It's Been a While

Hey everyone!

It's been a while! Thought you might be ready for an update.

I am officially slowing down from doctor visits. I had another colonoscopy and EGD (that was a new one) a little while ago. They found that I have stomach ulcers as well as (they think) IBS. So that's what I'm living with as of now. They still have no idea what caused the ischemic colitis, but they cannot find an answer. So we are just hoping it doesn't ever come back. I'm now only seeing doctors every 3 months, which is nice. It's better than every week.

I swear I had no idea what over half of the tests I had were. I have definitely had my medical brain expand! It is all very facinating on what they can do and how they do it and what they can find. It may not all be pleasant for the patient, but it is still incredible.

                                                        What I Have Been Doing:

I have been living with the most amazing family for the past few months (since July) and it has been so wonderful. I've been living as basically a live-in nanny to their two beautiful children and have loved every minute of it. Even though they may be a little crazy or drive me to exhaustion, I love it! They call me their "mother in training" and I feel the Lord placed me into their home for so many reasons, including that. They have helped me with my recovery and my return to home. Even though I was only out for a month, that is still a big transition to go from being out and focused 100% on the Lord and on other people to being focused on yourself again. This family has helped me so much. I feel that I am going to be a better mother because of them as well. I look up to this family so much in regards to basically every aspect of life, especially parenthood. They teach me that you don't need to be perfect, you just need to love the crap out of those kids of yours and how to draw boundaries and what to do when they are crossed, and how to do all of it with love in your heart, eyes, and hands. Because of this family and because of the Lord, I am here and doing better.

I have spent some time in California dog sitting for a family member. I was a little worried about being in a different state all by myself, but it has been such an incredible experience for me. I've had to learn how to take care of myself without the help of anyone else, because there literally is no one else. I don't know anyone in the area, my family is all over the country, and I have myself only. I have had to cook ALL of my meals and put all of the responsibility on myself to do things. I have had to clean all of the dishes, walk the dogs, make my bed, clean the bathroom, etc. all by myself. I have become self-reliant and have learned even more that I can do hard things. I have learned that I MAKE MY OWN HAPPINESS. I am really good at relying on others to make me happy, but that is not healthy nor practical.
Just yesterday I took myself on a bike ride into San Francisco and went around the city and biked all over, including an 11 mile trek to and from the Golden Gate Bridge. That shouldn't have been too hard, but considering recent events, I have not been as active as I would like to have been. That trek seemed symbolic to me because about half way I wanted to quit. I kept thinking about the trek back, and how badly I didn't want to continue. I thought about how tired I was and how exhuasted I would become if I continued. But I did. I kept going, I went up those hills, even though I had to walk some. While I was walking up those hills I felt a little discouraged and down on myself because I felt like I should have been able to bike those like some of the other people (including a very large old man), but I kept my focus on my destination. I biked to the bridge. I biked across the bridge. I couldn't stop laughing because I was just exuberant that I had made it. I looked back and saw where I had started and how far I had come and what I had to do to get there. The way back didn't even seem too hard. I was just so proud of that accomplishment, which leads me to my next point.

I have been struggling hard core with depression. This isn't always something that I would announce, but I'm hoping that my words will help someone else who is struggling. I realized that you cannot help unless you speak. While I was in the MTC, President Holland came and gave a devotional with the main message of "OPEN YOUR MOUTH". I have taken that to mean in everything, not just the gospel. How can I help someone if I don't open my mouth. So, here you go President Holland.

Depression sucks. And that is one of the main things I have been struggling with since I have been home. I finally feel like I am getting a grasp on everything again, but there are still hard days. I went into some really hard moments where I couldn't do anything but lie in bed and just wait for the day to be over. I had dark thoughts, including thoughts about ending my life. Obviously I didn't because I'm here writing this post, and I won't, but it was something that was really hard on me.
That journey I took to the Golden Gate Bridge, I feel, was symbolic of this struggle in life. I feel like I have reached this halfway point where I think there is no way I can continue. I feel I am too tired and I have no energy left in me. Those hills are too tall and steep and I can not make it. But I realized I don't need to take it at full speed, I can take it slow and walk up instead of bike up. I might see people passing me, but that is because that isn't their trial. Their challenge might be coming up ahead. I cannot judge myself based on others because we are all in different stages of life. I need to focus on myself and my ability to push past what I think I can do. I need to focus on where I am going to. And I know that when I reach that final destination, I can look back and see all of the hills I had to climb and how far I had to come, and realize that I HAD DONE IT. And I can do more.

                                                                What's Next:

I will be moving into Carriage Cove Apartments the beginning of December. I will have three roommates and many others in the complex. I am excited to see what else I learn and how I will grow from this experience.

I will start school in January. I'll be starting my senior year of the community health program at Utah Valley University and will graduate next December.

I plan to use this blog to blog moments and other things, and I am going to keep the same title because if I wasn't ever an Hermana, I don't think I'd ever be in these situations. I never would have moved in with this wonderful family. I don't think I'd be here in California having mind-opening experiences. I am not sure if I would have moved out. I would not have these growing moments if I didn't have that Hermana in front of my name for that short month. And while I may not still wear the badge, I can still be a missionary in all things. And that's what I plan to do.

With all my love,
Taylor

Mission and Doctor Update

Hey everyone,

I first wanted to get on here and say thank you. You all have been so helpful in this process and part of my life. I am so grateful for all that you have done. Thank you for your support, both with physical items or with emotional/spiritual support. Thank you for your guidance. Thank you for your words of wisdom. Thank you for your friendship.

I want to give you an update. I have been talking extensively with doctors since I have been home. They still have not figured out exactly what is wrong. I've done a few more tests, and have a few more tests yet to do. What they have decided is that I do not have a blood disorder, my organs are not being suffocated, and I do not have celiac disease. They are unsure if there is anything to find, but they are curious. We know what happened, we just want to know why and how to prevent it from happening again. Included in my discussions with doctors, we have talked about the option for me to go back on a mission. I am being encouraged to stay home, at least for the time being. The doctors are worried that if I go back, I will be right back home again. Whether it be for my anxiety or for my health, they think if I go back, my health won't be great again. I have been receiving emails from a friend on her mission, and she was telling her email list about her companion who was just recently sent home as well. As I have been reading these emails, I have realized that if I am not in my best health, both physically and mentally, I will be slowing the work and not being at my best ability to help and serve others. I would be making it hard on my companions and on my mission president and on all the ward members, investigators, and anyone else. I have prayed so so so hard about all of this and just feel that right now is not the right time for me to go back. Maybe I will go back in a year. Or maybe I'll get married. Who knows? All I know is that I am relying on the Lord and letting him direct my path. I will be re-entering school in January and am currently looking for jobs and once I have a job I will look for an apartment.

This has been an incredibly hard decision for me to make, and to be totally honest, I am still struggling with it. It is hard to make the decision to go on a mission, to prepare for that mission, be a missionary, then just come right back home to normal life and hope you find your way. It really is hard. And I wish I could be a missionary still and I struggle with the idea that I might not be again. But what I realized is that I can be a missionary everyday no matter where I am. And that is what I will do.

Thank you all for your donations and gifts and for all of your support. I am eternally grateful for you. I am so grateful for that month that I had to be a missionary, and I am grateful that I have a chance to grow and develop some more. I know the Lord has a plan and I know he will direct us in whichever way we are to go. I know the Lord's hand is in my life right now and I know that He loves me so much.

Thank you again everyone, I cannot say that enough.

With all of my love,
Taylor

Update #3

I had my second appointment with Dr. Midgley today. We discussed my little improvement, and she said that she was pretty bummed that I'm not feeling all the way better, but it also doesn't surprise her because she expected that it would take a little while to heal. We were discussing a few other conditions that I am having, and she wanted to do an EKG to ensure that my heart is functioning properly. I did the EKG, and everything looks totally normal, so my heart at least is healthy and strong. I also did the hypercoaguable workup (the blood test to see if it really is a blood disorder) today and will receive the results from that soon enough. My MRI results were good. Most of my arteries looked good, there were a couple that seemed to have a few problems, so they are watching those, but overall, it was good. Dr. Midgley did take away the timeline, she is no longer quite sure how long until I am feeling better and how long until she can give me the "okay" but she is certain that I will be okay soon enough.

The thing I like most about Dr. Midgley is she is very smart and also very thorough. I do not feel that anything is being overlooked or brushed off. She is considering all things and is very smart and quick on her feet. Other considerations are being made, and all posibilities are currently being investigated. I am seriously in love with her. I wish she would live and be a doctor until I die so I never have to find a new doctor in my whole life.

I am learning that the Lord gives us challenges, not to show us His power and how He can fix anything and take us out of the situation, but so that we can learn what He needs us to learn at that particular time in our life. I'm not gonna lie, this has been a heck of a challenge for me, and it kind of sucks. But you know what? It is okay because the Lord KNOWS us. He knows us each individually and wants to help us. We just need to reach out to Him first and show Him our faith and trust. I am learning that life is hard, and it can sometimes feel like crap, and there are times where ou feel so down and overwhelmed with life that all you want to do is crawl back into bed and just lie there for the whole day. And those days are okay! You need to allow yourself to have the feelings that you are experiencing, but you also need to activate your faith and do something about whatever is bringing you down.

Oh, how strong is my testimony of this Gospel. How grateful am I to be a part of this church and to have the knowledge that I have about our Savior, His Atonement, and everything about our Gospel. Seriously. It is the best and I could not imagine my life without all the joy and peace the Gospel brings me. Stay strong everyone. Do those things every day that they teach you in Primary, because they are the most important and they work! Pray multiple times every day and with a sincere heart. Read your scriptures with the intent of learning, not just to say you read. Go to the temple and church with an open heart and mind. Do all those "primary answers" and the Lord will be more readily willing to bless you. It is true, I can testify of that.

Update #2

I met with the GI doctor on Friday (June 19). This doctor was so funny, he kept saying again and again that this is not something young and healthy people have, so he was so confused about it all. He believes that Dr. Midgley has a pretty good theory, however his personal theory is that we won't ever know what caused it and we won't ever know why. However, to be safe, he ordered an MRAngiogram thing (like an MRI, but different) to make sure I don't have any more blood clots circulating around my body. His big question is, if I did have a clot in my colon, where did the clot come from and where did it go? So we are working to see if we can find answers to those questions.

His prescription for me is to continue taking an asprin a day, as Dr. Midgley is having me do and to be sure I eat healthy foods and stay as healthy as I can, pretty much for as long as long as I shall live. New motivation to be healthy!

I will do the MRI this week, see Dr. Midgley again next week, and then the following week I meet again with the GI doctor (well, his PA).

That is the update I have for you all today. Not much else to say.

Update #1

Hola!

I received my colonoscopy reports yesterday, and they said I had something called ischemic colitis. After doing some research, we found that that is a problem that old and fat people have, not young and healthy girls. So I called to make a follow-up appointment with the GI doctor for Friday, but also called to make a family doctor appointment.

I met with the family doctor (Dr. Melinda Midgley, who is AWESOME) this morning to see if we could start to find what is going on. You guys, this doctor is awesome. She served a mission in New Zealand, so she is all for helping me get back to the mission. She is located at the new hospital in Lehi, and it was day 2 of the practice being open, so everything was new and running for the first time. And I was the only patient there at the time, so it was nice and open. Dr. Midgley was able to spend 2 hours with me discussing everything. Tender mercies left and right. We talked about my whole past and my whole current medical history.

Here is what she said: I have headaches every day. I have never considered them migraines, but she said they are medically defined as migraines because of the symptoms. Who knew?! I have heart aches at times, which I have considered as anxiety things. I also found out that I have that ischemic colitis because of the birth control that I am on (or was on). The BC Pill I was on is a progesterone and estrogen pill and estrogen is a blood clotter. Here is her theory: I had what is called the perfect storm. She believes I had the flu or some stomach bug, and with the birth control and other medications I am on and a few other things just  all worked together to cause this. What she said actually happened is I had a stroke in my colon. (I'll say my prayers of gratitude that it wasn't a clot in my heart or head -- which she said is very possible if I don't get this under control.)

So, here is the final verdict: She believes I have a genetic blood clotting disorder where my blood clots too much. The current main problem with this is that I am on a medication that clots my blood.
Here is what is being done: I was switched to a different birth control pill, one that is progesterone only (called the "minipill"). I am also going to do a blood test called a hypercoaguable workup to give a definite confirmation on if this is the case.

Future implications: I will be home for at least 2 months, hopefully not more than that. And for way down the road, if this is a blood clotting disorder, then I will need to be careful when I am at the point in my life where I want to have children, because if it is this disorder and I don't get any help or anything I could miscarry babies that I want. So I am so glad that we are figuring this out right now! The Lord's hand is in absolutely everything.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. I feel them all coming my way. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you all!

Con Amor,
Taylor

Taylor was sent home yesterday from her mission due to her health. I want everyone to know how proud I am of my daughter. She is so amazing. There is no such thing as failure: only opportunities for growth.

I like these 2 articles that my dad sent me and wanted to share it with everyone.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865591983/LDS-missionaries-developing-strategies-to-cope-with-stress.html?pg=all

http://ldsliving.com/story/63954-when-a-missionary-returns-early

I love you Taylor!

Mom

A Blip in the Road

Hola mi amigos,

This is Taylor here. I have been having some medical problems, as it seems my mom has kept you all at least kind of updated on. I was sent home yesterday (Friday June 12) and I am working on getting it all worked out so I can go back into the field as soon as I possibly can! I just have to figure out what is going on, and then the doctor gives me the okay, and depending on my Spanish, I either go back to the MTC or I go to the mission field. Please keep me and the doctors that work with me in your prayers so we can figure this is out quickly and without too many problems.
Thank you all for your loving support. It has really helped this past month.
I will keep you updated on what is going on and how quickly I can get back to the mission.
I love you all!

(Hermana) Taylor Gregory

P.S. If you would like to contact me while I am home, I no longer have that same phone number that I had before I left the mission, so Facebook will be the best way to get in contact with me :)

Hongelonglongo!

Hola!

Wow! What a week! This has been probably the most up and down week of my whole entire life.

We learned a new language from one of the elders in my district, Elder Jenks. It is called the -ong language. You put "ong" after all syllables and say each vowel as the vowel. It is so funny. And he is so good and so fast at it! It sounds like a real life language. It is so funny :) So hongelonglongo means "hello" :)

I only have 12 days left until I ship out to Washington! How bizarre is that? 

So, my week.

Friday was insane. I thought I was dying, my stomach hurt so bad. My doctor sent me straight to the ER thinking I had appendicitis. Being out of the MTC into the real world was crazy! I saw people smoking and swearing and there was a TV on. What?! It was awesome. There was a cute 14 year old girl who was also there for appendicitis, so she and I chatted in the waiting room. It was darling. They called me back and asked if I was in pain, which I was and I told them if they had something I wouldn't be opposed to it, thinking I would get tylenol or ibuprofen. Wow. Nope. They gave me morphine. What a strong drug that is! Well, I did a CT scan, and nothing showed up with my appendix. I was a complete wreck coming off of that morphine, my poor companions had to deal with a lot. They were so kind (mostly) but they got so frustrated. At the end of the night we all just wanted to kill each other and it took us a few days to recover. But I am happy to say we are even closer now. Saturday was bad, I just felt very depressed the whole day, but it was fine. I didn't do much. Sunday was Fast Sunday and that was incredible! They pile Fast Sunday with incredible meetings and wonderful talks and everything. We said goodbye to a couple of missionaries in the other district in our zone that night (Hermana Von Kampen included). That was so sad. And we said goodbye to the rest of the district Monday night. Wow. So many goodbyes, and ours will be in just 12 short days! It was like saying goodbye to family all over again. We will see how it is saying goodbye to my own district. I feel we have grown very close and have literally become family. We all know each other very personally and are all so willing to help one another. I love it! Monday I woke up at 4:00am just SO SICK. I was so so so sick and really thought it was the end of my life. I had a raging fever and was sweating profusely and was just flat out dying. The doctor did a white blood cell count and my count sky rocketed and so he sent me back to the hospital for another CT scan. They said my appendix is still fine, but my colon was looking weird. SoTuesday, I got to drink a whole bottle of the lovely thing called Miralax. GROSS! I did not know it was possible to have liquid clear poop (sorry, TMI, but it is true). Yesterday I had a colonoscopy and before I did that they weighed me, and from Saturday (the last time I was weighed) to then, I lost 8 whole pounds. Wow. I was so sick and so weak and really just felt like crap. But they did the colonoscopy and said that my colon was pretty inflamed and they did a biopsy. I should hear back next week to see if anything was wrong. We also got a new district yesterday. 6 elders, no hermanas! They are all (except for one) fresh out of high school, like graduated last week. Little babies! They looked so freaked out and panicked during our zone welcome meeting, poor guys. I remember that day so vividly. 

Here is what I learned this week: you need to be positive. You need to look for the Lord's hand in all things and focus on the tender mercies, blessings, and purposes in all things. Joke, relax, have fun. Love the Gospel. Pray sincerely. Cherish the scriptures. There is so much good in the world! Just look for it! That is the biggest thing I learned.

Crazy story! Yesterday, during my colonoscopy, the nurse.assistant that was helping me and assisting the doctor served his mission in Micronesia, specifically Pohnpei (sp?). He knows my whole family! He was there when my grandpa and mom and aunts and uncles were all there. So before the procedure, we just chatted about my mom and all of my aunts and uncles. How fun?! I also met many people from Lehi in the hospital. That was a fun Lehi reunion. 

I have a few challenges for you all: try to stay positive. Be okay with saying that something is hard or it sucks or whatever, but try to stay positive. Look for the Lord's hand in everything because he is there with you ALWAYS. I promise. 

Oh how I love and miss you all. You are all so amazing and such incredible influences in my life! 

Talk to you next week!

Hermana Gregory

What a small world. It was Sean Weight that Taylor talked with! Those were good times. We had the missionaries over all the time. I loved  celebrating Thanksgiving with everyone. When we lived in Palau we would play Risk with the missionaries. Good times! 

Thank you for all the prayers. Taylor is a trouper and is going through a lot of growth as she is being challenged in many ways. I am so proud of her!

Traci

Fast and Pray

Taylor has been having some health problems as well as anxiety. I was hoping we can all include her in our fasting and prayers on this Fast Sunday. 

Thank you
Traci

Hermana Gregory :)

Hola amigos!

Hola amigos!

What a week this has been. I am halfway there! 3 weeks in, 3 weeks to go in the MTC!

I am spending mucho tiempo en la classe and it is hard to concentrate for 10 hours a day. Whoa. But it is so cool and so rewarding!! Espanol is coming a lot easier and a lot faster than before, and yesterday I was told by a native speaker that while I do not know all of the words, I speak really well and I have perfect pronunciation. So that was a nice like confidence booster. I gave a talk solamente en Espanol on Sunday. That was scary! Thankfully it was only a 5 minute talk, but all in Spanish is hard! But it went so well! The topic was baptism, so thankfully it was an easier topic :) 

Sunday walks are a beautiful thing you guys. Going outside the MTC walls and into the open air feels incredible. Also, going to the temple every week is so wonderful. If you haven't gone to the temple in a while, either for baptisms of for endowment sessions, go do it this week! You will be so blessed. 

I am seeing all sorts of tender mercies in my life here at the MTC. This has been a really hard experience with everything and with my anxiety. I am being so watched over and am gaining a testimony on how the Lord hears and answers my prayers and sends angels to help me out. I kid you not, I have the whole MTC watching out for me. I have my branch presidency (the Shallenbergers), the district presidency (particularly President Oswald), which is a higher up presidency, and the highest of all, the MTC president and his wife. His wife, Sister Burgess is so sweet and will stop any conversation to come say hi to me and check in if she sees me anywhere at the MTC. I am being so watched over.

The MTC is like an oasis! It is so nice. The sun is shining, there is green everywhere! Trees, bushes, flowers, all over. It is so beautiful. Now that it isn't raining, we do some studying and some classes outside in the wonderful fresh air. It is perfect. 

The other district leaves this week. How sad! But we get a new district on Wednesday. It is a district of only 6 elders, which will be weird to have the 5 of us as the only Hermanas. But it is okay :) We as a district are really starting to grow close together. It is fun to see all of our relationships grow. 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson came to our Tuesday night devotional. He was so inspirational! He talked about specific questions that missionaries have asked him in the past and he answered them at this conference. It was broadcast all over the world to the other MTCs and I was in the choir, which means I might have been on TV! :) Elder Christofferson echoed Elder Holland last week in the comment "open your mouth" which I thought was cool. We must need to open our mouths! But my favorite was "quitting will not make you feel better. Stopping is not a solution. Just keep going, keep pushing. Endure to the end with enthusiasm." I love it! Not just endure to the end, but go with enthusiasm. What inspiration! 

I challenge you to read D&C 122 and focus on what the Lord says to Joseph after all the worst case scenarios. Read, if possible, "Making it Through the Middle" by Emily Freeman. It is such an inspiring book.

Yo se que Jesucristo vive! Yo se que la Iglesia es verdadero. Yo se que necesito ser un misionera. Yo se que Dios escuche nuestro orars y quiere a dar respuestas. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Hermana Gregory

Week 2

I can't believe Taylor has been in the MTC for 2 weeks. If anyone wants to write her, I encourage the use of dearelder.com. They print it and put it in her mail box that day. That way she can hear from us during the week and not just on Thursdays. She is in Unit #62, her mission code is WA-VAN and her departure day is June 23.

I am so grateful for answered prayers! I was so distraught when the dr called me and told me how much she was struggling. It really helped that we were able to talk Tuesday night. I was even happier to get this email from her today and hear that she is doing better. These missionaries have so much to learn and adjust to.

Week 2

Wow! What a week. I don't think I have ever had a more roller coaster week than i have had today. There have been many instances where I have just wanted to cry and call my mom and tell her I was coming home. But I'm here! I am strong! I will not let Satan beat me! So let's begin :)

Last Thursday was great! I got to go to the temple. I loved it. So much. Friday was a day full of class. Saturday was an early morning. Hermana Clark has been sick for a few days now and has begun snoring. She has been keeping me up pretty bad, so I was up at 4am just listening. We have two new investigators: Maria and Chava (aka our teacher Maestra Pullan and Maestro Rasmussen). Sunday. Oh Sunday. How I love Sundays! We just have such fun times and it is spiritual meeting after spiritual meeting. I adore Sundays. We have a Sunday Temple Walk also which is the absolute best. I love the temple! We were also taught how to defeat Satan: karate fight him. That is what our Branch President did to teach us. It was awesome. Monday was more class. I know, so exciting. Tuesday was incredible though. It was a normal day with gym and class and such. Then in class I got called down to the front desk, receiving permission to make a phone call. I got to talk to my mom. I have been struggling really bad here, and I have been trying to stay positive but my anxiety has been really high and really hard to manage. So, my mom got a call from a doctor, and then I was given permission to call my mom. We were able to talk for 50 minutes and it was incredible. I have been having such a hard time with homesickness. Such a hard time. And I have wanted to go back to my house and see my mom, so that phone call was incredible. I loved it. But also, in addition to that, I received the most powerful priesthood blessing I have ever had in my life. I had 10 worthy elders with their hands on my head giving me a very special, very needed blessing. And ALSO. ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND came and gave a devotional. You guys. Oh my word. I love him. I wish he would just talk to me and tell me what to do all the time. He is incredible! He gave the devotional with the main message being "open your mouth". You aren't going to make a difference in anyone's lives if you don't open your mouth. Tuesday was incredible. Yesterday, Wednesday, was a pretty normal day. We were in class and studied. I was feeling ill in the morning so we skipped service and took a nap. That was needed. Then it was class and more class and more class. Then, we had an exciting (and needed) change happen. This week with my companions has been really hard. We have not been in unity and there has been a lot of misunderstandings. They haven't had to ever deal with the amount of anxiety I experience, and they have been trying to help as best as they know how, but it has been really hard and it has made the MTC just a little harder. So last night, I got called out into a room with my branch president and he told me that he had felt inspired all day to do a companionship change. My new companions are Hermana Whitnee Bradford from Hattiesburg Mississipi and Hermana Kylee Greenhalgh from Richfield Utah. You guys, this is the most incredible change that could ever happen. HEAVENLY FATHER HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS. I know that is a very true fact. Also, the Lord will put you in difficult situations, but He WILL help you succeed. 

So to close, a few fun things. We play what are the odds at every dinner. It is fun. A Hermana had to go just drink out of someone's cup, someone she didn't know, another one had to spoon feed peanut butter to someone only being able to say "ayudame" (help me). It is fun, a nice break from the stress of the days. Also, I am getting killer legs! My class is on the third floor, my room is on the fourth floor, and we climb SO MANY stairs every single day. It is awesome.

Have faith. Pray always. And thank you for your prayers to me. I love and need them.

With all of my love,

Hermana Gregory

May 21, 2015

Thursday is Taylor's p-day so we got her first email today. She sounds upbeat even as she is being challenged!

Well, I made it to the MTC safe and sound! I cannot believe that I am really here and that I am really a MISSIONARY!! Every time I see my name tag, I am so surprised to see "Hermana Gregory La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias". It is so bizarre. 

When I got to the MTC, I was whisked away and taken to all these places to get everything that I needed then taken to my room where the sisters in my district are all staying. I was then taken to my classroom where I spend approximately TEN HOURS A DAY in. I miss the sun. But it is so fun. My companion is Hermana Kelley Krage from San Diego California (Elise, it is like a piece of you is here with me) and she is going to Independence Missouri. The other two girls in my district are Hermana Bradford and Hermana Greenhalgh who are both going to Nicaragua. There are four elders in my district, Elder Canlas, Elder Jenks, Elder Porter, and Elder McBride, all going stateside. It is nice being somewhere where we are all going stateside (except for the two sisters) because we all understand the worry of learning Spanish for an English speaking community. Well, Wednesday was just a bunch of orientation. Then Thursday, Hermana Krage and I were told that we were getting a new companion to become a trio with us. She was in the advanced Spanish class and was not doing well, so she asked to come join our class. Her name is Hermana Emily Clark from South Jordan, Utah heading to Los Angeles. So fun! 

Most days are just class, and class, and class, and more class. It is very exhausting trying to learn so much Spanish. The first moment in class on Wednesday until the last moment before you leave, classes are Spanish only. My whole district has had Spanish experience before, and I haven't, so it is hard to try to keep up with their advanced conversations and words. What is driving me nuts is that I am at the point where I am actually pretty okay with understanding, but I cannot speak what I want to say. I am so excited for the day that I can! 

The MTC is definitely hard. More than I expected. I am struggling with the idea of sitting all day in class with no outside sunshine time. I am also struggling with the language pretty bad. Our teacher is Maestra Pullan and she is incredible.On Monday I had a complete break because I did not understand what was being taught and I broke. I ended up sobbing on her shoulder out in the hall in the middle of class. It is pretty embarrassing to break down like that in front of the whole class, but thankfully my district is SO sweet. Maestra Pullan ws kind and decided that she was going to help me more one-on-one when we companero study, which is so kind and helpful, and definitely a blessing. So now, I think I will be okay! The Lord is definitely watching out for me. I need it. 

We have two investigators. Ella and Hely. Ella is so nice and kind and makes me feel really good about my TERRIBLE Spanish. She allows me to ask my companeras what word to use or how to say (como se dice and que significa are my two favorite phrases). Hely is so hard and very Catholic so we are struggling with her. I can't even understand her; she talks so fast and with such a thick accent. But es muy bueno. We are improving every day and that is what matters. Thankfully Hermana Clark and Krage are so so good at Spanish, which is so nice because they help me SO much every single day. They also have a lot of patience, thankfully, so they are okay with me being slow and needed English helps. I am so blessed!

We have incredible Sister Training Leaders. One of them I have really become great friends with. Her name is Hermana Van Kampen from Colorado. She didn't know any Spanish before she came (3 weeks ago) either. So she understand how I feel and how to help me. I am so grateful for her and her friendship.

We had a Sunday night devotional from one of the members of the MTC presidency and then a Tuesday night devotional from Ulisses S. Soares. I love devotionals! They are so uplifting and thought and action provoking. We also watched a film on Sunday called "Character of Christ", a talk given by Elder Bednar to the MTC. If you can find it, read it or watch it. It will change your life! Also, if you find a written version, will someone send it to me? I would like to have it if possible :)

So, since class is boring to describe, let me share the funnest/funniest thing that has happened yet. Hermana Bradford and Elder Jenks dared each other to drink a full glass of hot fudge. Hermana Bradford tried, and drank about half of it before she felt like she was going to puke. Then Elder Jenks literally fountained the fudge in his mouth, before he drooled it all back out!! It was awful, and so funny. And so gross. But he is definitely a blessing to our district because we have a group of very focused very studious people, and so we all get to serious and focused and do not remember to take a break and laugh every once in a while. But he does, thank goodness, otherwise I'm pretty sure we would all die and go home.

The MTC is so hard. So so hard. But it is so incredible. I am learning so much about myself and and am definitely being converted to the Lord. I LOVE it. The Lord knows us and knows what we need, and He is always watching out for us. The MTC is a constant spiritual haven as well, and I love it. I hate and it and love it at the same time.

I love you all and hope things are going well back at home. Stay in touch!

Love,
Hermana Gregory

P.S. Oh! If you want to talk to me fast or get a response from me faster, I can get letters any day of the week. Otherwise, I try to will email you back on Thursdays!

Taylor's first letter!

We received Taylor's first letter today. :) I immediately burst into tears and just held it close. Justin laughed and asked if I was going to read it. I must admit it took me a moment to compose myself. Anyway this is what she wrote...

May 13, 2015 First Day

I made it to the MTC! My companion is Hermana Kelley Krage. She is from San Diego (so it is almost like having Elise here) and she is 19 also. Our room and classroom is on the top floors of their buildings; so we sure get our exercise! Our district here is so nice. There is one sweet sister training leader who has been here 3 weeks and is helping me so much. I have never been so overwhelmed before because it literally was a walk in and immediate Spanish and only Spanish.  I don't know a thing and almost broke out in tears several times. We met our STL this evening and one asked how is was going and she turned to me and I told her how overwhelmed I was. She hadn't taken any Spanish before either so she understands and I love it. I share a room with me and 3 others. They are all so nice. Hermana Krage is going to Independence Missouri and the other 2 are going to Nicaragua. The rules are so strict and it is so scary and I know absolutely nothing. But the spirit is so strong all the time. It is incredible we all definitely need a lot more training, but we will survive. One day down!

With love,
Hermana Gregory

Also, P-day is on Thursday, but the first one will be next Thursday.

The love between sisters!

As I Say Goodbye...

Thank you to everyone who has helped me get to this point in my life! I am so eternally grateful for all of you and for your influence and example to me. As I leave now to go serve the Lord for eighteen months, I hope you all can recognize my deep and dear love for you. Please, stay in touch! My contact information is right here on the blog, and my mom will be posting weekly updates from my emails to her. I love you all so much!! You will all be in my prayers and I'll see you all soon! Washington, here I come!

Love,
Taylor (Sister/Hermana Gregory)


P.S. from the missionary mom (Traci). We dropped Taylor off at the Provo MTC this afternoon.