Using Resources

Everyone.. I want to first off thank you for all of your prayers;  they sustain me day by day. I know the times when my body and spirit are tired I feel extra strength because of all the love, support and prayers. 

This last week was great in finding more people to teach; we got 8 more people who are willing to listen. I've been trying hard to know where to go, what areas are called, to know the names of people but I basically got it all down already ... I feel the Lord has helped a lot. 

On Monday I played basketball with all of these Navajos and the past week told them to play with me and it was a blast. I'm now "homies" with all these tatted drug users who feel there is no purpose to life other than the world... so I pray that I will be able to touch their hearts. I bet one if I beat them that they have to listen to our message!  ha I'm playing in my white shirt and tie on Thursday night at the wellness center. There are like 40 people there playing and watching and I'm going to play and be one of the only two white people there but I figure it is a great way for people to ask why I'm playing in dress clothes!  haha  Just wait and see ... I'll have my companion video me balling everyone up and it will go on Youtube someday!  Also,  I just split a ton of wood yesterday for this blind guy so it was a great opportunity to serve and was really fun.  We also helped Crystal with all of these weeds;  I loved giving service!

We had zone conference last Friday (when a ton of us missionaries meet together) and it was great. Kid you not i woke up at 3:55am that morning and hopped in the shower then woke my companion up and we left at 4:30am to head to Albuquerque to get there at 7 o'clock in the morning. I drove the WHOLE way and was dead tired. My companion was asleep and it was sketchy a few times because my eyes go tired but I prayed a lot and we made it safely. The meeting answered a ton of my prayers and it was cool to see 5 pics of me on the slideshow of all the baptisms in the mission since the last conference.

Priesthood is real everyone; it is the authority and power given to those who are worthy to bear it. God has given us this blessing and I'm grateful to use it to help others. Miracles do happen.

This last week I used my resources to help face challenges.  Because of opposition the Adversary always attacks at the right times. For me, (I'll be real personal) I felt that I wasn't completely worthy as the Lord's missionary and had doubt about myself and about the work I truly can do, and I also was not having faith in the gifts given to me. So I used my resource, my wonderful mission president. I REVERE that man. I explained to him everything that I was facing and told him I needed guidance and council. He told me things I'll forever cherish; things that brought peace to my soul and confirmed every thought I had.  I'll only share what I feel is okay to and this may apply to you.  He said that we all go through points in our life when we personally unconsciously do an inventory  on our life and our past and go over it all. He continued saying that he feels that's what I did without thinking and now, because I went over everything, and see the man of God I am now, that I can now become truly consecrated with the Lord. I know every aspect of my life before my mission led me to this point and now I get to progress more than ever. Everyone: remember to always move forward... don't ever look back. Don't let the adversary put crap in your mind to confuse you and to make you feel lesser than you are. I used my resources this last week and have now felt burdens lifted, and strength given... are you using your resources? Are you using scriptures, prayer , and council from those you trust?

Trials come to those who are and are not obedient; either way they come.  But for those who are obedient they see trials as a opportunity to conquer, overcome and become better than they were before. Don't EVER think you are alone... because you are not. You must know you have a Father who loves you more than anything in this world. He wants to talk to you everyday and every night. He wants you to Be STEADFAST in all things, which means committed and diligent, so that you can reap the rewards that you deserve. I'm far from the missionary I want to be or can be and am not fully as converted as I can be in this Gospel, but one thing I do know is that the Lord doesn't expect immediate perfection; but He DOES expect immediate progression. Let us all progress towards our true identities as literal children of our Heavenly Father!!

Love and support to you all,

Elder Taylor

Some kids at FHE last week

Navajo cakes

Got some Papa Murphy's pizza when I was in Albuquerque!!  So stoked... I got the Chicago stuffed 

This is ZW.  He's a black smith and lives in Magdalena (closest town to us).  He's a convert to the church! 

This is at the Old western shooting day last Saturday... everyone was dressed up! 

Some fun I had 2 weeks ago on our Pday.  hahaha I still haven't changed! 

Jumping off some cool rocks and stuff.  My mom's looking down and thinking I'm so dumb!!! 

Demands and Resources

First off, some exciting news is that we had a baptism!! Crystal and Damon Apachito. Crystal is Damon's mom.  Damon is 11 and asked for me to baptize and confirm him; it was a huge, humble blessing to be able to do that. Crystal after her baptism literally cried in her hands for like 2 hours because she felt the Spirit so strong. She said she felt her mom's presence there and felt how proud God is of her. After her conformation she began to be emotional saying she can't explain how she feels, and can't put it into words. 

Things have been crazy here. It's been raining A TON here and there's been like flooding on the roads but I love it because basically all the roads here are on dirt so I get to drive the truck in the mud! ha 

Last Friday we had district meeting and I taught a few things but something I talked about was called Demand and Resources. We wrote down stress, time and so forth.  Then we wrote the Resources we have like prayer, leaders, scriptures, companions, etc. The thing is this ... every time there are more resources than demands. I told them that our Heavenly Father will demand something of us but then attached to that there are two or more blessings ... that is how He works.  We get more help IF we trust in Him and use the resources given. I would challenge you all the make a Demand column and then a Resource one and come up with ways to use those resources. The problem we all have is this... are we really using our resources? 'Cause if we are then those demands won't even feel like demands.  I'm guilty because I need to use them better and to humble myself. The Lord has given us SO many tools; we need to use them to help us overcome the demands in our life, and we need to let the Savior lighten the load on our shoulders.

The culture with the Navajo Indians is a lot different than what I'm used to. It is honestly hard to see at times; there isn't a lot of structure in homes or good morals. There is this less active guy who's used meth since age 13, until like last year, and he's in his 30's now and his brain is fried. We'll see babies with Coke in a sippy cup, 5 year olds watching Chain Saw Massacre movies, and girls pregnant at age 14. It's honestly hard to see this. We even help bring people water in jugs because they wont survive any other way and then they don't even say "thank you" or seem grateful for it. Sorry if this sounds depressing but I'm trying to just keep it real.  I'm not beating around the bush about it .. that's just how I am for those who know me. Not only am I teaching these people the Gospel of Jesus Christ , but I'm also having to teach them manners, respect, nutrition and how to be smart with money. Living in a broken down trailer or hut with a flat screen TV and no running water isn't the best option in my opinion!  At times it's overwhelming and hard to know even where to start but then I feel such a love for these people and their well being that it's all worth it.

A lady named Savanah Ganadanegro told me that every single night she sleeps with the Book of Mormon under her pillow. She said it helps her sleep and protects her from bad dreams. There are great things to come here on the Alamo Reservation... I can feel it, but then comes great oposition. There has been more deaths here and crazy things, but luckily, with God, we overcome it all and we win everytime.

I've now had Navajo noodles, and Navajo tea (that isn't against the Word of Wisdom... it's basically this grass thing that grows here), and Navajo cake (which is cooked under the ground for like a full day and is kind of wrapped like a tamale). My companion and I make food for ourselves like every meal because no one feeds us here.  I've never been fed the whole time I've been here but Sunday we should be... so it's been mac and cheese and Top Raman every meal!   ;) ha

 

We are teaching a lady named Cathy who used to be super addicted to drugs and has now stopped.  She weaves things, sews and beads to help her avoid the temptation of using again. She's very creative and makes beautiful designs.  She loves us coming over because we are her only friends. She's gone through a lot and today I felt that we should talk about the Atonement, and wow, was it special!  She understood the purpose of it and said that when I gave the closing prayer all she could hear is the word atonement and how important it is that we remember what  Christ did for us.  My testimony was strengthened hearing that, and to know how someone who's faced so much has finally known all that Christ has done and to use it to help her life.

Miracle stories... there are TWO and they happened yesterday. 

We taught 8 lessons in one day which is AWESOME!  There;s a guy named Shannon who we've set a ton of appointments with and finally it worked out.  I shared about the vision Joseph Smith had and the falling away of Christ's church before that.  Afterwards I asked what he though the story of the vision and Shannon was like, "Well, the world isn't going to good so I'm guessing God did that so he could call a prophet (just like the other ones you talked about) to help lead up and then bring Christ's church back."  HOLY cow... I told him that's the best answer I've ever heard.  He came up with that by putting everything together.  It was so awesome. 

Next miracle story was with Alice Apachito who is a super nice older lady who's been seing the missionaries for a while... since missionaries first came to the Res. But she hasn't been keeping commitments or progressing in the Gospel. We didn't know if we should still see her or not.  We were reading out of the book of mormon with her and then in a few verses she started coughing a lot (like, i mean bad), and we kept reading but I could see the cough had been bothering her all day and especially right then.  SO I just stop and tell her out of no where about the priesthood and how we have authority to give blessings, and she accepted it. I felt so strongly to ask her and I was wrestling about it for a little bit but then I gave into the Spirit and followed my heart. Well, it was a true prompting.  I blessed her that right away her body would be healed and her throat be healed and gave some other council.  From the moment I placed my hands on her head and when we said goodbye about 15 minutes later I never heard one cough from her. She was in tears and felt so much peace and felt the Spirit.   Then she said "thank you." I said, "No, thank God," and she knew then that it wasn't my words at all and that I couldn't have known what to say. I PLEADED with the Lord for the blessing to help her feel the Spirit and the truthfulness of this Gospel and we know she felt it tonight so we will see what happens. 

EVERYONE we teach prays in Navajo here... it's awesome! ha  No one has any idea what they say but it's so cool... even in church they do it. 

Thank you so much for all the support and love. I hope these long letters aren't too much.

Much Love,

Elder T 

So this was at Family Home Evening with the branch on the 9th!

Flora is the older lady. She said that she had bad health but once she was baptized her heath has gotten better EVERYDAY, and before her hair was sticky always and now her hair is super smooth again! She is like my hero ... has so much faith! 

Thanks for the support and all the letters... it's helped me a ton. I've got like 30 people to reply to so sorry if it takes a while to hear back!  haha 

Having to go on the fun dirt roads for appointments... always fun ;) 

Driving into Alamo... was so pumped!  Now I'm on the Navajo Indian reservation 

District meeting last Friday... the other two were taking the pic! 

BAPTISM!! Crystal and Damon Apachito. 

First Navajo baptism... I totally forgot my white tie though. 

From Mexicans to Indians

Hey everyone, it's been a while!  I've got a TON to say in this email so please bear with me.

I can't remember if I've already said this in the blog, but I baptized someone my last saturday (3 days before I left).  Her name is Bethany.  She's awesome and so prepared by the Lord.  Her dad is Sergio ... a miracle story that I had a few weeks back.

I'm going to be doing 3 different sections of this email.  I'm going to go in order of events.

1st:  El Paso  __________________________________________

 It's been a week since I've left El Paso and I miss it so much. I received the call on Saturday evening and was told I was getting transferred.  I had mixed emotions with everything;  I wanted to start somewhere new and to have change, but I love these people so much and feel so a part of El Paso. On Sunday I bore my last testimony in the ward.  I felt the Spirit so strong and as I looked down on the congregation I felt this immense love for each and every person. Later that afternoon and evening I went around giving people blessings.  I felt inspired that it was what I needed to do to give back to all the love and support I've received from everyone. I gave a total of 20 priesthood blessings!  I was so tired, both physically and emotionally, but I bear testimony that every time I placed my hands on each person's head I wasn't tired at all and I received revelation on what to say.

The next day I went early in the morning to the Sumac church building and played football with some people in our ward. After that we went and played basketball in the church.  I promised the young men in the ward that before I go I'd play with them.  It was awesome!  I was super tired but we still killed it! There were like 40 people in the gym waiting to play. Afterwards we went to the bowling alley to meet all of the missionaries in our zone. Everyone was talking about how crazy it is that everyone is getting transferred out from down south, and that all of the leadership is going up north. It was really fun bowling with everyone. Afterwards the sisters in my ward gave me presents and a card... they got me a skinny tie and superman socks and mac and cheese! haha  They know me so well.

Then I had to get ready and go to the Butterfields for my going-away party. It was SO cool!  They made aloha tie cookies for me and a ton of people showed up. There were more who said they would come and didn't make it but it totally worked out perfect.  I got to say my goodbyes to everyone and I gave kind of like a "speech" at the end.  I'll never forget that evening and that Sunday... I was so humbled by everything that was said to me. Afterwards I gave 11 more blessings, including my companion, and went to bed at around 12:30am.  So, in two days I gave a total of 31 blessings!!!

 I woke up the next morning and had to start packing all the way until our ride came to get us. Ray actually came over to say goodbye again... which was amazing and made me happy to see how much he's changed in just a short time.  El Paso is FOREVER in my heart ! 

2nd : Alamo Navajo Reservation  _________________________________

On the way up I was with my missionary buddies:  Elder Krebs ( who's still my zone leader up here), Elder Magalei, and Elder Jensen. We are called the "Four El Paso legends." haha  When I was in Los Cruses at the first transfer site the zone leader there came up to me. I've only met him once and he said to me, "I feel you are going to Alamo.  I think you are needed and are perfect to serve there."   From that moment on I COULDN'T get it out of my mind... I felt so strongly that I was. I was the last in Albuquerque to be called to their area... and, yup, I got called to the "res."  I was freaking out.   The AP's and everyone were saying how jealous they are of me and how lucky I am.  My companion's name is Elder Gibson.  He just finished being trained by Elder Barrus... who was my MTC comp!!  I replaced my MTC companion's spot here!  haha ... and now he is with MY trainer. We basically switched.

Well, I had a two and a half hour drive back down south to Alamo. Socorro is the first "main" town off of the freeway of Los Lunas. I met the sisters in my district and saw the little building there and baptismal font. Then we headed west to the reservation. I was SHOKED at where it is. I go from the city to like the middle of nowhere in the mountains.

I did 5 hours of service last Saturday by chopping wood and throwing the piles in the trailer and other crazy things. On the 15th of this month is when it's legal again to hunt and eat Prarie dog!!  I guess everyone loves it here?  I'm freaking scared for when I have to eat weird food!  The nastiest thing I've had here was a tamale but it was a blue corn one ... homemade from the corn they grow but it had no flavor and was all slimey and gooey so it didn't taste too good.

This is a foreign mission.  We feel like we are in a different country. ha  But I LOVE THE PEOPLE!  I know exactly why the Lord has me here.  It was evident this last Sunday to me when I spoke to the branch in sacrament telling them who I am and stuff.  Being around the people, and this different lifestyle is changing me.  I'm going to learn from a blacksmith how to make a belt buckle and from a Navajo how to sew and bead native things. There's tons and tons of things I'm learning new everyday.

Teaching the Gospel here is different ... it's more of a challenge. The schools aren't very good, so not many people are very sophisticated when it comes to big words and elegant-speaking...  so everything needs to be simplified, which I already did before but now even more. Navajos here are tough to work with because of their attitudes; they spend money on big TV's and stuff but have no water and little electricity. I'm really going to try to help them see the true purpose in life.  But we as missionaries have to be careful;  if we start giving to them then everyone will be at our door asking for something... they always ask for rides or money. There was a drought a few months back, so we help fill up jugs of water for people in our bath tub and drop it off. I can talk for hours about things here, but I'll tell more next week about the culture and things. We have family home evening and scripture study on Mondays and Thursdays and it's a blast.  I was playing on the piano and now I guess I'm going to be giving piano lessons to a ton of Navajos now?  All of these people want to learn so I guess I'll be teaching piano too.  Also,  there was an accident like 3 days before I got here.  A truck full of 9 people crashed off the side of the windy road and 6 or 7 of the people died (including a woman who was pregnant)... so please keep the Apachito family in your prayers. EVERYONE here is somehow related to the family and are effected by it.

Just know there is a lot of work to be done here but it's SO worth it and the people are special to the Lord and need the Gospel.

3rd: one year mark  ___________________________________

As I'm sure you all know Monday was the one-year mark of my mom's passing. I wanted to write a few words. I stayed busy on Monday.  I had to help the sisters in my district so we drove 60 miles to the town to help them move, and I finally got to shop. My service in my mom's honor was helping move and unloading/organizing some things in their house.  I knew she'd be proud of that!  ha

To be honest I tried not to think about it;  I know the adversary is working harder on me now than before because he sees the great things that are to come here on the res and with me personally.  So, I took it safe and tried not to dwell. This is how it is when you lose a loved one:  IF I have the Spirit then I'm okay because I know it's part of God's plan and I'm happy;  once I am not as spiritual and I let the natural man take over then Satan uses my anger towards the situation and I get upset about it and hurt.  So, it's KEY that we always have the Spirit with us throughout our trials so that we see the light at the end of the tunnel. :)

 I love my mom Claudine Taylor with all my heart.  I feel that I love her more and more each and everyday.  I've never missed something more than I do her which has taught me what true love really is. Yes, most days are great but somedays are hard. Knowing that I will be with my mom and family for eternity, if I don't give up or mess up, is MY motivation... it's what keeps me going everyday. I'll forever be a momma's boy.  Growing up she would always call me her best friend and she is ... she's my #1 girl and forever will be... she threatened me if she wasn't!  haha  But, for real, I'm grateful for all she's taught me, and the example she is to everyone.

There's a scripture I found that pierced my heart.  It is in the Book Of Mormon in Alma 27:28:

 "They never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by victory of Christ over it".

Don't fear death or those who have passed on because Christ has broke the bonds of death so that we all shall live again ...  fear nothing for the Lord is on our side.

Thank you to everyone for their huge support to my family this last year and especially to me being out here on my mission. I know this is exactly where I need to be and where God has planned me to be.

I'm going to write a miracle story for next week!


 True Love and Happiness, Elder J. Taylor

The Butterfields wanted me to sign them! haha 

My first day in Alamo ....

Our service project on saturday!  Way more fun than pulling weeds :)

Ain't no mountain high enough

This has been a wonderful week of growth for me. I’ve learnt new and wonderful lessons through a “small and wimpy” trial, but I feel any opposition you face both big and small have a blessing and a lesson attached to the end of it. 

Basically ALL of last week I was sick... I got a headache, dizziness, shivers, gagging and the main part is a super bloated stomach and cramps.  To add to that our car got broken into or something and someone stole my sun glasses and my new GPS that I bought like 4 months ago. 

Now I feel like a little girl writing about this on here.  First off I wasn’t even planning on telling even my family about me being sick but I feel my thoughts about my week may help someone. Secondly, this is SUPER minor to what other people face medically, but it was just enough to try to throw me off my game. Immediately after I felt really off I could see the opposition kick in, and I could see how easily of a target I was for the adversary to hit. Then came the thoughts, Do I really wanna do anything? Should I just give up and start tomorrow? I've got an excuse becauseI’m sick”. Whatever the circumstances we are in those thoughts arise, but for me it was against missionary work. I came to the conclusion that if I was to just go to the apartment and mope around not feeling good that would mean that I gave in... so I went out and worked hard. Let me say that I saw MIRACLES guys; even though my companion and the members out with us were saying that i was crazy and I should go home and rest or go to the doctors or whatever I KNEW without a doubt that if I truly am the Lord's missionary that He would help me through. 

I can honestly say that this past week has been one of the most in-tune-to-the-Spirit-weeks on my mission.  I felt guided. I felt angels round about to help me push through and help me see those who needed MORE help than me and we ministered to them. Amazing thing was that every time I felt the Spirit or the Spirit was in the room all my pains went away; my burdens were lifted for that second then returned afterward. No one who reads this or even my companion will understand how much I needed this testing week, and how much I grew from it. I feel like I just conquered Satan; even though he overpowered my thoughts constantly.  I knew that if I had a prefect brightness of hope I would overcome it and I have NO regrets on anything last week because I did not give into the temptations. 

As we face things that we feel set us back, or make things “harder” than usual...  remember the Savior, and know that there are so many blessings to come if we endure it well. My thoughts were on the Savior this week, as He took all of the pains and afflictions of the world ,even mine, and that right there is EXACTLY the thing that carried me and carries all of us to press forward with strength, zeal and courage.

Miracle story:  There was a potential investigator's house that we wanted to see but we didn’t get the address and a member was driving but my companion said we were in the area (note my comp found him 2 weeks prior while I was on exchanges and I went with him once after at nighttime but never got into the house. We had a GPS then and that was a week before this time), but it was the afternoon and hot and all the houses look the same and I’m not feeling good, but then I just offered a little prayer in my head and said, "Father show me where to go."  I looked up and told the member to keep driving , then said turn right, then said turn at the next left, and so on.  After a few blocks we totally drive right up to the house. Now the sad part was he didn’t answer and he was there but I wasn’t discouraged at all because I KNEW God gave me and us that awesome miracle to find the house because someone close by needed us a lot more.  We went to see the first person on my mind and that’s exactly where we needed to be. I can’t give details too much because of personal things about the person, but lets just say that the hand of the Lord was in it.  I gave a blessing to someone that I’ll never forget and I actually cried while giving it (which I’ve never done) because I felt that our Heavenly Father's total love that He had for this person and I felt the veil so thin and it was very special.

I testify that the priesthood is real. That the power to act in God’s name is a privilege and honor. Faith is the key thing to have in good times, normal times and bad times... let it always be your main component in your life to help motivate you to carry on.  

Be bold and believe that God will guide you... if you know that He can, and He will.

Love,

Elder Taylor

This is a guy who was visiting.  He was baptized 20 years ago here and has a special spirit. He has some disabilities but KNOWS the church is true and totally loves missionaries. 

An awesome package dropped off from the Butterfields last week ! 

YES!  I am rockin' some khakis ... I would wear them everday if I could!

Press On

The title of this email is exactly what I’ve been having to tell myself this last week. I’ve been learning more and more to just keep going and to press on. This isn’t easy.  It's crazy and I’m sure it breaks some people's hearts but being a missionary doesn’t mean we are always perfect.  Haha  It wasn’t until my mission that I realized  all of the behind-the-scenes that goes on. I always thought missionaries would teach people and they would get baptized right away and that everyone’s so open to the Gospel . There’s life lessons to be learned though ...  there’s some days in life that go by so fast and there are other days that feel that they never end. I’m grateful for a mission to learn this and to learn to press on for the Lord and not give up. There have been trials, tough times, rejection, ignorance and extremely hot weather but that’s the "opposition in all things"  that is spoken about in the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 2:11.

This is part of life... to figure out how to face and overcome opposition, weather temptations, sickness, loss of job, family problems, loss of loved ones, laziness and so on. When I teach people about this principle I like to simplify it to this, “So what’s cold? How do you know it is cold? Well, you have to first know what hot is to then know cold.  Or you can only know up if you also know down. Same with life here on earth ... we go through opposition EVERYDAY and learn something new. Now take the lesson learned in that opposition and apply it into your daily life and that is how we become better and more Christ like every day."

A cool story that happened on Wednesday was we had a member out with us named Eddie. I felt earlier that we should have stopped by a lady named Anna’s house. We tracted into Anna about 5 months ago and I haven’t seen her for at least 4 and a half months. She kind of was on the back burner because she didn’t seem super interested and would never answer. So, I said were stopping by there and sure enough she was home and answered. We got talking and then she invited us in because this time we had another member with us so we could go in. She had no idea what our church believes and has misconceptions about the church because she’s been raised hearing it.  All of her questions that didn’t make sense to her basically is answered in our scriptures and from modern day revelation. She would be like, "Ohhh that makes sense... I agree... I'm glad I'm not the only one."   It was awesome to have prophets answering her questions. She was having  a super hard day the day before and I told her that God had inspired me today to go by and see her because He cares and loves her and knew we could bring her peace through the Gospel. Her eyes watered up as we bore testimony and I could feel that she knew this Church is different than any other in the world!  Ahhhh.   I just love bringing  glorious joy to those who are down-trodden.

The Church is true!

Help others find truth because it is out here ... there’s no need for darkness anymore!

Thanks for all of the support from everyone!

Love,

Elder T

This is literally someone's front lawn... a little obsessed with the Dallas Cowboys !

 A pic of me eating dinner at the Snyders .... it was my favorite meal, Chicken Alfredo!

 I went on exchanges with Elder Jenson a few days ago and we thought this truck was super big so we took a pic in front of it 

Click on the image below to learn about the life of a Mormon missionary: 

Two More Baptisms

Last Saturday, on the 10^th, we had another baptism. It was Jose Montoya’s two sons' baptisms.  Alex is 10 and Jerry is 9, and they are totally awesome.  Jose was baptized almost a year ago and is COMPLETLY converted to the Gospel.  He's changed so much and is extremely humble and a dear friend of mine. Well, his boys temporarily are living at his sister's house in Dallas until the CPS tell him that they can fully live with him again... which hopefully will be soon . Anyways, he had the sister missionaries go by his sister's house to teach his boys and so they accepted baptism.  Then they came here for summer vacation so we’ve been teaching them and preparing them for baptism for a few weeks. The Spirit was SO strong at the baptism ...  to see Jose baptize his two sons and give them the blessings that he has already received was just incredible. There were wonderful talks given and great hymns sung.  They are so amazing and everyone knows it.  Even Sister Snyder, the primary president,  told them that she’s going to "slash their tires so they cant leave back to Dallas.” haha  It was so awesome, and I completely agree ... I wish they could stay here. I had another amazing opportunity to give the gift of the Holy Ghost to the oldest son Alejandro Montoya (Alex) . My testimony has grown leaps and bounds this past weekend seeing the true importance of having the Gospel in our families and the joy that it brings.

Many of you know that this past Friday was the 9^th and it has been 11 months since my mom passed. I had her in my thoughts and prayers all day, but it was a great day.   I had support from those who remembered and it meant a lot to me. On Sunday in priesthood they spoke about Relief Society and the importance of mothers in the world these days and some of the men spoke of the influence their mothers had on them.  I just wanted to jump up and say you have NO idea how much mothers influence their kids !  haha   But I decided I didn’t want to go on a 30 minute rant about how much better my mom is than everyone else’s!!  If it weren’t for my mom I wouldn’t even be here, or the person I am. Truly I give all of the credit to my mother for making me the man I am today. In letters I often get “ remember who you are there for” and every time I think of my mother . I’m here for, of course  my Savior first,  but also my mom. I know this is the only path she would want me on at this time and that it’s the only way I can grow closer to her and to understand why it's been such a tough year.

I threw down on Friday night to some people about the importance of eternal families and I explained why I'm grateful for them and how I rely on that promise EVERYDAY. I testify that if you want to share with those around you about eternal families you WILL pierce their heart every time, and will plant a seed that should be planted in all hearts.

EVERYONE treat your mothers like a princess sometime this week and tell them they are important in your life.  Mothers are everything to me. 

Miracle this last week... met a lady named Celia. She's an older Hispanic lady who we ran into like 3 months ago and haven’t seen her since. Well, we were visiting someone close by but then I felt inspired to walk to the other street to see the Moralis family but by their house Celia was outside of her house. So we went over to talk and she was so kind to us. She asked for another pamphlet to read but they basically bore testimony of Jesus Christ to us. She totally remembered me from last time and keep looking at me and smiling saying that she's so grateful  for what I'm doing, and that she truly loves me and prays every day for our welfare . Honestly I can’t explain how wonderful it was to hear this sweet older lady almost in tears tell us how amazing we are to do this and to spread the word of the Lord and to bless people’s lives. Also she told us that were going to have the most beautiful wives because the Lords going to bless us!   haha I was laughing so hard!

The Lord ALWAYS puts us in people’s paths at the right time; never forget that.  That’s when the miracles happen ... when you listen.

Thanks for all the support and for reading the Blog!

Yours truly,

Elder Taylor

BAPTISMS!!

Jose Montoya and his 2 sons

Making my companion do the navigation!  haha

Make it Happen

I feel people too often settle for less in their lives. Or they make excuses that it’s too hard, not possible or that they can’t achieve it. BUT here’s the thing,  there is a special gift we have and that is agency. Yes, you can choose good or evil, or what color shirt to wear or what sandwich to eat that day but I’m speaking of something different... a choice to do something great. As I look at other people's lives I can see those who made it happen and those who just hoped it would happen. I don’t like the word hope at times because it sounds like a maybe, (for example I “hope” I can get a job). Well, stop sitting at home all day hoping and go out and make it happen!

I’ve used this in my missionary work and I apologize to those who feel this is too straight-up or harsh but these are my thoughts. I was talking to the zone leaders and they are saying that there’s a lot of areas in our zone who could do amazing but they aren’t making it happen or making that area super successful. I believe that there’s NO bad area in a mission, and that all areas have potential to be great if you MAKE it happen. My area when I first got here at the beginning of my mission wasn’t very good at all, but I see where it’s at now and it’s been the best area at different times in the whole mission. That’s because if you set a goal, and put the work in knowing it will happen then you will make it happen. Spiritually the Lord receives ALL of the credit and I hope you all know that. None of it is me or the companions I’ve had here, but we needed to be the instruments. You can either be a dull instrument or a sharp one.  We are all different ones but you CAN be a more useful one in my opinion. Think about your personal lives and how great of a tool you are in the hands of the Lord and pray for help and He may be able to use you for more of His work.

Achieve the unimaginable, both temporally and eternally, both literally and spiritually.

Remember there’s a loving Heavenly Father ready and willing to help in all causes.

Yesterday we were with Brother Butterfield out teaching and we drove by a house who we’ve been trying to teach again for forever. Their names are Lupe and Cielo and we haven’t had the chance to teach them again. But this time both cars were there and one of them I haven’t seen for a long time.  We passed the house and then all of the sudden I told Brother B to turn around. Now keep in mind we were already 20 min late to dinner because of the last lesson getting out late but I KNEW we had to turn around and I didn’t care if we were late to dinner. Brother Butterfield did turn around and Sky answered the door.  We had talked to her barely before about the Book of Mormon and she’s 11 years old but didn’t seem super excited we were there. She said we can come by another time when more of her family is there because no one in the house at the time could speak English.  Then I asked her if she had like 5 minutes. She said yes.  So instantly I pulled out the Book of Mormon and asked her if she’s read the copy we left.  She said, "no" ... her aunt took it and left it somewhere.  So then I handed her the copy in my hand. I said will you take this one so you can have your very own ?  She said "YES" , with the biggest smile on her face, and asked if this really is her own one? You’re giving it to me?  She grabbed the book and pulled it up close to her chest and hugged it as if I was giving her the greatest treasure on earth.  Then I realized that it truly is.  We all need to see that book as the way she saw it and we need to treasure it! I told her about the importance of prophets and about how amazing it would be to have a prophet like Moses on the earth. I asked what it would mean to her.  She said it would be a huge blessing because he could lead and guide me and tell me what I need to do to stay close with God. Our jaws about dropped. I PROMISED her right then after that comment that if  she read she can know that there is a prophet on the earth and that Christ’s church is here again, and she was so excited to read and wants to come to church.

That was a miracle and a tender mercy of the Lord. Sometimes we are late or in a rush but we need to help others and God will do his part too. Go out into the world and MAKE IT HAPPEN , because this last week we did and our success is getting back up there.

Thanks for the love and support.

Much love,

Elder Taylor 

“Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation”