Ya Never Know, When It's Gonnaa Get Ya!

Tanner with the the Mission President and his wife.  His companion's name is Elder Damian and is from Ecuador.

Aloha my dear friends and family! 

This past week was good, and two things, amongst others, became apparent to me:

Thing #1. I am only able to speak when the spirit says so. But Tanner, what do you mean by this, you can speak whenever you want? Ha, false, This week I saw that my Spanish goes in and out, and that I can speak when I have to. 

For example, some lessons I literally don't understand, or even able to distinguish words at all, and can't speak a lick or have any idea of what to say. On the other hand, there will be times when I understand everything, and am leading the lesson, asking questions, and sharing scriptures off the top of my head. I have determined that these differences are when the people need to hear something from me, so the spirit starts talking. The difference is amazing, and when I can actually talk teaching is a ton of fun and I actually enjoy it!

I also realized this week that when you prepare for the day, you can use the things you learn a ton if you try! Every morning we have personal study for an hour, so I study the scriptures. I have found that when I mark scriptures and write them down, that I use them a ton during the next few days in lessons, or as commitments. 

Before I never thought that I would or could use the scriptures that I read so much! This is why I invite everyone to read the Book of Mormon for 5 or 10 minutes, depending on how ambitious you are, and mark a verse or two. Keep this verse in your head during the day, and see how many times you can share it with people that you encounter! I have a feeling that you will surprise your self with how much you can use it.

Some other notable things, I learned the difference between vino and vaso. During lunch one day I asked our pensionista for a vino. She didn't understand and after a few minutes of charades she realized I meant vaso. Vino, ladies and gentleman, is wine in Spanish. So apparently I was asking for wine instead of a cup... who knew?! So next time you are in a restaurant remember, vino is wine, and vaso is cup! 

I also learned that wall sits are terrible for missionaries and really catch up with you around 4 o'clock, and that sometimes you just gotta laugh. 

I also found a few things:  another white person (total albino), the bull fighting arena in Tuman (but not the ticket stand), and that people like to train their chickens for cock fights in the streets, because apparently that's legal here! 

Well that my week in a nut shell. Things are going well here, we have about 3 or 4 investigators who are progressing, and we'll hopefully be able to baptize a family this month! This week I have started speaking a ton more Spanish and have had a break through, at times. 

Good luck this week and remember to prepare for the day!

Love Elder Lewis

3 Nephi 18:18-21

And let me know if you want me to talk about anything different, These are just my jumbled thoughts that probably don't make a ton of sense!

The Last Week at the CCM

With my companion, a runner from New Mexico.

 Pointing to my mission in Peru.

 My district.

This is the courtyard that is between all the buildings. In the back is the cafetieria on the right and the auditorium in the same building and on the left is the admin building. There is also the class room that I spend all day in.

This is a Elder Andersen from Nashville. He is in my district and lived in May Hall last year. I saw him around but never talked to him or anything.  Now we're great friends.

A Few More Addresses

Tanner will leave the MTC (otherwise known as the CCM down in Peru) in 2 more weeks.  After that, you can mail letters and packages to his mission home in Chiclayo.  Here it is:

Elder Tanner McRae Lewis

Peru Chiclayo Mission

Calle Los Alamos 128

Urb. Santa Victoria

Chiclayo, Lambayeque

PERU

Of course, the Pouch system still works great.  You can only send a single page letter, but it gets there much faster and more reliably.  Use regular postage because it's just going to SLC and then they take care of the rest!

Address is:

Elder Tanner McRae Lewis

Peru Chiclayo Mission

POB 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

Lastly, his email address is the easiest by far:

tannermlewis@myldsmail.net

The Best Two Years Movie

Here's the video Tanner was talking about.  If you've ever wondered what an LDS missionary does for 2 years, here's a good idea.

Tanner also added, "Tell everyone to read Alma 17 through 19 and look for ways to be a missionary to serve!"

Independence Day and A Field Trip to Carnal

 Here are some soccer jerseys we got at some garages on our P-day. (P-day stands for Preparation Day.  It's the one day we get off from classes to take care of laundry, shopping etc...)The Barcelona, Manchester and Dutch ones are mine.

 On the bus to go proselyting.  Super nervous because my companion for the day knows zero Spanish.

 Peru Independence Day with my district and teacher.

 The big famous temple in the background

 This was the road at times we drove on in these huge tour busses. We drove through the jungle, crossed a river, and drove on this cliff next to the ocean which was on a massive sand dune.

 July 1st, 2014

At the Atlanta airport, he met these other missionaries all going down to Peru.

 His Roommates at the MTC.

 Temple Day with his District.

In the front of the CCM (MTC for us English speakers).  His companion is from Farmington, New Mexico.  

Elder Lewis's Mailing Address

So, you want to write a letter to your favorite missionary in Peru?  Well, here's where to send it!     

Easiest Method:  Email!

             tannermlewis@myldsmail.net

He gets to read this every Wednesday!

Go to the post office and buy a special stamp method:

            

MTC:  (Until August 12th)

Elder Tanner McRae Lewis

Peru Chicalyo Mission

Peru Missionary Training Center

Centro de Capacitacion Missional

Av. Melgarejo 159, Urb. Campo

Verde, La Molina, Lima 12

PERU

Pouch Mail Method:  (after August 12th)

Elder Tanner McRae Lewis

Peru Chiclayo Mission

POB 30150

Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150

Instructions for using the pouch:

     Lay the letter blank side down.  Fold the bottom of the letter about 1/3 of the way up the page and crease.  Fold the top of the letter to the bottom of the first fold and crease.  Secure the long side with 2 pieces of tape about 1" in from each end., but do not seal the ends.  Write your name and complete return address in the top left corner.  Affix first class postage in the top right corner.  In the middle, write Tanner missionary address.