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