Merry Christmas!

Wow...time flies by. The last Christmas on the mission and then I start my last transfer. Time flies by and sometimes its hard to watch it do so. 

But hey so excited to see that the wedding went well. Reese and Rachel you both looked so happy and so excited. How amazing to know that you both have entered into the fullness of God's power. Love you both! 

This week we had almost all of our investigators travelling. Was pretty hard, and I was sick until Friday...

This week as I was taking the sacrament I had a very special experience. I was reminded of a quote that I had once heard, "rise and rise again til the lamb lays down with the lion." It brought so much peace to my heart knowing that we fall. We fall spiritually and we die spiritually weekly because of sin and mistakes we make. But the sacrament allows us to, "rise and rise again." Each day we are in a battle spiritually, fighting our own wars. But that little piece of bread and cup of water allows us to feel of that peace. Its through the sacrament that we may, "rise and rise again." its our privilege to establish peace. Peace will fully come when our Savior comes. But a way has been provided for each of us to overcome this battle. 

Jacob states in 2 Nephi 9:3 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 states, (talking about the atonement of our Savior) "I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever." The atonement of our savior allows us to, "rise and rise again," triumphantly weekly as we partake of the sacrament. 

Later he states,  

6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.

 7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.

 8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!

I love in verse 7 how he says, "wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration." The atonement and weekly taking the sacrament blesses us and allows us to use our agent of the atonement and to access our advocate with the Father! Im so grateful for the greatest Gift of our Heavenly Father. Im so grateful to know that I have a Savior, a Redeemer, and an Advocate with my Father in Heaven, that weekly the judgments are taken off of us and put upon our dear Brother. I know the atonement is real, and exists. We may feel it and hold on to it if we chose. I pray that we may all remember these precious gifts in our lives and to always remember our dear Savior Jesus Christ.

Love you all so much! I pray you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year! 

Elder Loveless

My good friend Jaelson! He has been a source of strength to me. He hand delivered a Christmas package from home.

Love this gospel

Nativity at the Campinas Temple

Wow...The greatest thing I have heard in a long time was from Rodolfo. He stopped me at church and said, "Ya know Elder Loveless ... this last week I was feeling really down and didn't know what was up. Then I realized I didn't go to church that week because of work. But I have such a good feeling here at church and I"m loving this gospel. I don't want to leave." Afterwards while he was taking the sacrament I saw such an amazing light in his eyes. I felt so prompted to tell him the following. "Rodolfo, when we start to search things spiritually we change outwardly too. A light comes into our lives that we don't notice but others do. Rodolfo you have a light about you that is amazing and you are progressing really well." To which he replied... "Elder Loveless I love hearing the lessons that you guys give to me. I'm strengthened because of them and I know the gospel is changing me." 

The missionaries at the temple with a family

I love how the Savior says, "the light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."

Elder Loveless by the Campinas Temple

I love so much to be able to look into people's eyes and see their true desires. I know that as we search for Christ and His light, we too become a vessel of light for others to see. We have the blessing and privilege to do that this season. I know that Christ is the light and as we try to purify and sanctify our lives we become single to Him, thus making us full of light! 

Love you all and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! 

Love, Elder Loveless

Elder Loveless getting a crepe from a french man

Yep, that's a dead armadillo

Elder Eller & Elder Loveless having fun

A Christmas Miracle!

Elder Loveless' Christmas shrine

Well we are all so grateful that Elder Goodfellow was healed this last week. It was so amazing. It was so hard to see him thinking of the fact that he almost had to go home. It was late Thursday night when I was staying with him and we were getting ready to make Pão de queijo (cheese bread) and he said, "Man I'm feeling really good. Like this is scary. I've not felt this good in a long time." At that moment we both agreed to say a prayer and I know that not only our prayers but the prayers of so many have been answered. There truly is a power in prayer and fasting. I know that God truly looks after those who love him and who he loves. Our Dear Father ALWAYS hears the prayers of the righteous!

I read in Moses 7:53, I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall; wherefore, blessed are they of whom I have spoken, for they shall come forth with songs of everlasting joy.

I love how it says and "whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by ME shall never fall." Well it truly was a great blessing to see that take place this last week watching him and so many others climb up by Him. I know that as we always look unto Christ in all things and always try to "climb up" and out of our trials miracles are wrought! And we glory in our tribulations.

Making homemade root beer - only the Elders liked it

Rodolfo is progressing really well and is loving the gospel. He is so amazing and shows so much faith!

We were blessed to see 6 less actives come back to church yesterday and the father went and bore his testimony. It was so strong and the spirit was so overwhelming. To see those who have fallen come back with their heads held up and glorifying our father in heaven! I love doing less active work. The feeling and the happiness that comes from seeing those who have been lost or strayed from the path come back into activity is so beautiful and I’ve never felt so much joy or love for others in my life! I love this work and I love helping others come unto Christ both members, less actives and nonmembers our calling is to bring souls to Him.

Love you all!

16 days 12 hours and 39 minutes till Christmas....at least it is for me!

Elder Loveless

Standing in some strong winds!

Elder Goodfellow & Elder Loveless

Elder Francisco & Elder Loveless 

24 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!

So I have to say I am supper excited about Christmas. It’s kinda sad because they don’t celebrate Christmas here. But that won’t stop me from going crazy like usual with Christmas! It’s like being happy. You can chose to or no. 

So this week was great! Rodolfo our solid investigator is amazing! As we were following up with him he talked about 1 Nephi 3:7 and how it inspired him to do so much good! How he knew he could do the Lord’s will. It was so amazing to see the Lord prepare him in his studies. Because we went and taught the word of wisdom. And his daily reading in the Book of Mormon is giving him so much strength. 

I love in 2 Nephi 32:3-4: Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

I know that so many missionaries know and use this scripture so much, but it is so simple, powerful and true! We speak to our Father through prayer, and he speaks through His holy scriptures to each of us to guide us, prepare us and empower us. I love the Book of Mormon and the spirit from it. It’s so hard to put it down during studies. It has helped me so much to come to know my savior! 

I pray that everyone can remember Elder Goodfellow in their prayers. He has been sick for quite a while and is in need of many prayers. 

Love you all so much! Don’t forget to watch Christmas movies!!

Elder Loveless

Super Happy!

Elder Loveless singing in the rain ... without his umbrella

I’m so excited! So I’m staying here in Vida Nova for at least one more transfer with Elder Francisco and Elder Goodfellow (he’ll get his new comp tomorrow) so excited to be able to continue forward these last 12 weeks of my mission with people who love the Lord. I truly am so blessed to be a part of this great work.

So we found 2 different people that are amazing! 

A lady Monica, a single mom. She is doing so great! She loved the first message and began to read the Book of Mormon. She is loving it. She also lost her dad a while back and the Plan of Salvation was perfect for her. She told us how now she knows where her dad is and she is feeling at peace. She then said in her prayer, “I thank thee for these two missionaries that have brought me peace and love into my life." It brought me to tears after. Something I feel I need to recognize more. We as members have the PRIVILEGE to bring peace and love into people’s lives through the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The missionaries with a family in the ward

Another man was Rodofo. He stopped us on the street asking for a visit. He began to tell us he had stopped all of the Catholic traditions because he felt inside spiritually that they were wrong. He then told us after we went back to follow up with him about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration, “as I open this book and begin to read, immediately I feel peace. I’m sorry I read more than what you had marked for me. I wanted to feel more and read more. It brings peace into my life. As I have talked with so many people and pastors over the years they have attacked and criticized this book. Well I am a witness that it is true. That every critic that has been given and will be given is false. Because this book testifies of Christ and brings peace into my life." Wow...it was amazing to witness that. I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I love it. If it wasn’t for the Book of Mormon I wouldn’t have a testimony of my savior Jesus Christ, and I owe it all to this scripture: 2 Nephi 25:29.

Our Father in Heaven needed Joseph Smith to be His instrument; not just to have a prophet, but to have His gospel restored on the earth. The priesthood, the prophets and apostles and anything else we have with in the church are all fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what was restored. The true gospel of Jesus Christ. This Thanksgiving I truly am so grateful that I have parents that loved me enough to teach me this restored gospel and the fruits of it. Everything I have in my life that is close to me is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I love you all,

Elder Loveless

Elder Loveless making pão de queijo (cheese bread) for Elder Goodfellow

Elder Goodfellow and Elder Loveless

Love the Atonement!

So this last week was good! We are still having problems with our investigators being anti-ed or they are starting to chose to not follow the gospel. It is so sad and so hard to see others that we love and we are striving so hard to help deny something so pure and something so strong that brings light and peace into our lives. 

Well as we went to a less active families house to teach them, it just so happened to be that their 9 year old grandson Marcos was there. Well we felt prompted to start teaching him the restoration. As we asked him if he had any questions that he hasn't found the answer to them yet. He told us how he was struggling because he didn't understand why his older brother had to be in the hospital and why he had to feel so much pain. It was such a special moment for us to testify about the atonement of our Savior in such a simple way that he was able to understand it. The spirit was so strong. And he was able to leave with a smile on his face! 

I'm so grateful for the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and all that it does for us. I know that it is complex, hard to understand at times, but when we study it simply as if we were a child it becomes easier to understand! I know He lives and that He died and lives for us! 

Mosiah 3:19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Elder Loveless

Love the Lord's hand!

A family that fed the missionaries dinner

So this last week was good and hard!

We are working a ton on finding new people to teach and the Lord blessed us with a new investigator Anderson. He is 17 and shows a ton of desire and interest in the gospel. We are working our hearts out to help him receive an answer of the fullness of the gospel!

So we are working a ton with less actives here to strengthen the area, but more so that they can feel the blessings of the gospel again! I love working with less actives. The lord guided us to a less active family that is ready to return. We felt we needed to stop by a member’s house to get a drink of water. Well we ended up talking with him about less actives. Well he told us about a family close to his house. We stopped by to visit them and the welcomed us in with a smile on their faces. As we began to talk to them there son walked in the door and immediately began to tell us how he just had a kid and was planning on leaving where he worked so that he could return to church. As we testified of the blessings of the gospel and the atonement they all agreed to return to church and the activities as well! I love how the Lord is always looking out for his children! Whether we are lost, struggling or going through a death in the family we all can and will find peace in the atonement, especially knowing that He has suffered for the unimaginable.

Love you all so much,

Love Elder Loveless

It rained on Elder Francisco and Elder Loveless

Elder Loveless making pastels

Elder McKay and Elder Loveless with the Helping Hands