Wednesday, February 29, 2012

February 28, 2012

It is up over 80 degrees down here and everyday is a beautiful sunny day!

I love Tucson! I really do and I am so glad I am here! One of the coolest things about Tucson is all the cool cars that are down here! It is kind of a retirement community so there are a lot of nice cars! We have seen two Lamborghini Gallardo’s and one Lamborghini Mercia logo. We have also seen a Ferrari Enzo and I think the most common cars are mustangs and cameros with corvettes close behind!! Also the sunsets are beautiful!  

It has been an interesting week once again and we had some great things happen this week! First, we got a new investigator, usually that is not that big of a deal but to get a deaf investigator is huge! He is really interested and even though we have only met with him once we are excited to have him! Hopefully something good will come out of meeting him and we can help him come unto Christ!

Also, I am still trying to get used to being with deaf people all the time! We had dinner with some deaf people this week in public and it was an interesting experience. The deaf sister is actually very good at speaking and she speaks when she signs. She is so good that last week when I met her I thought she was hearing for awhile. But she does not have any volume control. When she is in public because she doesn't know how loud she needs to speak for people to hear her, so she was speaking pretty loudly and we had a lot of people look at us (which is actually really common now as we are always looked at by everyone being missionaries. I don't know why but everyone seems to look at us). It was great and I really liked eating with those sisters, they were super nice and the place we ate was amazing!

This week I had the opportunity to interpret the institute devotional. It is crazy that I have really only been signing for a couple months and I am now sitting in the front and interpreting the whole meeting! It was crazy, but Elder Bradley said that I actually did really well. I have found that I am ok when I am signing or when I am interpreting voice to sign but I am not very good at understanding sign. It is hard for me and I feel terrible when I have to ask people to sign it a second time! But I am getting better and hopefully soon I will be able to understand them with no problems.  I really like interpreting at the institute for Reggie because it means that we get to go to institute 3 times a week and learn there too! Being that I have never been to institute before,  it is a good experience.

We are trying a lot of new things to get some new investigators and really move the work along in the ASL branch. Last year they had 4 baptisms into the ASL Branch and though that is not bad Elder Bradley and I think we can do a lot better so we are going to try our hardest to find more people to teach. We bought a big map that we hung on the wall and we have all these little color dots that we are color coding the city with. Teaching in ASL is different because we generally have to simplify the message even more than the other missionaries. I love teaching in ASL but it is frustrating because it feels like we don't get all the work done that we could. We really do work all day, and work hard, but a lot of our day is driving from place to place so it doesn't feel like we do as much. I am glad that I am here and actually doing work though. It is so much better here than in the MTC.

I love my companion and I love my district and zone! I get along with everyone so well and we have fun every p day doing sports and lunch and stuff! It is a good thing Elder Bradley is so cool because I will probably be his companion until he leaves at the end of Oct. But I do like him and we get a lot done together!  I don't really know what else to say at this point but I love you all and I miss you!

Elder Banner

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

February 21st, 2012

Hello everyone,

    It is a beautiful 75 degrees in Tucson!   I have to say I really like Tucson right now! It is a lot greener then I thought it would be and it is perfect for me. I love all the cactus and the palm trees and everything! 
    As ASL missionaries we have a lot of things to do. In addition to the normal missionary work my companion and I,  are also the 1st and 2nd counselors in the ASL Branch Presidency. That is very interesting as we pretty much run the branch, we do all the tithing and the welfare an we are pretty much the entire home teaching group as we visit everyone in the branch.
    Church on Sunday was interesting in the deaf ward. There are only about 25 people there, but the meetings are as loud or louder then a full other ward. Deaf people make the funniest noises because they don’t know they are making them. It is interesting sitting on the stand and doing all of the things that bishoprics do! I am too young for this! Haha!   I am going to need to grow up a bit! I am going to start teaching priesthood next week, so that will be interesting! 
    We also had a deaf fireside on Sunday, which was really cool.  We went to a members house and the church had it set up on the VP's (video phones) for deaf branches all over the country. We could see them and they could see all of us so we could ask questions and everything. It was really cool. I really like the deaf branch, they are all so accepting and nice. There is a lot of work to do there though.  
    We also teach an ASL class every week at the institute at the University of Arizona to try and get some referrals. That keeps us busy as well. Being ASL we don't have a specific area but we drive all around Tucson to try and find people. We actually drive around the whole mission to see if there are deaf people we can teach. We spend a lot of time driving from place to place. It is really cool but really hard because the success (in terms of baptisms) for ASL Missionaries down here is really low. It is maybe 2 or 3 the full 2 years. Basically like a European mission. Right now we have 3 investigators. One is a deaf man who does not really know much American Sign Language, he knows Mexican Sign Language so it is really hard to teach him. He has been an investigator for a while now so we'll see how that goes. One of our other investigators is a Interpreter that knows that the gospel is true but has a few addictions that she is trying to overcome, so we are working with her on that. Our other investigator is actually a really strong investigator and we are discussing a baptismal date right now after two lessons! I am so excited to keep teaching her!    
    We had a really cool experience on Wednesday at dinner. A nice couple took us out to eat at a restaurant and while we were eating a lady came up, introduced herself, and explained that her husband had a serious infection in his leg and was rushed to the hospital the day before. They were brand new to the area and didn't know anyone so they didn't know anyone that could give him a priesthood blessing. They had prayed to find someone, then the wife went to go get dinner, she had the feeling to go to that particular restaurant and we were the first people she saw when she went in. It was the coolest story about how God answers prayers. We went to the hospital and were able to give her husband a blessing. My companion being the good trainer he is, let me give the blessing which was a little overwhelming but a great experience. We actually saw that woman again on Sunday and she told us that he is healing very well. It is awesome to be a witness to these experiences and stories where God's love for each of us is manifested like that. I love being on a mission! I love being here and teaching these people. I will write back to everyone that writes me but it might take a little longer being that we are so busy here! I love you all and wish you the best!  

Elder Banner

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Finally in Tucson!


FINALLY IN TUCSON!!!

I am sorry I was unable to call home. In my travel group I had an Elder with some special needs so he took awhile to help through the process. Sweet kid but we didn't have any time actually waiting in the airport because of him but, I am finally here and I like it! The weather is perfect (right now) and my mission president and his wife are awesome! I love Pres. and Sister Killpack! They are so nice and outgoing and they are perfect for me! I love them already! They are going to be such cool leaders! The churches here are so much cooler looking then the ones in Utah, everything has a Mexican feel to it! The mission home is a mansion with an incredible view of the whole valley.
There are two main types of vegetation here, cactus and palm tree! It is crazy! There is a saying here, 'everything in Tucson is either dead, or wants you dead.' And it is true! There is a type of cactus here that if you bump into it, it will shoot needles at you! We call it the Satan cactus! This is definitely a desert but it is ok because we are coming up on Monsoon season according to my companion. Exciting! Apparently the lightning storms during monsoon season are quite something to behold! We also get great sunsets here!
Today I met my companion Elder Bradley! He is really cool; he is hard of hearing and a very nice guy. The two of us are the only two ASL missionaries here, so we have the entire mission! We get the best of everything! We have a 4x4 truck with 5 seats as our mission car. We also have a very nice phone, and we have the nicest and biggest apartment in the mission! Our apartment is in a very nice complex; we have a full kitchen, full bathroom, bedroom with a huge walk in closet and a huge living room! In our living room are two full sized office desks and a 52-inch TV! The TV is used for us to communicate with the deaf members through the use of a VP (video phone), which is the same as skype without sound. We have unlimited miles that we can travel because we will need to drive all over the mission. We also get more money then all of the other Elders because it is not part of the deaf culture to feed people dinner.
I found out yesterday that Elder Bradley and I are the 1st and 2nd counselors in the ASL branch Presidency, which is going to be very weird. Our deaf branch has about 30 members right now (that will definitely change) but we will also teach in English as well. I am super excited to start meeting people tonight!
I had a great experience coming here on the airplane.  I had prayed that I would be able to speak with someone that I could help for a week before leaving the MTC.  On the flight from SLC to PHX I sat next to a really nice LDS couple that talked with me the whole time about their son who is serving in Brazil and the experiences I am going to have. It was cool, but on the flight from PHX to Tucson for no apparent reason my ticket was changed to first class. I was able to move to first class, (which was so much better), next to a gentlemen who owns a retirement home here. He believes in God and the Bible but doesn't have religion, he told me he is familiar with us and is not interested in reading the Book of Mormon or anything.  That was fine and he and I spoke the whole flight. We had a very good conversation and discussion and at the end he gave me his address so hopefully something will come out of this!

I love it here already! I am so excited to serve here! This mission is perfect for me!

My address is:
Elder Josh Banner

Arizona Tucson Mission

939 W. Chapala Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85704-4516

I do not have very much to write as of now but I am so excited for the opportunity I have to be here and I am so excited to do this work. I will really like my companion and this mission. All of the other Elders seem pretty cool and the Mission Pres. and his wife are some of the coolest people in the world. I will send pictures soon.
I love you all,
Elder Banner

"The field is white, already to harvest" D&C 4

Monday, February 13, 2012

Out in the field!

Elder Josh arrived today in Arizona!  He was scheduled to call at six am this morning so we all woke up early and waited patiently by the phone.  Much to my dismay, no phone call.  I went to work and held my phone right next to me.  I got a phone call for about one minute.  He said that they were running late getting to the airport and after making sure that all of the missionaries that he was in charge of were set, there was not any time to call.  A kind lady that has a missionary out sat by him on the plane.  She asked him if he was able to call home and when she heard that he was not able to talk to us she told him to use her phone and call me.  He did but I don't think he felt that comfortable because it was one quick conversation!  He did say he is happy and is so excited to get out there and serve.  It was so good to hear his voice!  I miss that kid!!

I actually got more from the missionary mom that he sat by on the plane.  She sent a text to me latter and said," I sat by your son on the airplane.  What an amazing elder.  He is so cute.  His face radiated excitement.  I have a son who is serving in Brazil.  I know how much I love it when I hear from people who have seen Breydan.  He will be an amazing missionary". 

I will post something when we hear something!  Have a great day!!!

Liz ~

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

February 8th, 2012


Less then a week to go in the crazy place!!

Ok, so it has been an interesting week! My entire district left this week! It was weird saying goodbye to them and even weirder to not have them with us yesterday and today after being with them all day every day for over 2 months! It is going to take some getting used to not having them with us.

Some cool things did happen because of it though. On everyone’s last day, our teacher Bro. Ikeda (He is deaf) said the prayer for us in Japanese! And he did the ASL at the same time! It was crazy and he even has an Asian accent (We still can't figure that one out)! Also Bro. Peterson (also deaf, the one that can play the piano amazingly) had a whole conversation with us in English (his deaf accent is noticeable) and he also started speaking Spanish! It was weird! And then to top it all off, he started singing! He sang multiple songs and he is a better singer than I am (not very hard, but he is deaf!)! Crazy!

Fast Sundays are weird here, we have a 2-hour mission conference and then after we have the sacrament, then testimony meeting.  There is never any time that no one is baring testimony here! haha

I got my itinerary this week!!!! I leave Monday at 4 in the morning! Ya, I know what the heck! But I am so excited! I was called to be the travel leader, which means I will be in charge of 8 other missionaries that are flying with me! I hope they are not stupid! I have had thoughts about maybe one of them missing the plane or something! That would be terrible!

I have been working with my new companion this week! I know that he is my companion here just so that I can learn patience! He is soooooooooooo slow at everything! He has no get up and go in him! It took his 25 minutes to get dressed the other day and not even into a suit! And I can finish two plates at mealtime (including standing in line) before he finishes half of his plate. It is not that he is slow upstairs or anything, that would be easier to deal with, he just takes his time with everything! But I like him and we are getting along fine! He is going to be just fine as a missionary.

Other then that there is not much new! I am just so excited to get out into the field! 
Thanks for all the letters! 

Elder Banner 

"Put you hand on a hot stove for a minute and it feels like an hour. Sit next to a pretty girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity!" - Albert Einstein

Thursday, February 2, 2012

February 1st, 2012

I am so close to going into the field! One week from Monday!

Ok so yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the MTC! It was really cool and a great experience! We were able to hear from Jeffrey R. Holland (my favorite!) and Russell M. Neilson! It was a great meeting and it was so cool to be in the front again! We were right in front of Elder Holland and as we were signing one of the songs he looked right at me a smiled! It was awesome! Since being in the MTC I have had three different apostles look right at me! It is so cool and you can literally feel the Spirit that is with them the second they enter the room! It is amazing!

Also this week my companion, Elder Livengood left, I must say I took it with mixed emotions. I was very ready for him to leave, and he has been on my nerves constantly the past couple weeks! I wish him the best and he'll do great things, but he and I were just too different!  I have a new companion now, his name is Elder Burton and he is an English Elder. He fractured his leg so now he has to stay a few extra weeks. He will now be coming to our ASL classes with us so maybe he will pick something up. He is interesting, I like him a lot! He does have something going on that I can't place though; some wire is not totally connected upstairs if you know what I mean! It is a good experience for me because I now have to interpret what is said during our lessons. It is so hard to try and teach and interpret at the same time! It is a great learning experience though, and I am fine with being his companion!

One of the Sister's, the one that hurt her wrist is going home! It is really sad! Hopefully she will be able to come back!

I have been improving as a teacher a lot! I am actually getting it down! And my ability to sign is improving greatly! I am so excited to get out into the field! As I have been teaching I have learned how to ask questions that make a person think deeply and bring out what they are really thinking! My teachers are saying that I am getting real good!

Well I love you all and I hope everything is going great!

Warmest Regards,
 Elder Banner

"Most things in life we can't control, but we can control ourselves, just be the best you can be and everything else will take care of itself." - Jeffery R. Holland