November 4, 2013

Dear family,

Howdy!!! How are things? I hear it is finally cooling down there. That is really great. It is starting to get pretty hot here. Luckily, People offer us wáter (actually soda or juice) a lot, so it is not too bad.

Well, if you want to hear how people are doing, here they are. First off is Marisol. SHE IS DOING GREAT!!! She is getting baptized the 24th of this month (we moved it back a week because of elections) with her two daughters. She is progressing greatly and really is excited for her baptism (her daughters too). She lives in another Ward, and we got permission to go to her baptism in this other Ward, so we are very content!!! She came to stake conference (both saturday and sunday) and is amazing!!! It is amazing how the Lord puts people in our path. She decided to listen to us because we were visiting a family and she happened to walk in and we said a prayer with her and a spiritual thought and invited her to listen to more (this was all about 3 months ago). This family had invited her many times and this time she accepted and now her and two of her daughters will be baptized!!! Sometimes we have to continue to invite people (and maybe invite the missionaries to share a scripture and prayer wink wink).

Next is a Young man named Aldo. He had a bad week the week before, and this week he told us that he prayed and that the Lord answered him. He told us now that he has a testimony of prayer and knows the Lord answers. Before, he believed more in a great power and not really in God and definitely not in religión. He is starting to come around. He is praying about baptism now. And he is going to come to church this next week.

We found an old man named Manuel this week. He is confined to a wheelchair because he only has one leg. We have taught him outside of his house a couple of times. It is a Little hard because we have to shout for him to hear us, but he likes what he has Heard. We just have to get him to church this week!!!

One of the coolest things that happened this week was with a less active named Victor. He has a ciber that we use every week, but I guess no one before offered to visit him or I am not sure. We went to share a quick scripture with him, and he had his two kids on his lap. We talked about Christ, and shared our testimonies. His daughter who is seven really soaked it up. At the end we asked if they had any questions and He asked us if his daughter could take the discussions. She turns 8 in January and he wants her to be baptized. Of course we said YES. and five minutes later his wife got home and he told her that their daughter would be taking the discussions and said,¨" and you too right?" (she is not a member) and she asked him "well you too?" I think we will be teaching the whole family so we are pretty excited!!! Hopefully the mom and daughter will be baptized together!!!

We really are talking to everyone we come in contact with basically. We visit a LOT of less actives (there are a ton here in Chile). A lot of times people in the streets, and sometimes inactives, reject us and do not want to talk with us but a lot do want to tlak to us. A lot more just need a Little whack telling them "hey, what you are looking for is right here" haha. We truly can just invite people to come to church, listen to a Little message from the missionaries. or read a Little talk or pamphlet. I am learning that this truly is salvation and peace that we are preaching.

A cool experience that we had was this past thursday I think. We were studying as a companionship and we were Reading "The Living Christ". I had not read this in years, and did not understand it before. It hit me harder than ever that Christ truly LIVES!!! He loves us sooooooooooooooooooo much, and suffered so much so that we could be happy. Also, He truly wants ALL OF HIS CHILDREN, ALL to return to him and receive this message. Now we have a Little clearer perspective on things and even more motivation to talk to everyone!!!!

I am definitely learning humility in the misión, that as missionaries we are just the Lord´s servants and nothing more. I am beginning to learn how grand the lord´s love is for me, and for all of his children and how much he desires for us to come home. I want to share this with everyone, but sometimes it is so frustrating because  people do not understand and brush it off. They just wont accept our message sometimes or refuse to progress. I am learning how to love people inspite of this, and to truly desire their salvation. Some days, no one will listen to us and all appointments fall through, and other days we see miracle after miracle.

Something cool that happened today was I talked to a missionary who is going home tonight. She lived in the same Ward as me at BYU, just a year before me and lives about an hour outside of Cumberland. My first companion, Hermana Steganini, became her companion next. One time, I wrote her a note and sent it to her through the office of the misión. This was almost 6 months ago. She was with Hermana Stegagnini for 3 months. Today I saw her and she said that the note came at the perfect time and that she needed it. I had forgotten about the Little note I wrote, and it was humbling to know that the Little prompting I received helped someone else. It really wasnt much. It was really cool.

This week was amazing!!!! I LOVE THE MISSION!!!!! I really do!! Sharing the Gospel brings me more joy than anything else, and I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve! I know that Christ lives and love us, every single one of us! I know that God has a plan for us, and if we follow HIS will we will be happier than we can imagine, even in the midst of tough trials.

I love you all!!!! Les amo un monton!!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Taylor