I go HARD ...Week 50

This week FLEW by!! We had so much stuff to do. We had an awesome conference with President Hymas and we had our interviews! Pres talked a lot about how we need to be more bold with our invitations and not be afraid to challenge people to be baptized. Then after the conference and interviews I left to go to Pedro Luro (a little town 3 hours away) to do divisions with some elders in my district. It was a good but hard because there is literally NOBODY that lives there. It's a super small town and the whole town works in the Onion fields. Tomorrow I have my first District meeting so that should be fun! I have to have like an hour and a half meeting with with my district. We are still looking for more new investigators but we received lots of references this week so we are excited for those!

On pday we played Soccer and made tacos at the Zone Leaders house!! I love playing soccer haha. I go hard.

I was reading a scripture that I really loved its DyC 58: 2-6

2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may layit to heart, and receive that which is to follow.

6 Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;

Just trust in God and Be obedient. THE BLESSING WILL COME!!! Love you all! Have an amazing week!!

Love, Elder Tanner

Gigantic Empanadas: Week 49

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was yet another amazing week in the mission. We found a ton of new investigators who have a ton of potential. We contacted the Villa (super Ghetto) and it was actually super awesome. The People were receptive and actually had the desire to seek help from God. We had a few people talk to us for like an hour on their porch and we explained the whole lesson of the Restoration or Plan of Salvation.

This week I had the DL training meeting with President. I'm super excited about my new calling as DL (District Leader). We talked a lot about how the elders in our district are our Sheep and how we need to love them and if necessary leave the 99 to help the 1. I have been calling them about every night and for the most part they are awesome! So I'm not too worried. I can just chill with my 100 all safe and sound. I'm the only gringo in my district haha

Sunday I gave a talk in church about the importance of reading the Book Of Mormon every single day, we had a lesson with Luciano and Romina and they made us Gigantic Chilean empanadas (she's Chilean) and they were super good. They aren't as pretty but they were still really good. We talked about Family History and Temple work! They really liked it. We brought the Valdebenito Family with us.

I LOVE THIS WORK!! I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have every day to go out and serve my savior. What I have seen a lot of this week is that no matter what we have done, we are not out of reach of the atonement and Love our our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. THEY LOVE YOU!!

Funny Story: We are really good friends with the store owners by our house and we said we were gonna make torta fritas. and they said they wanted some. but by the time we were done they were already closed. so we brought them to what we thought was their house. so we knocked this random peoples house with torta fritas in hand and had to awkwardly say they aren't the people we are looking for and they can't have the torta fritas. We didn't find the house...

Sorrentinos Twice: Week 48

TRANSFERS!!! I'm staying in My area Maldonado in Bahia Blanca with my Son!! And I was also called as District Leader this transfer!! I'm stoked to be able to work and serve!! As a DL i will just do things like call my district to make sure they are doing good and also do divisions with them. And I will run district meetings to talk about our investigators and goals we can set as a district to improve! I'm most excited to learn more than anything. This morning I played soccer with a few other elders and then went to McDonalds. My team won so it was super fun haha.

This week was Awesome!! We have been working really hard still to find new investigators!! We are still working with the Ugartes but they have been out of town.

Luciano is doing great and is active in church! We talked about the priesthood more with him and he really wants to receive the priesthood!

We ate super good this week. We had Sorrentinos (one of my favorite foods here) 2 times this week and Locro a rare argentine dish they eat for Holidays. Sorrentinos are amazing but Locro is just okay. It's not gross but not anything special haha

I've been trying to study and pray a lot more about how I can improve myself and be a better missionary. I know I'm far from perfect but I really do feel like I am improving every single day. I love this work and I love my savior Jesus Christ. And I KNOW He loves me. I'm so very thankful to serve Him! Love you all . Have a great week!!

• Elder Tanner

Banana Bread that was made for my companion and I

BAUTISMOOOO!!!!!!! Week 47

Luciano got baptized!!! The baptism went super good and lots of members came and supported him!! He shared his testimony about how he just wants to be able to see his baby daughter that passed away again and that's why he wants to get baptized so bad. His daughter was born early and the 7th (the day of the baptism) is the day she was supposed to be born. It was a super spiritual couple of days haha.  He asked me to do the baptism and my comp to do the confirmation! It was amazing!! And the night before we had an asado with them so it was super good weekend haha

On Tuesday we had our first conference with President Hymas and his wife! They introduced themselves which was cool and then they talked about the power of the Book of Mormon and how we need to use it in Every Single Lesson. If they receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon that means The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church! He also challenged us to continually use the Moroni 10:3-5 promise to pray and ask Heavenly Father if it is true. Even if we already have a testimony of it, we can strengthen it if we do it frequently! I love the Book of Mormon so much and i KNOW that it is true. Nobody can read the book cover to cover and deny its truthfulness. So if you haven't read it and prayed about it, READ IT AND PRAY ABOUT IT!!

Love you all so much!! Have an amazing week!

• Elder Tanner

3-4... Well Played France,,, Well played! Week 46

Dear Family and Friends,

Well Argentina is out of the world cup and everyone here is depressed. My comp is from Uruguay and they are still in it so he's been talking trash to all the Argentine members and stuff haha it's super funny. We may or may not have seen a little bit of the game with our investigators the Ugarte family haha they are awesome. When there is a game here there is NOBODY in the street. And when there's a goal it's crazy loud. Everyone cheers super loud and it's the best!!

This week President Hymas is officially our new mission president. We are going to have a conference and interviews with him this week. Nobody knows him yet except me and my comp and the ZL's because we happened to see him in the bank today. He saw my BYU hoodie and was like hey I know that school! He seemed super nice! His Spanish needs some work but he will get there haha.

Luciano should be getting baptized this Saturday!! He hasn't smoked for 3 days now so if he doesn't smoke anymore he can get baptized. But if he does fall we are gonna have to wait a little bit longer. We had some awesome lessons with him last week!!! I'm super excited for him! Keep him in your prayers!!

This week was hard to find new investigators but hopefully now that the world cup is calming down it will be easier haha. Me and my son are doing awesome!! Hope everything is going good back home!! Love you all!!

• Elder Tanner