August 25, 2011

Dear Everyone,

I am having a great time here in Lake Havasu. We are working hard. It is supposed to be up in the 120's this coming up week. Haha. Yeah, mom, the London Bridge is out in the middle of the town. It goes from the main part of the town out to a large island out in the middle of the lake. It is really cool. They have some of the most awesome boats I have ever seen. And because it is a retirement community mostly they(boats) are every where. But, it makes tracting hard because there is no telling where there are people actually living in the houses because there are so many snow birds. We have a good bit of investigators. But, we are trying to put a family mission plan in place so that we can find more.

Why are you going to see Elder Holland?

Ok, so my mission president is really cool, i think. I only got to talk to him for like 2 mins. Because I am out of the Las Vegas Valley we do not get to go to the meetings that they have in at the mission home, or go to the temple with the rest of the guys i came in with, or go to the new missionary conference. But, it is going well so far:). Please tell lils not to send me letters anymore telling me how much she misses me. Haha. I started crying.

Oh, and I have lost a little weight. haha :)

There are one other set of missionaries here. They are really cool. We see them a good bit. Ha. The Levi's are really nice. We live in one of their bedrooms. They have a son on a mission and one living at home still. They have a total of 9 kids. The youngest is the one on the mission. They all served missions. They are kinda quite but he is a gun smith. He has awesome guns. They are so cool.

I love all of y'all. People laugh because I say "yes, ma'am" so much!

Lake Havasu City, Arizona---August 18, 2011

Hey, so I am here. Ok, I am on p-day now.

My address is 2711 Plaza Verde Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86406

Hey, send a message to Kelsey and Carolina and Logan and Matt and Megan on my facebook with my address please MC-Hammer. Ohh, and if you could get Travis' email for me. That would be nice thanks.

My trainer is named Elder Clason. He is a cool guy. He went to SVU and played football for them. I never thought I would be the smaller of the companionship. First time, haha. But I am taller. We are in the most southern area, haha. It gets to 120 here every once in a while. But, the heat has not been bad at all. I think it is kinda pleasant outside, but that is just me, haha. Maybe I am just a little weird.

We have not been able to meet with many of the investigators but there are two that are very interested and seem like they will join in the next month hopefully. Also, a girl that is 9 in a part member family that has a date set already, so hopefully that date stays. We have spent a lot of time trying to get to know a lot of the ward leaders. My companion does not have driving privileges, so I get to drive :) Haha! That should help our relationship. Haha It is weird, though. I have never had to count miles so exact. Everywhere we go is based on the miles that we have. Haha! I have to get used to it.

I have had a lot of fun so far. I cant wait to get into a real lesson. We were able to teach some what of a lesson to some people that we went and visited, but not really.

Please mail me some pictures of the whole family thanks.

Lake Havasu City is really pretty you can see the lake from almost anywhere in the city. Haha! It is really cool. But it is the hottest place in Arizona and the hottest place in the mission. Haha! lucky me!

Mission President's Letter to Family when Elder Zachary arrives in the Mission Field!

Dear Zachary Family,

I am happy to inform you that Elder Zachary arrived in Las Vegas with a smile on his face and a wonderful spirit. Thank you for preparing him to serve the Lord. We will do our best to build on what you have taught him by incorporating the principles of missionary work found in Preach My Gospel. When his service is finished he will be a stronger person with a deep commitment to the Lord.

We hope as you write or email him weekly to express your love, that you will also encourage him to live up to the commitments he made when he accepted this call. Missionary work is hard, and many times it is discouraging. Your letters of encouragement and love will help him continue to work hard and be happy. If problems arise at home we hope you will be thoughtful about what you share, so as not to distract his attention from the work. If you detect any continuing problems through his letters, please write or email me if you feel we can help.

Phone calls to family members occur two times a year, on Mother’s day and on Christmas day. As you can imagine, many people visit or pass through Las Vegas. We follow the church guidelines that there be no visits from family or friends. Visits are difficult for missionaries as their focus is interrupted. Please do not ask your missionary to see you or friends while he is serving. Please help your missionary live the mission rules including calling only on the designated days.

Finally, the missionaries are provided a monthly allowance that covers their needs. This mission has some of the most generous members of the church. In most areas the missionaries are scheduled in a member home for dinner every evening. Please help your missionary learn to live on a budget. Don’t supplement him with unnecessary funds. If an unexpected expense or emergency comes up he will email you.

Your love and support are so important to his success. He will be blessed as he is obedient and he will be happier. Again we thank you for your faith in sending your son out to serve the Lord.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Neider, President

NEVADA LAS VEGAS MISSION

Leaving the MTC for Vegas, August 16, 2011

This morning around 9:00 AM Central time Taylor called from the airport in SLC just prior to getting on the plane for a 36 minute flight to Las Vegas. I was so happy to hear his voice. He is very happy and can't say enough good about it all. He said that the food was so-so, but very anticipated throughout the day. He lost the 4 pounds he said he gained in the first 4 days! He wanted to know about Logan (his friend from high school who had a church tour on Sunday). He is super excited to share the gospel with Logan.

He said church was great in the MTC, but very different. His Branch President while there was a man over all the Institutes of Religion in all of the world for the church. How cool is that? He said Sunday's were very spiritual.

Taylor couldn't talk long because the other Elders needed to use the phone. I so wanted to be selfish and say that was their problem, but I knew how hurt I would be if Taylor didn't have time to call.......so.......I let my baby get off the phone, knowing that I won't be able to talk to him until December 25! That was not easy! I had to make sure he was happy, and when I was satisfied he was I got off the phone.

Alex had been on a 3-way with us and so after Taylor hung up we were still connected and after hearing me cry for a few moments he quietly said....."Mama, are you ok?" What sweet boys I have. I sure do love them.

So, my missionary is somewhere in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight, being loved and supported by his mission president and the mission president's wife. I know they will take excellent care of him. I am so thankful for them and the Lord for watching over my sweet baby.

August 15, 2011

Yes, I leave tomoorrow and I can call you mom.

Tell Logan that I will be calling early so if he wants to talk to me to be at our house if you want. I leave the airport at like 8:45 here, so I will have to call before that.

This place is awesome. I dont have a calling or anything to be a leader, but I have found that if you are a good example and love the people then you can lead them to do good. The younger groups are some of the coolest guys that I know. We have a blast and really grown to love each other. I am going to miss them a lot. I look up to a lot of them. My companion is an amazing guy. Oh yeah, you wanted to know who was going to my mission. Well they are Driggs, Alonzo, Greogory and he wants to hear dad's conversion story. and Sorensen. This place has really taught me how to love in different ways. I have felt the Spirit here more then any other place ever.

I love hearing about all the good stuff at home. Because I will be calling tomorrow, this is all I am going to write.

love Taylor

Elder Zachary

August 8, 2011

This week has been great. Right after I wrote yesterday (last week) I was able to go to the temple. Tell Lils that I will send a letter today. I am only supposed to write letters on p-day which is Monday and one of the elders in my district are going to write her too. Here is a list of my district because i have received plenty of letters. Keep them coming.

Elder Alonzo- he is my roomate and has the disire to be here and knows this is where he needs to be. In D&C 4:3-4 it says that if you have to desire to serve then you have been called to this work. I love him and our teachig is getting better. He is from New Jersey and is Filipino . i know thats not spelled right (it wasn't!)

Elder Driggs- he is my best friend and roommate. He has a greater testimony than I think that he can even see but we can all see it. I am able to relate to him like no one ever in his life, according to him. I love him and I have meet him once at byui. We played basketball. He is from Dallas.

Elder Kiser- he is a great man...a little metro, but just about the coolest and happiest guy ever. I love him, too. Every time you look at him he is smiling. He is from Oregon.

Elder Gregory- I have had the opportunity to talk to him and help him through so problems that he is having. He is like you, Dad. He joined the church two years ago and is having problems, but he has come such a long way. I love him, too. Hey, Mom, you should send him a "Dear Elder". He does not get too much mail and is kinda sad about it. Dad, you, too. I think you could relate to him, but he is a lot smarter than you were when you came out.

Elder Smoot - this is the greatest man i know. He has such a testimony and a love for others....just needs to love himself

Elder Sorensen- Beaumont, Neederland

Elder Babka- Draper Utah; district leader

Then there are the zone leaders. They are both great men and great elders and define the word elder (deffender of the faith) Elder Killpack and Elder Larsen. I have begun to love them greatly.

I am running out of time, but i love all of y'all very much

I am about to go to the temple. Last night was the most spiritual experience of my life so this is going to be great.

P.S. send the missionaries to Logan please. love you.

First Email from the MTC--August 1, 2011

Dear Mom,

Please make sure my address is on Facebook. I have only gotten one letter and one package so far which kinda sucks. (Don't know why...we have sent him tons of "dear elders"!!!)

Anyway, so I have learned a lot. I preatty much have the best district ever. I know one of the kids from byui we are having a good time but I have figured out why everyone else hates this place haha. After a little while it gets really boring. There is way to much food here though I have gained like 4 pounds which is almost a pound a day. And the thing about it is the food is really not that good but it is so good at the same time. My companion is a good guy we dont have a whole lot in common. He is from New Jersey. We are learning how to teach and he is a little behind on a lot of the doctorine but we are getting there. I love Elder Alonzo though. We have one elder that is one of the coolest guys i know....he is awesome. He designed me a house in our devotional. He is the smallest guy i have ever met in my life. He is a normal hight but weighs about 115, but i dont know if i believe him. I think he is a hundred with wet pants.

Tell all the girls that i love them.

love Elder Zachary

Love all of y'all a lot. Have a good week.

First Letter From the MTC--received Saturday, July 30

Dear Mom:

The MTC is great. I feel very prepared, believe it or not. My companion Elder Alonzo is a great guy. We are really enjoying study time. Who would ave thought. The food is alright, too. There are four other missionaries going to Vegas with me. All are really great guys. I am missing two of my shots. There is a pink slip telling which ones. The Hep A might be at the Idaho Clinic. Please fax it to the number on the slip. Love you and the rest of the family.

Love,

Elder Zachary