Pickett, Taylor PT

We were playing a game with other missionaries where one person on the team had to write the answer on the whiteboard before the other team wrote it. When it was my companion's turn, the answer was "Kanye West," but my companion didn't know who that was, so she wrote "Canlle Wez," and my love for her grew 10x. I had not laughed so hard in a very long time. I LOVE MY COMPANION SO MUCH. Literally so grateful for her; I just don't have the words!!!!  Spiritual: Such a cool week spiritually. Last Monday, we went on a hike with my district, and an Elder who is about to go home was telling us that one of his favorite things about the mission has been being able to focus on receiving personal revelation (direct/divine guidance from God revealed through the spirit). Since our conversation, I have NONSTOP thought of how I can better receive personal revelation in my own life. As I was studying, I came across the "How I Hear Him" videos on the church web...

How is this week already over? So insane! Every week, my companion and I teach about the commandments to our friends who are progressing toward baptism. The commandments are our God-given instructions to live a happy life and have the spirit of God with us always. We teach about a standard of health that prevents us from consuming certain substances that can harm our bodies, a commandment that keeps us emotionally and spiritually safe/pure, and a way to build the kingdom of God on the earth through our tithes and fast offerings. Some of our friends love this new change of life by living the commandments, and some... not so much. Two weeks ago, a member of our congregation was on her way to church in a taxi and overheard a man sitting upfront telling his life story to the driver. He said he has Parkinson's disease, his wife left him, and he feels so lonely/helpless. This Sister offered to come by and help him. He agreed, and she invited us to go by a few days later. When we arrived ...

I am obsessed with the Book of Mormon videos (I told my baby brother Blake that last week, and he called me out for being so late to the game). THEY ARE SO GOOD, and it helps me to remember that what we read in the scriptures isn't just pretty experiences but literal stories of real people and their trials, dreams, miracles, and testimonies. Reading/watching Nephi's story (a prophet in the beginning of the Book of Mormon) has helped me to understand how I can better trust and act on the spirit's guidance in my own life. While traveling in the wilderness for many years, the Lord comforted the family of Lehi and Nephi by reminding them... 1 Nephi 17 13 I will be your light in the wilderness, and I will prepare the way before you if it so be that you shall keep my commandments. Wherefore, inasmuch as you shall keep my commandments, you shall be led towards the promised land, and you shall know that it is by me that you are led. Though Nephi and his family suffered great afflic...

Such an interesting week! I started off having an intercambio with THE Hermana Poll (we were in the same district in the CCM). I was able to come back to my first area (Chayavientos; I served there for the first 6 months), and Hermana Poll and I thrived. It might be the best intercambio I have ever had for sooo many different reasons!!! We found SUCH ELECT PEOPLE; somehow we ran into all my favorite members in less than 24 hours, had lunch with the bishop, Hermana Poll and I died laughing and didn't take a break from talking, saw the chicken gang (H. Vasquez, I hope you're reading this), and they went wild seeing me. But most incredible of all was setting a baptismal date with our friend Nicolas, thanks to the SOLID testimony of Natalia (one of my first converts). A little background... I first met Natalia with Hermana Vasquez right outside of our house towards the beginning of my mission. We started to talk, and she said she had always wondered if she could come play basketbal...