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 

Happy Thanksgiving! *Gobble Gobble*

• I am grateful for my family- they mean more to me than I can even put into words.  
• I am grateful to be in the PPM- it's the best mission in the world. hands down.
• I am grateful for my apartment- I have a place to lay my head at night.
• I am grateful that I have a companion- I can't imagine doing this alone.
• I am grateful for worthy Priesthood holders- they have blessed my life immensely as they worthily exercise the priesthood they hold.
• I am grateful for temples- in them we learn of God's plan for us and our happiness and of our role as endowed members of His Church.
• I am grateful for my Mission President and his dear wife- they help me to feel at home here.
• I am grateful for for the people I meet every day- I learn so much from their stories.
• I am grateful for the Book of Mormon- its words give me peace and comfort every day.
• I am grateful for our car- it's flippin freezing here.
• I am grateful for my mission- I'll probably never leave.
• I am grateful for technology- I get to talk to you every week.
• I am grateful for Joseph Smith- without his trust in God, I would not be here today.
• I am grateful for church callings- they've helped me to grow so much.
• I am grateful for journals- We are living a history that has not yet been written. WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL!
• I am grateful for my experiences- I learn and grow and become a different person every day because of them. I am who I am because of them, and I love who I am, but more importantly who I can  become.
• I am grateful for the Holy Ghost- without him we can do nothing. If  you don't have him with you always, change anything to make that possible.
• I am grateful for my friends- They are angels without wings.
• I am grateful for BYU-Idaho- I learned so much from my experiences there and the people I met there.
• I am grateful for weather- We can see God's love for us in the beauty of the earth.
• I am grateful for facebook- I can share the gospel with people hundreds of miles away from me.
• I am grateful that I am trusted enough to be here- God could do this work without me, but He loves me enough to let me be a part of it and experience the blessings that come from sharing the gospel.
• I am grateful for Preach My Gospel- I have learned not only how to be a better missionary, but how to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ after my mission.
• I am grateful for auxiliaries of the Church- their leaders do so much to help us achieve spiritual growth.
• I am grateful for the example of my Savior- by Him and through Him I can do all things.
•  

The list goes on. Brothers and sisters we have SO much to be grateful for. We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I promise you that you need nothing else. If you had nothing  but the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you would prosper. I know that if we read the Book of Mormon every day, we will never fall away. The peace that comes from reading that book is immeasurable. There is power in that book, I promise you that.  We call down the powers of heaven when we read from that book.

I know this Gospel is true, and I know that with every ounce of my being. I know that if we live The Gospel we will be blessed beyond measure.

Love,

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

Big K!

this is what we look like when we've been mapping our area for 3 hours.

MOM SENT ME PIZZA!

Mexican Food

First of all, I love you.

Second of all, there's something you need to understand. The closest thing to Mexican food I've had since I landed in Philly is Moe's, and It's worse than CostaVida....ew. So you'll be happy to know that in Delaware, there are a multitude of "hole in the wall" taco shops and one lone "taco bus". This pleases me. I was overjoyed to eat mexican food this week for the first time in months, and realized how much I love southwestern food. It was like coming home. Not only were my tortilla chips shapped like Delaware, they tasted like actual tortilla chips. Obviously this has been a hightlight for me because I have now taken up my entire first paragraph just talking about mexican food. Moving on...to chocolate cake. It was Sister Ririe's birthday on Saturday, and I never thought i'd say this, but I don't think I'll be wanting chocolate cake for a while. We literally had two GIANT chocolate cakes from two different members. They're amazing. And now I've sworn off chocolate ;) okay, let's be real, no I haven't.

Delaware is kickin' my butt, that's for sure. I have no idea how to find people here, it's awesome. It's going to be an interesting week! Keep up the prayers please!! Also, it's freezing here now. The other day it was 30 degrees! But then yesterday it was 70...so I don't really understand.

Let me tell you about Pedro (No, this story does not have anything to do with Mexican food).  You'd better laugh because this is the most awkward thing that's happened to me since I've been here, almost. So, the other day we just went on a "former investigator" spree and started hunting all of them down. We came to a man named Pedro whose teaching record didn't quite make sense. But we plugged his address into the GPS and off we went! 

We pulled up to the house and  a black, low riding sports car with flashy rims and a fin on the back was in the driveway. Obviously Pedro lived here. I was a bit apprehensive and I wasn't sure why, but we walked up to the door and knocked. The next thing I knew, a 6'3", 260 pound white man opened the door and exclaimed, "SISTERS! Come in!"...I had never seen this man in my life or ever met such an enthusiastic former investigator...we were dazed and confused to say the least. The next thing I did was introduce myself, hoping he would do the same. Apparently this was the Kline home. I had no idea how or by what means we had gotten there. But I learned a valuable lesson- God's hand is in all that we do. He will direct us in all our paths. We had a wonderful visit with a less-active family and grew to love them so much. And just so you're not still confused, Pedro was a former investigator that was taught in the Kline's home. The Elders that taught him failed to put this on the teaching record. :D

I love you all! Please do not waste a single moment of this life. It is given to us to learn from and to perfect ourselves. 2 Nephi 9:27 tells us that we should not waste ONE day of our probation! NOW is the time to prepare to meet God. We need to do all within our power to be prepared. Go to church, read the word of God daily, attend the temple as often as possible! Magnify your calling. Do you visiting and home teaching.These are all wonderful gifts from a loving Heavenly Father to prepare us to meet Him. Become a little more like Christ every day. He is our perfect example Be grateful for all that you have! You are so extremely blessed brothers and sisters. Take advantage of every day that God gives you. Know that you could never be so far off the path that the all encompassing Atonement of Jesus the Christ cannot reach you. It is infinite. It is for  you. Use it.

Love,

Sister Kadee Taylor

Delaware, people actually live here

I love you so! 

I want you to know that Delaware is hard, but my success as a missionary depends on my commitment. I am learning to internalize that more and more every day. I love the Lord and that's why I'm here. I need to rely on Him every step of the way. "Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory."-Neil A. Maxwell. I'm convinced that somehow it would be easier to give up all my possessions, everything that I own, and move across the country for my faith. But instead I'm asked to give all my heart, might, mind and strength- all that I am, and all that I can be. That's much harder for me, and that's why we're asked to do it. It's not something tangible that we can hand over as a sacrifice. It's something we must do and be every single day. It's immeasurable, and that's hard for me. But, because our Heavenly Father loves us so much, we have the opportunity to practice until perfect, and repeat until refined. He gives us every day to start over, and for that I am grateful. 

P.S.- I just found out that I live 20 minutes away from Joe Biden. Awesome...