Sierra Mist with a straw

February 11, 2013

Dear Family,

I am writing a day late because yesterday I had the flu really bad!  I called the mission doctor and he told me to go to the emergency room because he thought it was my appendix.  I just called him to see if I could do anything to feel better because I couldn't even lie down without feeling terrible.  It was weird, I went to bed feeling totally fine and then at 3 in the morning I woke up and felt terrible so I went and tried to throw up.  It finally came.  I felt better so I went back to bed then I just kept waking up every 30 to 40 min and threw up.   After calling the doctor I ended up going to the emergency room.  After hours in the emergency room they finally ruled that it wasn’t my appendix but that it was just a really bad flu bug.  I thought I was dying but after having an IV and some anti-nausea medicine I started feeling a little better.  Today I am feeling pretty good but I haven't eaten anything for 2 days so I am really weak.  

After getting home from the hospital a member brought me a Sierra Mist with a straw because I knew if you were here mom you would have given me a Sierra Mist with a straw, haha.  So, I had the member get that for me. 

We had a pretty good week last week.  On Tuesday, we did an exchange with some of the elders in Chambersburg.  I went to Green Castle which is a new area that has opened since I was in Chambersburg.  It covers most of the area that I was over when I was there.  Elder Spohn went with the missionaries that are serving in the area where Elders Leavitt and Ika used to serve.  It was a good exchange.  The best part for me was when we had a lesson with one of the investigators that I had started teaching months ago.  You might remember him.  His name is Allen and his wife is a member.  So, I guess he has been struggling with a few things about Church but we were able to have a really good lesson.  He told us that he stopped saying his morning and night prayers and it sort of tanked from there.  I testify of that.  When we stop doing the simple things like praying and reading the scriptures we become more prone to fall into our old habits and/or lose sight of what is important.  We need to stay close to our Father in Heaven through simple prayer and scripture study.  

On Friday, we had zone training and President Topham was there.  President taught our Zone about becoming a “Preach My Gospel” missionary, which was really powerful and we had some good role plays.  It was the same training that he gave us in ZLC.  Sister Topham wasn't there so President was a little bolder in rebuking the missionaries.  He isn't taking any more crap from missionaries.  He is tired of all the silly stuff that missionaries do.  He is starting to become like Elder Holland.  I like it a lot though and I am excited to see what kind of changes he will make to help us become the best missionaries we can be.  

After his training we had lunch and then Elder Spohn and I taught on the use of area books and how we can use them as a more effective tool in missionary work.  It went the best I think it could have and we were able to show it on President Topham’s projector so I didn't have to write it down on the board.  

On Saturday, we had a lesson with a girl named Jesi.  Jesi used to meet with the missionaries about 6 months ago and was getting really close to baptism but some things came up in her life and she fell out of touch with the missionaries.  We met her when we were emailing at the library one Monday and she said that she wants to get back into everything.  Saturday was our first lesson with her and it went really well.  She remembers a lot so most of it was review.  We ended by inviting her to come to church.  

On Sunday, Jesi came to the singles ward and loved being back.  At the end of church we invited her to be baptized on March 9.  She said yes, and now we will be preparing her to be baptized.  We are both excited for her and she is really excited as well.  Towards the end of the night we had a lesson with Pablo!  Pablo is the nicest guy.  He is my favorite Spanish speaking investigator I have ever taught.  He understands the importance of it and he has great questions.  He is Catholic but I think he sees some problems with the Catholic Church.  We have been talking about baptism and he is really intrigued with baptism by full immersion.  He said he would be baptized if he finds it is true so that was exciting to hear.  

The weather is really nice today and but it has been pretty cold but nothing too bad.  It hardly snows here.  

I love you family!!

Tanner

PS.  I love you mom.  I wish you were here to take care of me.