YOU MUST NOT DO IT ALONE!

G’DAY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY! HOW YA GOING MATES?

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Trevor, I am having a hard time knowing you are graduating this week and an EVEN HARDER TIME NOT BEING THERE WHEN YOU WERE ORDAINED AN ELDER! I am so proud of you! I witness and am the recipient of Priesthood blessings and miracles daily and I know that it truly is the power to act in the Lord's name. What an absolute precious gift you have received. 

Now for my scattered update:

We were gone the entire week on exchanges. Friday morning we got a call from Sisters K and H that our baptism for Saturday was a no go. We prayed together over the phone and made plans for what to do. The Sisters took a member to see her, but the answer was still no. I know that Satan was really trying to get at all of us that day, and I am so blessed to understand that opposition is to be expected before the greatest miracles come. The rest of the night we continued to receive disappointing news and it seemed like everything was going wrong.

As I prayed to my Heavenly Father that night, I apologized and asked forgiveness for my pride in thinking that I could handle all of this on my own. I promised Him that I would forget myself and get out of the way, as I think that I have been so “busy” and full of pride that I have lost sight of whose work this really is. I went to bed feeling completely at peace and spiritually handed everything over to Heavenly Father.

As I rolled over in bed the next morning, my heart dropped. I grabbed the phone and saw the worst possible thing, 6:44 am.[NOTE: Missionaries are to arise by 6:30 a.m.] I jumped out of bed, turned on the light, woke up the other sisters and went into the other room and fell on my knees. I felt as though my heart would stop I was so upset. Just the night before I had felt completely at peace, and then the next morning, this happened. 

I share this because, although it may seem like a small act of disobedience, it devastated me. However, I know that the Lord forgave me and later blessed us with miracles.

I have studied the passage in Exodus about how Moses was instructed by Jethro to delegate the work. It reads:

 14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

 17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

I am so grateful for the revelation and comfort that I found in these scriptures. I have asked the Lord what I can do to keep working at this pace for the rest of my mission, as I have some days when I feel like I am “surely going to wear away!” I know the answer to my prayers is that I need to learn to banish my pride, delegate responsibility, and let others learn and grow so we can share this together.

We witnessed the miracle of P’s baptism on Saturday afternoon. There is much to say, but I am so grateful that I have traveled on this journey with him. As I watched him be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, I realized that I have been experiencing similar lessons. Learning how to forgive myself, peeling away my natural wo-man, and developing a relationship with my Saviour. I know that before we came to earth, we were supposed to find each other. I know that I came on my mission to meet P, and I know that he has changed my life forever.

I have prayerfully created a vision of what I hope the Lord wants me to become by the end of my mission. Some things include:  

- My countenance will shine like the Saviour.  (3 NE 19:25)

- I will gain greater self-control and self-mastery (1 COR 9:25)

- My soul will delight in the scriptures ( 2 NE 4:15-16)

- I will be calm, patient and long suffering (2 PET 1:6)

- I will be obedient to promptings from the Spirit (ALMA 8:15)

I had a very tender conversation with Sister H last night. She said that it really hit her to see me cry when we were late waking up and she promised that she would try harder. I was again moved to tears by the humility of this Sister who I love with all my heart. She told me that the experience of my father being healed has changed her life and motivated her to work harder. She said that because I am a hard worker and obedient, my family is blessed and we see miracles. She said that she wants to be more like that so that her family will be blessed as well. I was so touched by her words and feel so privileged to work beside her and learn from her example.

There is not enough time to write about all of the miracles I have witnessed this week. However, I am so blessed, and continue to be humbled by the miracles, relationships that have been formed, and the guidance from the Holy Ghost I receive as I submit myself and my mission service, to the Lord. I am so grateful for my companions, for the calling to be a traveling sister and the chance I have to serve in this wonderful area. I am learning what it means to use the Atonement, and that because of the suffering of my Saviour, I can receive power and peace in my life. I know that like Elder Bednar said, it is the weight that gives us traction to reach greater heights. I know that when I am yoked with the Saviour, my burden is easy. I know that being a missionary has blessed my life more than I can ever repay or express adequately. I love my Saviour and my Heavenly Father and I am so grateful for the ability to envision their arms outstretched throughout the day.

I love you to the moon and back.

SO MUCH LOVE!

Conference with Elder and Sister Halek - the Newcastle Zone

Ello Beautiful Family!

How are you? Again, so wonderful to talk to you last week. I am still replaying your voices in my head and the closing prayer you gave Trevor. Thank you; I love you.

We were so blessed to witness the baptism of K this week. Words cannot express how much I love her. She faced so much opposition with her decision to be baptized, and finally, she gets to receive all the blessings of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost!

I hugged her in a towel as she came out of the font and just wept. She has been waiting for this for so long, and we just cried and laughed because it was such a joyful moment. I am so happy for her! I am so grateful that I am still serving here to witness these miracles with the people we have been teaching since I first arrived in November.  WOW!

Teaching as Jesus taught came from an experience we had on exchanges in Medowie. Sister M and I received a referral from one of their investigators, and all he knew was the street name. So, we headed over there and asked Heavenly Father to lead us to the house where the message of the restored gospel needed to be heard. We found the man’s house that we were sent to, but along the way, we met the most prepared woman. At first, she was not interested. She was busy and clearly stated that she didn’t believe in God, and that we were wasting her time. I said a silent prayer that we could learn what her concerns were, and through inspired questions directed by the spirit, she opened up to us and voiced her true concerns. We shared a Book of Mormon with her and testified to her, that through this book, she could find an answer to any question she has. We testified of the power and peace that comes from reading this book. 

She paused for a moment and looked at us with longing, tear-filled eyes, and asked, “You promise that I will find answers in this book?” It was so powerful. I know that Jesus Christ not only preached by the way to direct us to those who really needed Him, but also helped us to stop, slow down, and not give up when we were faced with opposition. Jesus would have stopped and listened with love to learn what His daughter really needed that day.

Sister K extended a baptismal invitation to one of our investigators this week. We met this man a couple of weeks ago, and after learning about his situation, and how desperate he is for peace and hope in this life, invited him to be baptized. We promised him that he could start fresh, be born again, and receive all the blessings that were waiting for him. He accepted the invitation, and we asked him to pray to know if the things we were teaching were true. He then replied, “I will, but I already know it is true. I can feel it inside. I have never felt happier.”  God does prepare his children to receive the gospel when we, as His missionaries, love His children and are obedient. Not only are the people we meet more prepared and willing to make changes in their lives, but the teaching process has been much more transformational recently. 

The statement that stood out to me the most from the conference with Elder Haleck was, “If we want to lead, and lead well, we have to lead from the front and lead by example.”

This statement is so powerful, as these last couple of transfers I have tried to do everything I can to be a Christ-like leader. 

After an exhausting day this week, I fell to my knees and started talking  with Heavenly Father. I don’t think I realized my feelings until I started sharing my heart. I had the strongest witness that He was there, and that He was listening to me. It was such a tender moment. I didn’t realize it until then, that I have had some stress building up because I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I feel so blessed that the Lord has refined me and blessed me with the awakening of free obedience. The Spirit witnessed to me during my prayers that the Lord is pleased with how hard I am trying, and that I am doing the right thing. I felt such an overwhelming love rush over me; a love that propels me to work harder, and love more sincerely. Just like Sister Howes shared in Isaiah 53:6, we have all gone astray and need the Lord’s help and the strength that comes from the Atonement. 

In my studies this morning, I read Mosiah 26:19-21 which states:

 19 And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou art blessed.

 20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep.

 21 And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive.

Finally, it's Fall!

I know that I am blessed, and we are blessed as we pray for those who we are serving and want to help. I have come closer to the Saviour than ever before, and have been refined as I try my hardest to sanctify myself so that I can be an example to others. 

I LOVE YOU to the moon and back!!! **C* (that's supposed to be a moon and stars :)

I AM SO HAPPY!

Glorious sun breaking through clouds - looking over church rooftop

Ello Beautiful Family!

This week has not only been the best week of my mission, but probably the best week of my entire life!

I know that I have said this before, but it REALLY has been wonderful. This letter focuses on the miracles that have blessed me and helped me understand the many ways the Lord is mindful of me and all of His children.

One day last week, we decided to fast together as Sisters for the people in our area and I also included my family. This day turned out to be very rocky with all appointments falling through and everything seeming to go wrong. Luckily, we were blessed with the understanding that right before wonderful things happen, Satan always tries to get us down. A quote my Grandmother always says to me is, 

“Don’t let that old serpent get you down!” 

So that’s what we kept repeating to each other that day, and the next day. And wow, the blessings of heaven started pouring down!

A young woman who has been investigating the church for 6 years called us and said she finally had permission to be baptized -- this Saturday! We have been teaching her since I arrived in November, and I have never prayed for a heart to be softened more in my life. I am so grateful that she can partake of all the blessings that come from entering the waters of baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. Also, another man we met several months ago, is getting baptized! I can’t believe the change that I have witnessed in this great man. 

And ... the best news ever ... my Daddy is free from his cancer! God is incredible and loves us so much. I can now bear an even more personal testimony of the power of prayer, fasting, reliance on God, the Plan of Salvation ... the list goes on and on because of this personal experience.

The list of miracles keeps going! We now have more than 10 people with baptismal dates and everyone we invited this last week said yes!  

One last miracle, the brothers we have been teaching since I got here, came to church this week! I know, it was Mother’s Day, but I have never been happier. 

They are great guys with wonderful parents and I love their family. I want them to know how much happiness the simple act of coming to Sacrament brought me. I have never been happier in my life experiencing and witnessing the fruits of the Spirit and simple acts of obedience to God's commandments. 

After witnessing all of these miracles, I have pondered on what the Lord now wants me to do. As I was reading in Acts, I realized what we need to do! We know that the book of Acts describes what happens after the disciples have walked side by side with the Saviour and witnessed the miracles he performed, including the Atonement. After he left the earth, it was their turn to go out and be instruments in the Lord’s hands so that others could partake of the blessings of the Gospel. 

In Acts 1:8 we read:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Family, now that we have witnessed these miracles and have been abundantly and infinitely blessed, it is our turn to share this same happiness with others. It is our duty and calling to share our testimonies and work harder and be more sanctified than ever before. I pray that we will implement these scriptures.

I don't know where to start in describing the wonderfulness of my new companion The trait that I admire in her and would love to emulate is 
P A T I E N C E.  In the training conference today, I received revelation that I need to be more patient and long suffering in order to better understand the gospel and be more like my Saviour. 

In Alma 17:11 we read:

And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

Sister M is such an incredible example to me of patience. She’s not only patient with me, the other Sisters and the people we are teaching, but she’s also patient and long suffering with the challenges of being a missionary. From her example, I have realized that I need to slow down ... a lot. I have felt a bit of stress and pressure with this leadership responsibility and I love to go, go, go and work, work, work. I need to  

s l o w   d o w n  and enjoy my mission! It is starting to go by faster and faster which all plays into being more patient and dignified. I am so grateful that I have Sister M to look to for an example!


I cannot adequately express how happy I am, and how enthused I am about serving the Lord at this time. I will do everything I can to work harder and more diligently so that I too, like the Apostles, can share everything that I have been blessed with  -- with my family, my companions, the Sisters and our area. 

I love this work!  

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK.

YOUR ONE AND ONLY,

SISTA LLOYD

CAN'T STOP SMILING!

I love my new companion!

Ello Beautiful Family!

It has been an incredible week. I can’t even begin to express how happy I am right now and how much closer to the Spirit I feel and how my understanding of my Saviour has deepened these past few weeks.

I am also so grateful to have Sister M as my new companion! I love her so much.Y ou can just feel the love she has for people and for the Saviour. She is so happy and I haven’t stopped smiling since we joined together on Friday. I am so grateful for her and Sister H and Sis K just love her too.

My testimony of fasting has increased so much as well. This past week with my Dad having surgery and then yesterday’s outpouring of blessings have confirmed my testimony of fasting.  I have not felt hungry or weak, but empowered by the Spirit.  (Family, I would invite you to read through Isaiah 58:4-6 and see what you can do to improve and make your fasts more meaningful as we are going through this time with Daddy!)

Teaching as Jesus taught was an experience preaching by the way on exchanges.  Sis M and I were out all morning trying to find new investigators as one of our goals was to help their teaching pool grow. All morning we were rejected and couldn’t find anyone to teach. We were walking back to our car to go to an appointment, and this man was walking down the street. The Spirit - with almost a loud voice, told me to flag this guy down. We discovered that he speaks Japanese! (Ali’s comp that day spoke Japanese.) He has been searching for answers to life’s questions for so long, and had so many questions about God and why bad things happen to good people. He recently had many friends and family members pass away so Sis M and I testified of the plan of salvation.  He couldn’t wait to ask us when he could learn more and meet with us again. AMAZING!

My core experience with God this week came from another lesson with Sis V.  We followed up with one of their potentials named J.  When we got there, she had just arrived home and was pushing her little baby. We started the lesson by asking what her relationship with God was like and each time we started talking, I could see tears welling in her eyes. The Spirit immediately said that we weren’t addressing her concerns and we needed to ask inspired questions. As soon as we did, she burst into tears and expressed how desperately she was looking for answers and wanting to receive answers to her prayers. We knelt in her yard and asked God if He was there.  The space was so sacred and full of the Spirit. I knew in that moment that she was a daughter of God and she could feel it as well. How blessed we are to have the knowledge that not only can we ask our Father if He is there, but that He will bless us with His love and comfort.

We had so many miracles this week. As you know, we found 19 new investigators! We set a goal to find 5 yesterday and even before we went out teaching, a woman called and told us that she heard we taught people about Jesus and she was looking for the whole truth and answers to her questions. When we told her what our purpose was and what we did, she was overjoyed. We are meeting with her tonight. I think it is incredible that when we do all that we can to serve with everything we have, the Lord is just waiting to immediately pour out blessings on us. We just have to show that we are willing to do whatever it takes. 

The way that I have improved the most this transfer can be found in 3 Nephi 4:10.  

 10 But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear‍ them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them. 

I have learned this transfer that I literally cannot do anything without the help of my Saviour. I have felt exhausted physically and emotionally and have really had to supplicate myself and turn everything over to the Lord. I am so grateful for the power of prayer and how I have seen the Atonement changing me.  Like the Nephites, I feel like there are so many outside forces trying to knock me down, but I have been able to turn to the Lord and plead with Him for help and He has freely given it to me. 

After my 40 day fast, I feel like a completely different person. I

know my  Saviour and I love Him with all of my heart. My disposition has changed and my motives have been altered and I am trying to focus on working like I never have before. I’m trying to be more obedient, diligent and loving. I'm learning to work and be guided by the Spirit like I never have been. I love being a missionary.  I love serving others and I love the happiness and pure joy that I am blessed to experience.

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK! CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU THIS WEEKEND!!!

WHAT DO WE DO? WE SWIMMMMM ... :)