Week 52 :)

This will be the only week where I number, but that's because it's like one of the easiest to number.  Happy Year mark to me, and to all those who started serving their missions the same time as me! :)  

This week has been pretty good!  I was a little under the weather with a cold, which of course made it harder to do work, but I wasn't sick enough to take a sick day.  :)  So we just kept working and had to take a few breaks to help me rest.  But the good benefit of being sick was that since I wasn't able to talk, Sis talked a lot more at the doors while we were tracting.  She did amazing!  

ANZAC day is super cool.  It's a memorial day for all those who have served in the armed forces of any sorts.  Most common way to celebrate is through a Dawn service, which is a memorial kind of thing at dawn (5:45 am.) We found one that was pretty close to where we were so we were crazy enough to get up and go with some less actives.  :)  It was really cool!  It was at this park that was dedicated for this reason, and they placed wreaths on behalf of different organisations and groups.  There were also a few speeches by public leaders and poems about remembering.  They also have things called gunfire breakfasts, which I don't know why it's called that, but it's food after the event.  

Aussie Phrase: Flash.  It means fancy.  "Wow, you look flash."  Wow! You look fancy/nice. haha :) 

Scripture of the week: D & C 46:8--Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;

Seeing this promise made me think about a lot of stuff.  I began to think of the US Direct TV commercials that went from one thing to the next, and it turned into this worse case scenario. :)  My family thought that they were the funniest things.  If we are seeking spiritual gifts, we have the spirit.  If we have the spirit, we will be taught the truth.  If we are taught the truth, we won't be deceived.  Easiest solution?  Just seek spiritual gifts, and you will be unstoppable! :)  Plus you can help build the kingdom of Heavenly Father while you're at it!  

Photos: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Silly Selfies and The Australian flag on ANZAC day. :) 

Sister Tyler and Sister Talbot with the Australian flag on ANZAC day

Selfie!

Sister Talbot and Sister Tyler

Happy ANZAC Day!

Happy Anzac day!  Well, not yet, but close! :)  Australian and New Zealand Army Corps day, where they celebrate their armed forces.  I don't know too much about it, but I'll be able to tell more about it next week.  :)  

Well, since I last wrote a few days ago, not too much has happened.  :)  We met this lovely girl named Mimi who we gave a Book of Mormon to.  We came back and followed up, and she let us in to talk about it.  She hadn't read it, but she did let us read a random page to her.  She just kept saying that she liked talking to us because she felt this calm and peaceful feeling that she can't feel except when she's with us.  :)  I love that she notices a difference, because that means that we're doing our job right.  (To anyone reading this who doesn't know what she means, go spend a few minutes with the missionaries. You'll feel it too.) 

It rained pretty good this week too. :)  Goodbye 30+ heat, welcome 20+ heat. :)  We can wear our sweaters and jackets again! 

Aussie thing:  Anzac cookies.  I don't know what is in them, but they are yummy!  I guess they hardly come out except for around Anzac day.  :)  

And for the scripture! Moroni 10:5--

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

I love that as we search the scriptures, that the Holy Ghost can bring things to our understanding and knowledge that we did not have before.  When I think about how I came to know that this gospel is true, there's not a single moment, but a collection of moments that piece it together.  I found this quote a while ago "The decision to believe is the most important choice we ever make." The Holy Ghost can testify to us all he wants, but if we don't choose to believe it, then it doesn't change us.  Let's choose to believe it, and choose to follow our Saviour's example back to our Heavenly Father.  <3  

Love you all! 

Photos:  On P-day I got a package with a hoodie in it.  Since I was cold I put it on, and was dancing around the flat with it and the two back scratchers that I got as well  :)  This is what resulted.  

New hoodie and back scratchers!

Sister Tyler and Sister Talbot with the spoils from a package!

Allan Got Baptised Again!

Oh man, what a beautiful week to be a missionary.  A few months ago, Allan got baptised for himself, but this week he was able to be baptised for the dead!  As one of the missionaries that ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​taught him, the day of his baptism was filled with joy as we watched him be baptised.   But being there when he was able to enter into the temple and do baptisms was so much happier!  I'm sure my smile matched his, and now he's talking about getting his family history done so he can be baptised for his family now!  

Also!  Really cool miracle that happened this week:  We were on exchanges, and I was with Sister Monson and Sister Edmonds.  Sister Monson was my companion for exchanges last time, and I just kept thinking about the cool people that we met.  I asked her about them, and she decided that us thinking about them should be enough of a prompting to go follow up with them again.  :)  So we got on our bikes and headed to them.  None of them were home, and time had moved so it was time for lunch.  We mounted our bikes and started up the street.  As we passed a lady, she called out to us "I love your hair!"  In my mind, I was like 'smile and wave, I'm hungry!" But the other Sisters had more in mind than me.  We pulled over and started talking to her.  We talked to her for about 45 minutes, testifying that we all get second chances, and that it is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we get those extra chances.  :) She committed to come to church, and then gave us her address!  What made it even better was that she lives in our Ward boundaries, instead of the Sister Training Leaders, meaning that we'll be working with her!  I'm so excited to see her come to church this Sunday! 

Aussie thing:  Different spelling.  I keep trying to write baptized, but the computer thinks that it's spelled wrong.  Baptised is the way that they spell it here I guess. haha 

And for the Scripture... So many to choose from.  I think Ether 15:34--  

Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.

Ether had to watch a lot of destruction happen to his people, but he didn't lose his faith in the Lord.  He kept his faith and trusted in Him.  I don't want to see that much destruction in my life, but I do want to develop the faith enough to say like him "It doesn't matter what happens to me as long as I'm about to be saved in the kingdom of God." (My version of the end of that scripture.)  

Love you all!  Have a fantastic week!

Temple photos!

Sister Tyler, Allan, and Sister Talbot at the temple

Sister Talbot and Sister Tyler

Perth Australia Temple

Note by Note

Man!  Wasn't Conference AMAZING?  We watch it a week after Utah due to the time difference, and man, I loved this whole weekend.  It was just buzzing with the spirit, and full of insights that I want to add to my life.  One major thing that stood out to me was that many talked about the spirit being small and simple.  Which I agree with.  We think that the promptings that come need to be big, but really they're small, but they change our lives.  

Thinking about that this morning, it reminded me of when I was in College, and was taking violin lessons from one of the Professors.  She was a great teacher, and when we started a new piece, demanded that I took it as slow as possible, ignore any markings, and just play the notes until they were in tune.  We then slowly added in tempo, beats and more speed and flair.  I was able to play some incredible pieces during the three semesters I took lessons from her, but it all started note by note.  Heavenly Father has great plans ahead of you, and He knows that we need to work on the notes before we can start playing the whole piece.  What notes does He want you to work on right now? 

This past little bit we've been working on improving our visits with members.  With one member, we've been improving our visits with her for a while, but during one, we followed up with her about thinking about an activity to invite a non member to. She mentioned she was thinking about doing a Family Home evening, and then went on to talk about how she was making sure that she was living as the example for her less active and non member family. Her brother, who isn't a member, was listening too. He had done family home evenings with his family for a while, and thought that it was a great idea. He was the one that decided to make the planning, and put a date and time on the idea. :) It was great, and we're looking forward to having Family Home Evening with them now. :)  

Aussie thing:  The Common Wealth games.  I guess all those colonies (not America) who are still or used to be under the crown have something similar to the Olympics every 4 years or so.  It's on right now, and man, everyone is so excited about it! It's apparently been really good, and the opening ceremonies had a lot of cool performances in it.  :)  

And for the thought this week, I'm going to use the Saturday morning session of General Conference.  I talked about this with another missionary, and we realized that there have only been about 15 solemn assemblies in the history of this dispensation.  I love that we have been given the blessing, no matter where we are living, to be able to sustain the prophet, his councillors, and the twelve apostles.  Heavenly Father loves us so much that there isn't much time between our prophets.  He wants us to hear His word.  How are we going to change from the things that we have been taught in Conference? 

Love you all! 

Photos: Our silly District. :) 

Our Silly District

Our Silly District

Happy Easter!

Man, this week has been awesome!  So many people have been really happy because of Easter, and it made a big difference in their attitudes while greeting us tracting people at the door.  

Another thing that didn't happen this week was General Conference.  Since it's happening at like midnight over here, we watch it the week after.  But of course, so member watch it live, or just online, and then us missionaries have a week of spoiler alerts before we actually are able to fully watch conference.  :)  At one point I felt like saying "Stop spoiling Conference!" haha :)  

Oh!  Good Friday is a big thing to celebrate over here.  I felt a little funny going to one because I had never really celebrated it.  Along with Hot Cross Buns, which I have never tasted before.  A less active almost gave us one, but it was Fast Sunday... 

I got a hug from a stranger while tracting yesterday....  Unfortunately.  After having turned down a marriage proposal from him at the beginning, we went on to teach about the Book of Mormon and gave him one.  The whole time he kept calling us beautiful, which I know to be a sign of concern for me.... People don't normally call the strangers at their door beautiful, so I know from experience that you have to be on your toes when they do call you that. At the end, I go to shake his hand and he pushes past it and give me this big hug... And the same to Sister Tyler....  Yikes!  He told us we could come around any time to see what he thought about the book.... We're thinking we're going to send the Elders.  :)  

Tradie.  Someone who works a trade, like plumbing, tiling, etc. :)

Thought:  "Easter is the day that Changed Everything" ~President Utchdorf.  I think that this is so true!  Without Easter, we really wouldn't be celebrating much, or even have the hope that it gives us.  As you look back to your Easter Celebration, I'd invite you to make sure you tell Heavenly Father why you're grateful for our Saviour. 

Photos: Easter selfies, and bus stop selfies from last P-day. :) 

Sister Hollee Talbot