Vehicle Quotes

First let me say that we thoroughly enjoyed Easter weekend! We had a very nice visit with Sister Taggart's brother Bryce and his wife Dana. I am ever so grateful for the empty tomb! Because of Him we have hope, we can change, we can repent and find forgiveness, we can try a little harder to be a little and know that it matters, we too will live again. And because of His love and grace, we will be enough after all we can do.

I decide to share a few stories about young missionaries that I experience every week. Here is the description one Sister gave of their car accident:

"As my companion and I drove to the Bishops house for an appointment, we delighted at the glorious rainfall. Suddenly, the situation became more bleak. The sky blackened. The lightning flashed before us. The rain fell harder and harder. Then, "POP!" we heard a solid object collide with the top of the car. "BAM!" another hit the hood. We realized to our horror that we were in the middle of a violent hail storm. It raged on as we drove and the hail came with more frequency and intensity. It escalated to the point that we could hardly see the road before us. We prayed that we would be protected by angels in the storm. Hail fell all around. We were almost entirely blinded by the deluge of rain and ice. We pulled over until the storm calmed to the extent that we felt safe to return to our journey.
And thus it was that the devil sent forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, and all his hail and his mighty storm beat upon us, but it had no power over us, because of the rock upon which we are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if Elders and Sisters build, they cannot fail. Although we did have some body damage."
There were actually hail stones the size of ping pong balls. And it did $1,100 damage to the car. She asked me when I spoke to her if this would become a journal entry for me. I told her it would not only make a journal entry, but it would also make my weekly email. With delight, she said, "That makes my day."

At the end of each month, the missionaries are required to mail me a copy of their daily vehicle report (DVR) along with all of their gas receipts. I then have to enter their ending odometer reading for the month in the CARS system by vehicle. I frequently get notes from the missionaries either on the envelope or on a post-it note. I treasure these. Here is one from some Spanish-speaking sisters:
"This I'd the DVR and info from Jim's Collision, gracias! Your Spanish phrase of the day is: i tenernos nvestro carro! Which means, we have our car back! Yay!" I usually get a couple each month with my Spanish word for the day. I also get several saying, "we love you" or "you are the best" or "thanks for all that you do for us". I save most of them and post them on my board where I have a spare key for every car.

Here is a text I received yesterday. "So we accidentally dropped and might have run over our phone. It still works but we cannot see half of the screen." what should we do Elder Taggart?

A sister called me last night to tell me they had just rear-ended someone. After making sure they were ok, getting details of the accident and walking them through what they needed to do, this young sister asked, Elder Taggart, did any of your kids ever get in an accident? I replied yes. She then asked, "were you as calm with them as you always are with us when we call? I replied that I thought so, but my kids may dispute that. I do hope that I was.

I am so glad the weather has mad a turn for the better. I have been able to walk outside almost every day this past week or so. I have walked about 15 miles in the past 6 days and it feels so good! I am excited to shed the extra winter layer I added and let my body know that I do care.

Life is great; missions are hard work; I love my companion; I love the Lord and am striving to more like my Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope we can all be successful this week in just trying a little harder to be just a little bit better. I love and miss you.

Elder Taggart