Baptism

Jan 25, 2016

Keanan had an exciting week that culminated with a Baptism!  From Keanan:

This week was a lot of fun!  We went to a wedding and i had my first baptism!  I got to baptize Jeffery Serato Agraan and it was really cool seeing him take all the lessons and change!  He was the one getting married too, his wife is already a member thats why he started taking the lessons.  The spirit was so thick at the baptism, i just felt calm!  not scared at all even though it was my first time!  I loved it!  I also gave my first blessing and i had the same feelings.  I really love it here!  I'm lucky i got sent somewhere with lots of nature because it is so gorgeous here, Im so lucky!

Ok spiritual thought for the week, I read two scriptures i really liked, Jacob 4:6-9 and D&C 133:53.  I really like reading (which i didn't use to...) there is a calm in the scriptures for me.  In Jacob it talks about the power of words, which to me is really true because we can feel them when someone says something mean or nice to us.  It makes sense that God's power is manifest in words, especially because the important things that happen in our church all are dependent on the words we say.  The scripture in D&C talks about how He will carry us, which i know to be true.  I pondered a lot this week about why at some of the hardest times in my life i didn't feel like he carried me and i realized that my hard times all ended when I re-centered my life on Christ.  :) 

Elder Taylor-Jenson

Rise and Rise again, until lambs become lions.

Wedding Bells

1st Baptism

The Force is strong with this one!

Pictures...

Jan 18, 2016

Keanan was able to spend a bit more time typing an email this week. whew p day again sweet. ok so this week we found some new investigators, which is awesome of course! We found Margarie and Gloria. They both seemed super interested but sometimes its hard to tell if people really care or if they invite you in just to be polite... but the lessons go well. We taught Margarie and her bakla (gay) roomate sat down and started listening too! wait i lied that was two weeks ago. this week we went back and taught just Margarie because she was the only one home. we brought some members too and it was nice, she is just shy. with Gloria we contacted her and found out she already has a book of mormon and is reading it! she had been contacted earlier. shes older and seemed really interested. she said she would be at church but she didnt show up, maybe thats how God feels when i mess up... haha.

I have a lot of experiences where i feel like God says "thats you!" we were at a dinner appointment and there were two little boys, the one kept getting distracted and was loud and would spill a lot, in my head i said "its ok hes just learning" and i heard in my head "you're still learning too,its ok" and i really needed that.

I found my new favorite scripture! Before my mission i didnt like reading that much but now i cant get enough.  I found Mosiah 15, the whole chapter is good but specifically up until verse 12 because it explains how the atonement works (verse 9) and talks a lot about His sacrafice. And it says that when Christ suffered, He saw "His seed" which is amazing when you think about it because we are all His seed, so as He suffered, He saw every person. Well I'm alive and well despite the pig intestine (which isnt to bad) and the liver (which is super dry) that i ate this week. I think i can say i am no longer a picky eater. because if i was i would starve. Im having a great time and thank you all for your love and support, i miss you all!

Elder Taylor-Jenson

Short Update

Jan 11, 2016 Keanan's week was harried so his email was short. He stated that the language was tough and weather was really hot. Regardless, he said he loves it there and seeing the people how God sees them. In his haste, Keanan shared 2 scripture that had special meaning to him this week:

1) Alma 7:11-13 - Christ and his physical empathy of our human ailments and experiences through the Atonement; and

2) D&C 6:34-37 - Trust in the Lord for he is our solid foundation in life. v36: Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Arrival in the Philippines Cauayan Mission!!

Dec 30, 2015

Keanan arrived in the Philippines Cauayan Mission today.  He was greeted by the Mission President Rahlf and his wife and was assigned his first Mission Companion, Elder Busilac.  Not much to say today, as there was no P-day (preparation day) due to his transfer to this area.

President Rahlf and his wife

Me and Elder Busilac

First update from the Philippines (PI) - Manila MTC

Dec 17, 2105 -

Keanan's weekly email was moving and inspiring.  We are so happy to be able to share this experience vicariously through him.

Being here is awesome.  Man there is so much to talk about, I can't fully describe everything that happened this week.  The plane ride was long and boring, we aren't allowed to watch TV or anything so that was terrible but I got some good sleep time in!  Finally getting to Manila and driving on the bus was crazy.  There is traffic all the time, the cars drive wherever they want, and its just a free for all!  After that I just spent time in the Manila MTC and after a little we got to go to the Immigration office.  So we are driving to the office and this time its day, so I can see so much better.  As we drove through the streets I saw homeless people everywhere. They build shacks against the buildings and kids play in the streets.  I've seen places like this in pictures but actually being in the middle of it is so different.  As we waiting in line to go to the immigration office, I saw three little girls who were homeless and I talked to them in Tagalog a little.  They were only 10 10 and 8 and they had on rags.  The thing I noticed first about them was that they smiled constantly. and as we drove back to the MTC I noticed that, people here smile a lot.  They are so happy despite their lack of worldly things.

Just yesterday we went on MTC exchanges with missionaries here. I thought we would be street contacting but we went to an inactive members house. I was with one elder from here and another from new Zealand. to get to this members house we took a tricycle which is just a motorcycle with a side cart attached.  As we cut through cars and drove on the wrong side of the road I began to wonder why there were no seatbelts in this thing... it was crazy. as I exited the tricycle I found myself in the poorest area I've been in my life.  there were stray dogs everywhere, houses on houses on houses, and everything looked like it was struggling to live. We weaved through an ally or two to get to the members house and as we walked I saw a man sleeping on the ground between two buildings. One of my companions pointed to him and said "That's one of our members, he lives there" and I couldn't believe what he was telling me. I was truly humbled. After walking a ways we got to the house. outside there was some sort of washing machine that had the hose hooked up to it. right behind that was the door and above the door there were a couple giant umbrellas, the kind you would bring to the beach. And as I entered I took off my shoes at the door of the house, which was smaller than the size of my living room. The woman we were visiting greeted us as her daughter darted upstairs. I tried to pick out what Tagalog I knew as she talked to my native companion. She invited us to sit on her couch/ bench which had been made by her husband I presumed. before we began, we sang a hymn, which I've never done when on splits in the states.  as we sang silent night though we were quite off key I felt the spirit so strongly.  during the song the daughter came back down and joined us.  after the song one of my companions turned to me and said "well what message do you have for us today?" I was caught off guard but I was able to pick out a scripture i had been reading this past week and it went well. I read 1 Nephi 19:9 which talks about how the whole have no need for a physician but the sick do. and how he came to call not the righteous but the sinners to repentance.  I talked about how the gospel is for everyone on the earth and how we should share it. as we concluded and left the house I felt so humbled.

I know I've only been here under a week but I love it, its so amazing how loving and receptive the people are, we set up an appointment with the Tricycle driver on the way back to the church!  I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to be here.  

I love you all so much, don't forget it!  

Elder Taylor-Jenson

Manila Temple

Dec 24, 2015 -

Keanan was able to call us on Christmas Eve (his Christmas Day)-the best Christmas gift to all of us! He was enthusiastic to start the work, and had fun things to tell us.  He lovingly and jokingly said "I am one of the tallest ones here!  Everyone else comes up to my chin!"  He is enjoying his "super sized" status.

First Update Since Leaving For The MTC - Provo, UT

Due to Keanan's quick mission call, followed by the holiday routine, which included Keanan leaving the country, we have been delinquent in posting.  But New Year, new start!  Here's a quick "catch up" and then we will post more regularly.

Nov 11, 2015 - Keanan arrived at the Provo, Utah Missionary Training Center (MTC)

Drop Off:

Sarah, NaVia and Loraya drove Keanan out to Utah, and enjoyed last minute family time and all those emotions that go into sending your favorite son/brother on a mission!

While he was there, we were able to communicate rather regularly with Keanan through DearElder.com.  Keanan really liked this since he would get hard copy messages on the same, or next day from those who wrote him.  He got a little lonely, but figured out how to push through those feelings via prayer, scripture study, and the letters everyone sent him.

Keanan was able to pick up on the Tagalog language rather quickly, and even served as a language tutor for the other missionaries not as familiar with the language.  For those who do not know, Keanan took 4 years of Tagalog in High School, so he was well prepared for his mission call to the Philippines!

Here is his email from the Provo, MTC:

It's amazing to be here!  I have had a ton of fun at the MTC and its crazy that I've only been here a couple weeks!  I leave really early on the 10th for the Philippines and I am so excited!  It'll be super hot so I'm trying to enjoy the cool weather here. Also, with all the tagalog, i have been having trouble spelling english words because they are way harder... but i have started saying all my prayers in tagalog!

This week we had a blast as usual!  Elder Morris took 1500 mg of a laxative because everyone gave him a dollar so that was fun.  Sister Fivas put one of those airplane pillows in her hair and i totally got a picture of that!  We also had a ton of fun in the choir, we practice twice a week and its so much fun.

On a more serious note, I started the book of mormon over again and I was reading in 2 Nephi at the beginning when Lehi is about to die and he says "Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness.  Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust." (2Nephi 1: 23)  I was really touched by that i feel like it should be in an inspirational video or something.  I also decided which scripture to put on my plaque, 1 Nephi 19:9 which reads, "And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it.  Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it,because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men."

If anyone wants to be on the email list that isn't just shoot me an email with their address!  Thank you all for being there for me, I miss you all a ton!  All the packages and emails and just love in general means a lot to me, so thank you.

Elder Taylor-Jenson

Dec 10, 2015 - Keanan leaves the MTC in Provo, UT, and flies to the Manila, Philippines MTC.

Keanan flew to the Manila MTC for further missionary training before assignment to his first Mission Area - Cauayan, Philippines.  He flew from Salt Lake City, UT, to Los Angeles (LAX).  While in Lax we got to speak with him on the phone.  He sounded happy, healthy and excited to start his mission.  He flew from LAX, had a short layover in Hong Kong, and onto Manila.

At this MTC, Keanan started going out on Missionary splits with missionaries who were native to the Philippines. Here is his email:

Hey I just got to the Philippines last night around 12 our time!  It is so warm and fun and fast here!  I already love it, the people are awesome!  As we drove to the MTC the cars were all ridiculously close to each other.  I love it here!  

Well I only have a couple seconds to emai so I'll keep it short.  The more I talk to people about missions the more they say that you'll look back on your missions your whole life.  That makes me a little nervous but as long as I do all I can, I know the Lord will help me.

Again thank you all for being there for me.

Mahal kita,

Elder Taylor-Jenson

Atonement and Spirit Farewell Talk

In my experience I’ve found that in life we get whatever we really want. When I really don’t want to do work, I don’t.  If I really want to go to the beach I will.  My brain will focus on doing whatever I center it around. Personally, I find this very scary. There are many ways I can get distracted in life and when I made this realization I was quite distraught for a while. It wasn’t until I went on splits with the missionaries that I found the answer to my problem.  I don’t remember exactly where we were or who we were talking to but I do know that the elder I was with said that the only way to real happiness is to align our will with the Lord’s will. Now I didn’t realize the answer was right in front of my face until I thought about it for a little bit, but in the end the spirit brought me to a very clear conclusion. If you want to be happy why wouldn’t you want to align yourself with the Lord? He’s an all knowing being who wants the best for you. It has never been so clear to me that every rule has a reason in this religion. And the reason there are rules is to keep us safe and help us to be happy.

Now I’m not the smartest. Sometimes I do things that I know I shouldn’t.  I have had many experiences where the spirit has said “don’t do that! You know what’ll happen!” and I do it anyways. I do strive to do what is right but sometimes it is very difficult. I have fallen over and over. At times I thought I was doomed to failure. Maybe this was the last straw and I had exhausted the Lord’s patience. Maybe he wouldn’t forgive me again. After these extreme moments of doubt I have always end up on my knees, praying for forgiveness and strength.  And every time the Lord is waiting to pick me up again. I am forever grateful to him for that.

After I’ve been in a slump like that I look to change myself for the better, to strengthen myself against slipping up again.  It is in these times I have found my relationship with the lord and my spiritual strength grows the most. My prayers will consist of questions or me thinking a problem out along with humble pleading for forgiveness.  And anytime I have tried to change myself for the better through prayer it has worked.  The key to this change, for me personally, is I have to put forth my best effort and the Lord helps me with the rest.  I’ve prayed for help in many things.  I’ve prayed for the strength to wakeup in the morning, help with studying; help with relationships, or even things as simple as feeling better.  I know that no matter how significant or insignificant our problems may seem, if it means something to us it means something to the Lord.

As I have come to realize that, my love for the Lord and my gratitude has grown immensely. As long as I sincerely ask and do all in my power to fix whatever I need help with, I have seen results.  This I know is a result of the Atonement.  For those of you who don’t know, the atonement was a selfless act by the perfect and sinless Jesus Christ to take upon himself all of the pains and afflictions of this world.  In order to access this atonement, sincere and faithful prayer is paramount. Knowing that he did that for me only strengthens my resolve to do what is right. My experiences with the atonement have been nothing but amazing as I have felt myself change. 

I’d like to share with you another experience.  A while back I was invited by my Sunday school teacher to look for the Lord’s hand in my life for one week.  After leaving the class the challenge was immediately pushed to the back of my brain where I didn’t think about it again for the next few months.  I eventually heard a talk which explained a man’s positive experience as he did the same thing I had been advised to do in Sunday school.  Remembering the challenge I stared to pray daily for the Lord’s help in seeing his hand.  After some time I began to feel more grateful and more blessed as the spirit showed me all the things I was being blessed with.  It was through this experience that I started to take honest account of my life.  I started paying attention to where I was with scripture study and prayer.  With the added attention to where I was spiritually I could more easily correct myself before making mistakes.  Through this I was more in tune with the spirit every day.

Having the spirit allowed me to make good decisions that positively impacted my life. I began to make better friends and decide to do the right thing beforehand.  I abounded in good works, diligently reading the scriptures, praying for strength and attending church meetings.  I found that as I did the little things I was more spiritually in tune. One lovely afternoon at BYUI I was walking home and thinking about all the events that happened over the years. In that moment I saw how all the little things had added up to put me in a great place physically and mentally. In that moment I saw how the Lord had guided me through the spirit and as a result I felt pure joy and love in that moment.  As my dad likes to say “there are no coincidences. Everything that happened to me was for a reason and was by design. A design, which is more complex than we can grasp and was made by the Lord for our happiness. Knowing that the Lord’s atonement allowed me to feel that way filled me with gratitude and humility.

Looking back on these experiences in my life makes me want to share the gospel because I can see how much happier I am now because of this gospel.  I’ve been through a lot so I understand the sorrow people can feel, but I also have felt the joy that the atonement has brought me along with the amazing spirit I’ve felt.  Having gone through these amazing experiences makes me want to give other people the chance to feel the joy I feel.  I’ve always known that I would go on a mission because that is what God expects of me and because he needs me.   Lately I have had a renewed desire to serve a mission because of other good experiences I’ve had as well.  The more I pay attention in church and really apply what I hear to myself the more I feel the spirit.  The feelings of peace that I get in church and in the temple are astounding and I know I would not be able to feel them if the atonement was not real.  Because of the life changing power of the atonement, I am so much better off.

I have always found the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi to be great role models.  In Alma 24:15-16 reads As I go through life I hope that I can be like them, fearing God more than man and doing what is right no matter the cost.  Valuing their cleanliness above all else.  Their faith inspires me to endure to the end.

I don’t remember who said this quote but I remember reading it somewhere and I know it to be true.  “The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”  In all my experience in the church I found this to be true.  As long as we keep the big picture in mind we will make the right decisions.  Applying this principle to all aspects of my life has yielded great blessings and success as I remember what I’m working for.  I hope I can remember at all times to sacrifice my current self for what I can become.

if we fall and fall and fall some more, the Lord will always be there to pick us up.

Thank you all for the examples you have been to me