November 30, 2009

The Samoan people have some weird foods. And when you clear your plate they really do force more onto it. I usually feel sick after dinner. Look up some of their food on the internet. Chop Sue is weird and so are plantains. Not my favorite but I can choke it down without any expressions on my face now!

We have a baptismal date on Dec. 23rd for Cindy and Trey. The great thing is they chose it themselves! We had to clear some word of wisdom things up but that was pretty easy. My life experiences have helped me so much already. I feel like I connect much better with the people. I guess I needed to go through that to be who I am today. I am just grateful that my family stood behind me and helped me through it. That goes to show you that Heavenly Father really does know what he is doing!

I have been rejected though and not only by people of other faiths but by people who are members. It's ok though everyone has their agency. Grandpa and Grandma gave me a great scripture in Alma 54:19. It'll help me out throughout my mission.

I can't wait for this baptism and to find more people to teach. I love teaching and interacting with these people. I hope I can help them see their potential and see God's love for them.

The devil is real! He has such an influence in this world that people will reject the truth. He will, at on point, try to get all of us to fall away. DO NOT GIVE IN! I am willing to do whatever I can to help anyone that feels his presence. Just let me know. I also know people who can help if I can't. If you need it you can find help and you always can pray to Heavenly Father for it.

My companion goes home in Jan. I will miss him he is really cool. I hope my companion after him is cool and we get along. Pray that I will be able to get along with anyone please!

I love you all and appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for me!

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor

November 23, 2009

Last weeks P-day was fun! A whole bunch of missionaries got together at the stake center. We played basketball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee. One of the AP's is really good at basketball. His name is Elder Ale, he is from Hawaii. He played for BYU-Hawaii. He makes EVERYTHING!!! and can jump.

My district is really cool. We have district meeting every friday. At the last district meeting we had this getting to know you activity. We were assigned one person to get to know and then we had to introduce them to the district. I got Sister Smith. She is from West Point, Utah. She came out on a mission to convert her sisters who live in Kansas. She loves her mission so far and has been out like 6 months. It was weird when I introduced her cause when I would say stuff she said I made it up but that was what she told me.... oh well.

We have to prepare 5 min talks for Zone Conference. I think it happens every 6 weeks. We can't have any paper up there with us or our scriptures. Everything has to be memorized... its kinda hard.

Here in this area it's different than most, we mostly work with inactive families. I met some families that are really cool. Sorry I can't spell their names I can't say them either cause they are Samoan. One that we went to yesterday was the Nussila's house. They are really nice and brother Nussila is in the bishopric here. They had 2 daughters, a niece, and one of their daughter's roommates. The roommate wasn't a member so they wanted us to teach a lesson. We decided to keep it simple and do a lesson on faith, prayer and God's love for us. We felt the spirit and both of us had a experience for each. It was great!!! At the end the roommate started shaking. We heard she had asthma attacks so thats what we thought it was. We gave her a blessing for that, she was shaking the whole time. After the blessing we found out that it wasn't a asthma attack but that she saw something. She felt something that was trying to stop her from hearing our message. I knew Satan was real but never have I had an experience like that.

As I was in church on Sunday, I was praying that I would be able to develop true charity for these people. As I welcomed them and conversed with them in the halls I felt God's love for them. I felt that they are his children and that he was proud of their decisions to be active in the church. I felt my love for them grow and for that I am grateful.

Love you all! Thanks for caring and keep up the good work!

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor

November 16, 2009

Hi! Hows everything going!? I just want to begin by saying I love you all! Yes I got my medication but I've only gotten one sweater so far. Keep an eye on my bank account please cause I have to buy a bike soon. We have a car one week then the next we have a bike. The extra memory cards sound like a great idea! If you send memory cards don't send them in a regular letter, a lot of missionaries say the get lost. Send them in a padded manilla envelope like the one I sent you that book in. The address for the mission office is 517 W. Walnut St. Independence, MO 64050. Send everything there with "Elder Zachary Taylor" on it and they will get it to me. If its a package you must send Priority Mail First Class or they can't forward it to me.

I am in the Blue Mills Ward in Independence Missouri. I am staying in a member's home. Their name is the Godfrey's. Its a little weird though because the Godfrey family has 2 younger kids and a older woman who is married and has 3 or 4 kids. (still haven't gotten that straight yet) Normally we wouldn't be able to live there because of the children, but we can. I don't really know why but I guess its nice and it'll save me laundry money.

The weather here is really weird. One second its warm and the next its overcast, cold, and raining. There are no mountains here at all, so its really hard for me to get my bearings, but it'll happen eventually. Lately its been windy and cold and rainy. The wind cuts through most clothes like they weren't there. Not a place for Mom or Britt lol.

My companion's name is Elder Jordan Owens. He is from Logan, Utah. He is really cool and chill. We get along much better than me and my MTC companion. He is from India but was adopted when he was 4 months old. He has been out like 21 and a half months, so he is going home in Jan. Then I'll get a new companion.

(Elder Taylor & Elder Owens)

Elder Owens says that Pres. Van Komen likes to keep his missionaries in one area for a long time. He say its likely that I will be here for 6 months or more. Which is cool cause then I can get to know the people very well. Pres. Van Komen and Sis. Van Komen are very very loving. I liked being around them and they made us all feel so comfortable. I'm excited to spend most of my mission with them. I will probably get a new mission pres. for my last 6 months.

The ward is not big but its 85%-90% Samoan. They are a different people. It seems like you have to prove yourself to them. They are cool and we get fed pretty much every night, which will cause me to gain weight :( They keep putting food on your plate even when you are full.

We don't do tracting at all, atleast not yet anyway. We have spent all our time visiting inactive people. There are a lot here. As soon as they get baptized they come and the fall off the face of the earth. We have visited some and they are nice but they have so many excuses of why they can't come to church. If they only understood how much it could bless their lives. We visit them and share a message with them. The spirit is there but they just don't seem to feel it. I really really want them to feel the spirit again cause if they do they will be remember why they joined the church in the first place.

There is one family in the ward who is incredibly nice. Their door is always open to us.They have had us over for meals anytime we are hungry. They have 4 boys. One is 11 and his name is Ronald his is big for his age and he is really cool. Then there is LouAllen, but we call him Munchie, he is a sophmore in high school and plays football. Then there is Jared he is a junior in high school and is the star linebacker but he recently tore his ACL so he is out. Then there is Ezra, he is 18 and graduated when I did, he is joining the Air Force soon. Their parents both served missions and are like second parents to us.

We might have 2 baptisms soon! There names are Cindy and Trey Hunt. Cindy is Trey's grandmother and is his guardian. They are really nice and called us and asked us to baptize them. I'm so excited to see their baptism because it'll change their lives so much!

Love you all so much! Can't wait to hear back from you next Monday, which are my P-days. You all have had such an impact on getting me here THANK YOU!!!!

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor

November 11, 2009

Elder Taylor left the MTC for Missouri today!

November 5, 2009

Thanks for all the packages. I really love the letters and all the pictures. Keep them coming! I love you guys!

Elder Ronald A. Rasband spoke at the devotional Tuesday. It was great. He spoke about being a BOLD missionary!

I'm still learning a ton! I know I still have a large amount to learn. I hope I learn it before I come home lol. Our district got to host the new missionaries yesterday! It was cool to interact with some people who aren't missionaries! We set goals as a district to stop being sarcastic and try to replace it with good humor. That will be really hard for me, as you all know, but I'm going to try.

Dad I think you should try to include Preach My Gospel in as many lessons as you can, and encourage your students to read it.

Well I know that this is the right place for me to be right now. I know that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. I love Heavenly Father and I know he loves us. I know the only way we can make it back to him is through the atonement of Jesus Christ! I know that
Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and I am very thankful that we have a prophet on the earth today, to lead us and direct us. I love all of you and hope the best for you!

Sure love you

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor