Listening to the spirit, planting seeds...

So I've decided maybe I should stop telling you all about all the good
things that happen and the people we meet with because I tell you and
then the next week we don't see them... haha I think I'm jinxing it or
something! We haven't been able to really see any of our investigators
this week...no Jason, Theresa, Pat, Ken, Greg... we just had a lot of
people cancel this week! haha it's okay though it was still a good
week! We just keep finding all these great potentials that we'll meet
street contacting and then they disappear! What is this?! haha like
John our miracle a few weeks ago! And Theresa we just haven't been
able to even get a hold of...we taught her twice and haven't seen her
in a while...hopefully this week! I just don't get it... haha maybe
they're just not prepared but we'll keep planting those seeds... :)
But this week has been good though even though we didn't really have
any lessons
On Monday we got a referral from a lady who lives in California...an
elder serving out here is in her ward so it's kind of a cool story...
So she met him at a scholarship awards night and talked to him there
and found out that he was going to Bowdoin college (which is right
here in our area!) in the fall and was thinking about studying
religion.. so she talked to him a little bit and sent us a book of
mormon and a letter that she wants us to give to him! So we are going
to try and contact him this week and see if he might be interested in
learning more! We also had a girl come to church last week who was
visiting her boyfriend that goes to Bowdoin college and said he was
taking the lessons in Kansas and he would be interested to learn
more... haha so we called him and we are hopefully going to set up a
time this week to meet with him! We did some street contacting and met
Katie who said she has been looking for religion...!! and we talked to
her later in the week and she said we could set up a time to teach her
more! So there's some good potentials...!! Oh another potential! So
this is probably the most exciting story of the week! Yesterday we had
lots of people cancel and we decided to go see this former/potential
investigator Chris. She was taught by the elders in 2005 and we've
stopped by and talked to her once and gave her a Book of Mormon and
she said she's just really busy and works everyday
except...sundays...so she said we could stop by on sundays and she may
or may not be home... so we've tried her a couple of times and she
hasn't let us in and then yesterday she let us in and said that she
had read the chapter that we left her to read! :D so we talked to her
for a while.. we didn't really have a lesson planned so I didn't even
know what we were going to talk about... but the spirit was definitely
there and guided that lesson! She told us she really isn't interested
in religion and she doesn't believe... we talked a lot about belief
and how she just has to have that desire to believe. We were talking
and sharing different scriptures about that and then this question
popped in my mind and I don't really even know what I said but it was
the spirit prompting me and I'm so glad I said it! I asked the
question.. it was something about how does she think she could believe
it...haha but it really made her think and I know that it was an
inspired question that the spirit prompted me to ask! I struggle with
asking good questions in lessons so that was really awesome! It made
her really think and the whole lesson was just really powerful and she
was almost crying and we were almost crying! After that we were
talking about how it went and sister hoffman just was saying how good
that question was that I asked! I know it was totally the spirit that
gave me that question! I wish I could explain it better but I'm just
so grateful for the spirit and I know that if we listen carefully we
can hear the promptings of the still small voice! I know that her
heart was touched in that lesson and she told us we can come back next
week! So hopefully we can teach her again and she can become an
investigator again!
Yesterday was just a day full of the spirit with that lesson and also
the primary program! Oh my goodness! My favorite!!! :) It was so so
great! I love the primary program and the spirit was so strong! I love
the theme this year "I Am A Child of God" and I am grateful for that
reminder that we are all children of God and that he loves us each so
much! I wish I had more time to write but I am out of time!! so many
thoughts i wish I could share with you...but now I'm out of time!
dang... haha well!! It's going to be a great week! we're gonna go
contact all these potentials, plant some more seeds and find those who
are ready to hear this gospel! I know they're out there! :) I love
you all so very much and hope you have a wonderful week! :)
Love,
Sister Tait

here's some pics...I'll send more soon!

>

Staying in Brunswick & what a great week! Yay!

So it's been a pretty awesome week! Nothing too exciting really...oh just that we're both staying here another transfer!! :D woohoo!! and it was just a good week! 

Monday we had district pday and we were planning to go to the pumpkin festival but that didn't happen...we ended up just wandering around target! haha so that was exciting... then we had exchanges from Monday night until Wednesday afternoon. Normally I really don't like exchanges..haha but this one was really good! And it was a long one! So Monday night we went and had dinner with the Raineys! And then we just tried to do some street contacting but not much luck because it was a rainy night so no one was really out walking around except for the crazy misisonaries... 

Tuesday was a beautiful sunshiny day! :D We did the usual...soup kitchen, lunch, mormon.org... then we did lots of walking! We went and tried to see a few different people around..some less actives, some potentials, and some formers! We also had fun helping this little old lady catch her dog and then she said that she used to live in Utah and knows all about the Mormons! maybe some potential there?? hmmm....I think we'll try and stop by and see if we can talk to her more... :) and then that night we went and saw Sister Wallace and also Sister Hersom since she's staying there while Brother Hersom is in the hospital! We just started reading the Book of Mormon with them and it was really good! They always have lots of questions and so it's fun to answer those! They are so funny! Always lots of laughs over there :) I love it!

Wednesday we had district meeting and then district lunch...last time with all of our district! dang we should've taken a picture because now we have a new district! :D ...oh well...next time maybe I'll remember....haha kinda crazy how fast a transfer flies by! Can you believe it!? So Elder Woodall got his visa and is headed to Brazil today! So Elder Lund is getting a new elder tomorrow! pretty exciting... and then both of the Damariscotta sisters are staying and then there's one new Elder in Damarsicotta... oh and Sister Hoffman and I are both staying!!! Wooo!!! Pretty excited about that! I was getting kinda worried that I've been here for a while now and was thinking I might be getting transfered... but hey! Six more weeks in Brunswick!!! Yay!! It's going to be a really awesome transfer! Brother Eldredge is back! We saw him on Wednesday and he told us about talking to his sisters... He said he got there and they said that there was something different about him.. then he told them "yeah I'm going back to church!" and they were so happy!!! :D ahhh!! so exciting!! I bet they were so so excited to hear that from him! and now Book of Mormon class is back! haha He's so awesome! 

Thursday we did service at the hospital and then we went and saw a less active John! He was baptized almost four years ago and told his home teacher that he didn't really have a testimony about Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon... so we met with him and answered lots of his questions and we're going to start seeing him every week and just starting from the beginning and reading the Book of Mormon with him! So that will be good! Friday we saw some investigators the Jacksons and just tried to clear up some questions that they had too! It was good and they are thinking about coming to Book of Mormon class...they thought Wednesdays at 7 was a much better idea than Sundays at 9 in the morning....haha so maybe they'll come :) We did a little bit of tracting and then went to the ward party! They had a chili cook off and then the ym/yw taught line dancing... It was a fun night and good to talk to lots of different people in the ward! We got some less actives there and some people brought their friends so that was really good! Our ward is really trying to get going on missionary work and really trying to help find us people to teach! The bishop talked to us that night and said that his neighbor Paul was talking to him the other night and said that he met two girls from the church the other night.... Our street contacting/seed planting really does work! :D He talked to the bishop and said that he was really impressed with us! So the bishop is going to talk to him more and maybe see if he might be interested to learn more! :D Just kinda cool to see how we can make a difference and make an impression on people! The seeds are being planted!!! Saturday we were walking out the door to go see some people and then Janice the Hersom's daughter called us and said that Brother Hersom keeps asking where "the girls" are and when we were coming to see him! So we said we'd be right over! Earlier in the week he wasn't doing very well at all so we were so excited when she called and said we could come see him! We went to the hospital and sang some more hymns with all of them! It was the best! Brother Hersom was singing along with us and it was so much fun! So glad that he is doing better...and now they are probably moving in with the Raineys! So that will be good! :) After that we went to try and see Pat and Ken...remember like three months ago when I said we had new investigators....well! we finally got to see them! We've been trying and trying and Saturday was our lucky day! They let us in! I don't know how far we'll get with them...seeing as how they are retired ministers... but we taught them the Restoration and just talked about everything and answered different questions that they had! We talked a lot about the Holy Ghost and how we all have the light of Christ. Ken said that he could really tell a difference about us and the light that we had...it was really neat! And he said that the Book of Mormon is on his list...and not much makes it on to his reading list so that is definitely a plus!! We'll just keep trying! Sunday was a good day too! Some pretty exciting news would be that Brother Rainey got called as the assistant ward mission leader! And Sister Rainey and Brother Smith are now ward missionaries!! So so awesome!! Things just keep getting better and better around here! Maybe we don't have solid investigators...but we are just finding lots of different people to talk to...working with less actives...and planting lots of seeds!!! In relief society the lesson was on selfless service and the teacher had us sisters share how selfless service has impacted us...just being out here and serving.... I am just so grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve! It is making me so so happy and I just have felt so much love for these people and knowing how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them it makes me so so happy! I want them to know how much they are loved and I hope I can help them to feel that love! I know that when we serve others we are serving God and we can come closer to him as we do so! I love serving these people and learning from all of them. It made me think more about the examples of selfless service in my life! I have been so very blessed to have so many people in my life that have shown this to me! I am just so grateful for my amazing friends and family and all of the teachers and leaders that I have had who have selflessly served me! I have so many amazing people in my life and just feel so blessed! Thank you so much for all of your amazing examples to me! I love you all so very much! Thanks for being so wonderful!! I hope you have a great week!! LOVE YOU LOTS!! :)

Sister Tait

Transfers coming, leaves changing, meeting new people, just the two I've been looking for...

Well this is pretty crazy guess what happens this saturday... ummm
yeah...transfer calls already!!!! I can't believe how fast this
transfer has gone! Sister Hoffman and I have definitely learned lots
this transfer! and we are still learning!! I don't have a lot of time
today but I'll try and tell you some of the highlights of this week!
So we're still on the hunt...trying to find people to teach... I think
I sort of told you last week that we have a new investigator! Theresa!
So the elders in another area had referred her to us...she just moved
here and is actually still looking for a place to live but last week
we were riding the bus home and we got on and this lady said "You are
just the two that i've been looking for!" We were a little
confused...then said oh! are you theresa?! We talked to her a little
on the bus and set up an appointment to teach her last saturday! It
was a miracle that we got on the bus and there she was! Someone that
actually wanted to talk to us! :) So we've taught her twice now! It is
pretty awesome to have someone that is actually interested and wants
to learn! She just wants to learn and loves it all and wants to be
baptized! So that's pretty awesome!
We've met some cool people this week while street contacting! We met
this one guy the other day who we stopped and talked to and he was
interested to learn more! It was so cool and to make it even better he
was from england and had an awesome accent! so we just talked and
talked... haha so he's just visiting here he's a musician and is here
until December so we might be able to meet with him again but we told
him that there are missionaries in England and he said we could send
his address and stuff to them so he can learn more when he gets home!
So that was pretty awesome too! I hate when we find those perfect
people that want to learn more and then they tell us that they don't
live here... but then it's okay because I just remember how we are
planting seeds and that there are missionaries all over! It is so
amazing that all over the world there are missionaries and that they
will hopefully be able to teach this man when he goes back to England!
I have faith that it will happen!! :)
There really are lots of good people out there! It is so great when we
meet people that are at least willing to listen to us and even though
these New Englanders are super stubborn and don't want to change...at
least lots of them will at least give us a shot and they respect us!
We did some tracting this week and we were able to talk to a few
people and they let us testify to them and teach them a little just on
the doorstep and it's just neat when they will listen! We have a few
that we are going to go back and see that we'll just keep trying! Lots
of people respect us though and tell us that even though they're never
going to change that they admire us for what we do! Lots of people
respect the church and like that we have good values and
everything...we've had some good discussions...I just don't get why
they don't want it for themselves then! haha... someday...it'll click
for them... :) We've also met some people who are just really going
through hard times... It's so sad with all the homeless people and
just seeing people and the hard things that they go through... We
talked to a man on the street the other night who had a few different
issues and you could just see how Satan really has a hold of him. It
is so sad! It makes me so sad thinking how sad Heavenly Father is
seeing his children go astray and struggling so much.
I just know that the Atonement is real and that our Savior truly
understands everything that we go through. He is always there for us
and He can strengthen us and will always be there for us! I know that
the Atonement not only allows us to be cleansed from sin but that our
Savior Jesus Christ has taken upon him every pain, sickness, weakness,
worry, everything that we experience and He will help us. He is always
there! I know that He lives and loves us all! I'm so grateful for the
knowledge that I have of this gospel and for the opportunity that I
have to share it with others!
I love you all so much!! Here are a few pictures of the leaves
changing and of Sister Hoffman and I. Hope you have a wonderful week!
:)
Love,
Sister Tait

Words of wisdom, peace & comfort, wonderful hymns, pressing forward

Well.. all I need to say is... Amen to general conference!!!!!!!! So good!! 80,333 missionaries...but who's counting....ahhh!! so amazing!!! It's so exciting to be a part of this amazing work!!! And we are all part of it!! Every member a missionary!! Now is the time!! Did you hear that?? Oh man there were so many good talks! I just love conference!! I could go on and on about everything I loved about it but there's just no time! But I hope you all were able to watch it and listen with the spirit and hear just what you needed! Isn't it so amazing how the spirit can speak to us and tell us just what we need to hear?! I have felt so much peace and comfort and love this week! Especially watching conference! Oh man.. it's just been a good week!  We have been so lucky to have had such a beautiful week full of sunshine!! It's been nice and warm all week and that's all anyone can talk about is the weather! I guess usually it can start snowing by now and so everyone is just so excited that it's still warm out! So that has definitely been a blessing! 

We have a new investigator!!!!! Woohoo!!! Some elders in Auburn were teaching her and she just moved here so now we get to! Pretty sweet! So that is awesome! :) This week I have also felt the power of music! I just love music but this week especially! We were able to go and visit Brother Hersom who is in the hospital right now. He had his daughter call us because he really wanted to see us! So we went to the hospital and we talked with him and just sang hymns. Brother Hersom is so amazing! Ah! I just love him! He was laying there in his hospital bed and telling us through tears how he was going to try and make it to Book of Mormon class on Wednesday. We told him we would bring it to him. He really wants to be there and he is such an amazing example of always thinking of others. Here he is sick in the hospital and he's just worried that we're not going to have people at Book of Mormon class! sang hymns and the spirit was so strong in that little hospital room.  I just know that music is so powerful and can really bring the spirit! We have been singing to lots of the people that we go and see and it really brings the spirit and makes a difference in the lesson. 

I'm so grateful for the hymns that we have been given! This week I have been thinking a lot about hymn 128 "When Faith Endures" The lyrics are so perfect! "I will not doubt, I will not fear; God's love and strength are always near. His promised gift helps me to find An inner strength and peace of mind. I give the Father willingly My trust, my prayers, humility. His spirit guides; his love assures That fear departs when faith endures." I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always there for us! I have felt their love so much this past week! I love what President Uchtdorf said, "doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith!" I know that we all go through hard times in life but we need to always keep the faith and press forward! I am so grateful for the gospel and for this opportunity that I have to share this with others! I know that the Lord provides a way 1 Nephi 3:7!!! Even though there will be hard times He always provides a way! I hope that we can all remember that and have faith to press forward! Go and do!!! 

Think about all the amazing things that were said in conference and go and do!! We are all part of this amazing work and we're all in it together! I know that we are never alone and that this is the Lord's work and it is hastening! Another good quote that I've been thinking about is "Live your life in a way so that those who know you but don't know Christ, will want to know Christ because they know you." We all need to be examples in our everyday lives! I know that Christ will strengthen us and help us and we will be so blessed as we live the gospel and share it with others! I hope you all have an amazing week!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Tait