Hey Hey...

Taylor Family and Friends,
So, here we are at the close of another great week, with a new one just beginning. The last couple of days have brought a lot of sun and heat...looks like summer is just around the corner!
We had a really good week last week, with a couple of highlighting events. Friday afternoon at 6 PM, Élida Bravo was baptized by Elder Aaron Taylor. It was a great baptismal service. When 6 o´clock rolled around, there was hardly anyone there, but by 6:10 there was quite a few-Mormon Standard Time even exists in Tranqueras. Haha. Everything went really well in the baptism, and I will never forget how Élida looked at me as she came up out of the water and said, "Muchísimas gracias, Taylor." A truly unforgettable experience.
Sunday morning we got on another bus headed for the Stake Conference in Rivera. There wasn´t as many members in this trip as there was for General Conference, but there was still more than in years past. The Stake Conference was a conference transmitted to 26 different stakes in Paraguay and Uruguay. Elder Zwick conducted the meeting, which was presided by President Henry B. Eyring; Elder Richard G. Scott and Sylvia H. Allred were also present and spoke. It was a great conference where the Spirit could be felt in abundance. The members were encouraged to build their foundation on Christ through prayer and daily scripture study. The young men were challenged to prepare to serve full-time missions, and the youth were warned about the dangers of immorality. I am so grateful for inspired leaders who are called to teach us of our Father´s plan.
Mom, to answer some of your questions: we haven´t had a lot of opportunities for service here in Tranqueras yet, but we´ve talked to a few members and are planning projects within the coming weeks. Right now there are about 5 in the Elders quorum, with 1 priest, 2 teachers, and 1 deacon. Heber, who was baptized last month becomes a deacon next April. There are probably about 10-15 sisters in the Relief Society and 10ish kids in Primary. That´s not counting the investigators we have attending as well. Relief Society is usually taught by the branch president´s wife, who is the RS President. In priesthood it is usually President Diaz, or one of us missionaries. In Sunday School, the first counselor´s wife is the teacher as far as I know. Elder Davidson switched off teaching Gospel Principles every week, and that´s what I plan on doing with Elder Hughes, if he´s ok with the idea. He is doing really well. Like I said, he understands basically everything, but sometimes gets tripped up trying to speak, just like any new missionary. But he´s doing great, and starting to teach a lot more.
So you all got my itinerary...crazy. Don´t worry, I´m not trunky. There´s way too much work to be done. This last week, we found some AWESOME new investigators that we are really excited for, and we saw some great progress in others. We were with Ingri and Anivel on Friday night, and at the end of the lesson, Ingri told us that she was going to be in her mother´s house around 1 PM on Monday if we wanted to swing by and meet her. Monday is our P-Day, but after looking at each other, Elder Hughes and I both decided to do it. So about 2 hours ago, we said a prayer before leaving the house and prayed for the companionship of the Spirit in order to know what to say in order to help this family understand the importance of the message we have been called to share. We went over there and found Ingri waiting with her mom, Graciela, and two of her younger siblings, Evelyn and Julio. Come to find out, they all went to church before, but when the area was closed to missionaries, they stopped going. We had a great first lesson, and answered some of their questions about baptism! As we left, both Elder Hughes and I agreed that it was well worth the 45 minutes; with sacrifice come the blessings!
That is how the work has been going here in Tranqueras. The Church is so new here that the members are still excited and anxious to share the truth with their neighbors. Sometimes, after an area has been open to missionary work for a long time, the members become apprehensive about sharing their beliefs with others...don´t fall in to that! The Lord can´t use us as instruments in His work if we are apprehensive. That doesn´t mean be impolite and pushy, but it means actively look for opportunities to share restored truths. I have received more references here in Tranqueras than in any other area in my mission; this little branch is a GREAT example of member missionary work. I am so grateful for the members, and for the example they have given to me. I hope to always be as diligent and faithful to my responsibilities as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.
So there ya go, that´s what´s going on here in Tranqueras. I hope everything is going well for all of you! I can´t believe Sterling May is home, that´s so crazy. Elder May (Bryce) is probably heading home within the next couple of weeks, too, isn´t he? Wow. Don´t worry, as I said, I´m not trunky! Haha.
Love you all, and I´m anxious to hear from you!
Elder Taylor