Boot 'n Loot...Or Trunk or Treat?

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Hello my friends!

This week has been one of normal work, and yet at the same time, very different work.  We worked just like any normal companionship, the part that was different was the people that we had appointments with.  With all of the changes that happened when I first got in this area, a few families fell through the cracks of our work.  I was told that the elders were working with them, and the elders thought that we were working with them.  So this week we figured out which families had slipped through, and reached out to them.  :)  It was really cool to see how the good relationship with the missionaries in the past is now allowing us to move forward from there. :)

Also!  We had a Joondalup and Ocean Reef ward Trunk or Treat activity!  It was so cool, and we had heaps of people turn out for it. :)  Watching the way that everyone interacted with one another and really had fun at each boot (trunk) was great.  :)  Most boots had an interactive game (The trick) in order for them to get a treat. So it wasn't just "do a lap around the car park and then you're done," but more of a "walk to this car, figure out the game, win the treat, repeat." It was awesome. :)  We were dressed like normal missionaries, Sister Orro added a sheriff hat, and I wore Elder Talbot's name tag.  :)

Aussie Phrase of the Week: How ya going?  (How are you, how's it going, etc.)

Scripture of the week: Alma 62:41- But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

This is my favourite object lesson of all time.  When a carrot is boiled, it becomes soft.  When an egg is boiled, it hardens.  When we are going through our trials, we are being boiled.  It is our choice whether we are the egg or the carrot.  Do we soften our hearts and willing turn to Heavenly Father to learn what He would have us learn? Or do we harden our hearts and turn away from Him because of the way that He has chosen for that lesson?  It is your choice.  And you can continually make that one.  Just because you chose to be an egg one day does not mean the next you have to be an egg still.  Choose to be that carrot.  Choose it daily.  :)  The Nephites chose what they were going to be.  There were both eggs and carrots among them.  Challenge: Look at what you're going through and pick one situation where you can work on being a carrot. :) 

Love you all!

Photos: Us at the Trunk or Treat, a puzzle that the Abbotts loaned to us, us at the coast, and me on a Lighthouse!

I absolutely love lighthouses, so when I saw that we could go on this one, we just had to walk to it!  It added 2k's to our walk, but it was awesome! We were talking to the Abbotts about how much we love puzzles, so they loaned us this amazing one!  It was such a fun puzzle to do.

Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Talbot on a Lighthouse!

Sister Talbot and Sister Orro

A Disney Puzzle the Abbotts loaned the Sisters

Sister Orro and Sister Talbot at the Boot 'n Loot

Seems like just yesterday... :)

G'day!  How ya going?

Let's see, let's see.... What have I done in the 4 days since I last wrote?  haha :)  It seems like a lot less to report on when it's missing those days. 

Anyways, we went to the temple on Thursday, oh how I love being able to go. :)  We were planning on doing an Endowment session, but there wasn't enough patrons there to be able to do the session, so we got to do initiatories instead. :)  I love being able to be inside the temple, and to just ponder any questions that I have, answers I need, and the spirit that I feel.  I 100% recommend that if you haven't been able to go to the temple in a while, go this week. :)

Oh!  And the Primary Program happened yesterday.  How cute was that? haha :)  They all had their little speaking parts, and the songs were so perfectly placed as to invite the spirit as well.  I thought that it was cool how they had some of the older kids give actual talks that they and their parents wrote.  It was cool to see how already they are living what they believe and how they are trying to be like Jesus.  Probably the two songs that I liked the most was Gethsemane and When I am Baptized. I just like the simple way that all primary songs testify of what we believe.  They are my favourites. :)

Aussie phrase: A few kangaroos short in the north paddock. (The lights are on but no one is home... etc. that kind of phrase.)

Scripture this week: Moroni 7:31.  And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.

In the verses before this one, Mormon is talking about how angels have been sent to earth to minister and to teach the people who dwell here.  We are those chosen vessels of the Lord.  We receive the ministering and teaching, and then we go out from there and bear our testimonies.  It doesn't matter if you actually speak your testimony, or share it in the way that you live, I promise that people will notice.  Be bold, be brave, and don't be afraid to live the way you believe.  That's what we're here for. :) 

Love you all!

Photos: Passenger side selfie (I'm not the driver anymore) and a sunny day selfie (it was like 33 degrees (91F)) with my hat!

Sister Hollee Talbot

Passenger side selfie with Sister Orro

Sister Orro and Sister Talbot in her cute hat on a very hot day

Batman Has Been Baptized

Dear everyone, know that I love and support all of you.  And know that I am so grateful for all of the support that you give me.  :) 

On to this week! 

Alrighty, so on October 14, Brendan Abbott was baptized!  It was a fantastic baptism​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ and a lot of the ward showed up to support him.  It was so cool!  The talks were the perfect length, and really geared towards Brendan and his progress in the gospel.  The joy that he feels and his family feels has been so cool to see and experience in teaching him.  Levi, the 3 year old, was showing everyone how to be baptized the rest of the week.  :)  He would point to his eyes, plug his nose, and then throw his head back.  :)  That night we were watching little Book of Mormon videos with them, and Lexie, the 4 year old, kept asking when she could be baptized.  Then once we got her to understand that it would be in 4 years, she kept asking if daddy could baptize her.  :)  Levi kept pointing at Brendan and saying "baptized," but at the end of the night it started to sound like batman.   So now batman has been baptized. :) 

Also!  This week we had interviews, which is always a blessing to be able to talk to President for a little bit.  This time he changed the drivers.... So I am no longer the driver of our car.... Sister Orro was so excited to get behind the wheel for the first time in about a year.  :)  It was so funny to see her react in an excited way, and then see it turn to a little nervous because she hasn't driven in so long. haha :) 

Aussie terms this week: Skull (chug), Verge (parkstrip), and mint jelly (jelly that you put on like... everything. Sheppard's pie, sausages... etc. )

The spiritual thought this week: Alma 41:9-10. 9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.

10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. 

I know this one has a little stronger of force than what I usually use, but it really stuck out to me this week.  Guys, let us not risk it.  Our eternal life is too valuable to be risking on simple choices.  Let us choose the right, and show that we love our Heavenly Father for all that he gives us.  When we do what He says, he will immediately bless us. (Mosiah 2:24--And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?) Test Him out, try it out.  Find those sins that you are 'risking' it with, and turn it around. 

Pictures:

For ten ten tim tam day at 10:10 we ate tim tam cheesecake. :)

District Blitz selfie. :)

Brendan's baptism

Sister Orro wrapped up like a mummy for Sister's P-day last week. :)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Orro, Sister Talbot and the Abbott Family

Tim Tam Cheesecake on 10/10 at 10:10

Sister's P-day, Sister Orro wrapped up like a mummy

District Blitz Selfie

Back to Work!

G'day all!

After having a week of sickness, it felt so good to get back to work.  Like there is nothing else that can top it, just being able to work again instead of hanging out lazy in the flat. 

This week was also full of conferences!  Zone and General!  For all those who don't know, over here we watch conference a week later than Utah, because we're not nocturnal. :)  Wow, what an amazing conference, it was so cool!  It was a little different to be watching it in the chapel instead of being home, but hey, that's the way we got to see it, so it was definitely worth it.  Zone conference was great too!  It was like a solid weekend of upliftment.  :) 

On Friday this week we needed to travel to West Perth for an appointment that we had.  We took public transport there, and it was such a fun time just traveling there!  It takes about an hour one way, so we had two hours solid of contacting.  Since we were so grateful to be working again, we of course talked to people, (it was school holidays so it made it even easier to talk to people... more people to choose from! haha :) ) and they were happy to talk to us as well.  One of our favourite people on Friday was a random guy we didn't actually talk to for very long.  We were standing at a nearby bus stop, and the guy was on the train station, and yelled across to us asking how long before the bus came.  We told him, and we think he decided to take the train to wherever he was going.  We watched him get on the train, but our favourite part was that before getting on, he turned, looked and waved at us.  :)  It made our day!

Aussie candies:  Lollipop (Sucker), Lollies (candy) and smarties (similar to m&ms, but not....)

Spiritual thought:  1) If you have not had the chance to watch all of the conference sessions yet, I strongly suggest that you take advantage of technology and watch/listen to it this week.  :)  2) I honestly just want to put all of conference for this.  :)  My favourite talks were in the Saturday morning session, Jon C Pingree, and Jeffrey R Holland.  I have been thinking a lot about divine assignments since coming out on my mission and I really liked the list that he gave us to identify and work on those assignments.  It is a continual process, because with change comes new assignments.  If you notice things that are changing around you, double check with Heavenly Father if your assignment has changed.  He will answer you, I promise.  Also, Toxic Perfectionism, Don't do it.  Stop it.  Amen to what President Holland said.  I honestly can say that I didn't realize how toxic my perfectionism was until I got out on my mission.  I have had to battle it every day out here, and still have to battle it.  But this is a fight that we can gain our Saviour's help with.  Turn to Him, ask for His help, and he will be there for you.  Read the scriptures so you can develop the mindset like Him, and He will strengthen you.  I can promise that He will help you with that. 

Photos:  Me and Sister Murnighan, Our zone (might be a bit blurry), and a blue tongued lizard!

Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Murnighan and Sister Talbot

The Zone

Blue Tongued Lizard

Hi Guys!

So.... Not much to talk about this week.  Both Sister Orro and I were sick, which took up a majority of our week.  I had a really bad cold and Sister Orro had a chest infection and tonsillitis.  Yes, we've been taking the proper medications, and now we're all ready to work hard this week!!!  :)  Also!  Happiness is a choice, and even if it is the harder choice, I'd encourage you to pick it.  :) 

We watch General Conference a week after it happens (because we're not up in the middle of the night. :) ). So on Saturday, we were able to watch the Women's' Session!  Oh wow, that was a simply fabulous session, and it was so cool to sit with all the women of the stake and watch it with them.  If you were unable to watch it, for whatever reason, I'd highly encourage you to find time to sit down and give it your full attention.  :)  I had heaps of favourite things in there, but I really liked the talk about negative self talk, and the sad, mad, and glad sisters.  It really made me look at my own life and try to figure out how I can be better at being that glad sister. :) 

Aussie game:  Knots and crosses (Tick tac toe.)  :)

Scripture this week: Alma 31:38.  "...and this because he prayed in faith."  Guys. Do we know the power of our prayers?  Do we know the power of our faith?  I don't know about all of yous, but I definitely want be able to have the faith powerful enough to gain all the blessings that I need in this life.  :)  Everything that we do shows our faith in little ways, and as we make it grow bigger, it will show in more ways.  We have the greatest super power on earth, with the greatest being supporting us!  What a fantastic thing that is!  Faith has really stuck out to me this week, and I know that I want my faith to be stronger than where it is at now.  I would encourage you this week to seek little ways to build your faith daily.  It'll grow fast, I promise. 

Love yous!

Photos:  Me, Kerry, and Te Haapi. :)

A game of tug o war at the last Zone P-day (my team won!)

And a photo of the zone. :)

Sister Hollee Talbot

Te Haapi and Kerry Baker with Sister Talbot

 

Zone Tug-of-War

The Zone!