December 27, 2010

> All right I feel like using my email time again.
>
>      This Christmas went really well. Our day started out with a
> baptism. I was given the privilege to baptize Larry Kigi Zeigie. This
> is one of the most amazing people I have had the opportunity to meet.
> Truly someone who was prepared to receive the gospel. The water that
> he baptized in only came up to my shins, so I had to bend pretty far
> to get him all the way under the water. And this being Africa, that
> was not the only issue. As you all know, supplies are few and far
> between, so the baptismal clothes were... how would I say this... very
> form fitting. :) So, as I was baptizing Larry, trying to get him all
> the way under, the white jumpsuit I was wearing tore from my
> midsection to my knee. (And those few seconds about ten people saw
> Elder Taylor's garment bottoms) In my surprise I dropped Larry... He
> came out of the water laughing, I was laughing, the witnesses and
> everyone else were trying not to laugh. Needless to say, we had to re
> perform the ordinance. Second time, no problems. After the baptism I
> had the opportunity to hear Larry bear his testimony. And since my
> coming to Africa that was one of the most humble and pure testimonies
> I have ever heard. I hope that someday I can have a testimony a
> fraction of the testimony I heard from a recent convert at his baptism
> on Christmas Day. Out of all the baptisms I've had the opportunity and
> privilege to assist with, this was the most spiritual baptism I've
> attended. Was it because it was Christmas Day, or was it the testimony
> I heard, or maybe it just felt good to laugh again. Whatever it was,
> it was the great start to a great day.
>     I'm so grateful for all the packages and the letters I received,
> (Even Ashley's Package) every thing was heart warming and uplifting,
> the best part of packages were the 6 cans of Easy Cheeses I received!
> haha you people know me to well :)
>     Talking to the Family was amazing, I'm sorry the time was so short
> I was only given 1 hour and well I had a lot of people to talk to.
> haha It was so good to here your voices again
>      And Right after my phone call the weather turned from African
> sunshine to crazy tropical storm! It was amazing!! the African
> missionary's were doing traditional rain-dances, Talk about nuts. It
> was raining so hard you couldn't see 5 feet in front of you, and when
> ever it thunder the whole earth shook, It was AMAZING, it stayed that
> way all night... and I slept like a baby. That was my first good
> nights sleep in a long time.  It truly was the Icing on the Cake.
>     >                         I love and miss you all, Till next week,
>
>  Love Elder Taylor

Christmas in Africa

Elder Taylor is super busy, but I did hear from him today and he is doing great.   We are so excited to talk to him on Christmas Day.  Chances are we will get regular e-mails again after Christmas.  

I will be posting many photos of his area in the next few days, courtesy of Elder Kevin Moss, who is also serving in Sierra Leone.  

As we all pray for our amazing Missionaries this holiday season, please add specifically, Elder Lowe, Elder Moss, Elder Kenner (Elder Taylor's current ccompanion), Elder Jenkins (from SV), Elder Lancaster.  These are names of Elders serving in the same mission as Elder Taylor.  I know there are more, but these are the names to date I have heard.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! 
What will your gift to the Savior be this year?

December 15 2010

Elder Taylor had been very busy for the last couple weeks. Sorry no mail to share..

November 29, 2010

Alright here is your week story, I'm sure by the end of my mission Ill know how to balance stories, questions ,and news in the time I'm given to type,  but till then only one at a time.

Fredrick is amazing when we met him I was about 3 weeks in to the field and  it was pouring rain, not just any rain storm but a rainy session in a rain forest storm; it was bad enough we had to take a  brake because the rain was beating us. So we took cover under the porch of the first cement block house we came to, any under the porch was this African family a dad his son and a few of the neighbor kids. I was still fairly new so asking some random person if we can use their porch for a minute was a little hard for me.  So we stood there in silence for about 5-10 min, before the rain eased up enough that we could venture back out into it, but just before we departed, one of us (I don’t remember witch one) handed him a proclamation to the family, and we gave a short explanation on how important the family unit is.  Then we left and never stopped by that house aging, we never even traveled down that same small red road (dirt) again,  my thoughts did travel back to that man and his family once, but nothing to dramatic,

Then 2 weeks ago at church we had a man show up to the meeting hold a proclamation to the family, neater me or my companion remembered the man, so when we asked his name he reminded us that it was his porch that we had stopped on months earlier,   so we set a time to come to his home and teach him. That next week when we went to see him, the lesson was amazing! This man was following our every word, every time we made a scripture reference, he would mark it down he would ask questions.  One of my most spiritual experiences so far.  By this time I’m no longer a 3 week old trainee, but have graduated to Jr. companion so asking questions as not as hard any more, I said “What made you come to church? And why now, why so long after we saw you?”  His answer was he was impressed by us two young kids out working in the pouring rain, and he liked what he read in the proclamation to the family.  So he decide to come visit us at the church , just like we invited him to, but he said stuff just kept coming up, then he started to hear some pretty bad rumors about the church. And that Saturday night before he came to church he was thinking to himself, I’ve herd these rumors’ but they don’t go along with what I’ve seen,  So he decide he would come to the church and see for himself.  Since that time he has been taught almost all of the lessons, each lesson just as exciting and spiritual as the first, also he has made the decision to baptize, he will be baptized member of the church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-day Saints December 25 Christmas day.

Besides Fredrick we also have two others being baptized on the 25^th, James and his wife, James is blind and we have been trying to get him a braille book of Mormon or a braille new testament, just something, if you guys could help me out with that, I’m sorry to ask but supplies are hard enough to come by let alone asking for special items. So if you guys could try to find one for me that would help so much, I’m sorry to ask.

And one more thing I need to ask is From Grandpa Randy,  I want to know if you can Email me that story you told me, about the down syndrome child, who got his patriarchal blessing and it said he was one of the angles to escort Lucifer out of heaven,  I shared that story the best I could with some missionaries one night and latter one of them came up asking for me to get him that story, or at least a typed version, he explained one of his younger sisters is special need’s and he wants to share that story with his family during the Christmas phone call.  I share so many of the stories you have told me Grandpa and people love them, I never realized just how amazing of stories they were till I got here, so can you please do that for me?

I love you guys and miss you, Thanksgiving was very good and I'm sad to here about the parade of lights, I truly wish people would get more into the spirit. I know when I Grow up my family is going to understand Christmas spirit, haha I'm already practicing on the missionary's in our apartment. I made a Christmas tree out of a green misquote net and an old broom, stockings out of rain boots' and a train out of old soda cans, haha Ill send photos some time. 

I hope all is well for every one.

Love, Elder Taylor

Thanksgiving week

    Thanks Giving week, I cant believe I'm missing Thanks Giving again.   Ill have missed 3 by the time I come home.  I'm excited though, here we are going to have a Thanksgiving dinner, put on by the senior couples, and they may show us the movie, "Fire Proof".  It sounds like it will be fun. 
     This Last Sunday we had district conference so we had to take buses to travel to the church head quarters in Liberia.  It was amazing, it was a special broadcast to West Africa, President Packer looked a lot healthier  then he did this last conference. Even though it was filmed afterwords, It was an amazing conference.
     Africa is crazy, there is so much dark magic and juju stuff down here, its scary sometimes, but all is well and the Lord is on my side. :) 
     On the bus ride into town a preacher got up and started preaching, praying for us to be covered in the blood of Jesus and how we must repent, or God will strike us down... As soon as they started chastising people who were not giving them money as offering, or who were not giving them enough money.  They started telling us we would be going to hell, and all this crazy business, because we were not giving Gods workers money.  I saw a man pay to have his sins taken away, "Law Indulgence" because the preacher was righteous enough for his sins...If he had the money.
   We ended up getting off the bus early my companion Elder Boateng, (African companion just for the Day) could see I was getting Irritated and got us off before I went off the the preacher,  No joke, he would say, "some people on this bus feel they are to good to give up there money, feel they are better then even Christ himself,"  he would say this starring at me, the one white guy on the bus.  of course I'm not going to give him money, I don't even get money.   This guy is just hounding me and bashing me, when I said "boy this preacher is hungry today"
         That was a really bold thing to say, every one knows preachers eat the money down here, if you want to be rich in Africa, start a church.  No joke, you know how we have fast and testimony meeting on first Sunday, they have pasture appreciation Sunday.   When you pay offerings they separate you into groups depending on what you pay.  The truly sad part,  that is the norm down here.  People are always so shocked when they hear how the church dose offerings and tithing.  Many of people try to give us money after teaching them, because, "Men of God never leave your home with out something for their service to the sinners",   that is so wrong.  
   Anyway after I made that comment a lot of the people tried not to laugh, and a lot of hands holding money went down.  I think I proved my point in the Nicest way I could at the time.  I was pretty mad inside, and I was just praying to keep my cool till we were off the bus.  It was hard, I had some hell fire and damnation preacher trying to bible bash me, but I didn't act Rash, I kept my cool proved my point, and got out of the situation.,
    Some things here are pretty rough, but I got every thing I asked for and I love it.  The work is going well and is so rewarding. We have two Amazing investigators.  James, he is a blind man, he works at a school for the blind, this man is amazing! He is getting baptized on DEC 25 with his wife ( that day is his birthday as well as Christmas), Ill talk more about him next week.  There is one more Amazing investigator, Ill type that story next week as well.  It is a, Church Magazine Quality story,  so you get to wait one more week for that story...
   I love you and miss you all, and oh for Christmas ill call it is way cheaper that way,
see you next week in my Emails
                                                                         Love elder Taylor

November 15, 2010

So I lost all of my photos from home, and the MTC. I don’t know what happened to them they were on my camera one day and the next day half my photos were deleted, I lost over a hundred pictures.

So please send me photo's from home!

I need photos of friends family, good old Star Valley.

This week was good and crazy just like normal,  we ended up inverting with a lady who was threatening to commit suicide. Long story short she is OK now. 

Its crazy to think Im on my last week of my second transfer, Ive been gone almost 4 months already. Time is flying,  that's why my Emails are slowly getting shorter, because time in between emails is getting faster.  This week was good though, we had some major break trough's with some of the people we are teaching. This one lady Teta she is a single mother with 2 children, she just found out that every thing we have been teaching her is true. Truly found out for herself, My companion Sang her a song and she just started bawling... the spirit was so strong. I was letting her use my scriptures and now my Bibles Book of  Psalm's  is covered in tear stains, way better then any high-lighted verse

The work is not slowing down at all, This last zone conference I found out we are the leading mission in West Africa, and I think Africa.  We are growing faster then any other Mission. For the small number of missionary's here the church is growing like crazy! we have over 150 baptisms this month. my zone alone is responsible for 100 of them. Im in the leading district, in the leading zone of the leading mission in Africa! The Mission has gone from 40-50 baptisms a month to over 150, Im not saying this to be cocky but to show just how inspired the leaders of the church are.  They have been changing the way missionary teach since I got hear, the change will hit the MTC in May they want to get us in the Field trained in the new curriculum first before they start sending in people from the MTC that way. The change is crazy and big, its like trying to build an airplane while in the Air, I'm so lucky to be part of this transition. Its every thing I hoped for In a mission and so much more, In May the missionary's will come out of the MTC not knowing any of the standard lessons we teach, We have to teach them, I cant even begin to describe how the work is changing, but I imagine going from mission guide to Preach My Gospel was much the same. I know our leaders are inspired I can see It.

Love Elder Taylor

Another crazy week,
    I was sick with food posing for a few days and that was terrible.... truly terrible, haha but it’s I'm just a few pounds lighter and feeling tons better again :)  Cuz I was sick we didn't go out teaching to much, but my companion and I still had 2 investigators get baptized. thankfully I wasn't the one baptizing, one of the baptismal candidates was over 200 pounds and well let’s just say my physical physic couldn't have handled it at the time. haha
     The most spiritual part of the week was conference, it takes about a month for us to receive it. So yesterday we watched both Saturday sessions and Sunday sessions in one sitting, talk about a spiritual overdose but it was Amazing!  Elder Holland's talk was defiantly without a doubt inspired, and for me. It me harder then any other talk I’ve ever heard.  If you didn't see it please do this week, that is my request, (how can you turn down a missionary?) it is truly such an amazing talk and I know it was just what I needed. Especially with the news about grandpa.... I'm totally comforted.
     The number two talk for Elder Taylor was given by non other then the prophet of the lord himself.  His talk on gratitude... wow. I hope and pray when I come home in 2 years, I will truly understand that word. 
     I truly wish the whole world would slow down and just take a second to listen to that man. I know that they would know who he truly is. I saw people who could not understand English brake down into tears,  and one thing I have discovered is  Africans don't cry, it takes a lot for an African to shed a tear, but I saw people sobbing when he spoke, they couldn't understand him, but they came to know who he was.   I can Stand and Testify that President Monson is more then just the inspired leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, He is truly the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, of the Living God.       I will follow the Prophet.
                                                                                                                               
 I love you and miss you all
                                                                                                                                                              Elder Taylor

23 lbs gone

Well I weighed my self today… I am 23 pounds lighter then the day I left :) and have to get my clothes tailored.

This week definitely went by to fast. And a lot has happened; first being the number of rats in our home has decreased by two thanks to my district leader and his shovel.  I’m not going to lie the last week in the home was like that movie mouse hunt (African Rats are Crazy Smart) also as I was doing some cleaning I ran face to face with Godzilla, I’m not even joking I opened up this cupboard and there is this giant Iguana or Chameleon or some kind of lizard you see in the zoo. It startled me so much that I fell of my chair.  I’m sorry I don’t have to much to say this week, It just went by to fast.

                                                                                                   Elder Taylor

PS: There are a couple pictures of the shrinking  Elder Taylor on the:  http://www.sierraleonefreetownmission.blogspot.com/  This is the blogspot for the mission lots of great photos.

October 25, 2010

I'm glad to here how well things are going and I'm so happy to here that grandpas’ funeral went so well. I truly wish more then anything that I could have been there.
   From what Mom tells me it really was a Taylor funeral. And I know that's how grandpa would have wanted it. 
   Well I got a bunch of letters finally along with two packages!  I was surprised at how much mail I received from my Family, that’s what happens when you only get mail every 6 weeks. I got letters from Mom Anji, Hale, from Mom Laura, Bernie, Lilly and Norma. and a package, Also Some letters from Ashley, and she sent a package, most of it made it to me :) Plus one letter from Kelsey Simpson.
    So just so every one knows if you mail me a letter, I'll mail you one back.  Just keep in mind the time it will take for me to receive it, and the time for the reply to make it back to good old America.
     So the crazy things that happened this week are:
We were teaching a lesson as a woman was hit by a car, just a few feet away. (I Didn't Have Latex Gloves) At home that would not have mattered, but here it dose.  She passed fairly quickly.

We witnessed an African traditional wedding. That was cool, the guy finds a girl he likes, then goes up to the brides’ father and tells him he wants to buy his daughter to be his wife. Then the father call's out all of his daughters and the guy has to chose the girl that he saw, and wants to marry, but she is not there, so he tells the father "The woman I saw is not here" Then there is a big song and dance, as they go look for the girl.  Once they find her (In the house waiting) they sing and dance some more then the guy pays the dowry to the father and Ta-Da, they are married.  Believe it or not they still use cows to buy a wife in Africa.

This was just crazy but there is this crazy woman who lives close to us, she is some sort-of Prophetess that wanders around preaching Hell Fire and Damnation. Well... I was one of the witnesses to the horrific scene of her killing a dog because Lucifer was possessing it.... She is crazy. Also one of guard dogs was taken in the night last week by some rogues probably for the meat is our best guest.  I could never eat a dog...  Ever!!!

We have been locked in our apartment the last two nights because the guy who owns our compound was throwing some parties. And when Africans party, they PARTY HARD, two days!

Last Saturday was my first baptism. were I was the one baptizing, It was good he truly is converted, and has a lot of fun with the branch, we actually went and played Basket Ball with him today, turns out Africans are just as good as African Americans at Basket Ball.  This is the same one that gave me and my companion the Tribe Names.

Oh... and I would like to point out Missionaries family's are blessed when they have missionary's out in the field working as hard as they can for a greater purpose. So Hale, Alleigh both of you sound like your succeeding beyond all expectations... so you’re welcome. I take Full Credit :) and Dad I hope you enjoy the Kenworth that your son earned for you :)
don't worry I will continue to work on my pride.

10/18/2010

This is my letter for the week.  I love you guys,  this note is kinda long but i would at least like part of it read if not all at the funeral.  I know I'm in a different mind set being here on mission, but i hope its fitting.

    I truly wish I could be speaking this to you all standing face to face, I wish I wasn't 8,000 miles away right now.

    I don't have the words that this man deserves. All I can give are the simple truths, that I know.

    Nolan Taylor Is my Grandfather, and I Saylor Taylor am his grandson, in this life and will continue to be in the next. 

    Grandpa may have been a little rough around the edges, but he knew and surpassed the standard that has been set for Grandparents. He and my Grandma were there when their grandchildren needed them the most, They opened up their door to us and gave us a place to call home. My Grandparents did more for us kids then any one else in this world save it be our own parents.

    He was so much more than just my Grandfather, he truly was a second father, I could just as easily go to him as my own father. He helped chisel away at my imperfections, he was one who helped me grow, and gave me some of the tools needed to help shape my life.

    When I look back on my childhood, he will always be there in those memories, whether its Him and Dad turning me and Chevy into cheap child labor at the shop, or him and grandma arguing about how his new VCR ended up filled with french frys inside of it. We had a lot of fun with him.

    All of us grandchildren know what it is like to spend a day at the shop. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity not to just visit for a day, but to grow up at the shop. there is no other place I would have spent those years of my life.

    I know that us kids drove him crazy, we drove every one crazy... when I look back on all the times i got threatened to get my butt kicked to the moon and back, or on those times in my youth that I let my family down.  I realize that not once in my life had I questioned his love for me.  Even at such a young age , I knew it was there and always would be.  No matter how rotten I was, his love was always there.

     I only saw my Grandpa cry one time in my life and that was the day I told him good-bye before I left for my mission to Africa.  I made him promise me that he would be here when I got home.  I told him that he would be the first person that I would see on my return to the valley.  I never saw him cry from pain or fear, it was only when He told me he loved me (even then he blamed it on his allergies).

    He loves all of his family.  His love did not stop with this life but will continue to grow and progress through eternity.

    I cannot pretend that I was not devastated when I heard the news.  Yes there was the desire to return home for him. As I was left to myself pondering over the news and reading the letter that my parents sent me, I heard a song that comforted me almost immediately.  It turned my feelings of sadness into proud thoughts of my Grandfather, because I now know where he is.

     The words of the song are:

     There is a refuge come inside be not afraid.  A mighty fortress, where the walls are built by the promises we have made.  A place of protection, with a sword that still defends what is right.  A place where the watch never weakens but goes on and on into the night, like the constant and the chaos.  It's been there all along, or the peace in the pay off, beckoning us to be strong.  Every minute of every hour the watchmen won't leave you, they're still on the tower.  No need to fear they won't fail or falter.  Just stand a little taller, still standing through out the ages, even though the world outside can be so mean.  If we are united, firm and undivided, we will be protected by the truth.

  The truth is that my grandfather Nolan Taylor is now our watchman, no longer restricted by his physical body, but is in a place where he can protect us and guide us.  We don't have to be afraid of what this crazy world will throw at us because we have  Watchmen, acting as ministering angels, protecting us and helping us stand up when the world knocks us down.

    Our work is not done, that is why we are still here.  Now let us let grandpa help us with the work that is left to be done.

    Someday all of us will be reunited with him.  Let us  all  make that as joyous of an occasion as possible by living our lives and accepting the help that Christ and the Holy Ghost are offering us.  Embracing the love that God has for us and knowing Grandpa is watching let us look forward to the day we will step through the veil and are reunited as an eternal family.

     I love my family, I love my grandpa.   I will miss him but I know this is not the end.                

Saylor L. Taylor

October 18, 2010

Elder Taylors, amazing and much loved Grandpa Nolan Taylor passed away this week  .  Saylors Love for his Grandfather was measureless.  Saylors letter this week was dedicated to his Grandpa.  Prayers of Comfort and Love go out to the entire family.

Ti-Abodi

October 11, 2010
   Well I just finished my first full Transfer, only 16 more to go, haha
    This week went by so fast, and I mean Fast! I blinked and it was
already P-Day again. And the start of a new transfer. Just as I
predicted I did not change areas or companions, it’s still me and
Elder Kenner in good old Congo Town.
    So here is a quick rundown of this weeks events. Some how I ended
up in an African health clinic, not as a patient but helping an
unconscious girl.  How?… I don’t know, I just ended up there. I’ve
learned in this great continent of Africa to quit asking why or how.
The only thing to do is say the phrase TIA to your self (this is
Africa). Let’s just say I'm very happy that I’m trained in western
medicine and not that Voodoo Witch Doctor Stuff. Trust me as soon as
my services were no longer need I relocated my self away from that
place.  Latter in the week we ran into a group of German Film Makers
filming a documentary on underprivileged children and orphans here in
Africa. Very good people it was nice to have the opportunity to speak
with them. The are supported by some charity in Germany that builds
homes for these children to live in.  We get to meet a lot of good
people here.  To finish off the week my companion and I received Crew
Tribal names from an investigator Augustine GeeGebh his name means
(God Above) he is a member of the crew tribe and thankfully has decent
English. I’m not going to lie the only part of the crew language I
understand so far are our names,  My companions name is Fonanti, which
means (Wait For A Time) and mine is Ti-Abodi meaning (Best Friend)
lets just say my companion is slightly bitter about his name… haha
    One Major change did happen this week tho, remember how I said I
have power for a few hours a day. Well just like my running water that
phrase is now in the past. So far the new statement for this transfer
is we used to have running water and power, key words being used to.
Haha
    Most people would view that as an unfortunate event, fortunate I’m
not most people to me it is proof that god answers prayers. Haha If
you remember when I was putting in my mission papers I was hoping to
get called to serve in an area with no water no power, and have the
opportunity to use a machete regularly and sleep in a hammock. So far
in my mission I get use a machete and now I get to live with out water
or power, this is the life all I’m missing is the hammock : )
    It’s amazing to think that I’m receiving every wish I had for a
mission, I truly wanted to go some ware to be humbled, and well the
Lord delivered. I’ve been given all I’ve asked for so now it’s my turn
to give all that is asked of me. I’m doing every thing in my power to
be the best missionary I can be. And like they say its easier said then
done.  One part of growing that has slapped me in the face a few times
is the fact that for true growing and development to occur you need to
find your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. And well let’s just
say I have plenty of weaknesses.
    It is hard to take that step back and look at our selves.  It’s
hard to quit pretending were perfect, to stop the lame excuses, its
hard to admit to our selves and God
                 “I’m weak…
                           I need your help…”
The day we do that god will turn those weakness into our strengths. In
the Book of Either, chapter 12 verse 27 it states
     And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness, I
give unto men weakness that they may be humble, and my grace is
sufficient for all men who humble them selves before me. For if they
humble them selves before, and have faith in me, I will make weak
things become strong unto them.
    I know that we can over come any weakness, whether it’s as small
as a short temper or as little as that occasional step across that
line of chastity we all know.  To as large as abusive habits and
pornographic addictions. God dose not care if we are struggling with
alcoholism, drug abuse or maybe just a wounded pride.  He wants us to
be strong he wants to teach us life lessons as we correct these
weakness. He says his grace is sufficient for all, we just need to be
willing to humble our selves before him, and ask for help.
   I am far from perfect that has been made very clear to me on this
mission, but I can already see my personally weakness that I’ve
presented before the lord start to change, its taking time but they
are changing. And I feel safe to say I think I’m changing with them…
    Please don’t take me to be “To Preachy” with my E-mails, It’s just
that I’m learning so much and I want to share it with those I love. I
only get an hour to Email and I want the time I have to communicate
with family to be as enjoyable as possible. And if I have learned any
thing on Mission so far it is this
                 “If it’s good it’s probably from God. If it’s not
from God add him and He will make it better!”
    Wow.. I totally just made that quote up. That’s Grade A  General
Conference stuff if you ask me haha
    I love you and miss every one


                         Elder Taylor

How is every one?  I hope all is going well back home, I’m on the last
week of my transfer and am getting super excited. I highly doubt that
I’ll change Areas but it’s still exciting to find out who is coming
and who is going.
    A lot has happened this week Earlier this week one of the
missionaries in our Apartment got in a fist fight with a rat,  and
well his hand lost,  Turns out if you get bit they don’t always check
you for rabies. Rats have been a big part of the week, remember how I
said we had running water most of the time, well that number has
dramatically changed to none of the time.  And we had to replace all
of our storage water because; well a rat found its way into the tank
and died…  But it’s all good, I’m learning many life lessons, like I
can not just shower out of a bucket of water; I can shower out of half
a bucket of water, and be mostly clean. And I learned not to try and
kill a rat with my bare hands, even if it tries to get you while
you’re asleep. Haha
            Even if I wanted to I could not describe Africa to you
guys, too much happens every day and Africa is too different from
home.  There are a lot of good differences and a lot that humble you,
even though I talk about my new living conditions a lot, I’m really
lucky to be in the house that I’m in,  I live a lot better than almost
every one here, most homes are either made from mud, or woven branches
from trees. There are full families living in Tiny, Tiny homes,  most
of Liberia has no power because of the war, I at least have a
generator at the house we can use. We at least have filters for our
drinking water, something almost none of these people have. You should
see the lines of people at the pumps and the wells, we helped one of
the families we teach fill their water supply a six year old girl and
he little brother lead us to a well clear on the other side of the
island, and it took two Trips with us all carrying water, those kids
usually go to that well 3 times a day.  The oldest is nine.  You walk
down the street and you see small children selling, you see them
washing clothes, cooking, stuff most of us don’t do till we are at
least teens. Children have to grow up fast here. The thing that kills
me the most is there feet, there are garbage piles every ware that you
see the children almost living in, there is no septic system here so
every time it rains it flood most of the homes and all of Congo town
becomes a septic tank of standing dirty, dirty water, I at least get
to wear shoes or boots to walk through the water, those kids, they
have there bear feet. Those parasites and diseases can get to them
through their toe nails, and can make them so sick,  Its not that
there parents are bad, its just they don’t know, I read a number the
other day, in America there are 309 people for every doctor, here the
number is in the tens of thousands for every one doctor.  I feel like
I’m one of those Save Africa programs on T.V. it’s a different world
here, but There is no other place I’d be right now,  Every day I have
the opportunity to feel like I am helping make the world a better
place not matter how small that change is.
              We Started Teaching Sam’s wife! He is the one we just
baptized and it went so well, his testimony is amazing, and he knows
its true,  he talked in Fast and Testimony Meeting and wow… he truly
trusts he has found the right place,  His family has been so
supportive of him the whole time, His wife is actually the one who got
him to start searching,  He said he wasn’t moved in her church and
didn’t feel any thing in any of the churches he went to, But the first
time he met a member he was moved, and he feels the spirit at church,
And now he wants to share it with every one he loves,  his wife, is
having a little bit of a rough time understanding, she is very stuck
on her church,  it’s the same church she has been going to all her
life, but every time we see her she is moved by what we teach.  But
that is where the problem is, she’s moved by what any “man of God”
teaches. So she struggles with the idea of one complete church. But
that’s ok all great things take time, including a strong testimony.

Love, Elder Taylor

September 27, 2010

September 27, 2010

Hey everyone!

     I can't believe I'm almost at the end of my first transfer! Time
is flying by so quick, and I'm scared of the day that I wake up and
this chapter of my life is over. One thing they focus on on with us is
the eternal perspective, and in the eternal perspective 2 years is not
a long time.  haha I've gone just over 1 1/2 months and I'm already
scared for when they tell me to leave Africa haha.
     This week was good. I ended up going on splits with elder
Jenkins. He has gotten sick a couple of times since coming here, so I
was happy to see him in good health and that he has been for quite a
while. His area is further into the interior of the country than my
area. It's still in Monrovia, though. So every time he saw the ocean
he lit up like a little school girl (haha jk).  The change in him is
crazy, definitely not the same kid I knew in school.  He has always
been good, but wow... He has been here only 4 months, and he says his
whole view of the world has changed and that he is so happy with the
man that he's turning into.  Every missionary in this mission is so
motivated and has such an amazing attitude.  I hope at some point in
this mission I get to serve with Elder Jenkins as a companion.
     So one of the things I was most worried about before I left was
when I hear the common dish that is eaten here is rice with leaves;
and they just do different leaves for different meals.  I'm glad to
say that is no longer a fear, because, well...that what they eat, but
it is GOOD. So far my favorite is the Potato Greens (Potato leaves)
and rice. It looks terrible but the taste is awesome. It's definitely
a lot easier to eat healthier when you don't have a Burger King or
McDonald's on every corner; no wonder America is fat. Also no wonder
why 50% of Americans' necks look like a pack of hot dogs...haha. (Hope
that doesn't offend)  But for real, it's crazy to think of what I used
to eat and how much! One of my new favorite things to get when I'm
hungry is a "young" coconut and lime. You know that song "you put the
lime in the coconut and then you mix it all up" turned out to be
REALLY good advice. :)
     Me and my companion are very different, but we get along so well. He's
only got a year left... haha. His name is Elder Kenner, and if you
have any question about music this guy can answer it; I mean ANYTHING.
He wants to be good enough to be a college professor for choir or even
just a high school teacher. One thing I really love about my companion
is the amount of scriptural knowledge he has. I'm constantly asking
him questions about doctrine or scripture references. I'm very lucky
to have him as a trainer. He is truly helping me learn and grow.
     One of the things he helped me discover today was that during the
Atonement Christ was alone, he truly had to bear not just our sins,
but our sorrows, our pains, and heart breaks. The more I study about
Christ the more amazed I am at the pure divinity of that man. All it
would have for Satan to disqualify him as the Savior was to have
Christ think even one bad thought. Also, though scripture study I've
found that Satan does try, but fails time and time again. Now this is
where I found out about Christ being alone. During Gethsemane even
Heavenly Father  himself withdrew from Him, and also the Holy Ghost.
He truly had to do it ALONE. He didn't even have the comfort of the
Holy Ghost to help Him with the burden. A man that has been pure from
sin and filled with the Holy Ghost all His life, had to take on all of
the sins of the world by Himself, and He of course did it. He died on
the cross alone, He alone ad to make that decision to give up His
life; that says so much to me about him, about His character, and His
obedience and love. He suffered so much, and He suffered it all by
himself. All of this was out of love.
     Too often we forget our self worth; we see  ourselves as the
world sees us, and not how Christ sees us, how Heavenly Father sees
us.  The day we see ourselves as sons and daughters of God is the day
we see the eternal perspective.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Wow, What a crazy Week!

E-mail from Elder Taylor Dated 9/20/2010

Man this week has been crazy!

So Much amazing stuff has shown its self to me this week, but for every good thing God helps you discover,  Satan is always sure to find a way to stick his ugly nose in it, ugh

On the first day out this week there was a dead body just laying in the middle of the road, I don’t know how long he had been there, all I know is that they found him in dead in the market and no one claimed him so they dragged the body into the street to be out of the way. Just another way that Africa is so different than good old America.  I’m still having a hard time with the language but that’s ok I’m to the point to where I can understand half of what is being said to me, and they can understand most of what I’m saying to them, they like making fun of my “Siris”  that’s what they call the English accent, I’ll pick it up sooner or Latter.  Its been such a great experience so far, we have a few lizards that live in our house so I have to check my shoes every morning, the last thing I need is a freaked out lizard running up my leg. Haha It was very unfortunate but we had to drop one of our investigators this week, he is a pasture of a Pentecostal church, and we shared the message with him he loved it, it was so amazing to see two young men both under the age twenty teaching a very educated pastor, he knows its true I could see it in his eyes, but he cant accept it, he cant believe it takes more than just the grace of god, and he stated a phrase that goes completely against the Bible and every thing it teaches, “I Can not believe there is only one True church”  What! Wow…. When he said that we could not believe it after spending hours talking about the parables of Christ, the lessons on the Authority and priest hood Christ gave his apostles, It shattered my heart. So we shared article of faith 11 with him and let him know he was entitled to his own belief,  and to worship as he wishes and if he every decides to act on what was taught to him by two American kids to give us a call. And we departed.  I know he felt the Spirit I could see it in his Eyes I could here the change in his voice.  Maybe some day he will pick up his phone and Call I can only Pray.

Don’t worry here comes not just the good but the AMAZING part of the week! My first baptism is Saturday I’m so nervous but this man is rock solid, he… I cant even begin to describe him. But every time we go to teach him we have to ether take canoes to the island he lives on or wade through the swamp, we get to his house his million granddaughters just run out and tackle us, his hole family is embracing Christ slowly but surly, we have never just taught him, its always Him his Brothers his children and his grandchildren, imagine the most warm and loving grandfather, that is this man He shines the light of Christ, he always has even before we met him.  And Saturday is going to be his day, the day he will follow Christ example and be baptized, and stand as a witness of Christ till the very end. I am so proud of this Man he has such righteous desires, one being he wants his family, he wants that eternal family.   This is truly such an amazing mission, right now we have 663 investigators with baptismal dates, and there are only 60 missionaries in this mission.  Its difficult to see why it is so important to be a worthy priest hood holder in a place like Star Valley Wyoming when there’s so many around you. It’s truly our responsibility to guide and direct the church, and it’s a little rare to find a good, worthy priesthood holder to do that here. It’s difficult to find people who take their priesthood responsibilities seriously. The more I study my calling, the more important I find out it really is. There are about eight million people in this mission and only us few missionaries to get the gospel to them all. It’s our responsibility to represent the church, and maintain our worthiness so that when there is a call for help we can respond with faith that God will help us fulfill our duties. How great is our calling! I’ve never been given this much responsibility, and I’m so glad that I don’t have to bear it alone. With the help of an awesome companion and the Holy Ghost I know that God has prepared a way for the few missionaries that are here to reach out and touch the lives of every soul in this mission (1 Ne. 3:7). I know that God does love all His children; I see it every day. 

     Now the highlight of the week: I have a new best friend. His name is Jake and he’s a baby Chimpanzee! Yesterday while we were at an investigator’s house, his pet chimp was running around and they let me hold him. During the lesson I had to really focus because he was climbing all over me and was being awesome. When I wasn’t paying full attention to him he would turn into a toddler fighting for attention. He’s definitely as needy as any two-year-old, because if you even put him down he freaks out, runs to you, and latches onto your leg and won’t let go. He’s pretty strong for such a small monkey. He’s about the size of a nine-month old baby, and just as loud.

Love,

Elder Taylor

E-mail from Elder Taylor dated 09/13/2010:

     I'm doing well, I've been out about a month now in Africa, and talk about culture shock! The first day here was completely overwhelming, and I just had to take it all in at the same time. It's a strange mix of swamp, city, bush(jungle) and just about everything else that would terrify the living heck out of you. You are completely right and the mosquitoes do come out en masses at dawn and dusk, and don't worry; I sleep with my net most of the time...jk.
     I've gotten everything that I've prayed for; I've already used a machete a couple of times, I get to cross rivers in my bare feet, we have to take canoes to islands in my area, and I'm about as far from the mission home and President as I can possibly be. It was literally a three-day driving trip over jungle back roads to get to my area in Liberia (don't worry, I have some good photos).
     The apartment is pretty nice, at least, nicer than what I was expecting. I really do have running water...most of the time. I've had to bucket shower a couple of times only though. We have electricity for about three hours of the day when the generator is running and has gas. But good news! They're working on connecting our house to 24 hour
electricity. I love cooking out of what's called a coal pot, where it's like an iron fire pit that the natives use to cook.  So we're literally cooking our food over a fire (by choice). It's really fun and enjoyable.
     The food is really...interesting. Most times they eat rice with a sauce that's usually fried leaves or boiled nuts or something and fish. Also, the food is SPICY! I've been running for the past week because I'm not quite used to so much hot food.  I bet pretty soon I'll be pounding that spicy food like a pro! Eating fish heads really isn't as gross as it sounds; actually, it has some pretty good meat inside.
     Taking all of this in really shows what I'm doing here is truly for the right reasons, and that I'm supposed to be here. It's a huge testimony builder to truly devote my whole time, thoughts and actions for the Lord and His work. The people here are wonderful, and they have so little of what they actually don't need and have soooooooooooo much of what they do. It's wonderful. President says that it's the
Garden of Eden of missions, and he's right. The people are literally starving for the gospel. We are constantly stopped in the street and greeted by people who want a Bible, to learn more, etc. Or...they think we're Jehovah's Witnesses. Ugh...every time I think I see a Witness, I try to convince my companion to try to teach him with me.  Hahaha So far my favorite is teaching pastors. They're EVERYWHERE! I
wonder if this is how the world was when Joseph Smith was confused about the true church. There are different churches, beliefs, people preaching, sects everywhere. Like Amos said in the Bible, people are trying to find the truth but can't find it. Well, I'm so grateful it's my job for two years to help them find it. I have yet to have someone
tell me no when asked to be taught or to share the gospel message with them.
    So I was lucky enough to have a baptism only two days after I got into the field. Her name is Amelia and she is one of the most spiritually strong person I have ever met. I truly wish I could have been there while she was being taught and have taken part in her conversion process, but I'm lucky to be here and see the change the gospel has given her life. We still see her to reteach all of the lessons and one more lesson, though, so I have the opportunity to help
her stay strong and truly find joy in the gospel. I can tell it makes her happy. And I know that this gospel touches the lives and brings joy to everyone that we teach. And I know this because it's true, our message is so true. Even though I'm only a month out I'm already wishing I had more time to do this amazing work.
 I love all you guys and I miss everyone and I'm having a blast!  Only 23 months left, and I'm in good hands. My trainer seems pretty  cool and knows his scriptures. I'm learning so much from him. I'll talk more about him next time. Tell all my friends Hi for me and let them know I'm great. Thanks so much and I'll talk to you guys next
week.
Love Elder Taylor

Elder Taylor w/ President & Sister Roggia

Elder Taylor Actually met President Roggia at, Fort Sam Houston, while he was completing his Medic Training!  Wow, small world!