Sick and Dying(not really dying)

No I'm not actually dying. But I feel like it! This week Sister Matthews got this killer cold. Where she felt like she couldn't breathe and she had a headache and sore throat and I was just running circles around her all healthy and awake feeling wonderful...BUT THEN... The realization hit. And I remembered that she had me drink out of her water bottle to try some "freezer" flavored water because of the bad ice. So then a couple days later..I woke up feeling like I was going to die. So this week has been full of cough drops, no appetite to eat anything but chocolate puddling and pringles, and lots of snotty tissues. To say the least..it has been a good time. But not really.

I also had my first exchange with a Sister! We stayed here in Jasper. Her name is Sister Ferrell and she is super quiet but a wonderful missionary! She and I saw many miracles being able to see a couple of our investigators that we haven't seen in awhile! It was fun to be able to learn from her. I learned that our presence alone can have a huge impact on the people that we are serving around and talking with. That we might not have to say very much, but when we do, it is really powerful and people listen. Few words do great things.

OH MAN. Okay so this week we had to take care of an ant infestation in our house...and they keep coming back so that's just a blast. NOT. So we spent some time cleaning them up..just to see them come back today! GRRRR.I get now why ants are called pests. During this time we had the chance to finally look in the fridge to see what the heck is happening in there..and we look on the shelf..not our shelf..the members shelf..and see some cheese....MOLDING. I'm talking horrible blue mold people... then we keep looking to see if anything else was struggling... YUP we found a package of baloney that was more than half molded and it looked like brains. We had blue brains in our fridge people.. it was terrifying. We nearly threw up. But no worries. We took care of the problem real fast! 

Wayyyy gross

Brains or Baloney?

I know that this Gospel is true! even when the work is slower than usual the people are being steadily prepared to hear the truth. To hear the things that will bless their lives. If I have learned anything on my mission, it would be when the work is slow, be prepared because the Lord is preparing the hearts of the people to be received by you! Miracles are on the horizon!!

Sorry this email was kind of short! I'm sure I will have to update you all more later!

For all that are REALLY interested..and actually email me and want to know about the crazy lady that asked us "look at the field, how do you feel?"  please let me know and I will write up that story for y'all!

QUOTES:

" I am so glad.. i only had 6 kids or else I would be in the Boobie hatch."

" look... I don't know what river that is but everyone look."

As we are talking about the Book of Mormon... "i cant top it with one word... Broccoli."

"i am smart and sassy but the sassy is biting me in the butt."

"My wife doesn't think Im funny.. and she wont dance with me.. i ask her then why did she marry me.. she said that God made me."

"Its Tacobell not TacoHell."

The ward mission leader likes to invite people to stay at his house Saturday night so that they have to come to church on Sunday..... he then in responds to our investigator " Tell her she isn't staying the night at my house." she didnt even ask him if she could stay the night! haha

" Next time she says she is rich.. tell her to buy a phone."

" Why do you want to work at IGA ( Grocery store)..what type of discount would you get... a discount on Toilet paper."

" Stop hitting your self with my num-chucks"

"Booger just make me heave.. i could wipe butts.. but booger on the other hand... make me sick and they still do."

"The worst thing they do is go to the comacon and spend a little to much money"

"what's a Nastacia." Its a name... " oh i thought it was a medical term/"

"Jehovah's Witness is what happens when your doctrine is written when someone's drunk"

"ive talked to some Pentecostals that i thought were on drugs."



SHOUT OUTS:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER HOLT! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU! TAKE CARE OF CORBIN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALEIGH! HOPE IT IS A GOOD ONE! I LOVE YOU TONS GIRL!!!!

I hope you all have an awesome week! I love you all and miss you! Can you all believe that I am officially 1/2 way done...that's right people...it's bitter-sweet that I can now say...I'll see you in 9 months...

---SISTER WAGNER

River walking it while talking to people!

"look at the field..how do you feel?" 

On the road againnnnnn

Sister Ferrell, Sister Thaxton, Sister Hinton, ME, and Sister Matthews

People are always watching! Except when you need them to be!

HOLA MI AMIGOS Y AMIGAS. This week has been MUY awesome. and MUY LOCO. I'm talking COMPLETE CRAZINESS. Honestly I think I am living in a bit of a trance/dream state where simply crazy things happen. I'm not talking about miracles, although those are plentiful too, I'm talking just weird situations. Y'all are in for an interesting read this week.

FIRST. My companion is my soul mate. Sister Matthews blows my mind! She has been out 15 months, and is from Farmington Utah, that is 4/5 comps from Utah. And We have a blast. We are pretty much the same person. We say the same things, think the same things are hilarious, and we are on the same brain wave length all the time it is getting kind of creepy. And not to mention we teach well together too! So it is like a killer companionship. And we are just going to tear it up in the Jasper area as we get things moving and train the sisters! Also we are already planning to be roomies after the mission. Also she is hilarious. Also...we play fake poop jokes on each other..#poopinthedrain

SECOND. All the pictures you were sent this week.. were from one beautiful spring that feels like summer day. We were driving to find this less active member, and me and my driving skills drove past the house, just to have a bus following me so I couldn't just turn around..so I am a little stuck..so I pull over when I find enough room and it goes by, Next to us is this little road with a field that has a nice little turn around space! (or so we thought) So we go and pull to the side just to have me push the gas..look at Sister Matthews..and say.. "uh...we are stuck" to have her not believe me..so I think that me and my own strength can just push the car because Sis. Matthews is just 5'2 so I am like you drive and I get out and I'm pushing....in a skirt...with no luck...then Sister Matthews tries...and no luck.. So we get in the car and call everyone we think of that has a truck and we then pray for someone to stop... and nothing happened. Then sister Matthews has the brilliant Idea to turn our hazards on so some stranger will help us out! so we did...and of course...#1. we are on a country road so not many people drive past... #2..those who do don't stop! So we are just sitting there helpless...and not to mention..we both had to use the bathroom but didn't think to go before because we thought it would be a short trip...and so we look for trees..just to find the closest ones about a 1/2 mile away...through mud....so we were out of luck..again. But then we saw a car!!! YAY! And they stopped and started backing up! And then out comes this big man... from this little car...and we are like oh. no. this is like a horror film. But he came over and asked us what was wrong and we told him.. and he asked if we have gotten out and pushed..we said yeah but it was helpless in skirts...so Sister Matthews gets out again like a champion and pushes with this guy as I stay safe inside the car.. Then another man pulls over with a shovel.. and starts digging us out of the mud..we eventually get out. Thank goodness to these two men! But it's all really the buses fault.

Then that day we finally make it to the bathroom at the CVS and Sister Matthews gets her shoes all clean. And we are just walking through the parking lot, and we did the scan to see if there was anyone to talk to. There wasn't so we just were dancing a little in our own little world just snapping our fingers and being silly..then we here these 2 ladies laugh....and we flip around just to see that the whole time these 2 ladies were watching us...It was really embarrassing! BUT It was someone to talk to! They weren't interested in the Gospel ...but it was definitely a good missionary moment.

Later this week we were trying this person so we go up and knock on their door...just to have this bird come swooping down from a part of the porch nearly taking sister Matthews head off... it was really interesting.

On a more spiritual note. CLEANING. Yup. You might say..Why Sister Wagner..how is cleaning a spiritual experience. Here is how: God doesn't dwell in unclean places.. So therefore...messy house... lack of spirit. So the last 6 weeks have been super stressful on me because of how the area was doing that I walked into. And for reasons unnamed it wasn't able to be fixed. BUT NOW Sister Matthews and I rearranged everything, made it livable and much more accessible. Thank goodness for a new transfer!!!

So life is really awesome. We are doing super well and getting things back in order. We right now are working with the members to gain their trust because of missionaries in the past they are lacking a little bit! BUT! They are warming up to us really well thank goodness!

So this week we are going to do some exchanges and I will get the chance to work with some sisters! It will be awesome! I am so excited! The calling as Sister Training Leader is wonderful. I gain so much more of an appreciation for leadership and how much work goes into it. You don't realize some of the ins and outs of the mission..until you are in the IN. #humbling

Quotes:
"Does this make me look like a chunky hippie?"
"when my husband takes his sleeping pills he asks who stole his unicorn."
"Patti like tacos"

SHOUT OUTS: ALL Y'ALL...
I wouldn't mind some mail.


Thank you for all you do for me! and all the prayers that you send my way! I really appreciate all of it! Keep being amazing! and Share the gospel with everyone! Keep on Keepin' on! LOVE YOU ALL

-Sister Wagner

 

Looks like a fine place to turn around 

 Except the car got stuck... doesn't do it justice

 

                                                      Waiting for a kind soul to stop and help

Thanks to Sister Matthews strong muscles and pushing...everything turned out okay....besides her poor shoes

ADIOS SISTER LLOYD

WELL. 6 weeks have gone by and Sister Lloyd is off to a new location. And what is happening to me you may ask. Some big changes are happening in the GKLM. I am now becoming a Sister Training Leader! Sister Goodrich and Sister Matthews are the Sister Training leaders and their job is to go around and be with sisters all in the Indiana area for 24 hours. So they are always traveling and helping sisters in the surrounding areas! But because Sister Goodrich is going home in May.. There needs to be a new Sister Training Leader...that is me....and Sister Goodrich is now not a sister training leader because she goes home soon. So YUP sister Matthews will be my companion and they Sister Training Leader area will be moved to here in Jasper because it's more central to the sisters we will be serving. Now I hope this doesnt sound like boasting..it is simply me informing. And maybe now you have an idea that MY MISSION PRESIDENT IS LOCO and will probably realize his grave mistake in about a week... I definitely dont feel ready to have this responsibility and help other sisters.  BUT I better get ready because I start tomorrow.. I have always known that Sister Training Leaders are inspired..however now that I too am one.. it's hard to feel like it was an inspired move...but I know that the Lord knows what he is doing...but it is EXTREMELY humbling. I know that by serving these sisters I will become a better person and iron out some of my own weaknesses. so I am grateful for the chance to serve them! still though, Wish me luck. and every prayer helps.

last week we were struggling with people who were interested..but this week the blessings have definitely shown!! We have been taking the time and talking to nearly everyone (we arent quite perfect!) And we have certainly seen the blessings of finding those who the Lord has prepared! This week we are scheduled to go back and see many of those who we talked to and hopefully we will get the chance to really start teaching them the gospel! and how it can belss their lives and give them greater direction and hope..and let's be honest..we all need more direction and hope in the world that we live in today. 

One of the people we had the chance to talk to was Brittney! She was a young mom and she was super cute! We just went up to her and started talking to her and She told us that she was baptist, and as we kept talking to her we brought up the Book of Mormon. When we asked her if she had heard about it, she said yes! and then she proceeded to tell us that she had heard about it from her Pastor that was talking about it. She didnt say what he said exactly but it was all positive! in fact, she even said "I've actually been meaning to get my hands on a copy." What are the chances! that she had thought to get a copy of the book of Mormon eventually and then we just happen to stop and talk with her! It was so cool! People all around us are prepared to hear the gospel. She was so sweet! and hopefully we will start teaching her this week! 

This week I got a surprise that showed up at my door step. MY UNCLE DOUG. YUP. My uncle found me. haha It was pretty funny. So we come home for dinner and sister Lloyd has a package so we went to go get it off the porch, and we see this car pull into the drive way... what the heck, who could it be? So we walk over to the car. .. (side note: i've meet my unlce only a few times and the last time was 4 years ago and my dad has LOTS of brothers). SO I say HI can we help you. and the Man said. Yeah are you the mormon missionaries? and we said yes...and I stop and i go.."You look familiar" thinking to myself it cant be my uncle...im on a mission....and then he goes? oh? that's weird..so tell me something about your church. And I am all like you have got to be kidding me...and then I go "sorry I didnt catch your name..Im sister Wagner." And he goes, oh i'm DOUG WAGNER. So I just burst out laughing and go and give him a hug. It was HILARIOUS!!! We asked what the heck he was doing and he said that he had business in Evansville Indidana an hour and a half from us and decided to stop by! He had been trying to find out our location because he had been in our driveway for awhile but no one knew where we were! But then we srove by, he saw my smile, and thought to himself "Looks just like Dennis!" (thats my dad) And then followed us to our house hahahaha it was too funny! So he asks if he can take us to dinner so I call my mission president and tell him that I have only met my uncle a few times cause he lives in Minnesota, and that he just showed up for business, and he just says, "Go ahead! just dont order anything under $20!" It was just what I needed to spend some time with family. For sure a tender mercy! It was so good to spend some time with him! 

Also this week we set a baptismal date for someone on my birthday! #June20 #bestdayever And she is super sweet! Her name is Anne!

Quotes: 

"he bites your tush if you wear stretchy pants"

"if you dont have a butt its just called your back with a crack in it"

We asked..Where do we go after this life to a member who is old and not all there..he just said "hades"

"I love videos..and I love africa...take me to africa"

SHOUT OUTS: 

THANK YOU TANNER FOR YOUR LETTER!!

THANK YOU ELIUD FOR YOUR PACKAGE THIS WEEK!!!!

THANKS MUM FOR THE EASTER CARD!

I love you all so much! thank you for all the support and love and prayers that you send my way! it doesnt go unnocied. I know that God is there for all of you! Dont forget to pray! Laughter is the best medicine. 

HAPPY SPRING!!!!

-Sister WAGNER

 

(Most names have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved)

Sis. Lloyd. Me. Hermana Bennett. Hermana Mangali. Sister&Elder Fullmer. Elder Riphenburg. Elder Handen. Elder Fleener. Elder Gay. Elder Sorenson and Elder Stewart

District selfie. Taken by Elder Stewart.

SLOWER THAN A SLOW SNAIL

This email is going to be short because the work here in Jasper is literally slower than a really slow snail. There just isn't many people to teach. Before I came the people that were potentially interested..are now not..and those investigating...are now not... and the people that we are teaching currently.. more likely than not in one week we will not be teaching anymore.. Honestly I feel like we have started an area up completely from nothingness. BUT! That is just the grounds for a miracle! And Sister Lloyd and I will be working towards that and trying to bind the Lord for blessings he is more than happy to give us as we work hard and talk to everyone!

General Conference this week was amazing. For all of you that didn't get a chance to watch..man you missed out! but there is still time... If you want to know what Prophets of God have said to us.. Go to lds.org and go to the conference talks. But if you are to stubborn..then they really just had AMAZING messages on strengthening families, marriages, and how looking towards the light of Christ can really change us! And how Through Jesus Christ, we can be made clean again!

This week we got to drive in a pretty radical rain storm on our way to Tell City. We nearly died. NOT really. It was raining really hard and we come to this place...and we notice that pretty much the whole road is flooded..but it wasnt closed so we took it as an okay to keep going.. we could see the center line so the water couldn't have been that high right? and I wasn't going to make poor sister Lloyd get out and back me up in the rain for a good distance..so we attempt...we take the plunge into the water and as we do a car across on the other side decides to go through too making us feel more confident in our decision. (please note our bikes were on the bike rack) so we are driving in the water is going up over the side of our car. IT WAS AWESOME. We were safe and our car wasn't damaged. VICTORY! On our way home we thought it would be best not to go through the high water again so we decide to follow the Jasper serving Elders back to Jasper..Only to be in rain pouring so hard we couldn't see the elders and they were just ahead of us...but we could see the lines and that is what was important. But no worries the rain slowed and we arrived home safely!

QUOTES:
"I sing to him but I don't think he likes it...but I still do!"
"If you don't get someone a birthday present...it's not really the thought that counts."
"you could be an artist! or a designer! and the beach could be your...*dramatic pause* Inspirationnnn

SHOUT OUTS:
 THANK YOU MOM FOR THE EASTER PACKAGE!!!!!! It totally changed my life!!!!!!!!!!<3

I hope that you all had an amazing Easter and really reflected on our savior Jesus Christ and all that is made possible through him. I know that because of Him we too can rise again. That we can over come our sins and we don't have to bear the pains of mortality on our own, the he will help us and show us the way. He will lift our burdens and ease our pains and all we have to do is reach out.

I love you all and I miss you all! If you need anything at all please let me know and I will do my best to help!

-Sister Wagner

Eating a "bacon chicken ranch" Potato at 'Spuds N' Stuff' a place that just sells the best potatoes ever.

YUMM

Jasper is a VERY German town. Therefore there is this VERY German Restaurant. Schnitzelbank.

Saturday conference all by ourselves at the church! 

Obviously I am a pro at decorating Easter Eggs...

 Sister Mogle! me and Sister Lloyd. We didnt intend to match! She is one of the sweetest woman ever. She feeds us all the time :)

Sister Ferrera! She is HILARIOUS love her to death. If only you all knew the story behind this picture hahahaha

Wed-oh the puppy.. Wed-oh is the spanish word for white boy...but I dont know how to spell it.. there is my attempt. He is pretty cute if I do say so myself.