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.