Changes

Taylor Family and Friends,
I don´t know if it was the same for any of you who have served a mission, but when the phone rings on Sunday night before cahnges and the caller ID says "Casa de la Misión" (Mission Home) my heart definitely starts pumping. It´s not like I´m nervous to talk with President or anything, but it´s always interesting to see what he has to say.
Well, President asked me how I was doing and how our week had gone; not too shabby. That´s good. "Elder Taylor, I´m extending to you a new calling, is that ok?" "Yeah, no problem." "Well, as you´ve noticed, I´ve been doing something new the last couple of changes with a few missionaries who have served as Zone Leaders. I take two of them, and I put them together as normal, proselyting missionaries in order to give experience and energy to a young zone. That´s what I would like to do with you. What do you think?" I think that´s great. So Elder Taylor is leaving Paysandú and he´s heading back to the north....! Zone-Rivera, Area/city-TRANQUERAS! Tranqueras is a little city about an hour away from the department capital of Rivera, and it is an area that has only been open for a little over 6 months! I will be serving with Elder Davidson, a great missionary and a good friend of mine, who will be finishing his mission in this next change. I still haven´t had the opportunity to talk with Elder Davidson yet, but I hope he´s as stoked as I am! I guess we´ll have to ask him, huh? Haha. So yeah, I´m heading out this afternoon at 5 PM. I´ve already got all of my stuff packed; we´re going to go say goodbye to a couple of families before I leave.
President always manages to surprise me with changes, without fail. Like all missionaries, Elder Shupe and I were talking about the possible changes this last weekend a little bit, and what actually happened didn´t even come across our minds! But obviously, it is so perfect. The Lord knows us, our needs, and our abilities better than we could ever imagine. It is very consoling knowing that a Being such as He is guiding this work and watching over us in every moment.
We didn´t have a baptism last weekend like we were hoping, Diego had some problems with his step-father, and we decided it would be better to hold off for a little bit. But he´s doing well, and I´m sure we´ll get notice of his baptism soon. Everyone in Casa Blanca is doing GREAT! Rosa is feeling a lot better with her back, and she´s reading the Book of Mormon like crazy. Last Friday, Elder Shupe and I taught her and Viviana more about the Book of Mormon, and what exactly it means. Towards the middle of the lesson, Rosa said, "Listen, I can´t make it to church on Sunday because we have a commitment with the family, but don´t worry, next week, I promise you that my mother and I will be at church. Viviana can make her own decision, but Elsa and I will be there!" What a sweet parting gift, knowing that they are about to take another great step of faith. Viviana also said that she will be there, as long as her work schedule doesn´t interfere; she works with animal skins, and the season is just about over. I´m going to write them a letter today and leave it with Elder Shupe so he can take it out to them this Friday. That´s the worst thing about changes-goodbyes. It´s amazing the love that you can feel for someone after knowing them for such a short amount of time!
Oh yeah, Mom, I forgot to tell you that I already got the package. I think it was two weeks ago, if I remember correctly. We already made/ate the pie, the Taffy Cookies, and the Goldfish. Haha. What can I say, we´re growing boys and we need to eat! :o) P.S., the graham crackers and frosting....GREAT idea! Not gonna lie, got kind of trunky eating it, but hey, that´s ok.
Sector Conference just went really well. Learned a lot and felt the Spirit. Elder Shupe, Huber, Garns, the Hermana Litchfield and I sang "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" as a musical number. It went really well. I don´t know if you all remember that song, but we sang it for choir once at Bingham. Great song. For ward conference, Elder Shupe and I set up the activity of Human Foosball. I don´t know how many of you have played it, but if you haven´t, you definitely should! Especially with a bunch of Latins who know how to play soccer...it was a BLAST, and everybody loved it, which is the most important. A good chance to get together and laugh. Afterwards we had tortas fritas, which are basically scones, and a barley drink. Good times.
To answer the question, no we don´t get to watch any of the Olympics. But we have heard a lot about them. It´s so cool that Phelps broke the record! Attaboy. Uruguay was resting it´s hope on one guy, from what I understand, to bring home some kind of medal. Winston or Winton or something like that. He´s a cyclist, but it didn´t come out too well for him this time around. He took 16th. People were/are sad, but it happens. It´s funny being with Elder Shupe during the Olympics, he gets frustrated when people talk about them, because it makes him trunky. Haha. But hey, I can´t blame him...if I was fourth in the world in my event in gymnastics, I would be trunky too! I´m so grateful for the last two changes I´ve had to be with Elder Shupe. He´s definitely one of those eternal friendships that are made only on the mission. What a stud. He heads home the first weekend of October.
Mom and Dad, I hope you have a very happy anniversary tomorrow! Know that you will both be in my thoughts! Enjoy your day!
Well, that´s gonna do it for me this week. Megan and Melanie, enjoy your last week of summer! I can´t believe school is starting again already. Crazy. Glad to hear that Mary-Anne and Nathanael had a good time for his birthday. And my nephew, Jackson, is already two? From the pictures and all his gray hair, he seems a lot older. Haha.
I love you all, and I hope you´re all doing well! I´m waiting to hear from you!
Elder Taylor