His Work and His Glory...week 2

Buenos Dias todos personas! 

Wow what a crazy week... it's been good, but hard at the same time. It's a hassle to be able to keep a house clean, let alone my own room. But that's just great! Isn't it? 

This week we had a devotional with Elder Valenzuela of the Seventy (I think, I can't remember though) and he talked about the earthquake. Here are some facts...

1) 2.6 million people were injured/affected by the earthquake

2) only three people died in the earthquake

3) EVERY missionary in that earthquake was perfectly fine. No injuries whatsoever. 

These are really important to recognize in our lives, and I would like to do a weekly challenge for everyone. 

This week's challenge is to recognize the Lord's protecting hand in your life. The Lord protected these missionaries just like he did Shadrack, Mishak, and Abednigo (I know I butchered those names). I know without a doubt that God is protecting all of us here at the CCM. It rains like 80% of the time. It's cloudy which is nice, but it rains a lot and I've got soaked a couple of times. 

Over all: remember who you are and remember that God loves us.

Dios nos ama!

Elder Taylor

Big Dudes

 Ball is Life.

Darkness and Light

Rainbow City

Notes from Mom:  Simon was very homesick this week. It was a struggle. We heard from him on Thursday, September 14, and then rallied in our family and wrote to him, sent him some packages via Missionary Package Mexico, and put his name on the temple prayer roll at 5 temples. Bryan and I went to the temple on Saturday night, September 16,  for our ward temple night as we prepared for Ward Conference. I was able to add his name to that prayer roll as well. As I left the temple I received an email from a dear teacher of Simon who is now my coworker and friend at the high school. Trent Mikesell sent me an email that said the following, which I will treasure always: Hope you're having a great Saturday! I just wanted you to know that the Lord takes care of His missionaries. I teach online for BYU-Idaho, and this was our first week of classes. One of my online studetns said he was a branch president at the MTC (my students are adults). I aksed him if he knew an Elder Taylor, and he said, "Elder Taylor is in my branch." He sent me this email as well: A very good friend of mine used to say that coincidences are in fact "Diosidencias" (a combination of the words Dios and coincidencias in Spanish). Elder Taylor had kind of a hard week, nothing unusual in missionaries in their second week at the MTC. However, I think it would be good for him to read something encouraging from you. Would you mind to write (in a separate email) a short message to him so I can print it and give it to him?

I just wrote an email to Elder Taylor, and his branch president is going to print it off and give it to him tomorrow (I assume). I was really touched by this experience and I knew you would want to hear about it." 

I prayed for Simon day in and day out and he was at the forefront of my thoughts. His last email of the day on Thursday was the scripture Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. This gave me great hope that Simon would be alright. I am eternally grateful for Heavenly Father's influence in our lives. He will take care of my boy.