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