March 9, 2015

Well... This is weird. Im not sure how well this email will be written, as I can barely see the screen through all this water leaking randomly out of my eyes. Must be allergies. 

Lets see if I can remember what we did this week. 

 Tuesday we did some service in the morning, then went to kinko's to put together some stuff for Zone Meeting 

Wednesday. Then had a pass off lesson with an investigator who isn't YSA but is super solid. 

Wednesday was zone meeting. It went SO well. President Passey came, and so did President Thies. ( Rincon Stake President). It was fun having them there giving input. After the meeting, a bunch of the missionaries said it was the best one they've ever had, Granted, for most of them, it was one their third one. But hey, I'll take what I can get! President Passey came to lunch with us afterwords and we had a really good conversation. It was fun getting to know him on a personal level. 

Thursday was a pretty normal day, visiting less actives and such. That night we had a really good talk with a couple elders in our zone. I love taking care of issues like that. Just helping missionaries to improve. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have. 

Saturday we did service up on Mt. Lemmon from 9 am to about 3pm. It was way fun. Choppin wood and hauling lumber up the hill. Reminded me of the cabin. 

This weekend was stake conference for us. It was great. Elder Paul B. Johnson of the 70 came and gave some amazing talks. after the Saturday night session, we were able to talk with him for a bit. He too is from Sandy, and his kids went to Jordan but he said he wouldn't hold it against me for going to Brighton. 

Well, I think that's about all I can tell yall this week. so here's the last quote of the week. 

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.

David Brinkley

I love this quote. I have had a lot of "Bricks" thrown at me over the past 2 years but they just gave me more material to build my immovable foundation. Reminds me of Helaman 5:12. 

I love all of you and am so grateful for the support you've shown over the past 2 years. I look forward to seeing you soon. Elder Taylor Alston, over and out. 

March 2, 2015

Sup errybody? another week down. crazy. I decided that I just don't understand the concept of time
because it feels like it just speeds up every second. So I stopped trying to figure out how it works.

This week was good! 

 Tuesday we went on exchanges, Elder Taylor came to my area with me. We had like 5 lessons and they were all great! Tuesday night, we had a meeting with the high councilman over the missionary work in the stake. We revised the stake mission plan and set new goals to hopefully improve and instill some motivation in the members. we'll see! 

Wednesday we had district meeting.  then Garrett Douglas came up from Willcox and we went to lunch with him. I love that family so much!! 

Thursday went pretty well. I got to eat dinner with the family who was the bishop at the time I was in Pima ward. so that was fun, they wanted to see me again before I leave. 

 Friday we had MLC from 9- 4, so that was super exciting. haha then we took Elder Taylor and Hff out to get ice cream and talk a little ( they are struggling). 

Saturday we did service pretty much all day, Then went to dinner with the Christensen's from Thatcher. Connor was up here getting mission clothes! It was great to see them again! 

 Sunday was normal. The less active that we are working with got up and bore his testimony. It was SWEET! He talked about how  much we've helped him and how much happier he's been these past few weeks! I LOVE seeing people change. THAT is why I do what I do each day. This it true work that we are all enlisted in. I promise you. 

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."

-William J. Clinton

I love yall. Thank you for everything. talk to you next time. 

-Elder Taylor Alston 

February 23, 2015

Hey everyone, sorry I didn't send an email last week. The library was closed Monday, Tuesday we had a serious lack of spare time, and Wednesday we had about 20 minutes between appointments, so, we got on the computers to write President, and that's about it. 

Let's see, what can I update you on? Well, This week, we found out that Hawk is in fact, a less-active, not an investigator. He has been lying to us the entire time. So that was a buzz kill. He was baptized when he was 8 and then fell away as a teenager. This week, we are going to be meeting with him to see what his expectations are with meeting with us, and coming to church. 

Most of our work, is with less-actives, and prospective elders. We have been going through both those lists like crazy. Trying to get to know all of them and get them to church. We have so far found, and brought to church regularly, 2 less-actives. and have appointments with 3 more this week. So we'll see!! 

 Exchanges went well this week. I went with Elder Hepworth. He's a stud of a missionary. Been out about 5 months and Is a REALLY had worker. He's going to have some great success.

 Yesterday was insanely busy. we had a stake priesthood leadership meeting at 630 AM. Our stake President asked us to give a training about using family history as a finding tool. It went really well, and seemed well received by the bishops and WMLs. We had multiple people come up to us after thanking us for the new ideas we brought to the table and the inspiration we shared. So, hopefully we start seeing some amazing success in the Rincon stake! We are going to be following up with the high councilmen and the Stake President this week. Anyway, after that meeting, we had ward council and then church, then we went to go visit probably 6 different people. Then had dinner, and then went to correlation. To top it all off, it was end of the month calls last night. So we had to collect everyone's retention and reactivation numbers as well. We didn't get to bed until about 1130. It was a fun day:/ 

Well that's all I can think of to update yall on. So here's a quote!!!

When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.

-Viktor E. Frankl

Love yall! Keep on keepin on! -Elder Taylor Alston 

February 9, 2015

Hey there, everyone! I don't know about you, but it is getting warmer down here. We have been in the 80's pretty much all week. 

 The 3 days of winter were nice down here. But now it's summer again for the next 362 days. It's funny how your perspective of "Hot" changes when you live in Tucson for 2 years. 

 Now, let's see if I can remember my week. 

Tuesday: After we emailed, we went shopping, then went to zone sports, Then dinner at 530, then had a lesson with Justin, one of our great investigators. He is a 7th day Adventist, and has a lot of the same beliefs as us, but needless to says, disagrees with a few things. But We had a great lesson and answered a few of his q's. Then we went over to a companionship's house to chat a little (one of the elders is brand new) and see what we can do to help them adjust and feel comfortable.

Wednesday: We were supposed to have Zone meeting, but had zero time to prepare, so we postponed it to this coming week. Instead, we had District meeting, and because we are a DL short in the zone, we have to be the DL for now, so we had to prepare district meeting. Anyway, It went fine, and we had great participation.  Then we had lunch with the zone, and heading out to work. We had another great lesson with Justin, and he seemed a bit more "Into it". which was great. The other lesson we had that day was with Austin. We brought a member with us to that lesson and it was great! They are both in the Air Force, so they automatically had a connection. It was amazing to see our member testify so powerfully of the atonement and be able to touch Austin's heart. 

Thursday: We met with the Rincon Stake President, to correlate our efforts between missionaries and members in the stake. We invited him to our Zone meeting this week, and he said he wanted to join us! No pressure right? haha Then we had a great lesson with Nathaniel (another amazing investigator). We brought Darien with us and they hit it off! It's great to have such willing and able members to come out with us. Then we had another Justin lesson. with another member present. 

Friday: We had service with a member in the East stake. Then raced home, ate lunch in about 2.4 seconds, and raced to Nathaniel's house at 230. Then drove over to Elder Huff and Taylor's area to go on exchanges. We were able to split up and have a great talk with both of them while we tracted for the afternoon. I love helping to instill motivation in other missionaries! I love being able to help people realize their potential. It's amazing when you can look at something through Christ's eye's and just feel the deepest, most sincere love and appreciation for the sacrifice they are making by being out here serving others.

 After The exchange, we had and Elder's quorum activity. We played glow in the dark dodge ball. It was crazy fun! 

 Saturday: We helped move some stuff out of the house we are living in, And then had a wrad temple trip. We got permission to go up to the Gilbert temple! It was AMAZING!!!!!!! I love it. It's so beautiful! And HUGE!

 After the temple we got to go to dinner at Cafe Rio! :) first time in two years! I almost died of excitement! haha  

 Sunday: had a great day at church, Then met with the AP's to discuss the zone goals, and talk about a few missionaries that need a little boost. then went to dinner, then ward correlation. 

 So far I am LOVING YSA 2nd ward. It is way too much fun. I'm getting spoiled for my last few weeks. haha it's great! 

 Well, Here's the quote of the week! 

"Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could." -Barbara de Angelis

Let us remember the power of love and charity! Remember that our Heavenly Father loves us more than we could EVER imagine and he is always there. Pray, and he will listen, listen, and he will answer. I promise you this, He is real.

 I love you all! thank you for everything you do! 

 -Elder Taylor Alston  

February 3, 2015

Hey everyone! It's transfer day, and yes, I got transferred. Im back in the Tucson area. And back with Elder Call. We are over the UofA YSA 2nd ward. 

 This last week in Thatcher was pretty busy. Doing a whole lot of service, MLC all day Friday, Helping out in the mission office, and taking care of a few baptisms in the district. Our grand total for baptisms in the district for the transfer was 5. the zone had 7. 

 Today has been INSANE. I haven't been to bed since Sunday night... We got in last night at about 945, then I had to pack, and prepare for zone meeting tomorrow . By the time I finished everything I needed to do, It was probably about 2am.  And we had to get up at 3 to drive into Tucson by 7, so I just figured I was better off not going to bed, and finishing some other stuff. SO, now I'm here, half asleep, with a full day of tasks ahead of me yet. Gotta love responsibility, huh? haha hopefully tonight I can get a full nights sleep. 

  I am sad to be leaving Elder McKenna and the district. He was up there as one of my favorite companions. He's grown so much and I love him like my little brother. It was hard to say goodbye. I wish I could just finish my mission out there in Thatcher, but I know that I am called to areas for a reason, and all I have to do is find that reason. 

 I hope everyone continues to do well and is staying healthy and strong! Here's the quote for the week!! 

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."

-Vince Lombardi 

I've definitely learned this in my life, that success comes, when we are willing to do anything to get what we desire. Nobody ever said it would be easy, but it WILL be worth it. I can promise you. 

I love you all.

 -Elder Taylor Alston 

January 20, 2015

Well, I'm going to have to make this email pretty quick, cuz we don't have much time today.

Just know that I'm the busiest I have ever been in my entire life. Our district is doing well. And the work continues on. I promise next week, I'll have a better update. Just know, all is well. Love you all! Love, Elder Taylor Alston

one of the young women drew me a couple of my favorite things : )

January 12, 2015

So, this week was BUSY. Monday night we didn't get home till about 10. Elder Ruiz called me saying he was sick. So we dropped what we were doing, ran to the store, bought him some meds, ran to his house, and gave him a blessing. After we got home, I sent out a mass text to the district asking them to pray for Elder Ruiz to get better enough to work the next day. Miracles are real. Tuesday, I called him, and he didn't even sound sick anymore, and he hasn't had any symptoms since. Gotta love the power of prayer.

 Tuesday, we were able to go to the temple with Brianna to do baptisms for the dead. She LOVED it. of course, I just cried the whole time. haha

that night, we had Stake Correlation and the ZL's had a lesson at the same time, so we split up. I went to correlation with Elder Mariluch and Elder McKenna went with Elder Hardy. After we got back home, Elder McKenna told me of some concerns he has with his ability to teach, and not feeling like he is reaching his full potential, we talked for a good 2 hours, and I gave him a blessing.

 Wednesday, we did a training at zone meeting, and Elder McKenna did an amazing job.

Thursday we did service literally all day. painting, and carpeting a house.

Friday, we were able to go to the temple as a zone... my last zone temple trip:(. But it was still amazing:)  Friday night, I had an interview with an investigator that is getting baptized. She was having second thoughts, as they always do. We were able to give her a blessing and do the interview. It was really weird, I felt like a bishop, her telling me all the things she needs to work on, and me giving her advice and tools she can use to overcome the issues. I love helping people on a more personal level. I'm so grateful for this opportunity.

Saturday, I went on exchanges with Elder Muench. His companion and he are not getting along the greatest, and don't seem to have the work ethic that needs to exist in this setting. Anyway, we will be working closely with them this next week to improve the situation.

 I think that's all I have for this week! Here's the quote of the week!

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.

Rabindranath Tagore

 I love all of you! remember, when it rains, remember where the rain comes from:) Keep on keepin on! -Elder Taylor Alston

First time for Brianna!