The things I learned this week

The things I learned this week can, I think, be summarized in a not so
long email. They are pretty simple:

By the end of the week I was getting tired, and not feeling like we
were doing much good. It was a struggle to not think about home. (I
didn't though; just so you know:-).  ) Yesterday we had two member
involvement lessons, and so I returned home somewhat discouraged about
the effectiveness of the day.
When we counted up our numbers for the week I was astounded to see
that we had exceeded our goals! We had done so good! We had so many
lessons! I am only comparing to my own expectations and my past
experiences, nothing else, but we had three member presents and seven
other lessons! More than we had goals for! We also have an active
baptismal date and that person came to sacrament meeting!
We also visited seven good member families, three of which were
part-member families! We were so blessed!
Despite having so many more lessons than usual, we did not fall behind
in finding numbers. This was in part to a companion split in our area
with the zone leaders, but we were still able to talk to over two
hundred people and have many discussions with them about the gospel!

My conclusion is this: Heavenly Father knows our wants and our needs.
He really desires to help us, and He hears our prayers. He knew that
we fasted and that we were praying for these blessings. He blessed us
with success for as long as we really desired it and asked in faith. I
have now only to ask in faith and continue to work hard for the
blessing He will send, until my calling is changed.

I love this work! I am so glad Heavenly Father allows me to participate in it!
With love,
Elder Bevan

P.S. I am able to go to the temple on Saturday this week so my email
will be two days early. If you write don't write about me coming
home!!! That is the worst!


Sent from my iPad

Aug. 31, 2014

Quick Update On Egawa:
She really wants to change her life and be baptized. We have needed to work patiently with her and slowly, but she really is a joy to be around. She literally gives us food every day. Tons of it. We have to bike it all back to our apartment everyday, and we are constantly having to rearrange the fridge to fit it all. :) She is great.
She often says she hears voices, and before we began meeting with her she believed in a thing called "Yutaa", which is like a religion or belief that teaches that people can communicate with spirits and with God. That was kind of a worry this week, her baptism was delayed, but we think it will be OK. She is doing well.
The best thing about being a missionary is working hard, doing well, and coming home utterly exhausted because you worked as hard as you could all day. The worst is the times when I don't know what to do, or we get sick or something and have to spend time inside, not doing missionary work. I HATE that. I was sick yesterday... I swear, I cannot stand that feeling. Sometimes, all I have to go on is the knowledge that the Savior will pick up the slack, and that He knows my burdens and mistakes, and that is what keeps me moving.Jesus Christ is faithful to all of His promises and all that He has said. The blessings of Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, of the sacrament, of the Priesthood (and all that includes), and the blessings received in the Temple are so aparent in my life. He is merciful to the overcoming of all of our weakness if we will turn to Him. I know that those blessings are absolutely, truly, real.
Love to all,

 Elder Bevan

This is zone p-day... with real live American style Hamburgers!

                                      This is also zone p-day, feeding each other M&M's with chopsticks