...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

This week was a crazy one...

Are you my mother?

So good to hear from you. Thanks for all the love :)

This week was a crazy one but next week will be even crazier.  To start we visited a cactus farm.  It was so sick ha-ha I wanted someone to like give us a tour and teach us about cacti but turns out it was like some guy’s back yard and we were trespassing.  Ha-ha we were just following the lead of a missionary that had been there before...goofed on that one.  BUT still it was awesome.  There was a lot of rustic wielding and old western type things everywhere.  I really dug it.  It's hard finding cool things to do around here.

Next big thing… Bigger thing really was the temple.  We had are bi-annual mission trip so all the Spanish speaking missionaries came.  Oh mom, it was so great.  So needed.  I had a really beautiful personal revelation that I am never going to forget.  I loved it.  A lot.  There is something infinitely powerful about seeing a chapel full of missionaries all dressed in white.  President say's it's his favorite thing to do as a mission president.  I can see why.

 

Getting ready for the temple...personal hygiene is important.

We met with the Valencia stake committee to talk about the work Sunday morning.  It was an hour long meeting at 7 in the morning all the way in Santa Clarita which is like a 30 minute drive with LA traffic.  Long story short, I loved it so much.  It wasn't a "meeting" it was a counsel of faithful men discussing the Lord’s work.  I felt so lucky I got to sit with them and just enjoy the spirit and drive that they have.  It was for the English stake so that was a little different but in every side of this work there are very powerful, faith driven men.  I hope one day that my testimony and my faith can serve others the way they serves their respective stewardship.

A really great blessing we saw this week was that every companionship in San Fernando district got the chance to talk with at least 140 people, which is the number prescribed specifically to our mission from Elder Ballard in order to double our baptisms.  One week won't do it but it was great to see the progress.

Small miracle we saw this week…Fransisco is staying here for the summer and not going to Mexico.  I am so happy about it but I feel bad about praying for his passport to get messed up.  Ha-ha we were praying and praying he could stay and the Lord saw it fit :)  Can't be mad about that.  I asked him why he thought God didn't give his dad money for his passport and he said "Well, I probably think it's because God wants me to stay with you guys a little longer."  Right you are Fransisco!

This week we have been seeing a huge increase in resistance to our work.  A lot of abuse that comes from people who care very little about our work.  A few examples include: people throwing things at our car, blowing smoke into our faces, telling us to worship Satan, and the usually sling of curse words.  It's hard Mom.  It's hard not just tearing them to shreds, rebuking them, hating them, or calling them to repentance.  I've been struggling with that.  We are teaching a group of teenagers in the Projects and I love them so much.  They are so tender and willing to learn.  What really gets me is that my testimony will be fine.  My faith will not be broken by evil people who wish to fight against us.  But in one particular moment as I was walking away from an angry contact I felt nothing but rage in my heart.  I'll be fine but what happens when we baptize these teenagers and they become the receiving end of what I experience.  How will their new, gentle testimonies hold up to that?

It's a hard thing being a faithful missionary, because if you are going to be faithful that means you are going to be tested.  I love what Elder Holland spoke about in this past conference when he said "you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ‍ of Latter-day Saints."  His talk has given me a lot of insight and I am grateful for living day prophets.

I have received the most strength by coupling Elder Holland’s talk with Pres. Monson’s, “Between discipleship and love”.  I really feel I can learn to love this people that hate us so bad.  I do not understand their lives.  I don't understand their reasons for rage and anger but maybe I can understand how to help them.  How to love them.

Thank you mom for the fire you have given my testimony.  For the constant example and love you poured into my life.  I love sharing what you have given me to others.

This next week is going to be a crazy one.  Transfers (no changes with our companionship)  :) on Tuesday, MLC on Wednesday, and ZTM on Friday.  Oh the beautiful life of a Pacoima Zone Leader.

I love you

Elder Bagley

Helping President with interviews

Hi Mom :)

It’s so good to hear from you.  Sounds like things are well.  Thanks so much for the package!  The Reese's bits melted but they still taste the same frozen ;)  Sorry summer is flying by!  Try to enjoy it while you can and I'll do the same.

This week was a great one.  I really feel this week I grew more than usual.  My prayers have been more faith based and grateful, and my desire to share the gospel has increased a lot!

We helped President with interviews this week. He goes to every zone and interviews all the missionaries personally for about 15 minutes all day. Even though he is tired and has been doing interviews all over the mission for 200 some missionaries, he is happy and cheerful. I love that man. He is wonderful.

During the interviews we gave a training on teaching doctrine simply and then we taught about the atonements enabling power. I really enjoyed testifying of that. Sometimes it's hard to know you have a testimony until you can see the affect it has on someone else. Until the words leave your mouth and they feel so right and so true. It was great…a lot of work but great.    

Because of interviews taking up a whole day we had a pretty packed week for finding and teaching. A lot of our investigators aren't progressing just for the fact that we can't get a good appointment set with them or they have random things happen. Like a new baby or a vacation to Mexico. It's hard to see but I am happy I am doing my part. That feels good.

 

Fransisco our investigator.  I love him so much.  I have never taught anyone so spiritually sensitive to the truths of the gospel.  Sadly he is going to mexico for 2 months :,(

This week I have been really tired. I haven't been sleeping very well because of our house situation. We live in the hood and so noisy there.  There are a lot of sirens and other noises all night. The bank down the street almost got robbed. But don't worry 12 police cars got it under control. Needless to say we are looking for a new pad to live in. Somewhere in the next month or two we will hopefully be out!

We are teaching a big group of teenagers that live in the projects. It has been so fun being able to give a young group of people and opportunity to have a better chance at live. The projects are basically the hood of Pacoima and a lot of drug and gang activity happens every day.  But seeing these kids understand the restoration and be happy about just having a friend has been so fun for me.  I love them a lot!  Hopefully we can get them to church and baptism :)

The work is moving forward :) who would have guessed? I’m so sorry “missionary time” is crawling for you. Sometimes it seems that way right before something great is going to happen.  I love being a missionary.  It's really hard.  It's a personal struggle everyday to be better, but it's nice to know I have divine help.  I have a patient kind Father in Heaven who wants me to succeed. That helps. Love you mom!

Elder Bagley

YUCK!  Fish! Usually it is cook it in a fillet and it's really yummy...not into heads being attached

Lavandaria

Shout out to Dad...Happy Father's Day

Hi Mom

First off shout out to Dad! Happy Father's day :) I've been thinking a lot about him over here and I am really blessed to have had such an amazing example in my life. I feel that largely because of him I am able to understand the importance of values and standards that I am still striving to keep even now. I will never be able to say thanks enough for the example of love he has shown me in the way he loves you Mom. That is priceless to me. All in all, give him a big hug and a thank you from me!

This week has been a crazy one!  I don't know if it's as crazy as hiking Donut Falls but it's pretty close. First topic is cenas (dinners)!  We are eating with the members a bunch!  This next week we have a dinner planned every single day of the week.  This is incredible if you think of the 10 companionships this ward is feeding every single week.  It's been a great blessing.  But I am going to miss cooking for myself, I have really liked doing that. But, it's a good trade :)

We found 11 new investigators this week which was a really great feeling.  I am excited to see the progression of these people.  Lots of teaching in the future...woof!  Ha-ha we'll be needing to do a lot of great planning.  Sadly we had to drop the baptismal dates we had for two of our investigators. They didn't come to church this week and so the 3 required times aren't going to happen for their baptism. It really was a sad day.  We felt so good about Paquito coming to church but he didn't answer when our member went to pick him up…sad day.  But silver lining we had Maria, who we taught only 2 days earlier come to church.  It really makes a difference when investigators understand doctrine and then can receive support in acting on those truths.  Everyone would come to church if they knew it was true.  Wouldn't they?  They'd beg you to be baptized if they truly understood it is the gate to the celestial kingdom, right?  Doctrine drives discipleship.  I hope I keep getting better at teaching simple doctrine.  I love it.

Exchanges have been going really well.  Unfortunately, as it played out I have left my area for the past 4 times which doesn't help with homesickness, because not only am I away from Utah, I am away from my temporary home here in Pacoima.  It's going to take some time to get use to it.

The other day it was 90 degrees with a nice breeze and it felt like heaven.  The heat is not a big deal anymore.  I don't know what I am going to do when I see snow again.  It's going to be weird having to put on a jacket!

Side note…Our investigators need to quit Googleing the gospel.  It's the dumps.  We always know when they do this because they start asking crazy weird questions about polygamy, and exaltation, and temple worship.  They must not understand we represent the church, not Google...woof.

Things are about to get real, real good. Elder Worthington and I are committed to refocusing our zone back to baptizing and working in faith to achieve our goals.  We feel very strongly that missionaries are acting in routine and not in faith.  It's hard to see.  I have learned that when we want to teach investigators we teach Joseph Smith and the restoration.  But when we want to teach missionaries, we teach Jesus Christ and the Atonement. I feel so passionately about that.  No statements or solid direction for the zone comes to mind but the stirrings in my heart are a wonderful start.  It's hard to except that a year ago I was painfully working through the Atonement to repent and be worthy for a mission and now I am charged with teaching others the atonement in empowering and enabling missionaries.  Everyday my faith grows and I honestly can't keep up with it.  The best way I can describe it is I am "growing up too fast".  I feel like mission wise I am growing up to fast.  But it's a wonderful thing, not a bad thing.

One last thought, and I promise when I get home we can have hours of stories and campfire chats, but for now it needs to be filtered ha-ha.  So Santa Clarita had a baptism and after the man was baptized he just stood in the water.  He was holding his hands and just bowed his head.  I started to tear up.  For about a minute no one talked.  Gosh it was just simple and beautiful…a son of god just humbly standing quite in the waters of baptism. It doesn't get better than that.  

Love you Mom! Still can't wait for that hug :)

Best library ever!

Strange Selfies

Love Elder Worthington's expression in the background

One Crazy week...MLC and ZTM

Hey Mom!

Congratulations to Alexis on graduating! Those citizen grades can really sneak up on ya... :) but I am proud she made it.

This week has been a crazy one. We had MLC (mission leadership counsel) this week as well as ZTM (zone training meeting). During MLC president trains all the zone leaders and sister training leaders in the mission. It was so great to learn so intimately from president. In MLC his true self comes out more clearly and the revelation is wonderful! After MLC we went home and planned for ZTM which is a 3 hour training that Elder Worthington and I give with the Sister Training Leaders. It went really well. I like being able to teach other missionaries. It's just a little crazy to think that 10 months ago I wasn't a missionary and now I am teaching others how to be missionaries. That sounds crazy but when you add Christ's sustaining influences into the mix it starts to make a lot more sense. Heads up on this email though, I got stuck with the keyboard with a broken backspace and it is driving me nuts. Hopefully I can keep it together here.

So because of MLC and ZTM we haven't had a ton of time to work in our area. It's been on and off for a while but we now have a lot more time to get back into the actual missionary part of missionary work. Its hard being the leader of the zone and having the lowest conversion numbers out of everyone. This week it's going to be so nice getting back into the groove I miss.

I had a really great exchange with the Santa Clarita Zone Leader this week. He is from Draper and actually lives like 10 minutes away from Discount Tire. Cool story huh? Anyways I am learning a lot on exchanges. They are really starting to grow on me.

Selfies on exchange

We are eating close to 3 meals a week with the members which are more than I have ever eaten in my mission! It's a real blessing. Latina women can be really touchy when it comes to food but for the most part it’s been a smooth operation. Obispo has called ward food coordinators to help things continue on.

Our last week Zone activity went great. It was hard to plan but everyone seemed to have a fun time! It kind of reminded me about being back in student government.

Ice blocking for Zone activity

It's been hard keeping in contact with some of our investigators this week. Some of the people who have dates to be baptized aren't quite progressing fast enough to keep their dates. But we are doing all we can to give them every opportunity we can. It's hard but its how agency goes. One small miracle though, we found this woman on the street and ended up teaching her whole family on the first visit about the atonement of Christ. It was such a blessing to be the voice that could testify to them of the power and truthfulness of the atonement. I haven't cried a lot on my mission but during that moment I really felt the spirit sanctify my words. It was beautiful.

I am still adjusting to the new Zone Leader stress. Part of this all makes me want to jump back to some of my old stress relief methods…long-boarding, drawing, music. Homesickness is creeping around. But all and all I am doing well at keeping it at bay. Love you Mother. Thanks for the constant love and support.

Elder Bagley