The Power of Prayer!

Grapefruit the size of my head!

      This week (June 2nd through 9th) has been a week full of tender mercies! I have had some great experiences and the Lord has directed my companion and I in all that we do! 

     This past Saturday, we had a appointment with one of our investigators. George is a struggling alcoholic and had a baptismal date for the 16th of june but that has kind of fallen through. We walked into his house and as his brother invited us in, George walked in from the back of the house, stumbling and as drunk as I have seen him. He looked at us and started to weep. He said, "Satan has a hold of me and I cannot stop drinking"! He sat down and began weeping harder and asking how he can change his life. He has tried to stop drinking but he can't do it! The withdrawls are so bad for him. We sat there a moment in silence as the spirit filled our hearts and minds. We bore testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, how  he is a good man in spite of his struggle with addiction to alcohol. My companion bore testimony of the power of blessings we had given him a week earlier. I felt such sadness for this man! He was grateful for our presence and knew that we are representatives of Jesus Christ! That was a powerful moment on my mission, one that I will never forget.   

We are currently teaching his family as well. We know that his family can help him overcome this trial so that one day he may walk into a baptismal font. 

     This Sunday (the 2nd) we also had a very neat experience. One of the sisters in the ward who is a single mom and also a recent convert of about 4 years, had us over for dinner. Right when we got there I noticed that something was wrong, she seemed very sad, but she was also so grateful to have us in her home. As the dinner ended I pulled out the scripture Alma 37:37 to, "counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct the for good"! As I ended the scripture and bore testimony of prayer, she said, "how is it that you knew I was struggling with prayer"? She said, "I was thinking that I have not had consistent prayer in months and have been struggling with some things". I was so happy to have been there in that moment to bring her the comfort that she needed at that time. As we got up to leave I felt an impression to just ask her if we could give her a blessing. When I asked that she said, "yes please! I was to afraid to ask you because I have been struggling with depression for the past few months and I know the power of blessings"! I was so happy that the Lord used us as instruments this week to bring some comfort to His children! 

     I know the power of blessings and prayers of faith are real! I have seen it, and I have lived it! I know that God truly does answer our prayers and He does work through others to answer those prayers! I also have a firm testimony of the Holy Ghost and know that we must always be in tune to receive  those blessings so that we can be directed for good!         Everything has been going great here in Reedley! Very hot... Very fun...and I am loving my mission! Everyone have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tanner Aiken

(Though he didn't add this to his weekly blog, we thought we'd share a wonderful email he received from his first companion in California: 

Elder Aiken!!!!

I love you so much!!  I have great news for you!  So remember at the last leadership meeting we had last transfer and I updated you on G------- and her family?  She's the one that was telling us about her bad experience with this other Mormon lady and how she didn't want to hear anything from us and was ready to kick us off her door step?  When you with your Christ like heart full of charity and pure desires told her that we simply wanted to bless her and her home?  And how that touched her heart especially after you gave the Harvesting Blessing?  Well we had been teaching her and she got baptized last Saturday, June 1st!  I wanted to let you know how much of an impact you made in Modesto, even only being there for a few weeks. I also wanted to thank you for your example, that is one of those things from my mission that I'll never forget.  I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to serve with you and to have that experience together, you taught me a lot.  Keep up the great work!  And if there's anything I can do to bless your life please let me know!!

Elder Blake)

Answers through the Book of Mormon...

     Hello Everyone! This week has been such a great week filled with answers to our fasting and prayers! 

 

   

    This week our mission has the most people on date and the most new investigators that we have had in many years! Elder Arredondo and I have three people with a baptismal date this month! 

     We have seen our prayers answered through the Book of Mormon! I testify to the truthfulness of that book! It is true and it can soften hearts. This week we traveled to one of the small towns we cover called Orosi, or also known as "little Mexico." We went out to go see Brenda, one of our investigators. We had kind of let Brenda slip through cracks because she wasn't progressing and hadn't picked up the Book of Mormon. She said that she was going to stay Catholic and baptize her baby there. We thought this is just someone who is not going to change unless she acts on her faith and read the Book of Mormon. So when we went out to see her this week, she told us she had read the Book of First Nephi! She loved how it made her feel and said, "this book has to be from God, and has strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ. I was filled with the spirit!" As I heard that I knew she had seen the blessings that come from the Book of Mormon! She has been praying for a change in her husband's heart who has no desire for religion in his life. We have been praying also so that she can come to church and be baptized.

We are given fresh fruit every day! 

     We are also teaching this lady named Maria! We found her through "harvest blessings", when we ask if we can leave a blessing on their home.  The thing that caught her attention as well was the Book of Mormon! We asked if we could come back and share a message with her the next day and she said sure! We came back the following day with a member, and both Elder Arredondo and I had an impression not to teach anything, but watch the Restoration DVD. We watched that movie and let the spirit fill the room. As we finished the mvie she said that she felt the spirit while watching it. She said that she also had the chance to read in The Book of Mormon and said that she felt something in her heart that was really warm when she was reading it. We testified to the truthfulness of that book, That Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. In that moment we invited her to be baptized on the 23rd of June and she said yes!

     I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Every day I read it and my testimony is strengthened. We have evidence that we can hold in our hands the restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ! How great is it to have that knowledge! I love you all - have a great week!  

Love, Elder Tanner Aiken

Don't procrastinate your day of repentance!

Where's my mail!!!

     Well hello everyone! This past week has been such a great week, a week of highs and lows!  We began to teach a former investigator named George. I was on exchanges with Elder Varela, another Elder in my district and we were walking the streets in Reedley looking for new people to teach. We couldn't find anyone because everyone is now working in the fruit fields and packing factories! It was a stressful day!  We then had a thought to stop by George's home to see if he had moved or if he now had time to listen to our message. We knocked on his door and to our surprise he answered the door! He was a bit shocked also but was very happy to see us. It was one of those experiences where I felt like I had met this man before and was touched by the spirit that we needed to teach him. He told us to come by the following night and share a message with him. Elder Arredondo and I went over to his home the following night to share a message with he and his wife. As we began talking about Jesus Christ's church and how it was established, he poured his heart out to us saying he wants to change his life. He has been battling an addiction to alcohol and has to have 2-3 beers a day just to keep him from having withdrawls and shakes! The spirit was so powerful in that room. For one of the first times on my mission I felt a love for this man that I had just barely met, that was something like I had never felt before. I could see how sin has been a real burden on him and satan has had his grip on him. The spirit had come over me so strong! After hearing his talk about his health problems the immediate thought was of giving this man a blessing and that was exactly what he needed at that moment! We laid our hands on his head and gave him a blessing. He was crying and was so grateful to have the missionaries back in his life. We finished that lesson with inviting him to be baptized in which he said yes. With the spirit that was in the room at that time, we knew we had to invite him! 
     If anyone thinks they are too far gone, and there is no shot for rescue, I can tell you there is through repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ! Like in the book of Enos, when he prays for forgiveness with all of his soul, God says, "my son thy sins are forgiven thee"! I have personally felt my guilt swept away through repentance and a desire to change! With using the proper steps of repentance, we can make our way back to that straight and narrow path! Two hours after teaching George we went to a recent convert's apartment to share a little message with her.  As we approached her door we saw her husband and her son who have both spent some time in jail. They were just relaxed and both sharing a few beers. They both like talking to the missionaries but both feel that the life of drinking and just kicking back is what's going to bring them the most happiness. We thought what a great teaching opportunity. Both have been wondering why we need to repent or be baptized. We shared that without being born of water and of the spirit you cannot enter into the kingdom of God! Still both had there doubts. Then we had a scripture that we had shared a few nights before with another investigator which I have always liked. It's in Alma 34 which talks of not procrastinating your day of repentance, that this is the time for us to prepare to meet God! Elder Arredono and I were quite amazed at their change after reading that. It was the spirit that pricked their hearts in that moment! That moment was also really powerful and was such a great day during the week! 
     I know that God lives, and that his son Jesus Christ died for our sins! I love you all!  Missions are the best thing ever! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Tanner Aiken

"Fear Not...."

Attended the Fresno Temple yesterday!

     Hello everyone! This week has been a week of miracles! To start off the week on Tuesday, Elder Arredondo and I had almost finished a really hard day.  We had almost all of our appointments fall through and were looking for the next option. As we went back to our car we looked down the road only to see a woman with her son running towards our vehicle. I looked at my companion thinking what is this lady doing?? She frantically knocked on our car window so we rolled it down and she said, "thank heavens! I am from Southern California and I am about to lose custody of my son in a court battle tomorrow. I saw you two walking down the street in the exact moment that I was thinking I needed a priesthood blessing"! She told us that she has been bouncing between activity and inactivity the past couple years, but has always tried to remain faithful to the Church. She asked if we could give her a blessing. We had nowhere to go without another man being present, but luckily we were right next to the Church so we pulled out a chair and gave her a blessing in the doorway! She broke down in tears and thanked us. She also told us that she had no place to stay and we told her not to worry. We told her we have such a great ward and that she'd have somewhere to sleep. We also were able to find a member that let her stay the night. I really felt that God had put us right there in that moment to help a woman who was in need of a priesthood blessing! 

     This week we were also able to have a baptism with one lady we have been teaching over the last month. Satan was throwing everything at her and us. Many of the plans we had set a week before, that were perfectly solid, began to fall through the day of the baptism. It was really stressful thinking that she may not have been baptized if it wasn't for the help of our ward mission leader! It was a great baptismal service and the spirit was really strong. We were so grateful that the Lord had softened her heart and prepared her to be baptized! 
    Later that night, after the baptism, we went to one of our strong potential investigators. After just feeling the spirit at the baptism it had motivated us to go out and invite someone to be baptized that night. We went over to a house to visit Ruben. We taught him the Restoration of the gospel and the power of that spirit in the room was so strong! We invited him to be baptized on the 19th of May and he said yes! We were so thrilled and has truly motivated us to invite and invite and invite!! 
     I know that this Church is true! I know that Jesus Christ atoned for all our sins!! I know that God lives and knows each and everyone of us personally! Missions are the best thing ever! This has been the hardest, most satifying, and the most fun time I have had in my life! I don't know how you can feel all those emotions in one, but on a mission anything is possible! I love you all have a great week!! "Fear not for the Lord is on our side"!!

Love,
Elder Tanner Aiken

Wonderful baptism!

Hector's baptism!

     Hello everyone! This week was full of miracles and just a great week in general! This week we had Hector's baptism and we had nearly our whole branch there. There was also another lady getting baptized that day and the spirit was really strong at his meeting.  I'm so glad we had the opportunity to teach him and he will forever be one of my great friends here in California! The sad news is that he is moving out of our branch and up to Mariposa to work up there. 
     This week we have been seeing people put into our path. We have really focused all our energy on obedience and diligence and the Lord has been blessing us. We were about to meet this family of 5 just three days ago. We first knocked on the door and offered the man who answered if we could say a prayer with him. While he looked a bit suprised he said "yes"!  We promised him that through this prayer and blessing he could feel the Holy Ghost. As we finished the words of the prayer we kind of sat there for a couple seconds and just let the spirit sink in. As we began to speak and ask him how he felt, he said, "I have never felt anything like that before inside me". We asked if we could come inside his home and share a brief message with him about the church that Christ established and how it has been restored to the earth again. As we shared he listened and felt the spirit. We invited him to be baptized and he told us he would. He has invited us back tonight to share it with his whole family. 
     We have also been focusing this week on one of our investigators, Celeste. She has two children and we have been teaching her for about the last three weeks. She has come to church and has progressed so much. She has continued reading the Book of Mormon and has felt and seen the change in her life as she acts on her faith. Last night we taught her the Plan of Salvation and really focused on the three kingdoms of glory. We focused on how that only with baptism can we reach that top glory and be with our families for eternity. As we said that the spirit really began to work in her! She said she has had so many stresses and trials in her life and wants to change. She wanted to make sure her kids have that shelter from a world that is wicked and constantly changing. We invited her to refocus her commitment and be baptized on the 28th of April. She laughed and said as long as they don't make me memorize scripture and read it in front of everyone I will do it! We are praying for God's help each and everyday and we are truly seeing miracles! 
     I also recieved my new companion this week, his name is Elder Arredondo. He is from Logan, Utah and is currently waiting for his visa to Brazil. I have really enjoyed training him so far. He came in with a great attitude to work hard and to baptize which I know will really help our companionship out! We have really focused ourselves on inviting everyone to be baptized. If they say no we ask why not, and if they are not ready to be baptized we move on and look for the people who are willing to keep commitments and are wanting to change their lives to follow Jesus Christ! I have really seen the great change that the spirit brings into peoples lives. God can soften hearts! 
     Have a great week - and never be scared to invite someone to hear the gospel message!

Love,
Elder Tanner Aiken

The Lazarus Principle

Me and Elder Gygi at a member's home for dinner.

     Hello!  We received transfer calls and President Gelwix called to inform us that the transfer would effect Elder Gygi and me. Elder Gygi was transferred, and I was called to be a trainer, while still being the district leader so I'm excited about the new opportunity to train a new Elder from the MTC. I will drive up to Fresno to pick him up on Thursday so I will be spending the night in Kingsburg. 
     This weekend was really great. We got 2 investigators to watch General Conference with us, a single mother of 2, and Hector.  Hector was originally getting baptized yesterday, but is now going to be baptized this Sunday which is better for him.  He wants a senior missionary couple to be at his baptism and they were in Salt Lake for Conference. We watched General Conference in the Selma Ward building where they had it both in Spanish and in English! That was truly an inspired Conference. I loved Neil L. Andersen's talk faced towards the members of the church - every member a missionary!  We need to be helping to find those people who are prepared to hear the gospel or who could use something as simple as a prayer.  It is such a blessing for us as missionaries to know that we have members that actually care about the work of the Lord and trust us enough to give us referals! 
     One of my favorite principles I've learned in the mission is the Lazarus Principle.  God will only do those things that God can do.  God expects us to learn and progress in this life.  He gives us tasks that may be difficult so that we may learn.  Here it is:

THE LAZARUS PRINCIPLE:  John 11:39-44

-Who rolled away the stone? (Men)
-Who raised Lazarus from the dead? (Jesus)
-Who unrolled the bands?  (Men)
-The Lazarus Principle:  God will only do those things a God can do - he asks us to do those things that we can do!

Have a wonderful week ahead - and don't be afraid to share your testimony of the gospel!

Love,
Elder Tanner Aiken

Easter Feast!

Lindquist is my mother's maiden name!

     Hello friends and family! How are you all doing? I am doing great! Yesterday was a bit of a strange but very rewarding Easter! At church we had three investigators come, the most we have had since I have been here. Having a very broad area it makes it hard to get everyone to church. During  priesthood, we had a chance to pull out one of our investigators named Hector who is a really smart 20 year old. He attends UC Davis and is majoring in bio-chemistry! He is so great I love him so much. We taught him the Plan of Salvation with one of the members in the room next door. Just the week before, when I was on an exchange with Elder Pinnock, he had promised Hector that if he read the Book of Mormon everyday he would have work everyday. Hector  hadn't had consistent work in a while. He works in the fields picking oranges with his mom. This week he was able to read the Book of Mormon everyday and he had work for every single one of those days! They end work on Saturday and have only Sunday off. On Saturday night right after he had gotten off of work it began to thunder and just began to pour! He said it was one of the hardest rains he has seen in Orange Cove since he has lived there. The funny thing is if it would have rained the day before, he would have been out of work for three days while the fields have to dry before they start picking again! I knew and he knew that his answer had come directly from God. 
     I have also come to know that God hears the promises and acts on their authority which we have through the priesthood! Hector said that he has attended church other places in California because his mom is a member. He has had lessons with senior missionaries, but he said that nothing had ever clicked or came that powerful to him! He has read up to the book of Alma in less than 3 weeks. We are having his baptism this Sunday in between General Conference! Hector has become one of my great friends and we are always so happy when we get to go out to his house way out in the middle of nowhere in Orange cove! Having been out here in Fresno I have already seen many of the promises from Heavenly Father that have been in my Patriarchal blessing. 
     This week has been really focused on Jesus Christ and His crucifixion and resurrection. I can honestly say this week more than any other has had a huge impact on my testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ! I really felt my love for Him as I partook of the sacrament yesterday and was really able to feel His love He has for me and for all our brothers and sisters! 
     Yesterday we also had an emergency zone conference so we did not get the Easter dinner we were hoping for. As a mission we had kind of lost our focus on baptism and had focused too much on finding people to teach. We had very large teaching pools and a small amount of progressing investigators!  We have been called unto repentance as a mission.  After having a very loving chastisement from our mission President, we were all very spiritually edified on how we need to change as missionaries and focus on the thing that is central to our purpose as missionaries which is baptism and confirmation! We have now changed our 3 hours of finding down to 2. And have added the power of 1 to our mission again, where every area in the mission is responsible for 1 baptism every month which I am very excited about! I know that as I pray to God to continue to put prepared people in our path, and for our goals we have set for baptism for the month of April and also putting faith into action, God will always fulfill! 
     Our president always gives us a good bye hug before he leaves and he always tells me, "Son, I am grateful you are here in this mission and you have been sent here for a reason"! I am so glad for the opportunity each week I have to be a California, Fresno missionary! This week was solid and I am still having such a fun time here in Reedley. I know God lives! Christ is risen! He is our Savior! I hope you all have a great week and really use this Easter to be a springboard to be consecrated members of the Church of Jesus Christ, to recognize our shortcomings and strive to be better! Love you all! 

Elder Tanner Aiken