The Joy of Missionary Work: A Novel by Elder Tanman

So, I felt and noticed sincere missionary joy last night, after having quite a rough day, feeling pretty much like poop from church until around 8:30. There wasn't much reason for it, but that's how it was, nonetheless (big word...booyah). The joy came while we were talking to JCADS... They all live together at the place where C, A, and D live. They're also all moving on Friday...MY BIRTHDAY!! But they need to, cause right now they're in a SUPER sketchy Inn across the street from our apartments...like there are police there every day, at least once a day. But anyhowzers, I was bummed cause G dropped us last night. We just had a spirit-less lesson and it was rough...but it's all good. One day. After, we went to visit JCADS and set up an appointment to show them the John Tanner movie, cause I told them the story, per the Holy Ghost's request. They wanted to see the movie, so we're gonna show it to them. They always cheer me up, but I felt more sincere joy this time than other times. 

 

Friday was Zone Conference!! It was awesome! Pres. talked about Obedience vs. Disobedience, and it was awesome! We have a lot of really good missionaries here, and we just need to get rid of our little disobediences. We all have some, but without them we can reach our goal of 100 baptisms per month. I know it can happen.

 

Before my interview with Pres, we (the missionaries from the few areas who were getting interviewed) were waiting out in the foyer and he came up behind my chair and gave me a head massage for a minute or two. It was super random, but super awesome too! I love that guy, he's so great.

 

We are having tons of fun together, Elder W and I. I love serving with him. We started a smartie pyramid, like Al's on his mission. We have to buy more smarties today though to finish it. We're gonna work on it Thurs. night, Halloween. We have to be in by 5pm...cause it's sketchy here all the time, but esp. on that night.

 

We have gotten some SOLID new investigators recently and have had some awesome miracles. A couple named M and K who have had tons of cool experiences and a lady named B who sees spirits! They're awesome and interested!

 

We also gave C a baptismal date! It's gonna take a lot of faith...but it can happen!

 

Love y'all tons.

 

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

Sorry this is late. the internet at the church stopped working, so i'm just sending the draft i had saved today. Love y'all tons

It's partay time!!!

I don't know why, but it feels like it's time to party. I guess that's good.

Church yesterday was wild...wild stuff. BW got home from the Idaho Nampa Mission (weird and odd to see someone come home from a mission...seems like that'll never be me). He came out to a lesson with C Friday. It was sweet, like being in a threesome, i assume. Elder T was with me, cause we had exchanges. Anyway, the BW and his parents all spoke in Sac. Mtg...so kind of a W family sac. mtg...but it was good. Bro. W sang three verses of a song in his talk from the pulpit...and then, Bro. M sang two verses of a song in the Elder's quorum lesson...it was uncanny. I've heard of things like this, but now i've seen it live:)

Speaking of exchanges (i know i did somewhere in that paragraph), Elder T and I had an AWESOME exchange! We've grown pretty tight  and we had tons of fun, plus tons of success together! I had scriptures come to me in lessons, like never before! It was miraculous! And we got 2, basically 3, new investigators on Saturday! Elder T prayed 1/2 in english 1/2 in Kiribati ("kirabes"). He taught me a lot about promising our invest.'s blessings for keeping commitments. It'll help them tons cause they have troubles with that here in OK. They're chill and laid back, but non-committal to the maximillion (maximum). We also froze on our bikes both nights he was here...we kept yelling, "it's too cold!" the way he says it, with his accent:) I'm pretty dang good at accents..or so i've heard. Elder W told me that this morn.

C's determined to get baptized, and she's going to. I know it. Pray for her. She told us she's gonna defy the odds to be baptized. She wants and needs it, so she's gonna do it. 

A guy named G, a former member of the blood gang, who's super buff and black, and legit....anyways, he's progressing well. He's so awesome. 

Elder W's bike broke Wednesday...and it was freezing...and we had to walk home from the opposite side of town...and it started to rain...and we froze...BUT we chose to be SUPER happy and have tons of fun! I did at least, and Elder W caught on and joined in. It was a good day. The next day, we had to walk all over...tired feet. I might need arch supports for my shoes...they hurt pretty often. 

Elder W decide we would Real Play for ourselves this week...it was SO cool and insightful. I'm grateful for him. We hope to be together next transfer too:) But His (Heavenly Father's) will be done. No worries. 

Well, gotta go. It's been a good, freezing cold week! I've used my coat a lot! I love it. I like the Freezing.

Love y'all tons,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

NO TIME!!!

We had to email at the Clinton Public Library this week...yeah. So I don't have like any time at all.

I had an awesome week, with amazing miracles. The ZL's were here Friday for an exchange, doubling our area again. Had some amazing miracles with them. The new ZL, Elder T, is super funny and gives haircuts, so I hopefully will be able to get one from him this Transfer. Booyah. Sad that Elder G went home though...weird that that time will someday come for me too... Anyway, I was with Elder Z again, and we had a good time together, talking to drunk people and an investigator's husband who just got bailed out of jail, etc.

Also, we helped the sisters move on Friday. It was a little stressful, cause they had to move back cause the new place was a li'l sketch, but it was good and we made it fun! After we moved them back to the old apartment, we found a potential investigator for them in the apartment across the way from them! After all that, Sister L asked me for a blessing of comfort. We all, the ZL's and Elder W and I, participated. It was cool to be able to do that for her. The Hermanas in our District are so awesome. I love our District.

Last night, we taught a family that we found through just talking to a guy on the street. We ended up teaching his WHOLE family! The dad is from Nigeria, but speaks English. They are all SUPER nice. We even had a member with us...AH, it was amazing! This is such an awesome work we are all, or all should be, involved in and called to. It's so rewarding to see people accept our message and progress! Y'all get involved.

Thanks to all who tried their best to invite someone to Conference this last week. I won't tell you what we need to do, cause the Brethren told us all pretty well. "Now is the time for members and full-time missionaries to work together"...yeah, it's time. It's so awesome! Elder Ballard's challenge to invite someone to a church activity, FHE, chruch, etc. before Christmas, the importance of members emphasized by so many, praying for FTM's in your area and their investigators..BY NAME, praying together with them to rid yourself of any fears about missionary work....all so good. Y'all are amazing. Keep it up! I read again this morning the scripture in D&C 18 about the worth of souls and the joy we receive from missionary work and bringing souls to God. I love those verses. I feel that joy every day, why shouldn't everyone?

We had a movie night this past Wednesday too! We watched 17 Miracles, and the C family came! Even though we watched it in English. They're so awesome!

I finished my first zebra pen this past week...yeah, sad day. I also got a jammed finger and a new foam mini soccer ball. There are Nerf hoops in our room...:)

In Shelle's letter last week, she accidentally said "serving the web" instead of "surfing", but, like a missionary, I made a connection with it. I thought about how maybe I did too much serving the web back home. I know I spent too much time on social networks, rather than reading from the scriptures. It's so sad to me, esp. now. I think social networks are awesome and i love them. but they shouldn't make us distracted from what matters most. Shelle really gets this concept, as she told me in the letter. Thanks for your example Shelle! Oh and shelle...me and my ZL, Elder T, want some moccs. He's willing to pay $30:) I'm willing to be awesome...and have mama pay you. But it's okay if you're too busy relaxing in the big UT;)

I got another flat...

A and D (C's dad) have a Baptismal date!! Woot! They seem to be doing really well! C doesn't yet, but he'll be baptized sometime!

I love hearing from y'all so much! It's amazing, how blessed we all are to be in this family! Think about it. Read, ponder, pray, act, repeat. (I think sometimes we forget those last parts, to repeat, and keep showing our faith through our actions.)

Also, E said the exact quote mama gave me that I keep on my desk! "Prayer changes things" Super sweetness. She has so much faith. We asked her what role religion has played in her life, and she just stopped and looked at us, then said that religion IS her life. Is it OUR lives too? I think it should be.

I love y'all SO DANG MUCH. Thank you again for everything. No greater examples than y'all.

Love,

Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-

6' 6"- Elder W!!

That's my new comp, Elder W. He hails (always wanted to use that) from So. Cal. That's Southern California, Dad. He's from the LA area too! And knows South Pasadena! He's from Agoura Hills. Goodness...this is gonna be such an awesome transfer!! We already changed and rearranged some things. I cleaned the apartment mostly. Elder White likes cleanliness too, and is super organized. We organized our investigators whiteboard, and it already is helping me feels more calm and I love it. He has tons of ideas and he's super willing to share them. It's gonna improve this area a lot. Not that it was bad before, but it's gonna improve! I love this Elder! We're super tight already, and he got here Wednesday!

Man... Kev and Shelle... Magyarorszag was stuck in my head all day on Tuesday! "A vir mon irden me Schnieder, Mgyarorszag!" All day....

Well, Elder P and I said bye and taught a couple more times together Tuesday, then he left Wednesday morning with Elder G (cause they have the truck). So Elder T and I worked here in good ol' Clinton. Then Elder W came back with Elder G!

Elder Tanner with Elder P

I can't tell you how amazing Conference was for me... I only wish I had appreciated it more back home. It was so incredible. I prayed to receive revelation for investigators and had some in mind, but during conference I ended up receiving things for different investigators and some Less-Actives too! Craziness.  The Lord is a mysterious ways worker. I love it.

C came to Conference Sunday morning! Pray for her. She needs to find a way to get baptized. I have faith she can be this transfer or the next. She needs it.

Sorry this is so short...I don't have much time, but basically all you need to know is that missionary work rocks! Just do it. God said so.

I love y'all SO stinkin' much! And this church is SO stinkin' true! Think about what that means, that this church is true. Real mind-boggler. At least for me.

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-