Week 7

Mondays are my new favorite days.  I sent Mitch a "greenie" package to the mission home and it got there safe and sound.  We don't have an address from his apartment yet so if you want to send him a package just mail it to the mission home.  Without further ado here is the latest letter from Mitch.

 

So I have made it to Cali, made it to my casa, and made it to the real part of missionary work.  I wish I could just soak all of this up and remember all the details and experiences.   P-days are so stressful cause I always remember something I wanted to say and the time I have to write, do laundry and what not is so limited. P-days are suppose to calm you, not stress you!  Oh well, I am grateful and happy I get to hear from family and friends anyways.  My p-days are Monday now just FYI.

 

So first off I got your package and I loved it.  I could tell you put so much thought into it and I felt so loved to get it. Thank you!  Those animal cookies were devoured in no time. SO good.  It was a perfect house warming gift.  And trust me our house needs some warming.  Not that its cold just that its...sketchy.  Second day here we found a roach...he must have been hanging out with the ants in the kitchen.  Hopefully putting an end to him will put a wrench in the critters operation but I'm sure they will be back. My bed is as close to a rock as it can get without actually being a rock.  It's good that I am so exhausted by the end of the day or else I don't think I would be getting any sleep. Also there is the standard mission food situation.  Dinner with members is basically mana from heaven but I am getting pretty creative with Ramen and Macaroni.  But all in all I count my blessing every night to live in such an amazing house...hot shower, stove, carpet.  It's the little things.

 

My companion/trainer is Elder Speth.  He is from Sandy Utah and was a Jordan beet digger.  He is super loving and hard working.  Our personalities are different.  He is a complete goof and has the goofiest sense of humor.  But we work well together and that's what matters.  He is training me really well and I can honestly say we have been obeying every mission rule with exactness since day one.   And I intend to keep it that way.

 

Mission work is just moving along like it should.  We are in a biking area which is hard because I got the hand me down bike of the mission and it is a beater.  My butt is SO sore.  Hopefully I'll get some jacked legs though.  I like biking though because we can talk with everyone on the street.  I am so surprised how unafraid I have been in talking with everyone I see.  And I mean everyone.  A couple of times we have even passed someone and both gotten a feeling to turn completely around and talk to them. The Spirit is a great GPS.

 

Everyone says my Spanish is amazing. One of the members asked if I had been out for a year but when I told her it was my second day she about dropped the plate she was carrying.  That being said I need to learn so much more.  I can teach and talk in Spanish but I don't feel like I am getting close to the people I meet.  I want to be part of their lives.  Be their friend and confidant but my Spanish just isn't letting me get to that point. Con tiempo. Con tiempo.

 

So I'm going to be honest with you Mom.  This week has been hard.  Physically I am tired, sore and hungry.  Emotionally I miss my family, my friends and my support system. Intellectually I don't know the street names, the people, or their background stories.  I am trying to learn everything so fast it is like drinking from a fire hydrant.  SO much is just loaded onto you.  Elder Speth is trying to take some of the burden, I know that, and my Spanish helps my get by...but honestly at the end of the day I just don't know how I got through it all.  All this being said, I love it.  I love working and pushing myself.  I am becoming the person I know my Father in Heaven wants me to be.  It's hard, it really is. There is a lot to take in, but I love it.  I love the moments in the day when there is only one set of footsteps in the sand.  When I am no longer the only one pulling the handcart and my yoke isn't just on me.  A successful mission won't come quickly or easily but it will come if I work hard and continue to be obedient.

 

Don't get me wrong we are seeing a lot of success.  So much so that yesterday was my first baptism.  I say that not because I was the one that baptized but that I was part of the teaching process.   Honestly, when I find, teach and baptized someone all the way through that will be when I can say I got my first baptism. The investigator's name is Veronica and she is amazing.  She was found by Elder Speth and Elder Robinson two transfers ago and has just been soaking up the lessons. I was able to teach her about tithing and the law of chastity but before that she was basically ready to be baptized.  It was awesome seeing her make her first covenant but I want to see the process full circle. That is what I mean by I don't feel part of these peoples lives.  I am new and basically a stranger.  I pray that, that part will come with time though.

 

I have been here a week but I have seen so many miracles already.  And I mean miracles in the fullest, split the Red Sea kind of sense.  I wish I had time to tell you all about them but maybe in future email's when things get settled down and I can actually calm down and think.  I love you more than you know. I pray for our family everyday and I feel so thankful I have you as support.  Thanks for all you've done.  Stay strong!  And I'll do the same.

 

Con Amor

Elder Bagley

Mitch with Veronica and Elder Speth at her baptism.

 

Confirmation...He made it

Good news!  We just received a letter from Mitch.  He made it to California in one piece.  Instead of paraphrasing his letter I've just retyped it.

So I made it safe and sound!  I've been in Cali for a couple of hours and I have already gone tracking, already greeted people in Spanish and already planted pamphlets and pass-along cards.  I met my mission president and he seems like an amazing guy.  Right off the plane he greeted us with a big hug and a bunch of love!  I can tell he is an awesome leader.  We started the day off with some lunch at the Stake Center and then we paired off with some senior elders and went tracking!  I loved it.  We talked to a bunch of crazies...but hey, I learned that God lives in Korea and Mother in Heaven is made of cloud flesh.  But either way it was a cool experience.  We are going to get our companions tomorrow and we'll stay in a hotel tonight!  I kind of miss my friends from the MTC but I'm excited to meet all the new people here.  The Senior Missionaries here seem awesome and loving.  They make me feel like I am back to being a kid again...they really love the missionaries.  As part of our settling in we are writing these first letter.  Love you all and can't wait to get to work.

Con Amor
Elder Mitch Bagley

It is good to know that he made it and that he is doing well.  I guess the next time we will hear from him will be on his P-day.  I don't know when that is but I hope it is soon.

Last email from Mexico

We just received this email from Mitch.  I guess they let him contact us one last time before he leaves tomorrow.  All I can say is WOW, he has grown so much.  I am so proud to call him my hijo.

 

The time is here!

 

In 12 hours I will be headed on a bus to the Mexico airport.  My time here at the CCM has finally coming to an end.  Where has the past 6 weeks gone!?  I feel like I have hardly even been gone at all.  I am so grateful for the things I've learned here and the experiences I've had.  I want to share a story with you but first I'll confirm stuff about my flight.  I leave the CCM at 3:00 Monday morning and will arrive in Arizona at about 9:00 in the morning.  Then I won't leave for California until about 11:00.  Sometime between those two flights I will try and call you from a pay phone or something.  I would love to hear your voices and I'll try calling all of the numbers I can remember.  Also I think I am going to get a cheeseburger the second I touch down.  Also if it happens that I don't get a hold of you or can't speak with you don't worry, I still love you all and will talk to you the next opportunity I can.

 

Alright now for my story. In the morning we are taught by Hermano Arevalo. He is a native of Mexico and served his mission in Mexico as well.  He is 23 and one of the most genuine people I have ever met.  We had our last class with him yesterday and I would have never expected it to be the way it was.  After we finished up grammar and Spanish practice, Hermano Arevalo started to bare his testimony with the story of Moroni and Lehi (Captain Moroni and General Lehi in the book of Alma) when they battle with the Lamanites. The Nephites were better armed and had stronger weapons, but after the Lamanites had seen the dire situation they were in, they began to fight like "dragons". The Nephites began to be frightened and wanted to flee.  Seeing their fears Moroni began to remind them of the families, their liberties and their purpose.  Hermano Arevalo reminded us that sometimes we might be afraid, we might want to run.  But we need to always remember our purpose and our families.  He told us when he served his mission his dad thought he was the best missionary in the entire church.  He saw everything that was good and had faith he could do anything.  Hermano Arevalo found strength in this and continued to fight harder and harder each day of his mission.

 

After he finished his lesson (the spirit was already so thick my eyes were watering) he began to go around the room and personally give us praise and advice as we departed. Through teary eyes he expressed his love and admiration for us. That we were "gran gurreros" (great warriors) just like Moroni and Teancum.  When my turn came he looked at me with tears running down his cheeks and a smile on his face and said "Elder Bagley, usted es el capitán, como Moroni" (You are a captain, like Moroni).  He went on to praise my leadership abilities and the potential I have to lead other "warriors".  I couldn't help but remember the words Dad use to say to me before a rec basketball game, during a huddle or on the car ride over, "Mitch, you need to make plays and open options.  As point guard it's your job to make things happen."  At this point my body was on fire but my mind was calm as the spirit brought to remembrance those tender memories I have of Dad. Through teary eyes and a full heart all I could tell Hermano Arevalo was "Gracias, gracias por todo" (thank you, thank you for everything).  If this already wasn't enough of a profession of God's love for me I was asked to give the final closing pray.  Tears bathed my knees and hands as I gave the most heartfelt pray I have ever offered.  The spirit was so strong and my words were no longer my own.  I truly felt like Moroni praying for his troops.

 

I leave tomorrow.  To a place where the people don't know me, don't know my language, and don't know my passion for the gospel.  It will be hard and there will be days when I want to leave.  Days when my doubts and fears fight back like dragons.  But, I am a captain.  I am a leader and a son of God. The work I am doing is divine and this is my time to grab my sword and my testimony and fight.  There are people out there waiting just for me and I can't wait to find them.  I love you so much Mom.  Everything I am is because of the kind of family I was raised in.  You and Dad did alright.  Can't wait to tell you about California!! :)

 

Con Amor

Elder Bagley

We got a much longer email this week.  Mitch sounds like he is in good spirits.  We received a handwritten letter last Thursday.  It was great to read and hold something that Mitch had written.  He was really pumped about getting to watch Conference and encouraged us to prepare and do the same.

Hola!

Todos bien! Estoy feliz cosas son bien por usted.

First off sorry about last week I really missed being able to send you a good email. I won't let that happen again!  Estoy feliz que mi carta actually got to you!  I was hoping you could get it before conference but hey, better late than never.  I really did love conference so much and I am happy to hear that you are studying what was said.  I know you will be able to receive the enlightenment and revelation you need!  I know I have.  I have had a lot of time to look over my notes and study the impressions I received during the various sessions.  Such a blessing. 

I am not one hundred percent sure of my travel plans yet.  I think I will know pretty soon though and I will definitely be able to send another email when I leave.  I think my flight is about 7:30 am on the 21st but I don't know the mechanics of how I get to the airport or when I need to leave the CCM.  I have faith I'll get where I need to be though, they are really on top of stuff down here.  I am flying US Airways and my first flight is to AZ, flight US 502 and from there I am on flight US 2774.

I hope you find something fun to do for your UEA break!  I think hiking would be a fun thing to do but that's probably because I just really miss the mountains.  Also East Canyon should be really pretty this time of year with all the leaves and what not.  I love the drive down there.  When I get home that is definitely somewhere I want to visit. Wake boarding there was always fun!

Same old same old around here! Honestly the days don't ever feel different.  I have a hard time trying to remember what it was I ate yesterday or did.  I can't help but feel removed from some of the things just rushing by me.  I almost wish it would slow down so I could actually have time to remember and reflect on what I am learning and how I am growing.  But I guess that is just something I am going to have to get over. 
 

I have a lot of mixed feelings about leaving the CCM. I really want to get out in the field and figure out what it truly feels like to be a real missionary, both the good and bad.  Here is so controlled and protected.  It gets redundant after a while.  But then the other half of me wants all the time I can get to prepare, study, and practice because in 5 days it's the real deal.  I will be teaching real people with real problems and the stakes will be higher, much higher.  I have been in this in between mindset for the past week and a half and it starts to wear on you.  Not to mention everyday being reminded how truly little you know concern the gospel, the language and your self management skills. 
 

I don't want to come off sounding discouraged or down.  It's exactly the opposite. I find strength in knowing that I need my Savior to show me the way.  To push me and catch me when I don't see how I can succeed.  I find humility in knowing I am not the one who teaches the lessons, the Holy ghost is.  But, he is a hard companion to keep with you constantly but that only means I need to be more obedient.  I find confidence in knowing the eternal plan and promises my Father in Heaven has for me.  I am his son and with that in mind I can only fail if I let myself fail. 
 

I love my mission.  I really do.  I have bad days, true.  But that doesn't mean I am having a bad mission.  It only means I am not perfect.  It only means I need to look to the One who knows and loves me.  I love you all so much!  Thank you for your constant support and love.  Talk to you soon!

Con amor

Elder Bagley

Mexico City Temple

My favorite section of our little "C" store

Home sweet home--but only for the next 5 days...California ready or not here I come!

1 month!

Buenos Dias! 

Well, Mitchell's letter was extra short this week (he told me not to post it) so I am filling in for him.  He said he was getting kicked off the computer because they were receiving new missionaries and he had to hurry.  Also he said he writes me last so that he can gather his thoughts.  I can't help feel a little bitter toward all those people who got long letters.

Anyway I guess he got to watch General Conference.  I don't know if it was in Spanish or English.  He said, "I loved it and received so much personal insight on so many questions I had.  I feel like there was a talk for each of us.  I really wish I could write more and talk to you about them but I can't stress how important it is that we learn from the Apostles."  This is a picture of him and his companions watching General Conference.  I hope he was taking more notes than pictures.

Mitch mentioned that he is doing well and loves it there.  He said, "I am growing so much and I have so many times when I can just feel the love of my Father in Heaven."  He sounds happy and that's all I can hope for.  I love him, I miss him and I worry about him but there is no other place I would rather him be.

This is a picture of where they play soccer for exercise.  No green field...only concrete.  I goggled Mexico City on Google earth and there isn't much green space anywhere. I found the Mexico City Temple but I couldn't find the MTC.  I was hoping Mitch could walk outside and wave. :)

Second time going to the Mexico City Temple.  Check out the double piggy back.  Elder Bagley, Elder Norwick and Elder Manscil

Hola! Another week has quickly came and gone.

I'm happy to say I am completely over my strep throat and back to full health.  I can now give me full attention to the work.  Hopefully that's the last time I'll be sick.  But you never know what the Lord has in store for you.

Thanks for the update on things at home.  It sounds like Jeremy had a really...intense mission. I hope I don't have to go though any of those trials.  Hopefully Cali is pretty tame.  That's cool that the Browns got to see E sing and stuff.  I sing here during sacrament meeting and that's kind of the same so if you want you can fly down and sneak in for that!  Nah, just kidding that's not chill...but if  you want to I won't fight it.

I'm turning into more and more of a baby out here but when I read about Andrew becoming a deacon I couldn't help but get teary eyed. What an awesome time this will be for him.  I know he is only 12 but Heavenly Father knows him and will watch over him as he continues to grow in the church.  I love that guy!

Don't worry about sending packages or anything. The mail here is pretty sketchy and slow anyways. Who know if it'd even get here.  Thanks for the thought though.  I feel loved!

Who would have known that I would have ended up loving mornings.  They really are so peaceful and so spiritual if you treat them the right way.  I guess I picked up on your habit mom.  I'm officially a morning person.

My companions are Elder Norkwick who is from Wisconsin and Elder Manscill (Man-sale) who is from Lindon.  Norwick is the quiet, spiritual giant type and Manscill is just like me.  I really love them both so much.  Manscill goes to BYU so we're already planning to hangout once we are home. Having two companions is hard because there is one more person who has an opinion on stuff like:  going to the bathroom, eating, or just staying together in crowds.  But, at the end of the day it's no problem. We work through it and have fun with it.  Also Manscill is super ticklish so that's always a great.

I sent you a letter.  Hopefully you get it soon.  I wish I could be home to watch Conference with you all but I'm super excited to actually have the opportunity to watch it here. Thanks for all the support you continue to give me.  I might not know a lot of Spanish or have the strongest testimony but I have never wanted something as much as I want this.  And the Lord can do anything with a little bit of faith. Love you!

Con amor

Elder Bagley

My District leader, Elder Davis, found a Nimbu 2000! (aka palm branch)