The 4th Missionary

Beautiful song to listen to as you read this week's post.

Sorry for the late delivery in this week's post! Whenever there is a Monday holiday, the Missionary P Days gets moved to Tuesday. But better late than never, right?

Sister Tanner's week started by helping a family move out of the branch last Monday. She hates seeing families move away, but she was glad that her and Sister Asper were able to help. Apparently they had SO much food storage that it took quite awhile!

Tuesday was District meetings for the Missionaries. They were given an amazing talk  by Lawrence E. Corbridge titled, "The 4th Missionary". Basically there are 4 different types of Missionaries. Missionary type 1 goes out because he is "supposed to", and not because he wants to. He has a bad attitude, and either comes home or is sent home. Missionary type 2 serves a full mission. However he/she is disobedient and gains nothing from it. Missionary type 3 is obedient because "he has to be", and wishes to be doing something else. Lastly, the 4th Missionary is obedient because he WANTS to be. He wants to follow the Lord's commandment. He/she gives their whole heart and will to the Lord. Sister Tanner was so inspired by this talk. She wants to be the 4th Missionary, and give her all for this short period of time in her life. Becoming the 4th Missionary is the only way you return home a changed person. In a letter she sent me this past week she said, "I'm beginning to more fully rely on the Lord's plan for me. I don't worry what's going to happen after my mission. I have no clue, nor do I need to right now. I have no idea how many people I will baptize on my mission, but it's okay because I trust the Lord. I want to do his will because that will lead us to happiness, eternal life, and more blessings than we could ever know or comprehend." She already sounds like the 4th Missionary type to me. Not only will she return home a changed person, but I believe that she already is.

After the District meeting, the Sisters visited their great friends whom were recently baptized and married. After learning that her companion, Sister Asper was a music major, they all had a jam session on the piano and guitar. How fun! Sister Tanner surprisingly remembered some guitar, and has decided she wants to learn and practice more after her mission.

On Wednesday, the Sisters volunteered at Bargain Boutique. Sister Tanner loves it there! This time they gave her so many free envelopes! She was so grateful! She won't have to buy envelopes the rest of her mission!

Friday was a HOT day in Prairie du Chien! Over 100 degrees and very humid. Yuck! The Sisters taught a family that afternoon. They taught on the importance of the Book of Mormon. The family seemed very eager to read it, and the Sisters encouraged them to do so. Sister Tanner asked them to pray about. She is very happy to see this family progress in their understanding of the Gospel. After the lesson, the Sisters went to go help a woman paint the cottage behind her house. They ate ice cream, painted, and talked. It was a wonderful time!

Saturday was an amazing day for Sister Tanner! The Sisters tracted a bit, and had a lot of success. They found a potential new investigator, whom they later learned was the mother of one of their new investigators. Coincidence? Sister Tanner thinks not. She believes that Heavenly Father has prepared this family for the Gospel. The woman was so sweet to the Sisters. She invited them in, gave them water, and chatted with them about her life. The Sisters can't believe they met her and her son in opposite sides of town within a week of each other. Heavenly Father sure is guiding them in the right direction. At dinner that night, they ate at the Family History specialist's house. Sister Tanner was so excited that she showed her how to use the family history website more. She was able to help her to find more of her maternal grandmother's side of the family. She says she has become "obsessed" with family history. She can't wait to work on it all the time after her mission!

The holiday weekend made it tough for the Sisters to meet with their investigators and find new people to teach. In their town, everyone leaves for Holidays. However, they didn't give up. They were able to meet and teach many of their investigators and less active members. They even met a lady who is interested in learning more from the Sisters. How amazing! Sister Tanner never gives up, even when there are hard and challenging days. She is the perfect example of "The 4th Missionary".

I will leave you with her testimony this week.
"I am trying my best to increase my own faith that the Lord has prepared people in this area and that we can find people to teach and baptize soon. I'm not sure if it's just "the trial of my faith" week or what, but I feel as though when things feel like they are falling apart or when we feel like nothing is getting done despite our hard work, prayer has been the biggest source of comfort. Telling Heavenly Father that we need his help and to help us remain strong. He gives us the strength we need and we can feel his love. I know that prayer is truly the way we grow our relationship with him. I am so grateful that through something so easy that we can do anytime, anywhere, we can receive his help. We are never alone. How grateful I am for that knowledge."

Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."