With great power comes great responsibility

Letter from September 23

Hey Family,

                This week has been good. We have really focused this week on going though the ward roster and meeting all the less actives and part member families. We are really trying to get to know the ward better. Here in about a week we will be moving in with a member and they will be putting sisters in the apartment where we live now. Because they will be putting more sisters in Bartlett we will be over both wards. On Tuesday and Wednesday we went around and visited lots of part member families. On Thursday we had specializedTtaining. It was a fun but a long meeting. They really focused on being bold and not beating around the bush. They also focused on using the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is super important. It is the convincing evidence that what we are telling them is true. We have been asked to carry a Book of Mormon in our hand as we are walking around. I have really come to love the Book of Mormon as I have been reading it these last couple of weeks. Like I mentioned last time, I am reading the Book of Mormon in 30 days. Right now, I have about 26 pages a day to finish in the 30 days. It is a lot to read each day but it seems like when I sit down and read I get sucked in and don't want to put it down. I would extend the challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days to anyone who would like. After specialized training we went to the Hill's. Right before we left we were told that Beckie's mom was going to be there and she had lots of questions. We went over and had been planning on teaching the Plan of Salvation. We first opened it up to any questions. We answered all the questions and Chris helped us teach and answer questions. We taught the plan of salvation because it goes over a little of everything. It was a really great lesson and by the end Beckie understood the Plan of Salvation better and her mom had more respect for us and the church. Saturday we went to some more less actives and Prat members. There were some children baptisms in the ward so we filled up the font and helped out with those. We had dinner with the Stake President and that was lots of fun. Sunday, church was great. They talked a lot about repentance. 

 

                  That's about it for my week it was good but fairly boring. I hope y'all have a great week and fun at school and work. Thanks for all you do. I love and pray for y'all. 

                  Elder Talbert 

Letter from September 16

Hey family,

        Now this week has been good. We are no longer on bike week. Monday we played some volleyball and hung out with the other elders. On Tuesday we went and saw almost everyone that the sisters before us had been meeting. We didn't really teach anything, we just introduced ourselves and set up return appointments. On Thursday we went around and saw some part member families. Then that evening we went over to the Hill's. The Hill's are a part member family. Chris is a member and his wife Beckie is not. She has been taught everything and acts just like a member. If you came to church and didn't know she wasn't a member you wouldn't know. Well, we had dinner over there and then had a get to know each other session. She is really cool and is waiting on Chris to baptize her. On Friday we went over to the Bacon family. They are investigators. The wife, Lori, seems excited to learn but the husband, Jeff, doesn't seem too excited. When we first got there they went off about how they are going though a hard time and they wanted to know if we could help. We talked about how the Gospel blesses families and how it would bring them closer together. On Sunday we went to church and we only went to the first ward. We have been trying to focus on the first ward since there are sisters in the second ward. We were told that come October there are going to be more sisters in Bartlett. So come October, there will be a set of elders and two sets of sisters in Bartlett. We will be over both wards, helping with splits and Home Teaching. Both of the wards are really nice. I don't know the 2nd ward too well but they seem just as cool as the 1st ward. We have been getting fed dinner every night here. There is someone in the ward whose calling is to fill out the missionary calender and make sure we get meals. Although I am in the super rich part of town so the members have the means to feed us. 
              Today we went to the temple!! It was so awesome! There was a special temple session for all missionaries in the surrounding area. After the session we helped with the laundry of the temple. We got to have a tour of the temple by the temple president. It was awesome and lots of fun. The Memphis Temple is one of "the small temples". It was super small and impossible to get lost in because if you walked too far it was either a wall or the waiting room. It was cool but really small.

       

             That is about it for my week. I am writing so late because I just went to the temple. My district has made a challenge to read the BOM in 30 days. The challenge ends the day before general conference. As you know I am a slow reader but I am determined to complete the challenge. As I have read so far it has been a great thing. I found this scripture the other day in 2nd Nephi 3:14-15. It prophecies Joseph Smith and how he will restore the Gospel. I am not going to put it in my email so you will have to look it up and read it. It is super cool. Well I have run out of things to say. I hope y'all have a great week and a fun time at school and work. I want y'all to know I love you and pray for y'all.

                                                                                                        Elder Talbert

Letter from September 9th

Hey family,

                We had made it, we were in the crypts. We were finally among friends from the GD. As we were walking around we saw some people. They smelt like weed and you know they had been smoking just minutes before. We talked to a couple of them then went with our friend to "the jungle". We ran though the jungle to see one more person. After we had talked to them we started to leave. On our way, we saw a stray dog just standing there. As we looked at him and he looked at us we decided we only had one option, we walked slowly as we tried not to be noticed. We then realized the dog was chained up and we were fine. We made our way back though the jungle and into the main part of the crypts. We said bye to our friends and started off to the grove. When we got to the grove we parked our car and started to walk to the store. As we were walking we saw members of all sorts of mobs. We avoided being shot even though you could see the guns these guys were carrying. We made it to the store and purchased some drinks. We then left and went home. We made it home safely. As we went to bed our house smelt strongly of weed and we knew that the person below us had been smoking.

 

  My week has been boring. On Monday we played volleyball with lots of the missionaries in the surrounding areas. Then on Tuesday I went to Frayser and was companions with Elder Armstrong. The story above is what we did. It was lots of fun. On Wednesday we went to breakfast with Elder Jackson and Elder Anderson. Then we exchanged back and  biked around the rest of the day. The rest of the week was very slow and we biked around and only a few people let us in and we had fun biking but now we are really tired.

 

          That is about it for my week. I am glad you are all doing good and having fun at work and school. Keep up the good work and know I love y'all

                Elder Talbert

Clarification from Joseph's letter the following week:

          The GD (Gangster Disciples) is one of the big gangs in Memphis. We were at an apartment complex called the Crypts. Part of the complex is referred to as "the Jungle". It is the more dangerous part of the Crypts. "The Grove" is another part of town that has one of the highest murder rates per capita in all the US. It was fun and I was perfectly safe.

there is no water in the air

Letter from September 2, 2013

Hey Family,

                This week has been great! On Monday we went and hung out with Tamra for a bit then we went up to Piggott and said goodbye to Deidra and Jeremey. Then we went to Nicole's and went with her and her family to Rector to see Zephyer play football. It was a typical junior high game. After the game I said goodbye to them and Chance. On Tuesday I packed most of the day. We did go see the Charles. Then we went to the Edler's for dinner. They took some pictures so maybe you will get one. We then went to Bro Roses' and then to Tamra's. On Wednesday I finished packing and we went to Jonesboro to meet the Musicks and the Pocahontas Elders. We stopped by and saw the Kirkseys and then meet up with the Musicks. We loaded all my stuff in their car and we drove down to Bartlett for Transfers. Right before transfers I asked Elder Adams if he could hint as to where I was going. (he is an AP). He told me I wasn't going anywhere. It really confused me. Then transfers happened and I was assigned to be in Bartlett. My companion is Elder Breckenridge. He is from Tetonia, Idaho and we seem to have a lot in common. It will be fun serving with him. We whitewashed the area so we are still trying to figure out what is going on. In the evening we went to the church and meet some people and the sisters helped us figure out who our investigators are. Thursday we went and tried to see a couple people but for the most part we tried to get things organized. On Friday we went shopping and saw a few more people. Then that evening we went over to the Elders quorum presidents over the 1st ward and talked to him. Saturday was about the same just tried to see some people the sisters before us had been working with. On Sunday we went to church at 9 and had sacrament in the 2nd ward and met a bunch of people. Then we went to gospel principles. After gospel principles we went to sacrament meeting in the 1st ward. We are technically over the 1st ward. We met a bunch more people and they were excited to see us. Some people were not excited that we were Elders since it was a sister area we took over. Then we taught gospel principles class and went to Elders quorum. By the end of church I still felt like I had no idea who anyone was. I also still am figuring out if people are in 1st or 2nd ward.

              Well that's about it for my week. Hopefully by next week I will know what is going on in the area. I hope you all have a great week and a fun Labor day.

                                                                                          Elder Talbert 

Letter from August 26th

Hey Family

                 This week was great! On Monday we hung out with Tamra and the Blytheville Elders. It was lots of fun. Then on Tuesday we had district meeting and President came to do an interview for us. He also interviewed each one of us and said that Paragould is getting a senior couple in 2 weeks and that we are getting sisters in October and the Elders are moving up to Piggott in October. It was a good meeting. Also, Sister Peterson shined all the missionarie's shoes which was good because I had been meaning to for a while. After district meeting we went to lunch and then went with Bro Kirksey up to Piggott. We had a good time up there and taught Neil and then we taught Joella with the senior couple from Dexter, Missouri. In case you are wondering, Dexter, Missouri is not in our mission. On Friday we went and saw Tamra and the Lopez's. Then we went to the high school and watched some members play in the marching band. It was really cool. On Saturday we had two baptisms. It was awesome. Both Chance and Zephyer got baptized. I baptized Chance and Salisbury baptized Zephyer. It was very spiritual and really cool to have two be baptized on the same day. 

Chance and Elder Talbert

Zephyer, Elder Salisbury, Chance, and Elder Talbert

                On Sunday, both Chance and Zephyer got confirmed. Then both Salisbury and I gave talks in sacrament. Mine was like 5 min long. We talked on member missionary work. Later Chance and Zephyer got the priesthood. It was really cool. That night the Jonesboro Spanish missionaries came up and we taught some people with them. It was lots of fun. 

               That is about it for my week. Tell Kelsey I wish her luck and to have fun. About the meds, mom, I am getting transferred so the best option is to get them and send them to the mission office. I will for sure get them. Have fun in school and don't work too hard.

Our Shoes after getting shined by Sister Petersen

                                                                                                                     Love Elder Talbert 

I'm running out of movie quotes

Joseph's letter from August 19th

Hey Family,

                  This week has been alright. It has had its ups and downs. On Monday we we at Walmart shopping and one of our investigators texted us and said they were going to go to their moms baptist church instead of ours. We asked why and they said it was closer. Well we later found out that they just didn't have a testimony of the church and it's truthfulness and they lied to us about pretty much everything. It was really disappointing but we must keep trying. On Tuesday we helped a member move from Maraduke to Paragould it was long and hard. We only had a small truck and a few people. Then on Wednesday we went and did service in the morning for Bro Charles. After we finished with the service they fed us lunch. While we were eating Bro Charles was like "Oh I got to take my pills. See this is what happens when you get old and frail." I was like " you have to take pills?" He said "yes" and Elder Salisbury looked at me and was like "well I guess you are old and frail then". That evening we taught the young men the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was good and afterward, the young men leader taught us how he taught it on his mission. It is really good and it is visual and people like visuals. On Thursday we had zone conference. It was lots of fun and we talked about being a missionary and growing all the time. You learn things line upon line, precept upon precept. It was fun and it was good to be in Memphis again. That night we taught an awesome lesson to a part member family. Friday we helped a less active member move down in Brookland. It was fun and he took us to lunch after. Then we went up to Piggott and saw Garrett and Deidra. We had a good lesson with him then we went to Nicole's and taught Zephyer and Chance. It was a good day. On Saturday we went up to Piggott again and helped a member move some stuff to a storage shed then we saw Nicole and taught Zephyer and Chance again. Sunday was good. We had Zephyer and Chance come to church then that evening we went back up to Piggott and interviewed Zephyer for baptism. He and Chance should be getting baptized this weekend. 

                         That is about all I have to say. I did see a pic of G&G Talbert with Jimmy and Tiffany's kids on Sunday. It was cool to see them. I hope you all have a great week and a fun start to the school year. I love and pray for all of you. 

                                                                Elder Talbert  

There's always a bigger fish

Joseph's letter from August 12th

Hey family,

                 This week has been really good. On Monday we played ping pong with Tamra, Nicole, and Juane. It was lots of fun. On Tuesday we had zone meeting. It was good. They taught us how to teach more simply. The zone is really small now. I will send pics of the zone map. That night we had dinner with the Edlers. While we were at their house Bro Edler asked Sis Edler where he had heard the name Talbert before. Then they asked if I had family in Arizona. I was like yeah, I have lots of family in Arizona. They were then trying to think of the name and all they could come up with is Aunt TT. I told them I don't know anyone with that name. Then Bro Edler pulled up a pic on Facebook and showed it to me. I was like yeah, that's my cousin Jimmy and Tiffany. Apparently they know Tiffany from a while back when they used to live next to her. It was awesome. Wednesday we went up to Piggott and helped a member move some of his stuff to a storage shed. Then we went to Jonathan and Angel's. We met Elder Davis and Elder Mulvey there. They had come over to do Angel's interview. She should be getting baptized this next week if they can get a marriage license. From there we went to Nicole's and had dinner and taught Chance. We came home and it was late when we got in so the Blytheville Elders stayed the night. On Saturday we went up to Piggott again. This time we went up with Bro Watson. He is the Branch mission leader. That night we went to Nicole's for dinner again. This time though she had invited her friend Joella and a less active member. It was awesome and we had a full house of members, non-members, and less actives. On Sunday we had small numbers because everyone was on vacation. We also taught priesthood. It was a good lesson but their weren't many people there so there wasn't much participation.

                That is about it. I hope you all have a good week and have fun at the ward campout. I love and pray for y'all.

                               Elder Talbert