Elder Tanner Brown: Surviving the Storm (April 7-14)

Hymn of the week, "Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings"

Sweet is the peace the gospel brings

To seeking minds and true.

Hey Guys! This week has been wack! I have been hanging out with the Buffalo elders all week! We were going to have transfers on Thursday but we had a blizzard come through. We delayed transfers until Friday and then I didn't even get back to my own area till the afternoon of Friday. I had to cancel all appointments that I had, but miraculously all of them wouldn't have worked anyways. The lord knew that we would be unavailable so he allowed certain things to happen so that we didn't have to really have to cancel anything.

With light refulgent on its wings,

It clears the human view.

On Monday I headed up to Buffalo and Elder Harris left to go to Bloomington. I stayed with Buffalo elders but the Hutchinson Elders spent the day with us too. We went thrift store shopping and I found some cool stuff but didn't buy anything. All those who know me know I hate buying stuff. I almost bought a nice pair of shoes there, but I didn't because my other shoes are still in really good condition. I only need one pair of nice tracting shoes. We actually had just had a lesson at church about saving money. I made a goal to spend less on groceries, (since that is the only thing I do spend money on) so I am no longer buying the needless things. Also it was nice to spend time with Elder Black and Elder Marchant, because they go out to eat every day! It made me realize just how fast money goes when you constantly eat out. That's why you must discipline yourself or allow others to do so.

Its laws and precepts are divine

And show a Father’s care.

On Tuesday we blitzed the Princeton area. We went tracting for a bit and then we went to give someone a blessing. I love giving blessings. That's why I really liked President Eyring's talk on sustaining your church leaders. He stated that part of your sustaining vote is allowing them to help you. If you think about it, there is no better way to show trust in someone except allowing them to serve you. So please allow your leaders and others to help you. Don't feel afraid to ask for a blessing or for other help. It is a great thing to have the privilege to help others and exercise that divine power which has placed in me to help Gods children. I hear to many times about others feeling afraid or to proud to ask for help. Please don't! God loves you and wants to bestow his immediate goodness upon you!

Transcendent love and mercy shine

In each injunction there.

Friday was transfers! I got to meet my new companion Elder Coombs. He has been out for 9 months and this is his 3rd area. He is from Paradise Utah! He grew up doing a lot of farming stuff. He is a really solid missionary that wants to do a lot of work here. I am so glad to have another really solid missionary to do some more work. There is few things that motivate me more than finding success in bringing others the gospel. When I was stuck in the storm, I was getting kind of stir crazy having to stay inside all day.

Faithless tradition flees its pow’r,

And unbelief gives way.

Speaking of my stir craziness I got stuck in a storm on Thursday! It snowed a foot in about 12 hours! Then it hailed and it hurt too! So Thursday we were told to stay in, and the Hutchinson elders were told to come to Buffalo on Wednesday, right before the storm. Our transfers got delayed a day and they wanted everyone within an hour from the cities before the storm hit. It was a long day stuck inside. We played some card games read plenty of scriptures, and talked. We did get to dig someone out of the snow. He had been driving and he just kind of slid into a section where the snow was a little taller. Luckily the storm calmed down, but it was still snowing when we left on Friday.

The gloomy clouds, which used to low’r,

Submit to reason’s sway.

Saturday we did a lot of planning. We made a whole bunch of plans for not only this week, but also for the entirety of our 7 week transfer. This next week we will be super busy. Also, almost our entire Zone got transferred out and changed. 4 of the 8 areas got whitewashed, and 3 of the areas have new missionaries. Only one place was left untouched. It is a good zone though. We have some really solid leaders here and it just feels like this zone is going to see a lot of success.

May we who know the sacred Name

From every sin depart.

Sunday was a tiring day. After church we went over to the Crosby area. It is about 20 minutes out of town and it has about 2,000 residents. We went to every interested person and member in our area book. We walked around for 5 hours finding and updating our area book. We found a new person too! As we put in the work the lord blessed our efforts by placing yet another person into our lives to teach and bring closer to Christ. We got to meet a few of the members of the Atkin Branch and they were so happy to see us. They don't get Elders up there very much.

Then will the Spirit’s constant flame

Preserve us pure in heart

That little town has so much cool stuff there! We found this really cool Viking Tavern with stained glass windows and a wooden carving of a viking. We also found a giant serpent statue! The thing was at least 15 ft tall. For such a small town there was a lot of little gimmicks there. Also on Sunday we brought an RLDS his version of the Doctrine and Covenants back to him. I just thought it was interesting to meet one of the RLDS. They are not very common anywhere.

So to sum up this week. Lots of traveling, staying inside the Buffalo apartment, and then ending it off with a couple very productive tiring days! Anyways I love all of you so much and am always glad to hear from you!