Force Fields

Letter from Feb 10

Hey Family,

                 This week has been great. We have transfers this next week and I am not getting transferred. I am excited to stay in West Memphis. Well on Monday we did our usual thing and played lots of games. We had dinner at the Lotts. On Tuesday we went on exchanges. I stayed in my area with Elder Schut. He is a new missionary that came out this past transfer. We had lots of fun going around and seeing people. Since we had the car we were able to go and see Janette. She has been busy as ever and only had a few minutes to talk. We then got a call from the other elders to come and pick them up (they were on bike week and it was raining really hard all day). When they got in the car they were soaked. Right as we were about to back up 3 firetrucks, a city truck, and 2 fire cars pulled in around us. It was nothing too big just a smoke scare I guess, but after about 20 min of waiting we got the attention of the fire chief and got one of the fire trucks to move so we could leave. Later we had dinner with Brother Barnum and a less active named Thomas John. It was lots of fun. We gave Thomas a blessing because he wants to change his life around. We then went and saw the Russell's. On Wednesday we had zone meeting. On the way to zone meeting there was a mysterious ticking noise on the way over. When we arrived I glanced at the place it seemed to be coming from and saw nothing. Zone meeting was good. It was all about using the Book of Mormon more and always having a copy to give out in your hands. On the way back from zone meeting the ticking noise continued. About the time we got to the Millington exit our tire made a pop noise. We pulled off the freeway and it was flat. 

This is what our tire looked like

 We called everything in and after about an hour we were able to get the tire off and put the spare on. We drove home very cautiously on the spare. By the time we got home we had dinner then another meeting at the church. It was a long and eventful day. On Thursday we were able to go to Firestone and get the tire replaced. The old one looked like it had been stabbed several times. Friday was fairly boring. There was a social thing at the church in the evening which included food so we went. After they were playing jeopardy and I realized I knew most of the answers. On Saturday we tried to see some people but no one was home so we went to a gas station to get a drink. A guy walked in and asked us what church we go to. We then talked to him about the church and asked if we could stop by some time. That evening we saw Sherry and David. They are cool and asked a bunch of good questions. On Sunday, church was great. We had a talk about the atonement. It was awesome and really focused on how essential the atonement is to the plan of salvation. It was a great talk and priesthood was about the creation and how everything was made for a purpose. That night for dinner we ate at the Greens. In the middle of dinner their daughter Carly (she is like 5) walked up to Elder North and asked him to explain what a force field was to Holly ( she is like 3) her younger sister. He did and Holly just gave him a weird look. After dinner I shared a spiritual thought about Samuel the Lamanite and how he had a spiritual force field around him when he was up on the wall teaching the Nephite people.

We got this cool pic of a beetle bug and a guitar = perfect Kodak moment

                 That's about it for my week. Thanks for all y'all do for me. Hope ya'll have a great week and a fun valentines day. I love and pray for y'all.

Elder Talbert

L Tom Perry

Letter from Feb 3

Hey Family,

                This week has been great. Monday was usual, we played games. Then on Tuesday we went to  district meeting. It was good and both the AP's and the zone leaders where there. We learned about the restoration of the gospel. Sometimes you think that oh I have already learned about this but everything we believe in hangs on whether the restoration it true or not. So it was good to review it and learn that if our investigators don't understand the restoration we have no point to move forward till they do. That evening we taught this lady named Sherry and her husband David. They are really cool and are very active in their church. On Wednesday we went and tried to see a less active but she wasn't home so we walked around for a little. While we were walking I saw a dollar on the side of the road. I bent down to pick it up and as I did a truck passed us. We kept walkin and saw the truck that had passed us were some guys that work for the city. They asked me if I had picked up a dollar I said yes and then we got in a conversation on what each other does. Then we talked to them about the gospel and they seemed interested. We are going to go to their house this week and try and see them. On Friday we saw this less active lady named Sis Misskelly. She is really cool but I don't know why she doesn't come to church. After that we went to the Oreys. Then with the Oreys we went to Cordova to a meeting about hastening the work with Elder L Tom Perry. It was awesome and he is super energetic and happy and funny. He is also 90. He talked about how the bible was written a long time ago and is ancient and we need to be focusing on the D&C because that is modern. Out here its all about the bible but the bible is old we need to read the D&C. That is something I am going to try and do these next couple weeks. Another thing that really hit me was he said that Salvation is a personal affair and Exaltation is a family affair. It was a great night and awesome to see L. Tom Perry. On Saturday we went and we saw the Russells. They are a less active family that are really cool. We had a good talk with them. Then we went and saw Sherry and David. We taught them the Restoration and they seemed to grasp most of it. Then on Sunday we had fast and testimony meeting. It was great and Noland came to church. He stayed for all 3 hours then he had to go get ready for  work. He said he loved it and he would be back this next week. After church we went and visited the Oreys and it was lots of fun. 

                        That is about it for my week. Sounds like y'all had a great week. I hope y'all have a great week and have fun at school and work. Thanks for all y'all do.

Elder Talbert 

Jan 27

Hey Family,

                  This week has been great. On Tuesday we had district meeting in Bartlett. It was good and about inviting people to come to church. After district meeting we went to see some people but we were on bike week so we ended up talking to a few people on the street. Then on Wednesday we went up to Wynn with the other elders and Brother Jones. Brother Jones is the Young men's president and loves to hunt and fish. Well we went up to Wynn and tried to see lots of less actives but no one was home. We did find that lots of them had moved and talked to a couple people that said we could come back and teach them. Then after we had got home we got a call from one of the less active members we tried to see. He said he was home and was sick so he didn't want to talk to us and get us sick. We then talked to him for a while and he said he would like us to come visit some time when he is not sick. On Thursday we went out and saw this lady named Sharron. She is really nice and was willing to help us out with anything. We are going to go by this week and teach her. We also talked to this lady named Amber. She is really nice too but was sick so we are hopefully going to be teaching her this week. That night we ate dinner at the Jones' house. Brother Jones is a good cook and made us stew. About halfway though the meal he told us that the stew was made with raccoon meat from a raccoon that he had killed. It was very good and tasted like roast beef. On Saturday we went to the Teeter's to help them paint. We painted one of the rooms in their house green. I was somehow assigned to do the upper trim. Because I know a lot of medical info people instantly assume I have steady hands and can do the hardest jobs. I was OK with doing the trim and it looked good when I was done. On Sunday we had a good talk on forgiveness and repentance. Then in Gospel principles the teacher, Brother Barnum, did an role play thing. He gave everyone slips of paper with a personality on it and he asked a bunch of questions. You had to answer the questions as if you were that person. As missionaries we didn't get slips because he ran out. But depending on how you answered the questions depended on whether or not you stayed on the straight and narrow. At the end if you had fallen off the straight and narrow the last question was will you repent. If you do you can go back on the straight and narrow. I thought it was a cool lesson on how we can make choices in life and its easier to choose the right first. 

                  Well that's it for my week. I hope y'all have a great week and have fun. Thanks for all you do. I love and pray for y'all.

                                            Elder Talbert

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