Fwd: Amazing Grace, Bunnies, & German Hand Soap

From: Christa Taylor <christa.taylor@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 1:01 PM
Subject: Amazing Grace, Bunnies, & German Hand Soap
To: Lindy Taylor <lindyjtaylor@gmail.com>

Happy Easter Y'all!!

It's been a wonderful week. Not particularly eventful, but very busy. This week I'm just sharing several stories from various aspects of mission life.

For your convenience, I've divided up each story into categories with catchy headlines. Enjoy :)

Dry Mormons: Why Not Wet Yet?

We put our investigator, Rachel (with the amputated toe issue) on date for baptism on Wednesday. Unfortunately she was hospitalized on Friday so we were unable to begin her lessons and get her to church. Her health is literally the only roadblock keeping her from being baptized. We're praying that everything will fall into place despite the obstacles. We're very grateful for a golden investigator!

M&M's: Real Incentives

Something we've been doing that I love is what we call the M&M, for Members and Missionaries. We teach an active family in their home about the First Vision, and have them write down names they feel inspired to invite to learn about the gospel. We then follow up with them a week later to see how their inviting experiences went, and sometimes bring M&M's as a treat and reminder. IT WORKS!! Names ALWAYS come. It keeps appointments effective and focused, and we're seeing referrals begin to surface. I hope I get to stay in this area long enough to see some of the fruit of the members' and our labors! Try this in your homes and families-- watch the 20 minute version of the Restoration video online and write down names of who the Spirit says to serve. I can promise names will come, whether of active members, family members, less active members, or nonmember friends. Everyone needs reaching out to in some way. It worked for me!

Germans & The Simple Joys of Hand Soap 

We were at Walmart (which, here in Canton.....has it's own....personality) on the soap aisle. A small, older german lady came up to me and asked me to help her find some antibacterial hand soap. I handed one to her and she asked, "Is it German?" I looked on the back and to my surprise, it actually was. When I told her she said "OH! I love you, I love you SO MUCH!! Thank you, thank you!!" She gave me a big hug, did a little happy dance, and put another bottle of it in her cart. My companion just watched this from the other end of the aisle. Day made.

Aaaaaanimals

We hand fed Sister Hitt's goat, Sister Alvey got whacked by a horse's head turning too quickly, we almost ran over a cute bunny wabbit, and we held baby chicks at the ward Easter activity. And Sister Alvey got bitten by a dog. She's allergic. Basically all the positive animal experiences happened to me, and all the negative ones happened to her. When we almost ran over the rabbit, it was dark and Sis. Alvey was driving. She was yelling and swerving, and I was saying, "It's okay, keep going, it's okay!" to which she said "IT IS NOT OKAY!!" Said bunny was just fine (we think?) and Sister Alvey and I are still friends.

Say it Again!

Sister Alvey and I wrote down all of our inside jokes on sticky notes and posted them to look at. There are about fifteen so far. We're becoming great friends. The last two weeks have felt like a month. I'm glad Sister Alvey and I still have a month left together because we are getting so much work done!!

Amazing Grace

Yesterday we performed with the ward choir for Easter singing Amazing Grace-- I accompanied-- and it was so beautiful. (I made up the accompaniment, and we had a few key changes-- so I was also simply grateful that all the right chords fell into place!). I felt an increased awareness and appreciation for the Savior's sacrifice and our relationship to Heavenly Father. I am looking forward to the Sacrament more each week so I can better understand what it means to renew my covenants and be clean again. Alma 34:38 has stood out to me this week, I encourage each of you to read it.

I love all yall! I'd love to hear from you! Address is

1150 Cole Dr SW

Lilburn, GA

30047

Love,

Sister Taylor

P.S. Pictures:

#1 This is the painting that a ward member did for me of the Mt. Timpanogos temple. Gorgeous right?

#2 Me with the baby chick. SO cute.