A HO HO HO....OH and getting stuck in the Snow

Happy New Year,

Well I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and had a great time talking with family or visiting family….or just anything to do with their family. I will let all of you know that I had a great time talking to my family and finding that all is going well with them. I had just a great time talking to them and hearing their voices. But I must say that this week has been one of total craziness….now Chanel told me that I say "this week was so crazy" every week….but this week really was crazy. But I will start with the most important news first: Transfers. Yes, I am leaving…..I’m going to Gardnerville, Nevada. It should be fun…I will be just a nice normal missionary…and let me tell you how happy that makes me: well it makes me very happy to say the least. My new companion will be Elder Tubb and I don’t really know him too well but I am excited for the new change and no leadership. I hope that all will go well.

Now to the Crazy part of the week. Other then talking to my family, I had some good times this week. So as I said last week, we went to North Tahoe to do a baptism interview for some little kids….and by little I mean 8 and 10. Anyway their baptism was on Thursday night. So I wanted to go back up there and see them get baptized…so we hopped in the car and rode up with the Spanish Missionaries. As we were getting closer and closer the snow started to fall more and more and more and more….and more…well you get the point….we made it to the church and were there for the baptism. But now it was time to drive home….and we couldn’t…they were requiring chains on all cars or snow tires…well as missionaries we aren’t supposed to be driving in weather conditions like that. Thankfully some very nice members were willing to have us come and stay at their home for the evening….we were so grateful. They gave us a ride back to their house and we were able to stay the night and come back to Reno the next morning when the roads had been cleared. We made it back nice and safe and no animals were harmed by our driving…or humans. The people we stayed with were the Jones’ and they have an amazing house. It is like my perfect dream winter home up by Lake Tahoe….they live in Truckee so their not too close to Tahoe…but just close enough. It was an amazing home…I will include a picture of us in their home. They were so nice that they said we could come back today and go sledding in their backyard…they have a sled track that he dug out of the snow and it is so cool…I’m very excited to go back up there and see them again.

Well like I said transfers calls were Saturday night…and yes, I really am leaving for Gardnerville….I am actually pretty excited about the new area….I hear that it is a really pretty place to live and there are lots of nice people there. I will be covering only a 1 ward and 1 branch so that will be a nice change….I just seem to be covering smaller and smaller areas now….it is actually quite nice. It will be another Double Transfer though…every time but one that I have been transferred in it has been a double transfer…so I don’t really like them very much…but life goes on….right??

Well I hope that everyone has a great New Year and if 2008 goes by as fast as 2007 then I just won't know what to do with myself…I have spent most of this year either on my mission or preparing for my mission….and I must say that if there is anyone who is thinking about going on a mission and not quite sure if they should do it…..go for it! This has easily been one of the best years of my life. I have had so much and grown so much that I can’t wait for 2008 to get here. It is going to be so much fun to see what the New Year holds, I hope it holds many blessings for me and also for all of you. Again I hope that all of you had a great Christmas…and I hope you have a great 2008.

Love,
Elder Taylor

HO...HO...HO.....

Well Hey,
As I will be talking to you tomorrow…I won't make this too long….but I do have a few highlights I would like to cover….First was on Friday - Santa came Early…some missionaries in my district dressed up as Santa and one of his elves and went to visit investigators and they came by our apartment all dressed up and it was so funny…probably one of the best things I could have asked for this holiday season. Then yesterday I got to go and interview two kids for baptism….it was so cool to interview these little kids who now had the gospel in their lives…..their Mom was a less active member and wanted her two sons to get baptized and so they had the missionaries come and teach the family and it was so cool to be apart of the process…even in a small little way. They were nice little kids and it was fun…the only problem was they live in California up by Lake Tahoe…so we had to drive and hour each way just to do this interview…..but it was worth the drive. Also we saw this way crazy big icicle. It was bigger then me…..it was so crazy…then we made Elder Fechser run through the snow…well he wanted to do it, so we just strongly encouraged it. It was very funny to see him running through thigh high snow in his suit pants….nothing gets better right?????

Well as this is my first Christmas away from home and I haven’t been able to enjoy the family traditions this year, but it has given me some time to think about the true meaning of Christmas and think about what a wonderful gift we have all been given….A Savior….it is truly a pleasure to be His representative and do the work He would do if He were here himself…..I love my Father in Heaven and thank him everyday for my wonderful family….and even more for a Savior. I hope that everyone has a fabulous Christmas…I know I will….I hope all you dreams come true. I Love You all.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Well...it's cold....really cold....but this week was good anyways.....

Happy Holidays,

Well I hope that this past week has gone by as fast for all of you as it has for me. We had last P-day and that was fun….We had dinner with the Simpson’s and you got the picture from that…..Sister Simpson does that because she hasn’t gotten pictures from her son who is on a mission yet…he has only been out like 2 months….but I don’t mind and I know you guys don’t either. (No, we don't mind at all!)
Then Tuesday we had District meeting and other stuff to do. Then Wednesday was the big day….we had interviews with President Andrus. He has changed the way he does them now….he used to do interviews the day of Zone Conference but that was too crazy…now he does them on their own day so he can spend more time with each missionary and talk about stuff….so, it was a nice interview. Most of them have been like 2 or 3 minutes….this time it was like ten or fifteen….it was really cool. Then later that night we had what we call “The Christmas Blessing”….which translated to normal English means: dinner, talent show and MOVIE…..movie is extra big because we got to watch Elf which turns out to be one of President's favorite Christmas movies….so that was pleasant surprise! We had a great dinner and we had a funny talent show….the highlight was Elder Dixon dancing around in a Banana Suit…dancing to the song "Peanut Butter Jelly Time." For those of you who love The Family Guy know why that is very funny….for others: Google the name of the song and you will see why he was in a Banana Suit. Overall it was a really good time….especially watching Elf, more so a real movie….

Then Thursday rolled around and that was actually kind of a nice because it was a nice easy day…..then came Friday and that meant Zone conference and that was a story unto itself. So we had to get there at 8:30 in the morning which was just fine…..except last week it didn’t hit 30 degrees outside until about 2 in the afternoon…..so we were standing outside inspecting our cars at 8:30 a.m. and it was about 18 degrees or so outside. Let's just say that is too cold to be outside doing anything….but that wasn’t the half of it! Then inside I learn the training that I was supposed to do was actually a workshop and that I was to do it and also Elder Fechser was to be apart of it as well. What I was originally told it was to be a ten minute training in the Zone conference. The workshop is when everyone brakes into groups and is trained by zone leaders. This time they added one district leader from each zone as well….so Elder Fechser and I pulled a something together in the 15 minutes we had to plan and went to it! Let's just say that after the third group we had a good plan set forth and it went well…that was good because President Andrus walked in the with the very next group….so we did a good training with him in the room…..I was still a little nervous though…but it went well and he said we did a really good job.

Well it sounds like everyone had a great and festive week…and I hope that all of you have a good rest of the week…know that I love you and can't wait until next week. Know I love you and I hope that you all keep the true meaning of Christmas in mind this year….The best gift anyone could ever receive…A Savior. I am so grateful to have this gift in my life…I gain even more love for Him every day as I go and serve Him and bring people into His true and everlasting gospel…it is one of the many other gifts that I enjoy because of a Father in Heaven who loves me and because of my loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Again know that I love all of you very much….have a great holiday season.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful.......

Hello There Everyone,

This week has been a wild one….we have seen a little of everything this week. We had perfect 60 degree weather early in the week and then this past weekend we got a few inches of snow that are still hanging around and really helping to get people into the holiday spirit. It really has been quite nice to see all the snow…hasn’t been fun on missionary work though. The roads have been pretty clear so that we can drive but Friday we really couldn't drive for too much time…lots of walking around. We were able to have a nice snow ball fight with most of our zone….so that was pretty fun.

We did have a baptism this past Saturday and it was pretty cool….with the snow on the ground it really made the baptism special…..more because we had a pretty good turn out despite the weather….there were a lot of people there to support them and it was really nice……The best part was I just got to sit there and enjoy. I didn’t have to do anything and it was nice….the only thing I was in charge of was making sure the font was full of water….and that proved to be quite the task. The “Special” plug thing kinda leaked water so I had to run and add some more water before they were baptized…but it all worked out great. The two who were baptized are Ruben and Analyn Toledo…..he is from Mexico and she is from the Philippines. He doesn’t want to go the Spanish branch because his wife speaks English. I forgot my camera today so I will have to send the pictures from the baptism next week. They were confirmed in church yesterday and given an amazing blessing and guidance to listen to. They wanted the bishop to baptize them and the his counselors to confirm them and they all did a great job and it was so cool to see a ward get so involved in a baptism……

This week will be a crazy busy one - we have something big going everyday….today being p-day then tomorrow district meeting….Wednesday is what we call the Christmas blessing…..where we all get together (the missionaries up north) and have a dinner and talent show and watch a movie…then we have interviews with President Andrus that morning too…then Zone Conference on Friday….then Saturday will be back to normal….so I will be looking forward to that…..Well, I hope that all is going well for everyone…Know I love you all and thank you for your prayers and love.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Getting festive...

So - click here to see the Elder Taylor district share some of their holiday cheer! Funny, no?

Some new pictures!

Elder Taylor with his District...I think they have to wear matching ties within their companionship...or maybe it just worked out that way.

Elder Taylor dancing in front of one of the new billboards created by the LDS Church. He's a big fan.

From the prank war: on the other side of that cardboard is over 40 bags of popcorn. On the other side of the popcorn is the front door of the sister missionaries.

Missionaries celebrating something...birthday? Being awesome? Could be both.

Elder Taylor loves hats. And being a missionary. And wearing a hat while being a missionary. This was taken at the new Reno Cabelas store...fyi

Holiday Cheer All Around...

Hey Hey,
I must say it seems like this week has gone by very fast. We have had a lot go on and then the change of the month, to now be in December is a little weird I must say. All the holiday lights are up and all the fancy decorations and investigators not being available really makes missionary life feel awesome. Well, for the most part all that is awesome. We have really struggled with our investigators and trying to get them to commit to do anything…mostly just sit down and meet with us…..always a struggle. It makes me think of a song I once heard…..The Endless Battle of the Fork and Spoon…more like the Endless Battle of the Right and Wrong (that’s my new missionary title).

Well anyway this week still has been very fruitful for us. We set two of our investigators with a baptism date for the 8th, and yes, that is this Saturday. We are going by to finish up the teaching this week and then they will be all ready for baptism. I’m so excited. It is a husband and wife who has decided that now is the time to get baptized. They are a nice little family who have a young daughter who is 2 years old….side note…..I think I know what Chanel was like at that age now that I met this girl….she is wild and crazy….but has a great little spirit about her. That has really been the most exciting thing to happen this week…oh the wife hadn’t come to church very much….so I told her I really wanted her to come to church this week and she got off work and came as a family…..it was so cool to see them sitting there and enjoying the blessings of the gospel as a family. It was so cool. Also this week we started teaching a less-active lady who wants to start coming to church again. Her husband who wasn’t a member just passed away and she knows that the gospel will bless her as she comes back to church…she has been a member her whole life and just fell away for a while…her husband wasn’t a member and she kinda used that as an excuse not to do anything with the gospel….But she has resolved to come back and embrace the gospel in her life…it is really cool to see the change.

In other news we got snow this week. That was a really fun day…it snowed most of the morning and gave us a little white holiday cheer…then we did some service in the snow for a member who is struggling with physical problems and needed some weeds pulled. It was really nice to be in the cold working that hard….kept me cool! The member that we helped said…”I'm going to write your Dad and tell him what a good job you're doing”…..so that was nice. Other than that, I hope that all are finding the holiday spirit this time of year….I had a chance to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night….it was awesome…really got me in the holiday mood…..we need to remember to give of ourselves, not only gifts….but time and talents as well…..I hope all have a great rest of the week and continue to spread the Holiday Cheer.

Love,
Elder Taylor