New Area

So my new area is amazing, and my companion is from the Middle East,

his name is

Funny story,   when the transfer news came Sunday night, I was told I

was going to Rokel with an Elder Geiba ,  I was told Rokel in part of

Congo cross, A branch in the heart of the city, and I would be in the

wealthy end of the city, a place with super markets and English….  I

was also told I would be living in the mission office compound…  On

Friday night, the end of Day one of my journey to free town I found

out it wasn’t the correct information.  I am in Rokel but my companion

is not Elder Geiba, and Rokel is not in the heart of the city.

   Rokel is as Far East as you can go, and is a brand new area,    It

opened up for 6 weeks but then closed, it was closed for 6 weeks, and

they just opened it up again;   Only 3 missionaries have been in this

area, I being one of them.    my companions name is Elder Tawiah

Our area is the biggest in free town, it is huge!!  And Bush,  Haha If

you know me you can imagine how happy I was when I found out I was not

going to the city, but am opening an area that is new to the church,

we don’t have a branch or even a unit in our area we are pioneering

the area and everything.

I am so happy!  Who needs a super market, haha

  The only downer is the travel, we have to travel far into our area,

to go to part of our area we take 2 cars, and 2 bikes, and that is not

even to edge of the area,  one way,

 The apartment we are in is nice thou, different unit worships there,

and 6 elders are there, but very nice and clean, no water though, but

we do have generator from 7 to 10:25 each night.

As soon as I saw the area and met my companion I received my witness

from the lord, that he has big plans for this little piece of Africa.

And the best part…. Mountains we are surrounded by mountains, amazing

green mountains,   It reminded me much of home in a good way, Liberia is

very flat, I forgot what it is like to be surrounded by mountains

Love Elder Taylor

Transfer to FREETOWN

Alright,   well transfer news came, and I am leaving Liberia,  I am

Traveling to "Free Town" the capital city of Sierra Leone,

I’m not sure who my companion is yet, partially because I can not

Pronounce his name haha, My new area is called Rokel,   So on Friday

I start my 2 day trip to my new home.

   I’m sad to leave good old LIB, but I am excited to see Free Town,

and all it has to offer, I’ve herd I’m going to a really great branch,

so let’s hope we continue to see many miracles.

Last week Monday, Elder Tim's, Elder Ameworlor, Elder Ogama, and I got

the opportunity to donate two book of Mormons to the National History

Museum in Monrovia,

I’m not sure what else to write I’m kind of adsorbing the news still,

so my mind is a little scattered,

Talk to you next week From

Sierra Leone Free Town

Elder Taylor

Longest WeeK, But all is Well

This week, has been one of the longest weeks of my mission, it has

Had many ups and many downs, but all is well,

    On Tuesday we had zone conference, talk about a spirit filled

Meeting, it was so wonderful, Pres Roggia spoke on some pretty amazing

Things, I am truly very lucky to have him as a leader in my mission,

   My personal study has been way amazing, as I’ve been re-going over

The principles we teach I feel like God has opened up my mind to so

Many thing both simple and complex, I truly feel that one of the

Major things I'm understanding from mission, is what it truly means to

be converted,

   Two stories from this week.

1.  On Thursday, we went to the Doctor (for my companion) so we had

to travel across Monrovia, and on our way back we ran into Agustine,

Agustine is the first person I baptized since mission, I was so happy

to see him, it was like seeing an old friend,  I was nervous for the

Big question "Was he still Active in the church? "

  The answer was yes!  So that made me even happier.

2.   Like all relationships some times companions have struggles,

this was one of these weeks,

On Sunday, some issues came up in the apartment so feelings were

tense, and It was poring Rain, that didnt help much haha.    So

its about 3 miles from were we live to the chapel,  and the rain is to

much for us to walk,  so we take bike (Motor Cycle),  we were almost

to the chapel, when our bike man stopped...  We can see the chapel and

between us and the chapel is a river,   (not a big puddle) a river ,

because of the rain the swamps over flowed and there is now a river in

the middle of the road.  at lest 40 feet across,   it was only a few

feet deep but very wide.    Our bike man said his bike wont make it so

he kicked us off and left us standing in the rain,

   Me I'm not upset at all I wish stuff like this would happen every

day. but my companion is having a hard time, he is upset at me at the

district leader at the zone leaders everything,   And I know this so I

try to lighten up the moment and crack a joke,   I told him we should

try and find a stick and part the water like Moses,

    I dont think he caught my humor, haha

He sharply said if I think it would work why dont I try it.

    So I was standing there looking at the water and a scripture came

into my head 1nephi 17:50, it is one of my favorite scriptures,

And I realized that we could cross the water,   So I offered a super

short prayer in my head and said,  Please help me find away across

this water, show me a path, or send a bike man or some thing.   as

soon as  I said Amen I opened my  I was planning on looking for a path,

 but then all of a sudden comes this bike man out of no ware and he

starts crossing the river towards us,

    What I was so amazed,  we are standing in the middle of no ware on

an empty road and all of a sudden this guy shows up,

     Here is were Gods sense of humor kicks in, The bike mans, bike

broke down 3 times while crossing the river towards us, as it got

closer I was able to see this bike is held together by tape,   what a

joke.... but beggars cant be choosers I guess, haha

Long story short he was able to get us across the river, no brake

downs, and we got to church only a little late, haha

Thats all the time I haveLove

 Elder Taylor

August 28, 2011

All is well.

So last night we left the door open last night for too long and a bat flew in our apartment.  It was a really funny!  We spent the next few minutes trying to chase it
out the door, then we tried to capture it and then we tried to stun it and all of those failed so we were about to really get nitty gritty with the little guy but
then he flew out the door on his own.  It was exciting, but he could've stayed there for the night...we have mosquito  nets.    Have you seen the movie "black sheep?"  That’s what I felt like.

   Also this week we had a way amazing youth program, we had 7 investigators show up.    They asked the missionary’s to bring a game that we could teach,   so I tried to help them learn water balloon volleyball... I'll just say they get points for trying... haha I’ll send pictures some time,    but boy it was a hit, everyone wanted to try tossing and catching the water balloons.   The key word in the phrase was "Try"        the day was a blast,   it was a sweet program.

   Sunday a man named Isaac was confirmed a member of the church, he showed up in his rain boots like always, he is so good.    When sacrament started there were only 10 brethren there total, so it was more of a priest hood meeting at first.  haha.

    The reason the attendance was so poor is because it was a rainstorm,   "it has to rain pretty hard for us to call it a rain storm" haha  

I really have fell in love with the people here; I’ve made some very eternal friends.

So my letter was short and sweet and straight to the point today, I’m happy and enjoying my mission.

Love Elder Taylor

P.S. I just found out there is an Elder Taylor in the MTC who is coming to Liberia in sep, his name is Chris Taylor, so that will be cool, to Taylors in one mission.

August 22, 2011

This week I'll be sure to get out a general letter,  

    One of my favorite days of the year just happened this week; it was the All Africa West Service Day, 

Last year I was in the MTC when it happened, every Branch, District, Ward, and Stake in West Africa have a service project, the project for Duala Branch was we cleaned up the public school at St. Paul Bridge and got it ready for the upcoming school year.   It was so great to see every one working and having a fun time, Our branch President Pres. Sayon was so funny the branch has a video camera so he was going around making movies, having us sing hymns and stuff while we worked, It was supper good,   the thing about it that made me the happiest was we had investigators there working alongside the members, 

     I got a sweet group photo that I’ll send next week,

Also on Sunday we had a baptism, another very prepared and very amazing person,   he lives in a swamp so the water around his house is about a foot to two feet high, so he comes to church in white shirt and tie and waders, while everyone else in the area waits till the sun comes out and dries up all the water (Which usually doesn’t happen)

That’s all short and sweet.

Love Elder Taylor

08/15/2011

Elder Taylor is doing great and working hard.  So hard sometimes he forgets his e-mail, to let us all know whats going on in Africa.

Hopefully next week we will get a detailed update.

Know he is healthy and pressing forward in the work.