Happy New Year?

Where has the year even gone?! 8 months say WHAT?!

 

This is something that I've really been focused on this week. Time goes on, it always will. We cannot take a minute of this life for granted. It has been designed for  us to be successful. God's plan for us is perfect. He has told us what we need to do to find peace and happiness, and gives us every opportunity to do so. We make covenants with Him, and then serving in the Church gives us the opportunity to keep our covenants. God has so much in store for us. We need to trust Him and strive to know His will concerning us. His will needs to become our will. Read this talk:  http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/06/improving-your-personal-prayers?lang=eng Sorry, I rambled.

 

Christmas was amazing! There are so many amazing people that I get to serve and serve with! So many wonderful families in the Newark 3rd ward that take such good care of us! This week I got to make Dad's famous chocolate chip cookies at the McMui's! So grateful. Then we spent Christmas Eve at the Idi's home. They moved here from Sao Palo (?) one month ago! Their kids try to speak to us in portugease (?) and it's hilarious. I've got about two solid phrases down. We're getting pretty good at guessing what they're saying to us. Luckily their parents translate for us.

 

THEN, I got to see all of your lovely faces on FaceTime. I love technology. It was amazing to hear your voices and tell stories and laugh with you. Hard, but good. We went to the McNeil's to FaceTime and it was awesome because Sister Ririe and I were skyping and Her son in Brazil called too! We were all on at the same time! So much missionary magic!

 

I love you all so much and I am so grateful that we have each other. God wants us to be happy and He wants us to be a family forever. I am so grateful for His perfect plan. He wants us to be happy, but we have to do what He asks. Our reward will be so much greater than our sacrifice. If we are faithfull, all of our losses will be made up. I promise.

I was able to spend some of Christmas with the Idi family and with Sister Ilene Boyd!

Presents  (I'm SOOO Grateful!)

Love,

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

Feliz Navidad!

Obviously I should have been called Spanish speaking....

I've learned that I have gifts and talents that are part of the Lord's store-house. I need to discover them and use them to help build up the Kingdom of God and to strengthen those around me. Today during study I read my patriarchal blessing and wrote in my study journal all of the promises, gifts and talents that I have been promised if I am faithful. I am so excited about my new perspective! I am excited to strengthen the gifts that I have, and discover new ones. I am so grateful for a loving and patient Heavenly Father that sees my potential and encourages me to improve. "You can't move mountains while you're sitting on your back side!" (EVERYONE NEEDS TO WATCH Ephriam's Rescue. The guy that made 17 Miracles made it. It's life changing.) If we want miracles we need to work for them! I want to work for miracles, and I want to strengthen and build up those around me. I am so grateful for a new year and a new outlook. I am grateful for the lessons He allows me to learn.

This week we had an investigator tell us a little "parable" she once heard:

The story is of three people that were asked to carry a cross (literally) from point A to point B. The crosses were heavy of course, and after a while, one of the boys asked God to shorten the cross just a little- so that it would be easier to carry. And so...God shortened the cross just a little. After a while he asked God again to shorten the cross, because it was just too difficult to carry accross the rough terrain they were asked to travel. Once again, God answered the boys prayer by shortening the cross. Not long after this, towards the end of their journey, they came to a gap in the road- a cliff, if you will. The other two travelers layed down their crosses and walked accross to the other side without any trouble. Then, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, the last young man was unable to continue the journey. His cross was not enough to get him across the ravine (spell check?).

This little analogy struck me deeply. God is preparing us for something far greater than we can imagine, but we must be fitted for the glory. I am learning to be grateful for my trials. I am so eternally grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission. The Lord trusts me enough to be here, so I need to trust Him enough to get me through the hard times. I know that when I look back, I won't recall the hard times at all, but the joyous moments when I was able to see the Atonement of Jesus Christ change someone. The moments when we see people rise to their potential as they make covenants with our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the Gospel. I am so grateful that I get to spend this Christmas serving our Lord, Jesus Christ. I will cherish this Christmas for years to come. I'm even a little sad that I only have one missionary Christmas.

Ramble time:

Well, Merry Christmas to me, I was sick this week! We had to stay in for TWO days! It was miserable, but I felt so much better after I rested! Oh my gosh we're SO blessed! We had the bright idea to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies- my specialty ;) - for the members this week, with notes letting them know how much we appreciate all that they do for us. It  backfired. We came home with two times as many goodies as we left with, AND some peppermint hand lotion. We are so grateful. Oh my whhhord! I cannot tell you how much I love people! Everyone has a story, it's completely amazing. I find myself "day dreaming" that I can just pause time, make everyone get in line, and then I would get to talk to each of them and get to know them and their story. I just want to know everyone. Is that weird?

Quote time:

"If you're the opposite sex, just say hi!" -Shannon. A hilarious less-active we're working with.
 "Everybody say cheese!" - Kindly black lady that took our group photo at zone training.
"We don't say cheese." - Elder Burton
"Okay, Everybody say JESUS!"

Well, that's it. I love you all and I cannot wait to see your faces on Wednesday!!!!! Merry Christmas!! Don't forget to reach out to those around you. Just a smile will do (:

Love,
Sister Kadee Taylor

Sister Young and Sister Kadee on Splits

Nothin' beats a smile!

Tis the Season! 

Fret not! I've been helping people set up Christmas decorations ALL week! I've set up two giant Christmas trees, and we even had Santa hats and Christmas music in the background at Sister McNeils house! My week also included the ward Christmas party, boom-whackers, Santa and a box of chocolates. Can't beat that! 

I'm learning to rely on the Lord more and more everyday. Always look to serve those around you! Read the Book of Mormon every day. Pray for strength. Mental, physical and spiritual. Read Alma 36. And remember that the Lord always visits His people in their afflictions (Mosiah 24:14). 

Remember that, "...first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began." We have so much to be grateful for this Christmas season. And none of it comes from a store. We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It can bring us joy beyond measure.

I love you all! 

Sister Kadee Taylor

December...say what?!

Hello lovlies.

 

Where has this year gone?! I don't think it's actually December...feels more like September. Well, it was definitely a week of miracles. I have learned the difference between planning, and making  planning a spiritual experience. When we do the latter, the Spirit flows into everything that we do. Our numbers aren't just numbers, they're miracles. As we've planned with the spirit and acted on our "no random thoughts" we have seen God's hand in all that we do. I am so grateful that He leads and guides us.

 

I have learned from Jacob 4:10 how involved God is in the details of our lives. The details of our lives are part of "all of His works", and that simply amazes me.

 

Tomorrow we get to go to Philly for a training meeting! I AM SO FLIPPIN EXCITED! I haven't been to Philly since I got here...7 months ago! Ew. ew ew.

 

I have learned from experience that when I look for opportunities to serve others and give of myself, I forget about everything else- so that's what I'll be doing these next three weeks! I haven't been home-sick in a long time, and I definitely don't want to start now. I'm so immensely grateful to be here in the PPM. I want you to know that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world. Trust in God includes trust in His timing.

 

Love,
Sista T. (:

 

P.S.- everyone you meet on your mission looks familiar. No small coincidence