SO GRATEFUL

Good Morning Everybody!!!! I'm so grateful for the many miracles that I am graced with each and everyday. It is so inspiring to be able to witness the hand of God in the work and be a part of this! I love being a missionary! This past week and transfer has been one of the best of my entire life. I pray that I can retain everything that I have learned and continue to increase my knowledge and testimony of this gospel.

What an exciting week this is going to be ... new companions, new transfers, and general conference! I'm so excited, but I'm also very nervous. Elder Hanks has been the best companion for me at this time, just like all of my previous companions. I have learned so much from and with him, and I'm excited to learn the things that Heavenly Father wants me to with my next companion. Change will bring many new opportunities and inspiration. I am so grateful for the many new experiences and learning opportunities we have as missionaries!

This last week was absolutely incredible. One of my favorite parts was witnessing everybody's testimony at our Mission Leadership Council. President Simmons invited us to share our testimonies with each other. I felt the Spirit so strongly, and I felt immense hope as everybody testified of Jesus Christ. 

I know that we are where we are supposed to be. We have been given the instruction, training, and tools in order to succeed. It is up to us to have faith, repent, and learn how to utilize all that we've been given in order to qualify for the Spirit and carry out the Lord's will. I pray that I can have the strength, energy, and desire to work even harder. I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want to leave any stones unturned. I want to live with all of those around me forever in the Celestial Kingdom. I love these people with all of my heart!

Even though this last week was tiring, we were blessed with so many spiritual experiences that gave me the strength to continue with joy and excitement. One of the first amazing experiences we had was with an amazing young man who has become our dear friend. We had planned to teach him the first half of the Plan of Salvation, but when we sat down, he shared with us Mosiah 3:3-4. He loved how King Benjamin talked about the joy this gospel brings. We shared a few other scriptures and ended up simply talking all about Christ and his Atonement. 

I know that the Savior suffered for me, died for me, and established a church for me so that I could have direction on Earth and happiness forever. We talked about Mos 3:19 and how the things we are required to do may not always be normal according to the world, but they will surely bring the joy that the world doesn't understand. After the lesson, this investigator called us once more, thanked us for our time, and asked if he could have a few copies of the Book of Mormon to share with his friends and family. He had felt the Spirit, and he acted upon it. 

A few days later, we met with him again, and he shared more of the Book of Mormon with us. He also talked about how he had tried to share the Book of Mormon but it was not well received. Based on his questions and thoughts, we had a spiritual lesson about the Savior, Joseph Smith's first vision, and the feelings he had already experienced while reading the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong! He thanked us for listening patiently and testified of the Holy Ghost that had come upon him while praying about these things. His desire to help others is so strong. I am so grateful for his good heart and determination to follow what God wants him to do, even when it requires sacrifice.

 2 And Ether was a prophet of the Lord and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him.

This investigator and friend is an inspiration to me, and I pray that I can continue to work my hardest in order to share the message of the Restoration to everybody. I know this gospel is true! I know Jesus Christ is our Savior, and I know this is the way to eternal life.

Another miracle from last week happened when we had dinner with two investigators and their parents. They are all Christian, and their faith is incredibly strong. They prayed over the food, and the conversation over dinner was completely focused on missionary work and Christ. Finally, in a desire to help the parents have a desire to learn more about what we'd shared with their children, we shared the Book of Mormon and a few verses with them. They were so excited to read about Nephi, Christ, and the things in our lives that had helped us have a desire to sacrifice part of our life to share the gospel with others. 

I have learned so much from the members here, from Elder Hanks, and from the people we teach. It was amazing to have so many members willing to help us last week. With both of those experiences I just shared, members were there bearing testimony and inviting them to church to come and see. It is so much more powerful when there are multiple testimonies shared bearing witness of the truth. 

Even though we are faced with hardship and trials each week, I only remember the happy, bright moments. I pray that I can be more bold in asking our investigators to sacrifice and make the steps necessary to come closer to Christ. As I have sacrificed, I have felt the Spirit stronger in my life. 

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

I know that we have been blessed and called to preach Christ's gospel. I know that we have a responsibility to follow him. I know that when we are willing to sacrifice everything and do anything in order to follow our Savior, we experience the change the prophets of old testify of in the scriptures. 

I am so grateful for the past couple of transfers during which I've served with Elder Hanks, Pearce and Avery. I have learned precious truths and experienced things that I will never forget. I could never adequately express the gratitude I have for all of the blessings I have received. I am so grateful for my friends. I am so grateful for my companion. I am so grateful for the members here. I am so grateful for the people in Malaysia. I am so grateful for my health. I am so grateful for my family. I am so grateful for this gospel. I am so grateful for my savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that I know these things are true. I love being a missionary!!!

Love, Elder Lloyd