Hey Everyone!
Good news here in Sligo. We baptized a wonderful lady by the name of Caroline Ann Mary Donagher. I also confirmed her just yesterday and both were amazing experiences. We baptized her in Glencar Lake. There will be pictures printed up and sent via post. Beyond that I have been sick most of the past week (though I am mostly recovered now) so there isn't really much to report. Just sat in the flat coughing all day for a couple of days. I'm feeling much better now though so we have begun to once again go out and about doing the work of the Lord.
love to you all,
Elder Beacham
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Crazy Week
Hey Everyone!
This week was CRAZY!
So first off, We had some really good lessons with Caroline at the beginning of the week and she has a baptismal date for the 5th of June. She acts as if she is already a member and has offered to drive the 20 minutes to Tobercurry to pick up some potential investigators who want to come to church (but couldn't make it last week because they didn't have money for petrol)! So she is doing great!
I've been trying my best to be a better example to the members here in Sligo as well as the Investigators and strangers whom we meet. On Sunday we had an excellent opportunity to serve! Saturday night we got a call from the Branch President's wife telling us that he was sick and couldn't come to church let alone pick up the Campbell's from Bundoran. We also found out that 2 speakers were needed to speak, and 3 teachers were needed! So Sunday morning study was a mad scramble of assembling talks and lessons and making sure they were slightly coordinated to make the meetings flow well, but not too much so that we taught the same things we spoke about! I also called and coordinated for two people to go and pick up the campbells from bundoran (which was really good; otherwise, our investigators might have outnumbered the members!). We had Malcom, Stephen, Katrina, Caroline, and Patricia at church! They all participated and had a good time (especially in the Gospel Principles class). I got to teach the gospel Doctrine class but that was heaven sent because the lesson was on Gideon (in Judges 6 &7) and that is just about the coolest Bible story ever, with the best message for less actives. So I was able to teach it with only a half hour of preparation. Normally as missionaries we are trying to get our lessons shorter and shorter and more powerful within that short amount of time, but this time I had to expand it to fill 45 minutes! That was a true challenge :D
I love you all!
Elder Beacham
This week was CRAZY!
So first off, We had some really good lessons with Caroline at the beginning of the week and she has a baptismal date for the 5th of June. She acts as if she is already a member and has offered to drive the 20 minutes to Tobercurry to pick up some potential investigators who want to come to church (but couldn't make it last week because they didn't have money for petrol)! So she is doing great!
I've been trying my best to be a better example to the members here in Sligo as well as the Investigators and strangers whom we meet. On Sunday we had an excellent opportunity to serve! Saturday night we got a call from the Branch President's wife telling us that he was sick and couldn't come to church let alone pick up the Campbell's from Bundoran. We also found out that 2 speakers were needed to speak, and 3 teachers were needed! So Sunday morning study was a mad scramble of assembling talks and lessons and making sure they were slightly coordinated to make the meetings flow well, but not too much so that we taught the same things we spoke about! I also called and coordinated for two people to go and pick up the campbells from bundoran (which was really good; otherwise, our investigators might have outnumbered the members!). We had Malcom, Stephen, Katrina, Caroline, and Patricia at church! They all participated and had a good time (especially in the Gospel Principles class). I got to teach the gospel Doctrine class but that was heaven sent because the lesson was on Gideon (in Judges 6 &7) and that is just about the coolest Bible story ever, with the best message for less actives. So I was able to teach it with only a half hour of preparation. Normally as missionaries we are trying to get our lessons shorter and shorter and more powerful within that short amount of time, but this time I had to expand it to fill 45 minutes! That was a true challenge :D
I love you all!
Elder Beacham
An Update
As of now I am doing great. I have need for nothing (besides a good nights sleep) however it's been improving when I get to bed by 10PM but that's not always a possibility.
Missionary Work is the happiest work you can do here on earth. I've learned that since I've been out here. It's been rough at times but always worth it. Remember that if nothing else when life gets rough; It's always worth it!
I don't even know where to begin with things here in Sligo. I love serving here because the members are amazing. They are so eager to help and the past couple of Sundays they have done an excellent job fellowshipping and truly loving the investigators we bring. This Sunday (Yesterday) we had 5 investigators at church! The Zone Leaders said that Sligo has never had 5 investigators at church at once ever! We also had a Less-Active (Ed) so it was a really good turn out.
I know more than anything else in this world that our Savior lives. I know that he created this world so that we could make mistakes and repent. I know that he has suffered all things for us so that we need not suffer, even our depressions or anguishes we can let go because he has already suffered for them.
I love you all,
-Elder Beacham
Missionary Work is the happiest work you can do here on earth. I've learned that since I've been out here. It's been rough at times but always worth it. Remember that if nothing else when life gets rough; It's always worth it!
I don't even know where to begin with things here in Sligo. I love serving here because the members are amazing. They are so eager to help and the past couple of Sundays they have done an excellent job fellowshipping and truly loving the investigators we bring. This Sunday (Yesterday) we had 5 investigators at church! The Zone Leaders said that Sligo has never had 5 investigators at church at once ever! We also had a Less-Active (Ed) so it was a really good turn out.
I know more than anything else in this world that our Savior lives. I know that he created this world so that we could make mistakes and repent. I know that he has suffered all things for us so that we need not suffer, even our depressions or anguishes we can let go because he has already suffered for them.
I love you all,
-Elder Beacham
Miracles, Miracles
Hello! We had some miracles this week. Let me tell you about them.
Miracle #1: So this past week we went to visit Ed McPhillips (a Bi-Polar, Manic-Depressive, Autistic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Alcoholic) as he calls himself. When we first went to see him (for the first time in 3 months of no contact) he said that he had already quit drinking and wanted to come back to church. When we went by to see him Friday he said that not only had he stayed off the drink, but he also has quit smoking and drinking coffee. So we showed up Sunday morning and he came to church. I was amazed but he really made a complete 180 degree turn!
Miracle #2: On the same day we saw Ed we got to see Natalie Finan (A Less-Active who moved to Tubbercurry) at her Mom's house here in town and she expressed interest in coming back to church. She didn't come this week, or say when she would, but this is the first time I've even met her so it's really good.
Miracle #3: Last week we were knocking doors and found a wonderful lady named Caroline who said it was very Christian of us to call around to people (funny how some people think the opposite :D). Anyway, we invited her to church and she said that she would come, however she didn't :(. So we thought we would go back and see her Saturday night and see if that made any difference. She said the reason that she hadn't come last week is because something had come up and she couldn't make it, but she said that she would be there this week. We went to church with high hopes and were amazingly surprised and blessed that she did come and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She was well fellowshipped by the members and said that she felt as though the speakers in sacrament meeting were talking directly to her.
Miracle #4: Tatiana, a member from California, has been over here for the past 7 months babysitting for a family. This week she invited one of the people she babysits (I forgot her name because it's Irish and uncommon) but she is 14 and so just stayed with Tatiana all throughout church and young womens. I think she enjoyed herself. Hopefully she will come next week.
Miracle #5: Our Primary investigator (Malcom) came to church and testified at the end of Priesthood that he could feel "a good feeling" (the spirit) and knew that the church was a good place to be. He said it in front of the whole class, I thought it was great, I wouldn't mind more random Testimonies in the middle of classes. He would have a Baptismal Date now if we gave him one but we've been holding him back just to make sure he's as confident as he sounds/seems. His father (he's the youngest of 15) was actually a member but went less active so Malcom was never baptized and he (Malcom) always says that he wishes his father would have stayed a member to save him the heartache that he's faced in his life. I tell him no regrets (but at the same time, if he wants to reactivate his father, I won't stop him :D).
So there have been a lot of miracles here. I love you all very much!
-Elder Beacham
Miracle #1: So this past week we went to visit Ed McPhillips (a Bi-Polar, Manic-Depressive, Autistic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Alcoholic) as he calls himself. When we first went to see him (for the first time in 3 months of no contact) he said that he had already quit drinking and wanted to come back to church. When we went by to see him Friday he said that not only had he stayed off the drink, but he also has quit smoking and drinking coffee. So we showed up Sunday morning and he came to church. I was amazed but he really made a complete 180 degree turn!
Miracle #2: On the same day we saw Ed we got to see Natalie Finan (A Less-Active who moved to Tubbercurry) at her Mom's house here in town and she expressed interest in coming back to church. She didn't come this week, or say when she would, but this is the first time I've even met her so it's really good.
Miracle #3: Last week we were knocking doors and found a wonderful lady named Caroline who said it was very Christian of us to call around to people (funny how some people think the opposite :D). Anyway, we invited her to church and she said that she would come, however she didn't :(. So we thought we would go back and see her Saturday night and see if that made any difference. She said the reason that she hadn't come last week is because something had come up and she couldn't make it, but she said that she would be there this week. We went to church with high hopes and were amazingly surprised and blessed that she did come and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She was well fellowshipped by the members and said that she felt as though the speakers in sacrament meeting were talking directly to her.
Miracle #4: Tatiana, a member from California, has been over here for the past 7 months babysitting for a family. This week she invited one of the people she babysits (I forgot her name because it's Irish and uncommon) but she is 14 and so just stayed with Tatiana all throughout church and young womens. I think she enjoyed herself. Hopefully she will come next week.
Miracle #5: Our Primary investigator (Malcom) came to church and testified at the end of Priesthood that he could feel "a good feeling" (the spirit) and knew that the church was a good place to be. He said it in front of the whole class, I thought it was great, I wouldn't mind more random Testimonies in the middle of classes. He would have a Baptismal Date now if we gave him one but we've been holding him back just to make sure he's as confident as he sounds/seems. His father (he's the youngest of 15) was actually a member but went less active so Malcom was never baptized and he (Malcom) always says that he wishes his father would have stayed a member to save him the heartache that he's faced in his life. I tell him no regrets (but at the same time, if he wants to reactivate his father, I won't stop him :D).
So there have been a lot of miracles here. I love you all very much!
-Elder Beacham
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
FAT and PRIDEFUL!
Haha,
Sorry, I'm still laughing at this weeks title. Anyway, There's been a lot going on here in Ireland. I've been learning so much about myself; probably a whole lot more than I ever really wanted to know. God has taught me a lot of things about my character and how I need to grow and improve and I'm working at it slowly but surely.
This past week was pretty good, I mean we didn't teach as much as we would have liked, but the few times we did, and the people who we talked to on the street; you could really see how we made an impact in their life. It made me happy :D
I had an interesting experience though, or rather I've been having an interesting experience! Since I got on my mission I have found that it's been more and more difficult to manage my weight and build muscle and do all the things I did back home. It's near impossible to wake up at 6:30AM and immediately start into a full-blown "push yourself to the edge" 1/2 hour workout. Really you end up doing a couple sit-ups, a couple push-ups, and then you jump in the shower and start your day. Walking all day isn't really that great of a workout, despite what everyone says. It really just gives you a thicker soul on the bottom of your foot. However, back to the point and besides my excuses. I've noticed that I reached a point where I could keep myself at my 185lbs that I had attained back home. However I noticed that I've been losing a lot of muscle as well :(.
It was kind of frustrating and was kind of building on me until finally I got really frustrated and told my companion that I couldn't spend all day everyday letting my body go to shambles! I was talking to him about how they used to do "Soccer Saturdays" where people would get together and play soccer and you could come if you had an investigator (which they no longer do). I talked about how they used to do Zone Sports, and how they used to do a Zone activity, and how they used to allow you to get together with your district on P-Day and play sports. All these wonderful sporting activities had all gone away, and I was coming in just at the end of them, so that I didn't have any way to keep my body in shape! Not to mention the fact that the less you exercise, the less energy you have! In my mind I was becoming a fat and apathetic servant of the lord!
As humorous as they may sound to those who read it, I was truly in quite a dilemma and in speaking to my companion we actually got into a little bit of a heated debate over it. He seemed to not care about what I was saying or my point in the whole matter.
So back and forth we went until I became truly frustrated at him, and walked out of the room while he was speaking to me! I went downstairs and prayed earnestly to the Lord to find out why I had gotten frustrated over such a small thing with my companion. Why couldn't he just see it my way? Why couldn't he just understand what I was trying to say? I mean, I fully understood him, didn't I?
As I was praying I thought of something that's been on my mind lately, kind of a quote from scripture that's always had personal significance in my life; "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks". As I got this thought I tried earnestly to humble myself to the point where I could get some revelation. The spirit told me to not seek to be understood, but rather seek to understand. So I went back upstairs and gave him a hug, and allowed him to resume his comments. He made some good points and I learned some interesting things about my character. But I learned some very poignant lessons about pride. Pride is not about being right or being wrong. Pride is not about having something or not having something, nor coveting something or not coveting something. Pride is about thinking you're right and because you are right, all others must be wrong. It's seeking to be understood, before you seek to understand. Sometimes (as was this instance with my companion) the other person doesn't even want to understand you, but besides that, you still need to understand them. Because when you do, you learn to humble yourself and when you learn to humble yourself you learn something new.
My companion, in his points wasn't in anyway wrong, though at the same time neither was I. We were both right, but neither of us were willing to understand one another, we were both seeking to be understood. It's funny because this is an issue that might have otherwise bothered me (continually) but even knowing now that he didn't understand my point, doesn't bother me because I understand him. Even though we still disagree. It was my opportunity to grow. I'm guessing this is kind of what compromise is about.
Anyway, in order to still bring about my devious purposes (muahaha) I talked him into getting the bikes fixed so that we can start biking to the neighboring towns near Sligo :D. That's my new scheme to keep in shape and get more energy, while still working hard in the service of the Lord.
All in all, since I've come on my mission I've learned that a lot of my issues (if not all) are linked to pride. The lord tries to teach us a lot of things, but usually the only reason that we can't or don't learn from our life experiences is because of pride. In fact, (or rather, I think) the only reason that learning experiences are painful is because of pride.
Hopefully I'll be able to work on that a whole lot more. I know that the Lord blesses us in all our righteous efforts. I know that he seeks ways to help us in all the things we do. I know that he knows best and as we communicate with him through the spirit we will know his will for us and how we can grow. I love the gospel so much and I love all of you.
Sorry, I'm still laughing at this weeks title. Anyway, There's been a lot going on here in Ireland. I've been learning so much about myself; probably a whole lot more than I ever really wanted to know. God has taught me a lot of things about my character and how I need to grow and improve and I'm working at it slowly but surely.
This past week was pretty good, I mean we didn't teach as much as we would have liked, but the few times we did, and the people who we talked to on the street; you could really see how we made an impact in their life. It made me happy :D
I had an interesting experience though, or rather I've been having an interesting experience! Since I got on my mission I have found that it's been more and more difficult to manage my weight and build muscle and do all the things I did back home. It's near impossible to wake up at 6:30AM and immediately start into a full-blown "push yourself to the edge" 1/2 hour workout. Really you end up doing a couple sit-ups, a couple push-ups, and then you jump in the shower and start your day. Walking all day isn't really that great of a workout, despite what everyone says. It really just gives you a thicker soul on the bottom of your foot. However, back to the point and besides my excuses. I've noticed that I reached a point where I could keep myself at my 185lbs that I had attained back home. However I noticed that I've been losing a lot of muscle as well :(.
It was kind of frustrating and was kind of building on me until finally I got really frustrated and told my companion that I couldn't spend all day everyday letting my body go to shambles! I was talking to him about how they used to do "Soccer Saturdays" where people would get together and play soccer and you could come if you had an investigator (which they no longer do). I talked about how they used to do Zone Sports, and how they used to do a Zone activity, and how they used to allow you to get together with your district on P-Day and play sports. All these wonderful sporting activities had all gone away, and I was coming in just at the end of them, so that I didn't have any way to keep my body in shape! Not to mention the fact that the less you exercise, the less energy you have! In my mind I was becoming a fat and apathetic servant of the lord!
As humorous as they may sound to those who read it, I was truly in quite a dilemma and in speaking to my companion we actually got into a little bit of a heated debate over it. He seemed to not care about what I was saying or my point in the whole matter.
So back and forth we went until I became truly frustrated at him, and walked out of the room while he was speaking to me! I went downstairs and prayed earnestly to the Lord to find out why I had gotten frustrated over such a small thing with my companion. Why couldn't he just see it my way? Why couldn't he just understand what I was trying to say? I mean, I fully understood him, didn't I?
As I was praying I thought of something that's been on my mind lately, kind of a quote from scripture that's always had personal significance in my life; "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks". As I got this thought I tried earnestly to humble myself to the point where I could get some revelation. The spirit told me to not seek to be understood, but rather seek to understand. So I went back upstairs and gave him a hug, and allowed him to resume his comments. He made some good points and I learned some interesting things about my character. But I learned some very poignant lessons about pride. Pride is not about being right or being wrong. Pride is not about having something or not having something, nor coveting something or not coveting something. Pride is about thinking you're right and because you are right, all others must be wrong. It's seeking to be understood, before you seek to understand. Sometimes (as was this instance with my companion) the other person doesn't even want to understand you, but besides that, you still need to understand them. Because when you do, you learn to humble yourself and when you learn to humble yourself you learn something new.
My companion, in his points wasn't in anyway wrong, though at the same time neither was I. We were both right, but neither of us were willing to understand one another, we were both seeking to be understood. It's funny because this is an issue that might have otherwise bothered me (continually) but even knowing now that he didn't understand my point, doesn't bother me because I understand him. Even though we still disagree. It was my opportunity to grow. I'm guessing this is kind of what compromise is about.
Anyway, in order to still bring about my devious purposes (muahaha) I talked him into getting the bikes fixed so that we can start biking to the neighboring towns near Sligo :D. That's my new scheme to keep in shape and get more energy, while still working hard in the service of the Lord.
All in all, since I've come on my mission I've learned that a lot of my issues (if not all) are linked to pride. The lord tries to teach us a lot of things, but usually the only reason that we can't or don't learn from our life experiences is because of pride. In fact, (or rather, I think) the only reason that learning experiences are painful is because of pride.
Hopefully I'll be able to work on that a whole lot more. I know that the Lord blesses us in all our righteous efforts. I know that he seeks ways to help us in all the things we do. I know that he knows best and as we communicate with him through the spirit we will know his will for us and how we can grow. I love the gospel so much and I love all of you.
Monday, April 19, 2010
What's New!
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
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
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
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