Elder Taylor 27-Dec-2011

Hello it was great talking to you guys on Christmas. Hope you all are still doing well and getting back in the swing of things is isn't too hard.  Last week was hectic.

Monday Elder Jones and Elder Humphrey came up to Mexico and then Elders Jones and Solomon went home. Geez that was an odd experience. Anyways now I am companions with Elder Humphrey up in Mexico.

Tuesday we went and introduced Elder Humphrey to investigators and members in the area.

Wednesday was good we spent most of the afternoon helping set up for the Night in Bethlehem (sort of an interactive nativity deal) which was happening Thursday.

Thursday was fun after district meeting we finished setting up for the night in Bethlehem, and then got dressed up. Both Elder Humphrey and I were centurions and I’ll send those pictures next week owing to the fact that I left the camera in the car. The night in Bethlehem went well there were people that weren’t members there so we were able to introduce ourselves and a couple of our investigators showed up as well.

Friday we spent running around trying to meet some people we had tracted into earlier in the week.

Saturday we went over to the Haubner's a huge family in the ward for the afternoon/evening and went caroling with them.

Sunday well we went to church, called you guys, and hung out with members as per Xmas protocol.  Again it was great getting to talk to you guys and I promise I’ll remember pics on Monday. Have a great week and a happy new year.

With Love,

Elder Taylor

Elder Taylor 19-Dec-2011

Hey everyone, how’s it going and Merry Christmas. This week has been really great.

Monday we met with Sarah a woman who we had talked to previously and were able to have a really great discussion.

Tuesday I managed to convince Elder Solomon to go tracting and we able to meet some really interesting people and one named David who said we could come back when he wasn't so busy.

Wednesday was good we were able to get in touch with the Micka's a family referred to us by one of the members and the were really welcoming and friendly and invited us to come back.

Thursday was just the usual District and correlation meetings.

Friday was kind of odd but really fun. President decided to have a mission fireside so we got to burn up 200 miles and go down to St Louis. The Fireside was really good we got to hear some really good talks and we leaned how to talk with people about the gospel and make it more applicable to their lives.

Saturday we went and helped Anna an elderly lady we have been talking to on and off rake her leaves with the herrings. Afterwards we went over to the church and helped with the NIght in Bethlehem.

Sunday was odd because Elder Solomon needed to pack up all of his junk for his trip home, it was really odd but Elder Solomon has been a really good companion and I’m going to miss him. Then this Morning Elder Jones and Elder Humphrey came up to Mexico and after some farewells Elder Jones and Solomon took off. So now I'm serving with Elder Humphrey in the Mexico Mo area and things are looking really good. Tell Seth to get on his email and write me and also hello. Have a good week and I hope you find some time to relax.

With Love

Elder Zach J Taylor 

Elder Taylor 12-Dec-2011

Hello how are you doing? This week was odd, fun and burned up about three times as many miles as had allotted this week. (For mission vehicles you are only allowed to put a limited number of miles on the car each month for us we have 1200 miles every month and they don't roll over.)

Monday was the normal P-day routine, email, shop, laundry and clean.

Tuesday was great we had a combined Zone conference in St Louis where Elder Malm of the Seventy gave the mission training. We had to get up at four and meet our ride in Fulton at five to be there on time unfortunately it snowed that night. The snow actually wasn't that bad just a light dusting, the roads weren't very icy and you could see the pavement. The conditions however were too much for the natives however and we discovered that we were on our own for a ride. So we drove saw a few wrecks off to the side of the road and made it safely to St Louis about twenty minutes late. Elder Malm's training was excellent it was all about contacting people and how to do it. After the meeting we dropped by and got the package the Relief Society sent, the mission just holds mail and gives it to the missionaries directly if there is a big meeting (also say thanks to the Relief Society for me the package was great).

Wednesday we ran around and visited a lot of the less active members in the ward and if they were home were welcomed in to talk with them. We also met with Brother Saxon who said he had found someone for us to teach; apparently one of the young men who regularly attend and has been attending for a few years now is not a member and wants to be. So on Friday we went out to meet him and talk with him and his family. The young mans name is Josh and his father said he could talk to us and be baptized if that was what Josh wanted. Josh's father also said we it would be okay if we talked at his house and that he would sit in on the discussions.

Sunday was good after church there was a baptism of one of girls in the ward who had just turned eight. We then went with Brother Herring and talked with some people he wanted us to meet. The meetings went well but they took quite a while because Brother Herring loves to talk; it's really quite impressive he can relate to people on just about any topic. This coming week looks really busy too we have plans and appointments in a few of the outlaying and we have to go into St Louis again for another meeting. So we should be able to meet quite a few new people and have a productive week.  I'm still trying to work out the Christmas call on this end and will email you later today or next Monday about it. Also please tell me how Seth is doing because he still isn't writing back. Anyway have a great week.

With Love

Elder Zach J Taylor 

Elder Taylor 5-Dec-2011

Hello how's it going? It's good to hear that the drive back wasn't too bad. Although finding Lilly seemed like it was an adventure; you should probably update the info on her caller so the pound can just call next time. Hope you get some down time this week to enjoy the sun. Also speaking of down time, tell Seth to write me I'd like to hear from him.  Anyway this week was odd very, very odd.

Tuesday was spent running around trying to meet people and we were able to talk to a few just in passing but nothing substantial.

Wednesday was funny. We had talked to a lady the week before who told us to come by because she needed help, so we came by when we said and she let us in. To make a long story somewhat shorter it turned out that the help she wanted was to have us testify in open court against some credit union that was "beating people up". We of course told her that we couldn't do that because we hadn't seen that happening or even entered the credit union she was referring to; she then spent the next five minutes ranting on how we were heathens of the devil who were "telling stories" and taking quarter of a million dollar bribes from the before-mentioned credit union. So as politely as we could, we excused ourselves and proceeded on with our day with something new to talk about. On a more spiritual note we then went and talked with Jeff and Rachel whom we had contacted the week prior and talked about the restoration. Jeff and Rachel were extremely excited to see us we had an extremely good conversation about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, which Rachel had said she had begun to read again before we came to visit.

Thursday was good it was mostly taken up by meetings, but we were able to meet with a member who said he would come to church if Elder Solomon was speaking.

Friday was more running around.

Saturday was great we were able to talk with Rachel at the Andelins (a really fun family in the ward) about the plan of salvation. The best part was that Brother and Sister Andelin took and active role in the discussion and brought up points of doctrine in such a way that they were applicable to everyday life.

Sunday was interesting after church we went around and talked with members and went to the Christmas devotional. The Christmas devotional was good and was made better because Sister Andelin brought her neighbor to see it at the church.  This week looks way busy. Tomorrow we'll be in St Louis from seven till four, but it will be great Elder Malm of the Seventy is coming to address the mission. Hope you all have a good week.

With Love

Elder Zach J Taylor