Dear Mother Dear,

It is so good to hear from you every week, it really is a blessing and I can't imagine how much harder it would be to be out here without hearing from mamma goose :) 

    So this month of September is a pretty exciting one!! because we've got 3 super solid baptisms lined up!!  It has been crazy, I've been working so hard and it's really nice to finally see the fruits of my labors!  Even though it really isn't all about baptizing.  It is still really nice to have them, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about :)  The work here is about to explode!! and I am really starting to love missionary work!!  I never though that I would be able to say that but I have really been doing good these past few weeks!  I'm still on bike.. and I LOVE IT!! I go to bed so tired, and my legs are never not soar, but I get to talk to everyone I see!! and meet people that I would not be able to meet in a car! :)  I hope that I can stay on a bike my whole mission, cause it is pretty legit.  Sometimes when we roll through the hood people think we're cops ahaha either that or little black girls yell at us and say " HI NERDS!" haha It's hilarious. Don't worry though, even though I'm in the hood, the Lord protects his missionaries!! just like the lord protected Ammon from Lamoni's father! I think that that's the story I'm thinking about. I am also very close with our next door neighbor..  We met him like a month ago.  He used to live in Detroit, He was in a gang and sold drugs and did a lot of bad stuff and wants to turn his life around.  The last time we met with him we had bishop with us and he looked at bishop and said " and this brotha" grabbing my shoulder, "this brotha is special, I love this brotha.  He always comes up and checks on me and say's" I'm only 19 so let me tell ya like this" and if I EVER see anyone messing with my brotha.." I will strike, with a vengence.... I'm looking out for them.."  I love him to death!! so don't worry about anything like that! 

    Mom thoughout my life, my faith has been in different stages, strong, more commonly weak.  I never realized how lucky i was to have parents who set such a good example of faith for me.  I have met some disfunctional families out here in Virginia, and I thank god every night that I could be born of goodly parents that love the Lord.  While I'm teaching lessons or talking to people on the street, I'll find myself saying things that you or Dad always taught me.  I realized that I have been taught and I understand the Lords Atoning sacrifice because of the wonderful parents the lord has given me.  I love you guys so much and miss ya like crazy.  But I know my purpose and I'm fulfilling it. so it makes every second worth it!!

Dad- I love your awesome Lord of the rings quotes!! they inspire me, and sometimes make me cry... I also haven't gotten to try that camera zoom thing.. hope it works... Love ya so much!

Jessica!!  I hope that school is going well! Love life and giggle :) I can't wait to hear back from ya 

Tyler.. Bro!  I hope that you got my letter! and i hope you haven't driven Mrs. Dowse completely crazy!! :) can't wait to hear back!

I hope you all have a great week!! Love ya most!! F.S.T.H.W.!!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Nick Sahagun

Hola Familia!!!! Como Esta??

 

So I guess I should let you all (almost typed y'all hahah whoo that was close) that I am no longer in the Spanish Program!! We had Transfers this last week and I got my new companion!! his Name is Elder Brown and he is from Posper, Texas!!! and we get along great,  think of how Gus and Shawn are on Psych and that's pretty much how our companionship goes. hahah it's great we work hard and have fun doing it!! I love it!!!!  The work is really picking up in this area!!!

We have five people on date for baptism right now and two of those people are Robert and Paula MacLeod,  This great couple that walked into church one Sunday!!  They are just the most opposite people that you will ever meet!  he is loud, slightly abrasive, and energetic.  and she is calm cool and just whatever!! and they are just adorably perfect for each other!! I love em to death!!! They have been investigating the church for the last month and a half that I have been here.  It has been way cool to see the change in them since we have introduced the gospel to them.  When we first met them, Robert told me that he was an author (he is using the name Sahagun in one of his books now.. I hope that's okay....) and a blogger.  He said he loves blogging, and I asked him what his blog was called he said " It's called, Sometimes its Okay to be an @%&!" Woah caught me way off guard..  So that was about a month and a half ago.  The Last time we had a lesson with them right at the end as I was walking out of the door he handed me a small piece of paper,  I said "what is this".  He said " It's my new blog!"  I opened the paper and It had the website for his new blog. findingsmith.blogspot.com, He said " It's about all of this,  Meeting you guys, and you helping me to understand the gospel and stuff. It really made me realize how much the spirit can change people!  He went from wanting to write about being an bad word to about coming closer to Christ!! it really made my day.

I am so glad for all of your support and love back home!! I love and miss you all very much!! but this is an important work, and the Lord has called me to be a part of it, so I am honored to answer that call!! I hope you all have a great week, and I can't wait to hear from you next week!!!

Love Elder Sahagun

P.s. My camera is having problems or I would send pics,  It says "zoom Error" every time i turn it on.......

Dear Family!!!

This has been one of the busiest weeks of my mission for sure!! and I'm sorry I didn't get to send a very long e-mail last time.  I spent almost my entire last P-day preaching the gospel!!! Didn't really get a P-day!! but that's what you get when you have to work in two areas!!  So the Spanish is coming along pretty great!  I have said a lot of prayers in Spanish in the past couple of days!!  It is kinda hard being in lessons where I don't understand what's going on but, the spirit is still there!! Mom, your class looks so fun!! I know those kids just love you to death!!! So no that wasn't the guitar that you guys sent out to me, it was just one that the Woolfs had at their house!  but I'm so glad to have that little guitar out here!!  It has helped me so much!!  Whenever I get the free time I practice,  I can now play Nearer My God To Thee. and The first part of Michael Dowdle's ( the guy's CD I have out here with me) version of I Know That My Redeemer Lives!!! I got the first page of the sheet music for free on Ldsmusicnow.com!!  and would love to get the whole thing!!! It's an Amazingly beautiful song!!! So I have heard a little bit from Spencer, he said he is getting fat hahaha and that he is doing good! Which is good to hear!  It's hard to get a lot of information from those guys through e-mail cause we just have to send short little messages cause we have limited time :( which I hate, but it's good.   

The work up here in Woodbridge is just going Phenomenal!! We have 5 People on date to be baptized and hopefully 2 more here pretty soon!!! I love being a missionary!!  I really never thought that I would be able to say that.  I think I have found the Joy that comes with serving the Lord!  and helping people come closer to Christ!!! It really is incredible to see the change in people when we bring the gospel into their lives!! The Church is so true.  I know it with all of the Fervor of my heart!!! if that is even a word.. I love you all so very much and hope you have a fantastic week :)

Love Elder Sahagun 

Email and video from a member

Dear Parents,

It is a pleasure having your sons serve faithfully in our ward boundaries.  We are sad that tomorrow the Assistants to the President are coming to pick up Elder Gates, but we can only imagine the excitement the Gates family will be having this week.  

We have been blessed to have them in our home many times and I have had the privilege to go on splits with them.

We have also enjoyed their musical talents:

Click on the links below!

Elder Gates Singing Wanna Go Home

Elder Sahagun & Elder Gates

Hola!

Dear Family Dear, 

        Well it's been un semana Loca!!! The reason I say that in Spanish is because I am currently in the Spanish Program!! yes,  since Elder Gates went home early so he could go to school I have been assigned to be with the Spanish missionaries for the rest of the transfer! It's very humbling, I thought I knew my fair share of Spanish, turns out that I don't know all that much, but I am loving it! it's kinda hard sometimes in lessons cause I have no Idea what's going on, but it's a adventure for sure.  One of the lessons I went into Elder Scott asked the lady who she wanted to say the prayer and she pointed to me.  So I said the prayer, in Spanish!! Gift of tongues for sure I still have no idea all of the things that I said.

        So since Elder Gates has left I have been incredibly busy.  We've been covering our area and the Spanish area, and I've been filling in for Elder Gates as District Leader.  We didn't really get a P-Day cause we were teaching  lessons all day.  So that is why I am emailing you on a Wednesday.  I hope that all is well back home, I will write some letter next P-Day if things aren't too crazy.  I love you all so very much and hope you have an awesome week!! Predicard el evangelio!!!

Love, 

Elder Sahagun 

Dearest Family,

          It was soo good to hear from you guys this week!  It sounds like everything is just going fantastic!  It also sounds like you are gearing right up to go back to school :) I'm sure that is very exciting and stressful, probably more of that second one.  It's crazy that school is already starting back up!  This summer has just flown right on by!!  It's nuts!! Time never stops!! 

          

         It sounds like there are some pretty crazy things are happening back home!  I still can't believe that Kaycie got married!!! That just blows my mind!! and I can't wait to here where MaKenna is going!! I'm so happy that she decided to serve a mission!! she's going to be an awesome missionary! Definitely keep me posted on all of that stuff!!  Everyone is just serving the Lord!!

         That is awesome that you got to chat with Maggie!  I was wondering how everything was going.  I was thinking that I should write a letter to Dylan!! and now I know that I should!! Man her sister is having another kid! Julia is going to be a double Aunt!! if that is even a thing!! Speaking of Julia.. holy cow! Is getting your Gall Bladder out a terrible thing or what? I'm not even sure I know exactly what a Gall Bladder is but it sounds kinda awful!! I hope that she is alright, and I hope she is ready to go back to school!!  I will have to send her a get well card. 

          Well another week in good old Woodbridge, VA!! and things are just going great!! Had some pretty crazy things happen this week!! but there is too much, so I have to sum up.  This week we met with a lot of people, testified of the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Invited EVERYONE to be baptized!! literally everyone, even if we have just met them, we testify of the priesthood power that we hold and invite them to come unto Christ by being baptized by someone holding that priesthood authority!! and it is just the greatest thing in the world!!! I just talk to everyone I see and then I extend the invitation, and if they deny it, I BOLDLY testify and leave them with a card with my number so they can call me when they change their mind.  If they accept then great!! We tize em.  Being a missionary is just the greatest thing and it has made me more bold and more full of faith then I have ever been in my life!!  I love being a missionary!!  It's hard.... no doubt about that.  but it is worth every second!!

Mom- I hope that teaching two curriculum goes well!  It sounds like a pretty crazy thing!  but I know that you can to it! because you raised 4 kids at 4 different curriculum levels!! :) I will keep you in my prayers love you most :)

Dad- Sounds like a pretty painful injury that you went through, I hope that you can recover quickly and that your foot injury will not hinder you school classroom preparations. sure love ya! :)

Tyler- Hope your excited for High School :) say hello to everyone for me, especially Maestra Duncan, and any other teacher who remember me there :)  and hey remember growing up is gradual, you don't have to do it all at once, so don't sweat it :) Love ya lots buddy

Jessica- I saw a little girl, playing with some Barbie dolls, and it made me remember when you were that little.. Stop growing up!! just kidding, Love you muchly p.s. I always find a way to win :)

I love you all so very much and hope you have a fantastic week!! 

Love Elder Sahagun

FAMILY!!!!! 

Man wasn't that family reunion just incredible and fun!!! I thought it was, remember how I was riding on a canoe with Quinn and Braden!! yeah That was way fun...But for real now, The family reunion looked like a blast!!! and I wish I could remember more about being there cause based on the pictures I guess Heather and I were there hahaha :)  Everyone looks so big!!! all the little babies are all growing up!! David is a little toddler!! and all the triplets? How tall are they now? It's hard to judge height by just by a picture hahaha :)  

 

So this week has been really sad. :( Elder Gates and I set up a pretty good week with all of these appointments and all of these people that wanted to meet with us and they all seemed to cancel right before we were going to go :( yeah I know really sad right.  I'm going to be in shock when I get home and I set up an appointment or a date and the person  actually shows up when they said they would be there.  It's going to blow my mind.  Like Kaycie getting married!!! woa!, yeah that blew my mind!!! I'm not going to lie, I think I'm up for a big challenge.  In about 2 weeks exactly my awesome companion will be going home.. and I just got here so I will most likely be staying, so that means I will probably be taking over the area and taking over as district leader... which is not a very big deal but it's a pretty stressful thing to me! so be praying that I can learn this area fast!  Cause Virginia streets are very confusing and you can't count on mountains as barrings because there are non... but the Lord qualifies the called.... :) 

Mom- I like carrots and corn, I'm making it official.  I'm not sure if it's just the lord helping me eat gross foods I don't know... but as of right now they are both pretty good and I thought you'd be very proud of me :) I miss you tons and love you soo much

Dad- I hope that everything goes well setting up the new classroom!! love you and miss ya papa

Tyler- Stop wearing my clothes.... :) just kidding I'm over it.  you better start bulking up though if you still wanna be able to beat me up when i get back.  I've been doing 100 push-ups a night so you better watch out :) I love ya buddy and I owe you a letter :)

Jessica- I was so happy to get your letter! and those are some pretty great drawings!! keep giggling and smiling!! I will send you back a letter soon love ya!

I love you all so very much and hope you have a fantastic week!!!!

love Elder Sahagun