Haircuts and such.....

Family!   How on earth are you? We are just winding down the days to the big 25th. Can you believe it? Can wait to see you all but first let's take a look at this week!

Last Monday we had a meeting with Obispo Conti and went over some of the Area Book and he picked some people that he would like us to visit. We also have been visiting all the elders that are inactive.. there are solo many! Only 10% of all of Uruguay is active. 100,000 members and only 10;00 are active. YIKES!  I guess you could say we have been pretty busy with charlas. We moved Matias´ fecha a week back because we still hadn`t taught him everything and we are going to make sure that he understands it all with the age that he has so he is a convert that stays. We kind of loss contact with Julio, he is working a lot and travels for work. Every time we want to have a charla with him he leaves town. We have been able to find more people though which has been key to the success that we are having.. plus we can´t forget that Dios nos da el crecimiento. (1 Corinthians 3:6) God is great! 

This Thursday we had our meeting with President Tate and it went really well. We talked about everything that has been going on in the zone and the things that we think could help us as a zone and as a stake. We talked about the list de 24 messes (all of the converts in the last 24 months) and about the sumo consejo. We are going to work with the high councilmen of our wards so that we have that little extra help to the elders quorum. Also, President Tate sent out a text to all the bishops asking them to give us as missionaries 10 minutes in the next consejo de barrio to talk about Mi Camino (a pamphlet that helps people progress to the Temple) and how it all works so that they can help us with it as well.. more than anything, so we are all on the same page! We shall see how it goes. That was a little about the week.. this week should be great, I mean with the temple how could it be anything different?

We have seen some big changes in Salto this past week. We had 33 more people taking the sacrament this past week in all of the zone and a better percentage of miembros progresando (Members with Mi Camino and are progressing) Things are really looking up here in Salto. Keep the Sunny Sunday´s coming! We are so blessed!

Today we have had a pretty chill Pday. It started out with a hair cut... let´s just say that I should have cut it by myself. Wow. Picture to show the wonderful masterpiece that Elder Correa did. Great guy. Lucky I was able to fix it. I just took the 1 and went over it so it didn´t look so bad. Good thing we are going to see President tomorrow or this would be embarrassing.. oh wait (; Can't beat experiences like this on the mission. I hope it looks good on the neck line.. I don't even want to look. Recently we just had a yummy lunch at a little restaurant. Pictures to come as well! Now we are in the cyber and the song "Tonight" by Chris Brown (I think it is him) is playing. I may want to get up and dance.. super tempting! Someone better be taking notes on the songs that I am missing (; 

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I can´t believe that I am turning 20 years old. I am getting old. It honestly doesn't feel like December yet.. oh yeah cause we are still in November (; pero.. seriously it doesn't feel like my birthday week. Time is cruising by. In other news, I came to the sick conclusion that I am a chubster. It is a good thing that 6 months to sexy starts on Wednesday.. gotta quit all the sweets.. plus it doesn't really help that I have a cavity and I broke a tooth this week. Will I go to a Uruguay dentist? No. I actually talked to President about going to the dentist and he told me that he broke a tooth in the beginning of his time as mission president and he is just holding out on it because he trusts his dentist more and then recommended that I do the same. The things missionaries do.. if only you knew the half of it (;

Well fam, I sure do love you soo much! I hope that you all have a wonderful week! Keep smiling and know that I am always here for ya! God loves you more than you know!

Elder Taylor Abel.. a tempted to dance to too many songs missionary (; 

Theeee haircut. Looks better I promise! Try to ignore my chubbiness too (;

Lunch for 6? Elder Correa and his huge lunch.

My lunch.. man was it yummy!

Hard Work and Pancakes

Family!!!

I have learned to really appreciate these pdays! Sometimes they are really needed! How are you all?!

This week in Ceibal things went really good. We have been finding a lot lately. We found at least 3 people weekly for this past week and last week was our high for the change with 5. It may not seem like a whole lot of people but we are doing good with our goals that we have sent. The first counselor is now our temporary ward mission leader which has been nice. We still haven`t been able to have a correlation meeting with him but we are going to have one this week and get him on our page. The good thing is that we have a stud bishop. Bishop Conti is awesome, he is a hard worker and we have a meeting with him and our area book today! We also have another meeting with President Tate (counselor in the stake presidency who lives like a block away from us) which should be really good as we talk about the things in the zone and the stake. Lots of good things happening this week.. all to prepare us for a great few days next week down in the temple! 

On the 1st of December, we head down to the temple to do all the ordinances again for a family member.. we are stoked! I know we still have one more pday but I was hoping to get you guys excited so that you can go to the temple today too! If you haven`t been to the temple for awhile, today is the day.. or this week is the week!

This week we had some divisions, a zone activity and lots of charlas. I am going to send another email to you guys and others about the zone activity so I will tell you a little bit about the area. The area is huge.. we have a lot of people to teach. We have a 13 year old named Matias with the date to be baptized on the 5th of Dec. A family with a 12 year old that lives in front of Matias has really taken him under their wing in the process, it has been cool to see. We also have a 61 year old with a date for the 19th of Dec.. we need to teach them a lot still and get them completely prepared to enter the waters of baptism but we are excited for them! Julio wasn`t able to make it to church.. but matias went! We had 14 more people take this sacrament this Sunday than last which is awesome.. 100 people total! Things have been going good in the area!

All in all, I am starting to enjoy myself. I really love being a ZL.. I still think I might like being DL better but they are both fun. Just the whole comp situation started me on the wrong foot but all is well now and vamos arriba! I hope that you guys have a wonderful week! Enjoy your Thanksgiving! Eat a whole lot for me because there is no such thing here! Tis the season.. we are close (; I love you!

Love, Elder Taylor Abel.. a learning missionary!

Zone activity! The zone .. well except 4 elders. We enjoyed ourselves!

Jumping into a new assignment! Later Cerro....Hello Salto!

Things here were really good last week. There were a few times where we were stuck with nothing to do but we have been getting better and have found some more people to teach. We recently have found 2 people who could be baptized as long as we can get them some support from the members and from their families. One is an 11 year old that is a friend of a young man here and it turns out that he reads the bible and attends a catholic school, he actually has a pretty good knowledge of things. His names is Ezekial, we shall see if he continues to progress. The other person is the daughter in law of Ana Perez. Her name is Carolain. We went to a baptism of the Zone Leaders and she was there with Ana and so we began to talk to her and she wants to change her life around. She is the wife of Ana's son that is in jail. We are super excited for her because she really isn't doing the best things with her life and we can see that she really wants to be different. Our hope.. or at least my hope for Elder Naylor and his new companion is that they can help Ezekial and Carolain get to baptism! (We still haven´t been able to find Yohana again.. and Romina told us that she isn´t interested.)

Yes, you read that right.. Elder Naylor and his new companion. We are splitting up. He as you can imagine is staying here in 8 and his new comp is Elder Barela from Idaho. It is actually Elder Neilson's kid in the mission. Elder Barela has 8 months in the mission and this is his first time as senior comp. I have heard he is a great kid and I know that him and Elder Naylor will find lots of success. I am so proud of Elder Naylor and the missionary he is becoming. 

Now you might be wondering what is happening to me. I will go step by step. Ready? Here we go! So we got up to Ana's for a charla with Carolain and just then we received a call from President Smith. I answered.. "Hoy es el dia!" "Elder Abel?" ..... small talk.... "Well are you ready for your change, you are never going to believe it." uh.. first thought was that I was going to train again here in Cerro 8 and I was thinking.. yikes! "Elder Abel, you are going to Salto." "Salto?!" "Yeah, you are going to be zone leader up there with Elder Correa. I know that you were up in Obelisco and I think that you would be a help to the missionaries there and to the zone." I expressed how I was actually having desires to go back.. and he said, "Well I am super glad because I didn't know how you would take it." I love it. I am super excited. It definitely will be different to be up there again just because I wanted to venture off to another zone outside of Cerro and Salto but if that is what the Lord thinks is best for me then let´s do it. I am going to write Irene and tell her so if she wants to be there at the terminal when I get there then she can. I head out tomorrow at 1:00 PM and arrive at 7:00. Also, Elder Huamali is headed up there again too! I am super excited.. I don´t know if I am ready to be a zone leader but here we go. I definitely have learned a lot just living with them here, so we shall see how it goes!

Cerro 8 is awesome. It definitely isn't easy but oh so worth it. I am so grateful for the ward here. They are so great to us. I am grateful for the time that I have had and for the many things that I learned from Elder Huntsman, Elder Figallo and Elder Naylor. Elder Naylor truly is a blessing in my life and I know he is going to be a great missionary. I can see that he has the desire to do the will of the Lord and I know that it will help him tons! I am sad to leave him but so excited for all that lies ahead of us in our missions. I am also sad to leave all my friends here but with me going back up to Salto, I am guessing that we will be able to hit all my areas when the parents come so it is more of just a "see you later" which gives me comfort. 

Come what may and love it! Onto the next adventure.. let´s go!

I love you all and I am so grateful for your love and support, for the emails and letters that you send me. I am truly a blessed elder and I feel lots of gratitude in my heart for all of you. May you all have a wonderful week! I love you! Until next Monday! 

Elder Taylor Abel.. a ready to work harder missionary!

Gonna miss this guy

Sleeping out under the stars

Buen Dia!

Family! 

I am so glad that PDAY is here again.. Yipee! Especially after only a little span of time. Enjoy it because next week I won`t be writing until Tuesday. Can you say changes? We should be getting changes on Sunday or Monday.. we shall see where it takes me. Hopefully I can explore a different place in Uruguay! We shall see.. that will be the fun surprise of next week! who is excited? I sure am. 

Things here in Cerro 8 have been improving. We were able to talk to a lot of people in the street again this week and we actually had a pretty neat experience with it. It all started when we had a few charlas fall through in a very short span of time.. we were left with talking to people in the street. We stopped this older man and began to chat with him.. he was atheist. (We have been running into a lot of aheists lately.. it`s so sad to see that people don`t believe in our loving Heavenly Father) As we walked with him for a few blocks, the conversation was going no where and he completely denied the restoration. Feeling a little down but not letting it get to us.. we began to walk down the same road that we were just on when we talked with the atheist. We walked past this woman outside of her house and of course we both said, "Buen día!" and continued walking. Just there, it hit me. This was all that was going on in my head "We have to talk to her. But... come on we just walked past her that is so awkward to go back. We will just keep walking.. plus what would Elder Naylor say?.. yeah we will just keep walking, there will be someone else. Just then, it hit me again.. "We have to talk to her" Just then, I knew that it was the Spirit talking to me.. telling me that she was going to listen and that we had to talk to her. I stopped walking and explained to Elder Naylor that we need to talk to her. We made the not so awkward walk back and told her that we felt that we should pass by. Her name is Yohana and we began to get into the Restoration. Elder Naylor taught it perfectly and I was able to testify of his words. We have a charla set up with her on Wednesday. I left the front yard of Yohana`s house with joy knowing that she needed our less than 5 minute lesson. I know that the Spirit guides us to the people who are ready to hear our message. I know that we never need feel discouraged when people reject us.. that is what Satan wants.. we must continue on with the determination to share our message of happiness and love. 

We gave Sebastian another shot and he blew it.. we were stood up again.. (In the mission I never thought I would get stood up more than I did at home.. Classic!) he just doesn't show any interest so onward and upward to find people who want to progress like Yohana and Romina! Romina is a referral that we found last night, we have a charla with her on Tuesday.. she has listened to the missionaries before but never went to church because she didn't want to go alone. Good thing we just live a block away from her and she is on the way to church! God is great! Things have been going good with our progressing members.. we have been doing a lot better with assigning them things and it has been really cool to see them strive to do them. We need to now work on finding more and helping people understand the importance of baptism. Things are really looking up in Cerro 8 and no I don`t just say that because we live on a hill .. (; 

As for my own personal progress.. I would like to bear my testimony of The Book of Mormon. I reached 1 Nephi 17 just before getting on the computer. I am learning so much.. I know that The Book of Mormon is true. It is the perfect way to elevate your thoughts, feel of the Spirit and know that God loves you! President asked us to focus on the Atonement, Gathering of Israel, Doctrine of Christ and the Plan of Salvation. I would like to focus this testimony to the focus of the gathering of Israel. Just like the house of Israel.. the doctrine of the gathering is scattered in The Book of Mormon and we need to gather it together to have a full understanding of our respònsiblities as members of the church. I know that the gathering of Israel is happening today and that it is through us as gentiles(1 Nephi 15:13)  to help others know of the restored gospel. I found 3 scriptures that I love.. I actually shared them yesterday in a little 4 minute talk that I had in church. They are found in 3 Nephi 5:24-26.. "24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob,who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth."  25 "And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob,even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto there storing all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them."
26 "And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen." I bear testimony of that.. We need to help gather the house of Israel and that is my hope for you guys this week.. that you can share the gospel or God`s love with someone this week! 

I sure do love you all very much and I hope that you know that if you guys ever want to chat on pday I am all for it. You guys are more important than my email time.. My time would be well spent chatting with you! I hope you have a wonderful week and find God`s love in your lives daily! Until Tuesday with changes! Ü ♥ xoxo

Divisions with Elder De La Cruz... such a great guy!

Classic 16 Monther with ice cream and cookies

Round 2 of 16 Months? No.. we were just super hungry. We made a 5 minute microwave brownie and had some more dulce de leche chocolate chip ice cream.. oh my goodness it was quite scrumpdidliumpcious! #spellcheck

A determined Missionary

Heyyy youuuu guysss!

How are you all doing? This week went really good. The week itself didn't have too much to squawk about but Sunday made up for it. We did a lot of walking and not a whole lot of teaching but sometimes that is just how the cookie crumbles! Just gotta keep working hard no matter what happens and know that the Lord is with us. 

We have been trying to find some new people and we have talked to quite a bit, but nothing has come from it. I guess this area right now just needs to plant some seeds and hopefully some future Cerro 8 elders can reap from our work! 

If there is one thing that I have learned in my mission it is that patience is a virtue. I am not sure why my patience has been tested so much in my mission but for some reason the Lord wants me to be patient and I will do what he wants me to do. (Moses 5:6).  

Anyways.. the good stuff... the really good stuff! Sunday! We had a great turnout from our side of the area.. we had 8/8 on our progressing members and others that showed up for the first time in months. We may not have many investigators but we have been seeing the Lord's hand in the work with the less actives and the inactives. Pretty awesome!

This week we got an email from President Smith asking us to start The Book of Mormon over again and to read it by the time next conference comes around. I was thinking.. whoa.. we are going to have to read a lot to get it all done by conference and I was talking to Naylor about it and we discussed how hard it was.. and then Elder Naylor quoted 1 Nephi 3:7 in Spanish.. We can do the things that the Lord has commanded us to do because He has prepared the way. What a great example.. I am so grateful for him!

I got the package! Wahoo!! I am so grateful for the little notes that I had in there.. it is the stuff like that that I cherish. I was actually looking forward most to see who I got notes from. Cute little Kyndzi even got a note in there.. what a doll! Thank you for the things that were sent. The shoe laces were a need and I am stoked about the Utes shirt, Ties and the USB. Thank you for the goodies too.. I had completely forgotten about chocolate covered almonds.. yum! Elder Naylor also got a package.. so you could say we were two happy campers!

I am grateful for the blessings that I receive daily and the little things. May you all share the gospel with one person this week is my hope. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Taylor Abel.. a determined missionary!

Classic Package out on the roof

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Opening our packages and listening to Christmas music

The cute little notes and I.. oh yeah.. GO UTES!!

\

A very happy Elder in Uruguay

Buen Día!

This week went really good, I quite enjoyed it! On Friday we had a Zone Conference and President Smith touched my heart as he began talking to us about our dear prophet President Thomas S. Monson. He said that Hermana Smith received and email with a picture and a story.. the picture was what a 3 or 4 year old had drawn of President Monson in his last talk. This kid drew President Monson with two bright things.. one on each side. The stories continues that another kid drew the same thing.. two bright things on the sides of President Monson. President Smith continued to say.. Children see things that we don´t but President Monson not only had those two angels helping him but a 3rd angel was there.. President Uchtdorf was behind him on the edge of his seat with his arms spread ready to help our prophet if anything were to happen. How neat. I am so grateful for President Monson and for the man that he is.. for the revelation that he receives to help us in all that we do. I know he is called of God and that he will fight for this great cause until his last days.. what strength that should give all of us to fight to the end of our lives in this great cause. I love this from him.. it gives me courage to do what is right even when no one is looking.

 Dare to be a Mormon;

Dare to stand alone.

Dare to have a purpose firm;

Dare to make it known.

Okay, so we all know the heroic story of Ammon where he takes down 7 guys just by himself with a sling shot and his sword.. not to mention the fact that they couldn´t kill him and he cut off every arm that tried to.. pretty amazing if you ask me! However, I would love to share something that I caught this past week while I have been studying The Book of Mormon and trying to make it delicious to me like James B. Martino counseled us to do! Ready set go!

Key: + is the scriptures.. * is our day.

Alma 17

Verse 22 + The king asked if he desired to live with the Lamanites.. his enemies.

* Our King asked us if we desired to come to this earth and live with everyone here.. yes even our enemies.

Verse 23 + Ammon said yes and told him that he was to live there for some time or even until he dies.

* We said yes and accepted the plan that our King and His son had proposed to us. How great was that day!

Verse 24 + King Lamoni was happy.. or as it says "Pleased".

* Our King is very happy with us that we chose to become more like Him on this earth. He loves us!

Verse 25 + Ammon chose to be a servant to the King. He was sent to watch the flocks.

* We have chosen to be servants of our King and He has sent us here with a purpose of watching His flock. We have callings that allow us to watch over part of the flock that has already found its way.. however the whole entire world is part of His flock. We are all children of our Heavenly King and we need to watch over everyone and help them in the ways that we can.

Verse 26 + They were at water.

* We were all in Heaven.

Verse 27 + The group of Lamanites came and scattered the flock.

* The enemy has come and the hearts of the people were hardened (1 Nephi 22:5) and the flocks of our King were scattered throughout all of the lands. 

Verse 28 +  The other servants began to murmur "saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already." 

* We murmur as servants of our loving King saying: We don´t have time or the people won´t listen to us.. the flock has already been scattered and I have been gathered and there is nothing more that we can do. At least I have been gathered.

Verse 29 + The servants feared. However, Ammon's heart was "swollen with joy" and he was willing to show his power and help people believe in his words.

* We fear... however, we shouldn't. We should have our hearts swell with joy and be willing to show our power.. sons and daughters of a king who has given us His Priesthood power from above. We should be ready to have many people believe in our words.

~May we be the Ammon of our days and show a good example by searching for the flocks to gather them~

Verse 31 +"My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king.."

* My family, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto heaven; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto our Heavenly King.

Verse 32 + "And it came to pass that they went in search of the flocks ... and they rushed forth with much swiftness and did head the flocks of the king, and did gather them together again to the place of water."

* And we will go in search of the flocks.. and we will rush forth with much swiftness because time is running out and we will head the flocks of our King and we will gather them together again to our heavenly home.

May we gather the flocks of Israel and bring them unto the gospel of Jesus Christ and ultimately to their heavenly home again is my hope.

I hope that all is well with you guys and that you continue to share the Gospel. I sure am so grateful for my opportunity to serve and know that the Lord is with me and Elder Naylor. I am so grateful for missionary work all around the world. I know that God loves you. I know that we can feel of His love and we share it with others. I love you guys and hope that you have a wonderful week! p.s.... I won't be writing until next Wednesday. We changed the p-day to go to the Fortaleza. So... actually have a great week and a half! Ü

Love, 

Elder Taylor Abel.. a very happy elder!

This little guy was my after baptism snack.. it was... delicious!

This is the usual Uruguayan food in the winter.. you are looking at a nice yummy stew!

 

A missionary willing to do the Lord's will!

This week went awesome! There was really nothing that important that happened but let's be honest, each week is awesome in its own way. Some weeks are a little more awesome than others but I really enjoyed this week. It could be just because of conference. What a beautiful 2 days of training. I learned so much and realized where work is definitely needed to improve. I really enjoyed listening to Elder Dale G. Renlund and was amazed at how humble he is. I loved what he said when he talked about the big calling that he just accepted this past Tuesday. It isn't about us in the callings it is about the Lord and His children. It isn't about me.. it is about the Lord and that is what I took out of this conference. It really doesn't matter about us and what we want because ultimately what is most important is what the Lord wants. I have had to check up on my life and think about the man that I want to be.. or the missionary that I want to be.. however, it is more important that I think about what the Lord wants me to be. It is like what President Smith taught us here last change.. our will has to be swallowed up by the will of the Father. It is only through that truth that we can be happy! God will make of us a masterpiece while we will only make of ourselves a smudge. Are you willing to do the will of Him who sent you? I promise you that there is love and joy waiting for you as you accept the Lord's will in your lives.

Another conference favorite for me was that of Elder Richard J Maynes. I felt like I could totally connect to this story and I am sure that many of us could.. we all know how hard it is to make pots, bowls and plates out of clay on the spinning wheel.. may we all be able to do what he counseled us and center Christ in our lives. It won´t be easy and it won´t happen immediately but as you strive to put Christ closer and closer to the middle of your lives then you will feel that things will be easier.. you will be able to make those hard pots, bowls and plates with ease!

As Elder Durrant counseled us.. we need to ponderize! May you all ponderize in your own way to make the Book of Mormon delicious.

I know that all the talks were inspired and all the people who addressed us are called of God to help us as we try to reach our goal of exaltation. How blessed are we to have this opportunity twice a year. What talk touched your heart?

Ana was able to make it to the conference as well and she seemed to really enjoy it. We didn't watch it with her due to the English room that we had but she told us as she was walking out that she is going to take much of what she learned with her. What an example of letting your light so shine! She shines as she learns more daily. I am so grateful for her and for her desires to be better!

What happened as you watched conference? What did you feel? How are you going to strive to be better?

I just want to end with my testimony that I know that the Lord's will is easier in the end... it may be so hard to accept the His will at times but we should decide today to find the way to find His will and allow it to swallow ours. I know that Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson and Elder Renlund are called of God and that they will never lead us astray. I know that God lives and that He loves each and every single one of us! I know that if we study conference and the talks that we have heard that the Lord will bless us with the answers and things that we need! May we remember the things that we felt as conference!

 I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Taylor Abel..... A missionary willing to do the Lord's will.

English room with my boy Naylor. We were blessed to watch all 10 hours in the language we all love!