Letter #81

Dear Family,

This week I hope you will excuse the absence of any pictures I took. I was banking on the pictures Sister Genaro was taking. It's either like having paparazzi follow you around or your own personal wedding photographer, but either way it's nice to just enjoy the moments that pass.

This week was both crazy and nice, as things began to return to a normal rhythm. Transfers were a hit. Nobody knew what was happening. Sometimes even I was lost. And the meeting between trainers and trainees was electric. Having released seven zone leaders, we had many to train, and having an excellent group arriving, I was afraid while they were announcing the new companionships that the chapel was going to lose its roof! Really, a marvelous spirit attended throughout. We had two groups arrive at the airport, one late, thence the two pictures. The very next day was leadership counsel with all the new zone leaders, and all the old ones of whom almost everyone was transferred. Suspense? You bet : ) This new group of leaders is fantastic and the spirit during the conference also was marvelous. Our training, planned for an hour and a half, was going so well that President let us take the whole day practically. He said that when everything that needed to be said is being said, there is no reason to get up and say it again. High compliments from our beloved leader.

Our new companions in the house are Elders Christensen and de Araújo. Elder Christensen was in college with me in chemistry and is quickly becoming a very close friend. He is, together with Elder de Araújo, an excellent missionary. We divided a little bit during the week to help them get to know the area and all that was happening.

Yes Dad, it is summer in Brasil. So hot that we've been sleeping outside on mattresses because our one fan just doesn't cut it. It's great to sleep out under the stars and it's stays a nice temperature from night until morning. We drink lots of juice during the day to stay alert, with this week's menu being homemade varieties of starfruit juice, white goiaba, lime with mint and ginger, orange (classic) and pineapple, also with mint. Nothing better than juice in the summertime. The children were out of school but return today, though here it is nothing like there. Here there are two sessions of school from 7-12 and 2-7, you choose which and where you go. The majority don't finish school. There is also no 12th grade, perhaps because of mandatory military inscription. This year with elections, carnival, the World Cup and other normal holidays it is expected that absolutely nothing will be happening in Brasilian schools from late February till the next year. And I'm serious. The country is actually going to stop. Here's to hoping the consequential number of people at home goes up, which will help missionary work : )

Our recent convert completed his forms to go to EFY and his reactivated uncle has opened his papers for the mission : )

Also, we brought a family Sunday who hadn't been to church for five years. The daughter of 24, upon seeing the ward's missionary photos in the front of the reception has also decided to serve a mission. I have two more young men that I am also working on to send to the field as well : )

Today I have taken a doctor's leave to do nothing all day and plan on writing letters and eating macaroni and cheese. It will be nice, stress free, and with lots of juice.

This last week was, perhaps because it returned to a more normal rhythm, a week to listen and learn from the whisperings of the spirit. That is the most supernal of all gifts and the juice of the soul that satisfies our thirst and hunger. It is perhaps the most important thing I have learned on my mission. Follow the spirit and you can't go wrong. To have this guide you must live worthy of it, work to have it. 

This week the spirit confirmed to me that our next course of action here in regard to finding new investigators ought to be contacting the list of less actives and prospective elders. Before it was confirmed, we made plans to do just that and as we worked a sweet spirit of approbation descend upon us that confirmed our plan. I don't know what the Lord has prepared for us but I know it's good, really, really good. As we pursue, persevere, carry on in this course with "unwearyingness" (Hel. 10:4) we will be blessed with his spirit and the children he has prepared for us to teach. We do not seek our own lives, but to do His will continually and above all things, and for this He gives us power well beyond our own. I love this gospel, I know it is true. Continue to be lights to the world and share the gospel every day. I pray for you and love you and would not have life any other way,

Your son,

Tanner

p.s. For now college is alright. I need to have a job eventually as I'm sure I will not receive almost any aid from BYU. And I will need to register for classes but not until May or June. Thanks : )