June 24, 2013

Hola familia!!!

This week was FANTASTICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had zone conference on Thursday, which was WONDERFUL!! We talked about the temple, its importance, and the importance of having members at our lessons. I never realized before the gran importancia of the members. The work is a LOT harder if it is just missionaries and not nearly as successful. I went into the conference praying to know how we could be more successful as missionaries, and the answer I got was members. Members have to be incorporated into the work. Then Sunday, yesterday, we got to see the broadcast. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!! Because of technical difficulties I missed the first 20 or 30 minutes, but the rest was INSPIRATIONAL!!! During it, I kept thinking about how much I have learned and the people that could be enjoying the Gospel right now if I had just opened my mouth. It does not make sense to have fear about sharing the gospel when we really realize the significance. When we share, we are sharing SALVATION not just a chance to come to church or hear the missionaries. This work truly is the most important work. Sorry I dont have more time this week (I only have about 30 minutes because our cyber was closed). 

To all the family, what are yall doing to share the Gospel? Probably most important to sharing the Gospel with others is being their friend. It is true what Ammon said that we must win their hearts so then we can lead them to believe. Sharing the Gospel is an act of love, and when you invite someone to come to church, come to dinner, come to family home evening, it truly is an act of love.

Last thing to request, please send the recipe for banana bread if you have time. We made banana cake and it was DELICIOUS!!! Also, other simple recipes only if you have time. I LOVE YOU ALL and pray for you all every day!!! Keep your eyes towards the Son and everything will be ok.

Con amor,

Hna Taylor

June 18, 2013

querido familia,

Hola!!! ¿Cómo estan? 

Things are going FANTASTICO aquí in Chile!!! We dont have any baptisms coming up (Carlos decided he didnt want to get baptized but still wants to go to Church. We will wait and see what happens with him), but one of our investigators, Belén, we tried to visit all week and just yesterday we finally saw her. We taught her the first two lessons and asked her to be baptized but she didnt give us a real answer. She has one son and has been looking for work. She is evangelical, but is open to listening. We actually contacted her in the street because she was out with her son and we asked her about the house next to her that said it was selling honey. We asked her how much, introduced ourselves and came back the next week for our first visit (we also went next door and bought the honey. It was delicious!!). She told us yesterday that she has been reading El Libro de Mormón, found work (not on SUndays yay!!!), and praying and that she has noticed a difference in her life. We have an appointment at the end of this week with her and are super excited to talk more!!!! We also taught a kid named mitchell that has been searching for more. He is 18 or 19 and received the first lesson (the Restoration) really well. We teach him again tomorrow so hopefully he has been reading and praying. 

Friday we spent almost all day in downtown Santiago because I had to do things for my cedula (something for my visa) and that was kind of exhausting, but I almost have my visa!!! In the next month they will call me to pick up my carnet and then I will be legally living in Chile for the next year!!! (my temporary visa is technically only good for 90 days). Downtown Santiago is really pretty because it is full of old buildings along with brand new skyscrapers. It really is a unique city! My camera was dead so I couldnt take pictures, but when we go for Hermana Phelps in 6 weeks or so I will!!! Today we cooked noodles and sauce, and I was so happy!!! It is the first time I have had full out spaghetti on my mission so far!!! I did not know how much I missed it!! They actually eat a lot of noodles here (with or without sauce) but I cant eat them so it is always arroz. We also have eaten twice in the past week a soup called casuela which is SUPER DELICIOUS!!! They just stick veggies in there and meat in water and cook it basically. And when I say they just put in the veggies, I mean no cutting. They put the whole corn on the cob, but cut it in three pieces, whole or half potatoes, big chunks of squash, and big pieces of meat. So you need a bowl and a plate to eat it. I had to take the big chunks out of the soup to eat them. IT WAS GREAT!!! We also discovered how cheap the food in the little stores here are (or at least the produce). We also bought French fries from some of our investigators that sell in the street for SUPER cheap!!! We got five portions for one mil (or about two bucks) and they literally build a fire in the street, have a big pan of oil and cook them over the fire in front of our eyes!!! 

Things really are great here, and I am staying warm. It actually was kind of warm for a week or two, but now is getting cold again. My jacket is great, and gloves are great too!!! I dont think the winter will be too bad here. The pictures are of me and Hermana Adams (companion from MTC) and me and Hermana Godfrey who I went on exchanges with last week! One of the coolest experiences was this Tuesday in district class. I felt like I had learned a lot, and at the end it was opened up for people to say whatever they want. I dont normally talk too much in class, but that day I was able to say what I had to say, and say it normal speed. I am learning how faith truly is the foundation of everything. Without faith, nothing else will happen and people will not really change. There is a reason faith is the first principle and ordinance of the gospel. Everything else we do (extend committments, read the scriptures with them, pray) is to strengthen their faith. When a person has faith and are invited to repent, it is a natural thing to do. I was able to share my thoughts in Spanish and felt the Lord´s help as I spoke. It was pretty cool. 

I hope things are all good!!! I love yáll mucho!!!

Hermana Taylor

P.S. Thanks for all you do!!

June 10, 2013

Hola!

I passed my two month mark here in Chile yesterday and that was pretty fun. I definitely know a lot more Spanish now than I did when I got here. Also, I can understand a lot more which is EXTRA good. Stories about not understanding from this past week are

1. A member said she couldnt have us over for lunch but should could bring us some food at our apartment. I did not understand everything she said (like that we were supposed to meet her outside on the street at exactly one o clock) and therefore she waited for fifteen minutes before she called us saying she was there and almost left. Hopefully cookies will smooth that one over.

2. We have an investigator named Carlos who is just hard to understand in general let alone someone like me who does not know too much spanish. Apparently I told him we were coming over for lunch last monday (our p day) and we never came. WHOOPS!!! I think he has forgiven me by now though. If not, cookies will do it (my answer for a lot of things).

Since my companion, Hermana Cisneros, is a sister trainer leader person we do exchanges with other sisters twice a week. Well Saturday it was my turn to leave. I went to the sector called "Los Plátanos" or the bananas. It is super small compared to my sector. It was fun to see a new place and be in a place that was a little more flete or ghetto. Their church is pink there which is pretty cool. It made me appreciate my apartment here in Lo Cañas and my ward and my companions and my investigators. etc. that much more. I will get to visit some other places too in the next few weeks and I am excited! 

Our area is super great, and the ward here is SOOOOOOOO supportive and amazing! They are great at talking to their neighbors about the gospel, and magnify their callings immensely! Right now we have Carlos who is supposed to get baptized on Sunday, but we have only taught him the first lesson and he doesnt ever have time for us to teach him. So probably that baptism hopefully will be the following week. We are teaching a family, La familia Caro, who are super great but are working all the time to raise money for their daughter to get mouth surgery so it is hard for them to come to church and hard for us to find time to teach them. We are going to go and help them next weekend peel potatoes for their french fry stand. Their neighbors and also cousins, Nina and Alonzo are super great too. They just invited us in one time when we were looking for the familia Caro. We have taught the two lessons so far. He has a TON of questions, but before we left last night he told us that every time we are there the atmosphere of his home is lighter. We told him it was the Holy Ghost. I have a lot of hope for them. 

Always, I am learning about faith and how important and powerful it is. There is a reason Faith is the first principle and ordinance of the Gospel. Once a person truly has faith, the actions that come next are natural. Also, faith is super important and works MIRACLES!!! I can see it here in Lo Cañas, and perhaps even greater within myself. Never lose faith! The Lord answers in the best possibly way and best possible time!!! I love you all!!

Hermana Taylor

June 3, 2013

howdy familia!!!

I cannot believe that school is out for yall!!! That is pretty crazy! Ben, a senior???? That is pretty weird. That means he really is old! I am super excited to hear the lovely tree outside my window got a trim, but does that mean it is still there haha? That is pretty crazy that Missouri had some tornadoes too. I am glad Cameron is safe and sound. I think our family needs to be ready for the time when the disaster doesn't miss us. Congrats Ben and Penny on your awards!! Way to go!!!

So my new companions are absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Hermana Cisneros is from Salta, Argentina and has one year in the mission. She is leader capacitation something or other and training two gringas. Her argentinian accent is not very strong, so I can understand her pretty much all the time. She also has had a gringa as a companion always minus when she trained Hermana Stegagnini. Hermana Phelps is from California and studied Spanish before the mission. She is a talented poem writer, and has just finished a poem in Spanish!!! She is 5 10 which means she basically is a giant here in Chile.

This week was FANTASTIC!!! Especially yesterday, Sunday. The night before we visited with la familia Sandoval who are fantastic. There are three brothers with their familias that live in the same house and they have hardly anything. They only have one simply chair. They are super humble and very faithful. We also taught Carlos on Saturday. Chileans talk A LOT and Carlos is no exception, but he actually sat there and listened as we taught. He also came to Church again yesterday and we were ECSTATIC to say the least. We also taught a family, la familia Caro, this past week. Before the CVC (traveling visitors center) I had met Marcela (the mama) and invited her to the activity, but never really saw her again. We have been passing by a lot but she is never there. Thursday we finally saw her and taught her. Her and her two daughters sat, listened, and agreed to be baptized when they received an answer. It is amazing how the Lord prepares people. Then last night we went by and taught the whole family including the Dad. They have a baptism date in July, and we are praying that all goes well. 

It is amazing to see the Lord here at work in Chile. It is an honor to serve here, but in reality I am not doing much. The Lord is doing all the work and allowing us to help in the little way we can. The Lord truly prepares people and if we are willing to work and share the Gospel He will lead us to the people that are ready. My first 6 weeks here we didnt do much, but now we are teaching people and have investigators. Thank you for letting me serve and paying for my mission Mom and Dad!!! This work truly is the work of the Lord and the Lord has so many people that need to hear the Gospel! We had a meeting for all the new missionaries (in the first 12 weeks of their mission) and President Wright talked to us. He said missionaries always ask what they can do after the mission to always be active and faithful in the Church, know who they should marry, etc. He read us a few scriptures and basically it is the small things. What family is there that reads the scriptures together, goes to church, prays together every night, has family home evening every week that isnt active? Also, what inactive member is praying every night, studying the scriptures, serves faithfully, does their home or visiting teaching, etc.? There is no secret recipe for staying faithful and active. It is doing the little things. If you want to read more, (1 Nephi 18 verse 21) (1 Nephi 16 verses 28 through 29) (Alma 37 verses 6 through 8) (D&C 64 vs 33) (D&C 123 verses 16 through 16) (2 kings 5 verses 1 through 15). He also told us There are people in the future that are depending on the small things we are doing now. I know that this is true. He also told a story and at the end of it was a probing question. From God "Are you still going to love me if I tell you no?" 

Stay strong. Never waver in the faith. Keep doing the little things and share the gospel with EVERYONE!!! You are offering salvation and showing you love them by doing so. The worst thing that can happen is they tell you no. I love all of you!!!

Love, 

Hermana Taylor