23 Oct 2018: Raisin Bran Scripture Cases and Peanut Butter Chocolate Tortillas Make the World Taste Good

Hola Todos!

I know it's an interesting title, but that's how I get you to read my emails, HA! I have made two significant discoveries this week, both on exchanges with other elders.

1. If you cut a cereal box in half, and tape some nice pictures of the prophet and/or the temple on it, it makes for a nice, not bulky scripture case that you can take with you to appointments. Yes I know I have digital scriptures but I'm an old fashioned kind of elder.

2. If you put a proportionate amount of peanut butter and nutella on a tortilla(normally flour but whatever you prefer) and roll it up like a taquito, you have a nice, quick on-the-go snack: a peanut butter-chocolate tortilla. 

Raisin Bran Scripture Case

Ok, highlights for the week:

- we have had the opportunity teach some really great lessons this week, and one of my favorite people to visit are three guys who are actually returning members who live in a sober living complex, so they are all recovering addicts. Rob is 57, but since getting back into the Book of Mormon every day, his countenance has totally changed. He went from being slightly depressed, to being like a little boy. Just happy as can be. Monty, who is 40ish, is also reading a lot on his own, and he is so happy because of it! But we read with them in the Book of Mormon every time we go over there. We read with them in Alma 32, and how at the end of the chapter, when it says to look for the fruit with patience, we need to do that. We told them that one of the "fruits" is the temple. We committed them to work to make themselves worthy to enter the temple. The Spirit was so strong there! 

- We had the Washington Avenue ward chili Cook off and trunk or treat. We couldn't dress up, so we switched nametags for a few minutes to be funny, and then switched back. I ate a ton of chili, but Elder Troya didn't because he doesnt like Spicy food. More for me, and my destroyed digestive system (: 

- we are teaching this guy named Jesus (Pronounced hay zoos) He knows it is true, and loves talking to us, he just wants time to think it over. I have never seen the conversion happen only in their eyes before, but you could see he was converted to the gospel in his eyes. He is just nervous about the change. 

- I don't know if I put this in one of my past emails, but a miracle we had back during my first week, about a girl named Diana whose mother was struggling for her life in the hospital, getting to meet her and teach her, was awesome. We taught her about the plan of Salvation, but they ended up moving her mother out of state and we lost contact with her. The past few days I have been getting the feeling that we need to go try to see her. We did, and she was back! Her mother did end up passing away, but she did read the Plan of Salvation Pamphlet and a bit of the book of mormon! And we set up another appointment with her! It was awesome seeing her again, and being able to teach her again. Definite highlight for the week.

- We met a lot of great new people this week!

- On exchanges with our district leader and his companion, I went to their area with our district leader, Elder Rodrigues. We taught an 85 year old legally blind man named Bob, and his dog Popeye, who snored more than any other dog on earth. Don't try to argue with me. This dog snored like no other. 

-You remember the young couple we taught last Sunday and it was totally awesome? We were supposed to teach them again this past Sunday, but they texted us, saying that they don't want us coming over anymore. In essence, I got "Dear Johnned" without ever having a girlfriend! It stunk! Because we poured out our hearts to them! We taught so by the Spirit, I knew that they were going to be baptized. When we had our departure devotional at the MTC, President Martino told us "one day on your missions, you will teach someone the gospel, they will listen, maybe even accept a baptismal date. Then one day you will receive a phone call, or a text, or a note slipped underneath your door, that they don't want to see you anymore. And then...your heart...will break." He said this in tears. I will never forget that. It was ringing in my ears all night that day. 

But, now humbled, we gathered as a companionship, in prayer, asking Heavenly Father where we should go. We both got the same powerful impression to go to a certain apartment complex and so we did, and we met with a lady who we had been teaching for a while, but the difference this time, was that her significant other was there, and he usually doesn't like us, but he liked us this time! It was a good way to turn it around. 

Yesterday marked two months in Vegas for me! Wow! 

Spiritual thought for the week: 

 I have been pondering a few verses in the Book of Mormon this week, in Alma 32:41-43

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

This fruit, that is "sweet above all that is sweet" is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by extension, every blessing or scripture or anything regarding our faith in Jesus Christ that we receive through nurturing the "seed" in our hearts. I invite you all, to nurture that seed in your hearts, to partake of that fruit that is "sweet above all that is sweet". I promise you that this fruit is So sweet, because it isn't an instant sweetness, only to be gone after a few seconds. The sweetness, or happiness that this gospel brings is eternal.  It will bring you everlasting joy and happiness if you let it grow within you.

I love you all! Hit me up with your emails!

Elder Lovell