dear family,
It's great to hear from you! i'm glad all is well and it's good to
hear that everyone is happy and healthy(for the most part), mom i hope
you get feeling better and i know that your presentation will go well:)
as for the shirts, i'll send the one's that
dont' fit back probably next week with some other goodies for the
family(sorry i'm terrible at mailing things, it's been forever, and
Ashley's late late late birthday present will be in there as well), and i
heard and received mail from a lot of the family
for my birthday it was great to hear from everyone. i hope that both
grandma's and grandpa's are doing well too, i will conitnue to keep them
in my prayers and Ashley as well, it's wonderful to hear that she is
liking her new jobs.
This past wednesday i picked up my new companion, Elder Hansen. He
is from Alberta, Canada and a little town called Tabur. He loves texas
and he grew up working on an alfalfa farm, he is a wonderful missionary
and i am learning a lot from him already.
he is a hard worker and he's got a great attitude and is excited about
the work. I know that he will help me to become better and more fully
who the Lord needs me to be and it is great to have him in the PQ 1st
and 3rd wards.
Awesome April update!
I know that it is no longer awesome april, but i will give the
update for May (i'll find an m-word to go with it next week haha). This
past week has been one whirlwind of preparation for Samantha's baptism
and we had a few lessons with her and one that
we had with her on monday went well, the spirit just beat us to it every
time we had a lesson with her and Santiago. we taught her the Word of
Wisdom and they both explained to us that as soon as they began meeting
with us they took those things out of their
lives and began to eat healthier. so after our very first lesson they
were already living the word of wisdom, not partaking of any substance
that would hinder the spirit of the Lord from entering into their lives
and feeling that peace and joy that comes from
the gospel. Our next lesson was with Elder Hansen, and they were both
very sad to see Elder Saager go, but they warmed up to Elder Hansen
quickly with his personality and incredible stories. We were able to
each share experiences and get her excited for her
baptism, and Bro. Navarro, one of her fellowshippers, who used to be
Catholic was able to share his memories and his experiences with
learning and it was a neat experience. Her baptismal service was
ablsolutely incredible! the spirit was so strong and she gave
the closing prayer (which she tied in her testimony into her prayer) and
it was incredible, just the way that she spoke with our Father in
Heaven was truly a humbling thing to witness. Much of the ward was able
to attend and Santiago's family drove in from
Texas that night and was able to attend as well! Another humbling
experience was that because of the Transfer, Elder Saager was no longer
able to perform the ordinance of receiving the Holy Ghost so she asked
if we could swap, so i was able to perform the ordinance
and wow, what an absolutely incredible ordinance, it truly strengthened
my testimony of this gospel and of the priesthood restored through the
Prophet Joseph Smith. But that's not the coolest part, after she shook
hands she stood up and pumped her fists like
"yes!" that was the most amazing part of this whole experience, having
her grab hold of the gospel and run with it, i know that was a
confirmation to me that we as missionaries didn't do a whole lot. we
just simply provided the environment in which the spirit
could enter into her heart and be present, the spirit was the teacher,
not us. it was that gesture of "yes!" that signified to me that she "got
it" that she understood the gospel, she was so incredibly excited to
recieve the Holy Ghost that there was a palpable
feeling when her confirmation took place. I am so blessed and humbled to
be on a mission, what a blessing it is to invite others to come unto
Christ and help them recieve the restored gospel through faith in Jesus
Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism,
reveiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. Samantha
is now in the Endurance steps of this journey and as she and we all
continue to live close to the spirit and repeat those steps throughout
our lives, we will be prepared to enter into the
presence of our Father in Heaven, i know that this Gospel is true with
all my heart and i love it.
Also the past couple of days i have been reading in Alma in chapter
47 and that is Lehonti and Amalickiah and the "come down just a little
bit" chapter. Its is so incredible to me to read how Lehonti was fixed
in his mind with a determined resolution no
to go down to battle, but Amalickiah (or the adversary) is cunning, not
giving up and providing an enticing deal of- come down just a little bit
just to talk- then- go and surround my army and we'll surrender, just
make me second in command. that's how the
adversary works, constantly, he doesn't give up, he tries to lure us and
get us to come down just a little bit and entices into peril, into
"poison by degrees" as Amalickiah's servant did to Lehonti. May we all
stay "fixed in our minds with a determined resolution"
to follow the Savior and live this gospel and never go down "just a
little bit" for if we stand steadfast, the powers of heaven will protect
and strengthen us and help us to endure and continue on the straight
and narrow.
Know that i love each and every one of you and hope you all have an
amazing week, though they may be busy as life seems to be, may we
continue to focus and diligently do those things that bring us closer to
the Savior, i'm so thankful for each and every
one of who and the examples that you've provided for me throughout my
life and will continue to keep each of you in my prayers. I know that
Christ lives and He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.
Love,
Elder Aaron Jordan Lloyd
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