There and Back Again: An Adventure by Elder Geoffrey Edward Taylor

Hello,
So here we are. I really can’t believe that I am here at this point. This has to been one of the weirdest times for me. My very last p-day. I think I might just have to sit down and write a mass email every week telling people what I have been up to, while it may not be nearly as interesting, but still it will fill the hole left in my life, no more p-days. Well I guess technically everyday will be p-day now. That’s really weird.
So I’m sitting here with the same thought process that you all probably had writing your emails, "What do I say that I can’t just tell you about in two days?" Well a lot has happened this last week. Yesterday was one of the highlights. Well, as it was my last Sunday as a missionary, we were going all day, like all day. We woke up at about 6:10 a.m. and were out the door at 7:00 a.m. and didn’t come home for more than fifteen minutes the rest of the day, until 9:15 p.m. So that was a really long day. Good thing I can catch up on my rest when I get home. We had a lot of things to do. I had families to whom I wanted to say good-bye and then we had put on a youth fireside, it was a lot of fun. We did a really good job and I hope that they got the point we were trying to make to them. We really did have a fun time and it seemed as though the youth really did too.
Then the second and probably the best highlight was Katie Beck’s baptism this past Wednesday night. It was such a spiritual experience. We had a ton of people there. She did a great job. She had been nervous leading up to the whole thing about getting water in her nose. She was told that she could plug her nose no problem. Well, she did a great job and went under just fine and did really well. Everyone was pretty emotional, (as they should have been). The Spirit was so strong in that room. Afterward she found the mirror over the font and was dance and playing in it. We had pulled the plug on the font and so there was only a little water and a long way down, so I went over and closed the door so she wouldn’t get hurt. This also gave me a great time to talk to her. I asked her how she was doing and what she was feeling. Her response was short, but will be something that I will remember for a while. They were sweet little words and then at the end she gave me a hug. It was a very touching moment for me, and I don’t think I could have had any better last baptism. The family thanked us for everything and that was the night. It was so great.
Well I guess this is the time I give like some really profound thought or some super amazing thing. We all know that I am not built to make these kinds of things. I will say this: I have loved being a missionary. I can’t think of anything I would have done with my life these past two years that would put me in the position that I am in now. Both spiritually and physically, this has been the best two years for my life. I have loved these last two years. They have meant the world to me. Dad wanted me to put my thoughts "right now" into words. I have a lot in my mind. Thoughts of what to do when I get home, what movie to watch first, how much I have no desire to leave the wards that I am serving in and that they are being ripped from me. I have feelings gratitude and love for my Heavenly Father. He has given me these chances to touch people’s lives and be a part of them in some way. I have loved my mission, but even with all that, I can’t wait to hug my Dad. I think that is what I look forward to the most right now. Putting my arms around him and telling him “Hello, and I love you.” He has been the shining star to me as I have gone through all of this. I have looked at the changes he has made and I feel like I need to get more caught up with him. I love Mom and Chanel, too…but come on - throw me a bone here. Well I love you guys so much. I know I write that every week…but how about this time I just tell you in person on Wednesday. Have a great day and I will see you all Wednesday.
Love, (For The Last Time)
Elder Geoff Taylor

LAST CALL...

Hello,
So it seems to me that I have been here before, I think I have been here, writing e-mails and reading the wonderful letters that I have gotten over that last two years. It really does seem to me that this time has just flown by. I feel as though my time has been too short, that I haven’t been able to do enough. Yet as I lay reflecting on the last two years, I have been able to think of all the times and people that I have come in contact with. I say “laying down” because it seems that at night is where it hits me the most. I know that I am one day closer to the end. That is both a wonderful sight and something I want to turn and run from. Having the chance to get on with the rest of my life, it is a scary thought. This life, while we do have the difficulties that we have, is a little easier. It is simple; we just worry about teaching people, and hope that they will make choices that we know will bless them. We have no bills, other jobs and or really any other cares or worries. The life of a missionary, it is a wonderful time and simple time and I think that is what I might miss the most. The simple nature of what we do. I know that over the coming weeks and months I will probably forget how simple life can be and get caught back up in the hustle and bustle of life, but I know that if we keep things simple then we can have peace and joy in the things we have.
Well this week has been pretty good. I have spent a lot of time getting my things ready so that this week I won’t have to worry about them and can focus my last week and have a fun time in my last full week as a missionary. Though this week has been a very good one. I was so glad to get my last package, and don’t worry Mom…I filled that box and two others….oh I might need to fill one more too. Don’t you love me? Like I said we have had a lot to do. David Edwards got the Priesthood this past Sunday. That was a really cool event. Always good to see someone that you bring to the gospel continue to live it and prepare to live more of the standards that will bless him.
We had Katie Beck’s baptism interview this past week. That went very well and she is set and ready to go for tomorrow night. It should be a really good night and I am so happy that I will get to see one last baptism before I leave. Then after that happens tomorrow, I think I will feel something like a tornado. It will be the final things, my last Sunday, my last p-day, a lot of things I won’t ever do again. Like today, I went to my last ever district meeting. It that was pretty surreal knowing I won’t have to do that ever again. I did however have to sing a solo at the end of the meeting of my favorite hymn. It was pretty funny, and everyone loved it. I sang my new favorite hymn #307 ...one verse. I did a pretty good job. It seems as though my world is slowly being ripped from my grasp, yet I will be able to start a new one that has wonderful potential, even though everything seems to be going down the tubes with the rest of the world….maybe they will let me serve another two years? Still I am happy to have been able to have this chance to serve the Lord. To teach people of his gospel and that we are in this life to prepare to meet God. I know that this gospel is true, I know that all the things that I have thought over the past while and will continue to teach this short little while are real and that they can help anyone, no matter who they are or what they have been through.
Well I love you all so much. I want thank all those who have taken the time the last two years to sit down and write me a letter or two or more. I really have appreciated it. Those who haven’t will hear about it in a little while. I am so glad that I have had this chance and to spread my love to the people here and can’t wait to see those I love back home soon. I love you all. Have a great week, and get something done!
Love,
Elder “Soon to be Just” Geoff Taylor

Image via here

99 Red Balloons....Nope Just One White One!

Hey,
Well it sounds as if you guys were busy with lots of things going on. Seems like you had a great party on Saturday, I wish I could have been there for the paper airplanes. Sounds like tons of fun. But I have to answer a quick question. Chanel asked what the funniest thing was that happened this week? Well, we had a dinner on Tuesday night, and they gave us Kool-Aid to drink, not just any Kool-Aid but the Red kind. Well we went through the evening and had a great time. We left and went to a meeting with our newly called ward mission leader; well as we sat there I realized that Elder Hanson had a red mustache. I had to laugh in my head. Then later when we got home I told him about it, he wasn’t too happy at all. Still to me it was a funny story.
So what else happened? Oh, I had my last zone conference. That was really weird I must say. It was a really stinkin' good one. We had an amazing lunch, I know that that shouldn’t be the first thing that I mention, but it was really good. They had a chocolate fondue fountain - it was amazing. The rest of the meeting was really good and uplifting. It is sort of hard at the same time, I mean I am working hard and having a good time. The things that they were teaching I will try and apply into my missionary work these last two weeks…but it is hard to change and do new things the last two weeks. Still we have to do our best and endure to the end right? President talked about lifting ourselves and doing better. He had a single white balloon. The balloon was us and the helium was the Spirit….we need to make sure that we have the Spirit or we can’t be lifted. Well, after that we went out and I got to cut the balloon lose and watch it lift to new heights. It was really cool. Then we had some cool trainings and stuff. It was really a good day. Sort of surreal though….the last one…I will not go to another…but still I am staying strong.
I got to speak slash bear my testimony in Lynbrook ward. It was my “last” testimony in that ward, and it was good. The whole Sunday was about missionary work. The wards here are really starting to get into it. Since last week’s meeting with Elder Perry it has been the hot topic around here. So we are working with the members to get everything rolling. The sad thing is I am getting this started and the work is moving here…and then I have to leave it. That’s what is making this so hard right now. We have people that we are really teaching and working with and things are going so well, I don’t want to leave. I want to see these people progress and work towards baptism. I thought transfers were hard…this is harder…because I know that I will be leaving. I have to this time. It sort of stinks. Still I have to make do and have a good time.
Well I hope that things stay well for you all back home. Mom: in relation to the elders being around the house…I believe you…and I think it would be great to still have them around. So don’t just kick them to the curb when I get home. I hope you had a great birthday Dad. Oh by the by, Chanel won the award for making me the trunkiest this week…thanks for the countdown. Well have a great week and I love you.
Love,
Elder Geoff Taylor

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!!

Hello,
So I promise that I am not that trunky. Well this week has been a pretty good week. We have had a lot of things going on this week and a lot to do. I must say though that this week was so amazing for a lot of spiritual reasons and then just having fun on top of all of that. You know me…if you aren’t cheating you aren’t trying….I mean if you aren’t having fun then why are you doing it? So we have just been keeping it real around here.
Well where do I start? Last Monday is a good place: we had a meeting with my most amazing investigator ever. Her name is Katie Beck and she has Down Syndrome. The best part is that she is so excited to get baptized and so scared at the same time. She didn’t want to do it until she knew she could plug her nose….now when we talked to her about it she just plugs her nose…it is so cute and funny. She is so sweet and I am so glad that I will be here for her baptism. It is going to be on the 18th of this month…so like a week before I get home. So I will be excited to have that last little blessing from the Lord.
Wednesday, that brought one of the best baptism services I have ever been to or been a part of in person. I can only think of one other that may have been better…but I wasn’t there. Anyway, David Edwards was baptized and it was such a great service, but like all greatness there are hiccups along the way. So I will start the story there. We got the church to fill the font at about 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday and no one was there, which was good. We had made the phone calls needed to get the Chapel and Relief Society room for the baptism…the font is in the RS room and we wanted the Chapel for how many we thought would show up. Well as we had about 20 minutes before the service started, the Chapel was full of all these youth and a projector….I guess word didn’t get to everyone that we needed that room. So now we had to go a set up enough chairs in the RS room for everyone who was going to be there in the next few minutes….well like super men, Elder Hanson and I came through, and we had just enough room for the 70 people that came to see David get baptized. It was such a great service. The best part was that his non-member parents came to support him. I was so glad to see them there. Quick note….when a church has one of the signs that says maximum occupancy such and such number….you can’t fit that many….that room said 113….we were sweating 70…still it worked out great. A ton of youth came and it was so great. This was the first baptism for the Deer Springs ward in 18 months….that is a long time.
Then I didn’t think that that could be topped (and really it didn’t) but, on Saturday Elder L. Tom Perry of the 12 apostles and Elder Neil L. Anderson of the presidency of the 70 came and spoke to all the missionaries here in the Las Vegas valley. Before I talk about how cool it was to shake an Apostle's hand, the elders in the Las Vegas West mission, my mission, are SO much cool then those gomers on the east side of the valley. So - meeting Elder Perry was so cool, and he is really tall. He spoke to us for about 45 minutes about becoming better teachers. It was such a cool meeting. Sad thing was that it was such a short meeting. I could have listened to him all day. I must say a testimony, in person, of an Apostle is so amazing. His whole countenance changed. It was a very powerful experience. Then later that night he met with all the stake presidents, bishops, and ward mission leaders, and basically kicked their butts into gear. It was so cool to see yesterday the excitement on everyone’s face that was at that meeting. I really think that things will start getting better around here: more teaching, more baptisms, and more fun. It was an awesome weekend.

So here they are the answers to the 15 questions about Elder Hanson:
How many brothers and sisters do you have? 4 brothers.
What is your favorite thing to do? Snowboard.
What is your favorite food? Anything but pizza.
What is your favorite book? 5 fingers.
What is your favorite candy bar? Milky Way
What is your favorite cookie? Snickerdoodle
What is your favorite sport? Football.
What is your favorite Primary song? My Heavenly Father Loves Me.
What is your favorite temple? San Diego.
What place would you like to visit? Brighton, Utah
What is your favorite thing about your mom? She is a straight shooter.
What is your favorite thing about your dad? He is a really good role model.
What is your favorite thing about yourself? My ridiculously good looks.
Do you like to sing? Only in the shower.
Do you like to dance? Only with girls.

Well, there you have it. I hope that everyone has a great week and know that I love you all so much. I can’t believe that it is February 2009 already. This never seemed like it would come but you just can’t slow down time. Oh, just a quick shout out….My Cards…you boys did well, it just doesn’t go your way sometimes…you never gave up and you played hard to the end…Congrats to the Steelers, the first 6 time Super Bowl Champs. Cardinals in 2010 Baby! Well I love you all. McKay, Congrats Dude that is some of the best news I have heard all week. Don’t worry man, I’ll be bring home some ties for you to take…you’ll have the best collection in all the land. Well have a good week everybody.

Love,
Elder Taylor