Stepping Stones on Sydney's Shore
by Alexandra Lloyd

Across the waves and the stretch of the sea,

God showed me what my potential could be

He knew all along where I wanted to go,

so He guided my path and pushed me to grow

Along the shore, we walked hand in hand,

with patience and hope, He raised me to stand

At times those same shells, once fragile and sweet,

were the very thing cutting wounds in my feet

Then just when I thought I could handle no more,

cool waters of peace gave me strength to endure

I saw in the distance the path leading home,

the sea, sand and sun touched every stone

I ran with excitement, the course seemed so clear,

then stumbled in blindness and fell with great fear

I looked up and saw the pure love in His eyes,

He told me that He had heard all of my cries

My pain and my joys I felt with Him there,

His yoke was easy, but the cross hard to bear

My eyes shifted forward to each stepping stone,

I felt unprepared, but was never alone

A backdrop of sunsets, stars sprinkled the sky,

lights on the horizon meant no more goodbyes

This journey I took with my Saviour and friend,

has proved and promised that love never will end.

GLORIOUS

GLORIOUS!

One Voice Children's Choir

LAST LETTER FROM SYDNEY'S SANDY SHORE

Ello Beautiful Family! 

Well ... my last letter from the land down undah!

I am so excited to see you, and share with you the sacred experiences of my mission. 

My core experience with God this week came from a lesson we had with the most amazing, prepared family. A few months ago we met a young boy, who's incredibly sensitive to the Spirit. In the last couple months we have lost contact, until his father called last week and asked us to come for dinner.

We had a beautiful lesson with the entire family about the restored gospel. Everything unfolded beautifully because the Spirit was the teacher.  We taught and testified and they accepted the invitation to learn more and attend church this Sunday. I had to hold back tears, because I feel so blessed to witness Heavenly Father’s guiding hand with this family that I love so much.  

This week, a passage of scripture stood out to me in 2 Nephi 4 as I bore my testimony:

 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

 25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

 26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep?

Why SHOULD my heart weep?  Ahhh … how can I ever explain the complete joy that I have felt throughout my mission?

My eyes have been opened to such incredible things this week.  I feel as though the Lord has slowed down time so that I can let everything settle and sink in.

After nearly 18 months, I know who my Saviour is – His very nature.  I know Him because I too have waxed strong in mighty prayer, hour after hour, to understand the word and the act of the selfless and perfect Atonement.  

I have been studying this entire week about conversion, and what my mission has done for me.  Of course, I’m not eloquent enough to capture everything, but I have realized that the most precious seed that I have been planting on my mission is that in my own heart. I have felt this seed grow daily, and for this, I am forever grateful. Like Nephi, I have seen such incredible things in myself and the people that I have taught over the past 18 months.  

The words to "We Are Sowing" are:

1. We are sowing, daily sowing

1. Countless seeds of good and ill,
   Scattered on the level lowland,
   Cast upon the windy hill;
   Seeds that sink in rich, brown furrows,
   Soft with heaven's gracious rain;
   Seeds that rest upon the surface
   Of the dry, unyielding plain;
2. 2. Seeds that fall amid the stillness
   Of the lonely mountain glen;
   Seeds cast out in crowded places,
   Trodden under foot of men;
   Seeds by idle hearts forgotten,
   Flung at random on the air;
   Seeds by faithful souls remembered,
   Sown in tears and love and prayer;
3. 3. Seeds that lie unchanged, unquickened,
   Lifeless on the teeming mold;
   Seeds that live and grow and flourish
   When the sower's hand is cold.
   By a whisper sow we blessings;
   By a breath we scatter strife.
   In our words and thoughts and actions
   Lie the seeds of death and life.
4. 4. Thou who knowest all our weakness,
   Leave us not to sow alone!
   Bid thine angels guard the furrows
   Where the precious grain is sown,
   Till the fields are crown'd with glory,
   Filled with mellow, ripened ears,
   Filled with fruit of life eternal
   From the seed we sowed in tears.

I love these words, as they have really come alive for me in the last couple of months.  The recitation that we say each morning is a promise from the Almighty God:

"For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in storethat he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;"

I will never forget something that President told me -- we are promised that as we plant the seeds of the gospel, we are also promised that we will harvest the fruit. I have seen that daily as I have beheld the miracles and the mysteries of the kingdom unfolded before me.  I have been “carried away by the Spirit” as I have testified of this perfect truth.  

D&C 112:13 reads:

"And after their temptations , and much tribulation , behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted , and I will heal them. "

I know that after everything, I am converted to this gospel. I know that is why I was called to serve. The Lord loved me enough to watch over me, and send me to a mission with a mission president, companions, ward members and people who would teach me what it means to live the gospel -- to live the higher law, and never look back.  Before my mission, my testimony was weak, but I am changed.  I can't wait to continue serving our Lord as I return home.  

I know that God lives. I know that He is real, and that He is our Father who loves us infinitely.  I know that my Saviour has walked with me each day, and blessed me with understanding, healing, and peace.  I have felt their love through the companionship of the Holy Ghost, who I treasure, and will strive to feel the rest of my life.  

I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God who translated a Book that has been the tangible means through which my nature has been transformed.  I love the scriptures and look forward with faith to studying them forever.  I know that I have been able to develop seeds within myself that will help me carry on and serve others.  I know that God answers prayers, and that revelation is real.  I know that God is a God of miracles, and that each day is a miracle.

I know that the words of Book of Mormon, if followed, have the capacity to bind families, and that church is the place where we can receive peace and renew our covenants that keep us pure and on the path to happiness.  I know that no righteous effort is wasted, and every act of goodness is counted toward our eternal progression.

I wish that I had more words to say, but I feel that my testimony will be left here on the sandy shores of Sydney. I have given everything that I am to the Lord, and I know that because of His mercy, I will be blessed forever.  I have given him my heart, and I know that He has changed me for eternity.

Ofa atu. I love you family.

Your faithful servant,

Sister Lloyd 

GOD IS LOVE

Ello Beautiful Family! 

What an incredible week it has been.  I know that I keep saying this, but I can definitely say that it has been the best week of my mission. The last couple weeks have seemed like months because they have been so full of amazing things, and I feel like I still have so much time ahead. Of this I am so grateful. 

I wish that I could adequately share my feelings about G's conversion and his beautiful baptism. At the very beginning of my mission, although I didn't understand the scriptures very well, I always loved the story of Enoch.  
I decided that the "vision" that I had for my mission would be to, well, have a vision!  I wanted to be able to understand and see people’s hearts and their potential, including myself.

In Moses 6 we read:

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.
 36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people.
 37 And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him.
 38 And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent-keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us.
 39 And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God.

I have learned so many things from this passage. I have learned that the mission, and walking with God, is centered on invitations. We cannot compel, but should love people and gently lead them into walking the way that God desires. 

We also have to have complete faith and trust in the Lord, and what He has in store for us.  

I have learned what it means to truly and deeply love God, and to love the Saviour and be purely motivated by that love for Him and His gospel -- despite the flaws or fears that we might have. I have learned that the things that truly matter are not things that we can see with our natural eyes; but the things that are most important, the core purpose and deep love, are seen by looking with spiritual eyes. 

I have learned that goals and commitments propel us to accomplish infinitely more than if we were to do things our own way. I have learned that the Lord's promises are true, and that He will immediately bless us when we follow the promptings of the Spirit.

I have learned that there are "Zions" just waiting for us!  We just have to walk with Him, sometimes, walk, and walk, and walk, but the promised land is waiting on the other side of our diligence.

The list could and will go on, but I felt like G's baptism captured the “vision” of my entire mission. For some people sitting in the congregation, it might have just been a spirit-filled service, but for me, it displayed and confirmed God's love and the guidance I have felt throughout my entire mission. It was an indescribable “gift” Heavenly Father gave me in an hour – to see the entire Plan of Salvation and His pure love and purpose.

I saw how how all of our diligence in trying our best had paid off.  All of the sacrifices, meetings, lessons, appointments, prayers, fasting, no effort was wasted. 

The baptism summarized all of our finding, tracting and phone calling. All of this appeared as I was blessed to see the most incredible young man get baptized.  

A few months ago, I committed myself to make a difference in at least ONE more person’s life before I went home, and the Lord prepared G, this ward, and the man who baptized him. When we met G, it wasn't a "miraculous contact."  Nothing out of the ordinary happened that day. But if we hadn't been diligent in following up, and continued to work hard, I don't know what would have happened.

G told us that when he first came into the chapel, he felt as though a huge window had blown open. He was in awe about how clear, bright and beautiful everything was. He was looking for purpose and direction, and suddenly, things all started fitting into place.  There were little rays of sunlight, little cracks in the window through which he started to feel and love and want more. 

I testify that the Lord will open our vision if we have the faith to pull the curtains and the faith to thank Him for His mercy, and to trust Him enough to direct our steps. I testify that God is love; and that everything that He has ever done for us, and will ever do for us, is because of His love. I know these things are true, because I finally know what it means to love purely.

And I love all of you 
… to the moon and back!
your servant,
sista lloyd 

THE POWER TO HEAL

Ello sweet family!

Two baptisms this week – PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM!

What an incredible week it has been!  I just cannot property convey the blessings that have come to Sister N and me in the last couple of weeks.

I have also seen some amazing promises fulfilled. Ever since being transferred into Manly, I have been trying to work on having an "understanding heart" corresponding with the blessings that I have been promised. Yesterday, while teaching a family, I felt this outpouring of love and enthusiasm and understanding. I always think to President’s example of thinking carefully about and consecrating every word that comes out of our mouths for the benefit of uplifting and consoling others.

My core experience with God came from the beginning of an outpouring of blessings that continued throughout the week. For the past couple of months, we have been teaching L, but he hasn't felt ready to commit to baptism. Last week we decided to read together, out loud, from the Book of Mormon. We had planned to weave baptism into the conversation, but we weren't planning on setting a date.

As we were teaching from Alma 32, the spirit prompted us both that he was ready. We invited him to follow Jesus Christ, and promised him that he was ready. He said that we were right and that he wanted to be baptized this week!  This is was an incredible miracle!  He is getting baptized!  

Teaching as Jesus taught came from some powerful experiences of having the Spirit work through us to communicate the blessings and redemptive power of the Atonement to the people we are teaching.  There is a man we are teaching from Papua New Guinea.  He has such faith and such hope that he can change. We met with him this week  and read through the verses in Alma 36. 

 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried withinmy heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am inthe gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlastingchains of death.

 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember mypains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sinsno more.

 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea,my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to heal our scars, and unleash any chains that have been binding us. It is a promise of light and freedom and incomprehensible joy if we follow God's plan for us.

Yesterday in church, we noticed an unfamiliar face in the congregation. We went and spoke with this woman, and she said that she has been trying to find a church that will provide for her healing and happiness. She says that she has been waiting to be baptized for years, and now she feels this church has given her reason to take that step. The church is true! Ah!

G also accepted the invitation to be baptized this weekend!  We were watching the Restoration film, without a mention of baptism, and we all were crying when he blurts outs, "I want to be baptized. I know that it is what I need to do."  He said the most humble closing prayer, and I just have been in a state of gratitude for this young man, and how blessed SN and I have been to witness his conversion.  

I have been studying in Acts lately, and I have loved the perspective it has given me between the modern and ancient revelation on how to be a missionary forever!

It reads in DC 6: 

 4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same iscalled of God.

 5 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.

 6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause ofZion; 

and also in Acts 2:

 37 ¶Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men andbrethren, what shall we do?

 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every oneof you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and yeshall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to allthat are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The Lord's promises are sure yesterday, today and forever.  This is His work of which we must all be a part and I feel incomprehensibly loved to be able to serve Him with all that I am for 3 more weeks wearing His name.

Love you to the moon and back -SISTA LLOYD 

WRITING A PLAN

Ello my sweet family!

My goal this week?

To celebrate coming home!  

I want to celebrate all that the Lord has transformed in me, and to be happy! :) I know it’s hard to understand, but this is a very odd feeling; accepting that my mission is winding down. My mission has just been incredible and I can't wait to share all of it with you, and to continue learning and growing. I can’t express how much I’ve grown to love so many people while serving, while deepening my love for my Saviour, friends and family.

I’ve always been a list maker and writing things down, even if I didn't accomplish them, made me feel better. Planning each day is something that I have loved about my mission. Something I have loved as well is always being organized with a schedule. I thrive on knowing what to expect and what I am working toward, so … 

President committed me to buy a planner, and make a detailed plan of what I am going to do for the first 2 weeks after I’m home. I’ll write down every detail that I can to help me feel a little less nervous about coming home. So, let me know if there’s anything I need to pencil in? So cheeky. 

This morning I was listening to a talk by Elder Hales about understanding the priesthood and temple covenants. A line stood out to me that has been ringing through my head:

"A mission is a priceless opportunity to live temple covenants and live the law of consecration – full time."

I realized what a blessing my mission truly has been and continues to be. I am so grateful for the PROTECTION I’ve received as a missionary. I have literally been “protected” from the world. I have been tried and tempted, but I have been blessed to see the blessings that come from aligning our lives and desires with the Lord's plan of happiness.

My core experience with my Father in Heaven came from my experience at the temple this morning. As I was sitting in the session, my eyes were opened to a deeper and greater understanding of the Plan of Salvation. It was beautiful and so meaningful to me.  

My mind was directed to my setting apart blessing. I always remember the scripture that was quoted by President Mabey:

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

I realized that the Lord truly has sent angels to me and I have felt His constant embrace as I pray and I can feel His peace each night before I retire.  

My companion is wonderful. She confided in me yesterday that she has had a secret goal for the last couple weeks to make my last transfer the best yet. I just hugged her and cried. She is learning how to consecrate her life to the Lord and it is beautiful to witness. I can't imagine what it is like to be a mission president! :)

Our investigators are doing incredible as well.  Last Monday night we went to the Hamilton's home for FHE with G, and President taught the majority of the lesson. The spirit was so powerful -- I felt like I was on a cloud. President Hamilton shared his conversion story about how after the missionaries had taught him, he went and prayed, and it felt like a "bucket of warm water had been poured on him." 

"He asked, God answered, and that settled it."

The next day, G called us with such excitement. He said,
"I had the best night of my entire life last night. I have something I want to share with you, but I want it to be in person."

He told us that after he was dropped home, he went into the garden, and on his knees, he prayed to receive an answer, and the Lord gave it to him. The Church is true, and he proved the promises of the Lord. 

I know that the Saviour lives, loves and leads us.  I know that this is His church, and that Joseph Smith was a humble man who simply sought truth and because of his consecration, countless lives have been touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that repentance is simple, yet not easy, but it is what brings true joy.  I know that the Spirit can be our companion, and bring us so much peace and assurance if we keep our lives pure. 

I know that as it states in Alma 32, all we first need is a desire to change.

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling emotions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me."

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK - 

SISTA LLOYD

30 DAYS MATES!

MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB!

Ello sweet family!

Monday night I was studying my President’s letter that had a story about a man who was hiking a mountain, and as I read the words, 

 "The trail is beautiful as well"

I responded in the same way that this man in the story did, I wept.  At first, I thought that the word said, "trial" instead of "trail" and it took on a new meaning. I wept because every trail, either leading to a meadow, or another rocky ridge HAS been beautiful. It has shaped who Sister Lloyd is today. The message of the story was that of a man climbing a mountain and he kept asking people who were coming down if it was worth the trek. While sorting through personal issues while hiking, he wept at the summit and then, while descending, came across a Tibetan monk climbing up and he said to him that yes, the hike is worth it. The monk responded, I’m sure it is, but I’m also enjoying all of the beauty and sights along the path going up. Yep, you know the point, enjoy the journey! 

My entire mission, I have been trying my best to live in the moment and be grateful for what I am given. I remember reading the talk by P. Uchtdorf about not waiting for the "golden ticket" and not ever putting happiness on hold. I remember reading "Lessons from Liberty Jail" and learning that we can have redemptive and revelatory experiences in undesirable conditions. I have tried my best to not think about home, but it hit me that I need to celebrate going home.  I need to have greater faith and trust in the Lord for everything that I have been blessed with on my mission.  Every day has been a fight, and a miracle, but that will not stop just because I don't wear the black name tag.

This week, SN and I felt incredibly spirit led, and it was amazing!  For most of my mission, I have committed to "follow every prompting" and so whenever I try and talk myself out of talking to someone, or just walk by a house, that commitment rings in my head, and it takes about half a second to change my mind!  I love seeing what happens when I follow promptings. Sometimes, nothing happens. I know that God is probably just testing me to see if I am listening and relying on Him to guide our efforts. However, most of the time, we see miracles.  One of the times it happened was this week when SN and I were both staring at a house we were passing by. We decided to stop and do the survey. A young father answered the door and told us that he had met with missionaries when he was 17 years old, but that was over 20 years ago now.  He told us that he had investigated many churches, but no church had everything that he and his wife were looking for. He has two young children, and he asked us to come back and teach them and the purpose of family home evening. How amazing! A new family to teach!

 

I truly enjoyed every minute of the work this week. I feel like my body is so, so exhausted, and especially with the summer heat coming, but I don't want to waste a minute that SN and I have left together, and so I have been trying to just focus and work, work, work. I have had a few sad moments, but SB warned me last week that because I am nearing the end, that Satan is really going to try and get me. I was really grateful for her advice, because I honestly didn't even think about that! I thought that I would be so consumed in the work that I wouldn't even think about anything else. However, Satan is sneaky; he is trying to make me sad and ruin my time that I still have left! Well, I will not let that happen. I will not falter! 

I also had a situation that made me reflect on my decision to serve a mission. I remember getting subtle promptings, and I can still hear the voice saying to me, "You should go." It was never forceful, but I listened. I knew that  I SHOULD go, and I knew that it would be the best thing for me. I knew that the quiet voice was from God and that was enough for me. Almost 17 months into my mission, I am so grateful-- infinitely grateful-- that I chose to listen to that quiet whispering. It was never a grand event or a huge decision for me, I just knew that I should serve, and the Spirit spoke peace to me, and that was that.

Yesterday was yet again, one of the best days on my mission. I just love being a missionary and being devoted to something so purposeful and joyous all of the time! Last night we held a musical fireside with the Harbord ward, and we had arranged to sing with two of our investigators. Just 2 weeks ago we met G, an 18 year old young man from Spain. Since then, we’ve had amazing lessons where one of our members introduced the BOM to him in Spanish, and he has grown so much so quickly! He's one of those people that you just love to be around because he is so happy. It is quite a tender mercy, because he often reminds me of my little brother who is always singing, snapping and whistling. He didn't even think twice about saying yes to singing with us at the fireside, and said he'd love to sing a solo! 

I have been focusing on charity, and pure and calm love for the last couple of months, and I felt as though yesterday my heart might burst!  G and C, another one of our amazing YSA-aged investigators sang with us, "I Feel my Saviour's Love."  These are people who have NEVER heard the song and yet, through the Holy Spirit, understood it’s powerful meaning.

B was also baptized this weekend, an incredible miracle and one of the most beautiful baptisms I have ever witnessed. As we taught the last lesson, he said, "Of course I'll pay tithing, I want to follow every commandment that God gives me, because I can already see the blessings in my life that keeping these small ones has made." After his baptism, he bore his testimony in sacrament meeting. He bore testimony that from now on, he would always be a fully committed member and follow Jesus Christ.  

I feel like this area has been on the brink of something so wonderful for so long, and now the missionary work is alive! Everything is falling into place, and the spindles of the Liahona are aligning to do the work of salvation together, like it is meant to be. I am so humbled and grateful to be a missionary at this time and in this amazing place.   

I love you to the moon and back my family. I love you so.

Sister Lloyd