Ya Soy Tico...

Buenas Familia!!!!

How is everyone!!!! Well let’s start out answering Moms questions...

1)      No you didn’t tell me that the Coxes moved... is it Lance Cox? Because I don’t remember the Coxes from 5th ward!

2)      Today for p-day I think that we are going to sleep, and buy groceries, and play with my slingshot that a member gave me. He was walking one day in this finca (I don’t remember the English word for finca) and he found a slingshot and was thinking of me so he gave me it haha

3)      I have been sick on my mission! Like super bad! So this past Friday, Elder Hernandez and I couldn’t work because he had super bad food poisoning! We woke up Friday at like 3 in the morning and we were vomiting like crazy! Do you remember that line from Tommy Boy, where Chris Farley is talking about a car crash... " And the new guy is puking his guts out, and the other guy is like, "Oh my gawsh....". Well that was our Friday morning, and basically all of Friday. But were all better now. Everyone is saying that there has been a virus going around, but I have never heard of a virus that could destroy us like that! I really think its because we ate some weird chicken thing, and repollo at an investigator’s house. Oh well, hope it never happens again because it was terrible!

4)      Yes, all my clothes are holding up! I think I’m fine for now, Elder Hernandez is enjoying the American candy haha, so no worries, all good for now!

Okay well the news for this week... we had two baptisms!!!!

I attached the photos, we held the baptismal services of Graciela ( Martins mom) and her granddaughter Meri!!! And the coolest thing is that Casto (Martin) got to baptize his mom!!! That was super awesome! He was super nervous before hand, but super excited to do it. Then when he was finally in the water with her, he was super nervous and shaking, but he said the prayer with authority and power and totally rocked it! Casto is a stud, and I know he will be a bishop one day. Well, so that was something really special that happened this week.

Well, some bad news is that Virgilio, my first baptism here in Aserri fell back into bad habits and is drinking more than ever now. I don’t even now where he is living now, probably in the street. Its really sad to see him like this again. He was an alcoholic for 8 years... got baptized, quit all of that and even had a calling and was preparing for the Melquizidek Priesthood, but with a few bad decisions, he is in the street, and has nothing. We are trying to help him, but really we can only help him so much. Until he has the conviction to change his habits once and for all, there is nothing that we can do. Sad, but we will have to see what happens. Haha sorry for this little sad part, but this week we also had a super awesome experience.

So we were knocking doors (I love knocking doors!) and we found this one lady, Carla. I was talking to her about the church and she told me that she doesn’t believe in any of that, and that there is really no hope for peace in this life. So we came back to visit her yesterday, and we just starting talking to here about our purpose as missionaries and Jesus Christ, and she started asking us super good questions!!! Like, " How can I grow closer to Jesus Christ?" and, " How can I have a better relationship with God?"... So we basically answered the questions of her soul for like an hour... Afterwards she asked us the best question... she hesitated a little and then asked us..." Is it possible, that one day... I don’t know... one day that I can always feel the peace that I am feeling in your presence?" IT WAS AWESOME! She was feeling the spirit so strongly, and was finally finding that peace that she has searched for her whole life! I love contacting because the Lord is really preparing people to hear our message. There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon, I don’t remember where it is found, but is says that the Lord is sending Angels to prepare the hearts of people to hear our message. It is the truth.

The Lord is preparing our friends our families to hear the peace of this Gospel. We don’t know who is prepared, but we can never be too afraid to share the Gospel. Share it, show your friends, family the love that you have for them. We have the joy and love of the Savior in our lives, and it is our duty and responsibility to share it.

I love you all, I hope all is well at home. I attached photos of the baptism, and I hope this is a nice chatty letter for you all!

Pura Vida!

Elder Taylor

Casto, Meri, and Graciela baptism day

 

Elder Hernandez, Meri, Graciela, and Elder Taylor

First Change of Training... Done!

Buenas Familia,

 First off.. to answer questions...

1)      Yes mom, I am enjoying my hair gel. Thank you very much for that! And also thank you very much for all the candy. Elder Hernandez is thoroughly enjoying all of the American treats!

2)      Yes, I’ll try and send some new photos with this email.

3)      No I don’t need new shoes, everything’s fine just a little beat up, but I’ll be fine thank you! And right now everything’s all good, I don’t really need anything but we'll see in a couple of weeks!

Okay,

Well first off I’m super stoked for President Francis. He'll be an amazing mission president. Tell him I say congratulations and good luck in New York! And the change in stake presidency is nuts! Bishop Flake is super funny, and very spiritual. I've never interacted with President Barney, and President Robinson taught my seminary class once and he was really interesting.

Okay well this week was very fun! We having been working a ton with Graciela, (Virgilio's cousin). She hasn’t been able to be baptized because she is in a super difficult situation. So she is living in a house with her ex-boyfriend, Orlando, and with 6 of her kids (all are grown up). The thing is, Orlando is a little strange, and she started with him because the "Carne es debil" (Flesh is weak) about 3 years ago. He is already married. So we taught her the law of chastity about 2 months ago, and she knew that Orlando was married (not to her) so she straight up told him, "No, we cant sin like this anymore, I don’t want anything to do with you. We can still be friends but this relationship needs to end." And like that she was ready for baptism. BUT... Orlando is renting the house in his name, so he can’t leave the house so Graciela couldn’t be baptized. But now, I talked with President Wilkinson about everything, how Graciela is super ready for baptism but can’t be baptized for the situation, so President told me, if they are living in separate rooms and Graciela wants nothing to do with him... she can be baptized!!!! SO after 2 months of waiting she will finally get her chance to join the fold of Christ and be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!! USH, Papito papito!!!!!! So yes, I am super stoked for that!

This week we also went to the Mission Home for our one month checkup. This is for trainers and their trainees. So we went to the mission home and had a huge lunch, (I finally got to eat meat!!!) and then we had training with President and the Assistants. It was cool, because the assistants gave all of the trainers time to share one funny experience, and one spiritual experience during our time with the new elders. So here is an experience that I don’t know if I have shared with you all. So Elder Hernandez and I received a reference and we went and were teaching this family. One of the daughters or sisters of the lady we were teaching was very very attractive. Well during the lesson she interrupted us and said in the deepest man voice ever, "I’m going to the store!" SO after the lesson, we were leaving and we both looked at each other (Elder Hernandez and I) and we both said, " IT WAS A MAN!!!!" haha that was a funny experience. Okay but now for the spiritual experience. Okay so there was an Elder that was here in Aserri, Elder Rodriguez, he was here about 2 years ago. Well when we got home, he was kidnapped and murdered in El Salvador. We have been teaching some less actives that he baptized. One night they asked me about Elder Rodrigues, and I don’t know why but I told them what happened and how he passed away. Well they started crying (because nobody had told them) and we started crying too. Well after about 10 minutes of utter silence and sobbing I decided we needed to pray. So we all knelt down, and I prayed with them. And the thing is, I wasn't talking, the spirit was talking through me. After the prayer there was complete silence and peace in the house. And the wife exclaimed, "Que Paz..." (what peace!). It was an experience that I will never forget.

Well, I love you all, I let you know how this week goes! I love you all. I am glad that you are reading the Gospels Dad. I’m just about finishing up with the Book of John. I love that book. John seriously portrays the Savior in such an amazing way. Well love you all! Hope all is well, and hope this letter is good!

Pura Vida,

Elder Ryan Taylor

 

 

 

 

Baptisms up in Here!

Buenas Familia!

Okay so this past week was tough, amazing, and the best week of my mission. We baptized, and married Martin and Veronica! That was the tough and amazing part of this week! So this whole week we were scurrying looking for witnesses for the wedding, for their birth certificates and all of that, and we finally finished everything Friday night at like 10:30! So the next day, we had really an amazingly spiritual wedding, and baptism, and it really was the best day of my mission. I know that Martin and Veronica will be an eternal family. This whole week we had a ton of challenges and obstacles, because Satan really was throwing everything at us to stop this baptism. But nevertheless, all went well, and I will see Martin and Veronica is one year in the San Jose, Costa Rica temple!!!! I really am so excited for them, and the future that they have in this gospel.

Well this week Elder Hernandez and I witnessed a ton of the Lords tender mercies. So after the baptism, we returned home and right when we walked in the door, we heard the phone ringing. So I answered it, and it was this guy who told me that he had a sweet reference for us, 8 people, that wanted to be baptized. It was amazing! My testimony our the Lords mercy has been really strengthened in my mission. Every time when it seems like there is no one left, when we are searching and searching for people, the lord always blesses us with someone that is ready and prepared to hear the gospel. As missionaries we just need to be obedient and we can recognize these people and teach them. So that really was a tender mercy of the Lord.

Well I have a little story to tell... So when I got here on the mission, I always said that I would never bible bash with anyone. Well yesterday (Sunday) we were teaching an evangelist the first lesson. So I said, "A prophet is someone that can speak with God... face to face." And I don’t know why, but a ton of people have a problem with that... face to face... part. Well she started to tell me that Nobody is perfect and nobody can speak to God face to face, and all we think is that Joseph Smith was perfect. SO I said, well Moses spoke to God face to face (Exodus 33:11) and she said because Moses was "Moses". She then went on to fight with me a little bit more, and then said that the Old Testament is just a story, and that she doesn’t believe in the bible until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. She then kicked us out of the house... Last night I was thinking a lot about the lesson, and about her. I felt really bad because really, if there is a spirit of contention, nobody wins. I knew I was right, and I was teaching her, but not with the spirit of love, and I never want to do that again.

We have to love people or else they cannot feel the love of their Savior in our message. That is a lesson that I have learned I have learned on the mission.

Well I have a ton of photos to send you, so I will send them in another message. I love you guys, and I hope all is well! Thank you for your letters every week, and especially thank you for the package! The candy, and the gel , and the little "gay" speaker. (Everyone calls it gay haha) Love you all!

Love, Elder Taylor

Photos:

Martin and Veronica:

 

Baptism:

 

So we went to this mountian in our area that looks over all of san jose, and the central valley of Costa Rica. This is where the spaniards went and dedicated Costa Rica to Catholicism! It was sick becuase we could see the whole valley.

Costa Rican Caterpillar:

 

Elder Taylor on P-Day (overlooking San Jose):

 

2 bautismos y un matrimonio!!! (2 Baptisms and a Marriage!!!)

Buenas Familia!!!!

1)      Okay so today is our Preparation Day, and today our whole zone is going paint balling! But Elder Hernandez and I don’t want to waste all our money doing that that, so we are going to play basketball with some members and Virgilio, a recent convert. Usually on P-day we go play futbol (soccer) or this past p-day we went bowling. Uhm yeah we go grocery shopping, but groceries are a little bit different here in Costa Rica. Aserri is still developing so we don’t have Wal-Mart, or really anything so we have to shop in this warehouse called Pali. Half the warehouse is different kinds of Rice and Beans, and the other half is like random foods, (Strawberry Jam, Old bread and cookies.) So probably today I will go to buy some Oreos and probably some pancake mix for breakfast!!! And then after that we will probably clean the house and relax, because I am super tired all the time!!!! And that is a usual p-day in Costa Rica. Oh and we can also go on Hikes in the mountains, and I think we are going to do that soon!!!!

2)      2 Containers of hair gel is perfect. That should last me like 6 months or so! Thank you! Uhm... send the package to the mission home huh? I think you are supposed to send packages to the Mission office, but we will see what happens! But honestly, I don’t know how mail works here because their aren’t directions. So it is really hard to contact people in the street because we will ask their directions and they will tell us, "I live 500 meters south of the gas station. After 500 meters you’ll find a mango tree and then you’ll have to turn left. Keep going and then you will find a little entrance behind two palm trees. We are the last yellow house on the left..." So yeah, the directions here are terrible haha!

Okay, well this week went well. We have done a ton of contacting to find new investigators because all of our investigators are not coming to church!!! We have had super good amazing lessons with them, but still they always have excuses about church!!! That really is the most important and difficult principle of the gospel, our church attendance. But I am really excited for this next week because we will have two baptisms and a marriage!

So I don’t know if you remember Virgilio, but he is my favorite convert, and he has given us a mountain of references. Right now we are teaching his cousins and they are getting baptized this Saturday! I am so stoked for them. They are called Casto Martin and Veronica. We are also marrying them this Saturday so I have been super stressed out over that. I swear, that when my daughter is getting married, I will not plan the wedding because I have already had to plan two in the mission and it is super stressful. But I really am so excited for this family. It was interesting because this week Virgilio had been super down on himself because he had to change a lot of bad habits to become a member of the church, and Satan is starting to tempt him again, and he has been looking for work without success. Well I was talking to him, and I was like, "Look Virgilio. Don’t get down on yourself because really you are a pioneer for your family. You have already brought 4 souls unto salvation, and basically with the baptism of Martin and Veronica you are going to be the pioneer of a eternal family." And a bunch of other stuff like that, and that really cheered him up. SO that got me thinking about our ancestors and about my family, and for everything that you guys have done for me.

I just want to let you guys know that I love you so very much. Thank you for your patience with m growing up. I know that I was a little difficult at times, and that I was very spoiled. Sorry for acting like that. I know that you have guided me in this gospel, and have helped me to earn a testimony of my own. I love you, and I want you to know how very thankful I am very day to have parents, and family like ours. Sure we can be a little dysfunctional at times, but really who isnt. I would not change this family for anything!

Oh and also, Dad I want to hike the Grand Canyon with you guys. You can do it this year, but when I get back from the mission we are going to do it again, and it will be a man weekend. Dad, Jason, Eric, Cameron, and I. We will eat sloppy joes and do manly stuff like that. Sound good? Okay tudo bien.

Well that’s basically all for this week. We didn’t have hot water all week, and it was terrible! I about died every morning in the shower, but we finally got it fixed today! Well I love you all! I am glad you are having such great experiences with Savior of the World! I know that will bless your life greatly, and you will feel the peace and tranquility of the Holy Ghost during your performance. Well love you all, have a good week and take care!

Love,

Elder Taylor