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! 

I know God Lives and He loves us!

Hey Everone!

How are you all doing? I am so grateful for the emails and the love that you guys send me. I am so grateful for the things that you are all doing and for the experiences you are having with the only true gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I just want to start this email off with my testimony.. I am 100% positive that this is the true church. I know that God loves us.. that in fact is the only way that people will be able to understand our purpose as member missionaries. As we invite others to come unto Christ, they need to know of God´s love. I know that He loves you all and that he knows each one of us. I know that He answers our questions and helps us through our trials. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I know that the Plan of Salvation, that we chose from the beginning, favors our success and our happiness! I love you guys soo much and hope you know that I think about you all daily and want the best for you!

It is interesting actually.. thinking about our purpose.. Invite all to come unto Christ. It isn´t.. Invite all to go to Christ.. why is that? You ever thought about that? I have come to realize that we invite others to come unto Christ because we are already on Christ´s side. Unlike sports and the many teams that there are.. there are only 2 teams. You are either with Christ or you not. May we all be with Christ and help others to come unto Him! 

Bautismo! Wow, fue tan bueno. De verdad, estoy muy agradecido por Ana y por su decisión de ser bautizada. Yo sé que ella va a ser un miembro excelente. Me siento muy bendecido por poder tomar parte en su progreso a la felicidad y al templo! #práticadeespañol

Seriously though, man it was so awesome. As you have seen in the pictures, Elder Naylor got to baptize her and it was amazing. He did so good with the prayer and it was just a one dunk baptism which always makes it better. It was my first baptism in the morning and I loved it.. no better way to start off the day. We went and visited her later in the day and she told us of her experience. She told us that the water was cold when she first got in but as she was baptized and came up she didn´t feel cold.. she felt warm and nothing else really matter.. only the fact that she was baptized. What a stud. 

Sunday came along.. and church here starts at 9:30 and it was around 9:25 and she still hadn´t shown up.. We went in and sang the song, prayed, the bishop did his ward business and we were just about the sing the sacrament hymn. I know as soon as we started the sacrament hymn that she was not going to be confirmed which would cause a long process with General Conference.. however, right before we started to sing a group of people walked in and among them was Ana. I was so grateful. Bishop then got back up and talked about the baptism and told the ward that they would do the confirmation. I had the opportunity to do the confirmation and it went really good. I will be honest, I sat down and felt like the confirmation was a mess.. My mind was blank and my spanish just didn´t come like I wanted it to. I then talked to Elder Naylor afterwards and he said that the confirmation was perfect and that he loved it... I felt really grateful and knew that Satan will do anything to make us feel down or miserable like him.Don´t let him get you down. I am grateful for the priesthood that I hold and for the opportunity to exercise it daily! God is great!

I hope that you all have a wonderful week! I am so proud of my little bro for being the King of the school and for the race that he ran! What a great kid right?! Not to mention the smooch in front of everyone... (; I love you all! Be sure to look for some fun and some smiles this week! ♥

Love, Elder Taylor Abel.. a very happy fellow

Elder Neilson, Elder Eiker, Elder Naylor and me

 Ward Friends

Ana Rocks!

Guided by the Spirit

This week I felt the Spirit guide us.. I know without a doubt in my heart that the Spirit guides missionary work. The other day we had 2 charlas fall through within 15 minutes of leaving the house.. #uruguayprobs.  We didn´t know what to do.. we were honestly just walking around aimlessly. Just then I had an impression that we should go visit Lourdes and Marcelo. I couldn´t deny it. I put it off for a second as we went to another house and then I told Elder Naylor that we need to go visit them because they are going to be there. (side note: beginning of the change we went like every single day trying to find them because they were such a family of gold. We continued to do that for about 2 weeks and we decided that they were never home, and besides that, their home was off the beaten path). Elder Naylor was down to make a visit so we made the long walk over there. As we showed up to the house they were outside. We were invited in and we had an absolutely beautiful charla with them about the Restoration. I don't why we were supposed to go other there... who knows maybe they won't be baptized by us, but I know that our Heavenly Father is preparing them to baptized. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost and for the way that it guides us. 

This Saturday we have the opportunity to watch one of God´s daughters enter the waters of baptism.. Ana is so ready!  We still don't know who is baptizing her, I hope she picks Naylor... it would be awesome for him. We couldn't be more excited for her and we are soo happy to see her change her life and become a member of the only true church! Missionary work truly is a blessing! Love it!

We received changes and we got another change together! Wahoo! It is going to be a sweet change. I am super excited for all that we are going to do. I am so grateful for Elder Naylor and for the fun that we have as we work our tail ends off. We definitely are very blessed here in Cerro 8. 

Well peeps.. I sure do love you all! Time is going by way too fast.. next P-day we will be preparing for general conference.. like what?! I can't believe we are already here again! I hope that you all have a wonderful week! Keep smiling and know that the Lord blesses you daily!

Love, Elder Taylor Abel.. a smiling missionary!

In celebration of my 15 months out....we made a cake that Taylor Hancock sent me for my birthday last year.  It was a blue velvet cake with yummy yellow frosting... which is so Uruguayan and adorable!  We had fun making the cake, but it was even better when we each ate half of it in one night.... so much cake but so worth it!

Enjoying an "Alfajor" treat.  Now you see it.....

Now you don't

"Lift up thy head and rejoice..."

How are you doing? 

Things this last week went pretty well. I am super grateful for this area and for the people that are here to help us. I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord that we are able to notice in our day to day activities. I am grateful for you and for the trust you have in me, and for your help in making me the man I know I can be. I am full of gratitude this morning as I received an email from a friend on a mission who is thinking about going home. He has a lot of time in the mission and I couldn't help but think of the many blessings he has received and the many blessings that the Lord has in store for him as he continues his missionary service. I hope he continues to serve because this is such a great work. I am so grateful for my mission and for the many things that I am learning, and for the love of our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. The gospel is true and I am so grateful to share the good news with the people of Uruguay. What a blessing! 

This past week I have been having some rougher days. I have felt pretty inadequate as I try to train Elder Naylor.  I have been praying to find out what I need to do to help him become the missionary the Lord needs. As I helped my friend who is going through this hard decision of staying in his mission or ending it short, I found my answer... Alma 8:15 "Blessed art thou, (Elder Abel) (insert your name here); therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God."  I need to just lift up my head and follow the other counsel in Doctrine and Covenants 6:36, "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."  I need to stop doubting myself and I need not fear.. the Lord is with me. I need to put my confidence in Him because I am nothing without Him. I am so grateful for this sweet answer that I was able to find. I am grateful for the scriptures and for the answers they truly give. The Book of Mormon is true and really does help us in times of need.  How blessed we are as missionaries of the Lord God Almighty.  How blessed are all of you as members of the only true church on the face of the earth!  

This week went pretty good other than the rougher days. We had some more cool stories with Ana and I will only share one with you today because I mean, I have to have some stories that you haven't heard! Her dad recently passed away....he was pretty old and pretty sick from smoking for most of his life. They had given him like 2 to 3 months to live, but he only made it a week after that.  We we had a charla with her and just answered her questions that she had. We set up another day to go by and share The Plan of Salvation.. the last part of it where we talk about where we go after we die. The last time, we had taught the Plan of Happiness but only to the Atonement and so it was the next thing to teach anyways.. the Lord works in mysterious ways! However, after talking with her for quite some time, she began to describe this rocks that her dad loves.. you find them in Artigas and Rivera (Northern Uruguay).. they have purple diamonds. As we finished up the lesson she told us that she had something for us.. we went out into another room and she let us choose a rock from her collection so that we would always remember her.. what a sweetheart. She then told us that we have done so much for her and that we don´t even know it.. as she said that, all I could think of is how much she is doing in my life. She blesses our lives with rich experiences every time we are over there.. such a blessing for us. (Picture of us and the rocks for next week.) Ps... she went to church and loved it as well! ¡Vamos Arriba!

Well my dearest family, I hope that all is well and that you may "lift up thy head and rejoice" and remember that the Lord is always with you. Elder Naylor shared this with me and so I would like to share it with you.. 

Footprints in the sand

"One night I dreamed a dream. 

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."
- by Mary Stevenson 

I love you ♥

when bad weather comes and you can't hang clothes outside 

#wetclothesprobs

La Iglesia.. hermoso no?

Down the street from our house.. welcome to Cerro!