GREATEST WEEK OF MY MISSION!

Hey!  Thank you to all of those who still read this blog.  I'm still shocked at how many have been reading it and I hope my letters touch you in some kind of way.

This email will be a long one so hold on tight!

I'm sure I have written the title "GREATEST WEEK OF MY MISSION" before but really this week was one I'll never forget... it wasn't full of miracles;  it was full of life. I've had rough times and the greatest times. 

As you all know this last Monday we went to the temple and had a wonderful time and I was filled with the Spirit. The next day was baptism interviews for the Zielinski family (which my companion did).  This is the family I wrote about who lost their husband and father and had a super-spiritual plan of salvation lesson. The next day was the ONLY open day to do missionary work that week.  Also we got late notice but we had to prepare a 20 minute training for the next day for our mission leadership counsel. 

Next day early in the morning we had to set up the room and gym for our mission leadership counsel, but luckily we had help from the assistants too.  We had a 6 hour meeting of being spiritually-fed the whole time and had great discussions.  Our mission president truly is a man of God! Then, that night we had to plan for our zone training and take 6 hours of training for that day and put it into a productive training lasting only 2 and a half hours. 

Next day was our zone training and it went so well.  I gave a training in a break-out session about OYM which means "open our mouth" (which were supposed to do daily and talk to everyone around us),  but I said you need to Open Your Mind to different ways we can talk to people.  For example, if a man is outside playing with kids what should you talk to him about??  Blessings about family.  We always have to have an open mind so that we can use different ways to share the Gospel according to people's needs.  Later that day we got a wonderful phone call from Keiana .... she said she has to cancel our lesson because she was going to the temple to do baptisms!! That was the best canceled lesson I have ever had!   haha   She had a wonderful time and really loved being in the house of the Lord and doing the work for those who have passed on before us. She now wants to get her own family names.  Also, she found out that her birth mom's husband is a less-active member of the church and went to church in Florida on the day she was confirmed to support her . How cool that she is already impacting others.  

Later that night was probably the most worldly-experience I have ever had my whole mission.  At 8:30 pm we went to contact a referral...  a YSA girl who talked to other missionaries. When we knocked on the door she opened and you could tell she really wasn't in the right mindset.  Her friend walks up to the door too and says that their buddies are drinking and that we should come in. Of course we said no and that we don't do that. I will try to describe the next part of this conversation...  they started making fun of us because of our "rules" we have to live by;  that we were attractive missionaries, and that we should drink and no one would know because God wasn't watching.  They said that they think our church hates gay people, that we don't need to believe what our parents taught us, that we were brainwashed , and that they are a lot more happy than us and are having more fun. I'm cutting out a lot of the cussing and just filthy talk. The whole time we were just trying to get one of the girls phone number so we could leave and just text her next time for when we could come by but they just kept going. Mocking God, our Faith and the name of the church on the name tag. One of them at the end said this is ridiculous that you are still trying to help us and teach us ... I'm going to get my phone are record you elders and you can tell us why you are here. So one of them goes and grabs her phone and in a mocking tone and cursing goes in front of my companion and says, "Tell us your name and why you are here at our door this late at night?"  He bore his brief testimony that he's here to share the gospel because it has blessed him and that he knows they can change and find out it is true for themselves. They still mocked and spoke against what he said then they come to me. I tried putting my arms over my tag but she said let me see your name and put the camera close to my tag (which is sacred to me) and said, "Taylor, why are you here? You are here because someone told you too?  Lets see if you even know your stuff.  We will show this to one of your leaders at your church to show 'em you guys don't even know what you are doing here."  With a phone camera in my face I told them that I'm here to testify that through the scriptures we will have guidance in our lives and can find true joy;  she stopped me and said, "Sure. blah blah blah. Talking about the word of God... right."  Then she said something that I wish not to type; then it just went over the edge so my comp said, "Lets go," so he started walking, then the member with us started walking too, and I was the last one and said, "Have a great night."  (as they continued to say, "Yea get out of here; we know you would crack.")  Then, all of a sudden I felt something hit the back of my head... she was throwing ice cream from a spoon at me and it went all on my back, my pants, my shoes and my head. They continued laughing as they walked inside. We went to the car and my companion and the member wiped the ice cream off the back of my newly-stained white shirt and pants and off my bag. I was so proud.  I bit my tongue and said nothing and walked away.  Now, if they were guys that might been a little bit different (haha), but thank goodness they weren't. I could not believe what just happened. We just talked the rest of the night about it.  We couldn't believe the horrible words we heard and the evil that was there and the cruel humor. I told my companion that I have never been so close to the "great and spacious building";  like literally I felt as if we knocked on the door of the "great and spacious building" of the world and they answered it. Truly it was a test of faith.  I'm pretty sure every single commandment was brought up and was invited for us to break. What I learned the most was forgiveness. We got one of the girls number and are going to contact her soon and see if she is sober even though they spoke poorly and mocked my Savior, His church, my standards, and faith... we still must turn the other cheek and not judge and see them not as they are now but as their divine potential. The cool thing was at the start and end of our companionship nightly planning we both put them in our prayers and pleaded that they would someday come to the Gospel and have a right knowledge and mind set. To me that was something I have never really done before but as the Savior taught, "Pray for those that despitefully use you" and "love our enemies." It showed me how lost people are in the world and how powerful Satan's influence is and how hungry he was that night to have the Lord's servants fall off the straight and narrow path, but we didn't give in!

Next day was general conference.  One of the speakers kind of touched on a subject that helped us with our experience the night before. There was so much power in all of the speakers. We later in the day were able to go to priesthood seesion and a less-active and his father went and that was so great to see. Funny how Elder Cook told the YSA who are at the age of marriage that they need not to postpone... funny sitting next to the YSA guys who have been home from missions awhile kinda of take a big gulp! haha

Next day was general conference again. I was touched by a 70 member from Ukraine, I think, and his talk on confidence touched me to the soul and was an answer the the questions I had coming into conference. Toward the end of Bednar's talk a homeless man came in. ALL of the missionaries swarmed him after the meeting and his name is Eddie.  One of the missionaries asked what nationality he was and he said Indian or Dine, and instantly the missionaries were like, "Elder Taylor come over here!"  haha  So I got to talk to him, and he happens to be Navajo and from the big rez. You should have seen the smile on his face when I spoke a few words in Navajo to him.  He said, "You are one of us on the inside I can tell!"  I told him I am... I'm Navajo on the inside. He happened to be in the indian placement program years ago and knows lots of members in Utah.  He is older now and drinks a lot and lives on the street but one set of missionaries gave him a ziplock full of snacks and another gave him 3 dollars for a bus ride to central!  It really taught me another lesson that we must treat our brothers and sisters with love and really reminded me of Elder Holland's talk.  Even though we could smell the liquor on his breath we promised him that God loves him and that he can change and give up the "white man's water" of alcohol.

Later that day an amazing thing happened ... at 6:30 that night the Zielinski family was baptized.  236 people attended this baptism! NO JOKE. I have never seen so many... it was like a sacrament meeting in there, I swear. The spirit was so strong. I got emotional briefly at 2 parts.  Not out-of-control, but a little emotional and I'll admit it.  The first one was when I saw them all dressed in white as I walked up to take a picture with them.   The next was after their baptisms when they bore their testimonies. Teal and Cameron both had so much power to their testimonies and it truly touched my heart... it really brought me back to my real purpose. As Teal spoke about her son Cameron going to do the baptism for his dad in the temple and how they want to be an eternal family I realized again that this is what its all about. Finding and brining families to Christ and His Gospel so they can become eternal families... this is what our Father in Heaven wants. I have waited my whole mission for this family and being able to witness this baptism and know that I was part of their conversion and progression in a little part brings me eternal joy. I love each of them so much.

This week I truly have felt the heavens open.  I have received much revelation from God and have felt the veil thin in my life. Truly my joy is so full.   I love people much more; I desire and thirst for the Gospel more and want to share it more. That is why I feel this last week was the best.  Truly I'm undeserving of these blessings. I don't deserve them, and there are plenty of better missionaries and people who deserve it and are a lot more righteous but Heavenly Father still blesses me and I'm truly thankful for that. I love the new converts that I have taught and seen be baptized in these past 2 weeks.  They will forever be in my heart and in my life. I know this church is true; I know that no money or worldly possession would ever come close to matching up to the JOY, PEACE, and LOVE that I have felt this last week. My mother was ever so near me at points of this last week; I love her so much as well as my family.

Love to you all!  Know how blessed we are all; let us give up things that don't matter according to the gospel and grow closer to things that matter most.

All my love,

Elder Justin Williams Taylor

BAPTISM + TEMPLE = Great Week

 Hey, hope you all had a fantastic week because I know I did.

First thing is Keiana's baptism. It went super great, besides the little issues, like not finding a baptismal suit for her to wear for her baptism, until like 5 minutes before it started!! haha But everything always works out in the end.      

Truly I'm so thankful for her, that I was able to be there since day one when we met her and was able to baptize her and see her continue to progress in the gospel. I want to tell you a little about her story. She has grown up with members, one of her really good friends is on a mission right now and told her if she wanted to know what he's doing to go find some missionaries and talk to them. So, some elders in my zone were reading in the white handbook and it says to  vary the routes you travel, so they decided to walk another way than before. While walking in the road they ran into Keiana who was looking for some missionaries.  We went by because she's YSA (young single adult) and started teaching her. EVERY commitment we left she did, and more. She started a 90 day Book of Mormon reading and is already like half way through the Book of Mormon. I could see such a change in her from day one to now and how happy she is to have the gospel and friends at the branch who love her and have the same beliefs; because truly we are all a team and are here to help each other endure to the end. She has changed my life for the better and has taught me so much. She even had 5 non-member friends at her baptism, she's awesome! Can't wait to see her continue to grow and go to the temple someday.

Speaking of the temple, I had the opportunity to go to the temple on Monday. We paired up with another zone and went. I got to see my old companion Elder Ahloy who I trained and other missionaries I have served with before in the mission, even ones that I have been to the temple with before. The spirit was so strong, it was so sacred in there. We all meet in the little chapel at first and hear from the temple president and his great wisdom, then we go to the endowment room, and we finish in the celestial room. At that point, I happend to be the first elder in there and was able to see all the missionaries in my zone walk into the celestial room, it felt like heaven. Just seeing the light in their faces and the smiles they had truly testified to me that the earth isn't home; we truly can make it to the celestial kingdom to be there with loved ones forever. After that, we went to the sealing room, where our mission president spoke to us … boy, was it powerful. He talked about covenants, and what we truly promise when we go into the temple, and what the blessings are that we can receive. I learned so many things I never knew. I received guidance for my life and peace to questions I have had. Truly, I want to make the temple a main prioroty in my life when I am home and to go often, it ALWAYS brings me back on track to where I'm supposed to be going. 

It was a Spiritual Feast these last few days! I love the branch more and more here. Seriously there are amazing YSA in our little branch and all the hard work is paying off! 

Much love to you all,

Elder Justin Taylor 

My companion Elder Snyder and I at the temple

Keiana's Baptism

Baptism and The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The title of this letter is exactly what I'm going to talk about.

First off Bruce got baptized which was so awesome. It was on the same day as my baby sister Jessica so it was special for me because I wasn’t able to be there for her baptism. Our mission president came down for the baptism and so many other people were there.  Bruce was approved by the First Presidency of the Church to be baptized because he needed that permission because of past problems. What was powerful was his testimony after his baptism; how the Lord has blessed him and how he studied the scriptures in prison and when he got out he wanted a new life and that now the Lords has given him just that!

Also, last Sunday all three of us missionaries were asked to speak on what ever we wanted. I decided that the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was a powerful and essential topic to teach on. We had all of the members and us invite non-members to come. Well, it didn’t work out too well; we only had like 3 non-members, but it was still great to have 3.  We were blessed.

I would like to share with you the analogy I came up with to use for teaching in sacrament  about the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

I compare it to a school. Everyone knows about school. Imagine having a perfect teacher (Christ). We must have (faith) in the teacher; faith that, if we trust in Him and do as He says, then we will do great in the class. Well, our teacher is merciful; when we do bad on a test we can come to Him and ask to re-do it.  (Repentance).

Our merciful and perfect teacher says yes we can re-do it, but now remember to study hard and learn from your mistakes.   In order for the teacher to help you even more in the class he needs to meet with your parents. So there is a parent-teacher conference in which you promise your parents and teacher that you'll do better in the class and on the tests if they give you a second shot. The teacher responds in saying He will provide someone that will help you so much. For those who are smart they go to that person and get help from the tutor (Holy Ghost). The tutor is there as you are practicing the problems and going over your mistakes. The tutor can lean over and say “Nope start the problem over again; or no, go to the next chapter, your answer is in there."  He guides you on your journey of learning and helps in all ways for you to find the answers while you are still learning. Then the hard part is enduring to the end of the class, or in the gospel, until the end of our lives. Just as a hard class is at times we have resources to help.  We have to motivate ourselves to succed. We have to promise ourselves, our teacher and parents at times that we will do better and try harder next time.

The principle is like our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ the teacher and the Holy Ghost our tutor. Their motives are all the same; they teach the same, they help all of us children the same, and want the very best for each of us.  Let them HELP you!  Turn to them and follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that you may receive the highest “grade” you deserve.

May we all be diligent and receive eternal life is my prayer.

Love to you all,

Elder Justin Taylor 

Here's the picture of Bruce's baptism!!! So awesome.

Here is me and my companions after we went to a hospital to visit 2 members.  

They gave masks to us because there was a virus there that people were getting.

Ups and Downs

Hey everyone!  Hope you all are doing well and living happy. 

So, my thoughts this week are on how the Lord challenges and tests us to make us stronger. Not only stronger with the present trials we face, but stronger in all aspects of trials we can face.  There is a plan, a game plan, for each and every one of us and it was created even before we came here to earth. My thoughts are this (this isn't doctrine but it is just my thoughts). 

When we were shown our personal plan before this life we could see how great we could become  but we also saw all of the trials, challenges and hard times we would face. Then we were asked... do you accept this plan, are you ok with going through these hard times, making these sacrifices to be this great person in the end?  the person you were created to be? 

With that thought it has helped me so much have this eternal perspective. To know why I go through these things, and to think of the lesson that I will have coming out of it. There is ALWAYS an experience and a lesson attached to every trial ... which I believe is much larger than the trial itself.  As we look at life and the challenges you should rejoice that our Father in Heaven loves you enough to let you go through them and to grow through them because I know its even hard for Him to see his children struggling and that is why He has His gospel to help us as we turn to it. 

I pray each of you will see your life as a road map and a game plan to becoming who you were designed to be and fully accessing your divine potential. 

So my ankle is messed up; don't know how bad I messed up the ligament but I should be off basketball playing for like 6 weeks. I've never hurt an ankle before so it is a new experience but I love the challenge and am grateful for the support and help I have as I recover. I am still going out and doing missionary work everyday... NO EXCUSES! 

Also the MIRACLE is that we had a baptism!  Jacob was baptized this last Saturday and it was really special. The ward down here hasn't baptized in a year and a half and now the drought is over! We have another baptism this next Saturday.

The area isn't doing well and we have had to basically start new all over again and are looking for those who truly are prepared, not those who just want to "hang" and be friends with us and that is all. 

Love you all.  Know there are always great things ahead. "Come what may and LOVE it!" 

Elder Justin Taylor 

Pic of me in Hop Caynon. Its like 35 miles away from here and is still our " area" even though no one really lives up there. Beautiful place though, the only real trees around here. 

Here's the picture of my ankle, the reason why its swollen is different parts is because they put a hoarse shoe pad thing on it to help push the swelling out and then wrapped it everyday last week. Im blessed to have the Alamo Branch President be a physical therapist and help me with it and do therapy on it every moring. Looks pretty cool though huh? haha 

Jacob's baptism!  So awesome!

Sacred feelings become Sacred memories

Hey everyone!  I've had a crazy last week that was really awesome but a ton of things happened. I don't know if I can type it all out but I'll summarize a lot of it. 

Wednesday we went up to Magdalena and visited a few people then I had to go and do a baptismal interview in Alamo for Tatiana. Then I had to rush back to get to our correlation meeting with the ward mission leader. We drove around crazy that day. At the end of her interview I had her pray, and it was the most sincere prayer ever. I felt her literally talking and thanking our Father that she's able to be baptized and join the church. Tears were in her eyes and I promised her as the Lord's representative that He is pleased with her and He rejoices in her decision! 

Thursday I had to get up at 5:30am to leave for a leadership meeting in Albuquerque. There were 2 brothers from the missionary department in Utah that came and taught us some really awesome things on the simplicity of sharing the Gospel. Having the Spirit and testifying, but focusing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is: faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It was great to see all of my buddies again. One of my best buds just got called as AP so that's cool! 

Friday we had zone meeting.  I got to share some things and insights from the MLC meeting the day prior. I did a ton of role plays and the missionaries really grasped the concept very well.  Great miracles will come from the training. 

Saturday was the lady from Alamo's baptism.  Her name is Tatiana Sam and she's my "Shi da." I really felt honored that she asked that I baptize her. I guess that is the benefit of being moved to the next area over and being able to baptize and attend that special day for her. Her family is all really solid; probably the best in Alamo when it comes to the Gospel. The water was SUPER shallow so I had to really dunk her low but all went well. I felt the Spirit so strong. 

Sunday had a big activity after church for lunch to help a non-member family get closer to the members and feel a part of the family. It was really cool. The newly married couples here that go to the Tech College are awesome and are always willing to help. 

Monday was "Missionary Monday" at the temple and boy was it special. Once we were walking up to the temple someone commented on barely remembering to bring their recommend and I came to realize that I forgot mine and were like almost 2 hours away.  So I told the people in the temple and they were really cool and one went to talk to Preisdent Miller to ask if I could get an interview real quick then go in. The guy comes back and said that President Miller told me to tell you that you owe him a chocolate shake!   haha He said to go in and change and enjoy your session.  SUPER cool.  I just got to go in and my worries all went away. Man I love my mission president. The temple was super special and sacred for me. I felt the Spirit so strong and to renew my covenants again was really powerful.  I felt forgiveness for my past mistakes from the last 7 months and now feel like a new clear man ... striving to do even better before I return in October to the temple again. 

I learned a lot and my mission president gave us a special promise and blessing that I won't share (just through a letter) but really was special and has changed my mindset on a lot of things! 

Well, my thoughts for the week are this... all of my most clear and fond memories have been the sacred spiritual feelings I have had in my life, even from before my mission. MANY have come to my mind the past few weeks and I love it. The baptism and then the temple were just so amazing to me, and gave me perspective on my purpose as a missionary and how real the Plan of Happiness is and how we truly are just here to be servents to those in this life as well as those in the next. Cherish all of the spiritual moments in your life when you have felt God communicate directly to you.  Then record it so that you and your posterity for generations down will feel that same Spirit you did when you wrote it. 

Love always,

Elder Taylor 

The baptism!! Love this family.

The boyz!  Love these Elders.  I have 5 companions in that photo right there.  Such a blessing to somehow be with almost all of my companions in the temple that day. 

Sister Brown.  She is from Laie, Hawaii and always gives me the Hawaiian goodies she gets sent to her.  Auntie Winnie was her teacher in Hawaii so she knows Uncle Morris and Amanda.  Also, Elder AhLoy is in the picture because he was born in Hawaii and is a 'lil Hawaiian! haha 

This is a real email i just got from someone I baptized. This is real and how hard the adversary works against those who choose to follow Christs example and be baptized a member of His true Church ... the adversary never quits and gives up on trying to lead us away from truth! So proud of how strong she is to realize that this gospel is the most important thing in her life, not her friends... we need to all follow this example and show this kind of faith. 

"Hi, i just wanted to write to you because i was feeling a bit down and everyone else I text and talk to aren't up listening to what i had to say. LOL Well ever since my baptism i've been feeling great except for today, i was doing fine until some person just got tell me "I can't talk to you and be around u anymore because ur a mormon now". I was in shock, i was speechless and of all my feelings were hurt. I feel like crying here and just let it all out but i said to myself in my heart "No matter how many friends or relatives or people i care about i lose just because of my religion is not worth my time fighting for because i know God/Jesus Christ have a plan for me and if his plans were to not have these people in my life then it's probably for the better" I don't know how to take this in or how to move from it all i know is that it's already making me think a lot and making me feel sick to my stomach. I'll just have to endure to the end. Sorry i just needed to vent and needed someone to talk to that i can trust".

Baptisms on year mark. Full speed ahead!

Had a wonderful week last week. I've grown more and more in love with my mission everyday it feels like. 

As you know last week, on the 23rd, was my one-year mark and we also had planned TWO baptisms.  I'm not going to lie... I was nervous they were not going to happen. 

Shannon was supposed to get married the day before but he didn't go into town and get the marriage license.  So that put a little damper on things.  Then the other investigator we hadn't seen for like three days prior! 

Well, that morning I prayed earnestly that I would have a successful day and work hard to see those 2 baptisms come through. 

We went to Margarita's house in the morning and it looked like no one was home. She finally answered the door and I told her that, "today is the day Margarita!  You are going to get baptized. You ok with that?" She said she was ready and was excited too. SO... we went over the questions with her that they will ask in her baptismal interview.

When we left Margarita's house we were nervous that in the next 3 hours she would leave somewhere and forget because it has happened before.  So we called her 2 times within that time randomly and made up excuses to call!  haha It worked. The Crofts picked her up and then swung by to get us, but Shannon (who was supposed to get baptized too) wasn't in the truck and the Croft's said they stopped by and he said he will drive themselves in 30 min and go get the marriage license then meet up at the church. 

Well, that freaked me out!  Not to be mean, but if a Navajo ever says anything like that it means they are not going to do it and its not going to happen! haha  We got down there and I called 30 minutes later (when he's supposed to leave) and told him he better get his butt out the house to make it! ha He promised he would! 

Margarita got her interview and PASSED which is awesome because a few months ago she didn't so it was a huge hurdle to get her here again. She told us on the way down that she has wanted to be baptized for 2 YEARS now! What a miracle that was. 

Then Shannon showed up at the perfect time with his girlfriend and the marriage license.   The branch president came and then they got married. It was a beautiful event and the Spirit was there.  I got to sign the license as a witness of the marriage which was super cool!  After he went and got his baptismal interview, and also passed. We both went in to change for the baptism and then the baptisms happened. Not a lot of people here come to baptisms  but they are so spiritual. I felt the Spirit the strongest at this one. I was honored to baptize Shannon as well as give him the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. 

Afterwards we went to a recent convert's house and had Navajo Tacos for dinner (my favorite) and it was wonderful. I love their family and I feel at home every time I am there. 

My joy was full on my year mark day. The Lord has answered my prayers greater than I ever thought. He heard my cries and pleas and blessed me. I have never worked so hard for 2 baptisms my whole mission. 

Also, we are super close and basically have the expansion on the building!!!  We still have to get people to church and work hard but its basically going to happen and Salt Lake apologized to our stake president and said they were supposed to put a bigger building here from the start and that they will probably starting building THIS summer!!! :) So great! I met the Church's project manager when he was looking at the building and got some of the gossip of why he's here!  ha He said we could possibly be getting a full sized chapel ... so we will see!

Thanks for all the support. Miracles do happen guys, but only by our faith.

Elder Taylor 

The truck got stuck so i had to dig it out practically haha my comp thought it was funny to take pics of it! 

Playing basketball with the little kids on the dirt out here 

My comp has a sweet camera and took this picture 

We play hard core basketball on a lil hoop on the door, always a fun game of HORSE during lunch ha 

A Native here got me an Elk antler and we made home made Elk antler knifes and used a old hoarse shoe and heated and pounded it into a knife. 
This is ZW, hes the black Smith in Magdalena and is a member and a really cool guy! 

BAPTISMS!! 

Change: Training a new missionary again!

A lot has happened this last week ... we had a BAPTISM. It was Kathy Secatero and she is so amazing.  She's fully converted and her perspective on life is forever changed.  I'll talk more about it later in this email. 

I got called to TRAIN again so I'm picking up the brand new missionary tomorrow. I'm sad that I'm having to say bye to Elder Gibson; we were killing it but he was called to be a district leader in another area so I'm super proud of him.  He's been asking me advice but I know he will do great! 

My trainee is awesome!  I totally called it that I was going to be his trainer. Elder Magalei came up to me and gave me a huge hug and said that there are two "poly" brand new missionaries and I was like, YES, one will be mine!  I've been wanting to get a non-white missionary forever (haha) and I got one. Hes was born in Hawaii and now has lived in Utah for 4 years... he's Chinese, Hawaiian and caucasian. We are going to have a great time.  I can already see that he will hearken to a lot I say and really be a powerful missionary. 

My heart is full for the love I have here. I feel at home here; they have adopted me into their culture and hearts. Tomorrow is my birthday and a lot of people want me to come over and then come over for Thanksgiving.  I can't wait to really focus on the work here and to put all I have into these people. I'm changing even more things this next transfer and have set high goals that I want to achieve. 

It snowed up here last week and was so cool ... it was freezing cold.  I took some pics that I'll send next week. 

I got to see a ton of people today when we all met up to find out where we are going and who's going with who. I LOVED seeing old buddies and companions; it was one of the happiest days of my mission.  I'm so grateful to be a part of this marvelous work.  I am now more fired up and have a stronger desire to work even harder. I got to hear Elder Krebs, Ballif and Eaton (who called me when I was home to welcome me to the mission) and all of these other great missionaries' testimonies right before they went home. So sad to see them go. I spent last night at the zone leaders apartment and was with Elder Krebs one last time, writing in journals, and packing. 

Well, I got to go to dinner with a member in their spanish ward in Albuquerque last night and it was the bomb.  They had Carne Asada and all of this good stuff. They asked me to say the prayer so again I did an English/Spanish prayer!  haha I don't know too much Spanish but I tried. Then we went and had to go confirm a little kid who was baptized on Saturday and they asked who they wanted to confirm him and he pointed at me!  haha  They had to tell him I couldn't speak Spanish but I thought it was so funny;  I had just met him and he wanted me to do it at first.

Well, I don't have much time.  I have to go show my trainee around and get him settled in but know how much I love this Gospel.

I was SO humbled today to see so many great missionaries and see them going up and talking to my trainee and telling him about me and stuff.

Christ lives and He does lead this church and this work! 

Elder Taylor 

This is Kathy Secatero.  She will be the future Relief Society president here on the Res! 

Here is me and my new comp Elder Kaleb Keith Makoa Ame Ma'e Ma'e Ah Loy!

Haha!  Finally got me a "poly" comp!

Striving to illuminate Christ's qualities will enrich our lives

The seasons are changing... it has been getting colder and colder up here. This morning there was ice on our truck, and on October 25th there was a big hailstorm here ... it almost looked like snow. 

This past week I have seen great miracles, prayers answered and the fruits of my labors begin to come forth. 

We had a BAPTISM of Sydney Apachito on Saturday.  It was wonderful.  Her dad will be baptized in a week or so. We currently have SIX people on a date to be baptized this month! We are planning on getting maybe 3 or 4 more. It has been amazing to see the Lord's hand in all things.  

We have told and been told this past week that God had sent us at this time. As I've pondered my calling, and who I represent I feel I need to become more like Christ. There has been countless people in my life that I've felt the love of the Savior just from their presence and attributes. In Preach my Gospel it teaches that Faith, Hope, Charity, Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence and Obedience are all great attributes of Christ. I add to that Positivity (like my email from last week) as well as Focused. We all can work on each one of these. For me, as I've purified myself and become a more consecrated missionary I've seen my heart and nature change. Now I'm working to shift my sails into the direction of changing my attributes to be in-line with the "Lighthouse of the Lord."  If we focus on one attribute at a time and learn from it we will see that change in our lives. Serve, love and strip yourself of all pride; humble yourself, recognize you are not perfect and change your behavior. My thought is this... that God created us to have these Christ-like attributes listed above; that is the kind of intelligences we were made to be but because life on earth is a test we must work on those qualities. You will see that once you work on Charity and Love or whatever it may be that it will almost feel natural;  this is how you have always been... we are reminding ourselves of who we are destined to be. I gave a training on this a few days ago for a district meeting (a meeting with other missionaries) and the assistants to the Mission President surprised us and showed up. It was awesome to have them there and be part of it all.  I taught of Charity, Love, Virtue and Positivity. I left them with this statement and I'll leave the same one with you all... If we continue to seek for help to become more like Christ we will receive aid from heaven, and increased amount of courage and determination.  Then your confidence will increase in your pursuit to be who you are destined to be,,,  like our Loving Savior.

 
Miracle story:  so Charlotte and Billy Joe Guerro are two recent converts to the Church. They got baptized like 2 or 3 months ago.  Billy Joe baptized Sydney last Saturday because he is her grandpa so we thought it would be perfect for him to do it and he accepted. Afterwards they went to the Albuquerque temple to do baptisms. Charlotte said she saw angels in the baptismal water and all around it jumping up and down, almost like dancing, because of the excitement of the ordinances being done for them. She said she's never seen anything like it and told Billy Joe.  He said he saw the exact same thing too. They said they will forever cherish that experience and she said she didnt want to leave... she wanted to live in the temple !  We were taken aback hearing that.  We were hoping they would have a great time at the temple for their first time but we didn't expect that they would see something that spiritual. Temples are so truly amazing and those who are worthy do receive miracles.


We played basketball at the Wellness Center here on the Res and I taught my companion on Pday how to really shoot a basketball and do layups and stuff. There is this Navajo guy who we know from playing ball with.  His family is basically the toughest family on the Res and I think are a "gang".  They all wear blue bandannas and stuff.  He asked if we could split his wood because he broke his rib. So we did but there were a ton of other people who could of done it at the house, and he never came out to say hi to us. So, he played me in basketball and I will nicely say that I dominated him then and  he was humbled by that.   I called him out and asked, "Are you going to thank us for chopping your wood?! " He was caught off guard and said, "Oh, yeah... thanks."  I said, "Yeah, you never came and talked to us.  Now we are coming over to your house to talk to you about something that will change your life."  He said, "Uh, I'm might not be home."  Then I said, "It's fine we will stop by until we catch you."  ;)  haha  He was stuck and had no excuse so he said ok. My companion was tripping out because he couldn't believe I would call out this tattooed big gangster guy like that, and to get him to listen to us. For me I see EVERYONE as my brother and sister.  So if I gotta call out my brother, teach him a lesson and humble him because it will help then I will do it. I fear no one.  Now all of the scary wanna-be gangster kids here on the Res come up to me and want me to be on their team next time I play basketball or they tell me they have got my back if anyone trys to mess with me. It is cool because now the people who thought we were the weird white church men now think we are like the coolest guys on the Res. People's hearts will change IF you are level with them, think as they think, abd put yourself in their shoes; you will help mold them into who they ought to be
.
Thank you so much for all the support!  I couldn't do it without all of the prayers and love.

Elder Taylor 

My companion filmed me being funny and dumb in the church wearing my beanie like this!  ha 

Baptism of Sydney Apachito and the gang! 

A giant shovel I found.  Why would anyone have one this big?! ha 

 

This was the sunset from this week ... I'm in paradise. 

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 :)