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

7/8/13

 

So I have officially met with President Francis. We had a little Zone get together with him and his family. It was pretty fun. We were all able to interview with him and kind of get to know one another. He is very spiritual. I would say he is a spiritual Giant but he is also a physical Giant. He is at least 6 foot 8 inches. I only thought I was short.

On the way home from meeting with President Francis, is when the excitement happened. We had just started our hour long drive back to lewiston from Amherst. We were in bumper to bumper traffic and I decided to be nice and let some guy go in front of me to turn left. As he did so an old lady going about 40 mph takes out his front end. I was really caught off guard and hardly even blinked when it happened. There was wreckage everywhere but suprisingly our car was untouched. This collision happened only two feet away from our car. We were definitely protected because we were on the Lords errand.

The Fourth of July was a pretty fun day up here. We got permission to stay out late and watch the fireworks. They had quite the show out here. We could basically watch them from the balcony of our apartment they were right over us.

As for teaching this week there was not much progression with our investigators, we did find some more promising people to teach! Judy is one of them. She is about 60 years old and single (of course) she recently had a death in her family so she is really looking for answers which we just happen to have. She is very spiritual and is very fond of our religion. We are very excited to keep meeting with her.

That really is about it for this week!

Elder Bevan

7/15/13 

Not too much has happened since last week. Our investigators have been busy so it has been very slow. I will give you highlights for the week. Most memorable, was that we almost got struck by lightning. We were doing service in the back yard of one of the members. They have a monstrous field where we were digging a trench, all the sudden this big storm rolls in and it just starts going crazy. We thought at first that the rain felt good, and then this bright flash engulfed us and the thunder 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 ha ha ha. We quickly ran to the house and decided that were done for the day.

 

Another highlight was that we were able to experience the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was awesome! I was really amazed at how big everything was and that even 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 is a member and was a pitcher for the Pittsburg Pirates. It was pretty cool. We were able to hear his life story and get a signed baseball card. We are supposed to be going to a minor league baseball game tonight but we couldn't get a ride. I am pretty disappointed. Oh well.

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

Elder Bevan

July 1, 2013 

Thanks for your emails. I am glad to be updated on all that has been going on at home. Sometimes, I feel very much out of the loop, but hey that is not necessarily a bad thing. I have yet to get homesick except for Mom's food. I don't know how I did not put on more weight when I was home, eating as much as I did.

 

That is pretty awesome that you guys are being so missionary minded and inviting people over! I am impressed. I was also very impressed last night when I received a phone call from my MTC companion telling me that some lady from Texas was asking about me. They said that this woman came up to them on the street and asked if they knew an Elder Bevan. I don't think it is coincidence that she happened to find my MTC companion of all people. They said that they taught her a little and gave her a Book of Mormon and committed her to read it and pray. She was in Texas when Dad went to your training I guess. I did not catch her name but I assume you know who I am talking about! Well good job being a missionary my MTC companion was giving you props.

 

We love refferals out here! Well I hope that all is going well. I agree with you mom, about not wishing your life away because it really does just vanish right before your eyes. Things are way good right now we just need to enjoy the moment (and make sure we are still looking for missionary opportunities).

 

Thanks again for everything you do. I really look forward to your letters!

Elder Bevan

Steven with new shoes and bag

 

June 24, 2014

What an awesome week, so much has happened. I want to make sure and include the stuff that really matters. 

 

The best thing that happened this week was with our new investigator John. He came to the strawberry social last week and he expressed interest in the church. We met with him at the church building and taught him about the restoration. He received it really well and accepted the invitation to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! We were so excited and encouraged, because he was just so interested in what we had to say.

 

The next morning about 9 am we got a text from him telling us about his experience reading and praying! He told us he went home that night and read about four chapters and prayed before he went to bed. He said as he was laying down trying to go to sleep, for some reason he could not fall asleep! He took it that he needed to read more of the book! So he read the entire book of 1 Nephi! We were shocked.

 

He said that while he was reading he received an answer to a questions he has had for a while. He knows the book is true and he text us yesterday that he had something to tell us!!! We are very excited to meet with him and will be meeting with him in 4 hours! Isn't it amazing what can happen with just a little faith and diligence. This gospel is true and it is a blessing to all that will accept it! Thanks for all of your prayers in my behalf!

Love Elder Bevan

Steven & Companions at Niagara Falls

 

June 17,2013 

So I got transfer calls this week and guess what? We are staying as is. I am very excited about that because I have been feeling like I still have some work to do here. 

This week has been another great week! We had some really good lessons with our investigators and they are starting to progress more and more. We had a Strawberry Social last Friday which was a great success. Only two of our investigators were able to come which was disappointing but there was nothing we could do. But our investigator (Ashley) who is scheduled to get baptized brought one of her friends (John) along. He has been wanting to meet with us and learn more about our religion! So we met and talked with him at the social which was awesome. He seems very interested and loves the way our church is run and the people that he has met. We found out after the meeting that a member asked if he was a member and he said, "No, I am not but I will be soon" !!!!!! I was like what???!!!! Ha it was pretty funny. So we are super stoked about talking with him (John) and teaching him so that he can become a member.

Another awesome experience happened after church yesterday. We are running low on miles for the month, and we are trying to not drive at all! So we have been hitching rides with members and basically anyone that will drive us. After church we were talking with one of the Senior missionary couples in our ward about some of the people they have been meeting with, and we asked if they would like to come and meet Bonnie with us? (we needed a ride haha). They said of course so we went out there and no one was home except for her son Charlie. We were a little down and started to drive out of their driveway, when Bonnie, her husband Larry, and a friend Regina (from Utah a church member) pull in. We hop out and begin to talk to them and they invite us in their home. It was a great visit and we were definitely inspired to invite the Senior couple to visit. They meshed so well and now they will feel even more comfortable when they come to church. It is pretty crazy some of the connections we have been making. I guess Bonnies brother is John, the owner of Milanos music in Mesa and his last name is Linton (Crazy right). He has been a stake president or bishop and is coming up soon!!! She is so ready to accept the Gospel, now and her husband is slowly deciding to come back to church. We are pretty excited to be a part of this and we are really praying that all will work out.

Thanks for all of your support I could not do this without you.