What's up with the cape? Are we going to the opera?

Hey Family

               This week has been great. On Tuesday, I started to pack and we went and visited the Rasdons, Ray and Sharron, the Lindseys and the Oetjens. People kept asking me where I was going  but I didn't know. I kept telling them I might go to West Memphis or Paragould. 

me and Brianna and Zac (Zac is standing on something he is really about my height)

 Ray, me and Sharron

Well on Wednesday, the Musick's came and we loaded all my stuff into their van. Then we drove to Jonesboro and picked up the Paragould Elders and loaded all of Elder Rich's stuff in the Musick's van. We then went to Memphis to transfers. When transfers were about to start we went inside the building and they had just varnished the gym floor so it smelled bad. After the opening song and prayer we all went back outside because we couldn't stand the fumes. We then had transfers outside even though it was about to rain. It was the fastest transfer meeting. It was only 15 min, usually transfer meetings are an hour. Well I got transferred to Paragould. My companion is Elder Salisbury. We were both thinking that I was going to Parargould. Elder Salisbury is from Savannah, Georgia, but he lives in Ogden, Utah. He has been out for about 9 months. After the transfer meeting ended it started to rain and has been raining on and off all week. It is kinda cool. We waited for the Musicks, then we unloaded Elder Rich's stuff and loaded in Elder Mayberry's stuff (he is going to Pocahontas and that is funny because he was one of the ones that opened it in November). Then we went to give a blessing and back to Jonesboro. Then Elder Salisbury and I went back to Paragould. The rest of the week we have gone teaching. I have been meeting all the investigators and members. On Sunday, I was asked last minute to tell about myself and share my testimony in sacrament. It has been a great week.

                That is about it for my week. It sounds like you are all having fun cleaning and swimming. Thanks for everything you guys do for me and know I love and pray for all of you.

                                                                                                                love, Elder Talbert 

thou shalt count to 3 and 3 shalt be the number thou shalt count

Joseph's letter from June 3

Hey Family

                This week has been great. Monday, we went fishing with some of the members. Then then we went and visited some investigators named Oetjens (said eh-tons). On Tuesday, we went to district meeting then I stayed in Paragould on exchanges.

 It was lots of fun. Wednesday, we exchanged back and went to a missionary meeting. Then we visited Ray and the Oetjens. Friday, was fairly boring except for family night that evening. I am getting better at ping pong. Saturday, Ray got Baptized. It was awesome. It was not in a river because of all the rain that we have been getting. We have not had any really bad storms just some rain and thunder and lightning. 

Then on Sunday Ray got confirmed. The Oetjens came to church. Church was very good and it's cool you will be teaching the Gospel Doctrine class mom. Then this morning I have received word that I am getting transferred on Wednesday. I am excited to see where I go, but kinda sad to leave. That is about all for my week. 

 

                Its great to hear you are all doing well and having a good summer. Hope you all have a great week and fun as you are in summer break.

         Love Elder Talbert 

Get that corn out of my face

Hey Family,

                    This week has been fairly uneventful. Monday we went and ate the fish we caught on Friday. It was really good. On Tuesday we had district meeting. There we just talked and role played how to find new investigators. Then we went and visited a few people. Wednesday we went and contacted people from the SUV fireside. We had a missionary meeting in the evening. On Friday we started out the day by helping some investigators named the Lindseys set up and clean their pool. Then we went to Imboden to help do some electrical work. That evening we went over to the Rasdons (recent convert family) and had dinner. Then we had family game night. It was moved to Friday and now us missionaries are in charge of it. Saturday we helped clean the grounds of the church in the morning, then that afternoon we went and visited the Lindseys and a few others. Yesterday church was very good. In Sunday school we talked about temples it was very awesome. That is about it for my week. 

                  

                    It sounds like you guys had a fun week or at least weekend. Did grandpa get my card?  Mom the baptism was moved to this Saturday (June 1st) because the river flooded, then he had a family reunion last Saturday. Thanks for all the pictures.

     love                                                                                                                                                        

       -Elder Talbert 

As You Wish

Hey Family

                    This week has been great and very busy. Monday we went over to Ray's house to have dinner and hang out with him. On Tuesday we went on blitzes (where other missionary come down and you all stay in one area) with the Paragould Elders. They came down and interviewed Ray for baptism. Then we went around and visited a couple other people that Elder Rich (the district leader serving in Paragould) wanted to see because he served here not too long ago. On Wednesday we went down to Memphis to see Gladys Knight. We got there really early, like 3 hours early so we went to eat before we got in line. We went to this place called Genghis Grill. It was really good. Then we went to the church and stood in line with Ray and his mom Sharron for about an hour or so. We got in and we sat there for a few minutes when the the music started playing. The SUV choir walked in and went up on the stage. Then we looked around for Gladys because she didn't come in with the choir. After a minute or so she came walking in and there w/ere lots of excited people. They sang lots of good songs. The first song they sang, in the middle of the song, an old skinny white guy started singing and he sounded like a great young black singer. One of the songs they sang was "I am a Child of God". After they sang "I am a Child of God," a white guy got up and started to introduce Gladys. He said you all probably are wondering why I get to introduce Gladys. He then went on to say that he was related to Gladys and Gladys just sang "I am a Child of God" so we know she is a child of God and I did some research and realized I am a child of God too, so we are brother and sister. Then this rich looking black guy got up and said in a very deep voice, "Hello my name is William McDowell and Gladys Knight is married to me." He told his story of how he and Gladys met and the whole time making little jokes like he said he built a man room off of Gladys' house after they got married. He said "I got the brethren together and we built a man room.  The TV was in the right spot, the remote could never be lost. We labored for 6 days and on the 7th day we rested. When we were done we stood back and saw that it was good." He than said that his biggest concern about joining the church was why did God restore the church though a "little white boy". He said he prayed about it and realized that Joseph Smith was his brother. Then Gladys got up and gave her conversion story and she was also really funny. At one part she was talking about how she liked ice cream and she said "I see lot of y'all are vanilla and a couple of y'all are strawberry but most of y'all are chocolate out there". At one part she had all the missionaries stand up and the audience cheered for us. Then she pointed out her grandson Elder Jackson. Overall it was a really great performance. On Friday we were supposed to have a father sons campout and fishing and stuff. It rained and the place we were going to go flooded. We still went fishing with Ray because he still wanted to go. We caught 7 fish. I caught 2 big catfish, Elder Staib caught 1 perch, and Ray caught 4 catfish. It was lots of fun. Saturday we went down to Memphis to hear Elder Soares a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. It was really good. He talked about how we need to go into the deep end and just go out and get the work done, Don't hold anything back. On Sunday the speakers were Brother Coons (high council member) Elder Staib and myself. I went first and after I was done with my talk I realized that my 10 minute talk turned into a 20 minute talk. I need to figure out how to cut down on the time I speak. The talks were all very good. We spoke on D&C 88:118. Then half way though church the power went out and stayed out till about 6ish.  

                    Thats all I have to say. Its great to hear all of you have had a great week and are ready for summer. Tell Kelsey congrats on the mission call. Have a great week.

                                                        Elder Talbert  

Happy Mothers Day

Hey Family, 

                     It was great to talk to you all yesterday. This letter will be short because I talked to you guys yesterday. Monday we went and explored downtown and took pictures at the flooded river in town. 

Black River flooding in downtown

Meteor in town

On Tuesday we had zone meeting in West Memphis and we talked about getting the members involved. On Wednesday I had my doctor appointment in Little Rock. It went really well and I don't need to see the doctor for 3 more months. On Thursday we went to district meeting in Paragould because president wanted to come and interview each of us. After we were interviewed, we had a fish fry. The missionaries in Paragould caught catfish last Monday. So for the fish fry we had the catfish, some crawdads, and some fries. It was all really good but the crawdads were good but they were to much work for a little meat. It has been a great week. 

 

. I hope you all had a great Mothers Day. Thanks for all your love and support.

                                                                                                         Elder Talbert  

Float like a Cadillac, Sting like a Beamer

Hey Family,

                  This week has been great. Monday we hung out with the Musicks till dinner time. Then we went over to a family of 7 that recently got baptized and had family home evening. Then on Tuesday we went to Paragould for district meeting. It was good and they focused on how you need to teach with the spirit. People are converted by the spirit. After district meeting we returned to Pocahontas and went to go teach a family named the Lindsey's. Every time we go over there we start by answering their questions. Then we can teach them although they have been taught before so its more like a review for them. On Wednesday we went to go teach one of our investigators named Ray. Ray is a 22 year old that is going to be baptized on the 18th of this month. He needs to start obeying the Word of Wisdom but after that he is good. Then that evening we went and had a missionary meeting. It was good. After the missionary meeting we went and had family night and played apples to apples. I won!!.......once. Thursday we went to Walnut Ridge. We went and visited a few people, one of which was a less active member that used to work for Elvis Productions. She would go around and put on Elvis shows. One of the guys that worked with her was Elvis's cousin. It sounds like she had a really cool job. That evening we went to go and see some of our investigators named John, Jennifer, and  Creanne. They are a family that should be getting baptized on the 25th of this month. They sill have a lot of progress to make though. Sunday we went to church and this week we had stake conference  I think I have been to like 3 stake conferences since I have been on my mission. It was a multistake stake conference and it included like 63 stakes on the eastern half of the country. We had 4 speakers at stake conference. One of the seventy, the general primary president, Robert D Hales, and Dieter F Uchtdorf. It was really good.

                  That is about all that has happened this week. Now you have all asked me lots of questions so here are the answers. My doctor appointment has been changed to the 8th and I will be waking up around 4 AM in order to get there in time because the latest they could do it was 8 AM and I got my meds last Monday. My companion is from Highland, Utah. He has been out about 19 months and has been in Pocahontas since February. We never ride bikes but we could if we wanted to. The town is named after Pocahontas but I don't think she ever lived here so I have no idea why it is named Pocahontas. Last is Mothers day. I will be at the Musicks house when I call you so I can probably do face time and it will be around 5-6 our time. I will call you and let you know specifics around 4 our time. I do know you will be at church till 3 so I will call after that.

                  That is about it from me. Have a great week.

                                                                                  Elder Talbert   

Frying pans, who knew?

Hey Family,

                    This week has been exciting. Monday and Tuesday were spent going around Hot Springs and saying bye to lots of the members and investigators. 

Elder Talbert and Elder Jacobson

On Wednesday we went the hour drive to Little Rock to transfers. My name was called as one of those going to the "Other Side". We then loaded up the trailers and drove 2 hours to the Memphis Stake Center. I got to see the Memphis Temple! It is by far the smallest temple I have ever seen. It was the same size if not smaller then the Stake Center. The Stake Center is normal sized. Then I went to the transfer meeting in Memphis. I am now companions with Elder Staib. We drove 2 hours from the Memphis stake center to Pocahontas, Arkansas where I am now serving. Pocahontas is a small town and there is a branch here. Wednesday night we went to family game night. There are not enough active youth here so they have a family game night on Wednesday instead of mutual. The rest of the week we went and visited some people here. I am still trying to learn names and figure out where I am. Yesterday church was weird. There were only about 40-50 people there and 90% of those were older folks. 

Elder Staib and Elder Talbert

Elder Staib is really cool. We kinda look alike but I'm a little taller. We have a lot in common so that is great. We were looking at each others photos yesterday and realized that his younger brother looks like Nathaniel. It was really strange. 

                    There is also a senior couple here in Pocahontas. They are the Musicks and they are really nice and always willing to help. We cover all the little towns around Pocahontas so we have a good sized area. I will enjoy it here.

                    A few side things. 1st, Dad tell Sister Hart hi and that I will be praying for her and I hope she gets better soon. 2nd Mom I have not gotten my med's but they should be here soon. I have enough to last till they get here. 3rd my doctors appointment will have to be changed because it is 2 hours to get to Little Rock. I talked to President about it and the Musicks are willing to drive us there and back so I will reschedule that today some time. It sounds like you have all had a fairly good week. I am excited to see Paula and Blake's new place. It sounds like Heather's face plant hurt and I hope she will be OK. Last thing is that this week I have heard a talk by Brad Wilcox called "His Grace is Sufficient". It is a great talk and I encourage you all to hear it.

                    Thanks for all that you do for me and know that I am always praying for you guys. Have a great week.  

                                            Love Elder Talbert

  

 Pastor George Rook

me with Derek Bruce

Edger on the left and Shelita on the right

my finger after i jammed it playing basketball