...Just needs me to do good...

Hola Madre!

It is so good to hear from you, sounds like everything is just chugging along. Happily it's the same way over here. Every day we dress the same, wake up at the same time, and live with the same person--but every day is so different.

Fransisco is doing great! It's hard to think but one of my investigators might actually get baptized. That is so bad to say that I can't believe it but it is just such a miracle for me.  Ha-ha he is progressing really well and fitting into the ward great.  We have been loading him with member support and he loves it all.  I have to keep reminding myself that he is a 9 year old with ADD and isn't going to be perfect.  But all in all his faith in Christ is growing so much.  I am grateful to be a part of it.

Small tender mercy side note: We had Fransisco teach his 19 year old sister the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he did really well.  He got distracted and started to stare at the stars.  When he thought he saw a shooting one I told him to make a wish.  He said he shouldn't tell anyone what he wished for but that he wanted to tell me anyways.  So he leans in and whispers in my ear, "I wish Elder Bagley and Elder Worthington could stay forever."  My heart just melted.  Gosh, it was so great.  I forget how much of an impact we can have sometimes.

Juan is doing great.  He has been making some great plans to get his life all in order for baptism, but if anyone can do it it's him!  I can't wait to see their whole family make it to the temple.  That is the plan and it will be great :)

This week we had another great Stake Meeting and Elder Garns got to attend as well.  It's funny how much spirit an Area Seventy can bring to a meeting.  I really loved seeing how the counsels of the church work.  I am getting more and more excited to hold whatever call comes when I get home.

Zone Conference is this Thursday.  It's been a little stressful planning and preparing for that.  Being a Zone Leader it basically means President will pick on you as the example during teaching opportunities. So there's that. Ha-ha hopefully the studying pays off.

I have been really trying to put my faith to the test this week.  I am grateful God keeps giving me the opportunity to do so.  I am always surprised at how many teaching opportunities the Lord has in store for those who want to increase.  I have loved reading D&C 6:33-37 this week.  It gives me a lot of comfort knowing God just needs me to do good, needs me to have a testimony of the atonement.

"If we are meek, being tried means being developed."

Love you Mom!  Can't wait to hear what this next week has in store for you.  You're wonderful.

Elder Bagley

Pray for our investigators

July 14, 2014

Hello Family, I love you so.

The hike looks amazing. I miss hiking so much. It definitely needs to be one of my life hobbies. Hopeful I'm still in shape when I get home. Who knows how long I'll be in car.

Thanks for the Twinkie minions. Ha-ha I am going to take them to the zone activity. I'm sure everyone will love them. We'll be getting iPads soon so I don't know how important it is but if you could find a small children’s songbook, that would be sweet. Other than that I don't need to much more stuff.

Ok, two people I want to talk about. Both have the goal of being baptized the 3rd of August. Fransisco is 9 and ready to being baptized. I love him so much. It is wonderful seeing such an innocent mind learn about pure doctrine with nothing but curiosity for more. This week he came to church which was great!  It's hard for him because he is 9 so waking up to get ready for 9 o’clock church is a big deal. But this week he was outside his house ready to go. We stopped by to wake him up but when he saw us he said "Yeah you're here. I thought my ride had left and you know when you get water in your eyes and things start to get blurring. That happened but then I saw you coming and I was like 'Yeah the Mormons are here'". He loved church, absolutely loved it. He has wanted to come for so long but just couldn't wake up on time. But now he said he is going to come for the rest of his life, even when he is a missionary. I love that boy.

The next person is Juan. He is married to a recent convert of less than a year and has had a struggle with alcohol. Over the lessons with his wife the past missionaries have tried to get him to repent and be baptized but he could never stay sober for longer than a few days. We fasted and prayed and kept daily contact with him and now it's been 6 day's since he has had a drink. He is preparing for the 3rd also and we are so excited to see him there. Elder Worthington and I just made a really big push and focus for his true goal to be the temple, to receive the priesthood and enter the house of the Lord. I think that really made the difference. I love that family a lot. They need the priesthood in their home.

So lately I have been pushing for an increase in charity in my life. I have narrowed it down to if I love more I'll have more fun, I'll desire salvation more, and I'll be more Christ like. Without charity you are nothing so with charity we can be everything. Better teachers, better companions, better at taking defeat. You know the usual.

One other thing I have been doing is writing everything I love about this culture in a little notebook I carry. It is fun and kind of funny too. Mexicans are nuts ha-ha.

Love you Mom. Thanks for your example and kind constant words. If you go to the cabin this year take pictures of the wild flowers past the saddle. Last year they were really, really beautiful. Talk to you soon!

Elder Bagley

Cops are a daily occurrence around our house

Happy 7-11 day...on exchanges with Elder Searle

It's called nopal or "tuna".  It's means prickly pear and it comes form cacti.

A really yummy lentil soup.  Always with a side of tortilllas :)

Made some killer galletos (cookies).

Big news...iPads

Thanks for the email. Sounds like the fourth was fun! Fireworks are illegal here but that didn't stop anyone ha-ha. It was relaxing watching everything safely from our window. That's awesome about the 5K. Maybe one day I'll get a companion who likes to run. I really want to run. I'd love to see any kind of pictures you can send! Also thanks for the grad invite. Alexis is so grown up, it's nuts.

This week was a crazy one. Between transfers, All day Mission Leadership Training, and then Zone Training Meeting we definitely had our plates full. But we got through it all without too much damage. I learned so much from all the trainings and its nice helping missionaries settle into their new areas. Being a zone leader has been nothing but a blessing.

We have been had great time teaching and finding this week. The little time we did have we filled it with investigators and member dinners. We are almost eating every night with the members. I love it! This week Obispo and his wife taught us how to make Pupusas. It was such a fun stress relief.

Teaching this week has been great. Fransisco is set up again with another baptismal date and we have been helping a part member family become a full member family. All in all ministering to God's children has really become one of my favorite things. It feels so great being able to help others progress, to help protect them as they try and make these huge eternal decisions.

Big news for the week is that iPads are just around the corner. To my understanding there is an article on LDS.org about it. En todos modos, we'll be getting them soon. I can't wait to have that kind of powerful tool to share the gospel. I'll keep you updated. I do know for sure we have to buy them out of personal funds. I don't know how much my account has in it but we'll figure that stuff out later.

I forgot my planner at home which has all the things I want to write home in it but I’ll be better next week. Thanks for your encouraging words mom. I always love emailing home, it is so uplifting. Things are hot here but we just keep on working. Love you tons.

Elder Bagley

Obispo and his wife taught us how to make Pupusas