August 26, 2013

Dear Everyone,

This has been a week to remember! So I have decided to start this off first with a story that I am sure all of you will enjoy hearing. Before I start however I want to let you know that being a missionary has really been a blessing and I have really gained more that I have sacrificed! Until now...So it was about 9:50 pm and I was just laying on my bed reading the scriptures getting ready to finish up a long day when I roll over to see a spider crawling on my bed! It was not small either... I have not moved that fast in quite sometime! I will attach a picture so you can enjoy the experience but lets just say I did not sleep well knowing that there was a good chance I may have one those crawling on my face at night... 

Aside from being scarred for life I have loved this week. The reason for this is because of all the work that was done. We officially started our Corn Soup/Open house at the church. We have done it for two days so far and have already found success! We had to work really hard to make it happen however.

This corn soup is not easy stuff to make and is actually really weird...(Indians...) You start by cooking it with water and ash left over from the burnings of hard wood. Anyways after all that prep work was done it turned out amazing. The Indians were shocked when I said I made it NBD! 

 

Another reason why this week was amazing was because we had Zone Conference so we were able to hear from President Francis. I will give it to that guy, he is the happiest man I have ever met! You wont find a second where he is not smiling. It was a great conference and I learned a lot. I even put in to action all of the commitments he gave to us and so far Elder Wood and I have had a ton of success and have found tons of people to teach by doing so. This work is really inspired and obedience is the price we get to pay for success. 

The last thing I have to say about this week is Elder Wood and I were able to go to the temple with some Recent Converts that have waited for a year and now they are sealed together forever!! It was the coolest things to see. I don't know if there is a happier place in the world than in that sacred place. We need to make sure that we are consistently partaking of the happiness that comes from participating in the work of saving souls in the temple. I have learned so much this week a few things that really stuck out to me this week came mostly from our Zone Conference. I learned that revelation comes as we prepare ourselves to understand the voice that is felt not heard. I also have learned how important it is to be a defender of the truth. We need to make sure we are always standing up for what we know to be true so that others can see our example and come to know the Savior and our Heavenly Father through us. Thank you so much for all your support and words of encouragement. I have really loved the feeling I now have every P-Day!

Love,

Elder Bevan

 

We went to the park last p day and played baseball.

We found these massive mushrooms that we went around smashing

August 19, 2013

Dear Everyone,

 

Another week has come and gone! I can not believe it! We are really keeping busy and are even teaching more lessons than normal (which helps a ton). The thing that I have really been stressing to those that I teach is the Book of Mormon. It is the most powerful thing that we as missionaries have to get people to not only feel the Spirit but to become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have pretty much laid down the law with some people we are teaching when it comes to keeping commitments. The way that I went about doing this was by painting in there minds the fact that this book is either true or it is not, we are either the only true church or we are the biggest hoax there ever was, and the book that they are holding in their hands is proof. So if they really want to know they need to read it. I have been really feasting in the Book of Mormon this week and boy have I grown to love it. It really is this important for everyone to know it is true not just those investigating. We all need to be continually reading, praying, and pondering before any good will come (Joshua 1: 8-9).

 

We had an awesome Zone Meeting this week. It was really inspirational! I am not sure if it is because they showed a clip from a football movie or what ahahhah but it was definitely inspiring. I have come to find that in order to inspire others we ourselves need to be inspired (spiritually and emotionally) and boy does this area need some inspiration/excitement! 

It is funny how the Lord works and how he secretly goes about fulfilling His purposes without you even knowing it. So what I am trying to say is that this lesson I learned was some major foreshadowing of what was actually going to go down here in Cattaraugus. My companion and I had a good long meeting with the Branch President this week and really got brainstorming on how we could go about inspiring those 240 inactive members! We feel doing this is the best place to start since our Heavenly Father is loving and all knowing and does not want to bring his children into a branch where they wont get taken care of. That is just now how he works.

 

So we came up with the idea to bring back the very activity that built this branch in the first place. We are now bringing back the Corn Soup Socials. These are what raised the money to build the church and also what brought so many into the church. We have a lot of work to do since the process of making the corn soup takes three days. However we are really excited to stay busy! I have been keeping a fire under the Branch President (I have been bugging him daily) and so either today or tomorrow we will begin making the soup and start taking it out to all of the inactive members who started this. I am really excited for the role that we are playing in bringing this all together and I know it can work! 

The last thing I wanted to share that happened this week was our trip down to the sites! I can not say how much I love these amazing spiritual sites that are basically in our backyard! They are so powerful! Especially in building a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I mean how many people can take their investigators to the very place where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, or to the very Hill where the Book of Mormon came forth and really feel that sacred Spirit that is still there?I mean every other missionary in the world only gets to talk about this and show pictures. I know I am bragging now but it is just so special and probably necessary for some people's conversion.

Anyways we took our investigator Jackie down to see these sites and she just soaked everything in. There was a Spirit that just seemed to follow us as we went to all these places. She could not stop crying! Which is really good! :) The site sisters are pretty incredible when it comes to making people cry ahah! There is a reason they are the ones giving the tours not us Elders. I was so impressed for some reason with how in tune with the Spirit they were. It was like they knew Jackie and all of her needs without even knowing her, the Spirit is pretty great!

Well that is it for this week. It is my companions birthday today so I have to think of something fun to do today for him! Thanks for all that you do! 

Love Elder Bevan 

The Spiders are out in full force! Especially as it gets colder and colder outside. I am pretty dang stoked about that! 

Dear Dad,

I am glad I can be of some help on Monday! I will begin to answer your questions. The tribe here is the Seneca tribe it is pretty big. It is only 1/4 of the area but the most populated part. Most of the 60 members come from the rez. So this branch covers the whole rez.

I am doing really well out here. It is hard to stay busy but we are doing the best we can! I am really trying my best to help motivate my companion. It is coming along and I am definitely seeing some improvements. He is from the Scottsdale rez 20 mins from our house. We get along well but have very different interests. He is not athletic at all. We drive a chevy colorado pick up 4x4. It is pretty nice especially being on the rez. I have all that I need as of now. I may need my big coat here in the next month or so!!

I have not really had anytime with my mission president! He is a great guy and has filled the shoes of Pres Christianson really well. He has not changed too much well atleast form what I hear way out here! He has some different focuses however when it comes to working with the wards and branches. I really think it is smart what he is doing. I am now in the Buffalo South zone while before I was in the Buffalo North zone. Most of my studying is in Preach My Gospel and the Scriptures. I am still using facebook but hardly as much as I did in Lewiston. We do not have tablets and probably wont for some time. It is good to hear that mom is doing so well and I really am glad she likes her job!

Love, 

Elder Bevan

August 12, 2013

Dear Everyone,

Well Cattaraugus is awesome.

 

There have been some physical, and spiritually challenging events this week. Everything has happened for the best however. One of the physical challenges that happened was when we decided to walk to visit with some less active members (so we could save some miles on the car). We left the house around 10 am and did not get home until 4 pm. It would not have been so bad if the weather would have cooperated. Instead it was the hottest day of the week and also the most humid. We walked a total of 13 miles. I ruined a white shirt and got the worst sun burn/tan lines. I am now in the process of shedding my skin so it is fantastic :) It was a challenging day but it always feels rewarding to go out and work your hardest and return home tired.

 

 

I have grown to love the reservation several reasons. The main reason is the dogs/puppies that roam around. I have made it my goal to teach every dog how to sit and stay. So far I have been able to train two puppies that were following us as we were walking around (I carry around slim jims, they seem to do the job). This past week we had the chance to organize a little basketball game (like we had going in my last area) it took place in the church on the rez, and we had about15 guys there (all non members). It was a great experience. I taught a quick gospel lesson before we played, we said a prayer, and then I smashed all of them hahaha. I just want to inform all of you that I was the only white man amongst a whole lot of Indians. I was a little nervous at first but it was a really awesome experience.

 

The last experience that I had this week was something I think Heavenly Father has been trying to remind me so I can be an example to my companion. Ever since I got to this area I have allowed my companion to take/keep the reins in hopes that I would be able to learn how he worked the area before. Well within this past week I have learned that he was not a "go getter". So that has required me to take charge and to be the leader. I was a little uncomfortable with this at first especially because he works so well with the natives. I just felt like not enough was getting done so after some divine guidance through prayers, studies, and a Sunday school lesson this past Sunday I now feel comfortable. I am so grateful for these challenges that I have placed before me so that I can better myself and hopefully help those around me. I am starting to see why I am having some of these challenges and seeing this only makes me want to do better.

 

Thanks so much for your letters and prayers I have been really blessed from the things that you have said. It seems as if the things that are said in your letters are just what I need to hear exactly when I need to hear it. So props to you and keep it up. Aside from all this everything is going well. The apartment is great! ahah I heard a mouse creeping around my bed last night so that was exhilarating! I heard mom was having a hoot while reading about the spiders! I am glad she is enjoying it. I have sprayed every window sill and every crack and crevice with bug killer in hopes that it will prevent them from entering in. Well it is great being a missionary. I wouldn't trade it for anything! 

 

Love 

 

Elder Bevan

August 5, 2013

Hello Everyone,

This week has been quite the hum dinger hahah. I have been thrown into a very foreign place! I would have never thought there was anywhere like this in the United States. I will give you a little idea of the living quarters. We are living in an old schoolhouse made in 1850 down in the basement. It is always dark and really moist (smells really funny) oh and tons!!!! of Huge Spiders. The water is contaminated with Sulfur so we have to get our water from a spring. Aside from all of this I love it here!  We live underneath a senior missionary couple (the Jeppesens) so they spoil us with dinner a lot! Thankfully.

The people here are very interesting. There is a lot of prejudice towards the white folk (me), from the natives. This makes for interesting conversations when my companion is a native and they start dogging on white people (me) hahah. Don't worry I have killed them all with kindness :) The Branch here is awesome. There are about 40 people that attend on Sunday out of 300 so there are a ton of inactive members. We have our work cut out for us! Especially because the missionaries before I got here for the most part were slackers and did not really take this serious. I am really excited for all that is ahead. There is a lot of potential here and I know the Lord sees this because we have an extra set of missionaries that came with me!

So yesterday was awesome. It was one of the best sacrament meetings. Even though there is only a few people that attend the Spirit in this Branch is incredible. It was fast Sunday so we were really able to feel the Spirit of those that were in there. I was able to bear my testimony which is not as scary when there are only 40 people in front of you :) After church we were invited to go eat with some members one at 2 for lunch and the other at 5 30 for dinner! I am going to get so fat here! This area has a reputation of fattening up missionaries. I however won't let it happen to me :) Thanks so much for all of your prayers I will keep you posted on all that goes down here in Catt! 

Love,

Elder Bevan

7/29/13

 

 

Dear Everyone,

I can not really express to you right now all of my feelings. It is the end of transfers, meaning that it is the end of my stay in Lewiston. We received the call last night around 11:30 from the zone leaders. I will be transfered to Catteragus. It like Lewiston is the furthest west you can go in the mission just instead of being on the top it is on the bottom near Pennsylvania. I am pretty excited to see what it is like. I am however a little nervous because it is all on the Reservation (everyone is Native American). My companion (Elder Wood) is even a Native. I am excited to experience what it will be like. I am a little nervous and feel like Ammon or Aaron going to preach to the Lamanites. All I know is that the Lord will be my strength and that there are a lot of HUGE spiders!  It is going to be a humbling experience going from Lewiston to there.

Aside from the excitement and nerves I have experienced some real sadness. Yesterday we met with Bonnie, Larry, and Regina. We had one of the most Spiritual lessons with them and really brought them closer to our Savior. I am really sad that I have to leave, now that they are starting to progress especially when Bonnie came up to my companions and I after the lesson and told us she wants to be baptized this week...I was pretty shocked when she said this but after talking a little bit more we told her she needs to come to church a few more times and go cold turkey on her coffee drinking. She told us she was willing and we are looking forward to a baptism this upcoming month. This is one that I wont be missing either.

I am very grateful for all of these wonderful experiences that I have been having and I am striving to be more and more worthy of these amazing Spiritual experiences. I am so grateful for your prayers and love. You have all been a support and strength to me as I have been about doing the Lord's work.

Love,

Elder Bevan

7/22/13

Dear Everyone,

Well this has been an awesome week for pretty much one reason and that was the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was a pretty sweet experience that I am definitely looking forward to doing again. It was even cooler that we were able to take so many people down there with us. We went 5 out of the six days. It was such a positive Spiritual experience for all of those that went. Hearts were definitely softened and the blessings are continuing to appear.

One of the blessings that came from Pageant was the last night when we took Bonnie, Larry, and Regina. They are the group that we took to the Church History sites. They were so excited for this they even rented a hotel and made a vacation out of it. They also brought a friend. Well anyways the good that came from this was Bonnie is now picking a date for her baptism and is now ready work through the challenges and be baptized, Larry is reading the Book of Mormon and is really wanting to start coming back to church after 50 years, Regina is starting to realize she needs to be a better example, and the friend that they brought is now investigating the church and has a desire to be baptized! All this happened because of this wonderful production. We were truly blessed to be able to have this experience with all the people we took.

One more highlight for this week is we had our first baptism. Ashley Mcklusky. She is 16 years old and has been investigating for a full year now. My companions and I were the clean up crew. We came and did all the hard work ahahahhah no it was really great to be a part of her baptism and to help her overcome some of her issues in order for her to make this sacred covenant. I will be sending pictures next week because I slacked and did not get one at her baptism...I know I am bad. Well That is it for this week. Hope you all are doing well.

 Love

Elder Bevan

7/15/13

Hello Everyone,

So not too much has gone on since last week. A lot of our investigators have been busy so it has been very slow. I will give you some highlights from the week. One of the highlights that happened was we almost got struck by lightning. We were out doing service in the back yard of one of the members. They have a monstrous field that we were digging a trench through and all the sudden this big storm rolls in and just starts going crazy. We thought at first it felt good until this bright flash engulfed us and cracked louder than I have ever heard. It may have been more scary than the time clay and I almost got eaten by a bear hahah. We quickly ran to the house after this and were done for the day.

Another highlight was the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was awesome! I was really amazed at how big everything was and how with over 5,000 people you were still able to feel the Spirit testify that what was being depicted really happened. It was definitely worth the 3 hour drive!

The last highlight was a fireside yesterday with Vernon Law he was a pitcher for the pirates. It was pretty cool. We were able to hear of his life story and get a signed baseball card. We are supposed to be going to a minor league baseball game tonight but we cant get a ride. I am pretty disappointed. Oh well.

That is about all that has happened aside from the usual exciting encounters with Anti mormons :) There are a lot that are out and about especially in this time of year.

Well all is well here in Lewiston. I can not believe that transfers are only two weeks away!

Elder Bevan