MOTHER!!!!!!

Throw back to the Missionary Training Center

It was super great to hear from you!!!! AHHHH I can't even tell you how awesome it is to see the fam!!!  I was pretty sure I wasn't going to cry, at the first I did pretty good at holding it together.. haha didn't last. I LOVE those pictures!!! Is that one with Heather and I doing a thumbs up from the MTC?? 

 I think I lost that tie.... cause I don't recognize it... oh well, I've picked up like five more anyways.  It was so good to see Heather!!!  I hope I still get to see her when I skype again on Christmas!! I am go glad for this time as a missionary!! I am super excited to be out here and super blessed to have such an incredible family supporting me from back home!! 

Tyler!!! STOP GROWING!!!! I miss hangin with my bro I love you buddy, Tell Mrs. Duncan and yes.. even Mrs. Dowse that I said HI!! :)  Jessica!!  You look so much older!! super weird!!!!!  I'm glad you are doing so well with dancing!!  Keep it up!! I love you lots and can't wait to come back and sing you some bedtime songs :)

 Heather!!!!  You are such and incredible example to me, I can remember SOOO clearly that Saturday Morning when you told me that you were going on a mission and you wanted me to go with you!!!! Looking at those pics that Mom sent show that this is something that we've been preparing for our whole lives!!

Then and Now!

and look at us now!!  We're living it every day!! and It's such an amazing experience!! I love you so much!!!!  I love and miss you all so much!! and I can't wait to skype again in 7 months!!! Have a great week!!! 

Love, Elder Sahagun  

My Birthday In Richmond Virginia

Happy 20th Birthday! The ward mission leader
 and his family took me and my companion to Texas
 Roadhouse for my Birthday

AHHHHH FAMILY!!!!!!!! 

Craziest week of my whole life!!! Not a lot of time to tell you about it I'm so sorry!!!!! 

Elder Bednar came!!!!!! He is my new favorite Apostle for sure!!!!!! He is so funny!! haha dad this might make you laugh, Dean M. Davies presiding bishop did a James Brown Impression from the pulpit. He got up to speak and said " Well in the words of James Brown..... WAAAHHHH I FEEL GOOD'" hahaha everyone including Elder Bednar Started busting up!!! It was such an Incredible experience!! 500 missionaries were there from both Virginia Richmond and Virginia Chesapeake Spirit was soo strong!!! 

Transfer calls came!! Elder Wood is Leaving :( I am staying here in Massaponax and President asked me to be the new District Leader!  I'm a lot a bit freaking out.  I know that the Lord will provide!!! 









Thanks for all of the Birthday stuff, I kinda messed up the cup cakes... haha not so good at baking still!!

I can't wait to see you guys next week!(Skype for Mother's Day) Spoiler Alert!!! I'm most likely going to cry.... just a fair warning!!! I hope you have a great week!!!!!

Love Elder Sahagun 

April 28, 2014

FAMILY!!!!!!!  

You have no Idea how crazy this week has been, and I wish I had time to tell you about every door that we knocked on this week.  But that would take forever because that is basically all we did this week!!  We have been trying really hard to find some new investigators this week, It has been super trying and sometimes I feel no one wants to listen and we get rejected door after door. I know that it is really hard now, only because we are in for some major blessing!!! mom to answer your questions  Tell me about your companion. I'm still with Elder Wood, and I love him to death!!! we work super well together and he is soo ready to work and I love it!! he is from Redding California and wants to be President one day. Tell me about your area. Massaponax is the hardest area I have ever served in!!! I love it because we get to bike around everywhere and we have a lot of doors we can knock!! What are the people like? the people are nice... sometimes. Okay for the most part people are really rude and kinda scary at times, but every once in a while we'll run into some truly great people. What is the wether like now? The weather is starting to feel like what it felt like when I first got here.  I can tell the humidity is staring to go up :/ It rains on us pretty frequently.  Have you done some sightseeing on your pdays? President Wilson has said that we have to stay in our own areas on P-Day unless we get special permission.. so we haven't really seen all that much. What one thing you would tell Tyler to do to prepare for a mission? Tyler!!! I couldn't tell you one thing to help you prepare for the crazy, incredible, fulfilling, exhausting, challenging,  2 year spiritual growth spurt that is your mission. Mainly because there are so many things that you can do!! If I did have to choose just one, I would tell you to strengthen your love for your Savior Jesus Christ. If you love the Lord, there will be nothing that can hold you back from serving with all of the energy of your soul.  There will be no amount of adversity that can shake your decision and your resolve to serve the Lord.  A huge part of love is trust. Tyler always trust in the Lord to help you to know who you need to become to be ready to serve a mission.  I know and promise that as you ask and seek wholeheartedly to rise to a new sense of commitment to the Lord, that he will bless you to know exactly what to do.  I love you buddy, I'm excited to share all that I've learned on my mission with you when I get home!!! Family!!  I love you all so very much!! I hope that you all have a great week!!!  I would send you some pics.... but my camera is broken and won't turn on :( I'll send them to you next week!!  

p.s. transfers are coming up and I might be leaving.. I'll let you know next week.

pps. if you could.. could you send me an knew mini scripture case.. mine is ripped :( 

 

I love you guys!!!! 

Love Elder Sahagun

Happy Easter

Dear Family,

Dear Family,

What a great week to be a missionary!!!  I love Easter!! I hope you all got to see that video on easter.mormon.org!!  It is so uplifting and powerful I love it!! We've been knocking on everyone's door trying to share it with as many people as we can this week!! I love watching it with people, and seeing how the spirit of the Lord changes their hearts and their countenance as they watch it!!  Thank you so much for the Easter package!! I loved going through the last days of Christ!! I've been devoting a lot of my studies to the life of Christ!! Question.  Have you gotten the letter I sent?? let me know!!  This week was pretty slow and a little rough, but I am so grateful for the opportunity it has given me to be patient and improve myself.  It is really hard to go out and knock doors all day and not teach any people.  I know that the Lord is trying to teach me something, I'm still praying to understand what that is, But with that being said I still love being a missionary!! It is the most incredible thing!! We are vessels of the Spirit of God.  It doesn't get better than that!!  It is crazy to hear about all the stuff going on back home,  SOOOO crazy that Quinn and Courtney had a baby!! AHHHHH so crazy!!  Crazy stuff this week!! got in a race with the zone leaders with us on our bikes and them in their car (they live right above us).  We took a crazy short cut and it came down to the wire.. We pulled into the apartment at the same time from opposite entrances... I biked like a maniac got in front of them and they were riding my back wheel..  I sped up a little bit and finally slid in for the win..

Look I won and I have the wounds to prove it!

Keep me updated on all of the latest!  I love you all so very much!! 

Mom- I love and appreciate very much how much care you and dad took in raising us kids!! I realize how lucky I am to have such wonderful parents every day!!!

We've found four of these in our apt. Maybe we should tell someone!

Dad- HAHAHA wow, just to let you know I showed that picture to just a few missionaries, they thought it was pretty awesome.  

Jessica!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK!! LOVE YOU 

Tyler!  How Goes it buddy?? Keep me Updated Sure love ya!!! 

April 14,2014

My Dear Family,

How is it April??  I really need someone to explain to me how it can be the middle of April right now.  Time is just blowing by and I'm surprised every day when I look back on the past year.  It's crazy.  I read a journal entry form April of last year and I guess I kind of forgot how terribly homesick I was. and It's crazy to see how much has changed in a year.  I'm so glad to be a missionary.  This week has been way awesome.  It's been one of the most productive weeks in the 4 months that I've been here in Massaponax.  We were able to teach a lot of people and do a lot of service.  I wish I had time to tell you all of the things that happened, but since I can't I'll just tell you one cool thing from this week.  We were at the Browns for dinner and we got a call.  I usually don't answer the phone at member dinners, but decided for some reason to take the call in the other room.  A really old lady was on the other end and she explained that we had knocked on her door about 2 months ago (when Elder Wood first got here) Apparently when we knocked on her door we told here that if she ever needed anything, no matter how small it was to give us a call.  So she explained how she had not been able to find anyone to rake her leaves.  So we told her we'd be there the next day.  We went over and raked her leaves and we were able to teach her about the Book of Mormon afterwards.  We set up a return appointment to go back the next day and brought our ward mission leader to help us out.  After we finished the front yard we were able to have another lesson with her with a member present this time.  It was a great lesson and the spirit was definitely there!! Sadly, she called us about 2 hours after we had left and asked me this question, "why do I need to be baptized because of some guy named Joseph Smith?"  I explained again how it wasn't because of Joseph Smith that we needed to be baptized, but she only got more and more defensive and contentious. The conversation ended with her telling me that we didn't have to come over and finish the back yard because she wasn't going to listen to us.  We kindly told her that we would come back and finish it regardless.  

Tracting with Elder Hansen (my Zone leader) got all this food from one guy plus two apples 

We are having a hard time finding people to teach right now.  All the people that we do find and teach are not willing to progress.  It has been very hard, but things are really starting to pick up.  We are seeing the fruits of praying for miracles in faith.  It is incredible to see how the Lord blesses us with miracles every day we ask for them. It has really been a testimony builder for me.

This week, we are inviting EVERYONE to watch the #BecauseofHim video oneaster.mormon.org.  It is an incredible video!!  and a great way to spread the wonderful spirit of this easter season!!  Share it with all of your friends!!!!!  It is a great way to be a member missionary!! :) 

Mother- that is way cool that you got a letter from Elder Tirrell!! I freakin love that kid and miss him like crazy!!!  You should definitely save that letter until I get home!! 

Dad- Sorry to hear that you didn't get that interview.  I am positive that the Lord has something else in mind for you at this time.  Keep the faith, I miss you so much!!! 

Heather- Elder Le sent you an email?  Did you get it?  if you did, I command you to email him back. haha jokes, I miss you so much and I love you!!! :) 

Tyler- You punk!!!  write me a letter!  I love you, miss you like crazy!! 

Jessica- Sounds like you are still way busy!!  Congrats on landing that piruet thing not really sure what that is.... but it sounds impressive.  Keep it up!! love you!!!! Miss you bunches!! :) 

I am so happy.... and tired.  Being a missionary is great!!!  I hope you all have a great week!!!!  Happy Easter!!! 

I am no longer homesick #becauseofHim

My fears are replaced with faith #becauseofHim

I am free of sin and guilt #becauseofHim

I will one day run into the loving embrace of my savior and be able to whisper "I did it" #becauseofHim 

Share this Easter Season all that you are now and will be Because of Him 

Love, Elder Nick Sahagun 

Found this guy crawling on our ceiling, pretty weird looking, think it's called a silverfish...

April 7, 2014

Family!!! Holy cow... it's soo good to hear from all of you guys this week. There is so much I want to tell you about, and it's really hard to condense all that I want to tell/express to/ask you guys in just 20 or so minutes of typing.  It's so good to be a missionary.  It is super exhausting and I'm tired like all the time, but every morning at 6:30, (sometimes 5:40, so we can go play basketball with the zone leaders) It is super easy to get up.  I never thought that I would be able to jump right out of bed at the early hours of the morning and just get going.  I think back to a little over a year ago.. when I could hardly roll out of bed at 10:30 and get myself some cereal.  It is weird to look back and see how much I've changed.. If I were to go back in time and see past Nick laying down in bed at 11:30 am I probably would yell at him.  "Get up ya lazy!!" haha I feel like someone might have done that.. can't think who.. hahaha :)   General Conference is the greatest gathering of people that could ever be organized in the four corners of this earth!!!!!  I LOVE CONFERENCE!!!! Getting to hear the voice of the prophet.. hear revelation and testimony from the Lord's chosen apostles, and sing and praise to God as the restored church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is one of the greatest blessings that we have!!!! I loved it all!! We went to our church building in Massaponax.  I have about 10 favorite talks, but I'll just tell you the one that stuck out the most to me was the first talk, first session, by Jeffery R. Holland.  It stuck out to me because recently I've had to take a stand and boldly defend the beliefs of our church.  Hearing about that sister missionary who almost got decked in the face and had a baked potato chucked at her head made me realize that it could be a lot worse. We get a lot of people who want to bash on our beliefs when we knock on their door, and it pumped me up to hear Jeffery R. Holland tell me to defend my beliefs!! 

Thank you so much for the new shoes!!! I love them and they are super comfy!!! I was a little hesitant to wear them because they look so nice compared to the shoes I have now, but I took courage and just did it.   Don't worry you sent them to the right address!! The Spotsylvania address will be good for at least 5 more weeks. I'll let you know if I get transferred when that time comes

Big news!!! On May 3rd an apostle will be coming to the Virginia Richmond Mission!!! I'm so excited!! David A. Bednar is coming for my birthday!!!  granted that is probably not why he is coming, but still super excited!!  

Wait... so where did you find that video of me singing? on Youtube? Elder Sahagun sings I am a Child of God I have no idea where or when that could of been taken... my guess would be either Colonial Heights or Woodbridge.... no one told me that they were going to post a video of me.. that is kinda scary. but cool I guess.   

Mom- Elder Le ( an awesome Elder in my Zone) said he wrote you a letter? did you get it? read it? just wondering. also I am grateful for your advice to not give up on Michael.. our Investigator.  I will definitely not give up on him

Dad- Nice Trombone playing!! I haven't ever heard you play like that!  it was awesome!!  Keep sending those journal entries!!! send some more of those embarrassing ones!! haha 

Tyler- Man straight jamming out!! nice pipes bro, maybe practice your bar F a little more huh.. hahaha love ya buddy!! 

Jessica- You got some pipes too!!  It was way good to hear you sing. Your week sounds nuts!!!! I'll be praying for you!! 

Heather- I miss you like crazy!! It looks like you are doing awesome!!! I sent you a letter about a month ago.. let me know if it gets to you!!

I love you all so much!! hope you have a great week!!

Love, Elder Nick Sahagun 

Wow, Family... It's been a crazy tiring week, but for some reason I'm still fairly happy.  Doesn't add up, but then again.  The math of the Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't make sense.  Think about it following 10 commandments and other revelations= an eternity with your family and your Father in Heaven so 10+(a) = infinity w/family. Doesn't add up, but that is why I love this gospel so much,  It is just that simple!!!! It's not something that can be measured or calculated by scientists or mathematicians.  It's something that can bless and perfect the weak and the simple.  It's truly incredible and I'm so blessed to be able to share it with the people here in Virginia.  I wish everyone could feel the redeeming love of our Savior Jesus Christ.  

Frog!

We had a pretty hard thing this week.  Our one, and only solid investigator, Michael Geukgeuzian dropped us.  Over text it was the dumbest thing.  He is going through some rough things and his parents. They have been grilling him hard about coming to church and meeting with us.  He said he needed to get his life in order and that means he won't be coming to church or talking to us for a while..I didn't like that all of that was said over text so I decided to call him.  I talked to him for about 10 minutes and he reiterated what he had said in the text.I testified that the Gospel will only help us in our crazy and hectic lives, that we have to make it a priority, and trust that the Lord will take care of the rest.  He said he was pretty certain that he just needed a break and some time to sort things out. 

It was super hard to not think that him dropping us was our fault.  I kept on getting the feeling that we could of done more to help him, but I know that we did everything we needed to do to help him receive the Gospel.  It's been a hard thing for me on my mission to respect other people's agency, but I feel like I understand more now how my Heavenly Father feels with me a lot of the time. haha kinda funny how that all works out..

Our ward has been stepping it up, which has been really good.  I feel like we've really built up this ward to be more missionary minded.  We had 3 nights of splits this week and have three nights set up for this next week already.  Compared to when I first got here when we had none for a month and a half.This ward has made some major improvements and it is really good to see the love for missionary work grow.

hahaha and yes Tyler being a "beast" is a very good thing in soccer.hahaha  Keep taking pics of him playing soccer and other stuff during the week!!!  I love getting pics from you guys!!  Hey! did you get my letter?  I sent it about a week ago so I hope you guys hav got it by now.  Let me Know :) 

Love  you so much,

Elder Nick Sahagun