I mean, what has not happened this week!
First off, I just found out Hillary took a quick visit to Boston this weekend! How crazy is that! My oldest sister was 20 miles away from me! She met Elder Warner and Elder Stones in the Brookline Ward. It’s odd to think that was possible! I love you Hillary! You continue to make things happen in the concrete jungle of NYC -where dreams are made!
Second, I am glad to hear my family survived Ragnar! Miracles are happening left and right! The Tait/Dunn/McClure/Pugh families are so fit they make Rocky Balboa look like a couch potato.
Also, to continue - I don't know if I mentioned Elder Calvert in my last weekly e-mail - but Elder Calvert is the man! We have been working hard, having fun, and experiencing so many spiritual moments. Just two weeks with this guy and I already feel like he is my brother. He is wicked good at basketball. He's been teaching me the ropes of how to hoop like Stockton and Malone. He's from Parker, Colorado, about 20 minutes outside of Denver. (I actually think Sister Hoer is serving there right now). Went to BYU one year before coming out on his mission, and has served with Elder Laurent. Great things have been going down! Let me fill you in on a few of them!
We all know that finding investigators through members is more beneficial and effective than street contacting or tracting, etc. We have noticed since we’ve put a larger emphasis on working through the members that we have lost focus on opening our mouths. Finding people through members as well as street contacting are both important. Elder Calvert and I realized we needed to crank up the intensity there. When we have an extra 20 minutes we realize we need to hit the streets and open our mouths. This message is too important to let anyone go by without hearing it!
So, Elder Calvert and I decided we could hit the streets of Salem on foot to save miles on our vehicle. We were only 1 mile away from the less-active member we wanted to contact. We left our place at 7:30 PM. It should have taken only 10 minutes to get there, right? INCORRECT! We talked to legions of people on our way, so we got there at 8:30 PM! We got contact information for 13 potential investigators and we ran into two less-active members who we have been trying to get in touch with forever!
"It's great to meet you sir! Have you ever heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?"
"Uh yeah...I am actually a member of the Church."
"That is grea.....wait, what?"
That was our reaction both times. When we were on this little contacting adventure of ours we contacted a wonderful young adult, named Belinda. We were having a great discussion on the basic principles of the Church when we noticed from the corners of our eyes, a girl in her early 20's pull over to the side of the street and walk up to us. She told us she had met a friend over summer break a year ago at a leadership camp, who is on a mission now in Japan. Her friend e-mailed her and asked her to stop and talk to the missionaries when she saw them next. She saw us talking to Belinda, pulled a U-turn, parked her car, and came up and asked us if she could meet up with us. Elder Calvert and I were waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out of the bushes with cameras. When we didn't see our homeboy Ashton anywhere we knew it was legit. What a tender mercy and another spiritual experience that was brought by opening our mouths and being obedient (saving on car miles), and being enthusiastic! Also it goes to show how large the work of salvation is! It has inspired me to invite more people to do the same back home in Henderson! Also, I was able to use a little Haitian Creole to pick up a family of 5 as new investigators. Credit to Elder Anofils!
Then the next night, here we are at 8:55. The dinner we‘d had earlier that day was doing a number on Elder Calvert’s and my digestive systems. We had a perfect reason to go home, but for some reason we mustered the strength to go out and try one more less-active member’s door. We are walking when we see an African-American on the other side of the street. We shouted out across the street asking him how he was doing. His name was Erastus. He's 18, and he is from Libya. He was on his way to practice some soccer. After we explained what we did and whom we were representing, he was so stoked to meet with us! He loves missionary work! We went over to his house the next day and met his family and taught about the restoration. It was remarkable. In the lesson Erastus asked if we thought people somehow came over to America from the Tower of Babel. Again we were waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out from behind the couch - when we didn't see him we knew this was legit! The Lord is truly preparing his people. Elder Calvert and I have been enjoying just hitting the streets everyday and inviting everybody. We already have our business model: "Calvert & Tait & Associates...Enjoy your stay."
We are having too much fun! We found out we are moving apartments from Salem to Peabody. It will be more central to the area and save us some miles! Plus the place we are moving to has a basketball court and you better believe Calvert & Tait & Associates will be hitting that place up every morning! We'll be moving there in a month. Exciting things are happening left and right. When there are moments in the day we feel overwhelmed or exhausted I just remember whose work this is and then unexplainable energy comes from nowhere. I know that Jesus Christ is preparing his people. All will have a chance to hear the Gospel. This message is so important we cannot deny anyone hearing it. Do not miss any opportunity to share the gospel. Hope everyone has a great week! Love you Family!
Elder Tait
First off, I just found out Hillary took a quick visit to Boston this weekend! How crazy is that! My oldest sister was 20 miles away from me! She met Elder Warner and Elder Stones in the Brookline Ward. It’s odd to think that was possible! I love you Hillary! You continue to make things happen in the concrete jungle of NYC -where dreams are made!
Second, I am glad to hear my family survived Ragnar! Miracles are happening left and right! The Tait/Dunn/McClure/Pugh families are so fit they make Rocky Balboa look like a couch potato.
Also, to continue - I don't know if I mentioned Elder Calvert in my last weekly e-mail - but Elder Calvert is the man! We have been working hard, having fun, and experiencing so many spiritual moments. Just two weeks with this guy and I already feel like he is my brother. He is wicked good at basketball. He's been teaching me the ropes of how to hoop like Stockton and Malone. He's from Parker, Colorado, about 20 minutes outside of Denver. (I actually think Sister Hoer is serving there right now). Went to BYU one year before coming out on his mission, and has served with Elder Laurent. Great things have been going down! Let me fill you in on a few of them!
We all know that finding investigators through members is more beneficial and effective than street contacting or tracting, etc. We have noticed since we’ve put a larger emphasis on working through the members that we have lost focus on opening our mouths. Finding people through members as well as street contacting are both important. Elder Calvert and I realized we needed to crank up the intensity there. When we have an extra 20 minutes we realize we need to hit the streets and open our mouths. This message is too important to let anyone go by without hearing it!
So, Elder Calvert and I decided we could hit the streets of Salem on foot to save miles on our vehicle. We were only 1 mile away from the less-active member we wanted to contact. We left our place at 7:30 PM. It should have taken only 10 minutes to get there, right? INCORRECT! We talked to legions of people on our way, so we got there at 8:30 PM! We got contact information for 13 potential investigators and we ran into two less-active members who we have been trying to get in touch with forever!
"It's great to meet you sir! Have you ever heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?"
"Uh yeah...I am actually a member of the Church."
"That is grea.....wait, what?"
That was our reaction both times. When we were on this little contacting adventure of ours we contacted a wonderful young adult, named Belinda. We were having a great discussion on the basic principles of the Church when we noticed from the corners of our eyes, a girl in her early 20's pull over to the side of the street and walk up to us. She told us she had met a friend over summer break a year ago at a leadership camp, who is on a mission now in Japan. Her friend e-mailed her and asked her to stop and talk to the missionaries when she saw them next. She saw us talking to Belinda, pulled a U-turn, parked her car, and came up and asked us if she could meet up with us. Elder Calvert and I were waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out of the bushes with cameras. When we didn't see our homeboy Ashton anywhere we knew it was legit. What a tender mercy and another spiritual experience that was brought by opening our mouths and being obedient (saving on car miles), and being enthusiastic! Also it goes to show how large the work of salvation is! It has inspired me to invite more people to do the same back home in Henderson! Also, I was able to use a little Haitian Creole to pick up a family of 5 as new investigators. Credit to Elder Anofils!
Then the next night, here we are at 8:55. The dinner we‘d had earlier that day was doing a number on Elder Calvert’s and my digestive systems. We had a perfect reason to go home, but for some reason we mustered the strength to go out and try one more less-active member’s door. We are walking when we see an African-American on the other side of the street. We shouted out across the street asking him how he was doing. His name was Erastus. He's 18, and he is from Libya. He was on his way to practice some soccer. After we explained what we did and whom we were representing, he was so stoked to meet with us! He loves missionary work! We went over to his house the next day and met his family and taught about the restoration. It was remarkable. In the lesson Erastus asked if we thought people somehow came over to America from the Tower of Babel. Again we were waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out from behind the couch - when we didn't see him we knew this was legit! The Lord is truly preparing his people. Elder Calvert and I have been enjoying just hitting the streets everyday and inviting everybody. We already have our business model: "Calvert & Tait & Associates...Enjoy your stay."
We are having too much fun! We found out we are moving apartments from Salem to Peabody. It will be more central to the area and save us some miles! Plus the place we are moving to has a basketball court and you better believe Calvert & Tait & Associates will be hitting that place up every morning! We'll be moving there in a month. Exciting things are happening left and right. When there are moments in the day we feel overwhelmed or exhausted I just remember whose work this is and then unexplainable energy comes from nowhere. I know that Jesus Christ is preparing his people. All will have a chance to hear the Gospel. This message is so important we cannot deny anyone hearing it. Do not miss any opportunity to share the gospel. Hope everyone has a great week! Love you Family!
Elder Tait
