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
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