Pumpkin oreos, guavas, exachanges and Spanish Sign Language

HEY MOM! 

Gosh this week was amazing.  I am glad Nana enjoyed her party!   She deserves the best. 

So this email is going to be nuts and I'm just gonna pound through it all.   It could be a little intense but there was just too much going on. 

First off 3 weeks ago we prayed as a companionship and decided on 4 baptisms and 170 new investigators for our zone goals.  We were pushing ourselves but really felt that's what we needed to set.  So far we have reached the baptism goal and have 4 more scheduled still.  As well as a really hopeful push on new investigators.  As a zone we found 63 this week...that's crazy nuts.  Starting 5 weeks ago it was 11, 25, 28, 39, 63.  We are showing such great growth and I am humbled to be where I am, when I am.  My zone is great. We are working and the Lord is blessing. 

Quick side note: I was afraid I would miss out on one of the 13 days of Halloween things SOOO I opened it all at once.  I only made it to the dia de los murteo stress ball before I had to rip through it all. Those Pumpkin Oreos are AMAZING.  Gosh, I love them so much.  Everyone needs to have one of those in their life.  If you are feeling charitable and still have some unused missionary love you need to send Stephanie a pack of those.  She would love them. 

Okay back to my week:  On an exchange with Elder Reynolds we got really creative with contacting and decided to go around and knock houses that had Guava Trees (they are a really tasty fruit, I don't know if I am spelling that right.).  So as a break we spent 30 minutes going around on bike hunting out houses we could mooch from.  Latinos love giving us food.  Honestly on a weekend we can leave the house and never come back to eat and somehow not be hungry.  BBQ bouncing is a blessing here in Pacoima.  Anyways that was a fun way to spice up to my life.  Elder Reynolds really looks up to me and I am glad we could have a good time together. 

On that same exchange I was part of the coolest miracle.  So for my time here in Pacoima I have ran into this skinny, homeless man that speaks only ASL (more like Spanish SL but hey).   Anyways I am always concerned for him and try and wave and greet him whenever I can.  He is a great man. It had been about 2 months since I had seen him last and then on this exchange I saw him but he was in dress clothes, showered, shaved and looking great!  We talk (kind of) and I understood that he had fallen asleep and missed his bus.  He was asking from some directions.  I thought it was cool to see him again but didn't think much about it.  Later, that night as we were biking home for the day we ran into him again, not but 30 seconds away from home.  I had the BIGGEST feeling to talk to him again.  I prayed to God to help me and then tried my hardest to listen and understand what he was signing.  Long story short we had a 45 minute conversation.  He signed and I understood him, and I signed back and he understood.  I learned so much about him and we became great friends!  Elder Reynolds did not understand anything.  I had called the ASL sisters we have here at the beginning of our chat and by the end they called back.  I told them all about my friend and they were so shocked about what I was saying.  They asked his name and were so excited to hear it was their recent convert from about 2 months ago.  He had an appointment with them but he missed his bus to get there.  The gift of tongues is real, oh so real.  I never felt so grateful to understand and love someone like I loved him. 

We had a unforgettable sacrament meeting.  The sacrament itself was so great.  The deacons did a great job. We were fasting because next week is stake conference.  Long story short the noise and disruption during the sacrament can be relentless.  So much distractions and tension.  Pretty bad right?  Then during each and every testimony a spirit of endurance and love was felt.  You could just feel the burden of the ward being shared on each others  backs.  Everyone struggles and we are so far from perfect, but to just sit there, wait on the Lord's supper and bare with each other the desire to be better.  That is priceless.  That is the atonement at work in the souls of burdened, tested and novice members of the church. 

We also finally got an Elders Quorum President with a first counselor!  This whole time we haven't had one. We are so excited about it.  It will bring so much more joy and strength to the priesthood holders in the ward. You can't build up a ward when you are missing the operation of vital keys. 

So one more thing before I leave.  This one pulls on the heart strings a little.  The investigator family we are teaching are doing great.  We had a great lesson with them and the Mom shared something with me that I want to share with you.  She was talking with a friend about missionaries.  A little about what we do and how she was feeling taking the lessons.  The friend was so astounded  to learn that we dedicate our lives for two years to this work.  She thought it a trial to give everything up.  She was even touched by the sacrifices of missionary mothers.  My investigator didn't understand how hard it was for her friend to understand us.  She was getting a little frustrate with how emotionally invested her friend was until her friend said to her "Would you give your son up to pay for the sins of the world?  Is that something you could do?  Have him leave your care and pay the sins for others."  My investigator was listening now, and she answered with "No, I probably couldn't do that."  Her friend said "Well the mothers of these boys can. That's what they are doing. It the same thing."  At this point in the story I couldn't help but weep for a moment.  This work is true.  It's his work and we are doing it in his way.  At times we receive the same results He did, in both senses.  We find hard ears, and blind hearts.  But we also find humble children and prepared families.  I love this work.  Thanks for letting me serve Mom. I love you.

Elder Bagley 

Making tortillas--I taught mysealf

On exchanges--Hump day shirts and mustaches

I love In-n-out.  Maybe I am looking a little to Johnny Bravo.

Dude and dog on motorcycle.   Dad don't try this with Rogan.

Teaching is the greatest thing...

Hi Mom! 

Gosh, first off the mini family vacation to St. George looked like a blast!  I can't wait to get home and do all those fun things again. I was having a hard time occupying my thoughts with missionary related things so I decided that every time I think or hear about something that I want to do when I am off my mission I just right it down in my little notebook.  I am calling it my “bucket list” but some of the things I don't think I'll get done for a long, long time. 

Tell the family I wish I could have been there.  I also wish you could have been here but I guess we are both winning in different ways.  That's so great you got to see “Meet the Mormons”.  It really is a great film.  I felt proud to be a member after I watched it.  It made me feel like we don't have anything to hide, but rather a lot to share. 

This week I think was the fastest of all the weeks I have had.  Gosh, it seems like I was just here writing emails yesterday.  We are doing really great down here in the great Pacoima city!  Ha-ha I am excited for Halloween in Pacoima.  Stuff is always going down on normal days, a crazy holiday like Halloween should be just nuts. Good thing we have a curfew.  Also thanks so much for the package.  My comp saw it and said, "Wow your mom loves you a lot."  I have to agree with him.  It was so creative and thoughtful, can't wait to go through all thirteen days. Thanks!

I have been working on perfecting some my lesson plans.  I have liked looking back at past teaching experiences.  I have been able to see the changes in my teaching abilities. I am using more scriptures; I am able to express my thoughts clear about doctrine and encourage bolder commitments from investigators.  I love it all.  Teaching is the greatest thing you can do as a missionary.  I think that's because Christ did it the most.  But, I don't remember reading anything about him knocking doors, but then again I haven't read the whole New Testament…working on it though. 

Spanish has been going great.  I have a growing desire to go to Spain.  I think that would be really, really awesome. I would like to just go around and study the culture, see a bull fight and try and pick up the accent.  Bucket Listing it...

Our investigators are great!  Also Paquito came to church yesterday!  Finally…but I am sad to report he took a member’s daughter and our investigator’s daughter down to the liquor story to by Cheetos when he should have been in primary.  I am very disappointed with him for that.  But we are finally teaching his mother with his sister.  Slowly, we are weeding out the tension in that house and replacing it with the light of Christ and the Book of Mormon.  I probably won't see the fruits of my labors but I am blessed to have the vision of what the future may hold.  It's all a work in progress and as long as you’re moving forward its good...No matter how long it takes. 

We have baptized 4 people so far as a zone and have 4 more in line.  That will be the highest baptism rate in a long time.  We are excited and happy to see others come unto Christ…especially when I feel we have done a lot of work as a zone leadership to help.  We are happy campers. 

We also have a lot of other great investigators progressing: A family who is preparing to be baptized in November, two teenage girls who are best friends and fighting against poverty and social pressures to find a better future, as well as a sister of our recent convert family who wants to hear the gospel.  She came to church too…so great…all so great. 

I was reading my patriarchal blessing the other day and I feel really good about where I am in my life.  There is nothing found in my blessing that I am not fulfilling or preparing to fulfill.  A little is said about my Spanish opportunities so I think I am going to have to keep pushing hard with that. 

I miss you mom.  I hope you know that I pray for you every night.  I ask God to bless you so you can find help in your calling as my Mother.  I am so grateful that calling never has a release. 

Con carino

Elder Bagley 

AWESOME old Book of Mormon I found in the library.

Leaf proselyting

Being a little artsy while doing my laundry

The religious section at the library

The view from our balcony

Lots of stuff going on

Que Tal?

Hi Mom.  Sounds like you are doing great!  Thanks again for the emails.  It'd be weird having a Mom that didn't write every week.  I hope no one has to go through that.

This week was a crazy one!  Lots of stuff going on.  But that's about the same as the last year of my life so what's new?

SO this week was full of exchanges. We had 3 exchanges, 1 blitz and companion study with another companionships. I like exchanges because I get to teach and learn at the same time.  But three in a week is just nuts.  I got ran into the ground pretty quick.  Elder Stark and I have spent more time apart than together.  On the exchanges I was focusing really hard on controlling revelation, especially revelation that is personal or sacred.  I feel blessed to have the mind that I do and my ability to learn is often times quicker than others, if I put my will to it.  But my self control is just garbage.  So if you put two and two together it can get kind of messy and I can be a little overbearing.  Before my mission the lesson of "time and place for everything" was never learned. Ha-ha in my schooling, dating, play, and work I just never really learned that.  Even now I struggle with it.  So I had all the other missionaries help me with it.  They taught me and all gave me great suggestions on our exchanges.  It was a humbling experience hearing about your mistakes all week long.  I love it but it was heavy too.

We did some really great teaching and finding this week as well.  “Finding” has been really pressing on my mind lately and I have gained a new testimony in my desire to “find” as well.  I am more calm, confident and powerful when I contact people in the street.  I care about how they are doing and have an easier time seeing their point of view.  I love it a lot but, I really think planning needs to have a bigger role in my work.  We are working super hard we just need to start working inspired.  We need to find the time to “find” ha-ha.

Yesterday, was a tough one. We got a call from our investigator during the day and she asked us to come to the hospital--her son had tried to kill himself and she wanted us to be there for him.  After we hung up the phone we immediately knelt down, prayed and asked what it was we should do, say, and feel in order to help this family.  I was really humbled at the trust this mom had in two 20 year old kids to say the least.  Her son almost took his life but, she had full confidence that we could help him.  Where else is that kind of trust put in youth like us?  This work is not only true but, it inspires those around us to test it.  Call us!  See if what we've been given and know is true, can't bless your family.  We didn't give it a second thought.  There was no doubt in my mind that we could help. It was more how and when.  I am grateful the Lords trust me as his servant, because it’s a great feeling to truly represent him, stand in his place, and say what he would say. I like that a lot.

I was reading the other day and found this in 2 Nephi 1:15 (by the way Nephi and Isaiah are my favorite prophets. I love them both) “But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love."  I love the contrast between "hell" and "arms of his love". It was inspired that you mentioned hugging and Christ’s arms in your letter because I have been very much affected by this verse.  I can't wait for that day to hug you and tell you the stories and experiences I have had.  But I also have even greater desire for that finally day.  When I will get to hug and then talk to him.  Just to enjoy his love and share my life with him.  Hopefully we will have a lot in common. Hopefully it we be more "I am glad that" and fewer "I wish that" moments.

I love you Mom. I'm quite lucky to be your son…quite lucky in deed.

Elder Bagley

Showing my artist side

Huge passole--Before

--After

Drying clothes

Playing croquet on p-day

Definitely loved Conference!

Yup, I definitely loved conference as well.  My mind is just stirred and stirred with new and direct revelation. Conference is better than Christmas. This week was a wonderful one; I went to the temple, held a ZTM and watched conference. All in a week! Oh how great it was!

This week was a crazy one but I loved it. My body has never been this tired but my mind is running a thousand miles per hour. Unfortunately my hand does write that fast. I am having a hard time capturing all that I am experiencing…If you can find a cheap digital recorder that would be a greatly appreciated gift. I don't know if it's reasonable. I really want to record my own testimony of Jose Smith and listen to it in my own voice. It might add a new level to my work. Let me know.

The temple was stunning. It was the most revealing and powerful session yet.  I came with stirrings in my heart and left with questions abounding.  I love how I can go there thinking I know what I need to learn or what would be just so perfect for this or that problem--and then the Lord teaches me in such a different, better direction.  I am stimulated by visuals but in the temple learning environment I just take off.  I could not soak it up enough.  I even received a lot of great direction for my future decisions and potential.  I love to see the temple--but I love going in it even more.

ZTM was wonderful…one of the best yet.  We had an amazing abundance of the spirit and I really felt the truthfulness of the words.  I feel so lucky to be in higher authority position as a missionary.  Often times the questions and concerns of the people under my stewardship really carry me to the places I need to be.  I can't talk too much about it all without using up all my time so on to the next.

Conference was incredible.  It really had a solemn, serious feel to it.  Pres. Monson was direct and precise in the priesthood session.  A lot of themes were repeated between sessions.  I feel the Lord just needs us to be a little bit more of a tighter ship.  Less lose screws and planks and stronger sails and ropes.  I know I have been feeling that call before now.  Conference just put my thoughts into beautiful testimony and doctrine.  I loved it.

OK Now the saddest note of the day. This is from President Hall.

“…On a separate note, I have some disappointing news.  I received a call from the Missionary Department that they have decided to postpone the rollout of iPads to our mission.  It appears that there were some missionaries in another mission who decided not to follow the rules for the use of the mobile devices and used them inappropriately.  The Missionary Department has decided to hold off on providing additional missions with mobile devices until they can review the situation and determine an appropriate path forward.  Like you, Sister Hall and I are quite disappointed.  May I just say like Alma did to his son Corianton in Alma 41:10, “Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.”  Especially when someone else’s wickedness impacts my happiness!  Elders and Sisters, “O be wise; what can I say more?” (Jacob 6:12).”

WOOF!  I am bummed but I know we'll get them when we need them. When the Lord knows we need them.

I feel like this week was the week that I needed to get going faithfully for the rest of my mission.  We have been having a lot of new lessons and have found 5 new investigators this past week.  Our work is increasing--we just need to keep the quality of teaching on the same line of progression.  I love you Mom.  I am grateful for the kind of “home teacher” you were to me.  I feel like growing up in our home I found a lot more support and guidance then I could have anywhere else.  I love you.

Elder Bagley

Until next week!

Early morning skyline view from the temple

Outside the temple

This is Damien, he's a HOOT!

I got pooped on my a bird!

FHE at the Bishop's house