Elder Tanner Duron

8.28.2016
Well this week was quite a stressful one. We had transfers this week and in our mission that means that there is a lot of traveling...And the privilege of creating transfer sheets, transfer coordination, and travel plans falls upon the Secretary to the President...Which just happens to be me!

My office trainer and I had everything planned out by Saturday afternoon and we felt super confident with our work, then the APs received a call from President Svec with the news that they would be having a meeting with him after church Sunday to "look over" transfers. Naturally, with the last-minute revelations that come with tranfers, we had to redo the transfer sheet completely and reorganize the travels. Our plan was to do half of it Sunday and the rest Monday, but President Svec decided that the office needed to supervise the trip for the missionaries that would be returning home this transfer (details to come later)....We were in the office until 1:30AM taking care of the transfers.

Fast-forward to Tuesday morning, and we take 7 of my good friends from the mission and we drop them off at the airport and say good-bye and all that good stuff. We go back to the office to make some last-minute preparations for the new missionaries. At 2:30 PM we were in the airport waiting for the plane to get in. We welcomed the six new missionaries and talked to them for a bit. One of the other secretary tossed me the keys to the truck and asked me to bring it around. I run to the truck with another elder and jump in the driver seat, fire it up, and start to back out. From the start I was fighting the steering wheel and I thought "You're kidding me". We jump out and sure enough the rim´s to the pavement.

You'd think that changing a tire would be no problem...buttttt turns out that someone stole the spare tire a while back and no one thought to replace it. So we took the spare tire from the assistant's truck, but then came the problem with our tools..Some tire repair shop in the past wasn't too careful with the lugnuts on the truck..so they were destroyed and our emergency tools weren´t able to fit. We called the insurance company to see if they could lend a hand.."Yeah we can. We'll be there within 120 minutes." Yep. within two hours. So we called some members, but they can't come either. So we went in the airport to find someone to talk to the mechanics, but it's deserted.

Eventually we find someone who calls the mechanics, who then comes to help us. But they only bring one tool that wasn´t the right size socket. So they went back in and brought out five more that weren't the right size. Then they decided to bring out the whole set, as well as a mallet and a monkey wrench to get the job done.

Other than that, transfers went smooth. Everyone got to their areas, as well as the trainers with their new missionaries. And since Wednesday (which is transfer day), not a lot has happened. President asked me to take care of a bit of research into the key indicators for the year (number of lessons, baptisms, new investigators, stuff like that) , so I've been pretty busy with that and we haven't had the opportunity to do much teaching, but as things smooth out we will be able to get back out in the field and get back to teaching!

And as far as Monday goes...President Svec sent the secretaries and APs to "supervise" the missionaries on their Trunky Trip to one of the seven natural wonders of the world..One of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. If something like that can exist here on our earthly home, I can't even begin to imagine what our Heavenly Father has for us in the life to come.

And as pictures are worth a thousand words, I'll let them speak for me.

Have a great week!
Love you all,
Elder Duron

Wow, so what a week it has been. first i was in a trio, but that only lasted for maybe a week. one of my companions and i were out doing divisions with our district leader, when my other companion called us and told us we had to go back, because there were emergency transfers! And i had to pack up all my stuff tuesday night and leave at 6 the next morning. So i left from ciudad del este for encarnacion, which is a six hour bus ride. then from there, i had to go to my new area, which is another 3 hours and its a small town named Natalio Diez. I really love my new area, and my new companion is awesome.

But in this week we have had to travel to Encarnacion three times! For a zone meeting, when i came, and now my companion has to get his temporary residency here. But its better because the internet in Encarnacion is a lot better.

Other than that, not much has happened. In Ciudad del Este, we had three investigators with baptismal dates, and here we have a few that we are going to help set them. I am excited to keep working and teaching. I have progressed a lot with my Spanish, and all of the other missionaries and members here are surprised to learn that I have only been in the field for two months. So this is encouraging, but I still have to get better!

My new companion was only in this area for two weeks, so have gotten lost and ended up in the middle of the corn fields after a visit about two miles outside of town. And we are trying to figure out where all of our investigators and members are. Needless to say, we are learning the area rapidly. Luckily it hasn´t rained on us yet here...so we haven´t had to deal with mud everywhere.
This week we are probably going to try to visit a town in our area that is one hour away by walking, so that we can broaden our radius for teaching.

This week we found a family that used to listen to the missionaries when they were neighbors to the missionaries, but the family previously didn´t want anything to do with us. But the mom asked us for our phone number so she can call us to visit them when they have more free time. So i am excited to teach them again, and to continue to get to know the area and the people here in Natalio Diez.

Talk to you all next week,
Love,
Elder Durón

Merry (late) Christmas to all, And a Happy New Year! This past week has been a bit crazy. our p-day got changed to Friday for Christmas, so we worked normal up until then. But it was a bit hard to contact and teach investigators, as everyone in Ciudad del Este seemed to have travelled for Christmas. Almost all went to Brazil or Argetina. But we had some pretty good lessons with those who stayed.

WE had a CHristmas conference on tuesday with our mission president, which really ended up being a lot of singing, dinner, games, and christmas videos. The best part was the visit from Santa Claus (actually Pres. LaPierre dressed as Santa) and his elves. They even brought presents! haha. Then on Christmas day i got to Skype home, which was a huge blessing. It was good to talk to the family in more than just emails! CHristmas also involved 3 asados (barbecues) of ribs, steak, and chicken...they were really good!

Then on Saturday we had a baptism for an investigator that has been taking the discussions for 6 months! It´s crazy because for as long as i have been here she has had a strong testimony of the church and of the book of mormon, but she finally decided to be baptized! The only hiccup we had was that the bishopric didn´t give us the key for the viewing doors of the bapstimal font and they didn´t come, so a member had to run to the house of the 2nd counselor to get the key. But after that everything went well!

And Today is a transfer day, but I will be staying in my area with my companion for 4 weeks (he already has almost 8 months here...) and we will be joined by a third elder from utah..So the next little bit will be interesting! but will be good as well!

Love,
ElderDuron

Well this week has been crazy busy...we started out looking for a new place to live in the other part of our area, but then on Wednesday our mission president came out for out multi-zonal conference and told us that he wants us to form a plan to work in the two areas to see if it is possible. So we did that, and it is definitely hard to do! Not necessarily difficult for us, but it is hard to visit all of the investigators and the recent converts and the less active members in the two areas...I think a big part of that is because we have to take an extra hour to study for me (there is an extra training program for the first 12 weeks in the field) so we have been a little stressed out..

That being said, the week was super good. I learned a lot at the zone conference with President La Pierre and his assistants. I have been trying to apply the things that I learned there. The biggest thing is "open your mouth"..the only way to learn the language is to try and to make mistakes along the way...so i have been trying and i am starting to be able to make conversation and really teach in our lessons. They other thing that I have been applying is "exact obedience". a lot of the time there are rules that we have that are set for our protection as missionaries and to help invite the Spirit. So, Elder Choque and I have been trying to leave at or before the time that we have set, and we have to sacrifice a little bit of time to do so, but it was at the advice of the president..and as we have don't so, we have found that the Spirit is guiding our lessons...not us. the things that we say are inspired and the investigators are connecting more with our message. All in all we have been more successful in just about every part of our mission. So be obedient to rules! we don´t always understand why, but they are there for our benefit!

This week we found two families that are interested in our message, so hopefully we can continue to teach them! But i think the two lessons that were most difficult and most fun were the lessons with we had with a Jehovah´s witness and an Evangeligist. Both were super stubborn, but by the end of our conversations we were able to connect with them and we have return appointments for this week. So we will see how things go! Also...weather is still loco...hot and humid to cold and pouring rain (resulting in two drenched elders)..but I think I am adjusting...if that is possible! But for now, back to work! Talk to you all next week!

Love,
Elder Duron

Well, Saturday was the first Baptism that we had while i have been here. We baptized a 13 year old boy named Alejandro, who has been soaking up everything that we have taught and wants to become closer to Christ, so he got baptized on Saturday! The Spirit was so strong in the baptismal service! He is the first member in his family, but his mom is super suportive of him being baptized!

Also on Saturday, we were contacting, and it was one of the first times that I have been the one to initiate the conversation, but the family let us into their yard and pulled up chairs and was super receptive to our message about the plan of salvation! We have an appointment with them on Wednesday, in which we will teach of the Restoration!

Other than that, it has been alot of teaching inactive members and old investigators...slowly but surely they are attending church! I didn´t realize how big the area was until we had lunch on one end of it, then walked all the way to the Brazil-Paraguay border, which is all part of our area...my legs are super sore still, but we found a man that wants to learn more about the church and potentially join it!

Once again, this week has been super weird with the weather...as in super hot, then pouring rain..the other day we were stranded to Alejandro´s house because of the torrentail rain! and apparently when it rains, all the big bugs and such come out....I found an ant that had an inch-long body...and a huge snail! also..can´t touch those because they could be toxic..ALejandro told me that before i picked it up haha...

Anyways, hope you all have a good week!

Love,
Elder Duron

I forgot to post that Tanner arrived in Argentina safely last week! Here is his note -Debi
"Two days and three flights later, I am here in Argentina! One flight to Atlanta, then to Buenos Aires. We sat in the airport all day there, then left at about 7:00 and got here to Posadas at 8:20 last night. We stayed the night at the Mission home and we will be staying again tonight. The one downside to being an international mission. We have to do a lot of paperwork and we have to get a second visa! My first area will be in Ciudad del Este, and my comp will be an Argentina Native! I am super excited to actually get to work the next few days! Its crazy that we have to rely almost completely on Spanish now! Talk to you all soon!"

Well,
I definitely love it here! The people are amazing. Everyone is super nice, whether they know you or not! Everyone is super super humble here. There are very few large houses..most are super small with metal roofs and dirt floors. My area is huge, but forthe most part we have stayed near our apartment. There are a few investigators and ALOT of less active members near us.

The lessons are going fine so far, I can say what i want to, but it is really ahrd to understand a lot of what they are saying. The people talk so fast! The first of our investigators that i got to talk to was Alejandro, he´s fourteen and wants to be baptized, so we set the date for the 21 of November. he has been taking lessons for a couple of weeks now! i am super excited for him!

I think one of the coolest parts of my area is we have something smaller than a branch, called a group. For church we go to the stake center and have church with the Ciudad Del Este First Ward, then this Sunday was the first time that Group Belén ( I think that´s how you spell it) met. There were in total 26 members at the meeting (only sacrament) not including Elder Choque and I and the Bishopric from the first ward. We met in one of the member´s garage. Almost everyone there was an inactive or an Investigator! Something that I found about the less actives, it´s not that they are struggling with testimony or anything like that. It´s simply the distance that is too far. It is an hour walk, and most of them have small children or are a bit older, so they can´t make the trek. But they were all super excited about the group in Belén! If we can get the number up to 40 for our next meeting (in two Sundays), they might form a branch there and bring in another companionship of missionaries. We´ll see!

Because our area is so large, we have to alternate days in Belén and first ward boundaries. We have to walk everywhere, and every once in a while we take a bus. There are three types of roads here. Super busy paved roads, less busy roads made of rocks about 10-25 inches square, and dirt/mud streets. The dirt here is more red than i have ever seen! And It is super hilly, so i will be getting in shape fairly soon lol.

It rained yesterday..i thought it was pretty bad. Some of the streets flooded and there was a stream flowing down the side of the road by the church..But after asking the members, I discovered that that was practically a sprinkle compared to what can potentially come down! Soo It should be fun!

Twelve More Days! (Well... Eleven since his mom didn't post this yesterday.)
" It's crazy how fast things are going by here! Spanish is coming along, but not nearly fast enough for me to feel like I am going to be entirely prepared for when I touch down in Argentina..But I will survive at least! I've noticed that the weather in my mission is really bipolar. Within a week itll go from 105 down to 65 then back up to the 100s...My companion and I like to guess what the weather is going to be like for the next week, but we haven't gotten it right yet...

On Sunday, our devotional speaker was Chad Lewis, who, after his mission in Taiwan, played tight end for the BYU football team and then played for the Eagles after. His message was to never let our testimonies of Christ dim, no matter what circumstances we face. The best part of his talk was a quote that he shared from Elder Oaks. During an address in China, Elder Oaks said, "I know the Lord loves the Chinese people because he made a lot of them." I don't know that I've ever laughed so hard...

At the end of the devotional, Brother Lewis had Taysom Hill share his testimony with us. The thing that he said that struck me the most was, "No matter what stadium I played in, no matter who the fans were, and no game that I have ever experienced compares to the way that I felt while I was serving my mission." It's crazy to me that someone who was a Heisman candidate would feel that playing football cannot compare to how it feels to serve a mission. I also never thought that I would see him cry, but when he started to bar his testimony of the Savior, he was definitely crying. The Spirit was super strong!

After the devotional, one of the other elders in my district and I watched the Testaments, and it was definitely nothing at all like I remember it being. The whole movie helped to strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ as my Savior. The way I felt is pretty much indescribable. But when the lights were turned back on, more Elders had tear streaked faces than any of the Sisters haha.

On Monday, Elder Carson and I got to skype a member from Uruguay. That was super cool. We talked for a few minutes then we shared the message we had prepared about sharing our testimonies. I was super surprised at how much I understood of what she said. She was hard to hear because her computer's microphone was turned down, but we understood most of the stuff that she said to us. I'm hoping that next Monday we can talk to someone from our own mission!

Whelp, I am about out of time so I shall talk to you all next week!"

Love,
Elder Duron

Elder Duron and Elder Lee

Time sure is starting to go by faster here at the MTC. The days drag by, but i feel like I just had a P-day. But at the same time, it's hard to believe that I have already been here for three weeks! Spanish is coming on about as well as you can expect any new language to come, slowly but surely! Elder Carson is improving a lot and is getting involved in our lessons now! I still have to translate for him sometimes, but a lot less!

Last night we got to hear from President Clayton of the Quorums of the 70. He spoke to us about the growth of the Church, and how we are a part of the prophecies that are being fulfilled today! He spoke a lot about South America, and about some of the time that he spent in Argentina! In the last 80-odd years, the Church has gone from just 10 or so German immigrant members in South America to around 4 MILLION today. I'm super excited to head down there!

Somehow I dodged a bullet and am not the district leader for the next 3 weeks. Instead, I am going to be the online coordinator. So tomorrow I get to teach the new district in my zone how to use the computers and how to access everything that they need. It's crazy to think of how good of friends I have become with the missionaries in my zone, but after just a few weeks they leave. I have learned a lot from them, both about the MTC and about being a missionary in general.

I'm within 3 weeks of my departure date now! Next week, my district will become the senior district in the zone, so we are going to be helping the missionaries learn how to adapt to life at the MTC. Something that I have learned in my few weeks here, This mission is not for me. If I focus on myself I find it harder to focus, learn, and teach. This mission is for the Lord. As I direct my thoughts towards him and towards the people that I will be teaching, everything gets easier. Everything seems to be more fun as well!

Talk to you all soon!

Love,
Elder Duron