Bienvenidos from an Internet Cafe in San Jose (8/27/2012)

Hey everyone!

So to answer your questions Mom...

1)      I played the piano a lot in the MTC... but there is no piano in Guacimo. Someone broke into the chapel and stole it! So fun thing is, Latinos aren’t the best singers, but they think they are haha, so it’s really loud off-pitch singing during sacrament and sometimes I can’t keep but smiling super big in sacrament.

2)      NOPE! Only the mission office... sorry mom.

This week we had Enrique’s baptism!!! WOOH WOOT! We had really been praying and fasting all week. Enrique has a girlfriend that lives in San Jose, so we were afraid that he would break the Law of Chastity after his baptism, so we had the APs interview him and they said he was okay. But we still felt kind of off... so we fasted and prayed, and we received confirmation by the Holy Ghost that he was prepared for his baptism. It was really cool. I’m really proud of him. I directed the baptism haha in Spanish, and we had our Branch President Baptize him. I’ll send pictures next week because right now I’m in San Jose and don’t have my camera.

Also this week I was on splits with our District Leader, Elder Mejia, here in Guacimo, and we talked with Jeustin, and Jeremy and their mom. They dropped us. Yesenis, the mom, has problems with Elder Nape. She feels like we are their only to teach the boys (We are) and that we don’t feel like she can be baptized. (She can’t. She is living with her boyfriend and won’t marry him) So it was a pretty sad week. They were so close, and so ready for baptism, and then Satan comes in and acts a fool and wrecks a chance at coming closer to Christ. I’m not discouraged though, I know that we did all we could, and that eventually they will come back to the gospel, but as of now, no.

Ooooh cool story, so we are teaching a sweet family, Hugo and Yamilet and their 3 kids and they are set for baptism the 15th!!!! They gave us their coffee and they are super willing to do anything that the Lord commands! Crazy thing is before I came Hugo didn’t want anything to do with the gospel! Then one day we started talking and their hearts totally changed. It’s just like in Ether, when the Lord touched the stones and completely changed them, when the Lord touches a heart, he completely changes it. And Hugo is rad because he likes talking with me. We are also teaching a family, Natasha, Edihth, and Florisbeth. They are super rad and should be baptized this month. They have two autistic boys Andres who is 10 and Daniel, who is 5 so it is hard for them to all come to church together. They are super great and they really really like Elder Nape and I, but we want to make sure they are converted to the Gospel and not to us, so we will have to see.

Spanish is coming along great. I can understand a lot better and I am learning a lot of new words.It’s going to take some time but I know I’ll be fluent within the next couple of months. Oh funny story that happened this week, so we have a dumb person in Guacimo. He is a mute and he can’t talk, but he always screams and makes these happy dog noises haha. He is all over the place, and somehow we see him every day. Well I guess he likes to touch gringos, because every time he sees me he chases me... CHASES me and touches my arms and my back. Creepy! But he’s harmless. The missionary that was here before me, the Mute touched his face all creepy like once and he almost punched him.... haha, so that’s my funny story of the week.

Also I have seen 5 sloths here, and I was going to touch one but all the locals started yelling at me and telling me it was dangerous. So I guess I will never touch one.

Well family and friends, I know that this church is true. I know that I am needed here and Guacimo. I know that through hard work you can change an area that is considered tough into a fountain of baptisms. Guacimo has not had more than 2 baptisms in the past year and we should be having at least 5 this month. We can decide to have faith and to act on that faith and make our situations better. Life is difficult, but through faith in the Lord we can overcome all challenges and eventually receive eternal life in the mansions of our Father. I know this with all my heart. I know that this church is true; I know we have a living prophet who is the voice of God on this earth. I know the Book of Mormon is true with all my soul and that we can grow closer to our Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ through its teachings. This is my testimony, and I know that it is true.I love all of you, and sorry if I am not answering emails, i really don’t have much time for emailing here,! so don’t be offended. I also don’t get mail until every 6 weeks so I’ll try and respond. Love y’all and love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Con amor,

Elder Taylor