I love it when that happens... I just typed up like 3 paragraphs of an email and then somehow deleted all of it and it autosaved seconds after I did that... so now I get to start over... great.
So the Temple last week was SO good, as usual. Before we went we got to go around back and take some pictures. It's really pretty back there, even though the temple is so close to the main road and other houses. There's a big wall surrounding the gardens area so it's nice and quiet and peaceful back there. We got some good pictures of the whole zone that I'll be sending home later.
International night was so fun this past Saturday. As I was leaving though, I realized that I didn't take any pictures.. dang. But it was fun. We probably had about 5 or 6 investigators there as well as The Sumo family that we baptised back in March. And the McGaugheys were there as well as a few other less active families for the other Elder's area. I'd probably guess there were about 100 people there, the most I've ever seen at a ward activity here. The food we had was so interesting. My favorite was definitely the dish from Ireland.. it was basically just a beef and potato stew lol. I did try all of them though. The most interesting dish was the one from Morocco. I don't really know what it was but I hope I never have to eat it again.
The baptism this weekend is still happening as far as I know. We found out though that her sister-in-law is getting baptised this weekend as well. She's been going to Ballajura ward the past couple of weeks with her sister-in-law, which is in a different stake, but not too far from here. But it just makes things awkward. Because I think Emma, the lady we're baptising, feels more at home in Ballajura ward, even though the member that referred us to her is in our ward. Hopefully everything runs smoothly this weekend.
We had dinner at the Main's last night and the dinner was good. It was kinda like a giant quiesh... or however you spell it. But it was good. The good part about last night was we taught them the restoration lesson again as they're preparing to be sealed in the Temple in a couple of months, they think it would be good to hear the lessons again. Plus it's just good practice for us. They always ask the best questions though and we just go off on gospel tangents.. my favorite kind of tangents. We talked a lot about repentance and forgiveness, two things I've really been studying this transfer. I've learned a lot and it was good to share with them kind of what I've been learning. But next week is going to be good. Because A. We're cooking dinner and B. We're teaching the Plan of Salvation lesson. I have that little puzzle that grandma sent me and it comes in such good use when teaching that lesson. I love it. Oh, and the dinner we're making for them is PB&J's. They've never had a PB&J!! So we're making PB&J for "dinner" and they're making Belgian waffles for "dessert". haha it should be lots of fun.
I can't believe I call home again in two weeks! Once i get out of my first area I hear that's when time starts to fly, but time already seems like its flying, so it will be exciting to see how fast time goes once I get out of Girrawheen. I really want to get transferred to a country area, but we'll see... we still got 3 more weeks til next transfer.
Well gotta go. Love you all. Have a great week
Elder Tanner
ps. - GO THUNDER!!! BEAT THE LAKERS!!!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Crikey!
So it's temple week this week, and I've always been told that emailing on Monday of temple week was ok. It turns out that I was misinformed. Oh well, at least I know now.
This week has been so much better than last week. Last week was kinda rough for me, but this week has been a lot smoother. Not only are we going to the temple today which is always the highlight of the month for me, but we set a baptismal date for our investigator Emma that we met through the Phillip's family in our ward. She's getting baptised on May 1st which is way good since there's a mission goal for every companionship to baptise in May. We'll be one of the first ones! She's only been to church once other than General Conference and we've only taught her twice but she has already told us that she knows the church is true. How awesome is that?? She's so solid. We wanted to have the baptism this Saturday but it's ward temple day followed by a ward activity so there was no time in there for a baptism. The activity should be fun though. It's called "International Night". they're going to be having food from 15 different countries or something like that. that's how diverse our ward is. I love it though. This feels like my home ward away from home. It is going to be sad when I have to leave this ward, as hard as the investigators are to work with in this area. We had dinner at the Main's house twice since I last emailed, on on Wednesday and one on Monday. I love them. Next week when we go over for dinner we're going to start teaching them the Preach My Gospel lessons again. They want to see how much they can remember since they're getting ready to go to the temple in July. It should be fun. Another one of my favorite families are the McGaugheys. We went over to their house on Saturday and helped him paint a room. They were signing a new lease on their house and had to have the painting done by Sunday so we pretty much spent most of the day over there. We went over at 10 and left around 5. They fed us a lunch of lasagna and it was so good. They would have fed us dinner too but the Zone Leaders were planning on coming over to our flat to cook us dinner, so we passed. One of my least favorite rules is that I can't hold children, because the McGaugheys have the cutest little daughters Katana and Halo. Halo especially, she's like 14 months old I think he said. So cute.
The dinner with the Zone Leaders was good. Elder Ezekiela made us some stir fry and then afterwards we had a bit of a discussion just about things we've been learning in personal study. Elder Cook is a really smart guy. He goes on in August and you can totally tell that he's been 100% consecrated on his mission. he just knows so much about the gospel and it's good to learn from him by example.
This week we got our K allotment for the month (same as Mileage allotment), and we got reduced by 600 K's. So we only get 1200 K's this month and we've been budgeting them as if we had 1800. So by the time we got the phone call we were already at 1050. So pretty much we're going to be biking to everything except the temple and Zone conference. And we're still going to go over on K's no matter what. I think President Maurer is trying to encourage us to ride bikes more. Which is ok for now, now that it rarely gets above 30 degrees. But in a month or so when it starts raining every single day, it may become a challenge. But anything is possible.
Heaps excited for the temple today. I hope the new mission President still lets us go when he gets here. That would be a bummer if he did away with going to the temple, but we'll see. Not a whole lot else going on with me. I've been working as hard as I know how, and trying to learn how to work even harder. I love it out here. I'm so glad I made the decision to come. I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing right now than sitting in a library in Girrawheen, Western Australia telling my family how much I love my mission and wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now... except for maybe eating lunch lol
Love you all,
Elder Tanner
This week has been so much better than last week. Last week was kinda rough for me, but this week has been a lot smoother. Not only are we going to the temple today which is always the highlight of the month for me, but we set a baptismal date for our investigator Emma that we met through the Phillip's family in our ward. She's getting baptised on May 1st which is way good since there's a mission goal for every companionship to baptise in May. We'll be one of the first ones! She's only been to church once other than General Conference and we've only taught her twice but she has already told us that she knows the church is true. How awesome is that?? She's so solid. We wanted to have the baptism this Saturday but it's ward temple day followed by a ward activity so there was no time in there for a baptism. The activity should be fun though. It's called "International Night". they're going to be having food from 15 different countries or something like that. that's how diverse our ward is. I love it though. This feels like my home ward away from home. It is going to be sad when I have to leave this ward, as hard as the investigators are to work with in this area. We had dinner at the Main's house twice since I last emailed, on on Wednesday and one on Monday. I love them. Next week when we go over for dinner we're going to start teaching them the Preach My Gospel lessons again. They want to see how much they can remember since they're getting ready to go to the temple in July. It should be fun. Another one of my favorite families are the McGaugheys. We went over to their house on Saturday and helped him paint a room. They were signing a new lease on their house and had to have the painting done by Sunday so we pretty much spent most of the day over there. We went over at 10 and left around 5. They fed us a lunch of lasagna and it was so good. They would have fed us dinner too but the Zone Leaders were planning on coming over to our flat to cook us dinner, so we passed. One of my least favorite rules is that I can't hold children, because the McGaugheys have the cutest little daughters Katana and Halo. Halo especially, she's like 14 months old I think he said. So cute.
The dinner with the Zone Leaders was good. Elder Ezekiela made us some stir fry and then afterwards we had a bit of a discussion just about things we've been learning in personal study. Elder Cook is a really smart guy. He goes on in August and you can totally tell that he's been 100% consecrated on his mission. he just knows so much about the gospel and it's good to learn from him by example.
This week we got our K allotment for the month (same as Mileage allotment), and we got reduced by 600 K's. So we only get 1200 K's this month and we've been budgeting them as if we had 1800. So by the time we got the phone call we were already at 1050. So pretty much we're going to be biking to everything except the temple and Zone conference. And we're still going to go over on K's no matter what. I think President Maurer is trying to encourage us to ride bikes more. Which is ok for now, now that it rarely gets above 30 degrees. But in a month or so when it starts raining every single day, it may become a challenge. But anything is possible.
Heaps excited for the temple today. I hope the new mission President still lets us go when he gets here. That would be a bummer if he did away with going to the temple, but we'll see. Not a whole lot else going on with me. I've been working as hard as I know how, and trying to learn how to work even harder. I love it out here. I'm so glad I made the decision to come. I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing right now than sitting in a library in Girrawheen, Western Australia telling my family how much I love my mission and wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now... except for maybe eating lunch lol
Love you all,
Elder Tanner
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
busy busy busy
So this week I've pretty much felt like a worker bee. Ever since Wednesday Elder Richards and I have just been seeing everyone possible. We had ward council on Wednesday night and they gave us like 25 families to go see and we've been so busy just seeing those people and our investigators and we haven't even had time to go see other members yet, but it's definitely on our to do list. Most of the people we saw that the ward council gave us haven't seen missionaries or been to church in months, or even years, so it was good to see them and have some new people to work with in reactivating. That's pretty much going to be our focus for this transfer, even though we could still possibly get some baptisms. There's a lady named Emma that we got from a member referral and every time we come over she's so happy to see us and let us teach her. And before we even had a chance to invite her to General Conference this week she was like, "I'll see you at the conference on Sunday?" Member referrals are the best. We actually had 3 investigators at General Conference, which was so good. Emma is definitely the most solid though. I think there's a goal in the mission for every compansionship to baptise in May, and I think we can definitely do that.
General Conference was amazing. The Saturday afternoon session was by far the best I thought. I can't wait to get the new Ensign and read Elder Christoffersons talk and Elder Holland's talk again. Even though I took notes like crazy, I know there's a lot that I missed. I've been reading the last conference issue a lot this week and I've definitely needed some of those talks that were given. Even more so with this conference. I really loved it though. That story that President Monson told about the two brothers called to serve at the same time on opposite sides of the veil was so good. I definitely felt the spirit during that talk, more than I did throughout the rest of the conference. I love having Prophets and Apostles on the earth today. I could never deny that they are really called of God, and that Christ is at the head of this church, His church.
I love this gospel and I hope you all love it as much as I do. I love being on a mission. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Someday I'll be sitting at the library and be wishing it wasn't so close to being over, because I can already tell it's going to be over before I know it. You're all in my prayers and I miss you.
I've been listening to Hill Cumorah Pageant soundtrack allll week. Oh the memories. I can't wait to go back there.
I love you all, sorry this is kinda short, but not much else happened this week.
Elder Tanner
General Conference was amazing. The Saturday afternoon session was by far the best I thought. I can't wait to get the new Ensign and read Elder Christoffersons talk and Elder Holland's talk again. Even though I took notes like crazy, I know there's a lot that I missed. I've been reading the last conference issue a lot this week and I've definitely needed some of those talks that were given. Even more so with this conference. I really loved it though. That story that President Monson told about the two brothers called to serve at the same time on opposite sides of the veil was so good. I definitely felt the spirit during that talk, more than I did throughout the rest of the conference. I love having Prophets and Apostles on the earth today. I could never deny that they are really called of God, and that Christ is at the head of this church, His church.
I love this gospel and I hope you all love it as much as I do. I love being on a mission. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Someday I'll be sitting at the library and be wishing it wasn't so close to being over, because I can already tell it's going to be over before I know it. You're all in my prayers and I miss you.
I've been listening to Hill Cumorah Pageant soundtrack allll week. Oh the memories. I can't wait to go back there.
I love you all, sorry this is kinda short, but not much else happened this week.
Elder Tanner
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Transfer Day!
I'm not getting transferred lol. Another 6 weeks in good old Girrawheen. By the end of this transfer I'll have spent 6 months in my first area, and be a quarter way through my mission. That doesn't even seem possible that I've been out almost that long. wow. It's been a good transfer with Elder Richards and Elder Tou, and I think the next one is going to be even better. We're finally starting to get on track with everything that we had planned to do at the beginning of this transfer like seeing more members, getting some of our investigators that we've been teaching for ages baptised and stuff, so next transfer should be mean. Elder Tou is leaving us which is sad. It was so good to have in him our companionship for the past 2 and a half weeks and we're going to miss having him around. He's definitely the nicest guy I've met on my mission so far.
Today is the start of Presidents second to last transfer which is sort of a bummer, but it's pretty exciting that we're gong to be getting a new mission president. I hope he's as awesome as President Maurer.
We sang in church this past week. Nearer My God To Thee. It was a great start to a testimony meeting. When we sat down the spirit was so intensely there, you could've heard a pin drop.. on the carpet. It's going to suck when our district can't sing together anymore. Because Elder Tou and Elder Hampson (one of our Zone Leaders) are getting transferred, we're not going to be near as good anymore. But I'm kinda ok with that too, we sing quite regularly now and it's getting kinda old lol. We're actually singing again today at transfer meeting.
I'm uber excited to watch General Conference this weekend. We watch it a week later so that we can still watch it at the regular times. So this weekend should be really good. The family we baptised at the beginning of March is moving today. What's up with everyone I baptise moving away?? Hopefully they'll be in good hands though. We gave their phone number to the missionaries where they're moving. And who knows, maybe I'll see them again if I'm ever in that area.
We had dinner at the Main's last night and it was so much fun. It reminds me so much of being at home on Sunday nights. We played games for like 2 hours and they are so fun. I wrote about them in my journal so I wouldn't forget so I can teach yous when I get home. My voice is kinda gone because of one of the games we played. It's kinda like the Haka but in a game. So much fun.
I put reading Jesus the Christ on hold for awhile so I can read the New Testament first. I think it will make reading Jesus The Christ a lot easier if I have The New Testament fresh on my mind. So much good stuff in that book.
That's really it for this week. Sorry it's so uneventful. Next weeks' letter should be better.
Love you all.
Elder Tanner
Today is the start of Presidents second to last transfer which is sort of a bummer, but it's pretty exciting that we're gong to be getting a new mission president. I hope he's as awesome as President Maurer.
We sang in church this past week. Nearer My God To Thee. It was a great start to a testimony meeting. When we sat down the spirit was so intensely there, you could've heard a pin drop.. on the carpet. It's going to suck when our district can't sing together anymore. Because Elder Tou and Elder Hampson (one of our Zone Leaders) are getting transferred, we're not going to be near as good anymore. But I'm kinda ok with that too, we sing quite regularly now and it's getting kinda old lol. We're actually singing again today at transfer meeting.
I'm uber excited to watch General Conference this weekend. We watch it a week later so that we can still watch it at the regular times. So this weekend should be really good. The family we baptised at the beginning of March is moving today. What's up with everyone I baptise moving away?? Hopefully they'll be in good hands though. We gave their phone number to the missionaries where they're moving. And who knows, maybe I'll see them again if I'm ever in that area.
We had dinner at the Main's last night and it was so much fun. It reminds me so much of being at home on Sunday nights. We played games for like 2 hours and they are so fun. I wrote about them in my journal so I wouldn't forget so I can teach yous when I get home. My voice is kinda gone because of one of the games we played. It's kinda like the Haka but in a game. So much fun.
I put reading Jesus the Christ on hold for awhile so I can read the New Testament first. I think it will make reading Jesus The Christ a lot easier if I have The New Testament fresh on my mind. So much good stuff in that book.
That's really it for this week. Sorry it's so uneventful. Next weeks' letter should be better.
Love you all.
Elder Tanner
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Rain!
WE GOT RAIN!! For the first time since I got here, which was December 2nd. It was the best storm ever too. Got some golf ball sized hail, lots and lots of rain, and so much wind. The only thing that was missing was tornado sirens haha. The best thing about it was that it was on a P-day and the zone leaders were at our flat hanging out with our district and when it started raining we went outside and started running around in it. Don't worry, we didn't get sick. But it was so much fun. Luckily some missionaries from up north called us and told us it was coming so we were able to get the cars in a safe place.
We had our interviews with President Maurer on Friday and they were like the shortest interviews ever. I think President is getting excited to go home. After Zone Stewardships he challenged a missionary to a basketball game (and lost) but it was just funny. He's getting more and more laid back I can tell.
This is most likely my last week in my first area, boo-yah! I wanna go country next transfer, I think that would be sweet. Maybe up to Broome. Or down to Albany or Kalgoorlie where it would be a bit colder this time of year. I can't wait to find out where I'm going, if I'm going. But the impression I got from President the other day was that I'm going to be moving, which is sweet.
Not a whole lot happening in the terms of missionary work in this area. We are still teaching the same people we've been teaching for the past few weeks or months and haven't made much progress. We did run into some new people this week and were able to teach them, but we'll see how they go.
We did have a great service opportunity this week. We were running to the butcher because we had no food and the butcher was about to close and we saw a lady putting some stuff in here car, it was a lot of stuff so we decided to help. She told us there was even more inside so we went in and helped her. When we finished helping her she told us what all the stuff was for, she said she was selling this stuff to try to raise money to buy her granddaughter and new walker or something and she started crying and asked us to pray for her and her granddaughter and her son and then she asked us if we have any reading material for her so we gave her a restoration pamphlet. She was so happy. We couldn't get her address from her but hopefully she runs into some missionaries down the road or something. It was just a really sweet experience. We weren't there to get meat, we were there to help her. But, we were still able to get our mince before the shop closed? So it was all good.
We're having a zone p-day today. Should be fun. We're going to give blood at noon and then going to the chapel and Sister Maurer is going to make us lunch and then we'll probably play some basketball or rugby. Hopefully basketball, I suck at rugby lol. Hope you all are having a good week. Hear from you soon!
Love,
Elder Tanner
We had our interviews with President Maurer on Friday and they were like the shortest interviews ever. I think President is getting excited to go home. After Zone Stewardships he challenged a missionary to a basketball game (and lost) but it was just funny. He's getting more and more laid back I can tell.
This is most likely my last week in my first area, boo-yah! I wanna go country next transfer, I think that would be sweet. Maybe up to Broome. Or down to Albany or Kalgoorlie where it would be a bit colder this time of year. I can't wait to find out where I'm going, if I'm going. But the impression I got from President the other day was that I'm going to be moving, which is sweet.
Not a whole lot happening in the terms of missionary work in this area. We are still teaching the same people we've been teaching for the past few weeks or months and haven't made much progress. We did run into some new people this week and were able to teach them, but we'll see how they go.
We did have a great service opportunity this week. We were running to the butcher because we had no food and the butcher was about to close and we saw a lady putting some stuff in here car, it was a lot of stuff so we decided to help. She told us there was even more inside so we went in and helped her. When we finished helping her she told us what all the stuff was for, she said she was selling this stuff to try to raise money to buy her granddaughter and new walker or something and she started crying and asked us to pray for her and her granddaughter and her son and then she asked us if we have any reading material for her so we gave her a restoration pamphlet. She was so happy. We couldn't get her address from her but hopefully she runs into some missionaries down the road or something. It was just a really sweet experience. We weren't there to get meat, we were there to help her. But, we were still able to get our mince before the shop closed? So it was all good.
We're having a zone p-day today. Should be fun. We're going to give blood at noon and then going to the chapel and Sister Maurer is going to make us lunch and then we'll probably play some basketball or rugby. Hopefully basketball, I suck at rugby lol. Hope you all are having a good week. Hear from you soon!
Love,
Elder Tanner
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