January 20

Hey Family,

                  This week has been great. Not much has happened this week. I went on exchanges and we had specialized training and we went to Forrest City. 

                   So on Tuesday we went on exchanges. I stayed in West Memphis with Elder Bell and Elder Oveson went on Exchanges with Elder Schut in Lakeland. We went around and tried to see lots of people but no one was home so we ended up talking to lots of people on the streets. It was lots of fun and we found lots of people that told us we could come back. That evening we went to the Teeter's. It was really fun and Sister Teeter had tons on M&Ms because she got them for 22 cents. She gave each of us a bag. We then told them they needed to come to church. They said they would but then on Sunday they didn't. Then  the next day we had specialized training. During specialized training we learned about how to invite people out to church. We also talked about how to overcome concerns about church and using your time wisely. It was very good and I learned a lot. Then on Saturday we went to Forrest City to teach a lesson to Noland. He loves the discussions and really enjoys the gospel. We tried to set a date with him but he wants to wait for his girlfriend out in Utah to be there. Forrest City is about 30 miles away and is a small town. It was fun to go out there and see Forrest City.

                  Well that's about it for me. Sorry this letter has been short but the library was closed and the internet at the church was down today. I have emailed at the Wall's and the Teeter's. Sorry for it coming so late. Hope y'all have a great week and know I always pray for y'all.

Elder Talbert

Cold and Rain

Joseph's letter from January 13

Hey Family,

                    This week was great!  It has been cold and rainy all week long. Monday we did our usual thing. It was lots of fun and I won most games. On Tuesday we had Zone Meeting. It was a big meeting with lots of missionaries because of how the zone has changed. It was all about inviting people to baptism and how to overcome their concerns and then promise blessings. It was good and I got to see and talk with Elder Jacobson so that was cool. After we came back to West Memphis, Elder Oveson and I went to go see some people. The few appointmenst we had fell though but we were able to talk with a few people on the street and teach them. Then as we were walking home we got picked up by this less active member named Brother Tucker. He is really cool and has a testimony of the gospel but doesn't come to church for some odd reason. Wednesday night we had a branch correlation meeting in which the branch gave us some names of less actives they wanted to focus on. It was really good since we hadn't had one in a long time. Then on Thursday we talked to a few more people on the street and taught them the first discussion. We then went  o a less actives named Sister Misskelly. We helped her take down her Christmas tree and put it away. We then got a ride home from them and went to the Barnum's for dinner. The Barnum's are a really cool family in the branch. Brother Barnum is a helicopter pilot instructor. He is also the branch missionary assistant. After the Barnum's we went to the Wall's and shared a spiritual thought with them. Not much happened on Friday but on Saturday we went to some appointments. After our appointments we went to see Janet and she is as busy as ever. We talked with her for a little then she had to go and take care of her kids. Saturday evening we went and visited with Noland. We talked to him about the Plan of Salvation. He really enjoyed it and had read the pamphlet beforehand. He had a few questions about the 3 degrees of glory but we were able to clear those up. This next week we might be going to Forrest City where he lives to meet with him (we will see how many miles we have). On Sunday, church was really good and the talks were on keeping the Sabbath Day holy. After church we had some meetings then we went home and ate lunch. After lunch we went to see the Russell's. We visited with them for a little then we went to the Green's for dinner. After dinner we went with Bro Barnum to see the Sherwood's. It was a good day and a great week.

               

                                     Well that's about all for me. I hope y'all have a great next week and a good beginning of the new semester. Have fun in Vernal this weekend and know y'all will be in my prayers.

                   Elder Talbert 

2014

Hey Family,

                   This week has been good. We were on bike week so we walked around most of the week. Monday we went to Bartlett and dropped Elder Morgan and Elder North off at the temple. We went and emailed while they went though the temple. After they were done at the temple we went and said goodbye to Elder Morgan. We then went to lunch with like 10 other missionaries and Brother Floyd. Brother Floyd is a really cool member that lives in Bartlett and goes to the Memphis 1st ward and loves doing any thing with, for, and to help the missionaries. After lunch we went back to the library so Elder North could email his family. We went from there to the church where we hung out and played some B-ball. That evening me and Elder Oveson came back to West Memphis while Elder North stayed in Lakeland with Elder Bell. Tuesday we had a car so we drove around and tried to see lots of people but they were all getting ready for New Years Eve parties. On Wednesday we went to transfers so that we could get Elder North and his new companion. Elder North's new companion is Elder Fredette (like Jimmer Fredette but he's not related or at least not close enough to make sense). On Thursday we went to see an investigator named Sharron. She is really cool and is from Antigua. She really wants to study the Book of Mormon before she makes too many decisions but she loves learning about the church. We then got dropped off and walked around to try and see some people. We met this guy named John and his brothers. He was cool and we are going to see them on Tuesday. Later we were walking back to our apartment for dinner and this lady stopped and asked if we were the missionaries. We told her yes and she said she was the daughter to the Russell's ( the Russell's are less active members). She then asked if we had eaten. We said no she told us to go inside Tops BBQ (we happened to be in the parking lot of Tops) and she would pay for us. We went inside and she bought us a meal. It was really cool and she is super nice. Friday we had an appointment with a guy named Noland. He is a police Officer up in Forrest City. He went to Utah to visit a friend and went to church out there then had a missionary discussion out there. I think I mentioned him in my last email. Well we taught him and his friend from Chicago. They both seemed really interested and we have another appointment for this next week. On Sunday, church was good and we helped teach young men's. After church we went out to go see some people. After about 30 min outside we decided it was way too cold and went home.

That is about all for my week. We got a little of the cold weather and will have a little more this next week. I hope y'all have a great week at school and work. Thanks for all you do and know I love and pray for y'all.

                                   Elder Talbert

Christmas

Joseph's letter from Dec 30

Hey Family,

                  This week has been good with Christmas and all. Also i'ts transfer week and it looks like neither Elder Oveson or me are getting transferred. Well on Monday we did our usual thing and played games all day till dinner. We had dinner at the Russell's. They are a less active family that is really cool. On Tuesday we had district meeting. The zone leaders came and were at our district meeting. It was all about working with members and ITMing (Inspire the members). After we went home and then to the Lotts. Sister Lott cut our hair and then they fed us dinner. (I told y'all some of this on Christmas) After dinner we went up to the Teeters and helped Sister Teeter put together some Christmas presents for her family. When Wednesday came around we woke up and opened our presents then we got ready for the day and went to the Walls. There we ate a big breakfast and talked with y'all. After I finished talking with y'all we played some games and hung out because Elder Morgan had to wait till 2 to talk to his family. Around 4 we went to the Anderson's for dinner and hung out there most of the night. On Thursday we went to see a bunch of people but most were busy with family or gone on vacation. We did get to talk to one of our investigators named Janette. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and has been enjoying it. We also called a guy named Noland that we got a referral for. We set up a time this upcoming Friday to go teach him. He seems really cool and has been to church out in Utah and really loved it. On Friday we drove out to Crawfordsville to see a less active named Mae Barton. She is cool and always says she will come to church but never does. That evening we went to the Oreys for dinner. It was lots of fun and me and Elder Morgan have been working on getting a ball of yarn untangled for them for the past month. We had found 8 ends and a big knot in the middle. On Saturday well, no one was home. It was kinda a sucky day. That evening we ate at the Orey's again. This time me and Elder Morgan got two of the ends to meet and untangled part of the yarn. We took it home with us to work on that night. By the next morning we had all but one string untangled. We felt accomplished. Church on Sunday was good, not much exciting happened out of the ordinary. The rest of that day we went around with Elder North and Elder Morgan to say good bye to some people. Then that evening we went to the Andersons for dinner.

 

That was about it for my week. Not too eventful but fun that Christmas was in the middle. I hope y'all have a great week and fun with work and in Elko. It was great to talk to you and I will do it again on Mothers Day. Have a great week.

Elder Talbert