Transfer 1. Week 6.

Wow, I can't believe this is the last week of the transfer and that Elder Torres is going home next week! Man, that is just crazy. It feels like I have only been in Kamas for just a week!

Shout Out

First off, I would like to address Elder Clouse's email: Holy Cow, that was hilarious, hahah. That makes me feel better about some of my experience at Babbitt Motor Werks.

Baptisms

Hmm, so what to say about this week... Well, to tell the truth, this week was just one of those weeks in the field where nothing really happened out of the regular. We have just been working and teaching and doing the best we can.  This week is going to be pretty intense if everything goes according to plan, so we will see. [So and So] ended up not getting baptized because he wanted to wait another week so he could have everybody that he wanted at the service, so that means this week we should go up 9 baptisms for the transfer--if everything follows through. I'm really hoping and praying that God will fend Satan of  so that the people will follow through with these ever so important things! So next week I'll let you know how how that goes.

Visas

I haven't heard anything about my Visa yet, but today we are taking Elder Clark to meet the consolate so he can get his. So after he leaves, about half my MTC district will be in Mexico. Man, it's crazy! So apparently the way the Visas work is they are passed through all of the states and every state has to stamp the Visa fo us to be allowed in to Mexico. I'm thinking we should upgrade the plan. But, I'm just really doing the best that I can to learn what I need to learn. There are so many little things that I need to learn, and it just gets frustrating. But it must be done. 

Transfers

We have transfers next week, and it's going to be interesting to see what happens since it's going to change for us with Elder Torres leaving.  I really hope I don't get put back into the Salt Lake Valley. I just wanna stay in Kamas or Park City.  Ohh, and for the record, the address you have for me is the Mission Office Address, so anything you send goes to the mission office, then it goes into a bin for the Kamas Area. We get it at district meetings or when we are allowed to go to the office ( just in case anyone was wondering).

Language Training 

We had a language training meeting last Wednesday. It was really neat to see people from my original district. Everyone seems to be doing well, but it seems like I get to speak the most Spanish out of everybody.  

But things are good here. I'm just so tired, but doing what I can to learn what I need to! I love you all a thanks so much for everything! Take Care!

Transfer 1. Week 5

Wow! I cant believe I'm closing in on my first transfer. I cant believe I have been out as long as I have.  Either Mtc time goes by really, really slow, or field time goes by really, really fast--or it's both. I can't make up my mind! 

Anyways, things are good out hear in good 'ole Kamas Stake.  I can't believe half my family has been in the same city as me all week without even offering to buy dinner!*For the record, Oakley is part of our area, and we spent a lot of time there this week. We drive by the horse arena all the time, haha! Man that's crazy!

Baptisms

So, this week we are preparing for the baptism of [so and so], his son was baptized before I got here, and ever since, his dad has wanted to. So cross your fingers for everything to work out. We haven't been able to meet with him for a while, so I'm a little nervous. But I think things will work out.  We are still teaching [so and so]. I don't know if I have told you about [her]. She is a lady that we started teaching before I got here.  She was involved in a car accident 2 months ago and pretty much lost all ability to move because of injury. But now she is walking around the house with a walker and almost walking down the street to the church--power of the priesthood! She is planned to be baptized the 21st, and now we have begun teaching her kids and they are scheduled to join her in the font! It's going to be a big few weeks if things work out! But those are our investigators that are moving along the most. We have a good size teaching pool. We always have room for more, but we are teaching a good number of people who are progressing at the level that they need.

Story Time 
OK, story time now! So we were out in Oakley Friday or Thursday this week hitting up some part-member families and less-active families (by the way, I think Oakley by the mountains is the best part of the valley) and we were told by a member that down some dirt road there are some houses we could hit.  So, we parked the car at the head of the road and started walking (I think it was a mile at the minimum). It was overcast (it's rainy time here). We were just walking along the road and we eventually got to a point where we could either turn right or left (being a greeny, I chose left [mostly because I was really interested in seeing where the road leads to]). So as we are going, the trees ended up getting pretty dense, and you never would have guessed we were in the Salt Lake City South Mission based on what it looked like. We even saw a few deer.  So we were walking along--it's probably been like 30minutes--and we finally get to some house after wondering where the heck we were going (we almost felt pretty lost). So we get to the house and it's probably one of the most redneck houses I have ever seen (you can tell someone was hiding from the world). It even had solar ,so no connection to the world at all. We thought about knocking on the door, but we were too afraid because they could have done something to us out there, and nobody ever would have known, ha! But it's a nice walk anyway. But then it started to pour the sky out! Once we turned around it just rained like it was nobody's business! I felt like I was getting a demo of Mexico! But it was all good. I got some cool pics out of it!

Logistics

Which brings up a new subject: I need you to send my memory card back before I can send my 1st Transfer home. I don't have a ton of pics, but there are some that I'm sure you'll wanna see.  But all in all, this was a regular week. I'm just learning as much as I can. There is soooooo much I have to learn and it's gong to take time, but it will be worth it I'm sure! And yes Dad, I have had the Oakley Double cheese burger (it's definitely the best, and the chocolate malts are great. I still don't think it's quite as good as chee burger chee burger). Speaking of chee burger chee burger does anyone know how Tyler Koko is doing? It seems like I haven't heard form him in months. And how is Fonzi doing?

Spanish 
SO everyone asks about my Spanish, so here is my answer to all the inquiries: most of our lessons are Spanish. I'd say like 80-90%, so my Spanish is getting worked. I'm trying to learn at least 10 words a day with flashcards. I practice lots of conjugating and I'm just starting to study grammar again. I don't get to have language study every day throughout the week just because of variable things.  But things are good here. 

Thanks for all the encouragement and love! Take care and stay strong!

Love Elder Tanner Nelson

*Disclaimer: Dad and Sophie competed in a cutting competition in Oakley, UT where Tanner is currently serving. 

I dont know what the heck I'm doing!

We are on week 4 of the transfer. That means I have been here for almost a month! How crazy is that?! Elder Torres goes home in 23 days, which is sad. Man, time is flying by soo fast! But I still can't even fathom being in Elder Torres's shoes! That's just nonsense. But this has been a good week.

Hit the Ground Running

I have been out a month but you wouldn't think so, haha.  Elder Hernandez had to spend a lot of this week down in Salt Lake City for SOE training so that just left me, Elder Torres, and Elder Clark here in Kamas I don't know what the heck I'm doing!alley. I've spent a lot of the time being senior companions with Elder Clark and sometimes a member.  I thought there was supposed to be some kind of grace period when you go on your mission, but freak, I'm getting sent out basically by myself to teach and find people. I have only been in the field a month! I don't know what the heck I'm doing! BUT, it's OK. Actually, I liked it because it pushes me to learn faster; and when you have to speak Spanish you can speak Spanish--enough said! It may not be pretty, but you get your point across. Man, I'm so glad I took Elder Ferrin's advice and worked my [buns] off in the MTC. All those long hours are paying off!

Baptisms and Temptations

This week, a man named [so and so] and his wife [so and so] got married and baptized on the same day.  They are a family Elder Hernandez has been working with for a while now. The Spirit was really strong at the baptism. It was really neat to see this family take eternal steps together. I must admit, this week I was really being tempted with the Visa-waiter attitude: it just feels like nobody in the mission really cares about what I do because I could leave any week, and I'm just here. I have been waiting 8 months to go to Mexico. I guess I just really want to get started in Mexico.  But I'm here, so I need to learn what I can while I'm here, and appreciate that the people here can speak some Spanglish.

Teaching in Rainstorms

It has been raining a lot here. Yesterday, me and Elder Clark were around walking and it just started pouring, then haling! We were absolutely soaked before we walked 10 feet. I loved it. It almost felt like swimming! It's a good thing we were almost at the dinner appointment. My teaching is coming along. I'm really working on having good scriptures to use when I teach. I really wish I could teach and communicate in Spanish the way i do in English, but the lord gives us trials to humble us.  But, it's good here. I found another good burger joint in a pharmacy. Man, this place is soo good! I'm definitely coming back someday.

I haven't heard anything on the visa, so I'm just gonna keep pluggin' away here in Kamas. I love you all and thank you for everything! Take care!

Every Member a Missionary

You Can Be a Missionary, Too

Man, what a depressing thought it is that I have only 21 months left. I’m getting closer and closer to figuring things out, and the closer I am to figuring things out the less time I have to practice them. But then again, why does it just have to be these two years that I am a servant of God? Why is it said that these are the only years that we shine? Something I didn’t like about the MTC was everybody always said that this is the only time to be a missionary, but I say that’s apostate. Sure, these two years of my life are unique and exciting, but this isn’t the only time in my life to be a missionary. In fact, the members are what keep the missionary work alive. It’s you guys who give us referrals (supposed to). You are the ones that have lived in the area forever. It’s your job to get to know your neighbors and be-friend people.  So, I guess what I’m saying is, serve your mission! President Hinckley said that every member is a missionary. You don’t have to have a black badge to be a missionary: study your scriptures and pray for strength and courage, and the ability to see and act on missionary opportunities. The blessings are limitless for us and the person—so get to work! 

Workin' Hard & Pioneer Week

So this week we had the Baptism of [member]. She was someone who was being taught before I came here, and we pretty much have a baptism planned for the next 5 weeks.  Like I said, Elder Torres and Elder Hernandez are great elders! I’m with Elder Clark again which is [good].  But another great week here in the beautiful Kamas Valley.  Ha, I gotta admit there was some trunky-ness in us all because there was their pioneer day celebration all week long so they have been doing rodeos all week and we walked by it a million times ha but no worries it’s all good.  Saturday night they had a demolition car derby. Man, I wish I could have seen that, but I’m pretty set on coming back to Kamas for Pioneer Week in a few years. It looks soo much fun, and its gotta be great camping here! Ohh, and we went by one of the best burger joints I have ever been too. It's called Oakley Polar King. Holy [cow]! This place was all-around good! I’m officially hooked.

Snake?!

Because of the festivities, not many people were home and that was kind of a bummer, but we know how to always laugh and have fun and it really does help soo soo much. I almost caught a snake the other day. I gotta admit it, it startled me at first because I haven’t seen one in so long, hahah. That made the day pretty funny. But we are teaching a good crowd, there are tons of people on date, and the Lord is sharing his tender mercies with us. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of it!

I love you all and thank you so much for everything! Your # 1!!