working hard, looking for investigators, planting seeds, I know enough...

I can't believe it's the last day of September!! Crazy!!  The leaves are really starting to change now and the weather is getting cooler and cooler.... This week was a good one!I don't have much to write about this week...here's just some mumbo jumbo...haha sorry I can't seem to get my thoughts out the way I want to! Next week will be better :)

We were able to see lots of less actives this week! This area is pretty hard because we really have no investigators...I guess for me it's alright because I know nothing different! but Sister Hoffman is used to having actual lessons investigators and investigators to teach! We're working on it...our miracle John that we found last week turned out to not be so great...he gave us the wrong address or something... we were ready Monday night to go and teach him, had a member come with us and everything, and then we got there and there were like three different buildings with the address he told us so we knocked on all the doors but no one knew John :/ lame! maybe we'll see him again...but at least we planted that seed! 

On Tuesday we went to the soup kitchen and when we got there the other volunteers started asking us all these questions about missionary work and stuff and we got to have some really good discussions with them before all the people got there! It's really neat to talk to people and so many people have such respect for us and tell us how they think it's so great what we do. Now if they would just let us teach them! But hey more seeds...we just keep talking to these people and someday when it's the right time they'll be ready! Wednesday we went to a funeral for Brother Marston! He is the most amazing man and I am just so grateful that I was able to know him! He was so funny and always had the best jokes and stories to tell! Everybody loved Brother Marston! Going to the funeral it just made me think about how grateful I am for the plan of salvation. Brother Marston joined the church many years ago because of how he loved that families can be together forever. I love that about the church and I am so grateful for that knowledge that we have! I know that it is true and that we can be together forever! This gospel just brings so much happiness and I love when we can tell people about the plan of salvation and how families can be together forever! This gospel is all about families and about being happy and sharing that with others with others makes me so happy! 

We met with Jason again this week and it was so neat to talk with him and he told us how happy it makes him when we come and see him. He has such a sweet spirit!  We've really just been seeing how important the less actives are this week...talking about it in district meeting and setting goals to find a fellowshipper for all of the less actives we work with! And our awesome ward mission leader is setting up a plan to work with them and the relief society president in our ward is also trying to get the visiting teaching to be focused on the less actives. So we are all really focused rescuing them and know that they are so important! They have already made covenants and we need to bring them back into the fold! In Alma 31 it talks about how precious their souls are! I have just felt Heavenly Father's love so strong lately and I know that we are all children of God. He wants all of his children to return back to him and we all are here to help each other! 

I loved the Relief Society Broadcast and they talked a lot about covenants! When we are baptized we covenant to serve others and I'm grateful that I have this opportunity to really focus all my time to serve others! It's amazing work! I am learning to really rely on the Lord. I know that through Christ we can do all things and that he will strengthen us. I am working on remembering that I know enough. There is so much to learn and I know that we are all always learning and growing! I know that even though I don't know everything I know enough and I know that my testimony is being strengthened as I share it with others. It is so humbling to be out here and I am learning so very much! I am so excited for general conference this weekend!! Hope you all are super excited too! :D It's going to be so great!! AH! I'm just so excited! I love you so so much!

Love,

Sister Tait

The latest from Brunswick, Maine...

I just realized I haven't posted the update from Sister Tait. Oops!
happy Wednesday! Now we are that much closer to the next update. Yay!!

Well this week has kinda been a difficult one! Just cuz I've been sick
and lots of people that we wanted to see were sick....super lame! But
it's okay because I'm doing much better and we have seen lots of
miracles this week! The good always outweighs the bad! Sister Hoffman
and I have just been doing lots of going through the area book and
really trying to find potentials and former investigators and lots and
lots of street contacting and just talking to everyone. It works! Last
week we were walking around and we started talking to Jason. We taught
him the restoration right then and there and he said it was really
interesting and he wanted to learn more. So yesterday we had an
appointment to go and see him again. We found out that he lives in a
group home and we weren't sure if he is really all there. But we know
that he is a son of God and so we went yesterday and it was so neat he
was standing outside waiting for us. He told us that he had told all
his friends about us and that they told him that if we said something
then it has to be true. He can't read so he but he had someone read
the pamphlet that we left him and then we taught him about the plan of
salvation. He was so excited to get that pamphlet and he says that
he's coming to church on sunday! He's our only progressing
investigator right now! He has such a great desire to learn and wants
to hear all about Jesus. So we'll just keep teaching him and we'll see
where it goes!

We found another new investigator this week! Which was a really cool
miracle! It was wednesday night and we had just had Book of Mormon
class but no one showed up...then we went out and we were just walking
around trying to find people but no one was really out! Then we ran
into this man named John. Usually people just walk right by but he
stopped! He stopped and talked to us and he just was telling us that
he really felt like he was supposed to meet us that night. At first we
were both a little worried thinking he was just another drunk guy...
he pulled out his cigarettes and asked if it was okay if he smoked in
front of us... We started talking to him about the word of wisdom and
he waited and didn't light the cigarette! He had lots of questions and
then said he respected us and what we were saying and wouldn't smoke
in front of us. We taught him a little of everything and talked to him
for about a half an hour just out on the sidewalk. I know that he was
definitely placed in our path for a reason! It wasn't just
coincidence, but a miracle for sure! We gave him a Book of Mormon and
we are going to see him tonight! So we are very hopeful about that!
Lots of good things to come!

Also yesterday we had a really great lesson in gospel principles about
missionary work that Brother Jones our ward mission leader taught! It
was super good especially for Greg-the one who's been investigating
the church for six years! Brother Jones showed the mormon message
"Waiting on the Road to Damascus" and Greg felt that it was totally
meant for him. I think his heart is softening and we are going to be
bold and maybe even extend a baptismal invitation to him this week!
We'll see.... we're trying to be more bold! Definitely something that
I've been working on and I've been reading in Mosiah about Abinadi and
how bold he was.I want to be more like him and just talk to everyone
and speak with power and authority! I'm so grateful for the scriptures
and for the prophets that we can learn from! This week I am also so
grateful for prayer! I know that the miracles we have seen have come
from prayer and really praying with faith and then acting on that
faith! Miracles happen everyday! I am so grateful for all of your
prayers and I know that it is because of your prayers and faith that
we are seeing miracles! I know that prayer really does work! I have
definitely seen that this week! Even though there are hard times, we
can always pray, and receive guidance and direction and help and
comfort. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.
Love you all so much and hope you have a great week!! :)

Love,
Sister Tait

New Companion, blessings, working hard, the Incredibles, joy in the journey

Hello there!! :) I'm sure you all are so anxious to hear who my new companion is and how all of the changes went this past week! It was a really good week! :) So here's how it all went... on Tuesday Sister Sowards and I got up and the Rainey's drove us to Manchester, New Hampshire for transfer meeting! It was kind of a rough morning! Hard thinking that we would be leaving each other but I just had to remember that quote "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened!" I am so grateful for Sister Sowards! She is just so amazing and was a wonderful trainer! Anyone that has to put up with me 24/7 has to be amazing! haha...but really! I learned so much from her and it was hard to leave her! We weren't too worried though because we thought she was going to open Damariscotta which would still be our district! But we got to transfer meeting and there weren't that many sisters there...so not too many changes were happening..of course though we were some of the few! So we thought she would still be close by but then they announced everything and Sister Sowards is now in Vermont! Crazy! So they announced all of the changes that were happening and then finally they got to my area... Topsham and said "Sister Tait will be in Topsham and will be junior companion and receive Sister....................Hoffman as senior companion!" We turned to each other and we couldn't believe it! Umm we were mtc companions!!!!! hahah!! no way right?! So my "new" companion isn't really all that new! :) I guess Heavenly Father just knew that I couldn't handle too much change! Our 12 days wasn't long enough! ;) I know there's lots to learn from Sister Hoffman! We are going to have such a good transfer! It's pretty crazy that we are together with both of us just being out 3 months! All of the other sisters that we came out with are still with their trainers! So I know that this is really what's right and that Heavenly Father is really putting trust in us! It's been a crazy week but we are figuring things out! Here I was thinking I'd get this experienced companion that would know everything...haha nope! We're both still learning and adjusting and everything! haha it's great :) 

So after transfer meeting we got her stuff packed it into the Rainey's car...drove two hours back to Brunswick and of course got right to work! We walked to the Hersoms house and had a great lesson with them! but then after that we didn't have much planned for the day...so we went to our last resort and started tracting! haha....so not effective... but it was something! We knocked on lots of doors but got the typical New England saying "I'm all set!" Everybody is so set in there ways here... But we're working on them! It's all about timing I'm realizing and you just never know when someone is going to be ready! There's lots of stubborn people and they just don't want to change...It's definitely been another week to think about change! Change is of course hard but good! Wednesday we went and saw Brother Eldredge! We talked about the Atonement with him, talked about changes that we make in our lives and how the Atonement helps us to change! :) It was a really good lesson! But it was also kind of sad because guess what. Brother Eldredge is leaving us! :( he's going on a cruise and won't be back until the middle of October!! AH! what are we going to do without him?!?! I just don't know! haha but it's pretty exciting for him because he's going with his sisters that live in Utah and Oregon and he's going to surprise them and finally tell them that he's been coming back to church! :D that's going to be so great! They are active in the church and know that he hasn't been in over 30 years and now he's going to tell them he's coming back and a year from now he's going to the temple! :D AHH! So amazing! That's the kind of change we like to see :)

We've got lots to do this transfer...trying to find people to teach..now we have an extra hour to fill each day where we used to have our 12 week study... and now we have another extra hour to fill each wednesday instead of brother Eldredge! But we'll figure it out! :) This week we have done LOTS of street contacting and really have been working on talking with EVERYONE!! I think that's something that we'll be working on our whole missions cuz everyone I've talked to struggles with it... But we'll keep working on it! We haven't had very much success but we did have one lady that was really nice and talked to us! I can't think of her name...but she looked exactly like Edna mode on Incredibles! haha so just picture her walking down the street! She just talked and talked to us about all the trees so it was great we went right into how God loves us and has given us all this beauty on earth! We talked to her for a bit and gave her a Book of Mormon! She said she would read it and call us and we could maybe meet another time! :D Then we got three referrals this week and were able to contact all three! Hopefully we'll gain a new investigator from one of those! His name is Mac and he's a senior in high school he worked at a scout camp and had lots of his questions answered about the church while he was there this summer and is pretty interested! We're hoping we'll be able to meet with him and possibly even teach his family! that would be amazing!! :) we'll see how that goes! but they do have some scary dogs... Just to add to the craziness of the week I got attacked by some dogs! haha we were leaving his house and being the junior companion i have to get out of the car and back her up....so i got out and these dogs jumped on me and bit my arm and ripped my cardigan... it was scary!! haha but all is well! I was mostly just disappointed about my cardigan but we laughed off the pain and now I have a dog story! haha... 

So it's been an exciting week! I've been able to learn and grow a lot this week since I'm the one who knows the area and the people I've had to take charge and figure things out! It's hard! But it's helped me a lot to see that I can do this! We weren't able to see any investigators this week but we saw lots of less actives and did lots of walking...searching for new people! We are working really hard and I know it's going to be an amazing transfer! So be prepared for some amazing stories coming soon :) 

We also had stake conference yesterday which was really good and the theme was Joy in the Journey! I love the quote from President Monson "Be of good cheer, your future is as bright as your faith!" It's so true! We all need to find joy in the journey and that's something that I'm really trying to learn out here... it's not missionary work it's missionary fun! :) I know that as we live the gospel we will be happy!! We will still go through hard times and things won't be perfect, but we can be happy in this life and have even greater happiness in the life to come if we live the gospel!!! I love this gospel and I know that it brings me so much happiness! I love being a missionary so that I can share this with others :) 2 Nephi 31:20 is one of my favorites to go along with this... so go read that :) I'm out of time and have so much more to say but I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week!!! LOVE YOU!! :)

Sister Tait

The week of change...

So! Well.... all that's on my mind right now is transfers... haha I can't even think of what else happened this week so here's the news... I am staying in Brunswick, Maine!!! Yay!!! I'm so happy!! But... Sister Sowards is leaving me... :( sad!! ugh!! I don't like change! I've decided that I need to just get comfortable with being uncomfortable..because it's inevitable! Change is going to happen! But it's okay! Heavenly Father knows what's best and he will help me through it all! This is going to be really hard but really good! I'm really glad that I get to stay in this area for at least another six weeks! :) We still don't know where Sister Sowards is going though... tomorrow we'll get up really early and the Rainey's will take us to Manchester, NH for transfer meeting!!! and then we'll find out where she is going! and then I'll pick up my new companion and get right back to work with her! :D AHHH!!! and I'm freakin out just a little... cuz that means I'm gonna have to be the one in charge since she'll know nothing! Good thing I'm finally starting to get the hang of things here... haha well sort of... :) it will be an interesting week! haha :) So we've just been running around all day today trying to get done everything Sister Sowards wanted to do before she leaves this area! Things in this area are starting to get really good so she's kinda mad she has to leave now...right as things are getting really good... haha but I'm super grateful I get to stay! :) All week we were just waiting and waiting for Saturday to get here so we could get the call... we knew it was coming... and obviously it came... 

I don't really know what else to tell you about our week! We did have a really good week though! Saw lots of less actives and had good lessons with them... still struggling with finding new investigators...but we're doing really well with less actives! We had really good lessons with the Hersoms and with Brother Eldredge this week! With the Hersoms we're still just reading the Book of Mormon with them and it's going really well! We answer all their questions and help them to understand it! They are super busy because they are going to be moving to the Rainey's house and the Rainey's are going to go to Oregon to live closer to their son and be sealed in the temple there!!! So exciting!! but we'll be so sad when the Rainey's leave!! The Hersoms are sister Rainey's parents so they are really motivated by them to get to the temple because they want to be sealed also! So we're still working on getting them to church each sunday and working towards that goal and it's going well!! Sister Sowards wants them to wait just 15 more months... then we'll come back and go to the temple with them! AH! that would be so great :D but maybe they'll get there sooner.. haha :) 

With Brother Eldredge we talked all about the Book of Mormon and daily scripture study! Brother Eldredge just amazes me! Every time we go over there he's done something new and amazing! This past week he started indexing so now he's hooked on that! haha but he's also working on reading the Book of Mormon and still comes every week to Book of Mormon class! We actually had a full class this time! We had Brother Eldredge and Sandy and then Amy came! Sandy is a recent convert and we've been working with her a lot because she was becoming a recent convert/less active...not good!! We were so happy she came to Book of Mormon class! :) and then Amy is just amazing! She's here for college and has come here for the past three years so she knows everyone in the ward and always loves to help the missionaries! She was baptized just a few years ago and she's just great! She helps us when we don't have a car and is always willing to come to lessons with us! So she's just wonderful and we are so lucky to have her!! 

We had a few other lessons with less actives this week and then our only lesson with an investigator was Greg... He is slowly but surely starting to open up! We had a really good lesson with him about the importance of family home evening and it went really well!! I always love the lessons when I get to talk about my wonderful amazing family!!! The spirit is always so strong and I sure do have a testimony that families can be together forever!! :) AH!! I'm just so grateful for this gospel!!! It's so amazing!!! I love seeing the changes that are happening in people's lives and seeing people make it to the temple to be sealed with their families!!! :D So I guess that's the change that I do like... haha change is hard...but good! :) and speaking of change...the weather is also starting to change!! the leaves are just starting to change and falling off the trees! Fall is definitely in the air!! So it's gonna be a week of change but lots of good to come!! :) wish me luck!! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! :)

Sister Tait

Missionary Monday, new pics, transfers coming - ready for anything cuz we don't know…

I can't believe it's September!!??!?! what the.... weird!!!! haha really though. And guess what this Saturday is... that's right... transfer calls... AHHH!!! Freakin out again... Who knows what's gonna happen?!? No one thinks Sister Sowards is gonna stay another transfer...but anything could happen... hmmm... so I'll let you know next Monday what's happening to us!! This week is going to be an extra good week because we are going to work so so hard! and we're going to see everyone this week because Sister Sowards is worried that it's the last time she'll ever see these people!! Or it could be the last time I see these people!! AH!! that's a really sad thought!! I love these people!! So we'll just make the most out of it no matter what happens!! It's gonna be a jam packed week! :D I'm excited :) and aren't we lucky! We still get to do emails today even though it's a holiday and the library is closed!! Because we have a family history center at our church so here we are! :D yay! And not only is it september...but it's September 2!???!! shout out to my favorite 14 year old.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNER!!! 14 years old!??!? Can you believe that's how old Joseph Smith was when he went into the sacred grove to pray and ask which of the churches were true?! And I know he got an answer! He really did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! and now we have the fulness of the gospel here on the earth today! I am so grateful for Joseph Smith! I know that He was a true prophet and that he did translate the Book of Mormon! I really have grown to have a greater love for the scriptures while I have been here! I have been working on really understanding the scriptures and applying them to my life... it's getting easier each day and I'm learning so much! I have such a strong testimony that the Book of Mormon is true! It is the word of God and I know that anyone who reads it will be able to pray and know for themselves if it is true! I love that about our message of the gospel. We are not trying to convince people that it's true...we can't make them believe it...we just have to invite them and they have to read and pray and learn for themselves!! It's totally up to each one of us individually to gain a testimony and to find out for ourselves if we want an answer! Prayer really does work! and even if we don't always feel like anyone is listening.. I know that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers and He will answer them... but it is in His own time and own way...so we have to be really listening... But I am just so grateful for Joseph Smith and all that he went through! I know that this church is true!  

So now you get to hear all about my week... which isn't that exciting... pretty much every week is the same...I feel like I always tell you the same things.. haha but here we go anyways... :) 

Monday was p-day...which is always good! ....nothing to exciting! just emails!! then walmart... then writing letters...then dinner....and then we studied... woo! 

Tuesday we went to the soup kitchen then we went to the Hersoms! We read the Book of Mormon with them and talked all about Joseph Smith and the first vision! We read the testimony of the three witnesses and the testimony of Joseph Smith! Sister Hersom really wants to know for herself that the Book of Mormon is true but has such a hard time understanding the scriptures so we're helping her with that! :) We went to ward council that night also...which is always long... and boring... haha but with our new ward mission leader Brother Jones it was so much better! Ah! He's just the greatest and things are starting to improve here with missionary work! he's so awesome! 

Wednesday we had district meeting! And then we had district lunch! We get to go out to eat for district lunch once a transfer so we went to this Japanese restaurant Hibachi! it's one of those places where they cook the food in front of you! so that was a lot of fun! :) then we went and saw Brother Eldridge and read the talk from Elder Holland "Lord I Believe" Which is SUCH a good talk!! :) and then we went and got pizza and ice cream with the Jones family! :) they're the greatest :) then we had our Book of Mormon class and guess who came?? Brother Eldridge!! :) yup..he was the only one again!! 

Thursday we went to the hospital and did service... then we wanted to see the Hersoms again but they weren't home... :/ so we walked around for a while.. didn't end up seeing anyone... lame... but then we went to dinner at at the Bankheads! They just moved here and they are the cutest family! We were laughing the whole time!! they have twin boys that are 6 and then another little boy that's 4 and this was so cute... so the mom was saying how she's from the south and the dad said he's from the west... and then the little boy says "I'm from God!" haha it was the cutest! I love having dinner at members houses especially when they have adorable kids!! :) After that Sister Wallace picked us up and she is babysitting her little grandson who is 6 and I got to sit in back with him and we talked all about gator boys and super mario brothers... haha it was great! Then we got to her house and went over the Plan of Salvation pamphlet! That was a good day!

Friday we did weekly planning... then we made cookies and took them to lots of different members in the ward! They loved them!! Thank you Tina for the recipe book you gave me! We made the ones in there and they were delicious!!!! Yup! Everyone loved them! So we delivered cookies and talked to lots of different people in the ward... we had dinner at the Gardners house with the Mullins and we saw Pat and Ken and gave them cookies! They said they were sorry that they were never home when we go by but they loved the heart attack and really would love to have us over! So hopefully soon we'll actually get to get over and teach them the lessons!! 

Saturday we went to Lisbon and saw some less actives and then one investigator Bro Paradis who we just read the Book of Mormon with! We tried to see Alex but can't get a hold of him!! 

And sunday was good we went to church and had dinner with the Mullins! We didn't teach any lessons yesterday though... so nothing too exciting...just lots of studying... so yeah! That's about it! 

Now here we are to Monday again!! Crazy huh? yup! I think that's about it... nothing too exciting I can think of to say.. haha sorry this email isn't very exciting.. i always think of everything I want to say when it's too late... haha oh well..and...here are a few pictures for you - Sister Sowards and I being ourselves, some wild turkeys crossing the road, a package from Bryndi, Keaton and dad too!  Thanks so much everyone!  I love post it notes! And then a pic of us in our apartment.  We moved our beds upstairs and out of the living room.  We think we have a mouse - aagh!  welll!! I hope you all have a fantastic week!!! I love you all so so much!! you're the greatest!!! :)

Love,

Sister Tait