CoMiNg HoMe ViDeO . . . happy day!

All together again!!

It was like Christmas morning welcoming Tanner home at the airport on the afternoon of February 23, 2018.  We were told by other passengers on his same plane that came down the escalator before that the missionaries were just minutes behind them . . . but then we continued to anxiously wait for at least 20 more minutes!  We found out later that the whole group of missionaries had walked some sister missionaries to a different part of the airport.  We anxiously waited and were actually quite relieved they took a little longer since we had a few late comers in our welcome home party! 

Big thanks to Parker Walbeck for coming to the airport and providing us with this awesome little video to help us remember the fun day . . . 

Watch the video here!  

 It's so great to have him home!  He loved his mission so much but is real happy to be home too!  

Here are a handful of photos from the airport!   

And Tanner's homecoming is still coming up on March 18th, 2018 at 1:00pm.  Come hear him speak at our ward at 420 East Stokes Avenue in Draper (right behind our house) and then you are invited to come over after for a little bite to eat!  
We would love to see you!  

Letter #105 . . . last letter . . . I have loved my mission!

Wow. The end has come so fast. This is my last letter for ya. I am excited to be home. I have loved my mission, especially the people I've met. That is the greatest part of it all. 

I love this gospel. I know it sounds cheesy. But man... I seriously do. It makes me so happy, and brings me fulfilling peace. 

Although the tag will be off in a few days, I still want to help others feel this peace. The peace that comes from God and His love for us. I want to stay close to the Savior. That is my goal, help me stay accountable to it! :)

Love ya

Elder Townsend 

PS. Here's a pic of the Clardy's and I. (See below) They were the first door I knocked on in my first area, and we've became very good friends. I love them. They just took us out to dinner. 

The Clardy's from first area!

Screen shot from Facebook from Nikki Clardy!

Letter #104 . . . This whole thing feels like a dream!

Hey all,

Time is weird. I'm going to see you very soon. This whole thing feels like a dream.

Can't wait to watch Dad's date night speech! Miss talking to mom and paps. 

I did hear about Jaime's dad. Broke my heart. So sad. I love her...

All these twins... goodness. That's crazy. They will all be good friends, and grow up together I'm sure!

 

I'm sprinting to the finish! Not too trunky, I'll be alright :) The people I've met out here have become the greatest friends. Members, investigators, etc. Random strangers I've met have became some of my best friends. It's an awesome experience. Nothing else like it. They are what I will miss most. Drama amongst missionaries is the thing I will miss least. Haha. All I wanna do when I get home is just hang out with you guys. Miss y'all so much. ;) 

Love Elder Townsend

Letter #103 . . . Missouri weather is cray ...

Hey fam bam! Hope the Super Bowl was grand. I heard Patriots lost and that makes me happy. Haha. Yesterday we had a HUGE snowstorm, couldn't even see 20 feet in front, then like 2 hours later there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Missouri weather is cray... 

We taught Jennifer a few lessons this week. She is awesome. She's a nurse and can't make it to church too often, but she's reading the Book of Mormon! 

Can't believe Josh is 13 hahaha that blows my mind. Everyone's getting so old. Britt looks good in his Senior pics!! 

Hey can you sign up those two couples in our Ward for dad's thing? I told them they could. I sent you the info for one of the couples, but this is the other, he's my bishop. Matt and Leesa G. 

Man that Women's Conference looked PACKED! Hahaha dad all like a million ladies. XD

Brady's "two weenies" comment made me laugh for like five minutes.... I'm so excited for the babies. 

Love you all. See you soon. Also Mom, I think this is letter 103 not 102. 

Tan

Letter #102 . . . departing testimony at final zone conference!

Hey all!

I don't have too much time today, it's been a crazy one. I read your email tho and loved all the updates! Another week down here in Mizzeruh. I'm excited to see you guys too! Best part of the week was definitely the few appointments with our investigator Jennifer. We had to drop two of our other investigators because they didn't want to meet with us anymore. Sad!

Last Zone Conference

I feel like I've tried my hardest out here. I haven't always been perfect, but I've repented when I haven't and tried harder. I am more excited than anything to come home!

I was able to give my departing testimony at zone conference! Never thought I'd get to that point. But it came fast! Zone Conference was definitely a highlight as well. 

I am so thankful for my mission. I am especially thankful for the Savior, and his amazing Atonement. I am better everyday because of it.  

Much luv! 

Elder Townsend

Letter #101 . . . Youth Seminary Devotional in Independence!

Hola family and friends! 

Hope all is well and that you're not getting too chilly from that HUGE snowstorm!! Weather is up and down over here. Mother Nature can't make up her mind! 

Right now we are still teaching Jennifer! We have taught her the first three lessons. She is progressing nicely! She has very true intent. It's cool to see. 

Sounds like everyone is staying busy! Lots of exciting and new things going on it seems like!

One of the highlights of the week was definitely the Youth Seminary Devotional I was a part of in Independence! I was the guest speaker. Before I talked they played my music video of Story of My Life haha! I spoke for about ten minutes about the power of music in our lives, and how it can be an influence for good or evil. I then sang "I Can Do All Things". After I spoke they went through the top 10 songs of today, showing how almost every one of them are super inappropriate and we don't even realize it! 

I'm trying my best to sprint to the finish. Sometimes it's tough, sometimes it's not. Life is good out here. Till next week!

Tan

Letter #100 . . . last transfer, new comp, super duper cold!

Hey fam and friends! 

Weather has been super duper cold. Now it's been snowing the last few days! I kinda like it! Yes, Elder Skousen is awesome! He does speak ASL. When I was with Elder Sandkamp, the two of them would Skype all the time doing their ASL studies and practice together.  I feel that this is exactly what I needed this transfer. 

In Blue Springs

This past week was crazy, as I was serving in the Blue Springs 1st ward for a week. It's right next to the Blue Springs SECOND ward that I served in earlier. I loved going and visiting Bishop Hubner and the Lambs. Hubner is no longer the Bishop. We had a good visit. He is the one that listened to Dad's show all the time I don't know if you remember. He's also the one organizing this Youth Fireside for the stake's youth.

Yeah I'd be down to do Camp Alma. Yes, let me know what to speak about. Is Britt planning on going? Man oh man I miss my bros. Can't wait to see them all! Also, do I have a topic for my homecoming? Or no?

That could be pretty cool to do a musical number with past comps! Me, Griffiths, Amosa, Staheli...?

That's a sweet topic (Book of Mormon) Spence gets to speak on on Sunday.

January, 2018

• Tell him to talk about the importance of EVERY PERSON developing their OWN testimony of that book at some point in their life. EVEN if, no, ESPECIALLY IF you've been a member your whole life. 
• Tell him to share HIS own simple testimony and thoughts of the Book at some point, without a script. Not just the testimony that he thinks people want to hear, but his SINCERE thoughts and testimony of the book. Sincerity is what will bring the spirit.
• Tell him reading it with real intent is the only way to feel clarity and peace in this world of so many conflicting and chaotic voices. 
• The Book of Mormon is THE reason I decided to come on a mission. I personally would have been able to take and deal with the culture heat of not going on a mission. You know me, I'm not one to do things just to "people please." But the moment I read that book, I could not in my right mind not go out and give Him a few measly years of my life trying to share that with people. Feels like hardly a sacrifice when you feel how powerful that book is. 

Josh got an expander?? Oh man remember how much of a pain it was with me and my expander? I hated rotating that dang key. It was the worst. But Joshie, it's so worth it!! Your teeth are gonna look so purty. Haha I'm dying. One of the things I'm looking forward to most is hanging out with Jaker. I love that dude... He's my idol!

I miss Grandma. Doesn't happen all too often, but yesterday actually, I got teary thinking about her! I felt a sweet sadness as I remembered holding her cold hands at her funeral. The natural man's view of death is one of mourning, sorrow, and hopeless longing. Yet, there's a surreal peace that can come to us, when we take time to ponder the reality of God and his Plan for us. Do we TRULY believe that they still exist, and smile down at us? Do we REALLY believe that? Or is it just a comforting thought to ease the pain of reality? It's either fully true or fully wrong. There is no gray area, no in between!! What I do know, is that death is an empty, miserable thing if that belief isn't there, and I fully believe 100 percent that she IS alive, and IS happy, and wants us to know that our time without her, in an eternal perspective "shall be but a small moment." She is waiting for us! 

Love you all! Till next week!

Tan Man