Happy September!

Hello!

Well, it's been a better week! The weather held up pretty well and we managed to find some more investigators, so that was good. It's been perfect weather.... But, the winter is coming and we can sense it.. so we're enjoying it while it lasts... 

Anyways, this week, on Wednesday, we were invited to a Wednesday night activity in preparation for a ward Helping Hands project. So I guess the project has something to do with working in a nursing home where there are people with Dementia and Alzheimer's, so I guess it was a little training on how we can work with these people and what we can do if they have some sort of symptomatic problem. I don't know, I'm assuming it won't be bad haha. Anyways, then I got sick on Thursday with a nasty cold, so we had to stay inside to get rid of my fever, then we were back at it on Friday! We went over to Amager after district meeting and helping the Amager elders find some investigators because they were sitting pretty dry...We taught a few lessons and managed to find 2 or 3 new investigators for them in just a couple hours, so that was definitely successful! On Tuesday, we found a new African investigator and an investigator couple. So we're getting stuff moving, and we're going to push forward this week, so we're looking forward to some more success..

We've seen a lot of progress in the missionary efforts in the ward as well. There are 8 missionaries in the ward so I think we're helping to build the ward the best we can. We've been working with the bishop a lot more and his ideas/plans have been working well, so hopefully we can get some more members reactivated and involved in missionary work. 

Anyways, I'll leave ya with a picture and scripture (rhymes). It's Helaman 5:12."12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." Make sure that your foundation is always centered upon Christ, because we all fall, and when you do fall, you don't want the storms and whirlwinds to carry you out into sea. The Savior is always there to help you putty up the cracks in your foundation. Rely on Him. 

I love you all! Have a good week! Oh! Expect pictures from a Football Club København game this next week! :)

MKH, 

Ældste Taylor Howes

Back to Work!

Hey Everyone!

Well, I'm finally back to work! It's rough but awesome jumping back into things. I haven't been so exhausted in my life! But, we had some good things happen this week. Because we were out all week the week before, we had almost nothing planned this week but to find. So that's what we decided to do. As usual, we had some pretty good conversations and got a couple potential investigators, and one new investigator, so it went pretty well. We just have to find someone who actually wants to make an effort to progress towards baptism. I sadly have not seen that in quite awhile, so hopefully we can find someone this week or the near future, but it's coming along! 

This week, I was able to celebrate my birthday! I spent it with a member and I had some other members give me some gifts, including a Denmark Olympic shirt! I got a pic of it, I'll attach it into the email. Elder Fairbanks has been a really good companion. We've been getting along really well and we've had a lot of fun out knocking doors. OH! STORY!

This week, we were knocking doors, and we knocked on this door of a house. It was my companion's turn to take the lead, so he says his thing, then the 80 year old man with a walker screams, "GET OUT!" Then my companion starts running away, then I play it cool and chill there and ask him what's wrong. I tend to do this because I'm truly curious as to why people hate me when they've never talked to me before. Anyways, he then ditches his walker, approaches me, curses at me and tells me to get out again. I'm just sitting there asking what's wrong. He says, "This is my property, and I asked you to leave." Then he an 80 year old man slugs me in the shoulder with all his might and I just took a step back and took an inch closer to him and said, "Well, you have a nice day." It didn't hurt obviously. It may sound like I tried to provoke him, but trust me, I didn't haha he was just really mad. My mission president kinda taught us not to run away at that moment either, so I had fun and did what I'm asked! It made for a good story. 

Well, anyways, that's my week. :) Keep holding to the iron rod and I can't wait to talk next week! I love and miss you all!

MKH, 

Æ. Taylor Howes

Happy birthday to Taylor!

Good day!

My birthday luckily fell on a P-day! Although, I can't really party too hard because I'm still on the recovery climb. At least I got to email though, right?

Well, this week really wasn't eventful at all. I wasn't allowed to proselyte or do much of anything but sleep, eat and take walks to the grocery store. So we had the Restoration videos on repeat inside the apartment. What a joy! I'm supposed to be able to work tomorrow, so that's where I'm going to start. Hopefully I can get a full day in, but we'll see. I'll try my hardest anyways! In the meantime, the ward has really taken care of me and done their best to help me out. I've been treated pretty well, so I can't complain too much.

However, when one sits around, they really miss missionary work. I couldn't even believe how much I wanted to get out and do something. I think this little break gave me an idea of how I want to do the last quarter of my mission. It's probably what I needed to see, which is why it all happened, but I'm glad it's over with. :)

Other than that, that's my week. Really fun, I know! I hope you all have a good week and thanks for all the birthday wishes! I love and miss you all tons! :)

MKH, 

Æ. Taylor Howes

Appendicitis

Hey!

Well, I'm sure you all know that I was in the hospital for a few days. I'm glad to be out now! After all that surgery, my appendix is out and it only goes uphill from here. One of the office elders said to me as I was walking slower than Grandpa Joe out of the hospital, "One small step for man, one giant step for mankind." So I guess that's been my motto through all this. Just putting one foot in front of the other! But I tell you what, it was an adventure. 

Thanks to all of your thoughts and prayers. That was definitely what got me through the rough times at the hospital. My mission president was a real trooper though. I learned a lot about that man and he really helped me out a lot during that ordeal. I've got a lot of people helping me here, so I've been taken care of really well and will continue to be taken care of. I'm doing well and I might still be down this Monday when I email again! I hope I get to celebrate my birthday the right way.!

Thanks for you love, care and support! :) 

Love, 

Æ. Taylor Howes

18.07.2016

Hey!

This week was alright! The weather has been pretty unfortunate for us. Just cloudy, cold, rainy. I didn't think I'd have to break out my North Face jacket that I wore in the winter in North Carolina.. Sad stuff, but it's alright! It's been good nonetheless!

Anyways, because we're still in the period of the Danish summer vacation, a lot of our investigators are gone, giving us not much to work with. Although, we have been out finding still. Because a lot of people are off on vacation, not many people are home, so we've just been really trying to focus on prayer and seeking after answers of where we should go to find the elect. We did that one day and the first door we knocked, we found another family! A mother and two older teenage daughters. The two daughters are interested in the YSA program in Copenhagen, so that will be good to get them involved. When we gave them a Book of Mormon, one of those daughters was ANXIOUS to read it. It was really cool to see. Hopefully we see some more success with that family! Other than that, to fill our time, we're out knocking on some doors! :) While doing so, I snagged a cool beach pic! I'll attach it.

I found an interesting scripture this morning that was really applicable to me. It's In Alma 26:22, It says, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed;" I've seen this week what the power of prayer does. The Lord will really whisper in our ears, in our hearts the answers to our prayers. I hope everyone uses this tool the way it's intended to be used, Look at Joseph Smith. Because he was abounding in good works, reading scriptures and exercising his faith by praying, he was able to be the Lord's tool in bringing forth a great miracle - proof that God speaks to his children today. That same miracle is available to us all, regardless of whether you're Muslim, Jewish, Mormon, you name it. The Lord does speak to us and through him, we're able to bring miracles for ourselves and others. Just pray and do what you're supposed to. It's actually quite simple and can take 5 seconds!

I love you all!

Æ. Taylor Howes

Rutschebanen! {Roller Coaster}

Kære venner!

I hope everyone had a good week! This week has been dumping rain, and unfortunately my umbrella broke back in the dreary winter and I left my rain jacket at Zone Training this week, so it's been a wet week! I did find an umbrella laying around the apartment, so that's been a lifesaver for now.. But my week started off good!

Some people in the district went to Tivoli! Everyone in the district was invited, but they assumed it be packed and too expensive... To their surprise it was actually relatively empty and discounted because the senior couples had season passes! Their loss. That place was really cool! I officially rode the world's oldest, non renovated roller coaster in the world! It's called Rutschebanen! Pretty fun stuff. It was nice to be in Tivoli. A lot of cool, fun little rides. It's an OLD amusement park but it's pretty classy. It's a must-see for sure! I got a few pics of it!

I has the opportunity to go on splits to Amager this week! Amager is South Copenhagen where the airport is. It was pretty fun. We contacted around parks and did some service for a member. It was pretty fun. The rain held off too, so that was a big plus.

This week, we found a super positive investigator. It may seem like a normal account for any other mission, but here, this happens once in a blue moon. Anyways, we were led to knock another pretty wealthy neighborhood, and we knocked on several doors but no one was really interested or gave us the time of day. Then we knocked on this one door and no one came to the door. We stood there for like 2 minutes and we kinda just felt like we should stay there. So we stood there for a few more minutes and I texted some people, then an older lady walks up and out of nowhere and asked who we were. We explained we're out talking about the purpose of life and what not. Eventually it turned into a 30 minute discussion about life after death and truths from God. We gave her a Book of  Mormon, invited her to read it and pray, and she is extremely eager to find out if what we were saying really was true. Some questions, promised blessings and the Spirit moved her to accept that invitation, but she even recognized as she said, "a special spirit about us." She even mentioned that we are two men from God. It was quite weird and miraculous, but incredible just to see one person who was truly open and humble enough to recognize what God truly wants her to do. It was pretty cool!

Anyways, I love and miss you all! Have a great week!

Med Kærlig Hilsen,

Æ. Taylor Howes

Glædelig Fjerde Juli!

Glædelig Fjerde Juli, Uafhængihedsdag!! (Happy Fourth of July!)

I hope everyone had a great week. I did! I'm not entirely sure what happened this week because it seemed to fly right by. We did have a good week though. It rained quite a bit and that was miserable, but in the meantime, we decided to know some huge beach houses and that actually came down to be pretty positive! The Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons tend not to knock in rich areas because they assume the responses to be no, but when you bring the truth and the spirit, the reality is actually some yes responses. It's not easy, but rewarding. Just because they're rich live great lives as is doesn't mean they shouldn't hear the gospel! :)

We did although teach another lesson with a half American family and the father decided to pray and see if our message and the Book of Mormon is true. We witnessed him pray for the first time in 20 years and it was truly something special! He's pretty positive, but may take a little bit of time, but he's 100% committed to find the church to be true!

In sad news, a Danish branch and area shut down this week because of the lack of members. That's too bad! It was a beautiful area. It's in Silkeborg, Jylland. I spent quite a lot of time over there on splits. I guess the church building is getting sold! Sad to see...

It's Independence day, so there's no better time for a patriotic spiritual thought. I know it's long, but just read it haha. Your idea of the country will change forever. There's a few verses in 2 Nephi 1:4-9. It's some revelation given to Lehi. He said, "4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished. 5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. 6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. 7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever. 8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. 9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever." We're absolutely blessed to be a part of a land God promised to his children that left Jerusalem. I've even had some Danes (non-members), that when I have said I'm from the USA, they'd say, "Wow, God's own land!" People already know it, somehow. We're one nation, under God and that won't change unless we do. Make sure we are following the commandments and doing the things we need to to preserve our country, and God will do the rest. If we do so, God promises that no other land will take over our land. Quite powerful! How blessed are we? (Really blessed) :)

Have a great week, I love you all! Watch some fireworks for me!

MKH,
Æ. Taylor Howes

PS: My comp snagged a random pic, but my jacket is red and blue while my shirt is white. #USA