#Missionaryprobs

This week seemed like it was a year long. It was good, just long :).  Last Monday we packed and packed, then unpacked.  So we can move for two weeks and then pack again haha:) #missionaryprobs Saw a bear on the golf course as we were headed home!  Went to a ward member's house for dinner!

On Tuesday we had a District Meeting in Reno.  I'm having a competition with one of our investigators to see who can read the Book of Mormon first.  I am Mosiah and he is in 3 Nephi, if I win he says he will get baptized! :)

We went to a Kindergarten graduation on Wednesday for one of our little Ward members, he is so adorable!  I got him a little graduation Teddy Bear and they said that he sleeps with it every night now.  So cute, he melts mi corozon (heart:)  We saw a coyote in the same place we saw the bear!  Don't be alarmed if I get attacked, I took karate!  Yo lo tengo (I got this)!  Went to one of our new member's house and he gets to go to EFY this week!  I am so excited for him!  He is like another brother to me.  It will be hard leaving him.  Transfers are coming up!

On Thursday we went to a high school graduation for a member in the ward, she is so sweet.  It was so weird being at a graduation, I did that same thing TWO years ago.  What the heck?  Where did that time go?  Then we went to her graduation party, it was really fun, it was really cool being able to see a lot of less active members at her party!

Friday we finished planning for the week, then we volunteered at the Thrift Store.  It was kind of just a chill normal missionary day.  We walked around and talked to people.  We went to a less active member's house and played Uno.  I ended up missing lunch and we both ended up missing dinner so we went home early so we could chow down on some grub.  I had a killer headache for awhile, but I am ok now :).

We volunteered again on Saturday.  That night we had dinner at a member's house which was kind of awkward at first.  We weren't supposed to go over there until 6, but they called us at 5 asking where we were.  But we were in a lesson, so being the ninja I am, I texted them in Spanish saying, "we are coming."  Well, I thought I said, "we are coming."  But being the white greenga I am, I said, "we are eating."  SO they were confused but said, "ok."  So then when we got to their house, no food had been prepared.  After we figured it all out, they bought us food from a fundraiser fiesta their friend was having to raise money for a friend that has cancer.  It was really delicious (muy rico).  I have found out on my mission that I love very spicy things and chocoflan! :)

At church on Sunday I translated...well tried to haha :).  We had dinner with the family we are staying with, we had steak!  Then one of our investigators invited us to a Father's Day BBQ.  So we went because we thought that was really nice to invite us.  When we got there, it was super aca-awkward as it was mostly older men and then the booze came out and we were like, oh, ok.  So we stayed only for a few minutes and then when we felt like it was a good time to "escape," we did.  So I guess you can say we PARTIED it up on Fathers Day:) Hahaha.

So last week I cut my thumb, this week I hit my head, scratched my knee, got blood on my slip and tripped down the stairs while I was talking to someone on the phone :) Hahaha, but I am still intact so that's good :).

Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Don't be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. Accentuate the positive. Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a little twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life."

I think Gordon B. Hinckley said it better then I ever could.  Life is certainly difficult, but the does not mean we have to be unhappy.  I like that a lot. You have a choice in this world.  Happiness is a choice.  Te amo mucho!

Hermana Friend

Going to the Temple, Temple

We had a short P-Day last week because we went to the Temple on Wednesday so we had to cut our P-Day short by three hours.  I just took a nap...surprise!:)  My favorite word in Spanish is CIESTA (that means nap:).  Then later that night we played Phase 10 with a less active and her boyfriend. Which I got beat...which we all know how competitive I am haha:) 

Tuesday was just a calm normal day of missionary life.  We have had a hard time finding new investigators because a lot of the people here are just here for the season. But the people we have been teaching are amazing.

On Wednesday we went to the Temple, which was amazing.  I could just feel the Savior's love.  It is amazing how incredible Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ really are.  Then we went to Red Robin for lunch (in Reno), then we traveled back up to Tahoe.  We had dinner at the member's house where we will be staying from June 15 to the 29.  We have to stay there because the other family is having family come and stay and they need our house area.  But you can still send mail to the same address :).  Please send letters, I love receiving and writing letters :).  After dinner on Wednesday I got really sick, we came home and I blew chunks!  So Thursday we stayed home all day because I was not feeling gooooooooood at all, and Hermana Cordle felt a little sick to.  So Thursday just consisted of me sleeping all day and not eating anything.

We had to go back to Reno on Friday because that was the day we said goodbye to our Mission President and his wife.  President Hermansen gave everyone a hug, including the Sisters, and to be honest, that was weird hugging a dude, for not hugging someone for 6 months haha.

On Saturday we went to help clean a house.  It took us 5 hours and it still wasn't all the way done when we left.  Sister Cordle and I got put on el bano duty!  We killed so many cockroaches! It was muy malo!  I just kept thinking of that one time when Dad forced me to clean that family's house with all the cats.  I remember driving in the truck and he said, "you know why I made you go right?"  I just rolled my eyes in my head and didn't really think of the reason.  But he responded with love and a smirk on his face, "because it is going to prepare you for your mission, you are going to encounter houses way worse."  It was a humbling experience and it made me realize Heavenly Father loves EVERY ONE of his children, no matter what!  So what I am trying to say is Thank you Mom and Dad for TRULY preparing me for my mission!  That night went to a member's house and played basketball with the dad and kids.  Sister Cordle just hung out with the mom while I played.  This experience just reminded me that it really is the little things in life that mean the most.

On Sunday we went to church, learned about agency, taught Relief Society in Spanish, went home had lunch, took a little nap, watched a video with the members we live with that the Bishop wanted us to watch about giving the sacrament back to the Savior, packed our stuff and moved some of it over to the member's house where we will be staying and had dinner with them!

Today we will be packing and moving, remember you can still send mail:)  It's funny because I don't think I ever really thought I would be a missionary, speaking Spanish (and people actually being able to understand me), and having the experiences I am having on my mission, or meeting the wonderful people I have been meeting!  And to be honest I don't think I realized exactly how much my mission would change me for the better or prepare me for my future family and life, or help me cope with my childhood.  My eyes have been opened up more and more as the time goes on.  I still have awhile on my mission and a lot of experiences lie ahead of me, good and the not so good, but no matter what happens this Church is true and Heavenly Father is ALWAYS HERE!

Yo quiero compartir mi testimonio en espanol. yo se que con todo mi corozon, esta Igelsia, es la Iglesia de Jesucristo. Esta Iglesia es verdadera! La Igelsia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es verdadera! Morire una Mormona! Te amo mucho mi familia!

Hermana Amiga!

Sixth Month Anniversary

On my 6th month anniversary we are going to the Temple, so that will be fun! This Friday we have Zone conference and it is when the Mission President will say his goodbyes. Our new President will be President Chestnut. That will be exciting!  It is suppose to be like 80 here today, but we will see.  I have been getting kind of sick a lot because its hot and cold, cold and hot. BUT I LOVE TAHOE! Very interesting though! 

This week was crazy! Actually crazy doesn't even sum it up.  On Monday we went shopping in our new area and we saw a bear, a real life wild bear.  We went to Subway for lunch and this random guy bought us a $40 subway gift card and said "Enjoy your P Day":) I thought that was incredible!

On Tuesday we had a huge miracle with a referral from the office.  We thought he was an investigator. As we were talking and getting to know him he told us he was a member, so we were like that's awesome:) Then the tone shifted...he started to cry as he talked about his life. The Spirit prompted me to talk about Patriarchal blessings and it really hit home for him.  I felt the Spirit so strongly, it was one of those moments that I just said to myself "Dude, Taylor, this is why you went on a mission!" It was an incredible experience!

It's been a tough week, Sister Cordle and I treated ourselves to ice cream and played at the beach for like 3 hours with a member which was much needed :).  We did end the week by volunteering and doing our weekly planning.

I translated again at church, one boy bore the sweetest testimony and talked about the power of the Priesthood.  Sunday night we went to dinner where we will be staying for a few weeks.  It was delicious, but you can still send mail to the same address! It will be a little vacation I guess hahaha

Overall this week taught me a lot about myself, about how Heavenly Father works and the Spirit.  I am so thankful for this Gospel and for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.  I love you so much! Te amo mucho! Have a great week:)

Hermana Amiga

P.S.  Watch the video Lift on Mormon.org or lds.org

Expanded Area

My new companion is Hermana Cordle.  To be honest I feel like I have changed so much since I have been on my mission.  I almost hit my 6 month mark and that is crazy!  We are getting "missionary babysat" for a couple of weeks in June, and a couple of weeks in August.  Don't worry you can send mail to the same address. It's just a sleepover for a few weeks type of thing because the family we usually stay with is having family over for the summer. 

Last P-day we packed, then went to a BBQ place called Moe's with a ward member.  On Tuesday we said some goodbyes and headed to Reno.  I had to say adios to Hermana Underly and then hola to Hermana Cordle.  

On Wednesday we volunteered at the Thrift Store.  Also, one of our LA finally let us pray with them.  On Thursday Hermana Cordle and I planned for 6 hours straight because he have the Elders' area now as well which is tricky because our area is now 550 MILES!  Not even kidding!  

Friday and Saturday we volunteered again at the thrift store. 

On Sunday for Sacrament meeting I translated in English for the first time.  Which was muy difcil. But I did it:) I also found out Elder L. Tom Perry died:( That was sad, I liked him a lot.  We also had dinner at a Ward member's house. 

"After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to Preach the Gospel." Joseph Smith
 

This work is so hard on so many different levels, but it is the most important. This church is TRUE! And at the end of the day when we are rejected so many

different times, it is still TRUE!   Well I love you and hope you are doing well :). 
Te amo.

Hermana Friend