I forgot to post this email from last week, sorry! This is from July 19th:

Hola mi familia. ¿Como han estado? Gracias por sus mensajes. Fue bueno escuchar sobre sus experiencias y todas de las cosas estan haciendo. No puedo esperar a leer sus cartas apoxima semana. Lo siento, pero no tengo mucho tiempo para ecribir. Creo que va a estar asi por mas o menos toda do mi misión. So how are you all doing? I hope you can understand a little bit of that. I am sorry but I don´t have a whole lot of time to write. Everything is going great. We have a baptism this saturday so that should be great. I am excited. I talked in church yesterday. it was about a fifteen minute talk about adversity or adversidad. it was a lot of fun. I hope everyone could understand me. The work is going great. spanish is slowly coming. I wish I could write more, and I know mom is probably frustrated that I don´t, but we have all of our lifes to talk about things we did, but only one time to do them. Right now is my time to serve, so sorry if you don´t get a lot in my letters.

It was great to hear about everything you are doing. It sounds like you are having a great summer. I can´t wait to hear about redfish. I love you all so much. keep writing. The Gospel is true! Read 3 Nefi 22:7-8. Great promise. I love you. smile for me!!!

Week Two in Mexico

Hey Family, how is everything going? So like always I don't have a lot of time, but I want to tell you just a couple things. So there is this sister that has been in the church for about 14 years, but has never been baptized. We have been teaching her and she is ready to get baptized in two weeks. anyway... just a couple days ago she called us and said that she needed to go to the hospital. we ran over to her house and she was having pains in her stomach and in her shoulders. just like when I messed up my spleen. Well, I knew it was something serious. we gave her a blessing and before we got to the hospital she felt fine and the docters said that nothing was wrong with her. It was pretty cool. And the baptism this last saturday went great. Her name was Alejandra. She is 19 years old and has a little girl. she told us that she wanted to change her life. She was so happy.

So how is everything going? Everthing here is going great. We have another baptism this saturday. I am excited.

It sounds like redfish was a blast. I wish I could have been there, but here is probably a little better. I don't mean to make you feel bad, but it is true. Well... I love you all and I hope everything is going great. Sorry again that my letters are so short. I love you

He's finally in Mexico!!!!

Hey everyone!!!! Mexico City is crazy!! I can't even begin to explain it. I got here thursday night around ten and friday morning we had a training with President Chavez. He is great. I already love him. That night I got my companion, Elder Carreon, and went to my first area. I am in Iztapalapa. It is like the ghettos of all ghettos. Got look it up. Elder Carreon is awesome. He is from Chihuahua and he doesn't speak a word of english. I am glad he doesn't though. We live in one of the best apartments in town and it is worse than any house in fairview. It is about the size of mom and dad's room, which is way good for here. Our shower doesn't work so we have to get a bucket of water and to make it hot we have this old iron, like for clothes, put it in the water and plug it in. haha them we just use a cup and bathe. I love it though. The people are great. I still don't know a lot of the people, but I will. We have about ten baptisms scheduled for this month and a couple for august already. Spanish is still my weakness, but I know it will come.

Mom, how is your spanish coming? I told Hailey that when I call for christmas I am not going to speak any english to her. I am thinking about doing the same thing to you, so you better be ready. I love you

Dad, how are you doing? So the YM are having problems huh? I wish I knew how to help. it is kind of hard to get them to care about a lot of things, and I was the same way. Tell them that I say Hi and that I have never been happier in my life as I am right now on my mission. Ask then what is the most important thing in their life and let them think about it. anyway... I love you

Hailey, I am glad you answered your phone this time. It was great to talk to you. Mexico city is crazy! I can't even begin to explain. I can see why a lot of them want to come to america. How is life going? I love you

Nia, it was great to talk to you on the phone. You sound great. I am glad you are having fun at the bakery. Tell the girls I say hi and that I miss them and I am glad I am still in your thoughts. I am excited for you to start school. I love you

Shayla!!! How was girls camp? I am sad I didn't get to talk to you. I hope you had a ton of fun. How is life going? Tennis? Fill me in. I miss you. I love you

Matthew! what's up bro? dad says that you might be taller than me when i get home, but you can keep dreaming. How is your summer going? How did you go in state? I love you

Well, life is great and I am so glad to be here. I have figured out these last couple weeks that life is only as bad as you make it, and it is always possible to be more happy. And to be honest, what do we really have to be sad about? nothing. If you could see what I have seen, you would never be sad, and I haven't even seen half of it. I love you all and we are all so blessed. Have a great week and smile for me. And do me a favor, don't pray for me anymore. I want you to pray for the people in Mexico city. They are the ones that really need it. Okay? I will try to send some pictures next week. :):)

He finally got his Visa!!!

Hey everyone! I got some good news. I went and signed for my visa last wednesday and I should be leaving sometime this week. I am so ready to leave and get to mexico. I don't know exactly what day, but I can't wait to call. I hope you guys are home when I call. I guess we will see.

I hope everything is going great. I am sorry that i never really have much time to write, but that is just how it is. These are my two addresses. The first one is for just letters and the second is for packages and things like that.

Mexico City South Mission

po box 30150

Salt Lake City Utah 84130

Av. Del Taller No. 540

Col. Jardin Balbuena

Del. Venustiano Carranza

Mexico, D.F., Mexico

C.P. 15900

I have to go. sorry so short. I will call you from the airport when I leave. I love you all. Have a great wee

Hey Family,

How is everything going? It was great to get all your emails. They for sure made my day. So everything is pretty much the same here. We have a "family" or a group of friends, I guess I should say, that all live together and they seem really interested in the church. There are two couples and two friends, so six in total. The two couples aren't married and they said that they don't want to be. They told us that they are living in "amor libre" or free love. That is one of the big problems in the spanish assignment. There are a lot of people who we have to get married before we can baptize them. Anyway, we have quite a few investigators, and they all like the gospel and what we teach, but the problem we are having right now is getting them to want to change or do something that they are not comfortable with.

My spanish is getting better, just last night we had two dinner appointments so we had to split up. My two trainers went to one and Elder Ford and I went to the other. Elder Ford kind of has a hard time with spanish, so he didn't say a word all night. I talk a ton and they gave me some advice on mexico and we just talked about all sorts of things. It was a lot of fun. And just the other night I talked to this guy who is from Mexico City and he talks so fast. It was pretty hard to understand everything, but I got most of it. I hope I can talk like him when I get out there.

Anyway... everything is going pretty good. I wish I had more to write, but I wouldn't know where to start. You are all just going to have to wait until I can read my journal to you. I am writing in spanish now so that is the only way you are going to get to know what happened. Life is good though. Please keep praying for my visa! My address here is:

8060s 615e

sandy utah 84070

Mom, that is so awesome about matthew. I wish I could have seen it. It sounds like life is going pretty good. I am so glad that it is. So I have no idea when my visa is going to come. We just got 20 more "visa waiters" in the mission a couple days ago. I really hope it comes soon. I love you so much and thank you for the email.

Dad, Hailey said that you and mom went to a chicago concert. How was it? So are you coaching matthew? it sounds like it was a pretty fun weekend. I love being out here, but at the same time I really want to get to mexico. Thank you for the prays and please keep praying. I love you

Matthew! Dude! That is crazy that you won the Lion's tournament. I never won that when I was a kid. Mom and Dad said you are doing way good. I hope you get to go to state. You better keep working hard at baseball and football so we can play when I get home. you are never going to be able to beat me, so keep dreaming sucker!! :) ha ha how is summer going? Are you working anywhere? I love you

First week in Salt Lake City South Mission

Hey everyone, I don't have a lot of time, but I will try to fill you in. I am in a four person companionship with Elder Flores, Nelson, and Ford. It is a lot different than the MTC. I love being able to talk to real people and use my spanish. Elder Nelson goes home in like 24 days, so he is more trunky than ever. It is hard sometimes because he never wants to work much. But other than that everything is pretty good. I am dying to get to Mexico so please pray for my visa.

We had five investigators at church yesterday and I wouldn't be surprised if we have a couple baptisms within the next three weeks. I with I could explain everything, but the area and the people are all new to me so I can't really tell you. I will write more as I learn more. Right now I am in the Riverton/Heramen area. It is huge, but a lot of fun. Spanish is coming pretty good and I love using it. I can understand almost everything but I still can't speak real fast.

Dad, how are you going? I am glad to hear that everything is going good back at home. It is kind of weird being this close. I love you and I will write more next week.

Mom, I hope you are doing amazing. It sounds like summer is as busy as ever. I love you

Everyone else, I don't have much time, but I hope you are all doing great. I still don't know exactly what my address is here, but I am sure you can find it online somewhere. It is just the mission office for the salt lake city south mission. I will write more next week I promise. I love you all and I hope you are all doing amazing. Pray for my visa!!! I love you :)

Elder Ricks

***Taylor's new P-day is Monday while he's serving in the Salt Lake City South Mission.**

Week 12

Hey everyone! How is everything going? So I called like fifteen times yesterday and didn't get anything. I am glad Shayla finally picked up. Anyway...... Salt Lake City South it is. I leave Tuesday morning at 8:30.. I am so glad to finally be getting out in the field.. I still really want to go to Mexico, but Salt Lake will be great.. Elder Jessup left for Ogden this morning and Elders Griffiths and Smith are still going to wait here. Elder Robert D Hales came and talked to us this last tuesday and it was great.. That is the fifth apostle we have heard here I think.. It is great.. Everything is going great.. Same old same old which is a good thing.. Spanish is coming along great.. Mom, thank you for the package.. I really needed it.. How is your class going? I hope you have fun with Nia in Ceder.. Make sure she looks good and hard for a job because they are hard to find down there.. Thank you for the letter.. I love you.. Dad, How are you doing? That is awesome about your work.. Let me know how it goes.. Everything is going great here.. I will make sure to call as soon as they let me which should be when I get my visa.. They said I could be there for four days and I could be there for two months.. They have no idea.. I love you.. Hailey, how are you going? I sent some pictures for you.. they should be there soon.. I tried to call you yesterday.. I am sad you didn't answer.. ha ha I will call you for sure when I leave for Mexico.. I love you.. Nia, how are you doing.. I am excited for you to have your little orientation.. You are going to love it.. I hope you can find a job.. Thanks for the letter.. I will try to write you next week okay? I love you.. Shayla!! It was so good to talk to you on the phone.. You already sound so different.. I am excited for your tennis.. Good luck.. I love you.. Matthew, Hey little brother.. It was good to talk to you on the phone.. sorry I could only talk for like one minute.. You sound so big.. Are you going to be able to beat me up? I don't think so.. How is your summer going? I love you.. Sorry about this email, the computer I am using is kind of messed up.. I hope you can understand all of my scattered thoughts.. And I am sorry about my spelling and grammer.. haha spanish is messing with my english.. I sent some pictures, so they should be there soon.. I hope you like them.. I have no idea what my address is for Salt Lake, but I will let you know on my next p-day.. And since I am not going to be in the MTC anymore, you can email me on this from know on if you want.. I have a scripture for all of you.. I know that every once in a while you are going to have some hard times and things won't make sense, but if you remember this scripture it will help so much.. 1 nephi 11:17.. If we can remember that God loves you, everything else will just fall into place.. As long as we share His love and act like we are His children, nothing will be too hard.. Life is good right? I love It and I love all of you.. I will write again soon and call as soon as I can.. I love you.. And dad, did you ever get a new debit card from zions for me? we ordered it before I can in remember? anyway.... if you have it send it out, but not til I give you my new address.. okay? I love you