I guess there's something good about #hashtags after all!

This past week I was tagged in a photo on Instagram. A sweet friend happened to be looking though pictures with the hashtag #missionaries and saw a photo of a missionary she recognized. It was a picture of a beautiful girl standing by a handsome missionary. They were all dressed in white as it was her baptism day. She was beaming. My heart grew three sizes at that moment realizing the handsome missionary was my boy! To think that he had something to do the that huge beautiful smile on her face. It's moments like this that make sending him off for two years completely worth it! Thank you Olivia for tagging me!

Tab's reply when I forwarded these pictures and messages she had posted:

J's way nice, as you can tell. I have talked to her a couple times since I left, and she's still going strong, so that's good :) Hopefully she can get to the temple soon... there's a 98% retention rate for recent converts who get to the temple within 6 weeks of their baptism! Crazy right? Anyway, keep in contact with her, help her out if you can. She's great!

I'm fine......I'm always fine!

Yes, we're past Hump Day and now on the downhill! Y I P P E E............!


Hi Mom and family!

So, yes I did send a letter to another person, Josphina. I sent letters to Ange, Curt, Jos and Johnson but I only have her email address so it makes it tough to communicate! Also, Marchelle Cassignol got baptized yesterday (a girl we were teaching in Trenton). So hopefully they can all go on the temple trip this Saturday and they take ancestors names so that Elder Vargas and I can go with them! That's the rule, they have to go within 6 weeks of being baptized and they have to take a name to do baptisms for.

 

No, we didn't have a baptism.  Elder Smith and Elder Penrod had a baptism this last week. The guy who got baptized is awesome. The family we are teaching is scheduled for this Saturday. I have to figure that all out with the temple trip and a bunch of meetings I have to go to. It's going to be a busy weekend.

 

1. It's just elder Priest and I living in our apartment! It's way easier to stay on task (i.e. be obedient) in a two man apartment.

2. We are in zone 5 (Elizabeth zone, but basically the same zone I was in at the beginning of my mission, excluding East Orange now, which was switched to the Newark zone.)

3. Yes I got your package, that was GREAT. 

4. I found the new shoes I would like to get. Sister Jeppson allowed time shopping for new shoes as long as my companion is aware of what I am doing, so that's nice. It's the Dublin Apron Toe Tie, in black, size 44. but they are expensive, so wait till you see them on sale somewhere. Maybe try Nordstrom Rack again? I'm not in a rush. My shoes still work and look fine. The new ones I think I would just wear to church and meetings so they don't get all worn out.

5. Oh yes, the belt worked perfect. It matches the old brown shoes you sent. Did you already order new shoes for me?

 

Man... Colby! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO! I hope I have time to write back to you today, but thanks for your awesome letter. I am so glad you enjoy golf team. It will make your high school experience, I know it. It did for me. Otherwise high school is kinda lame haha. Be safe driving! I don't feel like you're ready, but I'm sure Regan and Caitlin didn't think that of me when I turned 16, so you got this. Oh, mom, did you ever figure out that towing ticket? It was sent to you at the same time the other missionaries in our area got their car towed, so they may have mistakenly though it was our car. But hopefully they figured it out and you didn't have to pay it!

 

HAHA, if missionaries run out of money before the month is up, it's because they spent it all on fast food. Seriously, if you're smart with your spending then you'll end up with like 60 bucks extra at the end of the month. For example, elder Thompson was two months ahead on his MSF spending... he had saved, over a period of 6 months, like 230 dollars. He never ate fast food. He's so funny. You can't use it on whatever you want, so we just went and got expensive food with the money we saved... that's when we went to Star Tavern. But, I have like 5 bucks left for the rest of the month. I went to five guys a lot before I left Trenton. And I don't need to go shopping this week because we still have plenty of food. So I'm fine. I'm always fine : )  Don't feel bad for the other missionaries - they didn't spend their money wisely. Especially sisters, they get more money than we do (for obvious reasons) and they eat less food (I think). And yes, I have plenty of backup money. So, thank you!

 

So, hopefully everything goes through this week and the Armand kids get baptized! It's tough to gauge how ready they are because we don't really understand the things they are saying, but that's what a baptismal interview is for, right? We have to have a translated interview... haha. That will be fun. Wish us luck!

 

Love,

Tab

The one year mark......Maybe we'll go to Five Guys!

Mondays.......how I look forward to that first line of every email! And this week he officially hits his ONE YEAR mark!  It doesn't surprise me that he might celebrate it going to Five Guys.


Hi Mom!

I'm here. I've got about an hour and 15 min left so I have plenty of time if you wanted to ask me anything......I'm on earlier because we decided not to do our laundry this morning. So that saved us some time :)

Yeah the weather is a little gloomy this week but it's supposed to clear up. We have a car, by the way. And our area is tiny! It's nice, but I prefer walking areas because you can talk to way more people. So even on a bad day for appointments you can still teach lessons to new people you meet. There's always something to do.

 

American Heritaaaaaaaage! Nice. I think the key to that class is to read that big fat book. I didn't read it as much as I should have, and I noticed that a lot of the test questions (especially the final) came from the book. So that's the key. I guess that's the key with any class.... and dad has been telling me that for years.

Haha, I envy you going to class. I don't remember if I've told you a hundred times, but the one thing I miss most (besides people) is school. I have lots of good memories of going to class and what not, even though at the time I didn't enjoy going that much. That's usually how school goes. Also, I have to thank you and dad for all the help you gave me in my classes, especially Book of Mormon.

 

As for the one year mark, I probably won't do anything to be honest. Maybe we'll go to Five Guys or something. Finally, there is one in our area. It's in a small corner of Vauxhall which happens to be in our area. :)

 

Wow, Shelby in college... I can't believe she is old enough but still, that is awesome for her!

 

Nice mission calls. Is Meg planning on coming back?

 

I'm good on toiletries but if you can find it (cause I can't anymore) would you send me a bottle of Old Spice KOMODO (it's purple) body wash. Or if they have Komodo soap bars that works too. I still have plenty of face wash, actually. I could also use a chocolate bar, but not 70% because I eat that slower and I still have like 3 bars. Maybe just a bag of dove dark chocolate square things, those are good. Other than that, I don't need anything! Thank you!

Ok I'm back. I really do love you, I just got caught up reading everyones emails :) I had 17 new messages this week! That was unexpected... I kinda got lost trying to track them all. Problems a missionary has to deal with... tracking emails...

Alright I have to close up, so sorry! I didn't even write to you about anything, so I will write a hand letter home. I promise :) Even if it is short, you should get it by Thursday at the latest. Have a great week!

 

I love you all!

 

Tab

Hi Dad!

 

I really like that parable you shared. I always interpreted it in a way that pertains to the laborers as those that accept the Gospel and live it, but I like the explanation Elder Holland gave. I love that the apostles can give such in depth analogies on such few verses. There are missionaries I know that are good at that, especially President Jeppson. I admire that.

 

One year already... you are right that it has been very fast. And yes, I have a lot to learn.

 

Indie calming down? I don't know if that is good news or bad news. I always loved seeing her fly down the hill at 20 mph and nearly collide with the dumpster or the car, and all that while spraying dirt everywhere.

I love you!

Tab

I do love missionary work! It is a happy thing to do.

I always read his emails and smile......he has the best attitude in the world!

Hi Mom!

 I'm on a little bit later than usual today but I've got about another hour - maybe half hour if I can book it through emails. I've gotten myself into a little bit of a predicament - I like talking to a lot of my friends and the best way to do it is via email because all I have to know is their first and last name, that is more or less their email address. So it's really easy. But I have emailed so many of my friends that now it takes me forever to write replies to all of them, even if they are short replies. Now email time is really long and I am not the fastest typist nor do I really like emailing, so that is no good. But I always try to write to you and President Jeppson before everyone else. I do always like hearing from you and the family.

 

Yes, I do love missionary work! It is a happy thing to do. It's not easy and I almost never do all that I want to do, but I still enjoy meeting people and going to new areas. Maplewood's ward is AWESOME. There are tons of Africans, especially from Ghana. There are also a lot of Haitians - lots of Haitians everywhere in NJ I guess. Fine with me, I like them. So that is why I thought to try to learn French... maybe I could communicate a little bit with them. I would guess it is either the third or fourth most spoken language in the areas I go to behind Spanish and Portuguese. I am counting Creole as French, I've been told they are similar enough not to worry about it. Thanks for sending the book! I appreciate that. Before you send it, I don't need brown shoe polish that bad. I have some.

 

Today was the first day I have done my laundry at a laundromat. That was nice cause my clothes got really clean - those industrial machines do work. The mission refunds laundry costs so that's good too. We went to all the same stores that I used to go to back when I was in east orange. The same people work at ALDI. It's weird - I feel like so much should change while I'm away but it usually doesn't. People still live in the same places and their furniture is still oriented the same way. Their homes still smell the same, haha. I imagine that it won't be much different in Provo, and you keep telling me that. While serving a mission, my perception of things change a lot but the world doesn't. I can't quite explain what I'm talking about, and I don't really know why I'm talking about it, so anyway.

 

It was a good week... we reached most of the goals that the previous elders set for us - apparently they weren't doing so well - and the WML and the other Maplewood elders were excited to have us here. So is the ward. Most of the people we saw during the week were active or less active members. We weren't left with any investigators and the advice from the other missionaries in the ward was to just start from scratch. They said none of the formers were really interested either. The biggest stressor I have found in the area is the lack of updated membership records. We were visiting a member on her porch and she kept pointing to people who walked by or people's homes saying, "that's a member" or, "a member lives there" and so I asked if any of these people were on the ward list and she said probably, but none of their addresses are current. UGH! So next time we visit her, we're going to have to work on that.

 

Other than that, not much exciting happened this week. I met a million new faces at church and I recognized a few of the people. I've found that I am pretty good with names, so I hope I remember all of the people I met. There are lots of really cool people in this ward so I'm excited to get to know them. I hope I stay for 6 months, or longer haha.

 

My companion is Elder Nathan Priest, he's from Mapleton so maybe I knew him from elementary school. He knows the Mehl's, Starr's, and lots of people who I was friends with. He's super nice too. I am hoping to help him get comfortable with the people, he can be a little bit awkward at times. But I think he's that way because he is such a nice guy and he wants to help everyone. Plus he's been speaking strictly Portuguese for the last 6 months. I like him.

 

I will stay in contact with my Trenton friends. It's always hard to leave an area where I not only became familiar with the people, but also the streets and what not. So now again, I have to familiarize myself with a new area. But that usually doesn't take long for me, and I don't think it will take long here because I'm already somewhat familiar with it. I've been through here many a times. I did get your package - thank you! And thanks to Nate and Caitlin. 

Keep up the good work! I love each of you. Say hi to my friends for me!

 

Love you,

Tab

Hi Dad! 

Awesome week... sounds like once again you stayed too busy.

 

So, I have to be quick, but I want to mention a few things. You should attend a Synthesis concert - I went to one in the DeJong concert hall for a writing class assignment and I loved it. I wish I would have gone to more. The environment is energetic, exciting, and sometimes even rowdy. The crowd seemed like they were all regulars, a sign that the concerts are good enough that people keep attending regularly. Anyway, I think you would enjoy it especially if you went with mom and/or Colby. Elder Traasdahl said that Synthesis is one of the best Jazz groups around and that they are world renown.

 

So the idea to learn French is not President Jeppson's, nor did he assign it. I just decided that if I have an hour to wait for Elder Priest while he does language study, I might as well study a language too. French seemed to be the most useful. I would say Spanish, but I haven't had a need to speak it in the areas I have served, and if I have had an opportunity, I can say what I need to. I've learned enough in HS and out here to get by, and I don't have the desire right now to master it. Mom said she ordered a French for Dummies book for me, and I have a dictionary and a Le Livre de Mormon, so for now I think I am good. The mission office also has language study books from old missionaries that I will ask about.

 

I hope to hear some awesome thoughts from your reading! Have a great week.

 

Love you,

Tab

It's back to The Oranges........Somebody loves me ; ) And French?!

Tab was transferred this week and what do you know......he's right back to the area he LOVES! How often does that happen?! I am thrilled for him (who would've thought!). Nothing pleases me more than to hear him talk of how much he loves his areas, the people he teaches and his fellow companions and missionaries. I think he's in for ANOTHER great transfer!

Hi Mom!

Yes, I am getting transferred, just not sure where yet. Yes, I'm still a district leader.  

Just as a by the way, Elder Vargas AND I are getting transferred (he's going to be a Spanish missionary now) so don't send anything to the Trenton address anymore. If you have already, I can just get it from Elder Warnock in a week or so. Elder Traasdahl is also leaving, so Elder Warnock is the only one staying the apartment. Crazy right! Be right back.......

I'm on again, this time for something like an hour. Just found out I got transferred to Maplewood North, bordering East Orange, my old area :) And the address is

46C Meadowbrook Place

Maplewood, NJ 07040

So there is a lot of familiar ground. In fact, we are sitting in the same library that I was in 6 months ago. I AM PUMPED to be here. The area is really small, we have a car, and there are not many investigators. Elder Priest, my companion, and I were doubled in to this area. So we both don't really know what we're doing. But it's good... the advice from our zone leaders was to just start fresh. I am in zone 5 now. OK that's all the little details out. Oh, Elder Priest is from Mapleton, and he is a visa waiter for the Brasilia Brazil mission. He's mega nice, and I know he's a good missionary, I can just tell by his manners. I will now be learning French. Since he has an hour of Portuguese study in the morning, I will have an hour to study French, something I've wanted to work on. I need to go buy a French for dummies book though, because all I have is a French Book of Mormon and a French dictionary. It's tough trying to find where to start. I'm excited though.

I'll keep writing more in a minute but I'll send this so you'll know I'm here, in case you want to ask me anything. Pause.........

Ok, ACTUALLY, I don't have much more time and I have to write to President Jeppson. Email time is short today because we need to go out and shop still, and get back to eat and do some proselyting. We had a meeting this morning where I got to meet my new zone leaders and district leader buddies and it was a good meeting. I felt that they lacked unity and love for each other, it was kind of weird because they are all super good missionaries. It was just a little bit awkward though, or maybe that was just me. Haha, I love being awkward! Elder Traasdahl really helped me embrace myself while I was with him.

Well, I have sad news. Since so many of the missionaries are going over miles lately, President Jeppson had to crack down on leaving zones, and the verdict is that nobody can leave their zone unless it is for service at the Bishop's Storehouse. So, since East Orange is now in a different zone, even though it is like five seconds from our house, we can't go over there :( But it's ok, in our area there are lots of places I visited when I was in East Orange, so I can still remember the good times. I just can't go see members on PDays : ( something I was really looking forward to doing.

I also have good news - I am really excited to work this area with Elder Priest.

Other than that I don't have much news or things to talk about. It was sad to leave Trenton... we said goodbye to Ange and Jos and Curt and Aut yesterday morning. We got some pictures, maybe they made it to Facebook. Fortunately, if Jos gets a name of her ancestor to take to the youth temple trip on the 28th, Elder Vargas and I can come with her, and Ange and Curt said they'd come too. Oh, Johnson moved away to school at Virginia Union University. But we stay in contact. Anyway, I'm excited for all of them. We're working on getting Ange and Jos to go to BYU. We told them it was the best, and really inexpensive. So we'll see :) But I know that if Ange (and maybe Jos too) goes to BYU that he'll serve a mission, which is exactly what he needs.

Alright I'm out of stuff. I'll talk to you again soon, next Monday. 

I love you!

Tab 

p.s. And I'll let you know on the shoes. If you want, you can send dad's shoes with a belt that matches them, cause I only have black. I like them, and I can shine them. And then I'll let you know soon about cordovan shoes. And I think I'll order the new scriptures. I got mini tabs from lds.org store and they sent them to me, so I may just end up using those for a while. I'll see. And maybe someone will want to buy them from me, or I can give them to someone. Someone who will treat them well and love them :)

Hi Dad! 

I appreciate the things you send because it seems that they are things you or others wished they would have learned before their missions were over. Again, I gained insight on how things work in the eyes of God. To me these insights are directly related to the Restoration. Without the Restoration, we would not have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, and I know these things are inspiration given by the Holy Ghost to man. It was interesting for me to see this contrast yesterday when we were teaching a Catholic priest. His name is Brother Francis (named after Pope Francis), and he is the priest of a small church in South Orange. He's attended 24 years of Catholic seminary and studies the scriptures like nobody I have seen before - and his knowledge is so broad, but it is not very deep. For example, he could tell me what every verse in the New Testament says, what Christ did every minute of His life, yet he doesn't understand the Atonement, and its effects, on a level that even I can understand them. He doesn't understand the basics - the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - in the way that I do. That's not to say he doesn't feel deeply about Christ... I know he does. But I also know that the power of the Holy Ghost and the calling I have allow me to understand (and remember!) the scriptures in a special way. It is something he is missing and sadly it is something he doesn't understand, and doesn't want to understand, he is missing. I am grateful for that gift I know I have.

Great point. We had a very good lesson with Sister Collier (returning LA) on Monday night about reminders - temple garments, the sacrament, the Holy Ghost, etc. and the important role they play in just helping us to remember the Savior and Heavenly Father. I would call it a Remembrance lesson, if there is such a thing. But, I learned a lot just during that visit as I pondered and thoughts came to my mind. I feel like I learned more than she did. It was a cool experience.

And yes, I am back serving in South Orange this time. Somebody loves me  ;)  Kidding, but I am very excited. Lots of familiar territory brings back many good memories. I have a thing for memories. I love them! I'm sure everyone does. This time I will be in the Maplewood ward, which I have heard many good things about. I am excited to say the least! I look forward to talking to you next week about it.

Have an awesome week! Oh, how is Big Red the truck doing? Champ as ever?

Love,

Tab