A week of miracles, Happy Thanksgiving!

So it's been a really awesome week!!!! A week full of miracles!!!! Ahh!!! I'm just so excited to tell you everything!!! :D haha so last Sunday Amy (Bowdoin college student and in our ward) was giving a talk in sacrament meeting... Her friend Madi was doing some assignment for a class where she had to go to different churches so she asked if she could come...then Madi's roommate Meredith asked if she could come along too! So they came and sat with us during sacrament meeting and then we didn't really get to talk to them after that because we were helping in nursery... anyways we didn't really think much of it but then Monday night we were doing our nightly planning and we got a call from Amy! She said she had just gotten a text from Meredith and she told her that she had lots of questions and wanted to know if she could possibly meet with the missionaries... hmmm...i don't know if we could do that.. pfft.... uhhh of course!!!! ahhh!!!! So Tuesday we were able to meet with Madi and Meredith and answer some of the questions they had! They told us how after church they got on lds.org and were just looking at so many different things and had so many questions and then Meredith told us she went to bed with all this on her mind... then in the middle of the night she woke up and looked at her phone and there was an email from her only mormon friend who is on a mission that she hasn't heard from in a while!!! coincidence?? umm i think not!!! :) It was so cool to hear her tell us about that and she said she didn't think it was a coincidence at all! That is a reminder to me of how important it is to follow promptings!!! I know that her friend in Armenia was prompted to email her and I'm so glad that she followed that prompting!! She had a list full of questions and we were able to answer almost all of them... there were a few that I had no clue of the answer but they were really good questions! Afterwards I was kinda thinkin to myself how little I know and feelin pretty inadequate for all the questions that she had! But then Sister Hoffman and I were talking and thinking about how really if you know that the church is true then some of these other questions don't really matter! It's good to have questions and to wonder and to try and find answers! But it was just another really good reminder to me of how much there is to learn and how we all learn line upon line, precept upon precept.. and it's okay that I don't know everything! I do know enough and I just have to testify of what I do know!! :) I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it can answer all of the questions that we have! We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said that she would read it! We didn't think we would be able to meet with her again because finals are coming up and also with the holidays it's pretty crazy! But we gave her our number and said to text us if she had any questions! Then Wednesday we got a text... and it was Meredith!! She said "I started reading the book! When can we meet again??" :D ahh!!! It was a miracle for sure!!! We were sooooo excited!!! We texted her back and decided to meet on Friday! So Friday we were able to talk to her and answer more questions and decided to just try and teach her the restoration and plan of salvation! So we did and it was so great! We invited her to be baptized and she said that she wanted to read the Book of Mormon first and find out for herself! She seems really interested! So that was super amazing!!! She is going home for thanksgiving but she said hopefully in between finals in the next couple of weeks we could possibly find some time to meet again!! :) Tuesday Sister Wallace went to the temple!!!! She received her endowment and was sealed to her husband!!!! We haven't been able to see her this week because she just had surgery but Brother Rainey told us that it went really well! I can't wait to talk to her this week and hear all about it :) Another miracle is one that I started to tell you about last week! Corey is a former investigator.. (well he was...) haha now he is a current investigator!! :D haha so last week I told you how he came to church and brought the kids even though his wife was sick! So we knew that it was just time and that we needed to get teaching him and invite him to be baptized! We tried and tried to get in to see them but they were super busy friday and saturday...and we can only make it out that far when we have the car.. so we were really hoping for sunday... so Sunday comes along and Corey and Betsey both came to church! We asked if we could stop by and see them later and they said we could! So we went over and visited with them for a while and we tried to teach a lesson but it was a little crazy with their adorable two little kids running around! We were planning to invite him to be baptized and I was the one who was supposed to do it... I wasn't sure if I should really do it or not cuz it was so crazy and everything... but then I decided well...here goes nothing! and I asked him! and guess what he said.... he said yes!!! He said he's been thinking about it and wants to be baptized! He is preparing for January 4th!! :D ahhhh!!! how exciting is that?!?!? My first time to invite someone to be baptized and they said yes! wooohoo!!! :) haha so that was pretty exciting! :) So we're going to be teaching them more regularly and helping him to prepare for January 4th! And then Betsey's cousin who is sort of living with them.....i don't know exactly but she comes to church with them... well she's been going to young women's and she said that she would like to take the lessons too and we may even have a double baptism!! :D So that was our super exciting miracle filled week!! Three new investigators!!! And a baptismal date! :) It's all about the Lord's timing! I know that the Lord puts prepared people in the path of his prepared servants! Our tracting is paying off! :) I know that faith precedes miracles and that as we act and do our part that we will see the Lord's hand in our lives and see the many miracles that happen everyday!!! :) Who knows what will happen this week with transfer calls...maybe i'll stay...maybe i'll go!! ahh!!! well! we'll see!!!! Crazy crazy!!! I'm so grateful to be able to be a missionary and for all that I am learning and the miracles that I have witnessed!! And I am so grateful for all of you!!! SO so much to be grateful for!!! Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! gobble gobble!! :) LOVE YOU LOTS!!

Love,

Sister Tait

My new, long, warm coat!!

Teaching & learning from so many amazing people

Sooooooo....we kinda had a shorter week since tuesday was pday!! It's been a good one though!! Lots of success with less actives!! Tuesday we had pday so that was fun! haha basically all we did was emails, went to walmart bought some groceries, came home and wrote letters... then we went to the Carpenters for dinner! They are less active and we stopped by a couple of weeks ago to just check up on them, get to know them and they were super nice.. then they decided they wanted to have us over for dinner! So tuesday we went and had dinner with them and we invited them to come to church on sunday! and guess what?! Brother Carpenter came!! :) most people get super excited to have an investigator at church..but it's just as exciting to have a less active come!!! We do have a potential investigator that has been coming!! And that's pretty exciting! His wife is a member and is less active and her husband has been taught before...They've been coming to church for a couple of weeks now and we've been wanting to get in and teach them but haven't had much luck yet with their busy work schedules... but yesterday he came to church and brought the little kids even though his wife was sick... so were pretty impressed by that and this week we are going to teach him and hopefully even invite him to be baptized!! kind of awesome!!!! :D I think he's ready! So we'll see how that goes!! :) 

Wednesday we went and saw Brother Eldredge and we talked to him about missionary work! It is so cool to see how far he has come in the past couple of months! His testimony has grown so much and he really is just hoping that his kids will see his example and have a desire to learn more about that church! I know that they have definitely seen a change in him and he says he thinks their hearts are being softened! So that is pretty amazing! I know that they can just see how it's changed him and maybe they will soon have the desire to have that in their own lives! His decision has definitely had a huge impact on his family for good! I know that this is true also for all of the people that we are working with! It's crazy how one decision can impact so many people! But it does! Tomorrow Sister Wallace is going to the temple!!!! I am so excited for her! I hope that her kid's hearts will be softened too and I know that as they see her example that they will want to come back to church! She is just such an example to me! I love her! She is so optimistic about everything! She's had cancer for a long time and for the past seven years she's been having different treatments and she was telling us how she has never once asked "why me?" but she always says "why not me?" She is so amazing! She says it's a miracle that she's still alive but she knows there must be a plan for her if she's still here! I am so grateful for her amazing example and testimony and perseverance! I am learning so much from her so I know that one reason is definitely for me! because she has taught me so so much! I'm so grateful for her! 

Thursday we went to the hospital and served there..we saw some more less actives and then we went with Amy to Bowdoin college for thanksgiving dinner!! haha so that was fun!

 Friday we did some tracting and then saw some more less actives!  

Saturday we saw some more less actives!!! haha it was just a week full of less active lessons and it was super great!! :) 

Sunday we went to church and this time we got to go to nursery!! haha! that was so much fun!! those kids are the cutest!!! i always learn so much from them and they just remind me how we are all children of God! We need to just remember the simple things and just follow the example of little children! We had a cool experience tracting yesterday where we were talking to a lady and we decided to sing "I am a Child of God" It really touched her and we were able to talk to her for a little bit and she said she'd read the Book of Mormon and that we could come back next week!

I know that we are all children of God and that He loves each and everyone one of us so much! I'm out of time and wish I could say more! But I hope you all have a wonderful week and know how much I love you!!!! You're the best! :) LOVE YOU!!! :)

Sister Tait

here's us on the bus going to the hospital to do service! and we didn't do much tracting this week but here's one house that we saw this week! haha there's one way to block off your door! :) 

Zone Conference, Ward Conference, ridiculous front doors...

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been a pretty great week! Super amazing weekend!!! That's when all the exciting stuff happened... haha so I'll just tell you about that! Mostly we've just been tracting the rest of the week! oh! but our new fun thing to do is to take pictures of the ridiculous front doors... in new England you never know which door to go to... well unless they block off the front door like these ones... haha then you have to search for the side door.. or sometimes they don't block off the front door outside but inside it's blocked by a couch or something so we knock on the door and then people awkwardly come out the side or back of their house and then come talk to us... haha it's great! so we're on the quest to find the greatest door block offs... haha so i sent a few from this week....and a couple pictures from zone conference. This is a four generation picture!!!!!!!! Sister Griffin trained Sister Waite who trained Sister Sowards who trained me!!!!!!!!!!! :) haha :) pretty awesome! Not many people know their grandmas and great grandmas! Four generations all at the same zone conference :)

So Sunday was ward conference! It was super awesome! The best part was when they had a surprise testimony and they chose Brother Eldredge!! He went up there and bore his powerful testimony and talked about how because of home teachers and the sister missionaries and their tenacity and persistence he is now back after so many years!! Ah!! He is so amazing!! He's planning to go on the next youth temple trip to do baptisms and he's getting his patriarchal blessing soon! Last week we tried to tell him that we didn't need to come see him anymore because we've taught him everything and he's just so good and coming to church every week! He didn't really like that idea... he said "so what?! come anyways!" haha so for now we're still planning to see him every week! Also on sunday Sister Wallace got her temple recommend!!! Oh my goodness!!! I am so excited for her!!! So either this week or next week the Raineys are going to take her!!!! :D our less actives are on fire! :) ahh! so great! 

Sunday night we had a meeting with all of the stake leaders and Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the seventy came and he spoke to all of us! It was so great! One of the things that really stuck out was how he talked about real growth and the mission of the church Moses 1:39 and how we are all in it together! We have to work together in unity as missionaries and members and just how we have to act and the little things each day make such a difference. Heavenly Father did not put you here to fail. We are all here to succeed! We're here to learn all that we can and return home to Him and to bring others with us! We have to be unified! It was a great meeting!! it was kind of an extension of his conference talk which was so good! so just read that and it will be almost like you were there! :) 

Yesterday we had zone conference!! I love zone conference!!! Singing "Called to Serve" with 130 other missionaries never gets old.. ahhh!! just so filled with the spirit and so much happiness!! It was amazing! We got to hear more from Elder Nielsen and his wife! They are both so full of enthusiasm and excitement! I wish I could tell you all about it! I'm like overwhelmed with all of the amazing things that we heard! haha it was so good! We talked a lot about choice. Every choice we make determines which side we're on. We all made the choice to come here and we need to always be on the Lord's side! The great thing is that we know who wins this war! We just don't know what the final score will be! But we have to fight to the end and help all our teammates - our brothers and sisters! He put us here to win! I know that every choice we make is much more than just here on earth and we need to work on an eternal journey and not just an earthly journey! I am so grateful for the spirit I could feel yesterday and for all the great things I could learn! We cannot waste a minute! We are on the Lord's team and need to always remember that and fight til the end! :) I wish I could share more with you! But let me just tell you it was amazing! I hope we can all realize the potential that we have and realize how God really has a plan for each of us!! And it's the plan of happiness!!! Isn't that so great?! His plan is for us to find joy!!! and to be happy!!! :) ahh!! it just makes me so happy:) 

I love you all so very much!! Hope you have a wonderful week!! oh and everyone say happy birthday to my amazing mom!!!!!!!!!!! It's her birthday tomorrow!! and she deserves to have the most amazing day ever!!! so make it happen! haha :) LOVE YOU!! :)

Sister Tait

Wow it's dark already!, teaching primary, great teaching opportunities, deep clean Halloween...

Well! It's been a good week to end the month of October! Weird...another month is here again! Crazy crazy.... I know I always say that but I really can't believe it's November!! haha time flies when you're having fun...! Hope you all had a happy halloween!! Ours was a rainy one! But it's alright because we didn't get to go out trick or treating...not even tracting...we were locked in at 5:00 for Deep Clean Halloween! haha it was great! I thought it would be a good day for tracting...knocking on doors...because we could just say trick or treat get some candy then share a message with them! haha but that didn't work... We went tracting a little in the morning...no real luck though...and then did service at the hospital...then had our cleaning party and made cupcakes! So it was a great Halloween! 

Wednesday we had a full night at Book of Mormon class! Brother Eldredge, Brother Rainey and Sister Wallace came! It was super great! We've actually done lots of tracting this week.. that's what our goal has been as a district! All of the goals that we have are pretty much dependent on one key factor...having people to teach...which seems to be a struggle for our district so we're always trying to make our goal for the week something that might help us with our goal to find new investigators.... we know they're out there! just got to find them somehow! maybe tracting is the way! Many people have said that tracting is counterproductive and so we usually try to do other things but we're trying this and we know miracles are on the way! We've talked to some great people...they're just so stubborn and set in there ways... but we'll find the ones that are prepared! :) So that has been most of our week! Tracting and trying to find people! 

We have three referrals - one that I was telling you about last week that goes to Bowdoin College that we haven't been able to contact yet...this week though! and two others that we just got! So that is promising! :) I know that we are being blessed for our efforts and hopefully these referrals are prepared and we can teach them! But you know..if not...more seeds to plant! :) Yesterday was a really good day! Church was good and we were so lucky we got to teach sharing time! Oh I love primary!! We were thinkin' of how we could make it a fun lesson...it was supposed to be on missionary work... so what genius idea came to mind?? glow sticks. yup!! another deLIGHTful lesson with glow sticks! haha it was so fun! I had one glow stick and gave it to one of the kids and told them how if only one had the light then it wasn't very bright in the room...then we gave them all glow sticks and lit up the whole primary room and talked about how they need to let their light shine and be examples! It was so fun! :) We can all be missionaries just by our example! 

I might have already shared this with you but I heard a quote that said "you may be the only scripture that anybody ever reads" I really like that because it's so true! People see our examples and it's as simple as that! Don't go out of your way to do missionary work! Do it on the way! :) After church we went and saw Brother Hersom! They moved in with the Rainey's so we just went over there for a while and sung hymns! :) Then we had a lesson with Greg (the eternigator) that went really well! We're still just not sure what to do with him... patience is the key...it's all about timing I think! Not sure when he'll be ready but it will come! And then after that we went and saw Chris who I told you about last week! She is a former and potential investigator and we taught her again yesterday so we're counting her as a new investigator! Woo!! So that's pretty exciting! We were able to teach her a little about the plan of salvation and she just has no real knowledge or religious background so it's all new to her... I love teaching the primary kids and it's cool to think that that's what we're doing with all these people! they are young in the gospel! But I know that we're not teaching anything new..we're teaching things she already knew! She knew this stuff before...now we just have to remind her and help her realize that! I'm excited to be able to teach her more! Hopefully she will continue to let us come! :) So again lots of good things are happening! Thanks for all of your prayers! I know that they really do make a difference! I love you all so much!!! Have a wonderful week!! LOVE YOU!! :)

p.s. here's some pictures!! :) the ones in the pitch black dark are from yesterday tracting...at 4:30!!! and it's pitch black dark outside!! we knocked on doors and people said we woke them up they had been in bed!!! what the?!?!? oh great... what do we do it gets dark at 4:30... thanks daylight savings!.... well! we'll figure it out! haha

Love,

Sister Tait