We started off the week with an exchange with the Zone Leaders. The exchange system is a bit different than it used to be, so now how it works is that we go to the leaders' area and work there. We spent a day and a night in Liverpool. We were able to see a missionary coordination meeting and it was nuts. It was like a really over-the-top board meeting from a movie. They hold it in the High Council Room and it’s just funny. It was super boring because I had no idea who they were talking about. We also did some street contacting in the Town Center and the only people that I talked to were a couple of chavs, some born-again Christians, and some Muslims. not anyone who would listen to the message that we shared. It would be so hard for me to serve in that big of a city and Manchester—that would be the worst!
Wednesday—I had a doctor's appointment for my back and my cold. They gave me an antibiotic and sent me on my way. That evening we taught our Polish investigator named Teresa. She is the best! So spunky and funny!! She is super prepared and we hope to be able to date her next week for the end of February. She is really solid and is finally opening up to the gospel and to letting us share with her.
Thursday—We played football with some young kids which was fun, I’m super bad at football which is lucky because I’m so bad I don’t fall for the tricks that people that know what they are doing fall for!! I stink at the sport but I force the others down to my level, hehehe! We also went and saw Margaret. She is so funny! We always leave her flat laughing because she is super crazy and loves to just raz us. Her accent, I think might be the hardest I’ve come across to understand!! She should hopefully be coming to church soon because she will have sorted a ride for her power wheelchair.
Friday—We had a bunch of people in our flat Friday morning. We had Doctor Crane who is the area doctor, Sister Hilem who is the mission nurse and their spouses. So Elder Crane told me (after running some tests of sorts) that I have an inflamed hip flexor and sciatica. Nothing that really could be done. I could try some ibuprofen if I wanted but that’s about it. It was definitely not the answer I wanted, but it was kinda the answer I was expecting. It doesn’t affect me too much because it hurts independent of what I’m doing so I might as well just keep doing it. That evening I was having a hard time from the news I had gotten so Elder Singsam cheered me up with jumping in puddles along the walk home. I joined in and we both ended up totally drenched! My shoes took two days on the radiator to dry out all the way. So wet!
Saturday—I went and saw Henry with Elder Launer which was good. It was a super intense lesson. We covered a lot of ground! We talked about everything from why we need the Book of Mormon, to Christian history, to why we are different from other churches. So much ground! I think that he understood it and that we kinda helped answer some of his questions. Assuming that we made any sense at all and that we actually did answer his question or just gave him more. That night we met Teresa at the church for a ward activity. It was a 1940's swing dance. We couldn’t really participate in any way but it was really well done. They had a little “Mormon bar” and lights and a DJ. It was super well done. It was all put on by ward members and everyone brought food so it must not have cost much beyond the time. Teresa had a really good time and it was a great way to introduce her to the ward.
Sunday—We had Teresa at church and she basically taught the Gospel Principles lesson. It was so good!! She was actually answering another sister’s questions (an older lady with no memory and interesting questions) about different things. It was so amazing. I’ve never seen someone that is this prepared. I just hope that we can help her get to baptism and that nothing happens. It’s the Lord's timing anyway and we are just the tools. That night we went to the Grey's and Sister Grey is super into family history so we got to learn a bit more about that and we are going to try and set a time so that she can teach us how to do more so that we can teach our friends. It will be solid!
Hope you all had a good week! Love you all!
Thought for the week is D&C 123:17—Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
Also, his response to Dad regarding how bearing testimony is the real key to conversion:
I have found that a simple testimony is the strongest. Before I came on my mission I was looking for something grand and elaborate but what I know to be true is simple and I can never put into words how I know so I might as well not try. I know that Heavenly Father is there and loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior and Redeemer. They did appear to Joseph Smith and did speak to him and he to Them. I love the knowledge that I have and it has brought so much peace and happiness to me.
Love,
Elder Tarbet
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