Elder Tanner Brown: Day by Day (June 4-9)

Hymn of the week "Today, While the Sun Shines"

Today, while the sun shines, work with a will;

Today all your duties with patience fulfill.

Tuesday was quite a day. We were able to see an elderly woman and give her a blessing and help her feed her animals. We were expecting to be there a long time because she likes to talk, but she must really have not been feeling good, because we got out of there really fast. We had some extra time so we went and visited a family we tracted into, a couple months ago. The wife is who we met, but she doesn't really seem too interested, but the husband is actually really searching for Christ, and wants to learn more about his healing power! That's a really easy way to talk about the priesthood and why it is important that every family has that source of worthy power in there home!

We also helped a man named Richard tile his basement. We met him because he had been tracted into previously and shown a little interest possibly. When he came out he had paint or something on him, and he told us he was tileing. We offered our help and he accepted! (People accepting help never happens) So we came and helped him tile for 2.5 hours and then his wife cooked us all a dinner. We shared a short message about Jesus Christ after and then we went on our way. He and his wife just seemed shocked that we came in and helped without forcing anything on them. We will be going next week and helping them again, and then we will really bear testimony to the Book of Mormon and why it is so important. You first have to show people you truly care for them, before you say you do. Service can go a long way.

Today, while the birds sing, harbor no care;

Call life a good gift; call the world fair.

We also taught Matthew, and it was really good to talk with him! He is such a good guy, a little weird, but who isn't? He really truly feels more and more like a friend than anything else. He is kinda scared of coming to church because he doesn't know anyone, and he said he would like to, but is afraid others will not like him. So we are going to really emphasize that we need members to come teach with us. Members are truly so important, because we come and go, but they stay and support each other. If the ward can't help support, then we can't have anyone solid. It's really a matter of who is available... everyone just has different schedules. Do me a favor, and let missionaries know when a time slot that works best for you is. It is hard to find joint teachers because they don't know who is available and when. So if you give them a more specific time that usually works it makes things way easier.

Today seek the treasure better than gold,

The peace and the joy that are found in the fold.

Wednesday was another really busy day. We served at the salvation army and it was really good we showed up, because it was consistently busy for the whole time as well as for an extra hour after! Fortunately they had just received 50 cheesecakes from Costco that were sell by of June 5th. So they told us to take one home with us! We happily obliged. Can't say no to that. We also had a tasty steak, corn, potatoes dinner. So tasty! After that we went to an area that I felt like we needed to go. While we knocked on about 6 doors, we found not one but two people that we will be seeing again! The lord places those prepared to hear the gospel to those who want to share it. If your back at home, and struggling to find ways to spread the gospel, and you truely want to, the lord will give you an opportunity.

Today seek the gems that shine in the heart;

Thursday, was a hard day this week. We only had two lessons that day, and everything else had fallen through. But the real reason it was hard was knowing that my brother has just gotten off of his mission and most my family is there at home to welcome him. I knew that if I kept pushing forward, I would remember that I will spend eternity with all, if I keep the lord first. The lord has asked me to serve a mission and I'm not going to leave unless he sends me home. There will always be time later to see my brother, and there are people out here that need me now!

While here we labor, choose the better part.

Friday, we had a meeting in St. Cloud, so we thought we would Blitz Brainerd on our way back. So Princeton came up with us and we got some work done in our area. I went on exchanges with Elder Mitchell, and he is all business when it comes to talking about the gospel. He wants to find the people who are ready now and who have real questions. We found three people and we only went finding for a total of an hour together! The lord is truly bringing those who are seeking answers to us, as missionaries! People keep asking us why? So many others hate us, and we dispelled all the controversies that we as members do have. They were all impressed that the controversies were kinda misplaced or exaggerated, and that the doctrine was there.

Today seek for goodness, virtue, and truth,

As crown of your life and the grace of your youth.

I feel a resurgence of people coming in to find the gospel. One of the things that happens before the second coming is, many more people will find the truth and become Saints. From what I am seeing, I can see that foundation coming forth. The more people know and hear about us, the less they fear or hate us. That is why we all as members have the responsibility to share the gospel in those simple and natural ways. People need to know what we believe now, so they don't have to question us! They can instead make their own judgment and see that we truly are followers of Christ.

Today, while the heart beats, live to be true,

Saturday we continued our exchange and we both worked in the Aitkin area. We were able to help some one on their ranch! We helped them load the hay from their truck into their shed. Then we put fencing around their property to keep the animals in. There fencing was old so we were either fixing it or replacing it. That was fun, and Elder Mitchell, my temporary companion had actually worked on a big ranch back in Utah. He said it was really fun to work on a ranch again. We were also able to go and check up on some people and see if they were still interested in the gospel or not. We got a return appointment from someone taught in the past, for Tuesday! The Aitkin area is truly ready for the gospel.

Constant and faithful all the way through.

On Sunday we went to Wadena to give talks! We were asked to speak on Charity and why it is important. After church we had lunch with Branch President and then visited a whole bunch of less actives. We will be teaching a few of them the missionary lessons to reactivate them since it has been a long long time since they have been to church. The unfortunate news is that I have experienced my first onslaught of swarms of bugs. I got about 5 mosquito bites in a minute, which makes me really not looking forward to the rest of the humid summer. I truly hate bugs!

Today, today, work with a will;

Today, today, your duties fulfill.

Anyways love you guys and thank you all again for all of your support!

Today, today, work while you may;

Prepare for tomorrow by working today.