The Hand of the Lord

My mind draws a blank about what to write, even though there’s been a lot going on!

First off, I had another experience bumping into a native Hendersonian! I had to go on a quick exchange this week with Elder Kerr from our zone. 
He had a dinner appointment set up with a couple named the Sabey's. So, we arrived at the Sabey's and Elder Kerr and I were ready to have a great time. Brother Sabey was putting the finishing touches on dinner and we were waiting for Sister Sabey to come home from work. 

So, we started shooting the breeze with Brother Sabey - asking where he was from and what he does and having a swell conversation. So, then he asked us the same questions. I told him I was from Henderson, Nevada. He said that was where his wife was from. He asked me if I knew any Messinas. And I was like "What?!" I turn around and see their wedding picture, and sure enough there is Danielle Messina in the photo. What are the chances?! She came home -we talked about people we knew and just had a real hoot. It was one for the books. The chances of that happening! First it was Tatum, now Sister Sabey. The list will probably keep going!

This week I was privileged to be challenged to read The Book of Mormon and highlight any tender mercies that occur. Seeing how merciful the Lord was in helping Nephi complete such challenging tasks helped me understand how we can identify His tender mercies. They can come at any time in our lives. I have found through personal experience that they are easier to identify when we are struggling. The process of exercising our faith to overcome our struggles helps us   see the tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father. 

Tender mercies can be looked at as signs that God is still there for us, and even though our challenges aren’t going away, it's his way of telling us we are doing what he wants of us. Tender mercies help us identify God's love, and are there to give us energy to keep moving forward.

I invite everyone to take a moment and think about the hand of the Lord in your lives. I promise you, you will be surprised at how much He is there for us. 

Have a great week everyone! 

Elder Tait

I Love Serving Jesus Christ on a Mission

In my previous area, Lynnfield, Calvert & Tait and Associates were blessed to have the opportunity to teach a woman named Caroline. She was very humble, patient, and willing to learn. She understood that she could seek and find answers from God for herself. We actually had to bid farewell to Caroline because she was going to Ireland for a foreign exchange program. This was a tough pill to swallow for Calvert & Tait and Associates, but we were happy because we got permission to Skype with her while she was gone! So this week I had the opportunity to teach Caroline on Skype! Elder Calvert was not able to attend, but I know he was there in spirit. Being able to Skype with Caroline was a miracle. She was still glowing with the Spirit of Christ. We were able to talk about how the exchange program was going, and her studies and her life in general. She is such a sincere person! We were able to talk about God's love for us individually, and how The Book of Mormon can answer our questions. Hearing about her recent experiences just confirms to me the truthfulness of the Gospel. We are going to try to teach her again later this week!

This week was a tough one for the Massachusetts Boston Mission. We have lost two great legends. Their two years of service have come to an end, but I know they will continue to build up the Lord's kingdom wherever they are. 

Elder Campbell's 2 years are up! I can't believe it! My first companion when I came out and now he’s gone! Where is the time going? I love the kid so much! He was the best trainer a goofball like me could have asked for. It was bittersweet to bid him farewell. He taught me so much. I am grateful for his patience and love, even when I was probably difficult to get along with at times. Those times in Amherst will never be forgotten. 

As if seeing Elder Campbell leave wasn’t enough, I also had to bid farewell to the man, the myth, the legend himself - the one who Superman calls when he is in danger - the ever elusive, the dynamic, my Haitian Brother, the one and only ELDER ANOFILS. We lost a true legend this week! 

I was privileged to work with Elder Anofils for 4 1/2 months. Those were some of the best months of my mission and even my life. I could go on forever about everything he has helped me with and done for me. For one, he helped me to start learning Haitian Creole, (thank goodness there are a lot of Haitians in Cambridge to keep helping me along!). He also gave me a better perspective of how great life is. He helped me realize the strength we can have when we put our whole hearts into serving Jesus Christ. He taught me to appreciate the simple things in life. I had so much fun with him. Elder Anofils is the youngest of 7 children. He is originally from Haiti. When he was 8 years old his Father, who was working in the United States to save money to move the family here, passed away. Elder Anofils actually never met his father. He left to come work here before Elder Anofils was born. When growing up in Haiti Elder Anofils only finished the 1st grade because he had to work to earn money for his family. He didn't see a car or telephone until he was 10. He saw things growing up that no human should see - let alone a child. Needless to say he did not grow up the way I did. He came over to the United States with his family when he was 12 years old and was put into the 7th grade. You know how hard that must have been? He didn’t know a word of English and was thrown into the 7th grade with only a 1st grade education. Look where he is now. He’s a high school graduate and is going on to college.

What impresses me the most though, and makes me look up to him so much is his conversion to the church. He was 13 years old and living in Florida when he met the missionaries. In Florida there is a large Haitian population, so there are Haitian-speaking missionaries who serve there. He met with them and as he described it, he just knew it was true. He was 13 and he knew it was true. He woke up every Sunday and was picked up and driven to church by a Young Men leader.  At first they drove in silence because of the language barrier. Church was mainly in English. He has no idea what was being said! But he just knew it was true! He said he could feel it! He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and continued to stay active, learned English, turned 19 and, despite all odds, both financially and spiritually, served a mission. He gave two years to the Lord. To come from nothing and still give everything you have to the Lord is amazing love and dedication.

What a great blessing and example he has been in my life. He will always be one of my best friends. The most spiritual moment we had together was when I got a phone call from him 3 months ago. He told me he had found his father’s name! He kept on saying over the phone, "I found my fathers name! I found his records!" I will never forget it. He said, "Tait, I want you to be baptized for my father." Tears filled my eyes and 3 weeks later I was baptized for Elder Anofils’ father in the Boston Temple. I know I’ll continue to learn from Elder Anofils’ example of serving the Lord and putting Him first in our lives.

So, we were walking through Harvard’s Law School campus this last week when I saw a girl, maybe 20 yards away, walking towards me. We kind of kept looking at each other when I heard her say, "Jackson! Is that you?" "Tatum Gormley!?” I was freaking out! The one and only Tatum Gormley! [School friend of Jackson & Hillary] I couldn't believe it. She’s going to Harvard Law – how cool is that?  She was just as cool as ever. We stood at the corner of the intersection talking for a few minutes and catching up. I was able to get her phone number and maybe we’ll go to lunch one of these days. It made me smile hearing the first three digits of her phone number: 702. 


I apologize for the novel, but I am can't express how much I love serving Jesus Christ on a mission.  Working to become more of who my Heavenly Father wants me to be brings me so much joy. I love you family! Remember you are always in my heart and on my mind. I know families are together forever! Keep the Tait name strong and golden!

Catch you on the flip!

Elder Jackson Loren Tait the First

The Digital Mission

Mom! Got your e-mail! YOU ARE THE BEST FOR SENDING THE FOOD! I can't tell you how much I needed that! I love those loaves of bread. They keep me alive in the morning. When I got here I was 201 pounds and right now I’m 198. At this rate I'll weigh less than Babushka!

Elder Reeve is getting transferred to Revere! Crazy huh? He's going to a great area. An Elder Graff is coming in to be my companion. I am doing all right! Things are moving along! I work in the Longfellow Park Chapel, and we work in this room the members call the "Fishbowl". The walls are all glass. In the Fishbowl there are 2 companionships, so 4 of us working full-time on the digital mission. Elder Reeve (soon to be Elder Graff) and I are together and we cover the Longfellow Park 1st Ward. The second companionship is Elder Worthington and Elder Benedict and they cover the Longfellow Park 2nd Ward. Since we basically don't proselyte, we have a normal proselyting set of sister missionaries, Sister Platt and Sister Klecker, who cover both Longfellow Wards. They cover the regular proselyting and teaching during the day while we are in the Fishbowl doing online proselyting.

So, as the digital mission leader, I am in charge of the missionaries in the Fishbowl, as well as the part-time digital missionaries across the mission. Elder Reeve is one of the humblest guys I know. He's always willing to work together to get things done. Everything has been great! This is the Lord's work and I need to remember that. President has set a goal for us to have 10 baptisms by December 15th! There’s no way we’ll have 1 baptism without the Lord leading and guiding us. It is an exciting challenge! I am currently chatting online with about 7 solid people. We’ve had some great conversations on Facebook, which will hopefully lead to teaching them the discussions through video chat.  I have other people I’m keeping in touch with, as well.  Please pray for all these people.  I know you don’t know their stories, but I need the family to pray for them.  

I love you Mom!

Elder Tait

More Grateful

Today was real special. We were able to go the Boston Temple with a recent convert, Linda Bain! The miracle woman herself! It was her first time and she had her mother and father’s names to perform ordinances for. Elder Calvert and I were able to see each other at the temple again - it was great! Been away from the kid for 6 days, and we’ve already had a great reunion. It was pretty neat, as well, because Linda asked me to be baptized for her father and Elder Calvert performed the baptism. We were blessed that she invited us to do so. She is one of the most dedicated members I know. The ordinance of doing baptisms for the dead reminds me that the Gospel is available for everyone. It also helps remind me to be more grateful for the gift of the Atonement, which is the foundation of our Heavenly Father's plan. 

I am currently serving with Elder Reeve! I had an unexpected transfer because Elder Reeve has been serving in the digital mission for 8 months now and is for sure being transferred out this next transfer. President needed me to come down 2 weeks before transfers to learn about the digital mission before Elder Reeve leaves. It's great. We serve in the YSA ward (for 25-30 year olds) in Longfellow Park. It's a real missionary minded ward. They are great and not surprisingly quite smart as well! Gospel Principles was a doozy with some of the vocabulary they were using! We walk through the campuses of Harvard and Lesley Universities every day. It's neat to be around some of the smartest minds. However, I continue to realize that the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't need to be explained with large words or physical evidence. It's simple enough that even as 8 year olds we can make a covenant (a two way promise) to God that we will keep his commandments and if we do Heavenly Father in turn promises to bless us. 

This week has been great! Met this guy named Earl on the bus the other day. Good guy. He's 19. He was excited to hear the message of the Restoration. It was good to see him so interested. He got so excited that he told us his pastor needed to hear our message. I don't know his pastor, but he may not be as excited as Earl - but hey! Let's not doubt! Excited to see what the Lord brings us this week! I just want to say I know this is the one and only true church established on the earth. We have a Prophet and Apostles on the earth again, just as Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth. This is The Church of Jesus Christ restored in these Latter-days.

Elder Tait