11-18-2013

FAMILY!!!! AHHHHH 

I can't even say how awesome it was to get those videos!! hearing from grandma and grandpa was awesome and Tyler and Jessica, man you guys have really already grown so much!! It's crazy, I pretty much cried the whole time that I watched the videos and am even starting to cry a little bit talking about it.  I am a pansie wow.... but definitely keep them coming it really helps to see you guys!! and I think it will help me so I won't cry as much when I see you guys come Christmas time!! 

This week has been way awesome a lot of cool missionary experiences!! 

One day we were going over to one of our investigators houses, Moses, and I had my little guitar and I was going to sing him my song, cause he also writes music and wanted to hear it.  So we got there and he wasn't there,  we called him banged on his door and nothing... so now we were out in the night, (which comes at like 5:30 now) with a guitar and our bikes.. I was like well, " there must be something that the Lord wants me to do with my guitar.  So me and Elder Tirrell said a quick prayer and knocked on a guys door that we hadn't gotten back to since we contacted him,  We knocked on his door and he answered, we explained that we wanted to bring the spirit into his home and sing a hymn to him if that was alright, he said "oh yes come!" (he didn't speak very good english) but we walked in and he pointed to a room in the back and said "go in there" so we hesitantly walked back to the room and when I walked in I saw an small old crippled man in a small room and a large hospital bed just laying there.  we introduced ourselves and shook his limp hand. and asked if we could sing him a song and pray for him.  He nodded his head, and I played and we sang Nearer My God To Thee,  It was so powerful, the spirit was super strong!! It was an incredible experience that I will cherish for a long time.

So for thanksgiving we were going to the Anderson's (Sister Anderson's) house but now we are going to the a new family in the wards house for dinner the Whites.. don't really know them, but I know that it's going to help them feel welcome in the ward.  I can't wait to get a care package, I will really be needing one :) Mom- My pants are 32by32 slim,  I haven't gotten that much fatter hahah :) 

Tyler-  Good luck with those try outs buddy!! just remember what I taught you all those years ago playing in the back yard and nailing you in the face :) hahaha Just jokes, you'll do fine.

Jessica- Look at you and your little braces!! How crazy is that? Do you just love them already ? :) 

Dad- again, those videos worked out really well, and brought me so much joy!! 

The church is so true!! I love you all so very much and hope you have a great week!! :) 

Love Elder Sahagun 

P.S. Did you think to Pray?

11-25-2013

to me
Nov 25

Details

Dear Familia dear, 

OH man, let me just first start of by saying this. Dad, you were right.  I thought I knew cold before, but I was very wrong.  Very very wrong.  IT IS FREEZING!!!! It was only like 34 degrees but it seriously felt like 20 below... rediculous!! BUT!  every hour you spend tracting or walking out in the cold is a blessing for your family.  So I'm racking up some blessing for the Sahagun's and probably enough that we could start sharing with the Knudsens and the Popes and the Allgoods as well!!  "Tis the season of giving.  

So for Thanksgiving this week we are going to the Whites.. they are a new family in the ward that we don't know that well, but cool thing we got double booked!! so we'll be having dinner (lunch) dinner is lunch here and supper is dinner, hope you followed that.  So we will be having two wonderful Thanksgiving feasts. Awesome. 

We had a really cool experience this week.  We were walking through westhampton cemetery so we could put our names on a clergy list. ( a wonderful finding idea from the front of our missionary planners) and the lady there told us that they didn't have a list like that that we could sign up on, then she gave us a bunch of names of a bunch of different funeral homes that were way out of our area that we could try.  We pretended like it was going to be helpful and left. We were kinda bummed so I decided that we should go look at all of the Jesus statues that they had all around the cemetery (there were many) we went and saw one of Jesus and a table with 11 apostles 2 of which looked more like women, slightly confusing.. then I remembered a statue of Jesus with the woman at the well at the corner of the cemetery that we passed frequently,  On our way over we saw this old guy unloading some cleaning supplies from his trunk.  He looked up and saw us and started walking towards us. He shook our hands and said "Harry Shaia"  We started talking and he told us that he was Catholic and that he was there visiting his late wife and son who had died in an accident and asked a little about why we were out here and what we were doing. Somewhere within 2 minutes of meeting this man he asked us if we would like to "join him for dinner" what? I guess so? he gave us his number told us to call him at 5:30 and tell him where to pick us up and he would have a reservation for us to eat at 6:30.  so we called him and told him to pick us up at our apartment and he did,  he took us to this Really nice Italian place called Brios, It was like 25 dollars a plate. maybe that's not that much but it seemed really expensive to me.  we talked a bit and at one point elder tirrell went to the bathroom so it was just me and Mr. Harry Shaia.  He started to ask me all about missionary stuff.  Did you know your companion before you came out? why do they move you around so much? who pays for all of this? all of the stuff that people usually ask us.  I answered question after question and then out of the blue he asked me this. " do you believe in Jesus Christ" I said "most definitely" He said" As the son of God?"  I replied again. " yes" then he asked again "that he came to save us from sin?" I confirmed again that that is what we believed.  He stopped for a minute, started chuckling and said, "I guess you are alright"

we finished dinner he then took us out to get some Ice cream at Burger King and took us home.  When we got home and he parked the car and said this " I don't think you truly understand, that you are a conduit of God to bring His message to the people here.  You truly are a conduit" he stopped, started to get really emotional and said " this Tuesday I'll be going to Mass, Know that at that time that I will be praying for you.  I  ask that you do the same for me."  we agreed that we would shook his hand and he left.  It was truly a miracle that we ran into this man.  We might not of converted him right then and there, but we made the essential first step for his testimony to grow. Planted a Seed!! Alma 27 by small and simple things!!! It was such a testimony builder for me and a great experience that I will remember forever! 

This is a great time to be a missionary, this Thanksgiving I am thankful for my family and friends that love and support me.  for the Gospel in my life, and most of all for the opportunity that I have to share it with the people here in Virginia!!  I love this Gospel and I love all of you so very much and I hope that you have a fantastic week!! I can't wait to here from you this Christmas :)  

The Church is true.

Love you all, 

Elder Nick Sahagun

12-1-2013

Hello Family!! 

What a crazy cold week it's been down here in Virginia!! Thanksgiving was awesome we ate at the Anderson's with a bunch of their fun family, then we knocked on some random guys door who let us in, let me play his guitar and then let us teach him the gospel... It doesn't get better than that, Usually, but it did, we went to the Whites house and had another Thanksgiving dinner and got a TON of leftovers, which are good on a my little budget. We got an awesome referral this week from a member.  We went over there and taught the lady the restoration, I asked here to read the last two paragraphs of the introduction and after she read it I asked her how she felt about it. she said, " it seems like something that I've been waiting to hear my whole life" Miracles, It's going to be a white Christmas, she is going to be all dressed up in white on the 28th of December!! super excited for her!!! I got the Christmas package!! Totally made my day! I put all of the Presents under my bike and hung my stocking from the handlebars, colored some dead light bulbs christmas colors and hung em up on there. we do what we can with what we have, it's not a tree but it will work.

Also!!! I was wondering and hoping that it wasn't to late to change my Mission Plaque Scripture, if there is any way that I can change it to Alma 17: 12-13 that would be awesome!! 

Also!!! I was wondering if you could send me a copy of a song from that hardback christmas song book's version of have yourself a merry little christmas with the guitar chords and all that.

I was asked to play a song for this ladies book club thing. that would be great.

It is way hard being away, but I know that the blessings will come!! I miss you guys so much and can't wait to try and talk to you guys through tears on Skype!! I hope you all have a fantastic week!! I love you so much! 

Love, Elder Nick Sahagun  

P.S. The sky is unreal here....

12-8-2013

Dear Family, 

Another week of being a missionary,  It's incredible.  Let me tell you something ridiculous, So this Sunday there was a bunch of drama about this huge storm that was going to come through and just be super devastating the power was going to go out power lines broken from the weight of so much ice all of this craziness about not having power for a week.  I walked into ward council and they were talking about canceling church... what?!? they decided to only cancel 2 hours of church, so that we could get home before the storm hit.  so went to church the storm went through and I'll show you some pictures of the effects of this incredible storm that we had to cancel church over. 

   I was like " you have got to be kidding me right now."

Apparently if the smallest amount of snow gets on the grass and lightly dusts the trees the entire state of Virginia falls apart. but it was a good week of preaching the Gospel.  We were super busy this week, we helped set up a really cool walking nativity/ creche festival at our church and then they asked me to narrate the manger scene.  , pretty much memorized an awesome quote by Gordon B.  Pretty awesome experience.  We went to Bobby Phifer's house as well.  It is the most incredible display of Christmas lights I have ever seen!!! so awesome!!!!  I love Christmas!!!! 

So I hope that we can coordinate a cool three way Skype again I'll talk to my mission president about it and get it all figured out.

I love you all so very much and hope that you have a great week!! (see ya in 15 days :) )

Love Elder Sahagun

Dear Family!! 

I am sorry that I was not able to send an email out yesterday, we had kinda a big important meeting that was so important that they had to move P-day to today!! You might be wondering what could be so important that they would have to do that, well we had a member of the first quorum of the Seventy come down to the Virginia Richmond mission!!! Elder Siatati!! it was pretty cool to have him and his wife come down and talk to us, It was kinda hard and frustrating at times, because people ask the dumbest questions. It's incredible it really is.  But it was way good, He talked to us about our purpose and how we can better fulfill it, and his wife talked to us about how we need to be unified with our companions!! It was a cool thing and It was awesome to see them!! 

We also had another meeting this week,  called "return and report" and it's a meeting for all of the trainers and trainee's in the first transfer of their training!  It was way cool, got to see a lot of missionaries that I used to serve with!  Got to see Elder Kay!!!! he said to tell you all hello for him.  We talked during the lunch hour of the meeting and it was way cool to reminisce and to remember how it was when I first came out. It was also good to see how far I've come since then!! A lot of the times it's hard as a missionary because you feel like you are not making any progress.  It's hard to see the small day to day progressions from a personal standpoint, so It was good to talk with him to see how much I really have grown. 

It has been a crazy week!! and it is getting really cold and dark and grey out here in Virginia.. Not sure I like it so much.. but we got to teach a some good people this week!! which makes it all worth it!! One of the guys we taught brought us doughnuts!! he was like here I got you guys some doughnuts... It was awesome.

Being on bike is great!! and I love it, I thought that I would just tell you that.

Mom I agree wholeheartedly!!!!  You HAVE to be able to have fun like that to balance out all of the work and stress!!! It's really hard when you have an uptight companion who doesn't understand that... but I am blessed with a great companion who's willing to work hard and have fun!! I love it, Missionary work is incredible!!  The church is true!!! and  I hope you all have a fantastic week!! 

Love Elder Nick Sahagun

Great Virginia sunset!

Dear Family,

    How grateful I am to be able to email my wonderful family every week, being a missionary is hard... but being reminded of all of the love and support that I have from back home makes it so much easier!  I miss you guys like crazy!! and I can definitely tell that these next two months are going to be especially hard, but I really liked what you said in your email mom.  It's good to know that even though I am away from my family, I can help others so they can be with their families for eternity.  I really struggle (and am still struggling with) missing home, and my awesome family.. but I think it has helped me understand what other people might feel for eternity if they can't be with their families.  

         This week was really rough.  In our stake we are pushing for 100% baptismal invites and 50 Member present lessons a month in our zone.  So Elder Tirrell and I set up 8 solid member present lessons for this week that would really help out the zone.  I felt really good about it and was excited to teach all of these people, but all of our lessons flaked out on us.  It was really hard and frustrating cause I felt like I had done everything right and yet we still didn't get to teach any of those people.  Then in Personal Study I was reading and I found something to help.  It said " Your success as a missionary is not defined by the number of people you seek, find, and teach.  It is measured by your commitment to seek, find, and teach everyone that will listen".  That's probably not exact but it's pretty darn close, and it really brought peace to my mind and helped me realize that if I'm putting my full effort into seeking, finding, and teaching, then I am a successful missionary in the Lords eyes. 

       We have been teaching this guy for the past 3ish weeks, his name is Moses Chege, He is 29 and he moved here with his family from Kenya.  He is a trip!  He's way energetic, and slightly A.D.D. (sound like anyone you know?) and he just loves us coming over and talking "about Jesus" hahaha he is way open minded and way fun to teach.  He also loves to write music and sing!  You could definitely pray for him.  Pray that he will have a desire to know the truth.  He said right now he doesn't disbelieve the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith, but he just isn't at that point where he wants to know...  Pray that he will have that desire.  There are a bunch of other people that you can pray for, but I don't have time to give you a story on all of them, so I'll just give you their names :)  Investigators: Hanna Lamphere, Juanita Beaty, Myranda, James & Susan Dodd,  Jeanne Howe, Scott, Celeena & Daniel, and Wanda Lee.  Less Actives: Scott Cromwell, Owen Peters, Rhonda Cavanaugh, and Gena Walker.

Man I love you guys and miss you tons, and I hope that you all have a fantastic week!  oh and here's my new address! sorry I thought I had already sent it to you guys. (and yes It would be best to send packages to that address :) )

11 Chase Gayton Dr. #1325

Richmond, VA 23238      

Dear Family!!

AHHH NO TIME!!! It's been a crazy P-Day, a member took us to the Berkley Plantation (dad you're the only one who might have a clue what I'm talking about) and we were there for 5 hours!! including the ride there and back!!  I am doing well! Shotgunning and training is very stressful and very hard... but! I am learning a lot!! Everyday I learn something new! and It really is good to know that I have a loving heavenly father who knows that all of the things that I go through will help me reach my full potential in the long run!! what a blessing!  I'm so grateful for this opportunity to learn!! 

Mom- I am so happy that I got to talk to you! kinda.. through email.. It's awesome!! I was thinking about being warm, and I think that I'm good and warm :) maybe just some gloves.. and also there are these nifty little highlighters called HI-GLIDERs they are really nice and handy!! I love and miss you very much and need a mom hug

Dad-  the plantation had a lot of cool history stuff!! and made me miss you!! and I didn't forget your birthday... I thought I could get a card sent out, then I procrastinated and started to do missionary work and didn't get to it :( but know that on the 11th of October, I was thinking about you!!! and missing you!! 

Tyler! Happy Birthday!!!! I know I missed it I am a terrible Brother!! 14?? that is crazy!!! I have some kids in the ward i'm in that are as old as you.. and it weirds me out!! you guys just keep growin up!  I love you bud, be good and stay outta trouble!! :)

Jessica- Mom told me your at the dentist right now :) good luck being toothless on Halloween :) Just kiddin,  but really good luck with your piano ricitle thing I wish i could be there!! love ya so much!! 

I love you all so very much and hope that you all have a great week and an awesome Halloween!! :)

Elder Sahagun

The James River!!! and me signing the Declaration of independence!!!!