April 30, 2012

Hello family!!!!!! We had an amazing weekend here in the mission. Elder and Sister Holland visited and we had a conference with them. Also Elder Massagarti of the 70 and his wife. So good, the mission had been fasting to recieve an apostolic blessing and we got one. It was really special. I am so grateful for the spiritual moments I have had here on the mission and all of the other things the Lord has waiting for me to learn still. When Elder Holland began to explain he would leave a blessing he said that he does it with the love of the prophet and first presidency and of our families and our neices and nephews. Those that think we are perfect and that they should be our greatest motivation in doing our best. That was sweet because the way that he said it was focused on our neices and nephews. I already started crying when he said that. iIt was so good. We have goals and plans of how to work with the branch here. Every organization. The branch president likes to designate everything to us so it will be with time that we are helping them become independent and functioning. We are helping everyone become more animated and we have a few people ready to be baptized. It will be a good month with lots of work. I am actually really grateful for that, these last 3 months I have to give it my all. Its amazing to see how the Lord helps us as we work. Ideas come quickly while we are planning that help us do all we can and use our time effectively. I love my mission president and his wife. They are truly amazing and have a special place in my heart. I am praying for all of you. If any one has anything specific I can pray for let me know. I love you all so very much. My testimony of family is becoming stronger everyday. Love, Kat

April 23, 2012

We have officially decided that nothing really functions here, but the relief society. BUT we are helping the Young Womens and on Sunday we had 7 young women!!!! We are going to slowly help every organization. I love my area!!! I think I was made to serve here, I love everything here. We get frustrated at times but then we forget about it, find whats good and go to work.

My companion and I are super similar!! Really. Its good for me to learn sometimes about what I need to change! :) We started to get frustrated with each other this weekend but its good because we know how to change :) I can just imagine marriage! ;) We are getting a few people ready for baptism and this sweet lady wants to be baptized but she has cancer so its hard for her to get around. I love the Gospel. I love reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese. I learn so much. I know this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Nephi 31.

I love you all.

Love,
Kat

April 16, 2012

Hey my computer here is a little ghetto!

How is everyone! We are opening an area in Palmeiras das Missoes and its great. I love my companion!! Sister Dias, she is so funny, I am more myself with her than with any other companion. She literally laughs all the time.

The branch almost doesn't function. 20 people were in church. We have a rented house. Everyone keeps saying and now that the sisters are
here, the area had been closed for 3 months so everyone is super excited. Its been more than 10 years since they have had sisters so we are that much cooler. The old branch president said we are going to be their princesses, hhahahahah. It was super funny. The city is all hills, has 40,000 people and we are learning the area.

We found a family, invited them to be baptised and they all said yes. We went to go get them Sunday morning to go to church and they didn't want to wake up...so ya. But I really think that the work here will be good. There are few men so we will need to find and teach more men and families. There are people who live farther away that travel more than an hour to come to church so they come every other week. we had 2 hours of church on Sunday. We had Relief Society then there wasn't a teacher for the second hour and the branch president needed to leave and he was the only one there that could conduct so we went straight to sacrament meeting, hahhahaha. Our branch is awesome! We are actually really excited! Its pretty fun. Time passes quickly. Its already getting cooler and its going to be a very very cold winter. We are excited about the possibilities here. My companion is new, she has 4 months. Her other area was tiny and flat so she is strugglying physically and I almost always sleep during the lesson. My body isn't staying awake but I try.

We will have more new next week and I'll try to send pictues! I love you all. Keep trusting in the Lord and he can work miracles in our lives.

Love you all.

Love,
Kat

April 9, 2012

A little about what is going on here...I am being transfered and I am going to Palmeiras Das Missoes. I'll be opening an area with a Sister that just finished her training. I am super excited. Its going to be a ton of work. I think about 40,000 people but a branch of 20-25. I am a little nervous but its going to be good and it will be the winter, I am thankful for that. :) Because winter is cold, I am trying to find the little hand clappers that people use in sports. Ya know, the ones that have a handle and the little hand in the middle doesnt move but the ones on the outside hit back and forth. So ya!! We will see if I find them and if it actually works. :) I really want them. I think it will save my hands. So lots going on.

My super good friend Sister Julie Dunford is going home tomorrow. She finished her mission and its time to go. That is weird. Its all becoming very real for me and its kind of hard to think about.

This last week I got the flu which was a bummer. I slept a lot and have that hacking cough but its getting better. I only get sick with Sister Pinheiro but she always takes such good care of me. She is sweet.

I loved studying about the Savior last week. Truly I am grateful for the atonement because we all need it. One of the returned missionaries in the branch gave a talk that put into words perfectly the feelings I had been having about the Savior and our need to become like he is. In Mormoni 7:48, and a few others, talks a little about this. The process is described in Moroni 8:25-26.

I love the scrptures! I love you all and wish you all the best!! I am praying for each of you!

Love,
Kat

April 2, 2012

This week from Brasil!!! (Everytime I write that I imagine it being in one of those voices that announce tv shows, like the ones that play every week. I think its funny.) Wow family!!! How are you all? Wasn't conference just amazing? I loved it!!! All 4 sessions had things I needed to hear and apply in my life. I thought it was so inspiring!!!! I'll share some more thoughts later!

But Gladys, our most progressing investigator was there! The first time she went to church. It was so good. She wants to be baptized. When we first met her we were knocking doors and we shared our message and taught about prayer. She had a lot of doubts about prayer and wanted to learn the correct way to pray. One month before she had thrown out all of her saints and written prayers because she felt like they weren't helping (she said her family always gives saints to each other as gifts) so she threw them out. Right at the begining prayer was really important for her. I have never seen anyone so eager to be taught and so open to it. She has two kids. one is 18 and studying in another city and then a 4 year old that is a copy of his father. The face is equal, and the kid is so funny, not on purpose funny but I find him so funny. Very serious. During the first session of conference he told his mom several times he was feeling happy. Gladys loved it. she said after the first time we visited she was calm inside. She said she is a very nervous person but now she feels peace. Her husband is constantly working and at night he studies. We tried talking to him once and he was a little resistant. She has been talking to him about her feelings and she said the change is hard for him but she still wants it. I love her. It has been so neat to see the spirit working with her and seeing her grow. Its amazing how conversion is a personal process, it happens inside of us. I am grateful for the chance to teach her and the Lord always teaches me as I teach her.

EASTER WEEK!!! Is everyone excited? I have been impressed lately with the need for a Savior (as general confernece talked about) but also the need of the ressurection. I will be studying this week the last week of the Savior's mortal ministry, the atonement and ressurection. It will be very good. I am so grateful for the spirit that teaches our souls. It will be a good week.

General Conference was amazing. all four sessions. So much was spoken of about families, forgiveness, sacrifice, repentance, love, giving the benfit of the doubt, not speaking of others, so many great and wonderful things. All week we have been inviting people to Conference and one person came. That made me happy because it has made a difference in her life and will continue to do so as she applies what she learns. During this week I learned so much about D&C 1:38 that says "whether it is by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same". We taught how we have a living prophet today and how we are literally hearing the desires of Christ for us as we listen to and apply what the Prophet and Apostles speak about. (I think I will be returning home about the same time I get the conference Liahona.) As I was listening to the speakers I was impressed again that this is what the Lord has been revealing to his choosen servents here on the earth right now. This is what he wants us to learn and do. I know Thomas S Monson is our Prophet today. He is equal to Moses, Adam, Noah and Isaiah. He is the chosen servent of the Lord to guide us and direct us. He taught the plan of salvation, we all know about the plan of salvation, but if the prophet of God is teaching it again, it must be something we need to learn more about. I know that the Gospel of Christ, in its fullness has been restored here on the earth, the organization of the church is to facilitate the Gospel of Christ which includes our ordinances and Covenants with God. Who we become through our service to God is what will matter one day. I am eternally grateful for the Gospel, for the chance I have to serve a mission at this time in my life. I am grateful for the plan of salvation. I KNOW this is God's plan for us here on the earth. I do not doubt it. I cannot. I Know God Lives and loves us. He sent Christ to save us physically from death and spiritually from our own sins. The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect, in the organization of HIS church. I love you all and pray daily for each of you. Let's press onward together. I love you all.

Love always.
Sister Taylor, Auntie Kat


Some pictures of a black sheep we found. I liked it, had some signifigance for me.
Then me and Sister Pinheiro (which means pine tree, hahhaa) while in the street one day. Then i was feeling pretty so I had her take the other one before we left the house in the morning!!! :) It was kind of cold that day. It was like october weather.