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):