8 Months!

Buenas Familia!

Okay like always, answers to mom's questions...

1)     When I get Dear Elders they are kind of a mess, but I can sort through them and eventually read them chronologically. Keep sending them because I love hearing about the experiences of all the other missionaries! Oh and I also receive the most mail in the mission because of the Dear Elders haha.

2)     No I didn't get the box yet! I should get it in about 1-2 weeks when I'm in San Jose in the mission office.

3)     I have no idea where the remote control is, sorry mom haha.

4)     No, all good for right now. I just need my gel, because the gel here is made for Costa Ricans, and I look like a greaser with it!

Okay, well now for my life as a missionary...

This week was very, very, very hard. We have been contacting more than I have ever contacted in my life, because I really want Elder Hernandez to get the hang of contacting. And guess what... I LOVE CONTACTING! Most missionaries hate it, but I love it because we can meet so many different people. I don't know, in the mission I have grown to love talking to new people, and really just listening to the story of their life. For example, we were knocking doors in this new area in Aserri called Santa Terrecita, and we started talking about the Plan of Salvation with the first lady that we met. Turns out she was a drug addict, Prostitute, who recently found the Christian church and really she poured out her whole life story to us. For more than an hour we were standing there in front of her house listening to her (Cost Ricans love to talk...) and listening to all the pain that she has felt in her life. It was crazy because really, as a missionary, when we listen to people, to their pains, afflictions, we really begin to feel charity for them. We feel that pure love of Christ and we can really see the potential and worth of their souls. So I was feeling that charity for her for the first 50 minutes, but the last 10 I just couldn’t do it because she was talking forever, but hey, at least I am progressing in that aspect!!!! Haha, but yes, I really love contacting!

So yes, this week was hard because I have been really stressing out because we should be having 3 baptisms February 9th, but before then we have to plan a marriage and we have to help in a divorce and have one of them have an interview with President Wilkinson!!!! Ahhh! But I know that if I am patient, and I work with all my strength, might, and mind, that the Lord will make up the rest. I have really learned to trust in the Lord during my mission, that really if we put our faith in him, he will always always always fullfill his promises, he always does it! And for that I am so very thankful.

Well, sorry if this letter is a little short or boring, not much really happened this week, we have just been working our tails off. I am sorry Mom that you were very sick (ewww grossness in your letter haha) and I hope all is well. All of you are always in my prayers, and I am so thankful for this opportunity that I have to grow here on the mission, but more importantly, to bring souls unto Christ.

Love you all, and I know that this church is true!

Pura Vida,

Elder Taylor

P.S. Yo tengo ocho meses en la mision... Eso!!!

Training... Again!

Buenas Familia!!!!

First to answer Mom's questions...

1.       Elder Rangel is not my companion... We got a call this past Tuesday that he was going to have changes, and that I was going to be a trainer! So yes, my new companion is Elder Hernandez, from Mexico City and he has about a week here in Costa Rica!

2.       The ward is super helpful here. We have been working a ton with them, trying to gain their confidence, and this week we already have family nights scheduled with different members, every night of the week!

3.       No I haven't gotten the box that you sent me, but I should be getting it in a little bit, we'll see!

4.       Haha, the soles of my shoes are already coming off! I went over to an investigators house and he fixed one pair, but I still have one pair that is mangled and broken up, but no worries, these "Bad Boys" (my shoes) are going to last my whole mission.

5.       Uhmmm, as of now, all I need is Axe hair gel, the red kind, becuase I am using some Costa Rican brand, and it's terrible and I look like a "Greaser" from the 50's haha

Well, so yes as you have already heard I am training now! I knew that it was coming up soon because I had an interview with President Wilkinson and he told me, "Elder Taylor, I have a lot of confidence in you, we need the younger missionaries to grow up fast, and I have the confidence that you will do it." So that’s always good to know that you have the confidence of your mission president.

So yes, Elder Hernandez is my new companion. He's 18 years old from Mexico City and he is a convert of about a year and a half. I love the converts because they are sacrificing so much and have so much drive. He's super obedient and is really teaching me a lot about obedience.

Well I have been praying, and pondering a ton lately, to be able to be the best example I can for my "hijo". And with this prayer and meditation, I have really felt a spiritual lift in my studies and everything. So I think I have read the Book of Mormon 3 times in my life, but today I was reading in 1st Nephi 22. I love this chapter. It talks about the scattering and gathering of Israel, and before I would always just skim over it and read it for face value. But when we actually study the scriptures, whoa can we learn a ton! I was finding things, and doctrine that I had never read before, and it was really amazing to see that we can read the Book of Mormon about a thousand times, and learn something different and applicable in our lives every time! I love it!!!

Well, Mom I'm sorry to hear that the van is dying all the time. Maybe it's about time that we change it for a little sports car or something, because you and Dad are getting to the point when you won't need a van anymore!

Time flies huh! It's crazy to think that I already have 8 months in the mission, that I'm training, and that I really feel super comfortable hear in Costa Rica. I'm really excited and I hope that you can come to pick me up, because I really want to spend time here with the family, but we'll see what's up in 16 months haha. And Dad, I would love to read about that account of the First Vision where Joseph Smith had been searching for forgiveness since the age of 12. What’s it called???? And I have also questioned why we always go over the same basic principles every four years and talk about the same things, and I have an idea about it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is incredibly simple, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. 5 incredibly simple steps, and with each principle we can find a mountain of doctrine and information. I think we go over the same exact things every year because we need to. I find that every time we talk about Faith, if we are really listening with the Holy Ghost, we can pick out something that we can work on, always. The same with every principle. If we cannot grasp the basics of this gospel, we can't become converted, and in no way can we endure to the end. I think in the church there are so many varying degrees of understanding in conversion, that we sadly need to go over the same things over and over. But I like that you are changing things up, and making it more interesting and thought provoking. Yesterday we were eating lunch with a family, and he is the Sunday School President. He told me that the calling of teacher in the church, might be the most important calling. A teacher needs to be inspired and constantly receiving revelation in order to really help and teach their students. Think of that, my Dad has the most important calling in the Church!!!! Hahaha, but it really is true, I'm glad that you are really trying to receive inspiration for your class, and I know that all will benefit from that.

Well, I'm super glad that Aunt Deanna is doing well. She has been in my prayers, and I know that through her obedience and that of Ralph, their family will be blessed. Let her know I say Hi, and I am very glad that all went well.

Well I don't have much time, I hope this letter was very chatty for you Mom. I wish I could write more but I have no time! I love you all, and I know the Lord is blessing you. I pray for you every day, and I really am so excited to see you all once again. Love you!

Love,

Elder Taylor

San Jose from the apartment window:

 

Elder Rangel and I in Asseri: 

Cathedral in the center of San Jose:

Buenas Familia!!!

Buenas Familia!!!

Have you ever wondered why I always start with buenas? Its because here in Costa Rica, when we greet people we say buenas and not hola haha. Well I hope all is well at home!!! I’m super stoked for you guys that you get to do Savior of the World! I have been reading a lot of the gospels and I am just about finishing them. I also read basically all of Jesus the Christ and that book is amazing! I really have learned so much about our Savior and so much about his life and love. It really has strengthened my testimony of our Savior and Redentor.

Well, do I have a surprise for you guys! This Saturday, Elder Christofferson came and spoke to all of the missionaries!!! His Spanish is amazing!!! He gave a question and answer session. One of the questions that I really liked was, " What have you read in the Book of Mormon that has really impressed you recently?" And Elder Christofferson stopped and thought for a long time about that. And then he started talking about all of the people in the Book of Mormon that have been sanctified through Christ, and promised eternal life. How all of us in this world, that is our goal, and we are striving to reach eternal life, and how much peace and comfort we will feel when we are promised life eternal!!! He also spoke in a special stake conference here in San Jose, and my stake was lucky enough to host his visit, so we got to hear him yesterday also. He spoke to the members about the importance of the family, and how we must guard and strengthen our families. That is true, that is something that I will do when I am a father. I really am stoked for that, and I am so stoked for the work of the Lord here in Aserri.

So this letter is so incredibly short, but I have no time right now! I love all of you, and I hope everything is going well. You are always in my prayers, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you. Keep praying, keep going to church, and keep strengthening your families through family night and family dinner, and I know that we will be able to be an eternal family!

Love you all,

Elder Taylor!!!!

P.S. We have changes his Wednesday, so we will see if Elder Rangel stays with me or what!!!!

Best Week in Aserri, and Photos!!!

Buenas Familia,

I hope all is well at home, and I'm super glad that you could send me a long email Mom. I love reading about the family and seeing that they are enduring with faith throughout all of their trials!

Well, this last week we worked like dogs, and it really showed in our success. We met almost all of our goals and really had a super productive week this week. So in our lessons this week, I have noticed something really cool. So whenever our investigators have doctrinal questions, they'll ask us, and the spirit really will bring scriptures to our mind to answer questions. And the cool thing is that Elder Rangel and I are receiving the same impressions so we are teaching with more unity. That was one of the most rewarding and cool experiences of the week.

We have also been working a lot with a couple references from Virgilio. So he is a living testimony of the gospel and his family is super interested in the church now. His cousin Graciela has come two times to church already, and his second cousin Martin and his wife, Veronic have already come to church two times also! They are progressing a lot but have a little bit of fear in being baptized. We tried to put a baptismal date for the 26th with them, but Martin is still a little unsure, but the best part was that Virgilio was there during the lesson and said, "I know that you'll be baptized the 26th, I know you will." And Martin also read the Book of Mormon, prayed and felt an overwhelming feeling of peace!!! I'm super stoked for this family and for the great change that this message can make in them. This was a family of alcoholism, and really no hope for a better life, but through the atonement of Jesus Christ they are happy and enjoying all the trials of this life. I love it!!! I love missionary work!

Well also this past week we had interviews with President WIlkinson. I love interviews with him. In Costa Rica they have a saying, "Cortando la jupa" (chopping head). This basically means using scriptures, doctrine or things like that to show a person that they need to make changes in their life. It's like if we're teaching an investigator and they won’t fulfill a commitment so we use a scripture that says that they are being a hypocrite or denying the Holy Ghost. It has a negative connotation and no missionary should teach like this. But President Wilkinson is the master of it, because he does it with love. He will tell you something that you need to do better, but he will say it with such love that you will want to do it because he cares so much for us. I really love him and he really is a humble servant of God.

Well I love all of you, and I hope all is well at home. I also hope that the computer will send these pictures that I attached so we'll see how it goes. Oh, and could you guys send me the address of Randy's mission? Because I am trying to send letters, but I don't have his address. Bueno, les amo muchisimo, y yo sé que esta iglesia y este evangelio es verdadero!!!!

Love,

Elder Ryan Christian Taylor

 

Photos:

 

Costa Rican trees.

 

This an old photo from Guacimo. Elder Cruz and I and a family that we married and baptized, Diego and Tatiana. They were only twenty years old!!!

 

Photo from my very last day in Guacimo.

 

This is another old photo from Guacimo. It's a family that I baptized there. Natacha, Edith, and Floribeth!

 

This is a view of the muntains of Aserri. Its super pretty and green here, but we're up in the mountinas just a little south west of San Jose. It's basically Yorba Linda, but the hills are green.

 

Elder Rangel, Virgilio, and I before his baptism. The sun was in our faces so thats why my eyes are closed.

 

Virgilio Vallejos!!! This a photo of him after his baptism. He's so rad, and he's already paying his tithing!!!