Pictures

Elder Nicholes, Elder Glaves, Elder Owens, the couple who were baptized, Elder Taylor

Elder Nicholes, Elder Taylor

Elder Owens, Elder Stanford, Elder McMurray, Elder Taylor

Elder Taylor, Elder Ale, Elder Owens

Buffalo Wild Wings on transfer day

"This is a really big and cool truck that made the 6'5" guy look small!"

December 30, 2009

Greetings Everyone!

Happy Holidays, even though they are over, hope you had a great Christmas.

Me and my companion are both staying in our area for another 6 weeks so we finally got to go to Sam's Club a week ago. I love that place. We spent all the first half of the week trying to get things ready for the baptism on Wednesday.

To prepare for the baptism we had to fill all the talk spots, prayer spots and preformance spots. We had the young women sing while they were changing and had the Teo boys and their two cousins sing at the end.

We practiced with the boys all week before the baptism. The songs they sang were "He will carry you" and "How can I be". They were amazing! The spirit was so strong and it was a great way to end the night. I am so thankful they were willing to perform. I will help everyone when I get home.

This was my first baptism! I'm so happy these two made the choice to be baptised. They 14 year old boy said "To me baptism is like falling back into God's hands and knowing that he will put you in the right direction." I have never heard such a accurate desciption before. I know that if I wasn't baptized I would be on troubled kid/young man. (I still feel like a kid but I get treated like an adult.)

Elder Owens old companion, Elder Glaves came down and spoke at the baptism. He also taught these two. He got a new companion this transfer and it was one of my MTC district members, Elder Nicholes! I was so excited when I found out that he was coming down. He is a great missionary and I know he will be a leader soon. He is already so knowledgable in the field. I hope I can learn as fast as he can.

On Christmas Eve our area recieved a lot of snow. Between a foot and two feet! Everyone was so excited to have a white Christmas. We spent Christmas at the old bishop's house and at the Teo's house. We had an amazing Christmas! I got to talk to my family and that was great! They are such a blessing in my life.

All Christmas Day we were able to give service to everyone around us. We shoveled driveways and pushed many cars. I loved it! If you want a tip on how to be happier just go serve someone else it really does work.

I would've emailed earlier this week but the weather has made it difficult. We are going to teach a family tonight and I am really excited. Hope you all are staying warm and safe. Love you all!

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor

Some Pictures

President & Sister Van Komen, Elder Owens, Elder Taylor

Elder Nielson, Elder Owens, Elder Taylor

December 21, 2009

Hello everybody,

Last Monday we had a district P-day. We all met at the Zone Leaders' chapel and played volleyball and basketball. My volleyball experience was not the best because I am very competitive and I basically suck at volleyball so I got frustrated. And to make matters worse we had a sister that thinks she is the best at volleyball and she kept getting mad. Nobody else was very good though so it was alright. Basketball was fun as it always is. You just can't beat a good game of b-ball. Me and companion stayed the night at the Zone Leaders because they were coming to Blue Mills the next day to drop E. Nielson off at the stake center. He plays the piano in all the Christmas Zone Conferences. So we had his companion with us.

On Tuesday we just drove other missionaries to the stake center. They were in the Christmas thing too.

On Wednesday we had a car so we had to go to the other district's meeting. After we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and it was free. The guy who owns it is LDS and he picked up our tab for us, cool huh? We also got some shopping done at Best Buy and Walmart. We had the ward Christmas party that night. As I was helping put stuff out. I was carrying a turkey and the juice spilled all over my pants and suit coat. Now I got to find somewhere to wash it. When it came time to get the food it was awkward because they have the missionaries go first and nobody else can go until we sat down. Everyone was just staring at us. E. McMurray got Bells Palsy so I told him about Raul's experience with it. His isn't as bad as Raul's was.

Friday we had exchanges again. I went with Elder Nielson. We had district meeting first. We all signed each other's journals because transfers are coming up. While I was with E. Nielson we had dinner with the Fosters. They are from IF and know Sid and Sherry's family.

On Saturday we found out my companion is now the District Leader. Which means I am the DLC or District Leaders Companion, which means nothing lol. I was told by our Zone Leaders that, that means I will probably be the DL because I am not a troubled missionary. They usually put the troubled missionaries with the DL's so they can motivate them.

We have the outline for the baptism this Wednesday all made up. Its so exciting to see others getting baptized. I know they are making the right choice and will be able to feel the Holy Ghost more fully in their lives.

Love you all!

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor

December 14, 2009

Hey everyone! Hope you are doing well.

Well last Tuesday we had Elder Nielson, one of our Zone Leaders, stay at our house for two nights. He was only suppose to stay for one because he was going to Witchata to play in a Christmas musical but it was snowing so bad that Pres. had to cancel it. It was cool having him there because of his influence he had. I understand why he was called to be a Zone Leader. His companion Elder McMurray stayed with some other elders. He is going home next week! Weird huh?

On Tuesday night we had dinner with a family in the ward. She had invited a co-worker over to meet us. He brought his two sons one 12 years old and one 7ish. They were an AMAZING family. He is so ready to hear our message. Its true a testament to God preparing his children to receive his Gospel. This guy believes that families are the most important thing in life and that if everyone got back to good ol' fashion family values that the world would be a much better place to live. He values family and service, he seems ready to me!

On Wednesday night we went to Hawthorne to visit some people. Hawthorne is suppose to be the most ghetto place out here. Everyone talks about it like its super bad but I didn't feel that way at all. They are just in expensive living quarters. Well anyway, Elder Nielson served in Blue Mills Ward back at the beginning of the year so he wanted to go see some former investigators. We went to see them and they said we were an answer to their prayers. They had fallen back into some of their former problems and had stopped attending church, so they had started praying for some help then we showed up. I'm glad they feel that way and I really hope we can help them overcome their trials. They have the right attitude and are great people. While there we also visited a young couple with a set of 5 month old twins. They also were former investigators, they were really nice and want to start coming to church as well. They had me hold one of their little babies and it hit me what a miracle birth is. These children are their responsibility and they are doing a good job raising them and trying to make the right decisions for them. It was good to see a great family moment.

Well this week it has been FREEZING cold! It got down to 7 degrees outside. Something to understand is that 7 degrees here is much colder than 7 degrees out west. It is humid here which causes the cold to cut through whatever you are wearing. That coat that I brought is great though I would already be a popsicle without it. Thanks Brother Cameron!

Well before we can drive we have to memorize a scripture for each bullet point of each lesson from Preach My Gospel. Not only that but we have to know what to talk about in each section. We pass the first one off to our trainer, the 2nd and 3rd to our District Leader, and the 4th and 5th to one of our Zone Leaders. I passed off the first one and am halfway through the second one. Its really helpful and I can see its value.

We had Zone Conference on Friday. It was so cool! I loved being there. When I walked in I noticed the love that was presiding. I never have felt that much love other than in the temple and when I'm with my family. I certainly haven't felt it from that many strangers. We hear from our mission president and his wife, our AP's, and some other guy. (I didn't catch his position) It was great! I love our president and his wife. You can feel the love they have for us and the Lord just pouring out of them. They make us feel so comfortable I'm honored that I get to spend most of my mission with them leading us. Our AP's are also great they are so knowledgeable and willing to help us with anything. One is from Las Vegas! We also got to hear some great Christmas music. It was really cool and we have some great talent here in the mission. One sister who was really good at piano was from.... yup you guessed it Las Vegas! We gotta rep Vegas even out here in Missouri!

This Sunday we had a guy come into the church. He was having some trouble in his life. He lived in a bad place that had drugs and much other stuff happening. He told us lots of sad things that have happened to him, his wife and their 4 children. I wanted to help them so badly and I didn't know how. We got a number for a bishop that we could call. Everyone thinks that they were just telling a story. They want the church to buy them a house, a little much yes. I felt bad and hope that they can overcome any of their problems they have for the sake of their little children. I know the Lord will provide a way for the humble and willing.

I love you all and hope everything is going great for you! Just remember to lean on the Lord for he will help you and will strengthen you. He loves us and wants to see us happy.

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor

December 8, 2009

Hey everyone!

Well at the beginning of last week I went on exchanges with our Zone Leaders. I went up to Warrensburg with Elder Nielson and Elder Owens, my companion, stayed in Blue Mills with Elder McMurray. While up in Warrensburg the first night I got to meet a really cool family named the McCormicks. He has been looking at a bunch of churches trying to find the right one. He has a vast knowledge of many different sects, he is just like Joseph Smith! We taught him and his family the first lesson. They were very receptive but I won't get to teach him anymore because he isn't in my area. They next day we visited a lady that had more than 7 cats in her house... I really don't like cats as most of you know and I'm allergic to them. So when they would try to walk on me or anything I would just hit them so they'd fall on the floor. She didn't mind at all. We then went to the battered women and children's home. It was really cool there we only got to see the lady in charge of it. She is a recent convert. She seems like an amazing individual. After that we went to this German lady's house. Her son recently committed suicide and she is pretty sad. We showed he the Families Forever dvd and she liked it. She wants to come to church but her husband doesn't want her to and she doesn't want to upset him. Hopefully his heart is softened because she really wants to go. After that we did some service on a farm. We dug fence post holes and poured concrete. That was pretty cool because the brother we were helping was quite the character.

This exchange was different. Usually they are only 24 hours but my and Elder Nielson's companion came up to Warrensburg and the 4 of us stayed the night at their place. We had interviews the next morning and we decided to save some miles and gas by not driving back and forth.

Interviews were from 7:50 A.M. to 2:30. It was very long but fun. I got to meet lots of missionaries and I hope that I get to be their companions before they leave. We did some district unity games while we were waiting to get interviewed. We played a game where 2 people went to the front of the room and they could only ask each other questions. But the questions had to kind of answer the last question and they had to be related to the lessons we teach. Me and Sister Blunt were up there for a LONG time until I quit because she eventually asked if I wanted to have children and it really surprised me. She said sorry for the awkward question but it was funny. We order this HUGE pizza that wasn't very good but it was cool because it was gigantic. How they do interviews is one companionship goes but Sister Van Komen takes one and President Van Komen takes the other. I went with Pres. first. He is really cool. I was kinda nervous but it was just a conversation between us. He told me something that made me feel a lot better about myself. He said that he could tell from my Spirit, that I carry, that I would be a leader in the mission before he left! I can't believe he would say that I was so happy cause I was worried that I wasn't strong enough for all this but now I know that I am. Sister Van Komen also said something to me she said that she loves being around me because she can feel love pouring our from me. I thought that was really cool, I don't notice it but hopefully its true because the Savior loved everyone so I should too. We did some object lessons and since I'm the new one they all pick to have me do them. Some of them were pretty cool.

Oh and last night we met this amazing family. It was this guy Bill and his two sons Cody and Austin. They were amazing. He is ready to hear the Gospel. He said he would love to met with us again. I hope it works out. He said that if families were more valued that society would be much better off. He is so ready!

Well I love you all! Keep up the good work. Look for member missionary work its out there and it helps so much! Invited people to dinners and invite the missionaries over. If your having a hard day read Isa. 41:10 its really cool.

Love,
Elder Zachary Taylor