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)

Liverpool or how I have been calling it Livercool!

Well this week has been pretty fun that's really all i can remember.... for some reason when i have the most fun as a missionary my mind goes completely blank and i don't remember a thing when i get to Monday and write all my favorite humans. But this week I have been learning how to properly study the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Missionary life is pretty crazy, as a missionary you have a lot of ups and downs. But over all its all ups. This week I was fighting a pretty bad cold like i felt like death! On Saturday I felt like I wasn't going to be able to leave our apartment and do the Lord work. But I got on my knees and asked Heavenly Father for just a little help to make it to the church to help with the bishop store house delivery that comes there every other week. So after the pray sister Hess and I went on our way to the church. Once the truck got there I was filled with so much energy!!! I made it though the day, then it hit 9:30 and I was dead once again. Then Sunday came and I asked Heavenly Father to give me the energy i need to make it though church and the one lesson we had set and sure enough heavenly father pulled through and gave me the energy i needed to make it through the day. And now here we are on Monday and I feel so much better. I testify the Lord does here and answer all of our prayers and he will help us. It may not be instant like with me and my not so friendly cold but He will answer all of our prays.

So we had some pretty awesome miracles happen this week! We picked up this new investigator Daniel of as he as asked us to call him (Dan the Man) He has the best personality ever!!! Then 

we found a less active family that years ago said they didn't want to be contacted and all i can say is that was a lie!!!! they totally love the missionaries and want to come back to church so we are seeing them more and more and hopefully one day they will come back! Then are news investigator Michele she is a pretty crazy character she has met with missionaries be for and already knows alot about the gospel and really wants to join the church because she love the feeling that she gets when she comes. So i am excited about that. So that is what is new here in wonderful Liverpool or howWell this week has been pretty fun that's really all i can remember.... for some reason when i have the most fun as a missionary my mind goes completely blank and i don't remember a thing when i get to Monday and write all my favorite humans. But this week I have been learning how to properly study the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know it is so important to be obedient to all that the Lord has asked of us!!!! I know that as we are obedient we are allowing the Lord to bless us.As 1 Nephi 3:7 says, "And it came to pass that I Nephi said unto my father; I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them."  I promise as a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ that as you are completely obedient to all of Gods commandment that you will be blessed that you will be able to see his hand in your life more fully. I know that as we are obedient we are allowing God to bless us more fully and to make it possible for us to return to his presents once again. 

Thank you so much for all your love and support it really means so much to me :) I love you and i am so grateful for the influences you have had in my life. If it wasn't for you all I probably would be here to day blessing the live of the people in New York.

#itsoctoberanditsalreadysnowed

Well here is the lovely weather report from Liverpool New York; Saturday and Sunday it snowed randomly through out the day and has been freaking colder then a house make out of Ice!!!! Like it has only been about 20 degrees everyday and we have already needed to break out the winter clothes! This is not normal for New York its usually still pretty warm around this time. So I am just a icicle that is praying i will service this winter.

On a much happier not!!! we picked up 3 new investigators that have a lot of potential. There names are Joanne, Gregg, and Travis. Joanne was a potential for years and is a little crazy  but you can totally tell she has such a strong desire to know the truthfulness of the Gospel. Gregg is Joanne's son and he sat in on a lesson with Joanne and just feel in love with the plan of salvation and has such a strong desire to learn more. He ask so many questions and is searching for so many different answers and i am so happy that i as a representative of Jesus Christ get to help him find these answers as i listen to the promptings of the spirit. Then there is Travis, Wow he is freaking bomb!!!! He has been looking into the church for years but hasnt been able to join quite yet because he is on prole for the next 2 years. He just moved into Liverpool. Sister Hallsted was teaching him in Oswego and already has met us and is just freaking awesome!!!!  So we are helping him mostly just get permission to come to church and helping him right a letter to the prophet baring his testimony about the gospel and how he knows this church is true. We are pray that is will help make it possible for him to come to church and possibly be baptized sooner.

I just want to share with you that I know that is church is true and I am so grateful for this opportunity to severe our Savior Jesus Christ getting to teach his gospel to all of Gods children. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now but here in New York finding the people that the Lord has prepared. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know the He did die for all of us and he did in fact make it possible for all of us to be forgiven for our sins. I know the Plan of Salvation is Gods Perfect plan for all of us and we are all possible to return to our Heavenly Father. I know that because God has this prefect plan the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was able to happen and now we are able to have this wonderful gospel in our lives today. I know that Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet seer and revelation and I know that he did restore the fullness of the the everlasting gospel on this earth once again and we are able to have it in our lives now. I know that the Priesthood is the authority to work in Gods name and to preform many sacred ordnance of the Gospel. I know the Book of Mormon is true and is another testament of our savior Jesus Christ and testifies of all the teachings that he taught while he was on the earth. I know all theses things to be true and so much more! In the name of our beloved Savior Jesus Christ Amen.

Such a great week !!!!!!!!!!

Well this week was super fun and amazing!!! This area is finally coming alive and I absolutely love it!!! We picked up 7 new investigators and 5 of those 7 were from this awesome family! The Ashbys they have such great potential! You know the spirit was there when they are begging you to come back. All I could do was just laugh because there are miracles happening everywhere in our mission. 

So Friday was a pretty crazy day, like i felt like my head was going to explode form how strong the spirit was and with how much I learned. We had a huge mission conference where we had a General Authority speak with us on how we can improve on doing the Lords work. Elder Bennett was truly in aspiring. I learned so much and i am so grateful for all he said to us, because if it wasn't for him I don't thing we would have been able to do all the work we did with in the last few days.  He talked about how we need to be absolutely obedient to everything the White Hand book says. Our mission really struggles with that a lot. He also said that if we truly love the Lord and truly want to be here doing is work that we should literally work holes in our shoes almost every day..... haha I was laughing so hard because I have done that a time or to. Then he talked about Member missionary work and how to work with members properly and how we can leave them on a spiritual high when we have dinner with them. It was just a amazing mission conference!!!! 

So on another note President Rogers is making a lot of changes and the are all wonderful changes. I am so grateful for them because I am now able to stay fulling focused on the Lords work and nothing else.

As most of you may have seen on my Facebook (In my mission we are able to use Facebook) I posted a picture the says " Always remember you matter something to him" I truly love this quote form President Uchtdorf. It is so true everyday I see people that have no idea how much our savior loves them and they are always in denial that he could love them. I promise you all as you kneel in prayer every morning and every night that you will feel of that love and that you will know with a surety that you truly do mean something to our Savior Jesus Christ. 

I love you all and I am so grateful for all your love and support. I am especially grateful for all your prayers for all the missionaries around the world. You are all amazing!!!!

          

-- (second row from the bottom on the left 3 in)

Love the Lord with all your Heart <3

-Sister Maraiha Loveland (Potato-Head)

#tri-panionship

So Tuesday i got a phone call from my mission president, He called to let me know i was getting 2 sisters instead of 1. So now instead of just Sister Hess (MTC comp) I also have Sister Hallsted. 

It is so wonderful to working with 2 other sisters. Its like one giant sleep over!!! Sister Hallsted was suppose to be training but her trainy went home early (she didn't make it to New York) so we now have one of the most powerful missionaries i have ever met (except for my trainer). So right now we are covering 2 areas which means lots of road trips! we are covering Liverpool and Oswego! It is so much fun!

All I can say is Heavenly Father really knew what he was doing when he put together our companion ship!!!! I really needed both sister Hess and Sister Hallsted! Like this is probably going to be the highlight of my mission!!!!!!  I really do enjoy it!!! there is nothing better then having to people to talk to and to help you out day to day!

So there are miracles happening everywhere already!!! the work was slow before but it is picking up!!! We have started doing this crazy fun thing were we are going though our area book person by person seeing if they still exist and if they have any desire to start learning about the gospel again. Its going to be so much fun!!!!!! 

So as hopefully you all know this past weekend was General Conference!!! Wow i loved General Conference before but now i love it even more as a missionary!!!! One of my favorite talks was by Elder Richard J. Maynes about being centered with Christ. Sometimes its amazing how much Heavenly Father really does know what we need to hear. As you all know I love the Atonement it is such amazing gift to have in our lives and i really felt this quote not only talked about having Christ centered on out life but also talks about our though the Atonement we can become at one with our Savior. "If our lives are centered in Jesus Christ he can successfully mold us into who we need to be come" I really love that quote because it workings amazingly with a lot of the principle of the gospel. So over all remember as you focus on our Savior Jesus Christ and have him be the center of you life you will be able to receive more blessings then you can physically receive. I know it is through him we can be blessed and i know that we should not be like the practical son and expect all the blessings all at once the Lord prepares us for each individual blessing so we can appreciate it so much more then if we received it when we wanted it.

Week 7 in Liverpool,Highlights about Transfers

So big highlight about transfers is one i get my MTC companion again (sister hess) and 2 i am the driver and i get my Tiwi!!!!! (that is the little card that allows me to drive a mission car!!! So that is awesome because i love driving!!!!

The work is picking up and i am so happy!! we have a new investigator and she is awesome she is about 65 years old and is raising her grandchildren. She really has a lot going on and she is already seeing how the gospel can bless her and her husbands life and help her grandchildren. It was awesome!!!!

This week has been interesting because I really didn't see the week at all. (like usual) We celebrated Elder Bakers birthday and that was fun i make him Banana bread and a chocolate raspberry cupcake. Then sister Hale and i attacked the elders apartment door with all this fun birthday stuff so he could have a good birthday way from home. He loved it!!!!! I am so grateful i was able to do that form him, he explained how he never had anyone make that much of a big deal out of him Birthday until now and he really appreciated everything. (he comes from a big family)

I really love the scriptures! It may be hard for me to read but I have come to love them all so much! I recently found a scripture that has brought a lot of comfort to me its; Mosiah 7:33 " But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this , he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of boundage." This has helped me so much these last few days, as a missionary you always get mixed feeling about transfers and you never know how you should feel about them. Well this transfer has been rough and i don't feel i am the best missionary but as this scripture states if we go to our savior he will help us. I challenge you all to put it all in the Lords hand and see what miracles will happen. I know he will help you because i have seen him help me so much when i have been on a mission and i know he will help you as well because he loves all of us so very much.

(AT WOMAN'S CONFERENCE)

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Love the Lord with all your Heart <3

-Sister Maraiha Loveland (Potato-Head)

Hey yall from upstate New York

Well things are going good! I decided I have short term memory lost because once again, Sister Loveland cant remember her week lol. we were feed alot!!!!!!! like we had lunch and dinner appt almost everyday this week!!!! so in other terms ( we have lots of left overs) but it has been a good week.

Transfers are coming up just around the corner, we get transfer calls Saturday the 26th and the 30th is transfer day. So that should be lots of fun!!! I am just praying for the best to happen for our area.

 Sister Hale and I taught a awesome lesson with some less actives this week and surprisingly enough it was about the Atonement as well. We were reading out of 3 Nephi 11 and while we were reading i fell in love with verses 11-17 it reads, "And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him." It got me thinking how would we feel if we were there and were able to feel of Christ wound? Now its your turn to think and reflect upon that moment in 3 Nephi 11? How would you feel if you were able to be apart of the multitude? 

We also were able to meet with alot of potential investigators and we feel soon will pick one of them up as a investigator soon. Frank and Fransica have so much potential and really are in need of the Gospel. We see them again Wednesday this week. I am so excited!!!!

I talked in church this week, I was a emergency back up because the youth speaker wasn't able to make it. I learned truly learned how powerful pray is, i was praying to know what to talk about because it was my choice sense it was such short notice. I really wanted to speak on what the lord wanted me to and not what i wanted to. so Saturday night i knelt in prayer right before i prepared my talk and I felt i needed to talk about sacrament and the atonement. So I was relying on the spirit to help me prepare. It is amazing how much the spirit can help us day to day. Everything came perfectly and i was able to have a talk that help so many people in the ward remember what the sacrament and why we have the atonement.

It is kinda funny because earlier this week I taught my companion Sister Hale about how important the atonement is and why we have been asked to repent continuously. I really just love sharing with people the importance of the atonement and we we have it in our lives. It has changed my life so much and with out it i would be on a mission today. I know the atonement is really and it is here to bless our lives. Christ love us all so much we was willing to die for us. Shouldn't we use the gift that he gave us? Because it truly is a gift to know that we can be forgiven for everything, and that we can find peace and comfort when we are in need of it. He wants us to use the atonement he really does .... you can never ask to much for our savior.

by the way this was my district this transfer. starting form the top left going down is Sister Searle, Sister Holden, Sister Hale, then me. Bottom starting form the left Elder Connole, Elder Smith, Elder Marvis, then Elder Baker. They are all wonderful people!!!!

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Love the Lord with all your Heart <3

-Sister Maraiha Loveland (Potato-Head)