Hope Everyone Had A Merry Christmas!!!!!

This Christmas has been a Christmas full of miracles!!! Being a missionary around Christmas time has been great because we get the blessing of seeing how much Heavenly Fathers children's heart have been softened because of the Saviors Birth.

It was so much fun being able to skype home and see my families wonderful faces!!! And to hear about the wonderful miracles that have happened in there lives sense I have been out on my mission.

So big miracle from the wonderful Christmas season! We have a rock solid new investigator!!! His name is Morgan. We call him Mohawk Morgan because he has a freaking awesome Mohawk! Well anyways we were talking to people on the street handing out candy canes with the "A Savior is Born" pass along cards attached to them. We were running late for a appointment and Sister Walker had one more candy cane left so her gave it to Morgan and just said ," call us if you have any questions about the video" 5 minutes later we had a call from him saying how he wanted to meet with us, he hadn't watched the video yet but he has a lot of questions and he really feels we can help. So we called him back and set up a time to meet him at the library on Christmas eve. Man Oh man was Satan working hard on him. Because he kept on having to cancel because of work or something of that nature. Then he said to heck with this basically and called us and said Saturday at 3 not matter what I am meeting you at the Library. So we met him at the Library taught him restoration and accepted Baptism on the first lesson!!!! Later he texted us and asked if he could come to church and wanted to know were the church was. Sadly he didn't come because he was really nerves about it so we are going to have a church tour with him this week. The Lord has really prepared Morgan, it truly is amazing to see how prepared he is.

So besides that nothing big is going on Larry and Kelly Babcock (member) are getting married at the end of February so I will get to hopefully be there for both the Baptism and their wedding. Sarah and Bill are doing good as well we are seeing them this evening.

I love being a missionary! there is really no place I would rather been the here in New York sharing the truth fullness of the Restored Gospel to all of Heavenly Fathers Children.

Love you all and hope you all have a wonderful new year!!!! I invite you all to make the new year resolution to come closer to your heavenly father and savior Jesus Christ in the year 2016 and strive to gain that strong testimony of the Truthfulness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!

-- 

Love the Lord with all your Heart <3

-Sister Maraiha Loveland (Potato-Head)

Its the Monday be for Christmas

Its the Monday be for Christmas, all the missionaries are about, teaching the gospel. Not one was lazy for they knew of the power of the message they shared. They ran around all in excitement because it was that time of year where they got to talk to some special people whom they missed so dear. The ward members spoiled them with goodies galore so they now look like umpaloopas and rolling on the flour. They planed days ahead it great excitement, for they knew this only happens twice a year. They were good and obedient to get the 40 minutes they needed. So when Christmas comes they can knew it was going to be quite the season.

Haha!!! hope you liked my creativity on the fly. Things are so wonderful here in New York still no snow and I honestly don't care I am just so excited for Christmas I feel like a fat kid eating chocolate cake x37!!!! 

So the work is great!!! we have 2 amazing new investigators that we found though our very own efforts! Sarah and Bill are so awesome there personalities and they things they are into remind me so much of my favorite big sister Stori and my one and only Bro in-law Brandon. Bill has basically every old school gaming system that ever existed on the planet and Sarah is just funny and awesome like my older sister! Its great!!!! we are seeing them both today at 4 so we are cutting our Pday short and I honestly don't care because the message we share is to important to care!

 Larry is doing great he is going on vacation for Christmas and is planning to go to church in North Carolina so that will be awesome and we will be having skyping lessons with him and Kelly Babcock the member he is dating ! Yeah this is amazing!!!! I am like on missionary cloud 9 right now!!!!!

On Chrsitmas we will be going to a senior home and sing Christmas Carols to all the cute Old people! and that morning we will be having breakfast with some ward members and then skyping home at their house! I am excited!!!

So my Christmas present to myself this year is finally having D&C 4 memorized and having the First vision memorized can I just say this is just amazing to be able to have those internalized and memorized!

So right now I am in a delicious study of the Book of Mormon! President Rogers was joking with me at our Christmas mission conference that my scriptures look like a coloring page because I have some much marked in my scriptures. I recently was reading in 2 Nephi 26 and a verse popped out to me. verse 30 " Behold, the Lord has forbidden this thing; where fore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have CHARITY, which CHARITY IS LOVE. And except they should have CHARITY they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have CHARITY they laborer in Zion to perish." I honestly don't know why this stood out to me. As I have thought more about it last night, my mind when to this wonderful time of year were we are about to give to one another. and truly show that pure love of Christ to those around us. Charity is so important to have for all of Gods children because you never know what someone is going though. This last week I decided I was going to smile at every person I made eye contact with and tell them that Heavenly Father loves them. And wow that has made such different form me because now I seriously love all of these people here in New York. I know that the pure love of Christ is so important! I would like to encourage you all to reach out to someone this week and share with them the love Heavenly Father has for them. I can promise you it will make this Christmas season so much more special then what it already is.

Love you all and hope you all have a very merry CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

(pic is of me and my MTC group) (Elder Crapo, Elder Van Slyke, Sister Branch, and ME)

Party in H2OTown!!!! (watertown)

Well things are going great here!!!! It hasn't snowed which is sad because weirdly enough  I actually want the snow!!! But that's ok it will come when its time.

So its been one fun week!! I am just living the dream!!! Being on a mission during this time of year is the best thing ever! Even though people still don't want to listen to us we are still having so much fun!

So yesterday was awesome!! like seriously!!! probably the best day ever!!! A lady in the ward had us teach her Boyfriend and wow lets just day he is so prepared!!! He is already reading the Book of Mormon and praying! He met missionaries when he was 13 and doesn't remember what they taught but he remembers that they had something he wanted and now he is 65 and is all in and ready to be baptized! It is amazing!!! He had so many questions and he made like a time line on a napkin of when the Book of Mormon come to the earth and when the great apostasy was and when Joseph smith say heavenly father and Jesus Christ. It was stinken awesome!!! I cant wait to teach him more!

So this last week I have been reflecting a lot about the new Christmas video the church released, It truly is amazing. It just shows how simple the gospel truly is. I just love it!!!!!

Also this week we had Zone Conference and we were talking about how important the Book of Mormon is to one conversion. All I can say is with out the Book of Mormon are church is really nothing. I know the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of our Savior Jesus Christ and it is here to bless our lives! When you read the Book of Mormon you will get nearer to God by abiding by its teachings. As you read and ponder the Book of Mormon and truly ask God the Eternal Father with all your Heart if the Book of Mormon is true you will come to know the truthfulness of it by the power of the Holy Ghost. You will also know the Joseph Smith was call by God to restore the fullness of the Gospel on the earth again. You will know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lords Kingdom once again established on the earth. Finally you will know the Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and it is though him we can be forgiven for our sins. I invite you all to watch this video and to also read and pray about the book of Mormon I promise you the Lord will hear and answer you prayers.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/testimony-of-the-book-of-mormon-2

-- 

Love the Lord with all your Heart <3

-Sister Maraiha Loveland (Potato-Head)

Its almost Christmas time!!!!!!

Well its been a fun week!!! Got to meet a lot of new people and oh my goodness!!! the ward here is awesome!!! most of the members are in the army so that's the big difference but everyone has such strong testimonies it is freaking awesome!!!

So yall know Watertown is right next to Fort Drum so we have all the army families in the ward and a lot of them at this time as a family member diploid and to see how strong their testimonies are and to see how much they rely on the Savior is amazing I have never been in a sacrament meeting where I could feel the spirit so strongly till know it is amazing!!!

So yesterday was the Christmas devotional and that was so much fun to watch the spirit was so strong as I heard the testimonies of why the savior was born and how his birth can bless our lives. I loved how President Utchorf was talking about how we all have wings so we can fly and one day return to our heavenly father. The gospel is amazing and it can help us fly as we apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ everyday! 

So this morning I was studying the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi chapters 18-19 and dang Christ is one amazing person! At the end of a group of versions it always said " But his hand is stretched out still" isn't it amazing it think that no matter what we do Christ is still stretching his hands  out wanting to help us up. I think that is amazing!!!

Well sorry this email is so short, next week should be longer just gotta give it a little more time to have to meet some more awesome people and to see some awesome miracles then I will have so much to say.

If you haven't seem the church's new Christmas video go and watch it at Christmas.mormon.org it is amazing and testifies of Christ birth so strongly!

Love you all and have a wonderful Christmas season!!!!! remember it is not Christmas with out have Christ at the center.

Watertown! #comps8&9

 

 Well I made it to Watertown safely! I am just so tired and ready to get to work! It really is exhausting getting ET/Transferred. But anyways I left Liverpool with a Bang and set someone on date my last night there when we had to have the elders meet all our investigators.

So anyways Thanksgiving was great! we had 5 thanksgivings and man I feel fat!!! But that's ok now I get to work, work, work and I will be happy!!!! I really love sharing the gospel!!!! there is nothing better then being able to watch how the gospel changes someone's life for the better! Like for intense Sunday we had a investigator and a Less active (they live together) come to church Sunday!!!! Man I was like a Getty Little School Girl!!!!!! I was so happy to see how the gospel has blessed their lives! the Less Active Michelle plans on coming back to church and is so excited to have the elders come over and continue to meet with her. The Investigator Melissa accepted baptism and has been reading the Book of Mormon and loved being at church! Seeing these things happen really make being a missionary worth it everyday!!! Goodness have I mentioned how much I Love the gospel!!!!!! Seeing Heavenly Fathers children come back to the Fold is probably the most life fulfilling things I could ever do!!!

So on Sunday there was a amazing talk given by a member of the Liverpool ward (bro. Wesel) He told a story about a young boy walking along the beach shore throwing star fish back into the ocean. He later said a old man came up to this young boy and asked him what he was doing and the boy answered and said saving the star fish the tide line is going down and these star fish are going to die if I don't help them. Then the old man told him, boy there are thousands of star fish on the shore here you wont be able to make a difference. Then the young boy looks at the old man bends down grabs a star fish throws it in the ocean and says it made a difference to that one....That story got me thinking about how being a missionary I wont be able to get to everyone but the ones I do get to it will make a difference to them and it will make a difference to me! In D&C 4: 2-3 it reads " therefore, O ye that embark in the serves of God. See that ye serve him with all your Heart, Might, Mind and Strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desire to serve God ye are called to the work;" I know that as we serve God with all our hearts we will make a differences. It may not seem like a difference to us at first but it is a difference to our Loving Heavenly Father, to Our Savior Jesus Christ and to those lives we touch.

I love you all and I am so grateful for you all and all your love and support! Stay true to the Faith!!!!

Emergency Transferred again!!!!!!!!

We have been seeing lots of miracles here in Liverpool and man I am sure sad to be leaving on the 30th. Sister Sellers got her visa to Brazil so on the 30th she is flying out and I get the wonderful joy of being Emergency Transferred again! Like really I cant believe its almost THANKSGIVING #daytogetfat #fatandhappy  I am so excited for Thanksgiving! We have 2 thanksgivings we are going to this year on a an investigators home and the other at our ward mission leaders home. We are strongly encouraged to still go out and teach so we still plan on doing that but we are just excited to have multiple Thanksgivings!

So the Liverpool area has finally picked up! We now have about 14 investigators, 2 with a Baptismal date, 6 new investigators and  12 progressing investigators. Then we also have 10 Less actives that our on the verge of reactivating! It is freaking awesome!!!! And now that the area is in a incline its time for me to go and go help another area. My mission president informed me on Wednesday that after this Emergency Transfer I will not be going back to Liverpool and that the Lord needs me else where to help his vineyard get in a incline so then other missionaries can come in and continue the work. 

I am so excited to go out and do the work!!!! It is amazing! I know that this is the only true church! and Dang this Gospel is the Best gospel ever and to have that simple knowledge that it is the same gospel Christ taught is such a blessing! Sunday I found a amazing scripture that got me thinking about the importants of sharing the gospel its Alma 38: 10-15; "And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things. See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength. Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness. Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of man, and to be praised for their wisdom. Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better that our brethren; in mercy yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. And may the Lord bless your soul, adn receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell." I just love this scripture!!!!!!!! 

Back in Liverpool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well its been a good 5 days being back in Liverpool, Sister Sellers is a power house missionary. I think she is more training me then I am training her. The work here in Liverpool is slowly starting back up. We have someone on date her name is Michele she is a really sweet lady she is hopefully getting baptized on Dec 5th but we may end up moving it because she has some word of wisdom problems. But that's ok at least she has the desire to be baptized! 

So it has snowed one time and it didnt stick and it also melted because New York is crazy and we are in the middle of some random heat wave it has been in the high 60s for the last 5 to 6 days now. so yeah we may have a green Christmas is what the New Yorkers are saying but who knows the weather may randomly change again. Im pretty sure the weather here is like Bipolar or something. 

This week we have been doing lots of serves for a less active family the Bianco's they are moving and need lots of help getting things packed and the old house cleaned up. So me being me I jumped right in to help. I love serving others and this family has been through the ringer of trails and I really feel that helping them is something I can do. I cant fix the financial problems, or get her 18 year old son to move back, or end the curiosity battle between her and her ex husband. But I know how to serve and talk about the gospel at the same time so that is what we are doing. And its amazing how miracles can happen form just doing that. All I can say it is the best thing in the world doing serves as a missionary!

But any ways this weekend was stake conference! It was so much fun!!!! The stake president, President Stuezt talk was by far my favorite it talked about a parable that he called Milk Toast. He first explained what milk toast was, " its this nasty combination that my mother made when i was sick, it is toasted bread place in a bowel with milk poured over it, and if it was a good day sometimes my mom put cinnamon on top. If you thought you didnt feel good before all bets were off now, after you eat milk toast you for sure will be sick" He explained that we have some milk toast mormons, people you look good and sound good but over all are just nasty and really dont want to do the work of the Lord at all. #nomilktoastmormons He later said one of my favorite scriptures in Mosiah 26:18-20 its talks about talking upon the lords name. He then had the 8 sets of missonaries stand up and said, " these missionaries need us they dont want milk toast mormon they need people you truly have the desire to serve god and know they represent the savior every day as they have taken upon his name." " the missionaries cant do this work without us they need us to be ready at all times to serve our Father in Heaven and to help build is kingdom" the best part about his talk is he grabbed the potimum and said very boldly "DO THE WORK, WE DO NOT WANT LAZY MEMBERS OF THE LORDS CHURCH WE WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO SHARE THE GOSPEL JUST LIKE THESE MISSIONARIES THAT GIVE UP SO MUCH TO SERVE THE LORD" I just want to say memebers are the key to missionary work, it is so important to be willing to help the missionaries at all times. We really cant do this work with out you. The work can bless you lives just as much as it can bless ours and the people we teach. 

You all are amazing and remember to help the missionaries we need you just as much as you need us. Thank you for all your love and support!

I loved Syracuse Stake Conference today!!!
The parable of the milk toast :)
‪#‎nomilktoastmormons‬
We should be BOLD and witness of truth and right!
We must stand up and not be passive.
Set aside our fears.
We need to bind ourselves with the temple, the missionary work and lifting our fellow saints.
I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he wants us to return and live with him. We has given us prophets to guide and direct our path. I know that he loves me and He will answer my prayers. 

Transfer #4 accomplished!!!!

Well its been a crazy week! It has been a mixture of slow and fast. I have had so much fun here in Utica but now I will be on my way back to Liverpool again to 2nd transfer train a visa waiter. So that is super exciting!!! Her name is Sister Sellers, she is waiting for her visa to go to Brazil. So while i train her i will get to learn Portuguese!!!! 

I cant believe that on Nov 13th i will be hitting my 6 month mark!!! Craziness!!!!!!!! It feels like just yesterday I was sitting on a plane for the first time heading to New York. 

Today was probably one of my favorite days!!! while we did our laundry at the mission home, I made cinnamon rolls for the APs, the Utica walk elders, my comps, the mission office senior couples and President and Sister Rogers. It was so much fun!!! It honestly brings me so much joy being able to put a smile on someones face through baked goods! I just love it!!!!! Being a missionary i dont get to bake as much as i would like but when i do, I have so much fun!!!! like seriously there really is nothing better then baking, it really like is my de-stresser. 

Anyways, i am sick and tired of pizza! That is all anyone feeds us in New York because apparently New York pizza is the famous and is the most amazing thing in the world and everytime i eat it all i can think is " this is bland my mom can make better pizza, why would anyone want to spend money on this it taste like cardboard" but oh well New Yorkers like it and I eat everything that is placed in front of me so i eat it anyways :)

So this week have been lots of fun! Minus Tuesday, It was super long and boring and i just wanted to poke my eyes out with a spoon. Anyways, we have been teaching a lot of people here in Utica. They have a Baptism on the 14th and just when i was transfered from Fonda I wont be able to be there for the Baptism. But thats ok, I know the baptism are good but bring people unto Christ is better and I love doing it.

On Sunday I spoke in Church, I just love speaking in church. It brings me so much joy being able to testify of the truthfulness of the restored gospel the the members of the church and help build of there testimonies. So I spoke about our Savior Jesus Christ, best topic ever!!! I first though I am a missionary this will be easy, but as i went though the week think about and praying about what to say it got harder and harder. At first i was like Ill just pull out my farewell talk i basically talked about our Savior Jesus Christ then. But that didnt feel right, I had to prepare a different talk because the Utica Ward has different needs. As I prepared I found a talk by Elder Melvin J. Ballard, and today i want to share with you my favorite part of it and I encourage you all to read it for yourself. it reads, " As I approached to be introduced, he arose and stepped towards me with extended arms, and He smiled as He softly spoke my name. If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile . He took me into His arms and kissed me, pressed me to His bosom, and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When He had finished , I fell at His feet, and, as I bathed them with my tears and kisses, I say the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world. The feeling the I had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His hands, to have His love, His affection, and His blessing was such that if I can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt! ... I see Jesus not now upon the cross. I do not see His brow pierced wiht thorns not His hands torn with the nails, but I see him smiling, with extended arms, saying to us all: Come unto me!"  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/12/i-know-that-he-lives?lang=eng

I love you all and I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission for our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ!

Well I got Emergency Transfered

So some sad stuff has happened sense Monday, my companion Sister Hess had to go home so on Wednesday I was moved to Utica to be with Sister Thao and Fredrickson. It is really sad to see your companion go home. I pray that all will be well for her and that she will stay on the right path.

Well other then that its been a pretty good week! I sense I am in Utica I see my mission president all the time. It helps alot to encourage me to be more obedient and to focus strictly on the Lords work. It is amazing!!! I love it because there really nothing better then serving our Heavenly Father with all your heart might mind and strength. There is alot of amazing people here that I have already come to love with all my heart. I just decided it is really hard to love new companions when you can tell they really dont want you here. Its a struggle teaching but the lessons are all super powerful and the spirit is still there really strongly. 

Transfers are coming up so I may be going back to Liverpool again, but I am not sure, from what President Rogers has told me is that i might be opening a new area which is crazy to think but that is what the Lord wants to I will do it with a willing heart. Being a missionary is crazy there are times you literally live out of your suit case like right now I am doing that. Its fun and annoying because when you live out of your suitcase you feel as it you are never home until you unpack them a little. But its ok, this is what the Lord wants so I will do it willingly. The last few days the song "I'll go where you want me to go" has been playing in the back of  my heard and its amazing how the Lord knows exactly what you need at what times. Because if it wasnt for that song i am sure i would be worst off then what i am now. Because there is really nothing worst then seeing your MTC companion and your mission companion go home early and not hit her 6 month mark even. All I can do is remember that this will bless her life and it will be for the best. 

The one thing that has helped alot is reading D&C section 4 that is my ponderize scripture till i have it memorized because as a mission we are now reciting it every time we get together at a zone meeting or a district meeting. Verse 1-3;5 are amazing it reads, " Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that emabark int eh service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have a desire to serve God ye are called to the work; ... And Faith, hope, charity, and love, with a eye single to the glory of God qualify him for the work." that really is the best mission scripture ever, its really help you see the importants of your call as you serve you heavenly father.

well thank you for all your thoughts and prays I am very appreciative of them all :)

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Love the Lord with all your Heart <3

-Sister Maraiha Loveland (Potato-Head)