August 16, 2010

Hello everybody!!! I would just like to say that this past week has been the best week of my entire mission! I hope everybody else had a good week too. Remember that it still can be good even if it was busy.

So I forgot to tell you all last email that I had to go to a Leadership conference this past week. I left Monday night and came back Friday morning. I was pretty nervous about it because I would have to leave my area for a whole week. We were lucky though because the other DLC, District Leader Companion. Came up to our place for half of the time so it worked. They found a brand new investigator while I was gone!

So this week was cool. I was scared because it will bring big changes in all the missions in the whole world. The missionary board came out and said that missionaries are not using Preach My Gospel effectively. They want to start a brand new simplified MTC curriculum. So I thought it was going to change so much that it would throw us off.

When I went there it was the best thing I have ever done! I was so thankful for the opportunity to go and to learn these things early on in my mission. I was able to change my whole outlook on missionary work. The funny thing is that they didn't teach us anything new. It was all on feeling the Spirit. It was interesting that I was able to have that experience with the minister before I went. During this last week I really learned how the Spirit speaks and how to tell what it is that he is saying. I was able to see that the Spirit doesn't just prompt you in a direction but will tell you exactly what to say and do. I have never felt the Spirit work through me like I did in this last week! I am so excited to be able to use it in my teaching!

We then came home and then I did a baptismal interview. I was so bless to be able to do the interview. I couldn't believe how prepared this man was. He had been taught by missionaries for 7 years but he just got baptized this last Saturday. He had such an amazing testimony and Spirit about him. I was honored to do his interview.

We then got to go to the temple the next day. It was SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Patti was so excited and happy that we all got to be there. We went to the distribution center. It was a cool experience because 2 of Elder Gustafson's recent converts were there preparing to do baptisms. They saw him and came to say hi. He was so happy. He also got to go down and do their confirmations! He was so happy and full of joy. Then we went through with Patti and she was so happy and had pure joy on her face. I have never before been as happy as I was that day!

It was the most peaceful and tiring week of my life. I grew so much and really figured out how to keep growing. I love the Lord and I love the blessing of the Holy Ghost. I also love you all! Wow filled with lots of love but that is a product of what I learned!

--
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor

The Four Elders

 We couldn't help it!

  Patti after the temple. With Me, Elder Gustafson, Elder Lesuma, and Elder Childs

  Us again

The elders we stayed with for the leadership meeting

The elders from my MTC district that were at the leadership meeting

August 9, 2010

Hi everyone!

Well this week is another scorcher! The heat index is at 112 degrees! Hot hot hot and more humid. Not my favorite combination. I really miss the dry heat. It is the best. So don't take that for granted. 

So this last week was also really really slow. We still taught our key/ most interested investigators. They are all coming along quite well. The retired Methodist minister and her husband got moved into their house so we will now be able to have more organized lessons. The lessons we had before were more of talking while we were painting. We had our first sit down lesson the other day and I felt the Spirit very strongly. I can't remember much of what I said or what was said I just remember knowing the answer to each question. I know I am not that smart so I know for a surety that it was the Holy Ghost guiding me. I have had a hard time being able to tell the difference between my smarts and the Holy Ghost. I came to the conclusion that if I pause and wait then the Holy Ghost reveals the answer to my mind. In turn I have no fear about what I am going to say because it is truth from God. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost and how much it has helped me and will continue to help me if I draw on it.

I love the fact that there are people out there that are ready to listen to us. I feel so honored to be able to be as close to the Lord's work as I am right now. I can tell you all at home that if you want to be instantly happier that all you have to do is share the Gospel with one of your friends. You will be surprised at how much they will respect whatever you say because you are friends.

I love you all! So when you are down maybe that will help cheer you up haha!

--
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor

 Elder Gustafson all dressed up.

E. Gustafson and his "Green Squall"

 E. Gustafson, Patti and Me... 


Shelby and me

 

 August and I (part of Shelby she was jumping)

Shelby and I Cheesy smiles all around 

August 3, 2010

Hello everybody!

Sorry I didn't send out my an Email yesterday but yesterday the computers stopped working so we had to come and get on today to get the emails finished up. This last week was really cool!

We got to teach this guy that came here from Brazil. He is engaged to one of the women in our Singles Ward. He came here and he is the one that asked us if we could help him with baptism. We, of course, jumped on the teaching opportunity and he now has a baptismal date for the 28th of this month. Now that date should sound familiar to some of you because it is a very important day in history.... it is my Birthday!!!! Haha ok so not as important to some of you as it is to me but still.... That is going to be the best birthday ever! This month is going to be really really cool! We are going to the temple and so that is sweet.

This last week was a very good week. We had almost twice as many lessons to investigators as to less actives. Which is really good because that means we are bringing new people unto the Savior. We have been with the retired Methodist minister a lot this last week and she is so sweet. She said she has adopted us as her own kids. I love her.

We also had a really cool experience last Sunday in Singles Ward. It was fast Sunday and that means testimony meeting. So testimony meeting in the Singles Ward is usually very good but this last week was the best. So we have someone who has a bunch of friends who are members and they have been talking to him a lot. He has come to church once and that was good. So this Sunday he gets up and bears his testimony! It wasn't about Joseph Smith or anything but it was so good. He said "I am not ready to say that I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet or to say that I know this church is true.... yet. But I do now know that there is power in prayer and that, that is the only way that I will be able to find my answer." That was basically what he said! I couldn't believe it! We have a appointment with him tonight so I am very excited. We set a baptismal goal for this month and it will be hard to achieve but it is attainable. I have faith and a feeling that he will be part of that goal and he will become somebody very influential in the church.

I love my mission! I see some missionaries that are not having the times of their lives and it is sad. They are not letting the mission change them so that is why they are not getting anything out of it. I don't think any of us realize our potential as divine sons and daughters of God. Just really think about that. We really are princes and princesses of the most high. Can you image if we all were able to realize our potential in this life. I would challenge you all to take some time and try to wrap your mind around that. I know that I don't fully understand it and that if I do I would be such a better missionary. I love you all and hope you are all enjoying life and its challenges!

--
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor