Aleen Taylor

Mission: Japan Fukuoka

Dates served: November 2008 - May 2010

Home city: Plymouth, Minnesota
Relation to Uncle Bud: Great-great niece from the Henry D. Taylor branch

Aleen (Ally) Taylor is the daughter of Bradford and Ann Taylor and served the first seven months of her mission on the island of Okinawa 700+ miles south of Japan "mainland". She also served in the Kagoshima Branch and the Nagasaki Branch on the island of Kyushu. Most of Ally's companions were native Japanese, which has helped her to learn a very difficult language. Some things that Ally loved about serving in southern Japan:

The warm tropical climate and being near the ocean, similar to her days at BYU Hawaii.

Getting to wear pants (a rain suit) during monsoon season.

Riding her bike everywhere.

The Japanese people's kindness, and their deep respect for family history.

Ally was able to attend the Fukuoka Temple while serving and loved it. She has had the priviledge of meeting in fairly small missionary group settings with two Apostles: Elder Bednar and Elder Oaks. She taught english as a way to meet people and share the gospel. She was often asked to sign autographs because Japanese people thought she must be a blond-haired American movie star. Ally is part of a wonderful line of "Sister Taylor" Missionaries, including her Mother Ann Wilks Taylor (Italy, Catania), Grandmother Colette Green Taylor (Tennessee, Nashville), Great Grandmother (Alta Hansen Taylor (California, Los Angeles), Great-Great Grandmother Maria D. Taylor (England). Ally loved her mission; she was a very hard working "Shimai" (Sister), and she was loved by the Japanese people. She (along with all her generation) are deeply grateful to Uncle Bud for his generous missionary fund and for the vision he had to put this in place for generations to come.