My my my.....what a crazy week it has been! There has been so much stuff that has gone on, I hope I can get it all in this email. Before I go on. I'm so excited for Amy and Camille and everyone who has gotten their mission call. I pray for them every night. It truly is so remarkable the call to serve from everyone!  I hope the temple was an incredible experience for you Kimber. I'm so happy for you.

 

 Please let me know the status on Grandpa. I've been thinking about him lately. I hope he's going to be okay. I'll definately be praying for him. P-day was kinda nice yesterday, I woke up and wrote letters and did journals all day. (We ran out of money so we went to the Gurney's for laundry) I wrote quite a few letters to people that have written me. I do want to say I did get Grandma Taylor's package, you can tell her that, but I did put it in her letter I wrote to her.

 

Oh right! Before I forget too. I finally recieved the calendar!!! Thank you so much for sending that! I've been showing it off to the people here. I'm glad you put my sleeping picture in there like five times! Sheesh! I did send back those cd's and the usb drive and it's kind of small but just upload everything that's on there to my computer and then send it back to me. That'd be so fantastic!

 

Alright, now to last week! Boy was it a crazy fantastic one! So Monday I mentioned that we were going up to the Goodwill to do a little skirt shopping. I didn't plan on buying anything but I ended up getting 4 skirts for 13.00. And honestly you can't complain about that...and they're pretty cute! So I'm pretty much set for my mission I hope. :/ We went and visited Cynthia on Monday night and the spirit was definitely making us go there at the right timing. We had ordered pizza for Cynthia and had to wait quite a while before it was ready. But we got there in the perfect time. She had just finished working and was so exhausted and then we knocked on the door with pizza. She was so grateful for us and I'm so grateful for that experience! I love how the spirit works sometimes!

Tuesday was district meeting and let me just say I love me some District Meeeting. The spirit is always SO strong there and we definitely are able to recieve revelation. I love it so much. Then we went and visited a less active and her mom (non-member) and it was weird because both Sister Morrison and her mom said they've seen each other before but have never met...so it was crazy cool! We got to know them and then shared a spiritual thought. We had dinner that night with the Hunters and we had taco salad....reminded me like home! Yummy!

Wednesday we had to get the car fixed, get an oil exchange and what not so we were studying in the STS. Gotta love the life of a missionary. Then we went to go see Bonny. Mom, don't get mad, but I haven't been weearing my coat as much as I should but I am now, but Bonny calls me "coatless", she seriously is one of the most funny people I've meant! I love that lady to death! Other people (mothers) have been asking me where my coat is and so I've been wearing it when I should....(I guess it's the motherly instinct). The coolest thing though on Wednesday was going over to the Oates home and doing spiritual yoga with Sister Oates and Cynthia. Boy was that relaxing! And it was just what Cynthia needed. It was legit yoga too. Saying all the "ohhmmmmmssss" and such. I love it! Cynthia was so much more relaxed after that and I loved it! Then we went and visited Cary and had a great lesson with her. We soft invited her to baptism and she kinda re-directed it but that's okay. Just a little bit more time with her. She needs to come to church. Pray for her to come. :)

Thursday was another incredible day! We went and visited a referral from a member and let me just say...she's going to get baptized too! We taught her the restoration and she loved it. I guess the member was talking about baptism after the lesson and she was wondering exactly what it was and all that jazz. So we're going to commit her to baptism probably tomorrow! :) The work is definitely progressing here in Morristown. We went and visited a former investigator as well and have a return appointment with him, so another new investigator. We headed over to Cynthia's and waited for her to get home and when she got home you could tell she was so much more happy. We had a relief society dinner on that night and she came. On the way over Sister Morrison was talking to her and Cynthia said she told her mom she was going to get baptized and her mom wants to be there for her! That was the first news we heard about that! So we were stoked. Then at the dinner she was telling everyone she was going to get baptized. So when the timing is right we're going to recommit her to baptism! Woo! During the dinner I was sitting at a table with a lot of the younger ladies in the ward and they were all talking, but the one sitting next to me said "So Sister Taylor, where are you from?" I replied "Kaysville" she said oh that's cool I'm from farmington. I told her she looked familiar to me (Because she really did) and she said she had a younger sister so I asked her name....and come to find out it was Sarah Page's older sister. Sarah was a way good friend of mine in Jr. High and then she went to Viewmont. But it was SOOO cool to make that connection. Just like you were saying mom, it is a small world. Especially in the Mormon culture! Haha. I love it though. We had good tortilla soup at the dinner and had a fun time getting to know the Sisters in the ward better.

Friday, was another incredible day! Zone conference all day! That's where I finally got my package. I don't know why it took so long to get here but it finally did! And I was so happy. I also recieved a little card from Sister Thompson. It was good to hear from her. But zone conference. Incredible! The spirit is always to strong at those. President and Sister Jeppson spoke and our montly focus is on love. And I love the montly focus. God and Jesus love us so much, why shouldn't we love our selves and others? I love President and Sister Jeppson so much. They truly are so inspired and know exactly what to say. Then we had Elder Ream and Tippetts give us a training on How to Begin Teaching and then we role played. It was an incredible zone conference, we had a little bit of time to bear testimonies and it was such a great testimony meeting with the missionaries that bore their testimony. The power we have is so strong!

Saturday was great as well. We went over to a less-active families home and ate dinner and made a little chain for the girls and everytime all of the family is there at church they get to take one off.

You better belive that motivated them because all of them, including the dad was there at church. It filled my heart with joy seeing all of them there. And right as they got home they pulled off one of the links to the chain. They are such a cute family. I found out right before sacrament meeting started that the gospel principles teacher wasn't fully prepared to teach (he was just called to be the new teacher)so I quickly put some thoughts together for gospel principles. (We found out eariler in the week that we might've had to teach but on Saturday we were told he'd be prepared) I felt I did a pretty good job for thinking of my ideas right before sacrament started. And it was just me, Sister Morrison didn't help. I was pretty proud of myself to be able to talk and teach a class. I know that's what missionaries do, they teach people, but it was incredible to see how quickly I could pulled ideas together and make a lesson out of it and it actually makes sense. I'm very grateful for those opportunities. :)

 

Another cool thing, one of the kids in the Morristown ward got his mission call to the France Paris mission and I belive that's the same one as Sarah Jackson. What day is she going into the MTC? April? He's going in May but I'm sure they'll run into eachother out in Paris. Again, small world.

 

The rest of Sunday was great. We went to Darsi's parents house and ate some really good food then we went to a 1st birthday party for a less active members little boy. It was so cute with him and the cake. I wonder how Grant's going to react to cake? I miss that boy. And Tacy? And everyone for that matter. But then we went to see Bonny real quick and then went to a members home for dinner and had lasagna. It was really good. We went up to Cynthia's house because she wasn't at church and she promised she'd be there. When we got there, there was rap music blasting and both S. Mo and I were kinda shocked. We knocked on the door anyway and she came to the door. She let us in and we talked to her for a little. Yesterday we went and visited her again and she said that she doesn't want to have Caitlyn grow up with those morals like her family. Cynthia has the light of Christ back in her life and we couldn't be happier. She's going to be baptized. We also had dinner at a members home last night and we're helping her teach the relief society lesson on Sunday because it's Elder Nelson's talk, "Ask the Missionaries", so that's what she did. Personally, I don't think there's anyone better she could of asked but that's just me :) haha. I love all the ward members in this ward. I'm definitely coming back and visiting them when I'm off my mission.

 

Today we had another great District meeting and felt the spirit so strongly. Sister Morrison has still been sick so I've been doing a lot of personal study. It's nice because I can study for myself and for my investigators. I love this work that I do. I love being a missionary for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know the Church is true! Today I read about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's and I love that story so much. To be able to put down their weapons of war and NEVER take them up again is a testimony builder to me. I love you all so much! Thanks for all your prayers and support! You are all so great and such big examples to me!

 

Peace and blessings.

 

Love,

Sister Taylor

I'm a MISSIONARY!!!

My goodness. First I'd like to thank all of you for your mail this week. I love love LOVE getting mail from you guys every week. They truly brighten up my day. I love hearing about everything that's going on. I have to first give a shout-out to Kimber..I'm seriously so excited for you to go to the temple and recieve your endowment. It truly is such a remarkable place and truly the House of the Lord. You'll have to tell me all about it. Dad, I can kinda relay to you about how much work you're doing in the temple. Our days are definitely long here and I'm beat. But every morning I still get up and do my little workout (yes, at 4:30 am your time, still staying strong). I'm happy to see that mom's still crying and that Michelle is using some of my stories in Young Womens. I love hearing that.

I wanted to start off by saying how special is my calling. Yesterday as Sister Morrison and I were driving in the car, I passed a sign that said New York City and I was like "Woah, I'm in New Jersey, as a missionary for my Heavenly Father" It is so amazing to know that I'm progressing God's work here. I love it so much! This week was a little bit different than others Sister Morrison has been sick so we haven't been out a whole lot. Even though I know my time should of consisted of a little bit more studying I got caught up in making t-shirts for some sisters before they leave. They're pretty sick...I must say. I'll send a picture of what they look like... (And sister Dicou and Lowry, if you want one I'd be more than happy to make you one :)) I hope that you guys recieved my Book of Mormon character list. It's really cool and I love that I can go back and reference it whenever I need to know who someone is.

We had a zone meeting on Tuesday and our monthly focus is on Charity and how we can all have more in our lives. We had to get up and say what we loved about our companions. Then they said if you need to spend a little bit more time getting to know your companion that is one of the most important things...so that day sister Morrison's leg was really hurting her so we decided to bond....and color my hair :/ We tried blonde once.....and it wasn't blonde enough so we went back and got more. I'd like to describe my hair color as Kimber's hair color now. So I feel like we've just been playing tag with our hair back and forth. But I really like it....it's different but it's good. Pictures to come. I'll probably change it back before I get home but that's quite a ways a away so I have time haha :) So that was fun. Sister Morrison is incredible. That bonding time really has helped our friendship and companionship grow. I'm really grateful to have been companions with her. Every companion or friend you come in contact with...sometimes it takes a while to figure out why God put them in your life...but they're all there for a reason. To help you grow stronger and stronger.. so we can all make it back and live with our Father in Heaven again :)

I know Dad has asked about the teaching. That is going good. Unfortunately our baptism won't be happening this weekend because she hasn't attended church three times. She's been overloaded at work and so we kinda gave her a little break but we're going to be getting back in touch with her soon and continue to teach her. Cary, the one that made the beanies, is definitely progressing! She is reading to really find an answer..she's looking for a religion in her life. She told us "you girls are putting the work in to help me, so I better be putting the work in to find the answers." So she said she set some time aside each day to read! I love her..I expressed that I felt such a quick connection with her when I met her. I said "you and my mom would be best friends!" I know I met her for a reason and I'm so grateful for the spirit contining to work with her. She has a bad back but committed to come to church when God gives her a good Sunday! We've been praying and will continue to pray for her to have a "good Sunday" so she can attend church. We're working with a lot of less-active members and we got a family (except the dad) come to church yesterday. You could tell she was overwhelmed but we sat with them and kept her little girls company and quiet. She's got three little girls and a little baby boy and she are so cute! The 7 year old called us to repentance when we went and visited them, she said "are we gonna talk about God or are we just going to sit here and talk all day?" It was really funny. She is the driving force to get that whole family back to church. I love her attitude. Yesterday she drew on a piece of paper..."I love church" Just like you were saying mom, the things you teach the little kids is incredible. And they remember that stuff you teach them. I love seeing the Lords work!

Before I end, I was reading in Alma this past week and I read about Alma and Amulek and the faith they had. They were teaching and Zeezrom and many others thought they were teaching and being influenced by the devil. As we all know, they later watch the believers, woman and chilren, be burned for their belief. Then they were sent to prison, as I'm studying faith in the Book of Mormon, I realize how much faith Alma and Amulek had. It says in the scriptures twice "according to their faith". I can see my faith being strengthened as I read the words from the Book of Mormon and continually pray for more faith. I have a testimony that without faith, nothing could be accomplished. Faith is the basis of believing. I know God loves us. I know that we can live with Him and Jesus Christ again. I know prayer is real and when we pray with real intent, we will get SO much more out of it. I love all of you so much! Thanks for the great examples you are to me! Continually praying for you! Hope you all have such a good week and the snow slows down! It's been beautiful here as Dad has said!

Love,

Sister Taylor :)

Pictures

Pictures will now be posted on facebook.  The blog as denied access for any more pictures to be posted here. 

What a full Week 1/07/2013

It was a crazy week. Transfers! New Year's Eve we went and did another fear buster. It was my third one in three transfers, get that! Haha, I love doing the fear busters now. It was definitely scary the first time but I'm getting used to talking to everybody about the gospel. Because it truly changes lives. After that we rushed every where. Sister Galuvao was gettting transferred so we were saying good-bye to some people. We went and ate dinner (Navajo tacos! Felt like home) at the Gurney's home. They are such an amazing family. I can't wait to bring the family out here to meet everyone. They were the members that I skyped at. Then we went to Cynthia's house and Bonny's and let Sister Galuvao say goodbye. I don't know what I'm going to do when I have to say goodbye to the people I've met here. Tomorrow is my three month mark here in NJ (feels like a lot longer) but I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's such an incredible work I GET to do everyday I wake up. So New Year's Eve we did go to bed a little later :/ We got sparkling cider and popped open it up and drank it. We celebrated a little earlier. S. Mo and G went to bed early but I said my prayers and as I was saying my prayers I heard firework, so I was praying into the new year...not many people can say that. I thought it was pretty sweet! The next day was crazy! Transfers, trying to get everything ready. We went to Olive Garden for the last lunch together and then headed to transfers. Elder Smith and his trainee got doubled-out of Morristown because now the Assistants are in the Morristown ward with us. Sister Galuvao got transferred to Jersey City-English (so now there's a chance I might serve there and be able to go find Annie's in laws :D) There were more changes but it's exciting. We're going to be getting in 22 new missionaries next transfer and the one after that 27. They're going to be opening up new areas and theres a HUGE possibility I'll be training next transfer, which I'm so excited for! The work is progressing and things are getting crazy! But cool. We had a great week of teaching. We have been helping a less active come back to church and she's one of the COOLEST people I know. She's so smart and so funny. Yet again, one person I can't wait to let you meet.

You know it's such a cool thing being a missionary....We were going to pick up some pizza and I decided to follow the rules and use the crosswalk and I ran into this sweet woman, Marie. I started talking to her and getting to know her. I didn't have my backpack with a Book of Mormon but I had a pass-along card. I asked her if she believed in God, and she said "I love Jesus!" I failed to get her number and address from her (I'm still learning here) but I gave her the pass-along card and told her the Book of Mormon will change her life and if she calls that number she can recieve a free copy. She looked so happy after I told her that. We prayed with her and it made her day. Just talking to everyone we can change their lives. They see the happiness we have with the gospel in our lives and they notice it. I hope we can all strive to be more happy as we go throughout our crazy hectic days.

Sunday's is probably one of my favorite days. The spirit I feel in the church everytime I go is just incredible and such a re-booster every week! It was actually my first fast and tesimony meeting in the Morristown ward, (I got there in Oct. the day after fast Sunday, hurricane hit in Nov, Sis. Mo was sick in Dec.) So I was really excited to hear the testimonies of the members here. And it was awesome! A whole primary class got up and bore their testimonies and so many others. I didn't get up this time but I will next time. I just wanted to see all the members. I'm grateful for the testimony I have of the restored church. I know it is the true church. I'm gratefurl for my Savior, for atoning for the mistakes I've made. I'm grateful and love reading from the Book of Mormon every single morning. It is the word of God and we can all come closer to Christ by reading the words from the pages. I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God, and he recieves divine revelation from our Heavenly Father to help us in our trials. I love all of you so much! I can't wait to get back so I can work on my personal relationships with all of you! Your support and your letters truly uplift me and I don't want to waste any time here. Because it is the Lord's time. Not mine. I need to find all the people that Heavenly Father has prepared for me. And I know I can do that. Through sincere prayer and fasting. I love this gospel so much! As I'm reading the Book of Mormon again, I came across the scripture that I sent back a few months ago. Mosiah 18:21 "And he commanded them that there should be no contenton one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." I love that verse so much. I hope we can all strive to have our hearts knit together in unity and love for everyone. I also came across this scripture while I was reading today that I absolutely love. Alma 5:44-46. This is what I'm called to do. What an incredible calling we have as members of the church!

Thanks for all the support, all the prayers and letters! I love every week, being able to get your letters and see you are all doing great! Love you all and am always praying for you!!

Love,

Sister C. Taylor

Amazing Week

Well first off, HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!! Where did 2012 go? For reals though. It's crazy how much time flies. I want to first do some "thank you cards" (haha you know, like Jimmy Fallon), anyways, Thank you to the Barnes family for the wonderful package you guys sent to me. And especially the little cards, I hope to be able to send you guys a letter soon but we've been so utterly busy I haven't had much time to write, but it's coming i promise. Also thank you to the West family as well. I recieve your picture and card and I appreciate it. I will get back and write to you guys soon as well. Also, another thank you to the McNeil's and WIlsons for the wonderful Christmas cards I recieved from them. I really appreciate all of them.

What an amazing crazy busy week it has been! Christmas was so amazing. Thank you for the packages and the presents. I realized I don't need any more sweets for the next 6 months because I have enough until then. Thank you for the letters mom and dad. I love hearing from you. It truly brightens up my week. The best Christmas present was seeing all of you guys. (I do want you to know, I did have a break down the next day from it, but we'll keep that between us :) ) Seriously though, seeing all of you and Grant and Tacy was so great! It's good to see you are all doing good. Because I'm doing great over here. It is not easy but it's one of the most fun things I've ever done. I'm really blessed to be here and be serving the Lord. This week was crazy, it has snowed quite a bit here, and out here in NJ, people go crazy with driving and the snow. So we actually had two snow days, banned from going outside, luckily there have been three of us so it wasn't too bad, we made a music video, yes it was church music, and played a little monopoly. It was a lot of fun! These sisters are great! We haven't gotten along the best but we've learned A LOT from eachother. That's for sure.

Church yesterday was incredible. The spirit I feel there is undeniable. I love it. We also got to witness the baptism of Dottie Wright an older lady that was so ready to be baptized. It was Elder Smith (the one I'm related to) and his companion Elder Wedel. It was a beautiful service. I can't wait until we have out baptism. It's going to be fantastic! I don't think it quite hit her until after the service. It's so cool to see! This week has been crazy but since the snow storms and Christmas that was about all that happened.

Transfers are tomorrow. And Sister Galuvao is getting transferred. We found out this morning and it's going to be hard but it's God's will. If I have learned anything on my mission so far it's been that God honestly has a plan for every one of us. And we go through trials to strengthen us. Not to put us down or weaken us, but really to strengthen us. In Mosiah 4:9 it says, "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all tings, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." Boy, am I grateful for the scriptures, they truly testify of Christ. On every single page. My testimony of the Book of Mormon has been strengthened so much because of reading every day from it's pages. And I encourage you to read it everyday. It will help you come closer to Christ. I can promise you that, because I'm a witness of it.

I also want to encourage each of you to write down some goals you want to accomplish in the next year 2013. I have done it and it's nice to be able to look at my goals and see what I can do to accomplish them. Goals are there to push you a little bit more than you think.

We recieved a little letter from the mission office for Christmas and this Christmas I was really trying to focus on Christ. I read the little letter and it was the final touch I needed to help me really realize what Christmas is all about. It truly isn't about the gifts and the presents, but it truly is about the gift God gave us, his son Jesus Christ. I want to share it with you: "Jesus of Nazareth was no mere mortal. Yet, He made an unusual transition on that first Christmas-he was transformed from God to newborn child. How wondrous is it to truly understand what was packaged in that tiny body held by mother Mary? Oh the magnitude of that sacrifice. That night, God the Son traded his heavenly home with all its celestial adornments for a mortal abode with all its primitive trappings. He, the King of heaven, left a throne to inherit a manger. He exchanged the dominion of God for the dependence of a babe. He gave up power, dominion and the fullness of His glory--for what?--for taunting, mocking humiliation, and subjections. It was a trade of unparalleled dimensions, a condescension of incredible proportions, a descent of incalculable depth. And so, the great Jehovah, creator of worlds without number, infinite in virtue and power, made his entry into the world in swaddling clothes and a manger--all to save each of us." What an incredible blessing it is to realize Christ truly lives and he truly died to each and every one of us. It truly hit home for me and I'm so grateful for my Savior. He knows he and loves me so much. And wants the best for me. And I know he wants the best for you. :)

I love this gospel. I'm continually becoming more and more converted. I love each and every one of you. I'm so grateful for your examples, because truly you are an example to me. I know God loves us and Christ as well. They know what we're going through and when we turn to them, they won't let us down. We may need patience and faith, but they will answer us! Thank you for your support!

Tell everyone in the ward hi from me, in the YSA ward and the home ward. How are the Harvey's doing?

I hope you all have a amazing New Year's, bring on 2013!!! It's going to be a good year! Time flies when your serving the Lord! :)

Love love love you!

Sister Christine Elaine Taylor