TRANSFERS - LaGrande, Oregon!!

Tue, May 31, 2011 at 2:57 PM

Email #35 – LaGrande, OR

subject From LaGrande Oregon!!

Hey there Bevell Family,

I will start off by telling you how super sorry I am that I didn't tell you that transfers were on Monday and I am now in La Grande Oregon!! I hope you didn't send that package with John cause he won't find me in Idaho now. lol. But anyway, I am LOVING it up here! It’s so beautiful, everything is green and the mountains still have some snow on top as well! Since today was P-day My new companion Elder Richards and I along with Elders Rudd and Sanders, drove to lake Wallowa today and took some pictures. I've attached a few of them for ya and even one of a bald eagle we saw!! My camera was zoomed out as far as it could go when I took the picture of the eagle.

So the people in LaGrande are super nice. It's a small town with very good people, makes me think of the nice town of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith show. I've already met one of the Bishops in our area and he is amazing! He's a convert to the church, was a former Atheist, and upon getting called as Bishop he apparently quit his job so he could devote all time and energy to his calling! WOW! He has promised to keep giving us people to teach as long as he is able.

So about my living conditions, we are staying in an apartment with elders Rudd and Sanders. Elder Sanders and I are new to the area so when we fist walked into the apartment, saw the dirty dishes in the sink, the dirty bathrooms and bedrooms, we both agreed to help each other clean up the place just a little. lol, at the same time though I like the living arrangements. We have just what we need and no more. I have a bed, a desk to study at, we have a ton of food because of the amazing members here, and a washing machine. We also have a car and I am allowed to drive it!! YAY!!

Needless to say, I am going to love serving in the LaGrand area.

I'm glad you were all able to have a "lazy day", I've been praying that you guys would have some sort of break. And I just know that Breck is going to have a blast on the trek! And I wish so bad that I could go with her on it. I love you Breck, and don't get discouraged! Just have fun, help lift up others like you always do, and just enjoy the spirit of the whole thing! And Izaak I know will have a fun time with Dayson, and then the Horejs family. I will be writing both you guys via snail mail this week. I love you both!

That's all I got for now, I'm trying hard to learn this area fast so I can work my best. I'll write you all when I have more news. I love you and pray for you all every night! Have an amazing week, and stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

Elder Bevell

Elder Bevell & Elder Richards

Carsten received his call...

Tue, May 24, 2011 at 3:03 PM

Email #34 – Meridian, ID

Dear Mom,

Wow a lot has happened! And all of it good stuff too, that makes me feel good to know that you all are fine. Thanks for all the pictures btw, I love getting them. And Carstens mission call!!??? That's AWESOME! I will be sure to write him and congratulate him. And since he will be a missionary I will be able to email him once he gets out! lol, The news that really surprised me though was Ethan. That was really out of the blue and unexpected. But I'm happy for him. I've met Shar and I like her a lot and look forward to having her as part of the family.

So about me and Elder Mattei, his foot is only sprained luckily and it has healed really fast! Today he played football and was just as good as ever! I don't know how he was able to run that fast! His foot will probably be very sore tonight though and tomorrow as well. He will be fine though. And myself, I'm doing just great. We have people to teach and I have been using my free time to just read the Scriptures and preach my gospel. At night if I can't fall asleep I just pull out preach my gospel and read over the lessons. I recently read in the Scriptures that if we try to become more familiar with Christ’s gospel the Holy Ghost will bring to our remembrance what we need to say when we need to say it. Plus I like the spirit that I feel as I help my testimony in the gospel grow. The more I learn the more I believe and want to share. This gospel is so true Mom, I have no doubt in my mind, and as I think back on all my friends back home I want them to have it so badly as well.

Now on our investigators. We taught Todd again this last Sunday and that went very well. He hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon so we decided to read it with him. We read Alma 11 when Christ shows himself to the Nephites in America. He didn't have any questions about the chapter but did ask about the Priesthood. We explained that the Priesthood is God’s power given to men on earth to act in his name. WE then learned that he has a Gospel Principles book and told him to read the chapter on the Priesthood. He said he would. We will be seeing him next Sunday to teach him the Plan of Salvation.

We also taught Lindsey yesterday the Plan of Salvation. She is very quiet, but has a testimony of the church.

Well that's all I got sorry I haven't written in snail mail for a while, I am now out of stamps! As soon as I get some more I will write. I love you all and I have and will continue to pray for you guys. Thanks and hope you guys have a great week! Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

Elder Kenton Durfee is Home!

Tue, May 17, 2011 at 3:58 PM

Email #33 – Meridian, ID

Dear Bevell family,

I have been praying specifically that Dad would get better and that the car would get fixed quickly, so to hear that Dad was better and that the car is getting fixed so soon gave me so much peace. My testimony has grown and I know even more now that God answers prayers. Thank you for such wonderful news!!

I also loved hearing about Kenton’s talk! He does sound like he has changed a lot and I can't wait to see him and Ryan again. And Justin’s call sounds so exciting!! Give him my congratulations for me!!!

So now for some interesting news on my companion. He possibly has a fractured ankle! We sometimes go play basket ball early in the morning with one of the wards we cover and yesterday Elder Mattei went to make a shot and landed wrong. He said he heard a crack and then felt a lot of pain. He hasn't called President about this yet because he got special permission from President to play ball in the morning and he doesn't want to hear "I told you so". Just a little prideful. lol Right now he has been keeping his foot elevated and as such we have been indoors a lot. But we did go and teach another lesson to a new investigator! Yes another new investigator - this time an 18 year old girl named Lindsey. She's already had the lessons two years ago and wants to get baptized so were just teaching the lessons again since it’s been awhile since she last had the lessons. She also plays the guitar and piano and is a very good singer!

That’s all that has happened this week; I’ve already sent you all snail mail about last week so you should get that soon. I'm glad that all is looking better, and I will continue to pray for you all. I love you all, stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

Trust in God

Tue, May 10, 2011 at 12:35 PM

Email #32 – Meridian ID

Dear family,

I'm sorry to hear that things are getting tough. But I am even more pleased that you all are looking at the bright side of things and just letting God shape you into who he wants you to be. After all that's what God does doesn't he? He works us in a "refiner’s fire" Till we are a perfect tool for him to use. I felt this as I read your email, and my spirit just sank as I read about everything that has happened in less than a day. But as I read how you just prayed for understanding and strength Mom, I felt peace. Everything WILL be alright. God will always take care of his people. It makes me think of the story when Alma, who was once a Priest for the evil King Noah, had led the people he had baptized away from the armies of the evil king, but they suddenly became slaves to the Lamonites, and the rest of king Noah's priests. Why had God let this happen? Alma and the people had promised to obey God, and had done just that! Then we see that God helped them escape by putting the Lamonite guards to sleep. I thought about that story real hard and came to this conclusion. God will not always stop bad things from happening, but he will always save those who believe and trust in him. So keep trusting in God guys, and I will continue to pray and work hard for you. =)

Today for P-day we got together with most of the zone and played DODGE BALL!!! I haven't had that much fun in a long time! The balls were small, maybe bigger than a softball, and it didn't hurt when you got hit, no matter how hard it was thrown. I was pretty good at dodging, but a terrible aim when throwing. lol, After that the elders decided they wanted sushi for lunch, but I didn’t want to spend my money on that so I had just decided to go with them and just talk as they ate. Then one of the zone leaders elder Nunley (who actually graduated from Red Mountain when I was a Freshmen) said he didn't want to spend money either, so we took the car and decided to go email. And that's where I am right now! lol, After this we will probably go shopping, I'm going to have to use my personal card, (sorry Mom) But I'm not buying much. We're out of milk and cereal, and eggs, so that's all I'm getting. AS to the $70 from Grandma, just put it on the card and I will just have it there for emergencies. Tell her thank you for me as well, I feel bad for not doing it when I was on the phone with her the other day.

That's all I got for now, I hope things get better with you all, as a matter of fact, I know they will. OH! Thank you for Matthews last letter, I really like the 6 D's and plan on sharing them in some way with my district. I'm also trying to apply them in my own life. =)

I love you all, thanks for your prayers and support! Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

District Blitz

Tue, May 3, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Email #31 – Meridian ID

Hey FAM!

Things are beginning to look very bright here in meridian Idaho! President Cannon did a survey of how the work has been coming along in the mission and sadly everything is slowing down. So he has asked that all the missionaries work harder on finding new people to teach. Our district has decided to help by doing a "blitz" which means that all the elders in our district will take one day to work in the area that is having the hardest time. lol, right now that is mine and Elder Mattei's area. So tomorrow, Wednesday, the whole district will be helping improve our area. I am very excited and grateful for this; I feel that my companion and I have been working very hard for the past few weeks with only a little success.

Some good new though, this last Sunday there was a man who is considering learning more about the church. His name is Chris, he's a Marine and apart from that we know very little about him. His Mom got him interested in the Church and he has been visiting different wards for the past few weeks. This was his first week going to the ward that is actually his. We gave him our number and told him to call us if he would like to take the lessons. I hope he calls back. lol, I feel like the Greene from the movie “The Best Two Years” as he sat and waited by the phone for the man to call back, hopefully it ends as good as it did for him.

Also this Sunday was very good for me. It was fast Sunday, and I just loved hearing all the children's testimonies. They are so pure and sincere, the spirit just couldn't be ignored, and I to got up and bore my testimony. I felt the spirit the strongest though as we sang the sacrament hymn, hymn number 169. Sadly I can’t remember the name, lol, I only remember the number because I wrote it down. Whichever hymn it is though it brought great peace to my soul.

The start of this week is looking good! We have already had two lessons on Monday, The first was with our friend Darrell. We taught him about the plan of salvation and he shared with us some very interesting concerns. He knows that Christ died for him, and that he can repent, but he still feels bad for what he has done. In his mind the only way he can truly repent is to wait till he dies so he can apologize to God face to face, and after that just take whatever punishment comes with his mistakes. We did our best to explain that because Christ died for us we don't have to go to those extremes to be forgiven. We reminded him that when we truly repent, God remembers our sins no more. And he doesn't only judge us on our works, but by the desires of our hearts as well. The last bit helped him a lot I think. It seemed to make him feel better to know that his desires have been good desires, better than his past actions. That truth has also helped me a lot.

The second lesson was with Bob who has decided to get baptized in October so that one of his sons can baptize him and the other confirms him! It’s a while away but we are very happy that he is taking this step. We talked with him for a while on enduring to the end, and how if we slip up we can always repent. But that only works if we are trying our best.

We have also set a new goal for this transfer, and that is to find one new investigator a week. We have this goal set in each ward and hopefully they will pull through. Please pray that we will be able to meet this goal, your prayers always seem to help. =)

Thanks for all you do, your prayers, love and support. I pray for you all the time and hope all is well. I love you all so very much! Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-