I'm Still obsessed with Miracles

Meet my Rollercoaster Week.

 

We lost a lot of investigators this week. They just weren't ready. Normally I'd stress over it, but I've decided, "Hey, I've done all I've could, they're just not ready." And I didn't stress. What did we do? We got to work, and holy cow we've seen miracles.

 

**INSERT PICTURE HERE; yep I did it again, I forgot to lower the setting on the camera... but the shells look really cool. Take my word for it.**

 

It's been the Torka (we're guessing on the spelling here people) harvest. They're giant snails in pink and white sea shells. They taste gross. But it's been pretty cool to see the shells. They harvest them because that's how buttons are made! The pretty shiny silvery kind of sea shell buttons? Yep, they're actually giant snail shells. :)

 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING SOON! I'm so excited. Anywho, for those who were wondering what I want/need: LETTERS! I HEART MAIL! And also .5 G2 pens. I'm down to my last one. I can't write in my journal with an unworthy pen. Also, Polaroid film! The Fujifilm Instax mini. :) But mostly all I want are letters. :) Thanks.You're the best.

 

 

This is Mamie Wong. I love her to death. She's 80 years old and tells us every lesson she wished she would have had the gospel sooner. Her husband died in February, he was the one that started taking the lessons, and now all she wants to do is get sealed to him in the temple. I'm going to miss her so much when I get transferred.

 

 

Hello to miracle number one. We've been praying to find a new family to teach. It's easier for the families to progress and learn,

because you're doing everything together. And we found them. We asked everyone one of them if they wanted to be baptised the second lesson, and every single person said yes. We're going to fix a date this week. Holy cow, they are a miracle.

 

 

Tuterai. He's a mess. I've never laughed more in lessons in my life than I have with him. Every time. Last week, we tried really hard to explain the Resurrection to him. So, I used the kitten as an example. I told him when the kitten died his body was going to stay here and his spirit was going to go to the Spirit world, then after the spirit and body will go back together and it can live again. I probably shouldn't have used the kitten as an example... When we asked him what The Resurrection was, what did he say? "Ummmm... Un Chatton?" Nope... It's not a kitten. Soeur Moli and I just burst out laughing with him. I love him. He wants to get baptised in December, we're just waiting for his parents to sign the authorization....

 

 

We have 26 investigators come to our Open House this week! Woo! We taught about the Plan of Salvation, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and the Temples. It was so good. And our Plan of Salvation was too pretty to erase.... :)

 

My little, huge miracle.

3 weeks ago I realized I lost one of my memory cards. It didn't have very many pictures on it, but the pictures that were on it were super important. It had all my last days in the MTC and the first day in Tahiti. (Kind of a big deal) I tore my suitcases apart, I tore the bedroom apart, and then I put it all back together. Nothing. Then I prayed. Nothing again. I've been just sick for the last 2 weeks thinking about where in the world my card could be. And of course, I said a little prayer everyday, hoping I could find it.  Last night I was thinking a lot about miracles and prayer, and I showed Soeur Moli a story in the Ensign from June about prayer. Fast forward to this morning. I was sweeping one of the bedrooms when I looked down and right in the middle of the floor was a memory card. It was not there last night. My first thought is it was Soeur Moli's. Then I realized it was my missing memory card. I have no idea how it got there. There's no way to explain that, at all. But I am so thankful I had that tender mercy today. God really does answer our prayers, even for the little things.

 

 

We have a new investigator this week. I think he's one of my favorites (nope, I don't have favorites.) Why? Because I have no idea how to teach him. His name is Yorik. And He knows everything in the bible. And believes none of it. He refuses to believe in God. How in the world are we teaching him you may wonder. Well, let me tell you. Yorik is homeless. Our DMP met him one day on the beach. He hadn't eaten for a few days and was trying to find a job. What did DMP do? He called us. And we taught him a lesson. (Come on, we'll feed him spiritually.) Then DMP told him if he ever needed anything he should go to DMP's house. The next week we saw Yorik outside the grocery store asking people for money. I walked up and started talking to him, and then asked him if he'd talked to DMP. He said no. So we gave him some food, and then said if he needed anything again he needed to go find DMP. Flash forward to this week. Yorik is living with DMP's family. DMP told us he and his wife have been praying for a new person to teach to show up on their doorstep. Well, be careful what you pray for, don't be too literal. :) It's awesome. Yorik is so grateful and extremely humble. He's come to our open house, church, the missionary training institute class, and a fireside (all in 2 days). And last night he told me he's starting to believe.

 

DMP's family is incredible. I can't believe how kind they are. And man, are they changing this young man's life. I love the article in the Liahona from October. The best way to do missionary work is to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. And you do that by how you act. They are really disciples of Christ. I'm thankful I'm able to serve with them. I'm thankful I'm able to be here, serving.

 

 

Have a lovely week! Think of me! Let's candy until we puke this Thursday! Count our blessings! And Starting November 1st BLAST THAT CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!

 

Love, Love, Love,

Soeur Taylor

 

 

 

The Week Where I Was Boring

Hello world!

 

This week we were dumped on by buckets and buckets of rain. I felt so terrible walking to the lessons. We were soaked to the bone, and would try to wring out all the water from our clothes before walking in their house but... It didn't work as well as we'd hoped. We're finally hitting the rainy season here. And I'm pretty glad I'll only be here for one of them. :)

 

 

We worked so hard this week. We taught more lessons than I ever have in a week, we have a ton of new investigators, we've been doing so good. I'm so thankful for that. Our ward is getting stronger each week, and more and more people are starting to bring their friends to us to teach. Almost every single dinner appointment this week had a non-member there that we taught a lesson to. We've seen so many miracles here in Maraa I can't even explain how amazing it is.

 

 

We met a new lady Soeur Moli and I are DYING to start teaching. Why are we dying to start teaching her? Because she's one of the coolest people ever. Her name is Lilo. She's German, about 70 years old, and shes an artist. One of the members invited her over for our dinner appointment and we just clicked. We're hoping this week to talk to her again.

 

We've also starting teaching a group of 5 cousins that are the grand-kids of two of our new investigators. We just sit under the uru tree (breadfruit) and talk a little bit, we taught them how to pray last week, and one of the little girls said the closing prayer for us. There's Vaikuahau, Hinivae, Hanivae... and i'm still trying to figure out how to spell the last two names.

 

Well... That's all....

 

Next week I'll be a little more interesting.... I promise. :)

 

LOVE!

Soeur Taylor

 

P.S. Soeur Moli is the best.

 

 

 

Tahiti Papeete Mission

Soeur Taylor, Morgan

 

B.P. 93

Papeete, Tahiti

98713

French Polynesia.

 

Only the Best Trainers make Crepes

I HAVE A NEW COMPANION!

 

Meet my daughter, Soeur Moli. (I taught her how to make crêpes. Like a good trainer.)

 

And no, she's not Tahitian. Everyone here thinks she is, and they start talking up a storm in french.... And then they realize she's American. And she's awesome. The ward really loves her and I'm super thankful she's a hard worker. We've met a lot of new people this week because of her.

 

 

So we do this thing called OLB "Ouvrir Le Bouche" (Open the mouth) It's just how we say contacting. :) One day we had an extra hour to find some people. We had just finished a lesson, were walking back, stopped and talked to a few people, Anyway. We were walking down the street when a group of surfers call us over to the dock. We just looked at each other and thought, "hmm, why not?" We headed over there, and actually they were there because a group of whales were in the lagoon. So we started watching the whales. Ah. If we could swim we would have been right on top of them. It was crazy. Little by little we had a huge group of people with us, so what did we do? We started teaching. We ended up getting invited to a barbeque, a few phone numbers, invitations to people's houses, and Sister Moli impressed everyone by speaking in Tahitian.

 

 

Georges and Vaite got married! AND BAPTIZED! Whoo.

 

 

They are so awesome. I love it. Georges comes to all 3 sessions of Church, even though he can't hear the speakers or lessons, he comes because he knows it's a commandment. He's incredible. And he let me be the ring bearer in their wedding. ;)

 

This week has been crazy! I'm excited for the next one to come. We have big things planned. Maraa is going to explode. Just wait and see. :)

 

Eating with Mamie Maitui. She's the best. :)

 

Have a good week!

 

XXo,

Sœur Taylor
--

 

 

 

Tahiti Papeete Mission

Soeur Taylor, Morgan

 

B.P. 93

Papeete, Tahiti

98713

French Polynesia.

 

Here's to Miracles

Hello world!

 

Welcome to the shortest email of my missionary life.

 

I'm doing great! I'm going to be training an American companion for this Transfer. Her name is Sister Moly (I'm not quite sure how to spell it yet) and she's from Salt Lake. I've also been called to be the Sister Training Leader.  I'm scared to death.  But if President thinks I can do it, I know God knows I can do it. This is going to be an incredible transfer. I'm ready to make miracles happen. :)

 

Last night our investigator couple passed their baptism interviews!! It was really fun because I had to translate for the Elders. Georges is deaf. While I was in the MTC and got sick of studying French, I'd walk next door and learn sign language with the missionaries called to "speak" sign. When I came here and realized we have an investigator whose deaf... Wow. There's a miracle right there.

 

I know all things that happen in life isn't a coincidence. We have a plan. Our Heavenly Father is consciencieuse (I can only spell in french now.. sorry) of that plan. And he will give us all the things, which at the time we may not understand, we need to accomplish the plan.

 

Have a great week. I love you all!

 

Love,

Sœur Taylor

 

*****Here are some questions and answers from Morgan today:)******

1.  Avery wants to play with your Polly Pockets, I told her she couldn't but she said to ask you.

      *She can play with them if she picks them up and doesnt break them.:)

2.  Where did you watch Conference

     * At the Stake Center with Soeur Weller and Soeur Carter:)

3.  Are their cool cemeteries  there or do they cremate them. 

     * There are some super epic cemeteries.  Next week I decided we're going to hike to one.  It's literally on the top of a mountain.  I'm pretty excited.

4.  It's rainy season now isn't it?  how often does it rain?

     *  It's just starting the rainy season.  We've only had one huge storm

5.  What kind of cars are there?

     *  Um...Not really any cars...:)  Only the rich people have cars.  Our bishop has a hummer and the ym President has 2 hummers...And every weekend they have the "American Car Night" all the people who own an american made car get together and drag the island.  You know, like draggingmain, they drive the circle around the island

***** Here is also Morgan's response to a question I asked her about Chandler getting ready for his mission on what he needs to work on and be ready for.....He has to WANT to be here.  If a missionary wants to be here, they will do anything to stay here and be worthy.  He has to know WHY he's serving.  People just need to talk about their missions more.  The miracles they saw, the experiences they had.  That's what needs to happen*****

Tahiti Papeete Mission

Soeur Taylor, Morgan

 

B.P. 93

Papeete, Tahiti

98713

French Polynesia.

 

 

The Blog

Warning....Post may not be appropriate for people who love Sea Turtles...:)

Hello Family. Hello Friends. Hello World.

(Very first: I totally forgot to change my camera setting. I take the best pictures with the highest MP, and the ones for the email with the lower setting... But everything is in super high megapixel gorgeousness, but it's a beast to attach to the email. Sorry for the lack of pictures this week!)

My week was pretty good. :) I'll fill you in on all the détails.

I just want to say CONGRATS to Jordin and Annie! (and Devin and Kory, of course) I wish I could be there! But I can't, but I love you both and I can't wait to see you when I get home!

The FIFA World Beach Soccer Cup was in Tahiti this year. If you thought the BYU/UTAH games were intense, you should see how the Tahitians feel about their "Tiki Toa." It is a BIG DEAL. Big enough when Tahiti Advanced to the quarter-finals the bishop cancelled the ward's family home evening so everyone could watch.  It's pretty cool because one of the bishops of Tahiti is on the world team (he just barely got released a few months ago.) Yeah. Go us. :) We were able to see some of the international teams in our sector (which was pretty cool), and we heard all about the games. Tahiti didn't win... But it was close. :)

What is green, lives on land and sea, the most delicious thing on the planet and is almost extinct?

SEA TURTLE!

 

Yes. It's almost extinct for a reason. It is delicious. I ate turtle this week. While I was putting the delicious morsels into my mouth I could only remember the stories Frere Coulson and Frere Asay told us in the MTC. Sea turtles do not scream in pain when they're being killed.  I could only think of the poor turtle I was devoring crying on the beach.

What could curdle milk in 1.20339842 seconds, kill a small puppy, is stronger than the cockroach and went into my stomach?

FAFAROO!

Yeah... I ate fafaroo. That was not delicious. Ugh. It was terrible. Apparently I ate the "bad" fafaroo. You're supposed to eat the fish that doesn't smell completely terrible and you eat it with coconut milk. Nope. I ate the fish that still had the skin, that the smell alone almost made me puke, without anything. Not even a drink. My goal was to eat 6 pièces... I barely made it to one without puking, as I reached for my second piece, I don't know if it was the still small voice or my common sense telling me there was no way I could eat another one without decorating the table with half digested fafaroo... So I offically made it to ONE whole piece. :) (And yes, it's all on video. when I come home, you can see)

What flys in the air, eats insects, and also went into my stomach?

Um... I don't know.... :)

I ate a bird. That was delicious. But the name is in french. And I'm not quite sure how to spell it, and I forgot to look it up in English before I left their house, and we've forgotten the name...

BUT! It was good. We ate it with my favorite old french retired couple. The wife is a memeber, but her husband is very very catholic. He's super intellegent, it's like speaking to a politican in French. I know, even in Tahiti I manage to find someone who wants to talk politics with me. It's the least to say, we're pretty tight. ;)

Our investigators are doing amazing. We have one sister named Leonne, who I love to death. (I love all our investigators equally......) She litterally lives on a cliff. :) She bulit the house all by her self, and it has a crazy epic view of the ocean. I've noticed lately, not very many people smile. Leonne smiles all the time. That's why I like her, and the fact she really really wants to learn. We've only had 3 lessons with her so far, but I'm super excited to see what happens next.

 

Another new investigator is Giedona. He's taken all the lessons before, and even had a baptism date set, but then he moved and fell very far away from the path. The drinking and who knows what other things, have really changed him. He's probably 28 years old, but he has the mind of a child. He doesn't remember anything from any of the past lessons, but he knows there's something better. After on the of last lessons he said, "Sœur Taylor, pourquoi quand je vas prier je ne veut pas prier? Je juste veut dormir?" (How come when I go to pray I don't want to? I just want to sleep?" We explained that God taught us to pray always, and if we don't want to pray its because something is trying to pull us away from God. The good will always tell us to pray, and the bad will tell us we're too tired to pray and talk to our Heavenly Father. After that lesson he keeps telling us "Je ne veut pas écouter le malin. Je veut écouter la bien." (I don't want to listen to the bad, I want to listen to the good. It makes more sense in french....) He decided he wants to be baptised the 23 November. That's going to be a very good day.

I'm so excited to go to Conference this week. Here in Tahiti it starts at 6am. Except on Sunday it starts at 5:30am. And if you want a seat, you need to get there an hour early. So... Hello to waking up extremely early for this weekend. I remember when 9am Church was hard to get to.... Bah. I look forward to sleeping in until 7am when I get home. :)

Now for my desperate plea for the week. I've thought a lot this week about the "missionary work" I did before I left for my mission. Yeah.... Not much. I wish I would have done more. So, I have a challenge for every person who's reading this (and isn't serving a mission).  Please please please please help your missionaries! Missionary work is impossible to do if you don't have the support of the members. How can you help your missionaries? Well.

Step one. Locate a family you're friends with that aren't members, or friends of your children (yes Chandler, I'm thinking of you).

Step two call your friendly missionaries and ask if they can prepare a family home evening, and when they can. 

Step three, invite your friendly non memeber friends to your house to eat delicious food, play a game, and hear a small message given by the missionaries. :)

Step four, repeat.

Why do this? Well... Once upon a time, there was an old investigator named Wilson. He was being taught by the missionaries until his mother told him to stop. His mother is named Tapeta (Tahitian for Elizabeth). When I first arrived in Tahiti I met Tapeta, and we gave her a small message. What did I think of her? Well... Just imagine Evil Stepmother from Cinderella. Just Tahitian. She was.... an interesting lady.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago.  Her brother set a date with us to have a soiree familial (FHE) with her. I was stoaked she said yes. We had dinner with her, taught the lesson, and the next Sunday she was at Church. She came to our Fireside, and invited us back for another lesson. This week we taught her and her granddaughter, and her greatgranddaughter. They came to Church again. She told her son she was sorry she told him he couldn't take the lessons anymore, and told him she understands what he was looking for, and why we could help.

Her and her granddaughter want to be baptised. This week we're going to set a date. 

But that's not what's most important. Tapeta has changed. Holy cow it's incredible to see. She smiles and laughs with us, she looks forward to talking to us, and asked if we could stop by more often, and she's changing her family. That's the blesssing the gospel brings. It bring change, the change for the better, for the whole family.

That's what life is about. It's about being better every day. Not being stagnaint, not regressing, moving forward. I know I've said this before, but I think it all the time. The best two years of your life are not the years of your mission; they're the next two years of your life, for all your life.  Thank you for everyone who's been there for me, who's supported me, and who's helped me changed. I can't imagine life without my mission, I will always be greatful for this experience and I'm excited for the next months to come. :)

(The view from our Bishop's house.)

Okay, I know I've talked your ear off. This is the last week of the transfer, I'll let you know next week where I'm living and who's my companion! Here's to progression! And Sea Turtles. :)

XXo,

Sœur Taylor

--

Tahiti Papeete Mission

Soeur Taylor, Morgan

B.P. 93

Papeete, Tahiti

98713

French Polynesia.

www.xoxomorgan.blogspot.com