I Will Forever Be A Missionary

Dear designated Matriarch

Two days ago marks 24 months of my service. I have done what the Lord has asked of me. I have put my life into His hands and given Him all that was mine. As I think now on what He has given me in return, my heart stirs, I stand all amazed.

I am so proud of being called of Him. I wish I could show you the mark that this mission has left on my heart. 

Serving a mission was the best decision that I have ever made in my life.  It has been the prelude that has determined for me the path that I will walk for the rest of my life. I will forever be a missionary, because I have loved my mission.

And that's all I have to say about that....

*atê  terça feira! tchauzinho! (See you on Tuesday)  

*(We are actually showing up on Monday... uh oh)

Elder Tagg

Hey Mom

Hey Mom!

Wow, like we don't have a lot of time to talk today... Because today is not P day... Tomorrow we will be going to the temple! So tommorow will be P day.

We hit all the indicators again this week!  It required everything that we had to get people to come to church... But we did it! (We ended up getting people off the street that we didn't know. But now they will be baptized)

Tomorrow Elder Kennedy will be going home! I'll see him in the temple tommorow. 

 I finished the Book of Mormon in Portuguese! It was very spiritual.

Once upon a time Satan told Jesus to jump off a cliff to prove that he was the Son of God, saying that surely no harm would become of him. Jesus did not jump, for if He had, He would be doubting that he was truly the Son of God.

Love you Mom!

Elder Tagg

Hard Work and Miracles

6/29/15
Dear Mom,

So yes the transfer meeting is at 10 on the 28th.  The only ones allowed are missionaries and their families. Members need special permission. 

So I am excited about this "surprise"... but I'm also a bit afflicted with worry about what this surprise is... please don't plan on making any presentation for the whole mission.. Transfers  are already a painfully drawn out process that requires missionaries to stay seated for up to four hours at a time.  You guys will not be the only family present at transfers and.... well I could go on and on but  talking about  all this just makes me feel rather sick to my stomach. Just please don't make me the center of attention, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease don't make me the center of attention. I beg of you.

Anyways, I hope you don't get offended at my request to not make me the center of attention. But I think I would get upset.

But I'm happy. I'm  baptizing. Next week we will baptize again.

My companion and I are getting along great. Our key indicators are very strong. So much is happening that I can hardly keep it all in my head. It's really hard to write in my journal. I have so  much to do all the time. 

Elder L speaks 3 languages, Portuguese, French, and Creole. I'm learning Creole now.

Jenny wrote my friend back! I got really happy when I found that out. 

All that is really happening down here is just hard work and miracles.

Here is a story for you.  There were two missionaries that were taking a short cut through a farm when an angry bull started chasing them. One missionary turned around and ran, the other dropped to his knees in fervent faithfull prayer. One of the missionaries was trampled by the bull. Which one do you think was trampled?

I have been learning a lot more about the atonement and how it is working in my life. there is nothing more perfect than the atonement. 

Love 

Elder Tagg

7/6/15

Hey Maham!

So this week was good but there are some members that lied to us and didn't let us baptize their cousin. It made me mad. But what makes me more sad is that some members just do not have the vision. 

But my comp's first name is Jeorge

Drew's arm looks like they will have to break it again. I hope he can still play the violin. D-oh!

My comp is truly amazing. I'm happy to be with him. He's from an island called Fogo.

I'm happy to be on the misson

One of the things that has been passing through my mind a lot lately is how great the worth of souls truly is in the eyes of the Lord. If we had even the slightest idea of how valuable each one is, what do you think would change? If we work all our days and bring 1 person unto the Lord, our joy will be great. And if we bring many, our joy will also be great. But if we bring very many, but didn't work hard all of our days, our joy will not be the same

em nome de Jesus Cristo amem

Elder Tagg

PS yesterday I put glue all over my hands.

Hey Mom

Hey mom!

So my new comp is named Elder L. He's African. 

He's from Cabo Verde and is definetly the most exciting companion I have had so far on the mission. 

I cannot believe how long Uncle Eric has been suffering.. It's kind of ridiculous

But anyways that's that. Our baptism fell through again! 

We have a lot of people on date for the 5th.

Yesterday was tough... We went running trying to get people to come to church and NOBODY came... We were sad ariving at church but then a miracle happened and this dude named Maranhão came to church!

Elder Tagg

I Could Talk More

Dear Mom

Reading your letter brought back a few memories this week. It looks like now I'm not the only one who has broken a bone in this family. And Drew broke himself worse that I did, so it looks like I lost that record. Oh blast...

God's hand is in all things. Can you see it?

So this week was good. Yet another 2 baptisms fell through, but this we we will baptize for sure! It really is quite saddening when somebody uses their agency the wrong way.

I could talk more about what happened this week.. But I think I would be able to express my feelings better through my testimony,

I know by the power of the holy spirit that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed of all impurity.

Love 

Elder Tagg

Hey Pops

That's really louco that Drew broke his self. Yeah we stopped teaching R. a good missionary must be ruthless in dropping his investigators. I remember the first person I ever dropped was named J. I got really sad.

I know that Jesus is the Christ. 

and that Joseph, is the Smith.

Young Wild and Free

Hey Mom! 

So first things first... There is a Brazilian missionary down here who is patiently waiting the email of the S daughter. Please respond.

This week was tough because our baptism fell through... which was a real bummer. But at the end of the day we found a  less active family with children who are not baptized and they want to come back into the fold and baptize their children! So that was a milage de jesuis. (miracle of Jesus). Then I remembered, there is no such thing as a "bummer" on the mission. just milagres. just milagres. (miracles)

Elder P is very new... we still have some of kinks to work out before he becomes a more effective missionary. It has become a challenge.  

Our teaching group is real week.

L Tom Perry died yesterday. He is one of my favorites.

love you all 

Elder Tagg

(I replied to his letter right away with the concern that sharing an email of a female relative of his with an unknown Elder in Brazil seemed weird.  This was his reply)

Awwww mah it doesnt have to be like that. This is the true church of Jesus Christ. He's just a missionary. In the mission people trade emails all the time. I honestly don't even know which one to ask... I guess the one with the most appropriate age. Yeah ask her Mom's premission! but also you've gotta be smooth about this yo. Just tell her that there is a missionary that would like to talk with her. If she says no it's alright. I think she might like a pen pal. Don't make it sound like there is a Brazilian stalker guy who wants her email for unrightous purposes, because it's none of that.

Love you Maham!

yo sun.

Young Wild and Free

I Was Called to Serve

So today I woke up and I realized that this is my 9th to last P-day on the mission. RUH-ROH! 9 times seven days a week is still 63 days. So i've still got a lot of time left.

I was called to serve two years. That really means a lot to me. At the end of my two years I want to be able to feel like I have fulfilled my calling. That I have done what the Lord expected of me.

Anyways. I'm doing well down here. our baptism fell through again. But next week we will baptize this dude named R! He's so ready!

Oh so by the way um we have to start thinking about BYUI neh? So I was talking to Elder M and this is the email of his Mom for you to contact her.

We want to room together mkay? We were thinking about living on campus. Elder M is mexican and he wants a kitchen. So we were thinking about living at the Rcks apartments. Also if N wants to room with me I would be alright with that.. But if not that's also okay. Elder M has a friend named L who he aslo wants to room with.

I don't know what I want to do with my future. All I know is that I will be really really rico.

I love you guys! 

THCAU TCHAU!

Elder Tagg

PS

Yes I did read your letter. it was a gud letter. What tribe is Evan from? is it Benjamin? there are two missionaries that I know here in the mission that are from Benjamin... I also know a bunch from Manasseh and one from Levi! he must needs be a Bishop one day since he has the Levitical priesthood! (you may need to ask dad about dat one also :P).  Just pulling your chain Maham I know you are well learned in the arts.

but now I really gotta go! love you bye!