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