Goodbye Alamo!

So, I've got big news.  I just found out two days ago that I am getting what they call "Emergency Transferred."  A normal transfer for us missionaries is every 6 weeks and that means we will stay in an area until then and after that there is a chance that we can be moved.  Well, long story short, it's only been 3 weeks and half of my district is leaving. One of the Elders in Socorro is being sent home and one of the sisters is being sent home for health problems; the other sister is going with another set of sisters in the mission and the area is being closed down!  So, after President tells me all these crazy changes he says that I'm being sent down now to Socorro and to pack my bags and say my goodbyes on Alamo. So, that’s the news.  It was really hard to hear at first but I've come to know it’s the Lord's will not mine.

My companion says I'm like going to be a Band-aid and that I'll be going down there to help fix and bandage the area, which is true, but I don’t know how long I'll be there for though.  My heart hurt a lot to hear that after 3 weeks they are already closing down one of the areas in Socorro, and that 3 out of the 4 missionaries are leaving; but its ok because there is a plan for it all.

I bore my goodbye testimony this last Sunday.  When I got up to say that I'm leaving all I heard were gasps and people whispering "no."  I cried, of course, giving my testimony and sharing my love to them all and how much I feel a part of their family and culture! I LOVE this people: Native Americans, Navajos, and Apaches soooo much.  A common last name down here is Apachito so some people joke and say my name is Elder Taylor Apachito!  ha But I read the promise that I love the most to the Native Americans in the Book of Mormon and that is Mormon 7: 8-10. It says how they will come to the knowledge of their Fathers when they read this record and that they must follow Christ, our Savior, and that it will be well with them in the day of judgment if they follow this gospel. I think it really hit home to them. There are a lot of grudges and rumors and murmuring here on the res but I pleaded with them to forgive one another and help our brothers and sisters here to come to church and that when I come back and it’s the bigger building that I want to see it filled!

Many of the women were crying.  Its because once the natives let you in their heart and culture and trust you they feel heartbroken when you leave. Some are angry at “whoever is sending me away” but others understand. I tell all of them than I'll be back here in a year and will be in regular clothes coming to their houses to see them, my family, again. I said a few words in Navajo while giving my testimony and that was special too.

I know there are great things to come.  Elder Ahloy and Elder Farb will do a great job without me here...  I know its in good hands. The Lord needs all 3 of us to grow more and receive more responsibilities. I look forward to Socorro and the new and great big challenges that are waiting there for me. "The Lord calls us in our weakness, but He qualifies us for His work.”

I know who I am and what I'm capable of.  If we all just follow the Lord's call, whatever it may be, and become submissive like a child than He will guide and bless us more for He has a greater purpose. Sometimes He cuts us down to help us grow more than we were before.

Thanks for all of the support and prayers here for the Alamonites and for helping pray for the building expanison. I'll be here in Februrary next year to come to Alamo and visit all of my family :) 

Love,

Elder Taylor  

This morning we went with Anita, Angelita and Malcolm to hike by their house. 

It was awesome!  

I love this family.  I was there for Shannon and Sydney Apachitos baptism.

 Going to miss them. 

Great Experiences

So for this week's blog I just wanted to give a day-to-day update of my past week. I'm going through the highlights of each day to show you the life of a missionary and how many things come up.This is all quoted directly from my personal journal entrys… 

Monday: 

Gave Crystal Monte who is recent convert a blessing. The Spirit was so manifest it was amazing. She's in her 30's and is struggling with serious heath problems at a young age and is the mother of 5 kids. When the hands were laid on her head I paused for a second for the Spirit to guide me and she began to  cry.  I learned that we truly are the HANDS for God and that we are just acting for Him. She felt it just at the touch. I promised her that her two brothers, mother and grandmother (who are in the next life) are there and will be there to help carry her through her trials. My love is great for her and her family.  They call me : "Elder T" or the "white Navajo." 

Tuesday:

At times I think about my dreams a lot. Ever since day 1 in the MTC up until now I have had vivid dreams every night that I can remember. Every dream I am living the missionary standards or am literally a missionary. I guess if you’re a consecrated missionary you even dream about it! ha  SO, I wonder that when I'm home and have dreams if they will be me on my mission? Will they be as vivid? We will see…

I feel that I have been struggling a little bit with all the changes going on.  I feel like I am lacking in my diligence with missionary work; like I'm taking short cuts but you don’t do that in this calling.This isn’t a job or a salary pay; there is no loop holes in the ministry and work of salvation. God is the author of it so therefore it is perfect. If we, as humans, try to find loop holes or be lazy we will eventually destroy the plan and its purpose.

Wednesday: 

SO many times on missions the adversary attacks you with mental obstacles. He makes things harder for you by bringing up a past life or a mistake or a tragedy.  I am motivated though, at the same time, to be a way better man when I get home. It’s a blessing and a curse. I can see and reflect on how I was empty and unhappy then but am now filled with joy beyond capacity.  My desire for when I get back is to always have and be led and guided by the Spirit and to be a worthy priesthood holder.  Missions truly change us for the better. I feel like I've found out now who the real JUSTIN WILLIAMS TAYLOR is and how I need to stay this way.

Thursday: 

I feel that one of the best things I get to do as a priesthood holder (that I get to do a ton on my mission) is to give blessings. There is a member named Rosi Baca who texted us at 1am saying she was in pain and needed a blessing. So, the next day we were at the Crofts house and she banged on the door and came in limping. Her hip was really hurt. She popped it out. Long story short she asked me to give her the blessing and it was so powerful. I felt true direction from our Heavenly Father. Rosi was saying that because we didn’t answer that she almost went to the Medicine Man (Native American Traditional Church) to be healed but she says we know where he gets his power from. She said she almost turned away.  Well, in the blessing it said the power of God is far greater than the power of the Devil. She felt that her enemies on the reservation are putting a curse on her and I also commanded whatever power that was to also leave! It was a crazy night. A lot of weird but spiritual things. Priesthood is real.

Friday: 

Cathy, a recent convert I baptized a few months ago, has been running around crazy. Rewarding to see her this morning. Well, we have been teaching and talking to her about temples lately and doing the work for those who have passed on. She told us of a dream she had that her friend who is dead was talking to her and she went to him. She mentioned she has had many dreams like this or has heard or felt the presence of those who are in the spirit world. She said they were being taught by someone else and learning things but was in a dirty place. Another came up to her and told her his name and then walked away. She said she asked her friend when telling this story if he knew the name of the man in her dream and he said yes, that it is one of my friends who passed away a while ago. This had motivated her and made her decide that she needed to go to the temple.   

At scripture study Rosie said that instantly after the blessing she began to feel less and less pain in her body, specifically her hip. Her countenance had changed in one day; she was happy, had laughter,  joy and peace. I called her attention to it and said look at the difference from last night to now... its because the power of God is more powerful than anything. His priesthood healed you physically as well as emotionally and spiritually because of your faith and His love for you as His daughter.

Saturday: 

On exchanges in Socorro. Had a great district meeting; taught them the 3 S’s to successful teaching. Randomly saw President and Sister Miller at the gas station down in Socorro on their way to El Paso. I love my mission president; he is great at praising and motivating missionaries. I love being on exchanges and helping the missionaries I'm over. Trying to find ways to help them always improve. Almost got eaten by these sketchy pit bull dogs chained up at this guys house.  Went to the Technical College there and felt super uncomfortable around all these science kids and a lot of white people... not used to it! We got chalk and for a way to find more people to talk to we drew out the plan of salvation on the floor right in the middle of campus... it was awesome. Got to talk to a lot of the college students there passing by.  Talked to a guy doing a yard sale who said he didn’t believe in God and that his life turned to crap and that this summer he was going to end his life. I felt so sick to my stomach and my heart hurt. I tried telling him why God lets hard times come and how much He loves us but he seemed not to care. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have of a Plan of Happiness. I miss Alamo already... I'm not used to a city! ha

Sunday: 

A beautiful morning sunrise... half the sky is filled with storm and rain clouds by the mountains with sunshine piercing through the gaps and giving ray of sunlight on the Alamo. How beautiful is this earth?  The Creator made this a special and wonderful place.

Elder Farb felt sick this morning so I went to sacrament while Elder Ahloy stayed in the trailer with him. Beautiful testimonies were born. Rosi went up and said I got a blessing and it has helped me so much. Spoke about her trial earlier that week and the miracle of the Gospel. She said, "I did what you said Elder Taylor... I went to the temple, not knowing why you told me to do so in the blessing, but I just trusted in the words that God told you to say. When I was there I felt like putting names on the prayer roll. The first name that came to mind was my niece Jenessa... I had no idea why. Later, come to find out, that she got in a car accident and somehow made it out with only a few bruises."  When I heard Rosi’s testimony it helped me know that someday all the members here will be as converted as she is and will go to the temple often.

Later I had to go by myself to branch council and figure out the mission plan and also do correlation and be part in a blessing of a man with an addiction.  Only got to visit 2 people because Elder Farb still wasn’t feeling good. Taught Cathy's son Bruce the piano and how to read notes and stuff. She told me on March 22^nd she's going to the temple to do baptisms and she wants me to do the names of the men in her family and for me to baptize her in the temple. SO SPECIAL! One of the happiest things I've heard. To baptize her for herself and then in the temple for her family... so cool.

I've been on the phone all the time;  I don’t know why but everyone seems to be calling me lately or I have to be making calls to other missionaries to certain issues coming up, but I love it...  the stress, pressure, more responsibilities because I get to learn and grow.”

That is all for my entries of the past week. I hope this made sense; I wanted to change it up and share with you all personal things I've written while out here in my journal.

I pray that we may look into our lives and ponder, learn wisdom and serve others for truly that is why we are here.

“Don’t pray for lighter burdens...  Pray for a stronger back!” Unknown

Love always,

 Elder Taylor

Parts taken from Personal Journal #2 Pages 49- 62  

So this is my Shi Ma Anita... she taught me last week how to braid hair Indian style and this is the beginner one. Anita was laughing the WHOLE time I was doing it!   haha She's going to teach me how to do a more complicated one next week but I love her. That family has a very special spirit there and a family I'll never forget.

Cut Out Apathy

Hey everyone... I had a great last week. I got the new companion settled in and all is well.  There are 3 of us and we are working hard and focusing on our purpose. 

I love a good challenge and that's what I feel I have overall with all of the new changes going on! 

Our mission president a few weeks ago talked about cutting out apathy ...  Apathy means a lack of emotion or interest.   So I looked for scriptures to teach to some missionaries that I had in a meeting and this is what I found... 


38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thingwhich our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.  39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness. 40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God;therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day. 41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and thenthose marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in theirjourney; 42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel adirect course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because oftheir transgressions.   

So, in the Book of Mormon we are taught a valuable lesson... that a family or group of people or individuals who were faithful received miracles and guidance with their "compass." Now, for us, we all don't have a Liahona but we have the Holy Ghost which is like a Liahona. If we have faith in the Lord and our Heavenly Father and if we need help and guidance He will do so BUT we need to have "works" too. Work is key to many things; we need to push forward and make things happen and turn to God. I love the quote I heard that says, " Work as if it is all dependent on you, but have faith as if it is all dependent on Him."
 When we do all we can the Lord will help us.  I don't know about you guys but I'd much rather be guided by God than to do it by myself... I'd mess up SO much.   The reason those people in the scriptures messed up is because they had APATHY!  They were " slothful, forgot the exercise faith, diligence."  They got caught up in the "norm" of things; in the world or the Natural Lazy Man.  They thought they could clock out and take a break for a little bit and that God would still do everything for them. PROBLEM. God doesn't spoon-feed us when we are hungry and send down money if we need it or wash our clothes if we are tired. He doesn't work that way. We are all children, even if we are old or young, and the only way a child can learn is by doing things themselves. 

We cannot have apathy towards our family, our job, our callings in church, our children, friends, school or whatever it may be. Again, APATHY is the lack of emotion and interest. We need to have emotions in all parts of our life; to be filled with joy and love and trust and faith. We need to be interested in people around us and interested in our responsibilities so that God can bless us for our works and faith.  

If you need a break then pray and ask for help, take a deep breath, read some scriptures, go on a walk, or do whatever you need to do but DO NOT build up APATHY.  Don't lose your purpose or focus or faith in God and become lazy; always be anxiously engaged in a good cause!! 

Thank for all your support and love. I pray this helps you or someone else that  you feel needs to hear these things! 

Love,Elder Taylor 

Me and my Shi Ma ( Anita ) looking at her horse named Lady

This dog was staring at us the whole time we were knocking on this guys door ... 

Me and Elder Ahloy!! 

Yeaaaa ....  I'm a great leader and example ... falling asleep while planning district meeting! haha 

Fisheye lens picture! 

My comp was playing with his camera and took a picture that lighted everything up.. kinda cool 

Additional companion

Hey not a big email ... don't have time!

Transfers was today and I'm staying! Elder Ahloy is staying too but we got a 3rd companion whose name is Elder Farb from Beaverton, Oregon.  He's a good kid.  President wants me and my companion to work the heck out of him and make him the best missionary he can be so thats what we will be doing!

I'm also staying to oversee a new area in my district open up since I was the one who discussed it with our mission president.  Now it is happening ...which is great. Socorro hasn't had a baptism in over a year and with 4 missionaries now I know it will pick up! 

A lot of new exciting things this transfer mission-wide!  The Lord really does inspire our mission president! 

I hate seeing missionaries go home... I don't want to go home! 

I'm driven more now then ever for this next transfer to make big things happen!! 

Love to you all, sorry for the lame email! 

Elder Taylor