Talmage Mission

Good Morning! This was a very special week for me. However, it was also the most unpredictable week I've experienced in a long time. Everything felt like a coin toss; uncontrollable and unpredictable. Allow me to explain: We are still working with our friend, Meghann. She's doing well! We had our lesson this week and we discussed Priesthood and what it is. After that I brought up baptism and she told us that she wishes she'd been baptized back in December! We didn't have too much time, but we set expectations to discuss plans at our next lesson, this Thursday.  Amos is another friend we have. He has really good intentions, but right now Elder Dickey and I don't feel like he's progressing very well. We've gone over three times in the past two weeks trying to drop him, so we were pretty committed to stop teaching him before transfers drop. However, at our last lesson we asked about baptism again and committed him to pray about it, but then we stumbled across a...

Good Morning! We have had quite the adventure this week. In order to make this the best week ever, Elder Dickey decided to get sick for two whole days. Normally this would be absolute torture, but I survived. We'd go on exchanges and I convinced him to leave the house, all so we could attend our 8 lessons we had on Monday and Tuesday. Our teaching friends are probably still healthy and Elder Dickey has made a full recovery because of his frosted flakes. Life is back to normal.  Everyone keeps telling me it's cold. My only comment is that it's warm(er than 30 degrees) and rainy. It's quite pleasant out here in Kanab!  Two of our friends chose to be baptized! On Saturday I had the privilege of baptizing Stephen. It was a beautiful experience, until I dropped him in the font and we realized we've spelled his name wrong for the past month . . . you live and you learn I guess. Despite this it was still a beautiful experience! Isabella, or Bella for short, is our 8 year o...

Good Morning! Fun fact for the week: One of my friends who I helped teach and baptize just went through the Temple last week! She's absolutely amazing, and I'm grateful for this step on her covenant path, even if I couldn't attend because I live in Kanab. I'm proud of her and everything she does to light the lives of those around her.  Okay, enough about Aaliyah. We drove to Cedar City twice this past week, once for a Zone Council and again for a temple trip with half the mission! Zone Council was an awesome experience as usual, I especially enjoyed spending some time with other missionaries. I'm still impressed by how much there is to learn and accomplish as a missionary, despite how long I've served.  President Staples made a comment during the temple trip that I want to remember. He stated that the same sociality we have here (within the temple) is the same we will enjoy in the Celestial Kingdom. I loved being with so many missionaries who I love and admire, ...

Good Morning! I feel like nothing has changed this past week. We've seen success and found new friends. We've taught quite a few lessons, and visited a number of members. We're still trying to save miles. We only hit one parked car while drifting in the snow.  Oh yeah, it snowed! On Saturday we decided to become like the pioneer children, and walk around everywhere, just without the singing. We drove for a bit, so it wasn't 100% walking, but we were on our feet for probably 6 or 7 hours. There was one lesson and a dinner appointment during that time, and a lot of cold weather. Everyone kept telling us to go inside and get warm, it's probably a good thing they care about us enough to tell us to go inside. But also, we can't find people if we sit inside all day so we're doing what we can. I for one am considering actually using my beanie . . . On Saturday, everybody told us that it was supposed to snow like 6 inches overnight. So we woke up on Sunday and found...

Good Morning! This was a powerful week to end off the year 2023. Elder Dickey and I saw a lot of success, and had a lot of fun. Today keeps flying on me, I think the day will be over before I realize it. I'll start today's email with the best part of the week: Kaylen's baptism! She was super prepared, and it was a wonderful experience to see this day happen. She's officially a covenant keeper! Her love for the Book of Mormon and sincere testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith is inspiring. I'm grateful for her example, and to have done her confirmation.  We did exchanges with Elder Hansen and Elder Mitchell, respectively. Fun story for the exchange with Elder Hansen; we actually set 5 of our teaching friends on-plan for baptism! These friends are Steven, Annabelle, Candice, Natalie, and Nathan. I've watched these kids grow their preparedness for the gospel, and they're ready to move forward. It will take a lot of work to help them progress, but January should ...