September 24, 2012

Dear Family. . . . 

I had transfers this week so it was a hard one.  I didn’t want to leave Hernandarias.  It was such a great place.  My life was perfect there.  Elder LaFaye and I were working so hard, we were 100 percent obedient, and we got along so good.  That place turned into a paradise for us.  It was really hard to say goodbye to a bunch of people too.  

So now I’m in Asuncion again.  I’m in 3 Bocas.  And dad will never guess who my comp is.  Dad, who was your worst comp in the mission...you told me his name before...well that’s who my comp is....!!!  And he is just like your comp dad.  He isn’t obedient, doesn’t know how to work like a missionary, he isn’t allowed to use the cell phone, he is still junior comp after 20 months in the mission and he is 25. And he has a girlfriend...there are pics of her all over the wall above his bed...she is 42...yeah not joking mom....that is gross, I know you are 42 but you don’t have a 25 year old boyfriend...well I guess you could imagine that dad is 25.  He is really nice and fun to be with but not as a missionary.  Everyone in my old district were like sorry bud that stinks for you....don’t let him screw around or anything.  So I have no clue how this transfer is going to go, or this next 5 weeks.  He has been here 5 months already so I bet we are comps for only one change.  

Last Tuesday Elder LaFaye and I worked so hard all day, we got home and I packed up my stuff and we went to the terminal.  Elder Stephenson and I got our bus tickets and the bus left at 1 in the morning.  Then we talked on the bus for like 3 or 4 hours and then got like an hour of sleep that night haha.  It would be the last time to talk to Elder Stephenson for 6 and a half months so we enjoyed our time.  Then we got to the terminal and I saw some old friends of the mish...and I saw my old companion (the one who wasn’t yet a missionary) ....he got his mission call to Peru.

My area is really small.  When I got to the house it looked like that storm had gone through it.  Ad we have like 3 investigators.  I don’t even know who they are yet.  All that my comp does is visit less actives or converts.  BORING!  That’s going to change. 

This week we did a ton of service.  Thursday from 2 to 7 we went to the North Mission and went to a Hospital where they were doing operation smile and we helped out there.  There were some American kids there and kids from the North Mission so that was fun to hang out with them.  Then on Saturday, we went back to Down town and helped with the Helping Hands Service Project.  We cleaned out a canal.  It was so gross.  Tons of garbage.  I saw Elder Lamb and Elder Stephenson so that was a fun service project...I’ll attach some pictures.

My comp has a really cool DVD called On The Lords Errand about President Monson....I loved it!

 Mom, you need to find Elder Nieves mom on facebook.  They are from Eagle and he comes home with us too.  The four of us are going to have so much fun at home...

It sounds like Spencer sure was excited to go to the MTC....He will be a great missionary.  Just pray that Spencer has a good trainer. I was just looking at the pics of him...he looks excited to be there...I’m gonna write him something.

And next weekend we have General Conference AGAIN: The time is going by so fast!!!

I love you mom...pray that I will be able to get some productive stuff done with my trucky comp!!!!

September 17, 2012

Mba´e che pa?  Por´na. . . .Tranquillo Pá

How is the family doing. . . Elder LaFaye and I are doing great.  We had another awesome week.  Not to be proud or to boast but we killed the zone again.  We just finished the change.  And we did it with 3 more baptisms.  Yes mom 3 more....McCall, you can put it on the wall!!!

We had these 2 people who were gonna get baptized on Saturday, Blanca and Fredy.  So the Zone leaders come over Friday night to do the interviews.  While Elder Bowers (from Star Valley, who know the Heaps and the Gardners and all the wrestlers) was doing the interview, this kid from next door sat down and asked him what he was doing.  He told him that Blanca was getting baptized and that they were doing some questions to see if she was ready.  This kids name is Fernando.  He said well I want to get baptized too, and we asked if he had gone to church before and he said yes, and his mom is a less active member.  So we taught him the commandments and the lessons.

Then there were no more buses so the zone leaders stayed the night at our house, they slept on the tile floor...not fun.  We got up Saturday morning and at 6:30, Elder LaFaye and I went to fill the baptism font.  Then at 8 we left and got ready at the church for the baptism at 9.  LaFaye and Bowers went out to get the kids for the baptism.  Eelder Knudsen & I stayed at the church.  Then all of the sudden this kid named Hugo showed up...he was cool but then he got on drugs and it left him all jacked up.  Yeah well he did a canon ball into the baptismal font.  What an idiot!  Then he got the floor all wet, and then went outside and climbed up the 65 foot water tower.  We thought he was gonna jump...he is that messed up in the head right now.  So that was a little set back.

Later that day we did the baptisms....all 3 of them were baptized.  It was sweet.  That’s what you were called to do Spencer...baptize.  Don’t ever forget that....your purpose is to baptize.  

Yesterday we had a special stake conference with President Monson and Elder Anderson, someone from the presidency of the 70 and Sister Reeves from the R.S. presidency.  But it was by satellite, so it’s not as cool.  Everyone but the Prophet spoke in Spanish.   ELder Anderson did a good job...haha he even talked about Cerro and Olimpia...the two biggest soccer teams in Paraguay.  And we had 5 investigators at church too.  Two of them are getting baptized this Saturday.  They are twins and their names are Jose Maria and his sister’s name is Maria Jose.  Kind of funny.  And Andres, my convert here, got the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday.  That was also really cool.

Elder LaFaye and I just finished the change.  I will probably be leaving Hernandarias tomorrow night.  I have been here 6 months already....that was fast!  But this last change or last 6 weeks Elder LaFaye & I did really good  We had 4 baptisms, 89 people with a baptismal date, 13 people came to church, 36 lessons with a member present, not that good, 150 other lessons, really good, 89 new investigators, and 128 baptismal invitations.

I’ve only got 7 months left which is crazy.  Christmas is gonna be here in like3 months and we will get to skype!!!  

I also heard that you the Heiners and the Stephensons are all gonna hang out and do some kind of shenanigans.  That’s how it will be in 7 months with me and my friends haha.

One year ago, I had my first baptism, Fernando from Encarnacion.  He can go to the temple.  Hope I can go with him soon!!!

Love you

Elder Salinas

 Mall in Paraguay

Here is some art they saw at the mall . . . .

 Poor little toe with a blister!

 Elder Salinas' Desk

 Yea for Baptisms!!!

September 10, 2012

Dear family, 

We have had a crazy week here in Paraguay.  Elder LaFaye and I have bikes now.  Its got its goods and its bads.  The roads stink and the seats are hard as a rock, and my legs are like rubber, they hurt so bad. 

We have been working really hard this change and it finally paid off.  Baptism this last Saturday.  

So this guy’s name is Jose.  We found him in the road like 2 weeks ago.  We taught him 3 times and he came to church.  His family said that he couldn’t get baptized but he is 23 so he can do what he wants.  His dad got super mad at us and yelled at us to never come back. But earlier in the week I was on divisions with Elder Knudsen and we did his baptism interview.  So now it was like “how are we gonna get this guy baptized?“

He has a problem with his leg, one is shorter than the other so he can’t walk very good, he uses crutches.  He goes out for a walk every morning.  So Saturday morning, we were a little disobedient and left the house like 2 and a half hours early and rode our bikes out to his house, well close so his family couldn’t see us and the plan was to wait till he passed by, and then take him to be baptized.

So we had been sitting there for like an hour, then he passed.  We said hey José, you want to get baptized, he was like claro...let’s go.  So we called the other elders so they would go fill up their baptismal font, and then I called brother Miranda to come get us in his car.  We took José over to the other area and I baptized him, then we confirmed him there and brought him back.  So it was like a half kidnapping.  But he was happy and excited that he got baptized.

Spencer, have a fun with your last week free...don’t do anything too stupid or that I wouldn’t do!!!  But good luck with your talk this week and the MTC next week.  I”ll write something for you next week!

I’m pretty sure this is gonna be my last week in this area, it’s been 6 months... I think I might have a change.  Too bad, because Elder LaFaye wants me to stay sooo bad, he is lost in this area, no I’m just joking,,, but I would love to stay with him for another change.

One question. . .  did you sign me up for school???

Hope you like the pics this week

Love you all

Taylor

September 3, 2012

Hola Family how are yall doing. . . 

Elder LaFaye & I had a good week.  We had some good lessons and some new investigators.  Finally after who knows how long we had a ton of people in church.  6 investigators came to church yesterday.  We have 4 people with baptismal dates and 13 more had baptism dates on Saturday.

We had some interesting things happen this week.. .. .. 

 We saw a lady get beat by her crazy husband.  He wanted to go play soccer with his friends but his wife wanted him to stay and help with the baby.  Then they started to yell in Guarani, and when people yell or fight in Guarani it sounds way worse.  Then he hit her with something and she stared to bleed pretty bad.  He went and played soccer and she packed his crap up and tossed it in the road.

I just read the story on Elder Lambs dad, pretty sad.  I havn’t heard anything about that.  Maybe pres wrote something in the informe...Elder Lamb told me about a time when his dad crashed and nothing happened, he had another crash 4 months ago and this one finally got him.  I don’t know what Elder Lamb is going through right now.

The last few weeks have been weird.  Always while I am teaching, I have one of those like out of body experiences.  I’ll like hear myself teaching the people.  One time I was just listening to myself pretty much.  And then I’ll think like, how did I know that, how did I say that...and it’s just a way I can see the spirit working through me.

So dad, you had a great time with Spencer. . . well you and I are gonna have a great one too...we are going to fly down to Texas and watch the Longhorns, then your sister can take us to México!

I went on divisions with Elder Brown.  This is his first change.  He is from Texas.  We had a good time.  He can speak really good spanish already cuz he went to the MTC in Argentina, That’s where everyone goes now if they are going to Paraguay.

Tell Grandma Nette she needs to send me a care package...of just peanut butter and snacks!  J

And did you send me the pics that you had printed for me yet?

Love you all

August 27, 2012

So you all want to know how the week was..... I saw Elder Heiner.....Enough said!!!!!!!!!!

So this was a great week, Elder LaFaye & I didn’t have as many lessons as last week but we did have some better lessons meaning that the people are progressing.  Right now we are teaching Blanca who is 15, all of her family are members except her and her brother.  We have been teaching her for a few weeks now.  Last week we watched the 20 minute video of the restoration with her.  It was a boss lesson...she was crying, and her eyes were full of tears and her lips were shaking.  The movie ended and I started to talk to her...I asked her why she had tears in her eyes and she didn’t respond, then I said I know why, its because the things we are teaching you are true....and she nodded her head.  Then we set a baptism date with her.  This Sunday she was ready to go to church, dressed and everything, but her sister in law didn’t show up so she couldn’t come, she had to watch her brothers and sisters.  So that was disappointing, and we didn’t have anyone in church.

Then we have Mariela.  She is a cousin of a member family and she would always complain that she wanted to have the same joy and happiness as the member family.  So we have taught her a few times and she has come to church once.  We were going to watch the Joseph Smith movie but the speakers on her computer didn’t work.  and she couldn’t come to church yesterday

We had zone conference this week...that where I saw Elder Heiner.  Elder Zaballos and his wife came.  He is a member of the 70, and he was way cool.  He is from Chile.  Its always cool to get a general authority to come to the mission, because you get to shake their hands and give them hugs.  He told us some cool stories too.  

The last few weeks it has been blazing hot.  Like the summer is already here, but like 2 days ago it changed all of the sudden...We were freezing!

Also, never try to make pancakes with chocolate milk...they are terrible.  That was a mistake yesterday.

So I didn’t shower Saturday night, and I didn’t shower last night because there wasn’t water.  So today I felt like Laura Ingalls when I had to heat up some water on the stove and shower out of a bucket!!!  Man the things that happen in Paraguay.

Mom, you need to send me Spencer’s mail box so I can send him a letter....I want to send it before he gets to the MTC so he can get it while he is in the MTC.  So if you could send that this next Monday.  Great!!!

So now about the best time of the week was during zone conference when I saw Elder Heiner.  When I walked in and he saw me...he got the biggest smile...like he had just kissed the hottest girl for the first time.  You should send this to his mom so she can send it to Elder Heiner.....  We gave each other the biggest hug a missionary has given.  And I knew he was gonna be there and he knew I was gonna be there asi que we both brought the bucket lists and compared.  IT was so fun.  ANd sign us up mom, we are living togather at BYU Idaho.  Make sure I get accepted there because we are gonna have a ball.  And of course I have some great pics from the week!!!  He asked if I wanted to do summer sales with him...I said I don’t know.  I would just rather work at the farm....or find a dental lab to work at.  I want a secure job.

That’s about it for the week....love you all

Taylor

August 20, 2012

Ok so we had another good week.  We had 35 lessons.  We had 3 other lessons with members present and 1 less active person.  We had 18 new investigators and 25 baptism invitations.  We found this one kid named Atilio on Saturday and he has baptism date for the 8th of September.  He came to church yesterday and he is really cool.  Yesterday morning we left early to go look for all of our investigators and we went by like 10 houses and only Atilio came.  That was kind of disappointing.  But it was a good week.  

Elder LaFaye and I are doing good, I’ve never worked harder on my mission.  We both just have the same mind set and we are doing everything to help our investigators progress.  And yes we are still tearing it up!!!

I think the most spiritual experience this week was last night when we were teaching a dude named Wilys.  He is like 50, and goes to a church but loves to hear what we teach.  Last night my comp was sort of out of it and I was just talking with Wilys and he could feel the spirit,  it was really strong in his house.  He told us I wish I had 10 boys that were just like you...with desires to help people understand God and just serve people all the time....he just made us feel so good, like we are doing a good job.  

So like I said we have Atilio and Wilys.  Then we have a few others who are progressing but we have this family of Gold.  Its Fernando and Andrea.  I don’t know what to do with them....they are freaking perfect. They (well andrea) goes to a different church.  I told her that she could feel that spirit stronger in the church.  Fernando has more desire to learn if it’s true what we teach.  The two of them agree with the apostasy, that the power of God was lost for many years....and then I ask them, who brought it back???  And the subject gets a little changed.  So we are going to watch the Joseph Smith movie with them and see if they can feel that he got the power of God from Peter James and John.  

Something funny from this week idk...I forgot my agenda today and I always have stuff written in that to write to you.  We broke a bunch of beer bottles to show our stand against drinking in Paraguay.  But that’s an everyday thing.  Ha I remember....Pres Agazzani started this new thing that every month we have zone meeting its just like district meeting but with the zone.  Elder LaFaye & I were the only ones without suits on haha...nobody told us to bring suits...who wants to wear a suit to work in its blazzing hot again...winter is already gone.  SO that was funny, we were the ´´Zone Rebels´´ that day.  

This week we have zone conference with Elder Zaballos and his wife.  He is a new member of the Area Presidency.  That should be fun..maybe I’ll see Elder Heiner

So its all going good here in Paraguay.  Now the house is empty..kids back to school, dad at work, and now you have work.  And its getting really close for Spencer to leave.  And I’m gonna be 21 in 6 months---I’m gonna be an old fart!!!

I don’t know if I’ll extend my mission...we´ll see.  I’ll let you know in a month and a half when they send me papers to come home....trunky papers.  I’ll fill them out so they can buy me a plane ticket and so they can call a new missionary to come fill my spot.  I can’t believe how fast this is going....it’s almost too fast.  If I were to come home today I wouldn’t be ready, I still have a lot to do.

I love ya tons mom....

August 13, 2012

Dear mom,

So I finally got a new comp...It’s Elder LaFaye from Tuscan Arizona.  He has about 10 months in the mission and he knows what he is doing.  That’s all I asked for.  A person who would work hard and who understood his purpose as a missionary.  We worked our butts off this week.  It’s been a long time since I have worked like this.  Elder Keller & I worked hard but never this hard.  This week we had 4 lessons with members present, 29 other lessons, we have 2 investigators progressing, 23 new investigators, and 28 baptismal invitations.  

And all week I was just able to teach everyone, not to take all the credit but I was tearing it up.  All the lessons went by almost perfectly.

My new comp was in Elder Heiners last district so he knows him pretty well.  Elder LaFaye told me that Elder Heiner started a lint collection.  SO every night he gets out his zip lock bag and puts his belly button lint in it.  I don’t know if I want to see that.  

The branch had a temple trip this weekend; Andres went, so that’s good for him.  I haven’t talked to him about it yet but he was super excited about going to the temple.  I think his wife was even more excited.

So we found this one family this week.  The guy is like 25 and so is his wife.  We just were talking to him in the road, and he invited us to come to his house like half a block away and we taught him and his wife.  It was a great lesson.  We invited them to be baptized and they both accepted.  But Saturday night we had another lesson and they wanted to wait to come to church until this coming Sunday.  They are so cool; they gave us their dinner that night.  It was homemade pizza.  It was so good, and she had homemade garlic salsa.  Its like mayo that tastes like garlic, you put it on your Lomito Arabe....a lomito arabe is like an arabic burrito....so I put some on my pizza and it was spicier than normal....then I told my comp what it was, and he put this huge spoonful on his pizza....his mouth was on fire for like 2 hours.  He ate like 3 more pieces of pizza but without the salsa.  That was a funny of the week, and another was me.  Saturday we are outside and I had had the cheeves all morning chivivi...thats guarani for the craps or the you know whats.  SO I stopped on the side of the road to take a pee and I took a wrong step and crapped in my pants.  We were like a mile from the house and without the key to the church.  Not good!  hahahaha

Thanks mom you’re the best!!!

Tell Spencer to have a great time boating, wish I was there to enjoy that.  and tell Spencer that on his mission he needs to make up some name and use it to contact people.  So here we are always are looking for  ´´Juan Benitez´´ it just gives us an excuse to talk to the people, But yesterday we found him, it was so funny, we started laughing!

Love you mom

Taylor