Bitter Sweet!

Elder Loveless and his District

Elder Loveless and the Sisters from his District

Man this is so hard. I never though it would be this hard to leave. I honestly have felt really sad and depressed about leaving, but I also feel so much love and comfort in going. It is a huge limbo. I will never be able to say and put into feelings how grateful I am to have been able, and privileged to serve my Father and my Savior here in Indiana. I feel a great deal of trust from my Father and Savior that they are allowing me to serve in two different areas. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people, friends, and brothers and sisters I have met here in Indiana. I will always have part of my heart here.

Christmas Eve with the Roger's

Christmas was great! It was so amazing to hear from my family, and to talk with them! Truly was the highlight of my Christmas to be able to read letters from those I love most, and to be able to reflect on what the Savior has done for me!

Elder Loveless with the Wades

Elder Loveless with the Crockers

Elder Loveless with Sister Miter

Well, I'm ready for the 80+ degree weather...yup I'm ready!

Love you all,

Elder Loveless

Elder Loveless with Heather Wall and Eric Gallagher

Elder Loveless with Zachary Barber 

Elder Loveless and some of the District

Christmas Mice

FELIZ NATAL!!!!!

Pictures from the Mission Christmas Party

Can I just say how crazy this week is going to be and how crazy this last week was...

well before we went to church we had breakfast and opened the drawers with nothing in them...we come home 3 hours later to find mice droppings filled in all the drawers and in our suit cases...with 3 hours later of smelling like Clorox and moving to the other elders apartment I still smell like Clorox! haha all good though!

Christmas presents from the mice ...

This last week was really great! We had such a good week of sharing Christmas message! I have loved being able to see the people here more of how the savior would see people! I love reading the account of Simeon, "30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation," as I was reading that and sharing it with people, I've never felt so much peace this time of year! I can literally feel the salvation of the father, through His sons atonement! This is one of the best Christmases, it has helped me see and feel of the best Christmas I have ever had, and that was when my dad was out of work. So many people brought peace and love to our family for all they did to us, and I will forever be tahnkful to everyone that showed us love! I know that each member of my family felt of the saviors love, peace and of his atonement that Christmas, and being out here has helped me even more!

It is crazy to think I will be in Brazil next week! I've waited for so long to go, and now my heart is being torn in two! I've found who the lord wants me to be here in Indiana, and I've found my eternal friends! I want to go and I don't! I don't like the feeling, but I feel privileged to serve two missions for my father and my Savior!

I love you all and wish you all a happy and Merry Christmas!

With Love,

Elder Loveless

Elder Loveless and Elder Litster

Elder Hallstrom and Elder Loveless

Josh and Elder Loveless

Jessica and Elder Loveless

The Perkins and Elder Loveless

It's Cold!

Wow...This last week was so good!

So elder Clifton and I knew that contacting was hard this time of year, so we were praying and felt inspired to invite others to listen to a Christmas message. We have been using the one about the ball that you had sent mom. It has been great and so effective, we have seen many fruits come from it! I love this time of year.

I feel so privileged to be able to testify of my Savior and my Father this season! Some don't listen, but they have their own choice! It is so hard watching and being able to discern people willingly deny the spirit. It is heart wrenching, but I found comfort in this scripture, 3 Nephi 27: 14-15.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

I know that he was sent by our loving Father, the greatest gift of all, and quite frankly the hardest gift to give. I can’t imagine what it would be like to give my son as a sacrifice, so that others can have the ultimate gift of love! I thank my father for that very special gift! I love my savior!

Cool experience, I had Elder Greenberg in my district come work with me in my area for exchanges. We went up to this house to drop off cookies and a Christmas story for our investigators. They never answered so we decided to leave. I felt the spirit whisper to me to go back. Without hesitation we went back and knocked on the door...no one came. So we were walking back to the car and I thought I heard a voice out back, as we walked around the corner no one came or was there...it was weird. I thought it was just me, until I felt so strongly to knock on the door again...They came to the door! It was such a blessing and it opened my eyes of how much the Father is in HIS work, I am grateful we followed the spirit! I love you all so very much,

Love,

Elder Loveless

Last time with the Bishop and his family

Cool Tracks

SNOW!

Dec 9, 12

Sooo it is cold here...haha but I’m fine mom :) thinking that I will be in humidity in 3 weeks comforts me...sorta :) haha

Well it snowed a lot here...and some Hoosiers can’t drive in the snow...haha. They cancelled school with 4 inches...c'mon it took 3 feet for us to have one snowday! haha I miss snowboarding so much! But we spent the 2 days when it snowed to go out and shovel people in the ward...well I didn't have boots so I put on two layers of socks, put Kroger grocery sacks around my feet and put on my running shoes! I was toasty warm and dry! Promise mom I won’t lie to you! ;)

Well anyway we had a pretty hard time with teaching people! Bloomington is starting to die down with the semester ending and everyone travels, but we are making the best of it and striving to find new techniques to find. I love being able to try new ways of missionary work! It is so fun and new! This work is so amazing! I know it is His work! My testimony grew because of a certain paragraph I read in Joseph Smiths testimony,

“I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.”

Sorry it is so long, but it is so amazing how true this work is. Even if Satan uses every stratagem to stop this work from progressing, IT WON’T. We may get discouraged, we may suffer, we may get offended, but we choose for ourselves if we will allow the atonement to take place in our lives. He Lives for us, and we should live for Him, suffer for Him, and do all we can for Him because He did all for us!

I love you all so much,

  

Elder Loveless

Miracles!

This last week was awesome! Except for the 3 day flu...man I really do hate sitting around all day not being able to be out in the cold...it was awful!

But on with the miracles! So I was on an exchange with an elder in the district and when we were going to an area we had planned it didn't feel right. So we decided to go explore an area we have never been to, we got to a hiking train and as a joke at first I told him, "let’s go hiking." He said "ok!" when he said ok, it felt right like we were supposed to. As we were hiking for about a half mile we talked with a couple people on the trail. And we were striving to look for what the Lord had us there to do. He asked me, "Do you think we wasted our time?" I told him absolutely not that the lord had someone for us to see in the next hour. If we hadn't gone hiking to talk to a few people this next miracle wouldn't have happened. We were walking back and felt prompted to knock a street. Well anyways we were knocking this guy’s door and he pulled up as we were knocking. (Most people think that is awkward, I love those moments they can’t get out of talking to us! ha-ha) We started talking to him and he relayed to us how he was agnostic and we bore such simple and powerful testimonies and he began to start to believe again!

I love those moments when we don't understand why we were on that path, but we look back and realize what the lord was preparing us for! I don't know where I would be if I hadn't been reassigned to Indiana! People tell me sorry all the time for not being in Brazil, I tell them I am grateful! I am leaving my new found family here!

I read a cool scripture today, Zach. 9:12 "turn you to the strong hold." Along with Romans 8: 31-32 and 37-39! It is so amazing that nothing can keep us from God’s love! Nothing! His love is simply always there we just have to be willing to feel it and see it! His love is made manifest through his son and his gospel! His gospel is His love to all of us and I get to share it with all of my family and friends!

Love you all,

Gary