Short Letter

Hey Erbody!

Not much time this week. I am always short on time but this week especially.

My companions name is Elder Ostler. He is from Washington state. He attends BYU-Idaho. He's is RiDiCuLoUsLy good at Spanish. He has been out for a year and he has a firm grasp on the language. I'm glad he is my companion. And he knows his stuff on bikes.

This week was really good so far. I got to teach a man, he was kind of vulgar but we told him as missionaries we dont do that kind of stuff. He stopped immediately when we said that. He then apologized and said that he was testing us to see if we would react differently. I don't know if that was all correct. Anyways it was just really cool to see him get his act together. I wish i could say that he came to church but he didn't. Something that was really cool during the lesson is that while we were teaching I could imagine him coming to church and coming to know that these things are true. I don't know if it was a vision but it was pretty close. Thats why im excited for this guy.

Another really awesome investigator is the dad of a 16 year old boy that I mentioned last time. He comes to church every week and absorbs the gospel like a sponge. He really is a fun one to teach but his only problem is reading. We should always read the BoM everyday no matter what happens. Even if it is just a couple verses a day. At least its something.

Thats the only investigators that are progressing for us. Its tough to come to this realization but the good thing is that we have a lot of references and contacts. We just need to work on contacting the references to see if they are interested in the Gospel of Christ.

Hears my lesson to all of you that i prolly mentioned before. I wish that I had a stronger testimony of the BoM before my mission. When I came out into the mission I had a testimony of the BoM but now it has been strengthened times a hundred. It is the most correct book of any book ever. I continue to learn from it daily and all my questions are answered daily if i continue to read. That is all i have to say about that. KEEP READING! Its manna from heaven.
Stay in school kids. Love the Gospel. Continue to be converted.

Love,
Elder Page

Last CCM Email

Good Afternoon Glorious World and All Who Inhabit It!

Well folks, its been fun. It is sad, but all good things must come to an end. I am leaving the CCM in just a few days and it will be a great yet sad experience. Great because i will actually start doing the thing that i have been preparing for yet sad to leave the great friends that i have made. I will get to make some more friends though. It will be more great than sad, in fact it will be a bitter sweet symphony. But the next time I talk to Mom will be on the phone, I do believe :) It will surely be a great experience.

Anyways this week was a blast as always. No need for details. Alright, alright ill tell ya. You just had to ask nicely haha. Anyways, I dont know if ive mentioned before district 10D in emails past but they are awesome. They were all in our branch together and we bonded for the whole time in the CCM. We did everything together like eat, play, and share spiritual insights. My district looked up to them literally and spiritually. They were all huge and they all had awesome points of view on different aspects of the gospel. Anyways they left this past monday and it was sad to see them go. They were our first friends leaving the CCM. I think this is good for us because it will be the first of many goodbyes. But before they left, we skipped the regular church videos they have on Sunday, and had a district to district testimony meeting. It was a good trade, I believe. It was probably the most spiritual experience ive had in a while. Everybody shared their testimonies and it was a brilliant experience. The Spirit filled the whole room as everybody spoke. It was cool to hear everyones background and hear how the gospel has influenced everybodys life. It was a real testimony builder.

That was prolly the highlight of my week. It has set the tone of the rest of my mission. OH! Also something that was awesome is that one of the elders from 10D is the starting quarterback from BYU come 2015! So i can say i met someone famous. Woot woot hahaah. And also it is really exciting to leave this CCM. I dont really know how to explain it. Its like leaving for my mission all over again. I cant wait but i also can, if that makes sense.

Anyways, I love this gospel. I know i should be typing in espanol but that would take entirely too long. Entonces, i love this gospel and i hope you know that by now. I wanna bear testimony of the miracle of repentance and how it can help you. If there is anything that you have done in your life that you are not proud of, you can always turn to God to forgive you of your sins. The miracle of forgiveness, in the opinion of yours truly, is that no matter how bad we can be, God will forgive us of our sins. We just need a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We also need a few other steps but just ask your Bishop for help. He is not there to judge you, but to help you take the necessary steps of repentance. He will be very understanding and help you through the whole process. I bear you this wittness and invite all to repent sincerely, en el nombre de Jesucristo, amén.

Love, Elder Pagína

One Week is One Percent

Hey Erbody!

Yep! You´ve guessed it! Today is Pday again! Isnt it cool to think that each week i write is one percent of my mission complete? Crazy huh?

Anyways this week was awesome as always. It was a pretty regular week to say the least. We heard D. Todd Christofferson in our devotional last Sunday. It was an excellent talk about 3 things that he regrets from his mission and how we can do the things that he regrets. The spirit was so strong when he spoke. It was an awesome experience. We also heard Jeffrey R. Holland a couple of weeks ago. I might of mentioned this before and if i did its worth repeating. Anyways he said that when you come home off your mission, you should never go back to what you were before. You should always be improving in the gospel. I loved that.

I didnt get to write much in my journal this week and now im starting to regret it. Sometimes if i need help to remember what happened this last week i look to my journal. The reason i didnt get to write much is because i was too busy talking to my roomies. I need to be more diligent, not just in writing, but in all aspects of the Gospel. But anyways...

Thank you all for your sweet letters and emails. I love hearing from each and everyone of you. I know you all say that its okay that i dont respond immediately but i wish i could. It seems as if someone makes time go much faster when im on the computer. Also I wanted to tell mom that i just got her dear elder sent from like 10 days ago. It was much needed on a rough day. Some days are awesome as can be but other days can be challenging with all that i must remember. Im starting to learn that the Lord doesnt expect me to be a pro at spanish by the time im outta here but i think it could help :) I know i already mentioned that last week but its still somethin im workin on. This week was a really great week because i decided to take breaks when necessary and it really has improved my methods of study. I actually understand what i learn when i do this and i also dont feel stressed. Theres a method to my madness but there is also madness to my method :)

I want all who read this that i love this Gospel. God lives. He appeared to a boy in the woods and restored his church to the earth! Isnt it wonderful that we are able to share this news with others?! Dont take my word for it, but kneel and pray and ask if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church. I know that if you do this you will receive an answer and i know that you will feel peace unto your hearts. It is so nice to know that this is the true and everlasting gospel. I cant deny it. Ive seen heard and felt too much. One of my most favorite parts of the day is Personal Study. I get to read the Book of Mormon during this time! It really is a sacred text. It answers so many of my questions in ways that i would never think possible. Its so easy to focus on what i dont know and maybe complain a little bit but nothing will get done. Youll still be in the same spot you were before. But i know that if we put our doubts and fears against the truth of the Book of Mormon, the book of Mormon will comfort and protect us. We must seek diligently and work for our answers instead of waiting for them. Faith without works is dead. I love the gospel and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

My teachers are awesome. My district- i can describe in 3 words- hardworking, loyal, and punctual.... Seriously they are ridiculously awesome. I learn so much from them everyday and I can honestly say that i love them dearly. My life is great at the CCM. I know my mission will be great as long as i am obedient.

Love, Elder Page

P.S. sorry if this email was jumbled :) i luh yah