Letter #57

Dear Family, 

As missionaries we really shouldn't complain but I make a small exception for this keyboard. It's horrific! Like typing on "Don't Break the Ice," and I keep losing letters with every word! Bear with me. . .

This week was I think one of the best on my mission. We worked. That's what brings happiness day in and day out. We talked, taught and walked, finally falling into what seems a good rhythm of who, where, and what we're going to do. We even had a family home evening, which have been rare here. It went well, even though it was very simple. 

We put in order our area book, began to really make lots of contacts in the street, inviting people to be baptized in the street. 

We baptized a young man's younger brother who has been attending seminary even though he's not old enough yet. They rode their bicycles one hour to get to church, then back home, and back again for the stake fireside. That is the strength of testimony and conversion. The older brother passed the sacrament and has taught with us, bearing a powerful testimony throughout the week.

I think the highlight however, was our Sunday morning attack plan. It was intricate and involved five different cars, waking up at 5 a.m. to get the bus, and traversing the city more than once. And the best thing was that it all worked out! We brought eleven investigators and around twenty people total to the church. Booyah! I know that the hand of the Lord was over us helping our helplessly grand plan turn out alright. It had so many hard corners where one little thing could have gone wrong. But it didn't. That's the marvelous thing about this being the Lord's work. It's His! He does with it what He wants and when we let him He works through us to do it. This week we put our own will and agency in His hands, and He has done a mighty miracle.

Sadly, the members here don't seem to be catching the flame, and we badly need them to help us teach the families and adults that we are teaching. We have invited and invited and invited, and will invite again, this time trying a massive delivery of discourse power to all member's mailboxes - "A voice of Warning" by Pres. Eyring. He lays out so beautifully the responsibility of members in missionary work. I invite you to read and study this message.

One of my favorite lines is, "The Lord would not say a voice of warning if there wasn't danger." There is of course very real danger for us and for those who need to hear the gospel. We must listen to this warning voice and share what we know in love and by our example, so that those who do not yet know may hear it and climb to the higher ground of the gospel.

Well, I know it's still short, but I do love you. I love your every word and feel your prayers day to day. I need them and you.

Love,

Tanner

p.s. Need to renew my drivers license soon. . .

p.p.s. Yesterday's lunch was worth mentioning, a superb BBQ. . .but that was it. Just meat and soda and rice. We were like uhhhh, alright. So we shared a message and just called it a man's day ; )