Matt meets and artist Oct 12, 2009

Transfer calls were on Thursday, and we are staying together. So that is good. This last transfer was one of miracles, it truly has been amazing. We have seen so many cool things. This last week we found a new investigator. Her name is Renu, she is from Thailand, and she is an artist. We doored into her, and she let us in. She said she only had 15 minutes. So we went in and drank some tea (herbal) and ate cookies, it's cold outside. We went in and started to chat, then we talked about the church, ect. Then I asked her if she painted the paintings on the wall, she said yes. They were way cool too, I told her I was going to buy one from her when I get home. Then downstairs and she came up with two paintings that were way awesome. I thought she was just going to show us, but no she told us to take them. So we did, and I was so excited, it is a way cool painting. Then we talked more, her husband came home he is Swiss, and we talked more. Then when we were leaving I asked her how much she would have sold the two paintings for, she said 2,300 individually. My mouth dropped, I told her we couldn't take them, but she insisted. I guess she has two art galleries, and has been invited to NYC. Then she invited us to dinner this coming Friday. I am so stoked!

October 5, 2009 Know that I am well

In our Zone we are doing something called "Mission Possible" There are 20 missions we are supposed to accomplish before the end of the transfer. One of the missions is to give out two Book of Mormon's. Elder Kunzler and I had already given out one of the two, I was praying that we would find someone to give the book to and I would know just who would take it. We walked by tons of people, we walked through a carnival, and didn't stop one person. This whole time I was praying to find the right person. Well we ended up in front of our apartment and hadn't stopped one single person. But I wasn't going to give up, so we started to walk down the street, and got to a point where I stopped and asked him (Elder K) what way we should go. He looked around for a minute and then said that there was someone coming up behind us, so I said well we might as well talk to one person! As we were walking up I was praying so hard that we would be able to talk to them and give them the book. Oh, this was at like 9 at night too. I walked up to her and said "because of this book we came to Switzerland, this book is called the Book of Mormon, when you read it and ask God if it is true you will get an answer that it is, You will come nearer to your Heavenly Father, and know that he loves you. Can we give you this book?" She said YES! The we talked more, got her number and she asked where the church was! It was truly a miracle that we had both been praying for. When we got inside I said a thankful prayer. Another "mission" was to tell the First Vision story 5 times, we had to do it one more time, it was late and we were getting rejected left and right. I felt like we should go across the street, seeing how the only people were over there. So we went and I saw a lay smiling way big, so we went up to her. And she said you're the Mormon aren't you? In English. So I said yes, you know us? Then we started to talk and turns out that she lived in England and that her husband is English. But we talked about a ton, I told the First Vision in German since she could speak it and I can't do it in English. (strange) I could feel the power of it and I could tell she felt it...They were both so nice, and the husband's friend is a Mormon in Utah. It was just a really good experience. I love being on a mission, I love the gospel and it is true. Know that I am well.

Solothurn

My new "golden" companion is Elder Kunzler. After meeting him and taking pictures we ate some of Sister Materns delicious food Mmmmm. Reminded me of when I came in, except now I was actually talking and could understand it all. haha. Then we were off to Solothurn. We got in, unpacked a little, then we were off on our way o a family that wanted to meet us and tell us a little bit about the ward. They were funny, they were joking around saying in Swiss German that E.K. didn't like the food, and thought that they were crazy for eating it and stuff. They were just joking around and I couldn't help but smile, because I can understand Swiss German. Next we went to a meeting with the Bishop. That went well, we talked about what he expects of us and what we expect of him. On Friday we planned, that went really well, I just called a bunch of people, old investigators, new, less actives, and we set up ton of appointments for the coming week. It was sweet! Saturday we had a street display to pass out the fliers for this celebration we are having in the ward. It was amazing, we passed out more than 400, which is pretty darn good for it having to do with the church and in Switzerland! It was way good. We met a member who was confirmed by a "golden" Dale C Lloyd (My Moms cousin). I also met a member on the street as we were going to Bahnhof. His name is Ben, he is way cool, he was born in Switzerland but moved to none other than West Valley City when he was 1! He knew where we live, and he graduated from Granger! Way crazy...Sunday was really good, the ward is legit. They all gave testimony of missionary work. They are so ready to help. After church I spoke with Ben again. He asked if I knew a family named Remund and I said ya...Kylie Remund! Andit turns out was way good friends with her sister, and I was way good friends with Kylie. Insaine! After church we did some streeting, that was really good. We gave out more fliers, and something really neat happened. I saw this lady a little ways away and I felt like I should go and talk to her, but I thought right after no, there are people coming my way to talk to, So I ingored it...Then a second later Elder Kunzler aske me if he could go talk to her! well, I failed following the spirit. But he went and talked to her for a long time. I'm glad E.K. chose to follow the spirit...lesson learned. I love you all oh so much. Elder Talley

Mom, the blog is looking a little lame! Elder Talley Oct. 5, 2009
I will repent and update the blog tomorrow when I have Matt's e-mails with me. For now I will just say that all is well with Elder Talley and the work is going well. (It would help the blog if he would send his mother more pictures to post!)

New mailing address

Send mail to:
Elder Matthew Talley
Schweiz Zurich Mission
Hermesbuhlstr. 4
4500 Solothurn
Switzerland

Going New Places

Well hello there...Last week was pretty intense to say the least..Wednesday I was in the Temple which was way needed and such an amazing experience. I love the Temple! Then on Thursday we got transfer calls and... drum roll...I am leaving Pratteln. It is kinda hard to believe, since I have been here for 7.5 months.Now I am going somewhere new. Solothurn to be exact. My new comps name is Elder Kuntsler. I have never met him. Actually right now he is in the MTC...Did I mention that I am traning?! I can not beleive it! I am kinda flipping out to be honest. I am very nervous...I am going into a totally new area with a golden (Greenie). Kinda intense... I am going to have to rely on the Lord and his help, without him this would be impossible. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and help Him in any way I can. The(Pratteln) ward DID NOT want me to leave! haha, I guess they love me or something. I am going to miss them a lot...Solothurn is a way cool city I have done exchanges there. I met one family, the Joders, they are awsome. Tschuess, Elder Talley

Happy 20th Birthday Elder Talley!

"It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to...But I don't feel like crying at all, I have noticed how much that I am really loved and it is amazing...Boy this week has been interesting, ups and downs. But still a really good week. We had a lot of appointments this week, which was nice to have, it makes the week go by faster. We met with Richard 3 times. First he came to church last week, then we did service for him and I sweated off about 10 pounds. (I lost a lot of the weight I gained when summer came...Schade) (hard) and then we had a big night where we were going to give him a baptismal date. We went to a members house and watched the restoration DVD. Then the member bore his testimony and helped answer questions that he had. Then Elder Jacobsen bore his testimony and then it was my turn to give the date...I could really feel the spirit talking through me, it was beautiful, it was perfect. After I asked Richard if he would get baptized he smiled and put his head down. Then he looked at me and told me he knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the church is true, but he is stuck on the idea that more than one church can be true and that his is. Baptisims are what we are sent out here to do, but maybe somethimes at the moment it isn't the most important thing. Richard is closer to his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ than when we started to teach him, he has so much more knowledge now. He is happier and that is important. I don't doubt that one day he will accept the gospel fully and be baptized. I have been trying really hard to get a good relationship with the members so that they will trust us and help us in our efforts to find the people that are ready. And it has been paying off! We have gotten 5 referrals this week alone, and that is really unheard of. Elder Jacobsen said he has gotten more referrals here this week than he has his whole mission. So thats pretty sweet.
I hurt myself every week somehow...Last week during soccer Elder Jacobsen and I ran into each others shins as I was trying to steal the ball from him and I got a hugh bump and bruise and my scar peeled up a little bit. It was intense. Oh and the week before a member kicked my big toe and it bruised up nice and good. Well this week no different, I was defending the goal and I charged another Elder, Elder Hodges and he slipped cause I scared him and slid into me then somehow he collided with both my feet and messed them up pretty bad..My big toe on the R foot has a weird bruise on the bottem and a blood blister on the top, and the other toes hurt. Then the L big toe the nail got bent back half way and is not feeling too well! Hopefully this next week I won't hurt mayself..haha.
So far my birthday has been really nice, which I am grateful for. I am no longer a teenager woot woot!" Elder Talley