I think I might be pregnant!

New Fiat soccer jersey!

Yum!  Granola from a kind member!

Bom dia!            August 27, 2012

Wow you guys had another crazy week! Mom, I hope you are feeling better and able to get out of bed this week. I will pray for that. Thank you so much for all of your letters and the packages that you sent me this week! I really do know that I am loved and I am so lucky to have a family like you guys! I love you!

This week was good and bad. Just like every week haha. I had to go to the doctor because my stomache was still killing me and i found out that I am pregnant! JUST KIDDING!!!! But i do have a little creature inside of me. I have a worm. Its crawling all around in there and eating everything that I put into my stomache. It hurts so bad to eat but I am always hungry because of this little guy so this week I was lacking a little bit on energy. But we worked our buns off none the less. We had zone conference this week and Elder Sandoval was there! I got to talk to him for a long time. He is having a really hard time there in Ahu .  I thought to myself that the area would close until President Cordon announced that we will be receiving 70 more missionaries here in this mission! Its already the biggest mission in Brazil and now its going to be even bigger. We will receive enough missionaries to fill every area. So now none of the areas will close. And a ton of missionaries here are going to train these new missionaries. I have a feeling that I will be training in the next transfer. Im excited for that. Elder Sandoval also said that Oswaldo, Marina, and Eliane are still going strong! That made me so happy.

I still have yet to do an interview. I went to Tarumã 4 times to do interviews for the sisters in my district and every time the person wasnt there or didnt want to talk to me. I was so mad. I know Satan is working his hardest to stop this work but we just have to keep being consistant and doing our best. Its hard. But its the Lords work.

I started the Book of Mormon over this week and this time I am going to read it very slowly. i was reading in 1 Nephi 2 this week and I remembered something that Zack Call said.( I think) He said that in verse 16 of chapter 2 Nephi says that he is young but large in stature. Then in 1 Nephi 4:31 he says that he is a MAN large in stature. Then Zack asked, What did he do in these two chapters to become a man? He compared it to the mission and that we have two years to become men. What do we need to do? I have been thinking a lot about that this week and I feel like I am becoming a man. I still have a long time out here but I feel like I have changed a lot. I am so grateful to be a missionary.

Parker Jensen wrote me this week and just told me thanks for being such a great example and friend to me in high school. He told me about the challenges he is having and how he thinks of me when he is having a hard time. I love Parker. I am so grateful that I was able to help him without even thinking that it would help him. He is doing great in Sweden and he loves being a missionary. This was the second letter that i have gotten from him.

I hope you all have a great week this week and enjoy this last week of freedom! Transfers were changed to monday so a week from now I will let you know who my new companion is! Crazy stuff.

I just want you all to know how grateful I am for my friends. I am so blessed to have friends that are willing and worthy to be out here serving the lord. Its amazing to think that almost all of my friends are all over the world preaching the gospel right now. I always get goosebumps just thinking about it. I know this church is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. 

I love you!

Love

Elder Taylor

Never eat meat from street vendors!

Bom dia!!

wow you guys had a really crazy week! Its weird to think that life just goes on even when Im not there. But i am so glad to hear that you are all doing well and having fun!

This week was not so good. I really learned that we only recieve the blessings of the Lord if we do our part. When president threadgold set me apart as a missionary, he said that I would be able to do the work of the Lord everyday. Well, i have learned that I have to do my part to receive that blessing. When we left the CTM, they told us not to eat any of the food that people would be selling in the street because it would make us sick. They were right. I ate some meat that this guy was grilling in the street and it just about killed me. I ate it Tuesday night and I didnt leave my bed until friday. It was terrible. Throwing up, the runs, yeah it was bad. It was the hardest thing in the world to have to stay at home and not go out and work. But now I know not to eat anything from the street. i have learned my lesson.

One good thing that happened this week was that Vitorias whole family went to church today. Even her mom. That was a miracle. It was so cool to see her whole family there and we are going to have a family night with them tonight and invite all of them to be baptized. I am really excited for it. Her mom is having some financial issues and she got some help from the relief society president yesterday and it was really good to see that everyone enjoyed going to church. I know for sure that it is the house of the Lord.

Well Scotty, I havent heard an update from you in a long time about the Book of Mormon reading so Im just gonna take it that I won! I finished the Book of Mormon this morning! I have now read it more times is Portuguese than in English haha but scott if you havent finished keep reading. Read every day. I know that it will give you the spiritual boost that we all need to get through the day. keep going bud. And go buy that David Freese shirt :)

Im not sure what all you have already sent to me but the ZLs said that I have a lot of stuff at their chappel to pick up! I will get all of your letters and things tomorrow at district meeting. Thank you for all that you have all done for me.

I still havent gotten to do an interview yet but we have 2 marked for this coming week. i went to do one in another area friday but the lady ran away before we got there. i guess she got scared and didnt want to talk to me. But someday I will do an interview. I am praying that it will be this week.

Well, I hope you all have a great week and that you enjoy this last little bit of summer! And im not sure when BYU football will start but cheer extra loud for me at the games! Go COUGARS!!!!!!!!

I love you all so much!

Love Elder Taylor

Beware of dogs! and men with beer!

Bom dia!            August 13, 2012

What a crazy week! I did get to see a little of the olympics because our investigators were watching it. But it was only like 30 seconds haha. But go USA!!!!!

This week was really different. We had a `gold week`. President Cordon said that a lot of missionaries are just working for the numbers and once they meet their goal they stop working that week. Well, this week we didnt have goals. We just worked as hard as we could. And at the end of the week everyone counted up their numbers and they were so much better than the rest of the weeks this year. His main focus was to show us that we need to work hard because we love the Lord and the people that we are serving and not for the numbers. It was really good. We also saw miracles because of it. We marked 4 baptismal dates this week! Only one is really firm but we are going to work a lot to make sure that all four of these people get baptized.

Thursday was a crazy day. We were walking in the street and I got attacked by a dog! He bit my leg and then I kicked him in the face and he ran away. It didnt hurt very bad but he did break skin and I had to call Sister Cordon and had to go get a shot so that it didnt get infected. It was pretty intense. Then later that same day I did a contact with this hoodlum in the street and he got way mad and swore at me and walked away. I just brushed it off and we kept doing contacts. Well, he returned and dumped beer all over me. I was so ticked. It took everything I had not to  beat the living snot out of him. Then that night Elder Lima told me that there is a law against kicking other peoples animals and if someone would have seen me kick that dog then I could be going to jail. It was just a crazy day. But even after all of that I still love being a missionary. Every time that something like that happens I  just laugh and tell myself that its another story that I will be able to  tell my kids haha

This week I read 3 Nephi 11-3 Nephi 30 which is the part when Jesus Christ was here in the Americas. We had a lot of people tell us this week that the Book of Mormon is from the devil and that only the devil would write it. Well, I want you all to read this part of the Book of Mormon and then tell me what you think. Could the devil write something like that? No. He couldnt. Those are the pure words of Christ. I know it. I know it with all of my heart.

Way to go with the Garden!

Well, i hope you all have a great week. Please keep praying for me to be safe and to come home in one peice ;) I love you all so much and I know that this church is true. This really is the work of the Lord.

Love,
Elder Taylor

Ps. Scott- I am on 4 Nephi 1. Where are you?

Bom dia! August 6, 2012

I am so glad to hear that you all had a great time in St. George! I would probably die in that heat right now. Im glad I wasnt sent there haha. But it has been really hot here the last week. Almost 80 everyday. In the winter. Its really weird. But its been really good to get some sun on these white arms.

This week was pretty good and it was really good as a first week as DL. My disrict is really having a hard time though. The two elders arent getting along well and arent working and the sisters arent working well with the ward. Its been hard to help them but they are getting there. I still havent done a baptismal interview yet but I should do one this week. As for me and Elder Lima things are going well. We just need to mark more baptismal dates with investigators and get more of them to come to church. We did everything we could this week and none of them came. It was so frustrating. But we will just have to work even harder this week.

I had a training for the new DLs and Elder Ben Keaton was there!!!!!!!! It was so good to see him.  He is doing great and is now a new DL too! He was shocked to see me there because almost all of the DLs in the mission have been out for over a year. Its a litte hard for me because I am one of the newer missionaries and sometimes I dont feel like I can tell the others when they need to work harder or changes things. But one thing that I just have to keep telling myself is that I was called by God to be the DL here and I have the authority to do this. Its been hard but I have really learned a lot.

We got a new ZL this transfer and its Elder Martinez!!! I dont know if I told you about him but he was in my very first district and I did my first division with him. I love him haha. Well since I am DL and he is ZL we got to do a division this week. It was awesome and he keeps saying that one day we are going to be companions. He is from Uraguay and he really wants to learn English. Hes awesome. 

This week I was reading in 3 Nephi about Jesus Christ. In 3 Nephi 1:19 it talks about how there was a day, a night, and a day without darkness when he was born. Then it says in 3 Nephi 8: 20-23 that there were 3 days without light when he died. Do you think he is the light of the world? I am 100% sure that he is. And in 3 Nephi 9: 18 he says, I am the light and the life of the world. Its so true. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. I love being able to read about his life and about his teachings. 

Well, I love you all and I hope you all enjoy this great week. Becuase every week is great. Every day is great. Life is great. God has given us this life. What a blessing. I love you all so much.

Love

Elder Taylor.

Ps, Scott, i am on 3 Nephi 10. Good luck chuck.

oh and tell parker bennett that I am so proud of him and that he will be great. I cried when

Carla's baptism!

E. Lima, Carla, E. Taylor

I am so glad to hear that you are all doing well and enjoying the summer!

Scott I cant believe you crashed the honda! You owe me $26 in gas! Hahaha just kidding. Thats what syd said when I crashed the other car. I am glad to hear that you are ok though. You gotta stop hurting yourself.

Well, this week was pretty crazy. We had transfers and I will stay here with Elder Lima for another transfer! He is done with his training so I am just a normal senior companion now....or so I thought until Thursday when our zone leaders called and said that I have been called to be District Leader here!! I am way excited but a little nervous because now I will be the one doing the baptismal interviews. But it will be great and I am very excited for the chance to be a leader again. Oh and I am the only american in my district haha just me and 5 brazillians.

We had another baptism this week!! We have been working with Luana who is a less-active member and she has 3 kids. Well, the oldest is 8 and we worked with the whole family to become active so that she could be baptized and have the support of the family. Well, it happened! She was baptized and it was really good. Wild but good. Wild because none of the members wanted to help get anything ready for the baptism. Our Ward mission leader just left and didnt come back. It was a joke but we got everything done. The only sad thing was that in all the rush we didnt take pictures before the baptism with her in white. But it was still good. It doesnt count as a baptism for the mission because she is only 8 but I am still going to count it for me haha :)

We also had a little accident with Carla earlier this week. We were at their house for a family home evening and I was standing by the couch and she climbed up on the couch and then onto my shoulders and then fell and smacked her head on the ground. It was really bad and she hit really hard and was out like a light. Her mom started freaking out and it took a while for her to wake up and then she wasnt seeing anything. I gave her a blessing with Elder Lima and then they took her to the hospital and everything was ok. It really was a miracle. I know that God was watching over her.

This week I was reading in Helaman and in Helaman 6: 1-2, 4-5 it talks about how the Lamanites began to be better and more righteous than the Nephites. The Nephites werent listening to the words of the Lord and they payed for it. I learned that we all need to have the attitude of a recent convert. They are so excited to share what they know with everyone and they have the strongest testimonies and are so willing to listen to the Lord. We all need to have that attitude.

Well, I just hope you all know how much I love you and that I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that this church is sooooooo true and that this gospel is perfect.
I love you!!

Love
Elder Taylor

Ps. Scott- I am on Helaman 12

                                                                  Carla and E. Taylor

                                                   Carla's family on baptism day!

                                    
                                This is what happens when you've been on the mission 7 1/2 months!


 

Bom Dia July 23, 2012

Hello my loved ones! I am glad to hear that everything is going well in good old Kaysville. It has been so hot here for the past few days. I think winter only lasted a few weeks. Which is great!!

Well.........BATISMO!!!!! Vitoria was baptized yesterday and she asked me to baptize her. It was so good until i entered into the water. I guess the water heater in the church broke so the water was like ice. It took a while for Vitoria to finally come into the water and then i baptized her and she almost screamed when she came out of the water haha. It was so cold. But the baptism was great. There werent many people at the baptismal service but Vitoria said that she really felt the Spirit. She said that she wanted to be baptized so that one day she can be a sister missionary. That was pretty cool.

This week was the best week of my mission so far. We found a ton of new people to teach, had some really fun family nights and had a baptism. It was so good. But I cant believe the transfer is already over. We will get the phone call tonight that says who is staying and who is being transferred. Im not too nervous because I think that Elder Lima and I will both stay. But you never know with President Cordon.

We played soccer today as a zone and lets just say that I am not the best soccer player in the world. Its hard to play on a team that has LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on the same team.(Elder Lima and the other Brazillian on my team) I think I touched the ball like 4 times the whole game. But I dominated when we played volleyball. I think Im going to give up baseball and play volleyball profesionally haha just kidding.

Can you send me a picture of the Hawaii and Manila Temples? I need pictures for the covers of my new planner....

Dad, I love your story about the donuts haha time really does fly. I cant believe how fast my mission is going by. Sometimes I lay in bed at night and just feel like crying because its going by so fast. I cant put into words how much I love being a missionary. Its the hardest thing that I have ever done mas vale a pena. (its worth it.) I have felt the Spirit more than ever in my life and I feel like I have grown so much closer to my Heavenly Father. I know that he loves me and he is watching over all of his missionaries.

Scott, I am on Alma 60. Almost done with Alma. You better get reading bud. But not just to win a jersey. Read because you want to. In 2 Nephi 32 it says to feast apon the words of Christ because they will tell you all things that you should do. Its so true. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. I love reading it every morning and knowing that it really is the word of God.

The pictures that I sent you are:
1-The Baptism!!!
2&3-we did an animal sacrifice to have a baptism and it worked!! Haha not really. We found a dead rat on the side of the train tracks and Elder Lima put the body on the tracks. Well, the train passed and when we looked, half of the body was on one half and the other half of the body was on the other. Ew....
4-Me and Vitoria at a family night at a members house.

I love you all so much. I hope you have a great week this week and are enjoying the summer heat!!

Love,
Elder Trevor Taylor

Vitoria's baptism

E. Taylor and Vitoria at Family Home Evening

I am not forwarding the rat pictures - just plain nasty!!

Bom Freezing Dia!!

July 16, 2012

It is so cold here. I cant even feel my hands!!

Well, I am so glad to hear that you all had a great week! Youth conference sounded like it was awesome. I really cant believe that all of those missionaries are home already. The time really does fly. Me and syd have already been out for over 7 months. Where did the time go?

This week was dissapointing. Just like last week. We only had one investigator in Sacrament meeting and we were expecting 10. Its so hard when members wont help with car rides. Thats one problem that we have here. The members think that they dont need to help the investigators to get to church. Only to sit with them during the meetings. But we are still doing good and we should have at least two baptisms on sunday!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited. And so are our investigators. One of them is Vitoria. Shes 14 and she is so excited to be baptized. Her mom is kind of against it so we are going to have to work extra hard with her mom to help her to see that this is a good thing. We could use some extra prayers from Kaysville.....

We had a leadership training this week for all of the District and Zone Leaders and trainers. It was so good. President Cordon talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and how it really is the proof that the gospel was restored. I love the Book of Mormon. I really do know that it is true and that we can come closer to God by living its priciples than by any other book. I love putting my name in there and being able to apply the stories to my life and my mission.

Thank you for the pictures!! It looks like no one has changed a bit....except Annie!! Holy cow! Annies hair is so long! You all look so good and I am so glad to see that you are all happy and just enjoying life. Life is good. I love life.

This week I was reading in Alma again and I read a comparison that he makes that I thought was really good. In Alma 37: 38, 40-41, 43-45 he talks about the Liahona and how we can compare it to the words of Christ. The words of Christ will always lead us in the right way. But we need to be faithful and follow the teachings that we read.

Scotty, I am on Alma 42. You better get reading bud. I hope you had an awesome time at youth conference and I hope you are excited about serving a mission. I can truly testify that the mission is a blessing. I love being a missionary and I know that you will be an incredible missionary. I love you man.

Well, I love you all so much and I want you to know that I know that this gospel is true. Sou muito grato por nosso Salvador Jesus Cristo. Sei que Ele nos ama e que Ele quer que nos façamos sua vontade. Sei que o Livro de Mórmon é verdadeiro e que ele tem a plenituded do evangelho eterno. Amo vocês!!

Love,
Elder  Trevor Taylor