1 Jan 2019: Is it possible to learn a third language while on the mission?

Basi kila mtu!

That's hello everyone in Swahili. The reason for that and the title, is because we are now teaching a family very recently from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Only the kids speak English. Think I can email Alex Boye for Swahili lessons?

Elder Palmer, Me, Marcus, Elder Carpio (my comp), Elkder Castañeda
We had a baptism this past week! Marcus is a 16 year old kid who has been taught for awhile. He is awesome, and also very tall. My poor companion had to baptize him four times, because his whole body didn't go all the way under at first. Also he had trouble with the words. Elder Carpio inspires me in how hard he works in learning English. 

This past week I had a car to do district leader administrative things, which was cool. I haven't driven since I left on my mission, and so it was fun getting behind the wheel again.

After Marcus's baptism, I was supposed to conduct a baptismal interview for an other set of elders' person. She didn't get off work until way after the scheduled time. I had to go all the way to the other side of the stake, which really isn't that bad compared to Pennsylvania. Finally at 9:15 this lady rolls in, and at 10pm we finish the interview. For those who don't know, the curfew for missionaries is 9:30. I was exhausted. 

We had a baptism get canceled the day of. The day before Marcus's baptism, another person we were teaching was supposed to get baptized. Then we went to his house, and no one had seen him in two days. Finally he calls us back, and he says he wasn't ready to be baptized. I wasn't surprised. It was sad, but I'm glad he didn't do anything he wasn't ready for. 

We taught an awesome lesson to this couple named Collin and Amy. They almost accepted a baptismal date. The Spirit was very strong. We got there, and they live in a trailer park. There are a ton of trailer parks in Vegas. This trailer was probably only 100 square feet though. Basically they were living in a cockroach infested walk in closet. That's about how big it was. And they had 5 kids under the age of 8. But even then, the Spirit moved the young mother to tears. 

Friends and Family, we are truly blessed. This is the beginning of my full calendar year of being exclusively a missionary. I was listening to a BYU devotional given by Elder Jeffrey R Holland a few years back about not looking back. He called his talk "Remember Lot's Wife" Lot's wife looked back at the desolation she was leaving behind, and desired to go back, and was turned to a pillar of salt. I invite all of you, regardless of what has happened in your past, or the past of a loved one, look forward to a new beginning in 2019. Have faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and that it is infinite and eternal. I'm not talking about New Years Resolutions, because you have probably already started breaking those. Look forward with faith.

Always brush your teeth, my friends. Just missing one time can be deadly.
Just kidding--it's licorice jelly beans, ha ha!
I love you all!
Feliz Año Nuevo!
Elder Lovell

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