MIRACLES ABOUND!

Hello everybody!!! Best week ever!!! I am so grateful to be a missionary! I love serving the Lord. I love serving the people of Malaysia. I love speaking Chinese. I love the church members. I love the investigators. I love being called Elder!!! I am so grateful for the time the Lord has given me to serve with Him. 

We were blessed with some incredible experiences last week. Over the weekend, we had a zone meeting and district conference in Miri, which President and his wife attended. I LOVE THEM! I also heard that one of my friends from high school is coming to this mission in June. Welcome to the best mission ever!!!!!!!! 

There were many, many miracles this past week. One of them was when we were meeting with an investigator who recently started reading the Book of Mormon and just heard the Restoration lesson for the first time. He has a Buddhist background, and has had a spiritual experience with prayer and has started developing a strong testimony of a loving Heavenly Father. 

We shared the Word of Wisdom with him so that he could continue to apply something that has been restored and given to us in the latter days. When we shared the commandment with him, he immediately agreed, no questions asked. When I asked why he would follow, I assumed he would say, "It seems to make sense logically..." or, "I want to be healthier too!" but instead he said, "I know that Heavenly Father loves me. I will do whatever he asks me to do. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and this is something from God." Wow. It blew me away. I'm grateful for the miracles each day that help me increase me faith and are evidence of Heavenly Father's love for us. 

Another amazing experience came while teaching another investigator. He has gone to church for 20 years, so I assumed he had a rich background and life full of spiritual experiences and gospel knowledge, but as we started teaching, that was not the case. It was hard not to jump in and simply teach a lesson about the whole Restoration, but the Spirit compelled us to share simply about a loving Heavenly Father. As we taught him of Heavenly Father, His Son, and the Holy Ghost, a strong feeling of love and peace filled the room. The investigator finished his closing prayer, and said, "I understand! I feel it now." It was such an incredible experience to be able to help somebody come closer to their Heavenly Father. 

One of the most important lessons I learned this week while speaking with Sister Simmons, and during the District Conference was to OBEY. We must obey what the Lord has told us. 

While studying the Sabbath Day last week, I realized that simply not shopping, not playing games, not playing sports, not hanging out with friends, etc. does not mean that we're keeping the Sabbath Day. This is what I've been teaching my whole mission and believed my whole life. When we live this way, we are simply sinning by omission. We have made a covenant to delight in the Sabbath. We must replace worldly things with righteous things, especially on the Lord's day. We have promised to be a righteous and peculiar people. 

The Lord has given us a day each week as a reminder of his love for us. The Sabbath is a perpetual reminder that God loves us and has covenanted with us. A covenant works two ways. On the Sabbath, the way we show our love for Him and keep the covenant is by doing things that show our love for Heavenly Father and Christ. It's not about what we should or shouldn't do, it's about doing things that express our love for the Savior. What sign do we want to give the Lord on His holy day?

I'm grateful for the truths and experiences I am gaining as a missionary. There is no other place I'd rather be! I love the Lord, and I pray that I can be a pure vessel for the Spirit to work through. Examine your lives, your thoughts, your actions, and your feelings as you ponder about what's keeping you from being happy and feeling the Spirit ALWAYS. 

Love, Elder Lloyd

WE HAD A PRAYER

Good Afternoon Everybody!!! 

I am so grateful to email you and my family every week. Thank you for the emails, pictures, and notes. They may seem like small things, but they truly do make a difference. I am incredibly happy right now because of the amazing things that happened last week, the great things that will happen this week, and all of the good that is happening back home, so I pray that I won't sound like a weird, overexcited teenage girl as I write this email to you. 

This past week, I was very grateful for the trust the Lord puts in us as his missionaries. The responsibilities and accountability we have as missionaries has helped me better understand the love and trust Heavenly Father has for me as His son. As I studied the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon and the role it plays in our conversion, I was moved while pondering about our agency and the trust Heavenly Father puts in us. 

I know that He loves me so much. He loves me more than I could ever know. He desperately wants me receive all that He has and all that has been promised, but He understands that in order to receive, I must choose to accept. He gives us prophets, leaders, friends, family, scriptures, church, the Priesthood, covenants, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and many other blessings, all so that we can develop faith, repent, and become like Him someday. 

This past week, we were blessed with many miracles. While riding far away from home, we passed a car parked on the side of the road. We turned around, met a very nice Iban family, and in broken Malay, learned that their car was out of gas. We had no cell phone service, we had no extra gas haha, but we had prayer. We explained about prayer, and we helped the father pray for his family. We had faith, but the car still wouldn't start. 

Elder Shirley and I walked a way for a few minutes and talked about what Heavenly Father was trying to teach us. We thought about the many things we could do, and the power of the Priesthood given to us from Heavenly Father, but simply "willing" the car to start was not what He wanted. We said another prayer, and as we closed, a man yelled, "Hey Elders!!!" while driving by. He stopped, and it turned out to be the branch president from another branch in TJK. We explained the situation, and he was excited to help the family. He took the father to a gas station, and did his best to serve and represent Christ. 

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, even though He may answer them in ways we never expected or could comprehend. I am grateful He not only helped the father who needed gasoline, but he allowed me to strengthen my faith, and he gave the branch president a chance to serve and represent His son. Miracles!!!

One of the most tender moments last week came Saturday night. We have been teaching a Filipino man for about two weeks, and he is a sincere and honest seeker of truth, but he has nothing in a worldly sense.

We stopped by his apartment Saturday night, went up the stairs, and knocked on his door. We were greeted by forty other Filipinos who were about to start their Saturday night Bible study. We found our investigator, and we went back to his tiny room and read the Book of Mormon together. He told us how he trusts the Lord and has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday. 

He bore testimony that He knows the Lord has a plan for him and will provide a way. It was a powerful, spiritual lesson as we talked about the trials in life and how they will all be for our benefit. As we finished, we went outside into the shared space, and everyone was singing of Christ's love for us. Even though they were of a different church, I felt the strongest feeling of unity and love. They literally have nothing, but because they believe in Christ, they are able to feel true joy and happiness. 

It was a night that I will never forget. I pray that I can always treasure my testimony that Christ loves me and will strengthen us if we are faithful.

There were many other amazing experiences this week. I hope that as I share my experiences, it does not seem like I'm sharing a highlight reel. We definitely have hard times each day where things don't go right, we're unsure, or we don't teach the perfect lesson. I pray that as I share with you, it can help you feel the Spirit and feel the joy that Heavenly Father wants us to feel. 

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

I know that Heavenly Father loves me. I know He loves His children. I know that He will do all He can to help us return to Him someday, and that is why he continues to speak to us today through a living prophet and the scriptures. I have felt the Spirit while studying, teaching, testifying, and praying. I know this is true. What a privilege and blessing to have the truth and share it with the world. I love being a missionary!!!

Love, Elder Lloyd

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Hello everybody!! Happy Chinese New Year!!!  I'm excited for another transfer and overwhelmingly grateful that I get to finish training Elder S. We have grown so much together, and I know the next six weeks will be filled with many more life changing experiences.

This past week was fantastic. We saw miracles, we repented, we experienced new things, we developed more faith, and we felt JOY! I'm so grateful to be a missionary here. I pray that I can continue to improve and do all I can to show my gratitude for the Savior. 

One of the most amazing miracles of my mission happened yesterday. It was Chinese New Year Eve, fireworks were going off everywhere, we were trying to do some finding, and I followed a prompting to go down a dirt road into an industrial area. While there, we ran into an incredible Iban family who spoke English and were very interested in learning the gospel. 

On our way back out, I felt my bike tire sink into a rock and felt the air whoosh out of my rear tire. Bad news. We had an appointment in an hour, and we were at least an hour walk from home, or two hours away from our appointment. Elder S and I prayed, then we started singing as we pumped up my tire. We hopped on our bikes, and sang for the next twenty minutes until we arrived home and I was able to switch my tube. 

We biked with no problems, but as soon as we made it home and stopped singing, my bike tire went flat. It was a miracle to be able to make it home and sing a song in prayer and faith. I know Heavenly Father wants us to be blessed with many faith strengthening experiences if we are willing to choose to believe, then act in faith!

Earlier this week, we encountered a pastor from a Christian church, and we taught an investigator who loves studying the Bible and is seeking for the truth. In both the contact and the lesson, we discussed the point of whether or not we can still receive revelation from God. I was able to bear powerful testimony to them of the power of the Holy Ghost, but in both instances, their faith was lacking. I was so sad when our investigator said, "I don't believe God will answer me if I ask." I am grateful that i have a testimony that He will answer, and He DOES answer when we ask in faith with real intent. 

While talking with the pastor, I felt grateful for the Primary songs, wonderful priesthood lessons, the past few years of seminary and personal studies as a missionary. We did not argue at all, and I was grateful that I could bear testimony with all of the power of my heart and soul that the Book of Mormon was true. 

Through studying the Bible, and through the Spirit, I know there was an apostasy, but there is a prophet on the Earth today with the authority, keys, and power to administer the ordinances that are essential to our salvation. I'm grateful that I know that my family is forever as we obey and qualify for eternal life. I'm grateful for the trust Heavenly Father puts in my to share this message with anyone who will receive us. 

While on exchanges, I was grateful for Elder Ps example of faith and determination. We prayed more specifically and fervently than ever before, and we were blessed with amazing opportunities. We were able to witness a buddhist teenager say his first prayer, feel the Spirit, and say, 
"I believe in Christ!" We were able to teach the whole Restoration to a man while he sat in his car waiting for his daughter to come from school. We were able to be in the perfect place at the perfect time to talk to a teenager who has been waiting to find the truth his whole life. We were able to contact a family that learned before, but they didn't have a visa or passport so they weren't able to be baptized -- now they do! Miracles happen every day! I have never seen the Lord's hand in my life so clearly and evidently. I am so blessed!

I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am grateful to take upon the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and share about him daily. I'm grateful that I'm able to help people ponder about him, even if it's only for a few seconds. That short time is more than a lot of people have ever thought about him before. 

I know that as I keep the Savior's name on my lips, I will notice a change in my heart and my very being. Elder S and I are doing all we can to be obedient, faithful, and ready to receive all that the Lord has in store. I'm excited for the next six weeks!

Love, Elder Lloyd

BINTULU IS HOME

Elder Lloyd's mum here. It's probably evident that I am missing my son very much. He's been volunteering on the other side of the planet for over 19 months, most recently in a place called Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Since I've never visited there (and probably never will), I've been searching YouTube for anything that could give me a flavor of his temporary home. This beautiful video produced by a Bintulu native, who apparently is also away from his beloved home, touched my heart and reminded me that there truly is "no place like home."

Bintulu: Home

Photo credit: Elder Trevor Lloyd

BINTULU, SARAWAK SUNSETS

One of Elder Lloyd's favorite things about Malaysia are the sunsets. Each week, he sends at least one picture of a sunset. Here's a video of some Bintulu sunsets -- the music isn't great, but the views are gorgeous.

Bintulu, Sarawak Sunsets

Photo Credit: Elder Trevor Lloyd

COOL CAVES & HOPE

Niah Caves and Gunung Mulu National  Park 

Hello Everybody!! We went on a long hike today, so I'm a bit short on time, but I will do my best to account for the week and share a spiritual message! I love you all. Thank you for your prayers, notes, studies, service, sacrifice, and example. I am so blessed to be surrounded by greatness!

This past week was incredible. We had somebody come up to us while we had a quick ten minute dinner break at a cafe that we never go to and introduce herself as a member from the Philippines; so great to meet a member -- that doesn't happen often! 

We also had an amazing opportunity to give a blessing to a 2 year old baby in an investigator family. In the middle of the blessing, the baby calmed down, stopped crying, and when we finished, he started eating again (he hadn't eaten in two days). 

We witnessed the Spirit change hearts as a father started helping teach his children about how the Spirit feels, even though he hasn't said a word in any lesson we've taught in the past two weeks. 

We were blessed with many amazing experiences while finding, teaching, studying, and doing our best to do the work of the Lord. We are so blessed. I know that all things are a gift from our Father in Heaven. I love the scripture, "All things are possible through Christ" but I'm starting to understand more that nothing is possible without Him.

To finish, I'd like to share one of my favorite scriptures from studying this week.

15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

I know that everything the Lord commands and asks us to do is so that we might have joy. He is our Savior. He is my Redeemer. I pray that I can teach the gospel in a way that people understand we not only need a savior, but it's the most hopeful message in the world to know that we have a savior. I love this gospel. I love sharing my testimony with others! I pray that I can retain the things I'm learning each day forever and continue to build on the foundation that has been laid. 

I am grateful for the Restoration of the gospel, and I'm starting to understand that I am a part of the Restoration. We all are! As I have pondered and studied, I feel more responsibility to do all I can to be obedient and share the gospel with everyone who will listen. These are the latter days! We have been sent here at this time for a reason, and we have a specific place in God's plan. I am grateful for the peace in knowing these things are true. 

Thank you for all you do! I am grateful to represent Christ each and every day.

Love, Elder Lloyd