March 29, 2011

So I just wanted to jump on the computer real quick to tell you all that I am being transferred to the Colley Creek Ward in Topeka Kansas as a Zone Leader. I love you all!
 

Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor

March 28, 2011

Hello everyone! How is it going? I am loving life right now! I feel so very blessed to be out here on the mission and helping people build a personal relationship with their Lord, Jesus Christ. I love it!

So last Monday was pretty fun. We decided to play football outside. It was a bright sunny day and so yes I got sunburned haha. It was fun though. After football we played soccer and that was a lot of fun. I was surprised at how much fun I had. I guess I should have stuck with soccer and not done football.... just kidding football is the best, next to lacrosse of course. So we play those two sports outside and then when everyone was done we still had some time left so we went to play basketball and frisbee at the church. It was just our district so just 6 of us but it was fun. Our dinner had an emergency so they cancelled on us but that was ok. We went to this restaurant that comps our meals as long as we give the waiter/waitress a five dollar tip. It is a really good place it is called the Jazz.

Tuesday was good. We went to Taco Tuesday but we didn't get any tacos because someone signed up to feed us lunch that day. It was fun to go and be with everyone for a little while though. We then went to lunch and it was really good. She cooked "American food" as she called it. It was wings and potato skins and rolls. For dessert we had these strawberry cake things. They were the bomb. They gave all of the rest of the food to us to take home! I was so excited because I LOVE wings. We got a message that day that told us who the new Assistant to the President is. It is Elder Lesuma!!!!! My old companion! I love him so much and I told him he was going to be an AP one day. He is going to do a great job! I am excited because he is the first AP that I know really good. We had a team up that night and so we went to go see the part-member family who has 2 little girls we are teaching. The girls weren't there but we still got to share a message. Then we went to try to see someone else by our house but they weren't home. We then saw this mom and her 2 daughters walking inside so I went up and talked to them. It was really cool because I was able to tesitfy of how the gospel has brought our family closer together and she invited us in right there. Our appointment went very good and she invited us back later this week!

Wednesday was pretty cool. We tried people through out the whole day but didn't have any luck. That is ok because we were able to give somebody a blessing and then after dinner we were able to see a part-member family. We got a ref for these people and she is the one without a background in religion. She understood what we taught about the Plan of Salvation very well. She is a busy girl though because she has tests going on but that is ok. She still meets with us so that is great!

Thursday was a good day we got to teach the Bergerhofers and so that was sweet. She was in a little bit of  a hurry to get to her dentist appointment but that is ok. Oh the Spanish elders showed up at our house with a brand new car! It is a 2011 Malibu! I was so excited because our old car was falling apart... literally. We were also able to see that lady we met earlier that week, Kendra. She was busy too but we got to come in and see her. We had dinner with a way cool family! We got to help them cook and then eat some really good burgers. We then got to teach the guy who lives with the Stevens and it was really cool. He said he wants to go to Liberty Jail with us.

Friday we had district meeting and we did service for it. We then went on exchanges with our Zone Leaders. It was really fun. I got to go to Overland Park with E. Benson. It was fun we got to see some recent converts and help them clean up their front room. Then we went to meet our dinner but he had gotten sick so he gave us money to go out and eat. He gave us $20 each! We were blow away by his generosity. We went to this Mongolian BBQ place and it was good but expensive, so I guess it was good he gave us that much. We taught this referral after and he was really cool. He had a bunch of knowledge of the Bible and was very spiritual. We then went to a ward party but got there as it was finishing. We then went home and to sleep because we were extremely tired. Oh and my comp set the Bergerhofer girls with a baptismal date for April 23rd!!!!!

Saturday we switched back really early because they had a meeting to go to. There was a baptism so we went to that and we were at that all day getting it ready and cleaning it up. Then we went to lunch with bishop and his family. They took us to the Vietnamese restaurant. It was really good. There were these sweet potato fries that had shrimp in it and you wrapped it in lettuce. It was really good. We were there until dinner time and then we had an appointment with Cedric. He is doing good but he said he wasn't coming to our church this week.

Sunday was a really busy day. We were asked to use the baptism to get the rest of the family activated. It will be a challenge but it will be good. Church was good we got to go into primary to help with sharing time. It was.... interesting. I have a great respect for those people who teach in that ward it would be a challenge. We then went home. It was snowing really hard all day after church. We then went to dinner with the Stevens, the people we live with. They fed all of the missionaries. It was really fun!

Well that was our week. Another great week out here in the mission field. I am grateful to be out here and grateful to all of you who worked so hard to get me out here! Thanks! Love and appreciate you all!

Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor

March 21, 2011

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great week! I sure have. I have been lucky enough to learn lots and lots of new things this week.

Monday was a good day. We got to play lots of basketball and I was on a team with a couple of guys who I really like to play with. While we were playing we got some information that we needed to go see someone in the hospital. He was diagnosed with leukemia. We went after we had dinner because they said it wasn't urgent and that he would be there for a long time. When we got to the hospital we found the area but it was locked down because of the state of the people that were inside. We had to buzz our way in through one set of doors and then had to wash our hands and wipe down any hard objects we had. We also had to leave our coats in that room. We then had to buzz through another set of doors. When we got inside we were told we also had to wear these yellow aprons. We looked a little funny. It was good though because when we went inside the man said "I have been waiting to see you guys!" with a huge smile on his face. He was really excited that we were there and he talked to us for quite some time. We then gave him a blessing. This man had the most positive outlook on life. He knew that this challenge was put in his life by God to get him back on track. He had told us that he hadn't been to church in a while but he was trying and now with this he realizes how much God is in control. He said it opened his eyes and he knows he will be alright and will come out of this a new man. I was very touched by how much faith he had in the Plan of Happiness. He was a very sick man but yet he didn't turn his back on God. In fact his trial brought him closer to God. I learned a great lesson from him and I was also rebuked. I have let things get me down and that was very selfish of me. I cannot let anything do that. When I do I am doing exactly what Satan wants me to do. I am out here to fight AGAINST Satan and if I am doing what he wants me to do that seems counterproductive. That was just Monday and I learned this! I knew it was going to be a good week.

Tuesday was very.... interesting. The people we live with, the Stevens, are out of town and we have a little apartment attached to their house. There is a young man living with them named Brion until he gets deployed in August. During our studies we heard the house alarm going off. We called Brion but he didn't answer. I had heard him leave that morning so we  knew he wasn't home. The police came and they found out that a dog was inside so they said it was probably him. We called the Stevens and they said that their dog is too small to set off an alarm. We inspected the house but there wasn't anything wrong with it. For the next hour or so we heard sounds coming from upstairs. After one very distinct sound the alarm went off again. We ran out to check all the doors and there was nothing. We called Brion again and he said he knew what was going on and came home. It turns out his little brother got into some trouble and asked to come over early that morning so he set off the alarms. That was a huge relief for us and then we just laughed afterwards because we thought it was something more. We then went to Taco Tuesday. I am going to miss those when it comes time for me to leave because they are really fun. We then tried to visit some people that day but nobody was home. We were a little frustrated but that went away when we started to prepare our talks for the next day.

Wednesday was cool. We had Elder Pearson come to our mission. He asked us all to prepare 5 min talks so we did. Those were the ones we were preparing on Tuesday. The conference was AMAZING! I learned so much! He was very.... harsh... and blunt but that was something we all needed. I learned about a lot of things that I could improve on and now the challenge is doing them. We all felt really tired afterwards and felt like.... well like we just got trampled by a herd of cattle but in a good way (if you can imagine that). We were all just very corrected by the Spirit. We had dinner that night with Brion. He cooked pork steaks and they were very good. We had our appointment cancel on us so that was disappointing but it worked out. We went over to this part-member family's house and were able to catch them. It was good to just talk to the mother about her kids and let her know where we see our teaching going so now we are both on the same page. She also said she has talked with her girls about being baptized so that is a good thing!

Thursday was really cool. We got to go do service with all the other missionaries for the Spanish elders baptismal candidates. We went to their house and did yard work for them. They had this pond outside that had some very horrible smelling water in it. It smelled like the nasty water we went repelling to in Zions. The water that had the dead frogs floating in it. Elder Adair and I were the ones with the buckets so we emptied the whole thing. We got a lot of work done. Raking, the water, removing the pond, building a walk way it was GREAT! While we waited for lunch to come we went and played soccer and basketball. We got back just in time to shower and go to dinner. After dinner we tried to see this lady Tamika but she wasn't home so we knocked doors and it didn't work out but I was so happy with our service that day it didn't get me down.

Friday wasn't the best day. I was sick all day long. It was the first time I threw up on my mission and I didn't enjoy it. There is a 24 hour bug going around that is doing that to people so I guess I got it. We went to dinner and I had a very small portion of spaghetti and rice. Elder Rodas took my big piece of chicken... he is a lifesaver.

Saturday was a rainy day. We were asked by the sisters to give a blessing and it went very well. We were also asked by Brion to help clean up the house and we did that. It was good timing because it was a rainy day and that isn't the best weather. I still wasn't feeling well so we took it pretty easy the rest of the day.

Sunday was alright. It was very hectic and a very stressful Sunday. I loved the sacrament though. Whenever I get the opportunity to take the sacrament I am very happy. I learn so much during those few minutes and I am able to read my patriarical blessing. I love it and I love the feeling I get that God is really there sitting next to me so I can just talk with him about my week. I love it! We had a good dinner that day. We were invited to this party thing where everyone brings some food and so it is really fun. We then went to see some people and went to the hospital with Brion to see his uncle. All in all good Sunday.

All in all good week. Its hard for it not to be good when you get rebuked so much by the Spirit. I love you all! Listen to that still small voice.

--
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor

 Nauvoo temple, when we went on March 4th

 E. Mena and I outside the Nauvoo temple

 A dinner that was dropped off to us, its a full fish just breaded

March 14, 2011

Hello everybody! How is everyone doing!? I am doing good except it snowed last night and today. I really am sick of the snow but that won't stop us from having a great p-day/ rest of the week.

So last Monday was pretty fun. I didn't play very well during basketball so that was very frustrating. We had a church tour with a family from our ward and that went really well. Before the church tour though we had a run in with the building manager and her got really mad at us for being there after 6 o'clock P.M. Even though we were doing missionary work. I don't really know what to do with him because he gets mad at us for something every week. The church tour went really well and then we had a good dinner afterwards. The family is really cool but they are on the Spanish side of the ward so we don't get to see them very much.

Tuesday was a good day. We were able to go to Taco Tuesday. It was raining that day but that was alright. We were planning to go to get pupusas at this restaraunt but they weren't open so then we walked to our normal taco place. I was happy with that because I was in the mood for tacos, a.k.a. meat. We got to meet another sister because they were on exchanges. Her name was Sister Hinckley and she is related to Pres. Hinckley. We had a pretty good but tiring day that day. That night we went on team ups with Bro Collins from our ward. We visited all the people we had planned and nobody was home. As we were at the last door I had someone come to mind but then when we got back in the car I completely forgot. It turns out my companion had the same thing happen. So we asked  if our team up had anyone in mind and he told us the Bergerhofers. We went there and to our surprise someone from the bishopric was there with someone from the stake presidency. It was really cool as we were there they were invited to church. They said that they had been wanting to come back and that they wanted us to teach their 10, 9, and 8 year old daughters so they could get baptized! Miracle of the week!

Wednesday we had a pretty good day. We had a good lesson with this lady we met on the bus, Tamika. She has a best friend that is a RM sister. We got her all excited about the Independence Visitor's Center. She went to temple square and LOVED it and when she hear there was a Visitor's Center here just like there she was really excited. We had a good appointment later that night. We had a standing appointment with this newly wed couple and the wife has no background in religion. She is very sweet and really smart. She remembers everything we tell her and is reading the Book of Mormon so her testimony will come anytime. I am really excited for her but she just needs to get a new job so she can come to church on Sundays.

Thursday my companion and one of the Spanish elders was feeling sick so we went on exchanges. We had a lunch we went to and that was really good. Then we had some appointments we had to go to. We got to see a recent convert who just got out of prision. He was in there for defending himself and his girl. Kansas apperantly doesn't have any self defense laws. It was really good to see him and he invited us back for dinner next Wednesday. He is cooking salt and pepper shrimp!!! I LOVE SHRIMP! We had our team up cancel on us that night so we didn't go to far and tried to visit some people close to us.

Friday was a really good day. We had a good district meeting and then had a good lunch at Chipotle. It was a nice sunny day. We tried to take some brownies to our investigator because it was her birthday. She wasn't home so we will take them to her later. We cooked dinner for this lady in our ward that was in the hospital with a heart problem. All the 3 sets of missionaries did their part and it came out good. We cook brocolli and potatos and the sisters cooked the fish. It was really good. We also got to see that lady's grandson dance like Michael Jackson and do the "dougie". He is a funny little kid.

Saturday was good! We went to 2 baptisms, not ours but they were in our ward. I love going to them because they always have such a great spirit. We then had a lesson with Cedric and got him to commit to spot smoking as much. He is working to widle down his smoking so that is good. Elder Mena had a great object lesson that we used to show him he needs to start taking the steps. That Jesus Christ isn't going to take the steps for him but he will be there when we have done our part. We then helped the Spanish elders with some service and then had 2 dinners.

Sunday was a good day. I had to teach our Gospel Principles class and that went well. Everyone participated and so that made it a lot better. We then were invited over to someone's house for dinner and we helped then cook it. We also got their "rebellious" daughter to commit and start reading the Book of Mormon. It was really fun! I love that family! They are so good to the missionaries and they feed us almost every week!

Well I love you all!

--
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor

March 7, 2011

Hello eveyone! This week was really great for me! I hope it was just as good for all of you!

Monday was good we went bowling and I beat everyone! I love winning. I bowled the best I ever have so that wasn't normal - lol. We then went to the mall and looked around. There is an elder who is going home on April 1st so he was looking for some clothes. I found out that my jeans that I have had for a long time have some holes in them so I need to get some new ones. Monday was fun but we didn't get to play anything so next Monday will be full of sports.

Tuesday started off bad. I locked the keys in the car... DANG! We usually do a Taco Tuesday because the tacos are on sale for a dollar each but since I locked the keys in the car we weren't able to go and the Spanish elders weren't able to go. I felt kind of bad. We got the keys out relatively quickly but not quick enough. We had an appointment with an investigator but something came up and she wasn't there but that is ok because we will set up another time. We had to get some things on the car fixed so we did that. Then all the elders went to dinner together and it was really really good! Afterwards we needed something from the store real quick and we ran into this lady who was holding her baby and crying outside her car. She said she had locked her keys and phone in the car and didn't know what to do. We offered to go get her keys for her and she agreed. We helped her that night and found out she needed help moving the next day. We told her we could help with that too. We then went to a less-active member's house and it was a good night.

Wednesday worked around our house for the morning and didn't really have too much luck. We then helped someone in our ward move. During the move the lady we helped with the keys called and said that she had the truck. She said we could come do it the next morning because we were already doing a move. We finished up with the move and then went home and ate some dinner. We then had an appointment with a referral. It went well we are just teaching her the basics because she has no background in religion at all. It is really different teaching someone with no background in who God is or what he does for us. We also saw a part-member family that just moved her from Texas.

Thursday morning we spent moving that lady. We moved her on this end and some other elders helped her at her new house. It went really well and she was very thankful to have us to help her. We did that basically all day and then went to dinner with the elders and sisters. We got to see the Amayo family. During the move we found some stuff that they had been asking for. We got a vaccum and a set of dishes so we took those over to them.

Friday was the best day! We got to go to the Nauvoo temple with a recent convert from the Kearney 3rd ward. It was with the Rogers family, which is an amazing family. I loved it! We got to ride up with one of the boys that is preparing to go on a mission. When we got there we got ready and got to see this 12 year old boy that they adopted get sealed to his family for time and all eternity. It really hit me then how important it is to be temple worthy so I can enjoy the same blessings this family is and that my parents are. It was a very special experience and I value it. We also got to go do some other work in the temple and it was great! We went out to dinner with the family and that was fun also. They have lots of kids so it was crazy. We rode back that night and got home rather late but it was worth it.

Saturday was a full day. We helped the member that the Spanish elders live with do some service and then we went and gave a blessing to this lady in the hospital. It was good.We were worried about her but as we gave the blessing we both felt like she would be ok. We got to teach Cedric and we were going to drop him but something told us not to. We found out that he wants to quit smoking but feels that he can't. We will help him quit. We had a sweet dinner and it was really fun! I got stuff all over my shirt though. We then went to the adult session of Stake Conference. It was really good and all aimed towards missionary work.

Sunday was an ok day. It started out good with Stake Conference and hearing from President Eyring. He is an amazing man and all I can think of when he speaks is about his example of love. The rest of the day we were sick. We had to stay home because of some stomach problems but we are ok today. We were also ok to go to dinner and it was good because she cooked chicken noodle soup. We were also able to give her and 4 of her kids blessings so it all worked out.

Love you all and remember to keep on going. If we hit hard times we just keep on going because of our faith in Christ and our hope that the next day will be better.

--
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Taylor