A letter on June 24, 2007

Subject: The Gauntlet, the sick day, and so much more...

Holy Cow Man,

I really don’t know why I started the letter out that way but, anyway. Oh, now I remember, it was because of the amazing stack of pictures I got in the mail the other day - holy cow that was a lot of pictures! I want to send some home so you guys need to send me the other card and I will send it on it's way. I’m glad to see some green finally. Elder Sanderson said “Man, it's so green there!!!!” I was like "no duh, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you." Anyway this week has gone by so fast, now that I am used to the new area I’m having more fun. The only bad thing is we call Sunday “The Gauntlet.” They are so long and even more crazy. We cover 3 wards that thankfully all meet in the same building, which looks exactly like the Beacon Hill building by the way - carpet basketball court and everything. It is just a really long day: we are there from about 8 in the morning until a bout 4:30 or 5 in the evening, and so it is just a long day.

Like I said this week was crazy fast. Being with a district leader, he has to go on splits with all the companionships during the transfer. So this past Friday I was with Elder Coles. He is from Canada and he is really cool, the only problem is that he got sick. So we had to stay in all day, which as a missionary is not as much fun as it used to be. I used to love to do that and now I just feel like a waste. But we need our rest, too, so that was nice, and I’m not complaining about a nap. That is one thing I will never do! Also we have 2 people set for baptism, so we have been meeting with them and talking with them a lot, so that keeps us busy. We have kind of been playing the waiting game with some of our investigators lately, but this week they all have time to meet with us. Our week is almost full already and it is just Monday, who knows what will happen the rest of the week. Also we have Zone Conference this week. So I’m really looking forward to that as well, because right after Zone Conference President Andrus does investigator firesides, and this will be my first one. Since I’ve been in Winnemucca we never had a way to get people to come to them, but now it is so close. So I am really looking forward to that, we are going to try and get as many investigators as we can to come to that.

This past week, I was reading in the Book of Mormon in my spare time. We don’t get a lot of that so we usually try and do other things but I made the goal to read it as much as possible. As I have been doing so I have just been feeling so good and peaceful. It is truly an inspired book. You can truly gain a greater love of the Savior as you read it. I challenge all to read it as much as possible. Now that I’m done with that I’m starting on the Bible, I know it will be tough but it can be done. I love you all very much and hope that all continues to go well.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Letter on June 18, 2007

Subject: Just another week in Paradise...I guess...

Well Hello,

Man it sounds like everyone had a pretty crazy week. With the Party, the Graduation and all the other goings on. My week seemed to just drag on and on, but it still amazes me how fast the time goes. Coming up this week I will have been out for 4 months and it only feels like a couple of weeks. I’m really enjoying my time here in Reno and the more I get to learn about this place the more I get to love the people and the town. The best part about the whole thing is that we get to ride around in the Freaking Green Hornet all day. That’s our cars name. Also it is really nice to be around other missionaries and see how they work. As you may know Winnemucca is all alone in the middle of nowhere, so when we saw other missionaries it was every couple of weeks. So it is nice to see how they work, and play at the same time.

A prime example of that was this past Friday. Being companions with a District Leader we get to go on splits with the Zone Leaders, so that was kind of scary. I was on splits with Elder Metge (it sounds like sledge just with and m instead of a sl). He has been out like 20 months and is just a really cool guy. We went tracting and it was really cool to see his teaching style. He really just tries to teach with the spirit and it really works. That was a fun day. We only did half day splits so we weren’t together long, but it was still really cool to see how other people teach and use the spirit as an effective teaching tool.

Other than that this week has been “Normal,” if you can even say that as a missionary, but it has been good. We are working with some people to help them get ready for baptism, so that’s cool - we should have a least one in the next couple of weeks. There really is a lot of work here and I’m enjoying every second of it.

Something that I have noticed a lot more is that everywhere you go there are always people who are against the church. Here we have a church that is just very against the church, which seems funny to me. We always hear stories about how some of the pastors just spend time bashing us, instead of talking about the reason they are all there - which is to show our love for the Savior. That should be the only reason we go to church - to talk about God and the Savior. If you go for other reasons, such as to bash and try and prove them wrong, well, that’s not what Church is meant for. I’m glad to be apart of a church that talks about Christ. In my study time I came across this scripture and it really helped me put it all together: it's 2 Nephi 25:26, it talks about the Book of Mormon and the church and the purpose for them. As I read each day and talk with people about the Savior it really makes me happy to know that He lives and that He loves each of us. I want of you to know that I love you all. I hope that all the fathers had a great Father's day and most importantly that My Dad had a great one too. I love you and hope that all is going well.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Reno 411

Subject: Man o' Man has this week been crazy.....

Hello to all,
Man, Reno is amazing! The weather has been perfect and just everything has been awesome. Except on Friday afternoon I got a little stomach sickness, so we stayed in most of Saturday and went out that night. Have no fear - all is well now, and I’m running at 100%. This week has just been crazy. We have a lot of work in this area. We cover the Reno 3rd ward, Peavine Mountain and Mogul wards. 3 wards is a lot. In Winnemucca I covered one and thought that it was crazy to do that. Church yesterday was long, though. Going to three wards is a long day. But we had 4 total investigators come to Sacrament meeting, so that was really nice.

Well, we will start with Elder Sanderson. He is from Casper, Wyoming and he is really cool. He just got called as district leader, and he has been out for 9 months. We have a great time together. I was sad to leave Elder Filter in Winnemucca, but it had to be done and plus, Reno is way better. However, I will miss the members there every much. Our apartment is super nice, probably in the top 5 in the mission. It is 2 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. That’s right - I get my own bathroom, it is really cool. Don’t worry, Mom we will do another Cribs thing and send it along. This whole area is amazing; we even have the temple just up the street from our apartment. So we got that going for us which is nice.

Like I said, the work here is going crazy we have a lot of really cool investigators and the members here love to do anything to help out, so that makes our job even easier. Also the media program is in full swing up (or down, depending upon where you read this) here so that makes it easy for us to talk to people about the church. When you cover three wards your pool opens up even more. Our area goes all the way out to the California border which is really cool. In fact we had dinner with some members who live pretty close to the border and that was an awesome dinner. Well, not really, because I was starting to get sick and didn’t eat much, but the member builds historic houses for people. He built his daughter an 1800’s French château, it was so cool, like being in France I guess, but I didn’t have to go there. Also, he is building his own house now to be some Welsh cabin of sorts. He gave us a tour and it is really cool. So when I get home I will call him up and have him build me a house. Man, the members here are just sweet. Get ready for this, Connie your going to die when I tell you this! We have a member who is in the Gladys Knight choir. Yeah that's right - she sings in the Choir. We had dinner with them the other night and she told us she was in the Choir like it was no big deal! I was like "my aunt loves her like crazy!!" So there is your celebrity news for the week.

Well, I know I left out a lot of very important information this week - so just send me a questionnaire with the questions you want to know and I will do my best to fill it out. I few quick shout outs. First, to Brent and MaryKate: on the arrival of Reagan. Another goes out to Chanel: congrats on Graduation! I wish I could be there, but I’m having more fun doing this - well, not really, but it is a close second. And last but not least, is to Dad: I hope you have a Happy Father's Day. I know it has got to stink to live with two women all the time, so just know that my bed is always there for you to sleep. You have been an amazing influence in my life. I find myself saying things I know you would say everyday, stupid or smart, you would say them. I want everyone to know how much I love all of you. I hope all is going well. Remember to send pictures of this week and weekend and I will try and do the same. I love you all, I love this work and I love my Savior even more.

Love,
Elder Taylor

P.S. Transfers are just right before Bill comes to Reno. Hopefully, I will still be in the area and get to see him. I would love to do lunch with him if he wants to!

A new place to serve...

This is the letter from June 4, 2007:
Subject: The Biggest Little city in the world...you better get ready!

Hey Hey,

Well here we are again! It's a beautiful summer day in Winnemucca. The sun is shining and the wind is blowing like crazy, as always (I know you hate the wind, Mom). Well let's start with the big news: I'm being transferred to Reno. So that's cool! I'm sad to leave Winnemucca and the members and of course, my awesome companion. The way I look at is that there is someone that needs me in Reno right now, so that is where I need to be. I will also be in a Car. This is nice because it is starting to get really freaking hot here. All in all I have had a good time here in Winnemucca and will look back with fondness at my time spent here.

Now on to the good stuff. We went to Reno to go to the temple on Wednesday. I don't know if you have ever been in a small temple like that, but coming from the Portland temple, it is really small. You turn around and you're in a whole new place and hit someone in the process, not really but close. It was so nice to have the time to be in the temple and I really look forward to all the times I will be able to go. I love the temple - it brings such peace to my day. Then we got to go to "the book store," which I never really liked before but as a missionary it is the most amazing store and we all end up spending more money then we have (don't worry mom, I used you name so you now have a ton of points at the bookstore, don't you love me???) The trip to Reno was all day and it was so worth it.

Then this past Saturday was the First Annual Winnemucca Stake 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Yeah it was awesome! We were late because we were doing service for neighbor lady, but we made it for the skills competition, and there was a 3-point and free throw contest. Well guess who won the 3-point competition?! Yeah that would be ME!!!!!!! I won in a sudden death playoff, and it was awesome with tons of people watching. It was one of the coolest things I've done in a while. The first thing I said to Elder Filter after I won was, "My mom would be so proud of me". Then I lost the free throw contest in a playoff to the stake president's son. I should have beat him though, I had two chances and I blew them both. But it was still cool then we played an all-star team from the tournament at the end when everyone was watching - it was packed. We played half court and lost by 2, but we had this member who was a total ball hog and wouldn't pass the ball, but we still almost won. Saturday was a fun day.

Well that's really all the exciting things that happened here this week. I will have some good stories to tell next week about my new area I'm sure. Know that I love you all and that I hope that all is well. My health is great - no need to worry at all. I am very excited for my new adventure and all the new ones at home. Yes, I got the graduation announcement in the mail, it made me sad though, that I cant be there, but knowing all of you the amount of pictures will make me feel like I'm there. Take some pictures of the yard and send them along. Take lots of pictures as I try to do the same. I miss you all and love you even more, but this is the Lord's time and I love to serve my Father.

Love
Elder Taylor

Since he's off to Reno, Elder Taylor said good-bye to some of his
awesome, favorite famillies in Winnemucca

Elder Taylor with the Dennis family

The Gibsons and Elder Taylor

It's good to know someone...Elder Taylor and the Smiths