Transfer 9 Week 2 - March 24, 2014

Heeey Everybody!

So that is exciting news with Connor getting home and everything from his mission. Proud of him and his work. Man I love missions! They are the best! 

Last night one of our recent converts said that she had to take her sister to the ER. She had been sick and thought that she had an ear infection but in reality she had a spider in her ear. So if that doesn't give you the heebie geebies I don't know what will.

Now that we are off to a great start, this week has been an adventure...Sort of. My companion ended up getting sick with a migraine this week. She has been getting them for about a couple years where she used to get them once or twice a year, but she has had pretty bad ones about every month now. When she got it, it was Tuesday morning and it went over into Thursdaymorning. We were inside for those days and while she tried to sleep it off I ended up inputting the paper copy of our area book into the iPad for hours on end. It was fun!....not. But much needed to be done. And at the end I was able to take a picture of the area book and iPad together to show future generations of how it used to be done and how missionary work changes with technology! :) It is definitely going to be an adjustment using this method, but I am excited to see how the face of missionary work will change and what things will happen in bringing the gospel to others throughout the world. 

Later this week we were able to go on a two day exchange with the sisters down in cape may! That was so sweet. I can't even begin to describe the feelings going through me as I was able to see people that I dearly love and have become part of my family. My heart is still partially down in cape May but great things are transpiring there and I'm glad to be a stl over that area.

I don't usually talk about the exchanges that we go on, but it was such big part of our week and was something my companion and I were able to learn a lot about and reflect on that I feel like I should share.
The companionship that we were going with were really struggling. For one of the sisters this is her first experience with training and the other is a brand new missionary. My companion was able to go on the exchange with the new missionary and I went with the trainer. So far with this position as a stl and the amount of exchanges that we do I have really been able to see some stressful situations of how some of these sisters come out here not knowing why they are here, struggling with testimonies, or have never really ever even had a friend before. And after some of these exchanges we come tired and always really trying to think what we can do to help these sisters, but by the end of this exchange I was complete exhausted and it was by far one of the most overwhelming ones. 

There is definitely a lack of communication on both parts of sisters and there were a lot of issues at hand. Below I have included an excerpt of my companion's email in order for all of you to see her point of view of the exchange and how to describe the situation in greater light, as well as her testimony included. As for the trainer that I went with, she was able to open up to and share with me all of the things that she is going through but afterwards I had really been praying for something I could help her with and for something I could give her a commitment with. It was something that she told me that she did not want any of my advice and was quite abrupt with me. I was rather taken aback, and it allowed me to see two different view points for a relationship and what some people are willing or not willing to do to work through problems. This training sister has been really frustrated as you will read below but in response to that she has begun to belittle her companion and treat her like a child in the situation rather than an equal for their companionship. 

In reality we all have problems. Each one is different and the experiences we go through will not be the same but as we turn to our leaders and to The Lord we will be able to come out conquerors. When there are situations at hand it is important for us to be able to step back and look at the greater eternal impact of our choices and then to make the best decision. I hope as you all read this that you will be able to feel apart of this experience and think about the relationships that you are in as well, where your testimony stands and what you feel like you could do as well to better strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I would love feedback or comments about things you think are important in loving and serving those you are with.

Sister Haas comments:

"We were going on an exchange with
the Cape May sisters after planning. They are having such a hard time.
We were going to be with them from Thursday to Saturday. I stayed in
our area and Sister Dobson came here. I don't want to say too much
about the exchange, but let me tell you these sisters are struggling.
Sister Dobson is a different type of sister. She has never been tested
but there might be some form of autism there. I want to say that those
two days were a very humbling and moving experience for me. As I got
to know her and where she is coming from, there were lots of tears as
she expressed to me what she was feeling. I was able to listen, to
talk to her and encourage her. I prayed so hard on the exchange to
know what to say to help her. We had a wonderful conversation and
throughout I could literally feel a small portion of the love that our
Savior feels for this individual sister. There is so much potential in
this sweet sister. It will just take more time, more love, and much
patience to work with her, answer her questions and to teach her how
to do many things involved in missionary work.

I love being a sister training leader. It adds a whole new level to
the work, one of commitment, love, and patience. As a leader, I don't
see myself in any way above these sisters, but as we go on these
exchanges, I help them to know that I am learning just as much from
them as they may be from me. And as the spirit is there as a third
companion, that's where the real teaching comes in. My heart has been
really full these last couple days. It's been ridiculous how many
times I have cried this week, not because I am sad, but because I am
overwhelmed with how much I love and appreciate this gospel. After the
exchange, I was expressing some things to my companion, Sister Beames.
I have noticed that many missionaries come out not having a testimony.
This is frustrating. My purpose of this email is not to vent, but to
really share what I have come to learn as being a sister training
leader. This work is hard. This work is eternally important. This work
is not to be taken lightly. President Brigham Young taught, "If you go
on a mission to preach the gospel with lightness and frivolity in your
hearts, looking for this and that, and to learn what is in the
world,...you will go and return in vain...let your minds be centered
on your missions." As I expressed how I was feeling to Sister Beames
in the family history center at the church, tears filled my eyes as I
told her how my heart goes out to these sisters and elders that come
out searching for something their whole missions. They aren't sure why
they are here. They keep looking for something, unsure of why they
feel so tired, why we need to be obedient to mission rules, why
everyday feels like it's dragging on and their missions will never
end. I am so grateful for all those elders and sisters who
courageously accepted the call to come out on a mission. But can I say
how important it is to have a foundation of a testimony before you
come. When you are searching for your testimony, it makes the work
100x harder when you don't have that crucial part of who you are to
pull from. Please know that God is your father in heaven, that Jesus
Cnrist is the savior of the world and that he atoned for your sins.  That through him you can be made clean. Know with a surety that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. Know that The Book of Mormon

is true. Know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. As you come out
on a mission focus on your purpose, "To invite others to come unto
Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in
Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the
gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." As you focus on your
purpose in helping others make these steps, you too will naturally see
changes in yourself. As Sister Beames and I were talking, she shared
stories with me of when she had to go home from her mission to get
surgery, and how being home she felt so alone. All she wanted to do
was serve The Lord and here she was, sent home for health reasons. As
she shared these tender experiences with me, we both were in tears as
she bore her testimony with me of how she knows this gospel is true
and how she loves serving The Lord. Sister Beames knows why she is
here. As many of you know I always wanted to serve a mission and my family is 

very missionary minded and right from being young, I set my sights to
serve a mission and to prepare. You also may know that I dated Jonny
before coming on a mission at BYU. The time came when I needed to
decide what to do next. I remember that time being very difficult for
me as I was torn in my feelings and not quite knowing what to do. I
hold close to me several experiences while on my knees in prayer,
studying my scriptures, pondering upon the words of my patriarchal
blessing, listening to talks, being in church, and being aware of the
quiet and tender promptings of the spirit. In many ways like Joseph
Smith, I was confused as he described his experience, this can be
likened to mine, "in the midst of the tumult of opinions, I often said
to myself what is to be done? Who of all these parties are right, or,
are they all wrong together, if anyone of them be right, which one is
it and how shall I know it?" I have never prayed so hard. (Ok being on
a mission I have prayed again pretty hard :) ) but I wanted to know
what Gods plan for me was and what I needed to do. Setting aside all
opinions, I dug deep within myself. I learned a lesson about prayer
that Heavenly Father trusts us. He trusted me to make a decision and
then to ask him. I pondered, reflected and studied and then asked God
if I needed to serve a mission. I bear witness that I received an
answer. My Heavenly Father has a plan for me and he loves me. I have a
testimony of this gospel and he needed me to be apart of his army in
this part of the vineyard. He needed me to train 4 beautiful sister
missionaries. He needed me be to be in parts of Pennsylvania,
Delaware, and New Jersey to preach his gospel and defend his faith. He
needed me to help people, to love them, and to guide them. He needed
me to be a sister training leader to help other sister missionaries
understand their purpose and potential. I treat them like my
investigators as I pray, study and think about them. I too know why I
am here.  

As Sister Beames and I were able to talk with one another and as we
have shared our experiences with another, it's been overwhelming to me
this week of how much I love being a missionary and how grateful I am
for the decision I made to serve The Lord. When we follow the answer
to prayer, things will work out. Things will be ok :)

One more thing, when I was on exchanges with Sister Dobson, we had an
appointment with Jim Crowley. Jim is inactive and has been so since he
was 13 years old. He is in his 30s now and has forgotten many things
about the church. As we went to see him and sister, Sister Greer, who
is an active member, we walked in and they seemed a little
uncomfortable. I asked what was wrong and Jim said,"I'm just not sure
where all this is going. I know where you want this to go, but I don't
know if I will ever be able to get my answer." We have multiple
conversations with Jim . He confuses himself because he says that he
wants to know, but doesn't know if he can know. It's a very roundabout
conversation. Coming into this lesson and knowing that he didn't know
if he wanted to meet with us again. I said, "Jim, give us one more
lesson. The things we have to share with you today I know will help
you." We opened and I told Jim that that morning I had prayed for him
and was unsure about where to go next with him. I told him that for an
hour that morning I had studied for him to know what and how we could
teach him. As I spoke, the Spirit filled the room as I showed the love
and concern I had for him. We opened up to Matthew 14 and talked about
Peter walking on the water and how Jim has so much doubt running
around in his head. He wants to know, but he doesn't know if he can.
We talked about faith and how he needs to hold onto that faith, though
small, that he does have. We have not been able to get to the second
part of the restoration (he is a big talker and gets off topic easily)
but this time we were able to teach about Joseph Smith and his
experience, the importance of the Book of Mormon and praying to know.
We shared a short clip of the restoration and of Elder Perry
testifying of the prophet. After we shared this, Jim went off and said
how he didn't believe in Joseph Smith, that he was a conman, how
people took him to be killed and that the men were right for doing
it... As he spoke it was the weirdest feeling. I felt like I was going
to explode. Here Jim was talking about the prophet Joseph Smith and
saying all these things that he had heard or thought he knew. But he
didn't know. As the conversation paused, I paused and immediately my
eyes watered. It was in that lesson, the Spirit confirmed to me how
much I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of god. I bore my testimony
of this young man, a boy who had faith to receive answers to his
prayers, and did so. Through him, the gospel has been restored. I know
it. It is so hard to describe these experiences in writing and even
telling them face to face. I know that many experiences I have on my
mission are ones that will always stay in my heart and that really
only The Lord and I will know. They are hard to retell. I told Jim,
"Before you walk away from this, do you feel like you have done your
part in coming to know these things are true?" He replied, "Well, I
have prayed a couple times." (We have been meeting with him for about
2 months). I said, "That is wonderful that you have prayed Jim. God
loves hearing from you. But before you leave all of this, do your
part. Pray every single day, morning and night. Read The Book of
Mormon, and come to church." He said he would. Church may come later,
but his sister agreed to read with him everyday to help him.
After that lesson, we walked out and got in the car. Sister Dobson
said, "Sister Haas, I needed that lesson. I feel like I doubt so much.
I know these things. I need to have more faith." On that exchange,
Sister Dobson was able to start to find her testimony and recognize
that she does have one.

Family and friends, know that I stand as a witness of Jesus Christ. I
love him and I know him. I will do anything to preach his gospel.
Thank you for reading this long winded email, it felt good to write
this all down :) i love you all!

Looking forward to another week in His service."

Lastly, I want to share my testimony with you. I know that this gospel is true. I know that no matter who it is, an investigator, sisters, elders, myself, family, or others that the invitation to come to Christ is for everyone. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve God and be a part of this great work. I love my mission. Everything about it means so much to me and each day I try to be changed into who God would have me be. This really is eternal life we are working for and we must do our part.

Love you all,

Sister Chalet Beames

Transfer 9 Week 1 - March 10, 2014

Hey family here is the new address!
2424 Shamrock Ln
Millville, NJ  08332

This week was good. I left center city and was sad to go, but feel
super pumped about the new area I'm in. I'm still a sister training
leader and I've been moved back to New Jersey. I'm in a place called
Vineland about an hr north of cape may. So exciting news because I'm
over the sisters down in that area I will get to head down there for
some exchanges!

Well it was a busy week just getting adjusted, making sure my last
companion new center city and then trying to get to know people in my
new area. It's been a blast though!

There are already so many miracles happening here, and there are a lot
of people that are prepared and ready to be taught!

Last night we stopped by a potential thAt missionaries  met maybe six
months ago. The lady said her and her sone have been reading the Book
of Mormon they left and are so excited for us to come back and teach
them! I'll have to let you know how that goes.

Welli love you all and hope things are well. Keep up the good work and
look for positive things everyday!

Love sister beames

Transfer 8 Week 6 - March 3, 2014

Hey everyone! guess what?....

I'm getting transferred! Sad but I knew it would come to an end
eventually. I know it would come to an end soon though. Things you are
enjoying can't always last but change is good. God wants us to stretch
and by creating different experiences and trials we are then able to
become the person that he wants. I'm excited for this change and hope
to see further growth in myself and the people I am going to be able
to serve!

Well this week was awesome! We had so many uplifting experiences and
we were able to work with so many people. We taught our investigator
Liuddy the wow, and he was able to accept it. He said he doesn't
really know why but he knows he should keep it because he wants
blessings from The Lord. And he said he recognizes that if it has
gotten us where we are today then it must be good cuz he said his way
'is crap.'

Also working with some of our less actives has been super good. We
were able to see some really good changes in them when they keep their
commitments, especially praying and reading  individually and as a
family.

Our eight yr old Brandon had his baptism date pushed to March 16th.
I'm so excited for him. He really does have the softest heart, and I
just hope to be able to come back and see his special day!

Love you all so much. Hope you are doing great and recognizing gods
hands in all of your experiences.

Love, sister chalet beames

Transfer 8 Week 5 - February 24, 2014

Hey family how are things going. Things here are awesome. I am very
tired but I just got some medicine for mom and pops so hopefully when
I start it soon it will make a difference.

We did a couple of exchanges this week. It was great learning from the
sisters and their sweet testimonies. I always enjoy getting to know
others and what makes them so individual based on their backgrounds,
their experiences and where they came from.

Our investigator Liuddy has been progressing well. He seems a little
nervous about living an lds life because it really is a stark
difference. He said specifically that you could put makeup on a pig
but under neath it all it is still a pig. We reminded him also that a
lot of people say you can't change a leopards spots, but he is not a
pig or a leopard but a man. And men change all the time! We really
just want to help him see his true potential that we and god see in
him! So if you all can keep him in your prayers that would be great!
He also only has one a month church pass because of the Salvation Army
where he is staying so This week we went to his church service for
family week and there was a dinner afterwards. They ended up having
lot of songs to sing and a sermon but as far as the whole meeting it
was pretty bland and not the spiritual uplift we see in the lds
church. They talked a lot about praising god  and raising our voices
but not any advice like prayer or scripture study. It wall about "just
raise your voice! Hallelujah!"

Our investigator Brendon's should be getting baptized this coming
week! We are super excited cuz he is doing just so awesome!

Well that's all for now family! Love you all so much and hope things are well!

Love sister chalet beames

Transfer 8 Week 4 - February 17, 2014

Hey family,

Things here are going great. this last week has been awesome. We got
tons of snow which caused it to be difficult for us to go anywhere
this week. But all the same we had a really great experiences. For
example with our investigator Liuddy we were able to really see him
progress. We took him to stake conference Saturday night. Elder
Nielsen of the 70 was present. He was an awesome speaker and the
spirit was so strong. We were able to also help Liuddy have many of
his questions answered. He is excited to learn and progress towards
his baptismal date. And when we saw him yesterday we were going to
teach him the rest of the plan of salvation. He had so many questions
and had looked them up on his own. He said he went to Google and we
were actually very nervous and scared about what he would find on the
Internet. But he ended up reading doctrine and covenants section 76
all by himself and read all about the 3° of glory. It was just so
awesome because he already knew so much and was gaining a testimony of
it.
Another one of our investigators Brendon who is seven was able to
learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We continue to read and pray
with him and he is learning so much. We are looking forward to seeing
him progress. He said someday he will be excited when he will be able
to pass the sacrament him self at church.

Something also that happened this week was our zone conference. Sister
Stephenson and I had to teach for zones conference. We talked for 25
minutes three times as the groups rotated. It was kind of
intimidating. But we were prepared and excited to work with so many
missionaries. Hopefully we could have been of some influence to them.
Last But not least we finally got our iPads for the mission. I haven't
fully figured out how to use it yet and I am in the process right now
of using the microphone to type this message. Ha ha. Things are going
great. Looking forward to helping so many people especially as we are
able to reach out through technology!

Love you all so much. Hope you had a great Valentines week. We'll talk
to you again soon.

Love, sister chalet beames

Transfer 8 Week 3 - February 10, 2014

Week of miracles? I think yes!

 

Well family, I just wanted to share some super awesome experiences with you that I had this week.

 

First off, our little investigator, Brendon (age 7), is just super awesome. So we went over there to read with him this week from the childrens BOM and we had the coolest experience. Brendon has really bad allergies so when we got there he was itching his body like crazy. And when I say itching I mean frantically. Like, I was sitting there at the beginning thinking, 'oh my goodness! how the heck are we going to teach him today?' he was litterally almost falling over having an itching attack it was crazy. So we asked if we could begin the lesson with a prayer and we would help him do it again. As I helped him say the prayer I had him pray that he could stop itching, and no joke as he ended the prayer he did not scratch himself once the rest of the entire lesson! It was a miracle! Then as we read from the beginning of the book we talked about JS and helped him recognize how his prayer was just answered just like JS. :)

 

Another one of our investigators Liuddy Ortiz has really made some progression. On Monday in my personal study I had wrote up an assignment for him to read with questions and steps for him to follow so he could find answers just as demonstrated in the book "the power of everyday missionaries" and we stopped by and gave it to him. Everyday this week we reminded him to read, pray, and write down what he was learning. I didn't think he was actually doing it but we were diligent about asking anyways.

When it came to Saturday when we had our appointment. He said he actually had read it a couple of times but still didn't understand it fully. So we ended up going over what he read in Alma 36 and Mosiah 18. It was such a powerful lesson and we were able to see how much it related to him and affected him personally. At the end my comp asked him to be baptized and you could see it was something that he really wanted but also that he thought it would be too difficult to change a lot of those things. He said it would be something that he would pray about during the week and get back to us. But after the lesson within about an hour he started to text us. He said, "I can't explain how I am feeling after I left the study for you guys to ask me something I wanted to do deep down for a long time and it's kinda sinking in right now!"

We then had him read again the verse in Mosiah 18:11 and responded by saying that it was a desire that he had! We helped him to recognize that it was the spirit telling him that it was right. It was so cool. All of a sudden all of the right changes occured and he began to ask questions about the day, what he would wear, and if his family could come. He then said, "I feel that god has spoke to me before and I will get baptized. I think it will bless me even more so I will keep meeting with you and we can do it next month while you guys help me over come the things I need to over come! Thank you for taking your time and giving me something I've been searching all my life. God bless you!" It was such a miracle and I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for that experience. I could just see how his faith was able to grow so much and he was able to trust that God would help him overcome all his addictions that he is struggling with!

 

Lastely, our investigator Lynette we were able to have the first couple of lessons with her as well. She has been super prepared by the Lord. She was a member referral, that came to church before she ever met with us. As she came to church she said that her heart was warmed and she knew that she had found what she had been searching all her life for. She too accepted a baptismal date and is really progressing as she studies and prayes!

 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to see the growth in this area. I have really come to love the scripture in D&C 4. The field is white already to harvest! We are not just here to plant seeds but the Lord truly has prepared people that are ready to come unto the fold.

 

Hope you guys have an amazing week and are looking for experiences yourselves as well! Love you all.

Happy Valentines Day

Sister Beames :)

Transfer 8 Week 2 - February 3, 2014

This week has flown by. We were able to have some good lessons and we are really trying hard to teach simply and to teach for them to keep commitments. This was my first week looking at the "power of every day missionaries" book. I was able to borrow it from someone and I can already see how important and how it can be such a great tool in helping us become better teachers and leading our investigators to baptism. We were actually able to use chapter 8 today with helping one of our investigators in a reading assignment. I'm excited to see if it helps him this week! We will keep you updated on that as well!

We also had another lesson with Barbie and Shen. They are great and it is so fun teaching from a very simplified point of view! Will keep you guys updated on how that works out with them. 

Well love you all and hope things are going well. Keeping you all in my thoughts and my prayers. Take care! 

Sister Beames

P.S.

Mom can you send me that book mentioned above. I guess it was implemented when I was gone but just barely found out about it. If not that is fine, but I would like to have it! 

Transfer 8 Week 1 - January 27, 2014

Things here are going great. I have to admit I was super nervous about the transfer and I am sad to see Sister Reyes leave me, but I already have so much love for Sister Stephenson! She truly is a great missionary, and I can already see all the many ways I can learn from her example, her teaching skills, and the great love she has for this work.

Well as for this short week we had (1 p-day, 2 snow days, 1 transfer day, and finally the last few were used for missionary work), we had so many miracles in such a few short days.

Some of my favorite experiences from this week were when we were able to teach a lady named Elham. She is a muslim lady that has been here in the U.S. for just a few short years. Her reception to the spirit was just awesome and she could just feel how great our message and what we were doing was awesome. I loved especially when we asked her about the Joseph s. picture in the grove and she said it just gave her chills and she new it was important. We were able to then tell her about the spirit and how it teaches us truth through our feelings. In addition to that she doesn't have a very big knowledge of the words we are using but I am looking forward to teaching her more.

Another great investigator we have, is a boy named Brendon of the age of 7. We shared the pos with him this week and as we did so he would just have some of the sweetest comments. Here are a few of those: When talking about the pre-earth life he said he had a dream about that before. Another when talking about the atonement, he just starting crying because of how sad he was that Jesus had to die. And lastly before we left we asked if there was anything else we could do for him, he told us just to come back and teach him more about Jesus. Oh man President, that just melted my heart to the core. It was really just so sweet!

There are some really great people that Sister Reyes and I had found this last week that we are starting to work with that we will have to keep you updated on but all I can say is that I am just so excited. Things are going well, and I know that as I put my trust in God, study hard, and follow the spirit that we will be able to teach the elect and help our investigators progress towards baptism!

I really love being able to share my testimony with others and I am excited to really help the people here in Philly, cuz there are a lot of them that need it! :)

 

Love you all!

 

Sister Beames

Transfer 7 Week 6 - January 20, 2014

Family and Friends,

Hey everyone! This week was sooooo great. And that is an understatement. Sister Reyes and I had so many miracles with finding new investigators and teaching that it was absolutely just so much fun. I don't know how many times I can say that I honestly just love teaching the gospel and bearing my testimony. Each time I do I just feel the reconfirming witness that it is true and the spirit just consumes me. I feel so much love and peace more each day as I stand as a witness for Christ.

This week we were able to teach Barbie (friend of a member that I mentioned last week) along with her boyfriend Shen! They are both Chinese with little or no knowledge of God. As we taught the restoration so simply, we could see how it just touched them both so much. Throughout the lesson Barbie and Shen expressed how much love they could feel and at the end Barbie bore her testimony of how grateful she was for Christ and that he could help her. For someone that had never even known about God to just loving that now she knows there is someone there that can help her through anything was so sweet! 

Then yesterday on Sunday we arranged for them to eat dinner with us and some members. It was really great to fellowship. As I sat next to Shen he said that when he first came to the U.S. that he had been invited only once to a chinese christ church but had never been invited back and he was sad about it. I told him he was always welcome, and I could just tell how much it meant to him that he is able to learn these things and to feel apart of something. 

Among other lessons we were also able to see some less-active members. There is one family in particular we have been working with. They are the Wasco's. They moved up here a few short months ago from s. carolina and have just really been struggling with faith and wow problems. This week the mom, Donna, told us how because of us and the spirit that we brought back into her home she knows she needs to change! It was really sweet and I am excited to keep working with them!

Finally, I found out about transfers! My companion is leaving :( and I am so sad. I love Sister Reyes and it has been a pleasure serving with her. I honestly learn so much from her. As for me I will stay here in Philly. President has called me as a District Sister Training Leader. For those of you who don't know what that is, I wasn't quite sure either haha. He said it is similar to the calling of that of a zone leader. So basically I will be over 5-6 sets of sisters throughout a couple of zones and I will go on exchanges about once a week to help guide and lift or do whatever they tell me.You all better be praying for me cuz I'm really nervous! For reals! I already found out who my companion is going to be even though transfers aren't until Wednesday. I have connections and one of the senior couples told me that I'll be with a redhead ha. Her name is Sister Stephenson. 

I'll have to keep you guys posted more but that has basically been my week. It was really great and I just feel really blessed. Hope all is going well for everyone back home. 

Love you all! :)

Sister Beames

Transfer 7 Week 5 - January 13, 2014

Beames Clan! :) and friends,

 

Holy cow! Things really fly by super fast! I can't believe I have already been back out here for 3 months. It is honestly just nuts!

 

But in good news! I had a blast this week and saw so many miracles. It was freezing of course. One day it was 6 not including the wind factor, but it is starting to get warmer :) ... my face hasn't fallen off yet thank goodness!

 

So me and my companion had started a scripture class a few months ago and this last week when we were supposed to hold it we almost weren't going to be able to do so because we didn't have a lady present. But there is a less active, homeless, super funny/random young man that has been coming and he was like "hold on! give me like 15 minutes and i'll go find someone to come!" We told him, "Brian! remember to say a prayer!" So Brian left the church building and we all said a quick little prayer for him. And it seriously was one of the most humourous/sweetest miracles. He came back like 25 minutes later with 2 girls he found talking to on the streets and was trying to explain the book of mormon as the lost book that they have to come and hear about! It was so awesome! Anyways, they came and there were about 6 missionaries, 1 recent convert, 1 less active (brian) and these 2 girls he found on the street. We ended up teaching the restoration and inviting them to be baptized! It was one of the most interesting/hectic lessons I think I have ever been involved in but it was great and the girls are looking forward to reading the book of mormon and finding out more!

 

We also had a really good week working with some less actives. From all the snow that had happened me and sister reyes had decided to go shovel snow for service. We shoveled at our apartment complex and then were going around Manayunk to less active members homes. There was one home in particular. They are the Hermanns and they are an elderly couple. While we were shoveling their sidewalk, bro. hermann came out and said that was in enough. It sounded like he was yelling at us and we just smiled and said have a good day! We really thought they were going to be angry at us and we had been trying to stop by the past several weeks but it seemed like we were having a hard time connecting with them, and then we were like, "oh shoot, now they aren't going to like us even more." We figured that maybe they just didn't want our charity. But when we stopped back by this Saturday they were soooo happy to see us! It was crazy! They thanked us for what we did and then sister Hermann invited us to come and crochet with her hats that she is planning on donating which will give us even more service opportunities plus a chance to share messages with them more! What a great opportunity!

 

One miracle this week that I really enjoyed was one evening when sister reyes had just finished riding some subways for some finding activities and we were heading back to the temple site to get our car to go home! We saw a person who was unlocking the trailer which we thought was unusual because it was late and we didn't know who would be there since us and the managers are the ones with keys to that trailer. But it ended up actually being the cleaning lady. She had this really friendly look on her face so I decided to talk to her instead of just getting in the car to leave. I asked her if she was a member and her response was, "no, but i'm going to be!" That is just music to every missionaries ears! She knew nothing about the lessons, but we figure from cleaning every week and always seeing the items on display that her heart had been touched. We set up a time and will be seeing her this next week! We are so excited!

 

Finally there is a recent convert named Lisa that we work with. She is Chinese. Chinese people really have the best names. Lisa for example tried choosing this one because it was convenient for her to pronounce. Well this week she brought her friend to church whose name is 'Barbie' :) It is pretty awesome! As for Barbie that was her first experience at any church ever!! but she is looking forward to coming more and wants to be a member. So we will begin teaching her this next Thursday!

 

Well I need to get going.

But transfers are in a week so unless you plan on sending anything today then I would suggest you wait until I know where I am next Monday and I'll let you know. So again the mission address  is 

721 Paxon Hollow Rd Ste. B

Broomall, PA 19008

but if you do send anything before next week my address is 

4716 Alden Walk 

Philadelphia, PA 19127

Loves! 

Transfer 7 Week 4 - January 6, 2014

Hey Family!

 

Happy New Year!

 

Things here are good. I wanted to share with ya'll a story from my mission. I think I told dad and maybe Connor but never had time to write it to everyone.

 

Well we did a special mission fast for our mission presidents son in law. His son in law had been working on a barn that they were building and ended up falling over ten feet from the top. He had broken his neck with the vertebraes 3, 4, 6, and 7. He was in critical condition. We ended up fasting as a whole mission and the next day we heard back in conference call that he went into surgery and they took bone from his hip and grafted it into his neck. By the end of the night he was up walking. The doctor said he had been 1 mm from snaping the nerve  which would have killed him instantly.

 

I am so grateful for this fast that I was able to participate in and that as a whole we were able to see such a grand miracle. President Anderson said that they had been promised when they were set apart as missionaries that their family would be better off and more protected from them choosing to serve a mission. As a result we can most likely assume that his son was saved because of their decision to serve the Lord.

 

This week I also was interviewed by my mission president. In the interview he told me that there were two sisters in our mission that were going home that day for medical reasons. Later that night as the two sisters were in his office he called me to talk to them and give them advice. I was grateful to have been through a similar experience in order to give motivation/advice to them. I then was able to fast for these sisters as well. Please keep them in your prayers.

 

As I stated before, I know that prayers and fasting does work. That God does hear us and want to help us. Especially as we fast for our families in time of need whether to be strengthened, to be healed, or to bring back those that are lost, that it can work!! So hope you all can exercise your faith in God and ask for his help with whatever you stand in need!

 

In addition, I was following up with one of the sisters that went home.  Small world, she said grandma willma is her mom's aunt. So maybe we are second cousins??

 

Further, in the interview I had, President Anderson was asking me about the area I currently serve in and if he had placed missionaries here too prematurely. I told him that I know that there can be missionaries anywhere there are people and that I know there is a real power behind talking to people about the temple going up in our area. There really is something special about the change you can see in individual's countenances when you tell them it is a place that their family can be sealed togther forever. He told me that I confirmed what he had been feeling as well and was the answer he was looking for. Apparently he had doubts about having missionaries in our area and had prior to been asking the temple site managers and my companion what they thought about missionaries being there, but when I talked with him he knew that what I said was true and that he now knew he needed missionaries there! And he thanked me for that. Cool experience.

 

Hope you guys are looking for ways to help and serve others. Continue to be strong, read your scriptures, pray etc. And from a general conference talk (can't remember the speaker) it said that most of us are just too afraid to pray to have a missionary opportunity because we are too afraid we might actually have to do or say something to someone. I know that if you guys pray an opportunity will present itself. Hopefully you guys can really begin to share the gospel with those around you! Hope all is well.

 

Love you much

Sister Beames

Transfer 7 Week 3 - December 30, 2013

Family and Friends,

 

Welll hope everyone had a great Christmas! It was great talking to all of you guys and seeing your beautiful faces. You guys are awesome!

 

Things this week have been good. As Connor mentioned, I have been fed way too much that I don't think I ever want to eat again. My stomach is way over stretch out! It is the worst.

 

This week was really cool with some of the lessons that we had. In particular we were able to teach a man named Raymond and Anthony.

 

Raymond is the security guard for the temple site. He is always so sweet to us and so we are always talking to him/or giving him little treats in passing that we really felt the need to invite him to hear more. So we invited to share a lesson before he came onto work. It really was such a sweet lesson and he was so excited about the work that is going on with the temple and how it is such a beautiful building. He accepted a baptismal invitation and we are excited to teach him more!

 

Also Anthony was an old investigator shortly before I had arrived here. They had lost contact with him because of the obama phones but some how we were able to find him again. So last week when we had a lesson with him and taught him the restoration we invited him to be baptized and he said no. That he had already been baptized and didn't see a need for it, but was still looking forward to fellowshipping with us. But we were teaching him again this week and decided to read with him since he hadn't kept his commitments and while reading just the introduction and the testimonies he expressed how he knew it was true because of their personal testimonies and he then accepted the invitation to be baptized. It was an awesome miracle and so we are looking forward to seeing him progress as he begins reading and allowing the spirit to work in his heart!

 

Another exciting week ahead of us. I know dad talked to us last year about setting new goals and new resolutions but as it says in Luke 17:32 "Remember Lot's wife," may we not look back or desire the things that we have done in the past but let us look forward to the future. To really change. I am excited for this year to come and to see some changes in my own life and hope you guys can all find things in your life to do. To set realistic goals and to become the person God wants you to be.

 

Love you all,

 

Sister Beames

Transfer 7 Week 2 - December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas!!!

Hey everyone! Hope that you all have a splendid week. 

Things here have been good. With the season, Sister Reyes and I have just been trying to really get our investigator pool up because people here haven't been keeping commitments very well (partially because of the season). So feel free to pray that we can find the elect! 

We had the opportunity to go Christmas caroling in the city the other night around love park. It was really fun and there were tons of people that stopped to take pictures of us. I just hope they can feel the spirit and be interested. 

One of our investigators with a date wasn't able to meet this week but followed up about reading from the Book of Mormon and talked about how he could see God's hand in their lives. His name is John Tolbert so if you guys could keep him in your prayers that would be awesome!

Sorry to hear dad cut his hand, and mom broke her nose? That is crazy. You guys are getting old and really should watch what you do haha. For reals though, that is just nuts!

Well I just wanted to let you all know how much this Christmas season means to me. The past couple of days I have really been trying to study the Christmas story to make it more meaningful and so something that was really cool was thinking about Hendals play "The Messiah" Of all these songs that are sang from the scriptures as I was reading about when the shepherds saw the angels. It said " 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The past couple of days I have really been trying to. I feel like I can actually hear the angels singing as I read and ponder these words! This is such great news. In Isaiah 9:6 it says,"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:  and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

And it truly is Wonderful. One of the greatest truths about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is true! It can bring so much peace and joy into our lives. I know sometimes at home we forget why we celebrate or how special it is that our family can be together for such a special day but I hope that this is something that you all can try to make more special this year for you.

I am looking forward to talking to all of you this Wednesday! 

Love you all lots! 

Sister Beames