This week we went on a companion exchange to Sasebo. This is a picture
of me with Elder Harman. We had a great time and found a lot of new
investigators. Other Harman is a good guy. I love working hard, and we
worked hard! We went on the train to a rather distant college, and
ended up running home from the returning train to make it to the
apartment on time. We spent almost all of our time out there, and so
we were very tired when we got home. This picture was taken in a
pretty rural area.
We also went down to Isahaya because one of our elders emergency
transferred out of Isahaya. This is just a note to my younger brothers
and sisters. Don't come on your mission unprepared. And don't come and
disobey.
The new elder who came in is named Elder Young. He is a great guy and
he is already helped out our area. It is amazing what a difference
faith and hard work makes! I love to work with missionaries who work
hard! I love to work with missionaries who love working. Elder Clinger
is a good example of someone who works hard and who loves the work. I
love having him as my companion and I cannot remember a time when we
worked better than we are now. I love seeing miracles every day and
working hard!
Thank you for all that you do for me! Thank you for the prayers!
Lots of love, Elder Bevan

Sent from my iPad

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Longest letter!

Hello everyone! I am doing great. I am going to try and write one of
those long letters I promised, but I can only promise to do my best.
Mom asked about the painting and the artist, the artist took a picture
of us about a month ago and I guess when he had free time he painted
it. He was very kind!I sent him an email last week and she replied
hopefully we will be able to stay in contact. Besides that though, we
have not had much contact with him, so I don't know what else to say.
Right now we are teaching a lot of young people. The age in Japan is
significantly higher than American's average age. Most of the people
who go to church are over 60... Well at least 50. We try and focus on
finding new students who are interested in the Gospel. We have been
having significant success as we have talked to college students going
to Nagasaki University. We also try and talk to a lot of high school
students. Lately that has been helping a little. One of our
investigators has a baptismal date for the end of July. One of the
problems with working with students though, is not having enough time
to meet them. They are usually very busy with clubs and with cram
school, but we are doing our best.
The members here do not feed us dinner very often. I think I have been
invited to a dinner maybe less than 10 times on my mission. We do most
of the cooking,  and we sometimes go out to eat. Compared to America
there are much fewer members, and so it would be hard to feed all the
missionaries. Every fast Sunday though, the members all give the
missionaries food,and they call it a fruit basket. Yesterday we got a
box of Honey bunches of oats and we are all excited to eat it. I
would've eaten it this morning, but Elder Clinger told me I had to
wait until we could eat it all together. Cereal is a delicacy down
here :-). Especially American cereal.
Besides that, the members are wonderful. Yesterday we went to a dinner
with the mission coordinator. He He fed us sushi and tell her we
couldn't eat anymore. It was awesome! Like anywhere else in the world,
the Japan members have ups and downs, but their commitment to do what
is right is amazing. I love Japan!
I have really begun to understand the power of faith, and the place of
hard work. I love this work, and I am so blessed to do it! I know that
we can do any work if God wants us to do it. I know that he teaches us
by the power of the Holy Spirit. And I know that he watches over us.I
know the gospel of Jesus Christ is the way back to God. I know that
the book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith was Jesus Christ's
prophet. This week we got to teach a Christian from Kenya. When we
taught him we talked about the restoration of the Gospel. What a great
message! I know it is true. I had a special experience fasting
yesterday. More than usual I felt the spirit and and increased desire
and faith to do the work. I know that God answers our prayers and sees
when we come to him. I learned about things that I need to change, or
keep doing in order to keep this work going along in Nagasaki. I
needed it, and I know that God needed me to know it. I know that the
church is true!
My love to all, Elder Bevan

This was a picture with President Gustafson. This was probably the
last time I will see him in Japan. At the end of this transfer he will
leave for America and our new mission president will come. It was a
good day with President Gustafson. I love him and his wife.

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Zone training

Sorry! I should have given more time for me to write this email, but I
will do my best. This week was awesome! We had ZTM here in Nagasaki,
and that went very well. We talked about faith quite a bit and had a
member share her experiences from her mission and it helped us a lot.
I hope it helped the other members of the zone too.
Yesterday we found three new investigators and had two random lessons,
it was awesome! Elder Clinger works very hard and he is a good
companion. It is days like these that make missionary work worth it. I
felt like heavenly father knew me and he was blessing me. Also, a man
came to the church yesterday who we had met about a month or two ago.
He had a painting of me!

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Sorry! I should have given more time for me to write this email, but I
will do my best. This week was awesome! We had ZTM here in Nagasaki,
and that went very well. We talked about faith quite a bit and had a
member share her experiences from her mission and it helped us a lot.
I hope it helped the other members of the zone too.
Yesterday we found three new investigators and had two random lessons,
it was awesome! Elder Clinger works very hard and he is a good
companion. It is days like these that make missionary work worth it. I
felt like heavenly father knew me and he was blessing me. Also, a man
came to the church yesterday who we had met about a month or two ago.
He had a painting of me!