Love this Work!

 

Well, a lot happened this last week! First off, Zach had his baptismal interview, and we were able to plan for everything for the baptism this Wednesday! He is so excited, and truly has an important role in the work of the Lord! We had a lesson with Zach earlier in the week, and we had no way to get to the church.  We needed a TV...so we had one donated by a member. We had the TV on a park bench outside our apartments for a lesson, and a 100ft extension cord that Zach brought! It was awesome, we were able to teach him about following the prophet, and it was such an amazing lesson. Every day we meet with him or anyone else, the spirit continually testifies to me of the truthfulness of this work! There is no doubt in my mind that it is true! We had some interesting door approaches this last week...people know a lot of words...and like to use them...especially with the Mormon missionaries! Ha-ha! Although when those moments happen it makes me understand more how true the gospel is. I feel deeply sorry for those people. I only wish they would listen to the spirit and allow the Savior and His gospel to change them! I truly am grateful for the understanding that I have of this work!

Elder Hallstrom, Zach, Elder Hall, Elder Loveless, and Larry at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert

Well we had the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert on Friday!!! It was such an amazing experience! Zach, Larry, and Larry’s mom were able to come with us! It was such an amazing experience! The spirit was so strong there, and it was just amazing to see that many people there. I met some Brazilians and finally got to use my Portuguese. We also saw President and Sister Collins for the last time! I will post some pictures!

I hope all is well with everyone! It is weird waking up just after 6 to go play tennis and it is 70 degrees and humid...still getting used to not having the Utah weather! But I guess it is prepping me for Brazil! Love you all! Thank you for your support and prayers!

Love, Elder Loveless

 

What a great week!

Elder Buck and Elder Loveless

What a great week! So much has been happening this past week! I got two new companions, Elder Wall from Colorado and Elder Hallstrom from Washington! They are so amazing! So this last week, we were able to meet more with Zach and to continue teaching him the lessons. Well with his progression and testimony, we spent some time as a companionship to pray about when he should be baptized. We were moving up the date. Well we prayed about it and felt he should be baptized on the 19 of this month. He is so excited and ready for it. He asked me to perform that ordinance and Elder Hallstrom to do the gift of the Holy Ghost. I hope I will still be in Indiana when he is baptized. The work of the Lord is so amazing! I am reminded of a scripture in Hebrews 12: 12 "wherefore lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees." It has been such a blessing to be able to bring a message of the gospel unto all that are willing to listen. To see the Saviors atonement lift up their hands and strengthen them. I have been able to see that with Zach these past 3 weeks, to see the atonement totally change him and see his testimony and the light about him grow! He truly is amazing and will have a lot of work to do in the kingdom of Our Father in Heaven.

Lucas Oil Stadium - Home of the Indianapolis Colts

We have the opportunity to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert this Friday in Indiana with some investigators! That will be such a life changing event to all that go, whether a member or not! The work of the Lord is progressing rapidly. Just in our area we got a new set of missionaries, and next month there will be 3 new sets and it is continuing to grow. This work will continue to sweep over the world, and how lucky are we to be His children to testify of Him and His love! Words can’t describe how much I love being a disciple of our savior Jesus Christ! I love this gospel, I cannot deny it, and I have been able to see it change the lives of countless people. And to see it sustain my life and the life of my family! I truly am blessed! Thank you all for everything that you do for me!

Larry the Ward Mission Leader

Love you all! Elder Loveless

YEA

Wow!! So much has been happening! We got a call from the assistants last night, and Elder buck and Matthias will be leaving and I will be staying in the area! I am sad and happy! I am happy to still be here, but sad they will be leaving and that I have no idea when my visa is coming. I wish I had an idea, but I know that the Lord is in it.

So first off, our investigator Zach...He is AWESOME! We have met with him a lot, and he has asked many questions and we have taught to his needs. When we were meeting with him last week, he asked us at the end of a lesson when we were answering his questions if he could come to church. We told him yes and offered to take him on a church tour. In doing so we taught him about why we go to church and the importance of it. He then at the end of the lesson asked how long he needed to fast for and if he could pay his tithing. That totally caught us off guard because we never talked about it. So we taught him about fasting and tithing and he wanted to do it. He started his fast and did a 24 hour fast. He came to church and was there 30 min early ready to go! :) Before we even taught the restoration, plan of salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he is already living the word of wisdom, law of chastity and tithing and fast offering based off of his questions! He is so amazing! We taught him this morning and he is going to be baptized on the 29 of this month. We will continue on with the lessons and everything! We are so excited and happy for him. He loves the book of Mormon and the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ truly does change people. I see it every day! Our Father in Heaven knows what we are going through and if we are seeking him and prepared for what he has to offer us, he will give it to us the very hour we need it! I know that the atonement has a power that is above our understanding! It changes people! I have felt it change me! I love being a missionary more than anything! I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Love you all! I hope all is well with everyone!

Love Elder Loveless

Elder Matthias, Zach, Elder Loveless, Elder Buck

Wow time flies!

Well this last week has been awesome! Two exchanges, and two this week! I love being on exchanges though, I am able to learn a lot! We were meeting with our investigator Zack (the one that stopped us and ran from his car) he asked probably the best question “how do I become a Mormon?" Man that question has a spirit to it! Well we then had a meeting with him yesterday and he asked us how we came to know that the church was true! What an amazing opportunity that was for each of us to bare our testimonies! The spirit was so thick and strong you could feel it. You could tell he felt it. He then began to cry and said he wanted what we have! Ahhhhh I don't want to leave Indiana! I truly love the people here!

Elder Budge, Elder Loveless, and Elder Zapata

We have been doing a lot of tracting and personally contacting to find new investigators... It is so amazing to be able to share the gospel. I feel so privileged to be able to share what I know and share my testimony. Just as a song states, “I don’t have the words his truth deserves." It is true, I can’t come up with words that can begin to describe how amazing this gospel his. How true it is and the peacefulness it brings to me in my life. I truly am so blessed to have wonderful parents who were willing to be God fearing and ensure that I would have the Gospel in my life. I only can pray and hope that all who do not have what we have, could have their hearts opened and feel of the joy. I love being a missionary! I love it with all my heart. I know that the atonement is real! I see it change people’s lives without them even knowing it! How blessed are we to have the restored gospel with us in our day and age! Words can’t describe how much joy that brings to me.



Elders Mathias, Buck & Loveless, Sisters Farr & Cordner, Elders Mills & Stucki 

So we have transfers next week. I have no idea if I will stay or go to Brazil...it is a very bitter sweet moment, but I will find out next week! I hope all is well with everyone! I love you all and I can’t thank you enough for your prayers and support on not only my behalf but for all missionaries! Love you all,

Elder Loveless

Oi!!!

Wow...this last week flew by!!! I don't like how it goes by so fast. We only have two weeks left in the transfer and I still have no clue about my visa! I have drawn so close to the people here! I love them. It solidifies my testimony of the truthfulness of the work of the lord. It doesn't matter who you serve. Quite frankly the most important missionary work we can do is in the walls of our home and ward. 

When times get trying and hard (every day :) ) a scripture that always comes to my mind and a scripture I have grown to love is in Romans 8: 31 ...if God is for us, who can be against us. That scripture is so true! Even though times get hard, and people will get mad at us, swear at us, and say we are representing the devil, I feel an overwhelming spirit comforting me at those times. I know that Heavenly Father, His son, and the Holy Ghost are every bit involved with this work. Without them those times would be even more difficult, but our Father in Heaven being all loving will always be there to wrap his arms around us.

So this last week, we met with the Clouses, Brandy wants to wait for her baptism so she can be baptized with her girls! Which is awesome! So we are now teaching her and her daughters so they can work towards baptism. Jason is wanting to go to the temple and receive the priesthood soon! He is so amazing. Mom he absolutely loves the ring, and I gave him the Salt Lake temple pin! He loves the salt lake temple. A little history about that...Before the missionaries ever came, he had a dream that he was before this castle (Salt Lake temple) and as he went to the doors he went to open them and couldn't see because it was too bright. He then found a picture of it the next day and then the missionaries came! So he told them about it and they gave him another picture! He loves the gospel and is doing so amazing!!! I love that family!

Well on exchanges the other day in our area, a man drove past us and flipped around and got out and ran to us (never happens ) and he asked us what do you believe! We then were able to testify and share with him our beliefs and answer his questions. We gave him the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, The gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book or Mormon. He wanted to read over them before he met with us!!!!!!!!!!!! SSSSSSSSSSSssOOOOOOOOOOO sweeet! We meet with him tomorrow! I hope he has felt of the spirit while reading them. 

I truly love being a missionary! I love every bit of it. It is hard, tiring and some days everything falls out of place. But the little moments, those moments are the ones that are most rewarding. I love being able to serve my Savior! Words can’t describe how privileged we are to be his servants. I can’t thank everyone enough for the prayers and support that is given to me! I love you all and am so thankful for your examples to me! 

With love,

Elder Loveless

YEEEA!!!

Ok, so where to start...Ummm Mothers day was awesome! I absolutely enjoyed being able to talk to everyone! Everyone sounds amazing and is doing amazing! I truly am lucky to have the family and friends that I have had in my life and still do! Love you all.

Jason Clouse was confirmed yesterday! It was so amazing! What an amazing family they are. They have fed us, and given us so much food even though they have struggles of their own! I love that family, it will be so hard to leave them.

It is so weird that I have been out two months! Time flies, but I have never been so happy in my life. Each and every day I feel the guidance of our Heavenly Father in my life! I don’t know what I would do with out the spirit.

So last Monday, I went tracting with our zoneleader on exchanges, (love exchanges) and we found this lady named Susan. She said she was concerned about being with her kids forever. What an amazing opportunity that was to testify of the plan that God has given to us. I then met with her with a member, my companions went tracting. When meeting with her, she loved the plan of salvation. I then asked her to read 3 Nephi 11:1-11 and then asked her to be baptized. She is going to work towards it, but doesn’t want to set a date yet! So amazing! Then I called her on Friday to see how she was doing. She had done the reading and loved it, but wasn’t sure if she should keep moving forward with this. I then had an amazing opportunity to testify of the gospel and the Book of Mormon and encouraged her to keep praying that satan wanted her to stop taking the lessons. She wants us to come back!!!! Ahhhh the spirit is so amazing and is the teacher. We are but instruments in his hands and as long as we allow him to tune us and use us how we are meant, we will be able to do more than we are able.

I love this gospel with all my heart. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know that he suffered for all of us. He lives!

Love you all,

Elder Loveless




I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY

Well where to start. I’m exhausted...constantly, but I love every bit of being a missionary! It’s been raining a lot, with 3 hours of tracting in it yesterday. We found two potentials, but so far no new investigators. I pray and hope that people will be able to feel of the spirit and have their hearts softened towards us. But all is well.

So Jason Clouse’s baptism was amazing. There was such an amazing spirit and he was glowing! But, just the night before we were meeting with his wife to help her set a goal towards baptism and with quitting smoking. She is so amazing. She loves her family more than anything, and wants to be baptized. So in the process of meeting with her, we showed her a picture of the Savior lifting up the little girl of whom her parents inquired of the Savior, and then read with her the footsteps in the sand poem. When she was done with that, the spirit was so thick and strong, everyone could feel it and everyone was tearing up. When she looked at us, we then asked her if she would allow herself to be lifted up by the Savior, allow him to carry her every step of the way and to follow his example by being baptized. She said yes. Never has one simple word brought me so much joy. A message about the Savior, and His atonement can and will change everyone’s life. The spirit that comes from reading His words, testifying of Him is something that will never be deniable. I can’t wait, she will be baptized on the 25 of this month. I pray that I may work harder at becoming closer to my Savior.

So yesterday was regional conference...so...Rosemary M. Wixom, Robert C. Gay, Robert D. Hales and Dieter F. Uchtdorf came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So amazing. Every single talk was based towards the family. On how families should be centered on the Savior, centered on having no contention. Especially they said that the examples of how a husband and wife treat each other and their families will be a result of how their children will treat their families. It was so amazing. The family is being attacked, but as we make the Savior our anchor in our lives, I know that even when the gates of hell are opened towards us, we will not fail!

Well I don’t know what to do if my visa comes...I won’t want to leave here, but then I want to go to Brazil. I guess it just goes to show that where you serve doesn't matter, but when you serve, and how you serve the Lord will always be there, and you will come to love everyone you teach no matter what. I love missionary work, it is crazy to think it has almost been 2 months since I've been gone, it feels like a week. But I wouldn't rather do anything else. The Savior is in everything. He is constantly around to bare us up, to help us with our load. With Him all things are possible. I know that He lives. Every day it is manifested to me through the spirit more and more.

Love you all! Thank you for everything.

Gary. Oops … Elder Loveless