My Oh My, I Love The USA 7/4/16

My oh my, I love the good ol' US of A! We are having a Zone BBQ today and it'll be a ton of fun! I'm sure you are all very curious about Transfers, well here is the news... Elder McKinnon is leaving me and headed to Don Valley (Toronto) to train a new missionary! 

He will be on Buses and he is super excited! For me, I'm staying and Elder Tuahivaatetonohini is coming to Barrie with me! He goes by Elder T because nobody can say his name. Anyways, he is awesome, he's been out for about a year and a half and he is from Tahitit! I'm really excited to see what happens this transfer! Something really cool though, last week we started to teach a new family from Cameroon. The Husbands name is Roderick and he speaks english but their first language is French, so is Elder T's which will be really cool because they can be taught in their own language. I'll just sit and testify in English. Maybe I'll pick up some french! 

This Week went really well! We did so much service, I couldn't believe how much we actually did. Here is a run down of what happened.. We moved Sister Weaver Monday, Tuesday we moved the Todd's and used a power washer to clean a members deck. Wednesday we pulled up some carpet for a member and then made a flour bed for another member and Thursday we installed flooring, Saturday we mowed Sister Todd's lawn! It was a crazy busy busy week. Our investigators are doing pretty well, we had a hard time this last week meeting with all of them but we have a super packed week this week!

At church we had 2 random investigators show up, it was soo cool. One of the investigators the Sisters are teaching got up in testimony meeting and talked about how strong the spirit was at our church compared to other faiths! It was really cool! :) 

We took the bikes out and had an awesome day, found a few people to possible begin teaching! While we were out I was thinking a lot about a few things and I come to a realization of the importance of loving every single moment of our lives, even when it seems boring, hard, difficult, when we enjoy those times, we really come to find a lot more joy. I've been really trying to work on that and I've seen it influence how excited and happy I've been! 

I hope you all have a blessed day!

Love you all!

Elder Taylor

A friend from long ago 6/27/16

Elder Beddes and I went to Farmington Junior High together. 

I Love My Mission 6/27/16

It is definitely June, it is so hot and humid outside! Holy cow... hahaha, I can't even believe how hot an humid it is. Feels like South America. Anyhow, here's a rundown of our week!

Taylor, our investigator, is doing super awesome! We committed her to July 30th as a baptismal date, and she was like "definately, she then said, we might have to push it back because I'm having a baby on the 22nd, but let's try for the 30th!!" Oh man, it's so cool, and the gospel is truly blessing her so much! Something really cool that happens in life is when a big change is taking place, a birth, death, move, job change, ect. People become more open to the gospel, because they begin to search for answers to questions like Why am I here?, where did I come from? and Where am I going?

Marlin, our investigator from Mexico decided this last week that she no longer wants to investigate, so that was sad to see, we were pretty devastated by that, but it just isn't her time right now we guess.

Thursday we had Zone Conference, it was absolutely amazing! It was the last time we saw President and Sister Clayton, it was so sad to see them go, but their testimonies were so strong and powerful! they gave us all sorts of advice for after our missions, which was weird to hear, but I took notes so in a year I can pull the notebook out and look back. Next time I see President Clayton might be on the TV screen at general conference! President Shields lands here tomorrow night and as soon as the plane touches ground, President Shields is the new Mission President. Wednesday President and Sister Clayton go to the Temple to learn how to perform sealings and then they fly home early Thursday morning. 

This week I learned a lot about the Power of Priesthood blessings. We were able to give some and be a part of some and the spirit was so strong, miracles were performed, so much council and guidance was given. It's an amazing experience to be able to stand and say the things the Lord would say himself. 

This week is the Last week of the transfer! Week 6 here we come, boy am I excited to see what this week brings!! I'm hoping the I get to stay with Elder McKinnon for his last transfer, but you never know. I didn't think that we were going to have a change last transfer, but lone behold we did!

My mission means so much to me, it's hard to put into words what it means to me, but it has truly changed me, it has made me better, it has taught me what the Atonement is, and how do use it daily. Most important, my mission has taught me that when you lose yourself in the service of others, that is when you find yourself. My desires, hopes, and dreams have completely transformed over the last year. I've learned what it means to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and I've learned how repentance truly does work, it's all because of the Miracle of the Atonement. I absolutely love this gospel, I have learned how important it is to turn Doubts into Questions, and when we help others do that, it creates an environment where the spirit and teach us. I'm grateful for the refiners fire, for the change that can take place when one truly submerses themselves in the in Gospel. It's true, it all is, I know it! 

Love you!!

Elder Taylor