Week 37!!!

Hey Everybody!

So, no idea how long I have on this computer... I am on probably the smallest laptop ever made in the middle of Staples because my man Columbus managed to shut down all of L.A.'s libraries. Also, sorry to everyone who I have not responded to yet... due to random events, my email time keeps getting cut short. One day, I'll get caught up again... 

This week was pretty good! I was privileged to Confirm Wendy in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. It was super cool! I was kinda nervous though... I had never done that before, and it was in Spanish... It was super cool though!! I am still super humbled by the opportunity Elder Lund and I had to teach her family and baptize Wendy and Rosa! I cant wait for Bryan and Christian to get baptized! I'm not sure I'll be around to see it happen though... but, I feel like that it will happen and Wendy and Rosa would be glad to let us know.

So, this week was kinda slower. Pretty sure it was one of those, "Hey Elders, don't get cocky about Wendy" weeks.

So, the Staples employees are looking at us funny, so I better wrap this up before they kick us off...

3 Nephi 23:4 reads "Therefore give heed to my words; write the tings which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles." Basically, Jesus is telling the Nephites to write down His words so that they can make it into the Book of Mormon. I think we should all take the advise of Jesus and give heed to His words. Especially after the General Conference we just had. I challenge all of you to restudy the conference talks, and also all the scriptures.

I love you all! Hopefully we will be able to go email at the Stake Center a little later, and I can respond to a few emails. If not, I'll talk to you next week! Love you!

Elder Lloyd

 

Week 36!!!

 

So, I was not transferred. Elder Lund wasn't either. We will be serving together for another transfer! I am excited! This week was amazing!! I LOVED every minute of conference! I learned so much and I cannot wait for the Conference Ensign to come so I can learn even more!

So, Wendy made it to all 4 sessions of conference sessions which is somewhat a miracle. Especially considering the fact that for 3/4 of that she wasn't even baptized yet. Which brings me to my next point... Wendy was baptized!! I'm soo happy!! It was a long journey, but it's a big change. These things take time. She really was so prepared by the Lord when we found her, it just took her a bit to convince her of that. For about a week there, after we finished all the lessons we teach and we were going reviewing and going over stuff like the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet, She said after this week that literally every day, she'd have a question about her reading or something, then me and elder Lund would stop by and teach a lesson on it. All with out us even knowing! Elder Lund shared an experience with her about when he was deciding to go on a mission and he prayed and asked God if he should, then opened the scriptures to a random page and read in Doctrine and Covenants where it said to go on a mission. Wendy decided to try it. In her words she "prayed for an answer originally, but [she] already knew she needs to do it. So [she] prayed for a confirmation then opened up to Alma 5 which talks a lot about repentance. [She] guessed it kinda answered her question but not really, until she came to the last verse which reads 'I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.' and [she] instantly knew that it was her answer from God. Right after that [she] went for a run and pondered that and came to the conclusion that because God answered [her] prayer through the Book of Mormon that [she] needs to be baptized. That [she] really does know the Book of Mormon is the true Word of God, and that this is Christ's restored church" The opening prayer to Wendy's baptism was offered by Rosa, who is still one of the most sincere prayers I know, who said "we know that this day there are parties in the heavens for these two people being baptized today" (a fellar named Tony was baptized in the same service). I thought a lot about that. The Spirit hit me very strongly and testified to me once again of the importance of this missionary work. That it isn't just something to do because I had nothing else going on, but it has eternal results and blessings for many many souls. I add my testimony on to the testimony of Wendy's that I know this church is the true Church of Christ. that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and through that book may we all come closer to Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, in any other way. I would challenge all who may be reading this wondering if they should join this church, or return back into activity, to prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, and to come unto Christ and be Baptized.

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

Week 35... TRANSFERS!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

So, do to a series of unfortunate events, I have very limited time to email today. Long story short, a 70 is coming to speak to our mission in November sometime. So, to know what our mission needs, he asked us all to fill out a survey provided in an email. So, I log on to do it, and it took a good chunk of my email time then all of the computers in the L.A. library system crashed...

So, a very abbreviated email to tell you I am still alive is all I have time for real quick before P-Day ends in a few minutes. So, this week was pretty great. Bryan didn't come to church though again which is super lame. Not sure why. Wendy says she thinks he just doesn't do good with commitments. But, Wendy was still at church. We are going to have to drop Bryan though which is super lame. But his time will come, especially after he sees Wendy. Just like how Wendy decided to hear us out more after her mom's example.

We haven't talked to Salva and Fila at all. Salvador's daughter came in from Guatemala to attend General Conference so they have been super hard to find.

And speaking of General Conference, Mosiah 3:13 reads, "And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them." I am incredibly excited for General Conference. As this scripture says, God sends prophets to guide us to Christ and receive exceedingly great joy. So, I invite you all to listen to as much Conference as you can! Preferably all of it, and more then just listen, jot down a few notes, and live what you learn!!

I love you all lots!!
Elder Lloyd

Oh, and it is transfers, so don't send me any mail that wont get here by Saturday! :)

Week 34!!!

Hey Everyone!

This week was pretty great! Still here and loving life in Pico Rivera! I LOVE the people here so much! This week was kinda slower, but that's okay. One of the highlights for sure was a big conference we had all about finding. It was super good! I learned so much about how I can become a better missionary. There is a section of Preach My Gospel all about talk to everyone you see. President Tew gave a big training on why it says "with" as opposed to "to" everyone. Then the assistants to the President gave a good training on how to better use the gift of discernment to know how to talk with everyone and say what they need to hear right in that very moment to make them see that this Gospel is exactly what they need right now. It is very cool. As we have tried to put this to the test, me and Elder Lund have definitely see the Lord's hand in EVERYTHING we do. And speaking of seeing the Lord's hand better in our lives, how is every one's Daily Miracle Journal going?

We are still working with Rosa's kids Wendy and Bryan. They are coming along great, but Bryan wasn't at church yesterday so he wont make his goal of being baptized on September 29. Wendy said she is "almost convinced, but she's not quite sure" and said she has a few questions for us, but then she didn't want to ask them anymore. We still don't know if they are doubts or if she wants more clarification on something? I guess we will see. Really, they are both super ready for baptism. We just need to get Bryan at church and then convince them they are ready.

Fila is frustrating. Salvador told us he wants them to be baptized, but Fila is "scared to pray because [she's] scared to receive an answer." Now I may be wrong, but I think that that means she has felt the Spirit in our lessons a few times and now has a hunch we are correct and is scared to pray because then she will find out that we are right and if we are right, she has to change. Change isn't exactly easy or fun so I kinda don't blame her I guess... But really? Like come on, just pray! Isn't it important to know the truth? Her daughter Marlen is doing well. She prayed and read "and got emotional" and now really wants to be baptized and really wants her mom to pray too. As soon as her mom will pray, we can baptize them. It took a long time to build her trust... and with transfers coming up, I am scared that if me or Elder Lund are transferred then the trust will be gone with the new Elder...

Mosiah 2:22 reads "And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you." Basically, if you first keep the commandments of God, then all other worldly things will work out and you will find a TON more happiness and peace in your life.

Thanks for everything!

Love,
Elder Lloyd

Week 33!!!

Hey everybody!

This week was a pretty good one. This week we were able to re find Wendy, Rosa's daughter. We still have no idea what happened, but the Tuesday right after Rosa's baptism, Wendy got mad at us and every time we would go over to talk to her she would get up and leave. No idea what was going on. Finally last Tuesday we were talking to Rosa's son Brian and Wendy didn't go hide but she only said like three words to us. She was being awkward about it on purpose and kind of being a brat. But, she felt the Spirit that was definitely there in the lesson with us. The next day we went to talk to Rosa. Wendy pretended like she was doing homework but she was really listening in. At the end of the lesson Rosa says "Wendy, the Elders think you are really mad at them" I was kinda annoyed because I didn't want Rosa to mess things up with Wendy again because we were just starting to get her back. Wendy said she wasn't mad at us and just said stuff happens. Elder Lund then distracted Rosa while me and Wendy had a heart to heart and I mustered up the sincerest apology I could offer her. And, thankfully it worked as two days later we taught Wendy and Brian the Gospel of Jesus Christ and committed them to be baptized later this month and I really feel like this is going to happen!

Rosa and Wendy were at church this week, not sure why Brian wasn't there, but after Sunday School, Rosa tried to leave to go try and find her other son Christian but Wendy asked if they could stay, so they did and Wendy went to Young Women's. She is kind of shy so this truly is a miracle!


In district meeting we talked about miracles. We were challenged to pay attention everyday to miracles around us and nightly, text one miracle of the day to the rest of the zone. I never thought to pay that close attention to the every day miracles, but there are sooo many miracles that happen all day every day it is crazy! I challenge you to do the same. Go get a little notebook and every night before you go to sleep, write down one miracle that has happened today. I promise that as you do so, you will come to see the Lord's hand in your life a lot more prominately.

Mosiah 3:19 "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." I like this one a lot. Strive every day to become like a child and to the things that God wants of you. As you put off the natural man, life will be better.

Until next week,

Elder Lloyd

Week 32!!!

So this week was kinda lame...

I guess we'll start from the top, last Sunday (not yesterday) Elder Lund and I were asked to give two blessings to two sick people. The daughter of a lady in the ward, and Rosa. So, we did it. then, Monday we have P-day, Tuesday Elder Lund is starting to get a bit sick. We worked anyways, that's just what missionaries do... We spent a lot of the morning helping a guy weed where he recently planted weeds, then we found Paulstina. The lady we are helping learn to read. We read the Book of Mormon to her for a little bit. That night we had a big meeting with all the ward missionaries where we are teaching them which doctrines we teach when and we are introducing them to the missionary manual Preach My Gospel. Well, Tuesday Elder Lund was really sick and, with the nurse's permission, he slept most of the day while I studied most of the day, Thursday was District Meeting and weekly planning and we had a family home evening with the lady who's daughter we gave a blessing too. It went really well. We watched the Testaments. Come time to leave, some one stole our front tires. Right on Elder Lund's birthday. Happy Birthday eh? Friday I was really sick, so my turn to sleep while Elder Lund studied. Saturday morning and Evening, we spent almost all day trying to get new tires. We were at bike shop and realized that the Elder who gave us a ride, was about to be late for an interview with President. So, we had no time to take us back so that took a good amount of time too. Sunday was good. Rosa was feeling better so she was at church and got confirmed. That was nice. The ward mission leader did it.

So, if I were to sum up this week in a nut shell, it would be with 2 Nephi 2:11 "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." This is true. If you never had a bad day in your life, you wouldn't recognize the good days you have. So, this week was sent to me so that I may recognize that next week will be better. :)  

 

I love you all!!

 

Thanks for all you do!! Sorry I don't have an inspiring story this week...

Love,

Elder Lloyd

Week 31!!!

Hey everybody!!  

This week was pretty good! Me and Elder Lund are having a great time here in Pico Rivera. It was a little hot all week... upwards of 100 every day and decent humidity...

I kinda don't have a lot of time, Labor Day managed to close down all the libraries around town making two zones worth of elders using a family history center in a stake center. So, if I don't make it to your email this week, I am sorry. I will respond next week :)

This week we had a few lessons with Rosa and Wendy. Wendy is in a few A.P. classes at school so she hasn't had the most time to meet with us, so we have been reading the Book of Mormon with Rosa.

We also have had a lesson with Salvador, Fila and Marlin. Fila is doubting the Book of Mormon. She believes it is true, but doesn't know why it is important and thins that she can only have "one bible". We have been working with her reading and answering questions.

Mosiah 5:13 reads, "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

I like this a lot. We need to always keep Christ in our hearts and strive to be the best we can to better ourselves everyday and be Christlike. In doing this, we will come to know Christ and our faith in Him will be strengthened.

That's about all I have time for today. Thanks for all your love and support!

Love,
Elder Lloyd