The Lord Has a Plan For Us!

Oh man, another long week but what a great week!

 

We had a Zone Conference this week with President Smith and the AP´s. What a great experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to be a part of it.  I'm so excited for 2015 and all the things that we will be doing as a mission. I look forward to helping people recognize and know about the gathering of Israel.  Yes, we will now be teaching in every moment the gathering of Israel! Crazy huh?

 

Last night I was saying my prayer right before bed and I was asking to know how to be a better missionary. Right after my prayer I went to my scriptures and just opened up to a random place. The scripture was Doctrine and Covenants 81:5-6. It talks about being faithful and helping people in verse 5. I couldn't wait to study it a little bit more this morning.  After reading, "God has a Plan for us!" By Elder Carlos A. Godoy, (awesome talk) I went to verse five and I decided that I would just jump into the footnotes.  I found a lot of cool things as I went through the footnotes, but there was one that really caught my eye.  It was Doctrine and Covenants 31:8 and it says,

 

"And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered."

 

That really caught my attention when I read that because I know now with a surety that we are supposed to be sharing about the gathering of Israel in every moment.  I am so grateful that I took the time to study the scripture this morning and I am going to study the gathering of Israel more so that I am able to teach it.  I am so grateful for the things that I learned in the Conference and for the opportunity to know who my new companion is.

 

The moment you are all waiting for.... can I get a one, a two, a one, two, three, four.. Vivaaa Las Vegas, Vivaaa Las Vegas.. Vivaaa.. Vivaaa Las.. Vargas?! I am very excited to have Elder Vargas coming to Obelisco.  He is from Chile!  He is already in Salto, but was serving in another ward here.  He is moving in with us tomorrow. I am super excited to have a Latino comp finally!  It will be awesome.  I look forward to just jumping right into Spanish.

 

Elder Studebaker is headed to Gualeguaychú, Argentina to open up a Zone there and in Concepción del Uruguay. He will be a great ZL and I am very grateful for the time that I had with him. 

 

Other things that I learned at the Zone Conference that I would love to share.... take a look at Doctrine and Covenants 101:52.  President Smith dropped this verse on us reminding us of the relationship between Elders and Hermanas.  He said.. We are not friends, we are servants! Then he later said, ¨Hay que dedicarnos¨ Pretty strong with his words, but it´s good that way because now we know he isn´t messing around.  haha. One thing that I love that he said was that when he was called as AP in his mission, he didn't feel qualified because he only had 11 months in the mission. His Mission President said, "I don't call those who are qualified, I qualify those that I call." I loved that.  All in all, it was a very great conference. I learned a lot.

BAPTISM! It was a very good service. I loved it. It was good to see the pure joy of Angel's mom as Angel entered the font and the waters of baptism with Bishop Rebollo.  It was a neat experience to watch the ordinance with Stude at my side. I really believe that he will be a faithful member of the church with his mom. Great family! I am grateful to have taught him and to watch him be baptized. Such a blessing! 

 

This week was honestly full of blessings! I would now like to end this letter with a challenge for you guys! I would like you to read the talk from Elder Richard G. Scott, entitled, "Make the Exercise of Faith your First Priority."  Sky, I want you to read the talk from Elder Carlos A. Godoy, entitled, "The Lord Has a Plan for Us!"  When you are reading Sky, I want ya to think about it in terms of your life for sure but also for running. When I read it today, I applied it to running and it worked. 

 

I hope that you all have an awesome week and find JOY in the little things! I miss you guys like crazy, and I love you even more!!

 

Love,

 

A very happy and excited missionary,

 

Elder Taylor Abel

 

Elder Devashrayee, Elder Studebaker, Elder Vargas

All of his companions together!

 

 

The District

 

Count Your Blessings

Hello!

It honestly seems like it has been a year since we chatted... if you know what I mean?  This next week is my last week with Elder Studebaker and I am hoping to get a Latino comp. I guess we shall see.   

So how is big 2015 for you guys? It has been pretty good for us here in Obelisco. We have another baptism this Saturday. His name is Angel Cardozo and he is 10 years old. We had to get permission to baptize him from President because of his age.  His mom is reactivating and really wants to live with her son for all eternity. She cries at the end of each lesson. Angel is a smart little cookie for his age, and his mom is super sweet and teaching her son well. He will be a stud. We will be having this on the 10th! We are hoping the Bishop will baptize him. We actually realized that we have a lot of people to teach.... like we have a big teaching pool. 

 

This next week should be a great week full of a lot of work. This past week was full of divisions. First, on Tuesday I did divisions with Elder Huntsman because both of our comps were down in Montevideo with President and all the ZLs. I won´t lie... I was pretty nervous with the both of us being newer missionaries in the big ole' Salto with lots of Spanish, but it turned out to be an awesome day!  Next is where my picture came in to play.... I had divisions with Elder D-RAY in his area. It was awesome!  It took me back to the glory days of training, although this time I could actually speak Spanish and understand stuff. It was actually really fun to speak Spanish all day with him in the street. We then stayed up chatting about the mission and everything that we have learned and all the fun times we've shared. He is such a good example to me.  He only has 6 months left.... crazy!

Next, I had a 2.5 block with Elder Villar in his area where we just go contacting.  It was a great experience.  Elder Villar is Argentinian but lived in Chile.  He is hilarious. I would love a comp like him. It was a super good week. We hope for another solid week and for a great turnout at the baptism!  The divisions were great! 

 

My quote from the Skype call....¨The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their problems.¨ -Anonymous. I have been studying all the conference talks.... one talk every personal study. They are so good. My challenge for your 2015 is to read all the conference talks over. I am on Elder Russell M. Nelson's now.  I only have a few to go. I am excited to read them all.  What do you say....will you read all the conference talks?  #didijustreallygiveyouacommitment?  That was a long hashtag. Sorry if it takes you a minute to read it, it took me a little bit to figure out if commitment had two t's or only one. Spanish is messing me up. Ü

 

New Years......I didn´t get any crazy dates like Sky.....but we did have tons of fireworks and they were awesome! I can't believe we are in 2015 already.

 

I certainly love you all so much and hope you have a great week! I miss you and look forward to Tuesday to hear from ya'll again!  I love you!

 

Love, Your smiling Elder Taylor Abel 

Christmas in Uruguay!

Merry Christmas!

I will start with the sweet experience of being with President and Sister Smith. They are truly amazing. After the Temple experience, we had a yummy lunch and then it was off to the Mission Home.  What a blessing that was! We played a little Christmas game and sang Christmas songs around their piano. Then last but not least, we all had a stocking underneath their tree. Cute huh? They really helped me feel the spirit of Christmas more as I am so far from home. 

Going to the temple on Friday was definitely an experience to remember.... it was so incredible. Let´s just say we have a 13th Great Grandpa that is a lot happier on the other side now as his work is done. I wonder if our cute Grammy is hugging Henry Green and welcoming him into the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, as she is on the other side helping those people who didn't have the privilege to hear the Gospel.

I love my Grandparents.  You are so amazing, and I truly think the world of each of you.  Thanks for the sacrifices you've made to raise such great kids....that I can call my parents!  I love you all so much!

 

A sweet reminder of Grammy Taylor #karenstaylor ♥

Meet Elder Huntsman, Elder Studebaker, Elder Caires Franca.  

They are really cool guys! 

Click the link to enjoy a little hip-hop rap from our Christmas Skype session

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEcMc82ahiQ&feature=youtu.be

I am excited for the New Year!  I hope the New Year brings joy and blessings to you all.  May we all find a smile this week!  I miss you guys lots, but I love you even more!!  Keep looking up and never look back (:

Love, 

Yours Truly

     Elder Taylor Abel

A Happy Elder Abel!

How are you wonderful people doing?  To start, I am so grateful for you all and your example to me.  You all just make me the happiest little Elder alive! 

I am doing so good!  I am loving your e-mails and your pictures.  So I will be Skyping from a members house. The Llona Family.  I am so excited to see you all, you have no idea!  This week has been good, I have decided that Elder Caires Franca and I get along real well and that Elder Huntsman and I had a nice little heart to heart last night since we are both the same age. I really like all the things that are going on with the change. Elder Caires Franca is from Belo, Horizonte, Mina Gerais. I have no idea where that is at but I do know that he is from Brasil.  We be a house full of studs Ü   I just cut my hair so I will be looking all fresh for the Temple, President interview and you guys!  

Marcia's baptism was so great last week!  It was such a neat experience.  

The highlight of this week was the primary program yesterday.  All the primary kids along with their families sang "Love is Spoken Here."  It was so powerful.  It literally almost brought me to tears.  That song just has a very special place in my heart. You are all just so great and I just wanted to be singing it with my family.  Shout out to Mommy... I love you.  You are such a strength to me.  Shout out to Daddy... I love you. You are such a great example to me. Shout out to Aimee... I love you.  Your family makes my heart melt, you guys are cuties.  Shout out to Cherise... I love you.  Your family is darling and you know how to make me smile.  Shout out to Jordan... I love you.  You are the best big brother that I could ask for.  Shout out to Skylar... I love you.  I look up to you so much.  Family.... you guys are my strength when I am weak.  I LOVE YOU! 

I have been having some really good studies this last little while, I have been deeply studying John 21:15-17.  Check it out and let me know what you think. I am so grateful for you and for all that you do.  I hope you have a wonderful week!  Keep being amazing and smiling in every moment.  I love you and miss you like crazy.  I hope you can feel my love as I hit 6 months.... crazy!  So many blessings and opportunities and I look forward to many many more!  I love my calling as a missionary!

I love love love love love love love love love love you!

Your excited and fresher than ever.... Elder Taylor Abel

We love our tree that hangs from the ceiling! 

#Pun4theday... I can BEAR-ly wait to see you next week!  I love you!

A loving and joyful Elder

My Sweet Grammy Taylor

Oh my sweet grandma Taylor, how I love her to the moon and back.

Man I sure will miss her.. those hugs, that smile and her yummy movie snack.

The love that she showed to all, is something that she will never lack.

As she is on the other side, she is happy.. I know that for a fact.

My heart is so full as I serve many thousands of miles away,

I know that while she is gone from this life, her cute spirit will stay.

I feel her love, and I know that you all do too.

She was a true example of a women with a heart bigger than she knew.

She will be very missed for all that she is and will be,

I love you Grandma and I can feel your love for me.

How are you all doing and who is ready for Christmas? I will be calling via.. can I get a S.. can I get a K.. can I get a Y.. can I get a P.. can I get an E.. what does that spell.. SKYPE, SKYPE, SKYPE! 

Speaking of Christmas though, have you guys seen the new video produced by the church.. HE IS THE GIFT. It is supposed to be huge world-wide like youtube front page huge, and Times Square huge. You will have to let me know. We got an assignment as missionaries. We need to contact everyone with "ÉL ES LA DÄDIVA" and keep track how many investigators we get through the project and how many we get through just the regular Restoration message. It should be a very busy month. 

For starters.... we have a baptism this week!!! It was supposed to be the 13th but all the ward will be traveling to the temple so we gave Marcia the option to either be baptized the 20th or the 6th. We feel like she is ready and has really changed her life around. 

We usually have over 100 people in church but this last Sunday we only had 32 people due to the rain and an election.. she was one of the people to come to church and to walk in the rain at that. She is a champ. Our week will be busy with preparing her for the baptism but it will be worth it! Then on the 18th and 19th we are headed down to Montevideo as a Zone to have interviews with President Smith and to go to the temple with our names to do all the ordinances! Super excited! Oh yeah.. guess who is coming to be Zone Leader here in Salto..... my boy D-RAY baby!! So excited! He will be with Elder Johnson. They will be a pretty fun duo for ZL´s. 

Today we went to the Salto Zoo.. there will be pictures coming with some puns of course.....because I'm #totespunny.

Well my wonderful family, I hope that you all eat some birthday cake for me. I love you all so much and hope that you all have a wonderful week.

P.S. take a peak at these mormon messages.... they are awesome! "Forgiveness: My burden was made light" and "My new life." They really put life and the atonement into prospective. I love you all! Keep being amazing!

Love, 

Your loving and joyful Elder Abel

Such a softy for this cute Pup!

Cain & Abel....Hermana Caina with Elder Abel

Thanksgiving treat with Elder Studebaker

We are here on this earth to be Happy!

We had a conference down in Montevideo. It was a very long 12 hour round trip for a 3 hour meeting, but it was so worth it.  We had the wonderful opportunity to hear from President Cook and Hermana Cook who is the mission president over the other mission in Uruguay, and then we heard from President and Hermana Smith, and they are just amazing.  Hermana Smith spoke in all Spanish which has been a struggle for her.  She tripped up a few times but her message was amazing.  I just loved her example of not completely knowing Spanish but still giving it 110%.  It was awesome.  It made me realize that I can do it.  I can speak Spanish, I just need her confidence.  We then heard from Elder and Hermana Cabrera who are the area seventy here.

Long lost buddies found at the conference....Elder D-Ray!

  

It was our pleasure to then hear from Elder Craig C. Christensen from the presidency of the Seventy, and his sweet wife.  What a blessing it was to hear from them.  Sister Christensen talked about light.  She expressed how important it is that we show our light and allow our light to spread.  She then talked about the Atonement and how we truly can't have joy without the Atonement.  After her sweet message, we heard from Elder Christensen, he is a tall guy!  He said something that I absolutely loved....missionary work has to do with the ATTITUDE.  I am a very firm believer in that because I truly believe the attitude we have can truly change the situation... any situation.  We learned from conference that each and every one of us are examples... we are either examples for the good or for the bad, it is our choice which one we choose. We can either have a positive attitude and choose to be an example for the good, or the contrary.  He also mentioned something else that I felt was very profound, we must lose our self in the work in order to find our self.  I loved that.  It is a bit ironic but so true in any aspect of life.  One more thing that he talked about that I really enjoyed was this, he said, "A child is someone who doesn't know a thing but they know that they don't a thing.  A teenager is someone who thinks they know it all but they know nothing; and an adult is someone who doesn't know much but they know where to find the answers."  We need to be adults in the mission.  I really liked that even if I am just a teenager still. Ü  We also have some changes in the mission as of this past week.... we now wake up at 7 and go to bed at 11.  Also, we can't play soccer in the mission anymore!  Crazy huh?

With Sister Jenkins from St. George

Onto the real situation though.. How are you guys all doing?  I feel so helpless here.  After reading mom's email... I couldn't help but just let the tears stream. Oh grammy, what a sweetheart.  Bless her little heart.  I hope you know that I love you all so much.  I hope that you can feel my love this week, but more importantly the love of a loving Heavenly Father who truly knows us individually.  Also the love of our older brother, Jesus Christ.  He knows how each one of us really feel because he has felt it all before.  I am so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel.... the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.  My heart is with you guys this week.  I am just sitting here thinking of what I could say... the truth is I don't know what to say.  I have so many thoughts running through my mind that I honestly don't know what I could share with you guys.  I only would like to bear my testimony that I know no matter what happens, everything will be okay.  I know without a doubt in my mind that we have a Heavenly Father who has a plan for us.... his plan is perfect.  Through this plan, we can feel happiness and sadness.  At times we feel sad but there is a reason that this plan is called the Plan of Happiness.  We are here on this earth to be happy... to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am just grateful for my wonderful and loving grandparents, for all four of them.  They have done so much for me and been such an example to me.  My heart just aches because I just know how you all must feel.  I love you all so much and hope that you give our grandparents my love.  Give Grandpa and Grandma Abel my love when you see them next, and give my cute Grandpa and Grandma Taylor my love.  I love you all and I miss you like crazy.

Keep smiling and have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Taylor Bradley Abel

A Happy Elder from Uruguay!

Yo.. This is a story all about how my life got flipped turn upside down and I would like to take a minute.. just sit right there and I´ll tell you how I become the prince of Obelisco Ü (in the tune of Fresh Prince) haha! 

How is everything with you guys?  Things have been a little better here in Salto. We finally escaped the heat so that has been good. We have been having some rain and some clouds which has cooled it down a lot actually. The members tell us we will have storms until Tuesday so that will be good. Not too excited for the heat again and definitely not excited for December and January because it only gets hotter from here... fun right? Things have been a lot better in the house with the four of us this past week, and we have began to work together. The thing that is really good about Obelisco is that we don't share the ward with Hermanas. It is just us four Elders.

We've had a really tough week here in Salto.  We walked a ton but I am fine because it means I can have more sweets.... especially because I received my package finally!  It was super hot at the beginning of the week and it wore on us as it was the first hot week that we have had. However, the rain came.  The weather is basically super bi-polar here. The heat is just like in STG but with humidity, and when it rains.... it rains! One more bad thing this week and then Vamos Arriba for the rest of the letter. We had an investigator pass away from cancer on Thursday.  It was pretty sad.

 

Alright.. Esta listo? (Are you ready?) Positive from here on out!  I have a positive thing for each negative thing that I just shared.

For the heat.... I sweat like a mad man... I am losing the fat in my face that I have put on since being here!  

For the rain.... I get to style my hair differently every few minutes! 

For the weather being bi-polar.... it brings variety and things never get old here, always something new! 

For the investigator that passed away.... we went to the hospital when we heard that she only had a few hours to live and we greeted all the family there.  Elder Studebaker and I gave her a blessing.  It was a very humble blessing from Stude (Stew-D).  We left and within about 10 minutes after we left, she passed away.  Stude was confused.  He didn't feel like she was going to pass away.  He thought that all was going to be well, and even in the blessing he said that all will be well and that she will be a mother again.  As he doubted his thoughts, I told him, "Elder, all is well with her now.  Her body is out of pain and she is a mother again. She can watch over her kids now." (Before she couldn't because she was really sick).  The missionaries first started teaching her and her daughter before she got sick.  It was a really good experience to be part of the blessing and calm the thoughts of Studebaker.  The next day we had the chance to go to the funeral, but we missed it because the bus system here needs help.  However, I saw my first cemetery here in Uruguay and they are crazy!  Really old and sketchy. They aren't like the normal cemeteries we have in the states. They are like buildings. It was the perfect funeral day though...Halloween, rainy and creepy cemetery.  Other than the weather and the funeral though... we actually had some success this week!

 

We challenged all four of our investigators after their first lesson, to be baptized on November 29th.  What a blessing!!  Hopefully they all keep progressing and continue on to enter the waters of baptism! 

 

Okay.. family history!!  We have an hour every week to check out family history.  This week I struck gold on the Abel side.  I love family history!  As a mission, we are all going to take a name to the temple in December and do their temple work.  I found a name.  It is our 10th great grandpa.... James Chase.  I am so excited!  Familysearch.org...  Log in and get lost!  I love that the parents are getting into it more.  What a blessing family history is!  Search and find somebody and share a story with me? Ü

 

I love you all sooooo much! I hope that you all have an amazing week!  Keep smiling and enjoying the journey of everyday!

 

I love you all!

 

Love, 

 

Your happy Elder all the way in Uruguay!