Merry CHRISTmas!!! "And that's what it's all about!" (Copyright Hokey Pokey Industries 1987)

"So this is Christmas, and what have you doooooone?" (I think those are the words.)

Wild that Christmas is here, no? It's wild, wild stuff to me. I tell you what. It's so different on the mission, but so good. 

I don't have tons of time, but it's okay...for reasons that will be revealed to y'all sometime this week.

So, we've been trying to get new investigators, after our baptisms. They took up a lot of our time, and still kind of do, since now missionaries teach the new member lessons. It's crazy. My goal now is to ask for referrals from everyone. Literally everyone. We're supposed to be doing that already, but I haven't been too good at it. Another thing we've been focusing on is OYM'ing everyone. We did with a guy the other day and he said he wanted us to stop and talk to him and had been wanting to change his life. He proceeded to tell us basically his whole life story...Okie talker. He's a great guy though. "There can be miracles, if you believe."

I'm so glad to have this special time of year to reflect on the Savior's birth, life, death, suffering, His names (thanks to y'all), and his resurrection. One thing I loved in the Christmas Program in Sacrament Meeting this week was that they talked about the Millennium being like an ongoing Christmas season for 1000 years. Doesn't that sound amazing? It's that song come true..."If every day could be Christmas". Every day will be, and for 1000 years! What a blessing, eh?

We, the Seminole Missionaries, sang in the Branch Choir for the Christmas Program yesterday. It was...interesting. Actually, the actual meeting went well. There were definitely angels singing with us. I prayed so hard that we would be able to bring the spirit into the meeting. I also have missed singing in choirs...odd, I know. It was fun to do that again. 

The basses from Mads have an email chain, and we've been talking about that recently. We had some fun times, wild times. I miss singing with The BIG4 a lot too. I've been so blessed to be a part of such great things. 

So, I'm getting rather excited to talk to y'all. I don't get homesick thinking about y'all...it's like the opposite. I get super duper motivated! It rocks. It's because I've been blessed with such great friends and family! There's no reason to be sad about stuff. Just be happy, why not?

I love y'all so muchly tons. For realsies. Thank you. For it all.

Love, 

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

Here again...

So I'm staying in Seminole for another transfer....and Elder H is staying here with me! First time I get to keep a comp for 2 transfers in a row! And this is his last transfer so I'll be his last comp. I'm stoked.

I'm super excited to stay here for Christmas! The members here are so awesome. They love the missionaries and are starting to do more missionary work!

pictures from the Christmas social in Seminole

Sorry for a kinda short letter...last P day as a district.
 
DH was baptized this past Saturday and I got to perform the baptism! Really cool experience! Elder H confirmed her on Sunday, and the new Stake Pres was there. Reminded me of Pops.

I got to go on exchanges this past Thursday and Friday. We did them back to back because of the shortened transfer and the crazy weather. I was in Shawnee for two days. It's hard being away from your area for that long, but I had a ton of fun, learned so much and had some incredible miracles/experiences. I've never not been District Leader's comp, so I've done a lot of exchanges. This next transfer, E. Hernandez will no longer be DL, so I'll only do probably 2....so weird.

Our mission goal of 50 baptisms is going well. Still needs work though. We're working on one or two more, we hope!
 

Thank y'all so much for all you do! Anything and everything makes a huge difference!

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be calling. Let me know what would be best for y'all! Don't know how to feel about talking to y'all...but it'll be good:)

 Love,
 Elder Tanner
 -I Love the Lord-

Helping us get to 50

DG was baptized on Saturday, and I had the opportunity to confirm him. We ended up doing it then, on Saturday, because church was cancelled due to FREEZING cold weather and, despite the "fact" that "it doesn't snow in Oklahoma", snow. But quite a few missionaries were able to come to the baptism. It was really cool. He's had a lot of missionaries teach him. This was a huge testimony builder for me that I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. I love the Gs almost like grandparents. They love us too. We have lots of fun and really spiritual times together. Bro. G is gonna be an amazing contribution to the Branch. I thought he was a member already my first week here. He's one of those people...super solid. Love that guy.

"Bro. G. said he felt like the jumpsuit was from a jail. I told him it must be a pretty nice jail....all white and stuff"

 The snow....the stuff that comes every year to Utah, but not Oklahoma...not much at least. It's here. And it's below freezing every day. We have been grounded a couple of days this past week, which is rough. We still walked to visit one potential family and turns out, they've met with missionaries before. Had a cool lesson though. They're so nice. Their kids love me too. What can I say? It's just the way I be.

Our two baptisms set for this Saturday dropped. One for sure, one maybe...probably. Church was just the 6 Seminole Missionaries yesterday, so we didn't have any investigators there. Too freezy out. So E can't be baptized this week, having only been to church twice. He will be eventually though. He's still pretty hesitant and can be difficult sometimes, but we're working on it, of course. Still love him. Lady Bug has been in Shawnee this week, trying to stay out of the cold, with some of her friends. Hopefully she'll come back soon, like today, so we can teach he more. She's been to church enough, just need to finish the lessons with her. It all depends on if she can come back to Seminole yet. Don't want her to freeze. She's awesome though. Love her too.

Church yesterday was sweet action. Rough because it was just the 6 missionaries, but awesome cause we had a powerful testimony meeting where we all bore testimony, and we watched "Israel, Israel God is Calling", a CES Devotional by Elder Holland....So, of course it was amazing. If y'all haven't seen it, watch it. I dig it...so much. It's the one where he tells us not to check our religion at the door...ever. I get the chills just thinking about it! Whoo! Then we figured out some things we need to work on in this Branch. It's gonna be good! We're already doing The Games, a competition between all the families in the Branch, doing missionary work and other church-related things, but also funner things like making a Mormon Harlem Shake and other FHE activities. They seem excited about it.

We introduced a fam to The Games last night, after we had dinner and watched the Christmas Devotional with them. It was our Branch Mission Leader's fam. The Mom and Grandma are Filipino, so we had amazing Filipino food! They also had some nastysag rice gelatin dessert thing....tasted like raw eggs and was like Jello, but thicker...so I gagged a li'l bit. Like, an actual gag. But I finished it. We all tried it and none of us liked it....pretty funny though. They're a great family. Turns out, I forgot it was Christmas-time... Even with all the snow and freezy-ness and christmas decorations and even Christmas gifts from the G's...still forgot. But the Devotional reminded me. Really great Devo. too. I loved the question of What happens next? That's a good question for everything, including Christmas. Always good to hear from the prophet too. Love that guy. I almost felt sad missing the Fast Sunday deal with caroling and all, but I was fine, actually. I thought it would be harder. Thought of y'all though. Felt some love vibes too, sent some back. Hopefully y'all feel them too. 

Fun at the K's home

 Speaking of...I'll be only calling on Christmas, no Skype. But it's all good with me. I really want to talk to everyone, if possible. I wanna talk to Ann too. But especially Tato. Tato must be there. We need to talk, bro. No offense to y'all, but I miss him probably most. Turns out, my whole life has been spent with him by my side, no matter what. Despite all I do to bug him. I don't have a closer friend. So....he's gotta be there:) Ya hear, Tato?? Good.

I love y'all so dang much. Don't have too much fun without me. Jk, have tons of fun!

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

The Lord's hand is in everything we do. Did ya know?

SO...turns out we have 2, maybe 3, baptisms these next two weekends. Talk about miracles.

 

I don't have much time to write, cause we have a Zone P day today. But here it goes.

 

Bro. G, a member's husband is getting baptized this Saturday, the 7th. DH "Lady Bug" is going to be baptized the next week, the 14th. Super exciting. E might be getting baptized that day too.

 

Did exchanges with the ZL's this friday. Elder C and I were here in Seminole, and we ended up teaching all three of our baptismal dates lessons Friday. It was some of the best lessons I've had my whole mission. Really. I learned so much from Elder C. He's a great missionary and an awesome leader.

 

E fasted with us on Sunday. He made me go up with him to bear his testimony, but he did it! It was so cool. He told us he wants to stop smoking now, since his fasting. HUGE miracle. We were kind of losing hope (I know we shouldn't), but I've really been trying to focus on the fact that each and every one of God's children need this gospel. No matter what.

 

We had a mission-wide fast for 50 baptisms in December, as a stepping stone for 100 baptisms in a month, our mission vision. Vision 100, as Pres. Walkenhorst calls it. We're going to do it this month. I know it.

 

The Lord has been extra quick and/or specific at answering my prayers lately. It's amazing. He knows us each so personally and wants to bless us. He's just waiting for us to ask and act.

 

We had a Turkey Bowl Thursday morning, and we ate dinner at the G's that night. It was so good to play football again.

 

Also, I found a cool scripture that goes along with Bishop Linton's turning to Christ, rather than turning from past sins. It's in Alma 39:12-13. There are some other cool verses in that chapter as well about not letting the sins of others be an excuse for our transgressions. Good reminders. (If you could share that with Bishop and tell him I share that with a lot of people and it really helps, I'd appreciate it.)

 

It's nice to see some outward success, after not having much, if any, the rest of my mission so far. But I've also learned to really appreciate the inward, smaller miracles and successes. I love Him for both.

 

I know the Lord has a personal plan for every single one of His children, our brothers and sisters, no matter how we've treated Him in the past, or will in the future.

 

Thank you for all you do. I'm so grateful for you. (HEY, I rhymed.)

 

Love y'all,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

He knows me.

This was an insane week. It has seemed so fast, yet so much has happened. I have never felt so spiritually high and low in such a short time...besides some other times previously in my life. But this one was pretty intense, don't get me wrong.

 

Elder Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy came for a Mission Tour on Friday and he shared some incredible things, including a pretty straightforward rebuke of a certain aspect of teaching as a missionary. It was sweetness though. I dig rebuking...I guess I need it a lot. He IS a special witness, E. Cardon. He told us some things about their meetings with the First Presidency, which revamped my testimony of them as well, especially as I was reading about following the prophet in PMG in my studies. He told us to think of up to three questions at the beginning of the day, and promised they would be answered throughout the day. So, naturally, I thought of three questions, being greedy with divine promises. Sue me. I felt kinda bad about choosing three pretty personal questions, but found later that my answers to them can help those around me too. The Lord's sneaky sometimes. Good sneaky. Anyways, all three of my questions got answered partially throughout the day, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! In E. Cardon's final testimony, he shared an answer to each of my questions...in order. So, turns out, the Lord knows me. Pretty dang stinkin' well. Huge testimony builder, and it would be uncanny...if we weren't talking about the Lord. I don't know about y'all, but I love the Lord. He never ceases to amaze me and bless me, despite stupidity on my part.

 

That brings me to the rough part of the weekend...the muddy part. We got stuck in the mud on the way to an appointment, and we couldn't get the car out before we had to be at the church to go to the adult session of Stake Conference. We went with muddy feet and pants. The members were so loving and kind about it though. Many offered to help us out....of the mud. We ended up getting it out at about 12:30 am. Super freezing and tired, but we got it out. All six of the Seminole missionaries came that night to help. We all froze together, along with Bro. B. We definitely bonded. And I found out that staying up late is definitely not worth it. We get up way too early for that. I still got up at 6:30 though. Wildly sleepy.

 

We got grounded on Sunday cause of the cold and ice. It was/is SO cold. It's crazy. The humidity makes it super fun too... We spent the day at the K's house. They're so awesome. They fed us Lunch and Dinner. And S, their daughter, is the one that texted Tato. They are so good to us missionaries.

 

The Norman Stake got a new Stake Pres. yesterday...which brought back a flood of memories of Dad's getting called and released as Stake Pres. I felt an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude for his and all church leaders' service and sacrifice. They go through a lot. More than we know. I know they're called of God, including Dad.

 

Another miracle to go along with my stupidity with the car, showing the Lord's constant awareness. I was feeling down about the whole thing yesterday morning, when I noticed I was a few days behind on my Conference Calendar. The one from Sunday morning, if you remember, was about putting aside past guilt....that's what I struggle with probably the most. It's so hard to forgive myself. I know I've repented, but Satan, like the quote says, uses that to lure us back in and tries to drag us "carefully down to Hell." I don't know about y'all, but that's not so desirable to me. "I choose life [eternal]." (Sid, on Ice Age) I may have added that last word there...but you get the picture. This all showed me the Lord's remembrance of me. He will NEVER forsake us. He leaves us with peace. His peace. MUCH better than the world's short-lived peace.

 

Remind me to tell y'all about Remember the CHANGES. Something I made up at my last Clinton District Meeting. It's in relation to one of the greatest movies of all time, Remember the Titans. I find relations to that with missionary work rather often...sweetness, I know. "Attitude reflec' leadership" being on of them. Think about it.

 

We are one, y'all. That's what I got from Stake Conference. Heavenly Father said so Himself in General Conf. through Pres. Monson. Invite friends over for dinner, not even relating anything to the Gospel, unless it's brought up. Invite them to FHE alone or with the missionaries. It's powerful. We do that here a lot, FHE with members. We have one tonight with the K's. It works, and it brings the missionaries and members together.

 

We're still teaching Bro. G...I think I told y'all about him. He's a member's husband. He's basically a member, coming to church and all. He just isn't baptized. He's awesome.

 

During this Holiday Season, it makes me so grateful for y'all. Beyond what I can say in mere words. In eternity, I'll be able to express it to y'all, I hope. Know that I love and pray daily for y'all. Thank you for everything.

 

Love,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

Seminole to the Maximum

I'm in Seminole now. I'm with Elder H now. I like it now. I think I'll stay for a time. Elder H has 2 transfers left, but he doesn't seem too trunky...yet;) He's awesome though, no worries. He is just a li'l lazy with some things. Missionary work is repetitive...imagine that. It's also a pretty big deal. In one of my many studies over the past few days (scholarly of me, I know), I read in Jacob about how we're going to have to answer for the welfare of the souls around us that we did, should have, could have helped and tried to bring to the Gospel. It's up to us to share what we have with them. We best not blow it.

 

I love Seminole. A lot. The branch here is awesome, and there are 6 missionaries here. We have two other sets of Elders in Shawnee, in our District. One being the ZLs. Our District is Me and Elder H in Seminole Central, Elders M and B (fresh out of Provo) who live next door to us, they cover Seminole East, Sisters A and B (basically sisters by blood, it seems; also in Seminole, just down the road from our place) they cover Seminole West and just opened that area last transfer...first Sisters in Seminole, Elders B and W (in Shawnee South), and the ZLs, Elders M and C (also in Shawnee). The Seminole Missionaries have tons of fun together. We get up at 5:45 to play sports in the mornings (or do Hip Hop Abs, or Insanity which is like P90X...We did Hip Hop Abs this morning...it's fun/funny...or funn, as Jord and I used to say). I'm in Seminole Central with E. Hernandez, which is....wait for it...wait for iiiiit...A BIKE AREA. Woot. I like it though. And we get rides from the Elders next door a lot. We, the Sem. Miss. have dinner together most nights. Members actually feed us here...like every night. It's pretty awesome...I'm gonna be FAT by the end of this transfer/week/day...sometime soon. Except not as fat as the other missionaries with cars! ...suckers..;) I just kid.

"Posterity (mission families are weird)."

 I love this Branch. It's made up of mostly Choates. They're all super strong members, besides a child or two. They call it the Choate Branch. We have an investigator here that reminds me and Elder H a lot of F, back in Clinton! oh, p.s. Elder. H served in Clinton too! So we have a lot of similar stories:)

 

I'm excited to see what the Lord's errand is for me here in Seminole.

 

Pres. Walkenhorst gave us a goal. He calls it Vision 100, or 100 baptisms in a month. We're going for a "stepping stone" in December, trying for just 50. That'll still be a mission record though. We're gonna make 100. But first we have to work with our Recent Converts. The Lord isn't gonna give us more when we aren't even taking care of the ones we have. That's what our area authority told us. Elder H says he's been feeling like this is "the transfer". Whatever that means, i'm ready. And excited. We're already seeing miracles. We just need to work a li'l harder...that's our only real problem. We will though.

"tie I found for 25 cents"

Elder Cardon of the Seventy comes this Friday for the missionaries and then he'll be presiding at the Norman Stake Conference, that we're a part of. We've been asked to go to the Adult Session Saturday and the regular one Sunday. I'm so excited. I want a good rebuking. "I wanna know. Can you show me?" -Tarzan. I just thought of that...kinda just came out as I was typing. That's how I feel though. I wanna know what I can do to improve and progress. What I can do now. I'm willing to do it. I know the Lord will show me.

 

I love y'all so much. The Lord's work truly is hastening, and "We're all in this together", right? I know what y'all are thinking...."You're crazy, Wildcat!" But really, "what-e'er thou art, act well thy part". I'm trying my best to do so.

 

Love y'all,

Elder Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

p.s. the picture is of my signature on the Clinton board, in the Clinton apartment.

 

SEMINOLE

I'm going to Seminole this Wednesday, and my new comp's name is Elder H! He's from Texas, 25 years old, and a convert of 3 yrs. It's gonna be a good transfer! I've heard interesting things about him, honestly. Mostly from members here, he served here too. But I've decided I'm gonna love the heck out of him and the people of Seminole! No matter how they feel about me. It's gonna be one of those awesome growing transfers...I LOVE them. But seriously, aren't they all? Seminole is the eastern-most area in the mission I believe. So it's as close as I'll get to Al's mission.

 

Elder W and I had a awesome week! Interesting, but great! On Tues, it rained harder than ever before here! It wasn't rainy at first, and we were in a truck with TA, who leaves for San Diego on a mission on Wednesday. Right after he left, it started to pour...hard core. So we walked around in the downpour for the rest of the day..from like 4 on. It was AWESOME! I felt super legit. Kinda like Ann dog talked about sweating like crazy and feeling legit for that, that's how i felt being wet literally to the core. It was a LOT of rain. One of the roads was literally a river...it was wild. I was skipping rocks in it. We had a lot of fun that day. We also saw red and blue lightning, which is super cool! It was wild, wild stuff.

 

I've really been trying to show my love for our investigators, LA's, and members here. I do love them a ton, and I need to show and say it more. I'm gonna miss them, but, like I said, I'm gonna love the heck out of Seminole! Maybe I'll be in a car...that'd be weird. And my super-solid biking muscles will go back to the gelatin state they used to be in...oh well. 

 

I'm at an interesting point in my mission. It's like the post-training, pre-leadership portion. I don't know what that'll mean exactly for me, but it feels like a kind of transitioning period. It'll be super good though, no worries. Everything about the mission is. I LOVE being a missionary! "Eees da beeest!" (Nacho)

 

Have you ever felt like you're not sure what to write in a letter home? That's kinda how I feel at this instant. I want to help y'all feel the joy I feel and "catch the wave" of missionary work and all...I just don't know. We talked about it in EQ yesterday. We, as the missionaries here, asked what the members expect of us. They gave us some things that were good, but only after we called on people specifically. They may not have many expectations for us here. I guess maybe I'm supposed to encourage y'all to set expectations for the missionaries in your ward. Even in Utah, where we don't see ours often. But have them over for dinner, and let them know that you want them to help you with your finding efforts. Study Preach My Gospel whenever you can. That's to everyone. There's a 10-yr-old girl member here who's studying it, so...just think about that;) I'm really not trying to sound forceful or mean or anything. I just love the proactiveness of a family or two here. It's so helpful to us. And really, we're here to help the members with their efforts, not the other way around.

 

Another thing mentioned was that scripture Mama shared with me a few weeks ago, about our divine errand. Pray for Heavenly Father to let you know what your divine errand is right now. He'll let you know. He wants to let us know what we can do. And when we obey commandments, He BLESSES us with more, so keep asking for more I guess you could say. Even if you feel you've found yours. Ask Him what else you can do. There's so much to do in this hastening of the work. That's something else each family could immensely benefit from, watching the video on LDS.org about Hastening the Work of Salvation. As an FHE thing or personally or both! It's really amazing, what's being done in these days. Just look at the annual reports in Gen. Conf. from past years compared to this year's. Even just 2011. It's amazing what's happened. Elder W and I were looking at that this morn. INCREDIBLE, really.

 

I love hearing from everyone! I'm SOOO blessed. Especially with my friends and fam. There are quite a few missionaries that go a month without hearing from family. That hasn't happened to me yet ever. Not that it won't in the future. It's okay, life is busy. But I really do gain so much from y'all. It's amazing. Especially thank y'all for all the bday wishes! I had an amazing birthday!

 

I love y'all bundles...BIG bundles.

 

Elder David (Bill) Tanner

-I Love the Lord-

 

ps. i'm thinking about going by Bill when i get home...;) But really...it would be cool, but we'll see!