Never assume things- it'll slap you in the face

Hey y'all,

Another week done! this week was amazing and the best week so far. I even had my first exchange and i was terrified, but i was probably the best thing that happened to me this week. I hope many of you thought about what i said last week about having Family Home Evening and Personal and family scripture study. i wouldn't be a good missionary if i didn't follow-up. LOL!

This week was a very uplifting and busy week. We got a new investigator and Super Sunday was a great hit. we only had one of our investigators come but she brought her husband who is completely against the church. he has even volunteered to help with a member moving with volunteering his time and truck and asked for a Preach My Gospel. I was jumping for joy!!! This week we had no set appointments except for Thursday and i was in a different area for exchanges. (I'll touch on that later). We just went through the ward roster and drove to most of the inactive members. we didn't have such a great luck in that but Sister Behrmann came across a name and she said "what about the Kassa family we haven't met them and they are just down the street a little." by that point i was ready to give up but we went ahead and went. we got to their house and prayed and knocked on there door and SOMEONE ANSWERED THE DOOR! i was so glad but was even happier when the first thing he says is "missionaries, no women Missionaries." He let us in and we talked. He is Ethiopian and it was kind of hard to understand him. he told us they are inactive (without us asking) and said that he has a testimony but goes to a church down town with other Ethiopians because they needed help with setting it up and so if he wasn't their he would be at our church. He has two kids who are 10 and 8. Neither one is baptized but the parents are endowed and said that the believes on family that we have was one of the reasons why they were even baptized. They have moved everywhere they got married and moved to Italy (talked about dad serving a mission in Italy) then moved to Los angelos and then to North Carolina and works in a research technical lab for universities. We talked with him for a good forty five minutes and left with a prayer and gave them our card. latter we found out the elders got to them before us and have an appointment and so that's why they didn't ask for us to come back, but they want to make dinner for us and make some Italian food.

My biggest news is that after we left the Kassa's we went to another inactive member. She wasn't home but her roommate was and she allowed us in and started talking with us.we talked about Jesus Christ. She asked us why we are so big on giving service when we asked if we could help with anything (she was decorating for a party). She asked us why we do that and so we said we are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints and everything we believe is centered on Christ and that Jesus was someone who served everyone he could and so we try to be like him. She almost starting crying. she told us that she does that all the time especially for her job. She is a Spanish interpreter and works for the blind. she even said that she is starting a thrift store and that all the employees are going to be people with disabilities and who is blind or deaf. She even told us that she interprets for medical reasons as she goes with patients to appointments to help them as the doctor talks with them. she has some health issues but she feels that the things she does is really all she can do because of her health. It was amazing. Not sure she is a ASL interpreter but that would be awesome. We set up an appointment for Friday and then left. It was the coolest experience she was even asking about Family History and is so amazed at the records we have at the buildings and how amazing that is and loves doing that with her husband.

SO real quick with exchanges i went to the Cary 2nd ward and my companion was Sister Loftus. i wasn't sure cause the last time she said " oh second week in the field and you have exchange lucky you" and that seriously scared me. i didn't want to go with her and sure enough i was assigned to go with her. It actually went great i learned lots from her and she helped me with teaching. the first thing we did was teach the restoration together and it was awesome. she was kindly glad enough  to start and teach most, but allowed me room to jump in. we even had a good conversation getting ready for bed and helped me gain confidence in teaching. she even showed me that i can become friends with the people i teach. i knew that but she had an amazing friendship with them. she was able to be sarcastic and funny and i don't know just really great with who she taught and did service for. i felt so comfortable teaching and working with her.  Overall it was a great experience!

This week was amazing and i can feel myself getting more and more comfortable with teaching and speaking up.i hope my next email isn't so much of me rambling but I can't wait for what this week is going to give me, but remember with Valentines Day coming up charity never faileth! Have a great week y'all!

--

Sister Tayler Farr

Pray for Guidance

Hey Y'all,

     Yes!!! That "y'all" means i'm here in North Carolina. i love it! it has been a crazy first week. i had hard and really good times already. I have even had my first wave of Homesickness!:( (No mom i didn't open your card)!

     The first night we arrived we stayed at the presidents house because transfers wasn't till the next day. That night we jumped right into teaching and role playing and started getting ready for the next days plans. i have never had to write so much in so long. it was like school all over again.

     It was really hard saying goodbye to my MTC companions but i got a wonderful companion. Her name is Sister Behrmann. (Bear man). she goes home right around the time the president and his wife does so she has been my best person. i feel like she will be glad to get rid of me. i ask so many questions and have her explain almost everything to me more than twice.

     This first week i have had my first wave of homesickness and that really scared me. i got worried since it is only my first week and that seemed a little pathetic to me. I could feel my tension while i would be doing my personal study as well as some time in our companion study, but like i said my companion is awesome and has been my rock! I have been focusing on trying to work harder when i feel these feelings come back. i remember Gordon B Hinckley's saying " forget yourself and go to work" i have been able to say that and start reading start praying and yelling at Satan to leave me alone. i don't ever want to use your cards mom!!! i feel better and i push along and remember that i have my best friend and supporter with me and that he will never leave me. i know that Jesus Christ has felt what i felt before and that i can use his atonement to help me.

     Sorry! i don't know what to say this week HAHA! but i really love this ward i'm in and the amazing people they are. Some have southern accents and some don't i will admit that when i go to eat at someones home and they don't have one i get a little sad because i want to learn the best things to say Y'all with. i love this word! haha! The members are so willing to serve the missionaries. We share the car with the Elders and alternate who has it each week and so the weeks we don't have it we always have members willing to go out with us and driving us and sometimes they say something before we even ask them. it's crazy! I love it!!! It makes it so much easier and so easy to love them.

     This Sunday is going to probably be the best for my entire mission. We are having " Invitation Super Sunday." All the wards in the area are going to have church be circled around less actives and nonmembers so that the members can invite friends, and family to church where the lessons and the sacrament is friendly and helps them learn about us. Oh and did i mention their will be food!!! I am so glad that our mission president thought of this and got all the wards in the mission on-board i am so excited and i hope that the members follow through with inviting people to come.

     I have had a great first week in the wonderful world of North Carolina. The weather has been gloomy and cold like my Colorado. it has made me miss home and miss all of you, but every time i feel sad of not being home i feel love and comfort from my heavenly father that this is my calling. That he is with me every step of the way. i know it's going to be hard. I know i will have bad days and hard days, but here in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission WE LOVE HARD DAYS. The hard and bad days will help me gain more motivation. I have come far but i am still far away from where i want to be and i'm ready to go full swing and bring the happiness and love i have been given. I have loved having scripture study and saying prays everyday and i feel so close. I have noticed what Family Home Evening and Scripture study can do for a family so as a missionary i ask all to take the time to have personal and family scripture study and plan for Family home evening. Heavenly Father has given these things to help us have unity in our home and with our families. I promise that doing so you and your family will be blessed and the Savior with grant you peace and love. I love y'all and will love to hear from you soon! Have a great and wonderful week with your families.

--

Sister Tayler Farr

P.S. The " Haha's" are for Jonathon!!!! Don't forget daily scripture study

Only 3 More Days in the MTC

Dear Family and Friends,

i can't believe i'm leaving for North Carolina on monday! actually i have to be at the travel office at 3 am but at least i can sleep on the plane!

So this has been crazy. i've had amazing experiences pretty much everyday and i love my companions. somedays i want to kill one of them but my other companion is amazing we have gone through thick and thin and we are so a like. our families are almost the same. Mostly this week has been packed with the lord challenging me and trying to get me out of my comfort zone and allow myself to just speak up or just teach instead of doubt myself and pull away.

Mostly this week i have learned the importance of companion and personal study when preparing for teaching. i took a class one on one with a sister where she helped me through different scriptures and how to study and how to explain it to a specific investigator or anything. also just last night i noticed the importance of listening and being influenced by the spirit. we have had a hard time preparing a lesson and having it go well. my companions and especially Sister Bingham were getting doubtful and frustrated and i did all i could and prayed so hard and then when we got back together i said we are not going to plan an actual lesson we are just going to read the book of mormon and answer her questions and our end goal should be to try and end with an end goal like bringing the Book of Mormon back to the atonement and so we went in to teach we talked and asked about the Book of Mormon and if she had any questions and it smoothly went into the Plan of Salvation and wow i knew the spirit was there she smiled and she started to get emotional but she always told us what she thought. she told us what she believed and oh my goodness she believed everything we told her and everything she thought about. we finished and left and i have never been so happy and up lifted.

i knew even though it was a practice but not felt so real and so amazing and i knew Heavenly Father was their the whole time and he helped me and my companions. i have dealt with Stress and doubt this week but i have never been more grateful. Don't worry mom not enough to use your letter. i knew that this doubt and fear was coming from Satan and wanted to get me down. i felt like it was motivating me and i was able to strengthen my companions with my love and help to them. i learned also if we plan a lesson and it may not go as planned that my Savior will help me because i put in the work!

I love This Gospel and the light it has broughten me already in just 10 days being in the field and i can't wait for more experience yet to happen.

i have to go but i want to thank to people this week who sent me letters through " Dear Elder" your letters were never more perfect in timing and never has left my mind in how my week has been. i know my Heavenly Father is watching over me and i am where i am supposed to be.  i am grateful i get to finish off my time at the MTC and go to the temple. What better place to go when my weeks has been so enlightening and Next time i will be emailing i will be in Wonderful humid North Carolina and i can finally start the real thing. Till next P-day!

P.S. Sorry no pictures couldn't figure it out on this computer!!!!

--

Sister Tayler Farr

Tayler's First Missionary Email

Dear Family and Friends,

     This week has been short but amazing! i haven't really missed home or gotten homesick. Its probably because i don't get a chance to think of home because i'm so busy or it must be that i am having a blast! Yeah!!! i am having a blast. I have been enjoying everything! the food, my companions, my teachers, my classes, and i love my branch president and his counselors!  I am loving the spirit that's here and the love i have been given.

     My companions are Sister Warner and Sister Bingham they are amazing! So far what everyone has said that is good about a trio companionship has been right. i know we will be great friends and they really are good at helping me with my weaknesses and are always willing to help me when i need an explanation on what we're learning and when i feel like i am not a good person or satan is getting to me they're always their to back me up and reassure me! I know i was given them because of who each of us are! i have been told that i have given them more light in the comments i give as i think i am an out of the box thinker. One down side is they have been trying so hard to get me out of my comfort zone and into what we're doing. These 2 days have been going so fast and i can't believe it is already my third day here. if i could i would serve and keep learning here, but i know North Carolina needs me and i bet when its time to leave i will be excited. one upside is my companions will be able to hold my hand when we fly to North Carolina. Hey, i have finally met someone  going or someones going to my mission.

     Mostly these last days have been really spiritual and I am learning a lot but i thought me being here was away to keep satan away. Boy was i wrong. i think he is working so hard on me especially yesterday. We had a little bit of a scary first day we went into a room where we were teaching an investigator and we had to tell them something on who they are and what they needed. IT WAS TERRIBLE! i didn;t say anything but not a lot of people were saying anything that was right. they would challenge them before they even understood what they were talking about! My companions and i talked and discussed what was wrong and who was saying the right thing and i feel both of what my companions said was probably the only things that sounded right! it really was terrible! on thursday we had a class on discussing how the class of the same investigators went and it was amazing. it really opened my eyes to the concept of listen really listen. Mekena was right you can't listen when your thinking of what your going to say next. We watched little clips of videos from the New York times of different people and we discussed what we're learning from them, how the lord sees them, and what we could give them from the gospel to fit who they are as a person. i never have thought that way and it really opened my eyes that maybe telling them over and over that i love them when i teach can be enough. Also during the same class our teacher talked about how our mission are for those we teach and NEVER or NOT for us. the reason we are on a mission is for "they" not for "you." I could feel Satan telling me that i have to go home because my reason to being here is for my own progression and not for the salvation of who i could be teaching. It scared me but my companions helped me to see that im manipulating myself and not seeing that it goes both ways.

     Last night we met our branch president and his counselors or actually we heard from the president and met his counsellors. they are wonderful and i know i will be loved by them. One of the brother's wife reminded me of Grandma Farr. she is from England but besides the accent she talks and says everything she would say. she called her husband a "pill!" We had a chance to tell them our testimonies and a little about ourselves and i had an impression to talk about my Epilepsy and how i made it through to this point of saying i was mad at Heavenly Father for this terrible trial. that i finally knew that i wasn't cursed i was just tested and one of the counselors had an interview with me and he helped me know that it's hard to learn and that he feels that i am a good person and i will do wonderful things as a missionary. Well, i think this is all the time i have to write but i want you to know i am loving life at the MTC and i love you all and can't wait to talk next Friday! Till Friday!!!!

-- 

Sister Tayler Farr