March 31, 2014

The missionaries of Trinidad

me in Santa Lucia on March 24th

Dearest familia,

How are things going up there in Texas? Nathan Hales sent in his misión papers?!?! Man do I feel old. Yall will have to tell me where he gets sent. What else is going on there. Do yall have cool plans this summer or easter. To be honest i have no idea what is going on up there in the states because the seasons are backwards and the school year is backwards here too. The kids just started last month after summer break.

So this week was pretty awesome! We have been working with a Young women named Ghislaine (it is pronounced kind of like Ghisley) who is going to get baptized not this weekend but the next. We had a family home evening with some YSA leaders in the Ward and her and also another family that has been befriending her. She just soaks up everything we teach her. It is kind of amazing. She reminds me a Little bit of Emily Hales and makes me laugh sometimes because of their similarites. We also went to the temple with her Saturday to take a tour, and she just loved every bit of it. At the end we watched the last scene of the Testaments, when Christ apears to the Nephites in the americas, and she was mesmerized! She is counting down the days until her baptism the 12th of April.

My birthday was amazing too. We had a few teaching appointments, and the last appointment was with a family that is returning to teach and we are teaching their 11 year old son. It was our last appointment. When we got there the lights were all dark but we shouted anyway. Hermana Del Castillo just yelled, Come in, and when we walked in they turned on the lights and had a little birthday party for me. They had birthday hats, cake (i didnt eat any) and chips. Of course, we shared a Little scripture and prayed in the time we had. It was awesome because no one knew it was my birthday all day, and I am not sure how they remembered. The best news about this family, (the Del Castillo family) is that the parents received callings this sunday, their son Martin is going to get baptized the thirteenth, and that the whole family has completely changed as they have returned to church after 11 years. They are examples of how many people just need the invitation to change their lives.

We also had a meeting yesterday with all of the missionaries in our misión, and also all of the bishops with our misión president (President Wright) and a seventy but I do not remember his name. We talked about how the work is one work, that the missionaries will have more success with the bishops and the bishops more success with the missionaries. We talked about how we can unite and how the bishops can use us missionaries even more to their advantage. One thing that stuck with me, is that he challenged all of the bishops to pray kneeling and ask for opportunities to share the góspel. That if the leaders in the church (bishop, relief society presidents, etc) take the lead in sharing the góspel, the rest of the Ward will continue. Also, he talked about how it is time to invite all of those less actives to come back to church and that the people are prepared to hear. We just have to invite them to listen. It is true. People are prepared in everywhere. We are realizing that as missionaries we cannot do it all either. We need to members to teach with us, and befriend the investigators and less actives. We just are not sufficient.

This morning I had a cool experience during studies. We have been learning a lot about the responsibilities we have as missionaries, and it is a lot! I was feeling a Little overwhelmed because I am not the best missionaries. I have a lot of weakness, a lot to improve upon, etc. As I was praying during my personal study the Lord kind of said to me, "Havent I told you before. You are not doing this alone. I am here." Then I remembered the story in the last general conference about  the Little boy that was trying to push a rock out of the way and he tried and tried but he couldnt do it. When his dad came to see how he was doing, the boy answered that he had tried and couldnt do it. The dad said, but you havent used all of your forcé yet. You havent used me. Together they moved the rock easily. So often that is how I am. I try to do things myself and in my own way and Heavenly Father just waits until I humble myself to ask for help, or until I wait to open my visión haha. I am so grateful that He is so patient because I am a slow learner.

I know that the Lord is hear to help us always if we will just let Him. I know that Jesús Christ lives and that he really is my savior. I know that he loves me.

I love yall a ton!!

con amor,

hermana taylor