May 25, 2009 - Now a Senior Companion

Well, as Mario once said, Here we goooo! I actually only have about 20 minutes to write, I´ll tell you about our day today and why we got here a little late. But today has gone by pretty sweet. Lol. Last night, I was a wreck, my hands were sweaty I was trembling my heart was sore from pounding, you can feel the sore strain when it stops beating so hard. Elder Torres ALWAYS had the phone, it was like private information for him. Nobody touched the phone, nobody was allowed to know who was calling or who said what. It was weird. Suffice it to say, he´s gone, and in the words of his companion still here with me as he says ¨I feel relieved he´s gone¨ Lol. Good guy had alot of great skills and attributes nevertheless a supreme (Nickname for Charles) at times. He had the phone when the change came in, I´m sitting there having a heart attack and he just kind of sinisterly smiles at me and we continue for another two hours with one of his converts. UGH! Lol, after that at 9 o´clock we went othe zone leaders house and partied (essentiall). We got there, nobody was there, but it turned out two of them were up on the roof and the others showed up later. We talked for a bunch calling elders to see where they were going. I´m very happy about the changes for all my friends too. Francis is stilla secretary but now district leader too, LeSuer and Shumway are now Senior companions, Marcusen is in Vallarta and actually poor Hoffman got shafted again... pretty bad, lol. But everyone else is great1 And you already knmow i´m senior companion with Elder Oaks, the apostle. Lol. I´ll tell you about himlater. You might remember the name Elder Wybrow, he´s soooooo cool. He´s the most negative person I have EVER EVER EVER MET. He ... hates ... EVERYBODY, lol. ANd I think he´s one of the coolest guys I know. Lol. He loves me, he´s one of my best friends here in the mission, anyway, he was just made zoneleader of my first area! Lol. Milne is now senior comp and is here in the city and Dourflin was made senior cmop his third change, so he´s continuing strong, he´s still about in TEpic for his 5th change. Shumway got made senior comp, but is in one of the furthest areas in the mission called Santiago. It´s a few 5 hoursish bus ride from here. We called everybody to see what was up! Then we went to an Hermanas house (a member) and watched the Princeo f Egypt movie about Moses, well a bunch of it. They gave us tacos! Lol Then we went back to the hosue caleld more people chatted with everyone there. And itw as fun. Evans is the other zone leader and is soooo cool. I love the guy, he´s fuzzy wuzzy, hes so hairy so spunky and almost always happy. Then we went to try and sleep. I didnt´sleep a whole lto. We got up in the morning and were there for... ever. Elder Torres was doing something, Elder Moreno and I were just passing the time. Everybody who lived there was showering and getting ready but we were just waiting to leave. We got back at about 9ish. Torres starting packing and Elder Moreno starting cleaning. I starting prepping the next room. We wanted to go do laundry, just take it over there. One block away and dump it in the laundry machine. We asked TOrres if he´d go with us to do it, but he didn´t even answer us just kpet packing. So I took a shower, and then Torres left as Moreno got in the shower. We left a little late for the stake center but got there about 11:30 to grab our companions. I have elder Oaks, he´s about 6´4¨ and Idahoan. Lol. Hes really cool. I on´t care what happens I´m going to say he´s awesome. He´s awesome so far and I know it´s going to be that way. Like you said in your email, I´ve really ben preped for this moment, now I need to remember it all. I need to remember all I learned , everything I felt. He likes to obey the rules and a hard worker. We´re going to work as a team to plan work and succeed. We´re goingto carry well, obey the rules of the mission and love the people. This is his third change, second area third companion. There´s some pretty interesting stuff in the mission. Elder Oaks just came from Providencia, that´s the area where the Mission President lives. But anyway, he was companions with one of the zone leaders. Now the zone leaders wre talking and he, ELder oaks, caught a few things. He was swarn to secrecy but upon asking I had already put the pieces together. Mission boundaries are going to change. The mission Guadalajara and Guadaljara Sur are exchanginga little bit of territory I belive. The areas of Reforma where I was with martinez and Mirador where we are now, are going to the other mission and were recieving some turf down southwest. Instead of Guad and Guad South. It´s going to be Guad and Guad East. None of this is set in stone. BUt it´s what we can kidn of derive at the moment. I did put a few more pieces together though and elder Oaks confirmed this. The elders that are currently in theses areas, and I sure hope this is true, will be those that open the other new areas when we get them. Elder Pierce the Presidentes Assistante Elder Edmonson and Elder THornock two of the strongest Zone leaders and a few others are allg eting sent intothese areas. I don´t know. E. Oaks told me that he was told he´ll probably open another area and me too. We´ll see. Here´s the wrap up, Thank youfor so much, its´so muich fun for me to see all the stuff that you did for me. I also wanted to include that we had a chance to go to Bellenes, the missionaries weren´t there, but we climbed to the second story and snuck in the door. lol. I stole my old energy powder my bed sheets med kid and the blue planky you gave me. Lol. And the blanket I bought in my first area. Lol. Well I got to go BUT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! HONEY YOU ARE MY SHINING STAR... don´t you go away now1LoveJake!-----Original Message-----From: "Nora Taylor" <noraleetaylor@cox.net>To: "Jacob Taylor" <jacob.d.taylor.MG@myldsmail.net>Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 09:56:57 -0700Subject: Honey You Are My Shining StarOk, here I am again....feeling more rested. I just reread your last email about how you'll know what to do in every situation if you listen to the Holy Ghost. Such a good reminder for me and it is SO TRUE. Today you become the Senior Companion and I was just thinking about all the trials you've had with companions, and how that has really prepared you for this time in your mission.....always make your companion feel like you are a TEAM, working together for the same purpose....you are just the one with more experience at this point....hence, the leader, not the boss. And, the Holy Ghost will lead you both together. Elders Morgan and Hoopes spoke in Sacrament yesterday and they were at our party on Saturday night. I was kidding Elder Hoopes because he had a deck of cards in his hand that were Simba's because he was doing magic tricks.....I said, OH, Elder, you have a deck of cards, I'm going to tell the Mission President.....and he looks at me so serious like he's going to be is so much trouble....I have to stop doing that because he is such a good guy and I don't think he is used to kidding around like that. Last night I got the bright idea that when we go to Jeff's wedding at the Bountiful Temple north of Salt Lake City that maybe we could stop in Plain City and see the Crowthers or maybe have dinner with them. Anyway, I'm going to email her and see if that could work out....that would be fun.....I feel so close to her because of all our emails....she is the one who told me about Smart Wooly socks and so much more!!!!! It is so nice not to be timed on the computer....when I emailed you from Maui, I got the feeling what it is like to be timed and I didn't like it much, so now I appreciate your long emails even more!!! I used to play jumprope every day at elementary school and on my driveway in back with my friend Susie.....and when you talked about teaching the law of chastity and the experience I told you when you were home....I can't remember what that was....refresh my memory....Sounds like you will be in Rio Verde 2 starting today. I'm glad you like your Honey Bear cuz you are my shining star for sure and I love you so much. I'll be anxious to get your email and I can't believe you'll be 20!!!!!!! Wow, can the time have flown by so fast....yes it did....whew. Love you more than words can say.....Love, Mom P.S. All the animals are doing great. Ernie has been much more friendly since I've been home....he jumps in my lap more now......Piky is doing great but says "hey, where did the big guy go"???

May 18, 2009

Wow MOM!! How good it was to here from you! Well two things to start off, I don´t have a lot of time today, we have to go teach a man who is getting baptized tmorrow named Abinidad, this will be the second time I´ve seen him, and he´s getting baptized tomorrow! He went looking for the himns one day caus I guess he heard them and lovecd them and then got hooked up with the missionries and is progresing in the gospel steadily! He had a few amily troubles but is moving along quite nicely. We have to make a program for him and get over there later! Also because we have a goal this week to be in the house every day in time and go to bed on time then get up on time exercise etc. Study study with comp and alot more! It was tough this week cause we got to he hosue everyday from 10 up until 11! Haha, a ltitle tired. I got up at 6:30 today like a good boy, did 20 pushups and fell asleep on the couch until 8:30 = P woops, lol. HeheSecondly, I apologize if I don´t include everything, there´s SO O¡OOOOO!o!o!oOOOOOO!!!!OOO much to tell you! I was so excited to get to write you today, and I got nervous caus here we are at 8 oclock almost with a busy schedule! I was thinkign and realized. Wow, they still have no clue what´s going on down here... = O I´m already used to my companions and everything that I didn´t realized you haven´t heard anything. I could fill an email with just Monday and Tuesday. I feel bad. There´s a guy fixing the computer behind me and his heads right by my bum. I just passed gas. Anyway. I read the yellow envelop letter you gave me on hte plane to Guadalajara. Made me cry alot. I actually cried on several occasions Tuesday, a few Wednesday. Now.. yes I had to leave Tiger there... it´s a requirement. ´Don´t leave for the mission without leaving your favorite childhood stuffed animal´ Missionary rule under the section ´communictaion with family and friends´ lol. Im glad you didn´t see it til later, cus is was right there, and you kept walking by, I was waiting for you to go look for something in your car and see it. Lol. I hope it didn´t make you too sad. = ( Well I got to the airport and sure enough there were the assistants. Lol, I didnt´win that bet. And we went tothe offices. Got there at about 10:30. Elder Francis called while I was in the car and asked if he could stay at the offices with me, lol. The next day the mission secretaries wife Sister Keller told me that Francis was a really good friend of mine, Ior I was of him, because while I was gone he would always say I hope ELder Taylor gets back soon. That made me fel good, lol. He´s such a stud = ) The next morning, after a long nightless sleep, lol, we went to my old zone for interviews. President was doing interviews there nd the assistents go to do practices with the missionaries. So I went with them to talk to pres and afterwrds we went to my area, They walked into the room to do the practices and then I walked in afterwards and everyone was like WHOAH!! ELder Talor, holy wow! ELder Hoffman got up and gave me a big old hug. The sister missionaries ot there more than an hour late but Hermana Cuanali was really happy to see me = P I got here to my area and I´m in a trio with Elders Torres and Moreno. Torres has about 10 months and Moreno, this is his first change. They´re both really cool! Moreno´s gota little new missionary spunk to him and is about 5 feet tall. Elder Torres teaches good and talks well but not quite sa often. Smiles and laughs. I kind of just let Elder TOrres do his thing this week, I didn´t want to get here and start correcting anybody. It´s stil tough though. I enjoyed the week thoroughly. We have 4 additional baptisms coming up the additional 2 weeks. Adrianna, who´s impossible to find but is apparantly really excited to get baptised. Her parents are members. And then maria who´s not yet married, working on it, but her three daughters at home are getting baptized. Gabby (15), Brenda (11) and Dulce (8). Theyre so cool. We spend a little time there though, a few hours every visit. Yesterday we played jump rope and then taught the law of chastity, where I really broke down. (tears) I shared an experience you told me while I was home and I broke down, and I think it pierced the others. Gaby is a little teenager and sometimes doens´t listen, let alone wile talking about why she can´t have a boyfriend. But she got really focused and intent when I shared that. I think it hit her. Then again here´s a 7 foot white blonde american guy in your house double your size crying. Heck, I can only imagine. Lol Let´s see. Here´s the plan. About three days before Salt Lake Called Pres. Watkins to tell him I was coming in, he sent a missionary home a few weeks early cause he wasn´t really working to hard on his last change, so Pres offered to go home, graciously accepted. So they moved the other guy to a different area and shut the area down. It was Rio verde 1 and 2 but with the other missionary gone it was just 1, and I´m in a treo with the other 2 there. Now, next Monday I will become senior companion and open the second area back up. A few options here, Elder Moreno could come with me, I´m kind of hoping, he´s really spunky and wnts to go work. He likes to take my advice and likes to do the things I do, I don´t mean to come out wrong, but he likes to learn and is a great guy. Older than me, he´s 20.That or I´ll get another junior companion or the new guys come in this next Monday, and I might get one of them....Hmmm.... interesting... lol.We really want to go out hard and work this week! We have a lot of goals like doing exercise and doing our 180 contacts, I put together a mini plan to do it, we´re going to plan good every night. And teach a minimum of 40 lessons. It´s so easily possible if we do it right. What I´m learning lately is the power and importance of the Holy Ghost. I just realized too that lastely I´ve felt a little numbe in the mind, usually I´m really concerned with what I´m thinking, and I just realized that began when I realized I need to be more focused on the Holy Ghost and I think it´s Satan´s way of getting me to forget the idea I had, that we´ll know what to do in EVERY SINGLE SITUATION if we just listen to the holy ghost. We´ll know when to be out spoken or quiet we´ll know when to ask a question when we should talk or visit that person. Some people are waiting for a missionary to stand up and say, this is it. SOme will stop listenign to the missionaries if they do that. So how do we know? The power of the Holy Ghost. How do we have the Holy Ghost, obeying ALL of the rules. Which is tough. Not just cause it´s obeying al ot of stuff. But because there´s alot of people here in the mission who think it´s so stupid and unnecessary. Now, I´ve become one who if someones not obeying the rules I don´t hate them for it or think they´re a bad missionary, I love them and see them as a good person. I even look at Elder Gonzalez (both of them) as good people now. Speaking of... Elder Gonzalez the first one, LG if you remember is now my Zone Leader. No problems, the other is Elder Evans and he´s really cool. I mean SUPER cool! One ofthe missionaries I look up too and just adore. Super spunky and smiely llthe time. Well we´re going to et going here soon. Got to talk to Abinidad! I´m nervous, but not as nervous about becoming senior companion, I know everythings going to play out, becaue I know God, I know God loves me and doesn´t give us that which we can´t handle, I know He´s watching and helping everything, I know He provides a way to all things that He asks us to do. I was going to see Ascencion today, but we didn´t have time. We went to city center to meet up with some people to go to Galerias to meet up with some other people and then when to Sirloin STockade. It was awesome, there was about 40 missionaries give or take including Elder Wybrow who´s one of my favorite missionaries here in the mission. He goes home in January. He says at the year mark it goes by so fast, you´re know longer counting up, you´re counting down. I think so too. In any situation when you have the understanding that your time is now limited and you have to make the most of it. You use it pretty good. Hopefully, I´ll have time next week, if elder Moreno and I are together, yes, if not. No. We´ll see. A few last things. President Watkins goes home at the end of this change. We´re all going to miss him. Also this week hés talking with some Area Seventies about the mission boundaries and the misson may switch up a little here. Where I am now, may be going to the future Guadalajara East mission. Right now it´s Guadalajara and Guadalajara South. Next it will be G. and G. East. Nobody really knows though. I´m looking forward to finding out. Also I saw on the map in the offices there a stake on some islands out west of Puerto Vallarta, I never knew there were islands there. There aren´t any missionaries but... I hav ethe curiosity to ask president some day: Anyway moving on. Bummer I missed elder Kelly! Also tell Dad I loved his idea on what he´ll say when people ask him what he does! Lol, tell hIm I lvoe him and to keep up the AMAZING work. Keep visiting. To call trick my truck and to give you a back scratch for me. And I´m really thirsty so go make yourself a limeade.I feel bad again. I just killed a little gnat thing on my arm. LolWell I didn´t get any emails from the guys yet, but that´s ok! I´m goign to try and squeeze in letters in the evenings if we do get home on time! Lol. Naturally I felt a little odd today with all the elders but then I realized theres alot of people here who enjoy my presence as I enjoy theres. We already made plans to go to OUTBACK STEAKHOSUE FOR MY BIRTHDAY! LOL. We´re going Monday the 8th, I may need a little money for myself this day. HEHE! = P I´ve never been so excited for one of MY birthdays, but hey, Outback Steakhouse with all the cool missionaries of my choosing, hey man, heck yeah! LG as dad says.I love you so much. That Oregon trip sure was something! The whole 5 weeks I learend so much and know so much more that I lvoe you all beyond the bounds of anything. I wrote down in my goal book I´m going to polish dad´s shoes when I get back! Lol, thank you so much for doing that dad. And mom for preparing every little thing with such tender love and care.Now I erally need to hurry caus The Holy GHost just helped me remember two things.1. I left some stuff in the houes. That Arizona Cardinals cup you gave me, with a bunch of stuff inside. If you could find that, lol. My shoe plish and lint brush, in my closet by the tshirts side. ANd yes my contact case, lol, but I have another one. An extra would be good though! Lol. I listen to Honey You bear everynight and think of you, lol. 2. We helped a member move the other day, and as we were going up a rediculously hill. Super Steep and Super long, lol. I was sitting on the tail gate of the truck with a bunch of stuff behind me. One hand on the railing nd one hand holding a 5 gallon jug of water, lol. You know I´m not bright. The jug slowly... steadily...quietly...and quite maliciously began to slip. I Tried to save it but pulling it back pushed me forward. I tried to get back but the jug kept going. So I pushed the jug back as far as I could and jumped out of the truck to see if I could save it. I landed on my hands and toes as in a sprinters start position and took off within a few seconds as the jug from the truck came pounding out and down the hill too. I grabbed it and barrelled up the hill carryhing the 5 gallon jug full of water, now uniquely dented in the botton corner. I ran up to the trucks window as the driver realized the trunk was 33 pounds lighter. I slipped the jug in the window onto the seat as he asked if I was ok, with a hint of franticness and not having fully realized what happened, I replied with a slight humor, yeah I´m fine but the jugs not as much retiring to the back of the truck again. We did about 2 more trips after that one. ANd helped until we had to go eat. Now we´re late so I´m out of here!I LOVE YOU BOTH AND EVERYONE ELSE TOO!-Jake!-----Original Message-----From: Nora Taylor <norataylor@earthlink.net>To: jacob.d.taylor.MG@myldsmail.netDate: Mon, 18 May 2009 08:02:25 -1000 (GMT-10:00)Subject: Hola Mi BambinoHi Jake: I'm at a cyber cafe in Maui and I hope you get this....its Monday am here but 1:00 pm in Guady. I'm anxious to here about where your new area is, companion, and how you are feeling....health wise. I have been having fun here. Rena and a couple others left yesterday and Cindy flew in from Oahu so we were taking a walk this morning and I found this place. She brought her laptop but we couldn't get internet last night at the house. The weather is about 85 here but really humid so it feels hotter.....We went to Ruth Chris Steakhouse on Saturday night and it was the best steak I ever had. Rena and I split a petite filet.....mmmmm. I sent this email to two addresses because I couldn't remember if you were .com or .net......We have played tennis twice and there are homeless people living by the courts but they are harmless. Have you seen Ascension or Lucy yet or Hoffman? Cindy wants to take me on for a Scrabble game when we get back....she always beats me with those little words on the triple score. Jason called my cell this morning wanting my massage lady (Diane) number cuz his back is out. It was 5:00 am here so I didn't go back to sleep. I called Dad and told him to write you on the email so I hope he did. Anyway, I only have a couple of mins. left so will sign off for now and write when I get home later this week. I hope you are adjusting back to missionary life ok and having good experiences. I love you sooooooooooo much and Cindy says ALOHA!!!!! Love, Mom, Madre, Mamacita xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

May 12, 2009 The Day After Arriving Back in Guady

Hey mom, I only have afew seconds. I{m going with the assistents to meet president watkins. He{s doing interviews over in my old zone and after that I{m going to the north east side of the city. Mirador Rio Verde. I{m going to be with two Mexican companions elder Moreno and Elder Torres. I just wanted to let you know I got here ok and read your letter in the plane from Dallas to Guad. I love you so much mom. I was offered to call you but I{m glad we have to go and just email you caus Im a wreck right now and am about to burst into tears anyway. Haha. I cant wait to write you on Monday to let you know how everythigns going. Thank you fo the letter. Ill actually have to read it later, I love you. tell dad I love him too. BYEBYE!-----Original Message-----From: "Nora Taylor" <norataylor@earthlink.net>To: "Jacob Taylor" <jacob.d.taylor.MG@myldsmail.net>Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 18:16:39 -0700Subject: Gracias por abrazo y una flor cartaHola Mi Bambino: Its almost like a dream that you were really here for a month or so. I stayed pretty composed until you were out of sight down the jetway but I'm better now and I didn't even have to get gelato or chocolate, but Dad and I went to the new In n Out by Fiesta Mall and that helped. We had a birdseye view of your plane from our parking spot so we waited until your plane taxied out. I'll need gelato tonight for sure!!!!!!!!!!! I just called American Airlines and your plane departed for Guady and will arrive about 15 mins. late. I emailed President Watkins so I hope someone is there to pick you up....kinda late for the missionaries to be out and about....You just HAD to put tiger in my car with the little note and card!!!!!!! I OWE you one!!!! Keep that cash in a safe place in your socks or somewhere safe and use it when you want or need it. I will pray for you as I always do and you pray for me too, like you said in your card. I typed in the words with a translation.com place so I got the gist of what you said......and you are my numero uno nino and always will be even though you are the baby!! I hope you are still feeling better. I meant to give you an advil before you left. I'm anxious to hear from you and see how your flight went, etc. I hope you can stay at the Mission Office tonight with your bud Elder Francis. It will be fun for you to "catch up" on all the mission happenings. Oh, I just had a feeling that you left your Zune and went to your room to check....Ernie's on your bed, the Zune is gone (good)....milk duds on the night stand....thanks....now I've had some chocolate.....that really helps!!! And, you left your contact case on the night stand....so break out some new ones.....hope you have a case....if not, buy a new one.....I'm going to sit on the swing later tonight and wish you were here but we'll do that more often when you come home with limeade of course!!!!! I told Dad at lunch that I'm going to be in Pine more often this summer to enjoy the cooler weather. I promised Sierra that I would take her to the rodeo again in August so that will be fun. Again, what a blessing to have you in our midst for awhile and just soak you up. Our week in Oregon was so special in so many ways, spiritual, fun (shooting the moon), but mostly just being together....it will all keep me going until we are all together again. It just dawned on me that your birthday is in about 3 weeks and I should mail something tomorrow so you'll get it by your b-day.....so, if I am late, don't be thinking its not cuz I love you soooooo much cuz you know I do....just might have to mail it from Maui!!!! Ha!!! I love you so much.....I'll email again soon.....just hoping you get to read this tonight......Love, Mom, Mami xoxoxox

Intermission in the Mission - April 8 to May 11, 2009

I think it was Monday afternoon on April 6th while I was driving down Main Street in Mesa with Wayne to show our rental house on Dana Street when Wayne casually says, I need to talk to you....ok, what??? "Well, I talked to the Mission President this afternoon and Jake's flying home tomorrow.....he'll arrive about 1:00 pm. His pilonidal problem is coming back and he needs surgery again." Well, I about drove off the road but managed to control myself and sure enough we picked him up the next day!!! He was not in the best of spirits but was glad to see us and we of course, were so happy to see him but sad that he had to have another surgery. To make a long story short, we contacted a father/son doctor team in Eugene, Oregon who together pioneered a procedure that has been very successful to cure the problem. We arranged to meet with the doctor two weeks later and he had the surgery on April 21st. We stayed in Oregon for eight days for post op visits and I although it was no vacation, we had a great time together. Jake's friend, Jon, who lives in Kalamath Falls came to spend one night with us so that was fun for them to get together and then Jake and I just hung out, talking, playing games, reading, and just catching up on life!!! I will never forget our time together and it surely will keep me going until he returns home from Guady in October, 2010. Yes, he flew out on May 11, the day after Mother's Day to return to his mission. We have received the best emails of his mission so far in the last two weeks. He was made Senior Companion today and is doing great. His latest emails follow. Love, Mom