May 31st: On The Way Home

May 30th: A Note from Jesse Jones

Hi Mrs Tarbet, 

I hope I've found the correct contact for Logan's mom? (As soon as I got home I forgot the name he told me to contact) 

I would just like to say how much your son has helped me on his mission, he is an amazing missionary and an even better friend. 

I saw him off today at Transfer meeting ready for his flight tomorrow. 

It was an honour to meet such a well mannered, thoughtful and compassionate young man and I'm proud to call him a friend. 

I bet you cannot wait to have him home again! I will deeply miss him and cannot thank both your family and Logan for all he has done. 

Regards

Jesse Jones 

Shrewsbury Ward 

EMM

May 29th: A Note from Elder Masekaomeng

Hello Mr and Mrs Tarbet, 

I hope that you've had as wonderful week as we've been able to have. I'm Elder Masekaomeng, your son's last companion. I've only got good things to say about this transfer with him. He loves the gospel and all of you. He knows how to follow the promptings of the Spirit and earnestly seeks to help the people we've been called to serve from a driving, motivating love. We worked well together and I believe that the Lord has been able to use us well in preparing this plot of land for more work. I've been surprised by the successes he's had as he's gone to help people, they love the gospel and him.

     We laughed, we worked, we learned and we taught. We had a good transfer and I'm thankful I could spend it with him. I just finished training and I have to say, I'm happy that he shared his experiences with me. Honestly wish him and you all the best. The only unfortunate thing is that he didn't get that British accent I bet you were hoping he might come back with. Have a great reunion when you do. Hoping for the best blessings upon you and your family.

Elder Masekoameng
P.s. we're apparently known for being a bit quieter here in Britain, but Elder seems to have taken that a bit far :)

May 29th: Things I Will Miss and Things to Look Forward to

Things that I will miss most about my mission?

I will miss the people. I truly love the people of England. I have not gone anywhere that I have not met someone who has touched my life. One of the things from my Patriarchal blessing is that I will make friends here and I need to work to keep them for eternity. The first part has been fulfilled completely. I have made so many friends here. I love the people and I will miss them. I want to come back more than just in August.

Things that I am most excited about when I get home?
The people—that's kinda a copout, but it's true. The other thing that I will be excited for is probably the ability to access full information on numerous topics: Gospel, worldly, and otherwise. I want to be able to continue learning and growing. I look forward to being able to use all of the resources that there are. 

Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven

May 26th: Pictures from the Temple

May 22nd—May 28th: The Grand Finale

Well my final week.

It has been a very good week. Monday, we had the chance to go see a waterfall with Jesse and then have dinner with Elder and Sister Bailey. Elder Bailey is a fantastic cook! He used to be a caterer and so he is very talented. He made us a really nice curry. It was good to spend a bit of time with them, they have been very good to me and I've come to care about them. I have generally come to care about the people of England. It's going to be hard to not see them. I'm going to have to find a way to come back to see them more that just in August. These people have become family to me. I truly love this country. 

On Tuesday, we had District meeting and I got to give my final training on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was good. In all fairness, I very likely will use if for my homecoming. It was a really fun training to prepare. It brought me to my knees a couple of times in gratitude for the gift of a Saviour. Wednesday, we had a street display in the town centre. It was my last one and it was a real struggle. I just couldn't seem to get anyone to stop and listen to me. I did get some really nice people—they weren't interested in our message, but they did stop for just a second. I remember one quite old fellow who stopped and told me how I was real example of what young people should be like today, that I was doing the Lord's work and then he said a little prayer for me. It was so sweet. He really made the rest of the display doable. I have come to really appreciate the people who are just genuinely kind. 

Thursday, we had a lesson with a young man named Kearen who is a friend of one of the YSA in the ward. We taught him at her family's house. He is super solid. He has been coming to church, seminary, and reading the Book of Mormon. His mom even told him that he needs to read the book. Then, after the lesson he actually invited us to come over and teach his parents some time. Sadly, the family wasn't at church this Sunday because of some health problems, so the other Elders will be teaching him soon! Friday was the Temple. That was a REALLY good day, We left at about 10:30 from Shrewsbury with the Baileys and we got there just after 12:30. We had lunch with the other missionaries and then we caught the 2:00 session. We then went into the Marriage waiting room (President knew exactly what he was doing, he put us in there on purpose) to talk a bit more about the temple and some of the symbolism. It was so good!!! I really loved it. It reminded me of the first time I went to the temple because we got through into the celestial room and there was President and Sister Ulrich waiting for each of us and embracing us. It was just like when I went through the first time and had my family standing there waiting for me. It was really special. We spent 2 hours after the session with President and the senior couples learning more about the temple and some of the symbolism of it. On the way home, there was a bit of an issue with the Baileys and so me and Elder Carre had to get a train home (never a dull moment on a mission). 

Saturday we started off the morning with a nice stake-wide game of football (soccer) that was bunches of fun. Probably the last I will get to play in this country (or possibly ever). It was great because Paul came and he played for a bit before his back packed out. It was his first time playing in about 10 years. It was fun. After we got back to Shrewsbury, we went down to a place called Luddlow which is the very most southern part of the mission. It is actually farther south of Birmingham and its suburbs. We met a really great man that joined the church some 40 years ago, but due to health and the distance to the church, isn't able to come anymore. We had gone to see him last week, but he wanted us to make sure that we came back for a dinner with him, so we went back. It was so good. He is 91 and so he has seen a lot. He was in the Navy in WWII and was a part of D Day. He has had just about every job under the sun from postman to factory and everything between. I love missions because you get to meet these great people. 

Sunday was Church and it was interesting for sure. Since they all knew that I was going home (I didn't announce it, the ward mission leader did), I had the assignment of sharing my testimony. The problem was that I started losing my voice on Thursday and after Friday night, it was gone. I then strained it talking in Luddlow because Rony is deaf-ish. I could only whisper. I have never heard it so quiet in that room before. It was really neat actually. I just whispered into the mic. I had to be very selective with my words because I couldn't get much out, so it was very short. My voice is seeming to make somewhat of a comeback today, I can talk, it's just a bit croaky and quiet. Sometimes it drops back to a whisper.

Well I love you all and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday! I never thought that 2 years would end, but now it has—I can't believe where it has gone.

Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven

May 23rd: Manchester Bombing

Dear Parents, family and friends of our England Manchester Missionaries,

We are horrified by the terrible events that have occurred in Manchester last evening. We are saddened by the events of this tragic event. We have contacted our missionaries and found them safe and sound. All of our missionaries have been accounted for.  I have been in contact with the Stake Presidents and we have been informed that no members of the Church were injured in this serious explosion. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for angels watching over and protecting our missionaries. We love our missionaries and are so blessed to have them serve in our mission. Please continue to have us in your prayers as we strive to comfort and bless the families here in the EMM.

With Love and gratitude,

President and Sister Ulrich

President of the England Manchester Mission

May 15th—May 21st: The Final Countdown

This makes me feel kinda sick if I'm honest. I don't know how next Monday is going to work.  I don't know if I will get to email you all again from the blessed land of England. I cannot believe that this time has come to an end. 

What have I learned? I have learned that I never have to be alone—I always have a Heavenly Father that is there for me and a Saviour who loves me. I have learned that even though there are always ups and downs, there is also always a better tomorrow. I have learned that when people say the best two years, they aren't saying the funnest two years, they are saying the two years that even though they stunk at the time, they are the best memories looking back. 

This week has been pretty good. We have had a lot of people flaking on us. They set an appointment and then we come back and nobody is there. This has been the worst area for that. We do have a good number of people set up for in about 2 weeks.  The first appointment coming being on a week from Wednesday. The typical for me. Set it up and move it out. I don't really have to much of interest to report. Elder Masekoameng and Elder Chilipari went and taught Paul but me and Elder Cossa went to see Linda who was baptised about 2 months ago. She is really great. We have been to teach her with the other elders a few times. She is doing pretty well now though. 

Not sure what else to report. Hope that you are all having a great week!

Love

Elder Tarbet

Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven

May 15th: Pictures—Jackie and Some Sight-Seeing

Got to see Jackie one more time

Passing through the Birmingham Mission

May 15th: Things I have Learned

How have you grown? What have you learned? How has your outlook on life shifted? What will you take with you going forward?

I think that the last two years have been a time of massive growth for me. I have had the opportunity to learn from some wonderful and pretty terrible experiences. I have been stretched more than I ever thought that I could bear. But because of Jesus Christ I could bear it. 

I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned I don't have to do everything myself. I can rely on others and rely on God. I can be a leader without being bossy. I have learned that in order to be a good leader, I need to follow but be more than just a manager. 

I have learned a great deal about trust. That once it is broken, it's really hard to rebuild—both others trust in you and your trust in others. Think about others and try to see things from their perspective before you act.  Once you act, it's too late and the trust could be broken. It's possible to rebuild, but it takes a lot of work and some time. 

I have learned that "sorry" is a wonderful word when said with real intent. 

I have learned that most of the time things don't go right and so get used to it and make do with what you have. 

I have come to understand what it means to work with someone, not only by someone, but to have the same purpose and be united. We can have the same purpose but still be individuals working side by side. 

"Thank you" is another really good word.

Being volunteered is not fun. Don't do it to others. If you are going to ask someone to do something, be willing to do it yourself. 

We never really get better at handling trials, trials are always hard because if they weren't, they wouldn't be trials. 

Working hard is great. Working smart is far better.

Efficient means nothing. Effective means everything. 

Never let a book tell you what to do in life—use the information in the book and make it your decision to bring into your heart the things which the book contains (don't be robotic).

You are never too old for nerf wars.

You can be miserable, or you can be happy. Your choice. 

Most things that go wrong aren't necessarily your fault. It doesn't matter though because they are going wrong and now you have the choice to try and fix them or not.

Patience is a virtue that is very painful to learn but very easy to forget.

(I feel like a fortune cookie.)

Always do your best at that given time. Your best is very rarely 100% of your capabilities. If you try to run at 100% then you will crash and burn. All you can do is what you are able to do at the given time in the given circumstances. 

Elder Tarbet

Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven

May 8th—May 14th: 'Twas a Good Week

Howdy all!

This week has been pretty alright. We started off with a street display and exchanges on Tuesday. The street display was the first one I had done in ages! I am a bit rusty in that way of contacting. It was good though—I talked to some really nice people and found a man that was interested. The others didn't have much luck, but it was good fun. The man we found was pretty great. He was walking past when I tried to stop him and he just was like, "Alright I've got a few minutes. What do you want to say?" So we talked for a little bit about what we believe and he is looking for a bit of direction in his life. He has a whole slew of issues that he faces or has faced with mental and physical health. He just wants some direction to be able to rebuild his life. We were able to set an appointment for the next day, so me and Elder Chilipagri (I think, I can't spell his name) went and taught him. It was a really good lesson. I got to share one of my favourite Mormon messages called "Like a Broken Vessel" from Elder Holland and it was a really great way to bring the spirit. Well, after we had taught the Restoration and were able to answer bits and pieces of other things he had questions about, we tried to set a return appointment. Unfortunately, the next time he is free is the first part of June so I sadly won't be teaching him again. 

On Wednesday we had a bit of an issue because we went out to a rather distant part (20 min bus ride) a bit too late and so we missed the last bus back. That meant we had an hour walk to get home. And knowing how my body likes to have great timing, guess what decided to flair up for me? My back and leg. I was not a happy boy that night or the next day. Thursday we had a fun lesson with a 93 year old lady. Her name is Hazel and she is super funny. We went to see how she is doing.  The other missionaries had taught her and a member got to know her, so he wanted us to go back with him. Friday was pretty boring, Saturday was a good day. We had Stake Conference with Elder Deniniachi (once again, I think) and it was so good! I loved Saturday night session. Sister Leece (the temple matron) was telling a story about repentance and a bishop who came back from being excommunicated to be able to stand as proxy for his ancestor who hadn't had the chance at the gospel. It was a wonderful story. I really liked it. The visiting authority was really good as well, very personable and down to earth. He was good. Sunday was also good, but Saturday was better. Sunday, Elder Masekoameng also got to Skype home to his family, which was really good for him. He got to see his new nephew. It was fun for him. 

Well that's been my week! Hope that all is well with you and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Love

Elder Tarbet

Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven

May 8th: Pictures of the New Area

Cake

Me and Elder Masekoameng

Me and Elder Cossa and Elder Masekoameng

                     Castle behind flat

May 7th: Missionary Fireside in Manchester

Elder Carling, Paula Warren, and Elder Tarbet

May 1st—May 7th: Multi Zone, Meetings with President, and a Little About the Area

Hi all! 

This week has been pretty boring to be fair. We had some new investigators but all of them have dropped off the earth. We have been trying to find people but with very limited success. We will call this a week of patience. I seem to be needing to learn more of that. We are doing well though and seem to be in good spirits. 

This week we had a multi zone and interviews with President. It was really good to talk with President. We have had our ups and downs over the course of my mission but I'm glad that I've been able to build a good relationship of respect and love with him. He is a very good man. 

The multi zone was really good. I very much enjoyed it and it had a great spirit. The focus was baptism. I have always struggled with that concept but the way it was explained finally clicked for me. It's the key to happiness. It is the way to get back into the Celestial Kingdom. It's the way to feel the joy that we have. It sounds really lame to explain but it finally clicked why we emphasize it so much.
A little bit about the people in this area—Elder Masekoameng is from Kent but originally from South Africa. He moved here when he was 3. His parents are converts and he was sealed to them.   Some of the people from the ward are the Greens who is the ward mission leader. He's good to us. He took us to the temple last week.  We had dinner with them every week after coordination meeting. The only other families' homes I've been to was the Kesle-Fells house yesterday. We don't get fed much here. I need to make my s'mores and start bribing people to like us. We are teaching Paul right now. His family was baptized in the fall but he hasn't committed yet. He just needs to find his own testimony. The family is still quite new and we are working with them as well. They got baptized but need to build their testimony. Jesse is a good man.  He is just coming back from less activity but he is working to go to the temple. He is the member that loves the missionaries. He's been spending pdays with us. 

Hope that gives you the insight. 

Yup. That's kinda it for the week. Love ya. 

Elder Tarbet

Caelitus Mihi Vires 

My Strength is from Heaven

April 24th—April 30th: Birthday Celebrations, a Temple Trip, and a Few New Investigators

Hello ALL!
Thank you for all of the Birthday Wishes! It was a pretty noneventful day. We just did normal missionary stuff besides when we went to visit a recent convert named Lin with the other elders. Her daughter (not a member) had made me a cake and it wasn't just any cake.  It was a death by chocolate cake.  It was so nice! They also made Elder Cossa an apple crumble because he doesn't care for chocolate too much.
Today we went to the temple and it was really great! I love getting to go to the temple and feel of the peace that it brings. I just feel so much happier when I go. It's really nice. I want to continue to do that when I return home. Yesterday, we met one of the investigators that the others had been teaching but I had not met yet. His name is Paul and he is married to Liz who was baptized about 6-ish months ago. They are a really funny couple that can run with a tangent like you wouldn't believe.  I thought that I was bad haha. We were all over the place but we were able to answer some of their questions about why bad things happen to good people. They have a son with autism and I think that makes it hard for them sometimes. Paul wants to be sure before he commits because he said that he has jumped into bad things before and he doesn't want to again. He wants to make sure that he makes the right choice.
We have also been working with a man named Jesse who has struggled with his health but he has been pushing through so that he can make it to the temple. He is an Afghan vet and a paramedic. He is a good lad. I really like him. I think that he is one of the people that I was meant to meet here in the area.

Well that is about my week but thank you for all of the emails!

Love ya
Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven

April 17th—April 23rd: Where Has the Time Gone?

What on earth has happened? Where did time go? I am now in my last transfer of my mission...how did I manage to get here? It is unbelievable how fast things have gone.

I am so grateful that I got transferred to Shrewsbury. I'm so glad to be serving here and getting to continue to learn and grow. Not becoming stagnate and dead in an area. This week has been really good. I just feel happy.  I was talking to Elder Masekoameng (from Kent) and I just said that I feel happy and it's really weird, I just feel peaceful and happy, like I've never felt before. It's nice. Not really too much to report for now just trying to get adjusted to the area but we are finding people to teach. We have a few new investigators to follow up with next week. We are just doing finding and working with people here. The people are super nice here. Yesterday we met a catholic priest and we just talked about what we both do for our churches for a good 20 min. So nice.

Well that's me for the week. Not much to tell. Have a great week!
Love

Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires 
My Strength is from Heaven

Pictures from Recently

From February's New Member Fireside: 

"Look who I bumped into this evening! He looks really well and 

had an investigator at the mission fireside.

 Hope all is well with you guys, Bishop Fullwood (Southport)"

Mission Historical Tour

Mission Historical Tour

Mission Historical Tour