The pure influence of the Spirit!

Elder Pazmino, Jorge and me at Jorge's baptism!

     Hello everyone! This week has been a true blessing from the Lord.  First, we had Jorge's baptism.  He's the man who ran after us on the street a few weeks ago asking if we were from the same church he found in Mexico.  We were so grateful we found each other, and his baptism was one I'll never forget. 
     Also this week, Elder Pazmino and I saw some true miracles. We had four of our investigators at church.  We had been working so hard to invite all that we could to church!! We prayed and prayed that the Lord would help us to have people there and the Lord blessed us.
     This week we have been teaching the woman that cuts our hair, her name is Ari. She has a 7 year old daughter and lives with her boyfriend Sal. This week we taught the importance of families and how they can live together forever.  Sal, who never even seemed interested in one word we were saying, asked how and when he could marry Ari! I was absolutely shocked, but the spirit had softened his heart in that moment, and I knew that God had a perfect plan for this family. We invited them to be baptized on August 11th and they said yes. They are currently working on getting their wedding license! 
     I feel this week, more than ever, I've felt the pure influence of the spirit in all that we do.  It was such a good feeling to know that the Lord is using us as tools in His hands to lead us to His people that are prepared to hear the gospel. I have a testimony of this gospel!  I know that God lives and loves everyone of us! This is the true Church of Jesus Christ here upon the earth! I challenge each of you to pray continually everyday for missionary experiences and I know the Lord will bless you and help you to share the gospel with those who are prepared to receive it. Have a good week!  Love you all!!

Elder Tanner Aiken

New companion!

Elders from my District!

     This week has been a good one! This week was transfers, and although I was sad to see my last companion go, I was excited about the news from President Gelwix that I have the opportunity to train again! Being District leader and Trainer have been so much fun. I have loved getting to know the Elders in my District. We are all best friends!! 
     This week when we went to go pick up my companion, they put all the trainers in one room and all the trainees in another, and we wait for about three to four hours while president Gelwix prays for our companionships! While sitting in that room I felt comforted that the Lord would put me in a good companionship, one that I would feel right at home with. When we walked into the trainee room I just felt so glad to be there, it is so much fun to see a whole group of new missionaries who look so faithful and excited to get going. As President began announcing names for companionships, I was still unsure who my companion would be. As President called my name and he said Elder Pazmino, I knew for sure that I had the right companion. As I ran over to hug him we sat down and he began to tell me that he new I was his companion as soon as I walked in the room. He told me that he had a dream 2 weeks before his mission and saw that I would be his companion. I was so grateful that the Lord had prepared my companion to be with me! Funny thing is my trainer in Mexico was from Ecuador! I am currently helping him learn English and loving every moment I get to better my Spanish! I don't know what it is but the Lord must be telling me something! It's probably just because I love the Spanish people so much! 
     This week I was so grateful to see our Branch be as full as it has ever been this week. Elder Pazmino and I did all that we could to go around and invite all that we could to church. We know it paid off because the branch numbers were almost near a ward level! 
     I truly love this gospel! I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and to have these small two years to serve Him! With this new age of missionaries coming in you can truly sense that the hastening of the work has begun! I love it! Have a great week!!

Love,
Elder Tanner Aiken

Miracles never cease!

   

With President Gelwix at Sequoia National Park during recent P-day!

     Hello!  Well no transfer for me! I have been called to train again on top of my district leader duties.  President Gelwix says he has a great trust in me and wants to have me train again which I am really excited for!  I think it's always fun to get a new companion who has that deer in the headlights look the first day they get here! 

     Yesterday hit 114 degrees!  It was a furnace!  When you knock peoples doors and you have sweat dripping of the tip of your noes I think it makes them a bit hesitant to let you in!     

     This week, Elder Arredondo and I had an absolute miracle!  We were still having some struggles with finding some real strong investigators.  This past Thursday Elder Arredondo decided to read one of our favorite talks, "The Challenging and Testifying Missionary".  We really felt the spirit come over us and knew that we would see a miracle!  We set out on our day with a firm prayer that we could find someone who is ready to be baptized right now! All day we went through the heat knocking doors and knocking doors and having appointments fall through.  We were pretty depressed thinking why are we having such bad luck right now? We have worked so hard.  As Elder Arredodno and I were walking to the library to print out his driving record, we saw a woman sitting under a tree who looked a little upset.  We approached her and said we were representatives of Jesus Christ and asked if we could say a prayer.  She looked up at us a little shocked and said she would love a prayer. We offered that prayer and as soon as we finished she was sobbing, saying how hard this week has been for her after losing one of her close friends.  We sat down with her and shared the Plan of Salvation.  The spirit was so strong as we talked about the Celestial Kingdom and having that chance to return to live with our families again. We invited her to church this Sunday and she said yes!  

     Our day was starting to turn around but we still knew someone was out there.  After dinner Elder Arredondo and I went by to see a former investigator.  As we knocked no one answered and we headed back to the street, when all the sudden we see a man walking towards us.  He asked if we were the missionaries from the church that uses the Book of Mormon and we said yes we are.  He went on to tell us that he had just moved from Mexico a week ago, and had been taught by the missionaries over there.  He said I love that book I don't know what it is but I feel good when I read it.  He said he had also gone to church with the missionaries over in Mexico.  My companion and I looked at each other and smiled. We walked with him back to his house and we shared a message with him about baptism. He said he had not been baptized and we testified of the need to be baptized by the priesthood authority of God, the spirit swept in and we invited him to be baptized. He said, "yes, I don't not want to miss this opportunity again! right now we are helping him change his work schedule so he can be baptized soon".  It was such a miracle!  I know God is a god of miracles when we pray and ask in faith we will see them!  But it isn't until after that trial of our faith!  I have seen such great things happen in this area of Reedley and I know obedience to the mission rules and commandments has helped us through everything!

     Happy 4th of July everyone!

Love,

Elder Tanner Aiken

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