Talmage Mission

Good Morning! Here's my favorite part of the week: The first day of the new transfer Elder Dickey opens the front door and lo and behold, there sits a Christmas gift! In fact, it's more than a gift; someone has started a 'Secret Santa' with us! It was amazing for the first two days, and then we got more sweet treats, and then a little more, and now we don't know what to do because we're running out of counter space!  In all reality, I'm super excited for a surprise every evening. But I have no clue how I'm supposed to consume all this sugar because Elder Dickey already said he sure won't. But I did hook him on Danish butter cookies, so there's progress.  I enjoy working with Elder Dickey, I continue to be impressed by the scriptures and personal experiences he will share in lessons. I've come to find that every one of my companions has a unique story, which makes them a special child of God. I've been blessed to love all my companions, so...

Good Morning! I've officially had my second 5-week transfer ever in the mission. President Staples mentioned at the beginning that it would be a very quick transfer, and it sure was! I blinked and it's over. We didn't even baptize any of our friends . . . yet. Elder Hironymous got his visa yesterday, and his travel information last night. Come Wednesday I will drop him off in St. George and away he will go to Mexico. I'm excited he's off to his original assignment, but it will be a shame to see him leave. I will stay in the Kanab/Kaibab area and will work with another missionary I've spent some good time around; Elder Dickey! I'm super excited to be his companion, this will be a great 7 week transfer upcoming.  During the St. George Temple rededication this Sunday, President Jeffrey R. Holland spoke. Quoting Henry VanDyke, he remarked, “It’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome; but when it comes to living, there is no place [quite] like ho...

Good Morning! Our friend, Kaylen, accepted a baptismal date for the 30th of December! I love her sincere desire to learn, and her strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. That was a strong highlight to our week. However, another one of our friends is a little uncertain of her baptism this weekend. She desires to be baptized, but there are some icebergs she's facing that we'll have to work through.  There's just a tiny glimpse of my week, it's honestly been really great! I did go on a couple exchanges with the Elders in the Kanab Stake. Elder Allan is doing a fantastic job as a new missionary! I'm grateful for his diligence and willingness. Elder Dobson is also doing well, I'm grateful for his growth as a missionary from the last time I served around him, almost a year ago! It has been an adventure working here in Kanab. So many of the people have been visited that it feels like there's nothing to do, but at the same time we keep running into those who are rea...

Good Morning! I have enjoyed these past few days, but continue to learn a lot. We had a Zone Gathering for Thanksgiving day so I spent some time with other missionaries and played chair soccer and socialized. It was a lot of fun, even if I didn't win at chair soccer.  After the Zone Gathering I began an exchange with Elder Beaudette. He's an amazing missionary and very committed to the work. It was a great opportunity to learn from him and understand what I can do to improve. I won't go into details, but I felt like I was lacking a little as a missionary and needed to improve. I just wasn't sure how. There were two or three ways my prayers were answered that day, and each one was needed and appreciated. I love working with Elder Beaudette.  In a testimony meeting yesterday one individual shared their experience with personal prayer. They said that when we kneel down in prayer to God, we have His undivided attention. I'm not sure how that works when so many of His ch...

Good Morning! Happy Thanksgiving! So much has happened that I don't know where to start. I'll do my best, but next week's email may be "less epic" because it will contain fewer days to pull from. Bottom line, everything that has happened has been good, even if it doesn't always feel like it.  We've found 9 new friends these past 10 days! Sam Broadbent lives in the Cane Beds, Amos is willing to feel out our message, and all the rest are kids who live in Fredonia. Namely Ryder, Nash, Kolton, and the siblings of Nathan, Candice, and Natalie. Their older brother Nathaniel was baptized a few weeks before I got here, so we're going to help them move forward as well! The best part is, most of these people want to be baptized! I absolutely love Colorado City! It's an amazing place full of amazing people who think they're right . . . it's interesting. We challenged 19 separate people in one day to consider baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of ...

Good Morning! This past week has been extremely interesting. Every time I get a new missionary something different happens. Let me explain.  I spent the first day of the new transfer as Elder Cammack's companion, which was weird for all our friends in the YSA, but they figured it out. I left on Thursday, when we collected our new missionaries. We were allowed to mix and mingle for a bit, which gave me time to size up everyone. While there, I was approached by another missionary from Texas, Elder Hironymous! Turns out Elder Hironymous is from Fort Worth, near Burleson. His sister is on a service mission in the DFW area, and serves near my cousin, Sister Ella Williams! That was impressive. However, Elder Hironymous is a reassignment to the Utah St. George Mission as he is originally called to Veracruz, Mexico, speaking the Spanish language. So naturally, 2 hours later, I find out I'm training him.  At this point I think God is having a good laugh with me as He helps me grow. Eve...