Week 51!!!

Hey guys!

This week was super good! We had the most lessons this week I have had in this area. We are really being blessed for our diligence right now. So much happened this week I'm not even real sure where to start... We found a girl named Ashley. We stopped by a less active member, but he was busy. On our way out of his complex, there were two people talking. So, we contacted them. We started talking about the church. They started asking all these perfect questions and basically taught themselves the Plan of Salvation through their own questions (and a little bit of the Spirit guiding them :) ) when we were done, we asked them what stood out to them about what was said.  Ashley said that not much about what we said, but the fact we would stop and talk to them. How she felt is what stood out. How she can tell we really do care and know what we are doing is true. It was a really sweet moment. She asked us to come by and teach her and her mom. She really did ask all the perfect questions and give all the perfect responses. It was super cool. We are looking forward to our return appointment tonight.

We also had a good lesson with Laura. It was super cool. Last time we talked she tried to read the book of Mormon but wasn't really getting it. So we invited her to pray before hand and see how that goes and promised God would help her understand. So we went in and she said how much she enjoys reading and she understands a lot more now. She is still reluctant to accept a baptism date, but the Spirit is working in her and as she continues to read and pray, her day will come.

I love it here so much. I'll be honest, for awhile it got a bit tough right through the holidays and all that entails. I kinda missed home and everyone was super busy and wouldn't really let us in. But now that is all in the past, we are teaching a lot more again, and I have really been reminded why I LOVE this work so much.

Mosiah 28:3 reads "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." which really is one of my favorite scriptures. If you love the people with all you've got, then they will know and you will be effective.  Any missionary can and will tell you you have got to love the people. sincerely and honestly.  If you don't, it just doesn't work. I learn a little bit more about love each day as I truly forget myself in the work. I council all of you, if you truly love your neighbors and friends, you will desire their salvation, so, invite them to come into the gospel. It may be a bit hard or a bit scary, but the full time missionaries in your area are more then willing to help you. Believe me, if you call them up and say "I have this friend I don't know how to invite but I want to. Will you help me?" you will make their days :)

Awesome sunsets!!

Love,

Elder Lloyd

Week 50!!!

Hey Everyone!!

So, I loved this week. Kind of a lot actually. This was the best week we have had together. I think I said that last week too, but this one was better!

So, we had two lessons that I really enjoyed. One was with the Zavala family, some less actives who just completed one year in the church, and therefore can go be sealed, if they come back to church... So, we have been working with them as long as I have been here to get them at church, but they wont come. This last Saturday, we went and had a lesson which we watched the Mountain of the Lord, a video produced by the church about them making the Salt Lake Temple. It was super spiritual. Part of it, Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the church in the dispensation, promised how the work of this temple will touch millions of lives. The Spirit hit me so strong from that as I pondered what it means. How this House of God has touched millions of lives. The Spirit bore witness to me that the promise is true, and I am living evidence of it, as because the early saints built this temple, I am sealed to my family for all the eternity. Man I love this Gospel, this work, this mission.

We also had a super spiritual lesson about the restoration with Laura. She loved it and is very open to the idea that God spoke to mankind once again. It was super cool. Her son was there as well. He was baptized a few months back, the weekend of conference. The Atonement is very real. As a man, who's past I don't really know but we were talking about his old mustang he has that he is fixing. It was his first car that isn't running right after he "got in a bit of trouble and it sat for a while."Lets just say, he is a fellar my mother would probably be scared of me being friends with :). Anyways, it was such a tender moment as he bore sincere testimony to his own mother of the Divinity of Jesus Christ and how she too can be made clean as he is from anything (and I'm sure he meant ANYTHING) in her past. I really love what I do. So much! It never fails to amaze me or strengthen my testimony as I watch a full grown man cry as he realizes, treasures, and shares a great truth that has helped him to use it to help others.

I was thinking a lot this week about prayer. We had a training on referring first to prayer to solve our problems rather then it being a last resort when we come to grips on the fact of we cant do it alone. It was really neat. Doctrine and Covenants 10:5 says it better then I ever could so "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work." Really, always pray. It aligns your will with Gods. It really will provide you with the strength to conquer all.

Love you all!!
Have a great week!
Elder Lloyd

Week 49!!!

Hey Everybody!!

This week was super good. Probably the best week me and Elder Gil have had together. It was super good. We had a few really good lessons.

We met this lady named Laura. Her son got baptized some three months ago into the English ward, but she speaks no English. She told the son that she wants to learn why he is so happy. So, he asks the English Elders if they know anyone that speaks Spanish. If there is a Spanish ward at all. SO, they say yeah, we know two guys and sent Elder Gil and I over. It was really cool. We met her other son out washing his truck who said that he would love to join the lesson, but he is busy. He wasn't expecting us till 6. (We learned later the English Elders did teach him at 6). But, we went in and met Laura. Every now and then we will contact someone on the street that says they don't know the church at all really, but they see us walking or on our bikes and they cant help but notice how happy we are as missionaries and wonder why on earth we are so happy in white shirts, slacks, and a tie in 115 degree weather. It is always kind of cool when that happens. My testimony of being a good example really was strengthened with Laura. We went in and hardly got to teach a lesson because she was just so thrilled that we were there. She told us how much she has seen her son grow and progress and how happy and easy going he is now in the 3 months since his baptism. She said how she doesn't understand anything of what the missionaries say because she speaks no English, but her son has told her a little bit and she is beyond belief excited to get into her life what her son has found because she has seen profound blessings first hand from her son. This really goes to show what Mosiah says is true. That when we "are willing to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that [they] may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that [they] may have eternal life" (Mosiah 18:9). That people can see your good examples. They will notice that you have what they don't, and they will want it. So, always know people recognize you as something special. Always be on your best behavior. You never know who that will touch.

Me and Elder Gil

Love,
Elder Lloyd

Week 48!!!

Hello Everybody!

This week was super good! It was definitely a bit strange being away from home for Christmas for the first time in 20 years, but it was a very good Christmas present to see my family for the first time in just shy of one year (via skype), and talk to them for probably the fastest 43 minutes of my mission...

I've decided I really like Christmas season. Usually, I don't care for it. Maybe I take after Charlie Brown and my dad, but it really bugs me how commercialized it all is. I really do find a lot of fun in finding the right gift for someone, but this year, without that, I really spent a lot more time focusing on the Savior and really learned a lot. But, maybe that is just the missionary in me. It was really a special experience to be one of Christ's personal missionaries and go around for His birthday and testify to others who do not have the Gospel in their lives how they can utilize the Atonement and become happy. The entire purpose of why Christ was born. It was also kind of a special experience to sit down in the house of a very generous member on Christmas day and over live video invite my family to come closer to the Savior and partake in the blessings there of, and do so in a lot more feeling and sincerity then just a letter can portray. For about a year now, I have been dreading Christmas. Seeing how it is generally a time of family, but mine are still far away, but looking back, although this may seem cliche, this was probably one of my best Christmases ever as I really got involved in missionary work, and served. Bringing to others, what is, in my opinion, the best gift I could bring. The gift of the Gospel of Christ. The gift of eternal happiness, the gift of salvation, the gift of being sealed to your family for all eternity. I testify as an ordained personal representative of Christ, that He lives, that he did come into the world to make it possible for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. I testify that He loves you more then you can comprehend, that you can ALWAYS come unto Him and be made clean from your sins. Moroni 6:8 reads "But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven." No matter what you feel inside, the Savior is here. He will come unto you if you will come unto Him. You will be forgiven if you seek to be. I exhort all of you, no matter where you are in life, to come unto Him and be made whole and reap the happiness and blessings that will come.

I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.