January 16, 2012

 Glasses Day!  A random day we just wanted to wear our glasses ...

A bird nest that we found in the Church ceiling.  It was huge!  And Douglas - who is Hilarious.

Talk about a crazy week. Well for you guys back home at least. Ha. That's awesome about Trayden! Yay! Another Nephew! We all can play Rugby together when they're all older. I'm excited. Ha. And thanks for everything. I can't believe that this week I will become an adult. Well, at least not a teenager anymore ...  Time is such a strange thing. It passes at the same rate in reality, but it seems to vary in our minds. This week was not very exciting for me, we had a lot of "compromissios" fall through and people that don't really want to do their part. I think we need to increase our teaching pool, and help those that want to be helped. Its really hard, because I know that everyone of us is a Son or Daughter of God. It's sad to think that not everyone will accept the Gospel. As righteous members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know that the greatest happiness truly comes from living the Gospel and keeping the commandments. Truly the Gospel will improve our lives in every way possible. This doesn't mean that trials wont come, for they surely will, it just means that we will have the help of the Lord. Truly, to arrive at the Top of the Mountain, we need to do our best, and make it as far as we can. If we rely on the Lord, we can make it a good distance. We won't make it to the top of the mountain without the Lords help, but if we do our best, and rely and trust in the Lord, it doesn't matter how far we make it. The lord will lift and carry us when we don't have strength to carry on, and only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we can receive the fullness and all the blessings that the Lord has promised. We have so many great promises of the Lord, and this is according to our obedience. The Lord gave us a promise through modern revelation, that if we do our part, He will do his part. This scripture is in Doctrine and Covenants 82:10  Please, give heed to our prophets that receive revelation from God specifically for us, remember that all of us are Children of God, and we therefore have an opportunity to be blessed more than we can imagine. We can receive all that the Father hath. I love you all, and hope you all have a wonderful week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

January 10, 2012

Thought you might enjoy two pictures of Tanner sent to us from Elder Parker's mom (the missionary Tanner is Standing with) ...

January 9, 2012

 Salto De Pirapora!  Cool Eh?

 SDP "Close Up"  TOD, ha.

SDP, Mais uma!

Another week passes. Its been good here, and yes, really hot. It's supposed to get hotter too. I think we'll die. Ha. Crazy news from home, eh? Claire's getting married, Amber is moving out, and everyone is growing up. Wow. Ha. I also heard that I have letters and a package coming my way, which is always good news. Ha. I made sweet and sour the other day; my companion said it was good, though he doesn't really like sweet and sour sauce ...   Dad, you would be proud. Storytime... So we were walking on the road and there were some cows on the side just chillin, and I did the famous cow call, and it started running at us. We are lucky it had to cross a street and stopped because of the cars coming. Ha. It was really funny, but the call worked. So this week, we have visited a lot of people, inactives and pesquisadores alike. We had some inactives at church, and some investigators too. That was super good! An inactive even bore her testimony and thanked us. It's so good to see the goodness and happiness that the Spirit brings. We really need to focus and help some people prepare for baptism and find those that our ready. We have some people on date, and we really hope that Naide and Leticia do their part and prepare for the baptism. They are awesome people. I am so glad for the Lords help in all that we do. The Lord is real, and I know that he loves each and everyone of us. We are all brothers and sisters here on this earth, and all therefore, sons and daughters of God. There truly is nothing in this world that will bring our families and all of us closer and more united than the church. The first scripture in the Book of Mormon shows us the importance of family. Our families are the most important units in this life, and we should all do our part to make our homes a heaven on earth. As someone, don't remember who, said, "Heaven should be a continuation of the ideal family home." The Lord loves us and has given all of us families, and as all members of the Church know, or should know, we are all one big family. "United we stand, now and forever more." We should seek to be one with the ones we love and let our love grow for all others. I am so thankful for my family and I love them so much. I wouldn't be the same without them. I love you all so much, and wish you all a great week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

January 2, 2012

 Year of Baptisms ...  and Corintions!  Ha.

 A cool rock and forest

A cool short cut across a log bridge. Otimo Ne? (Awesome isn't it?)  Ha.

IT'S 2012 !!!   Oxe, I don't believe it!  So, first of all, thanks to Clark for allowing me to jump in the lake through a cardboard substitute. That is awesome! I'm glad I could still participate  :-)    And congrats to Amber with Kitt! That's so exciting! Yay! I have another niece! She looks great too. She'll be pretty big when I get back too. Kids grow so fast. So, this week has been a normal week of visiting people and teaching about the Gospel. It's really sad though, when people say they will come, and they don't come to church. Sometimes people just don't understand the importance of going to Church. It truly makes all the difference in our weeks. We did visit several less actives this week too, and we need to get them to feel the Spirit again. The part that is hard for all missionaries is free agency. Sounds funny, but when you know something is good for someone, you really want them to follow and do these things. We can teach and preach all we want, but it's up to them to act, to let the Spirit touch their hearts. As missionaries, we aren't called to convenience anyone, we are here to invite and help. I know that truly the Spirit is the only way we can experience real conversion. We all should seek to let the Spirit into our lives and increase our testimony at all times. So, this week, we celebrated New Years by going to a party, but, we had to leave when everyone was showing up because of our hour to return home. But I did wake up and drink a cup of Mango juice and count down to bring in the new year. Pretty exciting eh? They have tons of fireworks and lots of parties here. I hear that it's one of the biggest holidays in Brazil, though, we were asleep for most of it. Ha. The fireworks were really loud, though we couldn't really see them. Ha. It was good though. Here we go 2012. Let's do it! So, I would like to share a scripture that is in Mosiah 4:30. Yes it's a scripture mastery, but it's scripture mastery because its a good scripture. Ha. We should all watch ourselves and set goals that allow us to improve in the new year. We all can let our spirituality grow in this year, and we should always be willing to let ourselves grow and improve. I know that it is through goals that we make, that we improve and grow. I love you all and wish that you all have an awesome week ...  and set goals that will help you and others to walk in the light. 

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

December 26, 2011

 Via Corintians!

Our new shirts.  Oh yeah ... we're cool.  Ha.

 Santa Claus is real.   I know it!

I am loved.  ha. (I actually think there was more than this too. Ha.)

Wow, that was so good to skype home! Yay, I love Christmas. Sorry for my stumbling in English, it's just really weird. Ha. Jk. In reality, it didn't feel too much like Christmas since its super hot, and isn't celebrated like we Celebrate it, but it still was a "day happy." It's so good to remember the Savior in our Christmas season and throughout our lives. Truly we should have so much joy because of the Knowledge that our Savior was born and came into this world. My Scripture of the week is in Alma 19:12-13. We all can experience this same Joy, knowing that our Savior came into this world to overcome sin and death, so that we all have the chance to live again. Thank all of you guys that sent cards or packages to me!  It's always good to hear from all my family and good friends. We had a Christmas conference this week, that went well. We had a white elephant at the end. The Bispo invited us to his house and we were able to do "The Paxman Christmas Eve Program," and that was super good, though I do think its better in English. Ha. This week passed really fast, but it was such a good week. Our Bispo is Bispo Ellison I believe. We are working with four people for Baptisms, including Naide and Leticia, a mom and a daughter who have been taught for almost two years. We'll see if they will be willing and go through with this. We already moved it back once, but we have faith. The other two, we taught the first lesson and they accepted the date. One is a sister of some less actives that we went to visit, her name is Tatiane (Ta-chee-on-ee). The other was found by the other missionaries, but they didn't get a chance to fully teach her, her name is Jucelena. We also really want to focus on going to visit more less active members. I can't believe that its almost 2012. Vaca Santa! (Holy Cow!  --  this really isn't a Portuguese expression by the way) Oxente! (This is, ha) But you know what this new year means?   G oals! As our Bispo said here in our ward, maybe we need to worry less about weight and money, and focus on some spiritual goals too. As for me, that's pretty easy, being a missionary, but we all can improve, and allow ourselves to feel the Spirit more often and with more force. We can do all the little things ...  because the little things make all the difference. Truly we are the only people that can change ourselves. As Michael Jackson said in his song, "If you wanna make the world a better place..." you have got to start with "the man in the mirror."  One minor change in you, could effect a lot more than you think. I love you all, and hope you all have an amazing week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

December 19, 2011

 My new area!  Cows.  Ha. (Vaca Santa!)

 Yay! Merry Christmas! Our tree is amazing!

 New companion and area!

Sweet and Sour Chicken!  Mmm Mm Good!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I don't believe it. I seriously don't believe that its this week. Ha. Time flies. So, first of all, yes, 9:00 your time I will be calling for you guys. As for multiskype, I don't know if the computer could handle it since the internet is weak here is Salto De Pirapora. And yes, that means I was transferred! I am here, and we have the whole city to ourselves with my new companion. His name is Elder Wendel, and he is from Fruit Heights, Utah, and he is awesome. He has two months in Brazil, with one month that he served in Alabama. I became senior, and things have been going great.  We got a new tree and put all our presents under it. Its pretty dang sweet if you ask me. And, I hope he doesn't get too annoyed with me, but I only speak to him in Portuguese. Ha. But he is doing really great with Portuguese. Our Bishop here, is from the United States and he married with a Brazilian and moved here. He is pretty awesome. The new area is a small city that is actually pretty close to my old area. Speaking of which, I made sweet and Sour Chicken at the house of a member before I left, which was sweet. A little to sweet for Brazilians though. Literally, ha. And I got Heathers Card, I love the photos and all. As for the package, I haven't got anything yet, but we have a Christmas Conference this week, so maybe I'll get it then. A little news for you guys. I decided that I would be Corintiano! Vai Corintians! Ha. (Time for Futeball). Wow, this week will be a good week. I just know it. So, I would like to use a scripture in Alma 7:10-12. It talks about the birth of the Savior, and his purpose here in this life. Truly, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and he suffered for our sins. He knows exactly how we feel, and he wants us to be happy. He is always willing to help, and it is through the Atonement that we all can be saved if we but do our part. This Christmas, is a day of Joy and Happiness to all men across the world. We recognize the Birth of our Savior and Redeemer, the Son of God, and that is the reason of Christmas. I love you all, and wish you all a wonderful Christmas time.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman

December 12, 2011

Feliz Natal!  This was just painted on the side of a wall - you find them radomly all over the place

 Merry Chrstmas!  Yay!  Our white Christmas tree.

A random outside workout place, and yes, people use it.  Ha.

We still are unsure what will happen at transfers, they will probably call us in a couple of hours. As for sickness here, nothing serious by any means, and all really has been well. Allergies, nada disso também. (Nothing of this also). My companion does want to visit us after the mission according to what he says. All of us Brazilian Bros could show him around. So this week I gave a talk in Church, and several people commented that my Português has really improved. That's good. Ha. It went well, and our Bispo here is really pushing member missionary work. Other News that I forgot, Elder Parker is in my District (the Elder From Aunt Marti´s Stake). He is cool. So, the work here is mostly finding new people at the moment. Sadly a lot of people are traveling or are really busy here. I think the Spirit of Christmas is here, and helping, (though it really doesn't seem like Christmas for me in this Heat, ha) though I haven't noticed it too much. The scripture I will use this week is Mathew 2:11, and this is when the three wisemen give the gifts to baby Jesus, and the gifts are of great value, and the men are men of high class, but they knew who Christ was, our Savior and Redeemer. We should always be willing to give all we have to our Savior and Redeemer. I love you all and hope you all have a good week.

Abraço,

Elder Tanner Ross Paxman