January 28, 2013

NO fotos, there is no adapter today. sorry.

Wow, its almost February...   Time flies super fast ...  that is super weird. This week I will start my last transfer here in the mission. I think that I will be staying with Elder Allan here in Jaguaré, but I'll find out for sure tonight. So, this last week has been full of stuff happening. On my Birthday we went bowling which was super fun. I got in last place by a long shot ... but it was still fun. Ha. We also had brownies and a huge "firework like" candle. It was sweet. Then on Tuesday I got my package at a mission conference. The mission conference was amazing. All of São Paulo North, and São Paulo Interlagos were there. Around 360 missionaries together, that was way cool. Elder Christensen from the Presidency of the Seventy, and Elder Mazzagardi from the Seventy were both there, and it was an amazing meeting. Also, an Elder Cragun came up to me, and apparently he is good friends with Brenton (Elder Paxman currently) since he is from Corona. Small world. Then, I had a division with Elder Hendrixson, and he worked with me for a day, which went great. He made amazing Fajitas for Almoço since we got money to buy food. They were delicious. Then, the Zone leaders came to do some interviews, and yet another time, the person that would be baptised couldn't be baptised this past week. This time it was because her Mom doesn't think that she is ready. Its weird how people progress ... and get almost to baptism ...  and then start to avoid us  --  but it makes up part of this work. The plan is to have a baptism this coming week of a young boy that is called Bruno. He is the cousin of Léo, who was baptised recently. The work continues to move forward. Today, I would like to mention a scripture in Mosiah 4:2-3.  We all can be cleansed from sin through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important thing that has happened since the creation of the world. Everything in the Gospel has a connection with the Atonement of Christ. I know that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, and that through His Atonement, we can be saved. The Atonement is of much greater significance than we can image, and I know that through it, we can be saved.  I love you all, and hope that you all have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

fyi:  My plan for when I get home is to go back to BYU-I, which starts about a month or so after I get back.   The bad part of "Carnival" here is only on TV  --  which we don't watch  --  so we are good. Its not too huge here in our area.  Last year was super tranquil since I was in the interior (out in the country - smaller city). The end of the mission is the same as it has been my whole mission  --  just working hard here with all the great Brazilians that need to be baptised.

January 21, 2013 - Tanner's Birthday!

Tacos!  Yum!

Sounds like good times at home, and I'm having a great B-day today too. This past week was a crazy week, and I got caught a couple of times without an umbrella or raincoat. I got soaked! Holy Cow, my time is already running out.   Anyways, this last week passed by really fast. We have been working with several pesquisadores, and we found some new people to be baptised. The work is moving forward here. Hopefully in this next week we will have a couple of baptisms. Elder Allan and I are working hard, and having a good time here in Jaguaré. I went on a division with Elder Nogueira, and that was great, though we took a wrong ônibus and had to run around the town getting soaked. And I would like to send home Ether 12:4.  Our Faith and our works will be but an anchor to our souls. Always remember to rely on your faith, and be involved in good works so that we can be strong, and we can strengthen others. I love you all, and hope that you all have a great week.

 

Abraço,
Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

January 14, 2013

 Benzinho ...  again!  (Little Ben!)

Dominos !!   Best Pizza ever !!!   (with some members of the Branch)

This past week flew by really fast. And no, I'm not in a threesome. Ha. I thought I had mentioned it before, but I live with another companionship of Elders. There names are Elder Hendrixson (Utah/California), and Elder Vasquez (Paraguay). We have some good times. P-Days are pretty sweet. Ha. We are all great friends. So this week was really a rainy week, and it got relatively cold here .... well - that is compared to what is normally is here - especially when you are used to the heat. Ha. We have been working with some people to progress towards baptism, and the work is going well. We also got to have some wonderful Domino's Pizza with a family here  -  only one member of the family is active right now. They are all great people. We have been working with some of the recent converts, and also with some old pesquisadores, and we are always finding new ones as well. We have really been trying to fulfill our purpose as missionaries, and are working hard here. I know that this truly is the Lords work. Now is the time. A passage of scripture that I wanted to pass this week is in Alma 34:17-28. We should always pray to Heavenly Father in all moments, at all times, and about all things. We also should strive to be charitable, and therefore we can be the answer to someones prayer. The Lord loves us, and wants us to be happy. He will answer our prayers, and we need to be willing to be an answer to a prayer. I love you all, and hope that you all have a great week.

May we all increase in our faith.

 

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

Jauary 7, 2013

 Pancakes in the Morning !!

 That's right ...  Orange and Legit !

New Years !!!  Cool colored ties !

Another week passes by (sort of), and that was quick. Yep, We had some good times. Elder Allan and Elder Hendrixson are both awesome guys, and we always have great adventures. And also, before I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRAYDEN! Anyways, this past week, we have been about the regular mission life, and that's always great. We have met a couple of new families and others that we are trying to work with to progress towards baptism. Its always interesting all the different types of people that we meet here in the mission ...  We have met drunks that prophesy, drunks that are "the son of the Son of God," and all sorts of fun drunks ...  We also have met some people that have very interesting views about life, some that have bunnies inside their house, and others that like to talk to us in the street, and ask to hear "the word" and but not want us to teach them at their house. The mission is great. Ha. We do meet lots of sane people too, and they always seem pretty cool. Anyways, I also would like to leave a scripture with you all, that is Alma 41:10. The world looks so much on worldly things to make them happy, but the real happiness comes from keeping the commandments of God. I love you all, and wish you all a great week.

Abraço,

 

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

January 2, 2013

 Cassia's Baptism!

 We are in the Zona Osasco!

I'm in the O !!

So, first off, sorry for not giving you guys a warning about not writing you guys until today ...  but the other day was December 31st, and none of the Lan Houses were open when we went to find them ...  so President let us write today. Anyways, HAPPY 2013!!!   Oh Yeah!  Úau (wow), time really has been flying by, I cant believe its already 2013. It was Christmas, with an amazing talk with my family, and then New Years. Time flies. So, New Years here is a huge party where all the nonmembers go, get drunk, and party all night. There are lots of fireworks and stuff here. I mean lots ...  its like a war zone here, with loud bangs, and noises going off like crazy, and not just at midnight either. Ha. It was great though.    This last week we were able to baptise a young women who finally decided to be baptised after a while of knowing that it was true. Her name is Cássia. That went really well, and several missionaries were happy after working with her for some time now. Other than that, we have been working hard, and Elder Allan and I are doing great. I am loving the mission and am excited to be here working.  I wanted to pass along a scripture in 3 Nephi 27:27. Especially with the new year, I think it is really important that we make new goals for the year, and include the Savior in these goals.  I think we all should try and set goals to make ourselves better.  I love you all, and hope that you all have a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman