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!

"Members are the most important source for finding investigators."

Well, another week in the field. Transfers are on Wednesday, so we will see what ends up happening for those.  I'm kinda hoping our companionship is changed from 3 greenies and one trainer to something a little more balanced.

So, this week me and Elder Stradling have been working on getting the members more involved.  I can't believe how much missionaries really depend on members for missionary work, so always remember that members are the most important source for finding investigators. Us missionaries are constantly changing around areas, so we don't know the area, and we dont know the people. I challenge everybody to get to know your neighbors so that when the missionaries come to your door and ask for referrals, you can give them something!

So me and Elder Stradling went around to the auxiliary leaders in the Oquirr Point Stake and shared a scripture with them and bore our testimonies about missionary work and how it blesses us and our families.  Then we asked them how we can help them and for referrals and then we left with a prayer.  We gave them pass along cards with D&C 18:10, 13-17 and Matthew 14:5 or something like that with our number on it.  So just remember the members are key in areas.

We went on splits sometime through out the week. Me and Elder Stradling went and stayed with Elder Jones, one of our zone leaders.  Their landlords are so messy, ha, it was driving me crazy. The whole time I was in their house I was cleaning. Thanks for that trait mom. I'm sure my wife will appreciate it, hahah! Elder Jones is English speaking and so we went around to English people, and boy, am I glad to get to work with Spanish people because English people [aren't so friendly]. That was the first time a door had ever been slammed in my face. Everybody should learn to be more like Spanish people and Polynesian cultures. They are so nice about everything, and they are soo friendly. And their families are usually closer too. I'm already making mental notes of how I want things to be in my house that I will have some day.  I don't know if anyone else thinks about this while on the mission, but I think about my future family and home A LOT. I'm always taking mental notes. But we have found a lot of Spanish families in the Oquirr Stake and Oquirr Point Stake. Now we just need to turn them into investigators.

We had a lot of people plan to come to church but only one of them showed, so that puts about 5 people back on baptism appointments--so we will see how that goes. I have been praying really hard for the members to get more involved here. We really need that.

The Spanish is coming, really, I just have to work on my vocab. I have a small vocabulary, so that is what makes it hard. I think I'm fine with grammar. It's not perfect, but it's good enough for what I'm doing. It just comes with time.

So on the bike I now can bunny hop! On flat ground I can be going and get both wheels off the ground!! WOO Hoo. That took a lot of tries! And I got a decent wheely down, too. I only had to bail one time in the few weeks I have been in the field.  I'm so glad we get to ride bikes. A lot of the time the only reason I'm happy is because I get to ride a bike and mess around and just have fun. I guess it's sad to say, but being on a bike has made things better! haha, I love biking!


So, I have decided that I really want to read through the bible because so many people think us Mormons don't study the bible, so I decided I should have a testimony of the bible, too. Everybody should read Preach My Gospel. It's great stuff. I'm learning soo much from it.  [I get a little bugged] in my companionship when they don't do things according to PMG. [In the MTC that's what they told us to teach.] Man, I loved the MTC! But at least I get to cook now, woo hoo! Man, I love cooking! But ya, that's about all for this week. I think! I will work on getting a few hand written letters out!

Thanks for the love and the prayers. I pray that God blesses those that help his missionaries!  One more piece of advice: the best thing you can do for a missionary is give them food! Or money is good too, since none of us can stick to a budget! I'm exited to see what transfers bring, but no matter what, I'm just gonna keep on working anyways! Thanks for everything. I love you all! Have a great one! Hopefully I will have something exiting to share for next week! TTFN!

Transferred to the Salt Lake City South Mission

So, I just found out that we got transferred to the Salt Lake City South Mission until we get our visas! And we are leaving the MTC on Friday. This Friday! Ohh my goodness, I'm so exited, and yet I'm not ready for this! I'm supposed to be getting a phone call, and I will be able to call tonight. So mom, be ready for a phone call! I can't believe I'm leaving theMTC.  Ohh my freaking goodness! Ha, I'm leaving the MTC!

Im not ready to leave. I don't wanna leave yet. Ohh my goodness I'm soooo exited! This is more exiting than my mission call, I think! Btw, mom we got out travel plans, but with out visas they don't mean anything...  so we will see. I'll let you know on that!

I cant beleve im leaving the MTC! I have learned to love the MTC so much, and now I have to leave! I don't want to leave! I wonder how long I will  be in Salt Lake for? This is crazy! I'm soooo stoaked..

So fonzi left for the Phillipines this week! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE IS GONE.  I SEE CASEY COLE ALL THE TIME AND THAT NICE,WE TALK ALOT.

Since the provo temple is closed we got to help renovate it. It was sooo cool. We pulled carpet for 4 hours--it was intense. But it was cool. I love doing service in the temple. I'm definitely going through it once I get home to see the changes they are making and to say that I helped!

I can't believe I'm leaving! Mom, I haven't gotten your package yet because our district leader hasn't gotten the mail yet! Ohh goodneess I cant believe I'm leaving the MTC! But I'm soo stoaked for the real deal! Im glad to hear things at home are going great!

Sophia, way to be a troooper, you always have been! Jake, I haven't read all you emails yet, so sorry, ister adams thatks for the update, I heard in Jake's email about Krysten, so i just gotta say this: CALLED IT!!!!! And just remember all the planning will pay off!

Sorry this email doesn't say much. My mind is racing right now. I got some time left so I'll send one more off tonight so try and email me back before 4pm today! We can can talk about the phone call. Ohh goodness this is exciting!

I'm going to miss the MTC

So this is the week where we are supposed to hear about our visas and travel plans... wow... I thought that I was just going to get stuck in the first week of the MTC for the rest of my life, hahah. But it's possibly nearing the end.  I am really thinking that i am going to miss the MTC. 


So this week has been a same 'ole week at the mtc,  First weeks as a zone leader.  It's really wierd to be the oldest district here, and to be a zone leader on top of that.  Dad, i need you to type up and send me your lesson on the 5 classes of workers and more stuff on how to be a leader. That last letter you sent helped a lot, but i want to teach my elders about the classes of workers.  I hope you remember what I'm talking about. I dont remember all of it, which is why i want it.  


Elder Adams, I dont know why you didn't get last week's email. I guess my mom has gone into summer mode aka Nap time! HAhaha ohh man good times! umm so back to this week.  Yesterday me and elder ricks had an amazing T.A. we had a lesson plan and everything but we didnt follow it at all, the sp[irit was soo sstrong and wee taught accort=ding to it ha ot was crazy. mom thanks for the boat pic it was nice to see the face of atleast someone in our fam after 6 weeks, ut thenagain me and hanna look pretty similar.  


So today at the temple i met 2 people from temple. That was cool, and it was good to talk to people about home. Man i love mesa.  Umm im not sure what to say about this week cuz niothing super speciall happened. Me and elder ricks are really beding blesses when it comes to our progress with spanish i cant thank God enough for that. i think the most important thing for anyone to realize is that we arenothing and Every sucess we have is Because of God, so never stop praying and never stop reading the scriptures beacuse those are some of our most usfull tools that we ahve been given.  THis life is what we make it and were are hear nomatter what we do so we might as well make the best of it right?  


Thanks for everything. I love you all and you're the best! I inlcude you in my prayers, and I can feel yours. I pray for ways to show my love for you and how I can better serve you, so if there is ever anything I can do, please let me know! I need all the service opportunities I can get because service is really the only true way we can feel good about what we are doing, and about ourselves.  Sister Spencer, thanks for the newsletter. Elder Clouse, stay away form those ticks, I reccomend you carry a few bottles of riad, hahah. Elder Mills, thanks for some of your comments in your excerpt. They really helped give me some extra boost this week! 


You are all so great! until next time, this is all form Elder Nelson! 

Pictures

We got pictures! Check out Tanner in the MTC.

(captions, as written by Tanner, are below each picture)

Elder Nelson and Elder Adams. On the Tuesday before Tanner entered the MTC, he got to see Jake right before Elder Adams boarded his plane to Europe.

These are the Elders that left for Peru last week. Names read clockwise: Elder Ricks (great shirt), Elder Haderlie, me, Elder VanValkenburg, Elder Kay, and Elder Whiteside

District 13-A. Names read left to right: Elder Nelson, Elder Ferrin (Mexico City), Elder Haderlie (Lima, Peru), Elder Kay (Lima, Peru North), Elder Ricks, Elder Havili, Elder Llyons, Elder Ray, Elder Anderson, Elder Whiteside, Elder VanValkenburg, Elder Clark (Mexico City S.)

District 13-A nametags

This is my planner. I think this was last Thursday. I rise at 6:30 AM. Breakfast is from 7-7:30. Yellow is when we are in class. Lunch is at 11:30 AM. Blue is Personal Study Time. I usually read Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon. Red is Companion Study Time; this is usually the time when we set up our tutors. Green is missionary directed time--it's basically more time to study or to set up teaching appointments. Pink is Missionary Directed Language Time. That's when we have time to study the language. Dinner is at 4:30 PM (this killed me at first but I got used to it, and it's good for my metabolism).

This is me having fun in the resident hall.

"I can do anything!"

Have I told anyone that my goal is to eat a mango a day, or at least teach and eat a mango at the same time?

Jacob, Happy Birthday! I’m working on a hand-written letter for ya! (Meaning, I’m hoping to start it today!) I hope your 17th b-day is great. I know it’s gonna be a great year! Mom tells me you started a lawn mowing business. That’s great! Just make sure you work hard and have good quality work so that you can have customers that want more! I’ll work on getting that letter to ya!

Angel, I’m working on a response for ya, too! I’m glad graduation was great! And if you got any more than 36 minutes of sleep on graduation night, then you are doing it all wrong! Hahaha. Ohh good times!

 

Jake, your mission sounds crazy! I’m jealous that you get to meet mofia members! Daggum! I guess I’ll get over it when I’m eating a mango and teaching. Have I told anyone that my goal is to eat a mango a day hahah, or teach and eat a mango at the same time?Don’t worry, Ill send pictures of it, hahah!

So guess what? I leaned how to fold socks for the fist time today when I was in the temple helping out. Man, I feel so cool now that I finally know how to fold socks! Blessings of service at the temple haha!

Michelle, thanks for the Health package. I’m working on a response for you to. I have like, 3 epistles to write today. Daggum! There isn’t enough time fore anything anymore. I thought daylight savings time was supposed to make it so there was more daylight and time in the day, but I swear, all I do on p-days is wakeup, shower, play basketball, eat, and say nightly prayers. It feels like I was just emailing and doing laundry yesterday. Where does the time go?!

I can’t believe I’m closing in on the end of my MTC time!

So, I’m not a district leader anymore because it switches at the halfway point. I liked being district leader, but daggum, it feels good to only have to work on studying. There is so much studying to do here.

So, me and Elder Ricks have officially started teaching in 100% Spanish. Let me tell ya'll, the gift of tougngeus is as real as the voice you are using to read this email out loud to yourself! But I agree with Jake: speaking and understanding another language is crazy. But it’s not as crazy as understanding and reading the Book of Mormon in another language. I love it. I decided that my homecoming talk is going to be in Spanish because I have worked way to hard on Spanish to just speak English when I get home! I love Spanish; it’s such a cool language! And don’t worry, I’ll help anyone with Spanish when I get home.

So I’m really looking forward to the day when I’m this blonde-haired, blue- eyed guy in mesa that has a Mexican accent! Man, that’s going to be a funny day. And I give anyone permission to make fun of me for that, hahah. Especially if I accidently start talking in Spanish, because once I get to Mexico, the only time I think, speak or use English will be in my email home! But I’m so Excited for the challenge of the language. My mission pres said we get Mexican comps, so we have to learn the language, and I’m stoked for that!

Umm, things here are great. It has been great work. I’ve been studying a lot, and my allergies have slightly been buggin’ me—but there is nothing I can do now that I’m taking my the allergy pills (thanks for those, by the way, mom) Despite the allergies, I just keep workin’.

Last night at the devotional we had some guy from the 70 talk to us, and he talked about space and about how man really is nothing and how God really does care for each of us, and how we all have purpose and just all sorts off good stuff. I decided that it’s the best talk I have ever heard! But ya, great week and I cant believe its already p-day, daggum! If I think of anything else to say ill let y’all know when I get back on around 1 for laundry time. I love you all so much and I’m so grateful for your love and support. I want you to know it is all felt and it makes a world of difference!

The MTC Drop-off

After all the festivities at home, it was time for Tanner to become Elder Nelson. On Monday afternoon the Stake President came to our home to set Tanner apart, and then it was off to Provo! (with Mom, Dad and Katie)

We had a great last couple of days with Tanner before kinckin' him to the curve at the MTC. We had a great flight on Monday, Tanner, Mom and Dad had a nice day in Salt Lake on Tuesday, and on Tuesday night Katie joined the family for a tasty dinner at Carabas.

On Wednesday morning our original plan was to go for a walk up and down the Provo River Trail, but the weather did not permit. Instead, Mom, Tanner and Katie went grocery shopping where Tanner was able to get some last-minute snacks for the next 8 weeks. (As if the MTC doesn't have enough food :-) )

When it was time to say goodbye, Dad had all of us gather in the hotel room so he could share some final thoughts. (Tanner swears to his grave that he wasn't nervous to leave for the MTC, but we think otherwise). :-)

Then it was off to the MTC! Look...he's a missionary!

We'll see you in 2 years, Tan Man!