Monday, May 30, 2016

River

We cross this "quebrada" everyday which is pretty much where the dried out river is.
It rained so much this week that there was a river there!
It was pretty legit!!!

Baptism!!!

Pic of the baptism of Hma Norma and Christoper!!!

Cat Puzzle

Our awesome cat puzzle that took forever to do.
Fam Carcamo let us borrow it.

Burning the Tie

Elder Palmer burning a tie for his 1 year mark.
It looks like he has a lightsaber.

Marshmallow Fort

We had a marshmallow war and this was our base!

May 30th, 2016 - Weekly

May 30, 2016 – Weekly Letter

CRAZY WEEK!!!

Well hello everyone. Greetings from La Uniòn, El Salvador! This week was full of crazzy things. Monday up until Saturday was relatively slow. We worked our butts off to prepare people to be baptized in July. Tuesday we taught Fam Melèndez the law of chastity and that was very...weird. We taught the mom, the 14 year old daughter, 9 year old and 8 year old and well...yeah I'm glad that's over haha. But they went to church again yesterday!! I know they’re gonna get baptized!! She just needs to get married and stop drinking coffee. Saturday was awesome!!! Norma and Christopher got baptized!!!!!! And Hermano Rodrigo (Hno Solis) got to baptize them! That was so awesome. Yesterday they were confirmed and I am so happy for them. We went to their house and Hna Norma pretty much told us her conversion story and it was so awesome. She's been listening to the missionaries for 3 years now and she said that Elder Palmer and I are so humble and that stuff we said really opened her heart. She is a true miracle. She told us that she lied about drinking coffee but we were awfully persistent about her getting baptized and she said the whole week of her baptism everything she read, saw or heard had to do with baptism and she knew she had to do it. That was awesome. And last night we got the changes call. Elder Palmer is leaving which is super sad. I got a call this morning from the assistants and Elder Lauro told me that I'm gonna be a trainer!!! I am literally scared out of my mind. So Elder Palmer has to pack today and tomorrow.  I have to go to San Salvador to presidentes house for a trainer’s meeting. We are leaving tonight to sleep in San Miguel. I'm so excited but freaking out like mad. It was a great week!! I love you all and I'll talk to you next week! Portense Bien!!!

Saluuuuuu Pues!!

-Elder Loveless

Best and Worst of the Week:  Best: Baptisms of Hna Norma y Christopher!! Worst: Elder Palmer is leaving me

Thursday, May 26, 2016

4 Months Down - Only 20 more to go!!!

May 26th, 2016
Today is Elder Loveless' 4 month mark.
Only 20 more months to go!!!



(Obviously Emma didn't want her face in the pic!!!)

May 23rd, 2016 - Weekly Letter

May 23rd, 2016 – Weekly Letter
“Is you stupid Nancy?”

😱😱💩💩💩💩💩
Well hello friends and familiares of the various places in the world. Saludos de El Salvador! These emojis here explained our week. ☝🙏🙏 - Lot's of poop and praying. But this week was weird...and good.

Monday we were in a trio because the Zone Leaders were having problems and we were waiting for Elder Mejia to get a new comp. We slept there that night. Tuesday we worked in trio until about 2 and the assistants dropped off Elder Juarez from Mexico. Wednesday and Thursday were pretty chill. We did interchanges on Wednesday and those were good. Thursday was normal. Friday Elder Palmer woke up sicker than sick. He was in the bathroom for a longgggg time. I won't tell you the things he told me...anyways we went to the zone leaders house because they have AC and I just sat there and listened to music and studied the scriptures. I wrote letters to Mom, Dad, Zac and Emily, Emma and Sydney and I will send them today all together because it's cheaper, so please if you could, send the letter to Sydney when it gets there. I studied King Benjamin's speech and wow, it is so good. All of it. It starts in Mosiah 2 and ends in Mosiah 5. If ya'll have time, read them!  So we didn't work Friday. We also got a call Friday night from Hermana Norma (Solis) who is supposed to be baptized this Saturday...but she drank coffee so we are checking with the Assistants to see if she still can be baptized this Saturday. We're praying so hard for her.

Saturday there was a baptism of the hermanas and that went really well, just another normal day of the work. Sundays are always my favorite. Yesterday I got to do the confirmation for Hermana Xenia who got baptized and that was awesome. I also had to teach gospel principles class...alone. But the Family Melèndez went to church again!!! You don't know how happy I am. They are so awesome. Every time we set up a return appt. and come back, they are all outside ready with their chairs and everything, ready to listen with their Book of Mormons! In their family there is the dad, who still hasn't gone to church, the mom Hermenia, Mirian (14), Vanessa (9), Christina (8) and Jonathan (4). They are so awesome and they're gonna be baptized, I know it!! We are working so hard with them and Familia Solis (Hermana Norma and Christopher) and we set another date with Fabricio. I have faith that he'll get baptized.

Also next week are changes and I think that my comp is gonna go. He has 7 months here so I think he'll leave me. I'll let you all know next week what's going on. The mission is awesome and I love all of it besides always being exhausted.  Also funny story. We were leaving a lesson with Hermana Mari and it was dark and we saw 3 guys walking towards us. We could tell they were borrachos (drunks). All of a sudden one that had a guitar just fell to the ground. We stopped to see if he was okay and asked him what happened. (We were more concerned about the guitar). He said, 'I have no clue! I just...fell!' Man it was hilarious. Then he gets up and starts walking and falls again, gets up and walks down the road with 1 of the other guys. One stayed back to talk to us and he spoke a little bit of English. He said 'What in the H*** are you guys doing here?” His name was Joe…then all of a sudden we heard the guy with the guitar start jamming out and singing at the top of his lungs. The best part was that they were all like 55-60. Wow. We also taught the Word of Wisdom to an angry drunk guy. And to explain the subject…Elder Mejia always says it and it's flippin hilarious. 'Are you dumb Nancy! Nancy, are you dumb?!' Wow what a week. Anyways I'm doing good down here and sounds like so are you guys. Keep being awesome and choose the right! I love you all!!

Saluuuu Pues!!!
-Elder Loveless

Best and Worst of the Week:

Best thing...Fam Melèndez went to church again!!
Worst...Elder Palmer got really sick again

Monday, May 16, 2016

Baptism of Claudia Alejandra


May 16th, 2016 - Weekly Letter

Hello Cheros – Weekly Letter – May 16th, 2016

Saludos from El Salvador!!

Wow this week was...well it was very...good, I guess you could say. Elder Palmer and I started this week a little slow. I think I was a little bit baggy after the skype call and him too and we just didn't want to work...Tuesday was hard. Wednesday too.  So, the young women’s sent all these quotes and pics and stuff and I was reading one and one said, 'if you want a stronger relationship with God, you need to spend some meaningful time alone with Him.' So I prayed really hard that I could figure out what was wrong and that I could have desires to work and my answer was to read my patriarchal blessing. I came to the conclusion that this is the mission of the Lord. I'm just his hands and voice...that really humbled me...this isn't about what I want. I will sweat. I will be so exhausted I can barely walk but this isn't about me. 'Salvation is not easy because it was not easy for Him.' Missionary work is that hardest thing I have ever done, but I love it so much. After this, desires to work again.

Friday we were in San Miguel allll day in meetings and a Zone Conference and President Vàsquez came and talked to us which was awesome. I also had a meeting because I'm still in my training. After, when we got home, I drank my first water of coconut! This guy just chopped off the top of a coconut and put a straw in it. It was different, but super good- Also we ate fresh pineapple 2 times which was SOOOO good.

Saturday we worked sooo hard and repented of not working harder earlier and it paid off! Sunday we had 8 investigators at church!!!! 8!!! You all don't understand how awesome that makes us feel. It's so hard to get people to church. The Lord really blessed us. Four of them are a family we found about 1 month ago-the Family Melèndez and there are 6. The mom and 3 daughters came to church and we put baptismal dates with them and with her husband for the 18 of June! My birthday! That would be the best birthday present if all 5 got baptized. Anyways, today we got to give a blessing to a member in the hospital and Saturday we did too so that was awesome.

Also pupusas are life and my hammock is heavenly. It is sooo soft and so comfy. I love it so much. Also I will update you all on our strong investigators. Fam Carcamo-Hno Ernesto went to San Salvador and took out all of the papers for the divorce. He brought them to a lawyer who is a member so hopefully it'll go fast. Fam Solis-The dad is a member and the mom and 1 son have been taking lessons from the missionaries for 3 years. Finally yesterday they committed to a date for the 28th of this month so we're working so hard with them. We are gonna have a family home evening with them tonight at 7! Fam Melèndez we will visit tomorrow and see how they all are.

Also the stake here is stressing the family and FHE sooo much. Always remember to do them and invite others! And also I learned a lot this week from Elder Palmer about service. He serves me all the time and so I feel good, but also bad cause I don't do anything for him so I am making a goal to serve- Service rocks!!

The zone leaders had problems so they had emergency changes and one of them went to San Salvador so we are in a trio with Elder Mejia but I don't mind cause they have AC in their house (; anyways, I hope you all have such a good week and choose the right. You all are in my prayers always. I love you all!!

Saluuud Pues!

-Elder Loveless
Best of the week - We secured 2 baptisms! Worst of the week - problems in the district.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Weekly Letter - May 9th, 2016

HELlOOOOO – Weekly Letter – May 9th, 2016

Hey everyone!!! Today is my 2 months in the field! So that's cool. Also, I'm a bad son…I forgot to wish mom and grandma and Tiffy and Emily a Happy Mother's Day, so forgive me and HAPPY MOMMA'S DAY!!! It was so good to skype with you all!

This week was a tough one. The work is slowing down a little, but we're still working hard. We were praying for diligence and the Lord sure did test us. We're not allowed to touch doors, we can only yell 'good' if the door is open and we can see in; cause we don't wanna touch the door of a bandiero (gangsta) 😁 so we did a lot of walking and we got rejected a lot haha. I don't mind walking too much haha. The mission is tough. We sure learned a little about diligencia. Also funny story...we were walking and there were 2 jovenes standing there and one told me I had mancha or something on my nose so I went to get it off and he was kidding and said 'Beep Beep' and everyone was laughing for a good 5 minutes. Silly gringo.  I got tricked so good. We also went to Hna Mari's dad's house and we got a ton of hocotes and we taught him. It's like hocote heaven up there. Saturday was such a good day!!!!! I had the awesome opportunity to baptize Claudia Jr.   I started to pray for humility and I had an awesome experience with that. Hermano Ernesto (dad of Claudia Jr.) afterwards told me, “Thank you so much Elderes. You guys have brought us so much joy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can never repay you guys. Once you started to lower my daughter, I felt something I have never felt before. It was such a good feeling. I could feel the power in that baptismal service.”   Wow. I was truly humbled. Growing up in the church, at times I feel like we take it for granted, but there are people who don't have this blessing. The Gospel changes lives and I can't lie, I shed a few tears there as did he. Wow so powerful. We and the bishop gave them enough money to go to San Salvador and get all the papers for the divorce started so he will go Wednesday!!! Por fin!!! They are so awesome.

Other than that, I'm good, the food is good and today I bought a $90 hammock and I can't wait to use it haha. I'm doing good! You are always in my prayers! Love you all!

Saluuuuuud Pues!

-Elder Loveless

Best and Worst of the Week:

Best- Baptism of Claudia Alejandra
Worst-We walked A TON!!

Mother's Day Skyping

Mother's Day - May 8th, 2016
Skyping with Elder Loveless
Best present ever!!!





Tuesday, May 3, 2016

May 2nd, 2016 - Weekly Letter

May 2nd, 2016 – Weekly Letter

Well this week was a good one! To start off...hmmm....well we're coming into rainy season so it rained like 4 times which was so nice because it cooled down a little bit. So that was cool. Wednesday the hermanas had 2 baptisms so Elder Palmer and I helped out with that and I got to baptize Hermanita Estefany who is like 11 I think. After that Elder Palmer and I went to go buy a dang expensive ice cream cake because it was Hermana Mari's birthday! So us and the zone leaders went to her house and we partied and shoved cake in her face haha.  Friday we went and helped Hermano Nelson make pan dulce which is bread with like sugar and other magical stuff on it. WOW!  It is so good. My companion is addicted to pan dulce.

Saturday we had a Multizona in San Miguel and the asistentes and Presidente and Hermana Vàsquez spoke and it was so good. First he called us all to repentance right there in the chapel. After, we talked about prayers with faith. After that we watched the video of Zion's Camp which I think is in DyC 105. I love that story. At times, what we want is not the will of The Lord, but if we're obedient, He will bless us. If not, we will be punished. After the Multizona, we had some investigators come here to the stake center and we did some dramas to teach principles. I got to be NEFI!!! It was super cool. I had this tunic thing and a headband and a belt with a knife and I taught the Book of Mormon. Sunday we had more investigators at church which was great! After church we went back to San Miguel and we brought Hermana Claudia and Hermanita Claudia Jr. (Fam Carcomo but without the dad) and the stake presidency had a stake wide missionary meeting and the asistentes also taught about family home evenings. That was so good.

It was nice to get a little rest because this week was tough. We walked a lot and didn't teach a whole lot. The Lord is really testing us right now. Fabricio still isn't getting baptized...I don`t really know everything that's going on there...but we are gonna baptize Claudia Jr. on Saturday so that will be awesome! The people here have hard lives...we're teaching a family, the Familia Ochoa, who is Julian (19) Yansi (17) and they have 2 year old twins with health problems. I really think they will get baptized. But I was laughing a little in Hermana Killian's letter talking about Catholics because they're everywhere here and they believe the weirdest stuff...Also some random guy about 2 weeks ago stopped us on the street and called us over and bought us pupusas and tamarindo. We got to know him a little and then set up a return appt so this week we visited him and he was saying that he always sees us walking and we always look so happy so he wanted to know why. We told him it was because of the Gospel. We'll see if he's positive or not. Also my companion was telling me a super good story that's from a talk from a returned missionary. He was working his butt off and not having success while other missionaries were being super disobedient and baptizing. So this Elder went and prayed for like 1 hour straight. He came out and his companion saw him and he was crying. His comp asked what happened in there and he said that the Lord answered his prayer. The Lord said I know every name, person, face, everyone in your area. I know their names and everything about their lives. I could send you there right now, but what good would that do? I need servants that will obey.    Wow. So powerful. The Lord is seeing if we're willing to go and visit 100 houses before he gives us the 1 who is ready. Diligence and Obedience!!!

Also weird and funny story...people always get on buses and preach to us. It's kinda funny..and I think it was Saturday, there were 2 clowns...wow so creepy. And they were like screaming and preaching and I was sleeping and I heard their little blurb and it scared me to death! Baha so weird.

For skype!! Make me an account: jon.loveless3 and make a password and send it to me ASAP! We will skype on Sunday at 1!! Could be a little after, but be ready! I will get on and see what the password is so that I can skype haha. I can't wait! Also send me dad's info so I can find him and also accept us as friends or whatever before Sunday! Thanks!!

I also got 2 letters from Dace and Ashton! In the package I just need toothpaste and good food (; and whatever else.

I love you all and I'll talk to you all Sunday!! Have a fantastic week!!

Saluuuuud Pues!!

Elder Loveless