Aug. 4, 2014

Hey, it's been a GOOD week.

We are finding many many families to teach! It's been a huge blessing. We have been teaching The A family, and they've been investigating for quite a while, and really what's holding the mom back from getting baptized is that she feels nervous to commit to something she feels like she could potentially screw up... aka... Word of Wisdom. She has some pretty bad addictions. But... we felt inspired to help her! She  needs a lot of moral support, so I volunteered Sister Anderl and I to give up ALL sweets.... ehmm... ALL. And it has been like the hardest thing ever. We are completely pathetic. Major withdrawals, we're so tired, and literally going crazy and just are craving chocolate like maaaaaaaad. But, now it's been almost a whole week, and it's not as bad as it was :P Sister A has relapsed on things a couple of times, but we're gonna continue to help her!

We are also working with the M family. It is a PM family and they are ADORABLE.  She has ADORABLE  kiddies. We've been TRYING AND TRYING AND TRYING to set up an appointment with their family, but it has not happened because the mom is just hesitant because of how crazy and hyper  her children are. But, we finally convinced her. And we got there, and guess what? The Spirit did it's magic, and they were SO good and SO attentive and had a billion questions. It was really cool. We were teaching them the Plan of Salvation, and we got to earth life and we asked what we need to do here on earth to come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the mom said: 

"I think it is really important to be baptized, because that is how I have felt closer to them."

Then the kids were like, "I wanna be baptized!" And so we talked a little bit about it and the things they'd need to do to reach that goal and then we committed them! 

They came to church yesterday and loved it, and it was just so so so special. 

Anyway, then we were able to have a great lesson with J's  mom!!! She opened up a TON yesterday during our family home evening and she is so down to earth, and notices that Mormons are different and why they are, and she's just really really cool. We committed her to come to church, and she said yes, and J about cried! It was amazing to see that!:)

 

Dad- Happy Birthday!  For your 43rd ( wow is this true?) I'd love to share my testimony with you.  I want you to know that I know that Heavenly Father is truly our Father and that he is a personal God.  He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to fulfill a mission that only HE was capable of doing so that one day we would be in the arms of our loving Heavenly Father once again.

 

I don't fully understand the Atonement.  No one does.  But I am grateful to know that in the strength of the Lord, I can do all things.  I know that through the Atonement, ALL mankind may be saved; of course we must do our part.  I love Jesus Christ and I look forward to the day when I will kneel  at His feet to praise and thank him.

 

I am grateful for my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.  He truly did do more (save Jesus only) for the world. Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in 1820 in a grove of trees. I know this because of the Book of Mormon.

 

I am grateful everyday to share The Book of Mormon with my brothers and sisters. I joyfully testify that it is true!  The most correct of any book, and it truly has brought me closer to my Father and Savior. 

I treasure this short time I have to "suffer his cross' and thank my God every single day for what he has blessed me with, including my incredible, loving, covenant keeping, earthly father, Samuel B.  I love you alot and admire who you are!

Anyway, I'm lovin' it here. I really really do. It's amazing. Write back promising me you'll all come and visit with me... (preferably before Buzz's mish:)) 

I know that this Gospel is Christ's gospel, and that we are able to change our nature to become better as we seek His Atonement in our lives!

All my lovvvvvvvvvvvvve!

<3Sister Beeson

Hey! What a super week! Thanks for sending all those pics, everyone looks SOOOO big!! Freaking me out. But, all the Beeson's are BABES. I hope you sent my love for everyone:) 

Well, I don't even know where to start... Oh my. Every week is just wild. 

 

Well, on Tuesday I said goodbye to Sister Breedlove and worked with her companion for the next two days, that was fun! She was so sweet. 

 

Then Wednesday was TrAnSfErS!! Ya! I worked with Sister Reber (from my MTC group) and Sister Shumway... That was fun. We were able to find so many miracles! Also.. we went to lunch together and I got a Monte Cristo sandwich... only thing that was familiar on a Greek menu thanks to you guys, well... I was noticing some unique meat I was eating, and half way through, I asked what it was and they said it was LAMB. Oh my. It kinda grossed me out, that's how foreign I'm getting over here, peeps. Haha my my my. 

Oh! Also, I was able to get a LOVELY tour of Med Lake!!!! BLAST TO THE PAST! We had to pass that city to get to Maple Grove where we'd be working, and it was the BIGGEST tender mercy. Memories of Sister Szabo, DuBrueler and I flooded back. It was wonderful. 

Then... I was able to see my MTC companion, Sister Schwartz!! Another huge tender mercy! We were able to eat dinner together with all the greenies :) One of which is from AF High... Carly Jacklin... She had no idea this was my mission, but was sooo excited to see me. That was fun. 

 

During dinner I was sitting to my trainee not even knowing it! Then we went to the chapel where Sister Forbes gave a little background on our companions, and then would say where they'd be serving and with who. It was kinda nerve wracking :) It got to Sister Anderl, and I felt like she was mine... Sure enough! She is from SLC and she  likes  artsy stuff, plays music, has super cute style... (I'm currently wearing one of her skirts) and is just a sweetie pie. So we took a pic, ran outta there (because we had a two hour drive and it was already 8 pm), grabbed her suitcase and bike and thennnnnnn... I locked the keys in the trunk. Yep. Typical. Anyway, we eventually got outta there and began our adventures!! 

Sister Anderl is the cutest. She is so confident and happy to be a missionary, and is very down to earth. I'm blessed to be working with her. Eau Claire already loves her. :) Everyone in the ward is like SHOCKED I'm still here... it's super funny. So we've been teaching, finding, annnnnnnnnnnd... BAPTIZING. J's baptism was on Saturday and it was WONDERFUL!!! She is a doll. I love her so much and have learned so much from her. Her family was there to support her along with many young women. I'll send some pics :) 

Also, it is absolutely GORGEOUS here. You'll all seriously have to come and visit someday. I've never seen the color green like I see it here. It's really breathtaking. We've been driving a lot between Minnesota and Wisconsin lately plus to different cities where it takes a little drive to get there, and I'm so blessed to serve in a beautiful place with beautiful people! I love love love. 

Hey, it was sooooooooo wonderful to see the pics with you guys and Sister Merrill... that felt weird! Haha but I'm sooo happy that she came by!  She looks good, you look good.

Thank you for all your prayers and love. I'm grateful for every one of ya! :)

<3, Sister Beeson

Hey! It was so good to see the Jones' yesterday! A little piece of home :) Super weird at the same time! We only visited briefly because we had places to be, but it was good. I appreciate the CUTE clothes and jewelry and frame and Dear Lizzie bubble gum! What a treat. I love you. 

Well, this week was NUTS.

Monday-Tuesday: For some reason EVERYONE hated us and we weren't able to get any lessons hardly besides 1. 

Tuesday at lunch.... I did something REALLY dumb... I destroyed my thumb when I attempted to open a can of beans... Blood. Everywhere. Wouldn't stop. I freaked out a little, so I went to Sister N's house. She's a nurse, and she was overcoming a virus and I think we caught it.

Sister Louie and I literally have been in bed ALL. WEEK. LONG. It's been rough. Especially since we had Zone Training that week.

Friday-Saturday: Met President and Sister Forbes for the first time!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! 

 

 My first encounter with Sister Forbes: 

*Sitting outside the office waiting for Sister Louie to finish her interview*

Sister F: "Hey! Follow me into the bathroom while I brush my teeth and tell me about your life!"

 Haha... 

 

Anyway, back to the week... Sunday was rough, Sister Louie was still sick. Then... we came home and packed.

We woke up at 6, and had a 2 hour drive to Bloomington to drop Sister Louie off :( I found out that I am going to be training a new-bee! I am excited. But currently, I am staying with the Burnsville Sisters until Wednesday, and Sister Breedlove is going home tomorrow! Her mission is over already! I'm sooooo grateful to spend her last moments with her! She's been a huge example to me.

So, that's kinda where I'm at. I'm still overcoming whatever I got... this virus has been HORRIBLE. But, I received a blessing, and I'll just try to take care of myself. I love you all and will see yuh later!!!!! :) xoxox

Sister Beeson

PS... HANNAH IS HOME?!?!!? OH MY!!!!!!!!!! TELL HER I LOVE HER!

Hello!

Ok, BEAUTIFUL shower! Dear Lizzie to the T. It made me a little homesick looking at that :) you've got a gift, mamacita. Looked great.

Glad all the camping went well this week! We had some pretty crazy storms as well. It went from like high 80's to mid 60's within 20 minutes, and clouds rolled in, and it PACKED down rain... people were driving through RIVERS. And then out of absolutely no where it started HAILING! HUUUUUGE chunks of ice... bigger than quarter size. It was freaky, I thought our windshield was gonna crack. And then the tornado siren went off, I haven't heard that at all since being on my mission, so that scared me a little, but... no tornado. Just bad winds.

This week was again full of miracles. It is amazing what happens when you have faith that the Lord will back you up 100% der der der... It's taken me so long to figure that one out. But we had a really cool miracle that resulted from 'heart-attacking' someones door. (when you cut out paper hearts and write a nice note and tape it all over someone's door) We heart attacked a less active who is struggling. She and her bf live together and the bf's sister lives with them to take care of the la's twin boys. Anyway, this la was pregnant, but she found out this week that she lost the baby. It was super sad. So, that's when we heart attacked their door. And the bf's sister, L.. she is SUPER cute. 

 

Well, we wrote her name along with everybody else's on the note, and I guess that REALLY meant a lot to her. H, the LA said that she about cried because it meant so much... she didn't think we even knew her name.

 

Well, a couple of days later, we went to H to do a teaching evaluation and as we pulled up, she was pulling out saying she forgot we were coming but that she'd be back soon and that we were free to go inside and chat with L.  We've never really talked to her that much before, but we went in and she was with her friend who is currently on probation and is going through a rough time. He is from the Middle East, and his mom in Christian, his dad is Muslim, and he has gained a super strong faith in Christ from being in and out of jail. And his personality was Scooby Dayley.

 

Well, thankfully 'Scooby' was asking about religion right off the bat. Then L started to ask some questions, and we were able to talk a lot about our faith. Once we started talking more in depth, H came back with 3 other guys, and then they sat in and listened! It is always soooo intimidating to teach in front of our peers, but the Spirit was sooo strong and they had legitimate questions and were really interested in the things we were teaching them. They all wanted a Book of Mormon, so we got 5 out of our car to give away.

Then when we had a moment alone with L we asked her what she is hoping to gain from meeting with us and she said, "You both are always just so happy, and I want that. I want to find myself too. I want to know who I am and to be confident in that." So we testified boldly to her that this gospel is where she will find answers to all of her life's questions. She got emotional and afterward said "I had a really big anxiety attack today, and so I wasn't wanting to talk to anybody, in fact, I wasn't even gonna open the door, but I felt like I needed to, and now I feel sooooo much better.'' It was just super cool to see her go from depressed to excited within the time we had to chat with her. AH. The Lord is good.

Another miracle is that Sister Sta (our ward musical master) was wanting to play a flute arrangement of some song, and she was gonna have her son play the piano to accompany her, but last minute he couldn't do it, so she called me and asked if I could accompany her. Ahhhh... It was a tougher piece too, but thankfully I was able to pull it off by Sunday! We were able to have 4 investigators to church and they all LOVED it. Good things are happening... and yes, I totally do think I was part of that experiment of keeping missionaries in an area for a long time... ha, I love it though!

I am so excited that Sister M is going over to eat! That's gonna be great.  She will love you all. You will love her. Tell her how much I love her and am continuing to pray for her.

Ok, horrible email. Sorry. We've just got a thousand things to do today... also.. I get my new companion next week... ahhhhhh... I'm gonna miss Sister L. It's been so fun. She has the laugh of Renee Goodman. So contagious. (her name is Renee too... odd!)

Love you all so much.

-Sister B

Hey hey! Happy 4th, it sounds like it was a whole week celebration!
Just like last 4th of July, we did... nothing. Literally. Haha I'm excited to celebrate next year.

Yesterday we had some investigators come to our church! And it was perfect because everyone seemed to have born their testimonies on Christ's Atonement and the spirit was STRONG. It was incredible.  6 investigators came to church! Whaaaaaaaat... Again, Heavenly Father has been proving to me time and time again that this is HIS work. I love it. He blessed us with SO many teaching opportunities, and again, our key indicators have never looked this good--out of my WHOLE mission. It is amazing. We are finding soooo many people who's hearts are prepared for the gospel!!! 

 

Like last night, the elders came with us to teach our investigator J and then it was 7 minutes before curfew and they asked how many Restoration lessons we taught this week. We said: "BAHHHHHHHHHHH.........we will tell you after we find someone to teach within the next 7 minutes."

1st door: no answer

2nd door: not interested

3rd door: guy answered, and his friend eventually came and joined in the convo, and then a very Lutheran girl who drove up came and joined us as well! (which we found out later her brother is serving a LDS mission in Ghana!... I completely believe that her brother has been praying for her to get in contact with the missionaries.) Anyway, we were able to teach them all the Restoration! MiRaClEs!!!!

Another cool miracle moment was when we had a meeting with our WML who really stressed how prompted he felt that we needed to go finding in Altoona. Which was CRAZY, because in all my weekly plannings for the past couple of weeks I have had the same promptings of: GO TO ALTOONA. So when he said that, it solidified that prompting. 

 

Sister L and I went to a gas station and while she was in the bathroom I looked on the map and out of all of Altoona I was drawn to 'Petunia St' and then when I was in the bathroom Sister L was drawn to 'Mum St' Petunia was a street below Mum. Crazy! So we drove over and we were pleased to see that it was a TRAILER PARK! YESSSSSSSS. HUMBLE PEOPLE. So we went out tracting, hardly anyone was home, and we met a few people uninterested, and then we had literally 5 minutes before we had to leave to our dinner appointment, and we knocked on one last house and it was a young man who has recently been going through a really rough time. We stated who we were, how we were led to him, and what we were there to share with him. He thought that it was the neatest thing that God truly led us to him. Because he was only in Eau Claire for the day and he said that it was exactly what he needed. We were able to teach him the Restoration and invite him to be baptized... it was AWESOME. God is too good.

I honestly have many more stories like that that I could share, but we have only an hour to email today.. so I'll close. But I just am so grateful for all the prayers and love and support that you've shown and given! It really means so much and I'm SOOOOOOOO grateful to be serving in Eau Claire. I can't tell you how many people at church came up to me yesterday and said "You must come back to Eau Claire and bring your family with you!" My family here, wants to meet you, my family. :) It's a good place.

I love you all and will chat with yuh next weeeeeeeeeek! <3

-Sister Beeson

Hello favorite dad.

I am smiling reading your email because I can soooo relate to you. These past couple of weeks have been EXCEPTIONALLY difficult, trying, confusing, and really, on the verge of feeling impossible. Like you, it is a wonderfully difficult feeling to suffer a smidge of Christ's sufferings.

But, like you said. A miracle ALWAYS proceeds a trial. I am grateful for that. It is beautiful to see all the way God has blessed us this week.  I have been in awe with all of the miracles we have been blessed with this week. I will never ever ever ever ever ever forget it. 

I will pray a little harder that this week with be a lighter (in both senses of the word) one for you. Thank you for being a hard worker, and for being GOOD. I love you 4evr. Totes.

<3 Your Sister Missionary.

Hey! It's good to hear from you. I love all of your emails, it makes me happy that you're happy.

I am ALSO happy! Soooo happy. So. This is how this week went, it was a roller coaster:

-I spent Monday-Wednesday evening in Cottage Grove and the sisters I was with are going through a ROUGH time with their recent convert in jail and they have been asked to be witnesses at court and everything. Crazy. 

-Wednesday: I woke up in Minnesota, we drove to Wisconsin for our district meeting, drove back to Minnesota to pick up my new youth companion, Sister Louie, and then drove back to Wisconsin. I was in the car literally ALL day.

 Sister Louie is originally from California, she spent the last year in Boston, and moved to Minnesota to live with her uncle 3 weeks ago. She heads to her mission to Mexico next month. She has the most long beautiful hair EVER. We get a long really well! 

 It has been wonderful to teach her and teach with her. I really have learned a lot from her and a lot about myself. It's a suuuuper humbling experience

Heavenly Father was extra loving and mindful of us this week. He was so so so good to us. We saw SO many miracles this week. More than I've seen for a long time. It was a testimony to me that this is SO HIS work, not mine. At all. :) And that I don't need to worry or fear or feel inadequate because again, it's not my work!

We were able to get SIGNIFICANTLY better numbers (key indicators) this week (with us only being in our area for 4 days) than we have for a very long time. Our focus has been finding since our investigator pool has dropped pretty heavily, and Heavenly Father blessed us with SIX new investigators! That hasn't happened in my 10 months in Eau Claire! Such a blessing, because they are all SOLID people. Ah! I can't even elaborate how miraculous everything has been, so I reaaaaaaaally appreciate all of your love and support and PRAYERS. It's been wonderful.

Last night we had a mission prayer call and we were able to hear President and Sister Forbes for the first time. THEY SOUND ADORABLE. President Forbes has a cute little accent, he sounds like a cowboy, and Sister Forbes voice sounded like moms! It made me happy! So I'm really really excited to meet them. I already feel like I'll connect with them. Although, my heart was aching a bit from not hearing the Clements'. I'm so blessed to have all these mission parents! I love them all. Did you end up going to the Clements' home coming? 

Well, I love each of you. I love the Lord. And I am so humbled and blessed and excited to be serving with Sister Louie in my favorite place! Have a super week and a funnn fun fun 4th of July! :)

xoxoxo

-Sister Beeson