Hey Y'all!
This week has become the new best and very
favorite week. (i pretty sure it will change again). We had an apostles come
and talk to us. It was amazing. Also we had our first transfer training! wait
what? I HAVE SURVIVED MY FIRST TRANSFER! Time is going so very fast and i have
been told from missionaries going home that its like a blink of an eye. That
kind of scares me.
Well, this week was crazy. We had lots of
meeting and lots of snow. I loved the snow, but like most of you know my family
has ADD and ADHD running in our blood and snow n North Carolina means staying
indoors until the snow is gone. Its just so completely cold and you don't want
to go outside. when we could go outside though it took us 10 minutes just to
get out of our apartment complex. (mostly because my companion is from
Arizona). I got to teach my companion how to drive in the snow! Pretty funny
telling members about that!
We had a great transfer training and thankfully
i had been praying for confidence and reassurance for the meeting so i wouldn't
dread the whole meeting and luckily i learned and enjoyed all the lessons and
role plays we did at the meeting. The president would teach then each of the
assistants and then Sister Bernhisel twice. They all did an amazing job and i
got a lot out of it. My prayer helped with that of course. It was such a tender
mercy.
The next day we had to wake up at 4:30 and be
at the Fuquay sisters and be at the church building by 7:15 for one of
the sisters for a choir practice who is going home on Tuesday. we just sat
around till about 8:15 and then we took a picture with Elder Christofferson. It
was so amazing and can't wait to get the picture. We all lined up after and
shook his hand and two other members of the seventy. I just feel over. It was
like holding hands with a movie star. It was God's movie star and he looked at
me with love and i knew he was proud of the choice i made of coming on a
mission. We then hear from each of the seventies and one of their wives and
then heard from Elder Christofferson. He talked about the Holy Ghost and
revelation. He then opened it up for questions we had and he answered. Really
everything he said was absolutely amazing but the one thing he said that i hope
to never forget is that he said that we as missionaries are working alongside
the Prophet and his Apostles and the other leaders of our church. That just
about killed me! How cool is that we are considered to working alongside the
Prophet of God. But now that i think of it it makes sense. We are doing
missionary work and so are they. It was just so touching and motivating to hear
that.
We sadly didn't get much teaching and
preslyliting done this week due to all the meetings and the snow, but we did
have the car which was very helpful and taught a new investigator. (one we had
track ting to last week). We wanted someone from the ward to come with us and
couldn't think of who to bring or ask. We knew she was a baptist! We could only
think of one person but she is a talker and thought that it may not go well but
Sister Behrmann just said lets see how it goes. I can now say how much my trainer
can recognize a prompting and act it. She was so meant to come! We were able to
see that they both are so alike. The sister went through exactly what she is
going through about the idea of how the Baptist church runs and the way
everything is and she feels like she needs something more and that she feels
that she actually belongs. While we were talking they both burst into a
"hallelujah prayer and it seriously scared me. I didn't see it coming!
They both shared bible scriptures that they loved and it was perfect way we got
to talk about the Book of Mormon. We all read to her our favorite scriptures
from it and the Moroni 10:3-5 scripture and bore our testimony focusing on the
idea that it as answered multiple questions and doubt. We asked her if she would
read it and she was so enthusiastic saying yes and held onto like she was
holding her life in her hands. She even said she would start as soon as we
left. We set up an appointment for next week and for a time to give her some
service. Wow! another great tender mercy. God's hand was in this and the spirit
was so strong. I even felt that she is someone who will be baptized. I have
never been so uplifted!!! so happy!
Well, i am running out of time and i had to
shorten my letter but i will write this experience in my journal. I never want
to forget the feeling I had when we were there. Till next week! Have a great
week Y'all! I just realized that when in email next it will be March! Crazy! :)
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Monday, February 23, 2015
8 year old Baptism's are so cute!
Another Great week and full of
craziness. I have had a crazy week mostly because i have tried really hard to
put myself in new situations where i can grow and we did a lot of tracting. I
hate it! it is the scariest thing ever. We did however have a lot of people let
us in because of the cold.- I was wearing short-sleeves and they all thought i
was crazy. It was a Colorado day. North Carolinians would probably hate
Colorado weather!!!! LOL! I did learn that how much i hate tracting it can be
effective. We found someone to do service for painting her home and possibly
teach her. We talked with a older lady who wanted to come to church and someone
who was lookng for a new change and possibly would give us a call. It was mind
blowing, really scary, but amazing. I didn't get to say a lot but i felt the
spirit so much and i know he helped me. I would walk up strangers porches and
whisper to myself of Lord i am trusting you please help us and particularly me.
:) I knew he anwsered me.
Your probably all wondering what any of this
has to do with my title that i have for this week. We didn't the car and the
week didn't go so well we had a lot of appointments fall through and our
investigators wouldn't keep commitments so we were already lost with what to
do. We had dinner with a family that was having there daughters baptism and
asked if we were going. We said yes and they said to invite our investigators
and less active. We said we would. Sunday comes around and we didn't have
anyone come. It was however one of the coolest and most spiritual baptisms ever
that i have attended. Their were two girls who got baptized together. One of
the girls had a family member pass away and so they had to reschedule and so
they got to do it together. They both were so beautiful. The major thing that
surprised me was that i had mentioned that i my family have always broughten a
Book Of Mromon and had those who attended to write a little message in it so
they could see who came and it would be something they coukld always look back
at. THey didn't thnk they could get one before but they did. She kind of
changed it around to we would mark our favorite scrptures and then write a
small testimony in it. What was a great idea. The moment that surprised me the
most was after the girls were baptized and getting dressed they held a
testimony meeting for those who were waiting. It was amazing greatest idea. Not
a lot was said or many people but i was a great thing to pass the waiting time.
I think though the greatest thing that made me love this sweet little baptism
was the songs the lessons and the way the two 8 year old girls treated each
other they held hands hugged and were so excited and had a beautiful smile on
their face. It made t hard to not want to think of my own baptism and how i wished
i had wrote down about it and what i was feeling. Thankfully the primary
president (which was one of the girls mom) said to write down this experience
so they can always remember this day. I thought of ways and things that could
help our investigators to get to this point and be baptized and all i could
think of was they should be here and mayber they would want this experince for
themsleves. I also thought we need to talk more about the blessing of baptism
and the Holy Ghost.
I love how strong the spirit is during a baptism. I hope that i can help our investigators to get to this point. I loved my baptism and know how important it is and i hope they can see the same. I know now that i need to testify of my own expeirnce and testify of the blessings and allow them to decide that this is what they should do. What a beautful Sunday and i love everything i am learning.
This week is going to be great and is the last of the transfer. Luckily, i still have 6 more weeks of training. I don't want to leave this wondeful ward. I was spoiled!!!!! Till next week y'all!!!!
Sister Tayler Farr
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Monday, February 9, 2015
Satan Is Really Getting on my Nerves
 |
| TEMPLE!!! |
So This week has been very intense!!! I was sick and also very discouraged. It didn't help that i had interviews with President Bernhisel and didn't feel well enough prepared. I don't think it went very well. I talked to fast and he keep asking if anything was bothering me and i keep saying i was fine! I wan't fine i have allowed Satan to take me and use my thoughts to discourage my progress.
My week started with my cold kicking into high gear and it was probably caused by stress. My companion didn't know how to help me and she was getting better. We didn't really have the best success our lesson this week didn't go as well or as planned. Our other Investigators are keeping commitments and i am allowing my failure this week get the best of me. I am ready to kick Satan in the face and tell him to back off. I have found myself praying harder and harder and reading and pondering more trying to get myself back to where i want to be. I have been to embarrassed to ask for help from my companion and finally she wouldn't take my answer as to that "I am Fine." I read an article this week from Elder Bednar which is required to read for my training. He talks about that we as a missionary have to understand that serve and represent Jesus Christ, need to be worth, treasure up the words of eternal life, understand that the Holy Ghost is the ultimate and true teacher, and that teaching is much more than just talking and telling. Can you guess what i thought of when i read this talk. I said to myself- Am i really worthy to be here? Am i being a burden on the people i teach and not helping feel of the Holy Ghost? Do i really have what it takes to be a missionary? Am I improving and why can't i teach like Sister Behrmann? Oh my gosh now i can see how stupid i am in thinking this and questioning myself! I have the best companion ever and she has helped me answer my doubting questions. I have been able to have great experience the same day that i have felt this terrible saddening feelings.
I have really seen what the Atonement has done for me! I know that i am not perfect and that i will never be perfect in this life or the next if i don't allow myself to learn from this experience and any experience. Who says i'm not a teacher or ever going to be a teacher like Sister Behrmann or other missionaries. I'm only in TRAINING i'n training to be a good missionary and to make the mistakes now. I am not allowing Christ sacrifice to able me to understand the bigger picture. Yesterday, we had our investigator at church and have a lesson with another and now. They are starting to progress and i am not helping them by being discouraged and blocking the spirit to be present when i am being negative. I have had great experience and i am improving everyday even if i don't see. My companion has told me i am. I am understanding things more and i am learning to teach simply.
 |
|
Boberry
Bisquit from Bojangles
the food of the south!!!
|
This entire week i have had this same kind of experiences When i was having doubt i read my Patriarchal Blessing, letters from home and a written letter from Mekena and Kory. I read and read the scriptures and found perfect ones to how i was feeling i had opportunities to serve members of the ward.
Y'all this week i have come closer to the real meaning of the Atonement. This weeks doubts and questioning won't be the last and i might have different struggles but i know that since someone loved me enough to die for me i can be blessed with comfort and trusted to help others. I have met people who have given knowledge of things i have never thought of and i know that i will have many more. I promise all that you can feel of that love i felt this week if you simply have the faith that God is going to help and guide you. We are his children and he loves us. I hope your week is great and with many tender mercies! Till next Monday! Love you all! :)
--
Sister Tayler Farr
Monday, February 2, 2015
Following the Prompting of the Spirit
Hey Y'all,
This week has been great! I can't believe i have been on my mission for 1 month! Where has the time gone!! (not that far yet). I have seen already the impact the spirit has on being a missionary. Its crazy! This week i have had a harder time with being homesick and thoughts of doubt. It scared me and i could see that i was focusing on things that i shouldn't be focusing on. It made me mad. It made me pray harder and i started saying them out loud or whisper them so could really hear and be sincere when i would pray and not sound like i was asking to much. I even tried being more grateful in my prayers and that really helped. I noticed my thoughts and spiritual moments were increasing and i felt the spirit more and was more open to recognizing that the spirit was there. More on that later! :)
This week started out with Zone conference on Tuesday! I have never done so many role plays in my life and thought that i was going to rip my hair out, but they weren't actually to bad once i just opened my mouth. Ha-ha. I have learned that the president kind of intimidates me a little and when he asked me to read a scripture i was shaking so bad!!! It was sad!! I was also sick and my head was full of air and so answering questions was not happening and so i was just in the back trying not to get called on. It was like the first day of school again. Other than me being weird it was great. I love the assistants and the Sister training leaders and the zone and district leaders. They all did a great job teaching but i especially loved the Assistants. Their are two sets of assistants, but the companionship who i met on my first day in NC was the best. You could tell that they put a lot of work into the lesson and really prayed about what we needed to be taught. The spirit was definitely present. They started the lesson out with one of the Elders bearing his testimony of Jesus Christ and then used what he said as a start of point in how Jesus Christ is our center on everything we do as a missionary. It was very good. I also loved sister Bernhisel's lesson on how we are as teachers. (she got her information in the January 2015 ensign on the talk on teacher ought to be from the general Sunday school presidency- read it) She talked about that we need to ask inspiring questions and to listen before we say anything or think to say anything (i struggle with that). Also to have them testify through the questions you ask so they can see that they do believe and do feel the spirit. She was amazing! My first Zone conference was great but i thought it would never end. It felt like the MTC but without the breaks every hour.
My week has been full of spiritual experiences. It started when we had companion study and was reading in preach my gospel n how to find people. I have been struggling with the idea that i don't need to worry about not understanding everything and knowing everything i just need to open my mouth and testify or allow the spirit to use me and i will find people to teach. We read in the Doctrine and Covenants and it said something like this. "Try not to obtain my word but to trust in me and i will give you words to say." When i read that it freaked me and out and I had this overwhelming feeling and i started to scary cry. My companion didn't know what to do with me. I quickly ran to our room and i prayed to Heavenly Father and thanking him for my answer. My next spiritual experience this week was when we visited a family in the ward and the daughter told us that she was in a car accident and that she was in a little pain only because when she and the other car hit she got all tense and was dealing with the pain. We talked about Grace from the talk "His Grace is Sufficient" (which is also another thing you should read) talking about that through the grace of the Lord we can do anything and keep failing but never stop trying. To never let a trail stop us from using the atonement and give up. They loved it and then two days latter we asked if the mom wanted to go with us on a lesson and she sad she couldn't because her daughter is in the hospital and has been diagnosed with Leukemia. We were both freaking out and were trying to know what to do and how we could help her and the family. The ward found out and we had millions in the ward come together to try and help them. They started a Facebook thing where everyone would wear orange and then post it on Facebook. It was crazy and everyone was doing it who could. She was told that it wasn't as severe as they thought but she would never be able to have kids and always have to be careful with the medicine of which she would always have to take. Yesterday at church EVERYONE came wearing some kind of orange and lots of love was shone. She was uplifted and you could see she was grateful for the love and strength we all gave her. Her mother bore her testimony and thanked everyone for the support. It was the best Sunday ever. I was glad that we gave that talk so that she could have that in her mind as she was going through this. Even the idea that she had an accident as bad as it was but that she was able to find the problem and get the help from the doctors. It could be worse later if they never found it. God really does make everything happen for a reason. (should be the title). My last spiritual experience for the week was on Saturday when we went to dinner with a single sister and talked about her brother who has Alzheimer and we talked about the situation and i just kept my mouth shut and boy that was stupid we went through dinner and i kept having this thought of "ask her about her brother." " continued to answer myself with it was none of my business." Finally we finished our dinner and desert and talked about her questions about the temple and then i got the prompting again. We started to clean the table and i just blurred "When was your brother diagnosed?" She hesitated for a minute and then she told us about her brothers story but talked about his conversion story. To tell a long story short. He already was getting worse but as the missionaries taught him he was able to learn the gospel and get baptized and then after he was baptized and was given the Holy Ghost he then got worse and he had to go to a Assisted living. I told her that was Gods way of letting receive the gospel in this life and he did through her. I told her that my family has been working with people like this for a long time and told her that have worked with them and what wonderful people they are. I even told her i think Heavenly Father is letting him be like this because he is allowing him to show her that his time is coming and god is making it easier for the both of them. She told me that he only remembers being a child sometimes and that he s happy when he talks about that. Or when i visit him that's all he wants to talk about or something like that. I told her Heavenly Father wants you both to know he is allowing his illness to carry you both because he isn't suffering like he would if he had cancer or was in pain. He may not understand why he may get confused but that i see that god is allowing her to see him as a little child and is showing her that god is getting ready to take him but doing it in a way that she and him can deal with.
Well, i was freaking out and thought she was going to yell at me but we just stood their and watched her process what i had said. she then smiled and said i never thought of it that way. She then hugged me and thanked me for what i had said. I felt like i was saying something that didn't make sense. But i saw the peace of what i said helped her.
My week has been full of Heavenly Father and Christ's hand in my life and i am so grateful for the experiences i have received and have been able to grow from. Hope you have a great week and full of the Lords hand in guiding you! Till next Monday Love You all!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
This week has been great! I can't believe i have been on my mission for 1 month! Where has the time gone!! (not that far yet). I have seen already the impact the spirit has on being a missionary. Its crazy! This week i have had a harder time with being homesick and thoughts of doubt. It scared me and i could see that i was focusing on things that i shouldn't be focusing on. It made me mad. It made me pray harder and i started saying them out loud or whisper them so could really hear and be sincere when i would pray and not sound like i was asking to much. I even tried being more grateful in my prayers and that really helped. I noticed my thoughts and spiritual moments were increasing and i felt the spirit more and was more open to recognizing that the spirit was there. More on that later! :)
This week started out with Zone conference on Tuesday! I have never done so many role plays in my life and thought that i was going to rip my hair out, but they weren't actually to bad once i just opened my mouth. Ha-ha. I have learned that the president kind of intimidates me a little and when he asked me to read a scripture i was shaking so bad!!! It was sad!! I was also sick and my head was full of air and so answering questions was not happening and so i was just in the back trying not to get called on. It was like the first day of school again. Other than me being weird it was great. I love the assistants and the Sister training leaders and the zone and district leaders. They all did a great job teaching but i especially loved the Assistants. Their are two sets of assistants, but the companionship who i met on my first day in NC was the best. You could tell that they put a lot of work into the lesson and really prayed about what we needed to be taught. The spirit was definitely present. They started the lesson out with one of the Elders bearing his testimony of Jesus Christ and then used what he said as a start of point in how Jesus Christ is our center on everything we do as a missionary. It was very good. I also loved sister Bernhisel's lesson on how we are as teachers. (she got her information in the January 2015 ensign on the talk on teacher ought to be from the general Sunday school presidency- read it) She talked about that we need to ask inspiring questions and to listen before we say anything or think to say anything (i struggle with that). Also to have them testify through the questions you ask so they can see that they do believe and do feel the spirit. She was amazing! My first Zone conference was great but i thought it would never end. It felt like the MTC but without the breaks every hour.
My week has been full of spiritual experiences. It started when we had companion study and was reading in preach my gospel n how to find people. I have been struggling with the idea that i don't need to worry about not understanding everything and knowing everything i just need to open my mouth and testify or allow the spirit to use me and i will find people to teach. We read in the Doctrine and Covenants and it said something like this. "Try not to obtain my word but to trust in me and i will give you words to say." When i read that it freaked me and out and I had this overwhelming feeling and i started to scary cry. My companion didn't know what to do with me. I quickly ran to our room and i prayed to Heavenly Father and thanking him for my answer. My next spiritual experience this week was when we visited a family in the ward and the daughter told us that she was in a car accident and that she was in a little pain only because when she and the other car hit she got all tense and was dealing with the pain. We talked about Grace from the talk "His Grace is Sufficient" (which is also another thing you should read) talking about that through the grace of the Lord we can do anything and keep failing but never stop trying. To never let a trail stop us from using the atonement and give up. They loved it and then two days latter we asked if the mom wanted to go with us on a lesson and she sad she couldn't because her daughter is in the hospital and has been diagnosed with Leukemia. We were both freaking out and were trying to know what to do and how we could help her and the family. The ward found out and we had millions in the ward come together to try and help them. They started a Facebook thing where everyone would wear orange and then post it on Facebook. It was crazy and everyone was doing it who could. She was told that it wasn't as severe as they thought but she would never be able to have kids and always have to be careful with the medicine of which she would always have to take. Yesterday at church EVERYONE came wearing some kind of orange and lots of love was shone. She was uplifted and you could see she was grateful for the love and strength we all gave her. Her mother bore her testimony and thanked everyone for the support. It was the best Sunday ever. I was glad that we gave that talk so that she could have that in her mind as she was going through this. Even the idea that she had an accident as bad as it was but that she was able to find the problem and get the help from the doctors. It could be worse later if they never found it. God really does make everything happen for a reason. (should be the title). My last spiritual experience for the week was on Saturday when we went to dinner with a single sister and talked about her brother who has Alzheimer and we talked about the situation and i just kept my mouth shut and boy that was stupid we went through dinner and i kept having this thought of "ask her about her brother." " continued to answer myself with it was none of my business." Finally we finished our dinner and desert and talked about her questions about the temple and then i got the prompting again. We started to clean the table and i just blurred "When was your brother diagnosed?" She hesitated for a minute and then she told us about her brothers story but talked about his conversion story. To tell a long story short. He already was getting worse but as the missionaries taught him he was able to learn the gospel and get baptized and then after he was baptized and was given the Holy Ghost he then got worse and he had to go to a Assisted living. I told her that was Gods way of letting receive the gospel in this life and he did through her. I told her that my family has been working with people like this for a long time and told her that have worked with them and what wonderful people they are. I even told her i think Heavenly Father is letting him be like this because he is allowing him to show her that his time is coming and god is making it easier for the both of them. She told me that he only remembers being a child sometimes and that he s happy when he talks about that. Or when i visit him that's all he wants to talk about or something like that. I told her Heavenly Father wants you both to know he is allowing his illness to carry you both because he isn't suffering like he would if he had cancer or was in pain. He may not understand why he may get confused but that i see that god is allowing her to see him as a little child and is showing her that god is getting ready to take him but doing it in a way that she and him can deal with.
Well, i was freaking out and thought she was going to yell at me but we just stood their and watched her process what i had said. she then smiled and said i never thought of it that way. She then hugged me and thanked me for what i had said. I felt like i was saying something that didn't make sense. But i saw the peace of what i said helped her.
My week has been full of Heavenly Father and Christ's hand in my life and i am so grateful for the experiences i have received and have been able to grow from. Hope you have a great week and full of the Lords hand in guiding you! Till next Monday Love You all!
--
Sister Tayler Farr
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