The Tower from Beyond!

I'm not sure what the title means. So don't ask.

 

I thought I should take a few seconds and let you know what's been going on in my life.

 

To be honest, not a lot has been going on. There was one spectacular day where Elder Alba and I taught 5 lessons in one day. That was pretty great. We found 2 new investigators that day as well. That was probably the highlight of the week.

 

On Friday I was on exchanges in the North area of the San Bernardino 4th ward with Elder Harrison. We had a pretty good time there. We taught a couple of decent lessons. We met this one man who has had the most interesting life I've heard of. He was in the army and while on a weekend pass was falsely taken to prison and spent 12 years there. He spent 3 months in a coma because of an accident that he had while truck-driving. He's just had a crazy life and he still just wants to follow Jesus. I'm kinda disappointed that this man isn't in my area, but I'm glad that some good Elders will be teaching him.

 

I just don't feel like there is that much to tell all of you about this past week. It was just a decent week. Nothing new really happened. The work is fine, we've been meeting regularly with our investigators and less-actives we have been working with. Not a whole lot of progression happening there, but I still love them and want the best for them.

 

Today was pretty cool, though. Just this past transfer the San Bernardino zone was split into 2 parts. So that means I'm in the San B B zone. This includes 3 companionships down in the "valley" and 3 companionships up in the mountains. So it is rare that the whole zone actually meets together because of mileage limitations. But since my companion and I have been diligent at not driving a ton of miles we had 400 extra miles to use for the rest of the month today. So we were able to drive up to the mountains today to do an activity with the entire zone. We went to this temple of sorts that was built nearly 100 years ago. Some guy from Asia wanted to bring Buddhism and Christianity together and he built a temple and some other features in the mountains. It was really cool to visit.

 

After that we played my favorite missionary sport, Gatorball! I was super happy. But now I've got some gnarly blisters on my feet, but they were totally worth it!

 

This upcoming week we will be getting transfer calls! I can't believe it is time again. Man, time zooms by here in California. I'm pretty sure time flows differently here than in Utah. I'm gonna ask some sort of scientist to do research on that for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

I just got this from another Elder in my zone. This is all the missionaries that went up to the temple thing this morning. The two guys in the middle run the place. Ivan, the guy with gray hair, actually gave us the tour. 

These are all just various parts of some kind of holy grounds we went on a tour to. It was up in the mountain city of Crestline. Really net experience for sure. There was a temple, a meditation spot and a place called the God Pillars. I'm not quite sure what kind of beliefs the person that built these things had, but he built some cool things.

A Bird in Hand...

Welcome to Week 5 of Elder Taylor's 10th transfer as a missionary. Let us review the past week, Week 4.

 

I'm digging it here in San B. It's a pretty decent place. Totally different from anywhere else I've served, but totally decent.

 

Here's something I'm kind of proud of. To preface that, though, I want to say that being a District Leader gets a little tiring at times. Like on Tuesday mornings when I have to train the missionaries in my district. This time I did something a little different. I asked all of the missionaries to plan a 5-10 minute training to give during District Meeting. It was sweet, because all of them ended up taking about 20 or so minutes and I didn't have to teach anything. It was also a really good meeting. Everybody trained on something different and I felt like I learned a lot. Good times.

 

Elder Alba and I found a new investigator. His name is Jim. We were going over to teach a couple of members one of the missionary lessons, and Jim was staying at their house. So we taught the Restoration and all went well. Jim loved it. The sad part, though, is that Jim was also kicked out of the house this past week, so we don't know where he's at right now. Somewhere west of here, I think. So it was short lived, but we will be sending missionaries over to teach him soon.

 

We also found another new investigator. Sister Bushar, the wife of Brother Bushar. Brother Bushar hasn't been to church in who knows how long. Elder Alba and I stopped by his house for some reason and we found out that he just barely married a non-member a couple of weeks ago and he wants us to start teaching her. So we stopped by their house earlier this week and found out that Sister Bushar wants to learn about the church and attend it as well. What more could we ask for? I'm excited for that.

 

Most of this past week we have just been trying to find lost members. We have mostly just found out that all of the people whose records we have don't live in the houses they say they do. It's not the best thing in the world, but it is something. That's actually how we found Sister Bushar, so it has been giving us some success.

 

Friday I became bespectacled. It is super strange being able to see the world in such detail. It is neat, but I'm certainly not used to it. I don't know how a lot of people can where their glasses all day every day.

 

I had the opportunity to go to a Hawaiian man's 72nd birthday party on Saturday. That was pretty fun. A lot of Hawaiian people and a lot of food. It was super fun, and I got way full.

 

Another night my companion and I went to a member's house to look through a telescope and see planets and the moon and stuff. That was way fun. That's the first time I have eye-witnessed Saturn. What a beautiful little speck in the sky.

 

Yesterday a less-active man and his daughter, that Elder Alba and I have been working with since about the time I got here, finally came to church. That is always one of the best feelings in the world, when somebody you just love finally comes to church. It doesn't happen too often for me, but when it does I get so excited!

 

I'm not sure what this next week holds in store, but by this time next week we will all know. I love all of you!
-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

Me with my new spectacles!

How cool are they?

These are of the night we were watching the sky

The guy in the background is Robert. He's a member Elder Alba and I have been working with for the past few weeks. He let us use his telescopes.

I'm not sure what to title this one

It's that time again! I love this time. Only once a week do I get the opportunity to write to all of you and let you know how I am. Aren't I just blessed?

 

Last week I mentioned that I was going to Cafe Rio, and I did! It was amazing! It had been way too long since the last time I was able to eat a delicious pork burrito. That was certainly the highlight of last p-day.

 

On Tuesday was yet another District Meeting. I trained on using the Book of Mormon to help investigators get baptism dates. That was certainly one of the better meetings I put on. Directly afterward we were supposed to have a lesson with this girl at the church, but 15 minutes after the time we had set she texted us and said she couldn't make it. It all worked out, however, because this man who goes around to the different church building tuning their pianos stopped in. He talked with us for a little while then gave us money to go get some lunch. It was awesome! The rest of the Tuesday we spent trying to find people who may have moved out of the ward. We didn't have a ton of success, but we did meet some good people.

 

Wednesday was wednesdayrific. It says it all right there in the adjective, doesn't it? We taught the Watchous family. We actually read the first half of Alma 32 with them. It was a pretty good time. That was certainly one of the best lessons we've had with them. They even mentioned that they enjoyed it more that they normally do. At night we taught our investigators, the Storzieries. We taught the Plan of Salvation. It was pretty good there, too.

 

Thursday was mostly unproductive, in terms of teaching lessons. We did get to do our weekly planning, which is now on Thursdays and not Fridays. We also had interviews with President Van Cott. That was pretty neat. It was cool talking with him one-on-one. I'm glad that he's my mission president.

 

Friday was totally different. By noon Elder Alba and I had already taught 2 lessons! They were sweet. One to our recent convert, Sulema, and the other to the less-active guy who is pretty cool. Then after lunch I went to the Inland Empire Optometry to get my eyeballs checked out. The verdict is that I need glasses. So pretty soon I will become bespectacled. I can't wait.

 

The weekend kind of zoomed by. We spent a bit of it with our ward mission leader, Brother Williams, splitting up the ward in to smaller areas so that we can work with the members of the quoroms to contact and meet as many less-active people as possible. We met some people in convelescent homes whose names weren't on our records. We had church, of course, which went by pretty good. I'm not sure what else to report on. It was a decent week in my opinion.

 

Until next week, my good friends!

-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

I thought I'd taken more pictures than this, but I guess not. 

I know these pictures are a little late, but whatever.

 Elders Alba, Hironymous, and myself, right before Elder Hironymous got transferred

We are doing "The Creep." Don't ask me what that is, it's just what Elder Hironymous wanted to do

This is of a goat, creepily staring at us. When you see, you'll know how creepy it is

Ain't that Interesting?

Howdy do? I'm well. Thanks for asking.

 

Do you remember how last week I told you I had a second companion, Elder Hironymous? Now he's not my companion and has been transferred. The reason being that his mother served in the San Bernardino Mission, and my mission president wants him to serve in an area that his mom served in, so he transferred him up to Crestline, a mountainous city, on Friday. So we only had the Elder for a week, but it was fun while it lasted.

 

Last Monday night was pretty neat. We had a lesson with a couple of people who are now investigators, set up by our ward mission leader. That's the way missionary work is supposed to be done. Mike and Tina are their names, and the lesson was quite pleasant. They asked tons of good questions and said they would be baptized if they find out the Book of Mormon is true. We are meeting again with them on Wednesday, so let's hope for the best.

 

This past week we had a couple of service opportunities. Pretty much just moving stuff from inside someone's house to a shed so that they could change some things inside the house, like old wood panelling and popcorn ceiling. All in a day's work.

 

Wednesday we were supposed to have a lesson with a less-active family, but when we got there they were having a party that they'd planned only 30 minutes prior, but they still knew that we were coming over. At least they gave us some delicious macaroni and fried chicken. It was worth it. They did say that we would for sure have a lesson with them this upcoming week. Funny people.

 

The 4th of July was pretty good. We had all of our meals planned for us. Heck yeah! We had a ward pancake breakfast at the church. Then we read the Book of Mormon with this awesome guy returning to activity name Robert. That was pretty great. Then we had a BBQ with a sweet family in the ward. We played some fun games like Mexican Bingo. Muy bien. Then we were supposed to be home by 7 for safety reasons, so we were. Somebody dropped off some great chicken for us. Then we sat outside our apartment and watched fireworks for about an hour or so. That was a good day.

 

On Friday we had a Meet and Greet with President Van Cott and his family. It was a good time. He just told us about himself and his family and his expectations for the mission. I am excited to have him as our president.

 

All of the missionaries I'm with want me to be done emailing so we can go to Cafe Rio. So I guess this is where I'll end. I'll talk to you in a week's time.

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

*All pictures added by Betsy for a more visually appealing blog post :)

Redlands in 3... 2... 1...

It is now official! I am 100% part of the Redlands Mission. How cool is that? I get to serve in 2 missions. Not many people can say that they had the opportunity to do that. The sad part, however, is that all 4 of my previous areas are all in the Rancho Cucamonga Mission, so it looks like I won't be seeing those place for quite some time.

 

This past week has been stellar. I went to Transfer Meeting in Rancho on Tuesday to find out if I would be transferred. The answer was no. Both Elder Alba and I stayed here in the San Bernardino 1st ward. That was alright by me. It was kinda stinky saying goodbye to all of my mission friends, since most of them are staying the Rancho Cucamonga Mission. One good thing, though, is that Elder Bushman, one of my MTC companions, and I are both here in the Redlands Mission. We are hoping to be companions out here one of these days.

 

Then Thursday came around, as it usually does. I got a call from one of the assistants to the president asking if we would have Elder Hironymous come and join our companionship. I said yes of course. So now I've got two companions! How cool is that? That hasn't happened since the MTC. It's been alright the past few days with him. It's been a little difficult adjusting from being just Elder Alba and me to adding a third person, but we are doing alright.

 

This past week we actually started teaching a woman who introduced herself by saying she wanted to be baptized. That was pretty neat. We set a baptism date for July 27th, so we are going to do everything we can to help this woman, Caroline, to get there. How exciting!

 

Last night we actually had a baptism! It was for that woman, Sulema, that I told was a little miracle for us. It was an absolutely great baptism. I'm so glad that I got to be the missionary here at this time to participate in that event. Something else that is cool about all of that is, I'm 99% sure that my companions and I had the very last baptism in the San Bernardino Mission. Neat, huh?

 

I met my new mission president, President Van Cott. He's a pretty cool guy. I got to chat with him a little bit on Saturday. He's been following my blog/this blog, for the past few months! And he's probably going to be reading this entry as well. How cool! It was great to get to meet him and get to know him a little bit.

 

Well, my friends, it has been great. I can't wait to hear from you!

-- 

Now go, and be Golden,

Elder R. Sage Taylor

Elder Alba, Sulema and me. Yesterday. Baptism. Wonderful.

 Elder Grill, Elder Bushman and me

I got one with President Godwin. He's a funny guy.

With Elder Norton. An assistant for the other mission. He and I were pretty good friends