Crazy Cool Week!

Wow...so much has happened this last week! We are so blessed to see the hand of the Lord. I want to share something that happened all within 3 hours, and how much we saw the hand of the Lord in our work and lives.

First off we finished painting a members house and we went out to work knowing that we would only have 3 hours to work. Well we went to our first appointment and it fell through. As I was about to go to our next appointment, I felt the strangest prompting to just go and sit down on the curb. Well I did. My comp asked me what I was doing, and I told him I just felt prompted to sit down. Well then the churro van came. So I got a churro. I was thinking to myself, "was that a prompting to get a churro or was I just thinking that?" Haha well as we were going to our next appointment I on accident crossed the road to soon and we had to cross back. We got to the appointment, and no one was answering...well as we were about to walk away he came around the corner. So blessed to have the Lord stop us and delay us to talk with him. It turned out that he read the entire Book of Mormon and we taught him part of the restoration! It was so powerful. We then were walking and we felt prompted to go visit a less active. As we were doing this a member called and gave us a reference that was near by. So we went and contacted them! Well as we were walking to our final appointment we felt prompted to take a new street...well as we did we realized that the street above the one we usually use had a ton of police and things going on. We got to the appointment and it fell through too. So I got hungry again. As we were leaving I was trying to find a store still open. I felt prompted to go ask this guy where a store nearby was, but before I said anything he said, "do you have a Book of Mormon for me? I'm looking for one and I want to learn more about your religion." it was so amazing! The Lord was literally directing us throughout the night with promptings of hunger! :) But it truly was so amazing to see the Lord literally directing us through the streets of Campinas. 

We began to talk and to recognize all the Lord had done for us. As we were talking we came to the result that it happened on account to our obedience! We then were blessed to read 1 Nephi17:15,41.  15 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence. 41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

It was amazing to read how Nephi had chosen to keep the commandments...even the simple ones. He then relates the account of Moses and his people. Because of the simpleness they perished. They pleaded for help to be healed from the serpents, and the answer came with simplicity...Look...but it was too simple. I really feel this is where the Lord comes in and says that if we have the faith of a mustard seed we may move mountains. Its easier to look at something we see then something that is hard to believe...but they aren't really that different. The simplicity of our faith and diligence to the commandments of the Lord, both small and large are equally important for our salvation! 

I'm so grateful to see the Lord's hand in my life so prevalent day after day! I love this gospel and the blessings from it! 

Love you all

Elder Loveless

Many souls!

This last week was seriously one of the best here in Brazil. So amazing and full of the spirit! First off I want to share a cool experience I had. As we have been taught we don’t have a difference between the saving of those who are members but have wandered, and also those who aren’t members. Well there is a less active here that we have been working with him for a while...well he said to me after the death of his step father, "When this is all over can we start family home evenings, and more studies again? I need to come back." Well he came to the activities and is coming back to church! There was something I missed though. Something that I never noticed till now. The joy I felt of having him come back to activity was the same joy I have felt with those that have been baptized. I was then reminded of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 18: 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

The thing that amazed me about this scripture is that it simply states souls, not baptisms. Bringing those who are lost and those who aren't members of this church is the same. And the joy is absolutely amazing and indescribable! I love working with those who have lost their way but are striving to come back!

So we have a family we are teaching and the dad is a member but the wife and kids aren't. Well after many years of missionaries trying to baptize her, we went back a few times to gain her trust and help them. Well we were so blessed by the power of the spirit to help us. We invited here to be baptized and to learn more about the gospel. As we taught her what we do at church and our purpose she said, “Missionaries have never explained to me what you do there. Now I know. I want to be baptized." She committed to August 9th. It was amazing as we followed the spirit to think about her needs rather than baptism and it changed the circumstances!

I love this gospel, I’m so grateful for the spirit of reactivation and bringing others back to the fold! This feeling is so amazing and indescribable! I love this gospel, and I know that He lives!

Elder Loveless

Love the work!

Elder Loveless and Elder Rodrigues

Welllll....my new comp is Elder Rodrigues. He is from Curitiba. He is a great missionary and is picking up the things really fast! 

Well we had some amazing experiences this last week! A less active family told us, "Thank you for all you have done. For the first time in years, we are praying, reading, and feel closer to God." Wow ... it was so strong and special!

Luiz, Viviane, Eduardo, Pedro

So we were able to visit the temple with a family that the parents have recently returned to the church and their sons we are teaching. It was such a special experience. While I was there I saw tons of people from Jacaré, and Itupeva...but the most special experience was what happened with Pedro and Luiz...the two sons... We were teaching them Alma 50 1-5 and we were drawing the fortress of what we thought they looked like. We then asked them (Pedro 14 Luiz 10) what are things that we have to do in our own lives to protect ourselves... They responded together, read the scriptures, go to church and renew our covenants, pray, help our family, live the 13 articles of faith! They then turned to us and asked, "When can we be baptized? We really want to." We were unable to set a date with them due to some things with the family, but we sat down with the parents and both of the sons will be baptized by their dad the end of June or the beginning of July! It has been such a special experience teaching them and watching them come into activity and watch the sons come closer to baptism! 

At the Campinas Temple

I truly am so grateful for this work! It has been such a blessing. I love D&C 24:12 ... This happens a lot when we are walking down the street and feel strongly we should talk to someone ... Then Satan puts so much fear and doubt into our hearts, but whenever I feel that I immediately open my mouth to talk to them. Such a simple thing as opening my mouth allows the Lord to fill it and bless me. I love this work! I love doing it with other members but especially with the savior.

Oh and yes...Brasil is going crazy...a guy this last week sold his house and left his wife and kids homeless so that he would be able to watch a game...yea...they love soccer...

Love you! Gary

Elder Miller, Elder Eller, Elder Loveless

Yeea! Training!

So I got the lovely call, and I will be staying here in Campinas as Zone Leader and training...This will be exciting! Haha I'm supper excited to stay here in Campinas! I love it here!

So the world cup is starting this week...things are going to get really crazy! We are confined to our houses during every game that Brazil plays ... More Studies!!!!

So we had a cool experience yesterday! Elder Scott, Ballard, Costa, Soares and Sister Stephens spoke for stakes here in Brazil ... One of the coolest things was Elder Scott gave the exact same talk he gave when I was in the MTC ... but this time he gave it all in Portuguese! It was the coolest experience to hear that talk again and learn from him again! I loved it!

Elder Loveless with his zone

They focused a lot on Alma 50 on how we need to have protection around our families, homes and faith. Also how important it is to work with less actives and help them come again to Christ.

We are teaching two kids, Luiz and Pedro. They are sons of a less active couple who have returned to the church. Well we are helping the sons work towards baptism ... As we were watching the restoration, the 9 year old leaned over to me and said, "oh this is about Joseph Smith!" He got so excited and is always reading the scriptures and they always have a special thought to share with us! I love working with families and seeing them come unto Christ! It's the coolest thing ever!

I love you all so much! I hope that all is well!

Love Gary

Finalmente

So my comp finally got better at the end of last week...so I got to be blessed with staying in the house again. I was blessed to finish the Book of Mormon for the first time in Português! It was such a special moment. I was striving to finish it as if I was reading it like an investigator. When I read the last 3 verses I felt such a strong urge to come unto christ more. I had realized the whole time I had been reading it, it had been inviting me to come unto Christ! It was really an amazing moment, I especially loved Moroni 9:25: My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever....I love how he had just finished explaining all the hardship, and told him be faithful, don't be weighed down by the things of the world, but let the Savior and His sacrafice lift you up and bring you joy! I felt so much peace and love that things are bad in the world, but we have the atonement and its here to lift us up!

We had a cool experience this last week! E. Christofferson said in a quote, "The work between less actives and those who arent members is the same. They both have wandered from the path and they need the blessing of the gospel." Our moto in the mission is 100% rescue!

Well we are teaching this less active couple who there kids arent members. Two weeks ago when I and another elder were testifying of the Book of Mormon that they needed to read it and pray about it to feel that love they felt before. Well their 12 year old son was there...little did we know he was listening. We went back monday to find out that he had taken his mom's B.o.M and has been reading it and praying about it. She caught him reading it and asked him what he was doing. He said, "mom if you wont read it, I will, and I will pray about it." The faith and example of that 12 year old who isn't a member has now changed his less active parents and they both are starting to read the Book of Mormon! I love that book! I'm so grateful for the work with those who have fallen from the path. We all fall sometimes and we get to help pick each other up!

Love you all so much!

Happy anniversary mom and dad...and happy b day chica!

Love you all!

Gary

Stuck Inside

So this last week we weren't able to do a ton. My comp was sick most of the week and we had interviews and meetings...sooo it resulted in a lot of studying! 

But we had one cool experience this last week. We were contacting a less active and his friend was there. She claims to be athiest. So we sat down with her and began to ask her about her past life if she tried to come to know God, if he really did exist. She began to try and prove to us how he didnt exist but we began to ask follow up questions using just as Alma did in Alma 34 and we asked her, since she was willing in the past to try and know God if she was willing to give it one last try. She said yes and as we were leaving she immediatly began to read Alma 34. We testified to her that because she was reading the Book of Mormon and because it was perfect, only something that was perfect could prove there was a God. We pray she will find her answer! 

So I was reading a lot in this book I have, "The Life of the Savior." It's really cool, it has all the scriptural accounts of the savior and his life put in chronological order. It was so amazing as I was reading the christmas story. It opened my eyes to so much when I had all the stories put together in order. I have learned a great deal from the accounts. One thing is that Christ is our salvation. The people of the last dispensations I admire. Many knew that it wouldnt be there dispensation that would see the Savior, but they went forward to help others know of Christ. They hoped in a salvation to come. Christ came and fulfilled that hope with his birth. He then rose from the dead fulfilling all hope for a salvation and making it sure, and now we are able to help prepare all for that final day. As it says in John 20: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. So amazing to know that he is our salvation. Its through our faith and obedience that we see and recieve the blessings of salvation. So greatful for the Salvation we recieve from Jesus Christ. 

Forgive my english I'm so sorry its going down hill, and the keyboards are crazy here...

Love you all,

Elder Loveless

Slept outside...we have a closed off area, and it was cool that night so we all slept outside :) so awesome!"

Elder Loveless and Elder Schultz

 When Hernando took us to the biggest mall in south america...it was legit...its like 3 of city creek! 

They call these dreams...they are like donuts with an inch of caramel...they are to die for!

Great Week!

So this last week was super crazy...some problems in the zone resulting to a 6 day exchange from Elder Matos and I...super crazy, but it was really good!

I had a wonderful opportunity yesterday to share the restoration again with one of our new investigators. It was such a powerful experience and the spirit was so strong. As we were focusing on teaching about the authority and how important it was when Christ was on the earth, we were able to share one of the most important parts of the restoration and that was explaining about the atonement! It was truly amazing, we then lead into the restoration. Teaching about the experience of Joseph never gets old. Each time, that lesson is accompanied by the spirit and I love the feeling that fills the room. It's so hard to see people reject the invite to be baptized, but that is why we are so blessed to leave them with the Book of Mormon so they can find out for themselves that these things are true! Just as each one of us has done. 

As I was thinking about how important the words are of the restoration I always start to think more about how important the atonement is and how it gives us the ability to stand strong even when times are hard. I love how Jacob explains in 2 Nephi 9 about the atonement, the effects of sin, and the wisdom of our Father in the atonement and how the atonement rescues us of the effects of sin. But He gives a great explanation in verse 3 "Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children." I love how he says I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever...That is the blessing of the atonement. I love being able to know that even when people dont want to hear the message or reject baptism. I'm so greatful to have the blessing of the atonement so that I may never have to let my head hang down. I love the blessings of the atonement and the strength I receive from it in the Book of Mormon. 

Love you all,

Gary