Golden Oldie

G'day everyone! :)  How ya goin?

This week has been really busy and wet.  But it's been good!  Last week during emails, I took Sister Hughes' email to start a little google chat with her.  I used the word Golden as the first thing I sent her on this chat.  :)  She responded by calling me Oldie.  I told her I wasn't old, I just wasn't as golden as she was.  She responds with Golden Oldie. 

I guess that's what I am, because she keeps calling me that.  haha :)  You may decide what it means.

Busy, busy, busy. :)  We did quite a bit of finding, some training for the smartphones that we will get this week, and some crazy regular member visits.  :)  It has been a really good week.  Yes, we are getting smartphones this week, and it'll be a very new experience for us.  I'm a little nervous because I will not only have to train Sis (she's not hard to train, but still), and I now have to train myself how to use a smartphone in a way that shows I'm a missionary.  They've emphasized that we're getting the phones for two reasons: 1) To have just another tool to further the work along.  We aren't getting all the technology to start off, but there will be options later on about proselyting online.  2) To help us missionaries develop good habits with technology that will help us be better in the future.  I'm really excited about this aspect, because it will not only keep me open to talking to people here, but also help me keep a good balance for when I'm back home. 

...Pause... Our Relief Society President just called us, but since we're at the library we texted her saying we would call her once we've left.  She just came over to tell us that she invited a friend to listen to a spiritual discussion from us!  :)  And it's a bonus that the friend said yes! :)  #miracle #membermissionary

Aussie phrase:  Knee-high to a grasshopper.  Very short. haha :)  I've only heard it once by our Branch Mission leader.  But he's full Aussie, so I'm sure it's fairly authentic.  haha

And for the thing you've all been waiting for!  The scripture of the week is 2 Nephi 1:21--And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity.

I love that this one ends in a way that makes it seem like it's a call to rise up.  I was reading it, and was already excited for our day, but after reading this, I was ready and wanting to go!  It was like a battle cry in a way, motivating us to work just a little harder.  If you feel a little down, whether on yourself or about the work you're doing, I highly recommend this verse.  :)

Love you all! Have a great week.

Photos: A nice camera's view of us, a frog hanging out with us (Anyone know what kind that is?) and a nice view of Busselton Bush. :)   

Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Talbot and Sister Hughes

Busselton Bush

Golden :)

Well, I am in Busselton still, though it was a strange 48 hours outside of it.  I definitely felt like a fish out of water in Perth again.... I knew where most things were, but I definitely didn't feel like I belonged there.  I definitely am supposed to be in My Busselton.  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​A lot of transfers happened, most of which I wasn't too aware of, but here's some crazy news: 13 missionaries finished their missions-Including my beloved Trainer Sister Perkins-, 4 missionaries came in-including my golden-, and they had to close a few areas because of the difference in numbers.  So they closed a few sister areas, making the closest Sisters to our area about 2 hours drive away....  It's crazy to think about, but hey! At least we have the Aleknas to keep us company down here. 

Sister Hughes is my cute Golden! :)  She's from South Africa, and is so ready and prepared for her mission.  I'm excited to work with her, and see how things will go in this area.  The branch is so excited to have another Golden, and they treat her so well.  It's like they can tell that they are being trusted with a Golden, and are trying to live up to it.  :) 

While I was without a companion, waiting for my golden, I was with Sister Mohlman!! (My MTC companion.)  It was soo fun to be together and see how much both of us have grown.  She was just transferred into her area, and she is training as well, so I helped her figure out a few things before her Golden came into the area the next day. All of her ward was a little confused at them meeting me and then me telling them that I'm not their new missionary.... haha :)  Sorry! Busselton is mine.

 

Oh! One more thing: I got to play the violin this week!   We had a talent night on Saturday, which was sooo adorable!  Everyone brought a cute little act, and it was fun to see how children and parents both got involved.  I played a duet with a member that is self taught.  (I almost considered doing a solo afterwards, but decided that it wasn't good to have too many violin acts in there. )  And then for the musical item on Sunday I also played the accompaniment for Amazing Grace while the choir sang.  This branch is incredible.  Some wards don't have enough support for a choir, but our branch does.  How special is that?

Aussie word: Mate.  I know I've been in Australia when I start using Mate more than man. haha :) 

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 6:36--36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.I love that He tells us to look to Him in Every thought that we have.  I was really nervous about bringing a Golden into this area when I myself still felt new.  But during the Trainer's Training meeting, President emphasized so many times that we are chosen as trainers because we are trusted.  We wouldn't be given this opportunity if we weren't some of the best missionaries in the mission.  During that meeting the spirit bore testimony that I can do it, and am needed here for her and our area.  He knows what he's doing, and He wants what's best for us.  It will be a wonderful thing for us to do here.  <3 

Photos:  My Golden Sister Hughes and I!  An Aussie landscape, and a silly photo of Sister E. :)

Sister Hollee Talbot

 

Golden Sister Hughes and Sister Talbot

Sister Hughes and Sister Talbot

Aussie Landscape

Sister Talbot driving, Sister Eritara beinng silly

Coming Out of Left Field

Honestly, this week has been great!  But the kind of great where it's been just fairly normal so I wasn't sure what I was going to tell you all this week.... But then Sunday came out of left field and has left us in shock.  :)  I shall narrate it a little differently to make it easier... In story telling mode! (Side note: I'm not quite sure why that phrase means what it does, but I use it like something shocking, not seen ahead of time, etc.)

 

Sunday night, and we're driving home from a Branch President's Youth Fireside. "We're going to be companions again for another transfer!" says Sister Eritara.

"Don't be too sure, it's only 7:45, I've heard stories of President calling as late as 8.  We're not out of the woods just yet," I jokingly say, even though I was sure we were staying together.  We get home and throw our frozen pizza in the oven, and then hear our phone ringing.  We jump and look at it, but it's only the District leader calling to correlate with us.  We give him our numbers and he tells us where all the missionaries are being transferred to.  We then tell him goodnight and enjoy our now cooked pizza. 

But a couple minutes later, we get a text from the Sister Training Leaders saying "We heard you got a call!  Where are you going??"  We just laugh and tell them we weren't being transferred, and that we were staying together.  8:45 rolls by, and our phone rings again.  I was writing at my desk and Sis grabs the phone, and notices President's name on the caller ID....  So even after we thought we were safe, we weren't. We totally weren't expecting it, and were just left in shock.  That phone call came out of left field, and now we're trying recover.  I'm leading the area, and am going to be training.  Sister Eritara is headed up to Dianella, and will be opening an area. 

Finding has been actually really good this week. We found quite a few people, but they didn't want to set any appointments for us to come by again, so we're just going to be dropping by when we're in the area again.  :) 

Aussie Word: Wobbly.  I think it means kind of like tantrum.  Like you'd be upset over something and would throw a wobbly. 

The Scripture of the week comes from 1 Nephi 8:30--But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.  

I don't remember if I've used this one before, but I really like it, so I'm using it again.  This is in the middle of the Tree of Life vision that Lehi had, and I'm amazed at the four main groups that he sees.  I love this group, because they got to the tree, and STAYED THERE.  They didn't listen to the mocking of that great and spacious building, they clung tight to that precious fruit.  How wonderful it is that we have the chance to get to that fruit. I want to be one to stay.  Keep up the great work of fighting to stay there yourselves.  (and!) For those who are worried they've walked away, it is never too late to come back and try the fruit again.  <3

More silly selfies, because it seems that's all the photos we take... :) haha

Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Talbot and Sister Eritara

Curly hair selfie

Sister Eritara and Sister Talbot

My Mission President(s)

Well, it has been a rather exciting and sad week for us.  We have changed Mission Presidents. 

President and Sister Fife have been absolutely fantastic for our mission.  They have led with the love and strength and will that we needed.  They have taught me so much about becoming the disciple of Christ that I have the potential to be.  I love them so much and hope they were able to feel the love that I have for them.  They have changed my life. 

President and Sister Bennallack are lovingly bold.  That was my first impression of them at the Meet the Mission President meeting, and I think that it's amazing!  He's seen what great work we're doing with what we have, and instead of changing, he's planning to build off of it.  They have already added that we need to invite people more, even given us a goal of 10 per missionary per day.  He gave us that challenge, and then that night followed his own challenge, and invited a lady to hear the missionary discussions.  She said yes, and now my mission president has a person to teach! haha :)  I'm excited to see where we can go and build to!

Funny/ cute little story.  Amidst all the meetings we had this week, we found some time to go tracting.  The street was rather quiet, but towards the end we got to a group of little units.  As we walked up, we noticed that a car was running, and decided to go talk to the driver before she pulled away.  She was really happy to talk to us, and asked for a pamphlet and for us to come back.  We gave her one and then asked for her name.  She told us, and then we introduced ourselves.  "You have funny names." :) "Oh! These are our surnames, not our first names." "Oh well, in that case, I'd be Sister Taylor!" :)  She made our day, and now we're going to teach her why she is Sister. haha

Aussie Phrase: Knackered.  It means tired/wiped out. haha :)  Whether that is by sickness or just doing too much. 

Scripture this week comes from Alma 31:5--And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.  

(My dad just referenced me to this.) :)  We have the sharpest, most effective tool in our hands, pockets, and even phones!  Are we practicing how to use it, sharpening our skills to be able to show it's power?  I love that the more we read the scriptures the more we're able to share what we've learned!  Keep gaining more power.  :) 

Stormy day selfies and the contents of a package I got. :)

Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Hollee Talbot

Sister Talbot and Sister Eritara

BYU Cougar Crunch package from Nordhoff Grandparents!

Sister Eritara and Sister Talbot

Busso Bulletin

Update on me being bold: 

I invited our companionship to have dinner at an Investigator's home.  She was excited to accept that invitation.  :)

While in a visit with a less active I asked for their daughter's phone number so that we could ask her if she needed service. 

In a prayer with some members, they prayed "Please help us to be as bold as Sister Talbot."

Anyways!  This week has been a lot of service, but it has been good.  I love serving because it makes me happy, and also puts us in a place where they're more willing to tell us what's going on.  I feel like in service we are able to find out double to information than in just a regular visit.  That saves us time trying to figure out their concerns and just focus on bringing the gospel into their lives in a way that relates to the service. 

We did service for a less active who was moving out, and then for an investigator that the Zone Leaders requested our help with.  I have just one thing to say: If you clean up daily or weekly, you will save yourself such a hassle if you need to move.  Clean more than just once in the whole time you're there.  Just a little rant of mine. :) 

Aussie Phrase: Sing out.  We walk into a store and it's "Sing out if you need anything" instead of holler.  Which I think sounds much nicer in my opinion. haha  I was telling a lady we contacted to say hi to us if she saw us again, and she was like, "Yeah, I'll sing out if I see you again." :) 

Scripture this week is in 3 Nephi 14:24-25--Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock— And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.  

I was reading this chapter with the question of "How can I improve my relationships?" in mind.  I really liked that this chapter actually addresses it.  I know that the Book of Mormon can answer any question that you have.  It can, whether it is a religious question or just a question that's been on your mind lately.  I can promise that with faith you will be able to find an answer. 

Oh yeah!  I cut 4 inches off this week, and I still have a lot of hair.  :)  That tells you just how much I have.   Before and after photos, along with silly selfies.  :)

Sister Talbot and Sister Eritara