A Baptism and Pioneer Day Celebrations

It was a really good week again!

We stayed pretty busy and didn't have hardly any slow hours, which was nice. I can tell the Lord has been blessing us and this area. Tuesday we talked to a lot of people and taught 4 lessons just in that day! While at dinner at the Mclaughlins, one of their friends was there and we shared a little of L-1 and Sister Mclaughlin did a solid job at being a missionary and invited him to hear our lessons and set a return appt for Tuesday the 28th! It was really cool to see.

Wednesday was really good and we saw this guy, Pineapple and he is 79 year old Hawaiian man and he is so fit and energized it is crazy. He bikes so far, like 100s of miles all the time like its nothing. We met this girl, Desa Qualls, outside and talked with her about the gospel and she was super nice and said we could come back this Wednesday. She has met with missionaries before, and read some of the Book of Mormon and had some questions about the church!

Finished up Tara's lessons and she was baptized on Saturday! It was such a neat baptism and a lot of people attended. Also they all came to church the next day too which was neat.

Friday was the Pioneer Day Stake Celebration and the missionaries in the stake helped serve food. (I think they said they were expecting over 800 people) and I saw a lot of nonmembers/less-actives come to it! The food was really good and then they had team roping, calf scramble for kids, handcart races, and water pig races ahha. It was a lot of fun and we had a good time with some families we are teaching that came!

Things are going well here in Gooding! I love serving and I love the Lord, we listen to some cool talks in the car while we drive and I love it because then I am constantly learning new things. I love the Gospel and Jesus Christ! He is our Savior and Redeemer and because of Him there is no end. I know it to be true. I know that true happiness and peace comes only through living the gospel of Jesus Christ and striving to be exact obedient to all his commandments. 

I love y'all!

-Elder Bean II

Tara's baptism, she was baptized by her husband, Ben.

 

Corn field

Wendell Stake Pioneer Day celebration

In front of my house

 

Obedience in the Morning, Diligence in the Afternoon, Brings Miracles in the Evening!

So last Monday we played sand volleyball and some basketball with other missionaries and then that night we went to the Ray's. They had a bonfire, hot dogs and s'mores, so it was way fun. We had an appointment right after that though, and while we were at the Ray's I got the thought that maybe we should reschedule and just stay here and enjoy this. So glad that I did not go through with that. We went to the lesson with the Koch's and it was powerful. Read 1 Nephi 13 and the Spirit was so strong. They felt it and I could see it on their countenances. We invited them to church and for the first time they accepted eagerly! I realized looking back that the adversary tried to sway us from going there. He put in my mind that I should stay and 'enjoy myself' instead of doing what I am called to do and serve others. I am thankful the Lord helped me realize this!

On Tuesday we had interviews with President Curtis and they were awesome. Then we went to a funeral in Wendell. Mario Reyes (19) died in a car wreck and he was a recent convert preparing for a mission. The spirit was so strong there. One of the missionaries that taught him, Elder Slavens, who is home now, came back and sang a musical number that was way good.

Wednesday when we went to the Hales we had another good experience. We have been reading in the Bible with them and this time she asked if we could read in the Book of Mormon! She walks with Sis. Snow every morning and they talk about the Gospel and Sis. Snow gave her 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World' and she loved it (especially due to recent events in the world). So we read with her in 1 Nephi 2-4 and it was really good! She was very engaged and her husband, Bro. Hales (also a nonmember) had really good things to say and he even answered her questions sometimes. He has studied a lot of religions and read the Book of Mormon 17 years ago. 

Also had David and Colleen's wedding that night! It was great and then the next day we set a baptism date for August 22nd with him! He has things to overcome but he is down to earth and humble guy and is way fun to be around and teach.

Friday was good too. The day was slow but the night was good! Obedience in the morning, Diligence in the afternoon, brings Miracles in the evening. It was so true. We went to the Hutchings (recent convert and recently activated member) and had a good time talking with them. They have a ton of horses since he buys/sells and trains them. Also Bro. Hutching and I got into a really good gospel conversation and it turned out really well! They are a good family!

Then went to Ben and Mayda Hatfields and had a great time. Talked about organization of the church and Ben bore his testimony and said things that have shown him how it is true, and they both mentioned experiences on how they have a testimony of paying tithing! So cool to see, and we are hoping that Mayda continues to progress towards baptism in the future.

Saturday we went to Fairfield and met some cool people and some good potential. Taught a lesson to a part-member family. Most of Fairfield is part-member families actually.

Sunday we went over to the Blunts with Bro. Scott! We taught a lesson and he set up the program for Tara's baptism this Saturday at 8 pm!! We are so excited for them. She has taken the lessons so many times and this time it is the right time! 

All is going well here in Gooding. I really like it here and I love Fairfield. Other than Texas, I want to live in Fairfield lol. It is so sweet up there. (it was like 60 degrees up there!)  

I loved this week and all the experiences we had! Love y'all!

-Elder Bean II

OH YEAH!! Forgot to add that on Saturday on the way to Fairfield I had another neat experience. So it has to do with that picture of Elder Manygoats and I together with the valley in the background. That spot is a spot where you can pull over and take pictures and stuff, and when we came up on it while driving I felt like we should stop so we did and there was a lady standing next to her car. So we get out and take some pics and then ask her to take one of us! She did and we started talking and talked for like 10 minutes and then at the end I felt like we should ask her to hear our message. We shared a little with her and then asked her and she said Sure!! So got her info and are going to send it to the mission office to give to the missionaries in her area! Neat experience and I realized "what if we hadn't of stopped?' or 'what if we never would of invited her?'. I hope all goes well and that the missionaries end up teaching her and her family! She has a husband and a baby girl too.

Picture spot on the way to Fairfield

Fairfield, it's a small town for sure!

David and Colleen's wedding

Had a Good Week of Finding and Having People Come to Church

So good week!

Had really good lessons with the people we are teaching and we had a good week of finding and having people come to church. Tara Blunt is still set to be baptized on the 25th at 8 pm! 

Oh so I forgot to mention there is this cool road in Gooding called Rollercoaster Road. The name explains it! We have fun going down that road and teach some families that live on it ahha. 

Friday did exchanges with the District Leader and that was interesting because I stayed in my area and got Elder Marcelo so I had to lead out and I barely even know the town or the people. Still got the work done though.

Saturday we helped out with a Fun Run donation event for Bishop McHan. (1st ward, not ours). He has cancer and they did this to support him! It was fun and got to mingle with all the members and some nonmembers. We helped someone move into our area and they are a part member family and we are going to start teaching them!  

Then for the rest of the day we did exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I went with Elder Garrish to Jerome and had a ton of fun. He relates to me so well (cool, athlete, bro) and we had a good time. Met this guy, John Warren, and he is THE man of Jerome. Also we unexchanged that night and met up with the other elders in Fairfield, which is an hour away so we had a lot of time to talk about things and it was really good. 

Stayed the night in Fairfield at the Kelsey's house up there. (They were a family from Buhl). Then went to church at the branch in the morning and came back for church in Gooding too! 

Yesterday was just great. The Spirit of the Sabbath is so wonderful and it brightened my whole week. Gave me so much inspiration and motivation to constantly become better and know that it is possible to overcome ALL things through Christ!    ~ Helaman 5:12 ~   

Much Love, Elder Bean II

Exchange with Elder Marcelo, he's from Peru.

With Elder Manygoats

With Elder Garrish one of the Zone Leaders

Zone Meeting - Becoming Consecrated to the Lord!

Hey it was another good week in Gooding, ID

So we didn't go to Fairfield this week at all, but we have permission that when we do go (which we are planning on going this weekend) we can spend the night up there on Saturday night, and stay for church the next morning! I am super excited to do that cause then we can get a lot more work done and not have to drive back late at night!

We are still teaching Tara and Ben Blunt and she is still set for baptism on July 25th! Also Ben was ordained to office of priest yesterday so he will be able to baptize her! We also started to teaching their kids (who weren't interested at first). Deva (16) and Charlee (11). Kylee is too young to be baptized but she listens. She is a funny little girl.

We are teaching David and Colleen and they are going to get married on the 15th next week! It is exciting because David really wants to be baptized and he has been ready for it. He is such a good guy, came from a rough upbringing/past but has changed so much. Only has to overcome smoking and then he is good for baptism! He is hilarious and always have funny things to say. But he is also serious about spiritual things too!

Had a Zone Meeting on Friday about not 'just doing missionary things' but becoming consecrated to the Lord! Also talked about Finding and working with members! I am excited for the commitments this month and I feel like we are focusing more on increasing how prepared we are and how many people we talk to! Also committing members to do missionary work and teaching them how easy it can be! 

I love it here and I love the mission. It is so amazing and truly a blessing to be sharing the Gospel with others. I have taken it for granted in the past but I realize how great it really is!

Love y'all. Elder Bean II

Heading to appointments with Elder Manygoats.

It's a little hot here!

Our house

Inside our house