May 20, 2013 - Blessing his body to be still and calm

This is how we rock taxis around here 

Another hard working week down in the books! I came into this new area and we didn't have a lot to work with. But through pushing ourselves we had such an  incredible week! 

Because we basically didn't have any investigators to start with, we made the decision to get the ward list, and visit the inactives. To help reactivate them, and to see if all of their family is members also. Through this we have been so blessed. This last Tuesday we were looking for a house (which a lot of times here is close to if not impossible) And we thought it was this tiny house, basically nothing of a house. We were yelling good after noon to see if there was anyone home, because there isn't any door bell or anything. As we were doing this a teenage boy named Luis came and told us that this was his grandmas house and asked if he could help us. Turns out that it was the wrong house, but we had the impression to tell him a bit of what we do, and asked if we could talk to him a bit. He responded yes and we headed to his house. We had a great lesson, and he told us that he has been looking for a church, and answers. During our lesson I asked him what experiences he has that brings him to believe in Heavenly Father. He went on to tell a story. He had a brother who was 4 years older than him, and this month 3 years ago past away of a sickness. In that same month his mother was pregnant with his little sister, and when she was born she was born with the umbilical cord tied around her neck, and they almost lost her life. He went on to tell us that he knows that God lives because He saved her life and knew that his family could not take another death. Wow, what a kid! 

We have a baptism with this awesome guy named Abe, he is about 30. One of the most rewarding things was seeing him yesterday, as we looked out the window of the bus, walking home from church smiling, and Book of Mormon in hand. 

We also got word that there is an in active family that has a son that just turned 8. So we headed over to go talk to them. We came in, and it was just the wife Rosa and her 8 year old son, and one other. The other son is SEVERELY handicapped, basically not functional. He was born with water on his brain, and the doctors said he wasn't going to live. He received a priesthood blessing and now he is 2 and a half years old! It is one of the best things in the whole world to see how much love they have for that little boy!! We made an appointment to come back to talk to the husband. This past Friday we went over again, and Omar the husband was there. We talked to him about the opportunity he has to drop the habits like drinking and smoking that he has picked up, come back to church and receive the priesthood and baptize his son. With so much conviction in his eyes, he looked at us and said he wants to change and is ready. It was so strong. We decided to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon with them. During the chapter, their little boy in the arms of the mother started to shake and threw up. We didn't know if it was regular so we didn't say anything and it stopped. After about 5 minutes it started again and worse. My companion stopped the lesson, and asked if we could give him a blessing. They said please! We rushed over to him, and in one of the most incredible experiences I have had, as I called on the powers of God to give this little valiant, shaking boy a blessing, and blessing his body to be still and calm, and to literally feel him slowly stop and fall asleep in the arms of his father....... I know with out doubt that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and no one else. That as we live worthy we have to TRUE and REAL power of God to bless and sanctified His children. The priesthood is real! I know that with all my heart! Hope everyone is doing awesome!

So it started to rain a little here... these are streets, NOT rivers

 Love you all!!

Elder Lloyd

May 13, 2013

This past week we have really been blessed! We were at a member families house one day asking if they knew where a family lived. As we were leaving the Mother said. Oh yeah, and you need to teach her also! And pointed to one of the sons girlfriends who we have met before, and who just had a baby the week before. We said alright, well be over tomorrow. We got there, and I didn't know what to expect, Because every time we had been over before, she would never talk to us. We came in and started the lesson. The Baby started to cry so she went to go get him. As we taught her there with her brand new baby in her arms, there was such a sweet spirit. There had something changed in her also, She had this drive and wants to just go to church, and to be baptized and be forgiven from all her passed transgressions. It was so awesome to see the want in her eyes to be a better person, and to give her, and her little baby a new life and better life. We had a date for today to get the marriage papers between her and her boyfriend started. Then yesterday I got the call that I am being transferred. So I will find out how things went tonight. 

I am in the same zone just a different area and knew comp. I am With Elder Thompson from California now. He is a big time wrestler and good guy. I've known him since I got here. We Get even weirder looks now, two white kids in the middle of Mexico City. ha-ha But I'm looking forward to some great work with him. 

Hope everyone is doing great. 

Love Elder Lloyd

This is our Abuela (grandma) she feeds us when we are hungry, and is always giving us advice 

(who knows why she wanted to shake hands in the pics)

 

May 6, 2013 - We carried her in her wheelchair down every stair

Wow, what a great week! 

After the passed tough couple weeks we have been so blessed. 

We have been visiting people that are inactive, and it has been great to see so many people that have not been to church in years returning. This week we have been visiting with a family that has not been active in about 10 years or more. It is a Single mother with 2 daughters and a son. They are between 20 and 18. They Take care of their Grandma that is bound to a wheel chair and is turning 86 years this week. And like most people here is Catholic. We Invited them back to Church, And have been having great lessons. We decided to focus our lessons on their Grandma also. We had a lesson and we felt the Spirit very strong, and we decided to invite her to be Baptized. She answered me with a yes.... Her daughter looked stunned and said in the Mormon Church Mom. She responded with oh no, I've already been baptized. We explained to her the importance of why we need to be baptized just like Jesus Christ. Then she says," Well if its necessary I would like to be baptized.... What do I need to do?" We explained to her and made the date for this coming week. 

This Sunday was awesome, because as she is bound to the wheelchair, and they live in a little house but on the side of the mountain, so they have lots of stairs to leave, and no car. Well That wasn't going to stop us!! We called one of the families in our ward with a van. Went to their house in the morning. We carried her in her wheelchair down every stair. Then we went to another Elderly mans house named Pedro that hasn't been to church in years because he cant really walk. And we were off!! It was an awesome experience to see The inactive Hermana attend church, and with her mother...... Now we've just got to figure out how to baptize her. ha ha

We've been teaching a lot of great people, and this next week is looking great.

Every time we visit these inactive people, almost it is always because they have just slowly stopped doing the little things, the fundamentals. Reading their scriptures, praying, being together as a family, having faith. It is more and more apparent to me everyday how important, and how POWERFUL these little fundamentals are. "By small and simple things, great things come to pass."

Love you all so much.

Elder Lloyd 

April 29, 2012

This week was another one, but definitely a lot of let difficulties. We are still optimistic and are working towards some high goals that we have for this next month of May.

This week we had a really cool experience where someone that is ready for the Gospel got put right into our hands. We went to a members house first thing in the morning one morning. We got there waked in, sat down, she offered us a glass of water and we sort of just talked. I didn't really know why we went in the first place, and as we talked about not a whole lot. I couldn't help but to question why in the world we were there. We got done, and were standing in the living room saying good by. When her (the member´s) son who is preparing to serve a mission, and his girlfriend walks in. We say hello, then look at the Hermana and ask, "Is your sons girlfriend a member?" She responds that no she isn't. My comp. and I look at each other, smile, and turn right back around and ask, "You have a minute we can talk for a little bit?" They tell us yes but not long. As we got to talking, and getting to know her, we found out; like most people here, that she comes from a Catholic background. It was so awesome to hear all the different unanswered questions that she has about life and different things. That we are here for, and through the Gospel are able to answer. like "How do we know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live? Where do we go after this life?" Questions like that, that starting tomorrow we will be able to help her receive answers and Spiritual  Revelation through the Spirit and this Gospel. 

I hope everyone is doing awesome!! Love you all!! 

Elder Lloyd

April 22, 2013

This week was another one of those that everything was going SO well then a lot fell through at the end. We are still optimistic and pumped for this next week because 2 of our Investigators just went out of town, and two of the younger kids need to get permission form their dads who are separated from the moms!
 So I cant wait. 

Our investigator Ivon the 14 year old is progressing awesome! And is reading the book of Mormon a ton. SO cool to see! Lately I have been studying faith, and learning so much. What I have been finding a lot, is the STRONG relationship between, faith, and acting. When we teach the principle of faith we always teach that faith is 1st faith is believing and then 2nd acting on what you know. 

I know that everything thing is going to work out for this next week, and I know that if we keep acting on it and doing what we know. We will be blessed. 

Love you all
Elder Lloyd
 

 

1 pig snout taco and a Coke Por Favor

 

We got a pet this week!

This bull is 150% real LIVE Bull

 

April 15, 2013

This last week has been so great. With a lot of the things that have happened the week before, and a little bit into the next week, we just kept trucking along, and have been SO blessed for it. 

We have been put into the paths, or people have been put into ours that are SO ready, and they are hungry for the truth in their lives. For example a girl who is 14, and the cousin of one of our members, Ivan. She is very mature for her age, and is a great girl. We taught her and another reference at the members house. The Spirit was so very strong, and after I gave the baptismal invitation to her, she sat there... thought for a little, and then said, I want to get baptized in the Gospel, and I feel God in my life everyday, and I know that he wants this too...... Yeah.... Me and my comp just about feel out of our seats! What an amazing spirited little girl and how ready! 

The other person that was there was named Louda, she is from France.... Yeah what? Shout out to my boy Elder Tyler Johnson!!! haha I think she is the only white person in our whole mission that isn't a missionary, and from France and I get to teach her! It is way cool to here her speak Spanish but to hear her French accent at the same time! 

Another family that was put into our paths this week, we were at the house of a member, and had asked them for a reference. They told us of a family that lives just two doors down, that is a single member but not active Mom with two teenaged kids. We went right over to get to know them. We sat and talked and come to find out that it is true, the mother was baptized along time ago but hasn't been active for years. She has a 14 year old daughter Gloria, and a 13 year old son Emanuel. As we were talking to the Mom. she asked us, remember when I said hi elders in the street about a week ago, and you stopped me and asked me if I was a member, then I told you that I am but inactive, so you gave me your number and told me to call you? Right then it clicked, and I remembered. We have been teaching her kids, with her there, Gloria is another really sharp 14 year old. It turns out that she went to church with her Dad in November, and then has been talking to her Aunt who is a member about the church. We have been having great lessons with her and her brother, then last Saturday set a baptism date for them for this coming Sunday. In one of the lessons we were talking about the Holy Ghost, and the Mother Claudia shared an experience about how incredible she felt when she went to the Temple years ago. I reassured her she can have that feeling, with her, and in her home, if she just starts going back to Church and doing the things she knows are right. 

I know that these people need the Gospel right now, and were put into our hands because we stayed diligent and kept working hard. Because that is what life is about. What are we going to do in our trials??

Love you ALL

LOVE ELDER Lloyd

April 8, 2013 - Best friend named Pepto Bismal

Hope that conference blew everyone else's minds just like it did mine! Ha! What an incredible opportunity we have to listen to REAL Prophets and Apostles of God!!! SO amazing! They truly are men of God!!    I watched the priesthood session in Spanish, and I understand most of it. Carlos who we baptized last week, and have been talking a lot about the Priesthood, and Temples. and he is loving it, and so am I!! Well half way through the session we ran and grabbed him after he got of work to come to the session. Even though I couldn't understand everything, just looking over at Carlos's face. And seeing him loving it, and so interested made me feel the Spirit so strong!! There was nothing better than that. What an experience! 

  This week I made a new best friend named Pepto Bismal. But I'm fine now. This week has been a big testimony builder on the fact that everything is on the Lords time, and He has set out a time for everyone to have the Gospel in there life's and to accept it. We have been teaching a lot of great  people, that have been loving it, but aren't keeping the covenants they need to to be baptized. Which can be hard at times. We were looking forward to a great week, and had set our goals pretty high because of it. But had some things fall through. Which can be frustrating at times.

 We have been teaching a little girl and her Mom in their little store that they own, and sell cleaning supplies. They have been progressing well, and we had planned on baptizing the little girl this past Saturday, all we needed was the permission of her Father. We got to the store and asked her Mom if she had asked her Dad, and was ready. Sadly she hadn't.... In moments like these it is hard not to question our self, and ask... what more could I have done, what am I doing wrong.. why?.. But its not about that or those questions, its all about, did I give it my all?  One Huge thing that I learned from an INCREDIBLE talk by Brad Wilcox called His Grace is Sufficient, which I highly recommend listening to or reading. Heavenly Father is always pleased with our efforts... and in this instant it just happened to be that this last week wasn't the time in these peoples life. Heavenly Father has a plan for everyone. 

As I continue to see crazy things here, like the pizza guy jumping the speed bumps up this hill, and continue to meet more and more incredible people. Im so thankful to Heavenly Father for the chance to be here! Serving in his army! 

I LOVE you all and hope all is well! 

Love,

Elder Lloyd

Tupac

Carlos and I right before his baptism

Nacho Libre style