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
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
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
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
Monday, December 15, 2008
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
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
Monday, December 8, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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 .
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
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Monday, November 24, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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
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
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