Tanner's Mission Experiences

Hello everyone! Or as they would say in the language I was called to speak, "hello everyone"! Haha. Well what can I say, mission life is exceptional!! Yes it is by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but the reward and the strong spirit that accompanies me overpowers any hardships.  The food is awful here but I'm still trying to eat it. I think in time I will learn to love it, probably. (He said breakfast is by far his favorite meal.  He said lunch and dinner are awful.  Yesterday they served yams with goat meat mixed in with all this other "crazy stuff" that he didn't want to ask what it was.  He couldn't get even half of it down.  He said even some of the natives couldn't eat it.  The portions are huge and heavy and he said he's gaining weight with all the sitting and large heavy meals.). The native missionaries to Africa are the sweetest, kindest most genuine people you will ever meet. However, one of them did steal my deodorant h...

The flight was very long but I have made it safely. Ghana has very many big buildings and the temple is right next to the MTC. The food is very different, and I think my stomach is going to need some time to get use to it. It is extremely humid, even inside the buildings. Every one in my room is a native including my companion so I feel very white. I felt overwhelemed in the beginning but I am getting much better. The native missionaries are very loving and funny. I kneeled down to fill my water bottler because it is low to the ground and a native elder said, elder pace, are you proposing to the water?  My time is coming to a close so this is all I can say now. ALL IS WELL.

I was anxiously checking my email all afternoon since I knew Tanner should have arrived around noon our time.  But I got nothing.  Scott comes home around 6 p.m. and shares that he received an email around 4:15 p.m.  I was very grateful to read it.  He made it safe and sound! Dear parents, We thought you’d be happy to know that we have welcomed Elder Vito, Elder Jones, Elder Whitmill, Elder Mercer, Elder Tremblay, Elder Pace, and Elder Oakey here at the MTC in Accra. It is late here,  11pm , but we wanted to let you know. We are delighted to receive them. They’ve eaten and they are off to bed. They are the last to arrive among 100+ coming in today from 20+ countries in Africa and across the world. We even have four missionaries here from the country of Guinea in West Africa. They are the  first  missionaries ever to be sent from that country’s one Church branch. Tomorrow  morning we will go through the registration process, make sure al...

I know this is not my first rodeo but it is still hard to watch them walk away by themselves knowing that life as you have known it with this child has come to an end.  Once they make that walk they are never again quite your little child. I can tell he has been a bit nervous about the traveling.  He has flown on his own but never internationally.  Thankfully his bags are checked through to Accra and he was able to get his boarding pass for Salt Lake and for Amsterdam so as long as he can find the right gate he should be fine. A mom on Facebook that I've connected to has her son going on the same flight to Accra.  She messaged me that they connected with another missionary in the airport so I know there are at least three of them traveling together.  Strength in numbers! I love this boy more than he will ever know.  I sent him an email yesterday for him to discover when he logs on in Accra asking if he misses me yet! :)  I figure...

Tanners farewell was lovely.  He really did do a nice job on his talk.  It was fun to catch a glimpse of his personality sprinkled throughout yet he was respectful as well.  He has truly grown so much this past year and I'm sure he will grow even more these next two.   I'm very grateful my family were able to come.  I think he would have felt bad if nobody was able to be here.  We stay for all three meetings so we really didn't have much of a celebration after....just the family had lunch together and then we said good-bye.  I still tried to decorate a bit so he would feel special. Here is a copy of his talk.  I don't remember hearing the poem before but I really liked it. Good morning brothers and sisters. And thank you so much for all of you who showed up to support me. When I was a young boy my mom and I were in a bank. When we were sitting down with one of the workers at the bank they asked...