Dear Family,

I'm sorry I don't have alot of time today to write, but I want to thank you all for your prayers in support of Chay Yay. He got baptized yesterday!!! He is such a great person, and will be so great for this branch here in Thailand. We met with him on Saturday, and he was facing alot of opposition from his mother. I think it's exactly what mom had said in her email - she just doesn't see the big picture. We taught him on Saturday and he told us that normally his mom gives him money to support him at school, but since he told her he was going to get baptized, she didn't approve and she stopped giving him money. He showed us his wallet which only had 20 baht, which is equivalent to about 66 cents. A member gave him some money so he could go home and come back to the church in the morning to get baptized. But in spite of his mother and no money, he was able to get baptized yesterday and cleansed from all his sins. If that isn't faith, I don't know what is haha. He is just such a great person. 

We are seeing miracles everywhere. The Lord is blessing us so much and I really truly believe it's because of the prayers of those at home, largely. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!! You don't know how much you are helping this work!

I had a funny thing happen this week. I was inviting at a park here in Sakon and alot of people are active and usually exercising at this park. One of the activities that they provide at this park is Salsa Dancing lessons or something like that, but only old women and old men usually participate. We were inviting close to that area was, and I was talking to some grandmas who were sitting around that area. All of the sudden I look up and see this 50ish year old lady say, "HEY! Come here and dance with me..." and pointed at the ground next to her. I had no idea what to say, and I was kinda in shock. So I just raised my baptism sign and said, "Do you want to get baptized?". Needless to say she wasn't interested in baptism haha.     

Thanks again for all your prayers and support and keep it coming. I found out that one of my friends from OHS got her mission call to Thailand as well! Her name is Tessa Herrmann and she was on Student Council with me. She'll be joining the ranks here in Thailand in a few short months:)

Love you all!

Elder Tanner

Hello family and swollen knee Hayley;)

I'm super happy that everything turned out okay with that situation! That had to be a crazy experience, Hayley! I'm super glad you are okay. Maybe we should invest in that "Life Alert" buttom. "Help, I have fallen and I can't get up";) haha that would have been a perfect time to use it. haha just kidding, but in all seriousness I'm glad you are doing well. Keep me updated with the situation.

I'm also glad to hear that the dinner with the lady from Home Depot went great as well! I have a feeling that you guys will be of great benefit to her on her way back to Jesus Christ. I'm so glad you guys are catching the Spirit! We have been directed when dealing with Less actives that we could provide them with an opportunity to do service and feel of the Savior's love through that as well to help them come back.. Maybe this lady could come to a ward service activity as well to help her come unto Christ. 

This last month was amazing! We had 165 people get baptized in the Great Kingdom of Thailand! The Lord poured out his blessings upon us and now it's time for us to beat that number in the month of February. We are receiving more instruction from the Zone Leaders about it tomorrow. I absolutely love working for the Lord and for his servants like Pres. Senior. We have been working with a new investigator named Chay Yay (means Big Brother) who is about 25 years old and who has studied many religions. He has read parts of the Koran and other holy scripture, but when we showed him the Book of Mormon, it completely changed him. We shared with him about Enos, his praying and being forgiven for his sins. He told us the next day when he came to church that he went home and read that whole chapter and he said he has never felt a feeling like he got when he read it. After that, this last week, he has read everyday and can't put it down. He says when he reads normal books, he doesn't get the feeling like when he reads the Book of Mormon. He says that although he doesn't understand all of his feelings, he wants to be baptized because for the first time, he knows how he can change his life for the better. That's the power of the Book of Mormon. It's so true! There couldn't possibly be any book like that, not made by the Hand of God, that could draw Chay Yay in like that. Please pray for him, he has a mother who does not approve of his decision to get baptized, but he has said that he knows it's true, and he must do it. This next week will try him alot, but we have faith that he will overcome it all, because God is on his side:)

This past weekend was Chinese New Year! I'll be sending you guys pictures, it's pretty crazy:)

Love you all - Hayley, have a speedy recovery!

Elder Tanner