October 28th Update

How many emergency cambios can one missionary get? I guess we'll wait and see! 

Due to a series of unfortunate events, my companion and I, and Hermana Ayuso and Hermana Snyder were all transfered out of Chillan. Why not? So now I'm in Concepciòn. Hna Romney and I got transfered together. We're taking over an Elders sector. This is my third time doing that. What a party. But it is the first time that we also took over their house. It smells so RANK! Just in some key areas, I guess. There were some wet gym shorts in the sink when we got there. What a bonus. 

We got to meet the Bishop and his wife last night. They're like 30. Hna Lorena served in Temple Square, and Obispo Riquelme served in Santiago Sur. They seem super with it. We've got an assistence of like 180. I didn't even really know that could happen in Chile! The funny thing is, for whatever reason there were just two elders there. So at the end of this week, we`ll be having the normal planned cambios. And we're pretty sure that they`ll split Hna Romney and I up and one of us will get to open a sector. I'm sure not dying quietly in the mission! 

Conce is different. The people are more city folk. I really haven`t had any of that for my whole mission, so we'll see what happens. We definitely have some good times up ahead, and we're really excited. It's definitely been a whirlwind. Good news is, Mariana is getting baptized finally this week up there in Chillan. Hoorah! It bites that I won't get to be there, but still, she`s my convert :) She's the best. 

In the mission council today, we were reminded that it`s okay if the mission sometimes is hard. How else could we be able to understand the atonement, and participate in the salvation of souls, if we did not suffer just a piece of what our Savior suffered? I don't think that means we have to go around and be depressed all the time, but I do think it means that this work is real. Service and sacrifice are required. We should love it and enjoy what we do, but the hard times are part of the experience. 

I love you all. Thanks for all your support. I hope you have a great week.

Love,

Hermana Lovell 

PS Enjoy every moment for what it is! 

October 7th Update

Doesn't conference rock!? 

I love it so much. 

We had a pretty crazy week, for some pretty crazy stuff. But I guess that's kind of normal in the mission. 

I think one thing I loved most from conference is what type of role the Savior should have in your life. If you really are looking to feel his love, you will want to reflect who He is as you feel His love. You will able to give your heart to His cause because you already know that it's worth it. He will be your best friend. Someone you'll always feel the presence of in your life. 

I love the idea of what a family should be. It should be not only the most important social unit, but also the strongest. I love the focus of helping also those who have fallen away from the path to have the courage to come back. I love the advice to be meek, to be compassionate. To follow the two great commandments of loving God and loving others. You can't go wrong with that, now can ya? 

I love you all. I invite you to pick at least one thing you're going to change from what you've learned from conference. It's the best way to keep that peace that we feel in our heart. 

Take care!

Hermana Lovell

September 30th Update

Hey Fam.

It's been a pretty crazy week. We basically had an impromptu move houses moment, so that cut out a good portion of our working week. The good news is we're in our house now.

We ALSO got to have the baptism of Francisco. What a great kid! He is so excited to keep making changes in his life. He's already made some drastic ones. We're pretty proud of him.

One of the coolest things was that the husband of Julia came with them to church. Now the whole family is on board to investigate the church: Julia, José Miguel, and their 3 cute kids. We're pretty excited about them.

Mariana´s still coming along. She's going to beat her old habits! I just know it!

Love this work. Love you. 

Lose yourself in the service of others. That is where you find yourself.

Hermana Lovell 

September 23rd Update

So this week has been crazy. 

We had our cambios happen in the middle of the week because of a crazy mess up in the MTC. Our house stayed the same! We are all so pumped. We had 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE here, our indepence day. It was pretty crazy. A lot of happy people. A lot of meat. Dancing the cueca, even though I didn´t really do that. 

Hermana Romney and I are still together THANK GOODNESS. We really have such a good time together. The day after 18 it rained. And rained. And rained. And we were for sure outside for quite a long time. And it was really hard. And you know what? For some weird miracle, I was happy during all of it. All of those smiley rejections and not so smiley rejections. All of them didn't matter. After three hours, we looked up at we saw a rainbow. And then we got into a little old lady´s house and taught her about the Plan of Salvation. You know what? That was such a miracle. Heavenly Father needed to humble us so that we could be better. You always just have to keep holding out for a miracle. The next day we today found the cutest couple named Carla and Jorge. We did it by asking one of the members who always goes out with the missionaries to show us some old investigators. And you know what? That was a miracle, too. 

Mariana! That girl! We've had some setbacks, but we're still plugging along! She's an allstar, and she is going to get baptized. Francisco is actually going to get baptized this Saturday. Still awesome! 

The gospel rocks. I love it. SO. Much. It just makes so much sense. I love how Heavenly Father really wants to give us the desires of our hearts. We have to just have the courage to ask and look for it. "The Lord listens to the prayers of His obedient children". I read that in an ensign. True story! 

I love you all so much. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Hermana Lovell 

Picture. P-day madness with Hna Snyder, Hna Ayuso, Yo, y Hermana Romney

September 16th Update

Hey Family!

 

This week started out super rough. We had some weird stuff happen with some new converts. But you know what? Perserverance is the key. If we keep plugging along and do everything we can to do what we know is right, good things are always on the way. And that's true! This week, Francisco´s getting baptized. His parents don`t want to give Nicole permission, so she'll just have to be awesome and come anyway. Mariana and Mariana and still working up to baptism, but we're still just helping them make some pretty drastic changes in their lives.

 

For whatever reason, these past 3 or 4 days have been hilarious. I know it really is just an attitude thing. We are the architects of our own happiness. I know that accountability is the way have real happiness. That, at the end of the day, what we do with our lives is always been us and Heavenly Father. He knows what we're capable of.

 

Our pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of becoming like Him.

 

I love you!

 

Have a great week.

 

Love,

 

Hermana Lovell

September 9th Update

Faaaamily!

Me and Hermana Romney are having an awesome time together. I just know one of us with get transferred soon, because I don't think it's allowed to have as much fun doing the work as we're having. Sure I'm training, but she already knows everything, so not really. 

Please. Everyone. PRAY FOR MARIANA. She is the coolest Chilean you've ever met, and she's got her baptism this Friday. She's fantastic, but everyone needs help! Francisco is still a rockstar, and Mariela is progressing, too. 

It's starting to get beautiful here in Chile! And, surprisingly, hot. Just a little. I know it's going to be just fantastic being here for the summer. Chillan is renowned for their cold winters and hot summers. But, I lived in Utah my whole life, so I'm not too worried. 

Two weeks ago we got a visit from Elder Gonzalez, and he really stressed to us the importance of REAL growth in the church. It's looking to increase church attendance. More people receiving the blessings of the sacrament. If converts aren't being a blessing to their ward and aren't coming, that really isn't really church growth.

Fun fact: I have got a friend who is crazy. I don't know what she has, but she she's got something. She's like 30 years old, and a member of the church. She just does what she wants. Her name is Nancy. She's always got some serious style. She always rocks this sweet blue eye shadow that normally gets smeared everywhere. Somehow she found out that we have district meeting every Tuesday, so every once in a while she'll pop in out of nowhere. Like week she just came in while the zone leaders were giving us a pep talk, and I just like to act like it's totally normal. I just say, "Well hello, Nancy!" And I kindly escort her out. This time she came to tell me that she had a Christmas present for me. Why yes, it is September. But who cares! I sure didn't. She left it with the nice construction workers to give it to me later, but I told her it would be better for her to go get it and bring it to me. She went and got it gave it to me. I opened up the wrapping, and it was a beautiful stuffed doll with a little plaque in her hand that says "Gracias, Mamá". What. a. WIIIIIIIIN! It was pretty great. 

But Fact! I love being a missionary. So, SO much. I love working with the ward. I love teaching the people they love. I love talking to people on the street. There are so many people with desires to follow Christ. And do you what? We have what they're all looking for! The gospel is beautiful because it works, it's true! All the blessings that are promised our real! We've just got to open our eyes and see them! God blesses our lives in so many incredible ways. If we really can remember that, and put our faith in Him and not in ourselves, He really can make miracles happen in our lives. 

Love you all!

Hermana Lovell