Letter #35

Dearest Family,

This week has been truly, truly marvelous. In fact, I would consider yesterday as the best day in my mission to date. If I was happy last week, you really ought to see me now: ) Exuberant, doesn't quite cover it. It's more of an inside happiness. The kind that lasts. But so you know a little bit why, here´s what happened this week:

Last week by all accounts was a difficult one, with no one in Church. And then, as if the seven days of rain in a row weren't foreboding enough, I got my first case of Brasilian allergies that were compounded by a cold. Wow! You must be thinking, "This wasn't a really good week, he just has a great attitude." Maybe I do, but maybe I don't. It really was a very good week. Let me get there.

We headed to Bauru this week for our Zone conference training (which was fantastic, I might add) and of course this meant, PRESENTS!!! ***New Record of Goodliness*** 25 letters and 2 packages. Did I get more than the rest of the zone all together? I did. (Did I share? I did, a little bit ; ) Forget Christmas, forget birthdays, BE a MiSsIoNaRy! It's better than Christmas every six weeks. Ahh, alas, I hope that the little letters I send back in recompense export some measure of the joy that I get from you.

Although, that number really should be 24, as I received a letter form an unnamed Uncle in Connecticut, that was the exact weight of one envelope and one stamp, minus one letter. Ooops. (It was pretty funny.) Perhaps this seems trivial to you in light of more devastating losses, but in the spirit of filial revenge that abounds in this season of March Madness, may I calmly announce as a neutral third party that I do believe Uncle Aaron now has the official Letter Leader title all to himself. The prize, I have determined, has yet to be determined, but rest assured the victor WILL receive his due benefits. It's no small task sending the equivalent of a pine tree a month to Brasil. no. But as that sounded permanent, may I remind everyone to (1) check all envelopes before posting, and (2) point out that it never hurts to send a personal, just to Tanner extra letter every now and then that might just put you in the lead of Letters. . .

Who really won the prize this week? Elder Beaudoin. In my blinded, blundering, allergized state that kid came through better than a clutch three pointer. (I assure you, not the end of my basketball analogies.) He makes honey/lime tee (ladies. . .) which actually cures sore throat-edness; He makes mickey mouse shaped pancakes---and here is the kicker---without the mickey mouse shaped pancake maker. Yes. He´s wonderful. And I am better because of him, spiritually and allergically.

And baptismally. Yes, this week ended and was special because one of our investigators was baptized yesterday with the approval and support of his family. He´s a 12 year old kid who is simple, sweet and I don't know why but special. He reminds me of Sawyer. Which means he also likes to climb on stuff, play ninja, and laugh and smile a lot : )

Sometimes the imminent change that comes when someone is baptized takes a while or is not readily seen until the next week after the gift of the Holy Ghost, but it was immediate with him, someone I think already that close to our Father in Heaven. It's something I can´t really explain well in the time I have here, but is real, as the sun, as the moon, as you and me. It's my favorite part. Like the cleaning of a window darkened by grime, or maybe just dust, baptism washes away anything obscuring what lies inside-- a son or daughter of God, resplendent in His glory.

This story was not without its ups and downs though. As every missionary knows there is no such thing as an easy baptism. As much as we work, Satan works too. That is as clear to me, and as much as a testimony that this work is real, as the change that is effected by the ordinance. Satan is not content, in fact thoroughly, deeply miserable at the imminent change that baptism and the Holy Ghost effect, he goes to all efforts to put a stop to it, or to nullify its effects soon thereafter.

Case in point: One investigator who was baptized recently, was confirmed Sunday. Soon after sacrament meeting she received a call from her older son asking her to go to the store to buy things for him for lunch before he left for work. She promptly left, against the admonition of several members and myself who urged her to stay, it was worth the sacrifice. (To be fair, this son is grown and can get some lunch for himself.) But she left. We passed by later in the day when we were asked by her child. Well, as we often see, it was more than fortuitous that we did so because as we entered the house there was the new member smoking the first cigarette in over 4 weeks. I asked to see it and throwing it on the ground, ground it to pieces with my heel. We had a good lesson afterwards talking about what needs to be done to resist temptation, a plan of action for this and then we left. We received a call later in the day, in which she expressed how miserable she was, she didn't now why. But we did. That holy gift, even the Spirit of God, which had been bestowed only that morning, had been trespassed upon, and had left. And with him, any peace or happiness she had before. We work and Satan does too.

The second instance, or rather the second battle as it may well be called, occurred earlier that morning when we walked to an investigator's house to ensure that they awoke, etc. The entire morning, the walk there, the moment I woke up, I felt what I can only describe as an inextinguishable urgency. Not bad. Sweet in a way, but very, very urgent. As we made the 30 minute walk there it was as if there was a hand on my back pushing me there and a whispering in my head that I must go, I must hurry. I don't know, but it was real, and at the same time entirely peaceful.

When we arrived, we clapped our hands (how they knock) and the reply came back harsh and unexpected: "I´m not going, nobody´s going and he's not going to be baptized." If that´s not a sock to your stomach. But, because of the already described feelings, it felt very expected. Still we entered the house, turned off the t.v., and really just sat down. Elder Beaudoin said a few words. I just sat. I pleaded in silent prayer that I would be given what to say, to bring back the harmony that had seemed there just the night before. I sat some more, and I don´t think I've ever felt so utterly helpless or at a loss.

Then, slowly, I felt prompted to speak, and I did so, speaking what came to mind to the mom. After about 2 minutes, I stopped and she said okay, he can be baptized and I'll go. For all its desperateness, the despair that filled the air, this moment was one of the moments that I will never forget in my mission. The Lord wanted very much for him to be baptized and left it up to our diligence and our heeding of the Spirit to ensure that it happened.

The night before there had been a fight between the mom and her sister, her daughter had run away from the house and the husband had actively, actively opposed the baptism. We talked to him that morning and he gave his approval, in what was I know another conversation guided by the Spirit. Talk about some opposition.

In conjunction with this account I relate my message for the week, from the Doctrine and Covenants, section 11:20-21: "Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength. Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."

Well, that's what happened to me. I am profoundly grateful to be a part of this work, a very small part. Nevertheless, I have tasted of the joy and peace that passeth understanding that the Lord grants unto his faithful servants, and it is worth any effort or sacrifice. When I talk to families, or moms, I think of my family, and my mom, my dad, my brothers and one adorable sister. I think of how eternally happy they are, how blessed we are, and then I just go out and try to help everyone else have the same thing. Oh! I don't think I'd like to be an angel but I'd sure love to be able to share what we have with everyone! I guess if being white and glowing gets it done than that's good enough for me : ) I love you. I pray that you know it.

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Tanner