Calahueche

Hola Amigos y Familia,

Don´t let that salutation convince you that my Spanish is perfect now because it definitely isn't! Im still trying every day to get better at Spanish, and to be honest it is frustrating at times when I want to say something but I cant express it clearly in Spanish. This week, I taught some parts of the Lesson of the Restoration to a family and when my companion asked them some follow-up questions, they couldn't answer because they didn't understand what I had told them. I am definitely learning humility and patience here. I will continue to pray for the gift of tongues because I really need it now. I´m two weeks in and can hardly keep up a decent conversation. I know that the Lord has helped me up to this point and that he will continue to bless me with the knowledge I need.

I also gave my first talk in Spanish yesterday. It was obviously very broken but I could tell that people understood it when I said Amen, and they all said Amen back (hopefully it wasn't just to make me feel better). The topic I was given to speak on was ¨Las Bendiciones del Ayuno¨, aka. Blessings of Fasting. This week was a little rough for me and my companion. One of our progressing investigators decided she didn't want to be baptized anymore and she is leaving us hints that she doesn´t want us to return to their home. Its been especially hard because she did have the desire to be baptized just a few weeks ago. We fasted for her on Thursday hoping that she might change her mind but she still doesn´t want it. Regardless, I still know that the power of the fast is real. This coming Sunday is Fast Sunday and I am going to take full advantage of it. 

This week I had my first experience with divisions. I was with Elder Zapata in an area called Calahueche. Its similar to Pueblo Nuevo in that there are lots of hills. It is a little more humid but it is beautiful. I took some pictures in Calahueche which i´ve attached. 

I have felt the Spirit so strong in certain homes this week. There are people who live in sheet metal, cardboard, and plastic homes, yet they are the happiest people ever. Yesterday, we visited an old man who is a convert who was saying he didn't want to go to church anymore because he was incapable of understanding some things in the Book of Mormon. He told us about how he only had a little bit of schooling as a child and that he cannot read very well, but he knows the principles of the gospel are true. I felt so blessed to be in the home of someone who was so humble. His house is completely built of wood and sheet metal, with a dirt floor. He also lives alone. We invited him to come visit investigators with us because in the past he had offered to assist the lessons with us. I feel so blessed to have been born in the circumstances I had. I was blessed with so many more opportunities than lots of people here in Guatemala. I know that, because of that, a whole lot more is expected out of me. The mission isnt only for the people who need the gospel, its for me as well. Like I said before, I have learned so much about humility here. It is so difficult to converse with people who don't speak your native language. The mission is teaching me so much more than I could have ever known anywhere in the United States.

Just to finish off, I want to let everyone know that I am safe and healthy. So far the mission has been treating me well. Im being very careful and I have seen the blessings that so many of you plead for me to have in your prayers. Thank you to everyone for all of the support. Remember to pray every day and read your scriptures because those are two of the best ways to feel closer to Heavenly Father. I know this is true because I feel it now. 

Have a great week everyone!

Pueblo Nuevo, Aug 24, 2015

Hola Everyone! 

This week has been the craziest so far on this awesome adventure that is my mission. I arrived in Retalhuleu on Tuesday. I had a new companion on the bus ride named Elder Graham. He´s a really great guy. He was just a two weeker at the CCM. On the bus ride I finally got to see more of Guatemala, including volcanoes, mountains, rainforests, and other really cool phenomenons.

My new companion here in the field is Elder Tumbaco. He´s from Ecuador and he´s training me in all things mission related. Ive spoken more Spanish here in the mission field than probably my whole time in the CCM (oops). My first area is Pueblo Nuevo which is up in the hills of Retalhuleu. Its really hilly so its exhausting at times to go walking. Luckily, It isn´t nearly as hot here as it is in Reu. It does rain a lot though!!! My first day we were here, we were tracting and a rainstorm hit. I got drenched in water and my shoes and socks were soaked. Umbrellas hardly do anything here, especially when its raining sideways. 

We´ve taught lots of lessons here. At the beginning of the week, lots of people let us in to their houses to teach them about the gospel. The weekend was a little bit more rough. Yesterday and Saturday we met lots of people who said things like, ¨I already go to a church¨ or ¨I think faith in Jesus is the only thing that I need to be saved.¨ It was a little discouraging to be honest, but I´m gonna keep on trying my hardest to spread this gospel because I know of its truth and the way that it can bless families and make miracles happen. 

As far as daily living, its pretty alright! So far food hasnt been an issue here. Everything Ive eaten here has been tasty and nothing has made me sick yet. Its kinda funny how things happen here. If you want someone to give you water, you have to say ¨Ägua Pura¨. If you only say agua theyll give you a Coca Cola or a drink of some sort. Also the transportation here is nuts! Everyone crams into little transit vans, buses, and little red taxis called Tuc Tucs. I still have no idea how to get around this place so Ive been relying on my trainer to get us from point A to point B. The roads are so confusing! 

Today we got together as a Zone at a chapel and played some games. We played volleyball, ping pong, ultimate frisbee, and stuff like that. Its really nice to have a break from working. Anyway, we have a lesson planned for a family named Calderon here that were gonna show a movie.. Ill leave the email here. Also, forgot my camera adapter at home so I only have these pictures this week. Ill send more next Monday!

Hope everyone has a great week! Read your scritpures and go to church!

He's in Retalhuleu Guatemala!

Elder Taylor made it safely to Retalhuleu

 Elder Taylor is the first one on the top left (back row)

being greeted by his mission president. 

Guatemala MTC week 5

Hola Everyone!

Hope everyone had a wonderful week! This week was probably the most spiritual up to this point. We had so many amazing devotionals and classes, including a special broadcast from the Provo MTC by Elder Nelson. Yesterday we had a devotional by President Duncan who is the Area president of Central America. We watched a video of the growth of the church starting in the Eastern US and Utah throughout all of America and into the world. The work is hastening and it is such a blessing to be a part of it. 

I forgot to tell you guys about an awesome experience we had as a district two sundays ago. One of our hermanas got sick and we were able to give her a priesthood blessing. In the blessing, Elder Speth told her she would wake up with the energy and health she needed and the next day she woke up healthy. It has strengthened my testimony so much of the power of the priesthood and how it is only used for selfless reasons.

Today was our last temple trip at the CCM. Probably my last one for the next two years. I knew it would be my last so I tried to make the best out of it. While I was there I prayed and wanted to receive some guidance while I was in a place as holy as the temple. I received an instant answer in the book of mormon in the book of 3 Nephi chapter 11 where Christ comes to visit the Americas and he spoke to Nephi and told him to baptize the people. I felt like that was a personal answer to me and the reason why I am here. Not just for baptisms, but to bring people to Christ. This isnt my work. This is the work of Jesus Christ. Our devotional yesterday with Pres. Duncan emphasized this to me and it was so spiritual. There is nothing selfish about the gospel. Im not on a mission for myself, Im here to help Heavenly Fathers precious children. We are all precious to him. 

Anyways, Ill be on the bus to Retalhuleu next Tuesday and I am really excited. I cant wait to get out of the CCM. The church is true! Pray about it. Have faith in him. Becaues of Him we can return to Heavenly Father again. 

Have an amazing week everyone! 

Elder Taylor

Guatemala MTC Week 4

¡Hola Amigos y Familia!

I honestly cannot even believe how fast the time has gone here at the CCM! We have just two weeks left before we go out into the field! We are now officially the oldest missionaries here! Spanish is still coming and our lessons are making more and more sense now. Our teachers tell us every day how amazed they are at the progress they see with us. I have a testimony of the truth of the Gift of Tongues because I am a witness to it. I have seen the blessing in my life and in the lives of all of the other missionaries here. I also know that we are being blessed because of the faith of the members who pray for us missionaries every day. The blessings are being received. 

This week was a little rough because we had a little epidemic go through the CCM. At the beginning of the week a couple of elders had been vomiting and so we started taking some precautions to make sure it didnt spread. On Tuesday, we woke up to a whole district of Elders sick in bed and a few Hermanas sick. It was a little scary to be honest. When we came down for breakfast that day there was an hermana sitting on the floor with her companions giving her water because she wasnt well enough to stand up. I was a little nervous about getting sick myself, so every day I was asking in my prayers, "Bendicenos con salud" (Bless us with health). I am very happy and relieved to say that out of all of us here at the CCM, my bedroom was the only one to not have anyone carry the sickness. I feel so blessed that the guys in my room stayed healthy because once one person in the room gets sick, everybody in the room starts getting sick. Plus, shoutouts to probiotics and hand sanitizer. 

Okay so, the best part of this week was when they FINALLY let some of us out of the CCM to a place other than the temple or the market! Dont get me wrong, the temple is amazing and every time I go, the Spirit is so strong and I feel like there is no reason to worry about the outside world. The temple is literally THE safe haven from any place in the world. I really love the temple here. Anyway, a few of the staff members took us out of class to take us to the Immigration Office here in Guatemala City. We all loaded up into a van and they drove us to immigration. The car ride there and back was really sketchy to be honest. It is NO wonder why everyones car here has a dent or scratches on it. Nobody stops at stop signs and nobody waits or yields to anyone. Basically, you just have to hope that people will slow down if you make a turn onto another street because if you wait, you will never get anywhere and if they dont slow down theyll hit the back of your car. Also, the people here dont hit their brakes until they are literally inches away from the bumper of the car in front of them. While we were at the immigration office, we actually had a real missionary experience. We met a guy named Samuel who is a member of a local Christian church. We got to talk to him a little bit about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. I was so so so surprised at how receptive he was and how willing he was to wait and listen to a big group of Elders and Hermanas talk about religion. He wanted us to sing a hymn to him in Spanish but we ran out of time and had to go back to the CCM. But, It was definitely the highlight of the week.

Anyways, Im still doing great here in Guatemala. I cant wait to head out to Reu in two weeks! I couldn't be more excited. 

Have a great week, everyone!

Elder Taylor