No News is....Good News?

Hi all!

So in case any of you were wondering, we did not lose each other on public transport this week.  :)  We did use it quite a bit, and have had to run for a few of them, but have made it on all of them together. 

This week involved our dear friends the Abbotts, and Kerry Baker.  Mostly just those two. haha :)  Kerry Baker is an amazingly strong new convert, who is having to move to New Zealand next week, and so we have been helping her pack and clean in preparation for that.  It's fun because we talk while we do it, and also share scriptures that come to our minds.  She has asked us some really good questions, which helps us know that she has really made a change in her life.  :)  It'll be sad to see her go, but it's good to know that we can still keep in contact. 

And the Abbotts are a part member family (not for long!) who we have been working with for the past couple of weeks.  The mom is the less active that we visited in the hospital.  She had a few extra surgeries after we visited her, so we came by a few times the week following to make sure that she was alright and if she needed any help.  She asked us to help clean their home for rental inspection, which of course we answered that we would.  :)  That surprised the husband a little, but he was very grateful for our help.  :)  After helping them, she told us that they would see us at church the following day, and they were able to come!!!  The whole family came and stayed for all three hours, and really enjoyed all of it.  When we dropped by on Tuesday to see what their thoughts were, they told us that they had been talking about the dad becoming a member, and them getting sealed in the temple!  So we extended the baptismal invitation, and he said yes!  So from Tuesday on, whenever we went over there we taught them the lessons.  :)  It is so cool to see the change that the gospel has brought to this family.  The kids (4 and 3) have started to behave a little differently, and the parents have changed too.  They seem happier and more at peace with what is going on in their lives.  On Saturday we had a ward party that everyone was asked to prepare a little skit or dance for, and while Brendon (the dad) was up on stage with all of the priesthood, Gem (the mom) leaned over to us sisters and told us that he is a completely new person now.  It's only been a week! 

Aussie terms: Morning tea, afternoon tea, and supper.  (Morning snack, afternoon snack, and dinner.) :)

Scripture of the week: Alma 29:6:  Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? 

Each one of us has been called to something different.  No person's mission is the same as another.  So why should we look to someone's life, mission, performance, etc. desiring that it could be ours?  Each of us is unique.  Each one of us has value.  The way your life turns out will be the way that God intends for it to, so why should we desire something that isn't in His plans for us?  Look at your life, value it, enjoy it, and use it as best as you can. 

Love you all! 

Photos: a Zone tug of war, the district in matching t-shirts, and a view of Perth city.

Sister Orro and Sister Talbot

Zone tug-of-war

The district in matching t-shirts

View of Perth and Sister Talbot

Tales of the Train--When Your Companion Makes It and You Don't

Hi guys!  I have a story to tell you!  (As always, but ya know, that's okay.)

This week is a story about obeying the rules of the mission.  Strictly.  haha :)

This Tuesday, we had our normal District Meeting, and then following that we had our interviews with President Fife. So Sister Orro and I planned ahead, packed lunch and our studies, and planned to go straight from our chapel where District Meeting was held to the Chapel where our interviews were going to be.  We would then use the extra time that we had to eat lunch and to study.  District Meeting was awesome!  We had tons to talk about in the training, we had a lovely little role play that Sister Orro read, and the spirit was super strong.  (Side note- for all those who are musical, Sister O sang soprano, I sang alto, Elder Dearden sang bass, and the rest of the elders sang tenor, it was amazing!) 

So District Meeting ends, and knowing that we have plenty of time between it and the interviews, we're walking relaxed and just enjoying the nice warm weather.  We catch the bus to the train station, and have just tapped our travel cards when Sister Orro points to the platform we need and yells "Train!" I'm still rather relaxed from the meeting, and look to where she's pointing, noticing that the train had just pulled in and was about to leave again.  My thoughts were "Oh man, we're gonna miss it. Oh well, we'll just have to wait until the next one comes."  I look back to where Sister Orro was to continue talking to her, only to realize that she's not where I anticipated her to be.  After yelling, she had started to run to catch the train, and I didn't notice! haha :)  I start chasing her across the platform, down the escalator and back across to the train.  She makes it on while the doors are open, and I arrived just in time for the doors to close... Without me on the train.  Both of us start pressing the buttons to make the doors open, but they don't, and the train pulls out of the station.  Both of us just shrug our shoulders and wave as the other one goes out of sight. 

Now, one of the biggest rules in the mission is to keep your companion in sight and sound.  By this time both had been broken, and I was freaking out!  I step away from the departing train, and go to wait for the next one.  As I'm walking over to a bench, a worker notices me and my badge and asks: "You're a missionary.  Where's your companion?"  After explaining to him that she was on the train that just left, he says "Well, have fun figuring that out," and walks away. :)  I sit down, just praying for two things to happen: 1) that I could find someone to pretend to be my companion for the next 15 minutes while waiting for the train, and 2) that Sister Orro would get off at the next train station so that I could find her when the train does come.  Both were answered, and this lady sits down next to me.  I start talking to her, and after two questions she starts telling me her whole life story. 

As I'm talking to her, I look up to where the busses drop off, and see Elders Dearden and Soko looking for me at the top of the escalators.  I wave at them, and they come and wait out the remaining time with me.  Sister Orro had called them in the same panic I was going through and told them to go find me. So when they found me, they gave me the phone so that I would be able to talk to her. :)  The next train came and we met up at the next station in a huge happy reunion.  We linked arms and travelled the rest of the way to the interviews like that.  The strangest thing about all this is that we're both really good at traveling alone when we aren't missionaries, but when we have our tags on, it becomes frightening when we are alone.  Plus, our badges turned ice cold and weightless until we were reunited.  It was truly terrifying how the power of our calls went away.  So, to those who are on missions, or anticipate going on one: don't lose your companion. 

Aussie terms: Garbo (garbage man and garbage truck), and arvo (afternoon.) 

Scripture for the week: Alma 24:14:And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

 I love this whole verse, but I'm going to break it into two parts.  1) He loves us, and has mercy on us, so He warns us of things to come.  We still have our agency to heed those warnings, but wow, He gives us plenty of warning of days to come.  2) He loves our souls just as much as little children.  We are His Jewels, we are His treasures.  Little children gain so much favour in His sight

, and He loves our souls just as much as them.  We have to work for it, because we are accountable, but we can do it.  :)  I love you all, and Heavenly Father loves you more.  See your divine nature, reach out and take it. 

Have a great week!

Sister Orro's version of the story...

Just thought you would want Sister Orro's side of the story too. :)

Note: The no. 1 rule of missionaries is always be within sight and sound of each other... never be alone except in the bathroom or interviews with the mission president.

We catch public transport when we travel to our meetings on a Tuesday morning just for fun and to meet people as we go. And this last Tuesday we were traveling on our way after the meeting to have interviews with the mission president. We had given ourselves a bit of buffer time and get off the bus and tag on to the trains. As we are walking I look down and see that the train is in at the platform and the light is flashing meaning it is departing any second. So I point at it and thinking I said "RUN!!" accidently said "TRAIN"... So I start running down the escalator and am making very good time. Actually pretty proud of my running in a skirt thing that I had going on there. So I get to the bottom run onto the train just in time to turn around and see the doors close and Sister Talbot on the other side... She did not make it on the train... so I am madly pressing buttons and it didn't work. The train takes off and we sort of throw our hands in the air and wave goodbye to each other.

I immediately called the Elders and told them they have to get to Sister Talbot sort of thing and they were so reliable. The most reliable young men I have ever worked with. They said "we got you" and hung up the phone. So I get off at the next station and sit down and just wait. Finally the Elders text and say they are at the station so I call them and who should speak on the other end but Sister Talbot. I just about died of happiness and relief. The funny thing is that we are both very capable human beings who can catch public transport by ourselves but in that moment we were both terrified. We are very capable people but we really panicked. We crack up laughing whenever we tell this tory and the first person we told when we made it on time and together was the mission president's wife and she just laughed at us in hysterics the whole time.

But the good news is that we have successfully caught the train... together...  and not lost each other since.  I would say we are doing well! Yay for public transport and events that bring you closer together as friends and also make you really paranoid about the fact that at any moment circumstances outside of your control can cause some issues...

Also you will notice that yes in the photos this week I do have a very long gash up my forehead it was an accident and yet another story for another day. Maybe never...

The comedy of errors strike again. A member we are working with called us that I think the second week we were together. We truly are embracing it. Also embracing the concept of being a little bolder (boulder) in life. Lovingly bold my friends.

​H​

ave a great week and always make sure you have your exit buddy!!

Sister Hollee Talbot

Pcitures: A Sabbath day selfie, heart attacking our ward mission leader, and us cleaning out all the plastic bags we have.  :)

Sabbath day selfie

"Heart Attacking" the ward mission leader

Sister Orro and Sister Talbot cleaning out all the plastic bags from their flat.

Stake Conference and Hospital Visits

G'day mates! 

Because I know that some of you may be worried about the title of my email, I'll start with that.  I was not visiting the hospital because of me or my companion.  We had a less active in our ward go in for a planned surgery, and she wasn't anticipating how painful it would be.  She texted us asking for a priesthood blessing, and that we come and spend some time with her.  We, of course, were willing to do all of that. :)  The visit was super cool, yet draining at the same time, because we read scriptures to her (at her request) for over an hour.  We really just sat there the whole time, but the spirit was so strong the entire time that we left and were both terribly exhausted.  She's still there, but she has been requesting that we go read to her some more, which really makes us excited.  :)  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Other than that we had Stake Conference this weekend! Oh, how much I love both sessions.  :)  I thought when I was younger that the Sunday one was always best, but when you get older and find time to attend the Saturday session, it really adds to the power that Conference holds.  For all those who are able to attend the Saturday session, I would highly encourage you to do so.  :)  My favourite part of the conference was probably the ways that they emphasized us evaluating our missionary efforts while also making sure that we help ourselves as well.  Like in order to reach out, you have to make sure you are on solid ground first. 

Guys!  I was able to play Sequence at Family home Evening this week!  It's one of my favourite card games, and we got to play it with some less actives.  Which was a super cool tender mercy, because those less actives were not too happy to have us there, but the game and the food really broke the ice and they had already started to plan the next time that this would happen.  :)  The competition of the game and being in teams with us missionaries really helped it all work out.  Even Bishop and his wife were talking about how different it was to have us over that time.  :) 

Aussie phrase:  She'll be right.  It's like "everything will work out," or "it's all good."  I guess if you say it in an American accent it doesn't quite flow like an Aussie, so Sister Orro has been trying to get me to say it right.  haha

And the scripture of the week is Alma 19:33.  And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.

We have been learning and focusing on what it means to be truly converted to the gospel, and how that can impact you and the way you do things.  If you are only slightly converted, your heart and desires won't change.  But if you are truly converted, then your heart and desires will change.  It will be a genuine effort to follow the gospel instead of actions out of duty.  If you think that you have started to slip into actions by duty, I'd invite you to be a missionary for yourself and help strengthen your conversion to the gospel again. 

Love you all, hope you have a fabulous week! 

Pictures: These are all from our District P-day last week.  :)  We weren't on the beach, we found some rocks that jutted out so that we could fish without touching beach. Which is against the rules!

Sister Hollee Talbot

The elders caught a fish off the jetty!

District P-day on the Jetty!

Sister Talbot is getting good at driving on the other side of the car!

Mayday! Mayday! Aussie Down!

Now, no reason to panic, all Aussies are now okay.  :)  This was just a line that Elder Soko said to us when we told him that Sister Orro was sick. 

Like I said in last week's emails, together Sister Orro and I are a comedy of errors.  Thankfully we are able to laugh at them, but it does make for some very interesting weeks.  :)  This week we have had to take two sick days.... One for me and one for Sister Orro.  As some of you might know, I'm allergic to bugs.  While we were tracting one day I got bit on my ankle and a few days later it had swollen enough that we decided to take a day so that I could keep it elevated enough for the swelling to go down.  I also started wearing my slacks in order to prevent it from happening again... Sort of.  Wearing pants now is really weird, so I'm still trying to decide how much I should wear them.  One of the less active families that we visit, the Wilcox, gave me a bottle of bug spray, which is in a photo below.  :) 

The other sick day was Sunday, and it was because Sister Orro caught a fever.  We went through all the processes that we need to go through to have a sick day, and then we asked our district leader if he would look out to see how many of our investigators were at church.  He called just to make sure we didn't need anything, and said "Mayday! Mayday!  Aussie down!"  haha :)  Spending a day inside isn't the best, but at least she was able to recover, and now we're going strong once again!

On Monday last week, we had a family home evening with our Relief Society President, and she invited anyone who doesn't feel like they can have FHE in their own home.  It was super cool to be there, because everyone was so different from one another, but we all had a marvellous time.  It is amazing how the spirit can make sure that we all have a good time even if we aren't alike in personalities.  Plus, they had a violin that I was able to play!!!!

We also had exchanges this week, and I was with our new Sister Training Leader, Sister Murnighan!  It was cool to be with her, because we had a teaching appointment with one of their investigators, causing me to teach without knowing who the investigator is or what their concern is.  I was super nervous at first, but after we said the prayer and started the lesson, I was fine.  I love that I was able to share with their investigator the Plan of Salvation, and help in that way. 

Aussie Terms: Peg (Clothes pin*), push bike (bike) , and tomato sauce (ketchup). 

*Funny story about pegs... We don't have a clothes dryer in our flat, so all of our clothing has to be hung to dry.... Turns out that's the normal thing here. 

The scripture of the week:  Alma 12:34. It says:  Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.

 I love that it talks about us having a claim on the mercy.  We can have possession of the mercy and remission of our sins as long as we follow the "terms and conditions" that are put before us.  We have access to the most powerful thing on earth, and all we need to do is to take hold of it for ourselves.  Follow the steps that you need to, reach out and take what is there for you.  Claim that mercy.

Love you all!  Have a great week!

Pictures: Koala Fart: the bug spray that I was given. :)  All the Sisters last week at Sisters' P-day, a Koala posing for me, and a violin!!!

Sister Talbot found a violin!

Sisters P-day

Koala Fart Insect Repellent, All Natural Ingredients!

And a few more pictures Sister Talbot requested be put on the blog:

Sister Orro and Sister Talbot

Kangaroo and her baby joey!

Happy koala

Sleepy koala