Facebook

Ok, I just have to start by saying that I have learned more and spent more on Facebook this past week than I have my entire life. We now have 170 missionaries online using Facebook and various LDS sites to share the gospel and invite people to learn more about who we are and what we believe. They currently spend 1 hour per day online and it is my responsibility to monitor their activity, posts, etc. I have read more posts and commented on more pictures this past week simply to make sure they know what is acceptable and what is not. I have literally fallen into bed every night this week from brain cramp and fatigue.

But, exciting things are happening. We are already seeing success from this online activity. In addition to being able to connect with people right here, many of them have been able to connect with family and friends back home to teach the more. Three missionaries actually have someone on date to be baptized from activity just this week.

I had really never chatted on Facebook prior to this past week. Now I probably have 30-40 chats per day answering various questions that missionaries have. These young people really are amazing and it has been fun to read their posts and invitations to others to learn.

Tomorrow we receive 34 new missionaries which will bring the total number of missionaries here in Chicago to 200. So this past week I have made sure that all of the driving records of the new arrivals is complete and ready for them to drive here; I have new cars ready to be assigned to the 15 new areas that we will open up; I have new cell phones ready to be assigned and I will provide training on driving, cell phone, the use of Facebook, etc. Oh, I have rented two additional 12 passenger vans to use in addition to the one we already have just so we can pick them all up at the airport. We will also take the pick-up truck and utility trailer to haul all of their luggage. All of this takes place tomorrow and Tuesday.

On Wednesday we have a member of the Quorum of the Seventy arriving to do a mission tour. He will be here until Sunday morning. So we will have meetings with him all day on Thursday and Friday. As I write this, I think I should quit and go to bed just to get a head start on the week. We will be running fast all week; it will be exhausting but it will also be very rewarding.

The weather has made a shift this past week. I had to scrape frost off the windows three mornings this week. So we know that winter is right around the corner. The leaves have finally changed color and I am sure will fall off the trees very soon. That will change the landscape significantly. But for now, it is very beautiful.

We attended the baptism of two brothers yesterday. Mom, dad and the whole family have been being taught by the missionaries and have been coming to church for many weeks. The mom, Yolanda, really wants to get baptized. But before she and her husband can, they have to get married. They have been together for years and have 5 children. But the husband is hesitant to get married. I don't know if that's because his first marriage didn't work out or not, but you would think that after years together and several children together, you would have determined if it was all going to work out.

Since getting married is one of the best things I have ever done in my life, I really have a difficult time understanding people being hesitant to make that commitment. I do love serving my sweetheart and being able to share this whole experience together.

One last comment about Facebook for those of you who use it regularly; think about posting a link to a video from LDS.org or Mormon.org or just a quote from one of the Apostles this week. You may be amazed when one of your Facebook friends decides they would like to know more. Also, when someone 'likes' your post, it becomes visible to their entire base of friends. Multiply that and it is exciting to think about how many people just one uplifting post may reach. I love this work and am so grateful to know that God knows who I am, that he cares about me personally, and that he really wants me to be happy. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ does make it much easier to be happy.

Have a blessed week!

Elder Taggart