CONNECTING WITH OTHERS

Good Morning Everybody! Firstly, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Anniversary to my parents!!!! I love you two so much!

Here in Bintulu, I am learning line upon line, precept upon precept, about how I can do my part, help others, and do as the Savior would do. We were blessed with many learning experiences and miracles last week. I am so grateful for the amazing people all around us. Most of all, I am grateful for the simple truths the gospel teaches us. I am grateful that I don't have to doubt certain things, and I am grateful to know why I am here on Earth. I know that I have a lot of work to do, but I find joy in working everyday to become more like the Savior.

One of the highlights last week was going on exchanges with Elder S. He is a fireball, and it was incredible to work with him and understand more about how we can bring the Spirit into every contact. It was pouring rain, and one of our extra bikes was broken, so we were on foot the whole day. For the next five hours, we literally didn't go farther than a 200 yard radius from our house, yet we were constantly talking to people and teaching them the gospel. We prayed with many, and we felt the Spirit together. 

I used to worry about how to fill an empty afternoon or effectively contact people, but all we did was look for people, talk to them, and love them. We connected with them, then we invited them to learn and consider something that has brought joy into our lives. 

Some of the things that we did together were carried into many other parts of missionary work during the week. As I really focused on connecting with people, I realized just how important it is to have a relationship with everybody. Missionaries, investigators, members -- every single person needs to feel loved, important, and cared for. 

We met with one of our very recent converts and talked to him about how he felt the church has helped him change. We talked about his questions, concerns, joys, and we talked like we were best friends. At the end, he told us how he had been praying for someone to share the gospel with, and now he was ready to tell us who it was. I know that The gospel of Jesus Christ is about helping all of God's family return back to Him together. As we love each other and put forth the effort, relying on the Spirit, we will be blessed with miracles and many uplifting experiences.

Another miracle occurred on Sunday during Sacrament meeting. One of our investigators that has never been to church before came for the first time. She brought her two kids and as the Sacrament meeting ended, she broke down in tears as the closing prayer was spoken. She had never felt so loved and so touched. We went upstairs for Gospel Principles, and she bore her testimony of the special spirit in our church meeting and expressed her gratitude for each one of us. I know that she felt the Spirit because these things are true and because the members/missionaries here welcomed her. There are amazing people searching for the gospel everywhere; we just need to have the patience, love, and Spirit to connect with them and share Christ's message. We must sincerely love them.

There were many other amazing things that happened last week, but overall, the biggest lesson I have learned is that we need to connect with people. We need to understand each other. We need to communicate with each other. We need to gain each others' trust, and only then are we able to truly teach according with the Spirit. I know that as I focus on preparing in the mornings, being diligent and obedient, and giving all of my attention and time to the people here there will be true conversion. I am so grateful to serve here  -- I love this place, and I know the things I'm learning here could not be learned in any other way. 

I am grateful for the Savior and his Atonement. I know that the things that I am doing are helping me to become something much greater because of His sacrifice for me. I love you all!! Happy December and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Love, Elder Lloyd

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Good Morning Everybody!!! What an amazing last week...so much has changed! I cannot believe that last Monday, I was in a completely different place, and pondering about completely different people and situations as I emailed you all. Despite all of the change, I am grateful for this next opportunity to grow and to serve the Lord in Bintulu. I deeply miss the people and city of JB, but I know that the Lord has called me to serve here with Elder C. 

One of the coolest experiences that increased my faith last week came on Friday. We had been finding pretty much all day Wednesday and Thursday, in addition to Friday afternoon. After English class, we desired to find more potentials in the remaining hours of our workday. We faithfully prayed, entered a mall, and started to talk with everybody. We were guided to a group of teenagers, then to an older couple, and continued to have spiritual conversations with people.

When we returned home, we received contact information from the last seven people we spoke with. I know that our mission is not about numbers, but it has inspired me to realize what happens when we truly turn the work over to the Lord. When we set high goals, then do our best, Heavenly Father heightens our capacity/strength and blesses us with many people to converse with. There are miracles, or divine manifestation, of Christ's love every single day. I am grateful for the many experiences that I have been blessed with as a missionary here.

I love working with my new companion, Elder C. He is an incredibly mature, prepared missionary, even though he has only been out 12 weeks. He has many admirable traits, but the thing I love most is how bold he is as he bears his testimony. We encounter people every single day that tell us that, "It's all the same. There's no need to change..." Elder C boldly bears testimony and helps them feel his love as he follows what the Spirit prompts him to say. I have felt the Spirit many times while contacting with him, and it boosts me to talk with more and more people rather than wearing me out. I love talking to people! I love sharing the gospel! I love Elder C!

The member group here is very small, but they are strong. I have had a chance to meet with all of the members and they have a very strong foundation. Every member has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the Restoration. 

While visiting the branch leader, we talked about the needs of the group, and he invited some of his neighbors over, along with extended family, so that he could introduce us to them. I am so humbled by the amazing members all over the world. He and his family are busy with thousands of things, yet they still make time for missionary work and the things the Lord has asked him to do. I hope I can continue to work with him and emulate his example throughout my life.

During Sacrament, I was asked to speak, and I was able to read the hymn, "Have I Done Any Good"

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone's burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

I know that as we pray for opportunities to serve others, we will forget our worries, cares, and stresses. We will realize that Heavenly Father has many things in store for us, and there will always be purpose and direction in our lives. I am so excited to serve here. I know that there will be many miracles and positive change as we focus on the Lord, His children, and exercise our faith. 

As I face these new challenges, this scripture has truly comforted me and brought peace to my heart.

16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.

As I stopped for an extra minute to pray, to notice the beauty around me, and to listen to the Spirit, I felt comforted and loved. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that this is his work, and I am privileged to be a part of it. I love being a missionary!!!!

If we want increased faith, such as Enoch gained, we must GIVE OURSELVES OVER COMPLETELY TO OUR LORD, UTTERLY TRUSTING HIM AND STRIVING TO ACT AS HE WOULD ACT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. No matter how difficult and impossible the circumstances we face, we must retain the attitude that we are still in the Lord’s debt ... if we place any condition on our willingness to serve the Lord with all our hearts, we diminish our faith. If we have complete trust in Him, our faith will increase. 

As we do our best, placing no restrictions or conditions on what can happen, we will notice the Spirit more in our lives. I love you all!!! Have a wonderful week!

LOVE, ELDER LLOYD

TRANSFERRED!

Good Morning Everybody!!!! 

Firstly, family, thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for me. I truly feel the strength of your testimony and love in your letters as I go out to serve each day. I pray for you  daily and know that you are being blessed.

This past week was filled with miracles, joy, and many learning experiences. 

One of the best parts of the week was going on exchanges with in Masai. They had just returned from new missionary training, so they were excited and ready to go out and work! As soon as we left the house, we were talking to everybody. It was a little bit awkward at first because I would stop my bike and they would keep riding, but by the end of the day, we were talking with everyone and felt energized, rather than tired, as we bore testimony and invited people to learn. 

We had a few lessons with investigators, but they best part of the day was finding as we went from place to place. We made a goal for that day to find more potentials they'd found the whole transfer, and during nightly planning, we realized that we had found double that number in just a few hours. 

The Lord truly does bless us as we pray, prepare, and then act on the things we have learned and received. We opened our mouths, and he allowed us to share our testimonies and feel the Spirit. 

Sunday, enjoyed the Primary Program. This was the first Primary presentation that I have been able to attend in Malaysia, and I was amazed. People were at church thirty minutes early, the kids were dressed up nicely, and while they sang, the Spirit was so strong. I had tears in my eyes throughout the three hours of church as I thought of the love Heavenly Father has for me. I was touched by the Spirit and the joy that could be felt throughout all of the people at church. 

No matter who we are, where we are, or what we're going through, we can feel the Spirit. At church, we had a few potentials there, a few former investigators, three people from America, and two from Australia, in addition to almost all of the active church members. It was a wonderful Sunday that I will never forget.

This week, I found myself being served and blessed with seemingly undeserved miracles often. Elder G and I worked hard, but no matter what happens, I always receive more. I know that I can never help the Lord more than he can help me. 

20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—

 21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

 22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

I will continue to strive to do all I can to show my love for God and for everyone around me. I will strive to follow the promptings of the Spirit in order to increase my faith and fulfill my purpose. I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us. I know that Jesus Christ came here because of his pure love and charity. I am blessed with so many miracles everyday....it truly is a privilege to serve a mission! I am so grateful to be a servant of the Lord!

Love, Elder Lloyd

HOPE: AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

I love you guys!!!! I can't believe we're already into November and that it's getting a little cooler back home. It's raining cats and dogs daily now, so I guess instead of winter I get to enter the "rainy" season. I hope you are all doing great and continuing to grow closer to Heavenly Father. Shout out to the Braves volleyball and football for amazing seasons!  Continue to do your best in everything you put your mind to. True commitment is one thing that will always bring positive results.

This past week was absolutely phenomenal. We saw many miracles, met many people, taught a few lessons, but best of all, I truly felt successful! I felt the Spirit more than I ever have before over an extended period of time, and I felt like I gave all I had to the Lord and the people surrounding me. I made a goal to simply do all I could to gain the Spirit and follow its promptings throughout the week. I knew that if I did that, I could leave everything else to the Lord. Monday night, we talked with many people, and we shared almost the whole first lesson with three people in the street. The Spirit was strong, and I felt energized as I spoke with them rather than wearied. 

Unfortunately, not one of those three people gave us their phone number or ended up calling back. I was a bit confused, but Elder G and I continued working our hardest. Throughout the week, we were blessed with countless more opportunities of finding people and feeling the Spirit with them. We were lead to more potentials this week than I have ever had in the past.

I know that Heavenly Father's plan is perfect. He blesses us as we are obedient and have faith. There were days when I made the goal to find 10 people but only found a couple. There were other days when we set a goal of 11 or 12 and found many more. As long as we work hard and follow the Spirit, it doesn't matter what the numbers are. This is the Lord's work, and we are simply the tools.

One of the lessons I learned this week came through reading through Moroni 6 and 7. We've read these chapters thousands of times, but something really stuck out as I studied and focused on the things I was struggling with. 

I realized that one definition for hope could be to have an eternal perspective on life. Hope is the ability to see things through the eyes of our Heavenly Father. This is something that can only be accomplished through the Spirit and strong faith. I pray that I can continue to develop more faith, hope, charity, and love in order to accomplish the Lord's will and become who we wants me to be. More importantly, I pray that I can help my investigators and other missionaries see the potential that God sees in them as well. 

26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

I know that there are many things that I still need to change, consecrate, and purify in order to truly become like Him, but this goal to become a new creature is a goal worthy of all of my effort and time. I feel joy and happiness right now because of the things I experienced last week and the knowledge that I can experience them today and tomorrow as well. I can continue to feel God's love, help his children and witness miracles. I love being a missionary, and I wouldn't rather be anywhere else right now. 

I hope we can all continue to look outward, serve the Lord, and do our best to strengthen our relationship with Heavenly Father. Don't take anything for granted, and don't let a minute pass you by!   LOVE, ELDER LLOYD

PRESS FORWARD!

Good Morning Everybody!! 

What an incredible past week. Firstly, we had an amazing opportunity to go to Singapore for a wonderful zone conference! I think a few of the most important things I took away came during break out sessions and the pre-conference activity. One of the senior Elders shared about a battle in Masada that you could look up if you'd like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Masada]. During that, and later during MLC, I realized just how big the responsibility I have is. I must be committed. I must give all I can. Most importantly, I realized that I have been called of God to do the things He asks. I do not need to worry as long as I am following the Spirit.

Go Utes!

This last week was wonderful, but I also felt some stress. After zone conference, I was excited to get back into the groove and apply the things we learned in our area, but that's not what the Lord had planned for us. We went to XX for exchanges, and we had to wait a few days and help some other Elders with the work first. What a miraculous experience that was. I was able to go on exchanges with Elder S who has only been out three weeks. He is an amazing, hard working missionary. His testimony is so strong, he is obedient, and he knows why he is serving. I was able to help him learn how to use the planning guidelines, but mostly, we focused on talking to EVERYBODY! He was doubtful when we made our goal for potentials Thursday night, but all Friday, we were blessed with incredible opportunities to talk with people. He was astonished when we returned home to see that so many people had been touched by the Spirit and willing to meet with us again. It was a wonderful feeling to help him understand that when we do our best, Heavenly Father blesses us with joy and strength to keep going. 

When Elder G and I finally returned to our area Saturday, we were in for a bit of a rude awakening. Almost all of our appointments fell through, the branch wanted us to come to a Halloween Party, and we were torn about what to do. We prayed, and decided to go out finding. We were blessed with a few potentials, but nobody that seemed excited to learn about the Restored Gospel. Sunday morning rolled around, and most of our investigators, including the ones on date for baptism, did not come to church. After church, once again, all of our appointments fell through except for a couple at night. We spent the afternoon finding and calling potentials, but nobody seemed very interested. 

Finally, it came down to choosing among some hard decisions. Elder G and I said a prayer and felt that we needed to continue finding in a different area. For the next two hours we didn't find anybody that really had sincere interest, we had just been rejected multiple times, but decided to talk to a man who had been listening in on one of our contacts. He immediately started asking questions. We shared the Book of Mormon with him, and before we could finish, he had given us his phone number and asked when we could meet. Even though we didn't get as many lessons Sunday night, I know that we followed the Spirit and did what we were supposed to do so that we could find this man. It was a complete miracle. I know that this is not our work, and it truly is a privilege to be able to represent Jesus Christ and feel the Spirit as we share our testimonies with others.

My final thought for the week came while reading in 2 Nephi 3:

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

I realized that I must do more and work harder! It doesn't matter if we were baptized, endowed, served a mission, married in the temple, etc., if we do not continue to progress and do all we can to grow closer to becoming like our Savior. 

Upon realizing this, I was initially overwhelmed because I realized how much more I could be capable of if I tried just a little harder, then something changed. The Spirit bore witness to me of the hope this truth brings. I have made good choices and changes in the past, and I have also made many bad ones. Either way, if I can do all that I can today to gain the Spirit and follow its promptings, then I can feel confident as I pray to my Heavenly Father and account for the day's activities and experiences. 

I know that I am a representative of Christ. I have been called to serve here, and He knows my strengths and weaknesses. He knows what I'm capable of, and he is encouraging me to stretch a little more. It doesn't matter what has happened in the past-good or bad-I must continue to press forward and give all I have in order to become who Heavenly Father expects me to become. We can do it little by little if we are willing to make the sacrifice.

I'm grateful for the many blessings and miracles that we experience each day. I know we are engaged in the most important work on Earth. I know that we are guided and blessed. I love being a missionary!!

Love, Elder Lloyd