A Whole Year

June 23, 2014

Well, well, well folks. Little Sister Tanner ain't so little anymore. This past week I was haunted with memories of confusion, foreign languages, skirts, and brown hallways. Yes, the MTC. A place I entered exactly one year ago last Thursday. Can you believe it's been a whole year?! I can't. But then again, a lot has happened to me so maybe it has been a whole year.

                                                    Entering the MTC

                                               Tracting in Atlanta, Georgia

                                          Tracting in Lugansk, Ukraine

                                           Street contacting in Kiev, Ukraine

                                          Tracting in Yucaipa, California

I'm just glad I managed to throw off the little mission weight I gained in Lugansk. Walking for 6 hours a day will do that do you. And no, that number is not an exaggeration.

You see, Sister Webb and Sister Tanner didn't have a great deal of appointments this past week, so we did a lot of walking. Maybe too much. We do have a car, we just try not to use it too much. But really, we need to use it more because we are getting way too tired and sore by the end of the week. I have never had my feet muscles hurt so much. And this past week it got HOT.

This week I went on my first official exchange as a Sister Training Leader. Woot woot. I was with a brand new sister. Which means I have served in the Redlands, California Mission longer than she has. WEIRD. Because neither she nor I was cleared to drive a car we got to walk. All day. Luckily it was a cooler day. Poor Sister D - we stopped by the D family, and the mom and daughter were there. We had a good impromptu lesson with them, but during the little chit chat the mom had been going on about how she was just feeling old that day (she's not that old), and then Sister D is like "so do you have any grandkids?" This lady's oldest is 14. My face may have turned a bit red. But it was pretty funny. Also that day there were some men working in this guy's yard, and this one man was hacking away at a bush with a machete, and Sister D is like "I like your machete!" and the guy literally said "Why are you liking the machete and not the men?" Uhhh... So we kept walking, but then we had to walk by them again, and the same guy is like "You must have big muscles, you walk a lot." ...why? This is all in a Mexican accent, mind you. Anyway, also pretty funny after the fact.

In other news, again, I turned a year old, and Sister Webb bought me two donuts and then made me eat both of them right away because she is currently off sugar and didn't want to be tempted. They were delicious but two made my tummy hurt. I have also eaten many delicious apricots straight from the tree.

                        One of the perks of California is homegrown fresh fruit.

This morning we heard the sad news that the family dog, Pearl, had killed one of the baby chicks. Of course it was the runt. I can never look at Pearl, the chick murderer, the same.

                          This photo with Pearl was taken before the chick murder.

                                           The family chickens

On Sunday we had a lady who we just barely started semi-teaching come to church! She is a Seventh Day Adventist but wanted to check out our services. Seventh-Day Adventists are the nicest people ever, and actually believe many of the same things. In fact, this lady very much enjoyed herself, and said herself the services are very similar, and she felt right at home. Good, because I was semi-freaking out the whole time. Didn't help that Sister Webb and I were teaching Gospel Essentials/Sunday School (it went well). That night there was a fireside that we really wanted to go to, but we needed an investigator or someone to come. This SDA lady said she might, so we got to wait in the lobby and earnestly hope (because all our other investigators know each other they were all having dinner together. Or otherwise busy). Well, she didn't come, so we had to sadly get up and leave. One day, my ability to attend a social event will not be determined by other people's agency.

That is about it I think. Like I said, we walked a lot. But all is well in the neighborhood. The work is great actually. Hopefully I will have some exciting updates for next week :D

Love you!

Sister Tanner

Yucaipa landmarks

June 16, 2014

This week was an eternity week. Why was this week so loooooooong? Probably because we got dropped by three investigators, everyone and their dog was up at girl’s camp, the progress of those we're teaching flat lined, and we walked for four or more hours a day in the draining California sun. I would go to bed exhausted, and wake up exhausted still. Actually, one night this week I finished my nightly prayer, walked into our bedroom, and Sister Webb was passed out on her bed - skirt, shirt, shoes and tag still on. I don't think she meant to fall asleep, but she was passed out all night. I looked for the phone to plug it in that night but couldn't find it, and figured she fell asleep with it in her hand. Yep. Also, and I feel pathetic writing this, no one had us over for dinner this week, which meant we had to break into our little food stores (we don't really have appliances meant for real cooking) (they are living in a pool house), and had to eat tuna fish (Sister Webb) and PB&J (me) all week. When did I become so pathetic? Our house smelled like stinky fish and stinky feet.

We had an older woman in the ward come out with us for an hour one evening and all our plans kept falling through. So as we went from one back-up plan to another, she commented "I feel like I'm in a movie." We're just glad she enjoyed herself :)

Also, we discovered Yucaipa is the biggest small town ever, as all our investigators seem to know each other. And have mixed feelings towards one another.... Yikes.

But "wo is me" is over. This week is already looking to be better. The past week was just one of those where you go "that happened just this week? It seems like forever ago."

In other news, I got to enter a parakeet atrium this week. Basically a giant bird cage with parakeets flying around your head. I also got to pet two baby parakeets. Talk about wobbly heads. Fun fact: if you touch one, you must touch the others so as not to confuse the momma bird.

Sister Webb and I made sugar cookies at a member’s home to deliver to our investigators and other people we work with for Fathers' Day. Somehow I was deemed a sugar cookie expert because I used to cut out sugar cookies (with a mold) at Christmas. We attempted to hand carve ties, and even after I discovered a pattern to cutting, they turned out looking like rocket ship things with toothpaste (frosting) on top. But they still tasted good :)

On Father's Day I also came to terms with the fact that I learned how to EAT in Ukraine when I received a massive steak for Fathers' Day lunch and managed to eat the whole thing. Plus some vegetables and rice and an ice cream sandwich. And I still managed to be hungry later in the day.

To end, Sister Webb and I are pretty sure we're becoming Yucaipa landmarks. We always wave to passing cars as we walk, and more and more people are waving back. You can tell the members because they're the ones that wave first. :)

Maybe more happened, but I thought it happened last week. Or the week before. Or a year ago. Who knows? I did manage to write in my journal every night this week, so we can sort it out later.

Love ya! Hope you have a great week :D

Sister Tanner

Are you still teaching the D family?

We are still teaching the D family. The daughter actually went to girls' camp (so we couldn't teach them) but she loved it and even bore her testimony. They are coming along so well and they may go to temple square this week with some family friends (the ones who introduced them to us, and who come on every lesson). Things should pick back up with them.

A wedding and a love triangle

June 9, 2014

Well, well, well. It feels like this last week was actually two weeks long. Normally that's a bad thing, but it was actually a really great week.

To begin, allow me to profess my love for the D family. They are the most wonderful family ever, and it warms my heart that I get to share the gospel with them and see it bless their lives. They already seem like a part of the ward, and the ward sees it that way too. The dad and son went on a campout this past weekend, and the daughter is going to girl’s camp this week. They make me happy inside. They also make me laugh, especially when the mom makes sure our other investigator, a family friend of theirs, doesn't dip out after Sacrament Meeting, but stays for the full three hours. She has also signed up to come out with us Sisters on a Thursday night.

Another thing that warms my heart is when little children run down the hill after we invite them to join in our prayer yelling "prayer! I love prayer!"

Moving on. This week we got involved in a wedding, and a love triangle. First, the wedding. Saturday morning we were invited by a ward member to help his neighbor set up for their daughter’s wedding. They live in a tropical oasis tucked back behind some houses. They have turtles, a koi pond, a big cage full of chickens, roosters, turkeys, pheasants, and peacocks, and a bobcat. Yep. He caught a bobcat trying to eat his chickens and now it lives in his backyard. Anyway, as we helped set up the wedding, the DJ was there testing the music and it basically set off a day of trunkiness as the "Cupid Shuffle" refused to leave my brain. I realize now that trunkiness is going to be a real thing as I serve in America, because instead of my world being completely different, I now live in my normal world...just not. It didn't help that Saturday everyone and their dog decided to have a party and invite the whole neighborhood.

Now for the love triangle. So Sunday we were invited over to dinner by some ward members, and they had a friend whose mother (a member) recently died and she appreciated how her mom's ward handled everything and she wants to know more about the church. So we had dinner, and then taught the Restoration. She accepted a return visit. Good. But during the dinner talk I started to put things together, and had a suspicion she may be the ex-girlfriend of another investigator of ours who we have heard about. So we made some phone calls...and yeah. Confirmed. This could potentially get really awkward. Neither one knows we are teaching the other, so we will definitely clear that up before they see each other at church. Oh goodness.

Other things happened this week like being taken out to eat by a very wealthy woman. That was nice. We also got let into the home of a less active woman for the first time despite repeated attempts, in my opinion because we had been walking for hours in the hot sun and probably looked very tired, hot, and sweaty. Sister Webb and I have gone on several two hour hikes basically. Our feet are very tired at the end of the day. Oh yeah, and I went to Missionary Leadership Council for the first time, because apparently I am now a Sister Training Leader. Found that out through a text after we asked who Sister Webb's training leader companion was (that's me!) This should be fun.

So yep, that was this week. It's gonna be a long, hot, summer :)

Love you all!

Sister Tanner

Coyotes wake me up at night

June 2, 2014

This week. This week has been hot. This week I have developed a major farmer's tan. My watch tan makes me proud. This week Sister Webb and I walked. A LOT. More than I walked in Ukraine. But hey, missionaries don't get seen from the inside of their cars. Side note: losing language study means one more hour of missionary work, and one hour has never seemed longer. Plus, now I push lunch an hour or two back, and instead of not leaving the apartment until after lunch, I've been slaving in the hot sun for a couple hours before I get to eat. To put it simply, it's an adjustment.

This week we said goodbye to Sister McConkie, and Sister Webb and I were left only to see each other's faces. I never thought I would say this, but I quite liked working in a trio. At least with us, it worked. But Sister Webb is great, and after hours of walking along the side of roads together (yes, we were those idiots), we basically know too much about each other.

In other news, I have never served with a companion who literally teaches entire discussions in her sleep. I couldn't help but say "amen" when she ended her lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her testimony and "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." In other, other news I am apparently a light sleeper.

I saw my first snakes this week. They were all dead in the road. Other California wildlife include rabbits, lizards, crows, colorful birds, and ground squirrels. Non-wildlife include dogs, cats, (no more strays!) horses, and goats.  Oh yeah, and sometimes in the mountains there are bears. And coyotes wake me up at night. Much more diverse than Ukraine.

Fun story from this week: We received a referral from a member of the ward, but all they could tell us was a name, and that they lived around "Cornell." Adventure time. So we drove to "Cornell" to discover there are actually about four different Cornell streets. We knocked some doors, met some people, but no one knew this family. We did learn that there was another Cornell street a little over, so we went there. Knocked one door...no one home. Knocked another...no one answered. We said one more, and then we would break for lunch. Knocked it...no one home. But then we randomly decided to knock one more door across the street. Knocked it, and a lady answered. "Hi! You don't by any chance know where the A family lives, do you?" "Umm... that's us." Found them! And they said we could come back the next week. Booyah :)

Not so fun story from this week: some of our investigators are struggling. But guess what? President has encouraged us to do this thing called a prayer list. We visit members of the ward and share with them a list that has the individuals we are teaching, and those needs we feel they have. And then we ask them to pray for our investigators by name and need. We update them weekly at least, and the added prayers have already helped. Plus it gets the ward involved with our investigators, and they're more excited about the work. Genius!

I think that is about it for this week. Shout out to Aunt Shari and Uncle Chris! Thank you so much for the package! Everything inside was definitely appreciated. The kids of the family I live with were so excited to deliver it to me, they made me open it right then and there. I think they loved it just about as much as me :)

Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Tanner

DUI stop

May 27, 2014

Okay, not going to lie. I'm exhausted. So I apologize if this letter is not the best part of your week like I know it usually is. Just kidding. But not about the exhaustion.

This week began with an intense game of volleyball on Monday that left me with a sore arm (apparently stretching your forearms is a thing), and a sore neck for the next couple of days. But Tuesday I received a package full of California appropriate clothing that received the immediate stamp of approval from my companions, i.e., they were immediately borrowed.

Wednesday we had an exchange, and the other sister came to Sister McConkie and I this time. We had a lesson with an investigator, C, who wants to be baptized but is just receiving zero support from her parents, so the date has been pushed back. Well, we tried to set a solid date, and she prayed, and then was like "I want to do it this Saturday" which was her original date. Okay! So we quickly tried to plan it, and then set off trying to make it happen. Things just started falling into place.

Well, then comes Zone Conference on Thursday. Zone Conference is a great time to learn, and it is sometimes a great time to realize everything you are doing wrong. It included a great presentation on how to properly plan a baptism, and we realized all of our flaws. And then after Conference we got a voicemail from C saying that she told her family, they were understandably upset, and while she 100% wants to be baptized, she no longer feels comfortable with Saturday. Of course we had to understand, so then we set about undoing everything we did Wednesday. And then suddenly holes began to appear, and it became apparent that to wait was truly best.

Thursday was another exchange, same deal as Tuesday. This day also included a lot of walking, and at one point we met a lady on the street from Indonesia that turned into a very strange lesson involving all kinds of stories about babies, miscarriages, demon babies that kill their mother, half-bat, half-human monsters, and Jesus being her boyfriend. It was just a mess. And then the sister we were on an exchange with was so kind as to set up a return appointment with her on our behalf. We were supposed to meet her in the park on Tuesday. A little update, we got stood up. (Not a big surprise).

That night after exchanging back, Sister Webb was driving us home on the highway, and there was a DUI stop. Well, Sister Webb had left her wallet in her suitcase in the trunk, so we had to pull over to get it. But then some police directed us to pull over into one of the parking spaces so we could get checked out. Three sister missionaries pulled over at the DUI stop. Well, when the officer saw Sister Webb's Utah license, he realized we were missionaries and told us he wasn't too worried about us. Sure enough, they soon let us leave. But, thanks to that lovely missionary rule, Sister McConkie, to her embarrassment, had to get out and back Sister Webb out. I found the whole thing hilarious. (In an effort to reduce the number of accidents that mission cars are involved in, when a missionary is backing up a car, their companion must get out of the car and direct them.)

Saturday we weekly planned, and it took forever. I wanted to die. But then we went to a magical fair land called Oak Glen, and ate tons of food, and tried to stop by some people that weren't home. I will probably be returning there after my mission to go to all the fun little places there.

Sunday was magical. Our investigators came to church and loved it. Lessons were perfect for them. Unfortunately the day had to be tainted a bit with transfer news. Sister McConkie will be leaving our little trio, but I'm lucky enough to get to serve with Sister Webb another 6 weeks.

Memorial Day was good. Started with pancake breakfast at the church. The Palmers made us incredible burgers to eat. Sister McConkie said goodbye to some people. Yep. I was reminded I was in America.

Anyway, so that was the week. I feel like a lot happened, because it did. Unfortunately, trying to write it all would take hours.

Love you all, take care :)

Sister Tanner

Ukraine seems like a distant dream

May 19, 2014

I'm sad to say it, but Ukraine seems like a distant dream. I guess you could say I've pretty much settled into California. But really, did I only arrive in America a week and a half ago?

Last Monday ended with a perfect lesson with the D family, a family Sister Webb and Sister McConkie have been trying to teach forever. This was our first official lesson, so we were pretty nervous, but it went so well. I don't think I've ever participated in such a spiritual, smooth lesson. It's pretty nice to teach in English - I feel like I can really say what it is I want to say. And the discussion can flow better, because I can fully understand what it is they are saying. Just a whole new feel, really. And this is my first family I get to teach! It's all just very exciting.

Baptism smiles

And now I'm just going to jump to Saturday because we had a baptism! It was for this little adorable eight year old girl I got to teach a bit. She is technically considered a convert because neither one of her parents are members. Her grandpa is, and he is the one who baptized her. Her grandmother is not. But man, this baptism means so much, because it is softening the hearts of her parents and her grandmother. Apparently her grandmother used to be pretty against the church, but over the years she has softened, and after the baptism she came up to us sisters and just thanked us profusely for putting together such a wonderful service. We were very pleased with how well it went, and with how many ward members showed up to support. It was standing room only in the font room. It also felt great to fill a real baptismal font. I also got to play the piano for a musical number that I received the music for that day. It's good to know my piano skills will still occasionally come in handy here in America.

What happened the rest of the week? We taught lessons. Apparently less than Sister McConkie and Sister Webb are used to, but to me this is a dream. I probably talk about Ukraine a little too much with them. I still pray out loud in Russian, and I'm just lucky Sisters Webb and McConkie like it. Sometimes when we go to lessons, they're like "who do you want to say the prayer? You can ask Sister Tanner to do it in Russian." And then they always say yes. But it's great, because I can be super honest in my prayers without risking offense ;)

What else do we do? We walk. I don't think I even walked this much in Ukraine. But it's great. We have people that we need to stop by, and so instead of just driving there and wasting miles and missing people along the way, we park the car in a central location and walk. And it is HOT. People tell us to be careful. But my tan is coming along great. I already have a pretty great foot/shoe tan. The other day we were outside for a long time because no one was home. We finally went to a member's home to ask for some water, but she wasn't home either. So...we used some of her hose water. If I was in Ukraine, no. But in California? Sometimes you just need water. :)

One more thing. In Ukraine, people don't even know what a taco is. Here, there are Mexican restaurants on every corner. It's great. I got my first Mexican food at a restaurant on a split (Sister Webb is a Sister Training Leader). I saw churros were available, so you know I ordered some. So too did Sister McConkie and the other Sister we were with. Little did we know, it meant each of us got a plate full of six churros. Woops. Such are the adventures of the California, Redlands mission.

Sorry I don't have much more to write. I have a feeling the rest of my mission may just be a little more...quieter. People keep saying, when they find out I left Ukraine, "Oh, you must be so happy you left." Ummm....no. I love Ukraine. But I also love California, and this is just going to be the rest of my mission.

Love you all!

Sister Tanner

new district

                                       

Hello from California

May 12, 2014

Hello from California!

Yes, in another rapid swoop my life was once again uprooted, this time landing me in quiet little Redlands, California. The plan is that I'm here for the long haul, but seeing this is the fourth mission I've served in...well.... But no, I should probably finish out my mission here. But how did I end up in the Redlands, California mission? Let me tell you the story...

It all began on a sunny, beautiful Tuesday day. I was on the bus to a meeting at the church with the zone leaders when I get a phone call asking that I call into the conference call immediately. Sister Gillespie and I were a little worried. Then everyone begins reporting that they're on, and Sister Gillespie is like "I don't know any of these missionaries" but I realize I know them all, because they're all Donetsk missionaries. That is when I really began to fear something was wrong. Then President got on the call, and told us that the Area Presidency has decided that we are definitely not going back to Donetsk, and that they don't have enough room for us here, so they are sending us all to missions in our home countries. We got off the call, and Sister Gillespie just hugged me. I knew it was coming, I had just been in denial. I had also been led to think it would be another couple months away. In any case, I was strangely calm, just as I had been when I knew I was leaving Donetsk. What else can you do? They told us our re-assignments would be coming in the next couple of days, and we could leave this week, or we could leave the next week. 

That evening we had a lesson with a member family, where we taught the kids some English, and shared a spiritual thought. The whole time Sister Gillespie did the little English lesson, the youngest daughter, Allah, was obsessed with me. She would always run over and hug me, bring me things, and at one point she started punching me in the face (I stopped that). Then the little baby boy Koctya would look at me and I would smile and he would smile and laugh. Basically I just endeared myself to the family and vice versa and it hurt knowing that I would have to leave soon. Then Allah found a random piece of candy in my bag (dangers of having a broken zipper), and started eating it, so then her older sister Sasha asked if I had any more. I didn't, but I told her I would bring her something special to her baptism on Saturday, not knowing if I could but hoping I would be around until then. 

Wednesday Sister Gillespie and I planned a real special day. We had a "pass-off" lesson with the elders so they could pass us one of their investigators, and then we were going to go with them to the beach of the Black Sea and boardwalk chalk contact on the beach. I was this close to seeing, possibly even touching, the Black Sea. Instead Wednesday morning during personal study we get a text saying that all Donetsk missionaries are to be packed by 2:00pm that day ready to go up to Kiev. Well there went our plans. So not only did I have to pack, I had to pack knowing that I would be on an airplane soon. Luckily the apartment had a scale, luckily I can ship things home from Ukraine, and luckily I was with amazing companions who were willing to blow dry my clothes that I needed to wash that day so I wouldn't be without underwear. Sister Gillespie also made us a last "Ukrainian" meal. Seriously the best companions. Actually, I was talking to others, and it seems that transfer everyone got paired up with their "perfect" companion/their twin. Everyone was so excited for that transfer. It lasted four days. Maybe a little boon before we all got shipped out? I don't know. Anyway, so we were actually going to take a 6 hour bus ride back to Kiev leaving at 4:00pm, and so we didn't have to be at the bus station until 3:00pm. It still came all too quickly. It was a hard goodbye. As I drove away from Odessa, that is when it felt like I was leaving Ukraine. I knew I would still be in Kiev, but it was really just a waiting period. Leaving Odessa was when I left my mission in Ukraine. And that is when I cried. Thankfully, I got to see the gorgeous Ukrainian countryside as I drove to Kiev, and you bet I took lots of pictures. 

                                   last "Ukrainian meal and companions

mass transfer again and farewell from Kiev Mission companions who are staying in Ukraine

                     gorgeous Ukrainian countryside on the ride back to Kiev

We arrived that night and they put us all in a hotel by the temple site. The next day was another "waiting day." Out of my area, had a little business to settle with luggage and finances, and didn't have a meeting until 4pm. I may have visited a Ukrainian reenok one last time. That night all of the Donetsk mission had a farewell meeting with President and Sister Klebingat. Looking around at the entire mission, it was sad to see how severely reduced it had become, and I realized that I knew just about every single one of them. This really was my family becoming split up and dispersed. As a side note, those missionaries who had a transfer left were given the option to go home or be reassigned. Two elders chose to go home, and two sisters and one elder chose to be reassigned. The meeting went all night, and included a lot of post-mission stuff (it was a farewell meeting), all very good. Then that night we all went back to the hotel. I got about 1.5 hours of sleep as I woke up at 1am to get ready and see the first batch of missionaries off at 2am, and then my group left for the airport at 3am. The airport was not fun, but I won't go into that. Nor will I talk much about the plane ride. Basically it was an eternal day because I went backwards in time. And twelve hours on a plane when you can't watch movies is a really long time. 

                 farewell meeting and good-bye to President and Sister Klebingat

                                          one last photo of the Kyiv Temple

                                    sunrise on the tarmac as leaving Ukraine

                                          good-bye Ukraine, hello California

Then we arrived in California. Sister Finlayson, and Elder Fife, and I were the three assigned to the California, Redlands mission. My new mission president is President Van Cott, and he is wonderful. He met us three at the airport and took us straight to the mission home. He is fairly young, and so still has four kids at home. Basically we got to hang out with the Van Cott family. They fed us dinner, took us to get a shake at In n' Out, took us to the temple site, the mission office and let us call home to figure out Skype for Mother's Day, and then let us go to bed early. They also let us sleep in a little bit the next day to try and get adjusted. 

Then Saturday I met my new companions, Sister Webb and Sister McConkie. They are wonderful, and I'm excited to work with them. We have a car, but they like to park it in an area and then walk around, which I'm grateful for. It is sunny and hot here and I am going to get such a great tan. :) They are teaching several people who are on date to be baptized, and have other great investigators. The work is incredible here. There are so many Latter-Day Saints everywhere, and so many people know who we are. I have just about the best living situation you could hope for: I live in a little house in the back yard of the coolest members ever. They have a dog and chickens. They like to feed us (actually, tons of members like to feed us!). I have the best view ever. What is this dreamland?!

Culture shock is a thing. Not as big as I thought it might be, but still there. I think the most surprising thing is when people open their mouths and speak English. When I went to church people kept telling me I have a slight accent, which I did not know I have. Mother's Day was a dream, and it was fun to Skype with everyone back home. 

I need to go, but I will say this: I terribly miss Ukraine, and I love Ukraine. But I know my time there came to an end, and this is where I need to be now. This is the Lord's work, and it is needed everywhere. 

I love all of you! Until next week,

Sister Tanner