Merry Christmas!!

First off, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! :)

It was a good week here in Twin Falls!

#1 Aki the Eritrean

He is doing awesome! 90% free from his addictions, and came to church! In one of the lessons he would read the pamphlet the day before, and then teach us the lesson. It was super powerful because he would use scriptures that weren't even in the pamphlets, and he would describe everything as if he has known it all his life. It is especially cool because his English is not great, but it is pretty good! The Spirit works in awesome ways!!

#2 Finding!

Had some good success, found 5 new investigators. 2 said they are going to think about baptism and taking that step in life! We even had a cool experience where it was 8:50 pm (curfew is 9:00) and we decided to just go try one more door and we were able to set up a return appointment!

It is kinda cool the diversity of people we teach: Eritrean's, Iraqi's, Sudan's, and American (whatever that means haha). 

#3 MISSION CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY

It was super great! I sang two different musical numbers. One of them was a mission parody of "Sleigh Ride" and the other was 'Noche de Luz" (Silent night in Spanish). No I did not do a solo ahhaha, but sang in two different groups! It was nerve wracking, but a ton of fun and I loved it.

 Also Kevin Curtis, ex-NFL player, and played for Utah State in college, came and spoke to us. He is our mission president's nephew and he has a cool story. His football career in high school has a lot of similarity to mine! He was pretty inspiring. 

Hope this Christmas is a good one for all y'all! Never forget the true meaning of Christmas, #ASaviorIsBorn!

-Love, Elder Bean

Twin Falls 10th Ward with Elder Leon from Peru

It was a super good week here in Idaho! 

Monday and Tuesday were spent saying my goodbyes in Gooding! 

Wednesday was transfers and I am now in Twin Falls 10th ward with Elder Leon from Peru. He goes home in a month, so this is his last transfer! He is awesome though, and he is teaching me some Espanol! :) 

Highlights from the week:

#1 Today while at Chick-Fil-A, I saw the Pehrsons!! One of my favorite families I have met out here! They walked in to Chick-Fil-A and I was so shocked to see them, it felt unreal lol. It was crazy when they said how they both just felt like they should go to Chick-Fil-A! It was meant to happen for sure. I love them and have been missing them a lot! 

#2 We are teaching an Eritrean refugee who we call "Aki". (not his real name) Eritrea is a country in Africa. His English is pretty good but we just have to use very simple phrases. He actually understands a lot, but it is hard for him to speak it. He wants to be baptized so bad! We set a date for Dec. 25th, and he has some addictions to overcome but he has been clean the past 4 days!

#3 Stake Nativity Viewing and Christmas Musical Program!

They had over 300 nativities from different countries, and then had a SUPER good musical program with the Stake Choir and Orchestra! It was like a mini Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was so good and there were a lot of people from the community there! I got to see some people from my first area, which was awesome! Harry and Jackie Tietjen (converts while I was there) are doing great! Harry plans on serving a mission in 2016 and Jackie is overcoming things to prepare for the temple!

Much Love y'all!!

-Elder Bean

The Nebekers

Patton family

Hatfield family

With Elder Leon at the Stake Christmas activity

Transfers - Leaving Gooding going to Twin Falls South 10th Ward

So I am leaving Gooding and going to Twin Falls South 10th ward! I am pretty sad to leave, especially because Lexi's baptism is this Saturday, but I am also excited for the 10th ward because it shares the building with the 24th ward, which was my first area! My companion is Elder Leon from Peru!! He is an awesome missionary.

Had a lot of good things happen this week! #1 it warmed up to 30s-40s! Definitely a positive thing compared to -18 degree weather the week prior. 

Finding more people and our investigators are progressing well! The District is doing awesome. We have had a baptism every week for the past 3 weeks and if it continues how it should, then they will have one every week clear into January! Melodi was baptized on Saturday and she has been investigating for a long time. She was waiting on her husband to be ready, but he never is so she went ahead and did it! Her husband said that her baptism makes him want to be baptized now and to do the right thing! The Power of leading by example and doing what is right!!!!

I am going to miss the people of Gooding and I am for sure coming back here to visit and spend some more time here. 

Love this gospel! Love the Spirit that helps guide us to the truth and greater peace and joy!! Love my Savior! His birth is so important and all that he did for us. He truly makes it possible for us to be reconciled to God and to return to true joy, to turn away from sorrow and shame, and to find everlasting light and love!! This is the glad message I get to share everyday and I wouldn't change where I am for anything. 

Love y'all,

Elder Bean

Thanksgiving - Snow!!

Good week!

Monday we went caving with Bro. Scott! He is our Ward Mission Leader in 2nd ward and he is super awesome. The caves were fun too!

Highlights from the week:

#1 This one family we are teaching for a while is finally progressing! Bob and Joanne! Had two good lessons with them. We brought Alex, 17 year old young man, with us to one of the lessons and he shared an experience with them and the spirit was super strong! This was the first time that she outwardly showed that she was feeling the spirit! 

#2 Thanksgiving!

Had some investigators come to a Thanksgiving meal that our ward mission leader put on! Had good thanksgiving meals with a couple different families! Overall good day. It snowed a ton on Wednesday and Thursday so we went around and shoveled people's driveways. BY THE WAY it was -18 yesterday morning before church!!! Yeah I was freezing cold this week!!

#3 Baptisms!

We had multiple baptisms in the stake this week and they were great! One was a 93 year old lady:) that one was the sweetest of them all!  Also we were able to set a baptism date with Lexi for December 12th! 

EVERYONE GO CHECK OUT CHRISTMAS.MORMON.ORG!!!  #ASaviorIsBorn!

Watch the videos and share it on your social media! Spread it around to everyone and DISCOVER WHY a Savior was born for everyone of us!!!

Love y'all!!

-Elder Bean

Thanksgiving snow fun!

Rodney's Baptism!!!

Another good week!

#1 The number one highlight: Rodney's baptism! 86 years old and he shows that it is never too late to make the right decision! He had a lot of family come up on Saturday and support him (even his nonmember daughter and her family), and it was very spiritual and emotional. 

#2 We gave talks in church on Sunday and talked on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I was really bold with my talk lol. I basically taught about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for everyone not just for us individually. We have a sacred duty to share that message. WE have the fullness of the gospel and knowledge of it! Our Heavenly Father will place US in the path of those that are in need of the answers that we have! We must be willing to share that and give them the same opportunity, the same privilege and the same right to the blessings that flow from the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is no small thing, this is about the salvation of God's children!!

#3 Temple Trip

We went to the temple as a District last Tuesday. Had some neat experiences and found some answers. There was a couple there at the same time as us that are from Buhl! I talked with them afterwards and it was just cool to see someone from an old area. 

Sad part of the week: Gooding got stomped in the State game on Saturday. 55-22. Then on Sunday church was really empty, the joke going around was: Was everyone mourning the loss???. (even though it probably has something to do with Thanksgiving week).

We have some cool plans this week! We are doing a Hot Chocolate Stand on Thursday during an annual Thanksgiving Run that they do. 

Love y'all!

-Elder Bean

Rodney and his wife at his baptism!

We Witnessed a lot of Cool Things Happen This Week That I Will Not Forget Very Easily

It was a great week for us, other than it being very very cold. No snow in Gooding, but when we went to Fairfield we saw quite a bit!

#1 Teaching New Peeps

Picked up some new investigators and were able to teach in a members home and had a neat experience with that. It works so much better when members invite their friends to hear our message!

Other than that had some good experiences finding/teaching on our own. Had a visit with this guy, Gary, and the first time we met he wasn't interested and was content. Then the second time we met (yesterday) he said that we gave him some new things to think about and he is going to dig deep! Pretty cool to see the Spirit influence people!

#2 Rodney the Golden oldy!

Rod is super awesome. 86 years old and getting baptized on Nov. 21st at 3:00! A lot of his family will be there so it will be a cool thing to witness. His grandson (who is a return missionary) is going to baptize him!

# 3 Shotgun Shoot

We went to the Trap Shoot activity that the ward put on and had a good time with the members, less-actives, and non-members that came! (it was really tempting to shoot a couple, however we did not haha).

We witnessed a lot of cool things happen this week that I will not forget very easily! I love this area and the people. Part of me thinks this is my last transfer here, but everyone thinks I will stay. Idk I guess time will tell.  Also had the opportunity to exchange with Elder Gutierrez this week and he is brand new and straight from Mexico! His English is great though and he teaches really good in English! He is teaching me some Spanish too!

Love y'all!!

-Elder Bean :)

Elder Mastrocola, Me, Elder Gutierrez, Elder Sautter

With Elder Sautter

Pic from several weeks ago, I took it on Mayda's camera.

Despite the Hard Times and Rough Days, I Really Love the Mission

It was a good week. My companion, Elder Mastrocola is from Pennsylvania and he is pretty cool. We had some good things happen this week:

#1 Jennifer

One of our new investigators, she came to the primary program a couple weeks ago, and loved it. We taught her in a member’s home and the Spirit was very strong there. She is very sincere and has an amazing backstory. The Lord has definitely prepared her to receive the gospel. She has a husband and kids that we are going to start teaching too.

#2 Rodney

Still set for baptism on the 21st of November now. He is awesome! 86 and ready for the gospel haha.  His wife has such a sweet testimony and she always says it in the lessons!

#3 Exchanges

Elder Prosch came to Gooding with me and we went and contacted a lot of potentials and formers and have some good return appointments this week!

This week is going to be pretty busy with more exchanges and Zone Conference! 

Despite the hard times and rough days, I really love the mission. If I did not then I would not be here. I have just over 9 months left and I want to leave it all on the field! Give everything and not look back. I know how fast this time will go as it already has been. I love y'all!!

-Elder Bean

 

Elder Robertson and I at the Walkers carving pumpkins two weeks ago.

Rainy fall time!

Elder Prosch! Had exchanges on Friday with him.

Elder Mastrocola my new companion from Pennsylvania.

Transfers - Staying in Gooding! Great Things are Happening!

I am staying another transfer in Gooding and getting a new companion! I love it here and I am glad to stay. Elder Taylor was awesome so I am sad to see him go! 

Had some great things happen this week: 

#1 - New People to Teach!

We have been visiting this couple and just talking briefly at the door and helping with a few things and this week we went to see them and they let us in and the wife told us to teach her husband cause he wants to be taught! It went great and he accepted a baptismal commitment for November 14th. His name is Rodney, and he is 86 and never been open to missionaries until now, the wife said that it totally surprised her that he is committing.

Met this guy named Brandon through a ward member. Had a super good lesson with him, then the following day we had a church tour, and we showed him the baptismal font and ended up committing him to baptism on Nov. 21st! He is very prepared. Has had a lot of things happen in his life that he says are pointing him toward God, and then one day this ward member showed up on his front step and he took that as another sign that he should listen to the missionaries. 

#2 Hayden is going strong!

He has been clean of smoking/addictions since Wednesday! He drank this 'elixir' that has milk, garlic, and tobacco blended together and immediately after drinking it you have to smoke and it makes you sick so then every time you have urge to smoke you feel sick and don't want to! Well Hayden did it and is set for baptism on Nov. 7th! We are stoked for him.

#3- Sabbath Day was great!!

Had awesome primary program in 3rd ward, and a lot of nonmembers came and they definitely felt the spirit, and we might have more people to teach soon because of it.

Fireside last night was awesome. Great talks by some ward members that are converts and 2 awesome musical numbers. Spirit was very strong and we some non-members/less-actives come and enjoyed it a lot! about 50+ total people there!

I have such a love for these people. It is crazy how in just one visit with some people you come to love them and see them as Heavenly Father does, and all you desire for them is to have the same knowledge and feelings that the gospel brings. As a missionary I have faced a lot of disappointment in seeing those I have come to love, reject what I hold close to my heart and know is true. It is those moments that happen every so often where someone gets it, and they feel the Spirit and desire more of it. Those moments that build my testimony, and help me to realize ALL of my efforts are more than worth it!

I was at a wedding this week and ran into a member from my first area! He told me of a family that was converted while I was there and how they are doing now. Not everything is perfect and great, but it was amazing to hear they are still in the gospel and striving to be better and continuing to press on! That is all we must do is keep striving!!

Love y'all,

Elder Bean

Winter ready!

Message for Greg's birthday

The Power of Teaching with the Spirit

It was a pretty good week! 

Last Monday we had to be in Twin to get our car windshield fixed, and Bro. Ray from Gooding came and took us around to shop and then we went hiking down to Pillar Falls. (never again, that hike almost killed me because of how steep it was) Got some cool pics though!

Tuesday we did exchanges and I went to Wendell with Elder Calderon. Had a good time and some cool things happened! Last week with Elder Taylor we met this guy that worked in Gooding, and during this exchange I met him again! We taught him the Restoration and he agreed to have the Elder's come back! Also we just knocked a random door and ended up teaching the family about how the gospel blesses families in just 5 minutes, and they agreed to a return appointment! 

Friday we had Adult Temple Baptisms! Two recent converts went for the first time so we were able to go to! It was a great experience and we had about 20 adults there. 

Yesterday Elder Taylor, Bro. Scott (Ward Mission Leader), and I spoke in sacrament meeting. I talked on 'How Christ Invited and Why?" Elder Taylor spoke on 'Sacrifice' and Bro. Scott spoke about his own conversion and the Power of Invitation, and went over the ward mission plan and challenged the members of the ward to read "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" By Clayton M. Christensen, and to set a date to invite a family to come into their home and be taught by the missionaries. Already have seen good fruit come from it! Members have told us how they have set dates and are going to invite to activities and such! 

Last night had great experience while teaching a member family. We had them role play as if they were an investigator family and we taught them about how the Gospel Blesses Families and tied in the message of the Restoration and it was powerful! At the end they commented about how much the spirit was there and then said without us even asking: "We need to find someone to hear this message". It was so cool to see the power of the Spirit influence people to want to be better and to share that with others.

Another neat experience this week was that Hayden told us he wants to drop his addictions and be baptized on November 7th. Lexi is still planning on being baptized too, just hasn't decided which day she wants yet. I am truly blessed for this opportunity I have to be in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To feel and witness the Spirit work through me as a missionary and change the lives of others. I have a deep love for this gospel and how it TRULY blesses and helps our families enhance the quality of life, invite true happiness into the home, and provide peace through trials. God Loves us and has given us this glorious message! We must share this with those we know. We must invite. Even if they say no. We still must invite.

Love y'all!!! 

-Elder Bean

Pillar Falls

We Really Witnessed a lot of Small Miracles this Week, and has Grown My Testimony in our Savior!

It was a pretty solid week here. Every week my love for the area and the people just grows so much. I have gotten really close with the wards here! 

Highlight of the Week:  Elder Falabella of the Seventy came and toured our mission. We had conference with him on Friday and it was phenomenal! He didn't prepare anything, but went totally by the Spirit and taught us what we needed to hear. His big focus was on families! How we need to be bringing families together in the gospel! Cool thing is, we just picked up a couple new families to teach, so we are hopeful to see these things happen.

We are hopeful still to have a couple baptisms this month, but most likely next month due to some things coming up. Always stumbling blocks and it is such a task to overcome them a lot.

Our new focus in the wards is to go and visit all of the Ward Council members and their families and teach them about how the gospel blesses families and commit them to pray about a family they can invite to hear more about these very essential restored truths! We have seen good things come from it already and it has invited a new spirit into our messages that we share. This week ahead is going to be a busy one for sure. We have a lot of appointments planned out and new visits to make and this Friday we will be going to the Temple to do Adult Baptisms with some of our Recent Converts!

We really witnessed a lot of small miracles this week, and has grown my testimony in our Savior!

I love y'all and I have such a love for the experiences I have every day. Too many to fit into an email, and I have to have some stories to tell y'all when I get home so I can't tell ya everything!! :)

-Elder Bean

P.S. While helping someone move in, I met this guy from Eagle, ID and he knows Art Rascon very well! (Art Rascon is a news reporter in Houston and he is in our Stake in the church and we have gotten to know him!)

We had such a sweet day today. We were in Twin to get our car windshield repaired and a member from Gooding was in Twin and he took us to DI and bought us pants and a shirt (The pants and shirt I am wearing in this picture that Sis. Harden just sent) so that we could go hiking and not get all dirty! We hiked down to the Snake River, to Pillar Falls and holy cow it was so steep and it just about killed me. It was sweet though and we got our car back just in time and headed back to Gooding! We were going to go to Box Canyon too but time got short.

 

A Personal Relationship with God Endures Through ALL Time and Eternity

It was a good week overall!

General Conference weekend was very uplifting! It was definitely a good one to watch. 

We had some good successes with those we taught this week! We did exchanges and I stayed here and got Elder Sautter on Friday. We also had a Zone Meeting on Preparing better to be successful and effective.

Met with Matthew this week and had a very good lesson on the Restoration with him and he is interested and has the desire!

Hayden is doing well and came to the Priesthood session with us. He is pondering about baptism still and he wants it, just other things in his life right now. Same goes for Steven. Found out Jeremy is a member already, and his dad Tim is really busy with harvest season right now so in about 2 weeks he says he can focus more on meeting with us.

Yesterday had neat experience with being where we needed to be at the right time. Got to talk with a lady that I have not seen for 3 months! She accepted a Book of Mormon and a return appointment for this week! 

We had a good lesson last night and used Mark 8:34-38 . Such a good scripture! If we gain the whole world, but have lost our soul then what good have we done? Does not matter how much money/fun we have now, if we do not build a relationship with God and follow his commandments then all we will have is temporary happiness/money/fun right now but that all ends the moment we leave this earth. So in reality nothing is gained. A personal relationship with God endures through ALL time and eternity. While those temporary pleasures are lost and go away and only endure a very small moment of our life.  WE build that relationship by coming to know God. We can only do that by  1)communicating through prayer (communication is most important in any relationship) 2) studying His words in the scriptures and 3) LIVING IT. following his commandments and Obeying his words.  This gospel has so many tools given to us to focus on our personal relationship with God, our personal path in life, AND it even extends to our family's relationship and path. All the laws and ordinances point the way to eternal life and fulfilling these 3 things. God loves us, and our families and has blessed us with restored truths to uphold his doctrine and plan for us. We must all seek for these truths and we will find them, through diligent study and prayer.

I love y'all and take care~!

-Elder Bean

How can I become closer to Christ: listen to or watch General Conference that was this past weekend for the uplifting messages given.

Cutting Elder Taylor's hair last week

Finished product!

 

Now everyone wanted a haircut

Halloween decorations at the Harden's house

Birthday message for Olivia

Finding and Teaching Some Great Investigators - Lunar Eclipse was Cool!

It was an amazing week full of the Spirit changing people’s hearts!

Wednesday we did an exchange with some missionaries. Some missionaries had to go to Twin Falls, so we got an extra Elder for the day. Elder Velazquez was with Elder Taylor and I, so it was cool being in a little trio!  We had a solid day of visiting our investigators and had a super good dinner with the Maugers!

Jeremy (who we found last week) is progressing, and we are teaching his dad, Tim, now too! Both are set to be baptized on October 24th! Some things we have to work through first, but we have faith that it will happen! 

Thursday evening we did splits with 3rd ward and I went with Bishop Nelson and Elder Taylor went with Thane Nebeker. They visited the Carter's and taught about the Book of Mormon and 3 of the kids are excited about it and we have another appointment for this week!

We committed Steven J. to baptism and it was a neat moment. The Spirit has opened his heart more and now he is going to think and pray on it. 

Also Hayden, another investigator that lives with the Blunts who are the recent convert family, is thinking and praying about a baptism day too! 

Saturday we went to Fairfield at night and visited the Shorts. We got to see their pig give birth!! It was pretty interesting to watch ahha. (Fun fact: momma pigs are called sows, and she was HUGE). Then we went to the wedding reception of Erica and Josh! It was cool to see them and they looked super happy! 

Yesterday was a great day at church and in our meetings got a lot accomplished. Went to the Pattons for dinner cause it was Jaelynn's birthday! (Josh's oldest daughter who turned 7). She is awesome little girl and I love going over there cause we are related through marriage (David and April) so it feels like family!  Going out to visit people with Josh is a lot of fun too, he is a cool guy and great missionary! 

Got to cut Elder Taylor's hair last night at the Hortings which was neat (it was pretty good haircut too ahha) and saw the lunar eclipse!

Anyways, Take care! Love y'all!

Elder Bean

Brother Horting shooting a potato gun

Lunar eclipse