Dec 15, 2014 - This is it, the last e mail

Well folks, looks like the mission is coming to an end. It is something very unreal to say the truth. So unreal to be honest I'm not really feeling it, my mind knows that I'm going home but my heart still hasn't caught the memo. 

I have thought for a very long time about what I was going to say in my last letter to all of you, and many things have crossed my mind, and I have wanted to knock your socks off, but when it comes down to it, all I can do is what I have done for the past 2 years. Testify of Christ, and our loving Heavenly Father.

Our Heavenly Father loves and knows everyone of us, no matter who we are and what we have done He wants us to come unto Him. To feel His love and to be on the road back to Him once again. To know Him on this earth and feel the love and happiness that we knew so well when we lived in His presence. AND He loves us so much he gave us His son. 

I know that He lives, I know that Jesus is the Christ. When it says many times in the scriptures to come unto Him and perfect ourselves in Him, that is a literal invitation. He suffered for our sins and our temptations and our hardships, and because of that truth, we can be clean and overcome those things that we cannot ourselves. He loves us more than we can imagine, and for that reason He paid the ultimate price, He is always there waiting for us to come to Him, to feel His love and to become whole once again. He is the way to the Father and the Only way to the Father. 

I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He saw the Father and the Son, and through him this organization so perfect was restored. The Church of Jesus Christ, the church of the Only Begotten, and no one else. That we ourselves need to put to the test James 1:5, to KNOW that this is the truth, to have the Father through the Holy Ghost testify of these things. To never fall away from this Gospel. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and as well we need to have a relationship with Him. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God, and through exact obedience to him and the Apostles and what they say is how we find true happiness. 

I know that the priesthood is real, and as men and sons of a living God we need to MAGNIFY this incredible power that we have, to bless, love, and serve everyone. It is our duty. 

I know that this is not the end, but the beginning. That in these two years the Lord has given me the tools that I need to magnify His name at home, and to become that man and son, that he needs me to be. He has made me realize that following His son Jesus Christ is everything, and most importantly about doing that is knowing that the most important thing is service and love for everyone. That is what I am so excited to do for my family and for everyone. Serve and love them, there is nothing greater. I know that. I want to thank all of you for your love and prays in my behalf. Words cannot express how grateful I am for that, I love and thank you all so much. Until soon. 

Les amo demasiado y quiero que sepan eso! 

Con Amor

Elder Scott Bennett Lloyd 

"The crowning attribute of love is obedience." -Elder Holland

Obedience #1

Dec 8, 2014

(HE has exactly 11 days and four hours left...but who is counting??)

Sent: Mon, Dec 8, 2014 4:33 PM
Subject: This week

So in short it is all wrapping up... Granted, I still have 2 weeks which is awhile to work and work hard! That fat lady still has not sung, and will not until this name tag is taken off to never be put back again. 

But, what I have to say this week is basically just wanted to tell all of you how much I love you all and I thank you SO much for the love and support you all show. Honestly, that is about all that I'm thinking and feeling is love and gratitude toward you all. I feel so blessed to have you all in my life!

Center this Christmas on Christ and you will have the best one yet!! 

Love

Elder Lloyd 

Dec 1, 2014

So this week is how it has been a pattern lately I don't have much time to write. This last week was a good one and these past weeks as well. It has been different now that I am coming to the end, it does not feel like it by any means. We have been seeing great changes in the ward that I am in; which is awesome, change of attitude in leaders and members. The Lord, still with 23 months under my belt the is stretching me in different ways, like I haven't expected. 

One thing that I have been pondering on and I love from my mission is an eternal look on things. An eternal look on the decisions we make, trails we have, and things that we really desire and want. It is something that has helped me and I know that the Lord wants us to have. And as we have that in our life's, we recognize Him a lot more, and make better day to day decisions, and being obedient isn't so hard, we see it as it is, a blessing. 

I love you all 

Elder Lloyd 

Nov 17, 2014

his last week we had a lot of conferences out of no where in the mornings and things of that sort. It was a pretty crazy week. 

This last week I have been thinking a lot about how a lot of times our own will and what we want and think is best isn't always the Lords will. Many times, if you are like me it is very hard to humble yourself and accept that. But that is when we need to humble ourselves and realize that He does know what is best. What I am finding is that it is a process, it doesn't always comes as an, "okay I get, and accept it." Type of deal, but comes through real heart felt prayer and looking to accept it. Hard? yes. But worth it? Every bit of it.

I love you all so much and thank you for all the love and support! 

Elder Lloyd 

Nov 10, 2014

I would like to apologize for not writing these past few weeks, things have gotten a little crazy. We have been SO blessed lately and are seeing things happen. The work gets tough with lots of things on the side, trials, personal failures etc. But the Lord always loves us. Being thankful and not only being thankful but showing that thankfulness is where we can truly be happy! Everyone wants to be looked out for and loved, and when we do that for others in word and in action, we find our true happiness. Happiness is within giving and loving others. That is because that's what Christ does for us, following His footsteps is following in true joy. I know that. I want to thank each and every one of you for the love and support you show to me I love you all so much!

Elder Lloyd

Nov 3, 2014

Day of the Dead Selfies

Oct 27, 2014

Hey, things have been good, and hard as I am on this roller coaster ride they call a mission. What I have been finding is that the Lord sends us trails when we are least expecting it, and/ or when we feel like we have had enough. The Lord has his ways to do things and His plans, a lot of times they don't always match up with ours. But they are His and perfect none the less. We always just need to stick to the basics that we know, strap down, trust in Him and take it day by day. Let Him mold us... if you're a person like me, it can be very hard sometimes. 

The days keep on going too! Sometimes we've just got to get to the next one, but we might as well keep our chin up while we are at it. 

I love you all so much and thank you for all the support and prayers. 

God Speed. 

Elder Lloyd  

Oct 18, 2014

Dear Family Lloyd,

 

We would like to inform you that your son has been called and assigned to train a new missionary in the Mexico City Northwest Mission because of their outstanding performance.

He has been assigned to train Elder Riveros in the area of Cuautepec in the Stake of Cuautepec.

We have attached a photo of this new companionship below

 

Have a great day

Oct 14, 2014

This picture is of Bennett, his new comp from Peru and Elder Rodriguez that Bennett had the privilege of training a year ago...he will also be training.

This last week has been a good and a challenging one. The last week of the change is always hard and who knows why there were a lot of speed bumps as well and road blocks. (great people not coming to church, appointments falling through, no one, people lying. Etc,) Those typical mission problems. But we kept fighting through. 

We have found a lot of great people lately. We are working with a great family that were progressing well, named the family Camacho.. they are a family of The mom and dad and 3 over the age of 19 and a 9 year old girl, the two bigger sisters both have babies but we only teach the 9 year old Jenni, and the Parents. The dad works fixing cars and as they started to come closer to the church and to the Lord came problems, mainly in economic terms. That business is one that is obviously up and down, but he explained to us that in the last two months for the first time ever he has had almost nothing. He looked at us in a lesson and said, "I am scared a lot of times, because sometimes I don't know how I"m going to give my family food to eat." and for this reason they have not been going to church and doing the commitments we leave them. We taught them that through, and only through exact obedience we are blessed more than we can imagine. At first we may have a lot of trials, but like it says in the scriptures, the testimony doesn't come until AFTER the trail of faith, if not it would not be faith. 

And during the week I heard an incredible story of this very principle. There is a member in the ward named Jonathan, he as well is going through a lot of financial difficulties. He is a member that is always helping and supporting the missionaries. We are always calling him to help the Hermana Paz (that just got baptized) to help bring her to church when everyone falls through. He told us a story that 2 weeks ago they were getting ready for church and his little daughter says, That's weird the elders haven't called us yet to go get the Sister Paz. And he replied, That's good, so now we can go in peace.. That day the person that day fell through to take her back, so we asked him and he willing said yes. He went on to tell us he was driving and all he could think about is that he didn't know what he was going to give to the family to eat, because he had no money at all. Then without him saying a word about it to anyone the Sister Paz looks at her and says, How about you guys stay at my house to eat today. And explained that she has enough for everyone... There is the blessing in loving and serving everyone. The Lord knows what he is doing, and when we do our part in loving and serving, it opens the doors up for the Lord to bless us. 

I have been put with a new comp, fresh from the MTC and from Peru. I know he will be great. He has help from both sides, before we headed out to work today, he told me. I'm doing this for my mom. I looked at him and said that's great Elder!! Then he explained to me that she passed away from blood cancer when he was only 6. He and his sister are the only members in his family of nine. But I know his testimony will get back to his house..... The Lord knows what he is doing. 

I love you all so much. 

Elder Lloyd 

Sep 29, 2014

Well, Don't have much time. But just want to tell you all how much I love you, and how much I appreciate your love, support, and prayers. Not possible to thank you all enough. Everything is going well here, pushing along to bless as many people as possible and become the men that God desires of us that we be! Hope all is well with everyone! 

Love from Mexico City the DF! 

Elder Lloyd.

September 22, 2014

First off, sorry for not writing in a long while! ha 

Buuuut this was a good week, a hard one due to this last week being the 15 of Sep. here which is the day of Independence of Mexico in other words = everyone get your beers, blow stuff up, and shoot your pistols in the air. haha  Soooooo, we could go out to work Monday, and Tuesday in the house at 6 o'clock. With that being said we got to participate in a great baptism of a lady that we have been teaching that we love so much. The Sister Paz, she is 79 years old and so nice. She has so much faith! She is bound to a wheel chair due to her age and some infirmities, but that doesn't stop her from going to church, every week we go to the house of her, with a member or in a taxi to get her, and we get her in the car and ÁNDALE pues! Off we go. It was a very cool baptism, it took the efforts of the member and my companion and I all dressed in white to get her in the water and baptized, but there was a great spirit there without doubt! 

She is such a great example that no matter our circumstances we can push through and complete our duty to God. Even though it pains her a lot, she always says, you guys don't worry, I have the faith in Jesus Christ! 

Love you all and hope all is well! 

love Elder Lloyd

September 1, 2014

So I have received what looks to be my last change in my mission.Yeah whaaaaaat? Right? Ha it is a..... strange feeling, and I don't know how to describe it. I am back to the Zone where my first and second areas are and looking forward to seeing miracles! It was great in my last ward and definitely left an impact on me. But here, I am knowing that there will be miracles, oh and I have a Second Elder Garcia at my side. But this one's from Veracruz, Mex.

This morning and last night I was thinking a lot about something that we see a lot in our life's through out different stages. That is that we don't realize how much, or even that we are impacting the people around us with all of our actions. I think that my favorite and one of the best examples of this is the story of Abinadi in Alma. He was so true to the Lord and His will. He fought to do what he knew was right and do what the Lord required of him, and in the end he was rejected and killed. And in what I think he was probably feeling and thinking he had not impacted or helped anyone, and not knowing that he had. Alma the older, from his words and his faithfulness to the Lord, lit again a fire in Alma to return to what he knew was right, and in turn changing thousands, even millions of lives, and even today lives are changing too. And we now have almost the rest of the Book of Mormon because of it. I know that through our faith, love, and obedience we will change lives. And we never need to get discouraged because the Lord will always use our efforts to help His children. 

I love you all so much. Hope everything is well.

Love Elder Lloyd 

August 25, 2014

Another week of missionary work in the books. This week was another week of crazy missionary work, ups and downs, highs and lows, I heard it is boring when you get home... I don't doubt it, the mission can feel like driving fuel one cars, and it will probably feel like driving bumper cars when I get home. (The little ones that your to big to fit in, but you do it anyways)

We had the great blessing of being able to be the part of the baptism of Emmanauel this week, it was so great and filled with the spirit. I cant wait to see in 7 years when he goes on the mission. Before his baptism you people would ask him why he wanted to be baptized, and he would respond, "Because I want to follow Jesus Christ, and I want to go on the mission." He is a great kid and will be a great strength for his whole family!

This week we were on divisions and I stayed in our area and another Elder came with me. As we were doing our contacts through out the day, coming to the end of the day this Elder looked at me and said, whats going on here? the contacts we do here are so different, so many people that we contact seem ready... That got me thinking Why? We are just one area over, Its different, but not to much. We do try to do them by the Spirit, but know that they do as well. And I got to thinking it came to me. Where I am in the area/ward called Ward Plazas. It is by far the BEST ward I have been in. The Bishop rick is so strong, loving, and active in the ward, along with the members, And it hasn't always been like that, it started form the top with the new bishopric in the past year. And everyone being loving and willing to follow, great members. I came to a conclusion that I had thought about awhile back. That obviously it starts with the missionaries and their obedience first and for most the biggest thing, but after that, is that this area is so blessed. Heavenly father knows that he can bless us as missionaries to bring these chosen sons of His to the fold, and then the members there will take care of them and make sure they don't go astray, through love and nurturing.  I have realized from this thought process, and through out my whole mission. That the decision  we make, and our obedience does effect SO many people, in a direct or indirect way. Those who are on the earth and those who are to come. President Erying has said that he is living blessings form his ancestors. I can as well testify to that, through the obedience and love to their Heavenly Father, my Ancestors from my parents, grandparents great great grandparents, and farther back, have and continue to bless me right now in my life. I never understood and still don't really know why I have been so blessed the way I have, but I know that is a huge part. And how grateful I am! As well for being able to serve in this ward. Learn, Apply, grow, become more like the Savior. 

Iove you all so much

Elder Lloyd 

August 19,2014

A week full of preparing for conferences, conferences and meetings. But a good one none the less.The misión is learning a new principle which I love and that we are putting in practice and seeing the truthfulness of it and the miracles that come hand in hand. It is based off of Mosiah 27 When the Angel comes to Alma and the Sons of Mosiah and changes theirlives and in turn changes thousands of others. In the misión obviously, we find and teach many people. We, many times are blessed and find people that are ready to accept the Gospel in their lives and to move forward and will do what it takes. Others more times than usual, and especially here in Mexico it is not the case. Many love to listen, and love what we say. But keeping commitments and progressing in the Gospel is a different ball game. Many times we are teaching many people and great things are happening, miracles really. But getting them to come to church and things is hard. At times we get frustrated and say, "We cant forcé them to do these things, we cant take away their free agency,they have to want these things." Well in Mosiah 27 and especially verse 14 teaches us something incredible, and gives us an incredible tool for life.

As we know that Alma and his Homies (sons of Mosiah) were going around literally trying to destroy the church of the Lord. Then an angel came and changed the whole story, and in verse 14 we find out how and why. I love Reading this first, we find that it was for the prayers and the faith of his city and his father, that loved them so much. It was not for the faith of Alma and the sons of Mosiah, but their faith. We can apply this in the lives of our loved ones, in the lives of the Lords investigators here. We cannot take their agency, but the Lord CAN change their will! through our faithful prayers and faith. Do we love these people enough to stay on our knees and plead for them?

We have seen the miracles from this principle in this last week. The parents of the 11 year old child Manuel accepted to talk to us, prayed AND felt a difference, went to church, AND accepted to let him be Baptized this week. The Lord has softened their hearts. As well as the family we felt their Dad was ready we hadn't talked to him in about a week. And We went last night and at the end of the lesson he said. I know that it is time that I come together with the family and get baptized, I will say, not this week, but the next, and set his own date. The missionaries have tried for years with him with nothing, and he set his own date for us. We then explained to him that he had to first go to church and prepare himself, and then we would love to have it happen. So he said, "Okay so I will do that, then I'll get Baptized."

Lots of prayers on the knees of many people being answered. I know that this is a blessing that we can use in our lives always! and I know one that I will use in the future. The Lord loves each one of His children, Christ lives and still performs miracles through the faith in Him. I know that.

Love you all

Elder Lloyd

August 11, 2014

Eating a tamal Oaxaqueño, made in a banana leaf #toogood

This last week was a very special week for us. We had the great blessing to be a part of the baptism of an older couple named Kristina and Gerado. We have been teaching them for about 6 months now, since I was with Elder Deters, and before me as well. I have written about them in the past. Gerado has battled drug attection and very strongly lately alohloism his whole live, since he had 16 years, and he is now 58 years old. The first 2 months I knew him I did not once see him not completly fall down drunk. In testimate to the priesthood, Elder Deters and I found him not drunk for the first time since ihad been there and gave him a blessing so that he could over come this vice. He has gone now almost  months and only drank once. He has become so much more calm and relaxed, like a new man. After that we had the problem that his wife was married with some one esle over 22 years ago and they were not. This is a hard thing to do, and many missionaries cant and lots of people dont get baptized because of it LOTS of time, money, and alot of times doesnt work. In pondering in what to do awhile back, It came to my mind that I met a memeber in my first area that was a lawyer, and had his card. I called him and explained the situation, he told me he would be more than happy to do it, and for free. It was on! 

Through a serias of miracles it came in fast and we had the go ahead, it has been a long hard road, and they have faithfully gone to church for the last about 5 to 6 months without even being baptized. And its because they know, like Gerado always says, If I dont go Im back on my OWN to fight this! 

It was so amazing to hear at their baptism their testimonies. To hear the she was crying all by herself in the house asking God to just help and that she couldnt do it anymore with him, and then the missionaries showed up, and how now he is a completely changed man. To hear the first things come out of mouth in his testimony as, "I dont know much, but i know that this church is true and the My Father in Heaven lives, and Jesus Christ, and they love me." THAT is a testimonym, and THAT is why we do missionary work. We make sacrifices and forget about ourselves but our important things aside, so that others can come unto Christ. Because that is what He did for us, there is nothing more important than our Father in Heaven, this Gospel, Jesus Christ, and our families. I know that. I love you all and hope all is well. 

Love from Mexico

Elder Lloyd 

July 28, 2014

This last week was one of learning. It was a good, especially to learn how to better the work of the Lord.

There is a great family in our ward that is s super strong and active family, they are all members, a teenage son and daughter, and the mom, but the dad is not a member. He has known the Gospel and been around it for a long time. He even used to play basketball with our bishop when they were younger. He has always listen to the missionaries and loves us, but always says "Im catholic, always have been, and will be." We went to share a message with them, and that day I sort of had the feeling that it could be his time. We felt to go share with them and we had a great talk, and he and the family started crying to he said I feel, that it is time I give it a shot and really think about baptizing me.

The Lord has his specific time and plans for everyone. A lot of times we don't understand it, but he knows what he's doing. And we need to trust in that.

Lots of love! Elder Lloyd  

July 21, 2014

As we came to the end of a great week, we were walking home, while being accompanied by 2 members, a returned missionary, and a recently baptized future missionary as I felt like the Army of God feeling, walking home from battle, and the Spirit testified to me that THIS is how his work should be done. As we push forward in working with the members in this great ward, we do not cease to see miracles. The Lord is blessing us greatly as we follow the words of His prophet by accelerating the work of the Lord and working members and missionaries shoulder to shoulder.

We had the great baptism of Andrea, and once again don't have much time in writing about some of the great experiences we had.

But in shorter words, the Lord lives and speaks through the Prophet Thomas S. Monson, and to know Him and the Son is through obedience. I know that, through that same thing we are blessed greatly. Being obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ and Our Father, because we love them more than we love ourselves and all other things. This is true happiness.

Love you all.

Elder Lloyd

July 14, 2014

This was a great week of seeing that everyone has their moment that Our Heavenly Father sets up for them. These past weeks we had the blessing of being part of the teaching and baptism of Rodrigo. 

His Grandma has been a member for a long time now but the family didnt really want anything to do with it. Then about 4 years ago his sister was in a hard spot in her life and turned to the Lord, and got baptized. Then a year and a Little over a half ago his mother came to terms and as well was baptized. Rodrigo always had his doubts and never wanted anything, he then started to look into it more and thats where we came in. He has progressed so well, he wasnt so sure about it at all, we challenged him to pray and promised he would know by the next time we came, we returned and said he knew he had to do it. He is very Smart and  He has had questions about the Book of Mormon and the history of it,  

( Horse being in it etc.) We simply would answer his questions as they came, or show him how to get his answers. Didnt think much of it. Then the day of his baptism his sister told us that because of those doubts he said he wasnt ever going to be baptized, but after talking to us it changed his mind. So thank you to the Spirit and guiding us in what we needed to say, he was able to come into the waters of baptism.

We found out last weekend that Manuels dad had gotten out of rehab, so we went right over the next day to talk with him. He told us that he would support his son in this decisión that he wants to make, but first wants to go to church with us to see how everything is, we couldnt be happier!

This week will be the baptism of another GREAT investigator named Andrea, she is 17 and progressing like we cannot beleive and has plans to go on a misión, her and her mother who has been inactive for 24 years know that this is true and they are converting themselves in the Savior Jesús Christ and his Gospel.

We have seen so many miracles lately one of which I will share next week. And we know that we will see them this next week through our hard work and diligence. Nothing more important than loving, truly loving and serving others and more than anyhting our Heavenly Father. 

Love you all.

Elder Lloyd

June 30, 2014

Has been a great week, alwyas learning how to work more effectavly. This week was the complition of the Family Ibarra wich was great. As well this saturday that comes Manuel will be baptized, we are SO excited and he is progressing SO well. Our ward will be going to Veracruz to go to the temple because it is closed here, and he went to the bishop to find out how he could go, the bishop had to break it to him that he is only 11 and cant go. 

Always learning how to just enjoy the moment and the ride, and that our Heavenly Father loves us no matter what. Love you all so very much and thank you alol for the prayers and support, means just as much as the fisrt day in the mission. m

Elder Lloyd

June 9, 2014

This week has been a great week of conferences, a couple visits to the
Doctors (but everything is okay) and hard work like always. Yesterday I was
really thinking about the sacrament and how incredible it is, and how
amazing it is that we have the chance to partake of it. Even though I feel that I have SO much more to comprehend and understand about it, I do understand the magnitude it plays in our salvation and how much of a privilage it
really is. The sacrament is something we vitally need, as we look at the scriptures and read that no unclean thing can be in the presence of God,
well, I am not perfect, and I mess up on a daily basis without even wanting
to. If it is doing or saying something I shouldnt, or not saying or doing
something I should. That being said, it can look like a daunting task.
But if we really have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we know that through
Him and a thing like the sacrament , we can be made clean, and become better
than we are day to day and through His sacrafice we can have powers above
our own. I have come to find out, if we  really have a testimony and really
understand the Sacrament we will never make an exuse to miss it and we WILL be there under all  circumstances. AND if we find ways out (like i used
to do) then we really dont understand it.
We have a bad perception in the church that we can not be perfect, If we look at the scriptures in Mathew 5:48 we find the commandment to do it,
then in Nephi 3:7  he tells us that the Lord does not command anyhting we can not do. I know that it is possible, it is a life long and eternity long
thing, so we need to have patience. We will be disappointed and discouraged if we think it will come very fast. But we cannot set limits on oursleves,
we are sons and daughters of God, our potential is unlimited. He has made our way to complete this commandment and that is through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He lives, and Loves us more than we know, and wants us
back with Him. I know that.
Love you all
Elder Lloyd