Well, Take One Down, Then Past it Around to 2009!

Hidee Ho Family Unit,

Well, I think that Chanel really did hit the nail right on the head: not too much has happened between now and last Wednesday, but I think that I can make up a few things that will fill this letter out, I hope. I really must say that it was quite a delight to be able to talk with all of you on the phone and have a great time. Christmas was really a nice day. Though at times it seemed a little different. First, the members that we live with had a family gathering at their home and so there were more people then normal here. Most of them thought it was odd that we were here all day, then when they found out that we were living in the home they had that sort of "Oh, duh!" moment. So that was funny. They had quite the spread of snacks and treats and goodies and all sorts of things for people to nibble on - which ended up being good as Sister Stringer put the turkey in the oven and then turned on the wrong oven. She came home from picking people up to find the turkey just sitting there...with the other oven nice and toasty. Still dinner was great and it made for nice time to be around everyone and have a fun time. It was almost normal, expect we don’t ever really have people come by and visit the house on Christmas, it is normally just us. It was a nice day though. The Stringers gave us each some really nice gifts and it was a really fun, wonderful day.

The next few days saw us trying to play catch up and try and get things back in order. That was hard because people are still in their holiday stupor, and so it made trying to converse with anyone a difficult thing. Yet it all worked out and we were still able to come up with a few new potential investigators. Sad thing is everyone is so busy with family and trips or both that they just don’t seem to have much time to really be doing much of anything else. So most good things will start happening toward the end of next week, sadly, and yet it makes us look forward to that. Quick side note: was anybody else surprised that this past weekend was the last of 2008? To me that is just craziness. I mean where the heck did the year go? I mean I feel like just yesterday that we started this thing and now poof it is a sandwich…I mean gone. Well It has been a great year full of fullness and stuff. I mean really great memories and times that I can really look back on and see how the Lord has shaped me to become who I am. Sorry, that wasn’t much a quick side note. Anywho, the year 2009 should be very good.

I must say it time for reflections on a year past and a time of resolutions for the year to come. People are often spending time thinking of how much weight they are going to try and lose or what fun new hobby they want to try out. I think that this should be a time of personal gospel review. What I have I done in the gospel this year? What do I want to try and get out of it this year? How can I help bring someone to the gospel this year? So at this wonderful time of goal setting and deal making, make some for our Father in Heaven. He won't let you down like some of those diets will. Well I hope that you all have a great week and well a happy new year as well. Man it is still weird to think that this year is pretty much over and that my black out year is gone away. Its seems like just yesterday I started this whole thing, where did it go? I guess some time I will have to sit down and think about it….right now I’m too busy, the Lord has plans. Well I love you all, have a great week.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is to Sing Loud for All to Hear....Then Hit Them With a Snow Ball!

Well hello you frozen people,

Man, it was weird to hear about all the snow up there….like you said Chanel that never happens….and to have two big snow storms in a weeks time! Where is Global warming? Just kidding…it is here in Vegas in the summer time. Anyway….speaking of Las Vegas weather: last week I said that we had a little snow storm on Monday and thought that would be the most amazing thing to ever happen in Las Vegas ever. Boy, was I wrong. On Wednesday we had our Christmas conference. That was really good, and I will talk more about it in a second, but we had the biggest snow storm in the Las Vegas valley that day since 1979! That is a long time ago, right Chanel? But really it was so cool to see all the snow on the ground.
Question: What happens when you get 4 inches of snow and 80 or so missionaries together in a parking lot?
Answer: SNOWBALL FIGHT!
It was awesome….but very cold. None of us were wearing coats or gloves or any sort of cold weather gear. It just doesn’t do that here. Needless to say, when I was done with the fight my hands were freezing. Like if you hit them with a hammer they would have shattered into a million pieces. So to warm up, what would you do? Well me: I stuck my head out the window of the van I was riding in and sang Christmas carols at the top of my lungs and so all that would hear. Man, that was really a lot of fun and helped make this a Christmas that I won't soon forget. I guess I could talk about the rest of that day. We had a wonderful day of meetings. We had some really good trainings, some really good music and then we went to watch the Emma Smith movie. I recommend you all see it….and for you haters out there, Emma Smith was an amazing women and well, I won't get on my soap box right now…but she is amazing. The whole day of zone conference and snowball fight and everything….it was a wonderful day and I couldn’t have hoped for any better.

Then later on this week we had a little ward party…it was supposed to be a thing where people could invite there friends but really no one did. Still it was a great night of music. The whole night was about Christmas music and celebrating the Christmas season. It was a really good night and the people that we talked to afterward and in the days later said they had a great time and that they would try harder to get their friends out the party next year. Also we have been doing the living Christmas cards this past week. We have had quite a few people thank us and tell us how brave we are to just do this - just the two of us. Really I thought that I would never do anything like this ever. Me and one other person singing at the door step? Still it has been great fun and seems to be bringing the Christmas Spirit all around….even though the snow beat us to it. Yesterday we had the chance to sing in the ward choir….well Sister Stringer is the ward choir director…and also fills our pantry…so we sang with the biggest smiles ever yesterday!

Like was said in all your emails - I think Christmas might be around the corner….and I regret to inform you that President McCracken said that we won't be able to call home this year, because we might not reach our baptism goal for the year so he wants us out talking to people all day Christmas. I think my pants just caught on fire…..because I am totally kidding about not being able to call home….we can and I will. Sometime Thursday I will be calling home. I can’t wait….last call home as a missionary! It should be pretty cool. So speaking of last things: As yesterday was my 22 month mark in the mission field….it seems that everyone is starting to find out that I have not very much time left….and so I have noticed that all the standard questions change….they get the “how long have you been out” question out….which I always let Elder Degering answer first….since he has been out about 18 months people are always like….”Oh you go home really soon!” and I just laugh and then they ask me and I say how long I have been out and they are like “WOW, you go home SO soon!” It really is quite funny and as I sit here thinking about what I am saying - only those who have served missions will really understand what I am trying to say - but really it has started to be weird and scary. One of my really good mission buddies goes home on Tuesday and we have been talking about stuff and I am so glad that I have two months left….it is really quite nerve wracking to think that it is almost 2009 and that means I will be home soon enough. Well that is my trunky moment of the week….stay tuned for next week's! Just kidding.

Well I love you all and hope that you have a great holiday season and a wonderful Christmas day. For those I won't get to talk to have a great New Year and I will talk to you all soon enough…I love you all so much, have a great week.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

What has this world come to?

Hidee-Ho Family!

Well, it sounds like things are going pretty well for all of you. A snow day is always a welcome sight! No work, no school….those are the best. Sounds like you have all kept yourselves as busy as possible this week. This next week sounds like more of the same for you. It seems to me as I look back that I have a lot to report on so I guess I better quit stalling. Oh, really quick though….I’m glad you liked the picture card. I forgot got to put a warning in the letter about the “scary” video house tour. Elder Ausmus is hilarious and I love that guy…I am going to talk to president this week about maybe getting to serve with him my last 6 weeks…I hope that maybe it works out….if not….well I will still keep in touch with him after anyway. There have been quite a few missionaries that I have made friendships with and it has been one of the best parts of being a missionary.

Well, as for my week. We had a lot of different things happen here this week. First off, we decided that we wanted to make a picnic for our investigators. So we picked a day and a time and told them to meet us at this park near their house. Well, we couldn’t have picked a worse day. The wind was blowing like two billion miles an hour and it was cold and everything seemed to got wrong. So we made the lunch anyway and packed it up. We RODE our bikes (it may have been faster to walk them) to their house and decided to do the picnic inside. It turned out really well. We had a great time and it was the family's first ever picnic…can you believe it? Well I was glad to be apart of their first picnic. Then later on that night we went to the Deer Springs ward Christmas party. It was a great night and we had some good fun. Then later on that night (I know this night seems to get later and later) anyway…then we helped the Stringers begin delivering the 12 days of Christmas to a family here in the ward. It is like Secret Santa or something. It is really fun and the funny thing is we have dinner tonight with the family that they are doing it to…so it is pretty funny.

Well what else happened this week??? Oh, well, we had a lot of time to do some normal missionary work and so that is always fun. This next week should be pretty busy. We seem to have some sort of something every day this week. Wednesday is our mission Christmas Celebration…quick update as I write this….IT IS SNOWING IN LAS VEGAS…sadly we all know it won't stick….but still there is snow all over the place and it is raining and slushy mix of stuff. Anyway back to the Christmas Celebration. We are meeting as missionaries together and having a big Christmas conference…it should be pretty good. I hope that it is as much fun as last year. Then we have interviews with President McCracken and then it will be Sunday and then Monday again…Holy Cow…I know that this week surely will fly by way to fast.

Well I hope that you all have a great time this week. I hope that the weather works out well and that you are able to have a great time at the Holiday home evening. I hope that you take a lot of pictures and video of each performance….Chanel can you male a DVD like you did before then we can watch it on the Stringers big screen…just like I was there myself. Well, know that I love you and care so much for each of you and that I hope you all have a great holiday season. Oh man! I almost forgot the craziest part of the week. We got asked by one of our bishops to deliver “living” Christmas cards in which we will be singing Christmas carols to neighbors of the members in the ward….So that should be a great experience…got to get my singing voice all tuned up! Oh and I have learned to play the top hand of a few hymns on the piano this week too….it is nice having one in the house you live in. Well like I said, I love all of you so much and hope that you have a great week this week and that everything goes great tonight. Stay warm and safe…and Remember…ITS SNOWING IN VEGAS….what has this world come to?

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful...So Wheres the Snow, Wheres the Snow, Wheres the Snow!?

Hello again,
Well hello to you all! It really has started to feel like December here. This whole week as we have been out tracting, I have had some more "You know you’re in Vegas..." moments. As it is December people are starting to decorate for Christmas. This has made me ask the question to myself: "Why do people here decorate for Christmas?" I mean it looks and feels nothing like winter here. I mean, the high temperatures are in the mid 60’s still. I am a little ashamed to say though…it's cold and I have been wearing sweaters all week. When you are used to like 105 to 115 degrees, the 60's can be cold. It does get cold here at night though with it getting down into the mid 30’s. So really - it does get cold, I am not just a wussy.

Well this week has really been full of lots of excitement around here. We found out last Monday night that Friday would be our temple day as the temple closes for holiday cleaning. So Friday morning we got to go to the temple. It was very nice, and I ended up seeing a few members from the Las Vegas stake where I had served earlier this year. It was nice to see them and then go through the temple. The sad thing is I only have one more chance to go through the Las Vegas Temple as a missionary, and that will be the day before I go home, so that was kind sad to think about. Yet, it was a great time. We had a really nice member in our ward take us and then he took us for Krispy Kreme’s afterward. That was a great way to end temple day.
Then I totally forgot to tell you guys last week that the Tule Springs Stake was being split. So hey, Tule Springs stake was split yesterday. We had stake conference this past weekend. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy was there to preside over the whole meeting. It was a really good conference. We went to the Saturday night session and it was really good. All the speakers spoke about being economically smart…weird huh? Then Elder Rasband spoke about how the Savior really loves and knows each of us. It was a really good talk and the session was great. Then yesterday was the big general session and that was where they did the split. They did it all at once and they broadcast it into three other buildings and the stake center was packed full. They said in total the number of people watching the conference was 3,021. Elder Rasband said that it was "...about time..." for the stake to be split. Our two wards are the in the same stake, but the Craigs are in the new Elkhorn Springs stake. We are, however, still in the same zone so that means I can still go and eat at their house on the 27th. So really not too much changed. Well, I guess it did since they also called two new stake presidencies. That made the meeting really long. They gave all of them a chance to bear their testimonies. So the meeting became a testimony meeting. It was good at first then it really just dragged on and on and on. In the end, Elder Rasband spoke on The Family and he gave a really good talk. It was pretty cool when we were walking around before the meeting looking for people, and Elder Rasband came around the corner, he shook our hands and asked if we had investigators there, I told him they were are they way, and he said, "Good, they'd better get here." So needless to say I haven’t washed that hand yet!! Just kidding - I’m not that weird.
Saturday was also one of our ward Christmas parties. It was cool, because they set the whole gym up like a marketplace from back in the day. They gave everyone little rocks painted silver and we had to go from place to place buying our food to eat. I thought that it was a really cool idea. Then they did a little nativity play. It was really nice little party. It really made me think about how hard it must have been for the people back in that time. Then last night as we watched the First Presidency's Christmas devotional and President Monson talked about those innkeepers. If they had only known who Joseph and Mary were, how they would have acted so differently, they would have possibly made more room for them or been more caring for them. I had never really thought about the whole thing that way. I had just thought that those guys were really dumb and that they had no other choice. The devotional last night was really good. If you didn’t get to watch it then you really missed out big time. I love to hear the First Presidency speak. These guys are good!
Well I love you all, and hope that you are all having a great and festive holiday season. I hope that you all get to share the Christmas spirit with someone else and make someone’s day a little brighter. Know I think about you often and care for you even more. I love you.
Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Gooble Gooble...Touchdown!

Hey there Family,

Well I was so glad to hear that all is going well for each of you and that you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Sounds like you had quite the crowd for dinner on Thanksgiving, I’m not too sure how all of you fit in that house but, hey, if you were able to do it - more power to you. Well my Thanksgiving was pretty good. This whole story really goes back a few days. It starts on Monday. We had dinner and it was really good - spaghetti, one of my favorites. Well, we were riding home and I just didn’t feel very good whatsoever. So we got home and I went in and laid down right away. To make this long story short I laid there a little longer and then I realized it wasn’t going to be a fun night. The funny thing is I actually said that to myself in my head that night as I was changing my clothes….the way I felt I knew that it wasn’t going to be a good night. Sadly, I was right. I ended up being up the majority of the night, ”taking care of business.” I don’t know about any of you, but I don’t want to be apart of that business ever again. So my week was a very long, slow one. We spent time letting me get back up to speed in the health department. Back to Thanksgiving: well, I had just gotten back to normal…sort of….well I wasn’t really in the mood to play any football and as we had a missionary turkey bowl...I just went in support…and ended up being the coach! It was really fun and funny. I got to throw my hat around, yell at people and do all the things that coaches do. It really was fun….sadly we only went 1-1 and we lost the championship 2-1...but it was a very close game! We had a chance on the last play of the game to score and tie it all up but the pass was incomplete…so we lost, but hey I had a great time and I know that everyone else did too. I mean, come on! When you get to give a fake pep talk to 30 missionaries…how can you not have a great time, right? As for Thanksgiving itself: it was great. We ended up only going to one of the dinners because I knew that my stomach could only handle so much before it would explode again….so I it took it easy and only ate like a plate full of mashed potatoes. We ate with a really nice family. They are the Todd’s and they are really great people. After dinner we played Pictionary…but it was Pictionary Man and it had these little figures you would draw on and it was really cool….I suggest you look into it as a great party game. So that was our Thanksgiving holiday. Mostly me being sick with a few good times mingled in.

We had transfer calls on Saturday night and Elder Degering and I will be staying here in the area….which in the end I think will be a good thing. We have started to build trust here and then to have had one of us leave so quickly would have had major problems with it. So we will be together through to January! That is so crazy to me! I was filling out my new planner yesterday because I am a big nerd when it comes to them and I was writing in the dates and it was weird to think that after this transfer cycle I will only have one left and then it is all over…but I am trying to not focus on that right now. We have a ton of things to do in this area….starting with getting some investigators and then getting some converts. Hopefully we will be able to do that soon.

This week really has been uneventful for us because of my sickness….I wish it were the other way…but your body is your body and you have to listen to it. I mean it is one of the greatest gifts that we are given from our Heavenly Father so we must really take good care of them otherwise we may make ourselves more miserable while we are here on earth. Well, I hope that you all have a great week and don’t worry, Mom I am doing just fine now and the picture card will be in the mail this week so you should get it soon. Also thank you for letting me know you got my trunky letter. That is always something that brightens my day. Well, I love you all - have a great week.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Image via here .

Man, I think I really have changed....

Hey There,
Well I must say it seems like just yesterday I was sitting here writing you all a letter about the goings on here in little Las Vegas. This week has been a good one….lots if things going on….I just don’t really remember them all. We were just going all the time doing all sorts of different things. The nice thing is that the weather has really been quite nice….the crazy thing was that we had a record high last Monday of 80 degrees. I must say that it really doesn’t feel like it is holiday season….I mean Thanksgiving is Thursday and it will be like 70 degrees….holy cow! So that should be really nice….even though we might not have much time to be outside….as we have been invited to three places for dinner. So that will keep us fat and happy…well at least fat. We also have the turkey bowl….which will pit zone vs. zone down here in Las Vegas…so really it should be a pretty good time.
Well as for things on the missionary front we have had a few moments that were quite memorable. One was pretty funny: we were leaving our investigator's house the other night and as we were getting on our bikes and the kids were running around and then we were riding away…and the mom yelled out….”You guys are black now!” I mean I knew that missionaries really change when they are out, but skin color?? That’s a new one to me. But, hey, any change is good, right? So that was really good. Then we found out that day also that her boyfriend is out of jail now….so that is good, too! They all came to church yesterday. I must say I really love to see the change in people as the missionaries work with them, but as the Spirit works with them even more. This family has come a very long way….they are actually a family. It is awesome to see this change and I really have enjoyed it.
Then I had a very humbling/kick my butt moment this week. I am ashamed of it and the Lord really humbled me. We were out tracting the other day, (and as I have said I really don’t enjoy the whole knocking on people’s door thing), anyway we were out and it was later in the afternoon and now it gets dark at about 4:30 in the afternoon. Well, we were going and I really was not into it, and it was getting dark and I had more things on my mind and didn’t want to knock on doors…to make it worse no one was answering the door…I wasn’t in the best mood. Well we saw this lady and she was on the other side of the road…well she was smoking and just walking around and stuff. I thought in my head, ”Well, she won’t listen or be interested, or she will be rude.” So, I just kept walking and halfway up the next drive way…I heard a voice and it said “Hey, are you the missionaries?” My heart sank and I turned around. Sheepishly I said “yes.” Well, we, of course, ended up talking to her for about 45 minutes and found that she was a member and that she had a four year old daughter that really wanted to go to church. Her mom was in town and had been taking the daughter to church and so we talked about that. Well she was a really nice lady. So now my testimony of talking to everyone we see has grown. I felt so bad, and I had a great conversation with my Heavenly Father that night about it. It was a little moment to me that He really does care about all of His children. Then we had another awesome experience the other night. We were riding our bikes and trying to talk with people. We found this guy, his name is Juan, who was walking and he started talking to us…well we talked for about 30 minutes or so in which time he told us his life story and told us that he knew that God had sent us to be in his path that night. He wants to be baptized the right way, ”...like Christ was...” were his exact words. But he doesn't live in our area. So, we gave him the website info to get the missionaries over to his house and then we got his phone number to give him a call to see if he got a hold of them. So in the end we hope the best for both of these people.
We spoke in Lynbrook ward sacrament on missionary work. It was a sister's missionary farewell. She is going to Korea. Yeah, that’s right, should be fun. The cool thing her family is all converts to the church from the fundamentalist LDS church. She talked a little about that and how it had changed her life to find the true church…great talk - she will be a great missionary….even if she doesn’t know the language. My talk went very well, I had few people come up and tell me that it seemed like I had done that a time or two before. Well I have, I mean when you hit 21 months out as a missionary you start to get the feel of this job. 21 months man where does the time go?! I really don’t know.
Well this weekend is transfer calls so that should be pretty good. Not too sure what will happen, I really hope that I don’t get changed. I don’t think I will as I only have 2 transfer cycles left, so really I don’t think anything will happen. Also, with Thanksgiving this week it should be nice and fun. Well I hope that you all have a fantastic turkey day. Take lot of pictures! I know that I will try to do the same. I love you all so much and hope the best for all of you. Have good one and open your mouths and share the best gift of all, the gospel.
Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

The real question is...

Hello Again,

It really seems like it has been forever since I last wrote you a letter. A lot has happened this week to keep us fairly busy. We had some spiritual highlights and some other things that weren’t so high. Mom, when you asked the questions: "What was the highlight of your week and the surprise of the week?" and it couldn’t have fit any better for this week, we really had some good and some bad happen this week. It was good to hear that all doing well and that you are healthy, (well, except mom). It seems that the cold is going around. Elder Degering got it this week as well. It is really nice that some of the members here are doctors and totally love to hook up the missionaries….we are always taken care of…so, very nice.

"What was your most spiritual moment this week?"
Well, hands down would have to be getting to listen to Elder Kikuchi of the seventy. It was really a wonderful event. He talked about a number of different things. He spent the morning part of the conference talking about how we need to be more obedient so that we can better receive the blessings of heaven and he said something that really stuck in my head. He said “Your mission will reflect the rest of your life, if you give 80 percent out here, you will give 80 percent in the rest of your life.” That really hit me - that we need to being giving 100 percent...and that really does set the tone for the rest of my life and that I need to make sure that I am giving all I have all the time. I really have made sure this week to work as hard as I can and every night I seem to be more and more tired….but it isn’t going to get much easier from here….real life is plenty hard as well….we just have to buck up and do it. Then in the afternoon we talked a lot about teaching….the how to’s and stuff like that. It was really good and really needed. We have a lot of new missionaries in the mission and they need to know how to be effective teachers and so do us old guys too! We can always improve what we do each day. They changed our morning program around a little as well. One new thing they added is what they liked to call, "A Sacred Grove of Our Own" where we take time to pray and seek for answers in the morning and to have a really meaningful prayer….and just a chance to communicate to our Heavenly Father. Overall the day was really awesome….I loved the whole thing.

"What was the most surprising moment of the week?"
Well, by far had to be when we went to visit our investigator family this week. We went on the wife’s birthday and took her some brownies we baked for her and to see how they were doing. Well, she answered the door….looking less then happy. After talking for a minute we found out that her husband was in jail….which was weird because we had seen him just the night before and had had a great lesson with the family. Long story short: he got picked up the next morning and was in jail. He has a court date for today and hopefully he will be out and have no more problems. He was put it jail stemming from a May domestic violence charge….this was all before the missionaries started meeting with the family. He missed his court date….because they gave him the wrong one…and so they came and got him and has been in jail since last Wednesday. So to say the least that was the biggest surprise.

Then lets see what happened? I went on splits with our district leader's companion this week. That was pretty fun. We were in their area and I must say it is a lot more ghetto then our area is. Still, the work is the same everywhere. Then on Saturday we helped Brother Stringer get the house all fixed up and ready for their anniversary. It was their 30th yesterday…so we helped him fix things up and be an extra set of hands and stuff like that. He bought her a baby grand piano…and let me tell you she was totally surprised and it was quite the big deal. It really was fun to be kind of handymen for the day. I really liked it actually…I felt very productive….funny side note….Brother Stringers first name is Jeff, and their oldest son is Jeff Jr. so around here they are always saying “Oh, Jeff” or “Oh, Jeffery.” I must say it is really weird hearing my name all the time. Just thought it was a funny side note.

Well I hope that all of you have a great week and that Mom you can get healthy. This week really had been a great one for me….I have really had a chance to reflect on a lot of different things and can’t wait to get this week started and have things get going….although I love p-day….this week is going to be great. I hope you all have a great one and know I love you all so much.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

And the walls came a tumbling down...

Hi there family unit,

Hope that this email finds you all well and happy. This week has been much like the last, I must say. Not too much has really changed. We are still out there working hard and trying to find as many people as would hear us. Yet all is well. We are both healthy, and as a matter of fact I feel
really good...the whole bike riding thing isn't too bad. The area we cover isn't too large since we cover maybe a few square miles and that might be about it. I would say streets but only a few know where they are. Really we have been plugging along. You did say that you want me to go over my whole week in review - and, well, that will take a lot so I will just hit the highlights and hope that this will do.

Monday: Well, we finished up our emails and went and had some football practice. We have the mission-wide Turkey Bowl coming up on Thanksgiving so our zone needed to get together and get our game up, you know what I mean? So, we did that for a few hours and then came home and went to our ward mission leader's home for dinner. SALMON. I must say: I love it now! Weird I know...just like Mom who likes to now have big groups of people over to the house. Anywho it was a nice dinner and we had a chance to sit down and have a great conversation about missionary work. It was a great night.

Tuesday: We had district meeting in the morning and then the same old, same old after lunch. Knocking on doors; dinner; and then home and all the little stuff in between. I mean everyday is about the same: You get yelled at and you have a great conversation with someone. Some
days you have more of one and then less of the other. In the end each day is a wonderful gift from the Lord.

Well I'm just going to skip to the highlights of the week. Saturday was a busy day. We started out by helping the Stringers help us. We helped clean out the apartment in the back and get things ready for the workers to come in when it's time. So we cleaned and moved and organized all the things that were in that apartment...there was a ton of stuff. Then we got to bust down two closets in the living room that really had no place being there...so that was a lot of fun. Then we went tracting with a member in the Deer Springs ward. He lives in a gated community, which we get kicked out of all the time, so that ward has put together the chance for us to go around with members and go tracting with them. Well, this was the first time that we have had the chance since we got here. Let me tell you what though - at first I thought it was going to be so lame tracting with a member who hasn't tracted since his mission like 17 years ago - anyway he did a great job! He was new in the neighborhood and so he introduced himself and then us. It went very well, we have some potential now that we didn't have when we got here and now he has seen that we can work and that we are here to work, but have a good time doing it.
So I think that it was great success and that I had a great time getting to know a few more people.

Earlier in the week we had a lesson with a young man named Tad. We found him tracting one day and he said we could come back. Well we went back and he was there!! This, for me, was awesome! Well, we talked a little bit and found out that he was baptized when he was younger and that he wanted to learn more about the church. So we have started to teach him, so that is really cool. So we hope that he will keep learning and that he will come to church and become active again. That's the goal and that's the plan.

Well Dad wanted to know what daily life was like..We get up and 6:30 a.m., which with the time change has my body all messed up. I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and think it is time to get up and go. So that is hard - plus me getting up at 6:30 hard to imagine anyway. Then we sit around and get ready, shower and get dressed and then we study. I just finished the Book of Mormon again and now I am on the Doctrine and Covenants. I hope to finish it in week or two. Then we study together and that is just about anything but Preach My Gospel, usually. Then we work. Mornings are hard so we try and do less important things and then in the afternoon we tract...that's when the most people are home. Then dinner that is always a highlight! We have eaten with some really cool members here. I hope that I finish it all off here because the members here are awesome. Then we talk to as many people as possible and then head home tired and sweaty and more tired. That's a typical day.

Well I hope you all had a great week, have a great one this week if you didn't last week. Love ya! Stay busy! Open those mouths and spread the good news this great and glorious gospel.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Whistle while you work...it makes it better!

Well Hello Family,

I hope that this letter finds all of you healthy and wealthy and wise. This week has been a good one for me and Elder Degering. We were able to find a few new people and hope that all goes well with them, and also we are trying to work with some less active and part-member families. These two wards really haven’t had much missionary success in the past little while, with one ward not having a convert baptism in over 14 months or so. That’s a really long time. So our goal is to find people to teach in that ward and do our best to get people to church and get those members fired up to do missionary work. We are really starting to get to know the area better and we have had a few ward parties so that helps with getting to know the members of the wards as well. The Stringers continue to be amazing and helpful in any way, although this week they had all sorts of family in town. The house sure was full up, and we had a dinner with 16 people on Thursday night. It was crazy! Lots of people, lots of food. Much like the party that you all had this week.

Well, this week really has been full of missionary work. We have a lot of free time as we don’t have very many people we are teaching and so we have spent that free time tracting. I don’t know if I have ever said this, but tracting is my least favorite thing to do as a missionary. I would much rather do a lot of other things with my time, but it is one of those things that I have come to love more. A lot of missionaries out here are really struggling with the normal "finding activities" and so they have really been pushing it a lot lately and I have had time to think about why we do it. First: it is something we are asked to do...so we have to do it. Then: it helps build character. I equate it to building a house…we as missionaries want to baptize people, "The Roof," but without things like tracting, "The Foundation," we can’t hold up the roof, or our teaching pool, so we must do it to keep the balance of the world. We must tract….and lately, as ineffective as it normally is, we have tried to have fun and get to know the people we talk to at the door. Now that I’m done ranting, we did a lot of that kind of stuff this week, "finding activities" as we like to call them. Like I said, we have tried to make them as fun as possible. One of the things we've been asked to do while we are tracting is to hold the Book of Mormon in our hands. Well, I started playing scripture baseball with Elder DeGering, from door to door, it is a fun way to pass the time and a great way to learn more about the Book of Mormon.
As for other things that we did this week: We had our beginning of the transfer zone meeting on Tuesday and we learned that Elder Kikuchi from the Seventy is is going to be coming to do a mission tour next week. I think it will be on Tuesday - so that should be very cool. On Thursday we did service with some other missionaries in the zone, for one of their investigators. We helped them move them to a new house. I was glad to be of help for had we not been there…they may have taken a few days to get it all done! As it was…it took most of the day anyway. Friday brought Halloween and down here we had to be in by 6:00 p.m., which really wasn’t too much fun as the house was empty. The Stringers were at a family Halloween party, so we hung around and had a good time in the house with the dogs and things like that. On Saturday we went to the youth baptisms for the stake. They do this big general meeting and then they split off into wards after the meeting for the baptisms…then they do like a "Music and the Spoken Word" thing where they just read a scripture and then we sang a song. Well when I was showering that day, (and as I have said before, that really is where do my best thinking)...I was thinking if I might see one Bishop Ken Craig. Well, lo and behold! When I walked into the chapel, sitting on the stand looking all bishop-like was Mister Craig himself! Well the meeting started quickly afterwards and I sat there for a few moments, then we both realized who was who. When his ward went to leave he gave me a hug and said to look around for him after it was all over….well we talked, as you heard, and it was good to see him again. Yes, he did say he wanted me to come over for dinner…we will have to work it all out. Still it was great to see him again…finally. Then came Sunday and the wonderful thing that always is…it was good though…as fast Sunday always is.
Chanel had a few questions this week so I will answer those and wrap this baby up.
What did you have for lunch yesterday?
Me: Nothing…it was fast Sunday.
DeGering: Same.

Where do you go for advice?
Me: My mother.
D: The Lord.

Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?
Me: um...Don’t use either?
D: Dictionary.

Have you ever been snorkeling? Scuba diving?
Me: No, you know I hate water.
D: Yes snorkeling, no scuba.

Have you ever been stung by a bee?
Me: Yeah under my chin area.
D: Yes.

What's the sickest you've ever been?
Me: That one time I got really sick on my mission and didn’t tell Mom.
D: Had the flu and a temperature of 104

What's your favorite form of exercise?
Me: Sports…golf…riding in the cart…just kidding.
D: Running.

What did you do for your 13th birthday?
Me: I don’t remember…some party or something.
D: Went and saw Star Wars 1.

Are you afraid of heights?
Me: Sort of.
D: No.

Have you ever taken dance lessons?
Me: No, I wish I did though.
D: Yes, ballroom dancing.

What's the most memorable class you've ever taken?
Me: Marketing 1 with Mr. Resch, best class ever.
D: Building Traits…a construction class.

What's your favorite knock-knock joke?
Me: Joan Toothpaste!
D: He doesn’t have one….sadly.

Well there you have it. This week has been great and I hope that you have a great one this week. Stay busy and open your mouths, and spread the gospel…I love you all.
Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

P.S. Chanel please don’t ever tell me how many weeks I have left…that would be great. Thanks. Love ya!

Welcome (BACK) To Fabulous Las Vegas!

Well hey there,

Well, this has been crazy week to say the least. We have been really busy with trying to get to know the area and stuff. I did make it to Las Vegas safely….and soundly. I got off the bus and was pleased with the weather (much warmer) and then I was told that I would be living with members. Then I was told that I would need something else…then I got handed a cell phone. Oh happy day!! Finally!! And all other words that mean joy….that is what I felt….A CELL PHONE…I am so happy. Then we got into the car and went to the house. I met the Stringers and they are the nicest people ever. They then took us out to dinner because we had no idea what was going on in the area. So we went and had a nice dinner. Then we got settled into the room. We live in a bedroom toward the back of the house and we are doing that while we wait for our apartment in the backyard to be finished. They have a little place for us to live it just needs a little work. The nice thing is that Brother Stringer is a general contractor, so he knows some people who can help out. Then we spent the rest of the week trying to figure out what was going on around here.

We did have some ward parties and things like that to help us get to know the members in the ward faster. We had High Priest party in the Deer Springs ward and then a trunk or treat in the Lynbrook ward…the other ward that we cover. We didn’t find out until transfer day that we would be covering that ward...and it should be all right…they are really close together and small wards anyway. We had a great chance to get to know the wards. Then, of course, Sunday was the Primary program in both wards. So we got to enjoy all of that, as well. Those kids did such a great job, they sang there little hearts out and had a great time. We were in the Lynbrook ward though and they announced the new Elders….Elder Thomas and Elder Degering….Elder Thomas??? How do you mess up Taylor and not Degering…I have never heard of that last name ever….and you mess up Taylor???? Come on now. So needless to say…Deer Springs is my favorite ward. Just kidding - they are both really good wards. This area is really devoid of missionary work, though, which was much like Carson City. But I think it will start to pick up and then take off...and we have a lot of work ahead of us if we want that to happen. So we are just going out and opening our mouths and each day it seems like we have someone we talk to that wants to learn more so it is nice in that sense. Funny story though: We were riding home the other night on Decatur and Deer Springs Road, (not that any of you know where that is…anyway) we were riding and some people flagged us down. We thought they needed help so we went over….Then they said, "Hey we are doing a scavenger hunt and we need someone to tell the Joseph Smith and Moroni Story." Who better to have stopped then two Mormon missionaries? So we told it in 30 seconds and they then took off….it was really one of the craziest moments of my mission.

Well, a little about Elder DeGering: he is from Virginia, some small town there….I don’t know the name. He has like 3 older brothers and a younger brother and sister…he has been out 16 months now….we are like the oldest companionship in the zone….and I am the longest tenured missionary in the zone…it is really crazy. I think things will work out though…he is a good guy and we get along pretty well. If you have any questions, Chanel, then just send me a note and I will write you back.

Well things have really gone by pretty slow this week…I hope that they start to pick up and that we have things get going in the area. We are just working hard and knowing the Lord will bless us. I am glad to hear that all is going well and that you are having a great time…good luck with the pig and the Dyches'…that should be really fun. I hope that you all have a great rest of the week. I love you.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Short, Sweet....well you get the point...

Hey Family Unit,
Man - I thought that I had a busy week! We really did a lot this week, but then I read your emails and you make me feel like I just sit around and do nothing. I mean, I don’t, but that’s what I feel like. So glad to hear that things went well this week for the Primary program, the one we had here was pretty good too. A few younger kids did an amazing job, talking for like three minutes a piece…all memorized…one even sang an impromptu song about the prophet and apostles. I must say it was very cute. Still - I'm glad to hear of the entire goings on….really you all are very busy. I hope that I can keep up with this pace that you all seem to keep when I get home (I think I will be able to).

Well as you know I am getting transferred back down to Las Vegas and I will be in the Tule Springs zone and stake, specifically in the Deer Springs ward. It should be pretty interesting. I’m not too sure about the area, but I know they are splitting one and I get half of it…other then that, that’s all I know about the area. I will be serving with Elder Degering, I think that’s how you spell his name, not too sure though. Anyway, yes we will be on bikes, but only covering one ward so it really shouldn’t be too bad! Plus the winter is starting in Vegas….so it won't be so dang hot anymore. I must say I wasn’t to sure about transfers at first but I think that it will work out just fine.

As far as news for this week: I emailed last Wednesday about the most important things like the temple and stuff…so really I don’t have to much else to write. I feel really bad, this letter is so daggum short. I mean all we did this week was tract and tract and try and find new people. We did get a referral from some members who work in Scouts about these two boys who want to get baptized…so it should be really cool. Though I won't be here…I will be leaving. Really I think this this is the way things have gone my whole mission that I have never really left an area bare or with no work…it seems like it always picks up right as I am leaving and then I never know what happens to it. Such is the life of a missionary.

Have a great week and I will send you a note once I'm in Vegas. I love you all so much and hope that you are all doing well. Mom, I hope that things get figured out for you and that you all do well this week….welp big gulps??? Well - see ya later!

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Image via here.

A silly survey...

I sent Elder Taylor a few silly questions - and here they are, along with his answers!

Do you prefer chewing gum or mints?
I love to chew gum...but both are good.

What's your favorite breakfast food?
Waffles, I think.

What's your favorite game show?
The Price Is Right

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Web Slinging like Spiderman.

Do you like guacamole?
No.

Have you ever been in a food fight?
Nope, not really.

Name five songs to which you know all the lyrics.
No...they are all hymns.

What's your favorite infomercial?
Set it...and forget it! The Ronco rotisserie oven or the Little Giant Ladder system.

What's the longest you've ever waited in line?
Like an hour or two...Disneyland.

What's on the cover of your weekly planner?
I bought a brown planner cover for mine.

Well, it could be worse...it could be later

Hey Family,

Hey, sorry that this is so late….today is our temple/P-day…so here is my email. We don’t have too much time to write this stuff….so I sure hope I can get all the stuff in that I want to talk about…if not then I will write about it all next week. Like I said though, today is our temple day. We took three recent converts and six missionaries. It was such a cool experience to take a recent convert to the temple. We took Terry, and we tried to get Cheyne to go with us, but he had to work. Terry had a great time at the temple. We did baptisms, of course, and they really liked it. Like I have said in the past, the Reno Temple is a small one….so everything is small...very different from back home. Anyway we made is work….I got to be a witness and then confirm a few people and that was really cool. Overall it was really a cool trip…one I will remember for sure.What else happened this week? Oh, yeah, zone conference! That was really good. The assistants to the President did a really cool training all about baptisms and ordinances. It was really cool. They really seemed to tailor it to the zones here. Then our zone leaders did a pretty funny training and I helped out to make it interesting! They were talking about chapter 10 in Preach My Gospel or PMG, and I told them they needed to dress up. And then I said, "Hey - you should go as Mario and Luigi!" Oh man, it worked out pretty well and they did pretty good. They talked all about different things and then relating them to Mario and Luigi…so it was pretty cool.

Then one of the other cool things to happen this week: we had some new investigators! One is a really nice older lady named Karen. She is a really nice lady and she seems pretty interested in the gospel. We also taught these two teenage girls that these members found for us to teach. That lesson went super well. They really felt the Spirit…and we hope to meet with them again really soon. It was really nice….we haven’t had to many investigators as of late…most of the people that we have been teaching, are less-active folks and so it was nice to teach someone who is learning for the first time, too.

Elder Taylor and Elder Wright

Also, as you know, Connie and Don came and took Elder Wright and me out to dinner. It was really cool to see them and be around them again. It was so weird because you can really tell that Mom and Connie are sisters….they act very much alike. That was a big highlight for the week. We had a great time and great food…and even better company.

Elder Taylor and Aunt Connie

Uncle Don, Elder Taylor (in his rockin' Pebble Beach hat!) and Aunt Connie

That really is all that I can remember for this last week. Maybe I will remember more and write longer next week. We have transfer calls coming up on Saturday. I really don’t know what is going to happen. I’m thinking I will stay but I just never know. I hope for the best though. Well have a great week. I love you all and sorry that this is late…and short.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Images via Aunt Connie and here

Cake in a Cup...How much more exciting can it get?

Hello Hello,
Well, I hope that everyone had a chance to watch General Conference this past week. Chanel said she did and told me her favorites….I must say I loved Sister Allred’s talk on Saturday morning. She got after the members and the missionaries to do missionary work. That was one of my favorites and then of course Elder Wirthlin was really good too. The topics to me seemed to be coming in a very timely manner and they really addressed things that needed to be talked about. All the talks were really good. I must say as well Dad, that President Ucthdorf’s talk in priesthood session was amazing. “Stand where you are and lift.” They really are words for us to live by as Latter-Day Saints. All the talks were great and so was President Monson. Overall, I really did love conference. But the next one will be great too….it will finally be Pajama Sunday again…lol. Just kidding…well not really.
On the mission front…I must say: my area right now is painfully slow and I mean really painful. We really don’t have anyone we are teaching that is investigating, mostly just working with less-active people, which is fun because that is part of the job, too. We have done some pretty cool stuff this week. I went on splits with part of my district this week and also the ZL’s, too. It was a pretty good time overall. When I was out in Dayton we were tracting and found this guy working on some dirt bikes. We asked if we could help, and he said, "Sure!" So, we spent the next 2 hours or so helping and teaching. It was really cool…until…..dot dot dot….(to add more emphasis): Anyway we were sitting there and the door blew open a little bit and the guy said, "Oh, I hope my roommate is wearing clothes." And in my head I said, “Me, too.” And then he adds, "Yeah, because she is a stripper!" So that certainly made things more interesting. Thankfully: 1) she never came out, and 2) she wasn’t nude. So, that was pretty crazy. He was really nice guy and is actually taking those elders out fishing this morning…so pretty cool right???? That really was the highlight of the entire "splits"…and can you blame me???
This week, we also went back to help the guy for whom we bucked hay. This time he needed some wood split…again something I hadn’t really done. Let me tell you - it was really fun. Now I feel like I can do anything. Ok, maybe not anything but it was a cool life skill to learn. Plus I got a little stronger. So Dad…you'd better be ready to rumble here in a few months…I am bigger then I used to be. You’ll even be proud of my baby gut! Yeah that’s right…I’m working on it. (Really though it's nothing and I hope to work it off before I get home.) The members don’t make it easy, though. We have to eat like ten pounds of food and then dessert. We did have a cool desert the other night. We were eating with one of our bishops. The family said, ”While we are finishing up dinner - you mix up your desert.” We made the coolest little cakes. They are called Five Minute Cakes and you mix them in a mug for two minutes and then microwave them for three. They make the coolest cakes and don’t worry, I have the recipe…if you want it. It really was a lot of fun and plus if it didn’t turn out right…it was our own fault!
Well I really love you all. I hope you had a great week and that you have a great one coming up. It will be busy for us as we have interviews tomorrow and then Zone Conference on Wednesday. So this early part of the week should be really busy. I love you all so much. Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Images from here, here, and here

Do I need tickets to THIS gun show??

Hey There,
Well I hope that everyone is doing well this week and that all is going well. Mom, sorry to hear that you aren’t doing so well and glad to read you are back at work today. It seems like you all enjoyed the wonderfully slow week in the house. I wish we could get a week off sometimes…your batteries get kind of low during the week…so you just have to work hard and then rest hard at night. We really did have a lot to do this week. We had a lot of appointments early this week. Plus I had my first district meeting of the transfer this week, too. I have to say I hope it went well. This week should be better…we really have to be creative on these things otherwise they get really boring.
We got a call later in the week from a member in California, she was coming up here to “The Candy Dance” in Genoa. It is this huge craft fair and party that they have been having for over 88 years now. It's a big deal and was actually a lot of fun and I’ll talk more about it later. Well she needed help setting up her two tents that she would be using this year and called us to ask for help. We gladly went with our zone leaders to help her. This is the point where I say thank you to all my scout leaders and family for making us help set up the camp site where ever we went. She had two quick shades and zipper sides to go with them. I was really like the only one who knew what to do…so I just jumped into action and made it all work….and it took no time at all…which was really nice. Then she took us out to a nice lunch to thank us. We went back Saturday and checked the whole thing out…it look good and The Candy Dance was really pretty cool. They had a old west gun show right in the middle of the street and everything….you know when you have that your party is really cool. Plus a lot of pretty cool crafts…but were still cool to look at while you are there. It was a warm day…but overall we had fun and tried to share the gospel with as many people as possible….sadly they weren’t there for that. All in all it was a great afternoon.
Also cool thing. Terry Terrebrood got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday. Now we are working to get him to the temple with us to do baptisms. On a sad note…a less-active lady we are working with had her mom pass away. I think I might mentioned she was ill. She passed away and the funeral was this past week. It was a really nice service…everyone spoke very highly of her, but still they were sad to let her go. In better news though, we got a new ward mission leader in one of our wards here. Let me tell you I am really excited about working with this guy…he seems really on top of his game. He is a younger guy, he just got out of dental school and he really wants things to go well here…so that is really what has me excited.
I always hate this point because I feel like something happened this week that I am missing or something. Well, I guess if I remember I can just send you a letter by mail or something. I love you all so much and I am so glad for the support that you give the elders back home…I know that they must really love it. I know always do when we have families like that. Have a great week and I will talk to you all later. Oh, I got the package you sent with Sister Baldwin…thanks for the coloring book, Chanel. Anyway I love you and have a great week.
Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Pictures from Elder Taylor

Elder Wright and Elder Taylor with Cheyne at his baptism.

Elder Taylor at Lake Tahoe!

Yar - it be Elder Taylor...ready for mini-golf.

Elder Taylor and Elder Wright with his zone leaders at the railroad museum in Carson City.

Working hard for the....Money...No....Working hard the Blessings

Well Hey There,

I hope that this letter does find each of you well and that things are going good for each of you today. This week has been a pretty good one. We have had a lot to do it seemed at times and then at others it seemed like there was nothing to do. Overall it was a great week. I was glad to hear about all your amazing missionary opportunities this past week! Seems like the Elders might as well just stay in my room! Just kidding….where would Dad sleep??? Really though I was so happy to hear about all the things you are doing and the things you want to do in the future. Dad, I was so glad to hear will get the Melchizedek priesthood after I get home….that means I can give it to you and then take you through the temple not too long after. We are working with Terry Terrebrood and Cheyne Lealand, the two guys we just helped get baptized….and we hope to take them to the temple when we go in mid October….that would be so much fun. I really hope that we get it to all work out well.

Well like I said this week was fast and slow….we seemed to have not too much to do early in the week but the weekend seemed to fill out quite nicely. We went and helped a Sister with some firewood. Well, by help I mean we went with a member and loaded his truck full of wood then drove to her house here in Carson. We had to drive to Gardnerville for wood and then unload it at her house…then drive back and do it all again. Really though, I make it sound worse then it was - actually I loved it. It was so much fun to get a nice workout….plus she made this amazing breakfast for us afterward...so really it was all worth it in the end. Plus I feel a lot stronger. Hey - when do you start feeling old?? Because I felt so old after doing all that work. Really it was a lot of fun and like I said the food was awesome.

As for missionary work we went out to Dayton, which is in my District, and help them with their area out there. It is pretty slow so I wanted to help them out. We went tracting and had lunch with them. It was a pretty good day….the Elders out there are the only ones in my District….pretty lucky it is a nice small district. Well, we had a great time. The elders are two southern boys. One is from Florida and the other from Mississippi…so you know they know how to have fun! Oh, and have no one understands what they are saying. But, that’s all right - I think I learning to be Southern…..just kidding. Really a lot of what we did this week was tracting and contacting people. We did get 3 referrals from one of our Bishop’s wife the other day while tracting….we hope that something good comes of it….plus referrals are always nice.

Well I know you want more details about my life….so what has happened here lately? Last p-day we played basketball and that was fun. I hate to brag but I’m am like the best player in this tiny little zone so really it is fun. Oh I bowled a 207 the other week! With no open frames either….a clean game! Can you believe it?! Oh and I won a game of hearts this morning as well….I shot the moon twice…the second time to win the game….it was amazing! Ok - I’m going to stop tooting my own horn….even I want to throw up. Well, this week really has been great and I hope this one will be good too. Tomorrow I have the first district meeting of the transfer….it should be pretty good…I hope. Well, I love you all so much and I can’t believe it has been 19 months now…next month I will have been here for 20 months….oh man that’s crazy….I better stop talking about it. Well have a good one and I love you.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Where have all the bikes gone????

Hello Again,

This week has been quite interesting. We have had a lot to do and it seemed like time just kept running shorter and shorter….yet we always seemed to get things done when we needed to. We had a baptism this week! The guy's name is Cheyne (said like Shane) and he is the boyfriend of a member in one of our wards. He started taking the lessons a few weeks ago. Well he progressed really well, so he decided that he wanted to get baptized. Well the problem is that he doesn’t live in our ward boundaries….well we got him all hooked up with his regular ward and he does have a few friendly faces in there so it won't be too weird. His girlfriend has family in that other ward and they are all really close….so he had friend built in….so it works out great! The service though was great and I left my camera at home so I will have to send the pictures later. Wait, I will just send the card home this week….I guess it has been long enough since you have had some new pictures to go crazy over. Anyway, the service was really good. His girlfriend is an amazing singer and she sang an awesome arrangement of “I am a Child of God.” I must say it was absolutely amazing. Overall, the evening was really nice.

This week was also filled with transfers and such. I already gave the news that I was staying and that my companion would be staying, too. Well, we did make the trek up to Reno to retrieve my bike…which I left in Las Vegas. We got there just shortly after 7…..which was when the transfer van was to arrive and when Elder Wright and I left at 8ish, the van was still not there. That really stunk especially because I was hungry and we were late for dinner with Isaac. I talked to our ZL’s and had them get my bike and bring in down to Carson City for me…..they were staying in town for a meeting the next morning. So, we went to meet Isaac….and it was a nice break. It seems like the last two transfers have been more stressful then I ever wanted them to be. It all worked out in the end and I have my bike here in Carson…stored in the nice garage.

Well other than that the week was spent like I said trying to get the baptism all worked out and dealing with transfers. I guess as for things with me and my companion: they are good. We seem to have a pretty good time together. I really love this area…some of the members here are so amazing and really nice. They love us and want to help us. Then there are those that just don’t care. I have to say….it is really nice as a missionary when you have people around you that care...and for those that don’t care about missionary work….well you really should. This is one of the most important things we as members of the church can do. We are asked and told that we need to help people find this glorious gospel. We really need to help those people that are around us on a daily basis and those we only see once and their gone. We need to help them see how important the gospel is in our lives. As we do that we will be able to draw people unto our Savior and then they will really experience true & pure joy. Well I hope you all have a great week and that things continue to go well for all of you. One more thing really quick: I love that you guys have the missionaries over to teach lessons - it really puts a smile on my face to know you are doing what you have been asked to do...just do some more...Well, I love you all so much - have a great week.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

And The Winner Is.......

Well we found out sooner then I thought we would!
Transfer calls are in and here are the verdicts:
Elder Wright and I will be staying in Carson City.....so that is good and also I will be the new District Leader....so that should be fun. Well, that's really all I have for you today.

Oh! Yesterday I forgot to talk about my diiner with the Baldwins....it was a really nice evening, being able to visit and talk about old times.....Dave Boland came and brought up that I was the li'l smokie eating champion of the world...well, at least of the ward campout....anyway we had a great time.

I love you all and have a great rest of the week.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

False Start....ten yards....oh i miss Football...

Well Hey there,

I hope that everyone is doing alright and having a great time…..sounds like everyone had a great weekend and that things might settle down to normal now. I’m glad that the weekend vacation went well and that you all had a good time. This weekend was a little different than expected. On Thursday our zone leaders got a fax from the assistants to the mission president saying they weren’t going to send out transfer calls until this Tuesday (tomorrow), so right now I don’t know what is happening with transfers. So on that news I will have to let you guys know when the info gets here. So sorry on that front. I was a little less then pleased myself when I heard about it. Transfers this time around is all messed up anyway….we have them on Thursday instead of Tuesday and so it made everything different anyway. The reason behind that is President McCracken has been at a mission president seminar….so that has occupied the majority of his time lately. So that’s that.

This week was a pretty low key week we had a few appointments and few fall through….what else is new? It was overall a really good week filled with lots of fun things to remember….but for some reason I can’t remember a dang thing right now. I really do hate this…..normally I write in my planner what I want to write in my email but with the new planner starting today…I didn’t do that. So, right now things don’t seem to be coming to my brain.

So I will tell you about Elder Wright. He is from Alaska. He played sports in high school, like basketball and track and he loves sports like I do….so that has been very nice. He is a really good kid and good missionary and actually his birthday is tomorrow so that is pretty crazy…but other then that I’m not to sure what you want to know.

So I just found this in an old email from Chanel…I think she wanted me to fill it out…so I will now

What are you wearing today?
Taylor: White shirt, pants, tie…missionary clothes.
Wright: Same

How many ties do you have now?
Taylor: A lot….almost to many….I think I’m done buying ties.
Wright: 15 or so…he is still new.

What was the last thing you had to drink?
Taylor: Milk….after frosted shredded wheat…MMMMMM…
Wright: Water….with pills so he doesn’t get sick.

Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?
Heck yeah we wash the dang car….this isn’t Vegas.

When was the last time you ran?
Taylor: ummm I don’t know when ever we last played sports.
Wright: two weeks ago…he tried the running in the morning thing…didn’t last.

What's your favorite animal? Why?
Taylor: Penguin…do I really need to explain.
Wright: Bear…they are all over Alaska…and they are big and stuff.

What is your dream vacation?
Taylor: Some where warm and cozy.
Wright: Brazil

What is the worst injury you've had?
Taylor: Broken arm .
Wright: separate both shoulders.

Do you collect anything? If yes, what and why?
Taylor: Right now…ties I guess…because I wear them every day
Wright: Track shoes…that’s it.

Do you like hot sauce?
Taylor: Yeah why not?
Wright: Yes! Tabasco.

Well that seems to have filled up the space I needed. So anyway things are really going well and hopefully we have a baptism this week I will let you know. Love you all.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Where have all the Baptism Clothes Gone???

Hello Guys,

Well I must say I am sorry that this is late but it isn’t my fault this time. Yesterday was Labor Day and so the libraries were closed. So since we had a lot of free time yesterday we decided to take a road trip to Lake Tahoe. Oh man, it was so nice to be up there. The weather was in the 70’s and just a wonderful time was had by all. We got some pictures BY the water…not in the water….so that was really nice. It is such a nice place up there….we will have to make a stop up there when we come back and visit people…for sure. But other then that yesterday was a pretty benign P-day.

This past week was pretty busy though. We had Zone conference this past week in Fallon….that is about an hour drive from here so we had to go out there for that….which was really good….although zone conferences usually are amazing so it is really nice. We talked about lengthening our strides. That was really cool. President McCracken talked about how we were doing well but talked about just giving a little more and trying a little harder to do what was right. It was really uplifting and made me think….what more can I do? What can I be better at? So it was a really good meeting and I left very uplifted. We did come home that night to a message from our investigator who was to get baptized on Saturday. We called and he asked if we would come over as soon as possible…so we went right over. They were just having a few logistical problems and we just had to make a few corrections….but still it was slightly nerve wracking to get that call. But Terry Terrebrood’s baptism did happen on Saturday, but not without a few hiccups. We got there and there had been four baptisms that morning….well they used all the large people suits - so we didn’t have anything for him to wear! Thankfully there is one other church in Carson…..so we went there and got a suit for him to wear…..once we got that all taken care off we were off and no more problems for the night….which is always good. He was confirmed in Sacrament meeting and then he was all done. Speaking of sacrament meeting….Elder Wright and I were the speakers in that ward….it went really well. I was given the beatitudes in 3 Nephi…the talk went really well, I think, and we each got tons of complements on them.

Well as for things for me personally things are going well. Yes, transfer calls are this Saturday and no I have no inside info as to what is happening. I always have my theories but they never seem to pan out so I just figure that I will let the Lord send me where I am needed. I really do love this area so I hope that it calls for me staying here and enjoying my time. We do have 17 new missionaries coming out to the field this transfer so that is a lot so you never really know what is going to happen. But you do know that the Lord has you in the right place at the right time. So that makes things a little nerve wracking but I have been out long enough not to really worry anymore about it. Well I love you all so much and hope that each of you have a great week….email will be back to normal next week…so be waiting by your computers like I know you will be…love you all.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

Bucking Hay On My Birthday!

Hey Hey!
Thank you to everyone for the e-cards, real cards and just plain thinking about me on my 21st birthday…Well, what a day right????
21, I just can’t believe it….it really happened and I feel like I’m still in high school….OK, not quite that bad but I still feel pretty young and now I am over half way to 40….what’s up with that????

Just kidding! I’m really not that worried and I had a great birthday….Well, my Zone Leaders, who I live with, went out and bought birthday donuts….that is always a good gift…..plus a great way to start the day…..then I got to go do some service… .I got to Buck Hay!Yeah, that’s right... I bucked some Hay. It was a lot of really hard work….but was a great learning experience and I had a ton of fun….we did it for non member who asked our ZL’s for help…well, with them trying to surprise me the way I did to Elder Settle, this was the best chance, right? Well they didn’t quite get me, but it was the thought that counts….I got mom and dad's gifts and stuff on the actual day and I got Chanel's last Monday…..I opened it and made sure everyone I say knew “CUBS WIN…CUBS WIN!” Chanel, that was awesome! Perfect, I might dare say. Then we went out to lunch…We went to Chili's Restaurant and had a great time. I have some pics and some videos, but I will just send the card home soon so you can see them then. T,hanks to everyone again for everything that you sent or thought, or what ever.

Well on the missionary work side...Holy cow….that’s what I have to say. We had a lot to do last week and we have a lot to do this week, but I think it will all work out. First, I went on splits and we were in Dayton. That area covers Virginia City, and I wanted to go and work up there….it was lot of fun to try and talk to people. I must say I had a great time on splits…Then Saturday we had interviews with President McCracken. Then we took him to an appointment with us…that was kind of fun….I had a great time with him at the lesson and it was nice to have him come out with us for a little bit….we had Stake Conference this past weekend as well…It was a really a good time. Elder Richardson, an Area Seventy, was there and he was the one that did the most talking to us…it was really good though, and everyone had a great time....we even had a few investigators there, so that was really nice too.
Well, this week we have zone conference and so that should be a pretty big day. Then we have a baptism this Saturday, as I mentioned earlier...

Well I hope you know that I love you so much...sorry that this email is short and that it doesn't have maybe as much detail as you would like, but know that I love you all so much and am grateful to have you all in my life to help me in any way you have....again I love you all, have a great week.

Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor