Transfer 9 Week 5 - March 31, 2014

Hey family,

Another exciting week here in the PPM. At the beginning of the week we
were able to go on an exchange with the sisters in Cherry Hill. It was
really cool because before we met with them my companion was able to
tell me about the sisters and who I would be on an exchange with and
things that she might be struggling with. So I was able to make that a
goal on the exchange to focus on those things. So in one of our
lessons with our investigator, right after the sister bore her
testimony I paused and pointed out to the investigator how strong the
spirit was when that sister bore her testimony. I then bore testimony
of how when that sister talked the spirit bore testimony to me again
that the message we are sharing is true. I know that it helped our
investigator, but later that night as we were preparing for bed the
sister thanked me and said that was one of the first times on her
mission that she has felt confident. Which was exactly what my
companion had told me she had been struggling with.
It was just a powerful witness to me of the influence we have with
others and our calling to lift others up and to strengthen them. As we
prayerfully strive to help those around us The Lord will guide our
thoughts and actions so when the time is right we will know just
exactly we are supposed to do.

When we were finishing the exchange we were able to meet a man named
Edwin. He was working at McDonalds and seemed to be interested in
talking to us as we ordered our meal. I told him that if he had a
break soon to come over and talk with us. No more than two minutes
later he came over and was able to talk to us about his journey. He
expressed how when he around the age 18-19 he had really been studying
and trying to build a relationship with god but finally things got so
hard in his life that he decided to let god go. It was so sad to
listen to this man as he told us that he said a prayer for about five
hours ending his relationship with god as he told him that he loved
him but he was going to move on from him in his life. I know that he
still deeply loves god, but my heart is still screaming out to him
that he was doing it wrong. When times get hard, don't quit. Don't
turn away from god, and don't ever think that you can do it on your
own. At times of struggle or hardship are when we need God more! We
expressed our love for him and told him that god still loves him. He
was so surprised and asked,"do you really think so?" I think his
perception of what the adversary would have him believe is so sad that
he thinks god would never allow him to return after he turned away.
There is a lot of hope for that young man! I'll have to let you all
know how that goes meeting with him again!

This last week at our mission leadership training with the zone
leaders and mission president there was a guest speaker that talked
about getting investigators and those we are involved with to be
excited about family history work. They talked about how this
encourages the spirit of Elijah to be able to turn the hearts of the
children to their fathers and the hearts of the fathers to their
children. She also mentioned how that spirit of Elijah is created when
we are able to do proxy work for them in the temple. I then pictured
in my mind how for a whole yr before my mission I went once or twice a
week to the Provo temple to do baptisms. It is hard for me not to get
emotional thinking about that because I have such strong spiritual
feelings that were created with that my own experiences in the temple.
This is significant because too of what mom shared with me in her
email this week, of which I will share an excerpt with you all.

"I have been getting on familysearch.org with Connor. Last night I was
up late getting things corrected and put in the computer. Today,
Connor and I went to the temple, and they helped me print off
Grandma's card to do all her work except marriage sealing. It was
really emotional when they handed it to me, and to know it was right
there in my hands to do the work now. I kinda lost it for a while. I
could hardly get dressed I was crying so much! I am going to have to
schedule to get it all done in the next couple weeks. If you were
here, I would have you do the baptism."

This experience mom shared with me was perfect because of what took
place at the leadership council. For example I was praying last night
and thinking about grandma and grandpa as I occasionally do that they
can see the missionary work that I am doing and that their hearts can
be prepared to accept the gospel. I really have felt a sense of
closeness with them as I've been here serving The Lord. So last night
I was thinking how I would write home and see if I could get someone
to send me a family chart or something because I know that not a whole
lot of family work has been done and I was planning on creating some
type of spiritual experience for myself with family history work. But
then it was a miracle as I got online to read moms email this morning
and she shared her experience with me about going to the temple. I
know that god wants us to do this work and that it is important. I am
grateful that he is allowing us to work together as a family to
achieve these goals even though we are on different sides of the
country. But he hears both of our prayers and he too is proud of the
work that we do!

There really is a sweet spirit that we are able to feel as we connect
our family to us from different sides of the veil. It is the spirit of
Elijah, and I just imagine now how much that would really help to
retain our newly converted friends to this gospel. I encourage
everyone to do family history work and to get involved with helping
their non member friends know their ancestors as well.

Well everyone, that's all for now. Have a blessed week,

Love, Sister Chalet Beames