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.

June 9, 2014 Letter

Hola!

So transfers were today! Hermana Diaz left (and went to Playas!) and my new companion is Hermana Ramirez. She is from Oaxaca. This is her last transfer in the mission. Also, she was already her in San Luis a few months ago so she already knows the members and everything. It will be a fun transfer. I am ready to keep working harder and harder and see more and more miracles here in sunny San Luis.

 

E didn't make it to church, and neither did her sons, but a few of the other nieces and nephews did. 

 

We're going to visit them lots this week and help them make it to church next Sunday.

 

Another investigator, D, came as well. Her husband is less active, but wants to be active in the church again and he wants to be able to baptize his wife. They want to be an eternal family. :) But she says she doesn't want pressure towards a baptismal date, wants to keep learning and wait until she's ready. We'll keep working with her and help her receive an answer from God that the church is true, and that this is the right decision.

 

Yesterday we had a lesson with a referral from our zone leaders, someone they had contacted. His name is Pierre and he is super cool. He is very receptive and excited to learn. He lives with his wife and 3 sons. We are definitely going to keep working with him and helping him progress. 

 

I am looking forward to this new transfer and the experiences we will have, all that I will learn and grow. Sometimes it's hard to look back and see all the mistakes I've made, my imperfections. But the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ is about learning and growing in my weaknesses and improving every day. I don't have to be perfect today, and Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be. He just wants me to do my best and serve in His work and be a little better than I was yesterday. 

 

I love you all!

Have an excellent week!

Come what may and love it!

Love,

Hermana Loveland

June 2, 2014 Letter

Mi querida familia!

Como estan?? Les quiero mucho!

This week Hermano J (our wonderful ward mission leader) introduced us to his niece, E, and her family. They all seem super receptive, especially the kids. They are a bunch of cousins, aunts & uncles who all live super close and the kids are pretty excited about learning. A sister in the ward took us to pick them up for church and Elizabeth wasn't feeling well, but her two sons and several cousins/neighbors/I don't even know who were all ready to go. So we brought 10 kids ranging from age 4 to 14 to church yesterday. It was fun. They behaved fairly well and enjoyed it. We're hoping E will be able to join us next week. :) 

G & A told us they are moving this week...sad day. But we will keep working with the members and talking with everyone to find the people the Lord has prepared for us to teach. :) 

 

Today O and J taught us how to make flour tortillas! It was fun. They are such great people and take great care of us. :) I love them a ton. 

 

Sorry this letter is short...I'll do better next week! And I'm going to send pictures! 

 

I love you all! Thanks for everything! 

 

Come what may and love it!

Love,

Hermana Loveland

May 26, 2014 Letter

My dear family and friends,

Another week has flown by here in San Luis. It's crazy how fast time flies in the mission so I'll try not to think about it. 

Okay, updates on people- J and F, well they are super sweet, but they aren't progressing much...there is a good chance we will drop them. Sometimes it's hard to do that, because we love these people, but we have to remember that there are other people who the Lord has prepared and are waiting to hear the gospel.

 

We haven't been able to teach Sergio this week, but he came to church again, so that was great and we plan to see him this week,

 

We are also teaching J and V. They are great people. Previously they didn't come to church because he was working on Sundays and she didn't really want to go without him. But this week he told us he had talked to his boss and she said he could have Sundays  off! We were very excited for them and they committed to coming to church yesterday. But when we went to pick them up yesterday no one was home. :( We don't know what happened, but we are going to visit them this week and we're hoping they will be able to come next week.

 

We also have a few new investigators: J, G and A. They are very receptive and excited about learning about the gospel. I love it! G and A came to church yesterday as well and have a baptismal date for June 24th. 

 

Well that's about all for now. I love you! Have a terrific week!

Love,

Hermana Serena Loveland

Dad- You rock! I'm still pretty sure that you are a superhero or something. I don't know how you have time but it but you are always serving others in many different ways. Thanks so much for your example! Also I really love that talk! I was reading it the other day. Good stuff. :)

Mom- The chocolates were in good shape when they arrived, no worries. :) I have not received any letters lately. Who knows what happened with them..Hope they'll show up soon! :)

Katie L- Happy birthday! I hope you have a great day and Ross and the girls spoil you! :)

Jeremy- Thanks for the email! Mexico is great and I really am getting tanner. ANd my hair is getting blonder. I kinda stick out here...a blonde american girl riding a bike in a skirt...haha it is a great time! I hope you are taking good care of the truck! 

Wesley- Wow. Quite the email. Thanks for being a good friend. Though I wouldn't recommend doing that again. Be careful, punk. :) And I would like to see a picture. :)

Pictures - May 2014

 The flooded church -- when the baptismal font was running.

 

 Hermano Jesus

 

 Octavio's baptism.

 Chinese food buffet as a zone with Presidente Carreon.

 

   Presidente with the Hermanas.

 With Hermana Diaz.

 My tan line.

Zone activity climbing the dunes.

 Welcome to Las Vegas!

Apparently they filmed a movie or something here, so they have this sign.

May 19, 2014 Letter

Dear family,

 

I LOVE YOU.

This week was very eventful. Where to begin...

 

First of all O was baptized and confirmed this week! His baptism was on Tuesday, but before that we flooded the church building! aah I can't believe that happened. We went with our new ward mission leader earlier in the day to clean and fill the font and then we left and he was going to come back and check in a few hours. Later he had car troubles and didn't go and we had forgotten about it, so we went super fast to check and it had flooded a little bit. Oops. We grabbed brooms and started sweeping the water out the doors. It was quite the adventure and we were just laughing the whole time, because what else could we do? I'll be sure to send pictures. :) But the baptism went well and O is doing well, which the important part. :)

 

Then on Wednesday we had zone conference with Presidente Carreon. It was great. (And yes Mom, I did receive my package- Thanks!) Since it was his last conference before he leaves he took us all out to eat at a Chinese food buffet. It's fun being in San Luis and far away from everything because I'm pretty sure he didn't do that with all the zones. :) In the evening he also invited us to carne asada at our stake president's home. It was a fun time. When we were riding our bicycles home, President Carreon followed us in his car to make sure we made it safe. :) He is a really great mission president and we will miss him. I've learned a lot from him. 

 

This week J told us that he doesn't want us to come anymore. :( It was sad because he seemed to be progressing so well, but oh well. I hope someday soon. For now we'll keep working to find new people. :)

J and F are doing pretty well. Earlier in the week we were feeling like they weren't progressing very much and maybe we were going to have to drop them, but we visited them on Saturday and taught about the Sabbath Day and they seemed very excited and ready to come to church. We went and picked them up on Sunday and J couldn't come because he was feeling sick, but F came with her grandson! It was so great to have them there.

 

S also came, he is a referral from O and Jesus (ward mission leader) and seems pretty excited about learning about the Gospel.

 

A little more about Hermana Diaz: she is from the northern part of Chile and has two younger brothers. It's fun because sometimes she says weird words that don't exist here in Mexico, or mean different things. :) She doesn't speak much English, but this week we started reading the Book of Mormon in English to practice. I enjoy it. :)

 

I also enjoy being on bicycle. It's lots of fun, even when the roads are sand. I don't wnat to think about leaving San Luis and having to walk again...bicycles are the best! Plus there are zero hills here and it's all flat. :)

 

This morning we had a zone activity and we went to "las dunas" (sand dunes). It was mostly just for the pictures. We climbed up some huge sand dunes and it was quite the adventure. Being in San Luis is lots of fun. :) Life is very good. :)

 

I am going to send lots of pictures right now. :) I love you all! Have a great week! Come what may and love it!

 

Love,

Hermana Loveland

 

P.S. Mom, I love you! Thanks for the package. We really enjoy the jelly beans. :) And thanks for the photos of the temple as well. In our zone conference on Wednesday, Presidente Carreon showed me the picture you put on facebook of the Mothers' Day call. And then he showed it to me two more times throughout the day. haha it was fun. :)