Well,
A lot has happened this week. We've been working hard and seeing some good results. We had the opportunity to teach a young family the first part of restoration. They felt the goodness of the message we shared and wanted us to come back the next week (we couldn’t come sooner because he's in the army and is away during the week). We also were able to visit some members and strengthen them. We have a hope that all will go well in our efforts.
The weather out here has been amazing! I've been tanning easily in the sun (as my envious sisters know I do) and it's actually really funny because the Sister missionaries here accused me of going tanning on P-Days because apparently I'm just getting that tan. I couldn't notice it until the other day when I looked at my hand. I realized that while I walk my cuff hung down on my hand a little bit and there was a tan line on the hand where it was! It's really funny :D.
We've been helping the President out here work on his house. He has been building it for a while and he needed our help putting up the second story plywood. It was really funny because Elder Dickerson and I are the only ones who did construction previously so it came easily to us but the others learned quickly :D.
It was really cool this weekend because we saw some tents in town on Rockwood Parade (it’s just a road here by the river) and they were all set up selling different things. It was Friday and we were in a hurry so we didn't have time to stop. So Saturday we hurriedly ate lunch in 10 minutes and then went down to spend the rest of our break looking at the different things set up. It turns out it's a French fair which comes into town every year. It was a lot of fun.
Sunday it rained :D. But the Sun came back out long enough to tempt us to leave our jackets and then it started pouring again. We took refuge in the church for 10 minutes while the darker clouds passed and then we went over to see an investigator we hadn't seen in a while. It was really good because we thought that he was interested but we just hadn't seen him in over 2 weeks and we weren't sure where he was at. But when we spoke to him, he told us that he knew that what we taught was good and true and he had wanted to come to the church the past 2 weeks, but hadn’t been because of the disapproval from his wife. This was really surprising because he seemed to just enjoy our visits with no visible progression, but obviously he was progressing!
We set up a time to do FHE with his whole family to make sure we include them all, and from now on we are going to try to teach them all together. We really can only see him once a week because of his work schedule so we're going to try to just always do FHE :D.
Anyway, that's a lot of what's new here. I am loving the mission. I am loving the Savior. I love you all. Take Care.
-Elder Beacham
Monday, April 19, 2010
I Feel My Savior's Love
Hello Everyone,
It is a surprising thing to me to see in my most powerful spiritual experiences in life the only way I feel I can truly express them is in the simple songs I learned in Primary. However, I have come to accept as plain and simple truths all aspects of the gospel. It was once surprising to me that God spoke to me in a still small voice that I sometimes wouldn't even acknowledge as the spirit. Yet now I know this to be a true form of communication which comes to us in our quiet moments away from all the noise and technology and business of the world; yet at the same time it will still prompt us whilst in the midst of bustling places.
This week has been one of great enlightenment for me. I have learned of my Saviors love for me and all his children in a very deep and simple way. The spirit has testified to my heart on repeated occasions that this is God's work that I am doing.
This week we had Zone Conference where some missionaries were arriving and others were going home so we got to hear some departing and arriving testimonies. Some that spoke definitely touched my heart because I related with them. Two of the missionaries going home were actually the AP's (Assistant to the Presidents) at the time that I arrived in Ireland so they were the ones who picked me up. I am sorry to see them go, but they have helped me greatly while here in Ireland and I know that they have done all that the Lord asked of them. One of the missionaries (Elder Gardner) went up to bear his testimony and pulled out a letter. It was a letter from his grandmother who originally accepted the gospel and in turn their children received it and Elder Gardner as well. He read it and though it was simple and short as to why and how she had accepted the gospel from the missionaries, he bore a powerful testimony about how he knew that the gospel was true and that it was because of the choice that his grandmother made that he had served a mission at all.
Too true are the principles of that testimony. Whether or not we get married and pass it on to a future generation. Those around us will always see, know, and remember who we were and what we stood for. When their world falls apart, and they cannot go on; they will remember their friends who followed the Savior, who made the decision to keep going, even what it was hard, and pulled through to a brighter tomorrow.
As a missionary it has been an exceptional experience for me to help people change their lives. I have learned some very simple truths though. You cannot change another person. You can only help them to change when they want to. This applies also to the teaching process. I have learned that sometimes I need to deny people the further knowledge which they may want, until they pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. For THAT is the basis of our belief and until they understand and believe that through the power of the Holy Ghost, they will never benefit from the knowledge of the Plan of the Salvation or the entire Gospel itself.
I remember when I was very young that I had all the knowledge of the gospel but still I doubted because I did not recognize the spirit. It wasn't until I prayed and asked God to help me that I began to recognize the spirit, and then in turn I knew how to follow what it was telling me to do. I also learned what things bring the spirit, and what things don't.
This week I had a very good experience with a Less-Active. We had tried to visit her a lot of times but she was always busy or something came up at the last minute. So as had happened before, something came up right before we were supposed to go see her, so I spoke with her on the phone for a while. I discovered that she actually enjoys talking on the phone a lot because we spoke for nearly an hour (52 minutes!). It was a very significant spiritual experience for me though because I learned that the spirit even testifies to people through the phone.
We were talking about different things and got on the subject of church, and then general conference, and then we began discussing how empty your life becomes without the Savior. She opened up a lot to me and told me how she hadn't been to church in 10 years and just didn't know. I felt prompted to and bore my witness to her of the truthfulness of the gospel. I remember feeling the spirit fill my heart and the room around me. I remember thinking "If only she could feel the spirit as strongly as I am she would know that the Lord loves her and wants her to come back to church". Then, to my great surprise, she replied by saying "I know what you said is true because I feel the spirit telling me it is, you are very strong Elder Beacham".
It was a very humbly moment for me, and as we continued speaking I began telling her about my life before. I wasn't always this strong, I wasn't always this stalwart for the Lord, but I knew know that this is one of the few things in my life that brings pure joy and as such I will never let anything replace it. I recalled a poem I've been writing which, when it is completed, I will share with you guys. We had a really good discussion about where are strength comes from and she truly has a desire to return to church.
Beyond that experience though, I returned back to the flat and at the appointed time before bed I went and knelt in prayer to speak with my Father in Heaven. It is an amazingly personal feeling that the Lord gives you to show his love for you. I cannot say that I have had a stronger manifestation of the spirit (whilst I was by myself) in all my life. I recall the study which I did on Prayer. In the Bible Dictionary it says that some of the highest blessings we qualify for simply through prayer (something like that) and I know that that is true. I have seen in my own short time here in Ireland that the Lord can show you his love for other people and that he can show you how to convey that love to other people.
I remember my missionary call packet stating "as you serve in this labor of love among God's Children". I've learned very personally what exactly that sentence means. Service requires doing something for others. Labor means "to work at a disadvantage". Love is something which I am only beginning to comprehend, but I do know that we only come to Love people more as we Love the Savior more.
I have tried even harder than ever to come to know the Savior while out here on my mission. I know that there is no greater work for me to be doing “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. -John 17:3.
I love you all.
-Elder Beacham
It is a surprising thing to me to see in my most powerful spiritual experiences in life the only way I feel I can truly express them is in the simple songs I learned in Primary. However, I have come to accept as plain and simple truths all aspects of the gospel. It was once surprising to me that God spoke to me in a still small voice that I sometimes wouldn't even acknowledge as the spirit. Yet now I know this to be a true form of communication which comes to us in our quiet moments away from all the noise and technology and business of the world; yet at the same time it will still prompt us whilst in the midst of bustling places.
This week has been one of great enlightenment for me. I have learned of my Saviors love for me and all his children in a very deep and simple way. The spirit has testified to my heart on repeated occasions that this is God's work that I am doing.
This week we had Zone Conference where some missionaries were arriving and others were going home so we got to hear some departing and arriving testimonies. Some that spoke definitely touched my heart because I related with them. Two of the missionaries going home were actually the AP's (Assistant to the Presidents) at the time that I arrived in Ireland so they were the ones who picked me up. I am sorry to see them go, but they have helped me greatly while here in Ireland and I know that they have done all that the Lord asked of them. One of the missionaries (Elder Gardner) went up to bear his testimony and pulled out a letter. It was a letter from his grandmother who originally accepted the gospel and in turn their children received it and Elder Gardner as well. He read it and though it was simple and short as to why and how she had accepted the gospel from the missionaries, he bore a powerful testimony about how he knew that the gospel was true and that it was because of the choice that his grandmother made that he had served a mission at all.
Too true are the principles of that testimony. Whether or not we get married and pass it on to a future generation. Those around us will always see, know, and remember who we were and what we stood for. When their world falls apart, and they cannot go on; they will remember their friends who followed the Savior, who made the decision to keep going, even what it was hard, and pulled through to a brighter tomorrow.
As a missionary it has been an exceptional experience for me to help people change their lives. I have learned some very simple truths though. You cannot change another person. You can only help them to change when they want to. This applies also to the teaching process. I have learned that sometimes I need to deny people the further knowledge which they may want, until they pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. For THAT is the basis of our belief and until they understand and believe that through the power of the Holy Ghost, they will never benefit from the knowledge of the Plan of the Salvation or the entire Gospel itself.
I remember when I was very young that I had all the knowledge of the gospel but still I doubted because I did not recognize the spirit. It wasn't until I prayed and asked God to help me that I began to recognize the spirit, and then in turn I knew how to follow what it was telling me to do. I also learned what things bring the spirit, and what things don't.
This week I had a very good experience with a Less-Active. We had tried to visit her a lot of times but she was always busy or something came up at the last minute. So as had happened before, something came up right before we were supposed to go see her, so I spoke with her on the phone for a while. I discovered that she actually enjoys talking on the phone a lot because we spoke for nearly an hour (52 minutes!). It was a very significant spiritual experience for me though because I learned that the spirit even testifies to people through the phone.
We were talking about different things and got on the subject of church, and then general conference, and then we began discussing how empty your life becomes without the Savior. She opened up a lot to me and told me how she hadn't been to church in 10 years and just didn't know. I felt prompted to and bore my witness to her of the truthfulness of the gospel. I remember feeling the spirit fill my heart and the room around me. I remember thinking "If only she could feel the spirit as strongly as I am she would know that the Lord loves her and wants her to come back to church". Then, to my great surprise, she replied by saying "I know what you said is true because I feel the spirit telling me it is, you are very strong Elder Beacham".
It was a very humbly moment for me, and as we continued speaking I began telling her about my life before. I wasn't always this strong, I wasn't always this stalwart for the Lord, but I knew know that this is one of the few things in my life that brings pure joy and as such I will never let anything replace it. I recalled a poem I've been writing which, when it is completed, I will share with you guys. We had a really good discussion about where are strength comes from and she truly has a desire to return to church.
Beyond that experience though, I returned back to the flat and at the appointed time before bed I went and knelt in prayer to speak with my Father in Heaven. It is an amazingly personal feeling that the Lord gives you to show his love for you. I cannot say that I have had a stronger manifestation of the spirit (whilst I was by myself) in all my life. I recall the study which I did on Prayer. In the Bible Dictionary it says that some of the highest blessings we qualify for simply through prayer (something like that) and I know that that is true. I have seen in my own short time here in Ireland that the Lord can show you his love for other people and that he can show you how to convey that love to other people.
I remember my missionary call packet stating "as you serve in this labor of love among God's Children". I've learned very personally what exactly that sentence means. Service requires doing something for others. Labor means "to work at a disadvantage". Love is something which I am only beginning to comprehend, but I do know that we only come to Love people more as we Love the Savior more.
I have tried even harder than ever to come to know the Savior while out here on my mission. I know that there is no greater work for me to be doing “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. -John 17:3.
I love you all.
-Elder Beacham
Monday, March 29, 2010
More news..
Hey All,
Well, life in Sligo, Ireland continues. Missionary work continues. We have started teaching this nice family from Africa. The Husband's name is Collin and his wife is Ade (short for a really long African name that I can't say or spell). Mainly we've been teaching Collin and he is very receptive. We want to start to bring Ade in for the lessons but it gets a little harder when the kids are home and she usually just minds them in another room.
Dean, and Frankie, and Aisling are doing good. We have plans to see them tonight. We have an interesting task ahead of us. We have taught the Restoration about 4 times in that house, but it seems just recently they grasped it, and we'll probably do a review with them focusing on the importance of Modern Prophets and Apostles.
It's gotten a little harder with Tidy & Nicole. It seems like Tidy and Nicole have pulled back. Possibly permanently (or for the duration of the time I'm here). It's a big disappointment but as my companion put it, “if they were going to withdraw, better that they didn't make that covenant and end up just breaking it.
Anyway, that's kind of all the news in Sligo. OH! And I've gotten a whole lot better in my journal writing. I found a secret method I use to keep myself motivated and focused on it, although I can't tell any of you because it's a secret, sorry :(.
Love you all,
-Elder Beacham
New Companion!
Hey All,
Things in the Ireland Dublin Mission are great. It's definitely a challenge at times, and by far the biggest learning experience to date, but it's solidifying my testimony on several different points. I've been tearing through the bible (literally and figuratively). I read all of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and have just started into Acts since about the beginning of February. The literal tearing happened because some milk burst open in my bag one day and leaked into my scriptures and they stuck together. I'd say that they're pretty much ruined, but I've marked them up too much to throw them away. It's actually somewhat amusing (in hindsight) because every time I need to look up a scripture between Exodus and 2 Kings, or a scripture between Doctrine and Covenants 50 through 125 I get to take a bit of time and separate the pages until I find the scripture. Haha...
Anyway, there are some amazing things happening here in Sligo though. My new companion is named Elder Timothy James Barber. Though we're not supposed to choose favorites, I'd say he's probably my favorite so far. He makes the mission a lot more enjoyable (which joy comes through obedience).
We've actually started teaching a lot of college kids (ages 18-25) and it's completely different. . Teaching the younger generation is amazing. It's so obvious to tell who is progressing and who is not. Whose lives you're affecting and whose you're not. Who wants you to come back because you're two cute guys in suits: D, and who wants you to come back because of the message you bear. At the same time they're very straightforward and they'll tell you yes or no
Though we may teach a lot and change people's lives little by little I must say the most gratifying moment this week was on Monday night. We went over to this college estate and actually got into 2 new houses. The people who live in this house are Frankie, Dean, Shaun, Michelle, and Aisling (pronounced Ash-ling). Michelle doesn't have much interest, nor Shaun. But Frankie and Dean were progressing rapidly. When we went to go see them Monday only Aisling and Dean were there and so we taught them (the first time we had ever met Aisling) and it was an amazing discussion
Some slightly sad news is Tidy & Nicole were not baptized and have backed off a bit from the idea of baptism :(. But we are still working with them (and Goodrich is still very supportive of them coming to church every week) so hopefully they will progress. Some good news in all this is that maybe Goodrich will be recovered enough from his heart surgery to be able to perform the baptism (even if others need help assisting him).
Not much else new going on, the Scotland Ireland Mission is just 2 transfers away... It's going to be exciting. I may go to Scotland right away.... or stay in Ireland for the rest of my mission till I fly home from the mission home in Scotland :(. Hopefully that won't happen though!
Keep Happy & Healthy, Love you all,
-Elder Beacham
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Mostly pics
Hey Everyone
I hope you are all doing well! Keep happy & healthy! Keep praying and reading your scriptures! It's what will keep you prepared for the last day!
Things here in Ireland have been crazy lately. We’ve been working with some good Investigators. Our top 2 are Tidy and Nicole. They have been progressing quite rapidly. We have their baptismal date set for March 6th :D. Tidy seems very confident and Nicole is getting there.
It's surprising how fast time flies on a mission. It's already been (almost) 5 months! It's a shock to me! My mission is almost over! AHHH! Okay okay, not really.
So I have a few pictures to share for this blog post. Most are recent pics from here in Sligo and then there are just a few from my time at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Preston, England. Enjoy!
MTC pictures
Sligo Pictures
Monday, February 15, 2010
I've moved to Sligo! AND! New companion
Things here are great! By the way (as the subject line suggests) I got moved to Sligo! It's on the west coast of Ireland and truly feels like Ireland. I feel like I'm just starting up the church new! (There's only a branch of about 20 active members. In Sligo, things are way different. It is an amazing sight to go from a ward of 100+ to a branch of 20- :D. But the people here are so good. In reading through the Area Book I've gleaned a lot of information about the people here.
I am planning on doubling church attendance (whether through baptisms or reactivation) while I am here. I think it's completely possible.
An interesting story about Myself and Sligo:
When I arrived in Ireland we went and slept and recovered for the following day. The following day we went over to the mission office to wait till we would know where we were going. Elders Womack, Brook, Breakall, Richardson, and Myself were all waiting. Whilst waiting we began looking at a map. One of the Assistants to the President started naming off the different areas. I looked at the map (knowing nothing about where any missionaries were or anything) and finally pointed at Sligo and said "Are there any missionaries out here?" to which the AP replied "Yup, that's Sligo." I said "Cool, that's where I'm going"
So from the beginning of my mission I determined to go to Sligo. Obviously I went to Terenure first, but I told President on almost every occasion "send me to Sligo". It was really an amazing occurrence to come here and see everything. I feel as though the lord has blessed me with this place. It's a small, spread-out town. But that means that everyone can just get to know you better!
I'm excited to start serving here.
My new companion is Elder Proctor.
Oh! We arranged our own fireside for the Sligo Branch, that was cool! It was on member-missionary work! They are very excited to start working (so am I!)
Pictures from the Terenure Ward
Here are some pictures from time spent with members of the church in Terenure, Ireland.
It was a great area to serve in. I loved the people there. But now it's on to Sligo!
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