Fwd: Where is the Church Bus, Chess, Mind Blown

Date: Mon, Jan 26, 2015 at 1:25 PM
Subject: Where is the Church Bus, Chess, Mind Blown

Yall!! 

Fun fact. Sister Porter was gifted a Chess set this week..so we've spent the first hour of P-day and before bed time playing chess for the last three days. Tally? We're pretty equally matched (not sure if we're both really good, or really bad :D), so I almost creamed her once (till the board fell apart), she creamed me, then we had a stalemate. My brain hurts. But it's fun! :D

We've seen some amazing miracles this week! I'm including headlines to make it a little more interesting, and to ease your skimming. ;) I'm also bolding some fantastic one liners from investigators this week. Read them and tell me God isn't preparing and changing hearts! 

#1 Recent Convert's Friends Turn Into Top Investigators! Ana, a recent convert from December, has brought two friends to church in the last two weeks-- and both of them are now top investigators! Pam and Angela are sweet ladies in their sixties and supremely elect individuals. When we asked Angela how she'd feel about a prophet leading Christ's church today, she said, "Well, that would be amazing! To have that kind of leadership and example on earth....wow!" She's incredibly humble and teachable.

We taught Pam in Ana's home. When we talked about the apostasy, Pam said, "Oh, that is how I feel! Empty! I go to church every week, I love the music, and the people are nice...but I don't grow. I leave feeling just as empty as when I came. I want to spiritually mature now. I'm seeking; I need to know for myself. I want to find the truth!" How wonderful it was to be able to testify that she could indeed receive an answer from God, for herself, to help her know that this is Christ's restored church! She accepted the invitation to be baptized if she does receive the answer that it's true. 

#2 Just one...Wait...Ten A fantastic newlywed couple, both recently returned missionaries, came with us to teach Chris yesterday. Chris is going through a lot, but he is incredibly elect! We haven't seen him in three weeks, so we asked him if he'd read in the Book of Mormon since we last came. He said with a little disappointment, "Yes, but only a little...I'm still in the first chapter." Then he turned to 1 Nephi 10. He was still in 1 Nephi, but he'd actually read ten chapters! He'd also read another chapter we'd recommended. We were so happy! The last time that happened to me, the investigator got baptized. The odds are in his favor. :) He said, "When yall left last time, when we all prayed, I felt so good! There was a good feeling in our home." He recognizes the Spirit so easily. He prayed again that he'd be able to find the whole truth, and thanked Heavenly Father for bringing us into his life. "You don't know how much of a difference yall are making in my life," he told us. He got excited when we said we'd invite him to be baptized next week. He's so prepared.

#3 Eternal Families On their Way! We also visited a part-member family, the Harts. While there, we felt impressed to testify of eternal families. As I bore my testimony, I saw the idea of his having an eternal family sink into his heart. 

We asked him if he wanted to work towards having an eternal family. 

He said yes. 

We asked what he felt the next step was. 

He then confided that up until the last month, he would leave when the missionaries came over. But after meeting us, he thought, "Well, they aren't so bad," and decided to sit in. He said, "The older I get, the closer I get to the church. It's about time I start learning." So essentially, he's agreed to take the lessons! That's his next step. We are so excited for him. Unfortunately they live in the neighboring ward-- their records are just still in ours. So we'll be referring them to the other ward soon.

Another family miracle! My setting apart blessing talks about finding and teaching families, and on Thursday, we prayed as a companionship to find a family. That night, we had an appointment with a woman, Karsandra, who had texted us a few days prior asking us to teach her and her children about Jesus. When we got there, we met her, her sister, and their total of nine kids. I see no coincidence there! 

#4 What?! We had a mind-blowing miracle this week!  All having said they could come when we called on Saturday, all having transportation or member rides arranged, and all with fellowshippers prepared, we had TEN INVESTIGATORS lined up to come to church this Sunday!! TEN! We couldn't believe it! We usually have one or two at church, but by golly, I'd never even heard of ten in one day.

Unfortunately, Sunday morning, we received text after text of cancellations. By the time Sacrament Meeting started at 9am, none of the ten investigators could come. We were sad, but what potential we have to look forward to! We will be working hard to make it happen next Sunday. It's not about the numbers, but we're incredibly blessed to be seeing so many people working to come to Christ at one time in one place.

Well, folks, I'm living and loving the Lord's work here. We're working hard and the Lord is blessing us. I feel like Ammon when he goes to Ishmael and hundreds are ready to hear the word! God is real. He loves us.

I love yall! Stay warm!

Sister Taylor

PS My cute Georgia journal my dear companion made me!

Sisters Pi, Webster, Porter & I  

Fwd: Sister Lapin

Date: Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM

Fwd: Dimple, Sleepless Sundays, & I Want That

From: Christa Taylor <christa.taylor@myldsmail.net>

Date: Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 11:49 AM
Subject: Dimple, Sleepless Sundays, & I Want That

Yall!

We went to the temple with Dimple, our 20 year old Indian recent convert, to do baptisms for the dead on Saturday! She did three family names and had a beautiful experience. Two or three other recent convert girls her age were also doing baptisms for the first time. I felt the Spirit bear powerful witness that what she was doing was good and right as she was baptized for her ancestors. That was a special treat for me! 

Kaylee is progressing well! We had a great miracle at her lesson. We had committed her previously to pray about a baptismal date. When we asked how that was going, she said, "Do you really want to know my answer?" 

Of course we did! 

She said, "I feel like I need to come to church more for God to take this baptism seriously." 

Well! We were thrilled! She still has the struggle of getting off work at 6am Sunday mornings, but we knocked on her door at 8am to wake her up, and partway through 9am sacrament meeting, she walked in with three of her kids! She stayed for two hours. We hope to have her on date this week!

We had a pretty remarkable experience in Gospel Principles class at church! Brother Bradley, our Ward Mission Leader, usually starts the class with a Q&A session. We have recent converts and investigators regularly in attendance, so the questions are sincere and it's usually a very fruitful discussion. Well, this week, we never really got to the actual lesson because the investigators and recent converts started teaching each other! Our investigator Kaylee turned around and asked Anna (baptized a month ago), "How did you decide to join the church?"

Anna, in her eloquent way, explained that like Kaylee, she had grown up Catholic and had been faithful to it for twenty five years. Then, when she found inconsistencies between the Bible and her faith, she converted to a non-denominational faith. Twenty years later, she learned about the Restoration of Christ's church and His priesthood (God's authority to act in his name) and after much careful prayer, study, discussion, she received her answer that this truly is Christ's church, and converted to our faith. 

Anna's friend she brought with her, Pam, whispered, "I want that." (We're teaching her this week!)

Another investigator, Eric, popped in. "What I love the most about this church is the people. Everyone is giving and genuinely interested in each other's lives." Eric hasn't yet embraced a belief in Jesus Christ, but he still bore a beautiful testimony of finding enlightenment in his studies with the elders. He concluded, "I'm still trying to figure out the details, but of all the churches I've been to, this one feels the most right."

Then Tim, an excommunicated member working his way back, also bore his testimony of God's grace and desire to help us change. He testified that through careful prayer and study, we can know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that this is Christ's church through the Book of Mormon, the book upon which the validity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and it's doctrines hinge. If it is what we say it is, and it's true, then this must be Christ's Church; there is no other way we could have such a book. It was beautifully put. 

The rest of us sat listening to this incredible exchange of testimonies from such vastly different backgrounds and experience with the Church. I've never experienced anything like it before. The Spirit was definitely present in that meeting. 

Our area is flourishing. Investigators are coming out of the woodwork. We tracted yesterday for fifteen minutes and left with two return appointments; two of Anna's friends she brought to church are now investigators; someone we contacted a few months ago texted us last night and asked if we could talk to her about Jesus. That's only naming a brief few. The even better miracles are the desires for change we are witnessing. A less active member got rid of her coffee maker last night. A recent convert wants us to help her prepare for the temple. Another is bringing her sister to a missionary fireside. There is so much beauty and growth going on all around us! I'm so happy to be part of so many miracles, and thrilled to spend at least the next six weeks here in Athens with dear Sister Porter.

Have a beautiful week!

Sister Taylor

P.S. Remember Alexa's miracle last week at Walmart? She accepted the invitation to be baptized. She's working towards a date! :)

Fwd: Celine Dion, Going Strong, and an Ensign-Worthy Walmart Wonder!

From: Christa Taylor <christa.taylor@myldsmail.net>

Date: Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 1:51 PM
Subject: Celine Dion, Going Strong, and an Ensign-Worthy Walmart Wonder!

YALL.

Have you ever heard a mission story and just gone, "That doesn't happen in real life!!"??

Well, folks, I experienced it. Have I got the miracle-of-a-life-time-story for YOU!

This last week, we had our P-day (day to grocery shop, email, etc) on Tuesday instead of Monday due to a meeting schedule. So on Tuesday afternoon, we were walking briskly across the Walmart parking lot when an eighteen year old girl across the way stopped, and said, "I know this is a really weird question, but do you know where I could find a Book of Mormon?"

We stood there with blank faces and dumbfoundedly handed her one. She introduced herself as Alexa and went on to explain that her boyfriend, living in Florida, is Mormon and preparing to serve a mission. She decided she wants to look into it for herself without telling him. "I want this to be my journey," she said. So, she had come to Walmart just to look for a Book of Mormon! Exiting empty handed, she found us outside the doors. No coincidence there! When we asked for her number, she said she's just text us first, and we walked away hoping she'd follow through. Oftentimes that's an excuse to not talk to us again. But sure enough, she texted us right away and we set up an appointment for the next day. 

That's not all! The next day we swapped with the UGA sisters so Alexa could meet the sisters who teach students her age. I and Sister Yeager went contacting while Sister Porter and Sister Tau'aho taught Alexa. They sure had a story for me when we came back! 

Not only had Alexa annotated, in detail, the first several introductory pages of the Book of Mormon, but at the end of the lesson, she said, "Oh, can I say the prayer? Teach me how to do it!" She began her prayer, but abruptly interrupted herself and said, "Oh! Don't let me forget to tell you a story after this!" After the prayer, Alexa explained an even more incredible back story.

On Monday night, the day before she met us, her boyfriend had practiced the first lesson on her via Skype, and she had pondered it while she prepared for bed. She decided she needed to talk to God about it. She knelt by her bedside, and though unfamiliar with prayer, asked Him to show her the direction she needed to take. She told Him she would do whatever it took if she knew it was true. She also asked Him to show her a sign that this was the right direction. 

The next day, she felt prompted to go to Walmart to return a Redbox DVD, and decided she may as well look for a Book of Mormon, too. Then she met us outside the doors. We were speechless. There are absolutely no coincidences with an all-loving, omniscient Being. I LOVE Heavenly Father and his perfect plans!

In other news, Sister Porter discovered my fabulous Celine Dion impression this week, so I've been volunteered to share it several times. It's brought some laughs all around. Joy is often found in the little things! 

Today we had Sisters P-day with a few sister companionships in the zone. We met up early for a pancake-french toast-banana bread breakfast, then after studies we went to a thrift store and tried on outfits according to themes we drew from a jar. Mine was the Red Carpet, and others included Eighties Cheerleader, Chic Vampire, Grandma at a Garden Party, and Modern Jane Austen. I included a picture of our adventure. It was sure fun to spend time with the sisters!

I had a neat experience being led by the Spirit while we taught Kaylee! Her job has her working long night hours that make 9am church near impossible to attend. In our lesson, I felt prompted to say that God will provide a way for her to come to church if she puts Him first, even if that means quitting her job. It was a little scary to say something so bold and risky, but that morning I had read a line from my mission setting-apart blessing that said, "At times you will be prompted to speak very boldly, but be not afraid. The Spirit will lead you to say what He wants you to testify of." That gave me courage to say it. We could tell she had a lot on her mind when we left, but I knew I had said the right thing. I'm hoping she'll be able to get Sundays off so she can come to church! I learned that the Lord does His work through you when you're willing to be malleable in His hands.

A recent convert from last month, Ana, brought her friend Angela to church, and she's now a new investigator! It's pretty amazing to see people so new to the church already reaching out to bring their friends to the gospel. To me, that's further proof that it's true. You don't share something that doesn't matter to you, that doesn't make you happy! The more I learn the gospel, the more I love it. I hope I can keep the courage I've gained for when I continue missionary work at home!

The work is going strong! I encourage you to pray for missionary opportunities. They're the funnest thing in the world, and Heavenly Father gets pretty creative in giving you opportunities to share your testimony! As you are willing to act, Heavenly Father always provides the courage to speak and the words to say, along with the opportunity. I know you can do it!

Lots of love from your Georgia Peach!

Sister Taylor