Forever Strong... In Christ...Week 13

Hi everyone! To be honest, I'm feeling a little emotional writing this email right now. I have some things to say, and then a message I would like to share with you all.

First: What a shock! My companion does not speak ANY english, so this is really gonna be a growing experience for me. He is very quiet, but a spiritual giant. He is from Peru! His name is Elder Adrianzen. Whenever we are out in public, I feel like extra big because he is a little guy. Someone asked me if I was his bodyguard, and I said no. Then I told him that I was his companion. The person asked me what a companion is and why I, a white guy, is with a latino. I told him that we were missionaries, then he just walked away. So... yeah. 

Second: We made a goal to baptize 5 people this change. I know that we can do it. This past week we found some very promising investigators. A family, and a young girl of 16 years old. The family is a mom, two daugters above the age of 12, and three young children under the age of 8. We invited them to church, but the dad said that they had to go to their abuelito's house because it was his birthday. But we stopped by their house last night, and the girls came out crying telling us that they were sorry that they didn't go. They wanted to go so bad, but they couldn't because of their dad. They said that their mom was very sad too, and that they wanted to meet with us Tuesday night. We told them not to worry about anything, and that we'll see them on Tuesday. So that was a good experience! We haven't met with the 16 year old girl yet, but we will soon!

Third: We invited Karla and Pablo and Alejandra to the church and to be baptized. Karla and Alejandra said that they want to, they just don't know how to prepare. We promised them that in time, we could help them prepare. Then Pablo stepped in saying that "they didn't need to be baptized, none of this is true," and said some other very bad things about our message. Same with Cesar's parents. They don't want to have to give up beer, freetime on Sundays, and other things for our message.

Fourth: This week was kind of hard. I just always feel judged for who I am, how I teach, how I contact, the way I am, the way I desire to serve the Lord. I felt torn down my my companion and others in my district. I was feeling sick and just didn't know what to do. I felt overwhelmed beyond what I thought I could handle.

This leads to where I feel emotional. Why is this happining? Why is there so much rejection and hate for something so wonderful and how it can bring so much joy into life? Why is there pride that set's this gospel aside? Why is beer and cigarrettes (I butchered that word) put before the word of Christ? How can people believe that there is no Christ? Why can't this be easier? Why can't I just be good at this already? Then, one morning, I was reading in Alma chapter 31. How he prayed for strength. After reading that, I felt strengthened and I now know that my strength is in Christ.

So that is my challenge this week: 1) Read Alma 31 and 2) Pray for strength in the Lord. We can be forever strong in the Lord is we put it on Him, have faith, clap our hands together, and get to work in whatever we need to do. This life is hard, but we have the living Christ on our side. 

Keep up the good work everyone! And remember: Keep the Faith!

With love,

Elder Simon Taylor

Cake here is so moist lol

Umm... I just realized that I took one picture this week haha. But I'll remember to take more next week!