Elder Tanner's letters 1/5/2014

Elder Tanner's letter 1/5/2014

This week has been a great week! We had a great New Year's Day. It was Elder Nanney's birthday, an elder from the Heritage ward who is in our complex, on the 31st so we had a surprise party for him and celebrated with him for a while which was fun.

Elder Jacobson and I have had a really good past few weeks! We found 2 new investigators so that makes 6 in 2 weeks which we are really excited for. We did a LOT of tracting. All of our investigators all said to meet with them the week after new year so we had no one to see so we tracted our shoes off. We tracted about 30 to 40 hours in two weeks minimum, but things are going to really pick up for us this week as we visit all of our old investigators and new.

Elder Jacobson and I really have bonded well this past week. My perception of him has finally changed from " my trainee" to my companion and I have seen him as an equal to me. When I got the call to train, with out meaning to, I perceived him as just a lump of meat who didn't know anything about missionary work and assumed I knew the right way. 

I think I thought that way because that's how I came out. I felt like a didn't know a single thing and the only thing I knew how to do out here was keep myself alive. So I think I felt like I needed to help him out this grand amount like my trainer did me, but he has his own potential and his own knowledge. So I had a really humbling change of heart this week.

The work is going well! Like I said we haven't been able to make much progress with our investigators this week which is a shame, but we are still optimistic about them all and really hope to baptize soon! However, we did have one woman who we have been trying and trying and trying to see for months and FINALLY she answered and seemed really down, and she told us she recently had a death in the family and wanted us to come back and teach her.. exciting but sad :( I know the lord has a plan for each of his children and we can have confidence  in that.  

Thank you for all your prayers and support with your letters they really help and they are so spiritually refreshing!

Love, Elder Judy

Dear momma

Thank you so much for those scriptures and thoughts! I wrote them down for Kenny.

 I hold those scriptures you just said very close to my heart. I remember when I had finished the book of Mormon on my mission for the first time and I prayed for a witness that it is true.. I and It didn't really come as strong as I wanted. I felt the spirit.. but not in the way that I thought. so I decided to read d&c for my next book to study, then I read those verses and I remembered the first time I received a witness it was true and how powerful it was and then I felt the spirit so strongly then! It was.. something else.

I  have DEFINITELY felt your prayers this week prepare my heart for a big change I need to make within myself. Elder Jacbson and I had a heart to heart last night, and he was asking me questions about the way I did certain things.  I realized that in my prayers to develop Christ like love, that was the answer I was looking for.  I know your prayers helped my heart accept it and try to change. Thank you.

I actually have used vs 33 through 36 MANY times when talking to members and trying motivate them to do missionary wrk!

Love you so much thank you for your prayers and support.. I really couldn't do this with out them.

Love always, Elder Tanner Judy

 oh ps we weren't able to see Kenny this week :( he was busy

Dear Elder Tanner,
You have been in my prayers especially this week.   I hope you have the guidance you need with your new investigators. You have many challenges.

Something that has helped me when I am facing discouragements and challenges is to read my journal when I have received answers to my prayers.  Our Heavenly Father is with us.  We just need to remember.  

In Doctrine and Covenants, I love these scriptures.
6:22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
6:23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?

I have many experiences recorded in my journal of times when I have received sweet feelings of peace and answers to my prayers. I was thinking that in the case of Kenny, maybe he needs to be reminded of the spirit that was there the first time he came to church.  Heavenly Father teaches us through the spirit and we need to remember.

I love the whole section 6.
D&C 6:8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.
9 Say nothing but repentance unto this generation; keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.
34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

I know that when we are about the Lord's work, we are so blessed.

I love you so much and pray for you all the time. 

I will send another email with updates:)

Love
Momma