Service project...cleaning the LA river

Buen Dia Madre,

Gosh, you are just wonderful!  Thanks for always being such a strong foundation.  It helps a lot being able to read and enjoy your encouraging words.

Great job trying to memorize the living Christ!  That sounds like an awesome endeavor.  Just like Nephi we can always strengthen our testimonies from the testimonies of those "from the dust."  Sounds kind of cryptic but what is meant is that the prophets are here to lead us and guide us. Their testimonies are meant to give us strength and inspire us. Keep it up!

I am going to try and make our Mother’s Day conversation a Skype! I have to talk to the members but I bet it will probably end up that way. I am so pumped!  Also another thing I am looking forward to is Elder Oaks is coming to speak to our stake next Sunday and we are doing a missionary choir. I can't wait to hear what he has to tell us.  Stay tune for that, it's gonna be big!

Things here have been different then I have ever imagined they would.  Although I am in a hard situation and have a lot to try and deal with and improve I have already seen the blessings that are coming from this trial.  My prayers have been more focused, powerful and sincere.  I have really seen a difference in my attitude of gratitude.  If I am not grateful there is no chance I am going to make it through the day.  We can always choose to be grateful :)  My capacity for love and patience is starting to swell.  I can truly feel the spirit guiding and controlling me in situations that I might be tempted to be angry or unkind.  It is such a blessing.  The sacrament has also been a great help to me in remembering the covenants that I have made.  I feel sanctified and refreshed after I take it.  I get to take a spiritual bit of Christ with me through the week.

On top of all of that the big thing this week was a service activity that we got to be a part of.  The city of Los Angeles got together and cleaned the LA river.  Side note before we started I didn't even think the river was legit, I straight up thought it was a lie and the "river" was gonna be like a concrete stream.  So anyways the Stake got together and helped out…"Mormon Helping Hand", pennies and everything.  It was really, really fun.  I could almost pretend that I wasn't in the dirty streets of LA anymore.  Being in nature was really relaxing and it was great to serve.  Elder Davis and I didn't know it was over so we were in the bush cleaning for like 45 minutes over time.  But jokes on everyone else we got interviewed by a radio station. You better believe we shared the gospel.  Ha-ha it was great!

 

Elder Davis clean-up

LA River

Being interviewed by the radio station

The mayor is in there somewhere.

I also ran into Elder Spears at the activity and couldn’t help but ask him about the work in his area. Salvadora is getting baptized and this family we found has come to church 3 times and is really grasping the doctrine behind the Restoration.  It was so good to see and speak with him.  He is such a dear friend and nothing makes me happier than seeing the work move on.  I feel like I got a taste of what the afterlife will be like.  I can't imagine it will be much different than me asking Elder Spears if people are progressing still…"Did they make it?" kind of attitude.  This work is eternal.

This transfer has been hard, but I am growing.  I am putting my love for Elder Davis first and I know that the Lord will sustain me in my effort to be obedient.  It’s hard at times but honestly, it is what will make or break this area.  I am trying to leave all of this better than I found it.  Hopefully I am.

Love you Mom, can't wait till Mother's Day.

Elder Bagley

P.S. the granola bar snacks and what not are golden.  I love being able to have a quick healthy snack.

I am sure I've gained wait...or maybe that's wishful thinking but the skinny jeans don't fit anymore.  They are so tight I had to trash them.

I am killing it with banana pancakes!

Rough week and pink whites makes it even worse.

April 21,2013

Hey Mom!

It's great to hear from you!  I just got your package this morning and I really loved it. Just as always it was so thoughtful.  I love the bike snacks and hope I can dish out the candy to my Zone.  The last thing I need is to pound all that today...We both know I could. I really love you! I hope you know that.

In celebration for Easter, fate, carelessness or maybe a punk kid in our apartment decided to dye my laundry a nice Easter shade of pink. I seriously have no idea how it happened! Ha-ha we looked through the load and not a single red article slipped in. But nevertheless I will be sporting some really sweet baby pink garments for a while. Ha-ha man it really is ridiculous. The band on the garments is still super white but the cotton part is just hopeless. I can't send pictures of the garments but my towel didn't escape the color. My shirts are fine and it will be no problem in the future but I really got a great laugh out of it.

Things this week have been very hard. I don't want to be negative or disheartening and pray that my letter can portray the faith and excitement I have for the future.

Elder Davis has been going through some very hard medical issues for a while now. This last week we have taken the time to prayerfully and studiously try and decide some options for his future. President has been super loving and understanding through it all. Unfortunately this means that missionary work in our area is taking a backseat so I don't have much to share with you this week.

I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to study and work out this week.  I spend all day inside trying to learn and grow.  Serious though, I need to find a scale because I promise I am gaining weight…especially after this week.  I just eat, read and lift weights all day, ha-ha.  All I need to do is hop on that bike and I’ll be set!

Sorry for the lameness of this letter.  I hope next week I will have more to say.  This week has really thrown me off.  I love you dearly and am happy to hear from you!

Elder Bagley

Me desk...complete with conference quotes from the Young Women

Pink tie is cool but pink whites are not.

Dad got an email too...
Hey Dad

 

It's great to hear from you!  Thanks for the little note.  I bet St George was a blast!  I can't wait to visit again when I'm home...maybe visit the temple there.

 

The pressure out here as a missionary is huge, but now some of the things I use to fear have become my greatest joys.  I remember a day in a park with Elder Spears, I had no second thought about raising my voice and teaching close to 30 people at once about the Book of Mormon.  I am an out going guy but I would have never done that before my mission!

 

Things here are different.  It's getting hard.  Elder Davis has some pretty crippling medical issues and we haven't left the house in 5 days.  I am being suffocated from the work I am called to do.  That truly is the hardest part.  I am being patient and prayerful as Elder Davis tries to make some big choices.  I love him, and hope somehow I can lessen his load.

 

Thanks for your support Dad! Keep the faith, I'll do the same :)

 

Elder Bagley

Welcome to the Panther Pad

April 14, 2014

Mother dearest,

Your letters are wonderful! I have so much to tell you and fill you in on.

First off I am in Van Nuys (pronounced Van Ice) with Elder Davis and we are on bikes.

The area is wonderful.  It’s a little bit cleaner and filled with apartments.  We only have 6 blocks in our area so it will be perfect and easy to cover on bike.  It is packed with Latinos which is just what we like to see!  I am excited to really dig into it and find those families that need the truth.

Our apartment is old but really spacey.  We have 2 bathrooms and a walk in closet.  After a bit of nightly cleaning it really turns out quiet nice.  I am always trying to take Dads advice and leave it better than I found it.  There are still some roaches though...but it just adds to the fun of having a daily "kill count".

A walk in closet!

My own bathroom

Also big highlight is a huge ceramic panther resides in our home. I moved from the Zebra to the Panther Pad. I wonder what's next!

Saying goodbye to the Zebra Pad

Hello, Panther Pad

Elder Davis is a 26 year old returned Marine with a heart of gold.  He is so loving and very knowledgeable at referencing scriptures, which is something I need to be better at. He has been out 10 months and is the same mission age as my trainer Elder Speth.  I love him dearly!  We are going to do great things.  As of right now we are trying to still test the waters but our potential is great.

 Transfer Meeting with Elder Davis

My ward is great…really young and very active! Van Nuys seems to be a pretty young, family-ish city. I am excited about that. Our Obispo is very on top of things and involved in our work. As far as the District I am in, I don't know the members very well but I have worked with some in the past and I know we will do great.

Okay now that the fine print is out of the way I want to talk about what really made my week, my mission really.  Elder Kent F. Richards of the Quorum of the Seventy came and held a mission wide (English, Spanish, ASL, Korean) Conference.  He was also joined with our Area Seventy Elder Garns.  I don't even know where to start to explain the love and wisdom of our Father in Heaven.  I wish so dearly I could share with you all he taught but I have never been so close to experiencing what it would have been like personally learning from the Lord face to face.  Elder Richards is truly a man of God filled with the Spirit and amazing understanding of the mysteries of God.  I cannot get over how amazing it was.

He taught with the Spirit and it was the most pure doctrine I have ever heard.  He explained and taught deep doctrinal truths of the gospel with simplicity and power. Nothing was misunderstood or skewed.  I was taught so much.  It changed my life.

Three main points to teaching simply were

1. Teach and Testify of truth

2. Invite to Act in Faith

3. Minister (help, bless, support)

I encourage you to keep these in mind as you serve in your calling.  If it’s not true, don't say it.  If it’s not spiritually inspired it’s not what God wants you to say.  Strive to teach simple truths, pure doctrine in all that you do.  I know that as you do your class and those you come in contact with will hear the voice of the Lord.

Elder Richards changed my life.

I don't know what's going on in my old area.  Part of a transfer is leaving the fruits of your labors to be carried on by other Elders.  I won't be able to see if Salvadora is baptized but I don't need to.  I am at peace with what I left behind and I am excited to try and do the same here in Van Nuys.

I love hearing about all the missionaries preparing to leave from Utah.  Not a lot comes close to the life changing moment of opening a mission call.  Spain doesn't know how lucky they are to soon have Hermana Marsh as they're missionary.  I am so happy and proud of her.  I can't wait to hear her Spanish.  European Spanish is very sophisticated and beautiful…a lot of vosotros form and unique vocab.  I hope she's down to teach me some :)

Love you Mom…a lot.  I am so happy to hear your progress and work in personally growing your testimony and love for the Savior.  Something really great to do that you have personal control over no matter what our family does Easter Sunday is to share your testimony with Lauren and Alexis.  They would love to hear from your mouth the importance of Easter.  Also in "Jesus the Christ" it would be awesome to read the account of the resurrection.  I think it is somewhere around page 670 as well as review Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk on it as well.  I think that would make Easter really special.

Until next week :) I am looking forward to Mother's day too,

Elder Bagley

Sam would love these zappatrias

We look GOOD...