#4 I'M A REAL MISSIONARY NOW!

JULY 28, 2014

So this week, i think Ive officially become a missionary. Why?  

   First, because this week, as me and Preciado went and knocked on this one house, there were these too super small dogs. like maybe chihuahuas. and they just started barcking at us but we didnt really pay any attention to them because thats just what dogs do. so we knocked but they werent home, so we start walking back to the cars, then these little dogs start darting towards are ankles! they start attacking us! so we start running back to the car away from these little dogs that are chasing us trying to tear our ankles. it was intense. little dogs can be viscous!

   And second, because yesterday as i was teaching a lesson to Sister Keller, a recent convert, she has two little kittens. and so im sitting on her couch teaching, and one of those little kittens climbs up on the arm rest next to me, then suddenly, leaps through the air, claws out, teeth bared, right at my face! luckily it was only the side of my face, and didnt really get me that bad. just two little claw marks around my ear. but it did draw blood! it was kinda scary. and ive never liked cats... but so after that we ended the lesson real quick then went to another members house and i cleaned it. so i dont die. So, if there is some sort of hazing that comes with being a missionary, i think this last week was it. so now im official! hopefully i wont have to go through another one once i get to Ecuador... but honestly who knows what ill be facing once i get there. small dogs might be the least of my worries!

   Last night, the missionaries in my Zone all taught a PMG class. there is one guy here who leaves tomorrow to the MTC and is going to Argentina. so when we split off into groups we made an all spanish group with him and then there was one other RM that spoke spanish. it was pretty fun. we just pretty much role played the whole time. This thursday, me and Preciado are teaching an English class to some of the spanish people here. so that should be fun! ive never taught english before. it will be interesting. but hopefully a good way to meet even more spanish and get then into the church and provide opportunities for teaching.

   We met this man, Domingo, who lives in Moapa. He is a less active thats going through some hard times. apparently the missionaries have been trying to get in touch with him for a while, but he was avoiding him. but we stopped by and caught him while he was outside. so he couldnt get out of this one! but it was really good. we talked with him for a while, and he really opened up to us. and said he was glad we finally caught him. we taught him from the BOM, then scheduled to come back again. so we'll be meeting with him this week, and teach him more, and hopefully get him to start coming back to church!

   We met with the Villezcas, which is another inactive family. We read together 1 Nefi 8, which is about Lehi's visions of the tree of life. and talked about it. it was a really good lesson, and the spirit was super strong. then at the end we asked them if they would start coming back to church, and they said they would! they seriously have such strong testimonies. its crazy that they are even inactive. but they are. but so they totally said they start coming again!... but then they werent there yesterday at church. it makes no sense. i know they know the church is true. so why arent they just coming to church!?

   We met another new family, the Rabines'. they are super nice. theyre from Peru. the dad raises horses. there are a lot of horses heres. and flies. but anyways, they are a super good family. all catolica. but we made contact with them and are going to come back and teach them. its just hard since they have a super busy schedule to find a time when they are all there so we can teach the whole family. but hopefully it will work out sometime this week!

   Yesterday, there was this guy from Columbia visiting one of the spanish families here. Henry. but he lives in utah now. but he is a super cool guy! he's older, but he is super friendly and funny and super good at missionary work and meeting new people. we went on a few visits with him after church before he had to head back to Utah. it was super good. by the end of our visits, i swear he was like best friends with the people we met. he's definetly a guy with some qualities to emulate.

   Well, a random fact about Nevada: the water is never cold. nope. ill fill up my water in the tap, then have to put it in the fridge to cool it down enough to even drink. then ill take it with me in the car. and after one visit. its just about boiling! its ridiculous. luckily many of the people here offer you water when you come into their house. so thats nice. and also, on the bright side, i never have to worry about cold showers!

   Well, i love you all! hope everything is going well!

Love,

Elder Taylor