You Can Never Underestimate How Much it Might Snow

I apologize that I have not been more diligent in writing these weekly e-mails. To begin with, things have been going great. There is no way to describe the pure joy of serving while wearing the name of the Savior on your lapel, and being His representative - proclaiming to every nation, kindred, and tongue that Jesus is the Christ.

I can’t express how thankful I am to be here and to be serving in the Foxboro Ward. How grateful I am that our loving Heavenly Father knows where we need to labor and serve, and I know without a doubt that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere other than where the Lord wants me to be.

Currently here in Foxboro I am in a companionship of three, or a tri-companionship. I was sad to part ways with Elder Anofils and break up the cookies n' cream dream team, but I love my two new companions. 

Elder Boren is from Vernal, Utah. Elder Boren lives up to the Vernal life, and is a state champion in rodeo. He actually has a full-ride rodeo scholarship on hold for after his mission. He knows how to hook ‘em longhorns. YEE-HAW. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a rodeo! Also, to add to that, he is a state champion in wrestling. Wrestling bulls gives you an advantage when you’re wrestling in high school! He is currently assisting me in my dream to catch and lasso a squirrel. So far we’ve had no success, but we haven’t given up.  

Then we have the man, the myth, the legend himself, Elder Roberts, from out west in Colorado. Elder Roberts is new to the mission but he already teaches and preaches as if he is leading the Saints west to Zion. He graduated from high school with his associate’s degree! He ain't no flash in the pan! (My “country talk” is escalating!) He’s just a loving, caring guy, who's willing to do what the Lord wants. His example has helped increase my desire to not waste a minute of my time here.

We are all having a great time, and we are seeing remarkable blessings as the Lord continues to direct and guide us as instruments in His hands. 

I have come to the realization these past few months that you can never underestimate how much it might snow. Elder Boren and Elder Roberts are both from places where they learned how to drive in snow, but for some reason the mission decided to assign the kid from Las Vegas as the one to drive on the stone cold, icy roads of Foxboro. At least it's better than a Haitian and Vegas kid together. 

Speaking of Haitians, as soon as Elder Anofils was transferred, a Haitian couple began attending Sacrament Meeting. Bad timing - but what can you do? Mwen ka kontinye pale nan creole avek moun!  My Creole is still alive and well – my pronunciation is absolutely horrendous - but I’ll take what I can get. 

The lessons we learn through the examples of others continue to penetrate and pierce our hearts with an overwhelming feeling of joy and peace and knowledge that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, and that he stands at the head of it. Whether you are a church member or not, I encourage you to continue to seek to know the truth.  I leave you with a solemn testimony that if you ask you will receive an answer that will allow you to tap into an everlasting source of happiness that is possible through the Atonement of Christ. All is possible through the Atonement of Christ. 

I hope everyone has a great week. Stay fresh, stay warm, stay safe, but most of all, stay faithful.

EJLT.

One Year!

OH, so much snow.  

Elders Boren, Tait, and Roberts

One Year Mark!

Dearest Mother,

Grandma Dunn’s moving = No Bueno 

But since Grandma is happy = Me Bueno

I can't believe my one-year mark is coming up. [Jan. 16] I feel I haven't done anything, but at the same time I feel I’ve done a lot. I have learned so much this past year. I don't know - I need to work more diligently. I need to come closer to Christ. I feel I am not 100% in tune with the spirit like I should to be.

The New Years card is great! That Tait family did it again! I could tell you and Hillary were the masterminds behind the beautiful creation.

Saturday night they asked all 3 of us Elders to give a talk on Sunday. Mine was on repentance, and I used the story about when I pretended I didn't know you were there to pick me up for speech and so you drove off. Don't worry - I didn't make it sound like you were a horrible mother. I said you were a loving mother who helped me learn something that I will never forget.

I just want to let you know that I know the gospel message is eternally true. Jesus is the Christ and he was set apart by our Heavenly Father to do a work that no one else could accomplish - to be our Savior and Redeemer. Think about when you say the words, " Heavenly Father, I know you live and I know who I am." You feel an undeniable feeling of love. Mom I love you so much. You mean the world to me. I hope I never let you or the family down. I love you mom. I love you so much.

Your Son,

Who hung around in your belly for 9 months,

Elder Tait

HAPPY 2014 RIGHT BACK AT YOU!

I had a phenomenal birthday, Mother. I was grateful to receive all those gifts. The girls were WAY too cool. Love the hoodie, the socks, and the food they sent. Seriously though, thank you. I am beyond spoiled.

The weather has not been pleasant at all! I guess Heavenly Father thought it would be a good idea to have a Haitian and a kid from Las Vegas together to survive a snowstorm! Our transfers were originally set for Thursday, but because of the storm they got pushed back to Saturday. So Elder Anofils and I had two more days together! We were red-dotted which means we could not drive. We were basically homebound on Thursday & Friday. We finally went out and did some service and then actually walked a mile or two in 5 degree weather (we didn't know it was actually that cold), to visit a few members. But we were both toasty warm. It wasn't the most exciting thing to be stuck in the apartment. Some crazy events happened with our Zone Leaders getting locked out of their apartment. Funny stories that I will never forget.

So about my new companion, Elder Boren! This kid is too cool. He was the High School State champion for wrestling and get this...Rodeo! We get along great – he’s the easiest guy to get along with. He has served in some of the most difficult areas in the mission and has been out about 10 months. On Saturday President Packard called to tell me we were going to be in a trio or tri-companionship with an Elder Roberts from Athol, Massachusetts, who is serving a mini mission. I love Elder Roberts and Elder Boren. They’re going to be my brothers. I know there might be difficulties with being in a trio, but I know the most important thing is to love your companions.

No longer a teen with a dream,

But a man with a plan,

Elder Jackson Loren Tait

Merry Christmas, and Happy Skyping!

Christmas Videos and Temples, , Mission Conference, and... Oh, Deer.

We did indeed have our mission conference this last week, on the 18th. Every zone showed their video. Our video turned out great! DYNO-MITE. We had a Christmas musical fireside. President Packard sang a solo! He's the man. I love President Packard! I feel his love. We ate and just enjoyed each other’s company. They brought out everyone’s gifts. I was so blessed to receive your loving gift. I couldn't thank Heavenly Father enough for my loving family. It was perfect. Prior to that we went to the Boston Temple for an Endowment Session. I want to get married in that temple!

I apologize mother for slacking! I wrote this e-mail forever ago and forgot to send it! 

This past week we had a spiritually nourishing Zone Conference. Due to our limited amount of driving miles, a member was able to take us to the Zone Conference. Again, Zone Conference was remarkable and gave great hope to all of us about the basic principles of faith and repentance, but it was taught and presented to us in a whole new light. After this inspiring experience we were on our way home, sharing insights about what we’d learned with each other. It was around 5:30 pm, so it was dark. We were traveling on a 45 MPH road where there is only a single lane going both ways. It was rush hour and all the cars were traveling at the suggested speed (if not exceeding the speed limit). As we were talking, out of no- where, in within one second, we saw a deer's face in the car’s headlights -  heard a large bang - and watched the deer spiral out of sight. The deer had not stopped the momentum of the car, and we continued down the road. There was an awkward silence in the car as we digested what in the world had just happened. Almost immediately we pulled over (about 50 yards from the accident) and ran back to the scene.

When we got there a woman had stopped in the middle of this busy road, causing a long line of traffic. She had her emergency lights on and was dragging the deer to the other side of the road. This nice woman informed us that she was an animal lover and she was in tears due to the unfortunate situation that had just occurred. The deer was still barely alive, but it didn’t look good. We thought the woman would then get back in her car to allow traffic to continue, but she made the decision to stay with the deer. As she was on the phone with the police, the deer started having panic attacks, so Elder Anofils grabbed its legs while our member friend was on top of the deer taming it like a bucking bronco.

Then out of the blue, a young man in his 20's showed up to the scene. He was dressed in his lumberjack overalls, plaid shirt, bass pro shop hat, and gave the impression that he knew a thing or two about hunting! He approached us and his first comment was to ask if the deer was dead yet. As you can imagine this did not set well with our animal lover friend. She was on the phone with Animal Control by this time, but you could tell by the ferocious look in her eyes she was not happy. 

We were thinking as we stood there that what had happened was no coincidence and this would be a good opportunity to share the gospel. We know in the Pearl of Great Price it says that things were created spiritually before they were temporally. In this moment of silence we felt nothing could be more comforting than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we began to speak to our animal lover friend, she started panicking because she’d just realized her parked car was holding up nearly 200 cars. She told us, and also specifically informed our lumberjack friend not to lay a finger on that deer, then she hopped back into her car to go park somewhere else. 

So then we tried to share something with our lumberjack friend, but he was more interested in dragging the deer to his truck, telling us about the great jerky it would make. Right before he threw the deer in the back, Animal Control appeared and told him he could keep the deer, they just had to tag it first.  Oh, well.  At least we tried!

                         
I

Messengers of Truth

As I studied Preach My Gospel this week a quote appeared from President Howard W. Hunter that made an impression on me about why we share Heavenly Father's message about his son Jesus Christ.

“What does the Atonement have to do with missionary work? Any time we experience the blessings of the Atonement in our lives, we cannot help but have a concern for the welfare of others. … A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others.” 

The line that was distinctive for me was, "...A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others.” 

I believe those who are or have been on a mission and members of the church can agree it is difficult to share the gospel when we aren't doing what Heavenly Father has asked of us to gain a testimony. 

This has helped me to gage the strength of my personal testimony. If there is a day when we are less eager to share the gospel it is easy then to identify that we need to come back to the basics of faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. 

After we have repented and let go of our mistakes and sins, it makes sense that feeling clean and delivered out of bondage turns us towards God. It also makes sense that we would be more eager to share the gospel as well. 

In closing, as it says in the Book of Helaman, 5:10-11,

"....the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls."

We all have a calling to be messengers of truth to those around us.  In doing this we can be redeemed of our sins and mistakes, and feel clean at any given time. 

When we feel these feelings of redemption, sharing the gospel will instantly be viewed in an eternal, not a temporal, perspective.

I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves each one of us. I know that He lives. He really does live. I know that we all have the chance to know this for ourselves and become the best people we can, just as Heavenly Father wants us to be.

With a bundle of love,
Elder Tait

Jesus Healing the 10 Lepers

I apologize for not writing the past few weeks. I have been blessed to be able to serve in this area with a humble servant of the Lord. We have seen many miracles through the tender mercies of Heavenly Father. We’ve also had some unexpected events happen that have taught us a lot. We were privileged to have the opportunity to learn from a member a new insight into the story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers.

When Jesus was fulfilling his earthly ministry, he entered a small town and met 10 lepers. Their leprosy resulted in them having horribly painful sores all over their bodies. At that time people treated lepers poorly, for fear of contracting the disease. As soon as the 10 lepers saw Jesus, all 10 knew Jesus could heal their ailment and they asked him to do so. Jesus told them to go to the priest and they would be made clean. On their way to the priest all 10 lepers were healed.  They were all so joyful at being healed, but only 1 of the 10 turned around and thanked Jesus for healing him. I believe we all understand the moral of this story. One leper was grateful enough to turn back and thank Jesus for what he had done. But on a deeper level, what did that 1 leper receive that the other 9 didn't?  What was the blessing he received for being thankful?

In Luke 17:18, after the leper thanked Jesus, Jesus replied,

"...Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."

What this 1 leper received that the other 9 didn't was a whole understanding of faith. He was able to understand that miracles happen through faith in Jesus Christ. To the other 9 lepers, being healed was just a miracle that had somehow happened. Jesus told the thankful leper "thy faith hath made thee whole."  The former leper was whole in his understanding that miracles happen, not out of happenstance, but from our faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer.

Most of us have been like the 9 lepers, but this story can help us learn that our faith is strengthened as we exercise that faith and show gratitude to Jesus Christ, the one who makes miracles possible. I know that the same priesthood that healed those 10 lepers long ago is again on the Earth today and that miracles continue to happen daily. We have two options: 1. To just witness, or be part of a miracle. Or 2. To witness or be part of a miracle, AND seek an understanding of who made the miracle happen, and why the miracle happened. If we do the latter, I know we will be able to receive a confirmation through the Holy Ghost, as if Jesus Christ himself was here, "...Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."

Elder Tait
2 Years. Make it Count.