6 Nov 2018: "Consecrate your talents"

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone is well! I don't have a ton of time to email today, but that doesn't mean don't send any to me! 

On Wednesday, we were blessed to go the the temple. The temple is literally the Holy House of God. The Spirit is so strong there, because it is one of the most sacred places on earth. Before we went in, President Youngblood told all of us to think about the ways that we can further the work in our areas. I pondered that question during the entire temple session. At the end, this came to my mind "You need to consecrate your talents." When I left on my mission, I thought I would just sacrifice my musical talents, put them on the altar, so to speak, to focus everything I had on missionary work. When I was at the temple, I realized that I was given these talents to bless the lives of others. I'm not quite sure how I will consecrate my talents, but I know I need to. I am going to start by learning the hymns on the piano. I need to consecrate all I have been given to this work for two years. 

Other than that, we had a couple cool experiences. Yesterday we got to meet and teach a lady named Judy, who had met with missionaries before, and we were able to answer her questions! She had a lot of cool experiences that she had had, that I won't share in respect of her. But rest assured that she shared a lot of experiences with us, that amazed me, and by the power of the Holy Ghost we were able to answer the concerns she had. Brother Davis, the Elders Quorum President, came with us, and then we gave a blessing with him and moved a couch later that night with him. He took us out to eat, and when we told him that transfers were coming up next week, he said "if you guys are getting transferred I'm leaving the church!" Ha ha, of course he was kidding. We have just grown really close to him and his wife this past transfer. He is 71 and still riding dirt bikes and hunting and everything! He is a monster, but also just a sweet man that doesn't look a day over 55.

Michael, the guy we met on the street last week came to church! He was the only one that came, even though we literally walked to people's houses to invite them to church, but anyway Michael stayed for all of the meetings, even volunteered comments, and his time to serve in security for stake conference! Yeah they need security for Stake conference because......Vegas. 

After church we went to the elders quorum Presidents house and he fed Michael, Elder Troya and I pancakes and eggs, which were great! (The eggs were...ok haha) 

We were going to have this lesson with someone we were teaching, and a member named Martín, but he canceled on us, so Martín drove us home. He told us that when we had asked him to join us for a lesson, he had literally just been praying to be able to go out with the missionaries again. I am always blown away by the faith of the members here. 

Spiritual though of the week: I have always wondered why I was called Spanish speaking. Regardless of my albeit limited experience with the language before my mission, I now know why. My Father in Heaven and Savior knew that my heart would open up to the hispanic people of Las Vegas, more than I could have ever anticipated. Seriously, words cannot describe the love that I have for the hispanic people of Las Vegas (and their food ). I think it's because I am having the blessing to experience the divine love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for them. It is divine. Missions are divine. 

Love,

Elder Lovell

Pics

Our 4ft Christmas tree. For the record, we set it up before Halloween. Haters gonna hate.

Awesome pictures of the Las Vegas temple, companion included

Most of the mission before we went to the temple. Unfortunately the missionaries serving out of valley couldn't come because of distance.

President and Sister Youngblood with your favorite missionary (: this was taken when I picked up Elder Troya from the mission office.

Happy first week of November. I would have you all know that I'm enjoying a nice crisp 74° right now. 110° was worth it just to enjoy this weather right now. Not to brag or anything, ha ha