Mango Days

I love when I live in a place where like every other home has a mango tree, and after a visit people just hand us a bag full of mangoes!  The most we've had in the flat at once was 6 or 7, but we haven't been able ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​eat all of them before getting more.  :)  The good news is that I'm getting better at cutting mangoes, and really enjoy eating them.  :)  

So this week we had Zone conference, which was awesome!  I really enjoyed the things that were prepared for us.  It seemed like a day full of things that I really needed to know!  We talked about increasing the quality of our personal studies, and how to do more effective and uplifting member visits.  It was awesome!  

Other than that, I think the news is that I broke my front brakes this week biking, slightly took apart the bike to put it back together, and still rode some more.  :)  It was fun! And then I told the story to the Elders on Saturday, and they told me that they'll fix it for me.  It's going to be funny if I get my bike there and they tell me that it's not broken.  We'll see. 

Aussie terms:  Primary school (elementary school), tip (dump, like garbage dump) and "get on." This last one is really funny.  People talk about missionary work, and then the question: "So.... What happens if you and a companion don't get on?" Well, we stick it out and make it work. haha :)  In American, it'd probably be something like "So what happens if you and a companion don't get along?"  Don't worry though! Sister Tyler and I get along really well!  

For the scripture this week, I'm going to use Alma 31:35--Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee..  We've been using this one with our members a lot recently, especially because of how much it rings true.  Every soul is Precious.  Member, missionary, less active, non member.  We are all precious to him, and he wants us to live with him again.  What are you doing to show that every soul is precious?  Are you talking to the stranger on the bus that the spirit keeps telling you to talk to?  Are you lifting your family?  I'm not saying overwhelm yourself, just start something simple this week.  :) 

Silly selfies this week. :)  Enjoy! haha 

Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Tyler and Sister Talbot

Sister Talbot and Sister Tyler 

Sister Tyler and Sister Talbot

Where Did This Week Go?

Man, this week was crazy!  

Normally, when you find out you're training, you have your same companion until Wednesday, then you work with another missionary for the Train the Trainers meeting, and then get your New Golden the next morning.  But with me finishing off a companion, and my golden already being in the mission, President decided that she was getting transferred into the area before all the meetings.  :)  So she came and worked with me on Monday and Tuesday, then went into the training together on Wednesday, split that night, and got back together on Thursday.  :)  

Each transfer, the new intake of missionaries goes through a training led by President, and it's on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was cool to see this training again after 10+ months, and notice what was different about it.  He emphasized different things in this one than in mine, which is cool.  He might not know what each missionary is going to struggle with, but what he emphasized I think will help them as they reflect on what he talked about.  

Sister Tyler is the sweetest, and I know that she is going to do great things!  

Aussie Phrase: Boatie, a person who really likes to boat. :)  President told us that one. Also! There is a spider called a Guitar spider, or some name similar to that, and their webs are seriously thick like a guitar string.  Totally walked into one while tracting the other day, had to back up and duck in order to get past it.  Didn't see the spider, but man, that web is like fishing line.  

Scripture of the week:  3 Nephi 11:7-- "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him."  This one is short and sweet, but it is awesome to think about.  Heavenly Father announces Jesus Christ, and then tells us to hear Him.  We need to listen to our Brother, our Savior, because it is through Him that we can get back to live with our Heavenly Father.  I'd invite you to look at ways that you are listen or not listening to our Savior.  Make sure that you can listen to Him, because it makes all the difference in this life.  :) 

​​​​​​​​​​Photos:  Us being silly with the flag we found in the flat, and a first day selfie! 

Have a great week!

Sister Hollee Talbot

First day selfie of Sister Tyler and Sister Talbot

Sister Talbot

Sister Tyler

End of a Mission, Start of a Mission!

Hello Hello!  

In case you haven't read the title, go back and read it.  :)  

Now I'll explain it.  This past week has been great!  Sister Tu'ifua finished off her mission very nicely, and it was awesome to see how much the members love her.  It was a tearful week, but it was good.  It was a great way to be with her and watch her as she finished her mission.  

Throughout this week, I thought that it would be really funny to finish off a missionary and then to get a brand new missionary.  Well, turns out those thoughts are actually happening to me, because I'm training now!  Heavenly Father and President trusts me enough to train, so here's to the next adventure of my mission!  Her name is Sister Tyler, and she's from Samoa!  More details to follow next week.  :)  I'm excited to start off her mission.  

Other than that, I can't think of too much that we've done.  :)  Love you all! haha 

Aussie Phrase: No worries.... You say that most of the time instead of you're welcome.  :)  

A scripture of the Week:  Alma 17:2-3.  Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.

This one means a lot to me as I part with another companion.  I want to be able to be like Alma and rejoice when I see my companions and people from my mission, and have the same joy that he felt.  I also want to live in a way that others will get that same joy by seeing my testimony again.  I know that so far it's great to see people that were in my first area, so it'll be even better and more joyful the more we are standing strong in the faith.  

Have a great week!

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Photos: A spider, a random "Hey, try to be in!" photo, and the trio that I'm in today. (though that was taken on P-day)  

Sister Hollee Talbot

Hey, try to be in!

The Temporary Trio

Spider!

The Warm Fuzzies

Once upon a time, there was this town called Warm and Fuzzy. It was known for how sweet, happy and kind the people living there are. And it's true, they were happy. Every time a baby was born in this town was given a bag full of warm fuzzies. (See pictures at the bottom) Every time someone moves in, they are given a bag as well. All day long, if you saw someone who you thought needed some joy, you would give them one of your warm fuzzies. Everyone in this town gave them out constantly, but the bags never ran out because they gave just as much as they received.


One day a stranger came into town, and started handing out cold pricklies. These gave people angry and sad feelings, and they would stop giving out their warm fuzzies, but holding onto them. The town became a sad, dark and lonely place to live. The kids noticed this, and decided to put a stop to it, so they started giving out their warm fuzzies as much as they could. The town changed once again to it's beautiful ways once more. :)


I was told this story by Gayle Reynolds, a dear friend I worked in the temple with. She gave me a bag of Warm Fuzzies on my last shift before going on my mission, and I decided to carry it with me. This week, a cold prickly tried to join our companionship, but after discussing this story she got a warm fuzzy, and we made it all better. <3 It was so cool to see how to use that story in my mission.


Aussie Phrase: POME, this is short for Prisoner of Mother England. Aussies call all people from England Pome's, which sounds close to Palmes. haha :) It just shows what type of humor they have.


Scripture of the week is: Helaman 11:14. O Lord, thou didst hearken unto my words when I said, Let there be a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might cease; and I know that thou wilt, even at this time, hearken unto my words, for thou saidst that: If this people repent I will spare them. 

I love the end of this one. If we go to Heavenly Father with complete confidence that He will answer our questions when we need Him to, then we will be able to confidently say this in our prayers. With that confidence our faith grows, and with bigger faith comes those greater miracles that we are asking for. Don't doubt, but doubt your doubts if you need to. You'll make it through this is more power than you'll ever know.


Love you all!

Sister Talbot and Sister Tuifua and their warm fuzzies

Warm Fuzzies

Sisters P-day

Sisters P-day