Week 103

Return with honor!

Elder Matheson.... He's the man 

The last supper at the mission home 

Singing 

Testimony meeting 

Friends for life! 

Elder Nicholls 

Layover at Salt Lake, got to visit with Grandma and Papa 

Saying last goodbyes in Arequipa 

Leaving Arequipa, going to miss this family! 

Home at last!!!! To these crazy lamas 

First hug goes to mama!

Families are forever! 

Gifts from Peru! 

Your all invited to my homecoming... I would to Love to see everyone!! 

Week 102

(Fotos de Consejo de Zona) thanks to elder Searle we have a few pics this week!!! 

Well all my family and friends, i can't believe it but this is my last letter home from these past amazing 2 years! 

its hard to describe my feelings in this moment, i feel happy for the new start, time with family and new experiences, but i still have that feeling of dang.... i won't see these people for a long time.. they are my family here in Peru.  So a bit sad too!  I know that all that our Father sends us to do, He provides a way for us to complete it! 

I know that missionary work is the work of the Lord!  He guides and protects us always.  This mission has opened my eyes to how i should live the gospel.  obedience is happiness, I know that for sure! 

I have been blessed with many spiritual experiences that have changed my life and marked my heart forever! i can honestly say that i have felt JOY,  A great feeling of joy during my time in Peru!  one of my favorite scriptures is in Alma 29:10 describes it a bit. 

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me. 

I have come to feel this joy that only comes through the Atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ, and i know that the people that i have been blessed to know here have felt this same joy in their hearts! This is only possible because we have a Father that loves and cares for us. He only wants the best for us and that's  why we have the TRUE Gospel restored here again on the earth today. I have come to know this, thanks to the testifying power of the Holy Ghost, that I felt while reading the Book of Mormon! 

I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.  

MOMMAS Qs

1.  What is your schedule for your last week? 

1.  Well of course we are gonna work up until Wednesday and on wednesday we are leaving at like 12 noon to Arequipa.   Thursday we have trainings and the plane leaves on friday! It will go sooo quick! 

2.  What are you wanting for dinner when you get home? 

3. sunday dinner.....  pulled pork with home made mac and cheese!!:D please 

love you all!! 

Elder Wagner

7.25.2016

Week 101.

Gosh my week has gone by soo fast.... its crazy how fast time goes when you stay busy and work hard, it always pays off! this week we were able to do divisions with some elders from the Zone and it was a good experience! i was with a brand new missionary, we worked hard and had a good time doing it.  its kindof weird to be with someone with so little time in the field, they are like super new to everything! its really fun to see... Brings back memories!! 

we have blessed with a new investigator, this week as well! his name is Juan! he is a great guy and has a desire to change in order to have a better relationship with his family and come closer to God.  we found him in the church building one day, he had just come from moquegua and is living here with his mother in law who is member! so she is taking them to church! we taught him a lesson yesterday and it is obvious that he has a lot of desire to get to better place in his life!!   we are so grateful for this miracle! obedience is key to success! 

p.s. 

this will tell you guys how bad my english is... haha elder searle and I were talking and he said, "hey what the past tense of squeeze?" Then he waited a sec and said, "Squoze!!" and i was like no! that cant be! and he was like, you sure?! haha we were dying of laughter. he was so sure that it was squoze! And neither one of us could really figure it out!   haha it was a really funny white men, that don't speak english moment! ;) 

mommas Qs 

1.  Anything different these last weeks? 

1. not really anything different, just hard work and having fun! 

2.  What day do you go to the mission home?  

2. i will be in the mission home, i believe on Wednesday the 27. i will leave tacna that day early, go visit people, have my last interview and trainings until friday! 

3.  What are your plans for today? 

3.  today we are going to go and buy souvenirs!! with elder searle! gonna be fun!!

love you all!! have a good week!

Elder Wagner

Still no pics from elder Wagner... Just have to look at this! 😉 

Week 100!!!

Well we had another super full week! 

we got to go to Arequipa for the leadership council with the new president and we learned a lot, he is a great man! 

one thing that stuck out to me In his teachings is about Love.  

it's really incredible how much you can grow to love and care for someone from a different country, that speaks a different language and that has been raised differently than you.  but i know that this is the key to gaining a connection through spiritual experiences! sitting down, getting to know them, listening to them, being with them the whole way, crying with them, fasting with them,  doing as much as possible for them! through these spiritual experiences that we have had with the people here in this mission a bond has been created that is unbreakable.  that is one of the many things that i love about serving a mission, the long lasting relationships that are made!  the people here are really my family, that i love and care for.  

this is the true Gospel!

mommas qs

1.  How was your week? 

1. my week was great! we worked hard and saw great blessing in our days! 

3.  How's your investigators?  Anyone new?

3.  well we are in kind of a down on investigators! on the search for them but we are trying our best to find some! 

4.  How did your food turn out last week?  It looked interesting ;)

4.  i was soo good!!! that stuff that i had in my hand was the batter for a cornbread type thing, it was sooo yummy! 

5.   What are your plans for today? 

5.   today we are goin to play soccer withthe other zone! 

6.  sorry my comp doesnt have one either...

love you guys!! 

Elder Wagner

(No pictures from elder Wagner since his camera got stolen...:( but I had to add this in... We are getting excited for his safe return!)

Week 99

this week has been great! We got to meet the new president! he is awesome! he and his wife are really great people,  i love them already!

sorry guys...but no time to write today, we got up early to prepare pachamanca! Its food cooked in the dirt! its cooking right now so just a quick email then we are going to go back take it out and eat!!! its gonna be sooo good!! oh and my camara was stolen... my fault cause i left it out... but ya, what ever! i got some pics from elder Searle so we are good! We are going to play touch football, soccer, kickball! 

i love you guys!! 

Elder Wagner 

Prepping the dish 

Chicken yummy 

My own technique... Not really working;)

Prepping the ground 

Learning the technique of pachamanca

Getting ready to cook

Covering with spices 

Week 98

this week i received a strong testimony on something that i was never really interested in... family history!!! I always thought family history was for old people ... but this week my mind was changed forever! we had the chance to do some family history and i had two awesome experiences!                                                                1.  one morning while looking at my family tree i started to put my dads name and all his brothers below my Grandma and Grandpa Wagners name.  as i put them in the computer, i came upon my uncle Donald's name.  As I was looking at the information that other people had already inputted, I found a link to a website and i clicked on it.  as the page loaded i saw the headstone of my uncle Donald Wagner and i was just overwhelmed with a peaceful feeling of comfort, that I know where he is!  I felt the spirit so strong,  i can't describe it but i know that the Plan of Salvation is the true plan of God and will lead us to eternal happiness.  

2.  on friday morning we were able to go again and do family history work! with my testimony now strengthened a little bit, more thanks to my last experience, i was really excited to see what i would find! so i went right to work and started searching!  guess what i was able to do? 9, 9 names of my ancestors were found and i was able to send their names to the temple! i felt sooo happy and uplifted, i couldnt wipe the smile off my face! 

Family history work is amazing!! i know that thanks to the Priesthood that we hold, these ordinances can be effected! i know that we are instruments in the Lords hands as we do this work! i LOVE family history and have learned that it is for everyone!!! 

(A little miss communication for our ward activity! This is how many people showed up... Needless to say we are doing it again this week) 

Mommas Qs

1.  So how was your week? 1.  my week was fast and super great! 

2.  Any new investigators? 2. yes we have one new one named Aron! he is our mission leaders friend! he is great! 

3.  Have you been reading the book I sent you about taking off the tag? 3. ya i have a little! not totally yet! but so far its awesome! 

4.Everyone is posting about their flight schedule. 4. i am getting home at like 4! 

5.  What are your plans today?  5. we are going to play kick ball!  Should be fun!

love you all!! i hope you have a great week! 

Elder Wagner 

Week 97

First off, happy late fathers day dad!!  you are the greatest dad in the whole world.  thank you for the awesome example you are to me, for loving me and accepting me for who i am. thank you for your support in all things and for loving me always not matter what i have done. i will never be able to explain it in words, thank you, for your blessings, your teasing, your laugh, your hugs, your love for mom, your hard work, your faith, your example, your persistence, your care, your service, your dedication and much more but most of all, thank you dad........., for being you.
love your son
Elder Tanner Jared Wagner

The This week i have gained a stronger testimony of the importance of studying the Book of Mormon everyday.  if we study the Book of Mormon everyday, i testify that we will be guided, directed and protected in everything we do!  that book brings comfort, love and guidence in every aspect of our life! it really contains the FULNESS of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  what ever question, hardship or challenge that we are facing, we find all the answers, council and strength to push through and see the light in that book!! 

i love the Book of Mormon, i know it is true and it is the word of God!  it has changed my life! 

Mommas Qs

1.  How was your week? 

1. it was a good week! Fast!!!!!  Jesus wants to get baptized now! he got his answer!  We are going to get it scheduled!

also we did a family history activity with all the converts of the stake, it was great! 

2.  Did you get any new transfers into your zone? 

2. yep there will be 2 newbees and a another sister in the zone!! gonna be awesome! 

3.  We are all getting alittle excited for you to get home.... I think moms get trunky:). 

3.  nope I'm not trunky yet! can't  be trunky! But time is going by really fast! I have a lot to do here still! 

4.  What are plans for today? 

4.  today we are going to play soccer on a turf field!  It will be nice to not be on cement! 

love you all!! read the Book of Mormon! Its the best!! 

Elder Wagner

after Divisions with elder Leavitt and elder Paredes!