Dearest Family,
What a wonderful morning it is! I'm so glad to write to you. Sorry for not responding last week, I forgot, but I'd love to go to scout camp with the family. However, don't expect that I'll be pulling stunts, or running or flipping canoes. I'm one broken baseball bat and I'll need some communion with family and nature to return to full batteries. I walk fast though. I'll bet no one will be able to keep up with me : )
This week was busy, again, this time with leaders counsel and splits in the other zone here in Londrina. Here's the short version:
Thursday after some work at the office, preparing for the counsel, we took off for the area of the zone leaders here in Londrina, working with Elders Jones and Jouinsse. Thursday with Elder Jones (one of my favorite missionaries) we taught a young man, 20 years old, about the Book of Mormon. The spirit confirmed our words and he hasn't stopped reading since.
Friday I spent the day with Elder Jouinsse in his area. We had lunch in the house cooked up by the Peruvian chef Elder Quilca, and then headed on our way to teach those to be baptized that weekend. Unfortunately we had a terrible afternoon. everything seemed to go wrong and we had various people end their relationship with the missionaries, because of what pastors had said or friends or lack of wanting to live the commandments.
I remembered back to Tupa when I had had similar days. At that time I had learned after three similarly, appearingly disastrous afternoons, that the Lord reserves miracles for those who continue to work through the trials. We were similarly blessed in the twelfth hour. Contacting a single reference in a long off group of apartments we tried one block of apartments and then another, looking for the women. In the last block we called up to the apartment number given and after stating that we were "the missionaries" the voice on the other end invited us to come up. We thought that it must be our referral and so went on up. It wasn't, so we went with it. The door was already open when we got there, there were three women and a man in the room looking expectingly at us. We came in and introduced ourselves, realizing that it was not our referral, and began to explain our purpose as missionaries. All those in the room were paying attention but one women in particular looked taken back, almost disturbed. I, thinking to involve her more in the lesson, asked her a question. Instead of answering it she looked right at me and asked if we prayed for others. I responded, "Of course, it is very much a part of what we do." Then she said something that I admit was a first for me. She said, "Last night, I saw you in a dream. Both of you. I was seated in the apartment of another women, when both of you entered in the door, you smiling just as you were when you came in now and the other a bit more serious. You came in and you began to pray for me and I felt at peace."
Well, that was a special moment : ) After teaching more and inviting to church we left. We found the real referral in another apartment we had already tried to visit. We made a very long walk home, in the which, we were rained on till even our hearts were feeling a bit soggy, but we didn't mind it, because that's how you feel when you've been an instrument in the hands of the Lord.: )
Saturday I made my first visit to the City of Ibiporã, to help with two interviews there. All went well, and we passed in front of two "Festa Junina," a festival of the Catholic church here, where heated wine and carnival food is the go to fare. I couldn't imagine any kind of similar party happening in front of the temple, or even the church. It was worldly abominations in the extreme planted on what I would have thought others considered more holy ground, the front of the local cathedral. We left and made our way home, switching companions again and then making our way home to Cambé.
Sunday we brought twelve people to church, but it was also memorable because our recent convert gave the opening talk of ten minutes on keeping the Sabbath day holy :). That was very special. After sacrament meeting we participated in an ordination to the office of Priest in the Aaronic priesthood, then we had four baptisms, the family of the young man we baptized the week before. One young woman who was also baptized a month ago continues to stay firm in the church and we caught her in the bus this week reading Gospel Principles while her son studied the pamphlet of the restoration. :) Stopping by the house of two former converts Sunday night we heard a sweet and strong testimony from both of them of how the gospel has changed and is changing their lives. They treat sacred things with reverence, and he is already preparing himself to receive the Melchizedek priesthood.
Monday was spent in the office in further preparation for Tuesday. Monday night nine people slept in our house for the joint district leader / zone leader / trainers counsel, an unusually large group. Elder Alves slept in our house and it was great to get to talk to him : ) He was called now, after training two, to be a district leader.
Yesterday we had a special meeting. It was in all probability my last such meeting, conference or otherwise. As such it was emotional and poignant. In the morning I trained the zone leaders on the leadership of Christ, and tried to leave with them the essence of who they need to be to continue to be good leaders in the mission. I have an immense love for the specially assembled team of zone leaders here in the mission. They are priesthood men and priesthood friends. In the afternoon we continued to train and received training from President and Sister Genaro. What you take away from these meetings , however, is always the Spirit that you feel, and that teaches you what you should do, who you are, who is God and His Son. You leave and spend the rest of the day marked by that Spirit. President also shared insights from his recent meeting with Elder Nelson.
Tonight is our convert's farewell. She leaves next week for the CTM : ) The work goes on. We will probably have three more baptisms tonight, another family that lives nearby the church and has gone with us the last two weeks.
I have nothing but love for you. I shared with the zone leaders some of my favorite scriptures on leadership. From Matthew 4:19-20, "And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
That is one of the greatest lessons ever taught. That we may follow Him, and have glory in His work, is my prayer. I know that others will see our light, and follow us.
Love ,
Tanner
Well, that was a special moment : ) After teaching more and inviting to church we left. We found the real referral in another apartment we had already tried to visit. We made a very long walk home, in the which, we were rained on till even our hearts were feeling a bit soggy, but we didn't mind it, because that's how you feel when you've been an instrument in the hands of the Lord.: )
Saturday I made my first visit to the City of Ibiporã, to help with two interviews there. All went well, and we passed in front of two "Festa Junina," a festival of the Catholic church here, where heated wine and carnival food is the go to fare. I couldn't imagine any kind of similar party happening in front of the temple, or even the church. It was worldly abominations in the extreme planted on what I would have thought others considered more holy ground, the front of the local cathedral. We left and made our way home, switching companions again and then making our way home to Cambé.
Sunday we brought twelve people to church, but it was also memorable because our recent convert gave the opening talk of ten minutes on keeping the Sabbath day holy :). That was very special. After sacrament meeting we participated in an ordination to the office of Priest in the Aaronic priesthood, then we had four baptisms, the family of the young man we baptized the week before. One young woman who was also baptized a month ago continues to stay firm in the church and we caught her in the bus this week reading Gospel Principles while her son studied the pamphlet of the restoration. :) Stopping by the house of two former converts Sunday night we heard a sweet and strong testimony from both of them of how the gospel has changed and is changing their lives. They treat sacred things with reverence, and he is already preparing himself to receive the Melchizedek priesthood.
Monday was spent in the office in further preparation for Tuesday. Monday night nine people slept in our house for the joint district leader / zone leader / trainers counsel, an unusually large group. Elder Alves slept in our house and it was great to get to talk to him : ) He was called now, after training two, to be a district leader.
Yesterday we had a special meeting. It was in all probability my last such meeting, conference or otherwise. As such it was emotional and poignant. In the morning I trained the zone leaders on the leadership of Christ, and tried to leave with them the essence of who they need to be to continue to be good leaders in the mission. I have an immense love for the specially assembled team of zone leaders here in the mission. They are priesthood men and priesthood friends. In the afternoon we continued to train and received training from President and Sister Genaro. What you take away from these meetings , however, is always the Spirit that you feel, and that teaches you what you should do, who you are, who is God and His Son. You leave and spend the rest of the day marked by that Spirit. President also shared insights from his recent meeting with Elder Nelson.
Tonight is our convert's farewell. She leaves next week for the CTM : ) The work goes on. We will probably have three more baptisms tonight, another family that lives nearby the church and has gone with us the last two weeks.
I have nothing but love for you. I shared with the zone leaders some of my favorite scriptures on leadership. From Matthew 4:19-20, "And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
That is one of the greatest lessons ever taught. That we may follow Him, and have glory in His work, is my prayer. I know that others will see our light, and follow us.
Love ,
Tanner
2 comments:
Ahh, the Spiritual Giant continues to further the work! I will miss his letters. But, I will console myself with finally being able to meet him.
I wonder how they've done this week with the World Cup going on?
Wonderful letter as usual. He will certainly be missed in Brazil! I'm sure he is anxious to get home to see his family.
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