December 16, 2013

General Email:

Well, to get the complaining out of the way, my body is still aching. I'm working on it though. After figuring out there is some miscommunications going on, I think I have what I need to go see the doctor. I'll be fine. :) 

Sister Bonvissuto and I had a little miracle in searching for people who are less active. The less active we found is name Anthony. He said he had has been less active for a while, and he's ashamed he ever fell away. He told his conversion story. He was suffering from a hangover and was very depressed. He was crying and said a prayer for help. No more than 10 minutes later, the missionaries he had met the week previously were at the door. One asked, "Anthony, are you alright? I felt like we needed to come see you." He said it was then that he knew that the gospel they had to share was true. It wasn't too long before he was baptized. When Sister Bonvissuto and I had come, he said that he had thought the night before, "I wish I had the gospel back in my life to help me and my cousin." His cousin is struggling right now. It was that night that he thought that, that his name jumped out to sister b and I as we were planning on which LA to go see. When we got there, he had a huge grin on his face. He had been surprised we had come when he finally admitted to himself he needed the gospel. He said he quickly thought to himself, "why am I surprised? God helped me once, and he is helping me again. He's always there for me." We taught him and his cousin. It went well and she seemed very interested. Yesterday they missed the appointment, but we talked to his mother. She isn't interested in learning, but she is so happy we have come. She said she can see the chance it has had in her son, and she wants her other son to start the discussions. Wow!

So far, we haven't crashed and died. It's a good sign that I'm improving in my driving skills. The roads have been well kept, so it hasn't been too slippery. I have my scary moments, but I'm improving. I'm sure the Chicago drivers don't agree. They like to pass me a lot, but I'm not ready to speed 12-15 over the speed limit, especially with snow and ice. They'll have to learn a little patience. ;)

I feel like there is always something I want to say, but by the time Monday comes, I can't remember!!! Then when I'm done e-mailing, it starts coming back. I try to tell myself to write these things down, but I forget to do even that. Oops. 

I got a package from grandma the other week. I was so excited! And thank you Aunt Kristy for making me such an awesome scarf! :D I love it lots!!! I have really enjoyed receiving letters from people. They always come when I need them the most. That just reminds me that God loves me and has blessed me with many amazing people in my life. I just need to remember that. Unfortunately, I tend to forget. I'm working on it. Gratitude really has changed me and my outlook on not just the mission, but life overall. There is so much we have been blessed with. God guides us everyday. We just need to look. God truly is there, and we are in fact His spirit children. Out of all the names he has, he asks us to call him Father. How loving! With Him, all will be well. :D What a wonderful promise He has made with us that it we are obedient, He will be there to bless us and watch over us! Never give up. Keep your head high, keep moving forward. This really is the true and restored gospel!!! I hope you know that. That simple knowledge will affect so much. Please, if you know anyone who doesn't know this, share the gospel with them! They need to know. Don't be afraid to tell them. This Gospel can and will greatly bless their lives, should they choose to act on this great gift God has given us. The challenge was given just this last general conference to invite someone by Christmas to come and learn more about the gospel. You're running out of time. Hop to it!!!
Ah, the computer is going to kick me of in just a few minutes. 

I love you all and hope everything is going well.... Woah. Christmas is next week, right?.... Times broken. MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Love, 

Sister Tayla Wells

December 09, 2013

GGGEEEENNNEERRALLL EEMMMAAIILLL:

This last transfer flew by very quickly. It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. Seriously, time is broken on a mission. It makes no sense. A day feels like two, and a week feels like one day. Transfers are tomorrow. We found out on Saturday that we will both be staying in the area. Our area is being split again because so many missionaries are coming out. The ward will now have five Elders and two Sisters. The area we will be covering will be 1/4 the size of the area I covered when I first got here. Goodness, so many missionaries. Our district leader said that our mission is one of the most missionary populated missions in the world. For some reason, God wants this area deep cleaned, or at least that's what it feels like. I have loved receiving letters from people back home. I love letters. They tend to come on the days I need them the most. It makes me pretty happy. :)

This week felt kind of slow, so I don't really know what to say. At the moment, I'm sleepy, so it's hard to even think about what happened this last week. An investigator who had disappeared called the other day. That was exciting. He even came to church. We're so happy for him.

It has been very cold here, and the humidity takes the coldness to the core. It's so cold! I didn't expect to have to buy and wear so much winter clothing. Yesterday, it snowed. Driving freaks me out, so driving in the snow REALLY scared me. I admit, I wasn't the happiest companion in the world as we were driving. The cars slide so easily. There are some crazy Chicago drivers who zip in and out of traffic, regardless of the snow. I'm grateful I haven't crashed. When I come home from my mission, I will be  a pro at driving, right? Oh, and I will forever be grateful that good ol Utah has dry air, and no humidity. Provo is probably colder than it is here, but the humidity and wind make it feel much worse. Crazy crazy.

The ward members here are so stinking nice. I love them all, and I'm grateful I have the opportunity to spend another transfer working with them. They are very great missionaries and super kind overall. By the time I am transferred to a new area, I will be so attached and sad to leave them all. They're just so great! It's amazing how easy it is to get so attached to people when you work so hard to serve them. It breaks your heart when they choose not to accept the gospel or to even try to read the Book of Mormon. My testimony of it has grown so much here, and of how much God loves us. If only people were willing to listen and ask God for themselves if He really is there. People just won't give it a chance. It's so amazing to see those who do give it a chance and then they experience that great sense of peace and joy, and they become so much happier. If only the whole world would give it a chance. It would be such a different place. It would be so happy!!!

December 02, 2013

GeNeRaL EmAiL:

This is the last week of the transfer. We get our call on Saturday as to if our companionship's are changing and if so, where. Both Sister Bonvissuto and I are feeling a little nervous for this one. We feel like we might be parted. She's not too excited. I'm her first companion, but I have had three now, so I guess I'm getting used to it. 

The work continues. We're doing much better at tracting. We have a little more courage in our door knocking abilities. While knocking on doors, you meet some of the sweetest people, and then you meet some of the meanest people that make you want to quickly drive to the other side of the state. Ha, what an adventure. It's like an Easter egg hunt! You find some good eggs, and you find some that are just rotten. That's the best way to put it at the moment. Ha! I'm so happy to know that everyone seemed to have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Gratitude is such a wonderful and misunderstand concept. It goes into so much more depth than most people realize, and last year, I began to truly understand, and I am still learning. Through simply being grateful EVERYDAY and not just every now and then, we see God's presence in our lives even better, we feel that much closer to the Spirit, and we just feel better overall! It brings so much peace, and helps us to find peace and comfort where we already are. It is also a way of showing our faith in the Lord, that we trust Him to be there, to bless us, to watch out for us, and to help is keep moving forward. It's like the story of the 10 lepers, and the one who's faith made him whole. :D

My testimony has truly gown this past week. This gospel is true. Not just bits and pieces of it, ALL OF IT! It's so amazing! It breaks my heart that people won't stop to look and listen. Never fall away! Stay strong! Keep moving forward! God is always there! He's always with you. He has never given up on us, so why should we ever doubt and give up on Him? Keep moving forward!

Love,

Sister Wells

November 24, 2013

What a week. It felt so long, but at the same time, felt like no time at all! There were storms last week. From what I have been told, there were tornados south of here. We didn't get any, but it was pretty windy! As I was driving around, I was super nerves. The wind was so bad that it would rock the car, and I had to focus on keeping the car going where I wanted it. Also, when it rains, it's hard to see the lines on the road. I'm thankful we're not dead yet. With transfers coming up, it I end up getting a new companion, I pray she will be willing to drive in crazy weather, and that she'll be good at it. It's so weird to thing that next week is the last week in the transfer. Oh! Yesterday, I hit my four month mark. It's so weird to think that I have been out four months. It feels like forever, yet, like I just got here. Again, on a mission, time doesn't make any sense.

A crazy thing happened this week. We got mini iPads to use in teaching! How weird is that? It's something to get used to. In all honesty, it's kind of annoying to use, it would be easy to just write things down, but oh well. I'll get used to it. It's pretty interesting though. We're the 11th mission in the world to start using them in proselyting, so we're a part of the pilot program. We're pioneers in this work. What an adventure. We'll get the hang of it. Elder Perry said that his event of all us missionaries coming out and using technology is as remarkable as the first vision. Crazy, eh? What and adventure!

I found out yesterday that one of the sisters is going home tomorrow. She hasn't been feeling well and they found a tumor in her brain, so she needs to go home to get it removed. I hope she will heal quickly. I just love her. She's so sweet.

For the first time, I am beginning to feel calm. Day before yesterday and yesterday, I felt calm. Usually, I'm anxious and panicking all day long. But it has suddenly changed. It feels so good. I feel like a can breath again! I'm finally beginning to get the hang of it. Just a little. One step at a time. Slowly, but surly. :D

Health wise, I'm a little worse. My memory is struggling, energy is slow, and my scoliosis feels worse. But I'll be fine! I'm trying to get a doctors visit soon. I will be up and running in no time! 

Bah!!!! It's snowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, I'm figuring out how to stay warm out here. My poor companion is freezing to death, and she's wearing two coats, three scarves, and lots more. She isn't used to this weather. Winter in Italy is nothing. She said you just put on a little jacket. She's super scared to see what this winter will bring. Poor thing.

November 04, 2013

General Email: 

What a long week this one was. It has definitely gotten colder. Some ward members took pity on us unprepared Sisters and gave us some warm wool socks, boots, and a scarf. I just bought a coat and gloves. I love those gloves. My hands are pretty happy too. Now to find water proof boots. I was told that if boots are not water proof, they only take you so far. Water proof is a must.

One of our investigators, Wendy, agreed to be baptized this month. We are all so excited for her. Her husband is a less active. They have a daughter who is four. I hope he can resolve his doubts, do the baptizing, and then they can go to the temple and be sealed! Woo! Eternal families! Hopefully that will all happen. Two of my recent converts have grown so much and moved. I miss them. One moved to Provo!!!! I told him I hoped to run into him after my mission. :D

I have been experiencing some health trials as of late. For the past two months my hair has been falling out, I have only slept the entire night twice, my back is aching, and my shoulder is having problems. My sleep has been getting worse and is taking me down emotionally. I'll have to talk to Mission Presidents wife and find a way to stop this. It's taking it's toll. I'm very tired all the time now, and it's really hard to smile. I'm working on it though!!! Something else has happened. My addiction to cookie dough is coming back. I bought a little. It was so tasty, but I shouldn't be eating cookies or cookie dough. So unhealthy. I'm going to get fat! Oh well. I'm working on it!!! It's so cold in the mornings that it's hard to run, especially because my back and sleep are giving me so much grief. Oh well. Things can only get better, right? All will be well. Have a great day!

A note from Lacey: Just want you to know that at this time while you are on your mission certain things that are going on in the world (or at least Provo)- 

• The New-skin convention center just finished being built down on Center Street in Provo. 
• The beggars are all back and I feel like they're on every corner.
• We've been having the prettiest fall I think Utah has seen in years. 
• The Governments was shut down for awhile, but is now back up and running. 
• Nowadays the subject of being Gay is no longer people are ashamed of and hide, but instead they actually use it gain more popularity. 
• Grandma and Grandpa are putting in tons of effort to prepare for their mission that they leave to Dec 31st
• Missionary work is constantly increasing! 
• BYU built something in between the law building and the Wilkinson Center so you can no longer drive down that road, and the construction as been ridiculous to get around.  
• Provo seems to the up and coming place to live. 
• They just found a 5 year old little girl in Greece with Blond hair and Blue Eyes living with a Gypsy family and they have no idea where she is from, but she doesn't belong to them. She was being used to beg because she was so cute. But they seriously can't figure out what country she is even from. Poor girl. 

And in a nutshell that's all I can think of that is going on right now. 

October 29, 2013

General e-mail: 

This last week was interesting. We ran into someone who was pretty mean. Why she kind of implied that Mormons are brainwashed, I don't know. Where do people get that idea? Hmm.. Anyway, we met a new investigator. She is super nice! Her husband is less active and she has a 4 year old daughter. They are a wonderful family! My testimony has grown a lot this week from simply hearing the testimonies of the other missionaries. I love that I have the opportunity to hear them. They are so strong and it is such a great feeling. I'm so lucky to have this opportunity to be a missionary. It was scary at first, but you quickly learn what an amazing experience it is, and it is so wonderful to watch others change as they learn and  grow closer to their loving Heavenly Father. Only through coming on a mission and serving God all day long can you feel and see these amazing blessings, and grow so much in a short period of time! 

Sincerely, Sister Wells
And here are some pictures!

Loving her mission

Sister Bonvissuto
and Tayla

The Halloween party! The man and woman sitting on each end are investigators. The woman sitting next to me on the left (my left, not looking at the picture left) is Rese. The women crouching next to me on my right is Alicia. Next to her is my companion, Sister Bonvissuto.

P.s. Tayla's companion is from Italy, and seems like a very good companion for Tayla to have. 

October 21, 2013

My goodness, my companion pointed out that this week is the last week of this transfer. Holy cow, time flies. I remember that at the beginning of this transfer, I was so scared. I was afraid to be behind the wheal of the car, to make decisions, afraid to train, afraid of it all. I'm learning how to do things and to manage time and tools I have. Things have really changed this transfer. I'm not as afraid when I drive. I still don't like free ways, but I'm working on it. It also makes me nerves to drive in the rain. That is just flat out scary here. Sometimes, when it rains, it's like a water fall. Water gushes off the cars. Thankfully, I haven't had to drive in any rain like that.
One of my investigators agreed to be baptized. We had talked to him about it the week before this last lesson. He said that since then, he has had the thoughts constantly in his head that he needs to be baptized, and the feeling has been constant. We are so happy for him. He is so excited for baptism, and he is so good at recognizing the Spirit. He's one of those people who you know God has been preparing to receive his gospel. It's so amazing to watch. It was also a wonderful experience for Sister Bonvissuto and I because we are really learning to listen to the Spirit and to be guided. I usually don't know what to say, but the Spirit takes over and it's all amazing. I love watching the expressions on their face change as they feel the Spirit testify to them. What a wonderful opportunity.
We had a zone conference this last week, and something was announced that has us all excited, and scared all at once. Our mission as been chosen to incorporate technology. We are the 9th mission in the world to do this. Only 1,000 missionaries, which is less than 10% of all the full time missionaries in the world, get to do this. We will be using Facebook and blogging as a proselyting tool to reach and teach people. The Elder who is in charge of managing all the missionaries and their internet use was talking to Elder Perry. He said that he was scared for this very new change. Elder Perry said that this is a scary thing, but that he's sick of Satan controlling the air waves, and that it's time for us to take it. We are charging in head first to battle Satan online. He is not going to want to give it up. He's going to attack and fight as hard as he can. This is a whole new war. It's intimidating, but so exciting. We can do this! What a special opportunity it is to be one of the missionaries who begins this battle, to be in the front charging in head first. This is going to be a big adventure/fight. It's interesting to have it happen at the beginning of my mission. I will be doing this for most of my time here. It kind of feels like a sin to create a Facebook.

October 07, 2013~ First Conference from the Mission

General e-mail: 

So, general conference was pretty awesome! Goodness, missionary work was really emphasized, along with making sure we have a testimony NOW, not relying on others to get one for us, being worthy to serve God NOW, that the women need to be strong, and the men need to be worthy. Us missionaries get the feeling something big is going to happen soon. Holy Cow. So intense! I really wish I could hop online and watch them again. We need to wait for the Ensign to come out so we can re-read the talks. Unfortunately, none of our investigators came. So many of their questions were answered. If they had been there, it would have helped them so much! Maybe next time. Oh, the next time Conference comes, I will have been out for 7 to 8 months. Weird!

So, the mission can be very tough, so I started to keep a gratitude journal. At first, it was hard to think of things, but suddenly, the ideas just started flowing! There is so much to be happy about! And when trials hit-as long as we are being completely obedient to God-the trials are for our benefit. With the Lords help, we gain so much knowledge, gain experience,
and truly understand what we have, giving us more gratitude. As long as we have God on our side, a trail shouldn't be feared, we should look forward to what we will learn from it, and seek all the good that is around us as we face the hard times. All will be well!

What a wonderful time it is to be here on earth, to be serving God, becoming stronger, and helping others. We are all so blessed. It is getting scarier in this world, but we have God on our side. Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness. All will be well. :)

Love, Sister Tayla Wells

September 16, 2013

General e-mail:

Well, what a week. It felt so long and so short at the same time. It's kind of crazy. While out on a mission, time becomes messed up. Very messed up. I still can't believe that at the end of this week, I will have been on my mission for two months (this includes MTC time). There have been moments when I have been super happy, and then super sad and discouraged. I feel bipolar! There are moments when the Spirit is so strong, and moments when I feel like the devil is wanting to rip me in pieces. But even though this has been super rough, it has been great. This has not been easy, but it such a great thing to be a part of. I feel so lucky that I get to be here to serve the Lord. There are moments when I'm grateful I'm only out for 18 months, and moments when I wish I could be out for a full 24 months.

Something I have learned from being on my mission is something I have been working on for a while. The trick to life is to just smile and be happy. Fake it until you make it! Just think positive thoughts. Through thinking positive and focusing on Gods work, throwing ones self into the work, time seems to fly and burdens aren't as hard as they used to be. This also builds confidence.

Confidence is something I am really lacking at the moment. I found out Saturday night what's happening with transfers this week. My companion, Sister Roos, will be opening a new area, Chicago Heights. I will stay here and will be training. I feel like this is crazy. I have only been out for six weeks. I'm not surprised this is happening though. About three weeks into the field, I got the feeling I would be training. I dreaded the time it would come, and now it's here. I hope this greenie isn't shy like me. If she's anything like me, I'll cry. I can't even handle how shy I am at times. 

Two Saturdays ago, one of the investigators I was teaching got baptized. It was a crazy experience trying to pull everything together for the baptism. While filling up the font, we had a problem. The plug wasn't working and the water was draining out. I found some tuba wear and stuck it over the plug. The suction pulled it on, so it wasn't draining as badly, so we were able to continue with the baptism. 

We dropped one of our investigators. We tried to help him, but he refused to change. When he was with us, he seemed excited to change, but it's like he has two different personalities. He's one way when with the missionaries, and another when with friends. He isn't making good choices and we feel we could be put in danger by his behavior, so we will no longer be working with him.

One investigator that I haven't been able to see this week is Uba. He's from Nigeria. He's so cool and he always makes Nigerian food. It's so spicy! I always have to have water with me while I eat, or my mouth burns. He works a lot, so sometimes, it's hard to see him. He's a cop, a lawyer, and a CT (Chicago Transit). He has felt the Spirit, but he has a hard time recognizing the Spirit. We point it out to him, but he's very logical, which makes it very hard, but hopefully, he will recognize it soon.

Tayla with the Mission Presidents

If I have sounded negative in my above comments, I apologize. I truly love this missionary work. I really do. I have been so blessed with the opportunity to come out here and serve God. My testimony has grown so much. I have met so many amazing people and have felt the Spirit and Gods love like never before. This work is not easy, but it is worth it. This gospel is true. If there are any doubts, pray to learn. Pry to know the truth. This gospel has been given to us. It is a great gift and it is true! God is hastening his work because people have been prepared and are still being prepared to receive the gospel. Christ's Gospel is here to bless everyone and it breaks my heart when people won't give the missionaries a chance to share a simple message. God loves everyone and that's why he has called so many people to be missionaries. This is very important! So many of my prayers have been answered. God has been with me through each trial, and I have felt his protection. He want's to be there for all His children, they just need to let Him know they want Him in their lives. There are so many people here who have lost their testimonies or haven't learned for themselves that it is true because they haven't tried. God has given us what we need to come back to him; all we need to do is act and have faith. Those who do have a testimony need to do all that they can with no fear to help others receive the gospel. This can be done by simply sharing a testimony or inviting friends to family home evening or church. Don't be afraid. It's God's work, not ours. Invite the Spirit and the Spirit will do the rest. Don't be afraid. To all who may be reading this, be prepared and worthy to always have the Spirit in your life. When you do this, you are  telling God you want Him in your life, and he will guide you. God strengthens families and protects them from unseen dangers. All you have to do is follow Him. Follow the example Christ set while he was here on this earth. To start, follow CPR for the Spirit. Attend Church, Pray, and Read the scriptures. Study the Book of Mormon daily. Through always doing these three things, your spirit will be strengthened, you will have a stronger connection with God, and you and your family will be guided by God. Never forget this! I promise with all my heart this is true and it means the world to me. If I didn't know it was true, I wouldn't have put everything on hold for 18 months to serve God. I bear this testimony to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

September 03, 2013

General letter to share:

Last week was very hard. My companion fell very ill. Things got really bad and all I could do was worry and help take care of her an any way possible, which I felt like wasn't much. The last time I e-mailed (two Mondays ago), I received help from Rese and Sister Hoffman, some amazing women from my ward. They helped me get my trainer to the ER. She flew home last Thursday. I hope she will recover. I worry about her. She is very strong and I know she will fight through whatever it is that is making her so sick. My new companion came on Friday. Her name is Sister Roos and she has been out for 6 months. She found a ton of mold in the apartment. That may have added to Sister Braten's sickness. She attacked it with lots of bleach. It didn't stand a chance, but we found more... It will all be okay. In all honesty, I didn't know it was mold. I hadn't seen that kind before. I simply thought it was a stain! With how busy my first week was, lacking cleaning supplies the second week, and and going to the ER and trying to figure things out on the third week, I didn't get the chance to clean and to discover it was mold. It was even behind the toliet, but of course I didn't notice that one. There really were no cleaning supplies. The day we were going to go the store was the day we went to the emergency room. Bad timing is what this was.

God has really been looking out for me, and I admit, in ways I feel like such a faliure. I guess I am expecting myself to be the perfect missionary, but this is my first month of even being here. I still have 17 more to improve. I am so grateful for the Spirit. God watched over me and helped me out with that week, and he has guided me in what to teach. I have felt disorganized and have gone into a couple of appointments no really knowing what I will teach. God has taken the reins at these points. Because I have a new trainer and have the chance to study and practice, I should be good to go in the lessons. I love watching how God guides each lesson and helps us missionaries know what to say to help the investigator. I just love it!   

P.S: I love to receive letters throughout the week. It helps me feel better after going through so much stress. :D

Another thing to add onto the general letter:

Within the time I have been here, I have been told I look like I'm 14. I counted the number of people who told me that my first week here. 5 people told me that. I even had a lady stop me in the store and ask my age. My first Sunday here, I was welcomed to the young women's. Everyone was rather surprised to discover I was not 14 years old, but 20, and I was a missionary. Some people looked at me funny, and a couple asked me my age. Do I really look so young? 

August 26, 2013~First letter home

General e-mail to share:

My week has been an interesting one. It has been very rough, and I haven't known what to do. My companion doesn't feel too good. On Thursday, it hit hard and she couldn't move. It is so bad that she has to sleep a lot, can hardly move at times, and there are moments when she has to lay on the floor where she was standing, and she can't get up. The pain gets so intense that it shoots through her. Because she has been feeling so sick, I had to do a split once with the hermonas (the Spanish sisters). Hermona Gonzolez and I, both being greenies, went and taught one of our investigators. The Spirit was there to guide us, so was a good experience for us. Also, because my companion has been so sick, I have been the one driving. The Chicago drivers are a little more forgiving, but they are CRAZY! My goodness, in one day, I was almost hit twice by people who cut me off. The crazies. Sheesh. I am definitely improving on my driving skills though. We are lucky we haven't been pulled over I think. Sister Braten says I'm doing good, but I feel like a terrible driver. I accidentally ran a stop sign yesterday, but luckily, no one was there to see it, so it was all good. I saw a car that had a sticker on the trunk saying, "Patience please, student driver." I wish I had one. Yesterday, my companion was finally able to get strength, and she got in the shower. I couldn't help but take that chance to cry. I couldn't help it. It's hurting me terribly  to see her go through that pain and not be able to do anything to help. It's ripping me up and at times.
We have had some good moments this last week, along with the hard. Like I said, another greenie and I were able to teach the lesson. The next day (yesterday), that same investigator came to church. There is another investigator that is on parole and we thought he would be on for five years, meaning he couldn't be baptized until then. He really wants to be baptized. We talked to yesterday and he said that his parole is actually only two years, and for good behavior, no drinking, and getting a job, his parole can be shortened to only six months. It has already been two, so he might be able to be baptized in four months! This poor guy doesn't know that he can't be baptized quite yet. We don't know how to break the news to him. He wants so badly to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to help in as he works to do what's right. His family doesn't like this and work to make him smoke and drink again, but he is resisting. I wonder what's going to happen when he finds out about his baptismal date having to be moved. Another investigator that has been avoiding us has finally opened up to us. She even asked us on her own what scripture we would like her to read to prepare for our next visit. That was such a surprise! Also, our AC has been broken, so each night we sweat to death. I was feelings so desperate to figure out what I could possibly do to help my companion to feel better. The heat in the apartment wasn't making her feel any better. Suddenly, our AC started to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It hasn't worked since I have been here, and suddenly it did. Such a miracle. I hope the next miracle will be that the people in the rooms surrounding us will stop smoking weed. The smell fills our apartment often and makes me want to vomit. I couldn't finish exercising outside today because the smell made me feel a little sick to my stomach. It wasn't as bad inside, especially because we didn't have to open the windows to get air because our AC finally worked.
There are quite a few amazing people in the ward who really help us out and go with us to appointments. They are also a great comfort when I'm feeling down. I'm so grateful for them, especially Missy Cochran. She's awesome! She also served a mission and loves coming with us to visit our investigators. She stays at home while her husband is at medical school, so loves to come with us and we love it! :) There are quite a few med school students in the ward.

You asked some questions about my companion and my area. Well, first of, all I really know is that our area is the Westchester area. We attend the Westchester 1st ward. I am still trying to understand all the of the mission terms. There is so much to learn and take in. Each morning we get up at 6:30, have personal study, companion ship study, exercise, and then prepare for the day. We are usually in at night by 9 to 9:30. As for the food we eat, well, we don't have time to cook for ourselves, so we eat quick unhealthy things at times. When members feed us, they make amazing food. One of our investigators is from Nigeria and will make us Nigerian food. It so so spicy! I have to have a glass of water with me to make it through the meal. It's so tasty though, although I do struggle to get myself to eat the fish. I do it though! There was a newly wed couple that we ate with on Saturday. They made such an amazing stir fry. The dessert was a par fay (if that's how you spell it). It consisted of granola, yogurt, apple slices, blue berries, and kiwi. It was so good! Best healthy dessert ever! I think you also asked me about my companion. She is awesome. She's from St. George and has been out for 10 months. Everyone loves her, including me! It's fun to watch everyone flock to her because they are so eager to talk to her. She is a great trainer, even though she thinks other wise. 

~Re-do on the Blog~

~First of MANY posts to come~

Okay everyone,
Sister Wells has asked me (Lacey, her older sister) to keep a blog updated for her while she is on her mission. So today will be the first of many blogs to come on how she is doing!

     Sunday Tayla gave her farewell speach at her homeward, accompanied by two of her very good friends and a musical number. Afterward everyone met over at the house for treats, photos, and farewells.

Tayla with her G. Grandma Garner (98yrs old)

Tayla and two of her life long friends:
Jake (left) and Tucker (right)

     Tuesday night Tayla was set apart by Pres. Clark, and heard the testimonies of Brother Eckton and Bishop Kemp. She was joined by family and friends and in a few brief moments she went from Tayla- to Sis. Wells. It was funny, she went around collecting hugs from her friends before she could no longer have anyomore; she said she was storing up for the next 18 months... however I don't think Brenna (her baby sister) was going to let her leave without an AMPLE supply!

Front L to R: Brenna, Tayla, Lacey
Middle L to R: Donna, Mickey, Friend (sorry!)
Back L to R: Mason, Jeff

     And as if the moment was never going to arrive, it did. Today, Wednesday the 24th  (Pioneer Day) Tayla prepared to accomplish the last of her tasks before entering the MTC at 2:00pm. In the morning she was picked up by her friend (I wish I knew her name) and taken to breakfast. From there they ran the last of many preparatory errands and then met the family over at Brick Oven for our last meal together for the next 18 months.

Special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Wells for organizing and taking us to lunch!

         Then as time clicked down we made our way over to the MTC and joined the herd of other youth being dropped off and collected by other missionaries. It was really incredible; the moment we pulled onto the property we were constantly directed by helpers so we knew where to go (the first gentleman actually shared with us that he'd served his mission in Chicago some 50 years ago). And the moment we applied our breaks there was a sister there opening Tayla's door and collecting her so she didn't need to worry about where to go, or who to find. Good luck and God speed Sister Wells, we love you!

Grinning and bearing all the photos

Quickly grabbed one before she had
time to register what was up

As you can see there were
some high emotions as
everyone said
Goodbye