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.