My New Companion

I heard there are a lot of fires in Washington.  Is everyone ok at home? :) 

This is my new companion.   

my room:) 

Changes are Coming

I am going to be training a new missionary...yikes hahahaha:)

So this week was crazy and very emotional!  This week was overwhelming.  Our ward mission leader said that we need to get our numbers up, there was a lot that I wanted to say, but I decided to not say anything, so I just cried.  We were in the middle of our meeting with him and the Elders and I just started crying.  I was so overwhelmed and frustrated.  You could say the pressure was getting to me.  But with a little faith you can do all things and changes are a coming! 

So the transfer is almost over now and I am going to train a fresh new missionary!  I will find out who she is tomorrow. I am super nervous but nervous!  

Love Taylor

He's Been There Before

I don't even know what we did this week. I can't remember, but today I went to the doctor's and turns out I have bronchitis! That's fun:) But I have medicine:) 

I miss the rain:) I didn't really have time to email today because everyone took the computers.  TE AMO MUCHO:)

TAYLOR

 

PS:  I found this when I was on exchanges in Reno, it hit home for me, I loved it!

 

He's Been There Before

By Elder Troy Whittle, Texas Houston Mission

 

The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feet.

I grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheets.

A groan fills the room, "is it already time to arise?

It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes."

 

The morning activities follow study, prayer and such.

When its time to leave, you feel you haven't accomplished much.

"We have a super day planned," my companion says with a grin.

I lowly utter a faithless breath,"Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

 

With the word of God and my faithful comp, we ride into the street,

Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat.

It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through.

My comp and I are riding home not achieving what we thought we'd do.

 

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot,

Only to look inside and hear my echo "empty box."

We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete.

The only thing to show for our work, is blisters on our feet.

 

Its past 10:30 pm, my companion is fast asleep.

Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep.

In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray.

I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say.

 

"Oh, Father," I begin, "what happened to us today?

I thought we'd teach someone but everyone was away.

My hands, my aching hands - worn, hurt and beat.

If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street.

 

Why on missions are the days so much alike?

The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.

Will you send some cooler weather?  The heat is killing me.

I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, its very hard to see.

 

Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?

People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.

Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack,

I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back.

 

And what about my family?  They don't have much to say.

I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day.

Oh, Father, why am I here?  Am I just wasting time?

Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind.

 

My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?

The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see.

Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do.

That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you."

 

Now my prayer finished I stand up, then jump right into bed.

I need my rest for tomorrow; we have another long day ahead.

Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away.

Then a vision takes me to another time, in another day.

 

I'm standing alone on a hill, the view is very nice.

A man walks towards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ."

Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet.

"Arise," He states, "follow me to the shade, you and I need to speak."

 

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete.

He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me.

I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through.

In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you.

 

I even know how you felt when no one listened to you,

At times I felt not quite sure what else that I could do.

I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet,

Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds.

 

I understand you don't like sweating, in fact, it's something you hate.

I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, oh the agony was great.

I understand you don't like your companion, you'd rather have someone else,

I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth.

 

It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you,

I remember when they put those thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews.

So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.

I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back.

 

Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day.

I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way.

It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see.

I lost communication on the cross and cried, 'Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?'

 

We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see,

I endured to the end and finished my mission, follow and do like Me."

He embraced me with his arms, and His light filled me with His love,

With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above.

 

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head.

I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed.

My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"

I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll ever carry your scriptures today!"

 

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take more,

Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before.

 

Sickness Makes the Heart Homesick

This week was weird. I have been super sick with a fever and everything. Almost passed out and things like that. There is something about being sick that makes me super homesick. I haven't been homesick for awhile like this, but I am.

People are way cool here though. I met this one guy who is a landscaper. He is so cool. He has a garden with the most beautifulest flowers ever! We even have a cool hand shake! 

I saw a dog the other day that looked just like WEDNESDAY! I GOT SO TRUNKY. 

This is a cookie thing I made for the birthday of this beautiful little girl!  I love you and miss you!

Love Your Missionary Taylor  

Mission Splits in Reno

Thank you for the package it was just what I needed!  First selfie picture I took with my awesome camera. :) 

On Monday we went over to a member's house for a BBQ, we watched "Meet the Mormons" movie, I fell asleep on their couch (surprise, surprise). :) We saw a guy with a gun and it made us panic a little, but it was fine. 

We had district meeting on Tuesday and then we had KFC that a member brought us.

Wednesday was a normal mission day:)

On Thursday we had interviews with our new mission president.  We went to the Hospital because one of the recent converts thought she was going into labor, she didn't. :) But while we were in the waiting room we met some members of the church that are less active so we visited with them. :) That night we went on exchanges.  I went to Reno with Sister Braithwaite (he is one of the STLs and she is amazing) and Sister Barker stayed in Carson with a different Sister Missionary.  I had a blast in Reno. :)

I was still in Reno on Friday and a lot of adventures happened! :) First we met with and had a few great lessons with members that have been less active for awhile. Then we got into a minor car accident. We were pulling into a parking lot and this guy was backing out of his spot but he was not paying attention and hit us.  It was only a few scratches but we still had to go to the Mission office and report it since it is a mission car. :)

We went up to Tahoe for a picnic on Saturday and it was cool to be by the Lake again (it wasn't the same area I served like Incline but it was still Tahoe).

Sunday was church, lunch, teaching people, dinner, bed. :)

So for the past few weeks there is an old missionary that has been staying with us.  She used to serve in Carson and Tahoe.  We have taught a lot of the same people so that has been awesome to ask her about Tahoe and everything because she recently went to go visit, I think it was last week and then she went back yesterday as well.  She is like my ears and eyes back in Tahoe. ;) Her name is Sister Xonthe (pronounced Chantay). She was actually companions at one time with Sister Cordle (I miss Sister Cordle so much).

I love you all so much!  Hermana Friend