Letter #3

Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 1:27 PM

Subject: helloooooooooo

Helloooooo!!!!!

I can't see the pictures from your blog posts because of the restrictions on the computers here, and there will be tons of spelling mistakes in this letter if you want to correct those; ) I thoroughly enjoyed reading your letter and am sorry that every one is suffering from poison ivy. I had a spot about the size of a dime that went away in the first two days, so I imagine that if I got it at all, then it must be pretty bad there. Shaving's been really bad here. My face isn't too bad, its just not very enjoyable. They don't give us much time here to read and write to you, and we can't print the letters off. If its free to mail to the MTC could you mail the letters too? It only takes like 4 or 5 days to get here, although it takes 2 weeks to get back.

I figured out how to print pictures here so I will send some today. Today we went to the Campinas temple and it was beautifyul. up on a hill above Campinas. It's the temple for my mission. We also had a devotional from Elder Godoy of the Seventy yesterday. My favorite moment so far being here. He was very funny and even though the whole thing had to be translated into English for us, very touching. My favorite line was, "If you think you can do more for your families at home rather then on a mission, then you are believing that you can do more than the Lord." I know that the Lord will bless our family greatly because I am here. The Lord asks us to do many things in faith, believing that we will be blessed, tithing, baptism etc. 

Baptism especially since this week we comitted our first investigator to be baptized. What a leap of faith some must take to commit to that in the first or second lesson! And what great responsibility we have to be messengers of God throught the Spirit. This week was hard. Still trying to get into the rhythm of MTC life and focus ALL DAY on what needs to be done. Sometimes the classroom hours get to you. But it's been nice to be able to study outside most of the morning, because the weather here is beautiful. Missionary work is a sacrifice though. I didn't realize it fully until I got here. 

On a lighter note, in a devotional Sunday President Degn the MTC president, shot a blow dart gun illustrating the fiery darts of the adversary and told some very good stories from a missionary here who was actually Amazonian and used blowguns. He said how the darts didn't kill but made unconcious those they hit, so they could drag them back to village to be slaves. Very applicable analogy about how the adversary can bring us into bondage through blinding us with his fiery darts. Received three letters yesterday!!! One from Sarah (thanks!!) Aaron (2 letters 2 days in a row, woo woo!) and one from Mom mom ( : ) Be assured that I will send replies to them as soon as I have time. It costs about 50 more cents here to send letters there though, so I may send them to a central location and have family distribute them?

Parting poems: It s a good way to let off some pent up energy.

Bitter, bitter, bitter,

was the bigger baby-sitter

as she sat the bigger

baby on the ground.

And bitter was the baby

as he bit the sitter lady

with his gums and

used his thumbs with

which to pound.

Hope that brings a smile: )

I love you all so much. Finally I cannot find words for something. Two years seemed very short but these two weeks thus passed have seemed much longer than that. Good luck Hunter with golf!!! Be sure and take time putting: ) I miss all the little tornadoes running around, and hope that Porter hasn't passed me in height yet! Get rid of all that poison ivy and enjoy seminary. I'm jealous!

Love love love love, XOXOXxoOXO (Elder) Tanner (Schenewark)