iPads are finally coming...maybe

Madre

It's so good to hear from you!  Even to see the little bit of Spanish you know.  It's sounding great.  I had never heard "te echo de menos" before but I thought it out and I think it means I miss you, right?  Anyways I always love your emails.

I feel for the Jensen family.  I can't imagine what kind of terror that could have brought to their family.  I will be praying for them. 

I am happy to hear about how the lesson went on Isaiah!  I have really loved pondering his teachings found in 2 Nephi. There is a lot there about the gathering of Israel and the Restoration of the Gospel.  Isaiah knows missionary work. 

This week was a great one!  Next week is pretty packed.  We have stuff going on every day.  But we'll get to that later. 

Transfers went great.  We still have our same district leaders staying with us so I won't lose the relationships I have made with them.  I am anxious and excited to counsel together and see what the Lord would have us do for the next 6 weeks.  As a zone leader anything we want to do, and do well, we work through the district leaders.  I love it. 

We now have 7 out of the 11 companionships training new missionaries.  We are the biggest training zone in the mission.  We even had a new area open up in Santa Clarita.  All is well.  We have lost focus on “finding” but it won't take much to get back on track with that. 

We had a surprise mission conference (English, Spanish, Korean and ASL) this week.  We recieved some instruction from Elder Uchtdorf's words to the new mission presidents (which they never release to the public unless instructed) as well as we got the chance to watch the new movie “Meet the Mormons”. I don't know how it goes down in Utah but you need to make it a date night or something.  It was really great.  I learned a lot and felt so proud to be a member of this church. 

ALSO big, big news on the iPad's.  President got a call from headquarters and they said we are getting mobile devices this month!  I AM SO EXCITED.  BUT even bigger news is they want to use our mission for a pilot program for the new Iphone 6+.  We aren't 100% sure which device we will be getting but either way it was great to finally get some new news about it all. 

So for next week here is what it's looking like:

Monday: Half a preparation day, take the Car to the dealer (it got recalled...), FHE

Tuesday: Going to the temple to make up for my birthday :) :) :)

Wednesday: MLC

Thursday: Weekly and ZTM Planning

Friday: ZTM and 2 District leader meetings, plus splits with the Assistants

Sat: #ldsconf

Sun:#ldsconf and zone baptism

We are going to have a pretty crazy week to say the least. 

Mom, I really think something is missing from my work.  I have really been pondering and praying about it a lot.  I just don't think I am where the Lord needs me in terms of commitment and sanctification…which is hard to grasp because I am doing well.  I feel like a successful missionary I just need help getting to the next level.  It's not a matter of running faster than I have strength but maybe just trying to get the most out of this next year.  What more can I sacrifice? What more does the Lord need from me?  What lack I yet?  I found that one thing I can do to be a little better tool in the Lord’s hands is to sacrifice my native language.  I haven't spoken any English this past week.  I have loved every minute of it.  I have fallen madly in love with Spanish.  I love speaking it and thinking it and dreaming it.  It is the language of heaven.  Germans have the language of engineering, French-food, Italian-love, but Spanish is the language of heaven. 

I am also excited to see what kind of guidance I can get from my temple visit tomorrow.  Nothing makes me as happy as the temple does. 

Long story short I feel a little blocked.  I feel like I progressed so fast (maybe too fast) and now I am letting all those fruits slip by.  I need to reevaluate and see what the Lord needs me to do better.  I love this work Mom, I truly love it. 

I hope you are well.  I hope you are progressing in some capacity.  You sound well.  I am so proud of you and what you are doing back home.  I am glad we're doing this together. Te amo 

Te echo de menos

Verdad y fiel 

Elder Bagley 

Not a bunch of changes

Madre! 

So far your Spanish is sounding great!  Keep it up and we can start doing these emails in Spanish ;)

I am so jealous you got to go to the temple dedication!  That sounds like such a great opportunity.  I miss the temple a lot. I am thinking about asking President to see if he'll let me go next week.  I never did end up going for my birthday. 

So not a bunch of changes this transfer, I am staying one more round here in Pacoima with the always cheerful Elder Stark. He is great Elder and we are gonna see a lot of great stuff this move. One of which being a re-dedication to speaking only Spanish.  I have been fluent in the language for a while now which you think would be a good thing but it makes it really easy to just stop stretching yourself.  I can communicate fine but I want to take it too the next level.  I think this is the push my Spanish needs.  I am excited.  Spanish has become a part of who I am.  I forget how blessed I am sometimes to be speaking it. 

The zone is doing well.  Not a lot of changes but just enough to keep things fresh.  This morning we went and took the new missionaries out contacting for their first day in the field.  It was a cool experience to have.  I forgot what kind of things I use to worry about when I was that young in the mission.  I feel like the big snakes in the book Verde.  Actually, that would be a perfect way to describe it just a little less pessimistic.

Good luck with Isaiah!  Ha-ha he is a very powerful profeta but he has hidden all the revelation underneath symbolism and poetry.  See what the brethren have to say about how to teach Isaiah.  He is who Christ has quoted the most.  I think that means he's probably pretty important. 

This week has been a pretty relaxed one.  We had a really great exchange this week.  I love exchanges.  I love studying for someone else and then teaching and training them on what I feel the Lord would have me tell them. 

We are still waiting for iPads.  I swear they are never going to come.  I am losing faith. We used a member’s the other night to teach la santa cena and it was amazing!  They are such powerful tools for good.  I need one asap. 

Saddest news of my life…Paquito has stopped coming to church.  We just have had the hardest time coming up with ways to keep the ward involved and interested in him.  I mean he is a 9 year with ADD and with a 15 year old understanding of the Gospel.  Of course primary is going to be boring...IDK.  We are still praying and working at what needs to happen to keep him active.  I do NOT want to have recent convert go inactive in less than a transfer.  That needs to stop. Thanks for all your prayers. 

I have really loved reading John 14:30-31.  The Saviors words bring me so much peace.  He is about to perform the atonement and is already talking as if Satan "the prince of this world" has been conquered.  We've won.  There is no fight in that.  The only fight is in how many we can bring with us.  How complete do we really want our eternal family to be?  I love the Lord.  I love the way he speaks and teaches me.  He is so kind and understanding even though I am full of mistakes.  Praying to find his help has been such a pleasure this past year and I am excited to do the same for the next year of my mission.

Thanks mom! I love you a lot. Ya tu sabes. 

Elder Bagley 

P-day Volley ball

Hump day shirt is a win. Such a keeper.

Harry hasn't got anything on Elder Stark

LA traffic

Mini mission with Paquito...It was a lot of fun to get him out and testifying! 

HAPPY HUMP DAY!

Madre!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I loved the Hump Day package so much.  Honestly, I can't get over how great it was, so thoughtful.  The shirt is hilarious.  I think it's a new favorite.  Plus thanks for putting all that hard work into getting the pictures from everyone.  I miss them all so much.  Seeing them was such a tender mercy.  I don't know what I did to deserve a Mom like you.

Second thing on the list of things to mention…I'm sorry last week was so hectic with writing.  Emailing was short and I didn't have time for hand written letters.  I hope you forgive me.  The reason is that time flies so fast around here and I don’t have any free time.  Something is always going on.  I love it but it's just crazy.

That's so cool you're taking Spanish!  I can't wait to see how much you know when I get home.  That's a whole year of practice!  But don't worry if you need some tutoring I got your back.

You and Dad should study Chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel.  That will take your Sunday school class to the next level.  Honestly it's the greatest.  I wish I could sit in on one of your classes.  I am sure you are a great teacher :)

This past week was really, really nuts.  We had Elder Carlson come and get a tour of the mission.  I learned a lot from the insights he shared with us.  He is a simple man and not what you would expect from a "5 star general".  He was very casual and friendly.  We all thought he was going to throw down the law but he didn't.  He really just loved us and helped us on our way.  I don't think I will be able to explain all he taught us but at the end of the day it was great!

Unfortunately, our work took a hit this week.  With all the meetings and what not we didn't get a bunch of time with our investigators.  Everyone is doing ok though.  Paquito (Fransisco) is going through some post baptism blues but he is hanging in there.  Cinthia (Fransisco's sister) is progressing super well and really changing who she is.  I am just praying she can keep it up so she and Paquito can support each other.

We found a really cool family this week from a member referral (those are always great) and they are wonderful. They came to a Stake activity we had called Dia de la Hispanidad. There was food, dances from different countries and a lot of Latinos :) It was so fun. Today is actually Mexican Independence day.  Last year I was watching la grita and the dance of the machetes in Mexico...I miss that place ha-ha. I don't know if people do a lot up here for it but down there people shoot a lot of guns in the air...here's hoping that's not the case here in “Northern Mexico”. 

Making tamales for dia de la Hispanidad

Dia de la Hispanidad at the Stake Center

Transfers are next week.  I am about due for a change.  I don't see myself staying in Pacoima much longer but who knows.  The Lord knows pretty well what needs to happen.  I have learned to really like change out here on my mission.  Sometimes I think a little too much.  I am kind of itching for a new feel.

I love you Mom!  Things are going so well over here.  I feel like I am becoming the missionary that God has been hoping for this whole time.  I don't feel a year older but hey I guess the next one is suppose to fly by even faster.  Please let everyone know I love them and I am grateful for the Hump Day Pictures.  Love you!

Elder Bagley

I thought you might want to see some of the love we sent to Elder Bagley for Hump day!

"Woof, Woof guess what day it is!" Love, Rogan

Alexis and Andrew

Brandon, Danna and Sabrina

Brett sending wishes from the office

Hampton family

Kali and Joselyn

Lauren

Auntie Linda

The Marsh family

Papa and Nana

Elder Thackeray serving in the Ireland/Scotland mission complete with Kilt

Grandma and Grandpa from sunny St. George

Shauna up at Alta

Caldwell family (Mitch's YM leader)

Lisa, Brady, Owen, Carson and Jace sharing the love!

Sorrela Marsh serving in Italy

We got sick...

Sorry about the Labor Day stuff.  It's a drag for me too.  But this week was a crazy one as always so buckle up.

First off--we got sick.  Basically my whole zone did.  It was just a head cold flu kind of thing but it was a bummer.  It really puts a damper on things.  We didn't have to spend time inside but we did take it easy and tired to rest up.  I'm still kind of getting over the cough and head congestion but all is well.  

Madie sent me her farewell talk and it sounded great!  I think she will make a stunning missionary.  It must run in the family.  I also heard my friend Jesse got his call to Peru.  I am going to have so many people to speak Spanish with it will be great :)

This week our investigators took a hard hit.  Almost all of them had some big changes in their life.  Hopefully we will be able to help them get along alright.

Cinthia is doing great.  She has had a lot of hard things happen in her life but her faith is growing.  Her boyfriend might be moving in with her which isn't chill.  Hopefully we won't have to work with that but hey.

Kevin was born in Honduras.  He speaks only Spanish.  Sadly his mom had problems with immigration and they moved to Texas.  It was hard to hear.  It happens sometimes.  At least he has his Libro de Mormon.

Anthony and Kimberly are great.  We love them both a lot.  Sadly this week they got kicked out and are in-between trying to decide what to do…shame on me for thinking that everything was going to glide smoothly to baptism.  Woof! They were a member referral which is always the greatest.  They are a young couple who are really mature and have amazing chemistry.  They want to get married but it might not be for a while.

Francisco (number 2) dropped off the map.  So that's hard.

It's crazy to think I am about to hit my year mark...Hopefully I am a better tool than I was last September.  Everyone says the last year flies by even faster.  Hopefully that's not the case.  I really like being a missionary.  I have very little to worry about and life is very simple and rewarding.  I'm sure when the time comes though I'll be ready to start being Mitchell again.  Love you Mom.  Thanks for all your help.

Elder Bagley

OH MY GOSH.  I almost forgot.  Grandma sent me a letter that had a letter from her, pictures of dad as a missionary, and a letter dad sent to her when he was in Italy.  Mom it was the coolest thing.  Seriously I will cherish it forever.  If you have anything like that I'd love to see it.  Love you!  Talk to grandma about it.

Watermelon with chille and lime...so good!

Our new pad!

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