Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Pictures from 12/23/14

 This is Ozzy....he is My dog...and investigator gave him to me...they are keeping it and shipping it to me in 14 months :)...hopefully



Us and Santa!

 Very Cheap Gas down in Kentucky! 
(I thought it was getting cheap up here in Maine at $2.46)


Some of my favorite MTC people!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So I don't have much time to email today! But I do have one really cool experience that I wanted to share!

Sister Holt and I had the chance to teach this woman the other day lesson 3- The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately we didn't have the time to lesson plan before the lesson because it was Sunday... The lesson was really rough! But we were able to set a baptismal date with her! Some personal things have come up so we might now have to move it around...but I know the only reason she understood and comprehended what we were saying was because we had the spirit.. We both walked out of that lesson and looked at each other and knew that it was ALLLLL The spirit because we lived worthy of it and are putting in the effort. It was a horrible lesson to say the least. we were tripping over words and just weren't making sense. But for some reason she got it...
 

What did I learn? If you fail to plan...you plan to fail.
 


Sorry that this is such a lame letter this week...but really the reason for writing is to tell you all that I love you all a ton and I am so grateful for all the love and support that I have gotten from everyone. It means the world to me to have so many people that have my back.

I encourage all of you to read Luke chapter 2 and really think about who our Savior is to you...and what it meant for him to be born into mortality and experience life the way we do. Because it truly is amazing and really brings the spirit of Christmas more fully into our lives...and think about it...there is only one syllable difference between the spirit of Christmas and the spirit of Christ. :)
 
I wont do shout outs this week because I have lost track this week! but I will make note for next week to get all the shout outs :) THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERY THING!


quotes in Corbin:

"people like that they got retard strength..i don't got retard strength."
"We have tender flowers that are getting too much water"
"EDUCATION IS A CON"
"I baptized myself in a creek once."


LOVE YOU ALL!

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

--Sister Wagner

Monday, December 15, 2014

WELCOME TO THE GKLM SISTER HOLT

WHAT A WEEK. :D So last week I was freaking out about how I was going to die as a trainer...and now I have a little greenie...and her name is SISTER HOLT! She is from Layton Utah, and 20 years old. She has come to the GKLM pre-trained and ready to work! I hardly have to do anything! She is super sweet and tons of fun.....I have lucked out BIG TIME when it comes to companion because they have all been the ones training me. Seriously. I have hardly had to do anything. And anything that I need to do..the Lord has given me  the strength and ability that I needed to make things happen. I now have a strong testimony that the Lord knows what we can handle..and the things that we dont know if we can handle...he helps up and enables us to do whatever we are called to do. No matter what it is. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE THE LORD ON YOUR SIDE.

This week we had.....A BAPTISM. Caught you all by surprise on that one! So There is this guy...I mentioned him awhile ago..this will test y'alls memory. His name is A.. C... He was the artist who worked on saw movies and passion of the Christ...and Pirates of the Caribbean 3...and I am Legend....and all this epic stuff..actually did I tell you about him? I don't know...well either way...A... is an amazing guy with a really scary and hard past...who the sister have been teaching since MAY. And he has quit smoking and all this stuff. and so we had a baptismal date set for this Saturday....but with his steadily decreasing health we had no idea if he would well enough by then to be baptized. But then...we got the okay that we could baptize him....and we had 3 very short days to plan a baptism....there is usually about a week....and one of those days we were in meetings learning how to be better and know what to do as missionaries so we had to put together it in really 2 days....which seems like time...but now when 3 of the people you were originally planning to speak and such happen to be out of town or not able to come....it adds some serious pressure...after lots of phone calls and running around...and personally making the program at the library....all things were in place.

SO SATURDAY COMES. And we go to the church 2 hours early to fill up the font.....so we could turn it on slow enough to have it run hot the whole time and be warm......after 30 minutes of running...the font has 2 inches of water....panic of course was the most prominent emotion at the time...our of desperation we turn the font on full blast....only to have the baptism occur in freezing cold water...#oops #sorryA... After the baptism A... had the chance to bear his testimony... It is so touching..and so heart felt...and the spirit was so strong. You could tell that this man was so burdened by sin and hardship and bad experiences...and some of that pain...had just melted away...that the savior had lightened his load and make it possible for him to overcome the darkest of times.

ANOTHER BIG THING HAPPENED THIS WEEK! SO I know you all know about the Family on the Hill...the big family of like...a million people...They are now working towards a baptismal date of January 17th. I know they have the will power to be able to do it...and they are going to be extremely blessed. They have made such changes in their lives...I wish you all could see it. They all of some of the biggest hearts I have ever seen and will do anything for anyone..

The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to change peoples lives..It refines us and makes us better people... more so then we ever thought possible. And The Lord gives us experiences that we need. My testimony of the restored Gospel has only grown...and it will continue to do so. There is so much growth to be had and experiences to gain..I am so blessed to be on a mission and have great peace having the knowledge of the gospel. I love my mission!!!!

Quotes in Corbin---

"I fear no hollar"
"I dont play....im not a child... I dont play games...I play monopoly though, I get serious."
"we say hello with our knives, guns are for hunting...if we want to kill you...we cut you up"
"i just ate two broughtworths...I dont feel good right now"

This week I was reading in the book of Mormon in the book of Helaman..  I was reading in chapter 5 verses 10-11...verse 12 is one that is really well known...what is being talked about in this part is how Christ doesnt save us in our sins....he saves us from them. In and from is the only difference of that sentence.. When we are in our sins...we are doing them and we are fine being stuck there... The Lord can help us if we are where we want to be. But he can however save us from them. If we are trying to run from our sins...or mistakes..or weaknesses...then he is going to swoop down and get us far away from those things we are trying to avoid. I am so grateful that he wants to help us and save us..only if we want to help ourselves..but at the same time...it takes responsibility of us to want to make a change.

I love you all so much! and I am so grateful for the support of all of you! Have an awesome week! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

-- Sister Wagner

Monday, December 8, 2014

ADIOS SISTER BAILEY

As the title suggests..Sister Bailey is dying....Her mission is now as of tomorrow done...and she is going home..all the way back to New Mexico. She is depressed and very emotional...she cant even function at this point and has hid herself in the closest and is not coming out. The tears are going down her face all the time and she is in denial. I'm just kidding! She is not happy and is loosing her mind though... she gets mad at me cause I show no sympathy....#soulless. I'm trying to be Christ-like with this...but it's hard! She makes teasing her so easy!

No to mention this transfer is going to make me loose my head. I am not one to stress..but the last 3 days....wooo...I am loosing it! Why do you ask? Well on Saturday we get transfer news... about who is leaving excreta! So The Assistants to the Mission President called us while we were on our way to Stake Conference. I of course thought they were just calling about Sister Bailey leaving but they insisted they had to talk to me. They asked me how long I had been out and I said 4 months...and then they are like...You are training this transfer...and I thought they were kidding and so I laugh and said hahaha that is funny want to talk to sister bailey? and they said...no...we want to talk to you...you are training this coming transfer... and then I said no here is sister Bailey...and then they are like we swear on the Book of Mormon that you are training... I said "ha okay"..they said great! see you at transfer meeting. Then hung up...I nearly had a heart attack... and I waited for them to call back..and say just kidding..they never did.....then I get to stake conference just to have an elder in my ward come up to me and be like...YOU ARE TRAINING? and I was like...wait....that wasn't a joke? And he said.."NO....It's on the paper!" Then I really start panicking....And then I saw our mission president at the meeting...and confirmed....it is true...I am training a brand-new missionary... I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING....How am I supposed to help someone....not only help them...but train them....YIKES.

This is EASILY the most humbling thing that I have ever been asked to do. I think this is more for me than the new missionary. I have been asking the Lord to help me grow and become the missionary that he needs me to be and do the things that he would have me do...so I guess this is his will...and I won't argue with that. I might feel as inadequate as a little pebble on the side of the road..but the Lord sees me with the potential of becoming a bolder with the potential of being carved into a statue... That is how the Lord sees each of us really. We cant understand how much he loves us and understands that we have the ability to become all he needs us to be...and then some... that as we rely on him...we don't need to worry if we cant do it...or we feel like we don't know what we're doing...he will always helps us and strengthen us and make us people that we don't recognize. in the Book of Mormon in the book of Ether it talks about how as we come unto Christ...that he will show unto us our weakness that we may be humble.. and that is exactly what I am witnessing..but I know that what ever I think is my weakness...has the potential of becoming my strength...it will because the Lord has promised us in that same verse that relying on him will give us the chance to turn us around and be better than we ever thought...so BRING IT ON. :) And am now ready and excited for the challenge!

These week...one of the members of our ward wanted to teach us Rape Defense...he is a cop and teaches a class...so we got 2 hours of learning what to do if someone attacks us. So I now know how to get out of a head lock...and how to have power behind kicking people....and what to do in various situations...sooooo no one will be messing with me these days. ALSO.. fun fact! He was able to teach us ways to punch and he was able to tell us where the most power comes from.. Sister Bailey has most of her power when she hits people with the palm of her hand.... I have the most power as I just deck people in the face with my fist....so don't mess with me.. I can take someone out.

This transfer I have been making a list of all the things that Sister Bailey says frequently...at least one thing off this list is said every day...so here is a little glimpse of Sister Bailey:

"are you an ameri-CAN...or and ameri-CANT?"
"he's a trip"
"that's trippy"
"true doctrine"
"I see what you did there...put her there *holds out fist for a knuckle bump*
"that's deep"
"love the dickin's out of 'em!"
"where's my pencil?"
"where's my planner?"
"are you a man or a mouse?"
"I need a hair cut"
"what am I going to do with you?"
"you're golden pony boy"
"what the weird"
"why do you have to make this so awkward?"
"I think the church is true"

Quotes in Corbin:

"those flying monkeys....they really got me going"

"I'm going to have my own thing on Mormon.org called Michael Peace a tale of forgiveness...you like that...I just made it up."

"up there with Heavenly Father...the big liver in the sky."

"I want the whole sacrament blessed and put in my refrigerator just in case there is an emergency."

"I am so glad 2015 is coming...I'm gonna shine like new money!"

I love you all and I am so grateful for all of you this Christmas Season! You should all look of the Video he is the gift.....mormon.org will give you the link...it is so amazing. PLEASE WATCH IT. I am so blessed and grateful to my savior this holiday season :) BE SAFE! and remember not to stress!

MUCH LOVE FROM THE SOUTH,
Sister Wagner

SHOUT OUTS:

GRANDMA WAGNER! Thank you for the awesome apples you sent!!! They are beautiful!!!!!!! :)

NANA AND PAPA! Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH for my 24 days of Christmas Package...y'all are really making Christmas extra special for me this year! :)

HAYLEY AND MUM! The little ornament with Maine and Kentucky on it...GENIUS! and is now on our Charlie brown tree :) THE SNOW GLOBE IS AWESOME AND IS PLAYED EVERYDAY!

ELDER KILGOUR! THANKS FOR WRITING!

KATIE AND TRENT BERGE! Thank you for your families Christmas card! Y'all are such a gorgeous family!!!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

More Pictures!

The most amazing family ever...please note this isn't all of them.


 We wrote letters to Santa and put it in the mail box! I asked for someone to teach....sister bailey just wanted to know why Santa was always watching us...


This is the most interesting group of missionaries to work with... They are hilarious!  


A donkey a horse a cow a llama...and they also had a peacock.


Strange Isn't It??

HOWDY...

People.. I have nearly been on my mission for 4 months....and it is December.... and it is 62 degrees with no snow in sight....and the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives...I have back pain...my allergies are here so I am dying...and Sister Bailey leaves in a week..also I went geocashing #newhobbie #lookitup

Okay so out of all those strange things I am going to talk about the most important.. THE GOSPEL CHANGES LIVES. Straight up. #truth A couple weeks ago I mentioned this massive family that we are teaching. And I mentioned how they are amazing truth seekers and all that. yeah well I dont think I have told you how much of a change that has happened to them. When we first went over there C... (the mom) said "you worship Joseph Smith" and now they are all like..."we want to be Mormon" QUE?!?!?! (sister Bailey and I are working on Spanish) I didnt even thinks that things happen on missions like that!? When people are just like..hey I like everything that you are teaching.. and the only complaint they have? "Church is way boring" But they agree with everything we have taught them. And have I mentioned that not only did C.... think that we worshiped Joseph Smith... but she was Agnostic...with no belief in God what so ever. Now I want you to know..I DON'T TAKE ANYYYYY CREDIT for any of this..infact I think I almost messed everything up the other day with them.. But no matter! It is the Lord that is changing them. I have such a strong testimony now that if missionaries dont have the spirit...nothing is going to happen because we make many mistakes. I can not rave about this family enough and about the amazing changes that they are freely making in their lives. They are now reading the Book of Mormon together every night as a family..and they are soaking up everything that we are teaching them. And when we go over there they are filled with questions. C... looked and Sister Bailey and I yesterday and said "I can honestly say now that I believe in God. and I never could say that before" When we asked her how she got to that conclusion she just said "I get enlightenment..and the evidence is all around us that there is something out there bigger than us" In her own way..that was her saying that "HEY! I FEEL THE SPIRIT!" How grateful I am that I get to see the joy and light of the Gospel come into someones life. I don't deserve the HONOR of teaching this family. How blessed I am to be trusted enough by Heavenly Father to help bring his children unto him.

This family also took up geocashing...my newest hobby when I get home..please google what it is...and get good so I can have people to go with! Because I love it! Essentially it is a world wide treasure hunt.. there are geocashes to be found in every town every state..every country...it is a big deal. You never know how close you are to a geocash....it is amazing and wayyyy fun. I mean.. I don't want to toot my own horn....but I am pretty good... But not really. I have to have people help me. But I will get good eventually! #gogeocash

ALSO! We went on a Blitz with the Sister Training Leaders so I was able to spend some time with Sister Anderson! She is great! And I have so much to learn from her so i can grow and become the missionary that I so badly want to become. We went out to this place called Williamsburg to find some people...and I was really close to Tennessee! Which was weird. 45 minutes south and there is a change in weather!  haha who knew? BUT! We went to this house on our way home and what happened? Oh I almost got attacked by another Dog. The owner said that it wouldn't attack but I beg to differ...I am convinced if we didn't turn the car alarm on...and walk back words and yell at it...then I would have been crippled on both legs. Update...my leg still hurts if I push on my dogbite... so I try not to do that. haha #caralarmssaveyou

On this Blitz Sister Bailey ran into this person named S.... and asked if they could come by and teach her and her family about family home evening (an organized family night) and she said sure! and as we go to see this woman I recognize the house...only to have TALKED TO HER HUSBAND THREE TIMES!! And the only reason we hadn't been teaching him is because of his busy schedule! WHAT?! The Lord wants this family to have the gospel! And funny to add...The only time we run into this family is on Blitz days! I don't know why that is...but I know that the gospel blesses lives! and that they and there 6 kids under 10 need it! And that it can help them and build them up as a family!

About the allergies and back pain....nothing really matters when you are serving the lord. And the enabling power of Christs Sacrifice is real. he suffered so I don't have to...and I can find strength in him!!

quotes in corbin:
"are you wearing more clone than normal?"
in regards to hitler in heaven "I dont care...but I wont enjoy seeing him in the heavenly prayer circle"
"I had a midget friend one time..."
"sorry that was my dead cat approach"
"make sure you dont blow your nose so hard you fart...I've done that before...i pooped myself almost"
"I almost ate her up the other day"
"I just would have......Im passionate."
"In highschool I was that fat funny kid...I was fat and I stuttered...I have no choice..it was be funny or be rejected"

My prayer now is that we all remember that God is better than us! that we are nothing compared to his Glory and greatness...and that all things are and are made possible through him. And the best way...is his...NOT ours...and sometimes...well...all the time...that is not easy. "Strange isn't it-that we who wear wrist watches seek to counsel him who oversees cosmic clocks and calenders" He knows best!!!!!!

... in the writ words of God written by prophets: (Isaiah 55:8-9)

  ¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 SHOUT OUT TO:

MY UNCLE DUSTIN AND HIS FAMILY! FOR THEIR LOVELY CHRISTMAS CARD!
And to KYM AND SUMMER! For their package they send awhile ago! I forgot to SHOUT OUT!
I hope you all had a happy thanksgiving! Remember to stay happy and safe this Holiday season! There are some crazy people out there! I LOVE YOU ALL! And you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Did you think to pray?

God Bless,
--Sister Wagner

EVERYONE IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT I GOT A KILLER LETTER FROM MY AWESOME COUSIN CORALIE. YOU ROCK!  I LOVE YA! AND IM SORRY I ALMOST FORGOT!

Pictures from 11/24

First KFC ever.. before it was KFC


This Mary looks like Kristen Stewart



 A book at the library



A beautiful painting on a wall next to some train tracks!


A cow field! It is huge.. and you can't even see all of it!... it smells


Where did the week go?!

SORRY I'VE BEEN SLACKING POSTING SISTER WAGNERS POSTS! HERE IS THE ONE FROM 11/24

Hello all y'all  :)

I have no idea where this week even went! it came and it went! The days went by slow but the week just flew by! #missionlife

This week we spent a lot of time in the hospital. There is a new member named P..! She. is. Awesome. We ended up going to the hospital like 3 times this week to see her and keep her company and to lift her spirits up! It is amazing to see how much the gospel can bring someone so much comfort even when they are in so much pain. The gospel not only heals our spirits but our minds as well and it helps us to keep looking forward.

Sister Bailey and I have been way drained this week. We havent been depressed to anything! dont get me wrong! But we have just felt like all our efforts are like dust in the wind! We try...and then our efforts just go all over the place not having much of an effect on anyone making us have the "WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING" kind of feeling. But you know what? We are trying. Our father in heaven knows that we are trying. But we just couldnt get ourselves to figure our what was happening..and actually to this minute we arent really sure what we are or arent doing to see the results of our efforts. Thank goodness that God answers prayers though. This morning in study I was thinking about what was and wasnt happening here in Corbin.. and I turned open to a scripture 2 Nephi 32:9 it reads:  9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

We are praying we have been praying to know what we need to do and where we need to go...so what is going wrong you ask? SPECIFICS. We need to get specific. What is it that we want to accomplish...not just "I want to do thy will" But more than that just be more than willing to do whatever it takes and really asking God to help you do every little thing he expects of you. That is really hard. Because what does God expect of us? Just simply to keep his commandments...serve him with all our heart might mind and strength and work until we collapse at the end of the night. If we are doing everything that God asks of us...and then we still are missing something...then what? that is when the heavenly virtue of patience comes in. When we need to just wait. Because when we are doing all we can...the Lord has taken it into his hands and things are moving just how they are supposed to. How grateful I am for revelation and a chance to learn and grow as it gets hard here on the mission. It is a good life to always have trials and set backs because that is the time for the most growth and it gets you determined for greater change! greater consecration :) greater desire to kick out the natural man! Mosiah 3:19!

This week we also went with a member to go see this lady a buddy of his told us to go see...we were there 2 HOURS. and we didnt say anything but mhmm yeah...right...I have never seen someone talk so much in my life. Not to mention there were 15 mirrors in one room which was a bit creepy..and the conversation...(one way just her talking) was about how her co-worker years ago was murdered...and how the Lord revealed to her who did it and how he did it....and then she tangent-ed off to the fact that her son had been murdered...then going on to say that people are coming after her and are trying to get in her house....thank goodness the buddy of the member advised us to go during the day. #tendermercy You know what though...the whole time we were sitting there...despite having the feeling like I might die or something dramatic... That Lady needs the gospel! So we are going to go back and teach her about it! because guess what! Before her son was killed....he was meeting with the missionaries!!! #nocoincidences!

God is good. And we need to be thankful for all aspects of our lives...D&C 122:3-8...(look it up) our horrible things....our setbacks...our weariness...ALL FOR OUR GOOD...and Jesus Christ knows how we feel...we are NEVER alone.

Quotes in Corbin:
"yolo, going with Christ"
"im like an indian moses"
"Da-vin-chi, who's my master..."
"a cooking wrapped in cookie dough...is that too much?"
"we could have a Christmas rap by white chocolate over there"
"my printer crapped out"
"holy crud! she let him have a bat?! she couldnt have picked a quieter toy?"
"you cant pray and walk...you'll die!"
"he has arrested me several times"

SHOUT OUTS:
MOM for your cookie recipe...it is not famous....kinda.... im working on it! They are amazing! and people love them! sooo thank you!!!!!!!!! And ro allthose who signed that card! y'all rock!

I love you all! rely on Christ and all will go okay! Happy Thanksgiving!! count your many blessings name them one by one :)

--Sister Wagner :)