Letter and Photos - April 20, 2015

"God loves us deeply, perfectly, and everlastingly." President Uchtdorf's talk, The Gift of Grace.

It's been an eventful week. On Friday we had our zone conference with Presidente García, and it was my last one, which means I got to share my testimony. It still feels unreal, and I can't believe how fast time is flying. On Saturday we had interviews, and I just LOVE my mission president. Words can't express how much. The interview helped me a lot and I am so grateful for the love he has for us. He helps me feel a big part of the love my Heavenly Father has for me.

L1...was not baptized. It's kinda a long story, but basically said she didn't feel ready (even though she had already passed her baptismal interview) and said she'll let us know when. But we felt calm knowing we had done our part, and she made the decision. Someday she will be ready. :)

 

This week we met J. L. He was a referral from the zone leaders, since he works in a taco place in their area. He is VERY receptive and accepted a baptismal date. He came to an activity on Wednesday and while waiting for it to start, he opened his Book of Mormon and was reading. The only problem is that right now he is working on Sundays, but he said it's because one of his co-workers is out of town, and as soon as he gets back he is going to ask for Sundays off. :) 

 

Thanks for your wonderful examples of faith and for everything you do. I love you!

Love,

Hermana Loveland

 Hermana Loveland and Hermana Noe visited a craftshop where they make stain glassed windows, including ones for the Payson, Paris and Tijuana temples.

 

Wearing her birthday dress.

With companion Hermana Noe

Greeted by this spider.

April 13, 2015 - Letter and photo

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; (constant) in prayer;"
Romans 12:12  - I found this scripture this week and really liked it.

It's been another great week here in Ensenada, full of miracles and exhaustion and all sorts of fun stuff - it's great to be a missionary! 
 
One miracle is L2! She is 64 and very sick. She had a baptismal date for this week, but last week she got mad for a little thing that happened and said she didn't want us to come anymore. But this week she was able to understand better and is excited for her baptism. The one problem is that she couldn't make it to church yesterday, but she really does have the desire to be baptized. If everything goes well,
she should be baptized on Saturday!

L1 is doing great, and came to church again yesterday. We haven't taught her husband; she says he's not interested, but we might give it  a try. :)

We keep working hard, and trying to improve as well. I know there is lots more I have to give in the time I have left, and I haven't finished learning!

Here is another great scripture I read in the Book of Mormon this week. It is a great one for missionaries and has helped me out:
"Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." Moroni 8:16

Love, Hermana Loveland
 
P.S. I hope you have an amazing birthday Dad! And that you and Mom have a great anniversary as well! Thanks for being the best parents ever!

I meant to send this last week - saying goodbye to A's adorable girl.

 

April 6, 2015 Letter

¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, JEREMY! You are old!

Life is great here in Ensenada. :) Lomitas lives up to it's name and I am working on some nice leg muscles. But it's not too bad, especially compared to the Elders' areas. (We share the ward with two companionships of Elders.) 

Hermana Noé is wonderful. She is such a lovely person and we get along great. I love her! She's a fantastic missionary and it doesn't seem like she only has 3 months here. I've learned a lot from her. We have a good time together. 

Our investigator who is progressing the most right now is L. She is a young mom and lives with her husband and two little kids. She was really quiet at first, but she's opening up and she's seen the 
blessings and the hope of the gospel in her life. Yesterday was her second time at church and she is preparing to be baptized on May 2nd.

General Conference was incredible as always. I love it so much! I am so grateful to have a prophet on the earth and to be able to listen to him and the apostles and other great leaders share such inspiring and powerful lessons. I cannot choose a favorite talk, But I really liked Elder Holland's talk about the atonement and President Uchtdorf's talk about grace and really I just loved all of them and can't wait to able to read and study and apply them even more!

I love being a missionary and I love sharing the gospel! I know it's true!
 

¡Que tengan una excelente semana! Les quiero muchísimo!
 

Con amor,
Hermana Loveland

March 30, 2015 Letter - Transfer to Ensenada

Well, family, I'm in ENSENADA. Crazy, huh? My new companion is Hermana
Noé. She is from Argentina and has about 3 months in the mission.
She's great and I'll think we'll have a fun time. :) My new ward is
Lomitas (which means "hills"). I am excited for this transfer.

It was hard to say a few goodbyes yesterday, especially with A and A and their adorable family, but I know I'll see them again.

And I am very excited about the new adventures we'll have here. I am hoping to really enjoy the little time I have left, and make this last transfer, the best one!
 

My birthday was a pretty great day. The family who signed up to feed us gave us money, so we went to a princess restaurant. haha it was fun. I'll send pictures.

I enjoyed the Women's Broadcast on Saturday, and I am very excited about General Conference this weekend. I know it will be a great blessing for everyone, and it will be a beautiful Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter everyone! Have a beautiful week, and enjoy conference!
 

Share with me your favorite parts.
 

Love,
Hermana Loveland
 

Mom- I haven't received the cards, and since I'm a little farther away, I might not get them until our zone conference, but I'll let you know! I am looking forward to it. :)

 Birthday Brownies and Ice Cream

 With Hermana Urbina - MTC companion. Lots has happen in these 17 months.

 Birthday celebration with Hermana West

 With Hermana Martinez

March 23, 2015 Letter

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

It has been another interesting week. Hermana P, one of the other sisters serving in this ward has been sick and was in the hospital a few days. In the time she was in the hospital or resting my companions were taking turns working with her companion. On Saturday she flew home, they will do more tests and hopefully recover soon. And now Hermana Martinez is working with Hermana Urbina and it's weird not being in a trio anymore. But the good thing is, she's not too far away. :) For this week Hermana West and I will keep working together and then next week are transfers. I'll let you know what happens. :)

This week we found P. He is 43 years old. He is very interested in drawing closer to God. He asks great questions and is receptive. And he came to church on Sunday! :) He is a little worried about his health, but we explained and testified that putting God first in his life, everything else will come. :)

Yesterday the Relief Society class was about Our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and one part I really liked, as she was talking about the Atonement was when she mentioned something like, "We cannot comprehend HOW He did it, but we should always remember WHY He did it." We should
always remember Him and why He gave His life for us, and what He hopes we will do with that wonderful gift.

I love being a missionary and sharing this wonderful gospel. It's not easy, but it is incredible. :) I love it. 

Have a beautiful week! And enjoy my birthday! ;)

Come what may and love it!
Love, Hermana Loveland

March 16, 2015 Letter

Hello family!

It's been another exciting week. Yesterday was our stake conference, which went very well. Elder Antuñano of the Seventy spoke, as well as the San Diego Temple President and his wife. Speaking of temples, the Tijuana temple dedication will be December 13th. :) One of the things that was said in the conference is that we need to have spiritual experiences every day. That is very true. They can be while reading the scriptures, or in our prayers, in sharing the gospel, there are
lots of ways! In what ways will you search for spiritual experiences this week?

Yesterday we had a pretty cool experience. We had been rejected by a few people and some appointments had fallen through and it was pretty warm outside. But we kept looking. Then we saw an older woman struggling with her grocery bags and offered to help her. She lived
kinda far from there, so we got some good exercise. She is 80 something years old (though she seems a lot younger) and her name is M. She invited us in and we met her daughter A and her 27
year old grandson F. They are very kind and also very receptive. They listened to our message and accepted a baptismal date.

We felt the spirit very strong and were so happy and grateful during and afterwards. I love this work! The Lord blesses us, but He also tests our faith and diligence. He is so merciful and loving. We hope to keep working hard and seeing these tender mercies of the Lord. Sometimes it's hard being three missionaries with lots of time on the mission, because our bodies and minds and everything are tired, but we keep going and we want to take advantage of this time the Lord has
given us.

Remember R? We were teaching him a while back when Hermana Muir was here, but he didn't progress. He saw us in the street the other day and told us to come visit him again. He's not living with his girlfriend anymore and he wants to draw closer to God. We've taught him a couple times this week, and he came to church yesterday. 

About G, we have seen him in a long time. He wasn't progressing and isn't quite willing to give up some things in his life. We hope he knows we love him and I know one day he will be able to live the gospel and receive these blessings in his life.
 

In other news, I had my last appointment with my doctor on Saturday. He said I'm all good and can be 100% back to normal physical activities. It'll be good to be able to do more exercise again. :)

This week I found a cool scripture in Acts 20:24 "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." 

Come what may and love it!
 

Love,
Hermana Serena Loveland

March 9, 2015 Letter and Pictures

Whoa, lots of emails and lots of stories to share and I don't really know where to begin...
 
First of all, I'm so sorry for not writing last week. We had a technical difficulty and we ran out of time and we didn't get to  email. But I'm alive! Thanks for all the emails and love!  This week was great!

On Saturday, A was baptized! I love that family so much and I am sooooo grateful to be a part of helping them embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and prepare to be an eternal family. I hope to come back in a year when they can go to the temple!  :)
 
This week we had our conference with Presidente García. It was wonderful, as usual. I learned a lot and felt spiritually  strengthened. The best part was when we watched part of UP! I love  that movie so much, and so does President. We watched a few parts that he applied to missionary work. It was incredible. I was very happy. I  also got my package that day. Thanks family! 

This week we also found M. She is an incredible woman. The Lord has prepared her for this gospel. We found her after climbing a huge hill and attempting to knock doors. Hardly anyone received us, but when we reached the top of the hill and the end of the street we saw  her getting out of her car with her daughter and contacted her. She let us in and listened and asked questions and she is so awesome! 
 
Afterwards Hermana West said it was the most spiritual lesson of her whole mission, and I would probably agree. It was an awesome experience and reminded us that the Lord IS preparing people for this  gospel!
 
I am so grateful for this chance to be a missionary. I have many imperfections but the Lord still lets me be an instrument in His hands and I am so grateful. I love this work!
 
Ahh! So little time to express all that happens in a week in the life of a missionary! Sorry!
 
I love you muuuuuucho!
Love, Hermana Loveland 

 A's Baptism

 H's fixes Hermana Loveland's hair.

The three companions.

Letter - Feb. 23, 2015

¡Buenas tardes!
 
Well, the highlight of this week was Friday, where we met with all of the missionaries in Tijuana (and I was able to see Hermana Muir and  Hermana Camacho and other great missionary friends) and we watched  Meet the Mormons. Have you seen it? I know it came out in the US a  while ago, but this Friday it comes to some theaters here. It is a  great movie, and I hope everyone sees it and shares it with their  friends!

Yesterday we saw the Bishop in the hall before church and he told us that those who were assigned  to speak in sacrament meeting had not  prepared, thinking it wasn't until next week, so he asked if the three  of us could speak. We were a little nervous, since we didn't have to  time to prepare, but it actually turned out pretty well. It really was  like Nephi, and we were guided by the Spirit without knowing  beforehand what we were to say. It strengthened my testimony of how  the Lord guides us.

I don't remember if I told you or not, but we are now knocking doors again, something that wasn't allowed in our mission before. This week we've contacted several people and knocked several doors. It's still  not the most effective way to find new investigators, but it works sometimes! Lots of people say no, but there are also some people who say yes, and that makes it worth it!

One of the people we found this way is R. He is 43 and recently separated from his wife, and looking to draw closer to God. We set an appointment to come back the next day, and he really opened up and  told us everything that was going on in his life. We've also been able to teach him about the Restoration of the Gospel. He has lots of  questions, but is open and wants to learn more.

This week I read in Doctrine and Convenants 24:8: "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have any; but endure them, for, lo, I am  with thee, even unto the end of thy days." I love that scripture! We
 know that life isn't easy, but the Lord is with us, and if we are  patient, all will be well.
 
Have a beautiful week! Come what may, and love it!
 
Love,
Hermana Loveland
 
p.s. Tell Sister Nilson thank you very much for all the cards and love!

Loveland cousins - Thanks for the emails! I'll try to write back next week! I love you!