Dakota is in Argentina! But still has a long way to go!

 Dakota will be starting his mission in a little town in Santa Cruz, Argentina called Pico Truncado. It is a 21 hour bus ride from Neuquen where the mission home is. Good luck with that bus ride, Elder Taylor!  
I talked to the Mission President's wife and she was a very sweet, kind, loving person.  She thanked us for sending Elder Dakota Taylor to Argentina to them and she said he was a very respectful Elder and that she could just tell by being around him that he was going to be  a wonderful missionary.  She really seemed to like him.  
I should get an email from him in the next few days and I will post it. 
I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas and New Years Holiday!  Thanks for all you do for Dakota and for our family!  We have the best friends and family in the world!

Here is the letter from this week.  I think now I am up to date.  So enjoy reading and comment if you want!  Thanks for your patience!

Hey guys!

This week has been soooo much the same as all the others!!! ha ha ha woot.... =) 

A guy from the Seventy came and talked, named Zwick. He served in Argentina and Bolivia. Funny stories. His plane when he got to Argentina didn't have any brakes and so they like landed and drove into a muddy grassy hilly place, and he had to slide down on the plane's wing. ... =) woot. He also was attacked by a pitt bull his first week. So... lets pray things have changed a LITTLE.

Everything is going great.  Uh... oh! Mail stops at the 22 of Dec. and won't start up again till probably after I leave the MTC. so... yeah. Wanna send anything, hurry. I think at that point in time it will be best to use only e-mail for a while. I'm sad I wont get to read a daily report of home and stuff, but letters take like 3 weeks to get to Argentina. So just stick with the e-mail? =) Thanks.

Everyone thinks that someone from the First Presidency is comming for Christmas. I sure hope so!! That'd be so wicked awesome cool!!! 

Yesterday, my district was hosts for all the new missionaries, but i don't think we get to do it next week when jj comes. I'm definately going to look for him. He's hard to hide... ha ha ha!  

Tomorrow and Monday we have some long meetings with the Argentine Consul or something like that to get our Visas taken care of. Super crazy! Sounds so scary... ha ha but whatever. 

There is this new sister here from Manti Utah. When I found out, the first thing I said was; "I'm getting married in your temple!" ha ha and she said: "I know... they told me". Apparently it's getting around... ha ha i have been telling everyone I know who comes in and says they are from the Manti area. So funny! 

I see Jaxson a lot. He's got almost my same schedule. and Kendall Stauffer too. Donovan... not a ton. But sometimes. Everything is just great! not sure what to tell ya... Spanish is comming pretty good. it's crazy... we try and speak exclusively in Spanish.. but it's REALLY hard. Hey, at least it's not some Asian language. YIKES! or Romanian... ha ha ha  

Elder Higgs and I are doing great! We stick together pretty good. He's a really really awesome young man. I was so blessed to have him as my first companion. He is making this whole experience great. He fits in good with my other friends.  =) 

Look up the "kids and christmas" clip thing on mormon.org or somewhere. It's soo cute! ha ha There is a little boy that looks like Fenix. One that people kinda say looks like me, and this one little redhead that looks just like Jessica, or Jessica's little sister Lindsay. anyways. yeah. look it up!!! and then... um...

these two quotes: 

 "It's not your mission. It's the Lords mission. You are just his servant. Use HIS time wisely"  Crazy to think I really AM a proxie for Jesus. Ya know?

"My hands contain power far beyond that of my own."   I hope I'm always worthy of it. That is so crazy. Dad, look at your hands, and just remember, that's the same power Jesus used to create the earth and the heavens and everything in between.

Life is really so great. The cookies were AMAZING! You guys are so good a baking stuff.

Well... time's almost run out. Tell the family hello and tell them I love them and I miss them tons!

And just remember Christ this time of year. He is the only reason we have anything we have. I love you all so very much and I'll write you in one week from now!

-Elder D. Taylor.

ps. They said it doesn't really snow in Neuquen, but it's humid and cold and windy, so I'll be cold, but no snow.  hasta luego!

OK, so here is Elder Dakota Taylor's Email from December 2nd, 2010.  He is very good about writing and sending email.  I will be posting some more stuff so stay tuned...

Hello all.

 

This is Elder Taylor... Weekly report... ha ha

 

It's been a pretty good week. Did sealing sessions in the temple this morning. Just got back. It was super great. But missionaries can only be children. No husbands or fathers or anything. ha ha but that's ok. It was super bomb. Manti was a ton better though... ha ha

 

On Tuesday night, Julie Beck came and talked to us. She did super great. She's a very nice lady. Knows lots about Brazil.

 

Spanish is coming pretty good. We had this "english fast" since Saturday but it was impossible because we're not fluent enough, but yeah... it is kinda nuts. Not sure how to describe how hard it is to only speak Spanish for 7 days. Needless to say, we didn't. =) but we're trying our best!

 

I love getting your letters. You guys are so great! and the packages are sooo wonderful. =) 

I just love ya guys.

 

Elder Brad Pew and his district left on Monday. That was super sad. There were some amazing guys in that district. I'm suprised at how awesome Brad turned out to be. He was a really really nice guy!

 

I saw Marie Ricks one day but I wasn't close enough to say hi...but i saw her!

 

My classroom is where I spend most of my life. ha ha.   I am only in our room at night to sleep and to change for gym. All the other times we're in our building and specifically usually our classroom. Just in case you were...wondering? ha ha it's like right by the backside of some grocery store or something in Provo.  So if you ever get lonely, you can come stare at my building... ha ha ha um...

 

I wouldn't mind you guys sending me my priesthood line of authority... they said that the people I baptize and confirm would really appreciate it.

 

Oh! and if you ever get bored, go watch Stephanie Nielson "my new life" on mormon.org. It's so sad! But super motivational. Kinda crazy how much she changed... she also has a blog somewhere. But we can't see it... ha ha ha oh and watch the movie "let us be men" on mormon.org too. Super great.

 

There isn't a whole lot to tell you guys... all i do all day is study, learn spanish, learn the gospel.  Eat too much. Go run a mile or so in the gym, and sleep at night...

I can't believe it's been over a month already. The days seem likes years long, but the weeks seem like days.... it's so crazy. My internal clock is crazy!

 

Not sure what to say... I see Jaxson a lot. We have the same food schedule. I've seen Kendall Stauffer a lot too. Saw Don yesterday. No crutches but he was limping. He's such a funny kid. I think he's super glad to finally be here.

 

I'm gonna make a poster for you and send you it today. You have to follow the directions to make it to match the one we have. ha ha ha it's sooo cool. you'll love it!!!

 

I guess just to finish, I wanna say I love you guys a ton  =) 

 

Everyone in my zone is super fun most of the time, but nothing like MY friends and family. =) You guys are the greatest. I love you so so so so much.

 

Talk to you soon!

 

Elder Dakota E. Taylor

 

ps. Everyone in my zone is learning about you guys and they think you are so awesome. =) anyways... ha ha don't get cocky.

 

Oh! Advice for your life from Brother Luellen of our branch presidency:

"Take advantage of every opportunity!"  You don't know when you'll get another chance at something, so take advantage of it while you can! That's what I'm doing with my mission. Don't ever be afraid to bear your testimony either. There is nothing as powerful as that. Love you all!!!!!!!!!

Just a note from MOM.  I am not so quick at posting this stuff from Dakota.  I have been keeping up with writing him, just not doing the fastest posting on this blog.  So I am posting a bunch of stuff this weekend.  I am starting with this Thanksgiving email he sent because I love it so much!  And because that is the next one in order.  So watch this weekend, cuz I am getting it all up to date.  Only 18 more days until he goes to Neuquen to enjoy the 70+ degree weather in Argentina!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today has been kinda stressful because I don't really get a p-day.  It's all Thanksgiving stuff.  I woke up at 5:30 to do laundy and stuff.  Gay.  But, it was well worth it.  We just had this devotional from Elder Jeffery R. Holland.  It was... amazing. I wish you could hear the words he spoke to us today.  I just wanna mention a few things:

We know that WE love the Savior with all our hearts, but, do you know how much the Lord loves you? He knows you. He knows you by your first names. He knows every problem you've had and every one you're going to have.  When He was in the garden, suffering for our sins, He took upon himself the pains and afflictions and temptations and EVERYTHING we would EVER have.  Not just your spiritual pains. your mental pains. your PHYSICAL pains. Any tear you ever cry, he felt it in the garden.   He knows you by your FIRST name.  I have a testimony of that. Read Luke 12:8.   It's a good scripture. 

And read Alma 34 before you ask for things in your prayers.  It says that when you ask for things in prayer, and yet in life you ignore those of less fortune than you have, the needy, the poor, etc., your cries unto the Lord are in vain.   For why should He help you, when you don't help anyone else?   Just remember that.   Always think of others.   Have with you the love and charity of Christ.

I miss you like crazy.  But this is where I want to be.   I am so excited for everything in the next 2 years to happen.

Anyways, I just wanna say life is good. Sometimes frustrating, but we just need to remember that our afflictions shall be but a small moment (D&C 121).

God is always here for us. you just have to open your dang eyes and ears and hear what it is he is saying to you!

I love you so much. Tell the family I love them. Tell all my friends I love them.  Because I do.

I want you Mom, Dad, Jessica, anyone who will ever read this, to know that anything I've ever been given,  I can trace to another person giving it to me. Thank you. Thank you for playing the role you played in my life that helped me become who I am today.  I'm not perfect.  But I know that through the Lord I can be.  Yes, even ME.  Because He has the power to do anything, and I will rejoice in my God for all eternity.  Remember to thank those people in your life who have given you something.   And remember that you've given me something I'll never forget.  I love you.  I love you so much.

May God bless you as you go about doing good for others.

Elder Dakota E. Taylor

Dear Mom,
I love you guys so much.  Your daily letters are so much fun to read.  I love to just relax and think about other things than Spanish and how I need to study 10 million things a day. =)

Everything is really good.

I am really picking up Spanish great.  Everything is easier when the Lord is on your side! 

 

There are these two sisters that are really fun and nice to me and my companion.  One of them reminds me of Annie... her name is Amber.

 

Ask Casey if he knows a Gadoy or some way of spelling that, from Brazil, Sao Paulo North. He is in the First Quorum of the Seventy and his daughter is one of our teachers. She knows President Ellis.  Anyways! Everything is going great. 

 

I'll look through your letters and respond to some of your more pressing questions in more detail. 

 

Oh!!! mom, i need you to go to missionary mall and get me my sewing thing cause i never got it... i got the converter but no sewing kit... muy mal. Oh and while you're there, please buy me another yellow and white stripped tie cause this kid wants one and I'm gonna trade it to him for another tie. Long story, just send one please!!!  I'll love you forever. um... yeah. ha ha that's all!

 

I love you guys tons. Make sure to tell Brother Matt Barlow, the new 2nd counselor, that he is a very wonderful person. 

 

I'm not sure of anything else, but look for my letter... it'll be comming soon.  Please, no more junk food, unless it's like super special or something. I appreciate your constant love towards me though. You two are the greatest parents in the world. 

 

Yo sé que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor. Este iglesia es verdadera. Thomas S. Monson es un Profeta verdadera también. Yo sé. Ustedes estan muy importante de mi. Le amo. siempre requerdan.

 

My spelling may be a little off... but yeah. If you and dad wanna send me spanish stuff... use small words, or any gospel related terms. cause i know all of those. =) 

 

Tell everyone I love them very much. 

 

Oh, and when you get a dog, please keep it out of my room... or at least box up my stuff first. =) 

 

Have fun with everything you do because this life is far too short and precious to not make every moment the best moment that you can!!!

 

Dios nos ama. y le amo.

 

-Elder Dakota E. Taylor

 

PS. i might not have the cleanest room back home, but we have been awarded the cleanest district in the building. Yeah, woot woot. Bet you didn't see that comming. I make my bed every day. =) Sorry it took me so long to get it right. <3 !!!!

This is a real letter from Dakota. So nice!

Ok.  So here are the highlights of the letter we just received.  WOW.  Mondays are going to be a day to look forward to!  I look at my brick mailbox in a whole new way!  So here goes:

Dear Mom and Dad,

I've been dying to write you guys back!  The dearelder.com place works like a dream.  I enjoy receiving letters from you so, ya...spread the word. My packages are great!  I love you guys!  However, no more gum and no more  Mountain Dew.  They say missionaries don't chew gum so  ha ha I can't chew it.  Also, less candy...ha ha. I got a lot from you with no time to eat it.  I'm busy every day from 6:00 AM to 9:45 PM.  So I only have like 30 min to eat candy before bed.

I'm so tired all the time, but it's so worth it.  Life here is really fun. I'll send some pictures next week.  No time this week.  My companion is the bomb and one of my roommates is very similar to Spencer Pluid. 

Last Tuesday night, November 2nd, we had Elder M. Russell Ballard come talk to us about how to be good communicators.  :)  Maybe you are a little jealous.  You should be!  

My district all joined the choir.  It's way fun!  2 Elders in our district went home...sad day.  I'm not leaving though, so don't worry.

Everyone made fun of me because I currently have the record for most packages and letters received.  My companion is in 2nd place.  Ya, we're cool.  My Branch President asked me during our first interview ever, "Elder Taylor, are you always smiling and happy?"  The spirit here is usually just awesome!

Can't wait to see Jaxson.  I think he's gonna like it here.  I'm so glad you guys are going to the temple.  Nothing will make your lives more enjoyable that that.  I promise that if you haven't noticed positive change yet, you will. I am glad you are reading Jesus the Christ.  I am reading Our Search for Happiness.  Me and Jaxson may be in the same building/floor for our classroom, which is where we spend most of our lives. I think that is most everything!

I love you tons!  Tell EVERYONE Hi!!!

Love You!      -Elder D. Taylor

WE GOT A LETTER! OUR FIRST ONE!

Monday afternoon, right when I got home from school, there was a letter from Elder Dakota Taylor!  YES!  We have so been waiting to hear from him.  The letter was one of those fill in the blanks type of letters that they had for them so they could get the word home that they were ok and stuff but it was only a paragraph.  That is so fine! 

His companion is Elder Higgs from Kaysville.  He went to Davis High School, but he was not in the band.  (Thank heavens! For those of you who are unfamiliar, Davis High and American Fork High are HUGE rivals in the Marching Band World and American Fork most always wins.)

He said that he can only receive letters while in the MTC, no email.  The best way to write him is through www.dearelder.com.  You need to know that his MTC Mailbox is #297 and you need to know the code for his mission.  ARG-NUE 1228  Then you can go to your computer, type in a letter and they will print it off and hand deliver it to the MTC.  This will change when he leaves the MTC for Argentina, so I will update you on this at that time.

He said that good ole phrase, "All is well."  And the last thing he mentioned was not to send any gum.  I am not sure why.  He said it was a long story...
   He signed it by saying,   Audios  -Elder D. Taylor

So that is all for now.  We will see what happens next.  His P-day is on Thursdays, so I bet all his letters will arrive on Mondays.  I will post them as soon as I can after that.  All I can say is that it is a very great privlege and honor to have a missionary and I am looking forward to supporting him these next two years.  What a wonderful blessing!

Well it has been just over 24 hours since we dropped Dakota off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo.  It was a beautiful fall day, but there was lots of mud due to the construction.  As you drive in they guide you to a parking space next to the sidewalk, kinda like at the airport.  As Dakota's dad was taking the luggage out of the trunk there were about six Elders on hand to help out.  One of them started getting the handle pulled up on the luggage and was ready to leave and we hadn't even hugged Dakota goodbye for one last time.  The Elders were handsome and funny and Dakota was smiling and it was sunny and warm and everything went well.  We managed to grab a hug and he was off.  Dakota's sister said it was kinda like he got kidnapped by some very nice people and that we knew he was fine but we can't see him or talk to him.  As soon as we get some news from the MTC we will post it here.  Thanks for stopping by!

The journey officially begins on October 27.