Hello Hello Fam:)

Before I start, I wanted to share what my companion, Elder Love in the MTC emailed me this week. Here is his email:

"Hey!

So Elder Adams and I were home teaching last week and talking to this members family about their history in the church. And guess what- he was baptized about thirty years ago by an Elder Tanner! And soon as he said that I started questioning him and explained that we had been companions and your dad had served here. Anyways after some discussion and description we determined that is was probably your dad who baptized him! His name is Brother Bunsong (บุญส่ง) just though you and your dad would like to know. He's raised a family in the church, been in the bishopric and is a fantastic help with teaching. 

Hope all is well with you good friend! you still in the north zone?

Elder Love"

Haha isn't that incredible! Yet another person who knows my papa!:) And the most beautiful part is that he has stayed a member all his life and has brought his family and others to the gospel as well. Dad, you made it possible, you helped it all happen. I wish I were there to give you a hug, because you deserve one! I hope I will be able to change people's lives like you did back in the day:)

Thank you all for writing me. I love love LOVE you emails. I found out that I possibly could be getting my package sooner than December, I'll let you know how that goes. I am so glad to hear that those pills are still working, Mom. I will continue to pray for you, I have faith that it will continue to work. That's such incredible news! How is grandpa doing? Is he able to move around now? I hope all is well.

Today started off by having the opportunity to go fishing with out Branch President haha. As odd as it seems we went fishing on this little river out in the boonies. We fished from the banks with these makeshift fishing poles and we didn't catch anything, but it will be a memory for sure haha. 

Yesterday I got to go give sacrament to an older American guy living with his Thai wife here in Thailand. I went with some other members and am really the only one who can speak english so we had a way good chat, me and the older man. His name is Brother Wally and has been a member of our church for about half his life, but he hadn't always been active. I chatted with him and found out that he is from Alaska and we chatted about that. He then began telling me about his sweet wife who just started Kimo therapy for cancer that she has. It absolutely broke my heart when he told me this and then I was able to see her, and she wasn't looking so good either. She doesn't have any hair and is more of a grayish tone of skin. A more sickly color. It was way hard for me. We asked if we could give her a blessing and she said, "But I don't have any hair, does that matter?" It broke my heart in two. I told her it didn't matter. As we laid our hands upon this sweet woman's hairless head, you could feel our Heavenly Father's love for her. He was aware of her pain and suffering as well as her husband's pain having to watch her go through it. At first I thought, how did Heavenly Father let this happen to such a sweet Thai lady? But I soon realized that Heveanly Father doesn't allow things to happen to us for our own pain and suffering. He always it to happen so that it will refine us and help us come further into his loving arms. Trials help us remember Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And if we endure this life well, we will be free from trouble and torment in the next life. I have come to learn that Jesus Christ is there when you don't think anyone else will understand. He understands when we don't think anyone else will. I promise you this, and this was made manifest through this sweet lady. I'm not sure if we will have time to go back and visit her or see the outcome of the Kimo, but if you could pray for Sister Macpherson. I think that she would greatly be blessed by it. That memory will stay in my head for eternity.

Thank you all for your love and prayers, especially in this new area. It's definitely been a challenge, but I am learning from it and I know it will help me in the end.

Love you lotsssss!

Elder Tanner