Monday, October 8, 2012
I Love Repentant People
7/30/12
Halo familia!
Glad the 24th was a blast. Totally slipped my mind they don't really recognize the pioneers here in Columbia. I saw a man the other day just like a Boy Scout, but with a grey sash and yellow neckerchief with the world On it. I thought there are scouts in Columbia? This is worldwide? So I asked him what organization do you represent?, Not knowing the word for scouts. I was wrong, scouts still haven't made it to Columbia. But he was nice. His daughter is actually an inactive member that we've got to go see. That happened yesterday Sunday.
Saturday, I went on Inter cambio to the other area and we went on a bus ride to Boada and I fell in love with Columbia over again. The countryside is sweet and the Spanish song playing was perfect, not totally worthless. There were all sorts of crazy things going on and in a visit to a member I was reminded how important love is in our invitations.
Friday I ate what I think was a chicken kidney. Our investigators Anyela T Osirs made as lunch. Up way up there on the hill. They lived in the house of wooden board, no floor, two or three rooms separated by boards or just a curtain. Almost all homes have a TV of some sort and a lot of pirated videos. No running water in the house of Anyela, but she gave us a beautiful juice of a soft pink color, chirmoya. These two are super, but there is esposos are a little slower. But willing, so that's good. Looking for their papers to get married.
I discovered on Wednesday how much I love repentant people. We taught the law of chastity to Leonel, he's 22 and has a son of 21/2 years, he told us.Obviously committed Adultery. "Where am I at?" It was a tender moment to share Isaiah 1:17-18. Repentant people are fun to teach.
I finally did something christian like this week, felt pretty good. I really requires an extra effort for me. But I did it, one step at a time. we're getting there.
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Halo familia!
Glad the 24th was a blast. Totally slipped my mind they don't really recognize the pioneers here in Columbia. I saw a man the other day just like a Boy Scout, but with a grey sash and yellow neckerchief with the world On it. I thought there are scouts in Columbia? This is worldwide? So I asked him what organization do you represent?, Not knowing the word for scouts. I was wrong, scouts still haven't made it to Columbia. But he was nice. His daughter is actually an inactive member that we've got to go see. That happened yesterday Sunday.
Saturday, I went on Inter cambio to the other area and we went on a bus ride to Boada and I fell in love with Columbia over again. The countryside is sweet and the Spanish song playing was perfect, not totally worthless. There were all sorts of crazy things going on and in a visit to a member I was reminded how important love is in our invitations.
Friday I ate what I think was a chicken kidney. Our investigators Anyela T Osirs made as lunch. Up way up there on the hill. They lived in the house of wooden board, no floor, two or three rooms separated by boards or just a curtain. Almost all homes have a TV of some sort and a lot of pirated videos. No running water in the house of Anyela, but she gave us a beautiful juice of a soft pink color, chirmoya. These two are super, but there is esposos are a little slower. But willing, so that's good. Looking for their papers to get married.
I discovered on Wednesday how much I love repentant people. We taught the law of chastity to Leonel, he's 22 and has a son of 21/2 years, he told us.Obviously committed Adultery. "Where am I at?" It was a tender moment to share Isaiah 1:17-18. Repentant people are fun to teach.
I finally did something christian like this week, felt pretty good. I really requires an extra effort for me. But I did it, one step at a time. we're getting there.
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Every Week Build a Little More Faith
7/23/12
Halo Familia!
We as humans look at problems and conflicts and trials wrong. They are not meant to destroy us. Satan wants to use them that way, but that is not their purpose. They are so that we have a chance to show faith. Especially here, I think of the Sabbath day. Everyone here works on Sunday and that is their excuse every Sunday. This is an excuse! They'll believe God parts the Red Seas, but don't understand that that is a minor miracle for him than themselves and us individually choosing to show faith and look for the way to keep His commandments. It doesn't even have to be all at once. Every week you build a little more faith til you can actually do it and do it consistently. But they just trap themselves, sometimes not even searching for how to do it, saying "If God wants" thinking that if it was His will He'd come and give them a piggyback to church Sunday morning.
Then, as I walked under a blazing sun another thought hit me. Am I enjoying this? Is this just a chore? Where is my attitude at right now? And upon completing 18 meses I promised to myself that I will enjoy thoroughly these last six months. This determination was immediately tried because that Thursday we walked all day long and every single appointment fell through, every last one, but I enjoyed it. Not really, but it didn't get me down.
Our investigators are awesome. The majority are reading a ton, like 50 pages in a couple days. Most of the costenos don't have a huge habit of reading. One Mr. Regalado totally understood Moroni's promise, " it's a test!" Moroni is saying "don't believe me, ask God." And he got pretty excited and I've been enjoying the lessons more because I decided to do it. Be more joyful.
We went to visit a reference of a member whose daughter's kidneys do not work. (I think that's what rinones as means.) Even to the point where she's on dialysis. Only 17 years old. Gave her a blessing. It was super cool. Then we went back on Sunday and sang "I Stand All Amazed" to her and we stood all amazed at the spirit and her mom offered a prayer. We left and return to a house nearby where I'd seen a family that we hadn't contacted. It turns out it was a less active member or less than active who had recently moved to the house and wants to come back to the church! Coincidence? I think not!
I finally finished El Lia De Mormon. Read it super slowly. My goal is to finish it again by the end. Also finished Jesus El Christo, but in English. I liked it bunches and understood about how poderoso the life of Jesus is. I read it mostly in my spare time. Also in waiting for my entry visa I was able to gain a little crush on the Bible.
Played soccer today for the fourth time in the mission and I kicked butt. Not really but I surprised some people.
I'm still with Elder Ramirez finishing up training with him, he's doing super well. He is a lot pacienter with me then he should be. I've been struggling in comp studies, but we made plans to make it better. Think I'm going to study with him standing up, because it is just too much sitting! In fact I made a pledge to myself that I will never just stay in the house sitting. I will get out and do something. But for now I will make good use of the sitting.
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Halo Familia!
We as humans look at problems and conflicts and trials wrong. They are not meant to destroy us. Satan wants to use them that way, but that is not their purpose. They are so that we have a chance to show faith. Especially here, I think of the Sabbath day. Everyone here works on Sunday and that is their excuse every Sunday. This is an excuse! They'll believe God parts the Red Seas, but don't understand that that is a minor miracle for him than themselves and us individually choosing to show faith and look for the way to keep His commandments. It doesn't even have to be all at once. Every week you build a little more faith til you can actually do it and do it consistently. But they just trap themselves, sometimes not even searching for how to do it, saying "If God wants" thinking that if it was His will He'd come and give them a piggyback to church Sunday morning.
Then, as I walked under a blazing sun another thought hit me. Am I enjoying this? Is this just a chore? Where is my attitude at right now? And upon completing 18 meses I promised to myself that I will enjoy thoroughly these last six months. This determination was immediately tried because that Thursday we walked all day long and every single appointment fell through, every last one, but I enjoyed it. Not really, but it didn't get me down.
Our investigators are awesome. The majority are reading a ton, like 50 pages in a couple days. Most of the costenos don't have a huge habit of reading. One Mr. Regalado totally understood Moroni's promise, " it's a test!" Moroni is saying "don't believe me, ask God." And he got pretty excited and I've been enjoying the lessons more because I decided to do it. Be more joyful.
We went to visit a reference of a member whose daughter's kidneys do not work. (I think that's what rinones as means.) Even to the point where she's on dialysis. Only 17 years old. Gave her a blessing. It was super cool. Then we went back on Sunday and sang "I Stand All Amazed" to her and we stood all amazed at the spirit and her mom offered a prayer. We left and return to a house nearby where I'd seen a family that we hadn't contacted. It turns out it was a less active member or less than active who had recently moved to the house and wants to come back to the church! Coincidence? I think not!
I finally finished El Lia De Mormon. Read it super slowly. My goal is to finish it again by the end. Also finished Jesus El Christo, but in English. I liked it bunches and understood about how poderoso the life of Jesus is. I read it mostly in my spare time. Also in waiting for my entry visa I was able to gain a little crush on the Bible.
Played soccer today for the fourth time in the mission and I kicked butt. Not really but I surprised some people.
I'm still with Elder Ramirez finishing up training with him, he's doing super well. He is a lot pacienter with me then he should be. I've been struggling in comp studies, but we made plans to make it better. Think I'm going to study with him standing up, because it is just too much sitting! In fact I made a pledge to myself that I will never just stay in the house sitting. I will get out and do something. But for now I will make good use of the sitting.
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Friday, September 14, 2012
You Shall Live!
7/16/12
Halo Familia!
Throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon and even the D&C there are a tons of promises that are like do this and you will, you shall live! I love that promise, it is just a full life. I believe that in as sense that eternal is not limited to- after all is said and done. It's also a fullness of life which we live in mortality. Doesn't matter what trials we have if we keep the commandments, those trials only add to the fullness, or completeness of what we experience and we never have to worry that we are missing out because God always feels it to overflowing what we might have lacked. It's good to know that being so far away from stuff. But in this faraway place we are getting awfully better and more efficient. I learned a lot with Elder Dino who I had met a year ago, he spoke in a general conference recently. He didn't remember me and we went to Barranquilla for a conference and it was good. I actually did way better paying attention.
Yesterday eight people that I strive to love came to church and seven of them have baptismal goals, wahoo! Three are Jovenes two of which already said they'd like to be missionaries. Four parents came with all their kids. Of the eight, six we really didn't know if they would come. No one of whom we thought would actually be there came. So maybe we need to reevaluate who is really interested.
I got the pillowcase works great, and all the notes and a letters. Tell them thanks.
I'm doing super well. Completing 18 Meses this weeks, that's exciting. Trying to work effectively. Working hard and learning a lot. Also my companion is great. Send me a list of new questions to answer this week!
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Halo Familia!
Throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon and even the D&C there are a tons of promises that are like do this and you will, you shall live! I love that promise, it is just a full life. I believe that in as sense that eternal is not limited to- after all is said and done. It's also a fullness of life which we live in mortality. Doesn't matter what trials we have if we keep the commandments, those trials only add to the fullness, or completeness of what we experience and we never have to worry that we are missing out because God always feels it to overflowing what we might have lacked. It's good to know that being so far away from stuff. But in this faraway place we are getting awfully better and more efficient. I learned a lot with Elder Dino who I had met a year ago, he spoke in a general conference recently. He didn't remember me and we went to Barranquilla for a conference and it was good. I actually did way better paying attention.
Yesterday eight people that I strive to love came to church and seven of them have baptismal goals, wahoo! Three are Jovenes two of which already said they'd like to be missionaries. Four parents came with all their kids. Of the eight, six we really didn't know if they would come. No one of whom we thought would actually be there came. So maybe we need to reevaluate who is really interested.
I got the pillowcase works great, and all the notes and a letters. Tell them thanks.
I'm doing super well. Completing 18 Meses this weeks, that's exciting. Trying to work effectively. Working hard and learning a lot. Also my companion is great. Send me a list of new questions to answer this week!
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Do the Will of the Father
Halo Familia!
Another Fourth of July outside the US definitely not as cool as inside. Nobody here knew. Actually I was the only gringo I saw all day, but I did speak an unusual amount of English to my companion.
I'm still here and Bastidas. No change at all. We found out that Elder Dino of the 70 and Elder Holland are coming tomorrow and in September respectively. It made me all nervous for some reason.
I realize more and more here how important the family is and just spending time with the family. People here don't get it. Well a lot of investigators, work and work and work and then drink and that is it. We always tell them there are two parts. They barely fulfill the temporal, got to make a better effort espiritualmente. Mosiah 4:15-16, 16:16-17. Then we shared with one 2 Nephi 9:46-47 or around there about waking up to a terrible reality. I loved it. Think we are going to do it again with an investigator we found totally boracho. Gosh, it is horrible to break the commandments. They are totally slaves! And only fulfill the part less awesome of being a dad because the spiritual is the challenging and gratifying part-I would presume.
I'm still a totally impatient person. Lately what bothers me most is when people say "Si dios quiere", like 'if God wants or God willing." Hey you're going to go to church right? "Si dios quiere". Oh I unleashed on an investigator-we have to do there will of the Father. We have to look for it. If we wait for it and throw all the responsibility to God we will end up in hell, saying Lord Lord, but still not doing the will of the Father. til we are judged and end up in a lesser kingdom. "Will you do the will of the Father and come with us to church this next Sunday?"
Well, we'll see if they come. Everything is normal. Feeling good.
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Keep the Commandments and Smile!
7/2/12
Halo Familia!
Me siento bien aca en bastidas. Though this week included a lot of learning and cambios are this week. It was a super fast transfer. We studied at ton and I took out a lot of a apostosia from my little friend Elder Ramirez. He's super. We'll see a family sometimes and I'll walk by and he'll be like "Elder una familia." "Well talk to them dang it. Don't let me slow you down." It is usually how I respond to him and we have found some good investigators like that. Almost all our families. Though only a few came to church, like two. So we got potential. We tried tracting in the richer part of our area and it was Duro! They all say "no, I know the word. I'm clear in my doctrine." You know what buddy. That's exactly what the Pharisees all said to Jesus when he showed them something new and miraculous and you know where they are now?
I haven't said that yet but I definitely will. I like my poor friends more. Though they don't come to church.
They live super humbly, the majority of the people here. Lots in just a one room house of bricks, one light bulb, no running water-a few buy it and carry it up to their house for the week. It's a service we've helped with several times. And some of the hills are super steep! Where I live there's running water. This is more on the hilly hillside. But they seem content and grateful for what they have. Still definitely know how to make noise.
My comp is understanding more of the importance of the Book of Mormon and also the atonement in his life. It has been cool to share thoughts together on it. 2 Nephi 9:39 is a favorite scripture. It is just horrible in every sense to break the commandments in any manner. Don't do it and smile!
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
Halo Familia!
Me siento bien aca en bastidas. Though this week included a lot of learning and cambios are this week. It was a super fast transfer. We studied at ton and I took out a lot of a apostosia from my little friend Elder Ramirez. He's super. We'll see a family sometimes and I'll walk by and he'll be like "Elder una familia." "Well talk to them dang it. Don't let me slow you down." It is usually how I respond to him and we have found some good investigators like that. Almost all our families. Though only a few came to church, like two. So we got potential. We tried tracting in the richer part of our area and it was Duro! They all say "no, I know the word. I'm clear in my doctrine." You know what buddy. That's exactly what the Pharisees all said to Jesus when he showed them something new and miraculous and you know where they are now?
I haven't said that yet but I definitely will. I like my poor friends more. Though they don't come to church.
They live super humbly, the majority of the people here. Lots in just a one room house of bricks, one light bulb, no running water-a few buy it and carry it up to their house for the week. It's a service we've helped with several times. And some of the hills are super steep! Where I live there's running water. This is more on the hilly hillside. But they seem content and grateful for what they have. Still definitely know how to make noise.
My comp is understanding more of the importance of the Book of Mormon and also the atonement in his life. It has been cool to share thoughts together on it. 2 Nephi 9:39 is a favorite scripture. It is just horrible in every sense to break the commandments in any manner. Don't do it and smile!
Love you all tons!
Elder Taylor
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