Letter #88 . . . transfers, Facebook and lovin' life!

Hey fam and friends! 

Short email today. Transfer weeks are crazy. We're trying to get back in the swing of things. 

 

Breakfast with the zone on transfer day!

About Elder Roberts . . he was the last AP . . we wanted to be comps so I thought it was going to happen. But he's training now way down south for his last transfer! 

Tanner and new comp, Elder Lauritsen from Idaho

You found my comp's fam on Facebook? Yup that's his family! Haha he's from Rexburg. He's super awesome. We work super well together. Love the dude. To answer your question, we are still Zone leaders in Liberty. 

Speaking of Facebook, our mission is now a Facebook mission and we are going to be able to use it as a proselyting tool!! So don't freak out when you see me using it! :) 

That is really weird that some of my pals are getting married! I miss those dudes and gals. Tell them hi for me! :) 

Saying goodbye to Elder Sandkamp

I fly home Friday February 23rd so we can do my homecoming whenever works best. 

Life is good, things are busy out here. We are lovin' life! Mom, I will send you our address. 

Love,

Tan

Letter #87 . . . Zone Conference with Elder Echo Hawk!

Friends and Familia!

Look at these colors! Awesome missionaries too!

Thanks for the great email. I was so sad to hear about little Lila. That stuff kills me inside. Gehhh!! Life isn't fair.

This is Sandkamp's last few days, and he's having a hard time! He is hanging in there but man, he is very ready to go home. Makes it tough to not feel the same way at times.

That's awesome you got your patriarchal blessing Britt! I want to hear your thoughts about it! Was it like you expected? I read mine probably once or twice a month! That's awesome Sar was on Studio 5!  Good for CC and Alta for showin' respect. The rivalry and the nasty social media fights and comments was one of my least favorite things at home. Haha. I don't miss high school.

Some cool things from the week . . . we had Zone Conference with Elder Echo Hawk of the Seventy. He is an awesome guy. He's the head of the Correlation committee of the church, which means he probably knows Grandpa! I forgot to ask him, dang it!

Tanner and Elder Sandkamp

Mom, I like beef jerky, slim jims, chips, trail mix, those chocolate covered pomegranate things, yogurt covered craisins etc. Thanks!
 
Love ya
 
- Elder Townsend


PS. Here is a video clip of Tanner and Elder Sandkamp playing, singing and signing Savior Redeemer of My Soul . . . click here!

PSS.  Here is a short video Tanner sent of him playing and singing "I Can Do All Things" and Elder Sandkamp doing sign language. Click here to play the video. 

 

Kansas City Temple

Zone Conference, October 2017

Letter #86 . . . when I feel it, I FEEL IT!

Tanner's happy face . . . feeling humbled and grateful these days!

Hey y'all. Things are good here. Things have been flippen crazy trying to double cover two wards. Sandkamp leaves in 2 weeks and he's been mega trunky lately. Haha I don't blame him, he's been out over 25 months, I love him to death. He is such a good guy. One of the most pure hearted people I've ever met. I've learned a ton from him. I'm guessing I'm staying in the ward, and an Elder named Elder Roberts will be coming here... We'll see! Just a guess.

Something cool I've figured out slowly and imperfectly out here, is the fact that's put very simply, I am happy, at peace, and can feel myself progressing toward Him when I am putting time into reading the scriptures, Jesus the Christ, etc. with REAL intent. I've also found when I don't study, and justify it like it's not going to hurt anything, that day becomes a day full of anxious retreating and withdrawing, temptation, sin, and unhappiness. I forget over and over how real Jesus Christ and his love really is. But man, when I feel it, I FEEL IT. I am so grateful for that feeling. So humbled by all the revelation you can receive from the Holy Ghost if you are upright with God and ready listening for it. For me, revelation usually comes as I'm pondering something, usually in the scriptures. Then I see the thought pop into me head, and it rings true!

Beautiful temple!

To anyone who is reading this. I plead with you to give this church a chance. Give the Book of Mormon a chance. If you've gave it a chance and you're still not feelin it, give it another chance, with a sincere desire to know if God really loves you. You will find that answer. These things are true. I'm believing that stronger and stronger everyday and it is crazy to me. This church seems too good to be true, and almost impossible to believe if viewed from the world's eyes. "REALLY..? I'm a member of the ONE true church? Logically that makes no sense!" These are thoughts I ask myself and it blows me away how I can
truly answer yes to all those questions. I feel so grateful to be born
into the situation I was. Feeling humbled and grateful these days.

Tan and Elder Sandkamp

I'm good with clothes. I like beef jerky and slim Jims haha. Spence quit? Dang! Hopefully he'll stick with it and start to love it like I did. :)
Love ya.

- Elder Townsend

PS.  Here's a few second clip of Elder Sandkamp and his sandals. :)  Click here to watch the 10 second video! Looks like something Tanner would do. Love it!   

Letter #85 . . . Conference was Amazing!

Hey fam!

Watching conference at the church . . photo sent by member!

Just had my last General Conference out here! Yes, conference was amazing. I loved both of Uchtdorf's talks the most. I loved Elder Anderson's talk. I agree with you mama, there was a cool reverence as he was talking about President Monson and Elder Hales. He will sure be missed. He's an amazing man. He is so happy now tho, free of all his afflictions, and in the presence of God. :) Conference is so cool. Especially the way you view it and approach it as a missionary. So attentive, so excited, so prepared to hear the message. That's something I want to take home with me. Because there is so much you can get out of it. I had my questions and thoughts addressed and answered. :)

Their district

Things are crazy these days. We are hardly in our area which makes it tough. Yes, lots of paperwork haha. But I love getting to know the missionaries better. I feel like I'm serving around my best friends out here! 

As for my time here... It still feels like I have a ways to go! I'm still not at the point where it feels like I am going home any time soon. Haha! I'm loving it out here. But I am very excited to come home too. My companion Elder Sandkamp goes home in a little over two weeks. He's trying to hang in there, but is starting to have a hard time. Especially because he hit his two year mark weeks ago haha. 

The zone conference we're singing at will be on Thursday! Elder Echohawk of the Seventy will be there. We then have a meeting with him with the zone leaders of the mission at the mission home! (Which is in our area!) He asked to have dinner with us after that too! So that will be super cool. 

The guy in the middle . . . :) 

Eating pie at the mission president's house after priesthood session!

I miss Amosa! Those pics are sweet. I will definitely keep in contact with my comps after the mission!

That trip Sar went on looks SWEET!! THEY WENT TO A COLDPLAY CONCERT?? Haha man I'm jealous. We still need to go to one as a family some day. 

Love you all! I'll send pics later. 

- Tan