Dear Family,
Drum roll!!..........my new area is!! The Del Cerro ward in the San
Diego East Stake!! We are right across the freeway from SDSU and the
Chargers football stadium is just barely outside my area! This is my
first biking/walking area so thank goodness for
Elder Hansen and I going on runs in the morning!! haha but i do know
that this is where the Lord needs me to be at this timemy companion
Elder Brown. A little about him, he grew up in Northern Cal. but
eventually moved to Utah for High School and he ended up
being at SUU at the same time that i was there! He played for SUU's
footall team and i ushered at the games, small world eh?? But he is
awesome, he's a great missionary and i have a lot to learn from him as
well! so question, do you remember in the MTC how
i sent the smaller backpack home?? Would it be possible to send that
back out here?? being on foot and biking i need something a little more
travel friendly and compact, so will you please send that to me when you
can?:) thank you i love you!!! Also here in
the Del Cerro ward i have given the wonderful opportunity to serve as
District Leader, this is a big responsibility and a tad nerve racking,
but i know that those whom the Lord calls, He qualifies! OH and a little
bit about the geography of my new area, it's
SUPER hilly haha we live in the lowest part of the ward and to get
anywhere we have to go UP, but it's fun and i'm sure it will be great
for me:)
Updates!!
Kai, the picture that i sent with last weeks letter, i heard from
Elder Hansen that he was in fact confirmed a member of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past sunday!! how awesome is
that?? Kai is such a stud!! It was honestly such
a blessing to be a part of his life at this time and i know that he will
do great things in life, especially with the Gospel as a part of his
daily life, he will see miracles. He's already a really smart kid, and i
definitely look forward to seeing his growth
in the Gospel.
Del Cerro update!
This past week was so awesome! It's so much fun getting to learn a
new area and the people here are amazing as well! It's like a new start,
yes there is certainly a learning curve, but i know that i'll get this
down day by day, line upon line:) but this
past week has been a whirlwind of incredible mracles and opportunities!
Elder Brown and I were able to help a young couple move a couch into
their appartment (which there are a TON of complex's in our area) and
when we were finished she asked "do you have a
church local here? do you also have a card that we can have the
location? my husband and i are looking for a church to go to" another
one of those "hold on a minute while i pick my jaw off the floor"
miracles!! but we calmly responded "why yes we do, here's
our card and our church services start at 10 am" to which they are
planning on coming this sunday and we offered to share more about the
Gospel and about Christ and they said that would be great. Super
miracles!!
in the Del Cerro ward there are a few "dry mormons" as many people
refer to them who are active in the chuch, but without ordinances and a
couple of them, one of which being Bro. Jolly, had been attending
sacramet meeting for some time (sound familiar??
sounds like Phil from PQ to me!) and he was invited by the missionaries
to attend the gospel principles class for the first time. Our lesson was
ch 4 "the freedom to choose" and after class he went up to Elder Brown
and said "that was great, we'd love to have
you over on tuesday, i'm excited to learn more" (can you IMAGINE how
many times i've have to pick my jaw off the floor this week?? it's been
innumerable!!) so we are going over tonight to have our first lesson
with him and his family (btw he comes from a part-member
family). I hope and pray that all will go well! and then there's Bro.
Lung, another active without ordinances member and we stopped by sunday
evening to their home to introduce "the new missionary to the ward" and
we were able to set up an appointment for friday
evening for Bro. Lung to start taking the lessons as well! how
incredible! i know this would not be possible without the wonderful
members o the ward being so welcoming and providing that fellowship for
these individuals and also my companion Elder Brown, who
had simply asked the question to these brothers if they would like to
learn more about the gospel and take the missionary lessons. It has
truly been a week of miracles that is for certain!! I am looking forward
to serving here in the Del Cerro ward among so
many wonderful members and those who are not yet members and also to
serve with Elder Brown.
Dad i wanted to follow up and see how the work is going in your
ward? i was reminded because we street contacted a gentleman yesterday
who used to live in sandy, and we started talking about geographics of
the area and he asked "do you know where the Candlestick
apartments are there?" can you believe it?? he wasn't interested right
now, but we invited him to church and it was just one of those reminders
to me that i am where i need to be right now. But i wanted to comment
on the work for just a moment, i do know that
there are ups and downs in the work or as you put it, "the dog days"
haha but i do know and can testify that we as full-time missionaries
succeed best when we are a team with the ward. When everyone is on board
to find those who are prepared to recieve the
gospel. Because you as the full-time members of the ward can reach those
who we as full-time missionaries cannot, we cannot go into a business
and talk to co-workers about how our weekends were and share our
testimonies of what our church teaches, yes we do
talk to people who members may not normally associate with, but
together, united as one, is when the work really explodes and moves
forward so quickly! That's why i'm following up every week and
continuing to encourage you to "pick a day" and follow the inspired
counsel of Elder Ballard to prayerfully pick a day that you will have
some one prepared to receive the gospel and to share it with the
missionaries because we want to help. We want to see you succeed in your
missionary efforts, yes there may be some experiences
like unto Abinadi, but know that your efforts do not go to waste, your
testimonies are and will and can effect the souls of many. I do and can
promise you that the work will pick up as we work together and seek and
call down the powers of Heaven in this His
work. But i do hope and pray that the work is going well an that things
pick up for you and for your missionaries dad. I know they will:)
Mom, how is the recovery going?? i hpe well and that you are able to walk better! i love you!!
I want you all to know how much i love you and love this work, i
know that it is His work and that there are thos prepared and ready to
recieve His word, sometimes, like we've expereinced, all we have to do
is ask. i know that Christ lives and loves each
of us, we are all brothers and sisters and This is the true restored
gospel of Jesus Christ onece more upon the earth. Until next time, i'll
keep you in my thoughts nd prayers.
Love,
Elder Aaron Jordan Lloyd
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