June 30, 2014

Hey everyone! sorry I didnt write last week! I didn't have time! I hope y'all are doin alright! Im going to try and do a rundown of the past two weeks...

Monday the 16th: the douglas's came up from willcox and we had a delayed birthday party! We went to lunch, and went bowling. 

Tuesday: A missionary went missing monday night so President organized a search and rescue mission. We met at the stake center with a couple other zones at 6 am. and started walking the streets to look for him. we ended up finding him at about 9am. He apparently just wanted to be alone. haha 

Thursday: we had our last zone conference with President Killpack. It was really sad saying goodbye. some of us in the zone sang a song that a couple sisters wrote. After zone conf., We went to TMC to give a blessing and then headed to dinner.

the rest of the week was pretty normal. 

Now for this past week..

Monday: Went hiking up on mt. Lemmon with a member.

Tuesday: helped someone move from 9am to 9pm. 

Wednesday: Had district meeting then went on exchanges. I went with one of the Ap's and Elder Stoelk went with on of the ZL's. It was super fun. We went tracting and found a few new investigators. Unfortunately,  they were both very attractive 20 year old girls. So we have to hand them off to YSA sisters. haha 

Thursday-Saturday were pretty normal.

Sunday: I taught the gospel principles class after our ward mission leader texted me at 1130 Saturday night and asked to fill in for him. haha gotta love being a minute man, huh? apparently it went well though because everyone came up to me after the class and told me how much they enjoyed it. 

Lets see.... as far as training Elder Stoelk goes... let's just say I'll be a little more joyful starting next week. haha Im pretty sure he is getting transferred out and I am staying here in Pima ward for another transfer. I've had multiple members express to me that my companion has offended them in some way. I've tried to train him the best I can but nothing seems to work. oh well. life goes on. 

I hope y'all are continuing to invite your friends to hear the word!!! Love you all. till next week, Take care. Love Elder Taylor Alston

getting my tie cut off...

saying goodbye : (

hiking Mt. Lemmon

Southern most ski lift in America 

the view of Tucson 

I love Arizona and tracking..cuz you find cool door mats haha

801 baby!!

Yes, I found Waverly...Tasia you know what I'm talking about right? haha

June 16, 2014

hey everyone. First of all, thanks for all the birthday wishes. They are greatly appreciated. I hope y'alls week was good! here's the rundown on my week! 

Tuesday: Went on exchanges to help the ASL elders translate from English to ASL to Spanish. haha one of their investigators is Hispanic and his family sits in on the lessons. so it gets tricky sometimes. It went pretty well though! I understand most ASL and I can sign back probably about 50%. so a few more lessons and I'll be fluent! 

Wednesday: had district meeting at 11 then had to help the ASL elders again. But this time it was to go pick up a car from the shop, Then drive to the mission office, swap cars, and drive back. by the time we were all done it was time for gospel class at 7. After gospel class, We exchanged with Elders Ward and Cunningham. Elder Stoelk went into Elder Wards area for thursday.

Thursday: helped someone move at 9 biked back home for lunch, went and saw some less actives, then went to Dinner at 5 at the EQ pres's house. He got me a German chocolate cake for my birthday! haha after dinner, he took us to go visit a few people and that took up the rest of the evening. 

Friday: Played racquetball from 5 to 730. Went home, showered, got ready, studied, and then went out to go try and visit a huge list of people. none were home. 

Saturday: Helped someone move....again. haha this time we were moving someone in rather than out. 

Sunday: We were sitting in priesthood. and the bishop asked if anybody had any questions. We heard a voice from the back of thy room say, "How do I get baptized?" so needless to say, we stepped out with this guy named Sergio and had the first lesson with him. he told us he wants to be baptized and committed to coming to the gospel class this Wednesday. It's crazy to see how the Lord just puts people in front of us! He really does prepare people. I have a testimony of that.

Thank you again for all the love and support you send. Love you all!! 

-Elder Taylor Alston 

back in Spanish land 

Miracle Mile!

Church Street! 

almost exactly a year later...a member took me to Golden Corral!! I'm a little bit bigger than I was last year!..haha

June 10, 2014

hey y'all. This week was another busy one.  Here's a rundown...

Monday: After sports, we went and helped our ward mission leader work on his car. We had to replace the window motor in two of his doors. It was really fun:) haha

Tuesday: We had to do laundry during lunch because Monday was too busy. then we walked to go see a few referrals. None of which were home. Then we had dinner,  and went and saw a few less actives.

Wednesday: Zone meeting at 1000, then lunch, then We went out with one of the members in the ward to go see some people who dont have home teachers. Then we had gospel class at 7. 

Thursday: had dinner at the Bishop's house, and continued to see families who dont have home teachers. 

Friday: We had 8 lessons between the hour of 1230 and 7. It was a lot of biking that day. haha 

Saturday: Helped clean the church. went to a birthday party for a 2 year old little girl in the ward. There was a bouncy castle and unlimited hot dogs. It was amazing!! 

Sunday: President Killpack came to our sacrament meeting, that was cool! he gave us a huge shout out to the ward. After church, We took a member out with us and taught a few lessons to some investigators. 

 I think thats about all I have. Hope you have a good week. Love you all. -Elder Taylor Alston 

saying good-bye to one of my good buddies...he had to come home early

this is what busy looks like 

the office sent me a birthday card...haha

May 19, 2014

hey everybody. Yes I'm still alive. Sorry it's been so long. These past few weeks have been INSANE with logistics and dealing with other missionaries problems and all that fun stuff. 

 these past couple weeks, we have found a couple families to start teaching. We ate dinner with one of them last night! 

This past Sunday, we got a call from the hospital. Someone wanted a blessing of passing. by the time we got there, she had already passed. But, the family got a chance to pray with her before she died. when we got there, They invited us in and we read a few scriptures and prayed with them. I was able to share my story about my grandpa Ted. and testify of the plan of salvation. 

Last night, the sisters called and asked us to come give a blessing to one of their investigators. So we got to bike about 5 miles in record time. We got there and Jeremy(the investigator) said that he feels like there is a demon following him. so I assured him that we would take care of that for him. we gave him a blessing and then talked to him for a little while after. I love the priesthood. It's so cool to see how real it actually is. Seeing the power of God at work. 

Let's see, I think thats about all the exciting new things I've done. thank you for your continued support and love. Y'all are awesome! 

Love you! -Elder Taylor Alston 

We can take two things from this picture. 1. I have an Iron Man tattoo. 2. I have been in Arizona for a minute apparently. haha Farmers tan to the max. 

downtown Tucson with Elder Gilson 

All of Tucson

"A" mountain 

Yes, I was at the corner of Surprise and Tuzigoot. hahaha

this is what weekly planning looks like