Email Dec. 31, 2012

Hello my dearest mother!

Well another week here in Moroni! Sounds like everything is good at home. Seeing everyone one was great! Only one more phone call! Can you believe that? I can't. Well that is great that Niglet got a 29 on the ACT, with a little more studying he'll take down the older brother! He can't take down Natali cause she is just way too smart... Love you Natali! Please tell Grandpa Dennis and Marie, Grandma and Grandpa Naegle, and Joy and Arlyn thank you!!!  Pizza Hut sure was delicious today, my comp agrees too. Good thing there was money on that card of mine... Hahaha thanks again.

So this last week we had an awesome experience. My comp was still talking to his family after I got done with all of you, so I went and contacted the owner of the cyber and had  a nice little lesson with him. He had lots of questions, lots and lots, baptisms for the dead, etc. but it was great! We taught him a few more times, and guess who was in church yesterday! Hector. It was awesome. We have to kinda take it slow with him because he doesn't really want to accept one true church yet, but he is all down for change! He is great.

Tuesday there were no buses, we went to the district mtg that was in the office, President Madariaga was also there, but because there were no buses we were very late and super sweaty... Nice one Naegle... Haha nothing to do but put on a smile. President put 2 and 2 together though when he saw the sweat dripping off my nose I think.

This week I had a pretty awesome personal study. I read in 3 Nephi when Christ commands us to be perfect. Then I just started pondering. I thought about 1 Nephi 3:7 and how if we are given a commandment we are also given a way to obey. I realized that it is me that is keeping me from being perfect. My hard heart. Don't worry, I am not going to come home all weird Mom, but I definitely should come home changed. I am so grateful for the Gospel and the changes it allows us to make in our lives. I love my mission. I love my Savior. I love Paraguay.

Love, Elder Naegle

Temple workers! And our investigator that came to church yesterday.

Email Dec. 17, 2012*

Hello Mom,

I have been changed!!!! Special changes..... I am so sad.... But I am now in Moroni with Elder Palacios.  I was happy to come and work here as a zone leader.  The temple is in my area, my area is super nice. A really big change. I still have no idea about my Christmas call. We haven't figured anything out. (that would be great if Benny was there). 

I got my package! Best package you have ever sent! So awesome! Didn't open my presents yet. I was obedient this time.

Well I am sad to leave Paso de Oro. That is that. I knew I would be. Also I now have a latin companion. He is a good teacher so I am learning a lot and my spanish is improving. So that is cool. He is from Peru. Moroni is really different. Members have cars and computers and nice stuff! But I can see now more than ever that money doesn't make people happy. I am also in my first ward ever! It pretty much functions too. After church we had lunch in a way nice house and the assistants decided to join us. Good guys. They share our area. So yeah.

We had our Christmas activity on Friday. That went pretty well. We were able to watch President Monson's Christmas talk. Yesterday we found some really cool new investigators that live up in the nicer part of our area. Maria and Rosa. They are sisters who work for a family that lives next to our lunch appt. We had contacted them earlier in the week and we went and found their house. We had a really good lesson with them and they accepted a baptismal date for January. 

I love my mission. I am super excited for the time I have to be here in Moroni. Love you Mom and everyone else. Thanks for your support.

Love, Elder Naegle

Email Dec. 10, 2012

Hello Mom,

Sounds like a really good week! Congrats to those that got their mission calls. Sounds like things are really good. Your trip to Nevada sounded like fun. Not sure if Genoa is the first place I want to go when I get home though....

I figured Benny would do a great job. That is great. Steve extended huh? Elder Arnold laid down the law in this mission, you cant extend... So you won't have to worry about me! Man I sure do miss all my buddies. I have seen Kayo most recently, but I still miss everyone like crazy. How is Dan, Michael, Steve, Butch, and everyone else doing? I heard a song coming from some guy's car the other day that Butch always listened to and I about fell over. Couldn't believe that eating seeds is a past time activity here in Paraguay as well... Butch will get that one. 

Well this week was really good. As you can see from the pictures, we were able to baptize Grandma Sinfo. Wasn't easy though. About the most stressful day of my mission. My convert was able to baptize his 8 year old daughter. I got in the font to help Pres. Gonzalez baptize his mom. He said the prayer, and she backed out. She said, I can't do it! Just poor some water on my head! I couldn't believe it, but I said a silent prayer as Pres. Gonzalez talked to her in Guarani and calmed her down. We were able to baptize her. It was a special moment. Many prayers have been offered in her behalf for many years. Unfortunately she was sick yesterday so she wasn't confirmed, but next week!

So it says in the handbook that holidays are great times to proselyte  The 8th is the Virgin Mary day. A pretty big deal here. Scratch that, a huge deal. But it turns out that it was a pretty good day. We were able to find some people that accepted a baptismal date. 

The Doctrine of Christ is for everyone, it doesn't matter what they believe. I am trying to apply it the best I can in my life and as I do that I can see the blessings. The desire to share it with others grows every day.

I love you Mom, and everyone else.

Love, Elder Naegle

p.s. I am going to hit 18 months this week. That means I only have 6 months for you all to send me letters and packages while I am in another country. Better take advantage of that once in a life time opportunity!!!!!

Email Dec. 3, 2012

Hello Mom,

Well this week was a pretty good week. We had zone conference. It was awesome. Elder Zeballos of the 70 was there with us. I got my suit, but after the fact. So I wore my suit which had been washed..... Hahaha, but that is ok because my suit is not the color that I wanted because he didnt have any more of that color. That picture of you, dad, and Benny was really great to see. Thanks for sending me that. I also got one of my packages. I am pretty sure you sent 2? This one had two little gifts, opened them both... a tie and a pillow case. Thanks so much, loved them both! And I always love oreo pudding.

Well zone conference was awesome. It was so great to be instructed by a general authority. He talked about learning spanish and english. He talked about the importance of english and the scriptures, and showed examples of where the translation into spanish just isn't quite as pure. He basically told the latins that they need to learn English. But he didn't let us off the hook... He talked about so many good things, it is hard to remember all of them.

So this week I ate something very similar to liver, but tasted worse... Haha not sure what organ of the cow it was, but I don't want to eat it again. and my stomach doesn't want to either. Sunday after my fast I got super sick. Remind me at Christmas to tell you a hilarious but disgusting experience.... Hahaha I am dying thinking about what happened to me yesterday.

Fast and testimony meeting was awesome. I decided to share my testimony because it could be my last chance if we have special changes in a week. I have been here for a long time now. Well it was one of the most spiritual moments of my mission. I felt the Spirit so strong. I KNOW the Jesus is the Christ. I KNOW that the boy Joseph saw God the Father and His Son. I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is true. These things are so dear to me now. Before the mission, not as much. But it means a lot to me now. Grandma Sinfo is going to be baptized tomorrow night by her son and I. She is a little scared of the water, so I am going to assist. She is 77 and smoked from the age 30 until 76! Baptism is for everyone! I love the mission!

Love you Mom.

Love, Elder Naegle

Hello Mom,

Thanksgiving come and gone for a second time! Can you believe it? Pretty crazy. Last year I was with Elder Richins in Trinidad. I am glad you got to meet him this weekend. By the way, my suit cost 75 dollars, is man made, and will have the Paraguay flag inside. I am supposed to get it tomorrow, just before zone conference. Let us pray! Because I still don't have my suit back! I lent it to my branch pres when his daughter got sealed in the temple. Hahaha I could be getting some cane dropped on me this week...

Well guess who is back? Elder Johnson. He is in my district again. I couldn't believe it, hahaha. He is a good kid. Elder Willes will have a great time. That means my good friend Hill is now gone. He is a zone leader in the La Paloma zone, out in Santani. I miss him. That picture is a picture of our zone. Of course, Elder Hill and I are the 2 in the back... The rooster is Hank, I will try to send a picture of Little Jerry next week. And that is my Thanksgiving night. Oreos, oreo pudding, and Argentine Doritos. 

Well the week ended pretty good. We had a total of 6 people in church, Hugo and Natividad, an awesome guy named Nestor who will complete his family, the Gimenez family, and my Grandma Sinfo. It was pretty awesome, but sad because we had lots more committed to come. But we are going to keep working hard. My goal is to have a consistent 10 investigators in church every sunday when I leave. Grandma Sinfo's baptism will be a week from Tuesday. She is awesome. My Paraguayan grandma. 

Well I want to tell you about an awesome experience we had. But it came after the fact. Way after the fact. Like a week and a half after. We found this really awesome guy named Dario from Argentina. He was looking for work, and if he didn't find it he would be heading back to Argentina with his family. We promised him he would find work if he read, prayed, and went to church. Well God knew his heart better than us, and 15 minutes after we left his wife came home with a job for him. He couldn't believe it. But when we went back we couldn't find him because he was working! And he is pretty new to the area so he didn't know where the church was exactly! So we finally found him again and he told us about that. We took a member over right after that would be able to take him and his family to church, but then the member didn't show up for church yesterday... So we don't know what happened, but isn't that awesome!!!! I love making promises as a missionary. I also love the Priesthood. We went to give a blessing to a member that can't walk the other morning while it was raining, her yard sucks up all the water and in order to get to it we had to walk through shin deep water. When we got there I got a huge smile on my face and looked at my comp, he was smiling too. "This is awesome" is all we could say. We came away from the experience super grateful for the Priesthood that we hold.

I am having the time of my life. The Gospel helps us be better. I love you Mom.

Love, P

Email November 19, 2012*

Hello Mom!

Well it is the end of another change. Nothing is going to happen though, I will be another here with Elder Phippen due to the training program. 5 changes in Paso! That will give me enough time to see a bunch more weddings and baptisms!

Today I was able to hang out with Elder Richins for a bit. It was really great. It is weird to say goodbye to your best friend in the mission... But it wont be long before I see him again and all of my friends from home. That also means that Benny is going home! They went into the MTC the same day. 

Havent had a chance to listen to your talks yet, but I am sure you and Niglet did great. I am giving another talk this week. I have given at least one talk every single month of my mission with a few extras thrown in... That is a lot of talks, all in Spanish! I dont try to throw in Guaraní cause I am too afraid of saying something dirty over the pulpit... hahaha

Thanksgiving!!!! I will be eating watermelon here. Watermelon season here. It is awesome. I love it. I am so grateful for all the many blessings that I have. I am feeling much better, so I am very grateful for the bomb. Oh the gross things I have seen in my mission!!!!!

Well this week was kind of disappointing in church, but we worked hard. We found an awesome new investigator named Diego. He accepted a baptismal date without a hitch, and when we went by to make sure he was going to church he told us he had received an answer to our message and wants to be baptized for sure. he didnt go to church, I think he had some verguenza, but he will be there this week. He is 20 and he loves talking to everyone about Christ. Aka, future missionary! He is really awesome.

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Paraguay so much. I am loving it here. I love sharing the Restored Gospel with people. 

Have a good week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Elder Naegle

                                                        Elder Richins and Elder Naegle

Email November 12, 2012

Hey Mom,

 

We have a window in our room now!!!! I slept nice and cool last night. That is cool that you saw Johnny Holmgren. France for James huh? That is cool. Good for him. Speaking of suits, I am probably going to burn 75 bucks on a suit here soon because mine is a disaster.... Just so you know. There is a guy that makes them and they look pretty classy.

 

Well this week I want to tell you about a miracle that happened. My white whale. Grandma Gonzalez. I have been trying to get her to go to church and get baptized since I got here. She finally went last sunday, but she still wasnt super excited about baptism. Her health has been failing, so she always asks us for blessings. I was on a division with Elder Hill and she asked us for one, going into the blessing I was praying that Heavenly Father would bless her so she could understand the importance of being baptized, we gave the blessing, as soon as it was over she says, " I will be baptized whenever you guys want". Oh yeah! It was awesome.

 

Our investigator that was going to get baptized this week, Carolina, ran away from her aunts house.... So.... Not going to get baptized... I am sad, but we carry on.

 

That is about all for this week. Sorry this letter is short. There is not a lot of time. Life is going great here in Paso. I am super happy. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.

 

Love, Elder Naegle

Email November 5, 2012

Hello Mom, 

I figured out how to take the virus off my camera!!!! You get to  see my beautiful face!!!! yeah!!!! So anyway. You are looking at the wedding and baptism of Manuel. It was so stressful. But I will tell that story another time. The good news is that it happened. Carolina was unable to be baptized do to some commandment issues.. But it helped us narrow in on her real doubts. So she is on the right track now.

We had an awesome lesson this week with our investigators Hugo and Natividad. I was with Elder  Hill on a division. We talked about the question of the soul, Does God really exist? We read in Alma 22 about Aaron. Aaron was a stud, first of all, second, the Spirit was there super strong and it was an awesome lesson. They already had testimonies of the reality of their Father in Heaven, but we were able to apply it to them in a way, well you just had to be there. Sorry...

As far as my health. I have felt better this week, but I will figure it out. I will talk to the Hna Madariaga probably. I have eaten some sketchy stuff in my mission and while my stomach is a champ, I think it is finally telling me, ENOUGH!!! hahaha I have one heck of a mission body though. Skinny limbs with this weird gut thing... I am not proud of it. Humility is key...

I also saw the craziest looking centipede while we were tearing down a house this week. The type that you see in movies. The scarier thing was that we didn't know where it went and it popped out again when I was tearing the wall down. I am glad I live in Utah...

Well I will finish with an awesome spiritual experience we had yesterday. We were walking and I saw this guy. Kinda far away, so we kept walking cause we had somewhere to be. The thought came when I saw him that i needed to contact him, but I didn't. Then I thought, wait, I can't ignore this one. So I told Elder Phippen we needed to turn around. We found gold waiting to be refined! Probably  more like oil in Saudi Arabia and you just touch the dirt with a shovel and it shoots out! He had been to church about 6 years ago, and he has been telling his really catholic wife that they need to go to the Mormon Church. He doesn't want to go without all of the family. He wants everyone there. He said, "we'll help my señora repent" haha it was pretty funny. We helped him understand his need to change as well, and then the trust will come from his wife as well. It was awesome. Follow the Spirit!

Love you all! Have a good week. Thanks for your prayers! I pray for you all as well.

Love, Elder Naegle

Email October 29, 2012

Hello Mom!

Well.... I saw KO and Elder Bednar on the same day! It doesn't get much better than that! It was so awesome. I got to the stake center and saw someone that was in his MTC district and asked if he was there, he said yes so I hurried inside. I turned the corner and saw him. Don't think I have given someone a bigger hug in my life! But don't you worry Mom, You will get a bigger hug!!!! It was so great to talk to him. But I will talk a little more about that later.

It was kinda a tough week. We worked hard, but it seemed like everything we had set up failed. It felt like we killed a bunch  of time and it wasn't our fault and I could feel myself getting frustrated. Plus I have been feeling really tired lately. Actually before I forget, Mom, my belly is getting bigger. And not fat bigger, just bigger. I have less energy, I have been just not feeling very good. My conclusion, worms... But I don't know. Maybe you could look up exactly what worms would do to me if I had a bunch? I know I have been making jokes about it.... And it still is pretty dang funny.... But the movie Alien is a whole lot more real right now. hahaha

So anyway. We put it all on the line with 2 of our investigators this week. Carolina, who was supposed to get baptized, but didn't go to church, and Manuel, who needs to get married to the 2nd counselor's daughter. And well, we saw the fruits. Both of them were in church and are progressing and should be baptized this week on Saturday.

We also had 3 other investigators in church. 2 of which are this awesome family. Hugo and Natividad. They are progressing so nicely. They already have testimonies of the Restoration, just a matter of getting a ring on that finger... They are planning to get married the first week of December, so a little bit of time away. We had an awesome lesson yesterday about the questions of the soul that can be answered in the Book of Mormon. it was great.

So the mission conference was awesome. Elder Bednar taught us some awesome things. He didn't give a talk. Rather he asked, "What did you learn from the reading?" which was 2 talks that we read before hand. People raised their hands, and from their answers he gave more instruction. But he was very clear that he was not the teacher. "El Espiritu Santo es el maestro" was about all he knew in Spanish, but he said it often. I learned so much. There was a time for questions as well which was also incredible.

Talking to Kelon was like a dream. You would think we would talk about super important stuff or something, but then we wouldn't have been ourselves! We talked like we always did. It was awesome. I realized that he goes through the exact same trials that I do, and that he is every ounce of the missionary I expected him to be and even more. We couldn't take a photo because it was a specific rule of the conference, but that is how it goes. I also saw Johnny and Jordan Hager. 

All in all it was a great experience. A once in a lifetime experience. I will never forget it. I am excited to see all my buddies again, but there is no where I would rather be.

Love you all so much.

Elder Naegle

Email October 22, 2012

Hello Mom,

Well I am not feeling the greatest, I have been a little sick these last few days. Not sure what is going on. I got the usual "chivivi" and I have just not been 100%. But that is alright! The work goes on! So I got my package! I am wearing one of the ties. I am saving the really good looking one for Elder Bednar. 

Mom, who is Mike Harris? Is that ACS's mechanic? or did I just make a complete fool of myself? I have to remember hundreds of names so you will have to forgive me.... Tell Nick Reid congrats for me. 

So on Wednesday we had to go to Asuncion. I got a call from the secretary and he told me I was almost illegal. So I had to go to sign my visa papers. I got to see Elder Richins for a split second, cause he is a zone leader in that zone. Anyway. We went and signed then we had to wait for some latins getting shots, and we were in downtown Asuncion. So the secretary suggested that we go to the market where all the missionaries who are going home go. On the way he told me that you emailed him asking about you coming down to pick me up. Basically the whole thing got me really really trunky for a second! Hahahaha but I had an interview in San Lorenzo at 1:50 so I had to hustle back and get into missionary mode again.

My interview with President Madariaga was great. He taught me many things. Plus he told me that I speak well! Maybe he was just trying to make me feel good... But either way it worked!

That same day we had a cool experience. It was getting a little late, we had another visit to do, but we contacted a reference really quick. We started the lesson, but before we had really even taught much Elder Phippen started inviting her to be baptized. It kinda caught me off guard, but I prayed the Spirit would be in his words (also because I thought she probably wouldn't understand what he had said). She accepted without hesitation. A little surprised, I testified, then put her with a baptismal date. It was  a cool experience. I have found that we as missionaries often get in the way of the Spirit because of our "incredulidad". Sorry... Spanglish... forgot that one in english....

Saturday night/Sunday morning was rough. I woke up to a huge storm and about cried. I started praying really hard that our members and investigators would go to church anyway. It was a small service... A total of 3 members were there... A tough end to a tough week, but we keep moving forward. 

Hope you all have a great week. Just so you are all aware. I will see KO on Saturday! Also Elder Bednar. 400 missionaries in the stake center in Fernando de la Mora. It is going to be awesome. The weird thing is that Kelon is literally a 30 minute bus ride away from where I am right now... Pretty close.... too bad he is so obedient.... haha just kidding. obedience brings blessings. 

Love, Elder Naegle

 a picture with my comp, Elder Phippen, Elder Shumway, and my grandchild.

Email October 15, 2012*

Hey Mom,

So I am training again!!! Yep. Pretty crazy. I am training Elder Phippen from West Jordan. He is a great kid. Also, Elder Shumway is training, so that makes me a grandpa in the mission.... I am an old man. Johnson went to a place called Emboscada, he was pretty sad to leave, but that is life. 

I would assume that Elder Bednar will talk to both of our missions at the same time, because we are going to Fernando de la Mora which is in the south mission. My branch meets in the building with Kennedy. So they are a ward and we are a branch, for now...... Elder Hill is my really good buddy. He was comps with Richins in Trinidad after I left, and he is in my district now. We get along great. Richins always told me about him out in Paloma, and now we have been together for 3 changes. He was training for 2 changes, and they stayed together for a 3rd. Willes is his comp. Willes knows Paige Andersen.

Your little comment about the the beach front property made me pretty trunky.... But not in a bad way. I laughed pretty good. I am excited for it. I am trying to work my tail off and be super obedient here with my second kid. Having a 2nd shot at it and seeing my first fruits in the training meeting made me really want to do the best I can so Elder Phippen has a really good impact on the mission. Clearly Elder Shumway is doing well too, but I don't take any credit for that. He is just an awesome kid. I miss being with him.

So we had some good lessons this week. Elder Phippen struggles a bit with Spanish, but that is expected. The great thing is that he isn't afraid to speak. He wants to share his testimony and it is awesome. One thing I have really been trying to focus on is having the Spirit. We had a lesson with a lady where we taught the Restoration. After sharing the first vision with her, she said, "Joseph Smith was a prophet, he really saw God and Jesus Christ didnt he? I can feel it in my heart that what you guys are saying is true." We explained that we have the Spirit with us and that is why she feels like that when we come over. It was really cool.

I am really starting to understand the importance of letting go of our desires and replacing them with the Lord's desires. For a long time in my mission I have been obedient and worked hard, but I often times didn't love it and would have rather been doing something else. I can honestly say right now that I love the mission. Some days stink, I would rather be cuttin up some glass at Bear Lake on the ski, but I understand that waterskiing wouldn't make me any happier. So I have 8 months left, and I am going to make them count. And when I get back you better believe I am going to do all the stuff I love!

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. He atoned for our sins. I know it.

Love, Elder Naegle

ps. Sorry Mom my sd card is still loaded with that virus.... You might not get to see me until Christmas! Hahaha Love you Mom!

Email October 8, 2012

Hello Mom,

Well this week was awesome. I have many things to say so hopefully I won't forget all of them. First of all, time has changed in Paraguay starting yesterday, so we are now forward one hour. Second, God looks after his missionaries! This is a silly example, but it still applies. This morning I was cooking breakfast, and without realizing I stepped on a scorpion. I was only wearing flip flops. later I looked down and realized and chuckled. Close one! As I was taking a picture of him, he got back up and started coming at me. He was a mean little guy. The chicken we fed him to was happy though.

Another example. Elder  Johnson fell out of a tree this week when we were doing a service! We were cleaning out mango trees of the power lines to a house and such with machetes, when I heard a snap, thud, and a moan. Luckily he was fine. He fell right where there was no concrete. But the branch that broke was filled with ants, and let's just say they weren't too happy, so they started attacking. It was pretty funny. He was pretty sore all week though.

But. Best news of the whole week! Are you ready!!!????? Both paraguay missions will have a conference on the 27th with Elder Bednar!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah!!!! WHat's up KO??????

Plus we had conference this week. Life just doesn't get better. But before I talk about conference I want to talk about something else. I started a 40 day fast this week. And it has been awesome. In other words, I started with a fast, then at the end of the fast I wrote down a list of all the things that keep me from having the Spirit, and then for 40 days I don't do those things. I also added some things that I will do. This is the 2nd time I have done it, but this time I am taking it more seriously and have put more reasonable things. I have noticed a huge difference and invite all of you to do it as well.

One lesson we had this week was with this lady, and after asking tons of questions, she just wasn't giving us anything to work with. So we started in on the Restoration. After about 2 minutes, a question popped into my head and I asked her. How do you feel when you go to your church? Simple question, some might say it isn't inspired at all. She started with the answer of, "I feel great, really uplifted..." But then her answer started to change, ".. but when I leave the church, that feeling leaves, I want to fight with my husband, I don't feel good all week." I bore my testimony to her about how I feel good all week and it is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that I feel that way. We shared Alma 7, then shared in 3 Nephi 18 about the Sacrament, and how it is for those that have repented and been baptized. This can only be found in the true Church of Jesus Christ by the true authority. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had. Her whole attitude changed, she said, "I want you to come back and share with my husband, I would assume we have to get married to be baptized? I want to get married." It was incredible.

As far as conference talks go, well I loved Elder Christofferson's talk. I love the way he puts together a talk. Priesthood session was the bomb, and not just because it was the only one I watched in English. Elder Holland's was really awesome as well, especially because it was a spitten image of one he gave in the MTC while Benny was there that is still circling my mission. All of my prayers were answered in conference. After saturday session, I thought, "well now I have to think of more things to ask my Heavenly Father". 

Saturday was pretty cool as well because I had more investigators than there were members from Paso. Hahaha. It was a very successful weekend for us in Paso. We will be having several baptisms here in a couple of weeks. One of our investigators, Miguela, is blind, she has awesome faith. We will be getting the BOM on CD for her this week. Have a great week. I pray for you. Let us follow the council of the Prophet and apostles.

Love, Elder Naegle

Email October 1, 2012

Hello Mom,

Sounds like you had a busy week. Too bad that Andrew didn't get to go to state again in golf, but there is always next year. That is great that you had a good time at the cabin with the Fousts. Congratulations to Tootin Terry! That is awesome that he got his best time. 

No I haven't heard from Isaias, I have written him twice I think, but I haven't got anything back. I did talk to Elder Shumway though. He told me that he was able to go to Asuncion with the Zalema family and do baptisms at the temple and go to seminary. Afterwards he went back to Paloma super pumped up! He realized that there are actually other youth in the church! haha not just him out there in Paloma. So last I heard, he is doing awesome.

The converts here in Paso are doing awesome as well. Mariano and family are going strong. Rosi is doing well. Hernan is doing fantastic! We were able to give him a Preach My Gospel, he is going mission crazy! He wants to serve so bad. September of 2013 he will be able to go. That is all he talks about. He blessed the sacrament for the first time on Sunday and gave a talk as well. He is a stud. 

So yeah. Paso de Oro. It is awesome. We have changes here in another week. We'll see what happens. This week was good. I was almost killed by a bus, but I am quick like a cat, so I was able to jump out of the way before I got flattened like the pathetic pancakes that I have made in my mission. I couldn't be better! Well, AC would be nice.... But we can't have everything we want!!!

Yesterday after church we were able to go visit our investigators Estela and Osmar with our elders quorum pres, David Toledo and his mom, the hermana Toledo. The visit went well. We had a testimony meeting with them and the Spirit was there. It was really great. But as always, the lesson part of the lesson was not what really counted, it was the before and after. When members chat with investigators in Guarani, and I understand about 4% of what is being said... It truly is a great blessing. When investigators have friends in the church it makes all the difference. 

I don't know about yall (Dan in the NC shoutout, boo yeah!), but I'm excited for conference! It is going to be awesome. I am looking forward to my prayers being answered, but even more than that, I want to make some awesome promises to people this week! (by the Spirit of course). I know that people will receive the answers to the questions they have in conference. It is awesome.

Well. Chaucito. Have a good one. No pictures. Sorry, memory card still infected with virus...

Love, Elder Naegle 

Email Sept. 24, 2012

Hello Mom,

Sorry today I am super busy, just so you know I went to TGI Friday's... It was great. I can't send a picture cause my thing has a virus and I can't see any of the files again. The guy is taking it off for me right now. Anyway. Sounds like you had a good time in New York. That makes me very happy.

So, I had a good week. It was tough. I will start with the funny story first. Well. Jock itch stinks. That is all there is to it. I heard that rubbing alcohol gets rid of it. That is true... But it isn't fun.... Ask Hill and Johnson about my screams hahaha.

This week we had a really cool experience with a drunk that looks like Santa. He contacted us basically, and we found out where he lived, but I didn't think much of it. Later during the week, we were by his house trying to re visit someone, and my comp said, "hey maybe we can visit Santa". Just then, Santa (Catalino is his name) came walking up. He invited us in and we had an awesome lesson. He wants to change his life, isn't a drunk like we thought he was, and recently lost his wife. He is a great man. Couldn't make it to church though, he has a huge burn on his leg from his moto. Next week! oh yeah!

Also, gave a talk yesterday about death and the spirit world.. Tough subject, but the stake president was there and he told me I did great. So that made me feel good. We had 3 investigators, 2 of which are a family that have a baptismal date for October 20. Estela and Osmar. They are awesome. Progressing very nicely. She always makes fun of me and says I suck at piano... hahaha

The stake president, Pres. Suarez quoted the conference talk about the gospel and the church. The 3rd talk I think?? Anyway, let us all be converted in the gospel, not just church members! Love you all. Have a great week. 

Love, Elder Naegle

Email Sept. 17, 2012

Hello Mom,

It is Hottttttt!!!!! Hahahaha I am sweating a lot, maybe that will encourage those worms inside of me to come out.... I was so sick last week. I actually spent my first and entire day in the house, it really stunk, never doing that again! But I am way better now. Told the family Mariano and Marisol about it, and she says, "that is nothing you ate, you got worms!" Her kid pooped out 16 worms the other day! It makes me so sad cause he is the cutest kid in the entire world. p.s. The plan is to go to the temple with the family the week you come down to pick me up!!! Everything has to work out just right, but Mariano just got sustained in stake conference to receive the Mel. Priesthood! He is so awesome. Give him 9 more months and he will be ready for the temple!

Anyway. Stake conference yesterday. So awesome. We were able to hear from our beloved prophet, President Monson. As well as Elder Andersen. It was a satelite conference for Paraguay and Uruguay. What up KO!!! It was cool to hear Elder Andersen speak in Spanish and call for more missionaries. Afterwards I was able to talk to Hernan, who just got baptized, and he told me that he is going on a mission for sure. He just has to wait a year. He is fired up. It is awesome.

I guess I didnt explain the asentimiento very well. Not exactly an apartment building... It is a neighborhood, where people dont have to pay to get a piece of land. So many people have dirt floors and plastic bags for walls. It is really sad, but the Gospel is the only solution! I talked to Pres. Madariaga last week, who seemed very interested in the situation because it is illegal to prohibit religion in a free country. He told me to continue teaching there, but not do any active proselyting. So that is what we are doing. Nothing has really happened. Someone will probably tell me to leave at some point, but.... well nothing they can do. Plus I am bigger than them.... Haha

I quickly want to talk about 1 Nephi 16 I think it is. When Nephi breaks his bow. Nephi breaks it, and unlike his brothers, makes a new bow and goes hunting. Well this is just like life in so many situations. It happened to me this week as I offended one of our investigators. Her feelings were closer to the surface than the U.S. flag on the surface of the moon apparently.... Complete accident, but I had to know if she could read because she denied when I asked her to read... Anyway. Wouldnt talk to us for a week. At first, I was really sad and felt terrible but I realized that I was being like Laman and Lemuel. I had to just fix the problem. So yesterday we were finally able to find her by a field, and I had to ask for forgiveness in front of lots of people. It wasn't fun but I was able to make a new bow. We found her real doubts. It was a good learning experience. Makes me think about Dad every time I read that story. Something breaks, he fixes it, I get the Excursion and boat stuck... He helps me find the way to get out. Life is too short to get hung up in our problems. 

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. His Atonement is perfect. It has the power to free us from our problems. We just have to put our will in line with His and our Father's. 

Love, Elder Naegle

Email Sept. 10, 2012

Dear Mom, 

Sounds like you had a good week. Mine was pretty good as well. Unfortunately I ended it being sick.... Saturday night was a rough one for me as well as Sunday. But I feel a little better today so that is good. That is cool that dad is going to pace Terry in the race. I need to get back into shape when I get home... 30 minutes every day just isnt cuttin it for me right now... The verb book that I have is one I bought in the MTC, so Nate must have left his in the mission.

Well, things are good. We saw some good success again this week and we had 5 investigators in church. We have the baptism of Lorena this week, who is 9 years old and the daughter of the president of the relief society. My branch pres forgot to get her baptized... Haha so another 1 week baptism for us.  We were going to have 2 more this weekend, but we felt that they are quite ready yet, so we changed their fecha for the 22 of september. This week I would like to ask some special prayers. We are teaching several people that live in an asentimiento it is called, basically they were able to move in there for free, but this place doesn't allow ANY religion (which is ridiculous, the first time I have ever heard of this in my mission). Well I wasn't going to let that stop me, so I went in another way like Alma! but this is making people mad. So I am going to set up an appointment with the president of the place and try to get permission. Please pray that the Spirit will soften her heart. If not, well we will figure something out!! Because we have 4 people with a baptismal date there!

We are also teaching an awesome lady named Graciela who is now coming to church on a regular basis and she has a bunch of friends in the church, but her future husband doesn't want to get married. We had a lesson with him on tuesday and he committed to read in the BOM and we haven't been able to talk to him since, but the Spirit will work with him too. Only a matter of time.

The Spirit is burning here in Gold Pass! It is awesome! I am grateful to be a part of it.

Love, Elder Naegle

Sept. 3, 2012

Hello Mom,

Well I am still here in Paso de Oro with Elder Johnson. Also as you can see in the pictures! Baptisms! Wahoo! So awesome.But anyway. Sounds like things are good in Bountiful and Bear Lake. Oquirrah Mountain temple, not sure how to spell it, sounds cool. Found out in zone conference that we can only go to the temple once a year.... so our october trip.... no more! But that is ok. I count my many blessings. Many missionaries dont have a temple in their mission, and many members cant go at all.... Let us pray for them!!! 

So it was an awesome week here in Paso de Oro. Kind of slow, a 3rd change with a comp is hard as it turns out, but it was good. Things were crazy trying to get the baptism together, but we finally were able to get it. Rosi was baptized after waiting 3 years! Also Hernan and his cousin Danca were baptized. I want to talk about the baptism of Hernan. He means a lot to me. He was probably the most ready for baptism out of any of the converts I have personally taught. After coming up out of the water, he just stood there for a second letting the water run down his face and taking it all in. The Spirit was so strong. As soon as he opened his eyes, I gave him a big old hug! It was awesome. Then I baptized Rosi, who almost couldnt believe that it was finally happening. She had a phone interview with Pres. Madariaga and afterwards he called me and said how prepared she was. It was awesome. Our branch president invited me to do the confirmation of Rosi as well in sacrament mtg. Another great experience.

We also had a bunch of investigators in church. A few more couldnt come because their child was very sick, but things are turning around here in Paso de Oro. We had something like 20 Priesthood/potential holders in church. Something that I had put as a goal when I got here. Get more Priesthood! So awesome. The Lord is blessing us a lot here and we are trying our best to keep up. This is the Lords Church.

Love, Elder Naegle

Email August 27, 2012

Hello Mom,

I am bald!!! hahahaha not really, but kinda. Look at that picture. Sounds good there in Utah and Bear Lake, Idaho. Well I am short on time this week, but I want to tell you that we saw miracles this week. 

First, I talked to Shirk, it was cool. Also, we had zone conference which was also great. President Madariaga talked about knowing, doing, and becoming. He also talked about the power of words and that we should have clean language, he mentions this a lot so I strive to make a conscious effort to be better. 

So Hugo will not be baptized this coming week. Turns out they are not married. They told us they were so we wouldn't drop cane on them to get married. That is why they stopped investigating last time. Liz's mom is coming from Spain in December and they want to get married then. We will see what we can do. But Hernan is going to get baptized this Saturday. Please keep him in your prayers, he is still searching a solid answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Also. Miracle of the week. Yesterday in church a woman named Rosi came up to me and said hey I need to talk to you. She is not member, but couldn't be baptized 3 years ago because she wasnt married and she doesn't have paraguayan papers. He was abusive, so she finally moved out about 3 months ago. she has been attending church as much as she could for 3 years, so she is basically member. She says to me, I want to get baptized. We meet with her that night, she tells us her story, her circumstances of why she couldn't let us in when we tried to visit her, and in the end she has a baptismal date for this Saturday as well. Awesome. The Lord is blessing us here in Paso de Oro. The work is taking off.

I read  a dearelder from Benny on friday about him teaching hundreds in Colombia on the coast. My desires to be a better missionary have never been so strong. 

Love, Elder Naegle

                                                          The branch president's son

Email August 20, 2012

Hello Mom!

Sounds like a fun time in New York. I just got back from vacation too... Hahaha just kidding. Still here in Paso de Oro. And things are really great. That is crazy that James is married now. I still havent seen a picture of the girl he married. How is Judd doing? Well I hope that the Yankees won the game you went to. That would be a bummer if they didnt, but oh well.

Well I am shorter on time this week. That is a picture of me eating homemade peanut butter. I bought ground up peanuts a while ago and made myself a sandwich. Turned out ok. A lot cheaper than buying peanut butter. 

Alright. I will start with the very funny story of the week. We got a reference to contact a house. Naturally we went and contacted. It was old Johnson's turn to contact, so he stepped up to the plate. He clapped, and a little girl came out. He asked if her parents were home. She didn't respond, and she had a look on her face like she was trying to think up a lie, so I said "go get them" before she could say anything. She said no. "Why not?" "Because I am a bad girl." was her response. A confused look followed by "what?" in guarani was my response. She then balled up her fist and tried to punch me where it counts! hahaha I dodged, then she went for the sand on the ground. She first threw at Johnson, he hid behind a tree, then she came after me. I took off running away from a 5 year old girl throwing sand at me!!! hahahahahahaha so funny. Finally the mom came out and started yelling at the girl or I think she would have followed me forever. You better believe we tried to contact it again 2 days later..... No luck. This time she decided calling Johnson ugly would be more fun! hahahahaha

So anyway. We also had lightning strike about 2 blocks away from us. Almost pooped my pants. That was scary.

So we had a great lesson this week with Hugo and Hernan. We talked about the Doctrine of Christ. Hugo already knows so much from being taught before, but it was a great lesson. The Spirit was so strong. Hugo shared his testimony with Hernan about how he came to know that the church is true. Hernan is so close as well. We were finally able to put a solid baptismal date for the first of September. They were both in church yesterday and from what I could tell had a great time. The goal of Hugo and Liz is to be sealed in the temple, it is awesome. But there is that step of baptism first Hugo... I am so blessed to be a part of the work here in Paso de Oro. The members are really starting to help us. Attendance was as high as it has been since Paso de Oro became a branch again, and members brought 5 new people to church that we will be visiting this week. It is so awesome. 

As for me. Well I am focussing on becoming more like the Savior. I have noticed my patience becoming thin, but there is no good reason for it. I am trying to have more charity as well. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is wonderful, it is helping me so much.

Love you all. Have a good week. Quick note. One year ago today I touched down in Paraguay. Oh yeah!!!

Love, Elder Naegle