Moving Week

So for this week we had Zone Conference and Elder Golden of the Seventy came with his wife and we had the opportunity to shake their hands :) He taught so much and it was a really awesome experince and an honor to listen to a man called of God. Even though it lasted for many hours but it did not feel like it. 

Lets see our investigators.... Gracie. She is a new one who is a friend of the Saucedo family and we taught her and talked about the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost. We had her read Moroni 10 verses 4 and 5. After she read that, we could all see the Holy Ghost working within her.. tears came to her eyes and she said she wanted to know. And some time soon she wants us to come by her house and say a prayer with her (she had askedus to come bless her home) but we can tell she feels that this is true so we are super excited for her!!! We have Eduardo and maggie, last night we had a party for Elder Guthrie or Hermano Gonzales planned one and we had a family home evening with them and a few of the members shared really powerful testimonies of the church and how much it has blessed their lives. I think she really appreciated it and we hope she will be more open to coming to church and such. Juanita and Keyla... We have not had the opportunity to see them in a while... she has not answered her phone in a while which worries us....

Also this week I got to go on exhanges with Elder Johnson (who is being transfered already :( ) but I got to ride home at 8 30 in 30 degree weather and rain which was awesome!!!! And all the Next day I was with him in 30 degree dry weather, it was sweet!! After those two days we had zone conference and then we wetre suppose to move on thursday. So we started tossing all the furniture because we were told we were getting all new furniture and appliances and everything. So by that time thursday at like in the afternoon all we have are our beds and supplies. Then we get a call from Elder Upham( a Senior Elder) saying we werent moving... so we are all freaking out cuz everything is gone and we were told we were moving that day. So we ask why and it was for shower curtains and cleaning. So we told him we would clean and go shower at the old one till we got them (which took a day to get) But then we had to get our apartment checked so that took some time and we had to sort through supplies that we did not need because elders had been stock pileing it up haha so we got all that somewhat figured out and we still have to clean a little but the old apartment looks better than before haha. lets see so This week the weather forecast said there was a possibility of snow... hhmmmm haha sweet!! but so far it hasn't  :/

Also we had Stake Conference as well and our stake was split and we have a new ward in one of them, The New Hope ward haha It does not really affect us because we cover both stakes with our spanish branch. Also Elder Corbridge was present with the president of the mission, President and Sister Slaughter. It was awesome!! I also got to witness a mission call opening for one of the elders in our zone. I do not know all the details but he has been reassigned to the Fresno, California mission haha so me and my companions stayed to watch along with the mission president and his wife haha. 

A funny story for the week!!! So when people get transfered, the President calls or the AP's do, so Elder Morrin was joking around with me all afternoon that I was going to get transfered and so whenever a text would come in he would pretend to talk on the phone ( I could see the screen and they were txts) But anyways later he starts talking on the phone and runs upstairs to give it to Elder Guthrie and he started talking and then hung up and told me i was being transfered to Serenada. And i was like what!! i just got here and I love it!! The people and the branch and everything! So later that night, last night, we were at the dinner for Elder Guthrie and I told Angel ( Hermano Gonzales's son who is leaving to Farmington New Mexico for his mission on the 18th) and word spread so all these people are saying goodbye and everything. Then we get home and Elder Morrin gets his camera out and starts filming and I was so confused and then they tell me I was not getting transfered. They had set this whole thing up lol (Hermano Gonzales knows) haha but it was so funny!! but ya anyway that was the week. :) 

We now live at 2410 Great Oaks Drive #702, Round Rock Texas, 78681. I will be here through Christmas, transfers are every six weeks and we are going to have one this week so I will be here unless I have an emergency transfer, but i will let you know if that happens haha. 

I love and miss all of you and I hope you have a great Thanks Giving!! :) 

I spy Rudy's BBQ!

Our new place!

More Round Rock Adventures

Alright so this has been an interesting week!! To get the random stuff out of the way on our way to a F.H.E. we found that their was a high risk traffic stop and that there were guns pointed in the direction we were heading so that was interesting haha. 

On the spiritual side we  are still trying to get Juanita and her daughter to church. It has become very frustrating because both of them are so ready but Juanita just makes reasons for why she cannot.We also met with a young man who has no religious background. His name is Joseph and he is a friend of a member and is a senior in high school. He speaks no spanish but wants to learn, but yeah he was very open and said he would read and pray about the Book of Mormon and if it is true or not. We met with Eduardo this week, one time was at starbucks and we got some hot chocolate, although all three of us think there was something else in it, oops!!! But he is ready and we talked about Maggie and how she is doing with it. She just does not want to change and she already has a stressful life as a teacher and all different kinds of reasons haha but then we met with him again last night and he showed us magic tricks and stuff but then we shared with him the Plan of Salvation and where we were before this life and why we are here on Earth. He has interesting point of views but he started to understand. Then he asked us how to become a member of our church. It was sweet!! And his youngest daughter Sophia loves us so we know she will want it if he does. He says he has been praying with her every night and tries to read but has a hard time because he only gets 4 hours of sleep.This week we got to meet a family who was a referral from some other missionaries, Jamie and Luis and they have 5 kids in a small apartment. So we got to know them for a bit and what they believe in. Luis has actually read the Book of Mormon before and went to church in Mexico and this was like 10 years ago so he has a great understanding! Jamie was raised A JW but goes to a different church. But she has a lot of good things going for her and we are hoping that she can see the truth in the Gospel because a lot of what she said are pieces of what we have so it will be interesting!! We left 3 Nephi 11 which is Christ coming to the Americas so we are hoping that they will read it!! This week we were listening to a talk by Elder Holland when he visited the mission and he was talking about in actives and return missionaries should NEVER go in active and after sharing the gospel for two years they should be active and helping progress the work. So if you have anyone who is inactive, I encourage you to help them and try to get them back to church and becoming active again.

   

Missionary Comps ready to go out in the cold

Birthday cake....

What the what?!?

Even missionaries enjoy Star Wars pens that come in the Coco Puffs box

More From Round Rock, Texas

Okay!! Another great week In the Round Rock area :) We are now moving November 21st due to rain delays, but I still need to get the address. 

This week we taught Juanita and Keyla, Keyla understands so much, we were teaching about the pre-earth life and she basically laid it all out about how we lived with Heavenly Father and everything!!  She is so ready!! We just have to get her mom to take her to church!!  We were going to read (in spanish and Keyla sits next to me every time.)  She asked if I needed help haha :) It was cute! Her and I even have a little hand shake that we do every time :)  

Lets see Eduardo loved church!!!  He is so ready!!  But then we had a lesson last night and his wife was present and and she felt a little awkward I think. We invited them to be baptized and she started telling us that they were comfortable in their own church and the Bible is all they need.  We love Maggie, but if she was not there I think he would have said yes. 

On Friday we had a activity with the branch so members could invite their friends to play volleyball. We had a good turnout and A few non members showed up. The same night there was a football game so a lot of people were gone at the High School for the rivalry game. The Round Rock Dragons vs The Stoney Pointe Tigers haha :) 

Also we had a FHE with Jesus and his family and it went well, we talked about the importance of marriage and families. We are hoping the message got across :) 

Sunday we had a primary program with the Brushy Creek ward so there were about 200 kids up on the stand, and as always there are a few entertainers haha :)

White suits coming so nod your head!!!

First Birthday in the Mission Field

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes and gifts that have been sent!!  You guys are the best!!! 

Okay so on November 3rd we were invited to a catholic baptism by one of our investigators whose daughter was being baptized. So we went and somehow he did not tell us that it was a fiesta at his house so I do not know what happened there haha but it was interesting!! 

Also we were given money and a case of Root Beer from my uncle who happened to stop by our apartment when we were not there, which was sad. We were so confused about who it was for because it said Elder Taylor so we had no idea who it was from haha then I remembered that Alan comes to Austin and it said from Alan so I guessed it was from him haha so thank you!!!  

Also I got to be on a bike for two days this week with Elder Johnson, I loved biking!! I can not wait to do it in the future!!! 

And thank you Elise and Alan for the music!! I loved it!! We have a song from the lead singer from Owl city that is about Christ which I like, also the loraites(i think that is right) there is a song called mountains to climb, and a praise to the man meledy that is awesome!! 

Last Monday we had a zone p-day of soccer and I got a nice header haha.  

One of our investigators, Eduardo, has come to church twice and seems interested. He participates and everything and he even bore his testimony during fast and testimony meeting!!!! 

Also one of the members took us to Rudy's the other day haha.  

Here is the legendary Texas sized donut from Round Rock Donuts that mom had delivered to our apartment for my birthday!  I loved it!  I love all you guys!

(Christy Here:  Rudy's is a legendary BBQ chain started in San Antonio... they recently opened a location in Chandler, and we've been trying to get Taylor to eat there FOREVER.  He's not really a fan of Rudy's, so I curious to see what he ate there and if he liked it!)

Taylor's Testimony (in Spanish)

Tambien, Yo quiero compartir mi testimonio. Yo se que La Iglesia se Jesucristo de los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias es verdadera y que este Iglesia es solomente iglesia en la tierra ques es correcta. Yo se que Jose Smith es un propheta de Dios y que Thomas S. Monson es El propheta hoy. Jesucristo es nuestro hermano mejor y el ame nosotros. Dios es nuestro Padre en Cielo. Yo testifique estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen 

Sad News from Chandler

(Christy Here:  Our amazing Seminary Teacher, Brother Goss, has been promoted and will be relocating to Virginia.  Some other seminary students are putting together a memory book for him to take with him and this is the letter that Taylor sent me to include in the book.)

Dear Brother Goss, 

Thank you so much for the last 3 years of seminary, these last 3 years have been filled with great moments and ones that I will always remember!  Through you I was able to learn so much about the gospel, you made it interesting and entertaining.  I will always remeber the class when you shaved your head for Abigail and I am very thankful for the opportunity to have done the same.  I want you to know that I have a testimony of this church and of The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God. I know you and your family will be blessed as you move to Virginia and I pray for your family. Once again thank you for everything!!! 

- Elder Taylor Wanlass of the Texas, San Antonio Mission

Hola Texas!

Alright!!  1st P- Day in the field!!  So much to talk about!! Well first we left early in the morning on the 16th to get to the airport and it took forever with all the dang traffic haha but the flight was good, not to long.  We got to the airport and President Slaugter and his assistants were there waiting for us so it was really cool!!  There were 20 new comers, 10 are waiting for visas to Brazil, so they may be here for a while.  We had lunch and dinner at their home and inbetween we had a visit to the Alamo!!  It is not what you expect so it was interesting haha.  This other elder, Elder Hilario who is from san Antonio (idk how that worked out haha) we placed two Books of Mormon and hand some nice conversations and we actually met some mormons walking around lol.  So we stayed the night over at an apartment then the next day was transfer meeting!  So we got to hear who our companions were and where we were going, I am Round Rock up north past Austin, serving in the Palm Valley spanish branch!! my companions are Elder Guthrie and Elder Morrin, Elder Guthrie goes home the day before Thanksgiving and elder Morrin had 8 months left. But I also got my bike and the package!! That was such a nice surprise!! :)  But we plan and go teach and everything!! The other day we went to a Walmart to get some medication and this mormon couple drove up and gave us $25 which was super cool!!  My first Sunday was nice, but I was a little home sick.  I miss you all!!!

Elder Wanlass with the Slaughter's.  (Mission President and Mission Mom)

P-day selfie taken during email time for my mom  :)

My new comps...