chance to interview a sister by the name of O . At first she was a little nervous, so I tried to help her feel comfortable and after that happened she just opened right on up. It was extremely uplifting for both of us to talk about the gospel and her progression in it. Anyway she left feeling very happy. 2 days later I get a call from the sisters who have been teaching her that the person who she had originally planned on baptizing her could not make it so instead she requested that I do it. I said I would be honored too. However I have never baptized anyone before so this would be a first for both of us.The Sister let me know a little before hand that Sister O has a fear of water so they did not fill up the font as much as they usually would. I thought there was nothing wrong with that so I did not think to much about it. Fast forward to the baptism. We both walk in at the same time and the water goes a little above my knees and I thought to myself "oh boy.." Sooo it turns out that the third time really is the charm if you catch my drift. Hopefully it was not to traumatic for her haha. Afterwords she did say that it was still very powerful and that she felt the spirit. 

   That's the story for the week. I am staying here in Manchester with Elder B so don't be afraid to send anything over here ;) I love you all stay strong and carry on Elder Wagner 

March 2, 2015

 There are so many good restaurants in Virginia it is ridiculous. We went to this place called Don Pepe's for lunch. It's basically a better version of Si casa Flores. Anyway we stuffed ourselves and then my body reverted back to the good old days where we would have a good Mexican lunch and then come home and fall asleep to the fishing channel, waking up 3 hours later well rested and ready to begin something else. Though I didn't do any of those things my body reacted like it  Not happy haha. It reminded me of all those Saturday lunches though which was pleasant.

   As far as the week goes it has been the usual. Me and Elder B are getting along really well. It took us a while to figure each other out, but those companionship's always turn out to be the best. We had a pretty funny story this week. The conclusion of it is that I was left stranded in the middle of the country at night beside an unknown road, completely by myself for about 6 mins. Which for someone who has never left a person leave his side for the last year it was quite bizarre. 

 This is what happened. We go to contact an investigator with a priest at about 8:30 at night. She was not home so we go to hop back in the car. Elder B takes shotgun and J gets in the drivers seat and I attempt to get in the back but the door is not opening. I try again and it still is not opening. The car begins to pull away. Thinking they are joking I walk to the end of the street where they are going to pull out. They get on the main road and I wait for them to slow down and pick me up when they reach me. Trying to be funny I act like a hitch hiker trying to wave a car down. I was then shocked when I received the same treatment that most hitch hikers do when the car wizzed by me at full speed without hesitation! For about 30 seconds I don't even know what to do. I check for the phone and thank God for it being there. I then begin to call the priest multiple times and he does not pick up. Half laughing and half annoyed I send him a simple message saying "your missing something."

   After waiting for a couple of mins I finally receive a call from the priests phone and here my lovely companions soft sarcastic voice say "Elder Wagner. Where are you?" haha. They drove back and got me and it all worked out, but it was a very weird six minutes for me that I have no intent on experiencing for a while. 

   Later when we were talking about it I asked why they did not pick up the phone. They said they thought I was trying be smart and get them to involve me their deep conversation they were having by calling. When they checked their messages they asked "what do you mean we are missing something?" When I did not respond they looked at the backseat to find me missing. I won't forget that story anytime soon. 

  I love you all and am so happy to see a happy healthy baby. Whenever I look a the pictures of her I can't stop smiling :). I look forward to seeing her practically 1 year old self! -Elder Wagner

   

March 9,2015

The Suprise Birthday party was awesome. I noticed the decorations when I walked in, but did not think anything about it. Then she kind of gave me a knowing look and said that we are having lemon cake to which I became a little suspicious. Then she told me to uncover the main dish. When I saw it I almost started tearing up. Not because I was excited to eat it or anything (though I was excited for that ). But for the first time in a long time it I could really feel true genuine love from someone else. I felt someone actually cared about me as a person for who I am  and not as another missionary who is trying to get them to do something that they don't want to do. As missionaries it seems that we just surround ourselves with a lot of people who would rather not be around us or some that are simply because they have to. Companions ward members investigators etc. So it was one of the few moments where I felt truly appreciated. It really meant a lot to me so thank you. That was probably the best gift I have ever received :)  

   I feel like every week is the same so i don't really know what to write you haha. We found some investigators we lost some. However me and Elder B have noticed a common trend amongst almost all the investigators we have found in the last couple weeks. Many have lost someone dear to them. Grandma's, Grandpa's, children, siblings and spouses. A lot of the times we run around with a blindfold on. The blind fold is the distractions in life. We get so well rehearsed in our daily activites that we don't look where we are going. It turns into habit rather than conscious decision making. Then something bad happens and the Blindfold is ripped off our faces and we see everything. The good the bad, and yet just because you can see does not mean you know which way to go yet. These are the kind of people we have been working with and it has been a blessing to see such humble and open learners. Some are still looking at the negative things, but at least their eyes are open.

   In other news we got into a royal bash with a fellow christian :) It started off nice and friendly but when he started saying that we worshiped Joseph Smith and that we have to earn our way into heaven things got a little heated. This kind of discussion took place for a while and then he said " Oh and you guys believe that everyone is a child of God.." To which I  replied with a hint of surprise in my voice said "you don't??" He said "Nope!" At that point I just walked off, my companion quickly followed. Experiences like that really get me riled up so I try really hard not to get involved. Occasionally I get roped in though. Good thing I can change my ways through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh sorry never mind once saved always saved! regardless if I don't even TRY to keep the contract that I made with God. Okay I am done ranting. 

   I love you guys with all my heart and because I do I am going to DO everything in my power so that others can feel that same love within in their own family and have that for eternity. Christ has given us a gift and a great measure of whether or not we appreciate that gift depends upon our actions. Yes we will slip up, but that is what enduring to the end means. Try your best and God will make up the rest. Love Elder Wagner

   

"housemates are health nuts"

Shout out to Brother Jewkes!! I love that man.

   Oh Mom I have not told you this yet but all of my housemates are health nuts... They are just getting into it and whenever they see me eating a quesidilla or bagels with cream cheese, they are always like "do you have any clue what you are putting in your body?" and I am always like of course I do! I probably know better than you do." haha I need to repent though. It is spendy to eat healthy and Im not willing to spend 50 bucks on groceries a week only to run out and really lose some weight from starving the last week of the month. That happened a couple times in Farmville. We got down to eating stuff from out the cabinet of hopelessly expired food. The Lord provided though with a random pizza delivery from the senior missionaries on the last day before our msf refilled haha.

   Here is a learning experience from the week. I was going to give a training on how to uses time wisely and I remembered that a while back I had actually calculated how much time missionaries have to go out and proselyte in two years. If you subtract things like sleeping, meetings, studies, driving time, p-day, lunches and dinners, among st a host of many other things that we have to do, our time to serve the Lord becomes very limited. Now of course all these things are important and necessary, but I did this to simply put in perspective how much time we really have. When you do the math and round it up Elders have about 8 months to actually be doing the work and Sisters have about 6 months. Whoa! Whats even more is that I have been out for more than a year now so cut 8 months in half... Times is precious, but the beautiful thing is that you can incorporate missionary work into those things that may waste time. For example instead of laying on the ground and starring at the ceiling during lunch I can be making phone calls, or take a lunch with me when we go out. During P day I can give a card out to the lady at Walmart. During car rides I can organize and update the Area book. Of course this is not easy to do and I am still really working at being better with my time, but it is important to remember that this life is is just the blink of an eye. There is a time for everything and now is the time to labor in the lords vineyard. Many hand also make light work though so do all you can to support missionaries where ever you are. They need a lot more help than they let on and a lot of the times they can shy away from asking for help because they don't want to be a burden. So do it for them ask them if you can do anything! I promise they will have something. 

   I love you guys so much and I think about you all the time. Elder Wagner

"FAUTHA GAUD.. Please bless my boys out heeya in da streets!"

We have a super nice house that we share with the Zone leaders. Oh it is so much fun probably to much fun haha.   I have not been keeping to much contact with the recent converts. To communicate to any of them I have to send a letter through the mission office. I do know this though. P should be attending the temple for the first time this upcoming weekend! S is still active but has picked up smoking again last I heard. She is still trying very hard to overcome her addiction, but she is trying which is what matters. F is on fire he received his patriarchal blessing last month and is beginning to consider serving a mission! Apparently he is the only one who participates in the huge elders quorum. Which is surprising because he was kind of shy when we were teaching him. His girlfriend is serving in temple square and yelling at him to go serve a mission haha. She was always yelling at him for something. 

   Funny story time. I am almost certain that I am the only missionary in the mission who has had and will have the opportunity to serve with the only black missionaries in the mission. Both of them from the deep south. Texas and Louisiana. it makes talking to people who aren't white so much easier and more fun. So for the story. It is 8:30 at night and we pull into this sketchy apartment complex. close by we see a bunch of hood-rat looking folk joking around near where we parked. Me and Elder B left our wallets in the car locked it and went to go talk to them. As we approach They start looking real skittish. We both put our hands in the air and let them know we weren't cops, but rather we are Jesus Christs servants. The four guys chill out a little bit and begin to ask us questions about what we are doing. We told them and asked if we could share the saviors message with them. They agreed and Elder B began to pray. Note: When elder B prays his voice gets very soft. So when these guys heard it, one of them spoke up during the middle of the prayer and said "Say it like you mean it man!" Elder B pauses and continues his prayer in the same fashion that he left off in. It didn't take long before once again the same guy repeats his request, except this time a little louder. Elder B pauses and then in a loud voice starts over. "FAUTHA GAUD.. Please bless my boys out heeya in da streets!" As soon as he said those words I died laughing on the inside and unfortunately a lot of it manifested itself on the outside as a snorting laugh that was obviously a failed attempt at not laughing. The other guys hearing my wonderful snorting sounds began to do the exact same thing. We all began laughing at some point. It eventually died down and we began to teach them a little bit. It turns out they were all really sincere guys who had just made some bad decisions in life. Though they were not to interested in the message it was good to be around people who were willing to at least listen and have a funny moment with. 

   As for the rest of this week we have been doing a lot of tracting. Which this time around has not been to fruitful. Though there were a couple other worthy journal entries from it haha. There are a lot of part member families in this ward so we are going to begin to work with them as well. But part members are really tricky. If you push them to hard they will get offended and not want to meet with you, but if you don't push them they will remain in the same rut that they have been in for the last 10 years. We will give it our best shot though. 

   I only get less than a year to finish out strong. I have set some goals for myself and plan on achieving them. Thank you for all your prayers and love. Stay strong and carry on. Elder Wagner

"The darkest part of night occurs just before the sun arises."

Hey family, This week has been ups and downs. Being on a mission makes you super aware of your weaknesses. I am really effective if I know the area and I know the members. When that happens the ball is rolling really fast. However when I am moved to a new area I get really scattered brained for about 3 weeks. I forget names incredibly fast, I get lost, I lose things myself (which is why I used the credit card to pay for groceries last week cause I lost my msf card). All of these things decrease my confidence in myself which then affects everything else I do. Fortunately I am just leaving that stage, but I never like going through that process haha.

   There is a quote in batman which says "The darkest part of night occurs just before the sun arises." That has definitely been true for most of my mission. This last week we were having a pretty rough time. Then on Sunday everything clicked. We found a ton of solid potentials the kind that we pray for every night one door right after the other. It was absolutely amazing. For example, we were talking to this girl who was very interested in the BOM when all of the sudden this guy from the apartment above us brings both me and my companion a glass of water with ice and then walks off. We scheduled a return appointment with the girl we were talking to and set off to find this guy. The first door we knock on is his and he begins to tell us how the man he respects the most owns this zoo that he worked at and is the bishop of the ward there. He was delighted to meet with us! and wants to learn more.

   To cap it off though we found a young family that let us in and at first the husband was skeptical but as soon as me and Elder B got warmed up with how to begin teaching he did a complete 180. It was one of those times where both their eyes locked onto mine and they were listening with their hearts when the first vision was recited. The spirit rushed into that room real quick. From that point on it was just a home run. Such an awesome expereience. 

   Thats about it for this week here are some pics from Dale city

 P is the one that is closest to me and M his long lost friend baptized him

Me and Elder Peterson goofing off

Love the tie (Oregon ducks tie)

New Area, New Companion

 I am now in the Manchester Ward. It is by far the largest ward I have been in so far. My new companion is Elder B he actually came out with me, but at about 5 months he went home because of a family crisis or something. So now he is fresh back out with me and it is kind of weird. 7 months ago I was a different missionary than I am now. So we are both in different stages. It is kind of confusing. I am now in a house with two other Elders as well. It is a lot of fun, but I think the work goes on a lot better when it is just you and your companion that live together. That way you are more forced to get along with each other haha. I am sure everything will work out though. I have now had 8 companions and by the end of each one I have always loved my companions to death.
  Over here in Manchester we have just been trying to figure out what is going on here and getting to know the ward. It is pretty diverse. We have every class of people you can immagine. Millionaires, middle class, to straight poor and everything in between. Which is really great cause it allows for the ward to support eachother in different ways.
  I am in a car again which I am not to disappointed about around this time of year haha. Fortunately the weather has been pretty mild thus far minus one huge Ice storm. They don't have those in Oregon! Everything freezes. I mean everything. There will be about 3 inchs worth of ice coating cars, mailboxes, and blades of grass as well. 
  I will really miss Dale city I made a lot of friends and found a lot of success. No area is perfect and it is what you make of it.So I am going to make this Area my favorite this far. 
  In the mission (and probably every mission) there is this big debate about numbers. "It is not about the numbers it is not about the numbers." I was listening to President Wilson talk about this and he said " we had 5 baptsims this last week and we are grateful for it, but I Know there are so many more people who are prepared in Virginia this week than 5." That really hit me. There are 100's more willing to accept the gospel and the only thing that inhibits that is our vision and our faith to find. This involves setting goals. So I set one for myself to baptize once a month till the end of my mission. It is a pretty big goal but there are so many people who are prepared here we just have to find them.
  I loved that you guys are involverd in missionary work. It makes me happy and I know it makes you happy to though it might be hard to realize at times. members of the ward truley can hasten the work they just need the vision. 
 The Book is blue and the church is true Elder Wagner