The Best, Most Challenging, Most Painful, Stressfull, and Joyful Year of my Life! (6/3/13)

Buenas Familia!

First off to answer Mom´s questions...

1)      Elder Cruz and I are getting along super well. He´s an awesome missionary, and a super funny guy, I am really learning a ton from him!

2)      The new ward is a little different than Aserri. In Aserri I knew everybody and they would just give me references like crazy because they loved me. Right now I don´t know many members, but something I am noticing is that there is a lot of pride and arrogance in this ward, so we´re going to have to work to get rid of that!

3)      Yes, we walk like nuts in this area. But the difference is, it is always raining here! So we always get back to the house sopping wet and muddy! Haha it is supposed to rain everyday here for like the next 2 months!

4)      Yes I got my second box! Thank you so very much Mom and Dad for everything! It was so awesome, and I really can use a bunch of the stuff that you sent me! Thank you, Love you guys!

5)      Could you guys send me like a family picture or something? Elder Mendoza was cleaning our house about 2 months ago, and he threw away our family picture...

6)      No, I don´t really need anything right now, but I´ll let you know when I need something, thank you so much!

Well, this week was awesome! Elder Cruz and I have been working super hard because President Wilkinson is really focusing on baptisms now. Our baptismal goal for the month is 150, the last month we had 120 but President is hoping for more. He´s asking for three baptisms a week from every zone so that’s like 12 baptism per zone every month. That is very difficult to reach here in San Jose central, but we are working our "bums" off to try and reach it.

This week we have been working a ton with an investigator, Ricardo. He is 20 years old, and he wants to be baptized, the only thing holding him back is his work. He has to work Sundays, but he needs to come to church one more time to be baptized. But the amazing thing is we had a lesson with him, and during the lesson he stopped us and starting calling people to take his shift at work. After about 5 people, everyone said no, but it is amazing to see his faith, that he is willing to change everything to be baptized. The only thing that is holding him back from quitting his job is that he has a contract with his boss, and he can´t quit. We´ll see if he can be baptized this next week. We also have a super sweet family, Jimmy and Marilyn, that are eternal investigators. They have received the missionaries for 8 months, but we are really pushing for their baptism this month. They want to be baptized, but the only thing holding them back is... MARRIAGE! Welcome to Costa Rica, you can live 20 years together, but everybody has a huge fear of getting married, because supposedly after marriage " everyone separates..." It’s such a ridiculous tradition in this country! But yeah, we should have about 4 baptism this month, maybe 5, just pray for us please and our investigators!!!!

Well, Dad I loved the way you and Brother England described the different types of people and the kingdom of glory that they will inherit. This week Elder Cruz and I were studying Alma 32, and this describes the three types of people in this world. The chapter describes the poor people that were kicked out of their synagogues by the Zoramites. It describes three types of people... 1. Those who are obligated and forced to be humble, and choose the right because of their suffering 2. Those who need to know everything before they will believe and act on their faith 3. Those who act on their faith because they desire to come unto Christ, and keep his commandments because they love him.

In this life, we strive to be someone that follows Christ because we love him. We don’t follow Christ, and keep his commandments because it is our duty our responsibility, that is a terrestrial attitude. Then there are people that follow the commandments because they have to, and they fear the consequences that their disobedience has... that is a telestial attitude. Your letter Dad, just reminded me of all of this haha

Well Family, friends, I love all of you. You are constantly in my prayers, and I wish and hope the best for every one of you. Keep going strong. I have one year in the mission already, that’s NUTS! I don’t have many words to describe this past year of my life, but here goes, I will try to describe it...

This past year has been...

·         Amazing

·         Challenging

·         Sweaty

·         Hilarious

·         Very Scary

·         Spanish-y

·         Stressful

·         Fantastic

·         Tiring

·         Growing

and I have really learned to love this gospel, and love my Saviour

Well, love you all!

Pura Vida,

Elder Taylor