REEEEDDUUUHHHHTHOON!

Dear Family,

An Epistle to the Sahagun Family form Elder Sahagun at the end of a week preaching amoungst his bretheran the Virginianites.  A record of his dealings from the past week.  Mainly a record of his feelings and revelations whilest reading the record of Jesus Christ's ministry among the people of the ancient Americas, also known as the Book of Mormon.. 

1. And it came to pass, that Elder Sahagun being sorely tired and ridden down with exhaustion, both of the body and of the mind and of the spirit, did speaketh many things unto his beloved family

2. Behold, these are the things which he did speak, (or rather the things that he did type out) unto his family, his family being: his father Ray, who was the son of Raymon Sahagun who was a decendent of the land Mexico, and also his Mother Linda, who was the daughter of Bob and Roma, who were decendents of the Knudsenites and the Johnsonites.  His Eldest Sister Heather who had recently returned form many moons of preaching to the people in the land of Thailand. His younger brother Tyler, who had gained much height in the space of a short time.  and his youngest sister Jessica, being full of energy and having a bright countenance most of the time.  

3.  and yea, These are the words which he did email unto them  

I wouldn't of thought that it was possible, but after 7 days of diligent, some what undistracted, Book of Mormon reading I have finished the Book of Mormon!! For the 2nd time in my life,  I'm gonna be straight with yall...  Reading the BOM in a week was probably the hardest thing I've done in about 5 months...  We were really behind when it came down to the wire, but one buzzer beating all nighter and a couple of sugary drinks later we had done it!!  What a week. In all honesty I truly feel like this experience really helped me to gain a greater appreciation and build a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I can't deny the divinity or the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  It's truly the most correct book on the face of the earth, and " a man may come closer to God by abiding by it's precepts" and truly gain the fullest measure of peace and joy in this life by daily scripture study and by applying the principles learned.

I really didn't think that I would be able to stay awake during conference after a late night of reading, but I was able to get a lot out of the wonderful opportunity to hear form our Apostles and our beloved Prophet.  I'm pretty sure that Dieter gave one of my favorites but I really feel like there weren't any bad talks, just an all around good conference.  I'm really looking forward to re-reading a lot of those talks. 

Okay....... I'm feeling a bit out of the loop and have recieved many miscommunications on the matter of this guy...  Mom said that he was just a "friend" Jessica said that he was just some boy and Heather only said " I like him. His name is Keenan. Keenan Larsen." ...................... SOMEONE needs to use some good adjective and describing words with me!!! maybe a picture?  hahaha just jokes :) , but seriously...

I love you all so much!!! Here are some great pics from our read a thon!!!  Richmond is beautiful!!!!!! THE Church is true!!!! 

Elder Sahagun

Richmond is beautiful!

Richmond is beautiful!

FAMILY!!!!  

It's sooo good to hear form you every week!!!  This week has been really good!!  and this next week is going to be pretty crazy because this last Saturday we started "The Book of Mormon Read-A-Thon!!!"  So your probably wondering what the Book of Mormon Read-A-Thon is.  Well it is basically just reading the Book of Mormon in a week, to build our faith and our testimonies of the Book of Mormon right before General Conference.  The Rules:  You must read 75 pages a day (alone or with your companion), until you do, you cannot go out and proselyte.  You can go to appointments that have been set up in advanced, but if you fall behind you must catch up.  Me and Elder Hathcock have decided to read it as a companionship (to help us not zone out and keep each other focused) and we've had like 3 lessons so far with investigators and some recent converts, plus church meetings and church itself... so we are a little behind :\  We just finished Enos this morning, but we'll be able to  catch up.  I'm gonna be honest, going into this I was not to excited, but it has been one of the most enlightening and spiritual expiriences that I've had.  In the short 2 and a half days that we've been reading my testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown so much.  I have realized just how much peace reading the Book of Mormon brings into our lives!!  Plus me and Elder Hathcock have gotten pretty creative with where we read so it's pretty great :) I'm so excited to renew my testimony of the Book of Mormon and to finish it for the second time in my life!!! 

Conference is coming!!! I'm super excited and a little bummed at the same time because it will be my last one on the mish :( but I'm not gonna let that bring me down!! We'll be watching it at our chapel on historic Monument Ave.  Dad if you're not familiar with what that is you should look it up, it's pretty sweet.  We're hoping to get all of the investigators we can to come!! but it's rough with people being so busy with school!!  But hopefully Kristi will be able to come and Katelynn and Tristan and one of our new investigators named Patrick.. he is sweet.   We met him on campus super briefly because he was headed to class, we gave him a pamphlet and told him to read it and pray to know if it's true.  He met up with us the other day again and we asked him if he read the pamphlet he was like "Yeah and it all makes sense, but now I need a Book of Mormon so I can read it and pray about it and stuff"  We must of looked really surprised cause he was like "Is that cool?" and we said "Yeah Yeah Yeah!!! We gotchu!!" it was tight.  We were pretty excited.  

Elder Sahagun & Elder Hathcock

It has been raining more down here too.  There were two days where it rained like non stop and I was completely soaked!!  It's really funny to see people's reaction when you approach them soaked to the skin asking them if you can share a message with them about Jesus Christ!  The 3 reactions I got most often were these:  #1 looked at me like I was insane and they said "ummm no" #2 looked at me like I was a abandoned puppy with three legs and said "ohhhh ohh I'm soooo sorry I really can't!! I'm sooo sorry have a good day tho!! Stay Dry!!"  and #3  Raised their eyebrows, stopped for a second to think and then said, "Man, you must be pretty dedicated!"  or  "Heck man you're standing in the rain, I can talk to you about Jesus" hahaha it was a great day.  People are great. 

  I bought like two pairs of pants, I could use a few more I'm still rockin some pretty awesome worn ones haha it's awesome.  You should just send them out, shopping is one of the last things I want to do on a P-day hahaha!

It is soo good to hear about everything going on!! I love being a missionary right now!! I love the Book of Mormon!!  I know with all the surety in my heart that it is the word of God and that we can come to gain the fullest measure of peace and comfort in this life by reading it and abiding by it's precepts!!  I'll be looking for you guys Saturday to see if I can see you up in the nose bleeds haha I love you all!!! Have a great week!!

Love, Elder Sahagun  

Hiking to read The Book of Mormon @ Belle Isle 

My Dearest family!!! 

 

This week has been awesome!!  Thank you for all of your prayers on my behalf and on behalf of our investigators I know and can testify that they are being answered!!!  This has been a really great week as far as Investigators go!! No we haven't found Tristan, we currently have our best facebook stalkers in the YSA working on the case, but have had no solid leads yet. We met with Kristi this week and we were planning on going in the lesson and just being like " okay Kristi, you're either gonna do this or your not..."  and we were super nervous about how she was going to react, and right after she said the prayer we asked her how she was doing and she was like, "well I've been thinking a lot about baptism and I want to set a date"  Elder Hathcock and I just stoped for a second looked at eachother and were like.... " wait, what?"  haha it was super unexpected but we are super excited for her!!  Pray that we will be able to work out a date with bishop.  We met this awesome girl named Katelynn Mayers this week and she is wayy awesome!!  We taught her the law of chastity and the word of wisdom first thing and she was just like, yeah I can do that, so we asked her if she wanted to prepare to be baptized on the 21st of October and she said yes!!  We are finding so many prepared people!!  Pray that we will be able to make contact with Rasheema Burgo we met with her one time and set her on date and she dissapeared!!  Same exact story with this kid named Jeff Hoffler.  Met with him, Set him on date and he's fallen off the face of the earth... seems to happen a lot here. 

 

     So yes we are ( as of 20 minutes ago) completely moved out of our old apartment and into our new apartment :\ I reallllyyy don't want to talk about what happend today.   You can send everything to 6737 Dartmouth Ave.  Richmond VA 23235. 

 

Really cool story this week!  We ran into this girl named Virginia on campus and talked to her for a little bit, she seemed genuinly interested so we got her contact info and all of that good missionary stuff.   The next day we get a call from a Utah area code and some girl is like"  hey are you the missionaries in the YSA ward?  We were like yeah what's up?  She's like " did you talk to a girl named Virginia recently?  We said.  "yeah she's pretty awesome, why?"  She started going off she's like"OHHHHH MANNNNN she's like my best friend!!!  She said she talked to some mormons and I was so thankful!!  I live in Utah,  I just got back from my mission and I wrote her every week hoping that she would learn about the church, and have prayed every day since I got back that I could find a way to get her to talk to the missionaries and I guess you just talked to her!! It is such and answer to my prayers ahhhhhh you guys have no Idea!! When she texted me this morning and told me some missoinaries talked to her I literally started dancing around the room!! Blaahhhh this is so awesome"  That is a really watered down version of what she said.  This was like a 12 minute conversation. But it was way cool to hear that and to know that we have been doing what we are suppose to!!  I'm super Excited to Teach and Baptize Virginia, punn intended.

 

Heather!!  the weather is getting a little colder but not much haha  I'm so gald that you are getting into a good routine!!  It sounds like you are doig a lot of fun stuff!!  and yes I'm SUPER pumped for general conference!! sad to think that it's my last one as a missionary!! :(

 

 

Tyler, you stud!!  Those pics dad sent are nice!  Keep it up bro, I miss you.  What's going on in your life??  Get me in the loop yo.  

 

Jessica!! I MISS YOU!! Are you still doing your dancing stuff?  I miss playing guitar with you and hearing you cute laugh!!

 

I love serving here with Elder Hathcock!!  He is definitely my favorite companion so far!!  This is the most fun and the most fulfilled I've felt on my whole mission and I love it!! This is such a great work that we get to be a part of!!  I hope that you are finding your own missoinary opportunities because I know they bring so much happiness and peace for everyone involved!! I love you all!!  This church is true!!!

 

Love, Elder Sahagun

Chicken Fingers and Waffles! It's a thing here and they're delicious!

Beautiful RIchmond

Family!!! This week has been pretty great!! Sorry this is going to be really brief!!  We got rained on a little this week. Talked to a ton of people (as per us) but we talked to this one kid named Jeff Hoffler and he is awesome!! He's like this 6' 7" 18 year old who plays soccer. He told us that he didn't really believe in God but that he had been looking to get back into church and figure out if God is real!!  He is super tight and super willing!! He is set to be baptized for Oct. 11th please pray for him!! We're meeting with him tomorrow at 4:30.  He was the only super solid new guy we found, we talked to and got like 15 kinda flakyish new people and their numbers so that's pretty cool.  I just can't tell you guys how much I love talking to students at VCU.  It is the best!!  I feel so fulfilled!!  

Tim Bruch a recent convert 

Story of the week, 

So these born again christian people come on campus and talk (bash) with us all the time, and hate is a strong word.. but we really really really don't like them.  We've talked to one in particular a couple times and he is super antagonistic and unpleasant.  We've told him (as nicely as we possibly could) that we don't want to talk to him anymore, so he leaves us alone.. BUT we were walking through the compass ( the student commons area) one night and we saw him talking to Sister Fowers, one of the sisters in my district who has been out for a grand total of about 6 weeks.  So me and Elder Hathcock were like "nope, not today sir"  and we went up to them and just stood there and waited for him to acknowledge us he said "do you want to join us?" and Elder Hathcock spoke up and said, "no we've already had this pointless conversation before, so we're here to rescue her." haha and then he just starts ripping on Joseph Smith about how he was an sinner and was going off about all of these things Joseph Smith supposedly did and I progressively was getting less and less patient, whenever we tried to speak he'd cut us off.. finally I spoke up and said ' SIR, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE JUST LISTEN.  He stopped and nodded his head.. I looked at him and said, " When you are without sin, you can cast a stone at whoever you'd like." He stood there silent looking really angry and I said, " Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and you will never know that until you pray,  we're not going to have this conversation again."  He stopped looked at all of us and without saying a word he shook all of our hands and walked away.   so yeah stuff like that happens here to and it's annoying but there must be opposition in all things!!  and we definitely have some awesome miracles going on right now!!!  I love being a missionary!! I love being (as President Perry my first mission prez used to say"  a conservator of truth! We all are, I loved Elder Hollands talk last conference about defending the faith!! and these days more than ever there need to be more saints who are willing to defend the faith!!!  I love you all so very much and hope you have a great week!! 

Love, Elder Sahagun 

September 8th

 My Wonderful Family!!!!  

This week has been a little crazy... and slow BUT STILL AWESOME!!!!  Mainly this week was slow because we had to move.. so yeah let me explain a little better...  so you said "So I'm confused about your you're moving,you're not moving.  So the couple missionary sister found you a place but it's just as far as the place you're already in, so you're staying where you are until you can find a closer place?  Is that right?"  and that would make sense right??  and that is exactly my frustration..  So we did move into that place that is just as far out of our area as our last apartment, even though it doesn't solve any problems.. because the whole reason we needed to move was that we could live in downtown right close to VCU.. but it's all good we're moved (partially) now and it super crappier than our old apartment, but what are ya going to do?

SOOOO Tristan James, hahaha so Tristan was suppose to be baptized this last week, but he fell of the edge of the earth so that didn't happen.  Tristan lives downtown on VCU campus, but he doesn't have a phone or any way of getting in contact with us, so the way we set up appointments was just by setting them when we met with him and then just hoping he'd show.  and this week he just didn't show.. and we have absolutely no idea where he went, so that could be something you pray for!! Pray that we'll be able to find Tristan and that he'll be able to be baptized on the 13 of September!! Miracles will happen!! So besides Tristan we are teaching a lot of people, but the most solid ones (ones that have a date) are these people Kristi Deguel- Kristi is super awesome and cute haha cute just because of the fact that she's literally like 4 foot nothing haha She has been way busy with work (she's a nurse) and it's making it hard for her to feel ready to be baptized so that is her struggle right now.. Rasheema Burgo-  Rasheema is awesome!!!  She is really awesome, we had a lesson with her like last week and set her on date for 0ctober 11th but she also works on MCV campus (medical campus) and is super busy so it's really hard to set up with her, but she's super solid and has such a great desire to learn.  Justin and Braden are roommates and we talk to them a lot, they are with an on campus ministry meaning they kinda do what we do on campus but it's more like a non-denominational club, but they said they could be any religion and still be in the club so they are willing to learn!! and Diamyn is a freshman, we took her on a church tour two days ago and we are meeting again with her tonight!! She is super crazy and funny and is kinda tip toeing her way back into religion, because she has had bad experiences in the past will this kinda thing but she could definitely be baptized!! ALL of these people could be and it's really exciting!! Pray that these people will continue to feel the spirit and feel that desire to be baptized!! because they are all ready!! :) 

I hear from Elder Crankshaw and Elder DeLaigle a lot!! It's really great to talk to them, I can tell that we've all changed a lot, but at the same time we're pretty much the same... if that makes any sense.. haha probably not. oh well. 

You have no idea how great it is to hear everything going on back home and don't even think for a second that it's boring or that I don't want to hear it!!  because it's great and I love it!! :) I love hearing all of the great things that are going on!!  So don't worry about that! haha and don't worry about me being unsafe on a bike anymore because.. I'm not on bike!! :)  I love being a missionary!!  I've talked to so many people this week who have said that they used to believe in God and now they either don't know or don't care what they believe anymore.. and it's really sad, I just want them to understand how much God truly loves them and desires them to have a relationship with Him!! I love being able to promise people blessings and testify of all of these things I've been able to learn for myself.  This Gospel is the greatest!!  YOU ARE ALL THE GREATEST!!! I miss you guys like crazy, but I'm super glad to be a missionary at this time in this awesome area with my awesome and probably favorite companion! I hope you all have a great week!! Testify to a stranger this week!!  and you will feel incredible!! I love you all!! sorry there are no pics this week I forgot my camera at home.... my bad

Love,  Elder Sahagun 

Laboring in the Lord's Vineyard

My awesome family!! 

 

So P-Day was changed to today because of Labor day, so my labor day was exactly that.. a day of Labor!!  which is really effective for family wards because everyone goes home to be with their families for the holidays and it's a great time to catch people home and teach them the gospel for most missionaries... for YSA missionaries on VCU campus, it's pretty much the opposite.  Campus was like a ghost town yesterday!  and it was very very hot, but we were still able to talk to some cool people so it wasn't all bad!  and the rest of the week has been awesome as usual so I really have nothing to complain about!

 

So Mom to answer your question the whole reason for us moving was because we live 20 minutes from downtown Richmond (where we do all of our work) so we were looking for a place to live in downtown Richmond close to VCU campus to help us save some miles and money so we can go home to eat instead of eating out all the time. So the office manager told us to go find a place, so we looked and found some that would of worked very well, then one of the Senior missionaries told us for some reason that she was going to take care of the situation for us... and she did she got us a nice little apartment 20 minutes away from VCU in the opposite direction... so there is really no point for us to be moving anymore but we are :) so as far as address stuff, we'll be staying here for a little longer and checking the mail here so just send everything to 2028 Timbershill for now, and for pants... just like tan, dark grey, black, maybe some other color I'm forgetting is cool, I trust a mother's judgement :) or you can just put the money for it on my card and I can get them out here, whatever is easiest.

 

So with our investigator Tristan, we're looking to get him baptized sooner than the 13th... probably some time this week or next,  which is tricky with our bishop, (please don't get me started)  our bishop has made up this ridiculous rule that we can only have two baptismal dates a month which seems like a great way to hasten the work.... NOT!!! I'm sorry it gets me really upset so I'm not going to talk about it.  I've talked to President Wilson about it and he has told me to not try and understand it because it is completely wrong. Tristan will be baptized, and that's all that matters :)

 

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

First day of school VCU

FAMILY!!! 

 

Another fantastic week to be a missionary!!! I really can't even explain to you guys how much I love it down here!!  Seriously, all we do is teach lessons and street contact, and occasionally contact a referral  AND IT'S THE BEST!!!  and it only got better this last week because Thursday was the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!! 

Writing on the street

There are so many people EVERYWHERE!!! I officially have used up all 5 of my potential pages in my planner, and am now using the rest of the pages with investigator and member slots (Heather can explain)!!  We've been able to find over 100 people who are willing to meet up with us and talk about Jesus!!!  Now the big challenge and responsibility for Elder Hathcock and I is to make sure that we stay accountable for the people that the Lord has trusted us with!!  We've been working on daily contact and just calling everyone!!  and it really helps out... but it takes FOREVER!! but it's definitely worth it.

 

Thank you so much for continuing to pray for miracles!!  They just don't stop!!  The miracle that happened this last week is probably the coolest miracle of my mission.  

 

Elder Hathcock

So Tuesday, we are contacting around monroe park, and president has asked that when we proselyte, that we split up so we can contact more people (obviously still staying within sight in sound).  So Elder Hathcock comes up to me after talking to this guy and says, man that was the craziest thing! He said he wants to meet with us, he's met with missionaries before and knows it true said he didn't have a phone but wanted our number so he could contact us, so I gave it to him and he walked away."  I was like yeah!!  that is awesome!!  He said, " no, it gets better, as he was walking away he turned around and said "hey!! I was thinking the 13th"  I said, "for what?"  he said, "for baptism"  at this point as Elder Hathcock was telling the story I completley lost it!  I was super stoked!! 

A tour of a Catholic Church

A couple of days pass and we don't hear from him at all, and we're starting to doubt that he was really serious, and that takes us to saturday,  Elder Anderson of the 70 came down to do a fireside for RC's and Gators, we were allowed to go as long as we brought one of the two.  We had asked everyone but no one was answering or they just had no way to get there.  So we decided that we'd just go contacting for the rest of the night.  We contacted for a little bit and ended up talking to this girl sitting at a table outside, she seemed a little interested, but got an urgent phone call like halfway through our lesson.  She walked away and I was a little bummed, and doubted that she would come back after she got off the phone.. and then out of the corner of my eye I saw some guy walking up to the table,  IT WAS TRISTAN!!  He apoligized that he wasn't able to get in contact with us and asked when we could meet up, we got him to come to the fireside with us!! and set up another return appointment.  When we got to the return appointment with him he was waiting patiently.. listening to mo-tab... me and Elder Hathcock just looked at each other and said, " Man, are you listening to mo-tab....." and he says "yes sir the one and only!!".  So we start our lesson with him and just asked him what he wanted from us as missionaries.  He instantly opened up and told us that he had been investigating the church since the 7th grade, he had never met with missionaries but he bought a ton of books like, True to the Faith, the Gospel Principles book, and Our search for happiness and he just learned the doctrine for himself. He read the Book of Mormon and gained a testimony of it's truth and divinity.  He testified to me and Elder Hathcock ( kinda like we should of to him) that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that he truly restored Christ's church back on the earth.  the only thing that was stopping him from being baptized at that point was the fact that he was under 18, and his parents did not approve at all, he continued to read and pray, and tragedy struck and his father passed away, making his mother all the more against the idea of him being baptized.  He told us, " My mother doesn't approve but I need to be baptized, (then stopping and choking back tears said) I need to be baptized so I can enter the temple and do the work of salvation for my father."  The spirit was so overwhelming it was difficult to keep myself from crying, we testified that he would, and that we as missionaries would do everything we could to make sure he could be baptized by the 13th.   He came to church on sunday and introduced himself like this, "I'm Tristan, I'm getting baptized on the 13th of September so... all of your prayers would be appreciated.  I have just been blown away by how prepared and ready he is to be baptized and also by his understanding of how baptism is merely a gateway to so many eternal blessings and so much happiness.  I am so thankful that the Lord has trusted us with such a prepared person.  It has truly been a miracle and it has solidified my testimony that there are truly people out there who are prepared by the hand of the Lord.  People who are yearning for the blessings and the peace the gospel brings and all we have to do is open our mouths, extend a loving hand, and be an example of the believers!!  I love this gospel so much, I'm so blessed to be a missionary at this time,  The Lord is truly hastening his work at this time!!  I love you all so much!!! Have a great week!! 

 

Love,  Elder Sahagun