Tuesday, January 3, 2017
December 19th—December 24th: A Busy Week—Sealings in the Temple and Traveling Through Wales
Hi,
This week has been great—really busy but also really crazy fun! On Thursday, we had our mission Christmas party and got to do a few hours in the temple. I got to do baptisms, initiatories and sealings. That was incredible! I've never done sealings before but its neat to see the thing that we want people that we teach to finally reach.
Right so this week we taught Emma. She wasn't feeling up to being taught much so we just talked and Paul (a member) shared his testimony of the Atonement. It was very powerful, if it didn't help her it definitely helped me. We also got to teach about the plan of salvation and fasting and about receiving answers (3 nephi 11) this week. And we met a really great family that goes to a different ward. She is super nice and has a great testimony despite massive challenges in her life—maybe because of those.
We met an ex-member who is now Presbyterian and doesn't like the church, she invited us to dinner but her husband who is still a member but less active called and canceled it, which was okay.
Not sure what else is going on, we spent a long time traveling to and from Chorley—5 hours on public transport each way. Wednesday and Thursday were long days of traveling. We left at 6 Wednesday night, spent the night and finished our travel in the morning. Then Thursday we left at 6 from Chorley and got home at 11:30. The Elders that live in Porthmadog had to spend the night because they would have gotten home at 8 the next morning if they had tried to continue on haha.
Traveling in Wales isn't easy.
Love ya all!
Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven
Monday, December 19, 2016
December 14th—December 19th: Nadolig Llawen
This week has been pretty good. Nothing too exciting has happened. We had a branch party on Friday, which was interesting. It's a really strange thing—lots of people there on Friday but on Sunday there was no change from normal attendance. Today we are at a family party for a member of the branch and her children and grandchildren. They asked us to help and so I'm just trying to email while Santa (a very skinny Irish Santa, no less) passes out gifts. So, that is my excuse for a very scanty email.
This week we saw a lady named Emma who we have been teaching (not sure if I've mentioned her before). She is lovely. She is super nice and has a really strong desire to know if there is a God. She has been taught all of the lessons previously by other missionaries, but because she doesn't have any kind of religious background, she didn't fully understand the lessons, so we are going though them again to really make sure she understands. She has fun questions—all very sincere but she is sometimes very far ahead of the current point that it makes it a bit hard. She is friends with a couple of the members from a group that they all attend. It's funny because when she asks these questions the member goes on to answer but it ends up leaving her more confused because she doesn't understand that background of the answer and it is hard for him to be simple. It's funny. She came to church on Sunday and had a really good experience we think (and hope). We are seeing her again this week.
We have seen Josh around a few times this week but we've not had any lessons with him. He came to the Christmas party and seemed to have an ok time. We have had a couple of good chats with Christina this week as well.
Something that I've come to appreciate more and more these last few months is how my experiences on my mission have expanded my testimony so much. It has really helped me to understand the Atonement especially. I love Jesus Christ and I am glad that I get to tell people not only about His birth at this time of year as we celebrate it, but all year round. I get to tell people of the joy that Christ brings into my own life. From the little baby in a manger to a Saviour in the garden, from a humble carpenter to the risen Lord. I am grateful for the experiences that I have had to be able to understand who the baby in the manger truly was.
Love you all and hope that you have a Merry Christmas
Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven
December 5th—December 12th: Staying in Colwyn Bay for Christmas and A Successful Week with Appointments
It's been a fun week. First FAQ—I am staying in Colwyn Bay for Christmas with Elder Cossa. FAQ 2—Josh is doing well. We are hoping to to able to teach him with his family some day but his dad doesn't much want to. We will see how that goes. Right now we are just working with him to help him recognise answers to prayers. He has been to church twice now and has started to really pray about the Book of Mormon. He is almost though First Nephi and is marking. He's really doing well. The struggle is just helping him receive answers. He's a good kid and seems to enjoy church so we aren't overly concerned. It's just a matter of time.
This week we met a nice fellow named Sean. It was great because we set an appointment and we got to have two back-to-back appointments in the chapel. We felt so effective hahaha. Sean has struggles with alcohol and wants to change. It's cost him his family and he wants them back. He doesn't know what makes him drink, he just does. He wants to understand if God is there and able to help him. Good man. The other appointment was with our friend named Andrew. He is nice enough. He is kind of evangelical in the way he acts towards God and us.
Over the weekend, I was having some chest pain and was really tired but the mission nurse said that is just a virus that has chosen to settle there instead of my nose or digestive tract etc. It's made me super tired though but the work moves forward.
Basically I'm super excited to be staying. Today we went and saw Conway castle, which was neat.
Love ya all hope you have a great week!
Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
November 28th—December 4th: Quick Update—Josh: Our New Investigator
Right so this week in a nutshell.
Exchanges with Elder Allen from Hawaii, we came out together. Back with Elder Cossa and we met all the bashing people again. I've never had bashing spiritualists before now, but they exist let me tell you. We are officially able to teach our friend Josh (had to get permission from parents) and he came to youth and to church and had a good time. He stayed the whole 3 hour block and testimony meeting didn't scare him away. Hallelujah.
Um, I think that is my week in a nutshell. It was pretty much a straightforward week. Nothing too overly exciting happened besides Josh. So yeah. Hope you all have a great week.
Love
Elder Tarbet
Caelitus Mihi Vires
My Strength is from Heaven
PS—Transfers are a week Tuesday. I hope that I get to stay.
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