Love the Book of Mormon

So this last week has been crazy. Every investigator we have had has been getting really offended by the book of Mormon. we have been having pastors of other churches and men then follow us around, or that find out streets where we have gone and have been anti-in our investigators. It has been super hard not to get upset or frustrated but this experience is strengthening my testimony more than anything that the Book of Mormon is true and this is Christ’s true church on the earth today!

D&C 17: 6 And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.

Also Diego is progressing well we were able to take him to the temple going up there with Sister Perrotti! It was sweet! He loved the temple and we are working our hearts out to help him live the commandments and to make this great step in his life!

I’m so grateful for the chance to serve my savior in this great work! I know that it is true and that we receive blessings for participating in this great cause! Love you all so very much!

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free. D&C

Love,

Elder Loveless

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's hot!

Elder Loveless and his new companion Elder Francisco.

So it is getting suppper hot here! there are about 139 neighborhoods here in São Paulo that don't have water. Some areas in Campinas haven't had water for over a week. Our water was shut off for a day. We have less than 4% of the water level here in São Paulo. they frequently will shut off the water to be more economical. So we need rain for at least a week or two straight without stopping. And it needs to be a storm to help out the water here. Don't worry mom we are fine. We have a huge water tank of 500 liters and we are filling up water bottles at the chapel! :) Super crazy never thought this would happen on the mission. Haha!

Well on that note, this last week was just hard in everything. We had to reschedule an investigators baptism for the future. He is still over coming some addictions and could use some prayers. We love him and we are doing everything to help him receive the gospel. I love helping others that are in need of help! 

Elder Rodrigues, Elder Loveless, and Elder Eller

So I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was sitting there during sacrament meeting and thinking to myself...I forgot what it was like to have a normal Sunday. We had late to the meeting because we were bringing others to church. During the meetings running around trying to make sure everyone was where they needed to be and also calling less actives to see if they were going.

To come or if we could go and get them. As I was thinking about all of that after thinking to myself what Sundays used to be back at home, I felt the spirit so strongly whispering to me...this is how Sundays should be. I really needed that and needed that moment to repent for the desire to just go to church and go back home and eat and rest. But then I was reminded of the good shepherd. 

In Matthew 18:12 How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

I know that the good shepherd wouldn't ever just think of the salvation of others during that three hours of church but during the entire day. I'm so grateful for the spirit and what it teaches us to do. I'm so grateful that I know now what a normal Sunday should be! 

Love you all so much!

p.s. We could use some prayers here for rain...it's hot...and we don't have water.

Love,

Elder Loveless

Glad tidings!

Elder Loveless and Elder Rodrigues, Elder Loveless' old trainee

1 Nephi 13:37 And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.

I read this scripture this last week, and it brought so much peace to me. We went to a lunch at a member’s house and they began to tell us a ton of all the problems in the world, and the sickness in Africa and everything. (Not super excited to hear the news when I get home!) But I started thinking more about this scripture and what it means. I love the part that says, "Whoso shall publish peace..." It made me stop to think. That is our purpose of being disciples of Christ. To establish peace where Satan is striving to establish fear and corruption. We may not be successful in all of our endeavors bringing others to this gospel, but at least we can share a message of peace, of life and salvation. I love sharing this gospel and I was so blessed to see the blessing of sharing it this last week.

Elder Loveless, Elder Goodfellow, and some amazing members

First off Diego should be baptized this Saturday! We are finishing up some things with him and we are praying that a miracle will be wrought so that he may be baptized. 

Also Rosemary (the mom of the family we found) is progressing very well. We are focusing on her and her kids. Her husband and one son unfortunately had a very bad experience with another church and don’t trust in churches right now. But we met with her and she told us, “I know that this is the true church. I need this baptism so that I can be born again. I need Jesus Christ more in my life and I know I will find it through this great book (The Book of Mormon). I just want to feel more of his love." Man I love her and this family! I saw that scripture from Nephi come into play. When life is hard or we are suffering we need to share that peace and glad tidings of the gospel if we are to find peace in our own lives! 

I know that this is the true gospel and that Jesus is the Christ. I know He lives. I love him. 

Love you all! 

Elder Loveless

p.s. I hope the new "Meet the Mormons" is sweet. Can’t wait to see it!

LOVE PRAYER!!!

Elder Loveless at the Campinas Brazil Temple

Wow this last week was the best! 

So we were blessed to go to the temple today. It has been the first time I’ve gone since the MTC. It was such a beautiful experience! I felt so behind and that I had forgotten so many of the covenants that I made in the temple. I finally see why the brethren say that we need to attend the temple frequently. It was the first time on the mission that I was able to feel at a perfect peace and knowing that Gods kingdom is on the earth! I love this gospel and the blessings of the temple! 

Elder Loveless at the Campinas Brazil T

So some cool blessings and miracles this week,

1. Diego is progressing really well! We are finishing up teaching the laws and ordinances with him and then he will be baptized on the 18th of this month. It was so amazing to see how the lord blessed us to find him. He loves the gospel and is embracing it. It’s hard as a missionary and as a member always striving to bring people to the gospel when they don’t want it. But seeing Diego I testify that God is preparing people to embrace the gospel. We need to always invite as Elder Bednar has said, to, “come and see."

2. So yesterday I was thinking during my studies. I would love to be able to help a family come into the gospel. I have worked with a ton of families on the mission but I decided to say a silent prayer to ask for a family. Well we get a call and we received a reference of a lady that just moved here to Vida Nova. Well we went there last night to contact her, and she then told us how she came in contact with the gospel. 

“I have been seeing you missionaries, especially the sisters where I used to live and work. Well I have been asking God for 6 months that they would stop to talk to me about the gospel. Well they always passed by but never stopped. On my last day in the area, I asked God again. ´God will you have them talk to me before I leave?´ Well they ended up stopping by in that moment. They then told me how there were missionaries where I live. I thanked God that he gave me an opportunity to learn about His Church."  She has boys that are 19, 17, 14, 12, and a girl that’s 10! The whole family wants to learn about the gospel and they have asked if they can be a part of this church! We walked in and taught them, prayed with them, and as we were leaving there was a light that was with that dear family. I know that god hears and answers our prayers. Not only was her prayer and my prayer answered but the prayers of those who are seeking to share the gospel. I am so grateful that the lord loves me enough and trusts me enough to teach His children about His eternal plan of Happiness! 

Love this gospel!!! I know it is true! We all have prayers to be said and answered! 

Love you all,

Elder Loveless