Monday, July 27, 2015

July 27th, 2015 - Last weekly e-mail before Elder Loveless returns home!!


Family,
    Well it sounds like last week was good for you all!  I hope this next week is good for you all as well ;)  I still can't believe like you guys were saying that this is the last time I'll be writing to you before we see each other again.  I'm kinda nervous....and really excited, but I guess it's time for the next chapter of life. 

    This last week was good for us as well!  I was able to have one more person be baptized before I finished my mission, and I'm really happy about that.  It is one of the most amazing things in the world to see how someone progresses towards baptism, and how their conversion happens. 
    I really don't have too much to say, but this last week I also learned how to make flour tortillas so that will be fun to do after the mission.  I was going to send pictures, but I decided that it would be better to just wait until Wednesday and I'll show you all them.  Also because I left my camera in the house.....but it's OK! 

    So thanks for everything family! I'm still kinda not knowing what to think about all of this. It came so fast.  I love you so so so much and can't wait to see you in 2 days.....at 7 pm in Salt Lake City, Utah! 
    Have a great few days!  I love you all so much!!!!

-Elder Loveless

 

 

Monday, July 20, 2015

"Baptism of Abdiel."


July 20th, 2015 - Weekly Letter


Family,

    It sounds like you all had an awesome week!!! That new ride at Lagoon looks crazy.  I can't believe that they just keep making new rides there every year!!!! Crazy stuff.  And also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!  I can't believe that another year passed by like that, but you're still young, so don't even worry!!!!  I'm getting old too though.......almost 20......that's pretty scary.

    But this last week was really good!  We had planned to baptize a girl on Tuesday. So we went with the zone leaders and talked with her and her mom, and her mom gave her permission and everything, but the only thing is that they were going to leave to Cuauhtemoc for a few days, so we weren't able to baptize her.  That week though we knew that we had to baptize somebody, because we had prayed and felt that we needed to, so that same day we went and talked with another investigator that we had and his parents that are less active members, and they gave him permission....it was awesome!  I love to see how the Lord works in our daily lives......just like Nephi said, God doesn't tell us to do anything without preparing the way beforehand.  That is a way that He shows His love for us, and I love Him as well for that!!!

    Other than that though we have been working really hard in finding new investigators, and we have found quite a few.  I wanted to be able to baptize them this week, but then I remembered that this is God's work, and not mine.  Even though I won't be here to see the end result of these people that we are finding, I am happy that I am able to help them start their journey to heaven.  This work is amazing!!!  I also like something that they always taught us in boy scouts, that we should leave the area cleaner than when we got there......and it is the same here. I'm going to do my best to leave this part of the Lord's vineyard better then when I got here 5 months ago.

    "Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated."  D&C 88:124

     There is a story about this scripture in the newest Liahona, and it talks about a man that asked one of the general authorities for counsel on how to receive revelation, and the general authority responded with this scripture.  They go on later to talk about how all of the prophets and apostles do the same and for that they live so much longer. We can recognize and receive better revelation earlier on in the day, and for that reason the scriptures say it.  It may sound like something little, but my small means the Lord brings to pass great things! 

     But yeah, like I always say, thanks for all of your love and support.  This is my last week of work.  On Sunday, I think, I am going to head down to Chihuahua because on Monday is the last day stuff with President.  We have the last interview that day and then dinner with President and Hermana Chavez, and then questions and answers time, and President is going to give us some advice for after the mission and what not.  I don't know exactly how it's going to work out, but either Monday or Tuesday I'll be able to write you guys for the last time.  So if I don't write on Monday don't worry because I'll write on Tuesday.   But I hope that you all have an amazing week! I love you so much and can't wait to see you all in 9 days!!!! Love you and miss you all tons!!!!!

-Elder Loveless

Monday, July 13, 2015

"Yeah, this is a normal sight here in La Junta. Geese just roam the streets."


"Some little girls wanted to hit me..."


"Chubby Chihuahua dog"


"The weather lately here in La Junta."


"cRaZy FaCe"


"Cleaning the baptismal font."


"Birthday party for Elder Vasquez - Crazy people here!!"




July 13th, 2015 - Weekly Letter

Family,

    Looks and sounds like Jon and Emma just loved Trek.  That's so cool!  I'm soooo happy for them!  That's also so exciting that you were able to go to soooo many things yesterday.  Today I had like a million emails, and a lot were from missionaries that just went home. Super cool.  I guess these months are the months of missionaries returning home, but also the months of missionaries heading out!!!! This work will always be rolling!!!
   This last week for me was good!  It wasn't one of the busiest weeks, but it still was a great week, and I learned a lot as well. You know it's a good week when you've learned something new that will help you throughout your life!

    So Tuesday was my companion’s birthday, and I wanted to make it special.  So when we woke up I went and made him a good breakfast.  That was really good. And then, the day before, I gave one of the members some money to buy a cake and balloons and things like that, and it was sweet.  It was all ready and prepared, and then Elder Brown had to go to Chihuahua and took Elder Vasquez with him.  So I called the sister and we planned it for the next day, so it was all good. So then the next day, on Wednesday, we went and one of the kids distracted Elder Vasquez out back on the trampoline, and then we blew up a bunch of balloons and got everything ready, and then called him in. It was really cool, and he wasn't expecting it at all.  After it was all over and we got back to our house, Elder Vasquez turned to me and told me thanks, and he told me that he almost cried. I guess in his home it's not the same, and it meant a lot to him what we did.  I felt so special in that moment.....I think I literally felt the love of Christ......it was a really cool experience.  I'm starting to realize little by little why I'm Elder Vasquez' companion. 
    So yeah.....that was probably the highlight of the week. We also found a leader in a Christian church, and we've been chatting with him and it's really fun to teach him.  We finally got him to believe in something though, because we taught him the plan of salvation and when we talked about the 3 glories, he thought about it for a second, and told me that he believed in it.  He said that he had never heard of it, but that it doesn't go against his doctrine.  So slowly but surely we're making progress with a Christian church leader.....super cool!

    But yeah, I just wanted to share with you a cool scripture that I read this last week:
I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.

And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.      -Alma 32:12-13

    When I read these scriptures this last week I realized that literally our weaknesses, trials, and difficulties can help us be saved. A lot of times people don't humble themselves until a trial comes along, but we learn here that if we take the trial the right way, we will truly be saved, because we will repent and be forgiven by God's mercy.   Later on in the chapter it talks about those that are humble without having trials pass, and they are even more blessed. Being humble isn't always the easiest thing.....but it is always the best option!!!  That, I do know.  So choose to be humble......and remember that our trials can help us be with God again one day!

    Thanks for everything my amazing family! Only 2 more weeks pretty much.  Not this Saturday or Sunday, but the next Saturday or Sunday I will be heading to Chihuahua for the last few things of the mission, so only 2 more weeks of work.....this week and next week. I don't really know how I'm feeling, but what I do know is that I need to finish strong!

      Thanks for all the love and support!!! I love you all and can't wait to see you all in just a few short weeks!!!
      Have a great week!!! Take care!!!

-Elder Loveless
P.S. It's really sad that Boyd K. Packer died....that's 2 apostles in the last month.

P.S.S. Elder Hoopes lives in California  

Monday, July 6, 2015

"Baptism of Martin."


"Baptism of Uriel."


"With some of the youth here!!!"


"With the new zone leaders and Gilberto!!!"



"With Aelin and Rafael!!"



"With Jocelyn!!!"


July 6th, 2015 - Weekly Letter


Family,

    That's so cool that Jon and Emma are going to be able to go on Trek this week.  That's something I always wanted to do, and I hope to be able to do it later on in life!  But I wish you all luck and hope that you enjoy Trek a ton!

    So this last week I feel like a ton happened....but at the same time I feel like not very much happened. How weird how that works right??

    It was good though because we were able to help 2 more of God's children be baptized.  The first one is named Martin, and the second is named Uriel.  Martin is a 13 year old kid, and Uriel is 10.  It was really cool because Martin wanted to get baptized more than anybody I have ever seen.  I had already known him, but he found us and he told us to baptize him then and there, so we talked to him a little bit and he got baptized. He found us on Saturday and told us how good he has felt since his baptism. He's a really good example for me as well.  Then also the other kid named Uriel is the cousin of one of our converts and, even though he probably doesn't understand everything 100%, he had a great desire to be baptized so he as well was baptized.  This is my last month and the Lord is blessing us a ton, but I have to keep working hard to finish my mission strong. 

    Just like you were saying mom about how you started crying because it was going to be the last time paying for my mission, I also got a little teary eyed yesterday, sharing my testimony, when I realized it was my last fast Sunday in the mission.  Yesterday while we were eating with one of the members, we were talking about a lot of stuff, and it finally hit me. Like even a week ago I felt like I still had a lot of time left.....but it finally hit me.....and I started getting teary eyed again. I'm going to miss the mission a ton. The opportunity that we have as young men to represent Christ, the only perfect person that has ever walked on earth, is amazing, and I would never change it for anything. I have grown to love Christ...and grown to love his Atonement. I am so grateful for Him, and I know that I will always be in debt with Him....which means I have to always work in this marvelous work! 

    "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people." -Alma 7:11

     I am so grateful for Him, and I hope to be able to grow even closer to Him in these 3 weeks that I have left.  I thank all of you for all your support.  I hope Jon and Emma have a great week at trek!  I love you all so much and miss you tons as well! Have a great week.....take care!!!

-Elder Loveless