The Last Entry of 2013

Yep, that's true. Next week will be 2014. Inconceivable! I remember last New Year's like it was yesterday. I can't believe it's happening again. Yikes.

To catch you up on this oh-so-exciting mission life, here's a little story. Okay, it's not the best story, but it's better than nothing. I just wanted to tell you about a pretty good Christmas. 

The day before Christmas I received a package from the best parents in the world. In it were 4 stockings, one for each missionary in my apartment, and each of them had a name labeled on them. Instead of giving them to the elders right then and there, I woke up at midnight to put them next to our two-foot-tall tree. In the morning they were all surprised! It was great.

I opened up two pretty great presents. Two pairs of tan pants! Woohoo! I also got a really great calendar with all of the birthdays of the Anderson side of my family on it. Some pretty great presents.

Some great members took us out to IHOP for breakfast. Man, that was super awesome. I had country fried steak and pancakes for breakfast. It was a pretty good time.

When that was over I finally got to call home! Nothing is quite as special as calling home as a missionary. Good times were definitely had. Tons of jokes, tons of tears (mostly from my side) and lots of Skype stuff. Yeah.

The rest of the evening Elder Bushman and I visited a bunch of the less-active members and investigators we have been working with and gave them plates of cookies and boxes of candy. That was really a great time. It was very enjoyable.

I bet your Christmas wasn't as good as mine! But it it was, I'm super glad for you!

I'd write more, but it's about time to go! Thanks! I'll see all or most of you next year! Can you believe it?

Jan 6 (4 days ago)

-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

Well, It's That Time of Year Again

Are you like me and tripping out because Christmas is on Wednesday? I can't believe it. I feel like Christmas from last year was like a week ago. There's no way I'm on my second Christmas as a missionary. It's kinda nuts.

These past couple of weeks Elder Bushman and I have been sharing a pretty sweet message about Christmas. We've been asking people to think of a gift they can give to Heavenly Father this holiday. We've been having them write it on 2 pieces of paper, so they can keep one and then we take the other one. We're giving a big ol' envelope full of these gifts to Bishop Parker for Christmas to show all the good things this ward is doing. It's going to be great.

So there was this one day this week where we had next to nothing planned. So what we decided to do was walk to our lunch appointment, which was a couple of miles away, in the hopes that we would be able to talk to people we saw along the way. During the whole hour-and-a-half that it took to get there we talked to 2 people. Man, that was disappointing. Lunch was good, though, and we were able to share our Christmas message with the family.

I wish there was more goodness to write to you about. Every day I'm happy. Elder Bushman and I always have tons of fun and work hard. Even though right now our investigators don't really ever meet with us, and we have to find things to do sometimes, we are always having a good time. Being obedient brings blessings, and one of those blessings is happiness.

Christmas day is going to be great! I can't wait for it. There sure isn't anything like talking to your family while you're on your mission. It's the best!

I hope all of you enjoy this awesome season. It really is all about Christ.

-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

Here Are Some Pictures



 Here is one of the 3 Elder Taylors!
Yup, there are 3. The other two came on Tuesday,
and since I was at the Van Cotts' house at the time all the new greenies arrived
I got a picture with them. Woo.




Here is the Christmas tree Elder Bushman and I helped put up at the Nolans' house




Totally choice photo op.



Not Too Much

I've spent a lot of time emailing others and telling other missionaries about their transfers, so I don't have a ton of time to tell you about this week. I'm sure you don't mind.

1. Elder Bushman and I are both staying here in the Pioneer ward for another six weeks. It's going to be a great transfer. Christmas and New Years. I'm excited!

2. We found a new investigator this week. Her name is Jeannie and she is ready to be baptized. We set a baptism date for January 4th. I'm sure that it will go through.

3. This upcoming week we have 13 teaching appointments already set up. I am happy about that. It's not often that we even teach that many lessons in a week. The next 7 days are going to be good.

4. I don't know. 3 seemed like not enough things to write about. But there really isn't another thing to mention. So, I guess I want you all to know that my favorite color is green.

Thanks all of you for your awesomeness! Have a great Chrismas season!

--
Now go, and be Golden,
Elder R. Sage Taylor

Your Obligatory Email

You ever just have one of those weeks? Well, I sure did.

As I'm sure you know, Thanksgiving was this week. A blow to your system, I'm sure. We got the opportunity to help at the Redlands Family Services for a short while on Tuesday. At first we helped people take the food that they received to their cars. Then we got to help sort a TON of food that was collected from a Food Drive that happened in town a few weeks ago. That was a cool little treat. Not that I got any of the food, mind you.

That night we were supposed to have a Book of Mormon study class at the Reichmanns' house. The sad thing was that the people the class was supposed to be for didn't show up to it! So it was Elder Bushman and me with Brother and Sister Reichmann. Hopefully this week people will show up.

There's something about Thanksgiving week where people just really don't want to meet with missionaries. Most just don't have time to. Unfortunately we weren't able to teach too many lessons. All of them cancelled on us. Ah well. What are we to do?

Thanksgiving was pretty neat. The awesome Williams family had us over for dinner. That was spectacular. Then we spent some time with our recent convert, Donnie. Then we had pie at the Reichmanns! Pumpkin pie, of course. Would I ever have any other kind? The bummerino part of the day was that Elder Bushman was sick. ): He wasn't able to enjoy the great meal and desserts. Bummer, huh?

BUT! On Friday we had a second Thankgiving dinner. What are the chances? That day was a lot better for Elder Bushman because he actually was able to eat something and hold it down too! The Lord certainly blesses his missionaries, huh?

Saturday the 30th was my 18 month mark. Pretty much mind-blowing. Like, totally, man. It certainly doesn't feel like it's been that long, but it also feels like I've never really done anything but missionary work, anyway. On that day we helped a new family move into the ward. My arms felt like gelatin afterward. Elder Bushman had a baptism to go to in Fontana, and I needed to stay in my area, so I paired up with Brad Newton who is going on a mission on Wednesday. We really didn't get too much done. We were also eating dinner at the Newton's hourse, so I helped them move things and stuff until we ate. Then there was a sweet "Pies and Ties" farewell party for the 3 young men in the ward who are going on missions. Those young men got some freaking sweet ties! I was jealous.

Yesterday was a freaking sweet church meeting. Testimony meeting was great. Donnie, the recent convert, got up to bare his testimony. Then the woman who is getting baptized that Elder Summerhays and Elder Weaver have been teaching got up there too. Then her husband who has recently become active also got up. It was magnificent. We also got to have 2 great lessons in the next 2 hours. In Gospel Principles it was about the Priesthood Organization and Elders Quorum was about the Articles of Faith. It was a really good block this week.

I guess that is that. I'm still awesome. Nothing can bring me down. I'm only two blocks away from a sweet comic shop. And some apples are green. This is all information that is neat, but not totally relevant. Have a good Christmas season!


--
Now go, and be Golden,
Elder R. Sage Taylor

Brad Newton, who is going on a mission this week!

Happy 18 Months Elder!! Love, Mom

How can it be? Is it really true?
That 18 months have passed, since last we saw you?
After getting dropped off at the MTC
Did you have any idea of all that would be?

It started in Phelan with Smith by your side
He taught you to work and put away your pride
Success was yours, as you followed the Spirit
And learned the Gospel and all that is in it

Then along came Pettegrew,
Who worked hard and worked strong
And taught you the value of getting along.

Next came the Valley, of Apples, that is
Where Jackson and Searle taught you to give
And where you created those Bunnies so sweet
Their color was purple and loved cabbage to eat.

 

Allen and you served those Tongans so big
In Rancho or course, that’s where you two lived.
It’s Rancho as well, where you worked hard with Pyne
Learning to serve well, in rain or in shine.

Next came some changes that few get to have
From ‘Dino to Redlands, your mission was halved.
President Godwin went home but it wasn’t for naught
Because then you were blessed with President Van Cott!

Alba was with you for the next few months
With a fun little layover with Hironymous.
San B may be humble, but things weren’t all bad
As a DL, there were lessons to be had.

 In Redlands was Saxton who is tall at six three!

And Barker, from Clinton, your awesome Greenie.
Still serving the district as their leader so bold
Not your favorite assignment, truth to be told

The Lord blesses those who do as He asks
And you and D. Bushman are companions at last!
Blessed to be Leaders of the Zone you are in
To teach and to love those serving therein

Six months now is all that you have left to go
Will it go fast or will it go slow?
Will you work hard or get trunky and stop?
It all depends on you and things that you want.

The choice will be yours, as it always is
To waste your time there or be about the Lord’s biz

Remember the scripture about how “few are chosen”

Now, my boy, Go and Be Golden!

To Know is to Know

I know you don't want to hear me speak, so that's why I'm writing this email.

Good news everyone! This week Elder Bushman and I found 2 new investigators! Can you believe it? About time, huh? Let's talk about that.

First I'll tell you a little about Austin. I'm not sure if you recall, but when I was companions with Elder Barker there was a guy who stopped us while we were walking down the street. He told us that he really wanted to meet with us. So time and time again we tried setting up meetings with Austin so we could sit down with him and talk Jesus. Well, for whatever reason the meetings never happened.

Elder Bushman and I just stopped by his house one day and set up an appointment with him. Guess what. It actually went through. We took Brad, a young man from the ward who's going on a mission to Ukraine on the 4th, with us to our lesson with Austin. What's kinda cool is that Austin already knows a lot about the Church and most of it is actually true. So we just kind of answered his questions. We're going to meet with him again probably tomorrow.

Our other new investigator is a pretty cool guy named Clyde. I've written home before about Rachel, and Clyde is Rachel's boyfriend. So we've known Clyde for quite a while,  but never actually taught him. We finally had time where we got to sit down and teach him a little bit. So it was way cool to pick him up as an investigator. The sad thing, though, is that now he is in jail. Maybe for 6 months, so who knows what's going to happen with him? If we see him I will be sure to let you know all about it.

Quick side-note. On Wednesday the Reichmanns took Elder Bushman and me to Café Rio for dinner. Totally worth mentioning.

Saturday was pretty neat. We got a call on Thursday from a man from the Palm Desert stake asking if we could have a young man spend Friday night to Saturday night with us. Of course we said yes. So we had Gabe with us for a whole day. We was a pretty nice guy. A senior at some high school in the desert. It was cool to be able to show somebody what it's like to be a missionary.

Other than that things are still going smooth as ever. Every day is a blast. Elder Bushman is helping me be a better missionary. He and I just have fun and get missionary work done. Every week this transfer our number of lessons has gone up. Life is just jim-dandy.

Have a good week, my friends!

--
Now go, and be Golden,
Elder R. Sage Taylor



Gabe with Elder Bushman and Me. That was a fun day



 Some random toys and stuff I've picked up along the way of my mission.
A gorilla and an alien riding a freaking T-rex. It's good stuff



A Shiny Glass Window

There are times on a mission where the missionary must stretch himself. No longer can he sit complacently hoping that the same old thing will get him through this "rough patch." When his regular resources are exhausted, what should the missionary do?

I have actually really been enjoying myself these past few days. It's official that Elder Bushman and I don't have any investigators to teach. Not by any fault of our own, it's just that the people we were teaching decided that they didn't want to be taught any more. I still love those people. I just wish that they understood the importance of what it is that I want to share with them. Hopefully some day those wonderful individuals remember the feelings they felt and investigate once again some day.

There have been some interesting things these past handful of days. First off, my companion and I have been really trying to visit those members in the ward that are in our area. So far it has proven to be useful. There are a couple of less-active families that people in the ward said that we would probably never get in to see. Well, thanks to a lot of factors we have actually been seeing these families a few times. It's really cool. They actually invite us in and we are able to have lessons with them. It's really great. I enjoy getting to know these people.

How often do ya'll watch Mormon Messages? How often do you share them on Facebook or with friends of yours? I love Mormon Messages. If you haven't seen them, look them up on Youtube. Recently Elder Bushman and I have been sharing one of those videos with the members in our ward. It's the video entitled "Your Potential." We've been applying to these members' lives and quite a few of them have been letting us know of the missionary opportunities that they've been having in their lives and the friends that they want to share the gospel with. I love seeing all of these people have these events and desires. It is really great.

On Saturday we had the first Mission Conference I've ever been to. Every missionary in the Redlands mission met together to be trained by President Van Cott, his counselors and Elder Hiam, the Area Authority over this part of California. It was great to receive council and direction from these people. It was also really cool to see how many missionaries I did not know in this mission. It seems like any missionary I had become friends with is either home or in the Rancho Cucamonga mission. It was really cool to see my old companions, too. Like Elders Alba, Saxton, Barker and Hironymous.

Yesterday was nice as well. I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting. That was only the second time since I've been out. The last time I did that was in Phelan! Last August. How strange? The poor thing about speaking was that I've had a cold this past week, and my voice wasn't working as well as it should have been. So my voice was cracking and such most of the time, but other than that my talk went pretty well.

Thanks again for all the support I get from all of you! Keep up the good work.


--
Now go, and be Golden,
Elder R. Sage Taylor

 

Elder Bushman holding Brad's chicken




Me holding Brad's chicken





Elder Bushman holding A TON of pumpkins



Sage Boxes. Yup, you can now order me through the internet and get me shipped right to your door step!

Your Potential, Your Privileges - Mormon Message

Service, Service, Service

I'd really like to just let all of you know that my mission is awesome. Yup. You heard it. This past week with Elder Bushman has been legiticus.

I'm looking over at my companion's computer screen, and he's written a freaking novel about this past week. I will be a lot more brief. 

As the title of this letter suggests, we did a lot of service in the past week. If you will recall we helped set up some pretty elaborate Halloween decorations for some families here in Redlands. Well, wouldn't you know it, they needed them taken down as well. So we helped with that as well. It was actually a good time. We spent parts of 2 days helping take down a maze and a pirate ship and a very convincing fake fence. It was really neat being able to get to know the families whose houses were decorated. They sure loved the missionaries after that experience.

We also had an awesome opportunity to serve food as part of the Redlands Extravaganza, which celebrated Redlands' 125th Anniversary. So pretty much I just stood behind a table and gave people a roll to put beef on for a couple of hours. If nothing else, it was a great way for people in Redlands to see missionaries. 

In the work department, it is a lot easier to get stuff done with a Chevy Cruze! For example, yesterday before church we went to see all of the investigators and so forth that we've been working with to invite them to church. Without that we wouldn't have had Latisha come. Already I'm seeing all the blessing that you get when you serve in a car area. I know I've served in two before, but I love it.

Speaking of Latisha, our investigator, she has a baptism date set forNovember 30. I'm hoping that she will prepare herself to be baptized that day. That would be stellar!

Elder Bushman and I had a pretty neat experience the other day. We stopped by the house of a couple of investigators, Rachel and Clyde. They don't have electricity and water for whatever reason, so we met in their house for about an hour with candle light. They've been going through some rough times and we told them that accepting the gospel will change things. We then asked Clyde to pray  and he prayed for a good 8 minutes. It was really neat.

Directly after that we were getting ready to leave, so we jumped in the car and this other car pulled in front of us and backed up so that we could leave by pulling forward. It ended up being a woman that we've talked to a handful of times and she saw us and she said that God led her here. I guess she really wants to meet with us. Hopefully some time soon.

Well, good evening, gents. I hope you have enjoyed Storytime Theatre.

--

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

The Conclusion of Yet Another Transfer

This has certainly been one of the more interesting weeks since I have been on my mission.

Firstly, William R. Walker from the Seventy came to our mission and spoke to us. That was spectacular. It was really neat having a General Authority come speak to us about how to be better missionaries. He just talked about things that will help us improve and do better work in our areas. 

There was a day this week, Wednesday, actually, that was totally legiticus. It was very much unlike most any day on my mission. Before Wednesday Elder Barker and I set up four lessons. What was cool about that day is that we actually taught all four lessons! None of them fell through. Miracle? 100%! We taught a recent convert family, found a new investigator, got Donnie, who got baptized a couple months ago, to go to a lesson with us and taught a returning-to-activity member. It was a pretty above average day to say the least.

There were a couple of days this week that were totally slow. Man, that was brutal. Going from and absolutely awesome day, then having nothing really bites. I mean, that's the times where "you grow the most," right? Elder Barker and I really had good times just walking around and talking with each other. We weren't able to get a lot done,  but we sure became better friends.

Saturday was kind of a silly day. Starting at 7 AM we did some service in an affluent part of Redlands. We helped set up some over-the-top Halloween decorations for three houses on Cajon Street. One house is a "Pirate Ship." One is a maze/ gallows kinds of thing. The last is just a fun house with giant spiders and Jack Skellington. It was way fun, too. This guy with the "fun" house called himself Papa Baer and was super cool. It was a great way to start a day.

That night we had Stake Conference. Normally missionaries don't go to the Adult Session of Stake Conference, but this time we were invited to for a special occasion. The occasion? We were a missionary choir! But it was totally different than a regular choir. We started singing Called to Serve and we purposely did it very terribly. The stake president stopped us and asked the Bishops and Ward Mission Leaders to join us. Still, it was pretty dismal. They stopped us again and had the whole congregation stand and sing it with us. Then it was freaking awesome! It was a pretty cool visual to show how members can't do missionary work alone. We need the support of all the members. That session of conference was also way better than the general session, so I was glad to go.

And here's some pretty big news, at least for me, anyway. Elder Barker is getting transferred. That stinks. But the cool part is that I'm getting Elder Bushman as my companion! Yup, the same guy I was companions with in the MTC. What's even better is that we are going to be Zone Leaders together. And even better than that is that we get a truck! No more biking here for me. I'm pretty much super excited. These next six weeks are going a pretty good six weeks.

-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

 My awesome district from last transfer

Goofy District

Good ol' Jack Skellington

I'm getting eaten by a giant spider!

Seeing the Tuckers in Redlands!

Photography

Ducks at the Newtons

My Hand Painting a wall

Me Being all Swirly and stuff

The 4 Pioneer Elders

Word.

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor