Sister Eliza Adelaide Beeson: Bikin it, teachin it, LOVIN it!

Hello hello!

So good to see pictures of all of you cuties! and thanks for the vid! You should send those more often:) Hotttt dogggg. Looks FUN.

So... this week! Well, it wasn't the best in terms of 'key indicators' or... in other words.. our goals. But that is because Sister Szabo and I had a changed heart & mind on what missionary work is really about-- focus on people's needs--teach PEOPLE, not LESSONS. It's tough, because sometimes we just get into routine, when really, each person is different, and needs to be taught differently.

But, out of the whole week, what has really affected me the most is... a talk I read! It's called "In the Strength of the Lord" by Elder Bednar. I cannot BELIEVE I haven't read it before! It literally CHANGED me. I have thought about it all day, everyday since I read it. Please please please read it together--the whole thing! And tell me what you think! I get teary just thinking about it! It's about the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement. Which brings me to..... biking.

We all know how wimpy, out of shape, and and lazy Lize is. This might sound strange, but I can honestly say, through the strengthening power of the Atonement, I was able to ride my bike EVERYWHERE this week. Normal Eliza Beeson wouldn't be able to. But Sister Beeson DID! We are low on our miles, so we had to break out the bikes. We have rode about 20ish miles a day, so total--about 80 miles so far. And let me tell ya, biking + skirt + wind = NO BUENO. Thankfully, the weather has been crazzzy nice. It even got chilly! Low 60's. And I'd like to take a bragging moment: I am getting buff. My legs. Honestly. Yessss.

Anyway, it's been quite the week, I'll just tell you about a gal we met real quick.

Her name is Daphne. Sister Szabo met her last transfer by accident, they knocked on a door that they thought was someone else's, but it ended up being Daphne. They didn't get a chance to teach her. Well, Sister Szabo and I happened to be in that apartment the other day, and she remembered Daphne! So, we went and knocked. She was sooo happy to see us! (2nd time seeing Sis. S, 1st time seeing me) she let us in, offered us water, and fruit, told us to take a seat, she was just the sweetest. Well, we just started chatting, she's from Kenya, and she's been here for like 8 years, anyway, then she's just like "So. Tell me all about your church!" We did. We shared the Restoration. We invited her to be baptized (she accepted) and we told her about the Book of Mormon. We had her read Moroni's promise aloud to us. She asked, "Why doesn't anybody know about this book?!" "You're telling me, all I have to do is pray with a sincere heart, and God will tell me it's true?!" "Where's your church, I want to come!" It. was. AMAZING. She was so excited to read and learn more! The Spirit was strong. Sister Szabo and I just dieeeed after we left, we were so so happy. We have very high hopes for Daphne!

Sunday, we had our little investigators (I don't know if I've already told you about them) Their names are Budda (10) and Prinell (8) they LOVE LOVE LOVE church. They love love love reading the Book of Mormon, and LOVE having us come to teach them. They are such faithful kiddies, and should be getting baptized by mid-August! :)

So, Minnesota is great. I really do enjoy it. I love Liberians. And Kenyans. And Asians. And African Americans. I adore the diversity.

Thanks for your prayers, everybody! I appreciate the hand written letters, too! Those are like the BEST treat to get when we walk into our room after a looooong day. Love you all thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much plus INFINITY! :)
XOXO

Sister Beeson