We Won The Lottery???--December 27th

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and were able to spend time with the people you love and make some awesome memories! I just wanted to say thank you real quick to everyone who has sent me packages, cards, emails, and prayers of course! It truly made a huge difference for me this holiday season, seeing how many people love and support me even if I am not home! So thank you all so so much! 

This week was quite busy for many different reasons but it was so fun! We had some miracles this week so it might be a long one, so buckle up! Oh! I'm mad I forgot to include this last week but this was a miracle haha So, we are on our way home from dinner and it's snowing pretty bad but we had planned to stop by this man's house so we decided to just go real quick. He lives in the middle of nowhere in the mountains and we cannot figure out where his house is, and the place we think it is was very snowy and our car cannot make it up the hill. So we turn around and start driving home when I get the strongest feeling to go back and hike the mountain. So we go back and just stare and were thinking, wow, are we actually going to do this? We ended up hiking this mountain in the freezing cold and we were so unprepared for the snow but we did it! And we ended up meeting this guy and having an amazing lesson with him and the spirit was so strong, I knew that we were supposed to be there and meet him. It was one of the moments you could feel God say like YES TAYLEN! you followed the prompting and look what happened! It was amazing! 

Then later this week we met Gail and Hans which was an experience to say the least. They live clear up in Mount Hood in basically a cabin, surrounded by trees and nothing else for miles. So, we decided to stop by real fast and we had to park in the real steep driveway because it's in the mountains. So we go in and have a lesson with Gail but then Hans comes in asking a billion strange questions and he has done his research. He knows lots about different beliefs and he's watched about every religious documentary ever haha He is a very interesting guy and has the most bizarre theories in the world, but I guess that keeps it interesting? So then we go to leave and hop in the car to realize we cannot back up, our tires are spinning like mad in the slush and we aren't moving at all. We start to panic when we realize we don't have service and no way to get out of this driveway, so we end up having to go re knock the door and ask for help getting out haha Which long story short after several attempts and half a billion prayers we made it ! That was a miracle this week! 

Then of course we had our Christmas celebrations! We had Christmas eve and Christmas as non pros days so unless we had lessons we weren't expected to go and knock doors which i was hyped about haha! We were able to hang out all together, play games, sing songs, shotgun Bangs and we even got matching Christmas Pj's which really made it feel Christmassy. We had Christmas eve breakfast as a district which was so fun, did secret Santa, and went and played in the snow haha it was snowing so hard it was awesome. Then we had an amazing testimony meeting all about Jesus Christ as a zone, and it was amazing to see a whole bunch of teenagers come together during the holidays and truly focus on Christ. Then, we had Christmas eve dinner with some members from the ward and sang Christmas hymns and it was so special. Christmas as a missionary can be hard and very different but at the end of the day when you spend it with people you love focusing on Christ that is all that matters! Finally, Christmas day! We woke up to our neighbor ringing the doorbell at 6 am bringing us cheesecake so that was rough haha but nice thought I guess. Then we opened all the nice gifts you sent us, danced to Christmas Music, and ate all the candy. It was so fun to spend the past couple days just hanging out with each other sharing our traditions! Then we got invited over to Anthony, Miles and Maggie's house for Christmas dinner and wow it was awesome! We got so spoiled with so much food, great company, and awesome dessert. 

Also, earlier this week we were having a lesson at their house and Maggie walks up and says I have a gift that your church wouldn't love but I want you to have it and gave us Scratch off lotto tickets HAHAHA Me and Sis Carter were laughing so hard. I love that woman! We are very hyped because we straight won $10, we have never been more happy in our lives. Best gift I have ever received. Anyways, it's been such a good and fun week and I hope yours was too! Never forget how loved you are and have a fantastic New Year's! - Hermana Hadlock

Lottery Tickets

Miguel gave us all a Christmas gift, bracelets!

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Merry Christmas Y'all--December 21st

Hello everyone! Feliz Navidad, I cannot believe that it is this week! It's blowing my mind that it's here because it feels like it's October still, time on the mission is so strange! This week was a good one and I hit my 2 month mark! Lots of stuff going on, keeping us busy which we always love. We had a sleepover, all the girls in the zone because we had my first ever zone conference and it was a fun Christmas devotional complete with a talent show! It is so fun to see other missionaries and hear what's been going on and see everyone's talents. Since we are out here in banishment usually it's just us 4 seeing each other throughout the week and the zone on Monday. Sometimes I forget our zone is only a fraction of the mission haha But really there's over 200 of us which blows my mind! 

We had a couple awesome lessons this week and I taught Julia again! We went by to make plans for another day that would work for a lesson for her and all of a sudden we are sitting on the couch and I'm teaching haha so that's kinda fun! My Spanish is still not great but luckily sister Carter doesn't understand so she always says I do a great job. Let's see, oh! We also met some cute abuelita who was just so worried about why I am out knocking doors in the snow, and not at home with my husband. I tried to explain what a mission is and that I don't have a husband and she wasn't thrilled because she said she could see my angel babies standing right next to me in the cold. She was like you are too young and pretty to be doing this and your babies need you! Super strange haha Then, we went to do service for this woman we found buzzing around on her Jazzy who ended up talking for 20 minutes about how the devil is trying to get her. She saw him during surgery with 2 woman in leather and ever since then they haven't left her alone. You meet lots of interesting people out here lol We've been getting lots of snow but luckily for us it melts real quick where we are but the places we go for lessons and finding people it snows a ton! It's so funny to us that we choose to trek in the snow in the pitch black to knock on strangers doors! We love it though haha (sometimes) 

We also volunteered at the food bank this week which was super fun and we met lots of awesome people! I know for me that serving others always brings me the Christmas spirit and reminds me what it's truly about! I hope you all remember the reason for the season and find ways to serve people around you, not just this time of year but a year! I can promise as you do that you will find greater joy and happiness in your own life! Anyways, I love you all so so much and I'm so grateful for you especially in this Christmas season! I hope you all have an amazing week and Christmas this year! Love you so much and pray for you siempre!

Sleepover!

Me and my comp, Sister Carter

Two Month Celebration

Frozen

Trudging up the mountain and finding Roy

Feliz Navidad Fiesta!--December 13th

You guys I cannot believe it is almost Christmas, it is blowing my mind! This week has been very crazy haha lots of adjusting and getting somewhat used to missionary life and figuring out our area. This week we did have a pretty awesome Christmas party with our ward, the theme was Feliz Navidad! It was so much fun and we had quite a few people we are teaching show up and it so that was awesome! The primary kids did a nativity and sang in Spanish and it was so fun to see. It's the best to see everyone come together to celebrate Christ's birth and truly show the reason for the season! 

This Sunday I spoke in church so that was classic haha I think they're trying to scare me away or something. They do a zoom sometimes still and so they put the iPhone right on the pulpit so close to your face and it was so intimidating haha! Nothing worse than making eye contact with yourself while giving a talk. Luckily, everyone in the ward is so nice and all gave me compliments even though it was truly not the best talk lol 

Not much happened this week out of the ordinary just lots of finding and knocking all the doors! Oh wait! I did have a miracle happen to me this week that really boosted my spirits! So as you all know from last email, I am serving with an English only Sister in a Spanish/English area but we obviously only ever teach people in English. So we were just out knocking doors trying to find people to teach when this cute little lady answered and immediately started going off in Spanish. Usually my trainer takes over at the door but obviously this time she couldn't so she just gives me the look haha. So I shoot up a prayer and I'm like okay I can do this and suddenly me and this lady are talking in Spanish and I'm understanding enough of what she's saying that I can respond and teach her a mini lesson! It was incredible! Definitely not perfect at all and would have said different things in English BUT! She invited us back for another lesson this week and I am so excited! The gift of tongues is real and God is really looking out for us. I don't know what the future holds for Julia but I do know that he made it possible for me to be able to talk with her and convey with what little Spanish I know just a little about our message. I know now that God really does multiply our efforts and he blessed me with that experience because he knew I needed it. 

Anyways, I think that's all for this week! I love you all so much and I am constantly grateful for your love, support, emails and most importantly your prayers! Thanks for always cheering me on! Remember how loved you are by so many people. God's love for you is infinite, never forget it! - Hermana Hadlock 

Oh yeah, I chopped my hair!

Knocking Doors

Fire Japanese Cooking

Christmas Party

Livin' In The Hood--December 6th

Hola Todos!! Long time no see everyone! It has been a crazy busy week but it has been awesome! I left the CCM and after like 20 hours of travel I finally made it to good old Yakima! I got here around 1 in the morning and then 6 hours later I had my assignment, my new companion and was off to the real world. Talk about a whirlwind of a day haha. It's crazy I'm not with my mtc district anymore and I miss Hermana Smith with my whole soul but also excited for the new adventures here! 

I am currently living in the Hood, also known as Hood River, Oregon! I had quite the shock when I found out who my trainer was, because not only is she my old young women leader's niece, but she also only speaks English hahah So yes! I am currently serving in an English area being trained by an English companion. Not going to lie, I was pretty sad and scared when I figured out I wasn't speaking Spanish. I'm worried about forgetting what I've learned and never speaking Spanish but I'm trying to remember God has a plan! Luckily I have an amazing companion, Sister Carter who has been incredible and is actually so funny. Only she could make knocking doors a good time lol 

This week we have lots of plans for finding people to teach, Light the World, and lucky me gets to speak in church again! Luckily this time it is in English and I know more than 2 minutes in advance. 

Anyways, I have no time again and will make my mom send this but thanks again for your love and support and especially all the emails! I promise next week I will respond to all of them and write a better email haha Love you all so much but remember God loves you most! - Hermana Hadlock 

Pics: final days of the mtc, adventures in the Hood, and Christmas socks!