December 30, 2013

dear family,

HAPPY NEW YEAR (well almost)!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was really fun to see yall on Christmas and talk to yall. It seems like Christmas was really great with the whole family. Mis sobrinos son tan grandes!!! Really, the grandkids are growing up really fast, it is kind of shocking. What all did yall do for vacation? I know yall went sledding, but what else? Are yall ready for this next year?

Something I have definitely learned in the mission is the need to have goals. I never really liked goals before, but I love them now!!! it is always good to have a goal to work towards instead of just going with the flow. We accomplish a lot more with goals. This year I am going to set New Year´s Resolutions. I am still working on them, what I really want to accomplish (it is a little weird to think about the end of the year when I will not be in the mission. I try not to think about it) this next year. Have yall set new year´s resolutions? One of the best ways to actually accomplish your goals, is to put them where you can see them everyday. We started that with our weekly goals as missionaries, and it helps a lot. We are a lot more focused and meet more of our goals every week.

Something cool the Trinidad ward did this week was have a combined relief society and priesthood meeting and talked with everyone about the goals of the ward.  Every ward sets goals of baptisms, church attendance, activations, etc every year, but this was the first time I have actually heard and seen it put into action. The goals are high but achieveable if everyone will do their part. It is the same in the wards in the united states too. One goal as a stake that they have here, is for every person or family to pick a less active that they want to activate and work all year to help that person or family come back to church. There are a TON of less actives here (we have a third of the ward in our sector, and of the less actives we have met there are 34 families, and a lot more in our ward list that we have not met.)!!!! The Lord wants everyone to enjoy the blessings of this gospel, so He will help us have success if we are serious about working as hard as we can to achieve it. As a missionary, I have to extend committments to yall too, so

Will you pray, and fast to know who you can reactivate or help to come back to church this year??? I expect emails with your answer. They talked about reactivation in General Conference, and we have a promise from servants of the Lord that we will have success if we are willing to put in our effort. I promise yall too that He will answer your prayers and you really can be the Lord´s angel to bring someone back into the fold of god.

This week was really great! Our ward just called some new ward missionaries that are doing awesome!!! We are having a lot more lessons with members and it makes a huge differences. We are just young adults with not too many life experiences, but when members come with us, they can relate with people in a different level. It is awesome!!! Yall should definitely ask the missionaries when you can accompany them!!!!

So, another companionship in our ward had emergency transfers and one of them went to another ward to replace someone there, and the other one is now with my companion and me in a trio. Hermana chavez is with Hermana Escobar and I now. We are going to see lots of miracles!!!! Basically we are an oreo, I am the creme and the other two are the cookies haha.

Also, I just want to tell yall that the Atonement works and is for everyone. In the mission, we are not perfect. I DEFINITELY am not perfect and I have to repent everyday. I testify that I have felt the Lord´s forgiveness. I know that when we partake of the sacrament we truly can be forgiven and basically be clean like we were baptized all over again. I did not understand this too much before the mission, but now I am beginning to learn of the miracle of forgiveness. I am so grateful for the atonement and the sacrifice of my Savior. I am so grateful.

I love yall a ton!!!! Send me answers to this committments please!!! Set goals!!! I love yall un montón!!!

love

hermana taylor