Still workin through the homesickness but good thing happening.

Dad,

Wow! What a crazy week! I have thought about you and mom and Aaron so much this past week. It seems like you had an awesome birthday. I am glad you like your note. I would have come up with more but I hardly have any time on the computer...The pictures look awesome. I love the serious mini golf picture. cracks me up. Also I love Aaron's shirt. I wish I could sleep more. I only get like 6 hours a night. It's been really hard for me. I miss you so much! thanks for your advice. It really helps me. I still am pretty homesick. I don't know if I will ever not long to be in contact with you all. I know this is where I should be though. I reread your letter today that you gave me before I left. I love you so much. Thanks for everything you do! You are the best!

-Tanner 

Hola Famlia!!!

So today I have officially hit 2 months! Wahoo! 11 more times. Haha. I love the work, but I am excited to see all you friends and family. I will try to write you all back individually, but I think I will send a general email to everyone about my week.

First off, we had a meeting with the zone for some training. I found out that we are now allowed to email girls! So that's exciting to be able to write my friends, but I still don't get anytime on the computer. We have an hour to email president and read and write emails. But I would be happy to get emails from my friends!

We also had our first baptism this past week for our area. This girl, Mayte, is 9 and her parents are living in an union libre, so they aren't married just like most people here. The wife wants to get married, but he doesn't They have been having some money problems and other issues, so the dad isn't sure God exists. We had a really tough lesson with him the other day, and he said he doesn't want to meet anymore. One of the members in the ward talked to him and he said he still will meet with us which is super cool. Anyway, we baptized his daughter this week.  (see picture with Mayte, her sisters, and mom).  

The other picture has a kid with long hair. He was one of the hermanas' investigators that I baptized.

We have been teaching the family that speaks english that we met last week when writing emails. It has been fun and weird at the same time. The son Renato came to church yesterday. He left though after the first hour because he said he wasn't feeling it. He is Christian and usually goes to those churches with bands and such so I think it was very different for him. We told him to read Alma 32 and pray to know if this is true. We will meet with him on Wednesday with his mom, so hopefully he receives an answer. Ironically here we are again writing emails on the other side of town in a different cafe, and they are here again! That's crazy! 

We are still teaching Ruth and her nephew Jerson. She is so great. She came to church again even though she missed her sister's party in the morning. She knows that this is where she is supose to be. She is also very patient and tells me not to worry about my Spanish. 

My Spanish...I don't know if it's coming or not. I understand some people really well and others I have no idea. I have been so silent since being on the mission. I don't know why. I hardly talk. At the MTC my district called it quiet dignity.   I just haven't had a lot to talk about. I really hope it comes quickily because I am tired of not knowing what people are saying and just saying "si" to everything. People talk a lot here. When they say something they talk for like 5 minutes straight. And they interrupt others and so I never know when I could jump in. 

This past thursday we went to D.F. (the city) for my passport visa stuff and to have lunch at the mission home. I saw my district from back at the MTC and the others that are in my "generation" (everyone that came out with me). It was SO nice to see them. It was also nice to hear that everyone was having a hard time too. Like they are pretty silent during lessons and always tired. The mornings are definitely the roughest more me. One, because I am tired and two, because 2 years just feels like forever away. I am trying my best to be positive.

Yeah so that's mostly my week! Tomorrow is Clayton's birthday. I've thought a lot about him.  5 years ago, the church was filled with those that were impacted by his life. I hope I can do the same for the people here in Mexico. Thanks for your prayers. This is literally the hardest thing I have every done, but I know this is where I need to be.  Love you all!

-Elder Thomas