An Invitation to You...

This is Ben's Letter from August  3, 2015

Hola!

How are you all doing? I hope everything has been going well. It's been a while since I`ve written everyone from back home.

 I just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing well and that I have loved my time down here as a missionary. It's been incredible. I'm sure you all probably are familiar with what it is a "Mormon" missionary does. But just in case you don’t know, what I do is teach people about what Jesus Christ taught us while he was here on the earth. And how it is that we can verify, of all the churches that now exist in the world, which is the true church.

This message talks of how God has called again another prophet with the divine mission of restoring the plain and simple truths. Plain and simple truths, which over the years of reformation and confusion, have been lost. Its message implies real changes in lives of anyone who takes the time to listen to it, ponders, then prays to God to know if it is really true and then acts according to that divine confirmation received from God.

I know that you all have your own faiths, beliefs, and thoughts about religion. But, I want to make you an invitation to seek out the missionaries from over there in Plainfield (or where ever it is that you live) and give them an hour of your time to hear what they have to teach. I can promise you that what they teach is true, and that if you ask God in prayer, he will answer you of the truth of these things. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith --James 1:5 

I want you to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored anew and that has changed my life. I am a changed person and all I want to do is share this with everyone.

Even if you are a little skeptical, or doubtful, please take these few minutes to sit down with the missionaries, ponder of what they teach you, then later ask our Heavenly Father if what they teach is true.

Here’s the number of the Sister Missionaries: 317-937-9545

I love you all tons!

Élder Benjamin Taylor

Mission Uruguay Montevideo

Working with the Young Men-Only 2 Transfers Left

This is Ben's Letter from July 28, 2015

Hola Familia

This week was great. A little of the same from last week. Elder Leite and I have been assigned as the Young Men’s counselors in our branch (two weeks ago). It turns out that since a district is under the keys of the Mission President, they can just assign us to almost anything they need us to do in the branch and we don´t need to be set apart since we were already set apart before coming. Interesting huh?. 

We’ve been focusing on passing by the members from the ward directory as a way to find people to teach. We’re focusing on less-active Endowed members, Priesthood holders, and large families. Another priority we’ve tried to focus on has been the youth in order to increase the size of our youth program.

Beforehand, we didn’t have anyone. We no have 2 youth that are coming to church and the mutual activities. We’ve had two consecutive mutual activities and had the first Aaronic Priesthood class in who knows how long. The youth are getting excited that they have a class just for them, and now actually want to go to church. Before, if there were a youth that came, they would just stay with the adults the whole time. We’re working with just two for now, but we’ve been able to contact quite a few.

This Saturday we have organized with President Cono (our branch presidente) to start collecting the Fast Offerings with the youth every month (something that hasn´t ever been done in years from what I understand). And this Viernes we have organized, with the Young Womens presidency from our branch, a dance for all the youth in the district and are using the youth we have here in the branch to help organize it. We’re obviously not going to be at the dance while it’s going on, but we’ve been inviting and it should turn out pretty well. There are so few youth in the district that we are inviting ALL youth from 12-17 so that there are enough people for it to be fun. We’ve got a few young investigators that might go to the activity. So we’ll see how it goes.

I recently started studying the Book of Mormon from the beginning again. I started with a new (fresh slate) copy and have learned so much. It’s so amazing how this book adapts to you individual life circumstances. Elder Leite and I are trying to use it more and more in our teaching, along with the "My Family" pamphlet. It’s amazing to preach about the restoration of the Gospel and at the same time testify about the divinity of the family.

We’ve been teaching the members about family history and the Spirit of Elijah and how it is a manifestation of the Holy Ghost that testifies of the divinity of the family unit and showing the video "Meet my Grandma" which shows so powerfully what it is to feel the spirit of Elijah. Y'all should watch it and share it with someone and invite them to start their family history (member or nonmember).

As a zone we are doing well. I’ve really enjoyed this change with the missionaries that were here in the zone. Elder Leite and I were talking of ways that we can improve our interactions with the missionaries. We hope to get to know far more about the other missionaries in order to better help them. As always I´m excited for the new change.

Tomorrow are changes and Elder Leite and I are staying together. 

I now have officially two Transfer cycles left... Better make them the best I can.

I love you all a ton and hope everything is well back home.

I love the mission and love serving the Lord.

Élder Benjamin Taylor

P.S. Ignore my horrible English and spelling. It’s getting far worse the longer I’m down here...

Remember When... and Daiana Getting Baptized

Ben's Letter from July 20, 2015

Hola Familia,

[I'm sorry, my email closed and the computer wasn't connected to the Internet.

That's two weeks that I haven't written you well. Sorry]

How are you? So good to hear from you this week. The bullfrogs sound pretty fun. It reminds me of back in the summer days of my youth collecting tadpoles from the retention pond behind Grams house. Then there was that one time we had forgotten and they had all grown legs and escaped into the garage.

That's funny. I am doing well here. The weather is beautiful and not too cold nor too hot. We had a good week and have been trying to find more people to teach. It's been good.

We are teaching someone named Daiana who is getting ready to be baptized either this week of the following. She's already come to church three times to the three hours and is super excited for this moment.

Love you.

Chao