Week 30!!!

Hello everybody!

I hope your week was as good as mine!!  

So, real quick before I get into the good stuff, I wasn't transferred. Me and Elder Lund are together again so feel free to send me letters to the same address :)

So this week we stopped by Rosa almost every night to try and build her up and keep her strong. Her baptism was approaching and she was starting to get really nervous and started panicking. We went to her house Thursday night and she said she got called into work because someone is sick. She has to work all weekend. All Sunday and she cant make it to church, or her baptism. Me and Elder Lund were in the calmest panic I've ever done. Just calmly sit and think how can i solve this for her? We decided to pray it out. We asked her to exercise her faith that it will work out. Saturday she told us that a lady asked her if she can cover for her to get more hours. God really does answer prayers :) Her story really is amazing. She met with the sister missionaries 5 or 6 years ago but only went to church once because she always had work. The Sisters were transferred out and she ended up moving a few blocks away and lost contact with the Church. The Monday before me and Elder Lund went in to this area, she finally saw the Elders at the store and got the courage to talk to them in hopes that it was the same church the Sisters were from. We got their referral and couldn't find her for about two weeks. Then we were talking to here for about a month. She already had sooo much faith but fell away from the Catholic church. She knew it just wasn't quite right. She said her faith really grew in God when she separated from her husband and knew that the world just doesn't care. The only one she could rely on is God. It was actually kinda sad hearing her talk about it. We were able to answer so many of her questions she had but she knew so much from the sisters. The others in the photo are Rosa's daughter Wendy, whom we hope will be baptised soon. She is super shy, but is warming up to us and will join the lessons now. and She definitely felt the Spirit at her mom's baptism, the Villalobos family. they helped us teach and (Spanish too lol) Hermano Villalobos performed the Baptism. He had to run after the baptism so I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but Elder Lund said that he pulled Elder Lund aside and thanked him for allowing them to help us teach. he hasn't been able ever in his life to be apart as something as beautiful as helping a random stranger who you dont even know progress and follow Christ and the sincere love that develops and the friendship they have made. Yesterday, my first baptism, was one of the happiest days of my life. I think the only day that can rival it, is from my last area, when the Alvarez Family came to Church for the first time. It really is so humbling to be apart of such a magnificent work as this. The Salvation of Souls.

I bear my testimony to you, that the Salvation of Souls is a real work on the Earth today. That Jesus Christ is our savior and Redeemer and that only through him can we receive the fullness of joy that we can inherit. The joy that only comes from following the teachings of God. It is never to late to come to Christ. Whether it be return to Him, or maybe find Him for the first time. I know that He lives and He loves each and every one of us more then we can comprehend. He wants the best for us. He is happy when we are happy, and sad when we are sad. They only thing he wants is for ust to come into his fold. John 15:14 reads "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

 

Week 29... TRANSFERS!!!

Hey Everybody! 

 

This week was great!    Allot of stuff fell through so we ended up knocking a lot of doors, but over all it was a super good week! Last Monday, an hour before our appointment with them, a very sad Salvador called us and said that Fila doesn't want to investigate anymore. We were devastated. We let it blow over for a few days. On Friday I think, we went buy again and Fila was so happy to see us! She said that we missed our appointment on Wednesday. We were kinda confused. We talked it over, and decided it was just a big miscommunication. I guess if you get two white guys that pretend they speak Spanish and put them on the phone with Guatemalan then stuff happens... lol. I guess Salvador set up another appointment for Wednesday and we unknowingly said we'll go? lol. Spanish on the phone is one of the hardest things to do! I guess that's the price you pay for drumming for a few years...

We have been working a lot with Rosa lately too. She is super cool and absolutely loves what we are teaching! She is slowly making the steps to baptism that we are here to guide her too. 

I am so glad I decided to serve a mission. I LOVE it here sooo much. Me and Elder Lund have had a good transfer together! Its week 6 now which means it may be coming to an end, but I really hope we can have another together.

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 states "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." I never really realized how essential this is till my mission. A lot of people don't understand that the God Head is comprised of 3 distinct, separate individuals all that have the same purpose.

I love you all so much!  Thanks for your support!

Love,

Elder Lloyd

P.S. being transfers, make sure all mail that may or may not come makes it here before this Saturday :) I may be moving!

Week 28!!!

Hey guys!!

This week was super great!!

We had super good lessons with Salvador and his family!   Really, in one lesson, we were talking allot and he said that he was baptized 30 some odd years ago. That was really unexpected... We knew something was up because his late wife and daughters were baptized and served missions back when he lived in Guatemala. He said that he wants to start going back to church because he misses it. His current wife Fila was kinda upset with him... turns out she had no idea either... Unfortunately, they weren't able to make it to church. they had a family thing. But, we did find another lady named Rosa. She made it to church. She investigated 5 years or so ago but had to work on Sundays so she was never at church and never baptized. She loves our church though!!

Sorry, I am out of time this week. I will write a better one next week!

Alma 32:21 reads "Now i say concerning faith. Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, but to have hope in things that are not seen which are true" 

Love you all!!

Week 27!!

Hey everyone!!

 

How are you? So a few weeks ago, Elder Nokes (some of you know him, some probably don't) Copied and pasted his president's letter to this email. I liked the idea so I am going to give it a shot! 

 

Dear President Tew,

 

This week was great!! I really love it here with Elder Lund! We are getting our teaching pool up and going, and we are finding some great people! We knocked into a feller named Salvador. He recently moved here from Guatamala. His now ex wife and his daughters all served a mission and stuff but he was never baptized. Not sure why. We talked with him and had a get to know you/how to begin teaching as we were knocking, left with a scripture and set an appointment for the next day. The next day, Thursday I believe, we had a full first and him and his current wife and daughter LOVED it. We gave them a Book of Mormon and the Hermana LOVED it. She read two chapters the first night. We haven't had a lesson since because they had a funeral they had to go to, but we did swing by and drop off another B.o.M. because we only had one last time. the Hermana went off saying how much she loved the reading and she wanted another assignment. Then, they came to church!!! The first investigator I've had in church. My last area was hard. just allot of empty commitments.  Well, after 6 months of trying, I finally convinced someone to come!  Granted I take no credit, but you know what I mean. I was so happy! I really think they will be baptized.  We have a lesson tomorrow with them!!   The daughter wasn't at church though... kinda lame.  Not sure why.

I LOVE this area, sometimes it gets hot, but a little sweat never hurt no one,  and I LOVE elder Lund. He is probably my favorite companion. I definitely get along better with him then my last two here and the one in the MTC. He kinda reminds me of my best friend back at home. We haven't even been in one argument. I think the 5 man apartment helps with that. I honestly would love to have another transfer with Elder Lund. and I firmly believe that the unity we have developed can and will allow us to summon the Spirit firmly and powerfully for the Salvation of Souls.

 

Thanks for all you do! Love Elder Lloyd.

 

So that's about all I've got this week :) I have zone conference on Friday! I'll let you know how that goes! There has been allot of rumours of a ton of changes and stuff happening some form the new mission President, some from Salt Lake. I'm curious to see what I find out! 

 

1 Nephi 3:7 reads "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." I really like this. It is true (like all the Scriptures :) ) that any and every commandment from God is possible. He will not require from us what we cannot handle. Sometimes it may seem so, But HE will ALWAYS help us out. The hard times are the times of growth.  

 

Thanks for all the support!! 

 

Love,

Elder Lloyd

Week 26!!!

Hey everyone!!  

This week was good!!

I hope all of you were able to have a good week as well!!

This week was great! Me and Elder Lund were able to find a few good people to teach. It has been a slow start but we are getting lessons back into our days again. Its great! I love my new area and Elder Lund allot! I love it because we are both equals. We have the same time in the mission, 6 months as of today!  It's crazy that I'm a quarter of the way done! And because we opened a new area, we have the same time here so we are both equals. I like it allot!

I have no time today, We had a trip up to the L.A. temple today which takes most of the day, also it is why Tuesday is P-Day instead of yesterday. I love the temple so much! Its one of those things that you don't realize you miss it until you go back. It is like most things relating to the Gospel, you receive so much happiness from the Gospel it is incredible. Then, when you do something you aren't supposed to be or something like that, your quality of life goes down. It's gradual enough that you don't notice until you get it back then your life is miraculous again as you start recognizing the blessings that come from the Gospel and Jesus Christ. I know this to be true with every fiber in my being. I have helped a few people the past 6 months realize this and come back to Christ. You have heard of them in my emails. One was a even a bishop. I bring him up because it really shows that anyone can stray away so we all need to be careful. But more then that, it shows the Love that God has for each and every one of his children. It shows His hand in our lives, and the power of the Atonement that he was able to realign his life with the teachings of Christ. I wish you all could have heard his solom humble testimony as he thanked me for not giving up and how much his life has improved since he has come back to Christ. I exhort all of you to come back into the fold of Christ. By that I mean that we are all sinners. But Christ loves every single one of us. Pick one thing and fix it.  Whatever just came to your mind, as i know as you read that, the Spirit will recall to you what you need to work on. Improve on that for a better tomorrow. Never stop doing the little things. They are important.

Luke 23:34. reads " Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." In this scripture Jesus Christ is hanging on the cross for all to see. Everyone was mocking and scorning Him. He prays to our Father in Heaven and pleads for Him to forgive His murderers. Right before He dies 13 verses later. 

If Jesus Christ will forgive his murderers, He will lovingly accept you back into his flock and forgive you of whatever you may need.

He loves you more then you can comprehend and wants the best for you. That's why he has established His church again on the Earth. That is why he called me and 80,000 other missionaries to go to all places and "invite all to come unto [Him]" (missionary purpose PMG PG 1)

Thanks for all your support!

I love you all!

Elder Lloyd