May 16 2016

Because of the fire up north in Fort MacMurry, we had a mission fast. We fasted for those who lost their homes, for those fighting the fires, and for rain. Much needed rain. They reported that the fire was not acting naturally, meaning that the fire was not behaving like any other naturally caused fire. We have a less active member in the ward, whose son fights fires for a living. He said that no man is going to put out this fire. Only a higher power is going to put this out. 

This fire is big, 200+ feet high, jumping rivers and roads. Some houses and the LDS Church building were left untouched. It was recorded that only 30% of the town was destroyed, which is a small number looking at how big the fire was and how much it could have done. Elder Spackman (area 70 friend from Calgary) issued a province wide fast for rain. We fasted, and lots and lots of other people fasted. Fort MacMurry received rain! It rained there and it also rained here! 

When we gather in fasting and prayer the Lord hears and is quick to act. Just like the summer of 2009 or 10 or 11 or 8. We had a stake fast because of the lack of water received.  We fasted and rain came down. 

We had another zone conference last week in Cardston. The whole south part of the mission was there, so there was about 100 missionaries there. We all went to the temple. When we came out of the temple it was snowing! It was snowing hard, huge falling flakes of snow and it was sticking! Cardston ended up getting about a foot and half of snow in May. 

After the temple they fed us some Costa Vida salad which was so so good! At the zone conference we had a discussion about the atonement and a testimony meeting. That was very nice. 

President Miles said that we will have another opportunity to have another apostle come to the mission and the whole mission will be able to go! He would not tell us which apostle is coming, but he did say that if there was any apostle coming, this is the one the you want! We just had an apostle come to this mission 2 months ago. I guess they just can’t get enough of me. They just all want to meet me and shake my hand! Hahaha. But that won't be happening till June 11. 

The only thing that we can think of to explain why this is happening again so soon, (besides them wanting to meet me), is maybe we will be getting iPads. They will roll them out after I get home! That’s how it works. It would have been so much easier and better to teach with an iPad than with books, and USB. 

We shall see what happens......  

The next day I went on exchanges with a homie in the district. We had so much fun. We are going home together. We found a new investigator for their area. That was really cool. We knocked on this door that we got as a referral. His name is Chris. Chris's parents were there working on his house that he rented to some people. They did not take good care of his house. When we knocked on the door his parents were kind of stand offish a bit. They were probably taken back when they saw two good looking men on the doorstep. Hahahha. But we were able to get a hold of their son and 20 minutes later we helped him move some big things into his house. Chris's parents were so happy and they opened up more. They told Chris in front of us before we left, that he needs to listen to us. He needs to join the Church. He needs it in his life, and it will change him for the better. Chris said “I know.” They are from Hong Kong. 

After we helped him we found a park and talked to him and helped him more. He has met with missionaries before and almost got baptized, but he had a pending charge, so he was not able to get baptized then. 

Here it was a really slow week. We were not able to meet with as many people as we wanted. Numbers were low, but hopefully that will change this week. 

Tanner, keep an eye out for an Elder Drew Rollins in your mission. He speaks Spanish and he just might be training you. 

Thank you for the emails and the prayers.  

May 2 2016

Greetings! 

It is hard to believe that it is May. May is one of my favorite months because its spring, the weather is nice, and also because May is the easiest month to spell! ;) And Mothers Day is this Sunday! We will be Skype-ing on Sunday at the members we live with. They have Skype so this time we will give Skype a go, instead of Facetime. Also their internet is pretty good so I will be able to see all of your smiling face. You may, however, not be able to see mine because of the server....   Naaa I’m just kidding. Everything should work out. We have church at 09:30 so expect a call at abouts 14:00. I really, really am looking froward to seeing all of you! If more family is able to be there then the better. This is my last time calling home! I think that is crazy to think about, because I will see all of you 2 months later. 

So last week I got my trunky call from the mission office. That was weird. They asked me what airport I want to fly to. I told them to fly me to Hawaii and then to Florida and then Salt Lake City. They thought that was funny and that it most likely will not happen. So they are going to send me to SLC. They also asked who my stake president was, I did not know so I had them call you. What number did they call? I thought it would be funny to have an Alberta number call home like it surprised you when Bishop Galbrath called last year. 

This week we were able to help with some service for a non-member. We helped her move. We provided the manpower, and the truck and the trailer. We got there before all of that and we sat and visited for a while. I asked her what she was doing tomorrow at 9:30 (this being Saturday) she replied, “Nothing. Why?” I told her that she should come to church with us. She said that was a good idea, 

and that she would come... Next day Sacrament starts and she does not show up, for the whole time. I will give her the benefit of a doubt that she was too tired because of the move..... The member that we live with works at the hospital. She says that she knows her and that she is a regular at the hospital. I guess I'm not the only crazy one in Claresholm.. haha 

We also helped lay sod. That’s fun. It is also an art. The members we helped lay sod have 2 German shepherd’s. They love me!  One of them is about to have puppies. I will be bringing one of them home with me as a Canadian present for Harvey. 

We had a lesson with Todd & Candence... they basically dropped us. They are happy where they are, and a living prophet is kind of a struggle for them. But Todd has expressed that he wants to quit smoking. We have just the thing for that: The 15 step stop smoking program. He said that he is willing to give it a try. We will be meeting with him on Wednesday. Tanner, this smoking program will be a huge help for you on your mission. I’m sure your mission already has it but I will give you a copy anyways. 

We met with Grant last week. He is doing well. We were not able to meet with Donna. We called her but she was not home. We will call again... 

Yesterday I got a taste of what you, Mom and Dad will be going through when you teach primary. We were asked to teach the 7 year olds. All I’m going to say is that I’m glad that my investigators do not act like they do. 

Well, I'll see you on Sunday! 

Love you all  

April 25 2016

When I sent that box down I was not sending all of that just for Callie. There are some things in there that are for you boys. I just did not write your names on them. I want to send another box of other Canadian things for you like Canada shirts. I don’t really like the normal white ones from the MTC. Whenever we get to a Wal-Mart I will see if I can get some. We do not have a Wal-Mart here.

I was not transferred. I’m staying in Claresholm. 

We had a lesson with one of our investigators, Donna. We taught her at her house, with a member. That was a really good lesson. Having a member with you makes all of the difference. That is why as a mission we try to have 100% member present lessons. We also had another lesson with Donna the same week, but we taught it at the Church, which is a wonderful teaching environment. 

This week the sisters in an area found someone to teach. He really wants to change and he knows how to change. Only thing is, it was hard for him and the thing that he was dealing with is something that no one wants to deal with. Anyway we were able to help with that. We got a transfer call that same night. Elder Panter is gone. He’s in Lethbridge West. My new comp is Elder Tanner Smith, from Roy, Utah. You probably already saw him in that text that our ward mission leader sent you.

We had two choir concerts this week. One on Thursday, one on Sunday. Both of them were at the Catholic Church. Elder Panter was able to get special permission from President to come back to this area after transfers and sing in the choir, our bishop called President and asked him, and Bishop drove to Lethbridge to pick him up.

The concert went really well! I will be getting a CD of it so you will be able to hear the songs. On the Sunday concert, President and Sister Miles came to it. He was planning on coming, so a few days before the concert I texted him and asked if we should get tickets. He said that there may not be enough time because of the meetings after stake conference. He called us before stake conference and he said that he was coming. Our ward mission leader already had tickets for him. That was really cool to see him there, even though I was the only missionary there. We also have about 3-4 members in the choir as well. I still can't sing..  

It was cool to see President there.   

   
We had stake conference last week. I went to both Saturday and Sunday. It was really, really good. President spoke, and also Elder Spackman. He is an area 70, I’m pretty good friends with him. I've known him from past areas and I worked with his brother who is a Stake President. Because I’m good friends with Elder Spackman maybe he will be able to get me good seats for the Priesthood session in October. haha 

Some of the things that I liked that were talked about in stake conference are:

To have family scripture study, family prayer, personal scripture study, and personal prayer. 

-Think of an hourglass, the top part is Heaven, the bottom is Earth, the center of the hourglass is the Temple. The Temple is the only thing that will connect heaven and earth. Temple attendance is very important. Also family history. They talked a lot about that, which is true! There are a lot of people in the world that sacrifice so so much to go to the temple. Here all we do is drive 5-40 minutes to go to the temple. 

This was also mentioned in Stake Conference. There was a study done showing it takes the average person 7 times to be invited to hear about the gospel. When we invite and are turned down with a no, that’s okay. We cannot always be number 7. We could have been number 4 or 5 or 6 or even number 1. The more we invite, the better of an opportunity and chance there is that they will say yes to the next person.  

We have been getting some rain, which is really good. We need rain here. The farmers need it too. 

I love you all !