Photos - June 2, 2014

 Beautiful San Luis.

 With Olga.

  Hermana Diaz and I outside the house with our bicicletas :)

 The kids we brought to church yesterday. 

(One is missing, he ran off and didn't want to be in the picture...)

 Making tortillas.

 My bed.

My study area.

Photos - June 9, 2014

Pictures as a district 

(except the Elders in Ciudad Morelos because they are far away and don't even come for district meetings) It is a fun district :)

Hermana Torres (not the one who was my companion, 

a different one who was here in San Luis with us) braided my hair

 

  La hermana Diaz, mi compañera :)

 La hermana Torres. I love her so much. 

She is an incredible missionary and friend and I loved serving in the same ward as her this transfer. 

I hope to be with her again in the mission.

 Las hermanas del Barrio Libertad :)

With one of our super awesome ward missionaries, Hermana Alma

August 11, 2014 Letter

My dear wonderful family and friends!

Exciting times! Remember when Jake and I sang for Ross's wedding? Well, here's the new versión:

"I can see what's happening. And they don't have a clue. They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line: our trio's down to... one." haha but really, congratulations Jake and Shayla! I'm super excited for you guys. A little bummed I won't be there for the wedding, but I know it will be a great time. :)

Life here has been pretty good. The weather's been fairly cool, only about 100 F. (I've gone crazy, I know.) :) There's been lots of ups and downs, moments of discouragement and moments of pure joy. And it's a great time! Sometimes training is stressful because I feel like a lot depends on me, but my companion is awesome and is a great missionary, so it's not too bad. And every time that I felt discouraged, the Lord showed me a huge tender mercy to remind me that He loves me.

One of these awesome tender mercies was on Thursday. It wasn't a terrible day, but I wasn't feeling super excited and we had visited a few investigators who really aren't progressing anymore, and I just felt kinda down. That evening we had our missionary coordination meeting, and while we were waiting for people to show up, we saw Hermano Ceron! from Playas! I was soooo happy to see him. He was there to give a training to seminary teachers, and afterwards we were able to talk to him for a while. It was so great to see him and get updates on his family and the ward. He also said it was great to see us (Hermana Tree and I) and that we are missed in Playas. It made my day. :)

With Hermano Ceron - and Hermana Tree!

About F, he didn't make it to church yesterday, and we visited him in the afternoon and decided his baptism will be next week, August 23. He is smoking a lot less, and progressing well towards him baptism.

We have a new investigator, named K, and she is incredible. Her husband is the less active nephew of some members, and was a referral from them. And when I say husband, I mean boyfriend, because they aren't legally married. But they have plans to get married and are very interested in coming to church. Actually, they came yesterday. It was so great to have them there! She is preparing to be baptized on September 13, and they are very excited. They are a fun couple as well, and I'm super excited that they are working towards being an eternal family. I love seeing how the gospel can change lives!

That's all for this week. I love you! Have a terrific week!

Love, Hermana Serena Loveland

P.S. Happy Loveland Temple Day! I can't believe it's been 10 years!

And: Happy birthday Grandpa L!

Happy August - August 4, 2014 Letter

Happy August! 

Time is flying. All is well here in San Luis. We had a bit of crazy weather yesterday and it rained a ton. (I'll send pictures. :) ) It was a fun time. Currently the weather is fairly nice, and it will probably heat up again by tomorrow. Always an adventure. :)

 

So updates on investigators: F is doing super well. We taught him a couple times this week and he came to church yesterday. He is pretty excited. One challenge he has is smoking. But he wants to change and we are setting goals with him so he can stop smoking. It's hard because his mom and his uncle, and many others smoke, but he has a great desire to change and to be baptized, and is preparing to be baptized on August 16th. I love how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes people's lives. 

 

Speaking of which, S sent me an email today, with photos of her wedding and baptism. I am soo incredibly happy for her and her family. I love them so much and love how the gospel has changed their lives. It was so great to hear from her. :)

 

A few other investigators we have are S and G, an older couple who are excited about learning and coming to church. The one thing is, they aren't legally married, and S needs to be divorced before they can do that. We have also taught their grandson who lives with them, J. G didn't make it to church yesterday, but S and J came and are preparing to be baptized on September 6.

 

This week we also had exchanges with our sister training leader, Hermana Bautista. She is a great missionary and I was able to learn lots of stuff. 

 

This week I hit my 9 month in the mission and sometimes I feel like I'm just barely starting, because there are lots of things to learn and improve each day. But that's the cool thing about the mission (and life), we get to keep learning and becoming better every day, and we never finish learning. I'm grateful that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can change and be better every single day and we don't have to keep making the same mistakes. I love this gospel and I love being a missionary and sharing it with others!

 

I love you all!

Keep smiling!

Love,Hermana Loveland

I'm Alive - July 28, 2014

My wonderful family! 

I am sooo sorry I didn't write last week! But I promise it wasn't my fault. :) What happened was when they called for transfers on Saturday night they told me I was going to train! And that I had to travel to Tijuana on Sunday afternoon with Hermana Ramirez and another hermana who was going home as well. It was a fun trip. Then on Monday we had transfer meeting and a little bit of training and another 4 hour bus ride back to San Luis. So I didn't have time to write. :( Lo siento!

 

My new companion is Hermana Camacho. She is from Cozumel, and I'll think we'll have to go visit her after our missions. :) That place sounds beautiful. She is wonderful. I was a little nervous about training, because sometimes I feel like I still don't know what I'm doing as a missionary...haha but it is lots of fun. It really helps that Hermana Camacho is very sweet and excited about working hard- and that she can handle the extremely high temperatures of San Luis. She is also excited about learning and always wanting to improve. She is an excellent missionary. I know we are going to see many miracles in our time together. 

 

It's been a very busy time these past 2 weeks with the last week of Hermana Ramirez's mission and the first week of Hermana Camacho's mission. It's been cool. Every day I learn more and see miracles.

One investigator we have right now is F. He went to FSY (EFY) two weeks ago and had a great time. He made lots of friends and felt the Spirit. When we saw him last Saturday he was telling us how it went and said, "And I'm going to baptized in 4 weeks." Sounds great! We are excited for him. He is making incredible changes in his life and wants to make more. He knows the Church is true and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. But the last few days with haven't been able to find him, and he didn't make it to church yesterday. :( But we're not giving up and we'll find him this week and help him keep progressing towards his baptism. :)

 

I love being a missionary! I love those tender mercies of the Lord when we can see the "fruits" of our labors. On Monday when I was in Tijuana, I saw the sisters who are currently in Playas. You guys remember S? Our super awesome investigator in Playas, well she got baptized this week. :) They told me that she was going to be married and baptized on Friday. I am so so so happy for her. And in a year I have plans to attend their sealing in the temple. :)

 

I love you all! Thanks so much for your support and love! I'll try to write better next week! :)

Come what may and love it!

Love,  Hermana Serena Loveland

 

P.S. Happy birthday this week, Grandma J!

July 14, 2014 Letter

Buenas tardes mi familia!!

Thanks for the updates on everything! It's been another exciting week here, with lots of ups and downs,but overall and am super grateful to be a missionary and have this great opportunity to represent my Savior and His church. First of all, we met Presidente Garcia and his wife on Wednesday. We were all super excited to meet them. They are wonderful. Words can't describe. Presidente Garcia is a wonderful person and we could feel the incredible amount of love he has for us, even though we had just met him. He's pretty funny as well. :) I learned a lot and know I am going to keep learning lots from him. He also said they're like our "abuelitos" :) Also he referred to the movie UP, relating to missionary work and the gospel and said we're going to watch it sometime. That made me love him even more. haha. :) Also Hermana Beaumont and I sang "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul" the music from 17 Miracles, and it went all right. :)

 

A few bits of sad news: this week we visited V to see why she wasn't able to come to church and she siad it's because of her "husband." He doesn't want her to go, and he doesn't want to marry her, even though they've been living together for 8 years... So there's not much we can do for her. But she has a lot of faith and I know the Lord will bless her. 

 

Also V broke our hearts this week. She told us she didn't want to offend us our anything, but that she just doesn't get the Book of Mormon, or the Church and has always felt better in the Catholic church. :( She didn't want to waste our time our hers and she said she hoped we could find people who were really willing to listen. It was so sad, partly because I love her a lot, and partly because I know how the Gospel could bless her life immensely if she would let it.  

 

But there is also good news: S was baptized on Saturday! That was a miracle and prayers were answered. (like it is in every baptism) Not many members came, and we had to ask the Elders to be the witnesses, but it was a good baptismal service. S felt great and was excited to take this step to draw closer to God, and to make a covenant with Him. He said he wants to be a missionary as well. He's got a ways to go until he's ready for that, but I believe he'll be a great missionary. 

 

We are excited to keep working lots this week. It's Hermana Ramirez's last week and we're going to give it our all. I love being a missionary! I know the church is true! And I know that the Lord is with us.

 

Les quiero mucho! Have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Loveland

July 7, 2014 Letter

My dear family!

Sorry for writing a little late this week, the day got a little crazy, but all is well here in San Luis! 

Sounds like it as a great week at youth conference and a great time at the family reunion! Tell everyone I say hi! 

 

Updates on investigators: We are going to have a baptism on Saturday! S is going to be baptized. We had taught him a couple times, and then he disappeared, and doesn't have a cell phone, but then he showed up again! He has come to church many times and he is excited about being baptized.

 

A and family aren't progressing. A told us he didn't want to listen anymore, which was pretty sad, but I know he'll remember what we taught and what he has felt and someday be baptized. 

 

C is progressing pretty well though :) She went to Young Womens camp and had a great time. We haven't talked to her since (she didn't make it to church yesterday), but the YW president told us that it went well. On Saturday we met C's mom. She is fine that her daughter is going to church and drawing closer to God, though she feels like her daughter isn't ready to be baptized yet, that she should take time to make that decision. We'll keep working with them and praying for them, but I think C will be baptized fairly soon. :)

 

V is doing well, but still didn't make it to church. And we received the sad news this week that she is not legally married. :( But she knows that she needs to keep the commandments and she wants to be baptized. She's not sure her husband will want to, or how they will have the money, but we told her to pray and ask for God's help, and we are praying as well. :)

 

On Sunday, our only investigator at church as S. We also had gone to pick up a less active family, but they didn't come, and we were a little late to church. I was feeling kinda bummed. I felt like this week we were working harder and harder and not seeing the results. Later a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came to my mind: 

"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who have ever lived." 

 

I love that quote, and it helped me feel better, and more committed to keep working hard and give it my all no matter what the results are. I know that the blessings don't always come when we want them, but they do come. In the meantime I just have to do my part and work hard and trust in the Lord, and count the many, many blessings He gives me every single day.

 

I love being a missionary. This is the greatest work on earth. 

 

Thanks for everything! I love you lots! Words can't describe how awesome my family is or how much I love them! My family is the best. :)

 

Have a fantastic week! Come what may and love it!

Love,

Hermana Loveland

June 30, 2014 Letter

Another exciting, and sunny, week here in San Luis Rio Colorado. To answer your question, Mom, here in San Luis Rio Colorado it is one stake, with 5 wards, and 18 missionaries. :)

 

On Wednesday we had our conference with Presidente Carreon in Mexicali. We got up super early and took a bus there. It was a conference with 3 zones, and I saw Hermana Mendoza there, which was fun. :) It was a great conference. And a little tough to say good bye to such a wonderful mission president and his wife. They have taught us so much, and have seen us learn and grow. We will miss them. Our next conference will be next week, on the 9th, when we will meet President Garcia and his wife. I'm looking forward to meeting them. :)

 

At our conference I recieved a letter from Autumn. Thanks! I still haven't received those letters from Grandma...who knows where they are. Also we finally got the conference issue of the Liahona. I love general conference and being able to read and study the talks!

 

V is progressing really well, but didn't make it to church yesterday. :( We'll go see her and help make sure she comes next week. She tells we have to give her homework and she'll write down her doubts and questions and help her out. She is wonderful. 

 

C is going to young womens camp this week. I know she'll have a great time! We still need to talk to her parents about giving permission  for her to be baptized. Part of the problem is she lives with her grandparents, but sometimes she's with her mom who also has to give permission, but we'll work on that. A is doing well (he's 10 years old), but didn't come to church yesterday.

 

Funny story about E...turns out he's already a member! A member passed by his home to pick him up for an activity (he didn't come :/) and later told us that the man who lives there is a member who was baptized about 10 years ago. We didn't believe it, because he was so excited about getting baptized. Later I even asked him specifically if he'd ever been baptized. He said no. We asked him for his full name and checked the ward lists, and there he is. I couldn't believe it. We visited him last night and he seriously does not remember it. We told him he was already baptized and a member of the church, but he doesn't remember. He had told us before that the Elders had visited him, but nothing else. Turns out he had an accident a few years ago, and that's probably the reason he doesn't remember. He was bummed when we told him; he was really looking forward to being baptized. But he asked, "So, what's next?" and is excited about coming "back" to church. His niece V is still planning on being baptized. She didn't make it to church, so we changed her baptism date for August 2nd. But she prays every day and has read a little the Book of Mormon. I know she'll be ready. :)

 

Speaking of the Book of Mormon, I finished it this morning. I love that book soo much! It truly testifies of Christ and helps us draw closer to Him. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I highly recommend that everyone reads it! It will change your life.

 

I love you! Thanks for your prayers and support! I pray for you as well!

Love,

Hermana Serena Loveland

June 23, 2014 Letter

Buenas tardes mi querida familia!

 

First of all, feliz cumpleaños Autumn! You are old! I hope you have a great birthday tomorrow!

 

So it's "officially" summer. But the temperatures here have already been very summer-y. But it's a great time! And yes, Mom, I am drinking lots of water. And Gatorade. Don't worry :)

 

E didn't come to church again. :( But her son A did. He is really great. Sometimes he's a bit of a punk :) but he is very smart and likes coming to church. He knows when his baptismal date is and is preparing for it. In our mission we can baptize kids when their parents don't want to accept the gospel if they give permission, and if there are members committed to bringing them to church every week. I'm pretty sure E will let him even if she isn't ready, and we have Hermano J, who is her uncle, who picks them up for church every week. :) I think he will get baptized soon. We're hoping to be able to talk to some of the other kids' parents as well to see if they will let them be baptized. C, who is 12 years old is progressing super well, and has come to church 4 weeks in a row and is planning to go to Young Womens Camp. :)

 

This week we haven't seen R, or P. But we're not giving up on them. I'll keep you updated. :)

 

Last Sunday we contacted V and her uncle E when we were looking for an address. We never found the house we were looking for, but they were much better. :) They are very receptive and love to learn. We are also teaching V's son, M. Yesterday we taught them Plan of Salvation and they said, "I didn't know that before." I love being a missionary and helping people come to know this wonderful plan of happiness! They didn't make it to church yesterday, and V was working every day, but last night she told us that she quit and she'll be there on Sunday. I am super excited for them. They are preparing to be baptized on July 26th.

 

We only saw V once this week. She said she enjoyed church but it was super long...haha. But she commited to come to church this week, but maybe just for the first hour. But when we went to pick her up, no one was home...

 

Also, D and her husband came to church again. Her husband had an interview with the Bishop and set goals and is working towards being worthy to baptize his wife. :) I am excited for them. But she still won't accept a baptismal date... We'll keep working with her.  :)

 

This week we had exchanges with our sister training leader. It was the first time I was the one who stayed in the area to be with Hermana Chavarria (our sister training leader). But it went all right. Things didn't go according to plan, but they hardly ever do. haha but I was able to learn lots from her and see things I can improve to be a better missionary. I've got a lot to improve, but I know if I keep working and try to be a little better every day, the Lord will help me out. :) It's His work, after all. :)

This will be an exciting week as we have our last conference with Presidente Carreon on Wednesday in Mexicali. We thought the last one was going to be, but it's this week. And then Presidente Garcia gets here on Thursday! Exciting times. We are definitely going to miss Presidente Carreon, he is great. I have learned so much from him. 

 

As for Loveland Adoption Day, I'm not sure what I'll do to celebrate, maybe eat some ice cream. :) 

I love you lots! Have a terrific week! Keep smiling and "Come what may and love it!"

 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Loveland

June 16, 2014 Letter

This week has been pretty good. Some days better than others, but that's how life works. :) Overall, everything is going very well and I love being a missionary. :) My companion is great as well. She is very loving and fun. 

 

The afternoon on Tuesday was one of those times that was a little tough. We were headed the the member's house where we were going to eat and my companion got a flat tire on her bicycle. We made it to their house, but afterwards we went with J and O to ask them to take us to the bicycle shop (there's a guy named Richard who has a bicycle shop here and fixes all the missionaries bikes for free, he is awesome). Then we were headed to a lesson we had pretty far away, and my bike got a flat tire. So we called Hermano Jesus to come rescue us again. He's so great. But the rest of the day went all right. We didn't let that stop us from working. :)

 

E and her sons didn't come to church again. :( A few of her nieces and nephews did though. It's tough because the kids are super smart and love going to church, but the gospel is really about families, and we can't just baptize the kids. We're going to see if we can talk to Elizabeth again this week and see what we can do to help them.

 

We only saw P once this week, but he is doing really well. He didn't come to church yesterday because he had to go to Mexicali, but he is still excited about learning and being closer to God.

 

Saturday afternoon, Hermana Alma joined us (and drove us in a car, which is a nice break from the heat). She is wonderful. We attempted to visit tons of people and no one was home. It was a little disappointing. Later we decided to stop by once more at one of the houses we had already tried to see if he'd come home. And he had! His name is R. He was taught by the missionaries about 5 years ago, and his stepdaughter was baptized. His wife and daughters are currently on vacation in Alabama. We said it would be awesome if when she came home he could say, "Guess what! I got baptized!" He is very receptive and accepted a baptismal date for July 19th. I am excited for him. Though he didn't make it church yesterday. :( Not sure what happened, but we'll see him tomorrow and do everything so he makes it next week!

Remember J and V? V and two of her sons came to church yesterday! It was great to have them there and we are going to keep working with them this week so they can have a baptismal date and work towards that goal. :)

 

I am doing well here in San Luis. It's warm out, but I know the Lord helps me and it doesn't have to affect His work. And I am really loving it. I never thought I could be so happy living in such a ridicously hot place, but I am having a great time. :)

 

I hope all is well! I love you! Have an awesome week!

Love, 

Hermana Loveland

picture: with my companion, Hermana Ramirez. :) On Friday we ate with a family who live at the edge of the ward boundaries (and a pretty long bike ride) and decided to take pictures.