Letter #19

Dearest Dearest Family,

I Love You. I think about you, and I feel so blessed you're mine. This week was tough but very fun. Friday we spent the entire day in another city being opened up to missionary work after 6 years of nothing, called Adamantina. Yes Adam and Tina, funny name. It's a wonderful town and we worked the whole day in one neighborhood. The entire attitude of the city was so fresh to missionary work. Every contact we made in the street we asked them if they would, when they knew for themselves that these things were true, be baptized, and everyone said yes. This is a far cry from the dustier streets of Tupã, where often we are rejected even before we say Boa Tarde or Opa! Como Esta? There is much work to do there and the members are very, and rightfully excited. We enjoyed a full day and afterwards grabbed some lanches (hamburgers) and hit the floor. Literally. We slept on the very hard, very flat tile floor, which it seems I am now old enough to say I simply can´t do. Talk about a restless night. According to Elder Parker, sometime during the night I, in pain and frustration, cried out in my sleep, "Basicamente, isso é terrivel!" (Basically this is terrible!) Don´t remember it, but it was. Luckily the 1.5 hour bus ride back the next morning provided some respite.

We finished the week in grand fashion Sunday as follows: A fantastic scripture treasure hunt activity on Thursday, enjoyed by all. A trip to Adamantina. And Sunday morning a host of happenings. We generally have to wake up everyone going to church. Not everyone, but pretty much. (They value late morning snoozes here way too much, if you know what I mean.) Well, this Sunday after picking up everyone that was already ready, we went after some bigger fish. Less actives who hadn't been to church in more than a year and so forth. Our efforts were fruitful but two of our catch fugiram (ran away) after the first two classes, and before Sacrament meeting. Bummer. 

Its really too bad because Sacrament meeting was wonderful. One investigator was confirmed, one passed the sacrament in a suit and with wonderful reverence. And then to our surprise, slight anxiety and ultimately joy, one bore his testimony powerfully.He declared, "I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and the only true path for our lives." I´d be lyin' if I didn't say I was cryin'. Such wonderful fruit this work bears to its workers. Speaking of which, I found in the local market banana juice, so I got some as you can see in the picture and it was fantastic. Its not soda, just juice of the banana fruit.

Christmas I plan to skype but I know nothing else especially as transfers come the week before. Our service project a while ago we literally tore down a man´s house with hammers and chisels. Fun, right? 

Sunday we´re generally not supposed to teach classes but generally do due to the general lack of planning on all fronts, one missionary ends up teaching gospel principles. I talk next Sunday. Pray for me, especially my Portuguese; ) I listen to my ipod but not as frequently as I´d like.  Better than download it, here they have players that connect directly to your flash drive so I could listen to it right away. If you could do that I would really enjoy it, like putting on a lot of classic speeches, and general conference talks that you like or I like (#1 Christian, Remember Lot´s wife. . .) I just love to hear the prophets and apostles speak. I got one very anticipated Christmas package Sunday, and with it the most Heavenly portion of granola. They just don´t make it anywhere else.

Petitions: My line of priesthood authority, Derek´s mission address, the mission address of Seve King, and the mission home address of the Brasil Porto Alegre North mission: ) Thanks!

One thing I've learned here in the field, is just how imperfect I am. It's a wonderful, humbling thought to have so constantly at hand. I can´t do much on my own, and so I must rely on the Lord daily. We often come up against things that seem unsolvable or downright lost. But, I've learned, they are not. Through the wonderful working of faith, through diligent work, through much prayer, obedience and sacrifice miracles happen, hearts are changed and the very work of God rolls forth, to all countries, nations, and tongues and people. "For with God, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37)." I am very grateful for the challenges given to me by my Father in Heaven so that I can grow, and so that others can too. The church is true. The scriptures are a refuge of peace. Our Savior lives and watches earnestly our every step, just as we watch all our investigators and you have always watched mine,

Thanks for watching,
Love and Sunshine, lots of it,

Tanner