Transfer!

This has been the craziest week of my mission. We had to do everything this week to get ready for our baptism on Sunday. We baptized a boy named Wellington who is 10 years old. I had been teaching him when I first got with Elder Lima and we finally baptized him! The baptism went really well and his whole family was able to come. He has really short hair in this picture but it used to be as long as both of his sisters! They used to look like triplets haha but he cut it and sold it for about $40. He was so happy in his baptism.

Well, Sunday afternoon we got a call and found out that i was being transferred! I am now here in Ala 2 which is in the very center of Curitiba. I am actually right next to Ahú. Its a very rich area and its way different than Jardim Mercurio. The other news is that I was made a zone leader! I was pretty suprised and when President Cordon said that I was a zone leader I heard someone say, Already? Haha but I am excited. Nervous, but excited. It was so hard to leave Jardim Mercurio and we had a big family night with a lot of our converts and members last night and a lot of people were crying. I really felt like I made a difference in their lives. My new companion is Elder Joás. He is from the north of Brazil and I am actually taking the place of none other than Elder Keaton. He left and I came haha. Elder Joás has been out for a year and 6 months and is really really nice. We have a zone of 16 missionaries and I am way excited.

I cant believe that this year is almost over. It has gone by so fast. And this next year will probably go by even faster. Crazy.

I am so sorry that this email isnt very long. We have to send a lot of things to Pres. Cordon and Im not really used to it yet. But my emails will get better as the weeks go on. I love you so much and I had a good Thanksgiving. Not really but it was good for being on the mission haha

I love you all and I know that this is the work of the Lord. I love being a missionary and being able to serve with all my heart, might, mind and strenghth. I love you all!

Love,
Elder Big T

Wellington's baptism!

Giving Thanks!

This week was really good. We were able to find new investigators and prepare others to be baptized. Yesterday Lincoln was able to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and he chose me to give it to him. It was the first time that I have been able to do that and it was such a great experience. Then after church, bishop grabbed me and said that Lincoln wanted me to be the one to confer the Priesthood upon him. It was the first time that I have done that too. I was pretty nervous but as soon as I started speaking the Spirit took over. I cant remember a word that I said but I do remember the feeling that was in the room. The Priesthood is real and I am so grateful to be able to hold it. After church, we walked home with him and he just kept saying that he didnt have words to describe how happy he was. It was amazing. This gospel really makes a difference in peoples lives. 

I cant believe its Thanksgiving already. Time is passing so fast. But I just wanted to write and tell you all how thankful I am for you.

Mom- Thank you for all the things that you did for me when I was home. I know that my football and baseball games werent the funnest things to go to and that you always got stressed out but they meant everything to me at the time. Thank you for teaching me how to have a sense of humor and to be able to make people laugh. I love you so much mom.

Dad- Thank you for being the greatest example of a husband, dad, and priesthood holder. I really couldnt have asked for a better dad. Thank you for teaching me how to work and how to be able to work with other people. Thank you for coming to my games during high school. I know you were so busy with work and bishop things but you always made time to come to our activities. I love you so much Dad.

Syd- I love you. Thank you for your willingness to serve and share your testimony with the people of Denmark. Thank you for your always happy attitude even when things arent going well. Thank you for being the best big little sister ever. I love you so much Syd.

Scott- I got through everyone above without crying but you got the tears out of me. I love you man. Thank you for being the person I could always look up to. Thank you for being so funny and pulling all night FIFA parties with me. THank you for your testimony and for always standing up for whats right. I love you so much Scotty.

Abbey- Thank you so much for your little emails from my Itouch  :) Thank you for putting up with my sad babysitting skills and being patient with me. Thank you for your letters. Thank you for watching Psych and the Biggest Loser with me. Thank you so much for the bracelet :) I love you so much Abbey.

Hailey- Thank you for always making me laugh. Thank you for giving me the chance I had to baptize you. I think about that all the time. Its one of the highlights of my life. And thank you so much for coming to Walmart with me when we had nothing else to do. I loved those days. I love you so much Hailey.

Annie- Annie I love you. Thank you for being my best friend. Its impossible for me to think about my life before you were born. I know that it was hard for mom to get you into this world but I am 100% sure that you are a blessing sent from God. Thank you for going everywhere with me and for all the little hands that you have drawn and sent to me. I love you so much Annie.

I just want you all to know how much I love you and how thankful I am to be a part of your family. I love this gospel and I am so grateful to be able to preach it to the people or Brazil. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and everything that he did for me. I love him and I know that he is our Savior. I am so grateful that mom and dad were sealed in the temple so that we can be together forever. I love you all so much.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Love, 

Elder Big T.

Lincoln's Baptism

Lincoln's baptism!

First, we just got an email that we are having a hard time getting packages for the missionaries here. So, make sure to send an email with a list of the things in the packages that you will send. And DONT send them by Fedex or UPS. Thats just what president Cordon told us. And we must obey.

I cant believe that you have that much snow already. Thats nuts. I dont miss it at all haha its been so hot here. My swum is getting pretty bad. But its soooo much better than freezing in the snow.

We found out on Wednesday that Obama won. I was pretty sad but the Lord knows what he is doing and he is in charge. We just need to keep doing whats right so that one day we will be ready for Christ to come again. That day is coming soon.

Lincoln was baptized yesterday!!!! It was so good. He is the only member in his imediate family but his mom came to watch the baptism and to support him. He also has an inactive aunt and she was there too. While Elder Poe and Lincoln were changing clothes after the baptism, they were talking and Lincoln was so happy. First, you have to know that he is the shyest person that I have ever met in my life. Anyway, all of a sudden he yelled, THAT WAS AWESOME!!!! We were shocked to hear that come out of his mouth. That just made my testimony grow that this gospel really is awesome and that it brings true happiness to peoples lives.

There were some pretty funny things that happened to me this week. i think I got yelled at more this week than ever before on my mission. I would just talk with people in the street and they would start threatening me and swearing at me. It was crazy. I guess people really dont like me here. I really noticed how much more patient I am now than i was a year ago. I normally would yell something back like, CALM DOWN OVER THERE OLD MAN! (Scott better remember that) but now I just ignore it and move on. Some people are just rude and make the dumbest threats and it just makes me laugh.

i also got a present this week! Sorry Nat, I still havent gotten yours. But we got one from one of our investigators. Remember the lady that wanted to adopt me? Well, she gave me cologne this week haha it smells really good but i dont think i am going to use it or I will attract all the girls in the area haha

I am glad to hear that Bolt is still alive and doing well. He stinks though. We need a new hampster that will let us hold him. like Rajon. He was the man.

Well, thats about it from Brazil. Thank you Alyssa and fam for the oreos, balloons, and card. I loved it! I got the package on Tuesday at district meeting and shared the oreos with my district. Brazillians love oreos!!!

I love you all so much.

Love,
Elder Big T

Ps. Scott youre the man. i wish I could see your play. But I will watch it on the movie in Heaven. keep working hard and being a stud. I love you man. Dont let dad kick your bum anymore. THats embarrassing. Hes old. Just pull his chest hair.

 

Testimony

Bom dia!!!         November 5, 2012

I am so glad to hear that you all had a great Halloween! To tell you the truth, ours was really lame. We had a HUGE storm that day and it knocked all the power out. We spent the whole day at Johns house helping them to get the water out of their house. Its a good thing that we were there or they would have lost a lot of things. Then we came home and planned in the dark. It was pretty sad. But we did buy costumes and candy. You will receive pictures.

We had another miracle happen this week! We went to Lincolns to watch Finding Faith in Christ and we got there and the DVD didnt work. We just sat there trying to think of something to do when his mom came in and told us that he was going to be baptized! I was so shocked that I had to turn to him and ask him if it was true. And he said yes! He said that now is the time. I am so excited for him and it will be so good. We will have his baptism next week. Its really cool that I get to baptize someone that has the same name as one of the people that I love the most. Youre the man Linc! (Holt)

We had lunch this week with the Stake President and since I have been in this area forever I know everyone here pretty well. He asked me to bring him the recepie of my favorite thing from home so that he can make it for me. So mom, can you send me the recepie for your famous Pasta Salad. Thats all that I think about these days haha

We are teaching this guy named Guilherme and whenever we teach him, his whole family is there. Well, we taught them on Saturday and his mom was there. She just kept staring at me the whole time and then at the very end she gave me a huge hug and said that she wanted to adopt me hahahaha I told her that we arent alowed to hug girls and she got really embarrassed. Its amazing how much of an impact you can make on peoples lives. This family is crazy but they are so nice. Guilherme just needs to marry his wife to be able to be baptize. Im probably going to be transferred in 3 weeks so most likely I wont be here for it but its ok. As long as he is baptized I will be happy.

How is Bolt doing? He probably died a long time ago and no one told me haha I was thinking about our pets this week and was just wondering how he is doing.

Mom, my district was kind of having a hard time this week with staying focused on our purpose and working with all our heart, might, mind and strength so I gave a training on D&C 4 for district meeting. Why I am telling you this is because I told about you telling me to go out and play with vigor and vim when I was playing high school baseball. I used that to tell them that we need that same attitude to preach the gospel. In my patriarchal blessing it tells me to use the lessons that I learned at home on my mission. So I did just that. Thanks mom. Youre the best. I know I didnt earn that $50 dollars for saying that to the baseball team but I used it for something even more important. I love you.

I told myself at the begining of my mission that I wouldnt bear my testimony on fast Sunday the whole two years because I just wanted to hear the members testimonies. But yesterday in Sunday School we talked about the Spirit World and how we are going to see our ancestors there. I kept thinking about my family and how blessed we are to be sealed for time and all eternity. Well, in Sacrament Meeting I just kept having this feeling that I should share that and so I did. After the meeting a lady came up  to me and told me that she loved my testimony and that she had a cousin that she really wanted us to teach. I am so glad that my testimony was able to touch her and that through that we have someone new to share the gospel with. And I really am so grateful that we can be an eternal family.

Well, I love you all. I am so grateful for all of the blessings that I have in my life. I have the best family ever. I love you!!!!!

Love
Elder Big T

                                                            Masked Missionary!

                                                                Missionary Matey's!

 

Happy Halloween

Bom dia!!

Wow you all had a crazy week! I cant believe that it already snowed there. Its getting so hot here. Today is crazy hot and I am sweating like a sinner at church. Funny thing is that everyone at church is a sinner....

This week was crazy. It rained and rained and rained all week. We have to do 140 contacts in the street per week and the rain always messes that up. Well, we got to Saturday and we had only done 16. We thought we were gonners. We did about 40 Saturday and were left with 80 to do on Sunday. Sundays are the hardest because there is usually no one in the streets. Plus i needed to do an interview in a different area about an hour away. well, all we could do was pray and leave it up to the Lord. So we asked for a miracle and we got one. We went out after church and just tried to talk to everyone that we could. We were pretty much running around. It got about to the time when we needed to leave for the interview and we werent even close to being done. Then I just got the feeling that we needed to call the other missionaries. So we did and the interview was cancelled and they forgot to tell us! Good thing we called. So that was our miracle. We were able to finish our contacts yesterday. It was pretty cool.

We found out yesterday that the sisters area in my district is closing. They both got transferred this morning. Its so sad when the members dont want to help the missionaries. Please help the missionaries at home as much as you can. We cant do this work without the members.

I got your conference package this week! haha it was a little late but me and Elder Poe still enjoyed the Skittles! Ps. I would love a bag of skittles for Christmas. I forgot how much I love those.

We are working a lot to help Johns sister to be baptized this coming week. She has a date marked for Sunday and we are pretty confident that she will be baptized on the 4th. The same day that I was baptized 12 years ago! I am so excited for her. Please remember her in your prayers.

We taught this man about the Word of Wisdom this week and it was very interesting. We taught him about the 5 things that we cant use (cigarettes, coffee, alcohol, drugs, and black tea) and he said, Oh I use all of those. ALL OF THEM. He smokes marajuana everyday and also a pack of cigarettes. I just want to say that I am so grateful that I never got involved with any of those things. I am so grateful for parents who have protected me from those nasty things. Thank you so much. But I also want to say that I know that if someone is using them that they can stop. With faith and Gods help, anyone can stop. There is always hope.

Well, I love being a missionary. I love when people drive down the street and yell, Elder! Its the best. They know that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and so do I. I love you all and I hope that you know that I know that this is the only true church on the earth. Jesus is the Christ. He loves us so much. THats why he died for us. I love Him.

Scott, youre the man. I love you bud. Keep bearing your testimony and helping everyone around you.

I love you all!

Love,
Elder Trevor Taylor

Another day in Brazil!

Wow, you all had a crazy week!  I just want you to know that Grandma will be in my prayers and that I know that everything will be ok.  I love you, Gandma!

This week was so good!  First, we had a baptism!  Her name is Kateline and she lives with Izilda who was baptized a month and a half ago.  The baptism went really well and she prayed out loud at church for the first time ever!  It was really cool.  We had to wait a little while to baptize her cuz the water was boiling hot!  ha ha but it all worked out.  John finally came to church again and was confirmed and is now a member of the Church.  He was really embarassed but he was happy about it.  We had a training with Elder Carlos A. Godoy from the Seventy this week.  We were told before that he was really strict and he wouldn't let us in if our hair was too long.  So I went and go my hair cut.  BUT the lady put on the wrong number for the machine and gave me a buz!!  I look so ugly!  ha ha but it's ok and I was let into the training.  It was so good and he is actually really funny.  We were laughing the whole time.  It was for the whole mission so I got to see all of my other companions and give them a huge hug.  I loved it.  All of the zone and district leaders got to go an hour early and have a special training from Elder Godoy.  It was really good and I learned a lot of things that I will be able to use in my mission and in my life too.

I'm not sure what all is happening with the elctions or anything.  What day will it be?  People talk about it all the time here but I have no idea what's going on haha!

I just want to tell you all that I nkow that this is the Lord's work.  There are ups and downs all the time but I love being here and I am not coming home until these two years are done.  It seems like the time if flying by for me and I just want it to slow down a little bit.  I love serving the Lord.

Sei que esta é a Igreja de Cristo. Sei que sou um representate Dele. Sou muito grato por tudo que Ele fez por mim. Amo vocês muito!

Love,
Elder Taylor

                                                            Kateline's baptism day!

Birthdays!!

Hi fam.

Im glad to hear that everyone is doing well at home in Utah. That really stinks that BYU lost again. (it would be nice to know who they are playing cuz I have no idea what the schedule is haha) Go Cardinals!! They are the best. Wild Card World Series Champs!!

This week was hard. John didnt come to church on Sunday because he went to the center of Curitiba with his dad and they stayed there the whole weekend. So we will have to wait until next week to confirm him. We had a baptism for this week but he said that he needs more time to wait and to learn more. Our other solid investigator started drinking coffee again so we need to work harder with her. So over all this was a pretty hard week. But we are still working as hard as we can and we wont lose faith. Things are still going well and we have good things to look foreward to. The highlight of this week was that we had 8 investigators at church yesterday. That was amazing. That made all of this hard stuff worth it in the end.

My birthday was good. We had district meeting in the morning and at the end, the Zone Leaders took me into the bishops office and told me that they caught the two elders in my district on dates with two girls. I was so mad and nervous for these two elders. The zone leaders said that they were waiting in another room and that we were going to go talk to them and then call President Cordon. I was so nervous the whole way there and then they opened the door and they had a surprise birthday party for me! It was so funny. The sisters made cake and there were balloons everywhere. It was a surprise so I dont have any pictures but someone has some and they will send them to me soon. That night we went to a members house and they had a birthday party for me too. Thats what the pictures are. Lots of pizza, brownies, and cookies. It was a pretty good birthday.

We had transfers today and me and Elder Poe are staying here! That means I will have been in this area for almost 1/4 of my mission. Thats crazy. But I am so happy. I love this area and I know that we will have a lot of sucess in this next transfer.

We should have a baptism this week and I am so excited for that. Her name is Cateline and she lives with Izilda. She is loving church and the Book of Mormon. We will be working hard with her to make sure that she is baptized this week.

Well, I love you all and I hope you have another great week. Cheer louder for the Cougars and make sure to let me know when the Cardinals are back to back World Series Champs. I know this is the work of the Lord. I know this is the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. Thats what makes it so worth it. I wont ever give up. I love you all so much.

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYD!

Love
Elder Taylor

                                                 My birthday celebration foods!