Missing my boy a little bit more than usual this week. He hit his seventh month and continues to grow! I love his letter to his dad. He is so honest and forthright and I admire his humility and desire to be better each day. What a wonderful example he is to me!

Hi Mom!

So this week I got to go on a several day exchange with one of the Zone Leaders because my companion is injured and has a hard time walking in this area. So he went to a driving area this weekend. It has been good, I enjoy being around Elder Walker (is his name). Some might think it is more enjoyable and easier to be lazy on the mission but it totally is not! Sitting inside for most of the day was killing me so fortunately the mission president ok'd a switch. It has been good. I have wanted so badly to start really working this area. Since I got here we haven't been able to and it's nice to start. 

So I wanted to say thanks a ton for that package! It is awesome to get those Mormon messages on DVD. We've already used them a bunch. That reflections of Christ video is great too. And thanks for the seeds as well! I loved all of it. For now, I don't need new scriptures I don't think. I will wait till the new ones come out. I don't think I'll get indexed copies either. I like just the plain without the tabs. But I'll wait on that. 

By the way, I found out we live in Trenton actually. Not a big deal because I still get all the mail if it's addressed to Hamilton (our house being in the old boundaries of Hamilton), but to be 100% correct, it's Trenton. 

So I think that's about it for random stuff. We have two baptismal dates for this coming Sunday, one of them is sorta up in the air because it involves Richard, who may or may not have pending charges for the whole situation he's in. We have an appointment Tuesday where we'll be able to find everything out. And then we'll go from there. He is prepared and completely read though. Next is Johnson Brown, and he is best friends with a really strong member named Courage, who as you know added me on facebook the other day. Courage and Johnson are awesome. Johnson is also ready, he just needs to show commitment. He has been, so he will be baptized this coming Sunday. I am excited for him, he knows it's right. Other than that, we haven't been able to explore our area that much. My companion is quite new to it, so it's almost like we got doubled in to the area, and we haven't been able to get out much so it's frustrating me. I just want to work so hard! I hope we can soon... there is so much potential for this area. Investigators, members, everyone here could grow. That would be awesome too because I know that would help the ward budget and perhaps allow them do build another chapel. I am anxious for this all to go down.

Well I am doing well. I have grown in testimony a lot lately. I tell President that it is so cool because looking back I see that I am experiencing my own conversion. I picture an ad in my head that has some stalwart Book of Mormon missionary and above it says... GOT CONVERSION? Anyway, I love what I am doing. I know it to be truly God's work. I am grateful that he trusts me to be a part of it. Alma 5:26.

Well I have to go now. I love you all! Have an awesome week in England, Mom. 

Love,
Tab



Hi Dad! 

I am having a good day. I have to be short as well, but I'll get in what I can. 

I have given a lot of thought to consecration as well. Right now I am not a consecrated missionary. I aspire to be one, and I certainly know how to. I have read the talk about consecration written by Elder Callister and I have made a list of things I need to be doing. Fortunately it is not many things that I have to let go of from home. I am trying to put away all things that potentially could pull me away from the work. Most of the things I need to do in order to be a consecrated missionary are: 

-Be on time to studies/ appointments/ missionary schedule
-Fill my mind with virtuous thoughts, more focused on missionary work.
-Contact everyone
-Love everyone
-Help the ward do missionary work, and help them trust me and a servant of the Lord.
-A few others I have written down over time.

The promise Elder Callister gave as I do these things is found in Ether 12:26-27 and D&C 31:5. 

I have it all in front of me and I know that I can do it. I cannot do it all at once but I can become a consecrated missionary well before the end of my mission. I hope to be one that President Jeppson, and the Lord for that matter, can wholly rely on. By the way, I think he will be an apostle in the near future. He is inspired. I am so grateful to be in this mission. 

I love the letters you send. Thanks for all of the good quotes. I write them down from time to time and keep them in my shirt pocket, just in case. 

I'm sure you're staying busy and working hard. Keep it up! I love you guys.

Have a good week,
Tab