I'm seriously about to shave all my hair off.

It's official. I hate summer more than winter. 

This week was amazing! I learned so much that I will cherish for eternity. District meeting was all on Humility. It absolutely changed me. I learned that if my Savior, through the help of His Father in Heaven, performed the Atonement, then there's nothing I can't do without His help too.  I think I see the world through different eyes. My perspective has changed and I'm learning about my individual worth, and how that never changes in the eyes of God. We need to see each other's similarities before we see our differences. We are all of equal and important value to our Father in Heaven. Temporal things do not effect our worth, and the adversary will always try to distract us with "vain imaginations" and "self made issues". Your individual worth is permanent. When we remember our origin, it's easy to reach our destiny. When you feel your confidence waning, remember your divinity as a child of the Almighty God.

Our investigator Victoria, that Sister Argueta and I started teaching at the beginning of May, has picked a baptismal date! Her husband is deployed in the Navy right now, and she was originally going to wait until he got home in November to be baptized. We tried to understand and didn't push the issue. As we continued teaching her and as she kept keeping commitments her heart changed! She said that she feels like she needs to be baptized sooner and has chosen July 26th! I am so happy for her. It has been such a tender mercy to be able to teach her. She is more prepared than anyone I have ever met. She even  got upset when she realized she couldn't have a calling until she was baptized, and has helped us entirely plan and prepare for an upcoming ward party! She's incredible.

This week was full of miracles that I don't even have time to type up! Fret not, they're all in my journal! I want you to know that I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. If we allow Him to, and if we are willing to put in the work, He can change our very natures. I'm not sure how, but I know that He can, because I've experienced it. If we have a desire to change and to become better, then we need to humble ourselves in prayer and ask for help, then get up and work for the change. This is a Gospel of transformation! It will transform YOU!  Pray for the strength to influence your surroundings, don't let your surroundings influence you! Be a thermostat, not a thermometer! :D 

Thank you for all the love, support, and needed prayers! 

Love, 

Hermana Taylor

Mon petit chou chou: The adventures of Barbie and Miss Mexico.

I am serious. At least 3 times a week, some new person thinks I'm Spanish. It's glorious. Last week at YSA volleyball someone asked Elder De Moors who the "Spanish girl with the red glasses" was. THAT'S ME!  We even went to a Mexican restaurant this week, it looked pretty good and we'd been wanting to try it out. Apparently I've acclimated to all the real Mexican and Guatemalan food I've been eating, because I liked my beans better than theirs. THEN, this guy added me on facebook, and after some investigation I discovered that he was from Mexico, a returned missionary and currently attending BYU. I thought it was odd, but added him thinking that he might have a referral for us. Wrong. He immediately started messaging me in Spanish.Are you flamin' me?!  Don't worry, I have since deleted him.  

On to more important things than my ethnicity,or the lack thereof...

An elderly couple in the neighboring ward hosted a Family History fair this weekend! People from the genealogical society in Philadelphia came! AND a lady from Ancestry.com even came and taught classes! I can't wait to do family history and take names to the temple! I've definitely felt the spirit of Elijah and I've gained a love of Family History on my mission. This week I found three relatives on census records that were not on our tree on familysearch.org!

Yesterday in Sunday School something amazing happened. The teacher asked this question, "Who is the happiest person in the universe?" after a few moments of silence and all of us wondering if it was a trick question he asked again, "Who is the happiest person in the universe?" Then, Foster, recent convert of 6 months said, "Me, I am..." I think we chuckled a little bit before we realized he was serious. He continued, "I have the Gospel in my life, and I know God. Why wouldn't I be the happiest person in the universe?" The room was quiet and we all learned a very valuable lesson. Brothers and Sisters, should we not be the happiest people in the universe? "...if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." Chin up! The only thing you should rely on for happiness is your Father in Heaven and His perfect plan for you. You have the Gospel, so pray for courage, dust yourself off and carry on! Engage in the work of the Lord by serving others. Always look outward. Light will flow into your life, I promise. 

I know that our Father in Heaven loves each of us. I know that He is infinitely aware of the details of our lives. If we turn to Him in all things, if we look outward in every situation, we will have peace. He has given us the recipe for success. Wake up every morning and read the scriptures, then go out into the world and live them. 

I love you all!

Love, 

Hermana Taylor 

p.s. - It's that time of year, the fireflies are back! It's truly magical.

tamales

Time flies when you're having fun. HOW IS IT JUNE?! I swear it was January yesterday... 

My new companion is Sister Howard from Gilbert, Arizona! She is the BEST, and we get along so well. I'm super grateful for her. 

This week Hermana Cruz made over 500 tamales! So, SO good! AND Hermana Reina taught me how to make beans! You know...the good kind you get at La Frontera?! I know how to make them. :D Bishop Harrison is amazing. Everyone on earth should have Bishop Harrison as their bishop. He lives, breathes and eats missionary work. We could not be more blessed! 

Our investigator Angeles (Angelis) who is 12 years old has a baptismal date for June 29th! PLEASE pray for her! She is so ready and willing to change! I've never worked with anyone who had such a desire to live up to their potential! I see so much goodness in her. She feels it will be hard to change, and it will. She has been raised in a single parent home in a very "rough" environment. I know prayer is a real power. Please keep her in your prayers. She's amazing. 

I love my mission. I can't imagine life without my mission. I'm learning so much about my Savior, my Father in Heaven and myself. I'm learning that the greatest joy in life really does come from serving others and turning outward. I can't believe that I get a lifetime to apply the things I'm leaning here! It sounds too good to be true. 

I'm so full of joy. Yes, I have ups and downs, but I'm learning how to be resilient, I want to give ALL of my will to Him, being able to put my trust in Him-nothing wavering. Learning to give 100%, 100% of the time! His work will never stop, which means I can't either.  I'm so grateful for His patience with me. I'm so grateful for His love for me. An awesome missionary taught me that I need to live my mission in a way that when it's time to go home, I'll be ready. I don't want to ever feel like my work isn't done, or that I need more time. I want Him and I to be satisfied with my work, and then I want to go out and serve the world around me!  

The Church is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. He was called to restore the Gospel and the Priesthood to the earth. We are so blessed because of his great and lasting sacrifice. I know He saw God and Jesus Christ, the Spirit has  born witness of this to me- and for that I am eternally grateful. No one can take my testimony from me. I increase in conversion daily. God is our Father. He is infinitely aware of us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He is the greatest friend you could ever have. Rely on Him. If you think you can't make it on your own, you're right. You weren't meant to. If you can't learn to rely on Him, "you face a lot of long nights and empty nets". I testify that Jesus is the Christ, and the living Son of the living God.

All my love, 

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

Te Amo (I Love You)

Okay, I had a massive study of 1 Nephi 8 this week so bear with me...

I looked up every action word in the dictionary and then inserted them into the scripture. 

commence: to begin or start

come: approach or arrive

press: to push steadily against, to follow through, or to require haste or speed in action. 

partake: to have a share or part

cling: to adhere as if glued

continue: to maintain without interruption, to endure, to remain in a place or condition, to persist

obtain: to gain or attain by planning and effort

caught: to capture after pursuit, to seize and hold firmly, to fasten, to take/retain, to listen to 

darkness: wickedness or evil, lack of spiritual or intellectual enlightenment, unhappiness, distress or gloom. 

1 Nephi 8:21,22,24 "And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were [pushing steadily] forward, that they might [gain or attain  by planning and effort] the path which led unto the tree by which I stood. And it came to pass that they did [approach], and [begin] in the path which led to the tree...And it came to pass that I beheld others [pushing steadily] forward, and they [arrived] and [captured after much pursuit] the rod of iron; and they did [push steadily against] the mist of [unhappiness, distress and gloom], [adhering] to the [word of God], even until they did [arrive] and [have a share or part of] the fruit of the tree." ...The Atonement. 

We need to push steadily forward through whatever darkness we are traveling through. The road back will be filled with it. We are here to be diligent. I have so much to learn about the enabling power of the Atonement, I feel like I never want to leave my mission because I have so much to learn. But, life is the University of Eternal Life I guess. 

I love my mission more than you'll ever know. Thank you for all your love and support. I feel your prayers. 

Love, 

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

p.s.- I'll have you know that TWICE this week a Spanish person asked me if I was Spanish. It really happened. Also, our 12 year old investigator,Angeles, is teaching me how to speak Spanish...pray for us. 

I'm livin' the dream!

A picture is worth a thousand words! I'm serving and learning from the most amazing people here in Dover, Delaware! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! Our bishop is incredible, and SO missionary minded! We are really excited to be working with him! 

I love serving with and learning from all the marvelous sisters in the PPM! It is such a privilege.  I've truly grown to love all of the sisters so much. My setting apart blessing stated that I would learn a different piece of the gospel from every sister that I served with, and I'm so grateful that my calling as a Sister Training Leader is expanding my learning and growth! Traveling around the mission is so incredible! We meet so many wonderful, beaming spirits! 

Today...Sister Argueta is dying my hair! Don't worry, she went to school for this! 

I love you all so much, and I cannot express my gratitude for your love and support. I feel your much needed prayers. Always keep an eye out for the tender mercies of the Lord. They are not random. Mold every character trait you have until it is used to bless others. 

Onward and upward, 

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

Larry Calhoun sang "hillbilly train cart songs" while he played his guitar.

I felt like I was in a movie. 

Just so we're all clear, it wasn't raining...

there was just water in the air. #7000%Humidity

Lower, slower Delaware <3 Sister Pike and I love impulse buys ;) 

"When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed." -Ezra Taft Benson

I think I'm stuck in a time machine. 

I could be the 4th sequel to Back to the Future! "On the Lord's Errand!" 

Where on earth has the last year of my life gone?!

First and foremost, I want you to know something. I love my mother. 

Matthew 5:14 says, "...A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." That is my mother. A light to the world. 

Second, I have changed. I have become a new creature. I am not the same person I was one year ago, and for that I am grateful. My perspective has changed, my potential has magnified and my life will never be the same, because of Him.  I love the Lord. He is my rock, my brother, my Savior and my very best friend. Through Him and of Him I can do all things, reach any height and accomplish any task. Because of Him, there are no endings, only everlasting beginnings. Through Him, I will become the best I can be and for that I will be eternally grateful. 

I love you all! 

Do something that shows your mother that you love her! 

Love, 

Sister Taylor 

Happy Mothers Day!

This week was amazing! 

We met so many people at Dover Days! People are being prepared for us to teach! We're seeing miracles in our area!

AND...We had NINE investigators at church! It's safe to say that we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off! In the best way possible of course. 

Zone Conference is this week! I LOVE meetings. I can thank my momma, Sister Earl, for that. The spirit is always so strong at zone meetings. I leave with a headache literally every time. A good, spiritual headache, of course.

Sister Argueta goes home at the end of this transfer and it's so weird! Missionaries don't go home, their missionaries forever...

I know that we have a choice to make every day, and that choice is faith. I know that faith is a spiritual gift, that cannot be given immediately, but is something we must strive for and work for. It's something we must labor for. We must earn our faith. We will receive no  witness until after a trial of our faith. 

Onward and upward, 

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

read: Faith- The Choice is Yours (October 2010)