Dal & Ang

Angie!

Thank you so much for tha package! Oh man you know my favorite candy. Cadbury eggs awww ya. Swedish fish, an old school touch, from road trips. I checked the blog today. So cool. Cool enough to be everyone's homepage by now. 

Ahhhhhh can you believe Mom and Dad are thinkin about Spetember! Ill be a utahn...but only geographically. 

Love you so much! 

Dal-babe-

You are so welcome! I'm so glad it finally arrived...I figured with all your bike riding you could use some socially accepted crack we know as Easter candy and the like. So how is it going? I love hearing your crazy adventures and investigator stories because day-to-day my life is about the same. So much so that tonight I made a lemon cake with glaze and we were practically giddy. Although, one highlight of this week is that we put a TV up in our room, had to be a top 5 favorite moment of our relationship. I mean, can you imagine? No more having to brush teeth/wash face post tired TV/movie watching. It's gonna be big. We laid there watching a show ( movie called We Bought a Zoo, adorable, put it on your list of clean flicks to watch when you return in honor) last night chuckling. We foregoed? forewent? whatev, we didn't do anniversary gifts or Valentine's day presents and saved for this flatscreen so, be jealous. Cade turns 2 on the 11th, CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I'm planning his birthday party right now. Weird to think one year ago on his bday we were flying to Kona! Good times, minus our blow out. I'm heading out to UT on wednesday for Norah's blessing and to hear Aunt Lynn in Women's Conf. Driving 13 hours alone with Cade should be pretty sweet. But, the way home Chels is coming. Yes, we are cramming all 3 kiddos in my car and hoofin it to CA. Then Jordan will fly out and hang for a weekend and they'll all fly home. Her friend had buddy passes on JetBlue. I have missing our fam sooo bad lately so I'm pretty excited--I'm sure by the time they all leave I'll be ready to box Chels but for now I'm just about peein myself. I'll leave you with this funny thing I saw on a lawn and garden marquee:

" We are so excited it is springtime that we wet our plants."

We need to start ending our emails with deep thoughts...this week's one was from Bill:

Have you ever asked yourself how many languages you'd know if you had a Rosetta Stone in the bathroom? I don't, not anymore anyway. ( credit: Jay Carter)

LOVE TO YOU 

A, B & C

Letter#9- week of 4/16-4/23/2012

Dear Dallin,

It's Sunday night and I just got done making banana bread and muffins for seminary.  It's been a good Sunday.  The last speaker wasn't there and Brother Johnson was conducting. He looked at the audience and said I guess we'll have a missionary moment updates, "ok Sister Tall?"  I became nervous.  But, luckily, I had my iphone!  I just looked up your latest email and was totally ready to talk.  The speaker showed up at the last minute (because Cindy Ellis texted him, he had forgotten) and I didn't have to speak.  His talk was so awesome, though. He spoke about being ready to serve and use your priesthood at a moment's notice.  I think of Jan Sorenson and Terry Wyatt, who were ready and able to give you a blessing late in the evening after you had fallen on that wood block.  I was so grateful for them.  BTW, Terry Wyatt passed away.   Do you remember him?

My lesson this morning was about the Lord chastizes whom he loves.  There was a great feeling in the room about repentance and the change of heart that the comes from faith in Christ and through obedience and continual repentence.  I shared one of my favorite quotes from Ezra Taft Benson:

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. "

I hope you have had a good week.  It looks like you have had wonderful weather. It's great to hear about your hard work.  Are you cooking for yourself at all?  I thought about sending you some simple recipes that you could do in a pinch.  You can always break out some veggies, oil, salt and pepper and garlic for stir fry. 

Dad was really sick when he got to Angola.  He has been checked and re-checked for Malaria.  He is much better now and is flying alot.  He takes his tablet with him and can call or skype at his out-stations.  Everyone else is doing great. Jordan graduates this weekend and Beau and I are going down for that and Norah's blessing.  We will send you pics.

Everyone asks about you and how you are doing.  There are a lot of prayers going up on your behalf, as well as all missionaries.

We love you and are eternally grateful for your attitude of hard work and service! 

love,

Mom

Hi guys, 

There's no telling what I would do for some of your banana bread right now! I love hearing about your seminary class. I have never heard that quote. It's funny, lately I have been so stressed about the woes of this world: Why are people so lost? Why do people question the fact that I am holding 500 pages of salvation? And if it were some made up text, why is the lifestyle of a Latter Day Saint becoming the thin strand of hope for an example of morality in this world, and  rarely is it acknowledged? The quote about Jesus taking the slums out of the people so they can take themselves out of the slums is so genius. It is so genius it can only be from God. The idea of self sufficiency and progression is not of man, it is of God. If anything that idea is tainted by man. We only have God to look to for wisdom enough to bulldoze through the layers and layers of evil that are slowly but surely causing this world to go belly up. Awesome quote. It brought me such comfort. Thanks Mom. 

Sorry to hear about Brother Wyatt. I do remember him, and someday I will get to thank him. 

I did have such a wonderful week! Matt Snyder was baptized on Saturday! He gave a powerful testimony about how he knows the Gospel was restored because he knew the Book of Mormon was true. He thanked the girl who was brave enough to open her mouth and invite him to church. He thanked Elder Winchester and I. Over the last few week we have become very close to Matt. He tells us about all his wife finding efforts at FHE in Cedar Rapids. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse to celebrate on Thursday. He practiced his speech and testimony right there in front of the whole place. Such a stud. He received the  priesthood after I had the opportunity to confirm him. Patricia Iniguez came to the baptism, and church! Everyone in the ward welcomed her really well, and she is still dead set on June 9th for baptism. Did you see her picture? Totally Red Riding Hood's grandma! We call her "momma Iniguez" 

We have alot of potential investigators to get in with this week. We have an guy who was referred from Mormon.org, and we are meeting him on Wednsday. He will surely investigate. To be an "investigator" by the way you have to pray with them, and pretty much have a lesson. We also have two families that will soon be investigating. They are referrals from other families in the ward. Our ward is getting super fired up because they are noticing Elder Winchester and I are doing all the work up in here, knocking doors, yelling at people over their lawn mowers, testifying to non-denoms who say "yeah I know about John Smith...that crazy guy with all the wives n crap?" We are having alot of fun! I love everyone I meet. It was hard at first, but I have been praying for the pure love of Christ, and I am blessed with a portion of it. I just imagine them in white. 

I am praying that Dad will get better. Its so amazing that he can talk to you with his tablet from Africa. Nope, I'll never understand it. I love you guys,

                                                                           Elder Tall

letter #9 week of 4/10-4/17/2012

    Hey!

CRAZY week!

But first of all, those pictures totally made my week. I can't even contain my joy or gratitude. I feel like our family is doing so well. Yes there are struggles, but look at what is happening. The Savior's coming is so close. In 200 years we have nearly 15 million members. That alone is a rock solid testimony that Joseph Smith's prophecy is fulfilled. No unhallowed hand shall stop the work from progressing.The word of God shall roll forth.  Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Christ. My hope is that our family can stand face to face with the Savior and look into his loving eyes and tell him that they have pressed forward with a steadfastness in his name. 

This week seemed like one day. We found six new investagators, taught nine lessons, and we have a new solid investigator with a baptismal date. Patricia Iniguez will be baptized on May 26! She is the sweetest old lady that always makes us corn bread and herbal tea. We mow her lawn and weed her garden! We found tons of potential investigators, which we will be attending to this week. We are struggling to meet up with some of them like Rachel, Deshauna, and Shae. My heart aches for them. Please pray for these people. 

By far the saddest moment of my mission so far was a man we met tracting yesterday. He opened the door and proclaimed that after five years he finally got his records out of the church. He refused to tell us why. He told us that his father held an office in the Seventy. I tried everything I could to keep that door open, but he closed it with no remorse. I thought of my Grandpas, and their far reaching effects on my testimony. I thought about his grand children, and the honorable example they never had in a grand father. What would our family do without these two men, who have always been men of God. 

We had a fun experience talking to some drunk dudes that loved the Book of Mormon. They offered us beer, and when we said no, and one guy was like "Hey winchester and Tall...(ten second pause) dat was a test man, and you passed". So they gave us some chicken legs off the grill and sent us off with a fist pound. We talked to a Muslim guy, and it was an awesome experience. We discussed our two religions and he pulled the every American thinks we are terrorists card, so we promptly told him we loved him, and his religion. We of course had more ammo than him (pamphlets and scripture) but we were all edified. 

Tell Grandpa Tiner that his staircase looks incredible. I so wish I was there to help him. I miss you so much, but I am buoyed up daily by the Spirit of God. 

I love you

Elder Tall

Letter #8 week 4/2-4/9/2012

Hi Dallin,

It's Sunday night and time to write an email. How was your week? Have you had good discussions this week?

It's Easter and maybe people are more receptive to talking about Jesus due to the holiday.

I know St Bernard's was extremely full this morning :) The Harvesters were making a valiant effort as well. ;)

Beau and I gave talks at Eaglecliff. ( Nursing Home) So funny and tender. Beau was saying how it is important to forgive others and especially to forgive ourselves. As he was speaking, one of the ladies piped up and said,

"honey, you look too young to have done anything wrong."

Basically, he had a one to one convo with her while giving the rest of his talk. It was hilarious and he handled it really well.

I remember taking Mason to speak with me one time and he took all my time and they loved him.

Keep Brother and Sister Lent in your prayers. She is recovering from cancer and they found a tumor in her brain-unrelated to the cancer. She is having surgery tomorrow. They are so faithful.

Dad left yesterday in his usual manner. He took his crate of diet DP's (one can burst as we entered the airport). He also took a dismantled office chair and three touch pads to sell. Needless to say, he was overloaded as usual but in good spirits, despite really not wanting to go back there. He worked really hard on the house. It looks good. If things work out, we will be moving to Utah in September.

I have mixed feelings about it but I know it will eventually be the right thing.

Beau and I are taking a very fast trip to Utah this weekend to Karlie's wedding. Can't wait to try Neza's food. He was baptized the day after you entered the MTC. I hope they will be happy.

We had Ben over today for dinner today. It was nice to see him. He is entering the army in September. He sounds excited. He thinks it will be good for his law enforcement career in the future. He mentioned how many Books of Mormon he has on his shelf. I know he was feeling a little bad for not reading them.

He had a nice time with Beau, though.

Well, we love you and love hearing about all you are doing, so keep up the emails and give me as much detail as you can. I am very thankful you have an enthusiastic companion. Tell him hello. Poor Dallin Stott has a comp that is in his last 2 mos and is not wanting to work at all. That would be super hard.

It's the Lord's work and his tender mercies are upon us all- Be kind and patient.

Love,

Mom

Hey!

Great week this week! I went on exchanges with our not-so-awesome district leader that I am trying to love. He is the kind of guy that is super competetive about the work. We found alot of potential investigators, and if we get to teach them they will be families coming into the gospel, which makes me very happy. We tracted for five hours straight.

We gave out six Books, and ended up with about five potentials.

We have an appoinment with Shae on Sunday, and we will probably give her husband Jeremy a blessing for his broken back.

This week I called about 100 numbers from our "Potential Investigator Record" from other missionaries. We got three appointments set up, and a few potentials! One of them is a 70 year old lady that has referrals for us. She was so fun to talk to. We teach her next sunday. Elder Winchester and I tracted and found a few potentials that fell through :(. Shae and Deshauna are still really hard to get ahold of, and we will probably end up dropping Deshauna, she has wasted alot of our time in 30 minute bikerides.

HIGHLIGHT: We have a new investigator with a baptismal date!! Her name is Rachel. She is a mom with the cutest little kid. She was the last door we planned on tracting. We actually weren't even going to knock on it, but I happened to see a light on in the basement. It was raining and we were having no success. She opened the door and said she was too busy, but we haggled her a bit and she let us in. We taught her the restoration lesson. She was sort of doubtful, but very sincere in listening. She is a seventh day evangelist (they have very similar beliefs). I told her about how Joseph Smith read James 1:5, and explained that God really does give liberally, and no question is too small. I quoted Joseph Smith's experience , and it was wierd, the spirit began to teach ME that the restoration of the gospel was true, and in that moment I testified to her that "with every fiber of my being, I know that this is true." Elder Winchester told her that she could find any answer in the Book of Mormon and that he knew it was true. After talking about preisthood authority I asked her if she would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding that preisthood authority. She accepted, and we set it up for May 5, but it will probably be in April.

I am worried her preacher brother will anti her before we get a chance to talk to her on thursday,

when we teach her that her families can be together forever!

So Matt chose his hymns for his baptism: Nearer My God to Thee, and Praise to the Man.

So we have 3 investigators with a date and about 10 potentials.

Oh man I wish I could have seen the whole Eagle cliffs thing. That is funny. Beau is practicing for being a Seventy someday, giving talks in all kinds of places.

Poor Lent family, its just one thing after another for them :(.

I will definitely pray for them.

There is a missionary in our district like Elder Stott's...ka-smack!!! Get ahold of yourself man! You're on the Lord's errand! I will, mark my words, NEVER get like that. I know it can be done because I know alot of "old" missionaries who are about to "die" (as they say when you go home) and they are still very much involved and love the work. When a missionary is thinking about home more than the work we call this "trunky", like: man I am so trunky for music right now. The lingo is so stupid, but it is easier to use it.

I sent pictures on here, but I will still be sending the card home for videos. The old man with my companion picture is this recent convert that says the F-word in all the stories he tells after our spiritual lesson and trying to get his daughter baptized, hahaha but I love him. He lives in Amana, by all the Amish communities.

Love you guys!

Elder Tall

Dal & Ang

HI Dal!

I'm hoping you haven't been to your classy public library yet...Anyway, wasn't conference amazing?? I thought about you during a few of the talks. Where did you watch it? Did you get good food?

I am excited to hear about your investigators because they sound awesome.

Update from here, about the same. Cade is starting to talk in broken sentences and it's funny, but the best part is that he calls Bill "honey" or "hon". He yells it as loud as he can (esp in public) until Bill answers him. It is seriously hilar. He is also saying lots of potty words on accident, "frog" doesn't sound so great, "firetruck" either. Target trips are awesome when we pass the toy aisle ( that is spelled weird, whoever made up 'aisle' was ons something) and he yells some sweet 4 letter words over and over. Or in church, that was an awesome sacrament meeting.

All he was trying to do was count the 'frogs' going onto Noah's Ark:)

I'm sure Mom will tell you, but Chels has had a rough few weeks, keep her in your prayers. And Jordan too because the next few weeks are critical for them to find a job. What's your companion like? Do you get along? Did you get my package? Cade is crying for an 'awful' so I gotta go, miss you. Love you. Proud O you. Be happy & help others be happy too. I loved Bro. Uchtdorf's bumper sticker " don't judge me because I sin differently than you do." Hit home.

LOVE,

Ang, B & C

Hey Ang,

Conference was so amazing!!

We watched it at the stake center, where we attend church. Matt was the only one who made it.

He was so impressed by the talks. He LOVES this new turn in his life.

He is not even a member yet and he sincerely loves the church.

Conference made me appreciate my brother in laws even more than I already did.

I cannot tell you what it means to me that you both are married to men who love you and love being fathers.

It is one of my most tender appreciations. It is only magnified as a see single mothers every day.

I LOVED that scottish guy's talk about single mothers. I thank heavenly father for Bill.

You and Bill are a testimony of answered prayers, and tender mercies of our heavenly father.

These people out here are so lost. It is a daily tragedy when the door closes to our message.

Good things are coming of it though. I am learning to love beyond what I could comprehend.

I only hope it continues. I miss Cade so much! I can just see him when you tell me these stories!

I haven't gotten the package yet, but I haven't been home.

We piled at the zone leader's apartment last night ha.

Love you,

Elder Tall

Letter #7 week of 3/25-4/2/2012

Hi Dallin,

It's Sunday night and we have had a great weekend watching conference.

I'm sure you were able to go to most sessions. We caught the Sunday sessions and then DVR'd the Saturday sessions and we will watch them for Family night. If I remember right, you had an investigator going with you. How did that go? I hope she was able to feel the spirit of love & the Holy Ghost. Did Jeremy& Shae develop into anything?

President Uchdorf's talk on forgiveness was really awesome. Brother Wilson's talk on teaching children to use their agency was also great. We are so lucky to have the guidance from inspired leaders.

Dad and I went to the temple Friday night. Of course, it was so calm and peaceful. Only 8 or 9 of us there. We still enjoyed the spirit and we plan to go again before he leaves this Saturday. Dad completed the rock wall and now we are using the flat rocks to make a "floor". It will be very nice when we are done. Can I forward pics on email to you? Beau went down to conference with his seminary class. He's not home yet, but he texted pics and said he had a great time. Scott and the boys were in Utah for a week. They went to two Jazz games and visited Chelsea. Do you think you will be able to go to the temple soon? By now, I realize that you cancelled the shoes and bought new ones. Did you buy two pair? I hope you did. I'll take care of the refund issues. It looks like it has been super warm there. How's the bike working out? I guess I thought you had a car.

I think a bike is a great way to get around and you don't have to have all the responsibility of a car.

Are you having to cook alot? I look at your acct balance to make sure you are ok.

Well, I have to go and do my usual--seminary. We are studying Jeremiah. We had a great discussion about the atonement last week. I'm getting ready for my big scripture chase day. The kids want to do a game where each class has a side of the gym. I would get 4 large balls (maybe exercise balls). Put them in the middle of a large square. Each team will have an air compressor hose. As soon as the whole team gets the scripture, one kid from each class will get up and try to blow each ball over the other teams lines. Crazy?? We'll see how it goes.

Anyway, I hope you have a great week. We continually pray for you and all the missionaries.

When do you think you will get to see Dave?

Love you!

Mom

Hey!

Conference was awesome!! Elder Wilson talked when I was in the MTC.

He is agreat speaker. He has helped convert alot of people just by sitting down
and reading the Book of Mormon with them. Our new saying within our
district is "Its getting late" (from the end of Elder Holland's saturday
morning talk). Everything was centered on family, and the New Testament it
seemed like. I loved that one lady's talk on Relief Society. People out
here accuse my companion and I of being "horrible to the women in the
church, physically abusing them, and never allowing them to acheive
exaltation." To that we simply say, "ask one of our worthy preisthood
holders how he feels about his wife, or even my own Father, we love,
respect, and cherish womanhood."

Shae got called into work so she couldn't attend conference. Deshauna
didn't return our phone calls. Deedle got anti'd by her pastor. Deshauna,
Shae, and her husband are all still on our focus list. Please pray for
them. Matt came though. He is so excited to have a family. He took like
four pages of notes in preisthood session!! He is awesome.

I love Billings. I can't wait to see that rock wall and such!

Ill send the SD card back next week with
some pictures. That is such an awesome seminary trip! LUCKY! Was he there
when President Monson did the finger twirl thing at the closing remarks?

I miss Uncle Scott & Kayci and their boys-tell them hi.

Ha that is an awesome seminary game! Is your class doing a little better in
terms of participation, and loving eachother?

I get to go to the temple this month probably. We have a member that works
there. We will be visiting Carthage while we are there! It is only a
fifteen minute drive from Nauvoo.

We stomped the members this morning in basketball. They get so fired up
about it! They are all old BYU athletes and stuff, and it is so fun to play
with them. For being old they can play. Today we are eating at Buffalo Wild
Wings with the gift cards we got from a member. We are going with the Zone
Leaders, who are pretty much our best buddies out here so far. The
Alexander's gave us 15 dollars each to eat there! Its amazing what the
members do for missionaries out here, In terms of buying them stuff,
especially our ward full of doctors.

We are focusing really hard on the members right now because they are lame
sauce currently for their missionary efforts. I have this idea for some
firesides for youth, and a big ward party where you invite your non member
friends, called The Trek West Dinner. We will have some local talent from
our ward on the fiddle, dancing, BBQ, and probably a show or story teller.
We will get our members fired up this way, plus we have some baptisms
coming up.

80% of all converts come from member referrals, so Tall and
Tiner family, TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS! :)

Elder Tall