Hi,
We just finished going to two blocks of church and I have a few minutes before dinner will be ready so I will write a bit.
I am so grateful to be a missionary and to be able to serve with my wonderful companion. Yesterday for our P-day we decided to do something fun and relaxing since it has been months since we done so. So we packed a picnic lunch and went to the lake. Lake Michigan is huge. It was a beautiful, sunny day. We sat on our folding chairs on the beach and watched all of the people playing in the water. There were lots of people on sailboats, catamurans, and on sail boards, along with lots just playing in the water or enjoying the sun on the beach. It was quite relaxing as we thought of being on a beach in Hawaii. Just the people watching was fun.
The homes on North Shore beach are amazing by themselves. There are many multi-million dollar homes on that shore; huge with large manicured yards and all kinds of water toys by them. We definitely see the huge difference between the haves and the have nots here. The extremes between the rich and the rest are very noticeable.
After relaxing for a few hours, we had to hurry back to do the normal P-day activities of laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning the apartment and getting everything ready for the Sabbath.
We had a new missionary sister arrive from Poland this week. Sister Antkowiak is 21. She met the missionaries 3 years ago while walking down the street on her way to her apartment after a day at college. She loves to read, so when the missionaries offered her a free Book of Mormon to read, she gladly accepted it. She said that reading it changed her life because it answered so many of her questions. Three weeks later she was baptized and joined the church. She said today that she already loves Chicago and the people.
Life-changing stories like this are actually quite common when learning about various younger missionaries lives. They are just an amazing group of young people. I think we have now adopted at least 20 or so of them as grandchildren. We try to make sure we have a variety of snacks, etc at the office so that when they come in, they can get a treat.
I got a bee in my bonnet early yesterday morning and went on a 4 mile walk. This all occurred before sister T cracked an eye. It was a delightful walk, but I don't usually go 4 miles. I wish that I had time to go that far more often, but it is usually only 2-3 miles. I enjoy the time to think while I am walking and enjoying nature.
My love for life and for the gospel of Jesus Christ has deepened here. I am sure that in part, my love for the Savior has increased simply because we are spending much more time focusing on serving him and his children whom he loves. It is a thrill to see a light come into someone's face and eyes as they study the scriptures and embrace his gospel. I love being able to play a small part in helping that change to take place. Take time to say hi to someone and allow them to see the light in your eyes so that they will have a greater desire to know why you are happy, etc. I love you and miss you but wouldn't want to be anywhere but here right now. Have a great week.
Elder Taggart
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sick
This week we faced our first sickness of the season. I thought it was a cold but by Friday my sinuses hurt so. Ad I could not stand to keep my eyes open and it started down my bronchial passages. At that point, out of the clear blue, I got a call from Ellie Ekins who wanted to talk to me. She didn't want to talk long because she said I sounded like Brother Taggart. She passed the phone to her mother, who agreed and offered to have Randy ( Dr. Ekins) help us out. Never have I been so grateful for an antibiotic. It stopped this stuff in its tracks and I was back in the office by Monday. It is really handy having a doctor in the family and his wife would make a great nurse! Ekins are doing well however part of the phone call was for baby Olivia, a doll I gave Ellie way back when, who's arms are falling off. This distresses Ellie and I wished I were one state closer to help her solve the problem. Nice to know she still feels like she can call me for help.
We had our first Sister's Conference this week and I insisted the men could hold down the office so we could go. It was wonderful.( and Elder Taggart said he was bored to death in the office. The phone rarely rang, confirming his theory that the sister missionaries make most of the phone calls anyway.). He came to the rescue of a sister from Indiana who had locked her keys in the car. So then he could drive us back home from downtown Chicago. The theme of the conference was taken from Elder Christensen's remarks made here last year....." The Lord does NOT waste resources." I have pondered that from several angles. As I order supplies, as we use gasoline, as we balance how to use our time here on the mission. I am His resource right now, as we all are, and He doesn't waste anything. Something to think about as we read, watch TV, go to meetings, etc. Am I wasting God's resources? Another thing.....with this new group of sisters, the homesickness has gone off the charts. One young sister had never left her small city in Utah and she sees the boogie man around every corner here in Chicago. There is safety in wearing garments and keeping those sacred covenants.....there is safety in wearing the black badge and being obedient. Help your children understand there is a big world out there but The Lord has His angels all around to protect those who are obedient and keep covenants. And if you have a daughter who is getting caught up in the moment and isn't prepared to trust in The Lord, it will be hard. A mission isn't a fashion show, a slumber party, a glory experience. It is hard work. We also deal with the hover mothers in the office and I have a word for them. LET GO. Your child is in the Lords work right now and other than a letter weekly, doesn't need you. Help them focus. Help them grow up. Help them learn how to rely on Heaven's help.
Our missionaries are awesome. At first we just had one or two favorites....it goes way beyond that now. These sisters are a force to be reckoned with and they will raise the next army of Helaman. These Elders are strong, fun, dedicated, and always hungry. We have increased our food budget so there are more things in the office for them to eat. They each get $150 per month but after a few trips to McDonalds, the money is gone and it is only the 20th of the month. Members in most of our mission are too poor to feed the missionaries....and when you are a Spanish Ward and have 4 sets of missionaries.....how do you feed them every night anyway? So we have food at the office....crackers, cheese, Rice Krispie treats, muffins, PBJ ingredients for sandwiches. We brought in smoothies this week and they were gone in a flash....fruit, chocolate,granola bars. If it isn't nailed down, it gets eaten. And they are filled with gratitude. We have approx. 10 more sons and at least that many more daughters. We love them and they love us.....or our food at least.
The tradition in our mission is to pick up the missionaries at the airport, hand them a Book of Mormon, get on the L (train), go into Chicago, tour downtown, eat deep dish pizza, approach at least one person on the train or downtown , give away the Book of Mormon, and then come back to the mission home where we all train these new missionaries while the mission president does 30 interviews. It is crazy. This last group did that and this week I got a request on referrals from a man who met one of these missionaries on the train on his way home and he wants to know more. You never know what brief encounter counts. Sister Crook in the office this week gave a Book of Mormon to the mailman when he said he was having a horrible day. She promised him if he would read it, it would help. ( mail in the bank has increased from a 5 minute stop to a 20 min. Stop because of all the letters and packages delivered to our missionaries. We may contribute to his horrible day!!!). A deep breath and courage is all it takes and it may be just the thing that changes a life for good.
Our home teaching assignment is delightful. We love this single sister and I would love to live in her house for a year just to read part of her library. She taught at the university here before her recent illness and she has a wonderful collection. Not my season to read right now but I can dream, can't I. I am so grateful for parents who instilled a love of good books in me.
I'll be feeding 90 missionaries Tues. for new missionary training. Then I have a small part on the agenda. We are working with two chain smokers in our other ward assignment and I just want to cut all their cigs in half and tell them to just give it up. Chicago weather is not as bad as we thought it was going to be. Three months in and I am already sick of my clothes. The sisters change with each other....Sister Crook is 6 inches taller than I am and a different size so I can't do that and Elder Taggart refuses! We are going to the beach today for our p-day. I think we miss Hawaii too. Grandchildren drawings and letters are the best. We try to match our missionary granddaughter stride for stride. She has an amazing attitude which I don't always have. We still love each other more than life and continue to prove there are great rewards for doing hard things.
Sad a friend died this last week.....Taylor. She will be missed. I have been praying for my past seminary student, her son, that he can survive this hard time. We love you. We miss you but have learned to love the people you serve no matter where you are. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Taggart
P-day on Lake Michigan
.JPG)
One of our daughters
.JPG)
Chicago church - notice no windows and the fence?
.JPG)
Gary, Indiana - Yuk!
.JPG)
My Hero - In their 70s, the Gripmans will now help us find 20 more apartments, and then inspect them. I love Senior couples
.JPG)
We had our first Sister's Conference this week and I insisted the men could hold down the office so we could go. It was wonderful.( and Elder Taggart said he was bored to death in the office. The phone rarely rang, confirming his theory that the sister missionaries make most of the phone calls anyway.). He came to the rescue of a sister from Indiana who had locked her keys in the car. So then he could drive us back home from downtown Chicago. The theme of the conference was taken from Elder Christensen's remarks made here last year....." The Lord does NOT waste resources." I have pondered that from several angles. As I order supplies, as we use gasoline, as we balance how to use our time here on the mission. I am His resource right now, as we all are, and He doesn't waste anything. Something to think about as we read, watch TV, go to meetings, etc. Am I wasting God's resources? Another thing.....with this new group of sisters, the homesickness has gone off the charts. One young sister had never left her small city in Utah and she sees the boogie man around every corner here in Chicago. There is safety in wearing garments and keeping those sacred covenants.....there is safety in wearing the black badge and being obedient. Help your children understand there is a big world out there but The Lord has His angels all around to protect those who are obedient and keep covenants. And if you have a daughter who is getting caught up in the moment and isn't prepared to trust in The Lord, it will be hard. A mission isn't a fashion show, a slumber party, a glory experience. It is hard work. We also deal with the hover mothers in the office and I have a word for them. LET GO. Your child is in the Lords work right now and other than a letter weekly, doesn't need you. Help them focus. Help them grow up. Help them learn how to rely on Heaven's help.
Our missionaries are awesome. At first we just had one or two favorites....it goes way beyond that now. These sisters are a force to be reckoned with and they will raise the next army of Helaman. These Elders are strong, fun, dedicated, and always hungry. We have increased our food budget so there are more things in the office for them to eat. They each get $150 per month but after a few trips to McDonalds, the money is gone and it is only the 20th of the month. Members in most of our mission are too poor to feed the missionaries....and when you are a Spanish Ward and have 4 sets of missionaries.....how do you feed them every night anyway? So we have food at the office....crackers, cheese, Rice Krispie treats, muffins, PBJ ingredients for sandwiches. We brought in smoothies this week and they were gone in a flash....fruit, chocolate,granola bars. If it isn't nailed down, it gets eaten. And they are filled with gratitude. We have approx. 10 more sons and at least that many more daughters. We love them and they love us.....or our food at least.
The tradition in our mission is to pick up the missionaries at the airport, hand them a Book of Mormon, get on the L (train), go into Chicago, tour downtown, eat deep dish pizza, approach at least one person on the train or downtown , give away the Book of Mormon, and then come back to the mission home where we all train these new missionaries while the mission president does 30 interviews. It is crazy. This last group did that and this week I got a request on referrals from a man who met one of these missionaries on the train on his way home and he wants to know more. You never know what brief encounter counts. Sister Crook in the office this week gave a Book of Mormon to the mailman when he said he was having a horrible day. She promised him if he would read it, it would help. ( mail in the bank has increased from a 5 minute stop to a 20 min. Stop because of all the letters and packages delivered to our missionaries. We may contribute to his horrible day!!!). A deep breath and courage is all it takes and it may be just the thing that changes a life for good.
Our home teaching assignment is delightful. We love this single sister and I would love to live in her house for a year just to read part of her library. She taught at the university here before her recent illness and she has a wonderful collection. Not my season to read right now but I can dream, can't I. I am so grateful for parents who instilled a love of good books in me.
I'll be feeding 90 missionaries Tues. for new missionary training. Then I have a small part on the agenda. We are working with two chain smokers in our other ward assignment and I just want to cut all their cigs in half and tell them to just give it up. Chicago weather is not as bad as we thought it was going to be. Three months in and I am already sick of my clothes. The sisters change with each other....Sister Crook is 6 inches taller than I am and a different size so I can't do that and Elder Taggart refuses! We are going to the beach today for our p-day. I think we miss Hawaii too. Grandchildren drawings and letters are the best. We try to match our missionary granddaughter stride for stride. She has an amazing attitude which I don't always have. We still love each other more than life and continue to prove there are great rewards for doing hard things.
Sad a friend died this last week.....Taylor. She will be missed. I have been praying for my past seminary student, her son, that he can survive this hard time. We love you. We miss you but have learned to love the people you serve no matter where you are. Have a great week.
Love,
Sister Taggart
P-day on Lake Michigan
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Where's Waldo?
All week I have wondered where Waldo is.....and Sister Grant.....and Elder Clingo.....and Elder Gonzales. With transfers, it is like apple cart upset. You get 28 new missionaries in and 10 leaving so vacancies have to be filled, " greenies" need a trainer, new areas need missionaries and cars and phones and apartments all line up.....supposedly. As the mail secretary, all mail comes into the office and I readdress it and send it to individual apartments.( this protects our missionaries and the mail....especially during transfers.) if I can't find an Elder or Sister, how could the US Postal Service find them? So I study the transfer board, the list of companionships, the list of new apartments and hope the right Elder or Sister gets the letter.
The corn is as high as an elephants eye.....just thought I would report that. We went to Indiana today to inspect cars and the corn fields look great. We drove through Gary, Indiana and it is such an industrial mess, houses boarded up, black and brown and rust town. Then not ten miles away we pull into Valparaiso, Indiana and it is beautiful....large homes, forests, nice parks, etc. I think the "haves" and the " have nots" in this country will at some point need to be addressed. It is a stark contrast here every time we drive anywhere.
In our meeting this Monday, the President was shocked Senior couples pay $100 a month their whole mission for furnishings and yet we got most of ours from the hand-me-down storage unit and Goodwill. We also pay our utilities and ours should be high this month because we have had the air conditioner on constantly.(sorry, Brianne,we are old). He thought we had been taken care of like the mission home was. Hahaha. I wouldn't trade them places for their nice house. Their life is crazier than ours. We have settled in and quite like our home....although we are wondering if the smell could be a dead person buried under the floor.(you can never get rid of stale tobacco smoke in the walls)
We got to go to the temple Saturday. We are literally 5 minutes from the temple. It was a good experience. Our stake president thanked us for being in his stake, attending two wards, and " just blending in." We home teach in one ward, are on the missionary committee in the other ward and sit through two entire blocks each Sunday. This week we also attended a family history fireside where Bruce and Susan Anderson spoke. Susie Albrechtsen Anderson was so shocked and thrilled to see her cousin here. She about squeezed me to death. She used Severen Albrechtsen ( grandpa) as the example as she showed us how to do different things on the new Family Tree. She gave Christine credit for much of the work and sings your praises for learning Danish, documenting records, etc. when it was all over, she hugged me more and invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. Bloomington is out of our mission so we will have to get special permission but it would be fun to be in my cousin's home here in Illinois.
We had a Senior couple express disgust in their living accommodations this week and they will be moving to downtown Chicago into a townhouse. I asked Elder Taggart, " can we do that?" He said no. I meant....how do you dare express disgust and move out of these hilarious living accommodations? We laugh every day about the dance we do in kitchen or bathroom so we aren't in the others way while getting ready or preparing a meal. It is funny and fun. And our apartment is so much nicer than most. How can you complain? So we are sticking it out right where we are. What is that smell? Lol
Our mission president meets with us for 2-4 hours each Monday to evaluate, plan, iron out details, sign things, approve other things, etc. this week he told Elder Crook and Elder Taggart that part of their roles here are to be father figures to these missionaries. 40% of the missionaries in this mission were raised without a father in their lives daily. The toll this takes on youth is harsh. We have both adopted missionaries. It is hard not to have favorites.
I have been helping on car inspections during zone meetings. This week we have done surprise inspections. As I watch Elder Taggart, I am reminded how lovingly he would teach our own children how to keep a car clean, how to check tire pressure, how to change a tire. He treats each car like he would for one of his own children. He expects certain things and he lovingly reminds them this is the Lords car for the Lords work and should be treated accordingly. I admire how he deals with people through accidents, mishaps, and just dumb choices. He's great.
The "Crookism" for the week: "I wonder what happens to a person who is scared half to death twice. Is he dead?" We just had dinner at their house tonight. We walk out our glass door, around the barrier, and into their glass door. We are both learning a lot.....about life, people, each other, and the Gospel. Our job is not to jump in and play the piano, lead the music, speak, organize, correct, judge, expound all our experience and knowledge, lead, or counsel. Our jobs are to help the missionaries succeed and listen and love. That is it. Our president says..."Be a light, not a judge." Good counsel for us all. I have started alterations and mending.....oh boy! This will be the first group of missionaries to outgrow their suits because they are still growing in height. They think I'm amazing when I can stitch up a split pair of pants or a pocket that caught and tore on a bike handle. It is fun to serve these missionaries.
Time for bed. Hope you let your lights shine. Hugs are free. Focus on loving rather than judging. It is contagious . Oh yes....thank you for the fun box, Todd and Julie. I cried when I saw the roll of quarters. I know what that costs. The detergent, toothpaste, floss, pictures, letters hit at a good time. Everyone in the office was jealous. They need quarters for laundry too.lol
We love you. We miss you. We hope you are helping others see who Christ is when they see you.
Love,
Sister Taggart
The corn is as high as an elephants eye.....just thought I would report that. We went to Indiana today to inspect cars and the corn fields look great. We drove through Gary, Indiana and it is such an industrial mess, houses boarded up, black and brown and rust town. Then not ten miles away we pull into Valparaiso, Indiana and it is beautiful....large homes, forests, nice parks, etc. I think the "haves" and the " have nots" in this country will at some point need to be addressed. It is a stark contrast here every time we drive anywhere.
In our meeting this Monday, the President was shocked Senior couples pay $100 a month their whole mission for furnishings and yet we got most of ours from the hand-me-down storage unit and Goodwill. We also pay our utilities and ours should be high this month because we have had the air conditioner on constantly.(sorry, Brianne,we are old). He thought we had been taken care of like the mission home was. Hahaha. I wouldn't trade them places for their nice house. Their life is crazier than ours. We have settled in and quite like our home....although we are wondering if the smell could be a dead person buried under the floor.(you can never get rid of stale tobacco smoke in the walls)
We got to go to the temple Saturday. We are literally 5 minutes from the temple. It was a good experience. Our stake president thanked us for being in his stake, attending two wards, and " just blending in." We home teach in one ward, are on the missionary committee in the other ward and sit through two entire blocks each Sunday. This week we also attended a family history fireside where Bruce and Susan Anderson spoke. Susie Albrechtsen Anderson was so shocked and thrilled to see her cousin here. She about squeezed me to death. She used Severen Albrechtsen ( grandpa) as the example as she showed us how to do different things on the new Family Tree. She gave Christine credit for much of the work and sings your praises for learning Danish, documenting records, etc. when it was all over, she hugged me more and invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. Bloomington is out of our mission so we will have to get special permission but it would be fun to be in my cousin's home here in Illinois.
We had a Senior couple express disgust in their living accommodations this week and they will be moving to downtown Chicago into a townhouse. I asked Elder Taggart, " can we do that?" He said no. I meant....how do you dare express disgust and move out of these hilarious living accommodations? We laugh every day about the dance we do in kitchen or bathroom so we aren't in the others way while getting ready or preparing a meal. It is funny and fun. And our apartment is so much nicer than most. How can you complain? So we are sticking it out right where we are. What is that smell? Lol
Our mission president meets with us for 2-4 hours each Monday to evaluate, plan, iron out details, sign things, approve other things, etc. this week he told Elder Crook and Elder Taggart that part of their roles here are to be father figures to these missionaries. 40% of the missionaries in this mission were raised without a father in their lives daily. The toll this takes on youth is harsh. We have both adopted missionaries. It is hard not to have favorites.
I have been helping on car inspections during zone meetings. This week we have done surprise inspections. As I watch Elder Taggart, I am reminded how lovingly he would teach our own children how to keep a car clean, how to check tire pressure, how to change a tire. He treats each car like he would for one of his own children. He expects certain things and he lovingly reminds them this is the Lords car for the Lords work and should be treated accordingly. I admire how he deals with people through accidents, mishaps, and just dumb choices. He's great.
The "Crookism" for the week: "I wonder what happens to a person who is scared half to death twice. Is he dead?" We just had dinner at their house tonight. We walk out our glass door, around the barrier, and into their glass door. We are both learning a lot.....about life, people, each other, and the Gospel. Our job is not to jump in and play the piano, lead the music, speak, organize, correct, judge, expound all our experience and knowledge, lead, or counsel. Our jobs are to help the missionaries succeed and listen and love. That is it. Our president says..."Be a light, not a judge." Good counsel for us all. I have started alterations and mending.....oh boy! This will be the first group of missionaries to outgrow their suits because they are still growing in height. They think I'm amazing when I can stitch up a split pair of pants or a pocket that caught and tore on a bike handle. It is fun to serve these missionaries.
Time for bed. Hope you let your lights shine. Hugs are free. Focus on loving rather than judging. It is contagious . Oh yes....thank you for the fun box, Todd and Julie. I cried when I saw the roll of quarters. I know what that costs. The detergent, toothpaste, floss, pictures, letters hit at a good time. Everyone in the office was jealous. They need quarters for laundry too.lol
We love you. We miss you. We hope you are helping others see who Christ is when they see you.
Love,
Sister Taggart
Monday, August 5, 2013
A Mighty Work
Hi,
I realized that I didn't write last week. I decided that before I get involved in all that needs to be done today, I would take a few minutes and share a few thoughts.
First let me say that we love and miss each of you. But we are meeting many wonderful people here to help to fill that void.
I am honestly as busy as I was when I was working full-time and serving as the stake president. But I am loving the work. Things in the office are beginning to settle down a bit. But in the next 18 weeks we will have an additional 103 missionaries arrive here in Chicago. Obviously there is much that needs to be done to be ready for them. For me, it is making sure that we have cars for them to use and cell phones for them to be able to communicate. In this timeframe we will double the number of vehicles that I will be responsible to make sure are operating properly, etc. Remembering that most of the missionaries here are 18-21 years old, most of them have not had much experience either operating or maintaining a vehicle. So I get phone calls all day from 7 am to 10 pm asking me what they should do. Some are: "We ran over a nail and need to get the tire fixed. Where do we go and what do we tell them?" or "When parking we got too close to the curb and scratched the wheel and the front bumper" or "We hit a raccoon but the car is fine. Obviously the raccoon is not." Fortunately since we arrived, I have only had to deal with one serious accident. The missionaries ended up fine, but the car did not.
I have to log every oil change, tire rotation, repair, etc. to every car. I also have to remind them when it is time for their oil, etc to be changed. Fortunately the church has a program that we use that tracks most of that information. I love being able to interact with the young missionaries either on the phone, text of as they come into the office. What incredible young people.
We had 3 less-active people come to church last week. None of them had been to church for some time. We work in the office all day Monday to Friday and then spend our evenings working with those who are less-active as well as helping the young missionaries teach, etc. The handicapped sister who rode to church with us last Sunday wants us to pick her up for church again this Sunday. We are hoping to be able to make a positive difference in her life.
Last night our stake president here asked if he could meet with us. He wanted to know how our mission is going and how the work we are doing in the evenings is going. He then asked us if we would accept an additional assignment. He asked us if, in addition to attending the 3 hour block of meetings in he ward we are assigned to, we would also attend the hour block of the other ward that meets in the building. He indicated that this other ward needs the presence of a senior missionary couple to help strengthen them. He then asked us if we would home teach (visit and love) a single sister in that ward who is struggling with life. He asked us if we would sit with her every week and help her to feel loved and welcome. Obviously we said yes. So now every Sunday we will attend one ward from 9-12 and another ward from 1-4. There goes my Sunday nap that I have grown to love and look forward to.
Claudia has been repairing pants for young missionaries; things like seams that have come apart, seats of pants that have split out, etc. As the word gets out that she has her sewing machine with her and is willing to do this, I think she will find herself quite busy helping missionaries to get a few more miles out of their clothing.
She is learning tons on the computer. I am so proud of her for facing her fears of technology and being able to master various programs, etc. to be able to do what she has been asked to do. Occasionally she will come into my office and ask me to come help her with something. But she is learning so much. Those of you who know how much she has hated computers would be really proud of her.
I love sharing this experience with the woman I love. I couldn't ask for a better companion. We are both being stretched and are learning skills we didn't know before. We come home every night worn out and ready for bed. We are both sleeping like babies so that hard work, long hours and stress must be a good thing for helping one to sleep. But we get to do all of this together and that is a huge blessing.
We were able to teach with the young sister missionaries in our area one night this week. We visited with Saad. Saad is probably in his mid-30's, single and is from Pakistan. Initially he had his guard up and was hesitant to open his mind to what we were talking about. But as the Spirit touched his heart, he softened and we had a wonderful discussion. He has a difficult time grasping the thought that we are all God's children and that Heavenly Father is really our father. He felt like that would put constraints on God. By the end of our discussion, he was more open, agreed to read at least one page in the scriptures each day and remember to pray to Father in Heaven. he agreed to meet with us again. These young missionaries are wonderful teachers. The Lord knows what he is doing when he calls young 18-21 years olds to be the primary teachers. They aren't as experienced but they are definitely receptive to the promptings of the Spirit and have learned how to invite it into their lessons.
We love the work; we love the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are so thankful for the Atonement and it's power to heal broken hearts and lift souls that are hurting because of sin, addiction, etc. Take time to thank your Father in Heaven for your many blessings and the gift of His Son in your lives.
I must close and get busy. We need to pick up another car today and got to a car wash in one of the wards. Two young missionaries asked us if we would come to their free car wash. These are two young men who we have been blessed to be surrogate grandparents, etc. to. Have a great weekend.
Love,
Elder Taggart
Friday, August 2, 2013
Hastening the Work
My quote for last week was, " if the prophet wanted to hasten the work, he never would have put us seniors in front of the computers." I have been at my own computer for a month now and I can do a few things. I went into excel and made a new address/phone/area chart for all the transfers we have coming next week. I can enter baptisms without calling Salt Lake. I can do referrals correct within a mile 99% of the time. I know the city of Chicago backwards and forwards because of looking at maps intensely for weeks. I have figured out home inspectors within a 5 mile radius for 71 apartments. Before me.....they were driving hours and sometimes 100 miles before the inspections were done. I organised it into areas so they don't have to go more than a few miles in any direction to get the job done. I have organised the office and supplies so it looks like an office. I have organised packages for missionaries and mail and everything else I could organise. That brings me to the quote from this week. Elder Crook has watched me with interest and finally said, "You know what they say about an organised person, don't you? It is a person who is too lazy to look for things." I have decided that is my gift....to be able to take chaos and organise it, whether it is on a chart, in the mail room, office, or apartment.
I have learned many things this past couple of weeks. You can be sent home as senior missionaries. We had two senior sisters get " reassigned" this week due to irreconcilable differences between them. The contention they were causing in the mission and trying to get others to side with them became a distraction so they were both reassigned where they won't be in this mission and they won't have to interact with each other. I have decided to be kinder to my companion.
I have learned the world I have lived in is not reality for most people. We had a 16 year old baptised and he received the Aaronic priesthood this week. His first question was, " can I go to the temple and be baptised again now? The mission president was a little shocked by the question and possible misunderstanding. Then the young man continued. " I have been having dreams of my uncle for the past year. Now I know why. He wants to be baptised. Can I do his baptism in the temple?" He was told what he had to do and is excited. His uncle died a year ago when he was shot here in a gang war. Now he is on the other side prompting this nephew to do his work for him.
I have learned that my job here is to solve mysteries. I'll give you a taste of some real ones. " Sister Taggart, do you know the zip code of my old companion....who lives in Arizona.....and was done with her mission a year ago?" " Sister Taggart, he is a referral. All I have is a first name and a phone number. Can you assign him to the missionaries.....in Austin, Texas?" " Sister Taggart, do they print the triple combination in Creole?" "Sister Taggart, could you get me a triple column Book of Mormon in Mandarin for my study time?" ( no, they are $21 each, study in English). "Sister Taggart, will the mission pay for a mop?" (Yes it will but do you have a rag? I still mop my floor on my hands and knees and I'm 62. Try it. Your floors will be cleaner."). When they address a letter to Elder John Bob and you have no Johns in the mission and no Bobs in the mission.....who do you give it to? I sent it back to his dumb girlfriend with " no such person in this mission." Never a dull moment....I tell you. I'll get a phone call and instead of identifying himself, he will say, "sister Taggart, it's your favourite missionary!" Never a dull moment, I tell you.
We put in 64 hours last week. I have learned I have more stamina than I ever dreamed of. We work long hours in the office and then go with the missionaries at night to teach....or we feed them....or go to Missionary Committee Meeting. Last week we taught Lita. She is a member of six years, has one leg and is a chain smoker. Addictions stink....literally and figuratively. I was taking asthma meds after our visit but she came to church with us Sunday and says she will come again this next week. She is a sweetheart but addiction is addiction. We are trying to get her to cut one cigarette a day....from 18 to 17 then 17 to 16 . Sunday she was so nervous she would smell bad. I assured her she was fine and if all our sins had a smoke smell, we would all have an door about us. She hates the habit, the smell, what it is doing to her life. She has lost 6 relatives to smoking caused lung cancer....but she started as a 10 year old and she can't quit. We will be working with her on an ongoing basis. Tonight we picked up Sod, a young student from Pakistan who wants to " study truth". We were blessed that he is fasting for Ramadom
So I think he was more susceptible to the Spirit. Anyway, he has issues thinking God can be confined to a body. He thinks all religions are good and trick the mind into thinking good and into thinking God answers prayers. I read 2 Nephi 1:5-7 and bore testimony that I believe Sod and his family were guided to America so he could learn about the Gospel. The Spirit changed, he was receptive, he agreed to read a page a day in the Book of Mormon, and he said a sweet , humble closing prayer. It made a huge difference to have the discussion in the home of a member. I felt like a real missionary.
I have learned I can feed 75 hungry missionaries and stay $100 under budget. Several said they were stuffed.....a miracle at this age.
I have learned happiness is not a big home, possessions, travel to exotic places or lots of money to live on. Happiness is being with your best friend, serving The Lord full time, doing dishes daily together at the sink in our one butt kitchen, going to bed exhausted every single night. The carpet cleaning Saturday did not get rid of the smell.....oh well. $10 a week in quarters for laundry at a laundromat is a pain.....oh well. Having the missionaries over to dinner and having to wash forks or spoons in between courses is a pain....oh well. Life is good and as Sister Wrengler says, We are thankful for work to do and strength to do it with. This mission is entirely different than what we thought it would be but boy are we loved, appreciated, and needed. We get 25 new missionaries next week with only 10 going home. We have 38 new the next transfer with only 6 going home and 40 the transfer after that with only 5 going home. Get your papers in and catch the wave. Another option is to help the missionaries in your ward find and teach. They are awesome and our prophet had the vision of exactly what is taking place right now.
Speaking of tired.....it is my bedtime. I know I will sleep well. I do every night. We belong here right now. Pray about what you can do to help these missionaries in your area. It's rewarding.
We love you and miss you.
Sister Taggart
I have learned many things this past couple of weeks. You can be sent home as senior missionaries. We had two senior sisters get " reassigned" this week due to irreconcilable differences between them. The contention they were causing in the mission and trying to get others to side with them became a distraction so they were both reassigned where they won't be in this mission and they won't have to interact with each other. I have decided to be kinder to my companion.
I have learned the world I have lived in is not reality for most people. We had a 16 year old baptised and he received the Aaronic priesthood this week. His first question was, " can I go to the temple and be baptised again now? The mission president was a little shocked by the question and possible misunderstanding. Then the young man continued. " I have been having dreams of my uncle for the past year. Now I know why. He wants to be baptised. Can I do his baptism in the temple?" He was told what he had to do and is excited. His uncle died a year ago when he was shot here in a gang war. Now he is on the other side prompting this nephew to do his work for him.
I have learned that my job here is to solve mysteries. I'll give you a taste of some real ones. " Sister Taggart, do you know the zip code of my old companion....who lives in Arizona.....and was done with her mission a year ago?" " Sister Taggart, he is a referral. All I have is a first name and a phone number. Can you assign him to the missionaries.....in Austin, Texas?" " Sister Taggart, do they print the triple combination in Creole?" "Sister Taggart, could you get me a triple column Book of Mormon in Mandarin for my study time?" ( no, they are $21 each, study in English). "Sister Taggart, will the mission pay for a mop?" (Yes it will but do you have a rag? I still mop my floor on my hands and knees and I'm 62. Try it. Your floors will be cleaner."). When they address a letter to Elder John Bob and you have no Johns in the mission and no Bobs in the mission.....who do you give it to? I sent it back to his dumb girlfriend with " no such person in this mission." Never a dull moment....I tell you. I'll get a phone call and instead of identifying himself, he will say, "sister Taggart, it's your favourite missionary!" Never a dull moment, I tell you.
We put in 64 hours last week. I have learned I have more stamina than I ever dreamed of. We work long hours in the office and then go with the missionaries at night to teach....or we feed them....or go to Missionary Committee Meeting. Last week we taught Lita. She is a member of six years, has one leg and is a chain smoker. Addictions stink....literally and figuratively. I was taking asthma meds after our visit but she came to church with us Sunday and says she will come again this next week. She is a sweetheart but addiction is addiction. We are trying to get her to cut one cigarette a day....from 18 to 17 then 17 to 16 . Sunday she was so nervous she would smell bad. I assured her she was fine and if all our sins had a smoke smell, we would all have an door about us. She hates the habit, the smell, what it is doing to her life. She has lost 6 relatives to smoking caused lung cancer....but she started as a 10 year old and she can't quit. We will be working with her on an ongoing basis. Tonight we picked up Sod, a young student from Pakistan who wants to " study truth". We were blessed that he is fasting for Ramadom
So I think he was more susceptible to the Spirit. Anyway, he has issues thinking God can be confined to a body. He thinks all religions are good and trick the mind into thinking good and into thinking God answers prayers. I read 2 Nephi 1:5-7 and bore testimony that I believe Sod and his family were guided to America so he could learn about the Gospel. The Spirit changed, he was receptive, he agreed to read a page a day in the Book of Mormon, and he said a sweet , humble closing prayer. It made a huge difference to have the discussion in the home of a member. I felt like a real missionary.
I have learned I can feed 75 hungry missionaries and stay $100 under budget. Several said they were stuffed.....a miracle at this age.
I have learned happiness is not a big home, possessions, travel to exotic places or lots of money to live on. Happiness is being with your best friend, serving The Lord full time, doing dishes daily together at the sink in our one butt kitchen, going to bed exhausted every single night. The carpet cleaning Saturday did not get rid of the smell.....oh well. $10 a week in quarters for laundry at a laundromat is a pain.....oh well. Having the missionaries over to dinner and having to wash forks or spoons in between courses is a pain....oh well. Life is good and as Sister Wrengler says, We are thankful for work to do and strength to do it with. This mission is entirely different than what we thought it would be but boy are we loved, appreciated, and needed. We get 25 new missionaries next week with only 10 going home. We have 38 new the next transfer with only 6 going home and 40 the transfer after that with only 5 going home. Get your papers in and catch the wave. Another option is to help the missionaries in your ward find and teach. They are awesome and our prophet had the vision of exactly what is taking place right now.
Speaking of tired.....it is my bedtime. I know I will sleep well. I do every night. We belong here right now. Pray about what you can do to help these missionaries in your area. It's rewarding.
We love you and miss you.
Sister Taggart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)