Another Week

Okay, so this last week was... I'm not sure where it went. Time seems to be one eternal round. The weeks feel like days and the days feel like weeks. I had a 3 month interview with president marking my 7 months in the mission (apparently missionaries aren't very good at doing math ;) ha ha). It was good. We talked about my current companionship, how I can improve in my teaching by taking notes from how Amulek teaches in Alma 34. It's really a fantastic study. We taught a woman from Ghana for the second time and this time it was a lot less high strung. I feel like I'm starting to actually be able to connect with the people here. It's good, just way different from any class of people I've ever known. Rich people have a totally different culture.

On that note, I guess I have forgotten to tell you about B. T. I don't know how that happened. B's first wife was the mayor of West Linn throughout the 90's and is still a very prominent political figure. He's been around Mormons his entire life, he's even a genealogist but he had never been approached about the gospel until his first wife died last year and he got remarried to a less active woman who suddenly wanted the gospel back in her life when she got married. B. is as very intelligent man. It's been so cool to see him progress and make those epiphany moments in lessons telling us "you know people really should listen to what you guys have to say before they turn you away. There's a lot here that everybody should know." We laughed. He's the nicest humblest guy you'll ever meet. He always takes pages of notes when we teach. He got baptized on Saturday and he had us sing at the service. I've never seen a man beam so happily than B. after he was baptized and then again even more so when he was confirmed. He said He could really feel the power of the priesthood in the circle. I could see B. being a bishop one day. His goal even before he committed to being baptized was that he wants to be sealed to his first wife in the temple with his current wife as proxy. She said that she would be absolutely honored.

Yup I'll get to go to R's baptism tomorrow. She's asked me to sing at it. She actually told President when she interviewed her for baptism that she wanted to baptized, but she would only do it on one condition, that I was there at her baptism. He said that if that was her only condition he would make sure that it happened, regardless of the circumstances. ha ha.

It's been kind of funny to see the kinds of people that have done the work themselves to be converted after we taught the messages that we have. The ones that have been baptized so far:

an Eskimo who wants to be a heart surgeon - M.

an former athiest who wants to be a writer- B.

a politician- B.

and tomorrow will be a former bi-sexual satanist. - R. D.

I never thought I would teach anybody like that.

Congrats Russell on the new job. I know it's very bitter sweet, but if you want to take my big screen TV to keep safe at your new place you are welcome to keep that until I get back. I hope all works out well. BTW can you get me Travis's email. I can email friends now and I've been dying to talk to the guy.

love you guys

I know this work is true. Our heavenly Father is hastening the work. The message is the same. It's not new and improved. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He's made a plan that works so universally and can only be made to each person's personal needs through the atonement of Christ. His love for you is immense. Beyond what you could ever imagine, and he promises happiness to all men if we simply refine ourselves to live according to eternal principles that even God himself did not set; he merely told us what is true and gave us the agency to choose freedom and happiness or captivity and death.

love,

Your elder Lloyd

Editorial Note:  We (Kent's family) also learned in a separate e-mail that parts of the Oregon Portland  mission will be splitting off into two new missions in July.  It remains to be seen which one Kent will be in when the time comes.

Also, he is allowed to receive e-mails from friends now.  Send a note to his facebook page and Mom will give you his e-mail address.