Hey, look on the bright side!

Sometimes...everything that CAN go wrong, WILL go wrong. But I love every minute of it. One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite people says, "You can either laugh or cry, and crying gives me a headache." - Marjorie Pay Hinckley

This week was hilarious! It started off with that gas leak in our heater, then we had a toddler pee on the carpet (5 inches away from me) in the middle of a lesson, we got snowed in twice and...I clogged the kitchen sink. How you might ask? Well let's just say that as I was shoving the pasta down the disposal, I heard my father's voice very distinctly saying, "Never put pasta down the drain, It clogs it!"...10 minutes later we are at the office making a maintenance request. 

There's nothing in the world that I love more than my mission. The best part about it is that it started 9 months ago, and it is never going to end. It's just begun! Isn't that amazing?! It makes that 1/2 way mark not quite as terrifying...I think...

We had an investigator come to church this week! Kelsey is amazing! She's progressing, she has a desire to learn and grow, and she is such an amazing example! I feel so blessed to serving with so many of God's choice spirits.

Here's my new favorite quote (for now)! :

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." -Roald Dahl

We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we should be beaming so bright that our faces light up! Literally! We should be the happiest people on earth! And even when we're not, we know who to turn to- our Savior. I pray that the knowledge of His Atonement lights up your soul. Search the scriptures. Pray always. And always remember, it's better to look up. I have a lot I need to improve on, but I have all the tools I need to succeed, on my mission and for eternity. I need to keep the Holy Ghost in my life. I need to keep an eternal perspective, and I need to learn something from everyone that I meet. I am so grateful to be here, and I pray that I never take one day for granted. 

Love, 

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor 

read this talk: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng&query=the+first+great+commandment

Humble stature & Majestic Dignity

We can't waste a precious moment of this life that God has given us to perfect ourselves. We have been given every tool that we could possible need to aid us in this great cause. We have no excuses. We need to repent and change every day. A little bit at a time. We must always be progressing, and always be raising the bar. Now is the time for us to prepare.

I'm still "polar vortex" proof. That doesn't change the fact that I hate the snow. Yes, HATE. It's not pretty, it's not fun, it's not even bearable. It's brown, slushy, cold and dangerous. I don't like any of those words. It sould be illegal. Rant: over.

Yesterday was crazy awesome! I'll credit it to the fact that it was Kamryn's birthday/farewell!  So let me back it up...On Saturday we "randomly" met a woman named Val. She was outside smokin' and drinking coffee when we were on our way in to the appartment complex to stop by one of our investigator's houses. She told us that she was looking for a church in Newark to go to because she's been having a hard time getting to Wilmington every week for church. Of course we were more than willing to solve her dilema! We told her that the next morning we would have a member pick her up for church! And as a bonus, church doesn't even start until 12:30! *thumbs up*  She said she'd be ready by noon! She even called us the next morning to make sure someone was coming to get her! Now let me explain to you what a heart-attack this was giving us. First of all, she's not even an investigator, second of all we haven't taught her ANYTHING, and third- the sunday school lesson was on the organization of the priesthood. Super awesome. Well, she LOVED it, and found answers to her prayers! She said she'd be back next week. She's coming to a dinner appointment with us at a members home on Thursday. MIRACLE.

Our Sabbath did not cease to be eventful. THEN when we got home last night... (let me preface this by saying that everytime our heater turns on it sounds like it's going to explode, seriously) we swing open the door of our apartment, exhausted as we have not been home since 10am, and WHOOSH! A nauseating gaseous smell hit us in the face, and the heater was...uh, humming? Needless to say we stayed with members last night, and reported the problem first thing this morning.

Well folks, God lives. He loves each and ever one of us. He wants us to be happy, He wants us to return home to Him. Our time on this earth is so fleeting, yet so important. Please don't take one second of it for granted. Live your life so that you can have the Holy Ghost with you always. Everything good this life has to offer depends on getting and keeping the Holy Ghost with you always. I promise that if you ask for help from our Heavenly Father, he will sustain you. He will do everything in His power to see you through, but you have to be willing.

Onward and upward,

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

talk to read: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/10/the-empowerment-of-humility?lang=eng

Laughs

This week was full of laughs! Thank you for all of your prayers, they make a world of difference!

 

For starters...we're teaching this family. We will call them...the Jones family. Let's just say, they're a little ADD. All God's children (yes, I've been quoting Easy A my entire mission with that one liner). Anywho- This week when we went to the Jones' house to have a lesson and dinner their 11 year old son Kyle while -trying to help us understand his video game- tried to help us see how Assasins Creed related to the Bible...as if that was supposed to help us understand that the point of his video game was to kill everyone...? haha hilarious.

 

THEN Myca Irvine taught us how to crochet! Fret not, we have a good cause! We are going to join a knitting group at the library in hopes of finding someone that wants to listen to us and change their entire life in their old age. Wish us luck.

 We are teaching someone INCREDIBLE! Her name is Hannah, and she's 11 years old. Her mom is a less-active member that is coming back to church and wants to attend the temple! She is so prepared and will hopefully be getting baptized within the next few weeks! (: Keep her in your prayers!

 

So...I sliced my thumb open while trying to open a can of black beans. I seriously thought I was going to need stitches. But alas, it stopped bleeding and Sister Ririe nursed me back to health. It's pretty gnarly though...

 

My life was changed this week. We went to the Disney Store at the mall. I FLIPPED OUT. And bought a Thor t-shirt- of course. I haven't set foot on a Disney establishment in THREE years! That's too long, just in case you were wondering. Luckily my dearest Kaitlin Welker (Shout out!) has been mailing me Pixie Dust which I sprinkle on my pillow every night. She's a life saver.

 

This week I learned so much about my divine purpose and potential! I don't think I will ever fully understand the role I have in His great plan, but I'm trying to comprehend it more and more every day. If you have your patriarchal blessing, read it with a dictionary. It rocked my world and totally changed the way I read it! Read this talk: http://www.lds.org/liahona/2014/01/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree?cid=HPWE010114311&im=true&lang=eng

 

By the way, I'm polar vortex proof. It's called living in Rexburg for three years. I have walked to school uphill both ways in the snow while it was -12 degrees. And look, I lived to tell about it.  I don't see what everyone over here is complaining about. They canceled school because it was "too cold". Whatever. I don't get it.  

 

I love you all! I am so grateful for my friends and family. One of God's greatest manifestations to me of how much He loves me is the people He places in my life. For that I will be eternally grateful. Have an amazing Christ centered week!

 

Love,

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

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