Time flies by!

Elder Loveless & Elder Eller

Well yesterday Soliange was confirmed and I was honored to be able to perform the blessing. It was so special to be able to be part of such a sacred moment. She is such an amazing woman! We are helping out her family and many of her friends. I love doing this work. Elder Eller and I work so well together and we and the ward are working so well together to strengthen less actives and many others! I love working well with the members! 

We have been having a lot of fun working hard with the members and many less actives this last week. We have seen so many people that are in need of help and being rescued. I love so much doing the rescue work of missionary work. Helping someone who is lost find that light and testimony again is so special and amazing. We all need to constantly strengthen our testimonies daily so that we may help others strengthen there’s. 

The Elder's enjoying some root beer floats

Alma 61:12 We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do.

13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will deliver us.

I read these scriptures the other day, and Elder Eller and I have given it much thought. We have come to see that when times are hard and you aren't sure what to do, we can always find peace in knowing that we are subjects to Christ, and He will deliver us. I know that He lives and if we allow ourselves to be subject to Him, He will form us, and use us and make us into the person whom He has always intended for us to be. 

The Elder's learned how to make sushi for a party

I’m so grateful for this time of the mission. I love it so much here, but I’m ready for the happiness and joy that the future holds. So grateful that the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us a hope for something happier and better in every phase in our lives! 

Love you all, 

Elder Loveless

Chicken sandwich with a homemade cheese bun

What a blessed week!

Elder Loveless & Elder Eller at Soliange's baptism

Elder Loveless & Elder Eller

Well Soliange was baptized this Sunday! It was such an amazing experience! We were so blessed to see her come into activity (when she had thought her papers were lost) and then we ended up baptizing her so that she could have her name on the records of the church. We had a week full of lessons on the atonement, repentance and forgiveness. It was so amazing and so special to see her come unto Christ. 

Elder Loveless' last time with Elder Rodrigues

We were with one of the coolest members yesterday, Marinho, and he had previously served as a stake president in Brasilia. Well when we were talking (btw he is the most kind, spiritual man I've met) and I asked him what one thing was he will always take with him from what he learned as being a stake president. He said, "We have come here to serve others, not expecting others to serve us." It was so powerful and simple and true. But we have come here to serve our God and what a privilege it is! 

I read today during studies, in Alma 36: 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

Matching Ties

It caught my attention that in Alma’s deepest and darkest hour, he was brought to the remembrance of what his father had said about the atonement and our savior Jesus Christ. The phrase that grabbed my attention was what he said after: "my mind caught hold upon this thought." It was so amazing to see that his only hope of escape from sin and transgression was his last grasp upon one righteous thought! I know that we too, when we turn our hearts towards the atonement, are blessed. Maybe we can only hang on by a thread, but it’s enough to keep us in his love.

Love you all so much! 

Elder Loveless

3rd times the charm!

Elder Loveless, President Perrotti, and Elder Eller

The Campinas Brazil Mission Christmas Party

Well this is the third time we are together! Super stoked!

WE were blessed to be put together in the MTC and in B-Town, now here in Brasil! So excited to serve with Elder Eller again! We are more than brothers!

Well we are having a great time here in Barão Geraldo. We are teaching a few people from the same family, Soliange (who was a member because they have lost her records 2 times and she has to be taught everything again and re baptized) and her daughter Jennifer. It has been so amazing to work with them! She isn’t mad or anything that her record was lost a second time but she is so excited to be rebaptized. Her daughter hasn't shown that much interest in the gospel till Saturday. Elder Eller and I were teaching about a few commandments and baptism was brought up. Jennifer told us how she wanted to be baptized. We then taught to her needs and invited her to be baptized! She accepted. We hope that all will go well helping them come together as a family!

The missionaries with Rodolpho

Well I love you all so much...we will try not to have too much fun!

Some quotes of the week....

"Wow...this is the first time I have seen my Adams apple since 4th grade." (While we were watching a movie)
"Do you know the last time I was below 220 lbs...? Well like 7th grade."

As we were drinking our water.... "Elder Eller did you put bananas in the water?" Him: "no I thought you did." We both take another swig of our banana water. We left bananas in the fridge and it flavored our water ... it’s tasty!
 

Elder Loveless & Vander, a member from Vida Nova

Also Elder Eller was a great comp laughing hysterically at me as I’m walking on the bus as it hits a bump and I smack my head on the mirror and fall on the chairs! We then both sit together on the bus and we started talking how we started the mission together, severed together in Indiana, came to Brazil together and everything and we both started crying. It was so awkward. Imagine seeing to grown guys crying on the bus together....

Also we aren't able to sleep. It is hot and our house is a sauna....

Love you all!

Elder Loveless

Elder Loveless & Elder Eller

Whew .... Last Transfer!

So we got the call last night...it was really weird getting the last transfer call of your mission...but I have been transferred! I will be getting my last companion and area tomorrow! Wow the mission passes by so fast...

This last week was crazy! Not a ton happened! New Year’s here is like our 4th of July, and every other holiday put together in one night...man they went nuts. We had nothing to do so we got some bricks on our deck, a grill and we had a bbq. It was supper cool. (I had a ton of pictures but I got a virus on my card and it deleted everything...) But the bbq was great! And then the next day I got a 3 day flu with a super bad fever! (Yes I’m ok mom and doing great now. :) 

I’m so grateful for all that has happened and all that I have learned while here in Vida Nova! It has been a great 3 transfers and I’m sad to leave but ready for what the lord has in store! 

I was reading in 2 Nephi 2 this week and I was touched by a few scriptures... 2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

 3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.

 4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; 

 11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so..., 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.

When I read that I was so touched knowing that our afflictions are consecrated. Just as Paul as taught that we glory in our tribulations. I’m so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to suffer, be tried, persecuted and to feel alone. It has been a privilege, so that I would be able to come unto Him and find peace and joy in His atonement. I’m so grateful for trials and temptations for they help us to become witnesses of His merits, mercy and grace. I know that He lives and loves us enough to let us suffer. No person in their right mind would let someone purposely suffer, unless they could see who we can become through our sufferings! I know that we become special witnesses of him not through our success alone, but how we successfully overcome the adversary and our testimonies become strengthened in Him. I know He lives, and it is a privilege to suffer to come to know Him! 

Love you all and I pray and hope you have a wonderful year! 

Elder Loveless