This week was a great one

This week was a great one. I don't know where to start but all it all it was great.

I live in Slymar. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the pad. We are naming it the Pigeon Pad because we are on the 3rd floor and a lot of pigeons like to hangout on our balcony. It's fun trying to fight them off. I love the new place though…so nice and clear and organized. Yup it’s a blessing for sure. I like it a lot.

Francisco got confirmed this week. I performed the ordinance. I am so lucky. It felt so pure and guided by the spirit. I felt like I finally had an opportunity to bless someone with what the Lord had been waiting and wanting to give for so long. I don't remember specifics of what I said but it felt right. Later that night a member came up to me and shared that he was throwback to his own confirmation 23 years ago after I said an exact phrase that he was blessed with. He said it was like he could feel it all over again. I got caught up after thinking of all the baptized disciples that were waiting and waiting for Christ to bring with him the gift of the Holy Ghost through his priesthood. It must have made his coming that much sweeter. I love Francisco.

We have been doing a lot of teaching this week. We have 5 people preparing to be baptized and that's awesome but I have really been cherishing my study time. 2 hours in the morning is not enough time for 5 individual needs and questions. I really have to focus on the simple doctrine and what the spirit needs me to teach in order to make sure everyone can actually make it to the dates they have set. I love it but it has just thrown me into a whole new sphere of focus and prayer. The forge never gets cooler.

Cinthia, Francisco sister is doing well and reading the book of Mormon a lot. I like teaching her because she might not know it all but she has a huge desire to change.

Kevin is 10 and from Honduras. He accent is golden. I love it. He is just like Francisco…super smart spiritually sensitive kid. The only issue with him is giving him enough to learn. He just soaks it all up. He and Francisco became friends. We are excited about his progress.

Anthony and Kimberly are a really young beautiful couple. They are just a power couple. I love it. Stay tune for them. Good things are coming though. I can tell.

Francisco—another one--he is great. Really humble and ready to change his life. It's hard because he works a lot but we are still going at it. And we have some great member support with him. Patience is the biggest key.

I haven't got a lot of time to knock doors or contact a super huge amount of people but honestly it's been good to just teach and prepare. I love it a lot.

Love you. The work is great and all is well.

Elder Bagley

Elder Starks and Elder Bagley

Moving out...

Not quite all moved in.

Slack-lining on p-day

Some of our pigeon friends! 

Crazy week

This week was nuts, but first…

Elder Stark is my new companion. I am his senior comp and he has never been a District Leader or Zone Leader. So I am going to have to train him on that.  I am driving now too.  With the way Cali drives though I am great in comparison.  People are nuts.  We almost die every day.  But no worries...Elder Stark is great though.  I already love him so much.  We're gonna get along fine.

We moved into our new pad, same proselytizing area just different apartment.  It is SO nice, new and clean.  I love it.  We have AC and a Gym downstairs.  Plus a third floor view.  I'll send pictures next week.

Gosh Alexis is gonna be in college!?  I bet you quys are freaking out more than I am.  I just can't get my head around that. Time just keeps chugging along.  I can't wait to see how great she is going to be :) I love that girl.

We didn't get to have a lot of time to work in our area.  And the little time we did have I filled it with lessons with our investigators.  We have so many great things going on.  Looking into September and October we are looking at 4-6 baptism in Pacoima alone.  I hope I can be here to see them but if not I am ok with that too.

Here was the week...

Lunes: Preparation day

Martes: Transfer meeting.

Miercoles: District meeting, bike shopping for new missionaries, and Stake meeting with President.

Juves: Coordination Meeting, moving into our new house, and member dinner. Taught Francisco and his sister! Who btw wants to be baptized too :) yay

Viernes: Finish unpacking the house, go buy food (we were running low haha, stopped by Kevin’s (getting baptized in September and he was a member referral. Double yay)

Sababdo: Got an oil change and checked the car tires. Finally got around to weekly planning. Get a call at 7pm asking me to speak in church the next day. Wrote me talk...

Domingo: Gave my talk. Studies and Zone numbers.

It was a crazy, crazy week. I am excited to have some time to actually get back to focusing on our investigators.

Francisco didn't get confirmed this week.  Bishop was really stressed and I think he just forgot about it.  It's a little worrisome but Francisco is still good to go, I just want that boy to have the Holy Ghost ASAP.  No need to wait.

Real quick I just want to share one of the greatest stories with you.  After sacrament meeting I had an impression to congratulate the other speaker on his talk.  As I walked up to him he introduced me to a man sitting alone on the front pew.  I introduced myself in Spanish but he only spoke English.  I shook his hand but it was crippled and fragile.  I sat down and started to talk with him.  He poured out his heart about all the difficulties of his live.  From drugs, disabilities and losing loved ones from gangs, and sickness.  From all the drugs he has forgotten how to speak Spanish and can't communicate with his family.  Through it all he started to just cry.  I have never met someone so broken.  I put my arm around him and just listened.  I told him he was doing a great job, something I don't think he has ever heard before.  We shared such a special moment together.  After about 15 minutes I walked him over to the English Elders and introduced him.  I told him he wanted to take the lessons.  I told him he was in good hands.  We said goodbye and he just looked me in the eyes, down at my tag and then just said thanks.  We headed back to the car to drop off some things and I couldn't help but just weep and weep.  I was just overwhelmed, so overwhelmed.  I have never felt closer to Christ in my entire life.  Christ paid completely for the sins of my new friend.  He suffered his sickness, his pain, and addictions, all of them.  And then he suffered for mine too. I will never forget that Mom.  Ever.

I love you.  I love you so much. Thanks for letting me be a missionary.

Elder Bagley.

Sorry no pictures this week.

Thanks for the love you send

Thanks for the love you send. Email's Letters, packages.  They are all really appreciated.  Te amo.

So this week was a great one.  A lot going on but it really turned out to be a great end to the transfer.  With transfer news, I will be staying as a Zone Leader and Elder Worthington is moving to be a Zone Leader AND a District Leader.  He is a little stressed about the extra load but hey, the Lord leads his work how he wants to. This transfer is going to be the craziest I have had.  We have had 8 missionaries either end their missions or get sent home in the past 6 weeks not to mention all the missionaries who are finished serving.  Long story short everything is going to be flipped upside down.  Plus we are moving pads.  But I am ready for some changes.  It's about time for something new :)  OH,  also the first wave of new Spanish elders is coming since I came in.  Yay.  I think Elder Spears is going to be training too!  It's a possibility he can come to our zone.  We'll see.  Fun fun fun :)

Wow, Mom this week was great.  We taught so much, found a ton, had great morning studies, member dinners, and baptized Francisco!  YAY!  I loved it all.  To start though, teaching was so good this week.  I finally feel like I have control over the doctrines I am teaching.  Plus Spanish isn't a barrier anymore but rather a really great tool to explain myself and the lessons even better.  We have had a lot of great members involved in our teaching too.  They help so much to understand the investigator and give them instant support and love with commitments.

We found a lot of great new investigators this week as well.  We have a few baptismal dates set up for September which is great.  In the Lords work you really have to be looking 1 to 2 months in advance if you want to make good goals.

My studies have been really, really strong lately.  Every morning I just get re-driven and revived. I have been getting a lot out of Nephi's quoting of Isaiah.  There is so much there that I always skipped over because "Isaiah never makes sense".  Ha-ha but now there is so much to learn about covenants, gathering of Israel, and the character of the Savior.  I love it all…can't wait till I can study with my iPad :)

So this week we had MLC (missionary leadership council, basically the Jedi Counsel) and ZTM (zone training meeting). Both went really well. I am pleased to look back and see how I use to handle and train with ZTM and how I am working with it now. I have grown a lot.

ZTM was great.  I'll send pictures but we had a great training on "Lesson Plans" and "treasuring up doctrine". Plus the Hermanas reminded us about how much we love the people we serve by dressing like Mexicans and talking about our favorite Latino things. It was great.

"Dressing like Mexicans and talking about our favorite Latino things"

So Francisco got baptized!  And it was just perfect.  Everything flowed perfectly and the ward was so supportive.  Honestly it couldn't have gone better.  A bunch of non-members showed up as well, including his family.  It was the best baptismal service I have seen and I'm not trying to be bias.  Francisco loved it.  He leaned over to me and said, "I wish this could last longer."  It was great seeing how the ward just soaked him up.  Hermana Moran calls him "mi amor, and mijo".  He truly does have a second family here.  Before the actually ordinance I sang a duet with Hermana Hudson.  It was "A Child's Pray" in Spanish.  It was really out of my character but after she asked me to do it I felt like I would regret it if I said no.  So it was really cool to do that.  After that we had the actually ordinance and it was so great!  He's baptized :) YAY.  It was all so perfect. I loved it.  And I love him.  Sadly we haven't broken the news yet that Elder Worthington is leaving.  We are doing that tonight.  Not looking forward to that.  Not one bit.

All is well over here. I was studying the other day and I fell in love with 1 Nephi 20:10 "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."  I really feel like I am getting refined.  Sure I have afflictions but more than anything I have growth and refinement.  I have given up a lot to be a missionary: my family, my job, school, friends, girlfriend, my music, long-boarding.  But all those things were blessings that I have already received from the Lord, I'm just giving them back.  If I truly want to be more than just a good missionary I need to give my heart, and my will.  My agency is not God's.  He doesn't already have that.  But if I can learn to surrender my will, my wants, dreams and desires, then take up his.  I will be more than a good missionary; I'll be a good servant, a true tool in the Lords hands.  Without that kind of consecration, these 2 years will benefit me nothing.  Gosh I love this work Mom.  I really do.  Every day is just wonderful and full of good..pure, loving good.

Te amo

Elder Bagley

Francisco passed his interview

Thank you for the emails!  The pictures of the hike and the cabin were much appreciated.  I really miss nature's beauty more than anything. There isn't enough of it to go around over here.  So thanks!  I hope you three keep doing your weekly hikes when I get back.  I want to tag a long for at least a few.

I'm not super surprised Nana is getting rid of the sheep.  They are definitely a hand full and she has been great with them for so long.  She's a pretty wonderful lady I'd say.  Give her a big hug for me.

I am so happy to hear about Nathan being ordained to the office of a priest!  That is so great.  Sometimes in the highly populated LDS community we just see ordinations as a "getting older" step of the gospel but it is so much more than that.  I wish I would have better understood the divine calling God had for all those he calls to hold his priesthood.  Understanding that brings so much more joy than just seeing the priesthood as a "ready or not here I come" kind of principle.  Tell him congratulation!

  

This week was a great one!  I am getting pretty tired of our apartment though.  This week the shower pan broke and so we have been taking bathes ha-ha it's been a delight.  Needless to say I will be happy when we move on the 14th.  Elder Worthington keeps talking like he is going to be transferred next week but who knows.  This transfer there is a lot of missionaries ending their missions and a bunch of leadership openings. It's gonna be big.  Stay tuned.

Still waiting on those iPads.  Man I want one so bad.

I had a great exchange with the trio in our district.  So I was with two elders in their areas.  It was a challenge being able to help both of them with their individual goals for the exchange but I learned that if I can just enjoy myself and listen to the spirit during those small teaching opportunities I can be confident they will learn what the Lord wants.  I really had a great time.  One of the Elders said that the last exchange we had together changed his mission.  That's something every zone leader wants to hear.  It felt good to see my personal affect on individuals instead of just "the zone".

OK so now the greatest news yet.  Francisco passed his interview and is all set to be baptized on the 10th! It has been so amazing teaching him.  I just loved it all.  Not that it's over but still he has just soaked up so well the doctrines he needs to know to be baptized.  His testimony is so fresh and pure I love it.  We printed off some invitations for him and during church he ran around to everyone handing them out.  It was so cute! Ha-ha some of the members hadn't even noticed he was investigating the church so it was awesome to see all the love they gave him once he was inviting them to his baptism.  Tonight we have a Noche de Hogar (FHE) with him and the Familia Moran.  Tomorrow we are going to take him and his family to the LA temple visitor’s center.  We are excited to give him a great first impression of the temple.  Plus the Hermanas down there do a great job at teaching.

Things are going well! This next week will be nuts. On the menu we have the temple, MLC, ZTM, and the baptism. Lastly, these past couple of days I have been studying at such a higher mental and spiritual level. Daily I feel like I am learning by faith and often times I have strong spiritual impressions about doctrine I have never applied before.  I love it all.  The book of Mormon has brought me the most powerful lessons in the spirit.  It's my own personal window into who God is and how kind he is to bless us with the gospel.  I am going to have a hard time giving up my worn Spanish scriptures for an iPad but I think I'll get over it.

Te amo Madre.  Mas que pueda imaginarse.  Keep up the good fight!  I'll talk to you soon.

Elder Mitchell Brett 

FHE

Rainbow after a God sent sprinkling...it felt good.

Back on the iron pony for the exchange.  It's been too long.

Bike selfy is in order

The Date is set...August 10

...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