Week 7 - Kuna 07/22/13

Family!

Everything is going really great! This week has been especially stressful though. We’re trying to get everything finalized for our member MTC day and it’s been crazy! It seems almost impossible that everything will fall in place but I know it'll all work out. Especially since my companion has made it clear that the spirit has made it known to her many times that this needs to happen no matter how hard it gets! Health-wise, we are both doing really well. 

So Sister Nick has a brother who is going to Curriturba Brazil, and has been in the Provo MTC these past few weeks. As you know, visas just aren’t coming in so many missionaries are being reassigned temporarily in the U.S.   Salt Lake called our mission president, President Cannon, and said "Okay, we have 60 visa waiters, how many can you take?" President Cannon replied, "We have room for one elder." Guess which elder gets sent to our mission? SISTER NICKS BROTHER! So he will be coming in around noon tomorrow. How cool is that? Sister Nick is really excited. 

Alright I'll go ahead and answer your questions really quick:

• We drive a 2012 Gold Toyota Corolla. The senior companion is always the designated driver unless there is a problem that prevents that. So right now Sister Nick is the designated driver! I probably won't be driving for a while. 

• Our morning schedule goes as such:

6:25 Wake up/say morning personal prayer/say companionship prayer

6:30 Exercise

7:00 Get ready and eat breakfast

8:00 Personal study

9:00 Companionship study

10:00 12 week new missionary training

11:00 Usually go out an proselyte at this time and then take an hour for lunch at 12:00 but our district gets together for lunch every day at 11 for an hour and then we all go out proselyting. We get free sno cones at a local sno cone shack near one of our church buildings so we go there a couple times a week! I get the smallest size but I only ever eat about half. It melts faster than I can eat it!

*The weather really hasn't been to bad here! It's mostly in the 100's but since theres no humidity it’s more than bearable! 

I went on exchanges for the first time this week! The Sister Training Leader (kind of the zone leader for sisters) came from Nampa to visit with Sister Nick and I for part of the day,  then Sister Nick went to Nampa and I spent the rest of the day with Sister Thomas. We had a lot of fun!  Although miles wise I didn't do so well. I used up A LOT of our monthly allotted miles. Oops! We did get alot of work done though! We went and visited a farmer who was a former investigator and he taught us about farming and let us pull the tops off the Bull Row of his corn! I'm a real farmer now! He said he wasn't interested in the gospel but we convinced him to let us come back so we could do service and he could teach us more about the life of a farmer! We then visited another less-active member who got really excited to see us and told us all about his mission. He served in Taiwan and tried to teach us a bit of mandarin!  Sadly, I can’t remember any of it. 

I can't believe my first transfer is already over! It makes me sad to think that my time here on the mission is slowly getting shorter and shorter. I don't think I'll ever be ready to leave! 

We worked hard giving service to several people and families this week - and a lot of dropping in on families. We’re really good at dropping in! We had some great dinners this week and we were invited to several BBQ’s and breakfasts as a district. Our district sincerely love each other and the members in our collective areas love our district, so they love having us all together! It’s fun!

My roommates are coming up to visit this weekend so I will get to see them in church this Sunday! That will be a really nice treat. 

 As missionaries we get to do a lot of service which I LOVE. Service is one of the greatest ways to find people and help them trust us! And, of course, our district helps each other out with the different service activities we have. Sometimes we end up spending the entire day doing service by supporting each others service projects. We meet so many amazing people that way!

I haven't received any mail this week. But that may be because our mailbox is completely smashed. Some guy who came to clean the ducts in the house we live in backed into the mailbox.  I ordered more missionary tags for myself and I’ll be picking them up at the mission office today so I’ll check there to see if I have any mail! 

I found a hymn that I absolutely love this week! Its titled,  Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy.

It’s a men's chorus song in the back of the hymn book.

1. Brightly beams our Fathers mercy

From his lighthouse evermore,

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

2. Dark the night of sin has settled;

Loud the angry billows roar.

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the light along the shore.

Let the lower light be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

3. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower light be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save. 

One of the scriptures that go with it is found in 1 John 2:10 which reads:

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

Having love for those around you can bring about so many miracles. If we want to be true followers of Christ, we have to have love for everyone!  I know that if I didn't have love for the people I teach, it would be impossible to teach them the lessons and help them come closer to Christ. I wouldn't be an effective missionary and I wouldn't be able to fulfill my missionary purpose. One of the best ways to share the gospel is through loving and serving one another. Not only will people see that love and that light that the gospel gives us, but we will find so much joy in helping others. The Lord always answers prayers, and, more often than not, he answers those prayers through other people. So always strive to be in a place spiritually so that you can be an answer to someone else's prayers. 

I love this gospel so much! It brings me so much joy. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I’ll be with my family forever. It always makes me so happy to hear the wonderful things you are doing to strengthen others and to strengthen the family. The family is so sacred, and I am so grateful be a part of the best family ever!  I love you so much, and I hope that you have a wonderful week. Stay safe!

Love,

Sister Lindsay Taylor

Four year old "L" and I - she's such a spitfire!

"L" drew me a picture of all the people she wants me to teach in her neighborhood.

Week 6 - Kuna 07/15/13

Hello Family,

I'm quite well and full of energy, thankfully.  My companion is a-okay now, but I came down with a stomach bug and was sick all day Monday and through the night.  Tuesday morning came and I was exhausted and over the nausea, thank goodness.  We are both fit as fiddles now.  I was so glad to get back to missionary work and out of our room, woo hoo!

To answer some of your questions:

*The weather has actually been really nice out here!  It's only been in the 90's, which may seem like it'd be hot but without the humidity it's wonderful!

*President assigns a "designated driver" and she is the only one allowed to drive until he decides to change it.

*We each receive an individual debit card that's managed by someone the mission affairs office in SLC. 

*I am sleeping very well.

*My favorite meal was actually one we had at my friend Cody Lords.  He used to hang out at my apartment at BYU all the time.  His family made us hamburgers, baked beans, fruit, and chips.  It was delicious!

I'm glad you have the missionaries over often.  Missionaries love to have fun and connect with the families in the wards they serve.  It's so nice being able to go over to a members house and have a fun conversation and close with a spiritual thought and family prayer before we leave.  It's especially nice to come home at the end of the day and have letters waiting for me in the mailbox.  Neither Sister Nick or I receive many letters.  I would love to have letters in my mailbox more often, hint, hint.  They really help keep me going.

The people we went to visit last week and asked us to come back have been so much fun to work with.  We ended up teaching the investigator along with five other of his relatives.  They were all boys between the ages of 10 and 25.  We gave each one of them their own copy of the Book of Mormon, which we keep in the trunk of our car, then closed the trunk and said our goodbyes.  We went to get into the car, when Sister Nick realized she didn't have the keys and quickly remembered she had left the keys on the floor of the trunk next to our box of Book of Mormons.  Oops!  Luckily we had a member of the ward with us for the lesson and they were able to drive us home.  Fun times.

One last thing before I sign off..... I got my first baptismal date!!!  So exciting!!!  It's scheduled for August 17th.  I'll tell you more about it in my next letter home.  I love you all so much, and remember to always be in a position where the spirit can be with you!

Love,

Sister Lindsay Taylor

A beautiful Kuna Sunset

Believe it or not, we see Peacocks roaming the streets of Kuna all the time

Sister Nick and I

A double rainbow!

Sister Nick and I with some of the Elders in our District

Week 5 - Kuna 07/08/13

Hello Family & Friends!

We had a really fun 4th of July.  We went to the parade in Melba, which is a small town of about 300 people.  So this tiny town hosts a big parade and fireworks show every year on the 4th and people from all over Idaho come to enjoy the festivities!  Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the fireworks show because it started at 10:30 PM, which is our bedtime.  The Melba Elders said all of the missionaries from the district were invited to a BBQ at one of the local members homes.  We had an interesting time to say the least and I'll leave it at that.  After the BBQ we caravanned to another members home and lit fireworks.  The Elders though it was great fun planting firecrackers behind me and my companion.  Sister Nick and I were shooting evil looks the Elders way for most of the night.  

One thing about the mission that I didn't expect is that we have meetings  ALL THE TIME.  Hours and hours of meetings.  It can be quite, well honestly - boring.  I have a hard time sitting still for too long and I find that I have a hard time focusing after about 30 minutes. Working out in the field is the best though!  We meet awesome new people everyday! The members are so supportive and kind.  I can't tell you how many people have paid for our groceries and invited us into their homes for dinner.  It truly is wonderful to have so much support!

Last Friday all of our appointments and our back up appointments had fallen through and we were trying to figure out who to see.  I had a really strong feeling that we should go visit someone we had found in the area book at the mission office the other day.  We had no information about him other than his name and address.  Before each visit we pray and I felt prompted to include in my prayer that we be blessed to find other people as we went out to teach this man.  We started walking up to his house and we ran into this woman who was trying to catch her dog.  We started up a conversation with her and I asked if we could come back to teach her the lessons.  She said, "Well, my husband's the Mormon in the family and he's never been able to convert me, but you sure can give it a shot!"  I was filled with so much happiness at that moment, I can't even put it into words!  Finally, a new investigator!  We said goodbye, and got to the house were were planning to visit.  We knocked on the door and a young man opened it.  I introduced Sister Nick and myself as representatives of Christ and began to testify of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon.  I then asked if we could come back to teach him the lessons. 

He said, "Yes, of course! The missionaries used to come by about a year ago, but they all of a sudden stopped showing up!  Can you come back tomorrow?"  We totally said yes!!!  I love receiving answers to my prayers and I know that if you pray in faith you will receive an answer.  We have been able to meet with him again and he and his family are so amazing.  Sister Nick hasn't been able to officially meet with them because she's been sick.  I've been going on splits with other sisters in the area so we could keep our appointments.  It was really scary at first, but the members here are such great missionaries.  They helped me out a lot!

We really are children of a loving Heavenly Father.  He loves each and every one of us so very much, no matter what kind of person we are nor the decisions we may make.

Random thoughts:

*My district is the best, like really.  We're all best friends.  I love it!

*The mission car we're driving had Utah plates and we finally received the Idaho plates - I get to keep the old Utah plates, YAY!

*We also went to a baptism the past Saturday.  It was an investigator that the Melba Elders had been teaching.  It was such an amazing experience to witness my first convert baptism.  The spirit there was so powerful.  He's invited us to come to all of his family BBQ's, sweet!!!

Anyway, I'm really not sure what else to say besides I know that this gospel is true.  The more I study these things, the more the Spirit testifies it to me.  I encourage everyone to study Preach My Gospel.  It isn't just for missionaries.  It's for everyone!  I love being on a mission.  I have never felt so right about anything in my life.  I know that the blessings that will come from giving up 18 months of my life to the Lord will be abundant.  I love all of you so much and I pray for you every single day.  

Love to all,

Sister Lindsay Taylor

Sister Nick and I have decided that we're going to come back to 

Kuna and buy houses on W. Lil Robert Ct.

In Melba at the 4th of July parade.  Doesn't Sister Nick look like she's having fun?

Elder Eegle, Elder Mang, Elder Fuller and Elder Diaz

Also enjoying a HOT 4th of July Parade.

Week 4 - Kuna 07/01/13

One of the many beautiful fields in Kuna

Shout out to all of my Canadian family out there!  I get poked fun at a lot for the Canuck blood I have flowing through my veins, but I'm proud to say I stand true to my heritage!  O' Canada!

It rained here all last week which made the farmers really happy!  It's getting HOT, HOT, HOT - I'm going to have seriously weird tan lines by the time I get back home.   Sister Nick and I were weeding the other day and the weeds were super prickly and really hurt my hands, OUCH! Oh, and did I mention it's been HOT, HOT, HOT?!   

We've been very busy working with two families who are getting pretty close to baptism.  Exciting, right?!  I taught my first lesson the other day and it went very well even though I was super nervous.  I know I'll become more and more comfortable each time I teach.  Everyone we've taught have been so kind and there is always such a sweet spirit in the room.

Sister Nick and I gave two talks each last Sunday!  I usually take forever preparing my talks, and I read them word for word, but I only had an hour to prepare this time and was able to fill in the gaps while speaking at the pulpit.  It was kinda cool!  I felt pretty legit.  

Our planning for the MTC day is going very well.  It's officially scheduled for the 13th of July!  The Stake President and Mission President are totally on board.  I'll be sure to take lots of pictures during the activity.

We had dinner with a lovely older couple last night. The husband was a spiritual giant!  His stories really brought the spirit - I'll have to tell you guys about them some time when I have more time to type them up.  I really do love it here, everyone is so wonderful.  I seriously want to move here someday.

Oh, funny story.  The six year old, little miss B.,  I mentioned last week is absolutely in LOVE with me!  We were over at their house for dinner last Monday and the funniest thing happened.  Little miss B. was talking  about all of the things she wanted to do with me that week.  Then she got really excited and said, "Oh!  The next time that you come to visit me...", and then she half-heartedly gestures toward Sister Nick and says, "And her.... I'll have lots of pictures and presents to give you!"  Sister Nick and I were trying so hard not to fall over laughing.  She's a little sweetheart and she says the funniest things.   Another funny moment with little miss B., we were sitting in church waiting for Sacrament to begin and I asked her what her favorite food was.  In a very loud and excited voice she answered, "POMEGRANATES!  Did you know you can eat two of those things and it won't even give you the poops?!"  Kids.  Gotta love em!

Mom, I'm beginning to know how you feel sometimes - there's NEVER enough time in the day to get everything done.  So many people to see, so much paper work to fill out, meeting to attend, etc.  Our day is FULL!  I can't wait until my 12 week training is over so I can have that extra hour to go teaching.   Sister Nick says I get a look of disgust on my face every time she mentions it.  But ya gotta do what ya gotta do!  I just want to be out serving the people, but I do know the extra study time will help me become a better servant.

Alright, here's my spiritual thought for the week:

I absolutely love reading the hymns and then looking up the scriptures that go along with them.  This morning I was reading through the hymn, Let Us All Press On, and was particularly moved by the third verse:

1. Let us all press on in the work of the Lord, That when life is o'er we may gain a reward; In the fight for right let us wield a sword, The mighty sword of truth.

2.  We will not retreat,  though our numbers may be few When compared with the opposite host in view; But an unseen pow'r will aid me and you In the glorious cause of truth.

3.  If we do what's right we have no need to fear, For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near, In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer, And prosper the cause of truth.  

And I love the scriptures that go with; D&C 6:33-37;

33  Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

34  Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

35  Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

36  Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

37  Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Amen.

So powerful!  The blessings that come from being faithful are so numerous.  What is everyone's favorite part of that scripture?  I'd love to hear from family and friends in an email or letter.

Love to you all,

Sister Taylor

Kuna - Official Mission Change & New Mission President

July 2, 2013


Dear Parents,

     Thank you for sending such a wonderful qualified missionary to serve the Lord and the people of the Idaho Nampa Mission.

     Sister Cannon and I have been called to serve as your missionary's new leaders.  We are committed to watch over and care for your missionary just as you would.  Thank you for your trust.

     We have attached a picture of your missionary with the two of us.  Thanks again for your faith and trust.



With love and appreciation,



Stuart B. Cannon
Idaho Nampa Mission President
Elaine S. Cannon

President and Sister Cannon with Sister Taylor

Pictures - Destination Boise!

All of the missionaries that flew into Boise.

Me and my MTC district.

Elder Henderson and I - So fun to see him again!

(Elder Henderson is from Ashburn and his family is in our home ward.)

Elder Stapley and I - He's awesome!

Elder Stapley was one of the zone leaders in my district at the MTC.

MTC - A Few More Pictures

My MTC zone teacher, Sister Frost, she was amazing!

My MTC district and my teachers.

Another picture of my MTC district on the temple grounds.

Ran into another one of my good friends, Elder Brown, from EFY!

Sister Lagrosa and I -  We saw each other at least twice a day every day at the MTC!