Monserrat!

Dear family and friends,

The first week in a new area! It´s always a challenge getting to know investigators, members, learning the streets and adresses and basically everything all over again! Even just the way of life of a new companion--favorite phrases, funny habits, etc.-- have to be learned again! I like it though.  My area is called Monserrat, it´s basically downtown Trujillo.  It´s by far the biggest area I´ve been in so far, and the nicest as well! The pensionista also volunteered to not give me rice (she knows North Americans by now!) so that´ll be a good little break haha!  My companion´s name is Elder Salazar, he´s from Lima, district Independencia.  He's a hard working, obedient missionary, so I'm super excited to work with him!  

There was an activity this week called "Capilla Abierta," or open chapel.  The public was invited to tour the church buildings, and the missionaries were really involved with the members in making it a success.  There were elders street contacting like crazy, others at a table getting everyone's name and address, while the sisters were assigned the stand-and-the-banners-and-teach position, along with many members.  The ward we did it for got about 25 referrals, and it was so fun to just go contact people in the street for a change! We don't do it very often here, weird as it sounds coming from a missionary.  I thought before my mission that I would do it every day, but we work mostly through references! But anyway, that was fun.

You'd think that in a transfer week there would be a million things to talk about, but I have no idea what else to say!

Oh yeah.  I'm pumped about the Jazz!! They'll probably get beat in 5 by the Warriors, but it's sweet anyway! Next year they're in the finals for sure! ;)

Love you lots, have a great week everyone!

Tanner

                                                                     Leaving Bellamar

Opposition

Dear family and friends,

I don't know how many of you actually read this letter, or if you do, remember what I said last week, but if not, here's a direct quote: 

"What a week! Things have honestly fallen into our laps, so to speak. when we least expected it and probably didn't even deserve it.  People just opening their doors and letting us in, investigators reading and changing and progressing, etc.  It´s actually really scary, because "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things."  Who knows what kind of crazy things could be waiting this week haha..."

There was definitely some opposition this week!! Haha our investigators are dropping like flies, so to speak, we've dropped 6 or 7 this week that weren't progressing very much.  And the ones that were progressing aren't really progressing anymore.  It was kind of the opposite of last week, an unusual amount of people were rejecting us.  All is well though, challenges are the best. 

The week ended with a blow: I'm leaving Bellamar! I love the members here so much, it's always such a difficult thing leaving all the relationships made.  Transfers are an interesting experience.  You sit there on pins and needles with the phone always in reach, waiting nervously for a call.  In that call, there's a high possibility that the voice on the other end says, "Pack your bags and say goodbye to all your friends and acquaintances there, you're moving in 36 hours." Is there any other experience in life that relates to that!? There are probably lots of people that have similar situations that I'm just unaware of, but that's never happened in my life before the mission and I hope it never happens after! It's rough, definitely the hardest part of being a missionary.  I'm hoping it's the last time I'll have to do it, and that I can just stay in Monserrate, Trujillo (my new area) for the rest of my mission.  4.5 transfers, so we'll see...

All that being said, however, it just makes you so grateful for the things you know.  For example, I was fascinated this week by Alma 42.  There are so many deep things there that I don't understand yet, but I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the Savior's atoning sacrifice! That was the only possible thing that could have worked; the only way to satisfy justice, overcome physical death, and still give fallen man the chance to conquer spiritual death through a period of probation, agency, repentance, and mercy.  He did it!! Death is conquered, man is free, Christ has won the victory! That knowledge puts my little bitty problems and sadness in perspective.  Again, how great the importance to make these things known to the inhabitants of the earth! 

I'll definitely miss Bellamar, Elder McMillan, and all the good memories made here.  But I know that many good things await in Monserrate! Love you all tons and hope you have a great week! Go Jazz!

Elder Tanner Hart

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Dear family and friends,

Ammon says, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." Elder Bednar emphasized the phrase "it is given" in teaching that it´s Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ that give us success, we don´t earn it or deserve it! That´s something that we´ve definitely seen this week.  What a week! Things have honestly fallen into our laps, so to speak. when we least expected it and probably didn´t even deserve it.  People just opening their doors and letting us in, investigators reading and changing and progressing, etc.  It´s actually really scary, because "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things."  Who knows what kind of crazy things could be waiting this week haha... 

Another fun thing this week has been our exercising habits.  I haven´t had a companion who likes exercise in quite awhile, so I´ve gotten used to running the stairs.  That, however, was getting awfully boring.  This week me and Elder McMillan agreed to get out and take a little jog to a nearby park, which used to be against the rules but is now again permited.  My oh my, it was a treat.  The cool air, getting out and stretching the legs and sprinting and pull-ups, the whole deal.  I enjoyed it.

Also concerning my physical condition, I was playing goalie today and tried to stop a penalty kick.  I dove right in anticipation, but I guessed wrong--he kicked up and left.  I reached my left hand up and that ball zipped right through my fingers like it was nothing.  My left middle finger is now quite sore.  But come on people, are we really gonna play with penalty kicks from 12 feet away from the goal??

Also, can someone explain Psalms 110:1 to me?

I love Easter! It was a completely normal day for us, but I did have in the back of my mind the significance of the day.  What hope the resurrection offers!! I love Alma the Younger´s experience: "And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world....And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more...And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold."  It´s impossible to remain in darkness and despair when one comprehends and remembers the resurrection of Christ! He already overcame death and conquered Satan! I know He lives and directs his restored church!

I love you all!

Tanner

April 10, 2017

Dear family and friends,

Not lots of things are happening here.  Today should have been transfer day, but because of the flooding and such, the roads are pretty damaged! President informed us last week that there would be no changes, so this week was completely normal! It all feels weird, starting a new transfer when no one was transfered! I was a fan though, I love Bellamar a lot and look forward to (hopefully) six more weeks! President told us that there could possibly be mid-transfer transfers, so more news coming on that if it happens...

As far as the work goes...all is well.  One of the people we had that was progressing and we thought could be baptized (the flirty one, if you´ve read past emails) is probably not going to be baptized anymore.  We found out this week that the lady he was flirting with (and that flirted with him!) does not like him or want to marry him.  So all of that got pretty awkward pretty fast.  Hopefully we can find him soon, he also has a nephew in the ward that can maybe help us! 

We were told about a new room this week that we really want to move into, so hopefully that happens...it sounds big.  The fact of me including that detail in this email shows the scarceness of source material for this week haha.

I´ve been doing what President Nelson invited us to do in general conference about studying every reference to Jesus Christ in the topical guide, and I love it! It´s unbelievable how it changes my attitude, makes me more excited to do the work, and increases my love for everyone in this little part of Chimbote! And I´ve only been through 3 of the 57 different titles!

Also, I heard North Carolina won the national championship, so my bracket was almost good! Definitely picked the Zags.

Love you all, have a wonderful week!

Tanner

After a three week break....

Hello everyone! 

After a few weeks off, it´s good to greet you again.;)  The 20th there was no internet connection here in Bellamar because off all the rains and flooding in Perú, and the 27th I read two weeks worth of emails and had no time to do anything.  But I´m alive and well! Nothing happened here though, except one night of really hard rain.  That is, really hard for drain-less, gutter-less, adobe house Perú.  

I can barely remember all the things that happened the past three weeks! I guess the one that stands out the most was Keysi´s baptism, which took place on March 24th.  She´s been really converted, keeping the sabbath day holy and dressing modestly even in the face of mean comments from her family.  She went to both sessions of general conference yesterday and has lots of friends in the church.  It´s so interesting to watch a person change from the first meeting to their baptism.  She´s just different! There´s a new light, more confidence, something almost unexplainable.  It´s a really neat experience, a cool thing to be a part of.

In other news:
-I picked Gonzaga in the title game. I thought they would be facing Kansas...but still! 22 first round games right, 6 of the sweet sixteen, 2 of the elite eight, then just Gonzaga.  Go Zags. ;)
-Because of the rains and floods, the roads are pretty bad, and President Rios infromed us this week that there will be no changes! I´m excited to be here in Bellamar until May 22!
Of course, I loved general conference yesterday.  Everyone has a favorite talk right? Mine was Gary B. Sabin, just for his BYU football reference! Haha just kidding, though he did give a great talk, as well as all the others.  What a blessing, what an opportunity, to hear from leaders of the real, living church of Jesus Christ!  I loved the focus on Him and the chance I had to refocus on Him.  What an evidence of the truthfulness of the church! There´s just this feeling about the whole thing that has to come from God.  I know it´s Christ´s church, and that this is His work! I love it.

Love, Tanner

Finding Work

Dear family and friends,

Remember Ana from last week? The girl who works Sundays but wants to be baptized on the 25th and in order to keep the Sabbath day fasted to find new work? And by fasting, got so sick that she was bedridden but continued fasting and praying? Well, on Monday, the day after our fast, her neighbor approached her and told her about a local job from Monday to Friday, where they pay well and which would also allow her to study, which her current job doesn´t! We were so excited when we heard.  She went to ask about it on Wednesday, and they told her to come back later.  She went back on Friday, and they said the same.  We´re still waiting to see the outcome, but she has faith that it will all work out according to the will of the Lord.  

Jorge, the awkward investigator who´s in love with a member and vice versa, called this lady a "temptation" for him during our lesson on the Plan of Salvation as we were talking about our life here on earth.  It was pretty uncomfortable.  But the lady didn´t even react so I guess she´s fine with it? We´re gonna try teaching him somewhere else this week and see how it goes.  He came to church though so that´s good!

The heat is reducing, which is very welcome.  It even rained this week which is really rare here! It was actually kind of a bad thing for lots of the people, their houses aren´t equipped for any rain hardly at all, so there were lots of dripping roofs the next day! We enjoyed the coolness though.  There was another down side, however: the garbage system here is just through-your-garbage-on-the-curb-or-wherever-you-want and the guy comes and gets it.  So the wet garbage, combined with the heat of the next day, made for a pretty nasty smell haha!

Well, the time is short, but thanks so much for all the updates and pictures and support and prayers and everything else! Love you lots and talk to you next week!

Love, Tanner

On Conversion

Dear family and friends,

Here´s an update on the work in good ole Bellamar, Chimbote, Ancash, Perú!  We´re excited about the progress the people are making here.  Two investigators, Keysi and Ana, accepted a little more firmly than before a baptismal invitation for this month of March.  Both are having spiritual experiences with The Book of Mormon and prayer and are becoming converted!! It´s such a neat thing to be involved in the process of conversion and see a normal person start praying with more purpose, reading The Book of Mormon, and changing their attitudes and behavior.  So cool!! Both have made comments about how they´re more patient, slower to argue with their family members, and happier.  We haven´t even taught them about having those attributes!! As Elder Anderson pointed out from Alma, "faith unto repentance."  It´s such a natural process when we learn about our Savior and feel His spirit more abundantly in our lives.  

Ana has a problem, though: she works on Sundays.  This past week we were really firm and explained that it´s a commandment of God that we don´t work on Sundays, and when we do it we´re sinning.  We also told her that she wouldn´t be able to be baptized until she could find a way to not work Sundays.  She realized the importance of it and committed to finding a new job.  Near the end of the lesson, I felt to ask her to fast with us in order to show her faith.  She easily accepted and committed to starting her fast after lunch on Saturday (which is how they do it here--from lunch to lunch).  We were so proud of her! She didn´t go to church on Sunday, which made us a little nervous, but we called her afterwards and she told us it was because she was sick from her first fast haha!  She got really sick on Saturday night from doing it, but just kept pushing through and praying to feel better, and made it all the way to lunch on Sunday! She has so much faith that something will turn up this week, and we´re sure it will.  I´ll keep ya updated haha.

We went to Trujillo for Mission Leadership Council this week, which was a fun time as always.  Stayed with Elder Chapman (my MTC comp) and Elder Salazar from Lima, two crazy people. President Rios focused on doing good solid follow up after extending committments and helping people progress that way, so we´re pumped to apply it and see results!

Mmm...what else, what else.  I´m very aware of approaching March Madness, which I know will be starting shortly.  Good luck on your brackets, everyone!

Not a lot else going on here, but all is well! There´s a promise in Preach My Gospel that says, "More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children."  It´s the truth!! I really really like being a missionary.  I love you all so so much and thank you for your weekly updates and pictures! Have a great week!

Love, Tanner