Friday April 10, 2015

Brandon's arrival at the airport

Bueno, It is super crazy to think that this is the last time i will be writing home from the mission. I have learned so so much!  I am so greatful for the experiences which I have had here in the mission and for the trials I have experienced that have helped me grow immensely! I am extremely grateful for everyone of you.  Especially for your support and love and prayers I know that I have the best friends and family that anyone could have in the world! There are two things that have really struck me here in the mission that I have learned.  Those two things are the importance of the family and the importance of unity!  I know that the family is divinely ordained of God with the purpose of achieving growth and learning opportunities that can't be found through any other source. I know that the progress of man is only possible as he lives and strives to do the will of God.  Through living the commandments we find freedom, peace and joy in this life and a security of those same blessings in the life to come. A family that stives to fully live the gospel will be blessed with wealth, with confidence, and with happiness. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ cannot only be treated as an actvity that comes and goes every Sunday, but as style of life and a way of living.  When we stive to put our lives in harmony with the will of God, automatically we becomed tuned into a stream of blessings and a capacity to be able to achieve anything!  Anyone who is looking to find place in this world or in his or her own life must first be united with God. And then comes the unity with everthing and everyone else. 

I know, that Jesus Christ lives. I Know that he suffered for all of us! He is our Savior, the one who brings us Eternal Life. I love the gospel! I love my savior! I love all of you! and NOS VEMOS VIERNES!!!!!!!!!!!!

ELDER BRANDON J. BEALS

MISIÒN CHILE OSORNO

"Tomb to view the "Because He Lives" video

This last week has been so, so, so full of so many activities this week we had so many things to do. The mission has asked us to think of things we can do as a zone activity to apply the initiative "Because of Him" that the church is doing.  I came up with the idea for our zone to make a tomb that the people could enter and that we could show the video.  Everyone loved it so now it is being done in the whole mission!  The wall we are building is 8 by 22 feet!  It is huge but we have seen tons of miracles just getting the resources to build it! Also this week we had a baptism! The baptism was awesome! and we also had an absolutely sick talent show that we planned! It was so, so cool!  Next week is going to be even cooler!  I am super excited!  Anyways, my time is just about up. I love you all!  Thanks for all of the support and love! 

This last week has been really really good!  We are working hard in our new sector and knocking a ton of doors!!!! but it's all good because we are finding some people! I have learned a lot in this little time since we have gotten here! We have a really really good branch, the members here are really great!  They have helped us out a lot!  Our ward mission leader is an awesome guy! He just got home from the mission so he actually knows what's going down. More than anything we have really just been focusing on finding new people, knocking doors and talking to everyone. But it is working out good. This branch has over 1500 members and only about 50 are active so we printed out a list of all the members and their adresses in the church system.  We also got a list of the members and the addresses that they have registed with the government. Hahaha so they got no where to hide! We are also finding a ton of members! My goal here is to just fill up the chapel one Sunday! Anyways, lots of work to do! I see a bright future for this new sector! 

Thank you family and friends for all of your love and support and prayers, I love you all! 

I have crazy news! I am getting transferred.  I'm super super sad. I don't want to leave this sector. But I am opening a new sector with my same companion I have now. We are going up to another part of the zone still here in Coyhaique.  I will still be a zone leader as well so there is just going to be a ton of work. But I think there is no better way to end the mission! These next 6 weeks are going to go by so fast! I already know it! 
Thanks for telling me how everyone is doing! Thank you so much for your emails. 

This week was just wonderful! Saturday we had the baptism of our investigator.  She is super, super great. Her family is so happy. Her mom got baptized in January and now we are going to start working on the dad!  The baptism was such a spiritual baptism.  There was such a strong feeling of perseverance and just that we all one day can live with God.  A sister in the ward and I did a musical special of Come Thou Fount!  It was super powerful as well!  Sunday was a crazy day though. We had the confirmation and everything, and then some crazy guy came to church. He isn't a member but he always tries to get up and talk.  Last week he made it to the pulpit.  So this week they put me in charge of him. My job was to keep him from getting up and yelling over the pulpit.  So I went and sat next to him when he came in.  Sure enough... right after the first speaker he stood up to go and talk.  So I grabbed him and pulled him back onto the bench.  He tried to get up again, so I just put my arm across him and he just pushed my arm and then swung at me like three times, trying to punch me.  He missed of course, because I'm faster than Rocky. Hahah  But it was super crazy.  Then he ended up trying to get up again like two more times and I still wouldn't let him.  Then he started saying to me I'm a son of God. I'm a son of God. I should speak.  Super, super crazy!  But some good memories. Hahaha.  Anyways, everything here is going good.  The work is moving. The Lord blesses us every week with miracles that I have no idea how they happen. I just know the the Lord provides the means to those who strive to do His will. I love you all!  Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers! 

baptism of Leonora

Good good week. we had a very busy week. Lots of teaching and a ton of success. This week we had zone conference.  Our mission president came out with my companion and I in the afternoon to work!  It was a good experience and super funny!  I learned some good stuff!  My mission president is just a stud. This week we will have two baptisms in the branch so that is going to be super cool!  Everything here is progressing super well. This last week we taught a new family.  The dad is actually a member but inactive.  We found him just walking in the street and he invited us to come over.  He said that his wife is super hard hearted and isn't open to religion or anything, but we could still come over and chat with him.  So we went over this last week.  Now his wife has a baptismal date for the 14 of March.  She is super cool and super receptive.  Saturday, her husband told us that she lost her unborn baby.  Super sad.  But I see it as a way to help them just get that much closer to God. Everything here is going super well!  The people are progressing well and the sector is growing. 

Thanks for all the support and prayers and fasting! I love you all! 

Well this last week has been really good! I have just felt so, so good here! The members are such a big inspiration to me!  This last week was a little slow. Our investigator that has a baptismal date was out of town last week so we couldn't teach her.  And this week she is going to be gone as well!  But she is progressing super well.  Still reading and praying everyday!  We had our fast, and incredibly, it was like super, super easy this time.  But we fasted so that we can find more people and also the members fasted as well.  We got one reference!!  I am so happy!  It is a family that we are going to go and pass by today!  I have a goal to baptize  three people before I end the mission!  So we have to just kick in the gears and get things moving! I am super excited for the challenge.  This last week I have also been thinking a lot about courage and how I can get this zone kicking in gear as well! I realized that the courage and energy of the missionaries has got to go up and so this week we are going to try to do everything to make that happen! Anyways, everything has been super great here! The work is progressing! I love being here!  Time is just flying!  It won't stop! I love you all! Thank you all so much for everything! 

Alright, I dont even know where to start. My branch is the bomb! The members here are just amazing!  So our mision president has a goal that every companionship can have 10 families bieng taught the lessons. Which is a very huge goal because I have barely taught even a family here in the mission.  So my companion and I have been thinking and trying to figure out what we can do here in our zone to acomplish that.  Wednesday we had a meeting with the district president.  Saturday we had a meeting with the branch president to simply ask and talk about what we can do better as missionaries to win the confidence of the members so that they can trust us by giving out references and introducing us to their friends and family.  They gave us a bunch of ideas and tips but what was crazy is what happened yesterday!  We went the branch council yesterday.  The councilor directing the meeting said that we need to help the missionaries get 10 families in each companionship.  Then he asked what they need to do to help us missionaries achive that goal.  They all started talking and everything and then they came up with the idea to have a branch fast and fast that every person can think of somebody and then give that person to the missionaries and that every member should give a refference monthly!  They all talked about it and everyone was super excited!  Then in church they talked about it and in the classes and everyone is super excited! I am super excited!  It is an absolute miracle!  So this next Sunday we are going to have the fast and we are going to see what happens! But this place is just so great!  There is nothing more satisfying then to see members want to work so hard in the vineyard!  Anyways, things here are just wonderful. Still showering with ice cold water that just about puts me in shock every time I wash my back.  But the work here is just great. I love you all so so so very much! I am praying for you all!  Thanks for all you support and love! And prayers!

Elder Beals.   -- 

Alright so my new sector Coyhaique is just the sickest thing! Our branch has got 6 missionaries! 4 of us live in one house and it is just super super fun! The missionaries here are very obedient, and they all work very hard! The local leadership also is just amazing! The people here are working! It is so nice to be here! The day I got here the distrit president and his whole family showed up at our house at night, and gave me a warm welcome to the area, and a huge cake! It made me feel so good and so excited to work here!  In February we are going to be having a baptism! So that is super sick!  Everything here is just wonderful!  I love it! The only thing bad is that the water heater here doesn't work so I have had to take cold showers every morning!!!!! Oooooooooo and that is cold! But I'm starting to get used to it. And yes I have already tried to fix it. But I can't.  I just figure, for all the wonderful things that I enjoy here it is worth it to have to take cold showers and get leukemia. Hahaha. My companion is super cool! He is from Goodyear Arizona!  We are going to be working super hard.  He just might be my last companion here in the mission!  Anyways, everything here is just wonderful! I'm just loving the mission!  This last week we started to teach a less active family that says that only one missionary has ever gotten them to come back to church. Well, it looks like the spirit got to them becuase they attended church yesterday! hahaha.  Anyways, everything is super good here! Love you all!  Thanks for all the support and love! 

Elder Beals! 

Monday January 12, 2015

Well the biggest news for the week would be that I am getting TRANSFERED. I am honestly super excited becuase change is always good.  I will be going to a place called Coyhaique. It is down South.  So it's cold down there.  But it will be nice to end down there.  Not too hot like up here. 

This last week we had interviews with our mission president which was awesome, like always. He is so smart. He taught me so much in the little time which we had together.  But he really helped me learn some new tricks to the work and be a more successful missionary.  He told me that I wasn't called to teach the gospel to EVERYBODY. but to the chosen people.  He told me NOT to just contact everyone in the street but to only contact those that the spirit tells me to contact.  I started to apply it, and wow.  It is a talent and it does work. I am trying to learn the gospel so much better and it's basic principles. 

This next week I have set some goals; to study all of the preach my gospel lessons, apply them to myself, and do all of the commitments that we make out to investigators.  So that I can have a stronger testimony of the gospel principles. I am super excited. 

Everything here is going good. I'm sad to leave. but happy and relieved at the same time. I love the people here in Lanco.  They are wonderful people and they will be missed.  But eveything here is in good hands. 

Anyways, I dont have much time to keep writing! I love you all!  Thanks for all the support! 

Monday January 5, 2015

Wow, this last week was a good week. my companion and I worked very, very hard.  The assistants to the president came and did splits with us this week. And boy did I sure learn a lot of good stuff.  I realized that I could be a way better missionary than I am.  So I really kicked some things into gear, and I have been working very very hard. This last week was cool because it was the new year and I set some goals for the year!  I am super excited for this year.  Thinking about it, it possibly could be one of the most eventful years of my life.  So I thought it would be very important to make some good goals to keep things in order. Hahah  But it was a very enjoyable experience to set goals.  My companion and I are absolutely determined to find the CHOSEN. So we have been teaching as many people as we can get to stop in the streets. It has actually been very enjoyable and it makes us feel more successful as missionaries when it comes to the purpose of inviting ALL to come unto Christ! I feel like I have so much to work on and to get better at before I end the mission and I am just going to work as much as I can to get better everyday. I love the work! I am so greatful for the atonement and to be able to repent of my mistakes cause I have and make so so many. I love this church! I love Christ`s gospel! Thank you so much family and friends for all of your love and support! 

Monday December 29, 2014

Well this last week was a good one. It was nice to talk to you family! I miss you all so so so very much! I love you all!  Sorry we lost connection. The internet died right in that moment because I'm in chile and thats what happens to the internet here. I wanted to talk to Jacob so bad! 

Anyways, it was a slow week. We spent two days just visiting members, so the days went by kind of slow but it was fun!  We ate so, so, so much meat.  It was good to spend a little time with the members and get to know them better.  We are still trying to focus on finding new people but it has been a little difficult.  I don't know what it is but it has just been super hard to find people lately. I think it's likely I am in for a transfer.  I have been here for a long time and it is always nice to go to a new place and get a new fresh start on things.  So we will see what happens here in a couple of weeks.  I have been trying to do everything I can to get into some good habits before I go home from the mission and I have really seen a difference. It's so nice to be in the mission to be able to do things like that. I have really gotten closer to the Lord.  Anyways, everything is going good here! I love you all so so very much! Please take care! 

-Elder Beals-

Monday December 22, 2014

Another great week has passes in the mission. my companion and I spent just about everyday knocking doors this week. But I had some good experiences. 

Just yesterday a member talked with us about a boy who we had visited last week to give a blessing, becuase he was sick.... so get this. 

Last week a member came and talked to us about this kid who has been in a whole bunch of different hospitals here and has gone through a bunch of different treatments.  He has some sort of sickness that the doctors do not know what it was.  It is very sad and very hard on his family.  so the people here  started raising money so that he could go up to Santiago and get more treatments.  The member of the church got in contact with the family.  They told them that the missionaries could come over and give him a blessing.  So, we willingly  accepted to do so. (noting that the family aren't members)  We went over to the house and saw the boy.  It was super sad.  He had the absolutely saddest face.  He just had no desire to do anything whatsoever.  We tried talking to him a little bit to try to make him a little more happy... but nothing.  He said he had no idea what he was going to do with his life and he didn't care to be with friends or nothing.  It was super sad.  He also hadn't eaten anything for a really long time becuase he just refused to.  He couldnt walk or anything.  He just layed in bed all day.  So we explained to him and his family about blessings and asked him if he wanted one, and he did. So we gave him one.  Then YESTERDAY, the member told us that she had heard that he was doing  better so we went by to see him and HE answered the door when we knocked! 

It was crazy!  He was super happy to see us and we asked him "how are you doing?"  He said he felt all better and that everything was all good!  It was incredible and amazing! I have no idea what sickness he had.  Neither did any other doctor! BUT, the Lord knew! and the Lord blessed him!  it was such a great experience!  Today we have an appointment with that family to go over and teach them tonight! 

This last week I have been learning just a ton of new stuff.  The Lord has been blessing me so so much lately! I am so greatful for him!  I'm working the best I can and giving all that I have! 

I love you so much family and friends! Thanks for all your prayers!  ­

Elder Beals­

Monday December 15, 2014

Well, hello family and friends!!!! 

This last week was wonderful! We had the oportunity to really focus on the real meaning of Christmas and we had a wonderful activity as a zone, in which we went out with our president and his wife and sang to different people in the city, and then gave them a Book of Mormon which we had wraped up in gift paper.  We also gave  people "He is the gift" cards!  It was an experience so, so, so wonderful! I felt so, so much love that the Lord has for all of his children, and how important this gospel is for all of them! We also had district conference this week and it was also wonderful! Our mission presiendent without a doubt was called by God to be here at this time!  He is so good at what he does, and he is such a wonderful example to me, and all of the other missionaries here in the mission! I love him so much!  He and his wife have taught us how important the family is.  And that when we get married we need to have good family traditions!  He also taught a little bit of the same thing to the members in the conference! teaching everyone how important the family is and the little things like family home evening, scriptures, praying, and coming to church! I realized that everything that the lord asks is very very simple but with blessings very very big! I just love the gospel! anyways, i dont have anymore time to write! but I love you all! i know the church is the only real and true church of christ! i love sharing his gospel! i love the work! Thanks for all of your support and prayers! 

Chile

The Gift of the Word of God

Elder Robertson, Santa Obeso, Elder Beals

Well this week was super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super, super crazy! I have never had anything like it in my whole mission! 

I'll just sum it all up is a few words.....

Church only lasted 15 minutes yesterday before we had to leave... but that is all I can say until I get home!!!! Super crazy! 

This week has been a great week though, and full of spiritual experiences as well as edification. I got a new compaion who is here to work, so that is super nice. Friday we had a mission conference with all the other zone leaders in the mission.  We talked about some crazy changes that are coming to the mission.  When Elder Nelson came here they had a meeting and made a whole bunch of changes which are super cool.  They are changes that I have been wanting to happen since I was in Porvenir!  I couldn't even believe it when our president started talking about it!  It is so, so cool! I had such a strong spiritual confirmation!  My compaion and I are working super hard!  I have already seen a difference in the work since he has been here! Which makes me so happy to see the things progressing again! Our investigators are progressing really well and getting so much closer to the Lord! My convert here is absolutly incredible! He is one of the greatest people I know!  He just makes me so proud!  He is doing everything he can to progess in the gospel!  He calls us every once in a while just to see how we are doing and to tell me how far he is in the Book of Mormon! He is such a cool kid! Anyways, everything is running well! I love you all family and friends! Thank you for the prayers and support! love you all! 

-Elder Beals- :)

La semana ha sido muy muy buena! tuvimos éxito en cuanto a encontrando personas, de hecho ayer enseñamos 3 nuevas personas y desafiamos 2. Por fin estamos encontrando mucho mas y estamos empezando a enseñar mas personas. Yo he sentido el espíritu muy fuerte esta ultima semana y tengo una meta personal de reconocer el espíritu mejor y actuar cuando lo escuche y también de enfocarme mas en revelación personal. así que siento que he mejorado en eso. voy a seguir con la meta por la próxima semana igualmente. tenemos muy buenos investigadores, pero cada una de las personas tienen desafíos muy grandes que vienen de satanás estoy seguro! y entonces nos hace difícil para ayudarles. pero están progresando! están leyendo las escrituras y están orando y esto esta anudándoles mucho! tenemos buenos planes para el siguiente cambio y vamos a trabajar duro para que tengamos éxito y que podemos lograr la visión de un bautismo cada mes por compañerismo! todo va muy bien y amo el señor, amo la obra!

This last week has been really, really good! We had a lot of success in finding new people which was great becuase we have been trying to find new people this whole last transfer! Yesterday we taught three new people and invited two to be baptized! They didn't accept becuase they are not yet prepared enough.  But we taught the doctrine so clear that they can't deny anything! Hahaha. This last week I have really felt the power of the spirit and the influence of it. It has been my personal goal this throughout the week to recognize the spirit better and the act when I hear it! I have also been focusing on personal revelation, which is helping out as well! And i definitely feel like I am getting better at listening to the spirit! The investigators that we are teaching are wonderful, wonderful people. They have really been prepared by the Lord.  But they all have very specific and unique problems that have all come from Satan that really makes things complicated!  Which just helps me know that we are doing the real work of God! I dont have a whole lot of time to write but I love the Lord!  I love His work!  There is nothing more gratifying then the work and more satisfying, than being in the service of God! 

Love you all! thank you so much for everything! 

This last week has been a really really good week! My companion and I have been struggling to find new people. But this last week we found somebody!!!!! We found a guy that is adventist.  He has been so so prepared by the Lord to hear the gospel. I was on an exchange with another elder and we decided to go to a street just to knock doors ? So we go over to the street and we contacted a guy that was walking in the street who was really receptive and he told us that we can pass by and that his house was just down the street... so we went down the street to write down the address of the contact we had just made, and we decided to knock on the door of the house next to it... so we did that, and some guy answered and said... "What do you guys want?"  We said  'We are missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ.  and he said "Oh the Mormons... come on in.  I want to know what you guys have got to say."  So we went in and shared a brief message about the apostasy and the restored church and everything, and he was really, really interested.  Then he told us... "I was just about to go to bed and go out and lock up my gate and my door and everything when I just had the thought that someone was going to come and knock on my door. So I decided to wait just a little bit and that's when you guys knocked on my door!"  How sweet is that! But it doesn't end there!!!  Yesterday we had another appointment with him. After we shared a message with him. he explained to us how he has been going through depression, becuase he is 52, never has been married, never has had kids, lives alone and just has a boring life.  He said that a neice of his asked him if he was part of any religion.  He said "Yeah, but I'm done with religion and don't really want anything more to do with it." and she said,  "Well, you should to look up about the Mormons.  Because if you do you will find some amazing things that will change your life." He had agreed and everything, but he thought, "I'm never going to look them up..." He explained to us that he thought "If it really is from God and if it really is as great as she says, they will come to me, but I'm not going to go and look for them!" Hahaha, and so we came!!!! So he has been reading the Book of Mormon.   He LOVES everything that we share with him! He is now preparing for baptism in December!!! So this week has been a really good one!  Today we have an appointment with the guy we contacted in the street who lives next door! So hopefully we will get another investigator there as well! Man the work is just great!!!! And everything is starting to go really, really, well here!!!! Anyways, I don't have much time for more stories but I love the work! I love the Lord! I love the gospel! and I love all you family and friends! see you all soooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This last week was just another great week! We had the opportunity to be able to meet with Elder Viñas and Elder nelson and it was super, super wonderful! They are such inspired men! And their wives are just as inspired! I learned so, so, so much from them! From the mission work, to choosing my wife! Hahaha.  They talked about a lot of good stuff, that really got everyone excited! Also this week we had a conference with our mission president, so that just made it all the better!  So it was a really wonderful week! I've really grown a lot closer to Christ this last week.  And so, as expected, Satan has thrown a mix into everything! Everything leading up to the coming of Elder Nelson was absolutely crazy! The mission, our zone and our sector was just crazy! But now we are just going to keep pushing forward!" Anyways, I don't have a whole lot of time to write, like always.  But I love you all! I am so greatful for this wonderful gospel and the wonderful blessings I have recieved to be a member of Christ's church! Everyday I think of how big of a blessing the mission is for me! The Lord is so loving! And so smart! 

Alright y'all I got my new slogan CTTE (commited to the end) I'm gonna make sure that I give it my everything these last five months of my mission.  So that I can stand before the Lord one day and tell him that I gave my all to the work of salvation! 

We have an investigator that we are working with that is super, super awesome! She is so, so, so, so ready to be baptized.  But the problem is that she is living with somebody and has been for like the past four years. They had a baby together and she has been wanting to marry him for a while. The problem is that he is already married to someone else. So, legally, they wouldn't be able to get married, making her unqualified for baptism! And to make it worse, this man is a drunk so he doesn't want anything to do with us.  And, he's not even willing to get a divorement from his old wife...but she is BY FAR!!!! thee best investigator I have EVER SEEN or HEARD ABOUT in the mission! It breaks my heart! 

Anyways these last couple of weeks have been kind of hard! We are trying to find new investigators. But things aren't coming together as well as we thought they would... So that is kind of hard.  But like I said I am going to give it my all everyday so that things do work out!

This Wednesday, we are going to be going down to Osorno to have a conference with Elder Nelson of the Quorum of the twelve apostles and Elder Viñas of the 70, again! I am super excited and I hope we get some new ways to do the work and to be better missionaries!  So I am super excited for that opportunity!!!!!

The mission is just absolutely wonderful and amazing!  Everyday my understanding of the gospel and of my Savior Jesus Christ just grows so much!  Yesterday, I think I got my first glace of a real understanding of the sacrament as I was passing it.  I just got overwhelmed to realize what the sacrament really means!  Such a confirming experience!  I loved every moment!  I love the work!  I love all of you!  And, I love my Savior Jesus Christ!  Thank you so much for all that you guys do for me!  For you prayers and everything!