September 26, 2011

So, Dun dun dunnnn.... I was transferred to a new area! Ahhhhh! That's pretty exciting. Anyways the "post service" is still on strike here, so everything will be going slower, and due to being transferred to the interior, it will take even longer to make it to me once it makes it to the escritorio. Also we get the conference issues in English when it comes out, so that will be cool. And I am super excited to watch conference, and yes, it will be in English. Yay! I hear that we will always get the chance to listen in english which is super cool. Thats crazy that its already time for conference, time flies by so fast it suprises me. As for my goal, I try to always think in Portuguese, and ever since the second day on the mission I have said my prayers in Portuguese. Its really hard to pray in english now, just a little over a week ago another missionary asked me to, and after struggling through it, the others all laughed at the end because apparently I used some Portuguese with my English. Otherwise the goal is going pretty well, my new companion is Brazilian as well. Before I forget... HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUTUMN! Oh yeah, you want to hear about all the changes eh? Here they come. Ha. So I got transferred to the interior in a city called Sorocaba, and its a lot hotter here. The area is ward Julio de Mesquito. It has the feel of a small town, and always reminds me of Canada, though its about the same population as Seattle. Its really different, its all houses, and no buildings, and believe it or not, there is some open space and fields. I saw a horse in a pasture, and also saw a rooster sitting on a wall. Its weird that such a big town can have such a small town feel. It also is quite a bit hotter here, and I'll most likely pass the summer here. I wrote letters and stayed out in the sun today, and now Im burnt and already have a shirt tan (or burn) line. My new companion is Elder Neto, and he is another Nordestino. He is from Arapiraca, which is near Maceió. He is pretty cool, and we talk quite a bit. He just made a year, so we burnt his shirt and he had me write in English on it. I'm his first junior companion, and this is his 5th transfer here, so that's 6 months already here, and it was with the same companion the whole time. The people here all know him pretty well, and he knows the area pretty well, since its not that big really. I hear that its actually one of the  smallest. So, I was reading today, and I came across the scripture 2 Nephi 2:24, and I really like this scripture. Everything has a reason. God is so much wiser than us, and He knows what He is doing. God has a plan, and everything is done in the Wisdom of God. We may not understand, but the only thing we really need to understand is that God knows whats best. I love you all, and wish you all an amazing week.
Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

1. My new companion and I in my new area
2. Me near the Church, and feilds in the background. Wow.

3. My companion and I in our house. (its big now)

September 19, 2011

About the pictures...
1. Burning tie!
2. Elder Candland Truffles in the making
3. Pancakes and... Carmel?
4. PAXMAN!
5. Minha Área!
6. Burning Tie! Doce!

Wow, time seriously flies by. Its so weird, I will never cease to be amazed. So yes, I indeed already have 6 months on the mission, and I burnt two ties, one I made, and one my companion gave me to burn. That was an adventure. Also, with six months I have a goal of speaking no more english, and that has been going well. We have transfers this week, and we will find out tonight what changes will happen. Transfers came really fast, who boy. I also had many many cooking adventures, and I made the altogether famous "Elder Candland Truffles." Those were good, and though they were ugly, they tasted great. Just like our PanCAKE. I guess I'm lucky that the looks don't affect the taste to much. Ha. I tried to make pancakes, and they were ugly too, but good, and I made Caramel on accident, but that was good too. I was trying to make Elder Candlands Caramel Syrup. Yes, he is quite the cook, and I try. Ha. I also had the fun experience of an elevator breaking down and getting stuck inside. Sadly I wasn't able to craw out or say I was stuck for hours, because it ended up being only five minutes or so, and they opened the door, and It was almost in the right spot anyway. Willins is doing awesome, and he is being taught by the ward missionaries and is really enthusiastic in the church. We are working with a couple that the man is an inactive member and the lady that is living with him is really interested. They want to get married and they are trying to do that, and are progressing along. So this week, I went on a division with Elder Nobre, which turned out to be a really spiritual experience for me. Always seek to follow the Spirit. So this week, a scripture that I choose is very famous, and really has a lot to do with last weeks scripture as well. It is John 14:15. Its a concept so simple that so many of us overlook it. If we truly love God we will do what he asks us to do without question. We need to always be willing to do Gods will. We cant just choose the rules and commandments we need to follow, we need to follow all of them. We need to show our love for our Creator, the one who gave us life and grants us to live each day. I love you all and wish you a good week.
Abraço,
Elder Tanner Ross Paxman
PS. Add to my letter that the mail system here is in Strike. Things may take a while to mail. Love you guys.

September 12, 2011

Holy Cow! That's so awesome about Derek Lambert and Tanner Johns, I am super excited for them. Serving the Lord on a mission is the Best thing that us young men can do. I know that they will feel the joy of serving a mission. Things are going great here, and seriously, I cant believe that it has been a week. I highly doubt it has been. Ha. Super fast this week. So on Saturday, I had the privilege to Baptise Willians, and that was a great experience. He is a big guy, and there wasn't much water, but it went well. He is super excited. Willians was confirmed on Sunday, and also received the Aaronic Priesthood. That is amazing to see. He will be an amazing member. I am so grateful to be a part of bringing him into the Gospel. Dad, you don't have to worry about the Harmonica, its slow progress, ha. So this week was another week full of divisions. I went on a division with Elder Loiseau on Tuesday, Nobre on Wednesday, until I switched with Elder Morais. We actually got locked out of our house and ended up sleeping at the mission office, because my companion had the keys. It was good though, we had a mission conference not far from the office, so we didn't have to wake up super early. Elder Godoy of the Seventy came and gave an excellent discourse and training. I really enjoyed it, and it was good because I understood almost every word. Then I went on Division with Elder Candland until Saturday morning. That was super fun. Elder Candland and I had adventures with food, and that was super cool. This week seriously flew by so fast. So this week, we read this scripture in the Gospel Principles class, and though its well know, it made an impact on me. The scripture is Matthew 22: 36-40. Truly when we follow these commandments, we complete all the other commandments. We should all seek to pay attention to how we show our love to those that are close to us. It is so important, so many times we don't show our love enough, and by showing our love to others, we show our love for our Father in Heaven. Let us all strive to show our love for others in all that we do. I love you all so much, and wish you all a fantastic week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

September 5, 2010

This week was incredibly and indescribably fast. Wow. It feels like yesterday I was writing last weeks email. All my friends are growing up fast too, that's pretty crazy. I am super excited for Derek and Tanner for sending in there papers and preparing to serve the Lord. Its always good to have another young man willing to join the ranks in the service of our God. As for "I'm A Mormon" Its not really big here, or at least I haven't heard anything about it yet, but, that's still way cool. Also, tell John congratulations for me, that is amazing, it will change his life for the better. This week I went on a division on Tuesday with Elder Santiago, and then I went on another Wednesday until Saturday morning with Elder Nobre. I have hardly been in my own area. And, while I was gone, it got to 44 degrees (F), outside, and with the humidity, it feels even colder. I also didnt have my sweater because of the division, so I went around in my short sleeve, but it was good to get some cold since its getting hot again. On the division, Elder Nobre is neighbors with Elder Candland and his companion, so we talked with them a bunch too, which was really great. Elder Candland and I have great conversations. Seriously. Ha. Also, this is random, but to explain why its easy to get lost, is because all the streets are names not numbers, and you have to know which "Bairro" (neighborhood) the street is in because sometimes there are more than one with the same name. Before I forget, say HAPPY BIRTHDAY KORVER to him for me. I cant believe how fast time passes, its like a rollercoaster, it always goes by fast. Or a mountain, when you look back, its amazing how far you've already gone. I am so greatful to be out serving the Lord. I do have opportunities to bear my testimony quite a bit, and its becoming easier in Portuguese, I may not be able to say all I want, but I get my point across. The number of discussions we teach vary each week, and it really depends. Willians passed the interview, and his baptism is this Saturday. We are all super excited. He is progressing "firme forte," (firm and strong). Elder Nobre shared this scripture with an investigator, and it really stood out to me. Its in Alma 5:45-46. Really this scripture doesn't apply to just those trying to find out about the church. It applies to every aspect of our lives. We should continually ask to know if these things are true, not because we doubt, but because we need that confirmation that strengthens our faith. Its something that we should frequently try to do in our lives. Seek counsel from the Lord, and truly seek for another confirmation of the truths we already know, and those we learn.  

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman