Yep, I'm heading out for the field this week. It’s so crazy that I can hardly believe it. I am so excited out of my mind!

LAST EMAIL FROM Guatemala MTC:  Saturday, September 8, 2012 9:57 AM

Dear Mom, and Dad, and Emilie, and Riley, and everyone else!

I am so glad you got Hermano Vasquez{s email! I wanted to wish you a happy birthday so bad yesterday, I was bummed that email was today instead of yesterday. But I thought the next best thing would be Hermano Vasquez. He is really the greatest teacher ever. I love him so much, he supports me, he teaches with the Spirit, and always gives very good advice. I love him as a friend. He actually knew Trevor Pïerce as well, so we have that connection too!

Yep, I{m heading out for the field this week. It’s so crazy that I can hardly believe it. I am so excited out of my mind!  President Nicolayson has been telling us all a little about our missions. He said Quetzaltenango has the most beautiful scenery, and landscape like Lake Atitlan and other places.  But he said that the North Mission has the most beautiful, loving, kind, strong people. He said the church is really strong in my area, and there are areas that speak absolutely no Spanish, so I am excited for that! Ha ha ha.

 

Let Nick know that I love him, and got his last email. I miss him, and wish him the best in Bulgaria. I know it is hard in Bulgaria, and I am praying for him every day. No mission is easy, and I know that his kind, loving spirit will somehow shine through to those people. They have had a rough past. But his message can make their lives infinitely better.  I respect him, and all the hard work he is putting into his mission. Miss ya dude!!!!!!!!!

I still have a few things I have to do before I actually head out on my mission. Fleas struck just recently on an Hermana, but none on me...yet. Ha ha ha. But they will give most of our instruction via our trainer. Seriously. They gave us a little info about that permetherin spray for our beds, but not much. I still need my Hep A booster, and I think we are getting a security seminar today, and a health seminar tomorrow.  I got my blue sueter, and I said goodbye to the storekeepers (they are so nice).

I am feeling a lot better from my sickness, but it persisted till monday, tuesday, so I was unable to go on the Proselyting activity this last week. I was super bummed, but it is better than feeling sick right when I start my mission!

 

Aunt Doni, no I havent really eaten anything that is nasty here, except a reallly REALLY REALLY spicy powder in my soup. Youch. Ha ha ha. Tell the girls I said hi as well! I appreciate the fast, and I love you all so much!

 
Aunt Missy, I just got your letters from August 13. I don{t exactly know why it took so long, but it was a great blessing, and I loved every single word from you, Tana, Gracie, and Joe!

Riley, I love your letters so much! And I am glad you{ve been reading the Eragon Series, and love Jr. High, and got your second class. I really believe that you will get your Eagle by the time I get home. Remember, eye on the prize. and trust me, it is a ton easier to finish when you are just starting. Don{t wait like I did! Ha ha ha.

Emilie! Have fun with Preston at Homecoming! He is a really great guy, and I am very glad he asked you! :) Dad, thank you so much for your letters and your support. I love you so much, and I hold to every word from your letters like I hold onto your Oreo cookies! Ha ha ha. Thank you so much for your almost weekly letters!!!! :)

 

And mom, once again happy birthday. I really wish I could have celebrated somehow, but I did my best to keep working. I couldn{t stop remembering you all day. I miss you. But I am happy with my work, and I am glad I am here. I don{t know if I deserve the title of Teancum Taylor. But if you insist, Teancum Taylor it is! Ha ha ha. Sometime, I hope to advance to Captain Moroni Taylor!

Well, just a few minutes left. Spiritual thought...um. OH! Ok, so do you know about the getting an egg into the bottle trick, well they used that the other day on us here in the CCM. I already knew the trick, but others didn{t and they thought it was really cool. Like a miracle. And then we were taught that miracles are the natural result of the correct application of true principles.  Over time, as we experience the miracle of having prayers answered and applying other principles of the gospel, we begin to have more of a perfect knowledge that these principles and truths are all true! Miracles are normal occurances if we just trust they will happen, and act on them.

 

Well I got a few minutes left. I love you all. Thank you so much for the letters and all the
support that you guys are giving me. Start forwarding letters to the mission home. OH and I got number 2 letter mom. Oh, and one more cool thing. We watched a devotional by Elder Scott. He blessed all the missionaries within his voice with an extra blessing of the gift of tongues. I believe it, because I have been definately getting extra help this past week. Well, I gotta go. I LOVE you all so much!!!!!!!!!!! You too Kami, Katrina and Becky!

Love Elder Welker