{Now OuR HouSE is CleaN aT LeaST}

Hey fam!

This week has been good...things are improving. Yesterday we had a crazy rain storm...probably the biggest one i´ve seen here in Panama so far. We didn´t have church because of the census and the we went out to work at eleven. It started raining at about two and there were about five or six houses that were flooded in our neighborhood. So we went over to help clean up (bathroom water...mmm). And then went back to our house to get changed. We opened the door to a really nice surprise...our house was loaded with water too! Haha...still not sure how it happened...seeing as how our apartment is on the second floor and all the walls and everything were dry. So we then spent the night cleaning up our house. It was fun! Now our house it clean at least...

I had a cool experience on a bus this week. I contacted this kid named Antonio on the way to Chitré...he´s about 22 years old. After talking to him for a while we had to get off. I felt like i needed to give him a Book of Mormon (which i´ve never done before in a contact...we don´t have enough to give out like that) but I gave him a pamphlet instead. I kind of regreted it after getting off the bus. And then we spent P Day in Chitré playing soccer. Afterwards we got on the bus to head back to Santiago. And what do you know...Antonio hops on the bus right as we´re about to leave. He came and sat by me and I was really relieved to be able to give him the Book of Mormon. He lives really far away...but you never know. Usually God doesn´t give us two chances to talk to people...but I think Antonio really needed it. It really strengthened my testimony that God is really guiding the work around the whole world. It was a neat experience.

Thinking about what dad said about mercy and justice makes me think of Alma talking to his son corianton about sin. And how if there were no punishment for sin we would all be hardcore ´pecadores´...sinners for all y´all who are still learning spanish. I´m glad we have commandments. The world would be crazy if we didn´t have a path to follow.

i love you all!

Elder Tanner

Hey ma!

I hope everything is going well in the Utah...Santiago is good. The people are great and we´ve got some very positive investigators. And things are getting there with my companion. It sounds like the family is doing well. And normal news for me can at times be good news. Libby looks so big already! It´s crazy to see photos of her...haha. Oh and ps I got that package that you sent me when we went to immigrations! Thanks a ton! I´m going to destroy those muffins. And I love the photo frame it´s really cool.

I love you mom...thanks for your prayers. I know that the hard times we go through are worth it and they don´t last long at all when we compare them with the blessings that God has waiting for us.

To my buddies Nate and Will...

I can´t believe you´re graduating! I feel like I graduated yesterday...the time goes so fast.

I´m really happy for both of you. I feel lucky to have the family that we´ve got. There are a lot of families that aren´t blessed like we are. Stay strong in the gospel. It really is everything. There are plenty of times when we don´t recognize it...but the gospel really is everything. It´s the only way to be happy in this life.

Felizidades primos!!

Mom...have a killer time in Arizona...don´t go to crazy with your friends haha. Te amo mucho!

Elder Tanner

{WiTh Me EverY SteP}

Ofi!

Right on...so i guess i´ll be writing you monday today haha. I don´t know why. Today we´re going to play some sweet futbol...i´m actually really good now haha. Things are going well. Remember how I talked to y´all yesterday so there´s really not much news...

I received a letter today from my mission president that one of my assignments this change is to help out my companion. I´m not going to lie to you all it´s going to be tough. I´m not sure where to start. He´s a good person...he really is. And he´s had some tough experiences. However, our past doesn´t really effect the desicions we make with regards to obedience to God´s commandments. I don´t know whether to be a little harsh to get the point accross or to try and do it really patiently and with love.

The mission is really sweet. Everyone has their challenges. Everyone has different things to deal with. I know that God is with me every step. I know that obedience brings the spirit and i can feel its absence when someone does something out of line.

We have no investigators right now. And the members don´t trust us. It´s time to change some stuff haha.

I love you all. Pray for me. I am glad i´m a missionary for Jesus Christ and I know I´ll be grateful for what comes out of the tough times. Tell Matt Jackson that portugues es bien...bien feo. Spanish is where it´s at!!!

Con mucho amor de Santiago,

Elder Tanner

Letters between Dad & Tanner:

Estimado Tanman, sorpresa del día de la madre.

Sólo quería ver si esto podría work…see si mi español es conseguir que cualquier buena. Me avisas. Fue muy bueno escuchar de usted, usted de sonido gran. Esperamos que todo está bien. Sabemos que nos love you y rezar para usted.

Amor, Papá

Jaja papá

Su español es buenísimo! Qué sorpresa fue verlo...te amo mucho padre. Gracias por su ayuda y su ejemplo para mí. Usted realmente es la roca de la familia nuestra. Siga rogar por mí por favor. No te preocupes demasiado...peudo hacerlo. dale pues...

te quiero mucho hombre,

Elder Tanner

{ThiS WeeK Has Been TouGH}

Alright family!

Hey yall im in Santiago! I left El Empalme at 700 sunday night...got to Panama at about 500am, and then left for Santiago and got here around 530. It was really tough saying goodbye to El Empalme. Its such a sweet area. And Elder Poli was an incredible companion. I am definitely going to miss him this change. My new companion is Elder Abarca, from El Salvador. He seems pretty cool, but lets just say i am used to hardcore obedience...This change could be a challenge in that respect. Actually i am kinda worried ha. But i will keep doing all i can.

Yeah im way excited to call all of you this Sunday! Thats nuts because i just talked to you from the airport haha. But things are going fast. Erick Sera was baptized the last day of the change in El Empalme. It was so awesome! He is going to be a missionary soon if he keeps going in the direction he is headed. It was really hard for me to say goodbye to the branch president there and the members. But it was satisfying to hear him and his wife feeling grateful for what the Lord has done in El Empalme the last couple months. I feel good about everything that happened there.

Me and Elder Poli had a great two changes. I think it would be tough to beat. We had eight baptismal dates when i left! I hope all of those people will make it and be able to enjoy the blessings of this Gospel. I am so worried about the people in Empalme right now. I really think it will take a few days to get really focused here in Santiago.

I really like the new area. The water in the shower is only really cold...not freezing cold. And we have TWO fans! How sweet! It seems like we are going to have to work bigtime to be able to see baptisms here. But i hope we can do everything we can to change Santiago.

I love you all a lot! I am having a good time on the mission...with the ups and the downs haha. Spanish is sweet. The people rock. My testimony continues to grow. And everything keeps moving and changing. That is what i like about the mission. It is always different. Once you get comfortable...you get moved.

Family, the church is true. Families are for sure eternal. I love you all and I love this gospel. A lot of people walk past the truth every day without knowing what they are missing. Be grateful for it. Be grateful that God has given us His word through the mouths of His prophets in the scriptures. Study them! Pray as a family every night and have family home evenings!

Have a good week! I will call you Sunday! Thats weird...

Con MUCHO amor,

Elder Tanner

Hey mom!

i love you!

This week has been tough. I did not want to leave empalme. I found out one of my roommates from the MTC got sent home which seriously was tough. And now i am chilling in Santiago. I know that our mission president receives revelation on where we are supposed to go...so its time to start the work here! Should be sweet! Just pray for me that ill have the strength to make it through the tough times.

I love the Gospel. I love the church. It is way true. I am excited to start teaching here with Elder Abarca. He is a really good teacher and knows the scriptures really well. As long as we can get the Spirit to be with us...everything will go well.

I love you a lot mom and I think about you every day. You are in my prayers. Be happy!

Te amo mucho,

Elder Tanner

{I feeL LiKe I JusT StaRTed}

Hey fam!

I love you all! Thanks for all the sweet letters! Im looking forward to changes this week because i think ill be going to get my package in David haha sweet!

Heres the news...

1. Presidente Madrigal is awesome. He came to dedicate a chapel here in Changuinola. Wow the priesthood is real. And hermana Madrigal is incredible too.

2. Our baptism with Erick fell through because there wasnt water to fill the font. Haha. So were doing it next week in the new chapel that was dedicated yesterday.

3. People think dads a grandpa hahaha.

4. I love Panama. But the food...ay ay ay. A veces es dificil. No worries i think im losing weight because i work out so hardcore in the mornings...some solid pushups.

5. The Book of Mormon is true. But thats old news

Im pretty sure i told you all about Francisco Vega...the guy with lots of addictions. We met with him last night and hes doing so well! The gospel changes peoples lives and its sweet to see! I love loving these people. Francisco is so hilarious! I feel like hes my best friend. Ill miss him if I have changes this week. But well see what happens. I think ive been out six months now...which is weird because i feel like i just started.

dad i liked what you said about humility...one of the bigtime important attributes of Christ. The people here are super humble. It makes me feel so greatful to have food and shelter and clothes.

I finished the Book of Mormon this morning and its definitely a sweet book. Everything in this gospel hangs on the B of M . If its true...we are set. and its sooooooooo true!

Sorry so short...but i gotta go. I love you all. A lot. President Hinckley said that missionaries should return home with a greater love for their families. Thats really true. Every day i love you all even more for everything youve given me. The church is true!

Mucho amor,

Elder T

{ObeDience PaYs oFF}

Hey!

Wow, sounds like things are going really well at the house...spring getting started, Marsh dominating the basement, J-Dub and Jessi moving through college, and Libby...starting kindergarten??! That´s weird, pretty sure I was just starting kindergarten. Things are flying here. Elder Poli and I have been so incredibly blessed in this area. At first I wasn´t sure if trying to obey all the rules with exactness really was helping...sometimes it seemed to make things worse. But we´ve seen the fruits of our labor here with Ceferino´s baptism...another baptism this weekend (Erick Sera...he´s way rad), and hopefully the familia Abrego the week after that.

Obedience pays off.

This week was really great. The baptism of Ceferino went really smoothly and according to plan, which really is a miracle in this area haha. Presidente Madrigal was here for the baptism and he and his wife really loved it. Me, Elder Poli, and our district leader Elder Cook sang I Need the Every Hour, a little English and a little Spanish. It was sweet. Music brings the Spirit faster than anything in my opinion. And when Ceferino bore his testimony about the change he has made it made me soooo happy. As Hermana Madrigal said in our last zone conference...´vale la pena´...it´s worth it.

I´m really excited about this investigator we have named Franciso Vega...he´s a middle aged solo guy and he´s got lots of problems. He´s coming toi church and we´re working with him on his drug addiction. All I can say about Franciso is that I love him. Really. I love him. He´s an incredible man and it´s awesome to see the change that is happening in his life because he is coming to know the gospel. I hope with time he can overcome his addiction and receive baptism.

We were hoping this week that the familia Abrego would be baptized but when they came to church we felt like they weren´t ready. That was a bummer but we´re going to continue working with them.

I still am having trouble believing that Libby is going to kindergarten!! That´s so nuts! I´m excited to hear about it. And Lib...you read?! That´s so ridiculous! Haha I love ya sis.

So I´m pretty sure it´s already April...and I think we get to call home in May. Even though I just barely called you from the airport...jeez. ya viene navidad.

The church is true. The gospel is so incredibly powerful. The blessings that come from missionary work are too many to count. I love being a missionary. I can´t even think about what it will be like some day to have to take this plaque off. I love being a missionary and talking about the gospel all day every day! I love you all. I always remember you in my prayers! Make sure you have family home evening and pray...

I´ll talk to you next week!

Mucho amor,

Elder Tanner

ps dad thanks for the update...i wish i had time to study the old testament...i´m going to need to take a class when i get home haha

{He WaS ReaLLy a GolDeN inVestiGatoR}

Hey fam!

Sorry i think i only have time to write one letter this week. I´ve got a lot to say. So this week was a good one. Well...yeah it was. I was pretty sick thursday night...woke up at two with a fever and couldn´t fall back asleep. So the next day we took it easy. But we still went to a lunch appointment and on the way there I contacted this Danish guy. Haha bad idea with a fever of 100. Let´s just say he wasn´t all that receptive. It made me think of Grandpa Hansen because I´m reading his journal. Wow.

But guess what? Ceferino is getting baptized on Saturday!! I can´t wait. He´s definitely ready. He´s 21 years old and he´s been coming to church and all the activities and stuff. he was really a golden investigator. He had no problems really with any of the commandments and was really willing to change.

Also, with respect to the hermana Seferina and her children...let´s just say Satan tries so hard to keep these people from baptism. Someone broke into their house and broke their door...so now she can´t leave the house alone to come to church. I don´t know what we´re going to do but she HAS to come to church to prepare for baptism. Her kids are awesome. they learn the gospel so fast. I love teaching the gospel to kids. There´s this little girl named Kenya at one of the houses we are teaching in...and ever since the first lesson she says ´profeta´ like ninety times every lesson...haha it´s way cute.

And we are teaching this kid named Erick Sera...17 years old. He lives with our branch president right now (he doesn´t really have a family and he´s here studying). But we´re going to set a baptismal date with him soon.

Dad..fecha=farm. There are sooooooooooooooooo many bananas here you wouldn´t even believe it. We climb up this big hill every now and then and you can just see fincas for miles and miles it´s nuts!

Really funny stuff happens all the time here. I love messin around with the little kids. They´re soooo cute. I always think of Lib whenever I see the little girls.Me and Elder Poli have a great time with the people. The members are great. We´re having trouble getting them really animated about missionary work but we´re doing what we can.

Bueno...I love you all a lot. the church is true. There was a kid who bore his testimony in church yesterday about how he was sealed to his family...he´s 12. It was such a powerful testimony. I thought when Libby was sealed to us. never will I forget that experience. I love you all. Marsh keep reading the scriptures. Mom I talk about you and the fam a lot to the people here. Dad keep telling me about your lessons in gospel doctrine i get good pointers and advice. J dub and Jess I love you both a lot! I´m gonna write you a letter today because there´s never time :) Lib...you have no idea how much I love you.

I´m bummed that I may only have three more weeks here in Empalme...but it´s all good.

Con mucho amor,

Elder Henrie

ps the package got here but it´s in David hahaha I´ll go pick it up in May though no worries :) oh and no we don´t have a chapel in El Empalme, but our little building is sweet! Chao!

{I LoveD CoNfErenCe!}

Hey fam!

Wow...Elder Holland delivered once again eh? Third time in a row. I loved conference! we actually stayed in Bocas to watch it because the new chapel that they are building their managed to get it through satelite. It was sweet! They focused so much on the family. I was amazed when at the very end Elder Andersen said that nobody receives assigned topics. Talk about revelation.

I loved hearing the prophets voice again! It was so nice to listen to them give their messages...and it was amazing listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir again (you know youre a missionary when youre excited for mo-tab). I thought Elder Packers talk about blessings was probably my favorite...after Elder Holland.

Marsh did you hear the prophet talk about dating? Its good advice...stick to it. And get ready to go on a mission because you will be on your way to the MTC pronto. I thought about all of you during this conference. I feel blessed to have the family that I have. I was so glad when Elder Holland was talking about what happened to those three ladies that he met in the airport that our family is not like that.

Ok so this week...we set a baptismal date with a kid named Ceferino. Hes 20 years old and really solid. But we can see that Satan does NOT want people to make this covenant with God. Immediately after he accepted to be baptized...his mom started joking about how we dont eat meat or drink coffee. Ay ay ay. But hes doing great.

We also set a date with an Hermana named Seferina (no relation to Ceferino) and her four kids. We are really hoping that she can progress. Shes having some difficulties with these two men that want to move into her house but we taught her the law of chastity and we are praying that all goes well.

This change is still going quick. There is never enough time. Its really hard work too. That makes it go even faster. I dont know how we already are in April!

Well family...the church is true. Really. Its true. Thomas S. Monson is Gods chosen prophet on the earth today. I have no doubt that we are going to be together forever. Everything that we go through in this life makes us stronger. The strength I have received from making it through the loss of a brother has helped me a lot...but we havent lost him have we? Hes waiting for us on the other side. Mom did you love that story about how that kid opened his mission call a week before his brother died. -called to serve on both sides of the veil- i thought it was great. I know God lives. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Joseph Smith saw Him and the Father in the sacred grove. The Book of Mormon is true. And its awesome. I love you all more than youll ever know. I am so glad i am on a mission right now! It is the best decision i have ever made in my life! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Tanner

ps yeah dad i got the picture and i could NOT find waldo!

Hey Grammy and Grandpa!

I absolutely loved conference. Before it started we were all watching the timer like it was new years haha. It was amazing. Thats great that Matt headed off to Brazil! I cant believe hes on his mission already. Yikes. Everything is great in El Empalme. The people, the food (yes i am getting a gut), and the faith. I love the people. It is crazy to think that i have over three months here. It feels like i got here yesterday!

The church is great. We had 73 people come last sunday (a step up from the 28 that showed up the first sunday of my second change). i am still trying to figure out how to be a better missionary. Gotta do it quick because the mission flies by. But one thing that my MTC teacher told us is that you never -make it- as a missionary. You can always improve.

Thanks for the email i love you a lot! The church is true God loves us!

Mucho amor,
Elder Tanner