"Alright I'm sorry I'm writing less. I'm always in a hurry." July 14, 2014

Alright I'm sorry I'm writing less. I'm always in a hurry.

1. LEBRON

2. Char and Blair's house

3. Photo of Fourth of July and the baptism of Delia, both were great.

4. We put another baptismal date with a kid named Mario and William. They are both future missionaries.

5. Funny story, a drunk dude threw a rock at me in the street. He was like mumbling and threw a rock and it hit my backpack, I was honestly dying laughing. It wasn't like a scary experience, it was hilarious.

6. The new President is really awesome.

7. I'm great, feel great and time's flying. I only have 10 months left!!

Love you

June 30, 2014 "So this lady is named Delia."

This week was awesome!!

1. President Spjut is here!!! He called us and sounds great. I miss President and Hermana Cordon but I know that President Spjut will be great too.

2. Three of the baptismal dates I put in my last area got baptized last sunday and they're doing good. Also we baptized Saturday and Sunday. And we have a date for this Sunday. The story about the lady that's getting baptized this sunday is awesome. I will tell it in the next paragraph.

3. So this lady is named Delia. She lives in a closed area that we can visit. We happened to go there last Sunday and she went to church. Missionaries had taught her for 13 years and she always rejected them. But she decided to go last Sunday and we happened to visit there the same day to see somebody else. When we got there we ran into a hermano thats a member and he told us she went to church so we asked him if he could take us to her house. We went and taught her and the first lesson she accepted a date to get baptized. She was so prepared. She was crying as we invited her. So her son is in the mission and we are gonna send him a pic and stuff of everything right now. He's gonna be so pumped to know we have a date with his mom who has rejected the gospel for so many years. We are so blessed to have met her. I'll put a photo below of her. It's a horrible photo but it's chill.

4. The fourth of July this week...... So great.

Love everyone bye!!!

"sorry it's gonna be short!" June 23, 2014

sorry its gonna be short!

 

but some cool things

 

1. we live 3 blocks from mayan ruins, theyre called the ruins of tazumal.

2. goodbye meeting with president tomorrow, crazy.

3. we went to an area thats  been closed for 8 months and we put 2 baptismal dates, cause there was some people who went to church and we got permission to visit them. it was the first lesson with both of them.

4. world cup is awesome, we see the games all the time haha cause every single person is watching it. and they all tell me hey youre country is doing great. they love the US.

5. im learning tons from my comp. hes super awesome.

 

ps. can you guys send me a us jersey!!!

                                                      Mayan Ruin in Chalchuapa

                                                      Colonial Church in Chalchuapa

                                                      The family scheduled for baptism.

                                                       "The best family in Nshuizalco"
                                   

                                                                  Recent Converts

"I'm now a Zone Leader . . ." June 16, 2014

I got changed to Chalchuapa.

My new comp is Elder Soto, he's so awesome, ha he baptizes so much. He has the most in the mission. The sad part is he goes home in 5 weeks, so I only have a short time to learn from him.

 

I'm now a zone leader it's a little bit different. It's harder, but it's good that I have more pressure now so I can progress more.

 

The world cup here is pretty sweet. We see it all the time in the street.

 

Love the mission and I'm gonna send some pics of my old area, some people that have baptismal dates, the best family in nahuizalco and these two sweet recent converts.

"I find joy seeing people happy. And I can do that with two things, the gospel and my personality." June 9, 2014

Had such a great week. Here are the reasons.

1. We started teaching a one armed guy. He´s like 65 and lives by himself. hes super humble. he works in the field cutting, and he only has ONE ARM. he told us a guy cut it off with a machete ten years ago. crazy.

2. I had so many fresh fruits this week. Guava, mamones, bananas, mamay, and mangoes. all straight off the trees.

3. I ate bunny. there is a pic attached of my bunny.

4.we were teaching a lesson and it was super great. we asked hermano felipe to bear his testimony in a lesson and he started to cry and couldnt talk. and our investigator also and the investigator said with tears in his eyes God is Great. he also went to church this week and we met him this week.

5. we were at guillermos house and they have lots of chickens now. and guillermo was telling us about how his mom kills the chickens and on a sewing machine they had there was some blood stains he was showing us and his mom was super embarrased and telling him to be quiet.

6. a lady gave a super thankful prayer and they literally have nothing.

7. I find joy seeing people happy. And i can do that with two things the gospel and my personality.

8. we are teaching institute in pushtan. im the teacher. and the president of seminary and institute for all of el salvador. (also former mission president) President Alvarado thanked us and was telling us that he is super pleased with what were doing. With tears in his eyes he told us. These people will never go inactive because of you.

9. we put two baptismal dates!!!

10. sunday dinner with my converts always!

 

{I just had to do a search on what a tacuazin is}

"Our new names are trapper and killer." June 2, 2014

this week was super great for many reasons!

1. as a district we brought 26 investigators to church!

2. we went to the temple.... so great to meditate about the first year of the mission down.

3. I completed a year in the mission.

4. roberto got confirmed ( and no mom, his mom isnt a member, shes hilarious)

5. we had a ward activity for the moms of our ward and us missionaries sang the primary song "mother i love you". it was money.

6. a lady in our ward invited us over for our late birthday celebration. it was hermana carmen, the one that always gives us pupusas, she made us a surprise lunch and brought cake and everything! it was so great! we love her.

 

7. we had a cat that came in throughr our roof and it was behind my suitcase and jumped out and scared me so bad cause it was dark in the room. so we killed it.... just kidding mom haha. but there is also called a tacquazin living in our roof, its like a huge rat with claws... its creepy, we saw part of its body the other night cause it was falling out inside our house. but me and elder wiser have been hunting it, we havent been able to kill it yet but we need to cause its creepy at night.

 

8.also the new president of el salvador took his spot as president yesterday. now all the political craziness ends.

but im gonna send you a pic and the stats of me and elder wiser. our new names are trapper and killer. elder wiser is the trapper im the killer. mom you probably wont like these stats. 4 mice killed, 56 flies, 20 cockroaches, 73,935 ants. and we are in the hunt of a tacquazin which is a huge trophy animal.

also one of my converts is going to try and get me some armadillo before i leave the area. they eat armadillo here, i wanna try it so bad. anyways love you guys!!

 

 

 

                                            The national bird of El Salvador, the Torogoz

                                            
                                        Roberto and his mother with Jordan and his companion

 

Jordan's birthday celebration

                                                           
                            Roberto on Jordan's left, the other missionaries converts on the right.

"Yesterday we baptized Roberto!!!" May 26, 2014

Yesterday we baptized Roberto!!! It was so great to see him change so many things in his life. He was a drunk that didn't know the meaning of his life,but now we have helped him change his life completely and start over.  He shares the gospel with all of his friends we have started to teach some of them and he has brought them to church.  He's such a great guy and now were preparing him to receive the priesthood, so this week was really great.

We also had a multi zone conference. It was the second to last one with President Cordon which is super weird. He only has a month left sadly.... he's so great, but we're excited for President Spjut also. President got on us a little about our journals this week so I have started to write more in my journal. Also, have you guys been reading Preach my Gospel like the apostles have asked? 

 

This week I complete a year, and the day I complete a year we're going to the temple!!!  It's gonna be so great! We're all super excited! But I'm gonna send some pics of the baptism. We only baptized Roberto, but this other pic is who the other elders baptized, its a cool pic to see how short they are, just note I'm kneeling! haha

love you all!!

Jordan's recap of his birthday yesterday. Uncut, spanglish! May 19, 2014

Birthday.....

it was a great birthday!!!! first thing i woke up and the other elders but me this big glass torogoz (the national bird) haha i was dying laughing! then we brought 5 people to church and all went well with them then after the neighbor lady brought ovver a whole chicken and some soup and other stuff for me ill send a pic! then everyone told me happy bday and edwin a recent convert of the other elders, but ive known him since december and hes my homie he gave me a shoutout in his prayer. he said, please bless that elder tanner has a good birthday and that he knows hes our good friend! i love that kid! but then at night my recent converts gave us dinner... also got some calls from other elders in the mission. it was great! but thanks i love you all. 

also you guys couldnt believe that i actually see torogozes in the wild... well i do haha

This is the message Jordan was asked to share with our extended family at our family reunion next week. May 12, 2014

HEY FAMILY!!! I miss all you guys so much, I have the family book of our family and I always show it off to other elders and they're really jealous of how cool our family is. Speaking about our family, we've had such good examples in our lives. Mor Mor and Pappy. Before the mission I didn't really realize how great of people they are, and all the good examples that they've given me. I always knew that everyone at the BYU Football and Basketball games knew Pappy. But I didn't understand why. Now I know. Because of the Christ-like examples they've been for everyone around them. Maybe some of you return missionaries have seen Pappy's book of mission stories. This book builds one's testimony so much. I love Mor Mor and Pappy so much, and cant wait to be with them both one day. I invite all of you to show your thanks to Mor Mor for all she' done. Also to develop your Christ -Like attributes. One help for me is in Preach My Gospel Chapter 6! The chapter is about the attributes that Christ has and how we can better attain these attributes. I miss you all and would love to be there with you guys.
Much Love, Elder Tanner.


[P.S.  We had an incredible visit with Jordan via SKYPE on the Latin, Dia de la Madre, last Saturday.  Our whole family was involved with Erin and Maggie joining us on their computer from Idaho. (unfortunately Chris and Sable had to work)  Definitely a highlight that will hold us until Christmas!]

"My bday is coming up for my life and for my mission." May 5, 2014

I will be calling on Saturday at 10:00 SATURDAY not Sunday. I just need some more info on how I'm going to call, can you guys help me make an account. I'm so excited.

 

But my new comp. is so cool! His name is Elder Leiva from Colombia he's a convert of one year and he's 23 years old!! So humble.

 

This week was kind of rough, we didn't bring anyone to church and one of our baptismal dates dropped, but its fine were going to keep working hard. My bday is coming up for my life and for my mission. I'm about to turn 20 and complete a year in the mission!! So crazy how fast time goes.

After this I'm going to go see Hermano Lopez, he's going to give me all the stuff there. Thanks so much!!! Can't wait to see you guys!!!

 

                      Jordan's new companion Elder Leiva, and his zone.  See if you can find him!

 

                         I didn't get a caption for this one, and maybe we don't need any explanation!

                      These pictures are from the Semana Santa (Holy Week) Celebrations

"Semana Santa was pretty crazy this week!!" April, 21, 2014

So, Semana Santa was pretty crazy this week!! I'll attach some pics of the procession and the candle walk.

The temple trip Friday was so awesome. It was super organized and best of all I got to see some of my converts and some members from my other ward.

There was also a lunar eclipse so the moon went red.

Also we have a baptism the 27th hopefully it all goes well!!!

Only this but I'll send lots of pics! love you guys!

                                                  
                                      Jordan and his companion at Nelson's baptism last week

                      
                                            Jordan and his companion walking in their area

"This week they started the Semana Santa" April 14, 2014

But this week was super great, but really weird. This week they started the Semana Santa, or the holy week. Palm Sunday was yesterday, I've always seen Palm Sunday and Good Friday on calendars but I didn't know that the catholic people celebrated it. They do this thing called the procession and they walk around with these huge things of Mary and Joseph and Christ like huge dolls on platforms then they act out Christ carrying the cross and like guards beating him, and they do it like all day and all this week. they dress up in special robes and do all these different things. To be honest it is kinda cool to watch but its such apostasy... ha but we've heard Good Friday is crazy I'll take pics.

Also we got a temple trip this week!! Friday with investigators! We also put 2 baptismal dates!!!

that's all I got for this week.

love you all!!

We baptised Nelson yesterday!! April 7, 2014

this week was super great!!!

first off. Conference, conference was so great!!! i love it so much. at first we had some problems saturday morning not one member of the ward or branch showed up to the church finally at like 10:10 one guy gave us keys to the church and we set up the projector and all this. finally we started at 1045 and we were gonna watch in english but we couldnt this session, but the rest of them we did. it was awesome having the english room!

Second. we baptized nelson yesterday!! it was so great. he bore his testimony after and started crying. then after we ate some cakes with them and drank hot chocolate.

Third, i ripped my suit pants so big haha!!! i owned them, we were hopping in a ride and it caught on something.

Fourth, i have to use this soap made out of sulfur for my bug bites. and the soap smells so gross, then after i use it the bathroom reeks. i use a different soap after to make my body not smell like it but it owns the bathroom. so me and this other white elder we always say that im always gonna have to use the sulfur soap. and im just gonna be like the sulfur boy after the mission and everyones gonna make fun of me haha.

Fifth, there is a new elder tanner coming in a few weeks. haha im so pumped to meet him. we always talk about how hes gonna be so cool and that hes just gonna own me and everyone is gonna love him way more than me haha!!

anyways thats all, love you all!!!!

"Now I have a grand testimony of the Holy Ghost" March 24, 2014

 HEY!! This week was super great. We put 2 dates for baptism!! One with a 66 year old guy named Juan and another with like a 58 year old dude named Nelson!

But awesome story with Juan! We planned to contact his house after an appointment in this place called La Planta. La Planta is like 30 minutes away from Nahuizalco and this guys house is right in between, so we just planned to contact his house on the way back. But we got super lucky and a ride passed by, so we hopped in the back of a truck. so as we were passing his house my comp asked me if we should stop and contact him and I said, "no we have the ride, we will a different day". So we kept going... but then as we got farther away I just felt so bad like we had to go back, so I went and tapped the roof of the truck to notify the driver we want to get off. My comp was kinda bothered with me but I told him we need to go back, so we walked like 5 minutes back to this house. We walked in and started yelling "buenas" (that's what you yell when you get to a house) this guy left and his face just lit up. He ran over to us and was super excited. He told us he was having a down day but the instant he saw us he felt a joy. I started to get tears in my eyes as he told us this, and him too. we thanked him and put an appointment with him. He went to church yesterday and then we put a date for his baptism after church. He was so prepared for us. To be honest it was one of the first times I had actually felt the guide of the spirit in my life. Now I have a grand testimony of the Holy Ghost and that the Holy Ghost gives you second chances!

 elder tanner

"This week was super great." March 17, 2014

This week was super great. I was with Elder Peru all week, he's so cool. He's my favorite, he's a white guy from Thatcher, Arizona.  He is a convert of three years.  My comp is with Elder Peru's comp in Santa Ana because he's sick. But something that's cool, we brought 6 people to church, and 5 in Elder Peru's area so together we had 11, and so we have tons of potential. We had a conference for all of Central America, we heard from Richard G Scott and Dallin H Oaks and a 70 and some lady talked via satellite, but it was so good. It was kinda cool cause in the conference they made a reference to President Cordon, he's so cool.

But Monday I had to go to Santa Ana and we were waiting out in front of a random pharmacy and all the sudden a couple of my converts passed by in a car and pulled over and ran up to me. It was so good to see them, but they are moving to the states in June! They are moving to Washington DC, so that's cool. [He's going to Santa Ana again today to get his skin checked out by a Dr. to see what's biting him, but he assures me he's fine, just itchy!]

Also like my favorite Elder ever Elder Muti is going home Wednesday.... I'm so bummed, but he's so awesome. You guys gotta invite him over to eat or something. He can tell you all about tons of experiences we've had. I was with him for 5 months so we're real close! Anyways everything is good, I love the mission.

"Cool news I might have fleas or like bed bugs. My stomach and back got owned." March 10, 2014

This week was good. I got your package and the book of our family is so awesome!! I love it! Thanks! Also we're having a great time in the mission, time is going by so fast. Like every one of our investigators dropped us this week so that was a little disappointing but its fine, we just gotta find more news!!

Cool news I might have fleas or like bed bugs. My stomach and back got owned haha. But I'm fine, it just itches.

 

We had 3 investigators in church, hopefully we can baptize them soon.

They had elections again yesterday and it was so cool haha. We were walking down the street and the two big parties are Arena and fmln. fmln was in like a big pick up and had like 25 people in the back of it, and they pulled up in front of the Arena building and started honking and they had air horns and stuff. Then, the Arena people ran out with bags of water and just started pegging them with the water bags haha it was so awesome. The elections here are so much cooler than the states.

That's pretty much it! I love my mission and my family!

"I told you my friend is bigger than your Dad." February 24, 2014

This week was super great!! First off we had 12 investigators in church!! We're hoping to baptize all of them!! Also this week we killed a turkey, our neighbor was getting married and so they had to kill like 10 turkeys! So I literally killed one, it was pretty hard to do. I'll try and send pics!!

But the other day I was thinking about how much I love this country!! It's so cool! The culture, the people, the Spanish! There are so many trees, trees that have fruit. Right now the mangoes are coming in and they are green, but we eat them green and they're really good actually. Lots of people like them green better than ripe. Also this cool fruit we eat that comes in a pod, its hard to explain. Also the pupusas I love them so much.... the hermana in our ward that gives us free pupusas everyday, so yum. I got one this week called the pupusa loca, it has all the ingredients and its huge. It had chicken, cheese and jalapeño, garlic and cheese, ayote (like pumpkin), frijoles, ham and cheese, and I think there was one more ingredient!  But this place is just the best! I can tell it will be hard to leave!

Also I told Don Miguel about that you guys liked the mat thing and he was really happy!!
 

Guillermo was super funny this week! We were saying a prayer and he comes over and starts tickling me during the prayer. Also, he got all this candy at school and he gave me and my comp like all the candy... we felt bad taking it, but you cant reject stuff here or they feel bad. Also his mom was telling us that his teacher was saying he's a really smart kid... but he's really active and likes to talk a lot. Also ha-ha, we were walking to teach his neighbor and he walked with us and there was another kid his age with his dad, and he says to the kid, "I told you my friend is bigger than your Dad."
 

Just this. We're working super hard. We haven't baptized for like a month and a half...... so were getting anxious. We're about to put lots more dates though. We've got faith!
 

-Elder Tanner

                                Jordan with Guillermo and his sister.  (click on picture to enlarge)

Jordan with his new companion Elder Gonzalez from Guatemala, and their mission presidents the Cordons.

February 10, "I don't have very many stories this week!"

 

I sent a pic of my new comp! hes really nice... and hes cool!! hes from guatemala! i dont have very many stories this week! but i sent some pics of guillermo!! love you tons mom, hope you have a good week!!


[Note from the Mom:  I just left it raw and untouched this week!  Guillermo is the little boy that Jordan loves so much, who lost his baby brother.]

"You can't spell FECHA without FE" February 3, 2014

I only have a few little things for this week! Oh, and I got my package!! I'm so pumped I have clean sheets and all that stuff. Thanks so much!! And, can you try and find a photo of me and my friends on Christmas from last year in the snow!

So yesterday was the elections for El Salvador and it was pretty nuts at night, lots of people just like yelling and doing fireworks and marching. There is 3 parties FMLN, ARENA and UNIDAD. FMLN and ARENA are the big ones. Unidad is small, they're like Ron Paul. so I always tell people I'm from unidad when they ask. It's super funny.

Funny Guillermo story. It was really hot one of the days and we were late so we were walking super fast. We got to his house and I was just dripping. He comes up to me and talks to me for a sec like always, but then like mid sentence he just walked off and came back with newspaper, he ripped off a piece and handed it to me. I asked him what it's for and he was like,"for your forehead, you're really sweaty." I just laughed and thanked him for the great thought. Also, we brought him and his family to church, his parents want to get baptized! We probably will the end of this month or in March!

I'm staying in my area and I will be training again, so we will see who my new comp is Wednesday!

Also money scripture, Genesis 18 verse 14. "Is anything too hard for the lord?"

Also I made up a quote.... READY.

"You cant spell FECHA without FE."

Fecha means date... like baptism date. and fe is faith. I was pretty proud of myself! 

". . . because I love you tons." January 27, 2014

First off this week with Elder Cook was amazing!!! He taught us so much.  One thing I liked that he said was work hard and the Holy Ghost will clean you of your sins. He said that by working hard we can work off our sins. He also left a blessing on our missions. Also he told us we have one of the most successful missions in the world!! So cool. President Cordon translated for him and he did it so perfectly. Our president made the other presidents look so weak. This week we saw how cool our president is. And after he finished translating Elder Cook hugged him at the end, but just handshakes for the others! Also Elder Amado from the 70 talked and he told us that if we look at our mission as an obligation or something we have to do were gonna have a hard time. But if we look at it as an opportunity, we will see amazing blessings. Also it was really cool seeing the other missions in El Salvador! I saw Jonba's cousin, Andrew there and we talked for a minute!!

Also this week, we met a family. Their daughter was baptized like 8 months ago but the parents never were. But they just had a one year old die.... so we went and visited them for the first time and they have a 5 year old kid named Guillermo. He is the cutest little boy ever. (I'll get a pic soon) he started talking to me and at first he was just telling me about how he misses his little brother, but that he knows he's with Jesus. I was trying not to cry... he was so sweet. Then we had a family night with them at a members house and we had to walk like 10 minutes to the house and he just held my hand the whole time. But there is a part in the trail that gets narrow so I told him that I couldn't hold his hand for a second and he was disappointed, but then I told him I will fall if he doesn't and I asked him if he wanted me to fall. He said, "No, because I love you tons." So then I just threw him on my shoulders and we walked like that. I honestly love that kid so much. 

But this week was great. It went by real fast. Love you all.

elder tanner

"Already cut my hair and started shining my shoes for him!" January 20, 2014

This week was kinda sucky cause I was sick the whole week. and finally sat out a day Saturday. That was the worst, the first time I had to sit out.


But cool things,  last pday we were walking to buy our groceries and we were on interchanges and it was me, Elder Peck, Smith and Peru. All white dudes, and we saw these guys playing ball on the big court so of course we couldn't pass up a 4 on 4. We schooled them like 8 games in our church clothes then just left and walked by again with our groceries after shopping and they were just like, dang. We taught them what's good with ball and then invited them to church.


Also, last Sunday we were out on a ladies like porch of her house cause its way to hot inside, and all the sudden a cow jumps a small fence and runs into our lesson. haha. We all got up and ran off, the lady didn't even flinch, gets a stick and whacks it, and it goes back to it's side of the fence haha. Crazy.


Another cool encounter with an animal, we saw a corral snake, they're super dangerous, but it had been killed by a machete to the head like 3 minutes before we got there. But, crazy to see that big and venomous snake.


Since I was sick all week the nurse told me to go buy pills at the pharmacy. I walk in and first off the guy's wearing a shirt that says "BALL SO HARD".... and he was the pharmacist. I asked for the pill and he said do you want the 45 cent ones or the 10 cent ones. haha.  I bought the 10 cent for some reason haha. But, super funny cause I think about my brother-in-law, Chris who went to school forever to be a pharmacist, and this guy bought some pills off the street and he's already a Pharmacist. haha.


ELDER COOK IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!! I'm so pumped to see him! already cut my hair and started shining my shoes for him!! anyways love you all!!

elder tanner

"she's not one of those baptisms just because she thinks we're cute." January 13, 2014

 

So yesterday we baptized Guadalupe!! She's super great. She's 16, but she's not one of those baptisms just because she thinks we're cute. She changed her baptism to before church so she could be confirmed that day and get her temple recommend to go to the temple on Wednesday. Then after church she went with us to work, also with some other members and she was just explaining how beautiful her baptism was and how she felt, and how she became to be converted. We knew her for three weeks. Super fast. I had the opportunity to baptize her.

 

Also I called all the people we've baptized and two of the families haven't missed a Sunday, and are preparing to get sealed in September and me and elder Ayala will get to go with them. Also, Wilfredo will get sealed to his wife in December and I'll get to go to that also!! So awesome. A bummer we cant baptize Leonitus cause his wife won't let him. He can't work so she makes all the money, so he doesn't want to like go against her will and if she leaves him and he has nothing.

To help us get more prepared to meet an Apostle, we watched a movie called, "On the Lords Errand"! It's so great, it's about President Monson's life. You guys should watch it! It's the best movie I've seen. He's such a great man!!

Also, this week we had a 5/5 hitchhike percentage!! 100%!! But this morning we got turned down once.... but we don't count that. One of the people that picked us up was a cop truck with its lights on! They stopped and picked us up even though they had someone in the back seat like really sick. But we flew back to our area in the back of that!

Anyways we had a good week! love you all.
Elder Tanner

 

[mother's note: Jordan assured us in our Skype conversation at Christmas, that hitchhiking was a "safe" and preferred mode of transportation.  The roads are so bad that most people have trucks and just have them pile in the back.  I don't know if that makes us feel better or not!]

                             A member lets all the missionaries carve their name in the wall of their home.

                                                At the waterfall with the Zone Leaders.

                                 I'm going to guess this is New Years with the Zone Leaders!

January 6, 2014 "We only have 17 days until Quentin L. Cook comes."

Nothing new this week really! Just lots of crazy fireworks and fun stuff. We went on a walk to a waterfall in our area thats pretty cool! We only have 17 days until Quentin L. Cook comes. I'm honestly so excited! I'll send lots of pics to update you all! love you all!

Also from December 30, 2013. (This was sent in response to a rquest for a message to be printed in the ward newsletter.)

Elder Jordan Tanner

El Salvador Santa Ana Mission

 

I had my first Christmas in the mission. And honestly it was a Christmas full of joy. It makes you realize how blessed we are. Here in El Salvador the kids get very little.  The custom is that they have a dinner--they cook a chicken and then after they do fireworks. This is the only thing they get. Some get a new outfit or a toy car and you have never seen a child so grateful. It makes me think of how blessed I have been all my life. Another thing I noticed was that when we spend a Christmas in the service of the Lord, we feel the true spirit of Christmas. It is so easy to forget about the fact that this holiday is based on our Lord and our Redeemer Jesus Christ.

 

I hope all had a good Christmas and a good year. Now is the time to start new and be better. New Year resolutions are a change in your life--and the true definition of change is repentance. Leaving behind something and starting new and not returning to do it again. Never stop doing the things that get you closer to God and you will have more peace and joy in all that you do.

 

Love,

 

Elder Tanner

"The Lord is preparing so many people right now. We're so blessed." December 30, 2013

This week was super great. It went by super fast. And we ate a lot. Some cool things. Yesterday a volcano erupted in a different part of El Salvador, we didn't feel it or see it (which was a bummer) but still cool.

When we were skyping, Zach asked me the weirdest thing I've seen, and I saw it last week. These guys haul wood on a wooden cart the has like 3 inch metal wheels, and is like 5 inches off the ground. So they sit down on it with a pile of wood and drive with like a little rope, and it's the craziest thing ever. I saw a guy, at least 70 years old going like 40 down the highway, cause its all down hill. It's the sketchiest thing ever, but super funny looking.

But anyways, we got a gift from above. Last week this girl came to church with her friend that's a member, after church we taught her and she told us she wants to get baptized, so for the 12th of January we have a date. She also called me over during church and told me she decided that she wants me to baptize her so that was cool. The easiest date we ever put. Also we pretty much have a date with an old guy named LEONITUS! yes Leonitus the same name as the guy on 300, so pro. But he's old and really sick. He walks around with get ready.... a catheter...poor guy. He went for the first time yesterday, and stayed for all the meetings and after went to the baptism. He asked me afterwards what he needs to do to get baptized. So it will be easy with him too. The Lord is preparing so many people right now. We're so blessed. Also, the biggest news......... QUENTIN L. COOK is coming to our mission the 23 of January!!!! So pumped!! Anyways, hope you all have a good week!!
love,
elder tanner

Jordan on his way to his first transfer.

                                                       Last picture with his "old" district.

"This area is super cool. Lots of volcanoes and I felt my first earthquake!!!" December 16, 2013

So you guys all heard I left my area. it was really sad, lots of the members were crying and me and the other missionaries that were leaving we were crying.. but its good. Now I'm in my new area, Nahuizalco. Yesterday we baptized someone, and Tuesday I had my last baptism in Colon. 

 My new comp is elder Rodriguez. Another Honduranio.  This area is super cool. Lots of volcanoes and I felt my first earthquake!!! So cool! I'm district leader, I kinda hate being it though. I wanted to be a regular missionary the whole time ha-ha.  

I got the stuff from Mormor!!! I loved it so much! I tell everyone about how cool my grandma is and Pappy!!  

We live with the zone leaders so we live us four in the house. Pretty fun, cause they are super cool!! I will update you about the call by Skype next week it will be the 24 or 25, depending on what time I choose! love you guys.

          -elder tanner

"Our investigators are thheeeeee best!" December 9, 2013

Yeah Ben can wear my jacket... just don't sweat in it lots.

But this week was awesome. We put two more baptism dates!! Tomorrow is one lady named Patty that I'm gonna baptize and then the 19th we have a date with Wilfredo!! Wilfredo has been going to church for 9 months! All his family is members and he is so good! We've been teaching him all my 5 months I've had in this area, but there are changes Wednesday so I don't know if I'll still be in the area when we baptize Wilfredo, but its all good! I'm so pumped for him, and we hope to go to their sealing in one year!

But this week was a week of more eating. Our investigators are thhheeeeee best! We get at least two lunches and one dinner like everyday.

 Did you guys watch the Christmas Devotional? It was so great, but a little sad to see Salt Lake! But the little kids singing and the talk by elder nelson were so great. One of our elders in our ward put a baptism date right after watching it. His investigator after said,"What do I need to do to get baptized?" Super cool. But anyways love you all. Be good.

elder tanner

"How can you baptize me?" December 2, 2013

This week was super great! We baptized two people Saturday, Milena and Manuel. They are 13 and 10.  Great young people. I baptized the girl Milena and my companion baptized Manuel. We are still working on baptizing their moms, but we will do that this weekend.

It was a super fun week, we ate so much. We  had a Thanksgiving with all the mission and then at the Lopez'.  I got to see some of my buds.  It was super cold for here this week.  It was like 60 or 55 and you should of seen the people here.  They were all bundled up like it was snowing. I was dying laughing cause it was literally perfect.

We also brought the guy without legs to church. He hadn't been out of the house in a month and a half and he loved it. This week we invited him to be baptized and he said," yeah, but how can you baptize me?" We told him that the Lord has a way for everything, and that if he has a commandment, all can follow it and be part of the blessings.

But for real a super great week, it flew by. It was a little bad not being able to be at home watching football with the fam and eating with you guys. But its all good. I completed 6 months this last week too! Anyways I love you all!

elder tanner

Jordan singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" in Spanish,

with some alternate words at the end!  Many thanks to Lorena Lopez for the Video.

Jordan and Elder Bonilla
[His mother doesn't see the extra 20 pounds!]

 

In their apartment where they study

**THANKS TO SALVADOR LOPEZ FOR SENDING US THESE PHOTOS AND FOR LOOKING AFTER THE MISSIONARIES IN EL SALVADOR.  HE DOES SO MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

"I thank my Father in Heaven every day for the blessings I've had in my life" November 25, 2013

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! This week is gonna be super good, we go to the temple tomorrow and Thanksgiving day we're going to get together as zones and eat, and brother Lopez invited us to come eat! But this week was kind of a bummer! But this week is gonna be great!

 

I'm super thankful for everything I have, it's gonna be a little different without my family... I miss you guys tons, and the football and food. But, it makes me realize how important my family is for me! Also being out here has made me realize how blessed I am... gosh I have so much. People here have nothing. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for all the blessings I've had in my life and it's an endless list. I love my family, I love my friends, I love this gospel, and I'm super grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that has given me everything. And, the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ that died for us only for the great love he has for us. I have an infinite list of blessings and I'm grateful for all!

LOVE YOU ALL

elder tanner

"We got to teach a guy who has no legs about the Plan of Salvation" November 18, 2013

 

This week we had a cool experience. We got to teach a guy who has no legs about the Plan of Salvation and I was telling him about when we will be resurrected. That we will return to like a perfect body and we won't be missing a leg, one hair, nothing. He didn't know that, and he was super pumped; about to cry. It was so great.

 

We had seven investigators yesterday in Sacrament Meeting! I think we can baptize all of them too. It was Stake Conference and our Mission President spoke in it and it was really great. He can speak so well. 

 

Otherwise, just like every week, super great. There's always so many spiritual experiences and other stuff that happens that I don't remember or don't tell cause writing long emails is hard ha-ha. But I just wanna remind all that its my HALF BIRTHDAY!! Love everyone. I feel your prayers.

 

elder tanner

"I stepped on a scale for the first time and DANNNNNNGGGGG." November 11, 2013

This week was great. Ha-ha I have some funny news, I stepped on a scale for the first time and DANNNNNNNNGGGGG. I've gained a solid 20 hahaha. First time in my life. I haven't even noticed it though, I can't see it, so that's good, but it put me in check. So now every morning we get up earlier to play soccer. Also I think I might have grown a little and that's where part of it went.

But this week we started teaching English classes, its super great and fun. We didn't have our baptisms yet, they're getting postponed right now, but I think we can baptize four this month at least.

I might have changes Wednesday, I hope not. We still don't know, but they aren't telling us about changes like they usually do because usually it's Sunday night, but they saw everyone's numbers go way down for the last two days of changes because everyone goes and visits their favorite members. But yeah, other wise a regular week, just loving the mission. Love everyone.

-elder tanner (guapo)

Note:  Jordan sent some photos, but between my skills and the photo formats, I can't get them to download, so I'll have to call in the reserves to help!  We'll get them up soon!

"No es el Templo pues?" November 4, 2013

This week was great.  I got the presents from you guys and I loved  them!!!  It was so great! and Mom! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU!!

This week we had some funny and some cool experiences. We had a really cool experience with this guy that sells bread.  We saw him selling and I said to him, "Hey, come to church, I've never seen you there."  Because we always see him in the street, and he was like, "but I have to work and sell the bread to have enough money.  We promised him blessings if he would go, so he said," you know what, i need to go". Then he left and a guy started yelling from down the street and the man selling bread  didn't hear but we heard him.  It was a guy wanting to buy bread, so we chased the guy selling the bread down and told him he has someone to buy, he was so excited and thanked us. After the guy bought the bread, his neighbor came out too and bought his bread. He rode by us on his bike and thanked us and said that we are prophets. It was a really cool experience to see the Lord directly blessing this man for committing to go to church.  We see so many blessings and feel the spirit so much. It's so great.

This Halloween I carved a pumpkin and as a district we ate Wendy's under palm trees. Anyway, that was my week! Also President told us an awesome story about when he went to the
Guatemala temple, and he went with a group of people from like the tiny villages of Guatemala. He said a really old village man wearing a hat and a cane and sandals entered in, and he started removing his hat and cane and sandals and left them at the door. And the temple president having lots of care for the man said, "Oh, you don't have to remove that, and the old village man said, "no es el templo pues?" This means, "This isn't the Temple then?" He was trying to show respect in the best way he could.  This story hit me really hard.  Anyway,  love you all.

elder tanner

"This week a lady told me I sing like an angel and she almost cried."

This week was great, me and my companion are great. We have a good time. We're going to marry two different families and baptize them, the same day!! It's great.

This week a lady told me that I sing like an angel and she almost cried. I was like, Sister no.... I sing horribly, but thanks. Then we told her that I'll probably leave this area soon and she teared up, that makes me feel good that I've made a difference in someones life.

Yesterday when church started we had 25 cause it was raining. Because when it's raining people don't leave [their house], the problem is that it rains all the time. But the rain stops really soon. [the rainy season] yippee!

We were knocking doors and we were talking with this guy at the door and this drunk guy walked by and sang to us and preached to us for like 45 minutes. Haha really funny, he actually sang really good.

I don't have time right now to tell everything, but I love you all. I turned 5 months today!!

"Last night we had Iguana soup" October 21, 2013

This week was a little better.

Last night we had some Iguana soup, it was actually really good! And, we made pupusas the other night too, the one I made was so good!! Me and the Polynesian Elder Muti, bought some coconuts and we made a fresh juice with coconut, oranges and pineapples, so yum, and we drank it out of coconut cups.

But besides food, my comp is pretty cool, hes a little odd, but that's fine.

But a funny story we brought a member to one of our lessons, and our investigators have a big problem with their prayers, they pray while you pray, and sometimes they will stand up and like yell things. Anyway, I asked the lady to say the prayer and they all started praying, and it was all chill at first, but then they all stood up.  Even the member who's a recent convert, stood up and they were just yelling all their own prayers. It was so different that a member was doing it.

But, I love the mission.
Love to everyone.
elder tanner

[Last week's email was just a line or two saying there was not much to write about except that they had 6 investigators to church.]

October 8, 2013. "'Hey, what time are we coming over to eat?' No body can turn down my charm."

This week was super cool. I got my new son, his name is Elder Bonilla. He's a 21 year old guy from Honduras. He works super hard, which is great.

We didn't bring almost anyone to conference, but I enjoyed conference so much. It went by way too fast. And yes, me and Elder Muti were still making fun of peoples faces in the choir, I don't think I'll ever get over that. haha but it was super great watching in English.

This morning we found this really cool investigator. I was standing in line to buy meat at the supermarket and this lady was buying tons of food so I asked her, "hey what time are we coming over to eat?" And she just busted up and invited us to go over at 6. Ha-ha nobody can turn down my charm.  Then she gave us a ride back to our house so we didn't have to walk like 15 minutes with our groceries!

But I have a crazy story, I went to go to the bathroom and I lifted up the seat to go to the bathroom, and then I hop in the shower. As I'm in the shower I look over and there is a smashed gecko on the back of the toilet ha-ha. So while I was going I must have leaned back the perfect time and smashed the little guy. Poor kid. but all is good here.

-elder tanner

"This week was really boring cause my companion has dengue fever."

Well this week was really boring cause my companion has dengue fever. So we couldn't leave all week, we just studied. I was so sick of being inside.

 

I figured out Friday I'm going to train. So Wednesday I'm going to train my new companion. I'm excited and nervous because I don't feel completely ready, my Spanish is OK.  So we will see!

 

We moved into our new house. It's really good, but its really hot! I'm really glad though cause I'm staying in my area.

 

I don't have much to write this week sorry. I'm just really excited for conference. Love all.

 

-elder tanner

photos of those baptised

 

                                              Jordan baptized Daniel & Josue Alfaro
                                 

                                           Also: Neftali & Jose Nelson Aguilar, and daughter Sofia

 

                                          Elder Ayala baptized this family.  He didn't give the name.

"This week kinda stunk . . . we only had nine baptisms!!!"

Yeah, so this week kinda stunk....... we only had 9 BAPTISMS!!!! YUM! I baptized 5 of the people!! It was so great, but it started out as a disaster.  We went to an area 45 minutes away both ways to get baptismal pants the day of our baptisms, but on the last bus my companion left the pants so... but then we got others and they fit. Then we were filling the font and the plug wouldn't close so the water was always draining so that was bad, but we fixed that. Then the family that was getting married was 45 minutes late so that was stressing us a little, but all was good. I baptized the little girl in the picture. Her name is Sofia Guadalupe, she's adorable. The poor thing, she was my first baptism and I kind of went fast and slammed her. ha-ha later after the baptism she came up to me and called me a bad boy. ha ha because she always likes to scare me when we go over to their house, so she thought I was paying her back with this. But it was really great, I didn't mess up the prayer or anything and got all of them down on the first try successfully! It was a great night. so this week was great.

Since the areas in our ward are baptizing lots they re making our area a new zone and putting another area in our areas, but there is no space. This also means were moving houses and were moving to this nicer house which is good. The sisters couldn't move there because the house across the street is drunk central, but they re nice dudes.

I love the mission and I'm learning lots. Oh and Mom, I saw some sweet birds this week. But anyways, love all.

-Elder Tanner

"Pappy is the best. I realized how much I missed him . . . I want to work my hardest."

On Mon, Sep 16, 2013

Yesterday was Independence Day for here so our numbers for church kinda lagged! An Elder in our group got sent home so we have two areas right now and the other area is 20 minutes away in a bus! So it's pretty hard, but its good! We went to church there yesterday, and there was a stray dog walking around in Sacrament Meeting ha-ha! Real funny.

 We had the meeting for trainers and new missionaries! Elder Griffin called it the fathers and sons camp out because our trainer is our dad ha-ha! but I had a great time. I got to see Elder Griffin and Kendall! We're best buds! We're already planning all this post mission stuff, we shouldn't because we need to focus, but we all want to be companions, a trio one day. I'm going to ask President!

 We potentially will baptize 9 people this week!! Hopefully all can go through!

 I was reading Pappy's talks... because I remembered that he died this month. It was one of the most spiritual experiences in my life. Pappy is the best.  I realized how much I missed him, and the fact that he is watching over me from above, I want to work my hardest.

elder tanner

"I love this place, only place I've ever seen people cutting their lawn with a machete."

This week was really good, but at the same time sucked.... Thursday a Seventy talked to us in a multi- zone conference, Elder Kevin R. Duncan. He was really good. Some cool things he said was that every investigator is just a less active, everyone already accepted the gospel in the life before. He also asked us why do we think we plan at night after our hard long days, way tired, way hungry, and nobody knew the answer. Then he answered and said because this is when were humble, this is when we can be in touch with the spirit. It was a really good conference.

But it rains here everyday, and it's pretty cool at times cause we're teaching and we will say something powerful and then a big thunder will strike. Ha ha we always mess with our investigators that it's a sign.

A good thing was that I took this language test that I took right before I left the MTC and there in the MTC I scored 28% but now I got a 73%!! So I've improved a lot!

I love this place, only place I've ever seen people cutting their lawn with a machete. Me and my comp are good, but nine weeks is a long time with anyone. His jokes are getting old ha ha.

I got to see one of my best friends in the mision Elder Griffin! He's so cool!  I haven't seen Kendall in a while, but I love that dude! Anyway, love you all.

elder tanner