Great week in Marianna FL, but a very hot one!!! I hope all you youngins are having a good time back and school, and you youngins in heart, not necessarily in age, are having fun with all the kids back in school! I have a really good top ten this week so I'll get started!
1.“When we act in faith in Christ to do His work, He goes with us to serve others and blesses us to say just what they need to hear... what we actually say and actually do may feel a little awkward or not very polished. … But the Savior takes our words and our actions and He carries them through His spirit unto the hearts of the people. He takes our sincere but imperfect effort and turns it into something that is just right, indeed, into something that is perfect.” I love this quote it is such a testament to all our efforts, missionary and member! The Lord truly does make the difference and delivers our message to the heart of those who need it! I have seen it cause the stuttering little kid that has left has seen the spirit testify of truth as he has grown!
2. We have been spending a lot of time on the "ghetto" side of town but i love it! There are great people over there just stuck in a poor situation. It is like the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon, these people grow up in the traditions of their fathers thus see that as what is "okay to do" but there are some great people over there that are so humble and are missing something in their life. It is sad though. It is tough for black members to come to our ward cause as they do that they are shunned from their community. So that is not good, but another fun fact is that the black preachers preach out of the Book of Mormon! Our Bishop has said he has been at churches and the preacher will admit it to him but no one else! point is Book Of Mormon is true!
4. I got one of the best compliments this week! They said at a dinner I sound like I am from the south! It's official, only took me about 6 months to pick up the language but now I am fluent in it! This was at a dinner where i ate quail also. Man that is a good little bird! Better than chicken, just a little more work to get that meat!
5. I gave a blessing last Sunday and it was great. Her name was Floridalma! She can't speak one word of English! it is amazing she still comes to church! But i gave her a blessing because she had a fever! so since my Moa, which is an ancient aztec language she speaks, isn't very good i gave a blessing in english and the next day we stopped by and she was doing great! Power of faith and the priesthood right there!
6. Elma Sims as i have talked about before had a birthday so we went to her party! She is 92! She was so excited when I walked in, she gave me a big hug and a hand shake that lasted about 20 minutes then piled a plate full of food for me! She was leaving on a 2 week trip and wanted to specifically make sure I would still be here when she got home! I will be and she was so relieved! She told me to call her Grandma Sims! She is just adorable and great!
7. Petey Sims is a great guy in our ward. We went on splits with him and it was amazing how much he talked about his mission! I am grateful to be where I am. He went to Belgium! they have about 1/2 a baptism per missionary per 2 years! So i am in a very fruitful vineyard compared to that! And i am grateful from that! He told us how much his mission means to him and the lessons he has applied his whole life. He told us about how he cried when that plane left brussels! and said that is the measure of a true missionary if he doesn't go home after 2 years, he leaves home!
8. We had an awesome zone conference this week and we got to see President and Sister Smith and man, do they love their job! They love us and being missionaries so much! He has gotten about 30 referrals for random missionaries over the last few weeks just by talking to everyone he meets, which is our job! But I guess this car salesman can talk about anything, even the gospel!
9. The highlight of ZC was how to find better! You would never guess the new way they decided to help finding, they said that we need to start using family history! Imagine that! It makes so much sense cause the south everyone loves family and as they experience the spirit of Elijiah that is in Malachi 4: 5-6. but as they do family history they should feel the spirit and want to know why family history is so important! So if any of you wonder why Mormons do so much family history! Ask the missionaries they can help!
10. I'll close with a quote my Thomas S. Monson " wishing will not make it so. the lord expects our thinking. He expects our labor. he expects our testimonies. he expects our devotion" we must go out there and show that we are devoted to christ and are willing to show it through hard work! tracking is inefficient, but as you tract you show the Lord you are willing to work hard and he blesses you i know that from experience!
Love you all and praying for you all,
Elder Taylor
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