Christmas in the Mission

Christmas in the Mission
This Christmas season has been one for the books. I speak for all the Taggarts when I say that when you truly focus on Christ during the Christmas season it makes it a lot more meaningful. There has been a lot less tinsel and a lot more testimonies and the most wonderful time of the year is even more wonderful than before. We are thankful for the spirit of Christ that we have felt this season and are especially thankful for the birth of our savior. He is the gift, and the reason for the season.

Traditions with the Taggarts 
"Feeding 30 is no big deal.. its when you get in the hundreds when its hard."
-Jane Taggart

This December has been non stop parties at the Taggart home. Each of the 12 zones and the senior couples have all come over for "Traditions with the Taggarts". A breakfast where we share some of our fun traditions with the missionaries.  We start out with french toast ours famous buttermilk syrup and breakfast casserole. (I'm not going to eat breakfast casserole or left over french toast for another year.. ) and also the nut in the parfait. Then we draw secret partners, give a gift to jesus, and read the nativity story, sing carols and play some chimes. It has been a blast to share our Christmas traditions with the missionaries.

Sophie has an on going competition with all the elders to see who can get the most bean bag toss with her. Elder Leon is winning with 152. 

All Mission Conference.

The one time a year when all the mission is together. Christmas of course! Lets just say the amount of planning and time put into this is unbelievable but it was a huge success.
From motivational speakers to minute to win it games and ham we fit it all in.  Not only are our missionaries the best they are the most talented too. The variety show had everything from raps to the flute.

The Entire Mission

A mission rap is necessary 

A super fun day but we are glad it's over so we can start getting some sleep!!

Spanish and English Christmas Firesides

Our sweet senior couples spent hours planning these Christmas firesides. They were a great excuse to invite friends and family to come a hear the story of Christ and let them feel the spirit that is in our church buildings. The performances brought the true Christmas spirit and helped us focus on the true meaning of Christmas. 

Jersey is Home

Sophie and I just got home from Utah!!! What a fun 10 days! Although we never saw each other we both has nonstop fun the entire time! 

I finally got to have a summer that a normal teenager would have (friends, crazy stupid things, and late nights) and Sophie loved seeing all of her cousins and friends! While we were there we both came to a huge realization that blood is thicker than water though! Although we loved seeing our friends we both agreed that we enjoyed being around our family most.  It also assured to us that Jersey is where we need to be. We both thought that the plane back to Jersey would feel like a vacation, considering the trip to Utah felt like we were going home, but it didn't. We both know and feel that Jersey is our home now.

My cute cousin Micaela got married while we were there!! I can believe how old we are getting! Super happy for her and her new husband Trajan!

While we were living it up in Utah my parents jumped right into missionary work! They were on Splits or exchanges almost every day we were gone. Not only did that help them get to know the missionaries better but they both loved actually teaching people.  They are practicing what they preach! We have more trainings this week. Which I am really excited about because I love learning to be a better missionary. Plus both my mom and dad are getting so much better at teaching.  They both seem really confident and the spirit is always there and you can tell.  

The new vision for this mission is make spiritual connections with the lord and people, and to do the will of the father.  

"Verily, verily, I say unto you this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;"      -3rd Nephi 27:21

My dad stresses this a lot to the missionaries. I think that we could all start being more like christ though. One of the missionaries today said "If we have the potential to become Gods one day, don't you think we should start acting more like God now?".  What a good point! Start becoming like Christ today! I know that if we do this our lives will change for the better, and you will also start changing others lives as well. 

Goodness we are all loving it out here. We all feel on top of the world! There is nothing that brings us more joy than missionary work. 

Sophie and I start school next week. I don't think that either of us really know how to feel. We are both excited but nervous, it is like going into the unknown. I'll keep you updated though! Wish us luck!!

Transfers, Transfers and more Transfers

Change is good, right? Well we are changing things up in Morristown! With transfer week comes lots of meetings and well obviously change.  But also lots of fun! 

Two Mondays ago we took the outgoing missionaries to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Russian Teardrop, and a couple more cool memorials.  It is so fun being with all of them! 

They are ready to "jump" into the next stage of life. 

Then Jane had a couple of days off while Paul had exit interviews and we took advantage of those!

Then Tuesday we went into the City and met my friend Bryn Wynder and saw Pippin.  Which is the weirdest play. Seriously we did not know what to think of that one... But it was still fun to get out and see a good friend! 

Wednesday we went to the beach! Sophie took her cute new friend Kami Cummings and I brought my friend Marissa James. We all enjoyed the nice sun and had a really relaxing day! The beach is a hour drive!! How nice is that? I am going to start going all the time! 

Friday Sophie and I both brought friends to Six Flags which is also really close to our house! Sadly it was a really rainy day... so we only got to go on a few rides but we still made the most of our day! 

Saturday was Trainers Conference.  In this meeting experienced missionaries are taught how to train the incoming missionaries! We consider these Elders and Sister the most important missionaries because they are setting up the future of our mission.  They not only teach the new baby missionaries but help them develop habits that they will use on their missions and for the rest of their lives! I could see the light of Christ in each of these missionaries. It is wonderful to feel their spirits and just be with them.

Then come in the new missionaries! Their plane landed around 4 on Monday afternoon and about 24 extremely tired "greenies" get right to work with trainings! They are all so excited to get to work but a little nervous to meet their soon to be companion/trainer. But I'm confident in all of them! They will all kill it out there in the field!

Apparently the Mexico MTC presidents are very very strict and so when the new Spanish speaking Elders and Sisters got here they were all surprised that they were aloud to sit next to each other and converse with each other. They were also really excited that they could listen to music, because absolutely no music is aloud in the Mexico MTC other than singing. I just thought it was hilarious how excited they were for those two things.

Once the new Elders and Sister were settled we welcomed them with a huge softball tournament! Which we had today with half of the mission, and the other half has theirs in two weeks.  Eight teams and one Champion! Softball, hot dogs, cracker jacks, bubble gum, and tons of energetic 18-23 year olds makes for a fun time! Zone 11 took the South Morristown Mission Cup. But everyone had a blast!! 

    Zone 11!! The Spiritual Walking Faith Bombs..  How could they not win with that team name? (yes I was on the winning team (;) 

Theres Zone 11's Zone leaders with their prize and favorite little one! 

And don't forget the Assistants.. straight out of the Sandlot.

Sophie and I am off to Utah tomorrow. Which we are both more than excited for!! And my parents are going to start doing splits with missionaries in each zone! They are both really excited to get out and get teaching with their missionaries. This is what they both love most about their calling so they are excited that they get some time to really start planting seeds with people!

We are all still alive and loving it out here! We are seeing miracles everyday and can see the hand of the lord in our lives, in each missionaries life, and in the lives of everyone that they teach! The Lord works in mysterious but miraculous ways.