Taylor Patterson - Reno, NV Mission

Hey Friends!! Well this week was probably one of the hardest weeks of my mission. I have been stuck inside since last Monday. I guess this hand, foot, and mouth disease is super contagious so they didn't want me getting people sick. The symptoms are finally starting to go away thank goodness because I am tired of laying around inside having nothing to do. We did however have a pretty cool miracle this week though. A 16 year old texted us out of no where and said how she has been having friends meet with missionaries and she wants to meet with us also. She said how she is super excited and wants to join the church so that is pretty cool!! So funny story that I never added in my emails. A couple of weeks ago we were teaching a family and then out of no where 4 cop cars pulled up. They told us to leave and we just awkwardly walked outside. It was hilarious but weird, so we haven't been back there since. I hope everyone is doing great!!  My spiritual message is from

Hey Everyone! I am pretty sick so this email wont be too long. I have hand, feet, and mouth disease so that is way fun! We had zone conference this week and it was really good. We focused on goals and the importance of making effective plans to reach our goals.  We have been working on cleaning out our teaching pool, meaning everyone who isn't progressing we are dropping them from our teaching pool. Elder Lasalosi and I have been teaching some pretty good lessons and he is doing good for only being out like 10 days! I am loving the mission even when I am sick. I hope everyone is doing well! Miss you all have a good week!!! Taylor

Hey Friends!!! This week has been a busy week!! We had a lot of lessons and I got my new companion. His name is Elder Lasalosi. He is originally from a tiny island by Tonga called Eua!!! He is a very nice missionary and I am looking forward to training him! This past week we taught some very powerful lessons to a couple of the people we are teaching. We have had a 9 year old on date for baptism for the 25th of January and now her mom also wants to be baptized!!! So we taught the commandments and she accepted the invitation to keep them so we are excited for them. We are hoping they can make the change and follow their Savior we are pumped to help them progress even more! 4 of the nonmembers came to church that we have been teaching and they loved it so we are hoping to continue teaching them all!! I am really enjoying the mission life, immersing my heart and mind in the missionary work has been so fun and makes everything way better!! My scripture this week is from

Hey Everyone!!! Hope everyone had a safe and a Happy New Years Day! We had transfers this week I am still the district leader in the same area and I am also going to be a trainer!! I find out who my new companion is tomorrow I am super excited to train again!  We were out doing missionary work New Year's Eve and people were already drunk and partying at 2 pm, it was pretty funny. Then New Year's Day people were very hungover it was a good time lol. We had 10 nonmembers at church this past week and it was so awesome!! We are hoping to put 3 of them on date for baptism this next week so that will be exciting!!  We also got to go to a baptism on Friday for Selisha and her son Pax. They were so excited to get baptized, it was a very spiritual day. I am loving the mission! Some days are hard because I do miss people, but the good days by far make up for the others!! I love the people we are teaching and the experiences I have on the mission. My spiritual mess