Thursday, December 26, 2013
Elder Lovell's Return
Hello, Everyone! Elder William Lovell is having his homecoming talk on January 12, at 2:50 p.m. at the New LDS Chapel on Water Street. He would love all his friends to attend! So excited to have him home!
12/23/13
I also worked at applying for school
this week. I have a question, when do I know if I got accepted? Did the
ecclesiastical endorsement come through?
As I approach Christmas on my mission again, I
really love it. I remember one of the best Christmas presents I have
ever received on my mission.
It was a cold
Christmas night in Dash Point and Elder Palmer and I had just spent a
few hours at the Colby's where we skyped with you and also his family.
As the clock reached 5:00,
it was time for our sacred tracting time. Time to knock doors on
Christmas. I was hesitant but not altogether unenthusiastic about the
prospect. I think I was sort of frightened. Our phone rings and we
answer the phone to our Zone Leader, Elder Park asking if they can come
tracting with us. May I mention that I remember feeling a little
discouraged about the work. Elder Palmer and I were often tired and had
just about zero investigators. I think I consigned myself to just being a
mediocre missionary who just wasn't meant to see much success on his
mission.
I went with Elder Hampton that night and he did
something that he almost never did. He said "Elder Lovell, what are you
thinking about? Talk to me about your concerns." Just to paint some more
detail, Elder Hampton is from South Carolina, so when he talks he
sounds like he has just that southern wisdom of a cowboy who just knows
exactly what to reckon about any situation.
I said "Elder Hampton, I feel like I am behind as a missionary. I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do."
He
kind of spat out a chuckle as if to say "nonsense Elder." But he told
me "You are not behind. You're right where you should be."
He asked me some of my thoughts about my
purpose as a missionary. We talked about what it meant to teach people
and how to do that with the spirit. I told him about some of my
weaknesses concerning obedience, and here's where things became very
interesting. I can't remember everything he said that night but here are
the words of wisdom that stuck with me forever after.
He said, "If I could sit down with every brand new
missionary for four minutes, do you know what I'd tell them? I'd tell
them 'do exactly what the key-holder tells you to do. God will
not give you anymore revelation or inspiration than his chosen vessels.
In fact, he'll fight against your own grand ideas for your benefit so
that you don't exalt yourself above your leaders."
That hit me like a brick wall. I realized
then, that I had been trying to start all these new programs in our ward
that were complicated and for lack of a better term they were all just
too much. I realized that if I would just do exactly what my mission
president said, I would be led just as he was, line upon line, precept
upon precept. And Zion would be established. It's not just that Zion
won't be established without unity, it's that Zion can't be established
without unity. It's not in the program.
Continuing on, Elder Hampton taught me this "We have
to be obedient. The Lord cannot bless us if you're not. So one word of
advice Elder Lovell, even if your mildly disobedient, repent in your
prayers but also tell us, your leaders." I was kind of skeptical to that
at first.
"Do I have to tell you?" I said.
"No, absolutely not." he said, "But if you do, we and the Lord will trust you 100%."
I remember that night, we stayed up passed 10:30
watching a short clip of a performance from our mission Christmas
party. It was a dumb reason to stay up. I remember the next day,
repenting and then getting ready to call the zone leaders to let them
know what we had done. Not to confess, but to seek help from them. I
think it was just the prospect of needing to call them that made me want
to change more than ever. I didn't want to call them and show them how
disobedient I was. But I did. Elder Park rebuked us pretty sharply. Then
he told us he loved us and we never stayed up passed 10:30
again. Next, we were consistently being late to sacred finding and
tracting on time. We would call every time we didn't get there on time.
Our zone leaders patiently worked with us until we were there on time
consistently.
Next transfer, I was a trainer. I was a regimented
missionary who was exactly obedient. It was the best gift I had ever
been given. I had come very close to the Savior and experienced so many
miracles.
Anyway, yes, Angie's baptism is this week! On
Christmas! Yay! We are very excited! Then she and her husband are
getting married in the temple in a year! Oh how exciting!
Bishop is getting ready to interview Glen for the
Priesthood! We just comitted him to prepare to recieve it the other day.
He is excited. Last night, he was telling us that the sacrament has
become more real for him and that he is taking it more seriously than
ever before.
Leanna is doing well. We should be meeting with her
tonight. She already is getting answers that the Book of Mormon is true.
The ward already loves her and they haven't even met her. She is just
soaking in information like a sponge. We love her.
A new part member family moved into the ward and
they are great. The member's name is Aundrea and her husband is John. We
taught her husband the message of the restoration this week and he just
said "Woah... I know you know that's true. I'm going to read and pray."
He couldn't commit to a day to be baptized yet but he's doing well.
Remember Dawn? And Julian? I told you about them a
while ago. They all came to church this week! It was fantastic! Lots of
people at church this week!
By the way, here's a picture of Elder Richards and I with all of our Christmas stuff! Yay!
12/9/13
Well, I just recieved two e-mails from members of my district in brazil
that they go home this wednesday. They were all really kind of sad.
Yikes! I feel so special to be serving longer than them! HA! How
ironic.
Glenn did not get baptized this weekend. It was all my
fault. I called and tried scheduling the building on Thursday, when I
should have done it at the beginning of the week. Then it turned out
there was a Christmas party during the time they wanted it, so we tried
moving it, but there was just no way. The good news is, it is still this
weekend. Saturday at 12:00. We have a large scale church tour organized
for about 60 people. I'm going to have to use some of this e-mail time
to type up a description on what we need everyone to do. Seems like
we'll host 6 groups of 10.
Angie is getting baptized on Christmas now, and her
husband is getting ready to baptize her. It is going to be an exciting
time! She is so awesome! We ran out of food yesterday so she and her
husband invited us over and we watched the Christmas devotional with
them and ate spaghetti and toast with garlic salt. DELICIOUS. Garlic
salt is the best.
Mom, I have not been eating well. I think it is
killing me. My neck is getting too big for my shirt and it feels like
there is Elmers glue pumping through my aorta. So, I need some healthy
recipies that I can make and still feels like a meal. Elder Garner eats
healthy, but he he only ever eats a tortilla with salsa and spinach in
it. Gross. He looks great though. I have gotten fat. And I mean it, I am
not saying that to be funny. I dont even have to push out my gut
anymore. I've decided, although I used to not mind it, I really don't
like it now and I want to stop. But it isn't bugging me too much today.
But Elder Richards and I are going to buy healthy food today and slowly
move out the gross stuff!
We made chicken breasts on rice with the slow cooker
for sunday lunch yesterday! We were so proud of ourselves! Its not hard
at all, I know!
I love you all! Sorry this is short! Have a great week!
12/2/13
HOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Now that we have that cleared out of the way! Let me tell you about
GLEN! Actually, can I just tell you about Elder Richards first? I love
Elder Richards! This passed Friday we were teaching a family and getting
the part member ready for her baptism. I asked, "So Angie, do you feel
you have recieved an answer about the Book of Mormon yet?"
"No." She replied, simply.
Silence for a few seconds...
Then
she said "I just don't know what I am looking for. I know I need to
read and pray, you keep telling me that, but I have no idea what I want
or what I need out of this."
(I usually hate these questions because it's
difficult to tell someone how they're going to feel the spirit. In fact
it's impossible without the spirit. Usually you're green companion says
something dumb and you end up trying to cover up their flop and sound
dumb too. But NONE OF THAT HAPPENED. Elder Richards and I had that
spirit.)
In fact watch this video and start watching at 4:13! That is exactly what we looked like! It was awesome!
http://bcove.me/3czghor8
So at the end of the lesson I said "so Angie,
perhaps the question I phrased at the beginning was not a great
question. So I'll rephrase it. Do you feel that you can say that the
Book of Mormon is true?"
She smiled, "Possibly."
(That doesn't sound like a good response, but from Angie that was EVERYTHING!)
She has not drank coffee for a while now and also has been coming to
church several weeks in a row. A member came up to her at church this
passed week and said "You aren't a member yet?"
Angie replied, "Not YET, is correct."
AHHH! Yay!
Ok
I was supposed to tell you about Glen and I never did. Glen came to
church in a nice tie and white shirt! OH YEAH! And his baptism was
announced for this Saturday at 5:00! YEAH! So then we go over to his
house after church and I say, "Glen, we're going to get 300 referrals
from you today. We need to fill up that chapel with people to invite to
your baptism!" (I was really just thinking of maybe getting 100 or 150
and just making him aim high.) But he said "Ok, let's do it." We sat
there for three hours and just wrote down names. No addresses or phone
numbers yet, just names. When we were done, we had 302 referrals. He
wants them all to come.
He passed his baptismal interview last night (Elder
Bradford, one of my favorite missionaries of all time) interviewed him
and afterwards he said "Man! that guy is going to be a stake president!
He was practically interviewing me!"
Then next week, Angie is getting baptized! Then the
week after that, Ben is Getting baptized! Then the Week after that, Dawn
and her son Julian will be baptized! Oh yeah! It is exciting times!
Ok I need to go! I love you all!
Bye!
11/26/13
Dear Family,
Today is the start of my last transfer
and that's all that needs to be said about that, other than that there
is a bubble in my throat and I feel like I am going to cry. Ha. Elder
Newman, dear Elder Newman is getting taken from me. He has grown so much
and everyone has noticed. It has been so good to see his face when he
has a huge break through and I'll just SCREAM in joy and his face will
just light up and I'll say "THATS THE WAY TO BE A MISSIONARY ELDER!
YOU'RE DOIN' IT YOU'RE BEING A MISSIONARY!" In the best Jimmy Stewart
voice that I can. Then Elder Newman looks down at the floor and smiles
and just says "Wow..." Not at me being weird, but really because he's
proud of himself! I just want to hug him right now!
I will be finishing the training of Elder Nathan
Richards who is serving in the zone being trained by the zone leaders
and now he gets to come with me! He is a visa waiter waiting to go to
Brazil. I have been in frequent contact with him already and have sat in
on some language studies to help him. It is satisfying that much of my
portuguese hasn't left me. I have on my portuguese tag today to go an
pick him up from the stake center! He will be along with Elder Garner my
favorite companions.
This week was miraculous. Rachel unfortunately
dropped us, but we're still kind of working with her. Thats not the
miraculous part. The great part is about Glen. I think I told you he was
kind of dropping us last time you heard. Well as I have really been
praying for the spirit, last monday we were finishing up our preparation
day and pulling out to go visit potentials and the thought came to
mind. "Go visit Glen, now." So I'm like "ok, well I'll give him a call
to make sure he's home." and the spirit just said, "Nah, visit him now.
No calling or texting necessary." So I did. Glen was there. He told us
"Look I don't want to be baptized or go to church anymore, it's too
much." So we shared Helaman 12:5 and 1 Nephi 8 with him and said "Have
you really been reading the scriptures?" He indicated that he had
not. So we read with him. As we did, the spirit filled the room and he
said "I get it now! You guys are here to hold me accountable. You really
want me to get an answer!" and I said "YES! (geeze! finally!)" He said
"You know, we need to set SOLID appointments" "(Amen to that)" I
thought. So we come over 4 times a week. Well anyway we were texting at
least once a day or calling and one time I called him to follow up and
he's like "Lovell! This is killing me! Stop calling me so much! You're
like a bill collector! STOP PUSHING ME!" and so I was pretty upset, all I
could say was sorry. He cancelled his appointment for that day and was
mad coming to church the next day. But we had coordinated people to take
him to classes so he didn't leave right after sacrament. As he came to
each class his demeanor changed and his heart softened.
We met with him last night and he told us he was
excited to be baptized on the seventh of December and understands the
church now. We taught him the law of Chastity and had desert. PRAY FOR
HIM!
We started teaching Angie again after she kind of dropped
us, or more like we dropped her. Something has changed in her too and
she is excited to be baptized on the 7th as well. When I first met her
she was super hesitant to come to church. But she has been to church the
last 3 weeks and has been dragging her less active husband to baptisms
and over to bishop's house for dinner.
Ben, a ten year old is getting baptized on the 14th! He is a little more hesitant but pray for him! He'll get there!
Ashley's brother Julian and his mom Dawn are both working to be baptized at the end of the month! Please pray for them!
Love you all!
11/18/13
Bom dia meu fimilia amada,
For Elizabeth, Mom, Erik,
or whoever else is helping me to register for schooling after my
mission, President Eaton gave me permission to get on there and I did
it. I got as much information as I could and sent to Elizabeth with 30
minutes to spare to write all of you.
This week kind of started as just another week. In
fact a terrible week numbers wise. By thursday we had 1 person comitted
to baptism, 1 member present, and zero other lessons. We worked hard for
the rest of the week and made great daily paths using very little gas
and were super efficient and within three days we went from 1 to 5
member presents, but only 1 other, and 2 new investigators. We're
cranking it up down here. I was rebuked by the Zone Leader pretty badly
for the poor numbers, and I apologized, but then he said "You know what
you did well Elder?" and I said, "Not really, sorry." he said "You
taught 5 Member Presents! I taught one!" The mission is struggling
because President Eaton put a more specific rubric for what you can and
cannot count as a lesson.
To teach a lesson you must
Begin with a prayer (unless its a first contact.)
Teach one or more gospel principle.
Close with a prayer.
That is always how I have done it so my
numbers can be much lower from other missionaries who teach a small
gospel principle and end with a prayer and count it as a lesson. So this
week a lot more of the mission had numbers that looked like mine. But
there's still a lot more room for improvement, so it's natural to get
chewed out.
Miracle for the week, I went on Exchange with Elder
Cairo in my district (a brand new greenie) and also asked the zone
leaders if I could take Elder Richards (Also a brand new greenie, Brazil
visa-waiter and close friend) with us. While we were going throughout
the day, I got lost and so we ended up in a neighborhood that I kind of
recognized and we began tracting.
We came to a door in paticular that Elder Richards
said "Ok, Elder, this is going to be a family waiting for the Gospel and
they're going to let us in and we're going to baptize them!" Suddenly, a
young woman, Rachel openned the door. Rachel is easy to remember! Ha!
Anyway, we began teaching her the Restoration. Elder Cairo recited the
First Vision and I asked her "How did you feel Rachel?" she said "Well
the information is kind of overwhelming." and I said "but how did you feel."
she said "Well, I felt like I was sitting in front of a warm campfire.
It was peaceful." My jaw dropped. Elder Richards said "I like that! I'm
going to have to steal that phrase!" To which she replied, "its all
yours..." Then we told her that the evidence is in the Book of Mormon to
which she said "I am currently reading that! I was also thinking about
how much I love the focus your church has on family! By the way, I've
gone there with the Molens in your ward!" (Paraphrased) So her mom gets
home and tells us, "I like you guys but I am sick so you'll need to come
back later." she was somewhat cold about it. So that made us nervous.
So the next day, (yesterday) we returned and came with a member to ask
her parents for permission to teach and baptize her. Her father, Jeremy,
Ha! answers the door. I think he really liked how we spoke to him about
teaching her, he was very very friendly. I said "She will be invited to
be baptized, is that ok?" He said "Yes of course, thats fine if thats
what she wants to do. I can't force her to be Mormon, in fact I would
hope she joins the Mormon church, but if she doesn't I won't force her."
(Jaw Drop) So we're going to stop by again this week!
Anyway, I need to go pick up the other missionaries
to go shopping. I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and love and
support!
Love you!!!!!!
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