April 7, 2014

Dearest familia mía,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that your anniversary tomorrow is fantastic! Thanks for choosing to get married. Us kids wouldnt be here without yall! Thanks for all that you have taught me and helped me with through life. I am truly blessed to have yall as my parents forever.

General Conference was amazing right?!?! It does not matter the language, it is always amazing! I watched almost all of it in Spanish this time, and it was absolutely amazing!!!! We really do receive the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues here in the mission. Which talks did yall like most? Did yall receive answers to your prayers and or questions? I certainly received many answers. I especially liked the talk by Elder Scott in the Saturday afternoon session. I am studying about how the Savior loved, and how I can love everyone more and this talk answered many of the questions I had. I also loved the talk by Elder Packer. One day I hope to have the faith and testimony that he so beautifully shared with us. To me, it seemed like the theme of conference was obedience and love. That is what the Lord has been telling me at least lately. It was amazing to learn from the chosen servants of the Lord on the subjects!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

General Conference was also amazing because Ghislaine came to three sessions (she even brought her friend to one of them) and also 6 other investigators came to at least one session. It is truly amazing! It is a lot more stressful when multiple investigators come at the same time, but it is a stress that we as missionaries gladly accept haha. Ghislaine´s baptism is this Saturday and she will be confirmed Sunday. The Del Castillo family (they are reactivating) are going to baptize their two sons, Martin and Bastian, the 27th and Juan Carlos, another investigator agreed to be baptized we just have to put a date, hopefully for the same time as the Del Castillo family. All of a sudden miracles are happening here in Trinidad and it is humbling to see it all happen. We truly dont do much as missionaries, the Lord does it ALL. He just lets us enjoy the work too. Marcelo, another investigator struggled this week with his committments but we think that we finally found the right family to befriend him and work with him so we have high hopes there.I love being a missionary and seeing these changes that are happening in my fellow brothers and sisters. I am starting to feel a little bit of the love that Heavenly Father has for this wonderful people.

A cool experience that happened to me was one morning, I got a little frustrated with my companion. We have been together for almost 7 months now, all day everyday and sometimes we can get annoyed. I knew that I was being dumb, that I shouldnt react this way. I did not want to feel this way but I did not how to change, how to get rid of the mini turmoil inside of me. All I could do was pray. I remembered a talk in the last General Conference about Corrie Ten Baum who was able to forgive a guard that worked in her concentration camp, but only as she asked the Lord to give her HIS love. She was able to forgive him, and feel the love of the Savior for this man, a precious child of God. I prayed for that too, that the frustration and impatience I was feeling could be taken away from me and that I could feel the love that my Savior has for my companion. After sincere prayer, the Lord answered my plea and all the frustration and impatience disappeared and I felt even more love for my companion than before. Though this was something really small, the Atonement still covered it and I found relief through my savior´s sacrifice. I am so grateful for the Atonement and that it covers EVERYTHING even the little things and helps us overcome them.

Thanks so much for your prayers!!!! In all honesty, they work. I have no doubt of that. Keep on reading your scriptures, saying your prayers and having family home evening!!!! I love yall!!!

con amor,

hermana taylor

P.S. Did yall like the talk by Elder Ballard? I hope that you all liked it as much as us missionaries did and that yall can apply it!!!