Hey Y'all,
Another great week over and closer to
my half way mark and boy it's weird! The weird thing is that I can tell already
that even the weather is changing and it will be fall soon. I am not sure I am
ready for the cold again and just like I wasn't quite ready for the heat! First
off, I wan to publicly congratulate my two cousins. Mekena on getting engaged
and Katie on getting her papers in! So excited for you both! I hope to see
pictures.
Tuesday we started teaching a
former investigator again. She has 50 snakes and a totally of about 60 pets. It
is kind of crazy but I got to hold a snake even though I was not really okay
with it but she talked to us about how snakes are and kept saying that she
knows her snakes. So I went ahead and held one mostly letting it sit in my
lap. (sorry didn't get a picture). We talked with her for a while and she told
us her testimony of the Book of Mormon. she never really understood how the
Book of Mormon and the Bible go together before. Some past sisters watched The
testaments with her and she started to understand and kept reading and felt the
spirit and felt that god was speaking to her through it.
I can't remember if I told this
story last week but while we were doing emails last week a girl who was
probably in her early 20's came over to us and asked if we are Sister
Missionaries. She gave us a note and said that we can call her and set
something up. she is a member who just moved back into the area and has been a
member for about 4 years now. She wants to come back to church and doesn't know
if she can. She saw us and knew we could help. It was great being recognized as
a missionaries! I heard it before that people notice who we are but I never
knew till now. We called her and set up a time to see her on Thursday! She was
very sweet and we had a great time. She talked about being saved and I kind of
was like wait to isn't saying the usual Baptist "Saved" but she
really was Saved in our church. It sounds weird but that kind of surprised me!
She told us also that after she was baptized everything went wrong and she
sinned and wasn't sure she was able to come to church anymore. We didn't ask
what it was but told her she was always welcomed and is why we partake of the
sacrament. We told her that she could talk to the Bishop and he can help her
with what she needs to do. She was so happy and loved us coming I could feel
tension and guilt and sorrow leave the room and peace and love and the spirit
replaced it. We then spent the remaining time reading together and sharing our
testimonies with her and she shared hers with all the things she knew to be
true. She talked so much about our Savior and how much she knew he loves us and
her just that she has forgotten. We told her that when we are in trails and
hard times it is hard to remember that but we can see when it is over that he
was really their the whole time. The spirit was so strong and we all cried. She
wasn't able to come to church but we are going to see her again this
week.
Friday was a very busy day. We went over
to do some Crafts and service with one of the sister's in the ward who we see
weekly. One of her dogs had puppies and we were going to help bath them. They
had fleas on them. The poor things were covered in fleas. They had little black
circle on them and we thought it was dirt but found out it was an invest of
fleas. As much as I didn't want to have to dig out the nasty fleas I still
loved seeing the puppies happy and peaceful and loved helping the Sister the
best way we could. This particular sister is such a great missionary and helps
us and the Elders all the time. She is amazing and I love serving her! She is so
sweet and I feel so loved and needed by her. I may not always know what to say
when we have lessons but I know that we have the spirit when we are with her.
She is doing so much and going through so much and every time we are with her I
love every minute of it.
Saturday was the great we had a lesson
with our 11 year old investigator who is coming so far. She is doing so well
and learning so much! She is so amazing! We taught the Word of Wisdom. It is my
first real time teaching it to an investigator and I think it was great. She
understood. She told us she used to drink Coffee and Tea and that she stopped a
little while ago and that she will never do it again. It was great! We were
able to have the lesson in a members home who we had lunch with before her
grandma and her came. They were great and shared wonderful testimonies on the
blessings of keeping the Word of Wisdom. The sister shared stories of how her
dad used to smoke and drink and how hard that was. she talked about other
members in her family who smoked, etc. She is convert and she knows from the
hard times in her childhood how it has blessed her life. It was great!
Sunday was of course my favorite! We had
Ward council and then had choir practice! We performed our song and we did
great! I love the Sister who is the choir director she is very talented and
reminds me of Sally Deford. She even has one of her pieces in the folders! :)
We did a great job and the talks were great. The topics were on the 10th
commandment thou shalt not covet. They all did great! I loved Gospel
Principles! I don't think I will ever be able to go to gospel doctrine. The
lesson was on the last chapter on Exaltation. The Elders taught again and did
a great job. Relief Society was on keeping the Law of Chasity. It started
out being weird but we had a great discussion and I loved it! Relief Society
and lessons go better when you have comments and people willing to help share.
We all appreciated all that was said and the spirit was there. I am loving
going through the Ezra Taft Benson book this year and learning from his
teachings. To make this an even better day we were told by the 11 year old
investigator's grandma (She didn't come) that she thinks that October 3rd is
what she wants to work towards for baptism.
I am so glad to be here in Hillsborough
and this is the last week of the transfer and so we might have changes! I hope
I can stay I love it here! I am so Happy and love serving! I am changing and I
know it! My 9 month is coming fast and time is going fast but I know from all
of this experiences and time that I have had that I am who I want to become and
I am learning so much! I love being a missionary! I love it!
Sister Farr
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Desires of our Hearts
Hey Y'all,
Another great week over and complete! I have never experienced what I did this week and I am just high on the spirit. Haha!
Wednesday we had our district meeting and then went on exchanges! I got to go to Durham this time and I am so glad I did! It was great like always I was a bit nervous but I had a blast! I loved mostly that I didn't feel as though my Sister Training Leader was helping me with things but I got to help her with things. I always look forward to being able to talk about my concerns with them and this time I felt like I was the one who was doing most of the comforting. We first went to see a less active sister who lives in a nursing home. We talked and we shared Ether 12:27. She told us she used to work with autistic kids and how she loved those with disabilities because of how sweet and loving they are. I asked her how she decided to do that and she said because she had family who was handicapped and I told her of uncle Ricky and that I wan to be a Special Education teacher when I return home. She said you have to be strong for that but it will be rewarding. She asked why I wan to do that and I explained my brain injury to her and she just stared at me for what seemed like forever. She told us that she is afraid to become like a lot of those in the nursing home who has Alzheimer's and Dementia. That's what brought us to Ether 12:27. We told her that the weaknesses we have will not be forever. We are not meant to be perfect now and that this time here right now is for us to learn and grow. It was a great lesson. I had never thought that I would be able to testify so strongly about weaknesses like this before. I seriously thought I was saying and testifying too much!
After we had then finished the night with contacting some referrals we had planning and talked. We talked about our concerns, our desires, our wishes, and our goal in life. She told me things that I never thought of would be a concern for her. She told me of how much she wished it would go away. It was a desire she had that she wanted so badly that she felt that she kept thinking on it to much and didn't feel like she was completely serving with all her heart. I told her that she never has to give up her desires and neither does God. He wants what's best for her and all of us and that's why we are here. We are part of that help to those we need what we have and help them fulfill our desires. Yes, we need to push them aside for now but if she keeps thinking on it she can use it as a motivation and a goal to work towards. I could feel the spirit so strongly in that apartment and I just saw the love God must have for her and me! He wants us to be happy and never wants us to ever forget ourselves. We hear as missionaries that we need to "forget our serves and go to work." We need to lose ourselves in the work. I don't think that phrase really means what it may seem. I think it means that as we forget and loose ourselves in his work we will find ourselves. We will find us and find that we are happy when we serve God and take all we can from this life!
Thursday was by far the best day this week We met up and exchanged back we worked on Weekly Planning and had dinner with members. tracted her neighborhood and found someone who may be interested and then came back to the sisters house and met our 11 year old investigator there. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I didn't think it was going well and I felt like I was all over the place. When we got to Enduring to the end I asked her what she thought Endurance means. she thought for a minute and then said the most amazing answer. She said, "acceptance, acceptance in life, to be patient for what may come our way." We had a quiet moment and then the sister who's house we were at was crying and said " I have never thought of it that way, and you are only 11 years old!" I never have thought of it like that and I really believe it. We need patience. Life is long and sometimes Enduring to the end is hard and we may be impatient but it is something we have to accept and trust God with. We talked that all of these steps Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost are all able to help us to better endure to the end, but all is needed to return home. We got finished and we told her once again at the end of every lesson that she can know. She smiled this time and shook her head. Sister Galloway who I knew was following the spirit asked her if she has received that answer yet and she said she felt like she had but was still trying to make sure. I then felt an urge to invite her to baptism. I can honestly say that I have never felt his way about any of my investigators. I thought it was a good time to ask in the past but never did I feel like I was going to fall out of my chair if I didn't get to. I asked her and she said yes. She is praying about October 3 or 17.
I am so glad to have had these experiences this week and feel the spirit so strongly this week. I felt like I was even a little emotional and spiritual overloaded this week, but it was so worth it all! I am so excited to see what this week will bring and I can't wait to be able to tell y'all! Love you!
Sister Tayler Farr
P.S. Good luck to those who are hiking in the Pikes Peak challenge for those with Brain Injuries. I miss Pikes Peak!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Another great week over and complete! I have never experienced what I did this week and I am just high on the spirit. Haha!
Wednesday we had our district meeting and then went on exchanges! I got to go to Durham this time and I am so glad I did! It was great like always I was a bit nervous but I had a blast! I loved mostly that I didn't feel as though my Sister Training Leader was helping me with things but I got to help her with things. I always look forward to being able to talk about my concerns with them and this time I felt like I was the one who was doing most of the comforting. We first went to see a less active sister who lives in a nursing home. We talked and we shared Ether 12:27. She told us she used to work with autistic kids and how she loved those with disabilities because of how sweet and loving they are. I asked her how she decided to do that and she said because she had family who was handicapped and I told her of uncle Ricky and that I wan to be a Special Education teacher when I return home. She said you have to be strong for that but it will be rewarding. She asked why I wan to do that and I explained my brain injury to her and she just stared at me for what seemed like forever. She told us that she is afraid to become like a lot of those in the nursing home who has Alzheimer's and Dementia. That's what brought us to Ether 12:27. We told her that the weaknesses we have will not be forever. We are not meant to be perfect now and that this time here right now is for us to learn and grow. It was a great lesson. I had never thought that I would be able to testify so strongly about weaknesses like this before. I seriously thought I was saying and testifying too much!
After we had then finished the night with contacting some referrals we had planning and talked. We talked about our concerns, our desires, our wishes, and our goal in life. She told me things that I never thought of would be a concern for her. She told me of how much she wished it would go away. It was a desire she had that she wanted so badly that she felt that she kept thinking on it to much and didn't feel like she was completely serving with all her heart. I told her that she never has to give up her desires and neither does God. He wants what's best for her and all of us and that's why we are here. We are part of that help to those we need what we have and help them fulfill our desires. Yes, we need to push them aside for now but if she keeps thinking on it she can use it as a motivation and a goal to work towards. I could feel the spirit so strongly in that apartment and I just saw the love God must have for her and me! He wants us to be happy and never wants us to ever forget ourselves. We hear as missionaries that we need to "forget our serves and go to work." We need to lose ourselves in the work. I don't think that phrase really means what it may seem. I think it means that as we forget and loose ourselves in his work we will find ourselves. We will find us and find that we are happy when we serve God and take all we can from this life!
Thursday was by far the best day this week We met up and exchanged back we worked on Weekly Planning and had dinner with members. tracted her neighborhood and found someone who may be interested and then came back to the sisters house and met our 11 year old investigator there. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I didn't think it was going well and I felt like I was all over the place. When we got to Enduring to the end I asked her what she thought Endurance means. she thought for a minute and then said the most amazing answer. She said, "acceptance, acceptance in life, to be patient for what may come our way." We had a quiet moment and then the sister who's house we were at was crying and said " I have never thought of it that way, and you are only 11 years old!" I never have thought of it like that and I really believe it. We need patience. Life is long and sometimes Enduring to the end is hard and we may be impatient but it is something we have to accept and trust God with. We talked that all of these steps Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost are all able to help us to better endure to the end, but all is needed to return home. We got finished and we told her once again at the end of every lesson that she can know. She smiled this time and shook her head. Sister Galloway who I knew was following the spirit asked her if she has received that answer yet and she said she felt like she had but was still trying to make sure. I then felt an urge to invite her to baptism. I can honestly say that I have never felt his way about any of my investigators. I thought it was a good time to ask in the past but never did I feel like I was going to fall out of my chair if I didn't get to. I asked her and she said yes. She is praying about October 3 or 17.
I am so glad to have had these experiences this week and feel the spirit so strongly this week. I felt like I was even a little emotional and spiritual overloaded this week, but it was so worth it all! I am so excited to see what this week will bring and I can't wait to be able to tell y'all! Love you!
Sister Tayler Farr
P.S. Good luck to those who are hiking in the Pikes Peak challenge for those with Brain Injuries. I miss Pikes Peak!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
8 Months
Hey Y'all,
Wow! Yet another week gone and complete! I realized too that today marks 8 months. Crazy! What a great week to make it to 8 months. Crazy to think I am almost halfway.
This week started crazy. We did lots of last minute packing which ended with us being an hour early of being ready for the Elders and the Senior Missionaries to come help us! We moved on Wednesday morning! The new apartment is great and we love it! It is definitely an upgrade from the other. I feel much safer and we have much more room. It has been an adjustment, but we are very happy about our new place.
Tuesday we had interviews with President James. Our first ones with him! Of course my first one with him I cried! He was very sweet and very inspiring he has asked me to start reading Jesus The Christ during my studies and I can see that this is going to be great! All I need is to be able to understand what it is saying! So far I am loving it! We had our district meeting before we had interviews. We found out halfway through that the interview times were messed up and so we may have to change our plans. We didn't leave the building till 3:30 and we were supposed to be having our interviews at 12. Crazy day! We all waited and had lunch and played Book of Mormon Baseball. It was lots of fun! So the game is where you have someone player A says "Pitch" and someone flip through the Book of Mormon and then say "Hit" Player B where ever they land in the Book of Mormon. They can say left or right fir the page and then Left or right for the column- Player B. Then you go up and down the column for the verse. The other says stop- Player B. You read that verse and then try to guess where it is by the book, chapter, and verse. If you are close by 5 chapter you move to second base and if you get the verse by 5 you get third base and then if you get it right you get a home. It was a very fun interesting game and I felt proud of Book of Mormon skills, but I want to study it more and know where the stories are in it.
On Thursday we drove down to where we do transfers in Raleigh and had a combined Zone Conference with Elder Dube from the quorum of the Seventy who came to visit the mission. It was great and I got to see some people from Garner and lots of my favorite missionaries! Especially Sister Ibarra! She is one cute Trainer! I heard a lot that has happened in Garner too and miss them all. It was a great meeting and man the spirit ws there. We had a great instruction from Elder Dube who was so funny and was good at testifying about the Book of Mormon. One thing he did say that stood out to me was to never give a closed copy of the Book of Mormon. Always share something from it! President and sister James had us plan and practice before by role playing the Plan of Salvation. They had us go up to the stand to teach and then we as the audience would evaluate their teaching. We didn't get to share but we definitely have things we can add and work on. President James closed the meeting with a story about a family who son died and how he came to visit his parents and only the mother could hear his words because the father was to busy to listen. He told us we must never be too busy or to focused to not recognized and feel the spirit. It was very touching and for the first time I saw what kind of love and sweet person my mission president is. To see him cry and testify of the spirit and his Savior I knew that with him as our guide we will be able to do great things her in North Carolina. My love for him grew and I now know even more that the counsel he gives and will yet give is simply out of love, our protection, and our success! It was a great meeting. On the way home and when we got their I had never felt so spiritually and emotionally exhausted!
Sunday was another great Sabbath and I just love this ward. We had our Investigator who is very forgetful remember and came to church with us. She loved it and she always kept saying "It is just so different, but a good different." We had a great church tour, and she really enjoyed the Sacrament and the talks. The talks were on keeping the Sabbath day Holy and she was glued to the speakers. The third hour combined meeting was great to and she was very surprised by the Bishop as he was being a perfect example of being Lovingly Bold. He got very emotional at the end and she was very impressed with what he made her feel. Bishop came to ask her if she enjoyed church and was very nice. sister Galloway and I were very appreciative of his kindness to her as she is very close with her Pastor. We had a great lesson on the Plan of Salvation with our 11 year old investigator. She is coming a long way and she was even willing to pray for the opening and wanted to give the closing prayer to practice. She is coming so far so quick and is very bright. She is just amazing!
Another Great week over and gone! I have come far over the last 8 months. I know that for sure! One major thing I know is that I am changing. I am learning and I am loving what I am becoming! I never knew I could hold all this love for these people and especially for my Savior! I know for certain that my testimony of this Gospel is so so much stronger! I know and can see the blessings it is having and the impact it has on individuals and families! Not only am I becoming a consecrate missionary, but I am becoming a converted disciple of Christ! In one more month I will be half way and as much as I hate to think that I can see so much that I have experienced and can't wait to see what else can happen! I hope y'all have a wonderful week and a wonderful first week of September! Love you all!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Wow! Yet another week gone and complete! I realized too that today marks 8 months. Crazy! What a great week to make it to 8 months. Crazy to think I am almost halfway.
This week started crazy. We did lots of last minute packing which ended with us being an hour early of being ready for the Elders and the Senior Missionaries to come help us! We moved on Wednesday morning! The new apartment is great and we love it! It is definitely an upgrade from the other. I feel much safer and we have much more room. It has been an adjustment, but we are very happy about our new place.
Tuesday we had interviews with President James. Our first ones with him! Of course my first one with him I cried! He was very sweet and very inspiring he has asked me to start reading Jesus The Christ during my studies and I can see that this is going to be great! All I need is to be able to understand what it is saying! So far I am loving it! We had our district meeting before we had interviews. We found out halfway through that the interview times were messed up and so we may have to change our plans. We didn't leave the building till 3:30 and we were supposed to be having our interviews at 12. Crazy day! We all waited and had lunch and played Book of Mormon Baseball. It was lots of fun! So the game is where you have someone player A says "Pitch" and someone flip through the Book of Mormon and then say "Hit" Player B where ever they land in the Book of Mormon. They can say left or right fir the page and then Left or right for the column- Player B. Then you go up and down the column for the verse. The other says stop- Player B. You read that verse and then try to guess where it is by the book, chapter, and verse. If you are close by 5 chapter you move to second base and if you get the verse by 5 you get third base and then if you get it right you get a home. It was a very fun interesting game and I felt proud of Book of Mormon skills, but I want to study it more and know where the stories are in it.
On Thursday we drove down to where we do transfers in Raleigh and had a combined Zone Conference with Elder Dube from the quorum of the Seventy who came to visit the mission. It was great and I got to see some people from Garner and lots of my favorite missionaries! Especially Sister Ibarra! She is one cute Trainer! I heard a lot that has happened in Garner too and miss them all. It was a great meeting and man the spirit ws there. We had a great instruction from Elder Dube who was so funny and was good at testifying about the Book of Mormon. One thing he did say that stood out to me was to never give a closed copy of the Book of Mormon. Always share something from it! President and sister James had us plan and practice before by role playing the Plan of Salvation. They had us go up to the stand to teach and then we as the audience would evaluate their teaching. We didn't get to share but we definitely have things we can add and work on. President James closed the meeting with a story about a family who son died and how he came to visit his parents and only the mother could hear his words because the father was to busy to listen. He told us we must never be too busy or to focused to not recognized and feel the spirit. It was very touching and for the first time I saw what kind of love and sweet person my mission president is. To see him cry and testify of the spirit and his Savior I knew that with him as our guide we will be able to do great things her in North Carolina. My love for him grew and I now know even more that the counsel he gives and will yet give is simply out of love, our protection, and our success! It was a great meeting. On the way home and when we got their I had never felt so spiritually and emotionally exhausted!
Sunday was another great Sabbath and I just love this ward. We had our Investigator who is very forgetful remember and came to church with us. She loved it and she always kept saying "It is just so different, but a good different." We had a great church tour, and she really enjoyed the Sacrament and the talks. The talks were on keeping the Sabbath day Holy and she was glued to the speakers. The third hour combined meeting was great to and she was very surprised by the Bishop as he was being a perfect example of being Lovingly Bold. He got very emotional at the end and she was very impressed with what he made her feel. Bishop came to ask her if she enjoyed church and was very nice. sister Galloway and I were very appreciative of his kindness to her as she is very close with her Pastor. We had a great lesson on the Plan of Salvation with our 11 year old investigator. She is coming a long way and she was even willing to pray for the opening and wanted to give the closing prayer to practice. She is coming so far so quick and is very bright. She is just amazing!
Another Great week over and gone! I have come far over the last 8 months. I know that for sure! One major thing I know is that I am changing. I am learning and I am loving what I am becoming! I never knew I could hold all this love for these people and especially for my Savior! I know for certain that my testimony of this Gospel is so so much stronger! I know and can see the blessings it is having and the impact it has on individuals and families! Not only am I becoming a consecrate missionary, but I am becoming a converted disciple of Christ! In one more month I will be half way and as much as I hate to think that I can see so much that I have experienced and can't wait to see what else can happen! I hope y'all have a wonderful week and a wonderful first week of September! Love you all!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Another Great Week Over and Gone!
Hey Y'all,
Another Great week over and gone! Its amazing to know that next week will be my 8 month mark! Not sure if I am Okay with that fact. I am so glad to be here in Hillsborough. North Carolina in general is amazing and so glad that I am here.
First off we have been given to counsel from our mission President. It has changed our nightly routine. We must use our night time hours 6-9 as prime proselyting time. We must be out dinner appointments by 6.Its our first big adjustment to change. I definitely was kind of set back. I could see the benefit and was okay with it and even noticed that we do spend a good amount of time in our dinner appointments and that we may not even get appointments during our evenings. We are trying to make a smooth adjustments. It makes it hard for the members. Especially for the families who have husbands working late. I know that this is a counsel President James has received from God and that it is what our mission needs at this time. Sadly this week We saw that the outcome of not fully being obedient to the new clarification. I will tell the story later.
Tuesday we had a great lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our investigator who has issues with her memory. We finally got her to understand and she was even able to answer our questions without being worried she would get them wrong. She has committed to come to church on Sunday. We gave service to a sister who has been at the hospital for a while and got to help her print some stamps from a software. We cleaned her floors and helped restock her closet with boxes for her dialysis. She was so sweet and we could see her stress go away as we helped her get some house work done which she isn't able to do anymore. One thing I love about serving is to see how much just a little time spent with the members and those who need visits mean to those we see. I absolutely love seeing there frowns turn to smiles by the time we leave.
On Friday we had a great lesson with a less active brother who we have been trying to see the entire time while I have been here and even while Sister Galloway has been here. We finally didn't have to leave a note on his door. We got to know him more and his conversion story. We shared Alma 37:6. It all started with sending him scriptures in a text. A Scripture of the Day has worked miracles for us We then had dinner with a less active/ active family. This is where the story of the new rule comes. So we had dinner with this family and had great lesson with them where we got the parents to bear testimony to there three kids. We planned on just sharing a Scripture but I thought of the game with have been sharing with families called "The Game of Sacrifice." (You will have to wait to know what it is). In the end it got the parents to testify of the gospel and the atonement to their kid. After the lesson they started to open up to us telling us experiences they had in the past. We lost track of time. They wanted to make us Cotton Candy. By the time we got out of there house it was 8. We had a lesson at 7:30 with another less active male. We were going to get picked up at 7:20. When we realized what time it was we saw that the sister who was going to come had called us probably every minute. We scared her to death. We were 40 minutes late and never called us back. We heard she posted on the Facebook page that she couldn't find us and couldn't get a hold of us. You can imagine how scared she was. We were horrible and felt so dumb. Luckily she doesn't hate us. It was an eye opener to me of how much the Ward loves us. Even this one sister. She was so scared she even drove to social services. We had tons of members calling us and texting us to see if we were alright. It was one crazy evening. We Saw the down slide of not being fully obedient to this new rule. However, To be fully honest. I hadn't felt the love I did when I got here right away like when I got to Garner. I definitely have it now. I have been hoping for away to show the members and less actives of the ward that I am a great missionary and that I really want to bless their families. In the end they blessed mine.
On Saturday, we had only 1 lesson out of 4 planned. We got to do service and then for all those that didn't follow through we packed. I am so glad that we move Wednesday and I can feel the pain of those who hate to pack. I don't know how military families do it. We don't have that much stuff and it is still a pain. Even the stress that it brings.
Sunday was another great Sabbath. We got a call from the 2nd counselor in the ward. We were asked to give a talk. (It reminded me of Dad). When we saw the name we were like "oh no someone is giving a talk." We had hoped it was for our move. He asked us to give a talk. He only wanted it one and wanted us to decide. We couldn't so we asked him to choose. So he just had both of us talk. It was great and definitely one topic I knew I need to work on. Scripture Study. We both did a great job. we both shared experiences. I wish I could have added some stuff but 10 minutes was not long enough. However, they did make it the theme for the whole day. One scripture that stood out a ton me that I used in my talk was 2 Nephi 28:30. where we learn line upon line and precept upon precept. Great day and great topic and wonderful lessons. I love when The Relief Society is full of the sisters talking and giving comments instead of one sister doing all the talking. I love it!
Well that's my week! Hope you have a great week this week! And I would like to wish Cameren and Brenden and all of the Mountain Shadows ward Good Luck in Seminary this year. I wish with the knowledge I am getting know from using it everyday that I pay more attention. Love you all!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Another Great week over and gone! Its amazing to know that next week will be my 8 month mark! Not sure if I am Okay with that fact. I am so glad to be here in Hillsborough. North Carolina in general is amazing and so glad that I am here.
First off we have been given to counsel from our mission President. It has changed our nightly routine. We must use our night time hours 6-9 as prime proselyting time. We must be out dinner appointments by 6.Its our first big adjustment to change. I definitely was kind of set back. I could see the benefit and was okay with it and even noticed that we do spend a good amount of time in our dinner appointments and that we may not even get appointments during our evenings. We are trying to make a smooth adjustments. It makes it hard for the members. Especially for the families who have husbands working late. I know that this is a counsel President James has received from God and that it is what our mission needs at this time. Sadly this week We saw that the outcome of not fully being obedient to the new clarification. I will tell the story later.
Tuesday we had a great lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our investigator who has issues with her memory. We finally got her to understand and she was even able to answer our questions without being worried she would get them wrong. She has committed to come to church on Sunday. We gave service to a sister who has been at the hospital for a while and got to help her print some stamps from a software. We cleaned her floors and helped restock her closet with boxes for her dialysis. She was so sweet and we could see her stress go away as we helped her get some house work done which she isn't able to do anymore. One thing I love about serving is to see how much just a little time spent with the members and those who need visits mean to those we see. I absolutely love seeing there frowns turn to smiles by the time we leave.
On Friday we had a great lesson with a less active brother who we have been trying to see the entire time while I have been here and even while Sister Galloway has been here. We finally didn't have to leave a note on his door. We got to know him more and his conversion story. We shared Alma 37:6. It all started with sending him scriptures in a text. A Scripture of the Day has worked miracles for us We then had dinner with a less active/ active family. This is where the story of the new rule comes. So we had dinner with this family and had great lesson with them where we got the parents to bear testimony to there three kids. We planned on just sharing a Scripture but I thought of the game with have been sharing with families called "The Game of Sacrifice." (You will have to wait to know what it is). In the end it got the parents to testify of the gospel and the atonement to their kid. After the lesson they started to open up to us telling us experiences they had in the past. We lost track of time. They wanted to make us Cotton Candy. By the time we got out of there house it was 8. We had a lesson at 7:30 with another less active male. We were going to get picked up at 7:20. When we realized what time it was we saw that the sister who was going to come had called us probably every minute. We scared her to death. We were 40 minutes late and never called us back. We heard she posted on the Facebook page that she couldn't find us and couldn't get a hold of us. You can imagine how scared she was. We were horrible and felt so dumb. Luckily she doesn't hate us. It was an eye opener to me of how much the Ward loves us. Even this one sister. She was so scared she even drove to social services. We had tons of members calling us and texting us to see if we were alright. It was one crazy evening. We Saw the down slide of not being fully obedient to this new rule. However, To be fully honest. I hadn't felt the love I did when I got here right away like when I got to Garner. I definitely have it now. I have been hoping for away to show the members and less actives of the ward that I am a great missionary and that I really want to bless their families. In the end they blessed mine.
On Saturday, we had only 1 lesson out of 4 planned. We got to do service and then for all those that didn't follow through we packed. I am so glad that we move Wednesday and I can feel the pain of those who hate to pack. I don't know how military families do it. We don't have that much stuff and it is still a pain. Even the stress that it brings.
Sunday was another great Sabbath. We got a call from the 2nd counselor in the ward. We were asked to give a talk. (It reminded me of Dad). When we saw the name we were like "oh no someone is giving a talk." We had hoped it was for our move. He asked us to give a talk. He only wanted it one and wanted us to decide. We couldn't so we asked him to choose. So he just had both of us talk. It was great and definitely one topic I knew I need to work on. Scripture Study. We both did a great job. we both shared experiences. I wish I could have added some stuff but 10 minutes was not long enough. However, they did make it the theme for the whole day. One scripture that stood out a ton me that I used in my talk was 2 Nephi 28:30. where we learn line upon line and precept upon precept. Great day and great topic and wonderful lessons. I love when The Relief Society is full of the sisters talking and giving comments instead of one sister doing all the talking. I love it!
Well that's my week! Hope you have a great week this week! And I would like to wish Cameren and Brenden and all of the Mountain Shadows ward Good Luck in Seminary this year. I wish with the knowledge I am getting know from using it everyday that I pay more attention. Love you all!
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Sister Tayler Farr
Monday, August 17, 2015
Agency- It's a funny thing!
Hey Y'all,
Well first off Happy 25th Anniversary Mom and Dad! It has been amazing 20 years of being with you and having you there for me and each other and glad to know you had 5 years together before me! Best parents ever!
This week was one where nothing bad happened and lots of good happened. As you know we are moving soon to a new apartment and I am both excited and dreading the fact that we still have to be completely packed before we have our moving day on the 25th. We are not to far along, but I can honestly say I will dread moving the rest of my life. However, we did have great things happen this week. We had great lessons set up which all canceled except one. One of them was with a potential investigator. we got a call the night before the lesson from a sister in the ward. The first thing she said was "what do you need?" Um... well I was kind of thinking sorry you called us first....She said " I felt prompted to call you, Do you need anything?" We didn't think of anything but needing boxes. We just decided to invite her to the lesson and made plans for it. we felt that our investigator must need her testimony. Sadly though the next morning during studies she canceled and so we just went to lunch with the member and she invited a non-member to come with us! I was very confused why did God prompt her to call us to come and then not have it follow through. I realized later during the day that maybe it was planned to follow through with the lesson but she used her agency (which God can't control) and it ended up not working out. I noticed I assumed that since it was the way God wanted it to go it would got perfect because he helped it happen the right way and how it should have gone. As much as we were bummed that we didn't see her we know in the future to have come with us. From this I noticed just how much God loves us and was willing to give us our agency. He can help us but then we are to choose and he may be disappointed with us or happy with the choices we make. Or simply he prompted her to call us just to test her and see if she would follow the prompting. It really could be anything but I know some thing God is in everything, but he then steps back and lets us do our part. He wants it to go one way but we then can make it go another.
Another experience this week was we had an appointment with a less-active brother. We forgot to ask someone to come with us and so we were trying to think of someone to go last minute. Luckily we both thought of the same person and she was able to pick us up and come with us. It was probably the best lesson I have had with a less active. He is Agnostic after having a hard time and past. He was "kicked out" of the singles ward and felt unwelcome as he went to the family ward. He stopped coming and destroyed his scriptures and his blessing. He has never been married, and never has had kids. He is a history teacher at a college. He just seems so sad. He feels so lonely but wants to be around people. I had no idea what to say and so we tried top share a scripture but he didn't understand it. He felt uncomfortable saying a prayer. He told us though that his students were everything to him. I felt so useless! I didn't know what to do so I told him about my brother. I told him that he is not married never had kids is still in a family ward and sometimes sit by himself during church. But he knows who loves him and serves the Lord with all his heart, and he fulfills his callings to his best capacity. He has his siblings getting married and he still isn't but he knows its all on the Lords time. He kind of looked at me weird. I am not sure he appreciated it but I almost wanted to say that he is just angry with God! I hate not knowing what to do and having to remember that I can do anything but he still has his agency and choose to do whatever he wants.
I have learned that everything is in the perfect timing that God wants it, but it can change so quickly and maybe we don't see God helping us when we use our amazing gift of agency is not the best way!
Sunday was great and I really enjoyed the lesson by Ezra Taft Benson on the elderly. It reminded me of all the years I worked at PACE. I noticed that maybe I did learn something from the people their. I remember learning to be happy in life and to have a great attitude toward life and continue enduring!
Overall, I learned this week that Enduring to the End truly is the hardest thing God has asked us to do, but it is so rewarding! We had that chance to teach the Plan of Salvation and when we talked about when we have judgment. I realized it will never be something scary and God criticizing us on what we should have done or what we didn't do. No! it will be a happy occasion. He will congratulate us, he will reward us and he will be proud of the things we did well and how we used our agency for good and helped our brother and sisters.
What as week it was but so glad that I get another one and I hope you all have a great week and always remember God is with you! Love you all! Love y'all so much!
"And inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful and call upon my name, behold, I will give you the victory." Doctrine and Covenants 104:82
Love Sister Farr
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Sister Tayler Farr
Well first off Happy 25th Anniversary Mom and Dad! It has been amazing 20 years of being with you and having you there for me and each other and glad to know you had 5 years together before me! Best parents ever!
This week was one where nothing bad happened and lots of good happened. As you know we are moving soon to a new apartment and I am both excited and dreading the fact that we still have to be completely packed before we have our moving day on the 25th. We are not to far along, but I can honestly say I will dread moving the rest of my life. However, we did have great things happen this week. We had great lessons set up which all canceled except one. One of them was with a potential investigator. we got a call the night before the lesson from a sister in the ward. The first thing she said was "what do you need?" Um... well I was kind of thinking sorry you called us first....She said " I felt prompted to call you, Do you need anything?" We didn't think of anything but needing boxes. We just decided to invite her to the lesson and made plans for it. we felt that our investigator must need her testimony. Sadly though the next morning during studies she canceled and so we just went to lunch with the member and she invited a non-member to come with us! I was very confused why did God prompt her to call us to come and then not have it follow through. I realized later during the day that maybe it was planned to follow through with the lesson but she used her agency (which God can't control) and it ended up not working out. I noticed I assumed that since it was the way God wanted it to go it would got perfect because he helped it happen the right way and how it should have gone. As much as we were bummed that we didn't see her we know in the future to have come with us. From this I noticed just how much God loves us and was willing to give us our agency. He can help us but then we are to choose and he may be disappointed with us or happy with the choices we make. Or simply he prompted her to call us just to test her and see if she would follow the prompting. It really could be anything but I know some thing God is in everything, but he then steps back and lets us do our part. He wants it to go one way but we then can make it go another.
Another experience this week was we had an appointment with a less-active brother. We forgot to ask someone to come with us and so we were trying to think of someone to go last minute. Luckily we both thought of the same person and she was able to pick us up and come with us. It was probably the best lesson I have had with a less active. He is Agnostic after having a hard time and past. He was "kicked out" of the singles ward and felt unwelcome as he went to the family ward. He stopped coming and destroyed his scriptures and his blessing. He has never been married, and never has had kids. He is a history teacher at a college. He just seems so sad. He feels so lonely but wants to be around people. I had no idea what to say and so we tried top share a scripture but he didn't understand it. He felt uncomfortable saying a prayer. He told us though that his students were everything to him. I felt so useless! I didn't know what to do so I told him about my brother. I told him that he is not married never had kids is still in a family ward and sometimes sit by himself during church. But he knows who loves him and serves the Lord with all his heart, and he fulfills his callings to his best capacity. He has his siblings getting married and he still isn't but he knows its all on the Lords time. He kind of looked at me weird. I am not sure he appreciated it but I almost wanted to say that he is just angry with God! I hate not knowing what to do and having to remember that I can do anything but he still has his agency and choose to do whatever he wants.
I have learned that everything is in the perfect timing that God wants it, but it can change so quickly and maybe we don't see God helping us when we use our amazing gift of agency is not the best way!
Sunday was great and I really enjoyed the lesson by Ezra Taft Benson on the elderly. It reminded me of all the years I worked at PACE. I noticed that maybe I did learn something from the people their. I remember learning to be happy in life and to have a great attitude toward life and continue enduring!
Overall, I learned this week that Enduring to the End truly is the hardest thing God has asked us to do, but it is so rewarding! We had that chance to teach the Plan of Salvation and when we talked about when we have judgment. I realized it will never be something scary and God criticizing us on what we should have done or what we didn't do. No! it will be a happy occasion. He will congratulate us, he will reward us and he will be proud of the things we did well and how we used our agency for good and helped our brother and sisters.
What as week it was but so glad that I get another one and I hope you all have a great week and always remember God is with you! Love you all! Love y'all so much!
"And inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful and call upon my name, behold, I will give you the victory." Doctrine and Covenants 104:82
Love Sister Farr
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Sister Tayler Farr
Another great week and end to another transfer!
Hey Y'all,
Another great week and end to another transfer! Glad to be saying that I am staying in Hillsborough for another 6 weeks with Sister Galloway! It was a great week. Lots to do and lots of many tender mercies and miracles. And those are the best weeks ever!
Tuesday we had breakfast with a sister who is less active. We have been sending out scriptures in texts a lot and we finally got feedback from some. We talked and she invite us over. We had a hard time finding it. We had a great visit and found out why she doesn't come and why she stopped. She has a great testimony. She is even from Colorado. Another crazy story that happened today was that we had a great lesson with a sister. She wanted to know what all I got for my birthday and so I pulled out my camera to show her. We left her with a message and then drove home. We got halfway when I realized my camera was gone. Of course those who know me know that I am good at freaking out. I was a mess. We called her to see if i left it there. She couldn't find it. Again I freaked and then we drove back to see if I dropped it on the ground. My companion was so great and she had us pray. quickly I felt a peace sweep over me. Yet we got there and couldn't find it. I got back in the car and again freaked. I knew if I didn't find it I would have to tell Kory I lost my camera that he gave me. I also realized that I had lost my pictures from the last 7 months of my mission. I prayed again and boy I knew God was watching out for me. I felt that warm love and I just remember being able to calm down enough and try to see if maybe I dropped it until the sisters couch. She left us in and thankfully I found it shoved in between the couch cushions. It was so amazing. I poured my soul out in gratitude and boy I felt dumb. I probably was a mess and probably made my companion laugh at me a little. I saw that God watched over me. Let me calm down, retrace my steps. I didn't really lose it and he knew that. If I learned anything from this situation and from countless stories like it. There is really no point in freaking out and the simplest thing that I could be freaked out about it was important to me and God knew that! Amazingly too I noticed I was more worried about having to tell Kory than having to have lost all those pictures. All in all I am glad I didn't have to do either.
Sunday of course was another great day! Again Mekena was right that Sunday is like your saving Grace! I love being able to just relax at church feel the spirit and enjoy every talk, and lesson. It was hard to see some of the moms who had to drop there Missionaries off this week. It kind of made me think of when I left. They asked us lots of questions and there children were all puffy eyed and sad faced. I am so glad that even though they didn't want them to leave they let them. They will definitely return with honor. Our Gospel Principles were on The signs of the second coming and it really occurred to me that the reason we have signs are for our benefit to prepare ourselves and not to just say "Hey, I'm coming. Ready or not!" Relief Society was harder. We had a lesson on family. The one who gave the lesson would cry a lot when she talked about her son who just left to Brazil and it was making me think of home and boy i was holding back so hard. They asked us to think of examples of Noble women. My mother, Grandmas, and aunts and my young women, primary leaders came to mind and boy what an emotional spiritual experience. Even those who were not my mom really had a impact on me. I would list all of you but I don't think i would have room. It is a never ending list. I can add some more just by those I have meet on my mission. This church is truly one big family!
We did get a text this week from an investigator who we have lost contact and who is grateful that we send her texts with scriptures. We received a referral. We even were given an investigator from the Elders who would rather have us teach her. Things are looking up and so glad that everything is seeming to work out. I love North Carolina! It may be hot and I may be tired all the time but never had I had more fun, more energy and strength. I love all that I do as a representative of Jesus Christ!
Have a great week y'all!
Sister Farr
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Sister Tayler Farr
Another great week and end to another transfer! Glad to be saying that I am staying in Hillsborough for another 6 weeks with Sister Galloway! It was a great week. Lots to do and lots of many tender mercies and miracles. And those are the best weeks ever!
Tuesday we had breakfast with a sister who is less active. We have been sending out scriptures in texts a lot and we finally got feedback from some. We talked and she invite us over. We had a hard time finding it. We had a great visit and found out why she doesn't come and why she stopped. She has a great testimony. She is even from Colorado. Another crazy story that happened today was that we had a great lesson with a sister. She wanted to know what all I got for my birthday and so I pulled out my camera to show her. We left her with a message and then drove home. We got halfway when I realized my camera was gone. Of course those who know me know that I am good at freaking out. I was a mess. We called her to see if i left it there. She couldn't find it. Again I freaked and then we drove back to see if I dropped it on the ground. My companion was so great and she had us pray. quickly I felt a peace sweep over me. Yet we got there and couldn't find it. I got back in the car and again freaked. I knew if I didn't find it I would have to tell Kory I lost my camera that he gave me. I also realized that I had lost my pictures from the last 7 months of my mission. I prayed again and boy I knew God was watching out for me. I felt that warm love and I just remember being able to calm down enough and try to see if maybe I dropped it until the sisters couch. She left us in and thankfully I found it shoved in between the couch cushions. It was so amazing. I poured my soul out in gratitude and boy I felt dumb. I probably was a mess and probably made my companion laugh at me a little. I saw that God watched over me. Let me calm down, retrace my steps. I didn't really lose it and he knew that. If I learned anything from this situation and from countless stories like it. There is really no point in freaking out and the simplest thing that I could be freaked out about it was important to me and God knew that! Amazingly too I noticed I was more worried about having to tell Kory than having to have lost all those pictures. All in all I am glad I didn't have to do either.
Sunday of course was another great day! Again Mekena was right that Sunday is like your saving Grace! I love being able to just relax at church feel the spirit and enjoy every talk, and lesson. It was hard to see some of the moms who had to drop there Missionaries off this week. It kind of made me think of when I left. They asked us lots of questions and there children were all puffy eyed and sad faced. I am so glad that even though they didn't want them to leave they let them. They will definitely return with honor. Our Gospel Principles were on The signs of the second coming and it really occurred to me that the reason we have signs are for our benefit to prepare ourselves and not to just say "Hey, I'm coming. Ready or not!" Relief Society was harder. We had a lesson on family. The one who gave the lesson would cry a lot when she talked about her son who just left to Brazil and it was making me think of home and boy i was holding back so hard. They asked us to think of examples of Noble women. My mother, Grandmas, and aunts and my young women, primary leaders came to mind and boy what an emotional spiritual experience. Even those who were not my mom really had a impact on me. I would list all of you but I don't think i would have room. It is a never ending list. I can add some more just by those I have meet on my mission. This church is truly one big family!
We did get a text this week from an investigator who we have lost contact and who is grateful that we send her texts with scriptures. We received a referral. We even were given an investigator from the Elders who would rather have us teach her. Things are looking up and so glad that everything is seeming to work out. I love North Carolina! It may be hot and I may be tired all the time but never had I had more fun, more energy and strength. I love all that I do as a representative of Jesus Christ!
Have a great week y'all!
Sister Farr
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Friday, August 7, 2015
"I Will Hush Your Fears"
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| Sister Anderson and I on Exchanges! |
I have got to say that this was a hard week! Having my birthday did make it better. We have been struggling finding people to teach. We have started focusing a lot on our finding tools and of course all we can think to really do is tract. We have had great lessons with our recent converts and I got a hair cut from one of them. Only lost 2 inch's.
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| Sister Galloway wrote on me! |
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| Face paint on Pioneer Day! |
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| All my presents! Thank you so much! |
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| Nice surprise |
On Sunday we had a great lesson in Relief society and we had the young women there with us. It made me think of the times we need that at home in the Mountain Shadows ward when I was a beehive. We talked about the talk from this past April conference by Elder Bednar on Hushing our fears. I advise you to all read it again. It helped me with all my fears with this weeks hard time of Homesickness and not having people to teach. It helped me to see that Fear isn't bad. It is a motivator only if we let it be though. It can also help us believe in God and more and leads us to study more and try to be more like the Savior1 I couldn't help but think about this past month and all things me and my family have been dealing with and I could see fear of the unknown and the sadness of losing a loved one! and a feeling of anger. But I loved that every time we talked about Fear we all included the Savior and his atonement and how it helps overcome any kind of Fear. I could see that this is what I have been feeling that my fear of not being a successful missionary and not doing my best has turned into fear. but I will choose to allow it to be my motivator. My companion has told me countless times that "Faith is the foundation, Hope is the motivation, and Charity is the Application.
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| My cookies face! |
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Sister Tayler Farr
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