This area is on fire!!

Dear Family,

Ha ha, Mom I had to laugh at your opening comment in your letter...  

 

"if you were a 'girl Taylor', you would be coming home this month!!!"  

 

Yes, it is true, if I were a 'girl Taylor' I would have like two weeks to go, but honestly...as excited as I am to come home I'm not really ready yet:).  The time is flying by though, its crazy.  I was writing a thank you card and wrote, "I'll be home in July or August", and I just stopped and about started crying....  Looking back serving a mission seemed like the most daugnting task anyone could have ever asked me to perform...but now looking at how close it is to just being done forever...I don't know...It seems like I just started. 

Things here just keep getting better and better and better!  The area is on fire!  I still can't even figure out what is happening.  We were one night talking about how unsuccessful we had been lately and then we met Godwin. I have told you about Godwin before, but since we met him...things are just on an amazing upward track. Each week we seem to be coming into contact with more and more prepared people that are so elect...and so many of them are progressing at a rate that I have never before experienced on my mission. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people on my mission...those who I love dearly...but I can safely say that I have never worked with more prepared group of investigators. We had a number of days this week where I could say to myself that I have never been happier. It's been such a blessing to be able to come into contact with these people.  Not only will they be incredible additions to the ward when they are baptized...but the ward is recognizing that fact...and are really starting to be willing to work with us in welcoming them into the ward the way they should. We only had two members present lessons this week, but they were amazing! It was an incredible experience, and one that really open my eyes even further to the importance of members and missionaries working together in this work that we have been called to do.

This week we met a guy named Chris.  Chris is the most energetic guy that I have ever met in Ghana!  We met him on Tuesday, we went back on Wednesday, he was sitting there with two chairs out waiting for us and his Book of Mormon in his hands.  He had read the first 24 pages, like actually read them!  Had all sorts of questions, it was amazing!  To tell you the total truth...NO one in Ghana actually reads...so when he read that much and had questions, it was amazing!  Its crazy to see how big of a difference a little bit of reading can make in teaching.  If you find someone that actually reads the Book of Mormon, I am thoroughly convinced that it is about a 95% chance they will be baptized!  I just know how I feel when I read it...and how could they not feel the same?  There was a quote I once read that said something along the lines of "reading from The Book of Mormon literally unleashes the spirit off its pages."  I have expereinced that so many times over the last 18 months that I just know they will too!:).

Now, for the questions.....

How have you seen the hand of the Lord in your life this week?

-he has 100% guided us in our finding lately.  That is the only way I could ever explain how we could go 4 months with no one, to the next day having the greatest teaching pool I have ever had.

What miracles did you witness this week?

- We taught a man that we had contacted a lesson, and there was this really old lady there that only spoke Twi.  My Twi is no where near the level to able to teach a lesson so we greeted her, but that was about it.  We had an awesome lesson with this guy named Prince (who turned out not to live in our area....) but it was filled with the spirit.  

 

Later that night we went and taught Chris, after which he walked us down to the road.  Somone called us over...and it was that old lady again.  Obviously, I still didn't speak Twi, but Chris translated for us. She said that she wanted us to come and visit her...that while she sat there and listened while we taught, she couldn't understand what we were saying...but that she felt something.  She said that she wanted to know what we were talking about because of how she felt.  It was just cool to see how the spirit can touch someone, even when they can't understand what is said.  

 

I'm learning that if you are worthy and doing what you are supposed to, the Spirit is going to be with you...and there is no way that others won't be able to feel it.

What brought you joy?

-to tell you the truth I layed in bed ever single night this week and just cried....  Never a tear of sorrow.  Just so much joy inside of me that I couldn't keep it in.  I am again expereinceing that great joy that accompanies "The Rest of the Lord."  It has been a while since I had felt it.  Since Koforidua actually.  Even there it was only for a single night, but I have felt it for a solid week now, and even now it still courses through my body.  There is nothing bothering me.  There is nothing weighing me down.  There is nothing I am really all that worried about, and I know that I am doing all that is in my power to magnify this great calling I have been given.  

 

I remember saying a prayer asking God to help our investigators get to church the next day and I remember being about half way through a sentence before I realized what I was saying.  I said, " God just please bring them to church.  I have done all that is in my power" Here, I stopped.  Usually I feel as if I am doing okay, but still feel like there was more I could have done.  This week I could confidently tell the Lord that I had done absolutely all that was in my power to get them to where they needed to be.  I got them a copy of the book of Mormon, I was exactly obedient, and I could turn them over to the Lord and let Him decide whether or not he would like them to be to church.  It's a difficult feeling to explain but one that is amazing to feel.  I am not saying I am great, but I feel much or even exactly like Alma....   

 

Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 

I know exactly how he felt when he wrote that, its not us that are doing a good job but we are doing all that we possible can, we turn it over to him and He does the rest.

A spiritual experience you would like to share?

-This week I don't really think I had a specific spiritual experience...it was more of just a week full of His presence and influence. I can say that with every passing week, as I continue to improve, I can see and feel His hand more and more in my life and am finally beginning to recognize how He talks to me and how it feels. I can feel a difference when I slip.  When He leaves and then can feel his presence again in my life as I get down on my knees and ask for forgiveness. It's still not black and white to me, obviously, but I know that with time that contrast will only become more and more prevalent in my life.

What have you been grateful for this week?

-I've been grateful the spirit...it's the best.

 

 

Well, I've got to go.  I'm out of time.  

 

Love to you all. 

Love,

Taylor