Tender Mercies

So the weather was nice, not too much of a comment. It felt really nice this week, it rained a little bit. We were contacting people before one of our dinner appointments and this one lady that we were talking to told us about this crazy storm that is coming. And that there is a Tornado warning and Toronto had already gotten hit by hail and the storm. Nothing happened before dinner and during dinner it rained for about 5 minutes is all. That was the whole storm. People tell us that this has been one of the hotter/drier summer for out here. 

Well, I got transferred again. I am going to Scarborough, which was my first area that I was only there for one transfer. I will also be training a new missionary. It will be super cool going back. I don't really know the area very well so it will be a fun whitewash. This will be my 4th time white washing an area. 

The week was super good. It was pretty rewarding. We had the goal last week to have a good attitude about everything and then we proceeded to get thrown through the refiners fire and a lot of people were bashy or rudeish but we did our best to be happy about it. And this week people were a lot nicer and it just made everything that much better because of last week. We were also able to teach Anastasia twice last week. She is super solid and super smart. It has been really great meeting people like her in Peterborough, it is a super cool place. 

I have been keeping a miracle journal this past week, and it has been a pretty spiritual experience. It has made me appreciate all the little things as sent from God, which I hadn't really done before. I would usually see the big obvious ones but I wouldnt look at the little details very often. God really does put things in our paths and changes things in our lives for the better if we let him and look for the opportunities.

1 Nephi 1:20--And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

We also went to Bancroft this week, and it is still a super sweet place with a really good spirit. 

Goodbye

Elder Talbot 

Elder Huffaker and the feast

Elder Huffaker and Elder Talbot

The Savior is the Best Example

The weather was nice this week. It felt really good a lot of the days. This is nice haha. The heat wave a couple of weeks ago makes 25 degrees (77F) feel a lot better. 

So I don't have too much time this week and honestly not too much happened this week. We did a ton of finding this week and it didn't yield too much. But we are happy with what we did. We are going to try some new finding ideas this week. 

Just a quick thought. I was sitting in the chapel yesterday during Sunday School and I looked at the Sacrament table. I have just thought a lot about the meaning of that.  I studied 3 Nephi 18 yesterday as well. The Savior is the best example we could have. I am so grateful for all He has done for me and what that means to me.

Elder Talbot 

Elder Talbot and his small mouth bass

Elder Huffaker and his sunfish

Beautiful Ontario Sunset

Just An Excuse for Heavenly Father To Bless Us More

Well it didn't really rain too much and it was just averagely hot all week. Nothing too crazy. The humidity is still there. When it rains a little amount and not for very long, it just makes everything feel like a sauna. We walked around quite a bit this week so that made it interesting. But it was still a really good week. 

I honestly don't really know where the week went, it took about five minutes. Which I think sums up about the last year and a half. We taught a few lessons to some really cool people this week, one person I first talked to almost three months ago but things finally ended up working out. Peterborough is probably one of my favorite areas, I have met some really cool people here. 

We had Zone Conference this week, 5 of my companions were there. But it was a super sweet conference. Our mission is bringing a bigger emphasis on obedience, and just being the best that we can be. There are some little things, that I think at first when you look at them seem like they don't matter or make a difference. But sometimes Heavenly Father gives us "rules" that we don't understand because he knows better.  One thing that stuck out to me during all of that was if we follow the rules it is just an excuse for Heavenly Father to bless us more. Me and Elder Huffaker are very excited about that, with more blessings we have set some goals to be more conscious of miracles, tender mercies, and just blessings in general. 

We also watched a video on The Book of Mormon, and that is something I have been studying a lot about lately.  I have tried a lot this week to get something out of my studies and apply it into my life and ask some questions. The video really brought the spirit strongly and built my faith. We talked to some bashy people this week as well, and the more I have thought about their points the more I am just so grateful that I can pray to God and ask him about The Book of Mormon. Cause most of what the people bring up could just be a misunderstanding of the Bible but The Book of Mormon is true and so is everything else. 

I gave (another) talk in Peterborough this week, and it was about my mission.  I was able to reflect a little bit about it and one thing that I have seen is just God's hand in my life and mission. He really has been there with me the whole time and before my mission, just preparing me to serve. 

Elder Talbot 

A Companions picture!  Right to Left:  Elders Johnson, Tarter, Huffaker, Talbot, Lowry, and Olson

Elder Ko and Elder Talbot

Elder Huffaker and Elder Talbot

Elder Talbot and Elder Ko at the door!

Make Mistakes and Make the Right Decisions

The weather was bearable this week, it was around 27-28 ish (80-82F). And 2 weeks ago, I probably would have said that was way too hot but it felt good after the last little bit. So many people comment about us having to wear pants and how that would be too hot. I agree with them. 

We were able to teach Anastasia this week, she is the 7 year old girl that is going to get baptized in August. She is super sweet and mature for her age. Her great-grandma is a member of the church but her great-grandpa isn't. He has been coming to church for 40 years, but still hasn't been baptized. President Ballard came and met with him when he was mission president. So this guy has been through the missionaries but last Thursday we were driving by so we stopped in and asked if we could do some service for them. We weeded their garden and cleaned up their lawn. While we were doing this we talked to them about the gospel and were able to ask him some questions. Sunday they came up to us and invited us over for more service and dinner. Who knows if it will go far, but slowly but surely he is warming up. 

I was studying about the purpose of our life on earth the last couple of days, and it was pretty cool. One thing that stuck out to me is that with satan's plan coming to earth and being forced to make the right decisions, we would have learned nothing and gone back up to heaven the same as we came down. But thankfully we all chose the Savior's plan to come to earth, to learn and grow while we make mistakes and make the right decisions. I am super grateful to have chosen this plan, it really is the Plan of Happiness and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to live with my family forever. 

We sang Oh Canada and the Star Spangled Banner in district meeting this week, Oh Canada is so much easier to sing hahaha.

Elder Talbot 

Elder Talbot celebrating Canada Day

P-day Fishing!

My Guilt Was Swept Away

Hey everybody! This week was good. It has been hot and humid, it amazes me how muggy it can be. The humidity just makes it feel like you can chew the air haha. Our apartment is super cold so going from that to outside is a serious heat wave but it is all good nonetheless. 

Right now we are teaching a little girl who is 7 that wants to be baptized in August after her birthday. It really tests how well you know the gospel when you have to try and teach it as simply as possible. It was also a good reminder to me how simple the gospel really is. She does understand a lot and is a super sweet girl. 

We had a lot of finding this week, we were able to go out a lot and we saw a lot of cool miracles. The area is getting there slowly, we have met a lot of cool people. Peterborough is a sweet place. Very diverse among the personalities of people. Super interesting. 

Spiritual thought comes Enos 1:5-6--5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. 6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. 

I have been studying a lot about repentance and forgiveness and I really liked that scripture when I read it. We can be free from doubt and not hang on to the feelings of guilt and shame and just be happy, just as we are meant to be. And another thing to learn from it is we can trust things from God. That is why it is so important to have our own testimony, so that we can have that assurance that we are on the right path.

Elder Talbot 

Elder Olsen and Elder Talbot

Add caption

Elder Talbot and Elder Huffaker fishing