Letter #42

Dearest Family, Most Wonderful Friends,

I begin this letter responding to my mother´s question of the week, something similar to Uncle Aaron´s weekly question draw: What luxury do I miss most here on the mission that would make my life here easier, better or funnier? Now, in all fairness, I believe this is a veiled attempt to ask what I would like sent in an upcoming package. Justly, I should pause and thank sincerely my family for the outpouring of love that I receive. Surely, I am sustained spiritually and materially day to day due to the efforts of my family, and especially my parents. I love you. I feel extremely spoiled : ) But I suppose that´s ok as long as we keep giving the hair off our heads to keep this work going : )

Well that was an attempt to avoid the question but I suppose that I must answer it, so here it goes: Luxuries most missed: A wide variety of quality food, including but not limited to salmon, lasagna, sweet and sour chicken. . . Your packages and those I have received of others have been superb. However, I think it would be really difficult to ship fresh salmon. Plus it's just the way you make it : )

Being able to read literature or other books, or listen to such things as my podcasts, the political news, read the Wall Street Journal (don't think there's anything to be done here, but hey! you asked ; ) Athletic activities, swimming, basketball, BASEBALL, bike riding, rock climbing. . . I do walk a lot though.

I think reading would be the luxury I most miss, and that I enjoy the most that really makes me happy and laugh and work harder. Yes I know I receive a considerable amount of letters but trust me when I say that each is treasured and all the more so when the topic of address is gospel in content. I love to hear what you're doing on the homefront of this eternal work. I love to learn more about my family, about my ancestry, about YOU. As such I introduce a request only precipitated not only by this question but also by last night's call: I make a call, or a request for lots and lots of written stories on your mission Dad, on everyone's conversion stories, on family history stories, and more written word of whatever type. I love food, but I love equally or more so to feast on the words of family, or prophets. More on this another day, but sufficeth to say, words.

Alright, well, a few thoughts from our week: Funny moment when our two investigator boys were walking or rather riding on their bikes with us to the ward activity Thursday. They switched bikes temporarily and descended a steep cobblestone hill. About halfway down one realized that the bike had no brakes, was otherwise held together by prayers and that an epic bailout was going to be necessary to save himself from heading over the ravine and into the river below. He yelled in obvious surprise, "Hey G! Sua bicicleta é sem brake!" Which is translated, "Hey! Your bike doesn't have brakes!!!!" Those two are quite the comedic duo : ) And he's alright.

One is actually quite the missionary, calling all to come to church with him including those in his family who make promises to go and then recuse on their promise come Sunday. So this Sunday after begging and pleading for them to go with him, he finally said, "Fine. I'm going to church. Good bye," and walked out the door. Yes! : ) I'm sure they'll come around soon.

We continue to have a large number of investigators and have great hopes for the end of this transfer. We are rededicated to working with all our might, mind and strength to bring souls unto Christ. I ask each of you to examine what could be done, what could be done more to share the gospel with everyone. It is the panacea of all problems. Its is the essential ingredient for happiness in this world and that to come. It is indeed the very purpose for which every son and daughter of God has come, is come, or will come to this mortal Earth. It is the Eternal Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and it all begins when we open our mouths to those who are searching for the truth but know not where to find it. Let us make it our focus to warn others, having been warned and duly blessed as a result.

I love you dearly, and even though I am not a very good Skype-ist I too sit still in wonder just to see your faces, just to know that you are MY eternal family and that I have a little sister who knows my name.

Have a good week,

Love Ironman, aka, Tanner