What’s up my beautiful family??!?! Can you believe it is p-day again? I love y'all so much! Thank you so much for all of the awesome emails today! Chock full of scriptures, talks and details of your life – yay! I really love seeing the pictures of y'all playing football and LIVING - just keep the updates coming on what’s happening at home. Sometimes it's weird because I can't believe that well, I am in LA, and that I am a missionary and that y'all are still doing the normal things that you always have done. Those “normal” things just seem so much more incredible now that I am gone and not able to share them with y'all! So, don’t forget - any little thing is appreciated!
We have had an incredible week as always, I am so scattered and racing the clock, but I hope that I can share with you all of the tender mercies, miracles and strengthening moments I have had in the last week.
So, remember last week when I said that we really wanted to pray for more service opportunities? Well, we sure got them! And it was incredible! The Fuller Center, the organization that we helped the last time we did a big service project, had just received word that they had an old motel donated to them and they just had a few hours to collect anything from the motel because the demo trucks were coming. They run a reuse store to sell doors, house supplies and such to fund their service projects and to help people in need build homes. One of the Elders in the Hammond ward felt prompted to call them, right when they needed us. It was awesome! We spent the day hauling out old furniture, beds, screwing off old doors and breaking some windows and "gettin’ out our wiggles" the rest of the day! I love service! It is so great to be able to go out and sweat and WORK HARD. We actually had a couple more service ops this week that were so wonderful! I know that God answers prayers.
This week we have a new Sister! She is from Temple Square [we learned that Sisters serving at Temple Square in SLC sometimes get to serve a 4-5 month proselyting mission “in the field” as part of their 18 mo. mission] and is from Camaroon. She has such a strong spirit. I miss Sis "Sunshine" so much [She is now back in SL at Temple Square], but sister A is amazing. Another amazing miracle - every morning to get a work out, I usually just run sprints back and forth in front of the house in sight and sound of my comp. Well, Sister A started running too, so we thought, hey let’s go on exchanges! So Sis A and I went on beautiful, liberating runs every morning last week. I can't even describe to you what it was like to stretch my legs and run fast and hard. It felt sooo good!
Another event this week - our AC BROKE!!! Ahhh!!!! Throughout the night, we felt like it was getting a little warm. Turns out that when we got home the next evening, our AC had completely frozen up. We are so spoiled I know but it was a rough night! The bishop brought over some fans but it made me realize how much we have been given and that sometimes we don't realize how much we have until it's gone! No worries, though, we got it fixed the next day. Have I ever mentioned that it's a little hot and humid here in Louisiana!?!
On Friday, we had zone training! Huzzah! My favorite! I feel like we have had so many incredible experiences in the last transfer. We are just so blessed. Sis L and I instructed on obedience and I really appreciated being able to study about why we are or should be obedient and the blessings that come from it. The Amite Sisters showed a video from lds.org. A Secure Anchor (https://www.lds.org/youth/video/a-secure-anchor?lang=eng) It gave me chills. It was so relevant and hit home. Are we climbing "solo" and selfishly or are we using the tools and resources, the support of family, leaders, the church and our Savior to experience a “safe climb”? It made me think of some things: when we first started watching the solo climber, yeah, he looked a lot "cooler" and it was intense and fast moving. But how long did that last before he fell? Do we have anchors and rope and harnesses to protect us? It doesn’t mean we can't be challenged or do hard things, but they are there for our protection. If we have them, why don't we always use them? In your "free time" this week, study about obedience and how it applies. Obedience is required (huge emphasis) to enter heaven. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Saturday was amazing as well. We got together with our district and ate a gluten free dinner, played Pictionary and shared a lesson on loving the Lord. It was amazing. I was brought to tears at the end of the night because of the immense love that I have for all of these people. I can’t imagine my life without knowing and loving these people. I will be friends with them forever! I am so blessed. Gosh, to be honest, I just can't imagine going straight to Australia right now. Again, my faith is strengthened each day that the Lord has a perfect plan for each one of His children, we just need to trust in Him.
I am still reading in Alma, and learning so much! It is amazing! I have especially loved reading this week with the lens of obedience and unity. I found that Alma chapter 49 applied to so many aspects of my life and especially our missionary work. I have been thinking a lot about the word that is used so much in this chapter, "prepared." I love this story and I think that when I first read through this chapter, what really stuck out to me is that the Lord and Moroni "prepared his people." However, I have been trying to think about a deeper application to missionary life. While I have been trying to study with a "lens" of obedience, two verses stuck out to me.
13 For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for EVERY CITY in all the land round about...
14 But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni; become strong.
This may be a stretch, but I made the comparison of fortifying "every city" to being exactly obedient. When we are exactly obedient, we set up those guards, those forts, and those places of security so that we can have the best mission [life] and reach the potential that our Heavenly Father sees in us. If we are exactly obedient, there are no "holes" in our defense. We have completely put our trust in our Father to stand against the trials and temptations and discouragement that may, and well, certainly will come at us on our missions.
I also was so stoked about the story of Amalickiah and Moroni in Alma! I should send you a pic of my planner; it is covered in drawings of the Title of Liberty. Read ch 28-50 this week; you won't be able to put it down. Think about how we are "prepared" and what we can do to make our weaknesses strengths. Man, I wish I had more time to write!!!
I would like you to read DC 11 this week, verse 19 is about light, that we should "cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may assist in bringing light to those things of which has been spoken - be patient until you shall accomplish it." I love thinking about the gospel and all that we do to obtain light. The Savior is the light of the world. When we spread the gospel, when we serve and do simple acts of kindness, we are bringing others light. Be patient. Sometimes I’m afraid that we think we know better, that we can be impatient and think that our plan is better than His, but as we learn to strengthen our relationship with our Savior, trying to be like Him in all that we do, through service and charity, bringing light to others, we will experience joy and so will those around us.
Next week is transfers ... booooo!!!!!!! Which means that I could be ripped away from my Albany family and my best friend Sister L. BUT … I know that the Lord has a plan for me and I will look back on this experience and be so grateful. Anywho, that means that emails will be on Tuesday next week, just a heads up!
Alright fam, I’m out of time. One last thing ... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I AM SO PROUD of my little Lloyd family. Y'all are amazing! I am sooo happy and lovin’ every minute of Louisiana! 100 days? Stop countin’! I'll be home before I want! I love you so much.
Love you to the moon and back -
Sister Lloyd!!
PS - we aren't allowed to say, "I love you" to Elders and Sisters so we always just say - love serving with you! By mistake, our zone leaders sent everyone a text that said, love loving with you! So that's our new saying. LLWY'all!
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