Merry Christmas!

Before I write anything else, let me wish each you a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous 2015! We love you and think of you often even though we have very little contact with most of you these days.

It was a crazy, busy, Christmas-prep week. We had 8 new missionaries arrive on Monday, which meant Elder driving the transfer van and trailer to the airport to pick up luggage and then to the train station to pick up bright-eyed missionaries after their train ride from the airport to downtown, seeing a few sights of the city and a train ride out of the city toward the mission home. The Abbotts did their training on Monday night because the new arrivals are pretty beat that first night. And since their training doesn't involve that is life or death physically and spiritually, we changed the order of the training.

So Tuesday morning, the Taggarts were at the church building bright and early to be prepared to pack 1 1/2 hours with training on referrals, baptisms, supplies, name tags, mail, packages, car safety, iPad set-up, policies/procedures, cell phones and just a good old pep talk before they head to their areas. We hurry back to the office to make sure that lunch, packages and mail plus a warm welcome await them as they stop by the office.

Tuesday night, we leave the office and head straight to the mission home to enjoy dinner and a testimony meeting with the 11 missionaries who would be returning home. That is always a wonderful evening but it is also difficult to say farewell to missionaries we have grown to love and whom we have served our whole mission with. They are like grandkids and we know we will miss them so, just like we miss our grandchildren we left behind.

Wednesday we make sure that all of the sub for Santa boxes (49) are sealed, labeled and ready for delivery. The Taggarts and Abbotts worked very well together to make sure all of this happened. That night we went to dinner with the Abbotts, Gripmanns and 4 Elders. The Chinese food was wonderful and the conversation enjoyable.

Every day packages and mailed arrived for missionaries from family and friends. I sorted the packages and typed labels for the mail most of the week so that Claudia could work on other pressing responsibilities. We had almost 250 packages arrive and close to 400 letters and cards. I must say, my typing skills have been sharpened. In between, I replaced a few iPads, prepared others to be used again, handled 4 more accident claims, replaced 3 cell phones and sold a car.

On Thursday and Friday, Elder Abbott and I held the office down while our wives helped prepare and serve lunch for 4 zones who were having the special Christmas lunch, meeting and trip to the temple.

Thursday afternoon I started to feel a bit under the weather. Since then, I have been fighting the grundge that has been going around; fever, chills, sinus issues and coughing. I. Laughed so hard Thursday night, my back and ribs just hurt on Friday. But DayQuil and NyQuil have come to the rescue. And today, I was able to sing with the ward choir for the Christmas program.

We look forward this week to being able to talk or Skype with kids and their families. The Eakins family will also arrive for a 5 day visit on Christmas Day. We do realize that we are greatly blessed in so many ways and count among those blessings our friendship with each of you. We are blessed with family, both immediate and extended, with the richness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with our love and companionship and the privilege of being here.

We live in a world of chaos and many challenges. But amid all of that there is hope because of Him whose birth we celebrate this week. The message to this song we sung is calming in a troubled world. The name of the song is "All is Well", written by Michael W Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick and arranged by John Leavitt.

All is well, all is well, Angels and men rejoice.
For tonight darkness fell into the dawn of Love's light.
Sing al-le, sing alleluia.
All is well, all is well. Let there be peace on earth.
Christ is come, go and tell, that He is in the manger.
Sing alleluia.
All is well, all is well. Lift up your voice and sing,
Born is now Emmanuel, born is our Lord and Savior.
Sing alleluia, all is well.

Challenges and struggles come into every life, heartache and sorry too. But "because of Him" there is light in a world filled with darkness; there is hope in a world of despair. "He is The Gift"! As we strive to know Him, we desire to serve others. As we serve others, we grow to know Him. Because we know Him, we love others and desire to be more like him and to help others to know Him through who we are becoming. May your hearts and homes be filled with the spirit of Christ this Christmas. I know that He lives and loves each one of us. He is the way to joy and happiness in this life and in the next to come.



Elder Taggart

We are Chicagoans and we may die of exhaustion

December 21, 2014
We are in Chicago, murder capitol of America. What comes next shouldn't surprise me. My reaction to it should. Last Sunday we had gone to bed at 10:15, normal for us. Elder Taggart is asleep in 3 minutes--normal for him. (He says it's because he has a clear conscience) I lay awake and process--the day, the week, the conversations, the upcoming day. It can take hours. Our window is open because everyone around us has heat set at 80 degrees and we are like an oven. (we close our window between 6:15 & 6:30 A.M. when the marijuana smoker comes on the deck above to smoke her first doobie for the day) I hear 5 "pops" in a row.
"That's a gun shot."
"No. Probably something else. If it is a gun it's low caliber....probably a 22."
POP...a bit louder.
"That was a gun."
"Maybe that was a gun."
POP....even louder and closer.
Elder Taggart,:Now that was a gun. We will wait a minute and hear sirens."
Me, "No we won't. We are in unincorporated Glenview. The police never come here. Besides who will call them?"
"Somebody will. Go to sleep."
And he does. I lay awake thinking it was really close, our window is open, and WE HAVE BECOME CHICAGOANS!!!!!

In Relief Society the president matter-of-factly asks if anyone can feed Sister _________'s birds and cats while she is in the recovery center after surgery. "The birds are her last connection to her son who was shot awhile back so we need to keep them alive." I will never get used to the violence here. Ho-hum, it's just part of their lives.

This week has tested me in many ways.
# 1 The quilt will not be done before Christmas. My body gave out. After 70 hours of appliquéing hands and skyline and words, then putting it together and trying to tie and bind a king-sized quilt in 2 12 hour days, my hands,shoulders,neck and back screamed--ENOUGH!!! The President was amazed I just stopped before it was done but I can hardly lift my arm to use the mouse of the computer. 50 hours a week at the office, then 70 hours in 3 weeks (after hours) on this quilt were too much. And guess what.....life goes on. I will finish it before I go home, at my pace. The panic, "Transfers are tomorrow, can you fit 8 more hands on?" let me know the President just doesn't "get it." Once it is bound and tied and full of 224 hands, you can't keep appliquéing on more hands each transfer. The quilt is full. Enough is enough.

# 2 Transfers on top of the quilt on top of all my sub-for-Santa on top of my day job have nearly buried me this week. Packages at Christmas bury me 94 on Mon--36 on Tues--20 on Wed--40 on Thurs--43 on Friday. We have to log them, label them by zone, then shelve them. We mingled our 49 boxes for missionaries who never get anything and voila--it's Christmas. Two Elders, different days, literally grabbed the box with their name on it, jumped up and down, and whooped "I GOT A BOX. IT HAS MY NAME ON IT." That made it all worth it. Inside they would find candy, a gift card, fleece scarf, popcorn ball, chapstick, 2 ties, 2 pr. of dress socks, a journal, a nice pen, snacks and a flashlight. Not extravagant but a box full of surprizes just for them, thanks to many donors.

So when two moms call and say, "did my son get his box?" I want to laugh. Their son gets a box monthly and like I know, once I leave the office, who got a box that day. We got 233 boxes in the mail this week and literally hundreds of letters to be readdressed. I just process and shelve (with help from my companion and the Abbotts this week) I don't memorize who got what. So transfers add a luncheon and training on Tues, Elder Taggart picking up luggage at the airport and picking up missionaries from the train station. Dinner and testimony meeting Tues. night for the outgoing 11, with tears. We have loved these missionaries for over a year and a half now and we hate to see them go. (the Utah ones plan parties at our new house when we get home!)

# 3 Thursday and Friday of this same exhausting transfer week we have Zone Christmas lunches, party, and temple trip. Sister Abbott and I are at the mission home setting up, cooking, doing dishes, then a fast turn around when the first group of 24 leaves for the temple and the group of 24 comes from the temple for lunch. So we clear off tables fast, set up fast, and fix and feed the next 24. We do this two days in a row for 4 Zones--2 hours in the office--3 hours at the mission home--4 hours at the office. (And why isn't the quilt done?) I have felt tired before but now I understand complete exhaustion. But we have p-day on Saturday....right???

# 4 We go to a baptism on our p-day for a referral. She is a mother of 3, dared to put her name into the referral system for a Book of Mormon and now she is a Mormon. She looked so radiant and beautiful as she came out of the baptismal font. We were there with 10 other missionaries who serve in Westchester. We met Annette Bowen's (Bellevue South Stake) brother who lives there but will soon move back to Issaquah. He bought a log house on a river there....our dream.
We hurry from there to the office so I can get a jump start on the week next week. Why am I working on my p-day??

# 5 How many missionaries who love us and give us thank you notes amazes me. Many moms trained their sons and daughters to express gratitude and some days that is the only thing that keeps us going. These young missionaries are amazing. They are fearless. But they express a need for the hugs and encouragement we give. They express gratitude for our long hours of service to them. They thank us for our sacrifice. Their encouragement reminds me I too can do hard things and though I don't have their youth, I still have the promise: Matt. 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

So we keep on keeping on. We hope each of you have a Merry Christmas with family. Remember the reason for the season. We love each of you and pray for you daily.

Sister Taggart

Tis the week before Christmas

I love this season of the year; I mean the Christmas season, not winter. Though this winter has been very mild so far. We hit 52 degrees today and we have had only about 1 inch of snow so far. I am grateful for for the lights, the music, the overall increase in generosity and caring and most importantly, the reason for the season. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, He is the gift.

For a couple of months, Claudia has been coordinating a sub for Santa for 49 missionaries who rarely, if ever get a letter or package from home. It has been heart-warming and tender to witness the generosity and love of many people who have sent things to be included in packages for these 40 Elders and 9 Sisters. On Wednesday, 5 of us put all of the boxes together in the conference room. We had so many who wanted to help that we actually had to turn some people down and suggest they help another worthy cause.

Later this week will start special zone conferences  for each of the 8 zones to help them prepare for and enjoy the Christmas season. The packages we put together will be labeled and taken to these conferences along with all the other packages that families have sent. We are hoping these will just blend in with those sent from home and make it possible for everyone to have something to open.

We had the ward Christmas party last night. It was a Hawaiian theme so everyone was encouraged to come in Hawaiian attire. We had a BBQ'd pig, chicken, salads, rolls and dessert. They asked me to be a Hawaiian Santa. Each of the children were encouraged to bring some canned or packaged food that could be given to a near-by shelter. It was fun to talk to each of the children and hear what they wanted for Christmas. I only had three little ones who absolutely didn't want to sit on Santa's lap. We have so grown to love the people here and the children have helped us to not miss our grandchildren so much.

I had the privilege of singing "Star of Bethlehem" as a solo in church today. One of the Sister missionaries serving in our ward accompanied me and did a beautiful job. I love Christmas music, the fun traditional ones but most importantly the ones that have a great message about the Savior and His mission on Earth.

Our Utah posterity got together last night for our tradition of singing Christmas songs as a family. We missed being there, but loved hearing and watching the video they posted singing one of our favorites in 4 part harmony. Next year, we will be there to add to the chaos and fun.

8 new missionaries arrive tomorrow and 10 return home on Wednesday. So this week will be full and busy. It will be exciting to welcome the new ones and sad to say farewell to those going home.

I am so grateful for the influence that Babe from Bethlehem is and has been in my life. I know that He lives; he is the light and the life of the world. Embracing His gospel and living as He would have us live, is the pathway to happiness and joy. May each of you feel of His love and spirit in your homes and families this Christmas season. May your homes be filled with laughter, love and memories with those you love.

Elder Taggart

Ho ho ho

December 14, 2014

Another week has blown by. This week was literally half mission and half Santa. The tasks in the office have to be done regardless of what else you may have. Referrals are up because missionaries are on public transportation so they see and talk to many more potential investigators. In layman's terms, that means my phone is dinging with texts from missionaries all day long. I then take the texts, enter them into the referral system and then look at maps to assign them to missionaries to be taught or given a Bible or Book of Mormon as requested.

Mountains of mail is how I describe mail at this time of the year. It warms my heart. We are averaging 60+ letters a day and 30 packages a day. That will double in the next weeks.

Transfers are this coming week so we will sadly watch 10 leave and will gladly welcome 8 new, wide-eyed missionaries. That involves a lunch at the office, training, and a testimony meeting. As the longest serving office couple, we feel like the bridge that connects some of the gaps. All is well in the office and we love it.

The office came alive with wrapping gifts and distributing gifts into 49 boxes---full to overflowing this year. My heart is warmed by the generosity of random people who email me and way "Would 30 new ties help?" "May I provide Christmas for these 9 Elders who have been my son's companions?" "We want a family in Chicago. Can you give us some ideas?" So from Meridian, Idaho come winter boots for a family of 9. Hundreds of dress socks flow in from our ward here. Journals and scarves for Sisters appear. Gift cards for each of the 49 for fast food which total hundreds of dollars. I orchestrate the process and am thankful for this task that makes the Christmas season come alive.

Elder Taggart sure made a fun Hawaiian Santa at our ward Christmas party last night. Santa hat, wig, beard with a Hawaiian shirt, rolled up Dockers, and sandals.....check. He was originally supposed to collect food in a big red bag from each of the children for a food bank but as soon as he sat down the children lined up to sit on his lap and spill their secrets about what they really want for Christmas. I pulled the Bishop aside and said this was a breach of mission rules....kids sitting on an Elder's lap. The Bishop calmly said, "He's Santa right now, not Elder Taggart." It was a fun evening, except for the 3 baby girls he made cry. (see attached photo)

The quilt won't be finished tomorrow and I may need extensive massage therapy when it is completed but the President gave me permission this week to solicit the help of Sister missionaries so at least the tying won't be a solo effort. King sized is too large and this project has taken up our small apartment for a month now almost.

And thus closes another jam-packed week. We love what we are doing. We look forward to Christmas with the Eakins. It will be good to have children in our apartment for a few days. We appreciate this season, the music, the feelings of love and generosity, and most of all our Savior.  Have a great week and look for all of the tender mercies around you. I'm sure you can find at least one a day. We love you.

Sister Taggart.....ho,ho,ho

The Weightier Matters of the Kingdom (2)

Here is Claudia's email. The highlight of the week for me was the baptism of the family of 7. They are a beautiful family and were so excited to enter the waters of baptism and come unto Christ. 

The rest of my week was the usual issues with cars, iPads and cell phones. May you have a great week. We love you. 

Elder Taggart

The Weightier Matters of the Kingdom

Dec. 7, 2014
Why am I counting Mondays? Let me share this last Monday with you.......

Phone Call 1"I am moving from Arizona to Chicago. I will arrive tomorrow morning. Can you have 4 missionaries there to help me unload my truck?"

Phone call 2: "Sister Taggart, what is my Social Security number?"

The mailman arrives bringing 70 letters to be readdressed and 150 Ensign Magazines to be labeled individually, separated by zone, bundled together to be taken by Zone leaders to each missionary.

Phone call 3: "My son is coming to your mission. He is my first missionary. How do I set up an account for him if his account is now with a local credit union?"

Phone call 4: "Sister Taggart, I need to order more name tags."

Referral System: someone needs to meet missionaries at the library and not at her house. Her parents would not understand. Find the missionaries and call them with a heads up.

Phone call 5: "What does my daughter want for Christmas? She comes home in February so I wanted to buy tickets for her and her companion to a museum. Which one is best? Which one would they enjoy?"

Phone call 6: "My name is Sister _____. I am mailing a box of Christmas decorations today. How soon can you get it to my daughter? Tell her to open it as soon as she gets it."

Phone call 7: "Sister Taggart, did I get a letter today?" (no) "How about yesterday?" (possibly)
"Who was it from?"

Phone call 8: "Sister Taggart, there is a person in Mexico who needs a blessing today. I know the name of the man and the hospital and the zipcode. Could you e-mail all the missions in Mexico so they can find him?" I could but there are 33 missions in Mexico and it would take me all day. I ask him to get me a few more clues---like the name of the city in Mexico. My first attempt failed but that mission emailed me the correct info--Guadalajara Mexico Mission--and the man received a Priesthood blessing.

30 boxes arrive in the mail. Three are marked  DO NOT OPEN TIL CHRISTMAS. Are you kidding me?

Text: 12 more referrals for me to enter into the system and assign to missionaries.

Text: Do you have a good sugar cookie recipe? I need it for our baptism.

Abbotts leave the office. A landlord doesn't understand why we don't have missionaries stay forever. Why will this Senior Sister go home in Dec. and another one come in January?

Phone call 8:  "Sister Taggart. I have a missionary serving in your mission. Could you give me the name of a family in Chicago that our family can sub-for Santa for?"

I work on referrals. I assign some to Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, the Philippines and one to Mexico, with the name of the city.

A couple comes in to bring me 2 baptism forms. I trace their right hands so they can be on the quilt I'm making. They leave in January and I'm starting to feel like there is a mass-exodus of Senior missionaries out of the mission also.

And so my time goes. nothing earth-shattering, just a live person on the other end of the line.

Yesterday we went to a baptism of epic proportions. A family from Liberia, mom, Dad and 7 children. They live in a one bedroom apartment and are grateful for "all they have" and to be living in this country. The 16 yr. old daughter had been baptised 2 years ago....now today, there sit 7 of her family in white, waiting to be baptised. They are baptised by one Senior missionary from Oregon and 3 Elders. (one from Nepal, one from Montana, one from Sandy,Utah) We have an investigator there who has had several lessons and is trying to decide if baptism is for him. Our German Elder explains things to him through the service. Tears fill my eyes as the parents are baptised first and as in Mosiah 18:11, the children "clapped their hands for joy." That usually doesn't happen in our baptism services but it was so appropriate today. They were baptised in birth order, down to the youngest little girl. It was an awesome experience. The only one of the family not there was their 18 year old daughter. She had been baptised 2 years ago but Chicago has not been a good influence on her and her choices have taken her away from the gospel.

So I close with three questions:
1) What are the weightier matters in your life?
2) Am I an influence for good in what I do daily?
3) What direction are my everyday choices taking me?

Have a great week.
Sister Taggart

Change

I continue to marvel at the change in a person's countenance, behaviors and outlooks as they embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and begin the journey of becoming more like him. When good people make Christ their focus and begin to ask themselves before making any decision, what would Jesus do, they become a different person and their heart is changed forever. Seeing, and at times, being a part of that process is exciting and rewarding.

The two of us had a quiet, but enjoyable Thanksgiving together. Claudia spent 6 or so hours sewing on the mission quilt, so I prepared the meal and did the laundry. I enjoyed being able to hear from most of our children in one form or another. I am so thankful for each of them and their families; we do miss being able to be with them right now, but know that there are blessings waiting for each of them because of our service, if they will have the faith to claim them.

I can't sit down to a Thanksgiving meal and not reflect and be so grateful for life and the extension the Lord has given me to linger here to enjoy so much of life. As most of you know, I had my first heart attack 21 years ago on Thanksgiving day. And just over 20 years ago, after the second attack, the doctors told Claudia that I only had 6 months to live. Obviously they didn't know the Lord's capability to heal a 'broken heart'. How grateful I am for the detour he has allowed me. Many choice life experiences have been enjoyed in that time. I wonder at times if he is pleased with what I have done in those years as a very imperfect man just trying to be more like him.

We see change in the weather and things around us as we begin the Christmas season, one of my favorites of the entire year. I am so appreciative for the reason for this season, our Savior Jesus Christ. He is the healer of broken hearts and lives. As we apply the healing balm of his Atoning sacrifice and it's enabling power to heal, lift and bring change, we can press forward with hope. Oh how I love his message of peace and love and this season when most of the world shows forth greater love and caring for others.

We decorated the Christmas tree and starting playing Christmas music yesterday. We are well into preparations for some presents, etc. for 40 of our missionaries who rarely, if ever get letters or packages from home. It's fun to see their faces light up as they have something to open even if it's not from home.

The mission president told me on Friday that our mission complement would be going down over the next 3-4 months. We currently have 202 young missionaries, but the wave has crested and the number of new missionaries available and ready to come serve is going down. So by March or April, we will be down to 160 or 170 missionaries. That change will be just the reverse of what we dealt with when we first arrived. Instead of scrambling for enough cars and apartments to accommodate new arrivals, we will be getting rid of cars and closing apartments as the number returning home will exceed those coming out.

Change is constant in our lives. We can either embrace it, hang on and enjoy the ride, or we can let change leave us behind. I have found that as we are striving to know and do what a loving God wants us to do, most of the changes are for our good and help us to stretch and grow even though at the time we may not want to. Enjoy the change in the season and look for opportunities to make changes for good in your life and those around you.

Elder Taggart

23 more Mondays--4 more transfers--and one long drive

November 30, 2014

Holidays on a mission are hard. You find yourself saying, "If I were home I'd have a potato masher or 2 more pie pans or a platter to put the turkey on. Oh wait, we only had a turkey breast and that only requires a dinner plate, perfect. We had Elders J and W over on Monday for Elder J's 21st birthday. Pretty sad when at 21 you look forward to a dinner with two old folks. Such is life on a mission. So we decided Thanksgiving would be just the two of us. Elder Taggart fixed the whole meal while I frantically sewed on hands. Six hours of hand sewing, what fun. We had 3 dinner invites but I knew I needed this "day off" to work on the quilt. What a project to take on. I am 39 1/2 hours into it now and figure I'm halfway done, counting the quilting.

Highlight of the week was putting our small Christmas tree up. Our apartment is small and our ornaments  lame but missionaries love coming here because they say it feels like home. Elder Taggart said wherever we are together, that is home. He has helped do everything I couldn't do as I sew and then he gives me neck and shoulder massages when I am too tight to sleep. What a companion!!

As we push toward another transfer with dread, I am reminded we only have 4 left. We hate to see our strong, seasoned missionaries go home. We are the old-timer couple now as we have been here longer than all but the J's. This is how we did Christmas last year. This is what we found works well. Ah--the voice of experience. The Abbotts are doing a great job in the office but as they flew to Denver for 5 days for Thanksgiving, one young Sister said, "You guys are always here for us." I guess we lend stability and we're good for something.

Only 23 Mondays left. That is our crazy day in the office and if we can survive Monday we know the rest of the week is doable. As we went to put the fall tablecloth and center piece away we realised we could send it to Salvation Army because we won't be here for another autumn.

Elder and Sister J came into the office this week with 2 more baptism records. They are the Military Liaison couple on the Great Lakes Military base. They have 40,000 recruits come through each year. They are there for basic training 5 weeks or 2 months if they are training to be a SEAL. In their time here they have had two dozen baptisms. They mostly give rides to and from O'Hare Airport back to the base. They are serving a different mission but they are making a difference.

That has been our hope--that we can make a difference in a life, lift a burden from a young missionary, assist where needed. As I wrote my appreciation cards to the 10 outgoing missionaries this week I know each one. We have had laughs together over the phone. I have hugged each Sister each time we meet. I have prayed for them by name.

So we continue to press forward with steadfastness. No glory or fame with this position, just increased love for our missionaries, our family, and our Savior. And I will continue to sew on hands until they're done, or my right arm falls off...whichever comes first!! We love you and hope your have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones gathered close.

Love,
Sister Taggart

Zone Conferences

I am reminded this week that everything you do for the Lord and to help move His work forward are needed and important regardless of how mundane or insignificant the task may seem. 

We had 4 zone conferences this past week; one every day Tuesday through Friday. So, we drove to Indiana, Lake Villa (not far from the Wisconsin border), Wilmette and South Chicago. I had the responsibility to inspect 71 cars to make sure they had safe tires, etc. going into the winter months. And since, I cannot check everything that is required to be checked on a car by myself, my sweet companion helped me. It just happened that those 4 days were the coldest days we have had yet with temperatures ranging from 12 degrees (with windchill, it was -2) to a high of 23 degrees. The wind was blowing every day, so what the temp felt like was colder. I was encouraged that some of my training, harping, etc. must be paying off because overall the cars were considerably cleaner than they usually are. 

We had a couple of cars where sister missionaries had left a note on the seat; one even had some Mexican candy as a bribe I guess. Their note read, Dearest Elder Taggart, 1. We love you, 2. Don't hate us, 3. We washed/vacuumed the car on Monday, then it snowed, 4. The scuffs/broken taillight on the back corner are from when the police officer hit us, 5. The scrapes on the right side of the car are from yesterday. We accidentally scraped a car in a tight, narrow 2 way street trying to let another car slide past us; there was no damage to the other car.  We are sorry, Love your fav Hermana's. Mind you the scratches on the right side of that car went from the front bumper to the rear bumper. How the other car got away without any scratches is a wonder to me since our car will likely take $3,000 to fix. Oh, and this same compionship called me last night; a semi had come to close to them (or them to close to it) and the driver's side mirror was torn off. I think it's time for them to be on the bus or train. 

I did safety training at all but one conference which obviously is desperately needed, since we are now up to 16 accidents in the past two months and we really haven't had any bad roads. I trained on helping them stay safe physically by showing a video and also talking about winter driving, etc. I also did some training on proper use of their iPads and Facebook to hopefully help them to be spiritually safe. There are so many dangers and pitfalls when they are online particularly for those who might not be prone to being obedient with exactness to policies and guidelines. 

I assisted Claudia as she instructed and supervised every missionary tracing their hand, cutting it out, writing on the backside what fear, sin, etc. they were going to bury and give up and then writing their name on the front. These hands are all being sewn onto a quilt that she is making that the mission president asked for. I do hope that she survives this project since she has to sew around each hand and 5 fingers for 225 hands. We have 203 young missionaries and 22 senior missionaries. I know she will include much more detail on this in her email. 

The highlight of the week for me was seeing and being with all 203 young missionaries. They truly are a delight to be around. We love them and they love us. 

I celebrated my 65th birthday inspecting cars in the cold. But the young missionaries sang to me, I was with my sweetheart and I heard from many of you. Thank you so much. When I realized that 20 years ago, the doctor told me I had 6 months to live, I am truly grateful to see 65 and now hopefully many more. 

As we go into this Thanksgiving week, my heart is full of gratitude for many things. I am appreciative for each of you and the part you play in my life. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and its ability to change lives as one embraces the gospel and then strives to live to be more like Christ. The enabling power of the Atonement and its power to heal all hurt and to give one hope to press forward is a huge blessing in my life. I am blessed to have had righteous, hard-working ancestors who embraced the gospel; I am also blessed to have a righteous posterity who are striving to become more like Christ. We live in an amazing country even with its problems and challenges. The beauties and wonders of nature lift my soul and help me to know of the love of our Father in Heaven. Music stirs my soul and calms me when troubled. I am grateful for the influence that each of you has and is having on my life. May you feel the love those around you as you gather to feast and may you feel the love of the Savior as you make time to approach him. Have a blessed week. 

Elder Bruce Taggart

Run faster,Claudia, Run faster

What a week....aren't they all? We had 4 Zone Conferences this week. That wouldn't be so bad if the previous week had not been transfers. Run faster, Claudia, run faster. Buy more fabric, iron on literally 2 bolts (20 yds each) of Wonder Under to yards and yards of fabric. Hurry and get to bed and go to sleep so you can wake up by 5 AM to be ready for the drive to Indiana. Bundle
up--it us 12 degrees, with the wind-chill factor -2 degrees. Remember you get to inspect 18 cars. (tire tread and pressure, cleanliness, mileage, dings and scratches on the body, trunk contents) Salt Lake has a funny way of showing a girl a good time. Check it faster, Elder Taggart, so we can go in and see if there is frostbite damage yet. I wonder how long it takes an eyeball to freeze solid. Hurry, hurry so we can set up tables for missionaries to cut out their hand in fabric and sign their name to the fabric side. I have taught pre-school for 16 years and these are young adults.....there should be no surprizes, yet there are. Wrap it up so Elder Taggart can do car safety training. Run, run,run so we can drive back to Illinois by 6:00 PM, eat fast, and be at the church by 7:00 PM for Young Women's. You see, they are helping with my missionaries who need Christmas. They come through in a big way. They look like elves in Santa's workshop as they bag up snacks, treats, notebooks, pens, containers for leftovers, popcorn, etc. Some of them wrote cards the whole hour so each package will have a personalized card. I spoke for a few minutes about some of our missionaries. They all deserve Christmas and these Young Women make it happen. We then hurry to the office at 9:00 PM to deliver the 40 bags of goodies to our conference room, get a little work done, and load the car with packages for tomorrow's Zone Conference.

Hurry faster to iron wonder under to the next color of fabric---yards and yards. Go to bed and sleep fast so you can wake up by 5:45 ( a sleep-in) to be ready to drive to the Foster Building. It is Elder Taggart's birthday today. I sing a pathetic version of Happy Birthday over breakfast. We collect keys and thank Heaven it has warmed up to 23 degrees. Inspect 18 cars. Come in and quickly set up for what one Elder called "the hand craft". Revision of schedule. We wait for 2 1/2 hours so Elder Taggart can do car safety training. The President then comes to him and says, "can you cut your training to 5 minutes? No video and just a brief training?" Sure, our mission has had 16 accidents in 3 weeks--2 cars totaled--and cut my training to 5 minutes. (Mind you, he has waited for a year for this opportunity to train and the next opportunity won't come until Feb. or March but we are obedient to our leader.) We drive back to the office to do in 2 hours what normally takes all day---and no we don't get it all done. We rush home so Elder Taggart can field phone calls from family while I ironed fabric. I notice the handprints already ironed on the quilt are peeling off. I time myself sewing around 10 hands takes me 1 hour....so 222 hands should take the rest of my life, right? Because of this exercise, I don't get to bed until 11 PM. (Breaking a mission rule to be in bed by 10:30 to work on a mission project....how ironic.) At 2:30 
AM I wake from a sound sleep. My mind is in turmoil over the lack of concern by our President about driving safety. I argue within my mind:
"Not your call"
"The President is  ultimately responsible for the safety and the lives of the missionaries."
"Don't steady the ark. He is your Priesthood leader."
"Not your job to correct the problem."
Then a word kept coming, over and over, IMPERATIVE. That is not one of my words. As I wrestled for 3 hours in the wee hours of the morning, I finally got the message.
"Imperatives vs fluff. This quilt project is fluff---sacrifice your time until the car safety training is done. Refuse to do the project. This is not your idea. I woke you up for a reason, as I have done before. The lives of these youth are in your hands. Talk to your husband when he wakes up, then talk to the President before the conference starts."
I had prayed and prayed that this wouldn't be the outcome. We have bent over backwards to be in supportive roles only. We don't want the authority or the responsibility. We have avoided at all cost stepping on toes or crossing that line of authority. When does Elder Taggart's stewardship cross over a decision made by our President?

We drove to Buffalo Grove near the Wisconsin border. Bruce was talking to the President when the Assistants to the President were telling me Sister Woodbury had chastized the President all the way home yesterday about cutting out car safety training. The agenda had been revised and Elder Taggart would have that opportunity from then on. We inspected 20 cars in 18 degrees with a wind stiff enough to blow keys off the hoods of the cars. Training, iron on hands, hurry back to the office to work until 6:30, then back to the apartment to iron Wonder-Under on many yards of red fabric for the Chicago Zone tomorrow. I thanked Heavenly Father for righting a wrong---imperative training needed by these missionaries from California, Arizona, Mexico and such who have never seen snow let alone driven in it.

Friday--is it Groundhog Day again? Get up early, drive into Chicago. It is a balmy 23 degrees. We should have brought our swim suits to inspect cars in. We inspect 15 cars, do our training, get 60 more fabric hands, hurry back to the office, leave at 6 PM for home sweet apartment. I wonder, do I have to get up tomorrow? Saturday is my Preparation day. Can I sleep all day?

NO--get up, clean this mess of an apartment, sew, sew, sew. 6 1/2 hours later I have completed "Fear not, I am with thee" and 53 hands appliquéd. I couldn't move my neck for the pain and my hands, fingers, and leg were done too.

So what were the lessons I learned this week?
1) I can do hard things and am expected to do them daily. A mission is hard work. The naps they told us would happen for Senior missionaries aren't available for our assignments. Maybe some other Senior missions.
2) I appreciate more our young missionaries who are out in this weather daily. I'll complain less about my office job. (not computer smashing photo......thrill but it was staged)
3) I love my companion. I love our jobs as they intertwine....I help you with cars and you help you with the quilt. Any chore is better with a companion who loves you, warts and all.
4) I'm grateful for children and friends who came through for Bruce's birthday. It was the bright spot of his day.
5) I have learned the Spirit wakes me up in the middle of the night because that is when my mind slows down and listens. And it is IMPERATIVE that I listen and obey, even though I didn't have to "correct" the President after all. Better for his wife to have done that.
6) Be careful what you wish for. I wished for more sewing time and now I'm sewing every spare minute I can find. (but never on a Sunday) All my sub-for-Santa sewing is at a stand still. But sewing is sewing, right? WRONG!!!
7) Oh how we miss grandchildren. As Sadie (age 4) said, "Grandpa, you could read that story to me over the phone," it melted Grandpa's heart. As more of our missionary "grandkids" are released, we yearn for more family time in the near future.
So hug a child. Take a nap. Curl up next to a warm fire wrapped up in a quilt---one that has no hands on it, I hope. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and know we are thankful for each one of you.
(quilt below was a quick laying on of hands so I could see if they would all fit.


love, Sister Taggart

Transfer week

Monday morning I hurried to get everything ready to train new missionaries, set-up iPads for the new ones and have everything to certify them to drive. I then jumped in the 12 passenger van, hooked the utility trailer to it and headed for the airport to greet 13 new missionaries and load all their luggage prior to them getting on the train to go downtown to see the city their first day and to do their first street and train contacting. After delivering their luggage to the mission home and disconnecting the trailer, I hurried back to the office to get a few things done. At 4:30 we were at the train station to pick them up and take them to the mission home. After dinner, Claudia and I trained exhausted, brain-dead missionaries on our areas of responsibility. This included vehicle and safety training; no wonder we have so many accidents. They are so tired that first night, most of them don't remember a thing you train them on.

Tuesday morning we were back at the church building at 7:30 to provision iPads for each of the new ones and train them on using Facebook, iPads and social media to invite others to come unto Christ. What I have learned is that most young people use Facebook prior to coming on a mission to be silly and goofy. So there is a major learning curve to get them to a point where they can effectively use it to be a blessing to people. I shuffled 4 cars around so that all areas that desperately needed a car were able to have one. About half of our 203 missionaries were at the transfer meeting. From about 1:00 until 4:30 those 100 plus missionaries were in and out of the office to get something to eat, pick up supplies, get packages for new missionaries(mostly bedding and warm clothes that mom sent because there wasn't room in their 2 bags of luggage). I had 6 additional missionaries who needed to replace their iPad, mostly because of cracked screens, and had 2 who needed help activating new phones.

We left the office at 5:15 so that we could be at the mission home by 5:30 to have dinner with the 11 missionaries who were going home the next morning and be able to hear their departing testimonies. We so love those testimony meetings with wonderful, young people whom we have known, loved and served with for most of their mission. These young people return home having experienced hard things, having had many spiritual experiences and having grown in so many ways that most young people will not experience for years if at all. 

I ordered a new utility trailer for the mission this week, picked up a new Sabaru Legacy, picked up a car from the body shop and then sold that car on Friday. The guy who bought that car is an 84 year old man who has been investigating the church for about a month. His previous car was totaled when he was rear-ended about 6 months ago. That accident caused him to need surgery on his leg and also made it so his license was taken away until his mobility was sufficient to prove his ability to drive again. The state gave him approval this week to take the driving test, so he now needs a car. I drove the car to his house so that he could see it and then drove him to the bank to get a cashier's check. Yesterday we delivered the car to him so he can now go take the test and have a car to drive.

Well winter has arrived in Chicago. We woke up to snow and it was still snowing at noon. It is supposed to snow more tonight. The high for a good part of the week is only supposed to be in the 20's. So please pray for the missionaries to be safe and to have wisdom beyond their years. We have now had 10 accidents in the past two months and the weather hasn't even been bad yet.

We had dinner on Friday night at the mission home with all 22 of the senior missionaries. It is fun to get together with them and be able to visit and see just how different our missions are depending on what the assignment is. It has become very apparent to me that it doesn't matter where you serve; there are numerous ways and needs for seniors to serve. And, as long as you do your best, the Lord always makes sure that it is enough.

We have and are growing in so many ways even though transfer weeks are crazy. We love our mission because we are serving side by side with each other. We love the young missionaries and though they are so young in many ways, they are also quite mature in others. And just like us, if they will do the best they can, the Lord will always make up the difference. He knows us, loves us and always tailors opportunities and challenges specifically for us to be able to stretch and grow in ways and areas we didn't necessarily know we needed to. May your week be blessed as you strive a little harder to be just a little bit better. I promise He will bless you and help you as you strive to be and give your best. Til next week.


Elder Taggart

They are driving me over the edge.......

November 16, 2014
Dear Family and Friends,
Transfer week.....not my favorite. We welcomed in 13 amazing, wide-eyed missionaries and said goodbye to 11 teary-eyed missionaries. In the process, 53 changes were made to companionships and several apartment swaps took place. When you get 11 Elders in, we have to move Sisters to accommodate the increasing numbers of Elders. Then I am supposed to happily return to my desk and figure out where Waldo went. It doesn't matter that you have 65 letters to change the addresses on, the phone keeps ringing, supplies need shelving and re-ordering, and referrals keep popping up to be assigned to missionaries in their area. Add to this a drive to Waukegan (45 min away) to pick up a repaired car. Whew! Will I survive?

Imagine my surprize when I get a request on Thursday from the President and 2 assistants to make "the commitment quilt project." And we need the design, fabrics, and other supplies to make it happen by Tuesday, the first of 4 Zone Conferences. I was planning on attending all the Zone Conferences anyway to help my hubby inspect 74 cars in sub-freezing temperatures. Why? a) because I love exposing myself to the possibility of frostbite b) because I'm an outdoor kind of girl c) because I love my husband---"you freeze, I freeze!"

Friday night was our Senior dinner, so Saturday was my only day to fabric shop and get it all together. They want the handprint of every missionary. Their idea is to have a quilt block per each missionary and have me stitch around each little finger and they stitch the blocks together. GET REAL--we have 200 missionaries, I work full-time, not gonna happen. How about a king sized flat sheet....no blocks? Great--and we can have them dip their hands in paint, each zone a different color. Not on my watch. I taught pre-school for years. They will get paint on their suits, you need 2-3 hours of drying time, the sheet will get moved and ruin a Sister's perfect handprint. (at this point, the Pres. said, "You sound like a mother or grandmother." SURPRISE!!) How about fabric hands in their zone color attached with Wonder Under? What is wonder under? Oh, and we want FEAR NOT I AM WITH  THEE across the top in bold appliquéd letters, the Chicago Skyline in silhouette appliqued in the middle of the quilt and our mission scripture written at the bottom. (Alma 26:22....73 words plus punctuation and reference. So we're talking 200 adult handprints plus 22 Senior handprints, a skyline silhouette, two scriptures---are you sure that's all? And you want this done by the time I leave in May? Oh no---Dec. 15.( At this point I'm thinking, Did you forget you gave me the assignment to put together a gift box for Christmas for 40 missionaries who never get anything from home....also by Dec. 15?) I've got to start eating wheat again so I can "run and not be weary and walk and not faint." Each missionary will sign his name and also write one of his fears or sins to be covered the fabric hand.

They are trying to push me over the edge. We are down one couple in the office now so i've taken on part of my old responsibilities. No sweat. This will be continued I'm sure........

"Sister, where is your baptismal record?"
"We will mail it by the end of the week."
"Today is Friday."
"(laugh) ---oh---by Monday?"

We noticed 4 police cars gathered around a vacant house near our apartment.
"Did you hear gunshots last night?"
"No, did you?"
"No--must be a drug bust then."    ONLY IN CHICAGO

"Sister Taggart, we have about 20 Polish speaking people who want to learn English. Is there a book for that?"

One of the women at the bank said, "Your new young recruits are amazing." Does she think we put up Wanted--You recruit posters?  No--a prophet extends a call and they come. We have been warned not to give any Mormon literature out to those in the bank. Our young missionaries have been instructed to smile and be examples but not say a thing about the church to anyone in or around the bank. Imagine my surprize when I was confronted twice this week by bank employees.....in the bathroom. I was cautious--looking for hidden cameras in the lights or wires running into the pockets of those asking me questions. Was this a trap???
"How old are these missionaries?"
"What do they do?"
"Who pays?"
"They can't see their families or friends for 2 years?"
"Where do they live, with host families?"
"How long are they here?"
"My son could never be a Mormon."

I called 2 Elders to go to the hospital to give a Priesthood blessing, two others to take the sacrament to someone in a different hospital (cleared through a Bishop first), and 2 others to find some forgotten soul in a group home. They are more than willing and eager to serve.

We have Elders serving here from Nepal, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, and Germany. I am getting the hang of their accents. Our Sisters from Italy, Poland, and Australia are easier to understand.

I went to vacuum the office after transfers and couldn't find the vacuum. Being the tidy person I am, I always put it back where it belongs. Not everyone does. So I began to ask, "Where is our vacuum?" At any given time we have 1-2 in our office, new or old, as apartments open or close. Now our floor has leaves and crumbs all over it and we have no vacuum. It finally came out Sister ____ had left it out in the conference room where we keep supplies. Our 83 year old Sister came in one day, ask Elder______ if there was an extra vacuum, was told to go look in the conference room, found our vacuum, and marched out with it under our very noses. And she didn't even have on her gorilla suit as a disguise!!!

One Elder excitedly told me, "You sent us a referral. We had stopped by her house 3-4 times and she was never there. She never answered her phone. (she had typed 1 digit wrong in the referral system) We were about to drop her when we noticed an email address. We contacted her via email and she responded "I've been waiting 3 weeks for your visit!" She had had many Mormon friends in college and liked what they had. Six weeks after contacting her, she was baptized.

And so our time here in Chicago goes. They have 400,000 tons of salt waiting for another glorious winter here. We shuffle as fast as we can most day just trying to keep pace with these missionaries. Our can turned 100,000 miles on Saturday. I think I have a few more than that on me. We love the work. We recognize the Lord's hand in our lives daily. He is in the details of all of our lives. Watch for Him in yours.

Sister Taggart

Blessings

Just one week left and the atmosphere in the office will change. One couple is going home and hopefully with them most of the discord will also leave. Enough said.

Claudia and I picked up a new Nissan Frontier pick-up truck. She was following me in our car as we drove the hour and fifteen minutes back. With only 7 miles on this new truck, I stopped at a light and looked in the rear view mirror just as Claudia realized that I had stopped. The look of horror on her face said it all as she was laying rubber trying to keep from hitting me. She stopped within one foot of this new truck. After that she was alert and attentive all the way back. She will embellish this story.

Two sister missionaries had stopped at a stop sign, looked both ways and proceeded into the intersection. Traffic coming the other direction didn't have a stop sign. They obviously didn't see the police car that t-boned them on the passenger side, totaling a second car in just weeks. The sisters were blessed in that neither of them was injured other than some bruising from the seat belt. To add insult to injury, our driver was ticketed and has also lost her driving privileges for the rest of her mission.

An Elder calls me on Saturday night to let me know that he had just run into the rear end of a car with his bike. He was coming down a hill, obviously too fast and couldn't stop in time. The Elder and his bike were ok, but the bumper and rear windshield wiper of the car were damaged by his resilient body.

We had a trio of Sisters to dinner at our place on Wednesday and 2 Elders to dinner on Thursday night. It is always such a blessing to us to have these young missionaries in our home for a meal. We love getting to know them; to learn of their stories both personally and in their missionaries adventures. We are uplifted by their spirits and humbled to hear some of their personal stories.

I was blessed to be able to arrange to have 6 strong Elders unload the moving truck for dear friends who had just moved from the Seattle to Texas. The Elders were blessed because of their service and our friends were blessed in several ways by their service.

I have been fighting a chest cold this week, but have been blessed that this old body has been able to fight and I have been able to accomplish all that has been necessary.

In everything around me, I see the hand of the Lord blessing and lifting me and others in so many ways. I marvel as I witness the protection He provides missionaries, when they could have been seriously injured. I am convinced that as each of us presses forward in faith striving to do and be the best we can, He blesses and sustains us to be able to accomplish all that He wants us to do. May your week be filled with blessings from a loving Father in Heaven and may you be blessed to see His hand in those blessings.

Elder Taggart

another week, another blessing,and so it continues

Nov 9, 2014

Talking to an Elder this week, we discovered he was on the crew who framed our new house. I felt some satisfaction that we may have helped finance his mission. My pride turned to anxiety when I heard him say, "Ya--that was the only time I have done that but it was cool!" Do we put the house on the market immediately? We knew he lived in American Fork but for him to have built our house--what are the odds?? And perhaps that explains why the granite backsplash in the kitchen is 1 inch away from the wall.

I have been the designated driver as we picked up a new Nissan Frontier truck from Crystal lake and a new Subaru Legacy this week. I almost rear-ended the new truck as Elder Taggart stopped and I didn't notice for a second or two. I laid some serious rubber and he said the look on my face was priceless--like out of a horror movie. I was grateful to angels who helped my car stop in time. Elder Taggart said I probably used 100 miles worth of rubber on that one stop. I can now understand--somewhat--how our missionaries have lapses in driving. Sisters totaled a car when a police car T-boned the passenger side of their car. The Sisters got the ticket, the car got totaled. An Elder backed a 2015 car into a parked car, a good trick since his companion was standing outside the car to help him back up. (a mission rule.)

"You aren't like our Catholic Sisters, are you? Don't you have a husband? Why does your nametag say Sister?" said a lady I met in the bathroom this week.
Thus started an impromptu discussion about why I am called Sister. We are all God's children and that makes us all brothers and sisters.
"Do you go to that big pretty church on Lake Avenue on Sundays?"
No, that is our temple. We go there but it is closed on Sunday.
"My mom says it's amazing inside with a stage and electronics for lights and music."
No, actually it is a calm, quiet place with no stage, no performers of music. We all wear white, speak only in whispers, and it is a pretty basic place. (I'm thinking, why doesn't she ask me about Mormon doctrine?)
"So your church doesn't believe in music in your services?"
I wanted to say.....Hello, Mormon Tabernacle Choir.....but I resisted. I calmly explained about the music in our meetings. What goes on in the temple has more to do with making covenants with God than singing and our regular worship services.
"Well I'll have to tell my mom she is wrong about the technology in that nice building."
Successful missionary contact?  Probably not.

"Sister Taggart, I got two boxes last week and I'm not sure they are for me."
"Do they have your name on them?"
"Yes but I never get boxes. I'm sure they're for a different Elder ______"
"There is no other Elder ________. Keep the boxes, you deserve them."

We fed 3 Sister missionaries dinner Wed. night and 2 Elders Thurs. night. The Sisters eat like birds so the Elders got leftovers, chicken from Costco, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, salad, and dessert. We are thankful for our missionaries and now I won't need to fix Thanksgiving dinner.

Petty cash....who knew I would need a degree in accounting to do this job. Crooks are leaving in a week so Elder Crook is trying to settle all accounts before he leaves. He wanted to get rid of my petty cash box once and for all. It has been an irritant to him since we got here. Why do we need to have it. He is over finances and why have a petty cash box?  I collect payment for nametags ($4 each) mini-Preach My Gospel books ($4 each) pocket Book of Mormons if they want them ($4 each), postage to the mailman if anything has postage due and a bunch of misc. items. We got a $5 rebate from an auto light on a mission car. The auditor shows up and we spend time trying to resolve this "problem". Elder Crook wants to deposit all my petty cash. All well and good until the mailman needs $1.15.....then who has change? An Elder gives me cash for a nametag....do we make $4 deposits when that happens each time. And what category do we put them under? Then Elder Crook wanted me to enter a voucher/receipt for everything that goes in or out of the box. That means turning on my computer, getting into IMOS, type a receipt for every transaction and then pick up the receipt when the missionary drops it on the floor because he doesn't care about a receipt. The auditor finally agreed with me, said I could accumulate up to ____ as long as I can keep a log for every transaction, which I had been doing anyway. Thank you, Mr. Auditor, for keeping it simple.

So another week has passed. We are thankful for this opportunity every day. It stretches us both, every day. With the Crooks going home, several missionaries have hit the panic button and asked us when we are leaving. We assure them we still have 6 months to go. Many are relieved to know they will leave before we will. One Elder said, "The mission will be in a world of hurt when the Taggarts leave." It's good to be loved and good to be appreciated. I have long said the Senior couples are the anchors that hold things steady in a mission. Sometimes the voice or reason, sometimes the patient voice that calms, sometimes a voice to remind them who they are and what they are here to accomplish. Elder Taggart has been sick this week with a cold/flu....no fever, just coughing and nasal congestion. He is a workhorse and doesn't let it slow him down much. So onto our next transfer tomorrow.....13 new missionaries in and 10 leaving. I know this drill.....I can do hard things.

Love,
Sister Taggart

Service with a smile

Last Monday night, we went out to dinner at Fogo De Chao with the Crooks and the Abbotts from the office. The Crooks only have two weeks before they return home so thiS was a farewell dinner. Food and company was wonderful but a bit on the pricey side.

By Wednesday I had received calls from two missionaries informing me that they had left their iPad on top of the car as they drove off, and oh yeh, they are no where to be found. One Elder said they found his iPad case 8 miles from where he left it on the car. But no iPad to be found. He was pleased that it had stayed on the car that long. He asked me if it would cost him $400 to replace it and I replied, no I will give you the Elder ____ discount. He said, so it will. Ostrow me $500 then, right. I told him I liked his math. Honestly there are times I wish that. Could charge missionaries for some of the things that happen to iPads, cars and cell phones because they shut their brain off and didn't think. But I can't.

The first snow flurries appeared on Halloween and our first frost was last night. On the news they said that is almost a month early. So we fear this winter just might be crazier than last year when we set the record for the coldest winter on record and had the 2nd most snowfall with 84 inches. Oh goody.

We had Sisters to dinner last night and then went teaching with them. Sadly the lady they had an appointment with was either not home or wouldn't answer the doorbell or her phone. These young people face rejection and disappointment all of the time, yet they remain upbeat and positive. I am so impressed by the caliber of the youth today even they don't always engage their brain before doing some things.

As we left the grocery store yesterday, I had the opportunity to do a good turn. A man was standing by his car with jumper cables obviously hoping that someone would be kind enough to help him. I gladly did so and we got his car started just as his wife came out with the groceries. He thanked me and they were on their way. It always feels good to help someone in need.

Last night I received a call from a hesitant missionary. He had just backed their 2015 Toyota Corolla with less than 1,000 miles on it into another car. And so the car fun continues.

I get to help with the lesson in Sunday School today. The teacher called me last night and asked, since I had been a stake president, would I be willing to take a few minutes to explain the role of the stake and how the stake and the mission work together to hasten the work of salvation. Thinking about that brought back a flood of memories and experiences of 17 years in the stake presidency working with lots of wonderful people to know and to do what the Lord wanted us to do.

The picture below is one wall of Claudia's cubicle. It is one of two walls of missionaries we love and serve with. Being the overachiever she has always been, she is making a scrapbook page for each missionary so that in years to come, we can remember each one and their impact on our lives.

A dear friend and business associate, Linda, is moving to Texas to be close to family. She retired on Friday after many years helping many of us accomplish what we did. After talking with her a few weeks ago, I contacted the mission office there and have arranged for missionaries to help them unpack their belongings this coming week. Missionaries are hard workers and they love to serve.

May your week be filled with opportunities and blessings of service. Look for someone to lift or cheer this week and I promise you your life will be blessed just because you took time to care.




Elder Taggart

bird's eye view

November  2, 2014
Sometimes this mission seems like an "out-of-body" experience. I should not have "news" every week. We wake up early, get ready, head to the office and put in a 9 hour day. I answer the phones and solve problems all day long. We come home, fix our evening meal, read our scriptures together, sometimes do laundry or I do missionary mending, and Elder Taggart answers calls about cars or ipads all night. Then we get up and do it again.

As we meet with the Mission President each week, we realize we are the glue or stabalizing force for all these young Elders and Sisters. Shifts in rules and guidelines occur when their wisdom doesn't match their experience.

1/ No more weapons will be allowed. (blow dart guns specifically) Missionaries aren't supposed to have weapons at all. We have gone back and forth discussing pepper spray or mace. This week it wasn't a missionary protecting himself against thugs of Chicago. It was an Elder hitting a squirrel in the neck with a blow dart gun. We live in very crowded conditions in Chicago. There are eyes and ears everywhere. Fortunately for the squirrel but unfortunately for the Elder--a member of PITA was watching and reported the incident. Thus the rule....no more weapons.

Then an Elder teaches a family in "the Hood". This is their 3rd or 4th lesson and they are moving closer to baptism. At 10:30 PM those same Elders get a call from the family. Their son has been shot in the face and is at the hospital. This 20 year old missionary immediately feels like a Priesthood blessing is needed. He calls the Pres. and gets permission to go to the hospital. He gives this young man a blessing before surgery. The next day this young man is moved off the critical list. They left the bullet in his neck because it was to tricky to remove but they expect a complete recovery. The faith and Priesthood of that young Elder helped facilitate a miracle in the kid who was shot.

2/ No more sleepovers. "President, tomorrow we have a meeting up there so may we just drive up tonight and stay at the other Sister's apartment?" The church says one companionship is the standard arrangement in any given apartment. Any more than that is a party.

3/ Missionaries may not donate blood. Their schedule is harder than ours. They are riding bikes, catching trains or buses, walking. Two days later a picture appears on Facebook of two sisters donating blood. Enough said.

A white Elder was riding his bike in a predominately black part of the city.l This big black dude came running up, punched the Elder in the helmet, tipping the Elder and the bike over. He was then going to take the bike. The Elder hung onto the bike for all  he was worth. The black guy persisted. Finally the Elder pulled off his nametag and held it up to the would-be-thief and said, "Hey, see this? I'M ONE OF THE JESUS BOYS." With that, the black man let go of the bike, apologized, gave the Elder a hug, and walked away. As the nurse later examined the egg-sized lump on his forehead, she asked him why he didn't just give up the bike. This 19 year old explained, "I've already lost 3 bikes in 3 transfers. I wasn't about to lose a fourth."
    "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)
    I am watching this happen every day here in Chicago. A friend from Seattle asked me this week how dangerous Chicago really is. I don't feel a danger for us or our missionaries if they are obedient with exactness.

I had an extremely irrate man call me to see why "my" missionaries had not contacted the referral he gave them last Monday. I calmly tried to explain the possible reasons. Monday is their preparation day where they are cleaning, grocery shopping, playing ball. (or shooting squirrels in the neck with blow darts!) These Elders happened to try to assign the referral themselves without involving me or the referral system---with little success obviously. He wanted results immediately. I tried to explain my computer and maps were at the office above a bank and the bank was closed. Finally he agreed to give me until Monday! Whew! Sometimes our Elders are 18 and 19 and act accordingly. Mmmmmm a game of soccer or find Jose......we'll find him after the game, maybe.

We had frost this morning. It can't possibly be that time of year already. We had snow on Halloween. So about Halloween....a pagan holiday we all celebrate either by buying big bags of candy or by wearing costumes. I found a "secretary wig" at Wallmart for $3. Perfect. I donned
it and off to work we went. The bank people loved it, our office staff chuckled, I personally got a horrid headache from the vise-grip of a wig. Then a gorilla entered our office, handing out bananas. It was our 84 year old Sister, nametag and all. She was quickly followed by our bank security. He demanded she take the mask off and be identified--all joking aside--this is a bank!! So even 84 year olds can have a lapse in protocal.

We had a wonderful Skype fireside last Sunday night with our eldest granddaughter. She shared mission experiences from her mission to the Dominican Republic. It was wonderful to share in her adventures, see all of our posterity that live in Utah, and know Brianne is safe in the USA again. She had an amazing mission and we can see so much depth and growth in her. Job well done and strong to the finish.

All in all it's been another good week. We had Sisters to dinner last night, two sweet angels. What an opportunity this is, to have a bird's eye of a mission in action.We love you and miss you. Try not to have any lapses in judgment this week.

Sister Taggart

Joy in the Journey

"Adam fell that men might be; men are that they might have joy." I taught the Gospel principles class today and the lesson was on the fall of Adam and Eve. We had a great discussion and after the class an investigator who has been coming for many weeks came up and thanked me for the lesson. He said he had never heard the story of Adam and Eve told that way and he really appreciated the perspective. Thanks to modern revelation, we know that both Adam and Eve should be thanked for the difficult decision they made to partake of the fruit. Had they not done so, none of us would be here and none of us would know joy and sorrow, health and sickness, pleasure and pain. None of us would have children and the multitude of opportunities to learn, grow and enjoy this mortal life. Had they not made that choice, which was always part of Father's plan, they would still be lounging around in the garden being provided for.

A 2012 Ford Fusion was totaled this week after two Sisters made a left-hand turn in front of on-coming traffic causing almost $7,000 damage to our car and almost $6,000 to the other car. Fortunately all involved were ok, with none sustaining any major injuries. Sadly for those Sisters, now neither one of them can drive because the companion had already lost her driving privileges for a similar accident the first time she drove. So they are now on bikes until the president can make a change of companions for both of them.

Thursday we came out to our car to go drive a car to the body shop to be remove dents and scratches so that I can sell it. To my surprise, my car wouldn't start; nothing but a click, click, click when I turned the key. Fortunately some Elders were at the office so I had them give me a jump. After getting a new battery, we were back on the road again.

As the Elders pulled up to my car, I noticed a dent/crease in the hood of their car. When I asked about it, the two of them looked at each other with that look of, oh no, we've been caught. It seems after District meeting this week, the Elder who was backing the driver up, jumped on the hood after he had backed his companion up. This Elder is maybe 4' 10" tall and weighs maybe 100 lbs. dripping wet. And yet, he out a nice crease and dent in the hood. I believe the hood will have to be replaced. "...the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth to the very center" they were both remorseful and apologized when I saw them at church today.

As we walked into church today, a man from the ward who met earlier looked at us and said, "Taggart, do you know Wayne DeMeester from Redmond, WA?" It is such a small world in the church; his father, Wayne, and I served as bishops of different wards at the same time. This young son looks so much like his father, it took me back many years to when we both served. Remember who you are and what you stand for because you never know when you might see someone who knows you or knows of you.

I wouldn't have seen this man, except we were at the church an hour early for choir practice. The choir started practices las week for the Christmas program. I must say, it is really fun to not have a responsible calling that makes it so I can't sing in the choir. I am loving it.

Our oldest grandchild returned from her mission to the Dominican Republic this last Thursday night. We had a nice phone visit with her on Friday. We are thrilled for the experiences she has had and the people she has met as she has served. Her life will never be the same because of the experiences and growth she had on her mission. We love you Brianne and wish we could have been there to welcome you home. Missing family events with children and grandchildren is the hardest things about serving a Sr. Mission. But we are being blessed and so is our posterity because of our willingness to consecrate this time to the Lord. Hopefully they all notice the blessings and miracles that are taking place.

Make time this week to notice the blessings and miracles that are around you every day. Take time to find joy in the journey, regardless of where you are in this journey of life and the journey of becoming more like the Savior. We love you.

Elder Taggart

Happy to be me

October 26, 2014
We were just coming out of the grocery store yesterday when I saw her.....my dream. Across the street was a garage sale extraordinaire and she had been pushed off to the edge. I realized her value and sprung into action. "Elder Taggart, we must go to that garage sale." His concerns were what his concerns always are, where would we put it, you will want to take it home, we only have 6 months left, you don't need it. What a stick in the mud. That wringer washing machine had my name all over it. "We can put it in the Crooks apartment.....in their kitchen. They will be gone in three weeks." Elder Taggart was still not buying it. We would still need to dry the clothes. Where did I propose we do that? "The Crooks apartment.....in their bedroom, their bathroom, their livingroom and dining area. We could stretch clotheslines all over their apartment."  He still wasn't buying it. I had fond memories of wringer washing machines. My mother used one well into the 60's. My arm got caught in the wringer when I was a little girl. I loved watching that wringer squeeze all the water out of the clothes. When we got married, I hated the laundromat. Such a waste of time. Then another poor college student got an automatic washing machine and asked me if I would like her wringer washer. I jumped all over it. I could wash diapers, as many cycles as I wanted, and then dry them on the heater in our living room. It took 10 minutes per side and you could dry 4 at a time. It consumed most of my time but I didn't have to leave the house. I could feed Allison, do dishes, sweep floors, read a book all at the same time I was drying the laundry. Long story short, we didn't buy the washer yesterday. Sometimes sanity does prevail in our relationship.

So you are probably expecting something new and exciting....but we do a very routine job. I drove a car behind Elder Taggart to Waukegan this week. The leaves have gone from vibrant to drab. That's to get you in the proper frame of mind for winter here, I've decided. Just when I was ready for a dull day, I read a sign that made me laugh out loud....DUMB BODIES FROM $1560. The Mafia or a gang of thugs? No, it was a truck company specializing in dump capabilities. Only in Chicago would you think it applied to something else.

"Sister Taggart, we are at the address of 2 referrals you sent us and we are looking at a race track." ( It had said "gated community" on the referral and I guess that could apply) A young missionary who was in the office at the time said, "Not only did they deceive servants of The Lord---they lied about their address.....but we could fix all that with baptism." I love our missionaries optimism.

One Elder has been walking to try to get his weight down. He has lost 60 pounds in 6 months and looks great....except his suit looks saggy-baggy now. We have offered to pay for alterations but he declined. Last week a suit was "found" while cleaning an apartment. The Elder brought it to the mission home. Sister Woodbury had it cleaned then took it to a meeting this other Elder would be at. It was a perfect fit. I love being part of the miracles in our missionaries' lives.

Remember the Romanian family who asked for Spanish speaking missionaries and then couldn't understand them....so they asked for English speaking because they could understand Greek? The rest of the story....the English Sisters were at their wits end. While talking to their ward mission leader, they said the Romanians understand Greek because they were Greek Orthodox. This leader said, "Our Bishop's wife used to be Greek Orthodox and speaks Greek fluently." Problem solved. The Romanians are now being taught. I love seeing tender mercies that only God could put into place.

Our Australian Sister got here 2 months ago and saw the need to get a drivers license. She needed two forms of 10 and her passport only counted as one. At the license bureau they suggested she get a social security card. She had it within a week.( another whole chapter could be dedicated to what is wrong with this picture but I'm to have no political opinions while I'm a missionary.) She took the written test, only mission a few. Then they said she would need to take a driving test. She has never driven a car where everything is on the opposite side, including the road!! She got the ornery lady too. She passed the driving test and the two were fast friends by the end. Turns out the ornery lady has family near Perth, Australia. Small world or a miracle for this Sister so she can be a more effective servant of The Lord?

Our granddaughter Brianne is home from her mission in the Dominican Republic and we visited with her. We are so proud of her accomplishments and so grateful she is back in the U.S.

"Do you currently have a CO2 detector in your apartment?"
"No."
"Do you have a gas stove?"
"Yes, Isn't that the one where the coils turn red on the top of the stove?"
"No, that's the one where you turn on the stove and see fire."
"Then we don't have gas."
I love the innocence of our missionaries. We send them out into the world with so little worldly knowledge and yet they bring the most priceless message to so many.

I'm still laughing. I still have a testimony. I still love my companion. I'm still glad we chose to serve a mission. I still miss my family. I'm still learning. I still wish I had bought that wringer washer. Life is good.

Love,
Sister Taggart

Seasons

Yesterday, we enjoyed the beauties and wonders of nature. When I asked Claudia what she wanted for breakfast before we headed out, she said, let's go to Dunkin Donuts and get some donuts and hot chocolate; that's a perfect way to start a fall day. So, with donuts and hot chocolate in hand, we drove to one of the forest preserves to admire and to take pictures of the beautiful fall leaves. We sat in the parking lot and enjoyed our yummy, but not so healthy breakfast and then walked to explore the leaves. I know that my ability to see colors has not improved, but for whatever reason, the colors this fall just seem to be far more brilliant to my eye.

We drove from that preserve into another and we're awed by the beauties of nature. As we walked, we listened to and watched geese flying South for the inevitable winter weather soon to be upon us. As we strolled hand in hand, I couldn't help but think of just how blessed I am to know that a loving Father in Heaven has provided this beautiful earth and a myriad of creatures and plant life to make our journey here even more enjoyable. On top of that, He gave us companions, family and friends to further enhance the journey.

Much like the seasons of the weather that provide variety, beauty and challenges, he also provides different seasons in our lives. I reflect on the season of a house full of little children and the joys, demands and experiences of those years. I remember the season of teenagers and young adults eager to spread their wings and experience the wonders of life; always wishing they were adults so they could do what they wanted to do.

I reflect on the season of supporting missionaries and college students which lead right into the season of weddings and the start of new lives together and the start of new families.

Through all of those seasons, was the season to work and toil to earn a living and provide for the necessities of life and a few of the pleasures. Through all of those seasons, there are ups and downs, challenges and frustrations, heartache and joy, laughter and tears, opportunities to serve. And all of this so that we can learn, grow and become and experience all that is necessary for us to return to our heavenly home.

I'm grateful to be in the season of life that I am. Most of the worries and cares of those earlier seasons are behind me and I can enjoy the fall of my life, serving side by side my sweetheart and having time to just walk among the leaves and enjoy the things around me. I am blessed beyond measure and know that I am known and loved by the Father of all, who wants me to continue to work on becoming like him so that I can enjoy the seasons that lie ahead.

I encourage you to take pause to reflect on whatever season you are in and enjoy the wonders of life that surround you. I know that as sure as winter follows fall, a loving Father in Heaven knows us and loves us and is there to cheer us on and encourage us to stay the course. May you have a marvelous week enjoying whatever season you are in. I love you.

Elder Taggart

Taking things for granted

October 19,2014
I have decided that most, if not all, of us take things for granted. Elder Taggart and I have decided there will be things after our mission we will never take for granted again. We had a whole conversation about the wonder of a washing machine and a dryer---in our own living space---that will not require quarters or monitoring. We unlock four doors, walk outside and passed three apartments  to get to our washing facility. One night last week we had intended to do laundry but we were out of quarters. Bills in your wallet can't get the clothes washed. Ah--- the wonder of a laundry room within the walls of your own home!

Marina bore her testimony last Sunday about the wonder of our libraries. She is from the Soviet Union turned Ukraine and has been here about 20 years. She has a PHD in physics. As a little girl, her library contained only books of science and history with a twist of propaganda. No novels, no books of poetry or religion. No children's books that could take you away, like Treasure Island. I love Marina. I love her laugh and the way she talks and her two sons (10 & 12) who can't leave each other alone on the church pew. Books have always been a love of mine but I can't have a library card here in Glenview. Since we live in unincorporated Glenview, it would cost me $350 per year to have a library card. Thrift stores abound in good books and other than scriptures, I have little time to read here anyway. But America has libraries---thousands of them--- full of every kind of reading a person could want. Most of us take that for granted. My library within walking distance in American Fork will be seeing a lot of me when I get home.

All of us have families. They may vary as to size and location but we all have a family. A family should be our safe place, our refuge from the world. Lately we have had missionaries dread going home because that is not their reality. A couple of these missionaries are the only members of the church in their family. Parents have disowned them or told them they can come home if they deny their testimonies. For 18 to 24 months they have been out here testifying of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of the true church. They become converted themselves. They watch the miracle of change taking place in dozens of lives as they teach people here and as those people embrace Jesus in their own lives. I guess I took for granted my childhood home where I was always safe being who I was. It makes me want to come home and open my home to all the unwanted returned missionaries.

I chuckled at pieces of mail this week. A grandma sent a letter with an Easter seal instead of a stamp and it arrived. We received 4 Halloween boxes from a mother of one of our elders--one for her son and 3 for elders who never receive anything from home. Another mother of one of our sisters sends letters to two of our sisters and two of our elders who never get mail. Such a little thing you may say.....but this mother has 9 children and three of them are on missions right now. She doesn't take for granted someone else will make sure all the missionaries get a letter. She is proactive and somehow finds the time to write those letters.

We had elders to dinner on Monday night. We had sisters to dinner on Tuesday night. We fixed soup and thought nothing of it. Later we received a note from the sisters. " we were having an off day and then we came to your home where we felt loved and the Spirit so strongly. By coming to your home set the tone for the rest of the night. After dinner we taught our investigator. Missionaries have been working with him for about a year. Because of your love and example to us we were able to teach him in the right frame of mind. He committed to baptism Nov 1st. Thank you for all you do! Thank you for being my grandparents away from home."  I took for granted I was just giving them a bowl of soup. We often forget what is felt in our homes by others.

I took for granted when these Elders and Sisters complete their missions they are done with us. Not so. I received a Facebook chat from a sister who went home last transfer. She wondered if my grandson, who I collect stamps for, would like her whole stamp collection? She lived in Lehi and he lives in Draper.....why not??? I think we will stay connected to all of these missionaries.

We attended a baptism last night. Never take for granted your membership in this church. This young man has been on a journey, first searching for a wife, then a church. He married a less-active Mormon. They were both at a cross-road. The week he was to fast and pray about his decision to be baptized or not, he came down with a horrible flu. He decided the decision could not be postponed, so he fasted during the flu. She also had to decide if she was willing to commit to church attendance and never look back to inactivity. Never take for granted the Light of Christ you radiate once you commit to following Him. It is real. He was baptized and now their sights are set on a temple sealing a year from now.

Last. Never take your friends for granted. Yesterday I jumped in the car with my best friend and companion for our P-day adventure. We stopped at Dunkin donuts for hot chocolate and a donut and then drove to a forest preserve for breakfast and a photo safari. Both armed with cameras we tried to capture the beautiful fall leaves.  We won't be here another fall to enjoy them so we wanted to capture the moment. I capture many moments with this friend of mine. We try not to ever take our time together for granted.

We love and miss you,
Sister Taggart

Elder Taggart, I have a question

This picture was taken yesterday at the beach on Lake Michigan. We decided to go to the beach one more time before snow flies. The drive was beautiful because of the gorgeous fall leaves, listening to the waves was soothing and being with my favorite person made it a great day.

Our granddaughter, Morgan Taggart was baptized as a member of the Church yesterday in Texas. She is the 4th grandchild baptism we have missed while serving here. We would have loved to be there. We love you Morgan and are proud of the decision you have made.

We saw the new movie, "Meet the Mormons". If you haven't seen it, make time to do so. It is well done and will make you laugh as well as cry.

My whole week has been filled with questions.
-Elder Taggart, we accidentally put diesel in the gas tank. What should we do? $935 later, the car was fixed.

-Elder Taggart, we just got a ticket for having expired license tabs (3 companionships).
-Me, have you checked in the glove box and the apartment because I gave those to Elder or Sister _____ months ago? Two of them found them in the glove box; the other one remembers seeing it on their desk but thanks that it must have been thrown away.

-Elder Taggart, we need to get an oil change and tire rotation. Do we have to pay for that? These are two Elders who have been out for over a year, but who have obviously not paid attention to any training given.
-Me, Elders, take your car into Pep Boys. We not only have have a fleet account with them, but we are their oldest and largest client. They will bill me.

-Chief, the Sisters in our ward have been riding bikes because their car is in the shop for accident repair. Can we let them use our car and we will ride bikes? Very thoughtful and kind.

-Elder Taggart, I really thought you would yell at me for not paying attention causing me to hit a curb and cause a blow-out. Thanks for being so calm. I promise I will be more attentive.

-Elder Taggart, Pep Boys just changed our oil and told us that the top of our dip stick is broken off. They can't get the dipstick out. Mind you, this is the first oil change on this brand new car. We're not sure how it got broken; maybe the Elders did it when they checked our oil.

-Two months ago I put 4 brand new rims, tires and hubcaps on a Subaru because the rims were badly bent from hitting things making it so the seal on the tires wouldn't hold. This week I get a car inspection report from the District leaders indicating that the car didn't have any hubcaps on it. I call the Elders - Why doesn't your car have any hubcaps?
-Elders ____& ____ said one of the hubcaps came off, so they took them all off so the car wouldn't look funny. Besides, the car looks really cool here in the "hood" without hubcaps.
-Elders, take your car into Pep Boys and have them put another new hubcap plus the other three on. We don't want the cars to look cool; we want them to reflect the image of the Church and your sacred calling.
-Me- I call the previous Elders and ask them what they hit to bend a brand new rim and cause a hubcap to come off.
-We didn't hit anything. The hubcap just came off.
-Me- then why is the rim bent enough that they aren't sure they can fix it?
-Well, maybe we did hit a pothole pretty hard

Sorry, but this has honestly been my week with cars. All of the missionaries are required to log their car mileage every day and then turn that report into me at the end of the month along with their gas receipts. One companionship who are on bikes felt left out. So they logged their bike miles every day and turned that report into me. They had honestly ridden 451.8 miles for the months. And they said that this had been a light month.

We picked up four 2015 Toyota Corolla's this week. And so the process of assigning those new ones and having the old ones prepared to sell begins again. I have 10 new vehicles on order, so I will soon be selling more cars.

I love my missionaries, but I have lost some hair and definitely do have more grey hair because of them. Needless to say, my weeks are never dull.

The Lord is my light and my strength. Being in His employ makes all that I do worth it. I love Him and love being able to serve Him even when most of my time is spent dealing with car, iPad and cell phone issues so that the young missionaries can invite others to come unto Christ. I pray that you will feel of His love this week.

Elder Taggart, the car czar