March 26, 2012

My wonderful family!! How is everyone? I hope happy.

We have found a few wonderful families and people!!! They just haven't gone to church yet!!!! Its killing me!!!! I think I am going to get transfered in 2 weeks, so I won't be here for their baptisms! But I have faith EVERYONE will want to come listen to general conference to hear a prophet speak!!!!! I am so excited for this weekend!!! It will be so good. I am with Sister Pinheiro again. I really do love her, we joke a lot. Its good.

I am a little worried I am not changing all I should or need to on my mission. President Ribeiro keeps telling us how we have this time to change and be molded by the Lord. I feel different. I am learning a lot about myself, about the Gospel, my responsibilities, what I want, ect.. But most of all I hope I am changing and becoming more of what the Lord wants me to be. I am so grateful for this time I have to serve others and be taught. Wven with all of my mistakes I want to be a better person. I know the priesthood authority is here on the earth again. I know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, they love us, they want us to return to them, by living obediently to the commandments they have given. I love the Gospel. I love how simply it teaches what we need to learn in this life. We can always learn more personally and more in depth about the basic principles of the gospel, and that changes our lives. I love you all and I am so grateful for each one of you. I KNOW that families can be together forever. I do not doubt it. I have been impressed lately with Christ like attributes (Preach My Gospel chapter 6). Multiple times in the scriptures we are asked to become like Christ, this has a very specific purpose. It will change us through time and experience, but it will also be necessary for us one to day to be like the Savior in order to recognize him. I find that interseting. I love you all. I hope everyone can get ready for the spiritual feast this Saturday and Sunday to watch all the sessions possible of general conference. Think about our lives, our family, and how we can grow together. I love each of you, very much.

Here are a few pictures as of late. spider. He was living out side of our house, That is a 3/4 inch pvc pipe next to him. Ya, he is a biggy! Someone here said its the type that eats cockroaches and we had a ton!!! We killed a bunch but the next day the people came to cut our grass and we haven't seen the spider again. So I don't know. I just hope it isn't in our house. And I didn't have the courage to kill it that day. Also my companion is a biology major and loves animals, I don't think she would have let me kill it.

The other is during our excersize (I don't remember how to spell that) I was really groggy so I took advantage of the time and took a few pictures. Tan lines. These are my little feet, my tan lines. Bummer they aren't stronger because I put on sunscreen everyday. But its aleady getting chilly and I have more energy so that is a blessing.


I love you all! Have a great week!!!!!!

Sister Taylor

March 19, 2012

My wonderful family! How is everyone?!! I am doing so well! The weather is getting a little better, for which I am grateful! I can't believe how time flies. President was talking to me that maybe he would have me open an area that has been closed for a few months. Its a branch that has 25 people attending. I want to do it! But I want to do it with a specific Sister, he said it's impossible so I guess we will see. Obviously I haven't given up entirely. ;)

We have 3 couples right now!!! They are amazing! All threee are really trying to recieve an answer! One thinks she already has but we want her to receieve it more specifically. I love them, I hope they get baptized before the transfer.

I have been noticing in the Book of Mormon how they talk about peace. I am in Mosiah 21 and the Nephites have gone through a few wars but then they said `and he established peace again in the land`. I think that has been interesting. How each of us seek peace. Which comes from Christ! Thus living the commandments more fully brings us to Christ which helps us understand more about God and the love he has for us. I love a verse in Moroni 7: 25-26 that talks about the process of change. President Ribeiro has talked a lot about our need to develope Christ like attributes on the mission. So I am trying, but it has to start with love. Nothing happens with out love. How to develop more love I think so far is through service! We learn to love as we think more about others them our selves. I am trying, I am not so good at it sometiimes. I think so far on my mission I have seen my best and weakest sides. So at least I know where to change. I love the chance I have to be here. Thank you all for your loving and inspiring emails! It's so good to hear from you all and see pictures! Makes me happy!

Love Kat!
Sister Taylor

March 12, 2012

BOM DIA!!!!

I am doing really well. I am super tired. We live tired for right now. The sun is super hot and we are just constantly tired, but we keep going and going and going!! :) We try singing songs in the street to not let a lot of time pass being quiet.

I am learning a lot about myself. For example, I don't function in loud situations. I get stressed and try to make it better then I just get more stressed. I also am learning how much can be avoided by just talking through out the quiet moments. Communication. Also learning to stick up for my self better. I have this mentality that I can just keep being sweet and loving and it will all be better, but no,
sometimes it just doesn't work. So in the small things, sharing my opinion what I think is better, it works. Also the importance of working with someone who has the same goal. Anything is possible with that.

I am making it a point to enjoy the time I have with Sister Pinheiro more than I did the last time around. It takes lots of effort but its fun.

We have met a lot of people that have spiritualistic views. For example, they don't believe in resurrection just reincarnation. Which for many reasons diminishes the need for Christ...which also irritates me. We have been reading and studying about this. I love Alma 41 and 42. If anyone wants a suggestioon of what to read, these
are great chapters! I am learning so much.

Portuguese is also coming along. I am grateful for that. I love Brasil. Even though it is hot. I am grateful I will end while it is winter here. I think I am cured of my sun worshippping phase in life.... :)

I love you all. I know the things I have the privilage to teach here are all true. The Lord teaches us individually. He prepares each person. Everyone has weaknesses and they are all different, but the Lord can work with those that want to change. If we don't want to change, nothing can happen. I am very grateful for my experiences
here and I am excited to share them all with you some day!

Love always.

Kat

March 5, 2012

I am so grateful to be a missionary. We are working a ton! We walk fast so I am tired but it really is a great feeling. I had forgotten how to be a missionary and I was miserable. You could probably all tell. Sorry about that, I am not very good at acting happy when I am not. It is so good to work with someone who has the same vision.

I have learned a lot about my self in these last 3 months and now I am just happpy to work. I am so grateful for the gospel and seeing people who are willing to hear the Lord's voice and respond. We found a lady named Mayara. We taught the restoration. Asked her to pray. We came back and her husband was there. She was a little shy to respond but she said when she prayed she felt the same thing she had felt when we were there. She felt good. We taught them together about the Book
of Mormon and we are going back with our Branch Presidente tomorrow to
visit them. Such a good feeling. We are finding good people.

These pictures are of us the first night Sister Pinheiro got here and the other is the sky that night. It was before it rained for 2 days. Which considerably helped the heat because before it was 47 degrees. That translates to 116 f. Good thing I didn't know that before hand because I probably would have died. Ignorance is bliss at times. :)

I think Sao Borja has the most beautiful skies!!!! I love that here. Those palm trees are the same that I have sent pictures of before.

It is good to hear everything is moving forward with mom. I want you all to know how much I love you. I know I am not always the best at showing it, but I am truly grateful for each one of you that have shown me and taught me much in my life. I am grateful for our family even with all of our faults and pride at times. I know that really families can be eternal. Families can live together, progressing eternally together. The first step is a family going to the temple. I am grateful that God loves us enough to let us learn through hard times. It would be interesting to see inside a child's head that is trying to learn how to walk. Sometimes they have to fall to learn how to be balanced. But funny, kid's don't complain. (usually ;)) Probably why the scriptures say we need to become as little children. I am
so gratful for the scriptures and for portuguese that has given me a new perspective and I am learning so much.

I love you all and hope everyone is happy and doing well. Let me know if there is anything I can do for anyone.

Love for always.
Kat