Baptisms... so happy.

Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 2:20 PM

Email #39 – LaGrande, OR

Dear Family,

Sounds like a lot of adventures happening at the ranch! Of course they all happen after I leave!!! That always happens!! lol jk, I am very happy to hear that no one was hurt with the whole kayak thing. And Dad, don't let it get you down. The worst thing you can do is keep thinking about it, and thinking about what could have been. Like Elder Packer said in last conference, "John, let it alone." And remember that I love you and appreciate all that you do to support the family and me here on my mission. I pray for you every night that you will remain healthy and safe from harm. Fight the good fight! =D.

Another cousin on a mission!!? That's awesome! I'm going to have to write her and see how things go with her! And then Chase as well!? That's awesome too!! lol. And if you see Teasha tell her that I am very disappointed in her for not responding to the TWO letters I have written her! SHE NEEDS TO WRITE ME BACK!

We have a baptism set up for Saturday the 9th of July for Sis Takahashi!! It was going to be this Saturday but she called and changed it just a few minutes ago. But she has been amazing! She has a little nephew who's about 2/3 months old who was having some problems. As soon as she heard about it, she got all her kids together and they prayed, and the next day fasted! The amazing part is that we hadn't even talked to her about fasting yet! She had learned about it in church!! I was amazed to see her grow spiritually so fast! It was a blessing for sure. We have also set a baptism date for Sis Webber and her daughter Koria, for the 17th of next month. We are very excited for them as well because they have been looking for a church for 11 years, and this is the only church they have wanted to join. We try our hardest to show how genuine we are because she is still a little jumpy about being tricked. (Apparently all the other churches she visited have tried to trick her.)

We’re not sure what we are going to do for the 4th of July. We had an idea to get together with some other elders and drive out to the lake and watch the fireworks, but that fell through. We'll figure something out though I am sure.

Well, this is just another short email this week. That way I have something to write you all about. I love you all, the work is good, the church is true, and I will continue to pray for you all! Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

p.s. I wouldn't complain if you sent me more pictures from home! =)

Some Items Needed...

Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Email #38 – LaGrande, OR

Hey there Fam!

So I will start this email off by giving you the info on what you need for the blog and where to send the package! Elder Watson is from North Carolina, Elder Mattei is from Illinois, and Elder Richards is from Indiana. And the package, You are correct with the things I need, cologne, inhaler, contacts, proactive and pants. I can't remember the brand of pants, I'm not wearing that brand right now, but I will write you the brand this week. So just wait to send the package till you get that so you won’t have to spend as much in mailing. I was pretty sure you wouldn't be able to get the GPS but thought I would ask anyway, its fine and thanks for hearing me out about it. I love you guys!

Now about what I have done this week! It has been a great week with a good amount of work happening! Last Tuesday we taught Sis Takahashi the third lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This time we had the Bishop there and we had him tell how the gospel has changed his life. He told Sis Takahashi how over 20 years ago he was an Atheist, and had married his wife who is a member of the church, how he took the missionary lessons and felt the power of the Holy Ghost and how he came to know God and build a relationship with him. It was amazing and the spirit was strongly felt. How grateful I am that we have such strong members to take to lessons to help testify of the changing power of this gospel!

We also went to teach Lale's wife Leini (lay-nee) but they had to cancel again. Darn! Leini isn't a member and will only join the church if she knows its true. She has very good questions and concerns that made me think hard before answering. One of them was about Abraham and how when he and his wife were going into Egypt God told Abraham to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister, not his wife. Leini's concern was why would God tell Abraham to break one of the ten commandments? "Wouldn't that make God a hypocrite?" Elder Richards then shared with her how God’s ways are higher than our ways, and that we will not always understand why God does some things. She accepted that answer. Then that Sunday in church we learned that Abraham's wife was also his half sister!! So in reality God didn't tell Abraham to lie! We were going to share this find with Leini, but couldn't since she cancelled!

Also with Leini's question I thought of how God commanded Nephi to kill Laben, and how that also seems to go against the commandments. My thought was also answered in church that Sunday! You see, in the law of Moses, if you saw someone accuse someone else of doing something wrong when they obviously did no wrong, or saw someone steal, then YOU had the right to give punishment to that person, and the punishment for those crimes was death. So Nephi's actions were in line with the law of Moses. You learn something new everyday! lol

On Friday we helped out at Wildflower Old Folks Home again. They had a pot luck, and we helped dish peoples plates, ate with the old folks who's families were not coming, and talked. It was a fun time with lots of good food! I really enjoy working there, and the main woman there, Katie, is going to have us all over for dinner at her place, and she has some questions about our church!

This last Sunday Elder Richards and I drove out to Joseph to go to the Elgin Ward Council meeting. That was a whole new experience for me, since it’s such a small town. They talked about what was important to them. Like how nice the flowers outside the church look and to thank the people who planted them there. It really is Mayberry!! lol. But I love it, because it’s such a small town everyone is so close, united and caring for each other. In sacrament meeting most of the kids of the Bishopric just sat with their dads up on the stand and would just walk around. Lol It was cute.

So that's my week, it was good and I look forward to this week as well! Thanks for all you guys do, for your love and prayers, they are very much felt.

Thanks again for all you guys do, I love and pray for you all the time. Write me soon! Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

I won a "Snickers"

Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 12:40 PM

Email #37 – LaGrande, OR

Hello Again Bevell Family!

Another week gone by already! The days are starting to go by faster; It’s probably because I am in an area that I like a lot. Time always goes faster when you're having fun right? Well the blessings this week have been very good.

Monday I was able to meet with Jayson and Jodi who are in an interesting situation. They are living together while waiting to get a divorce from their current spouses...... Yea. So because of that they cannot be baptized till one moves out, or they wait till they get divorced so they can get married, then baptized. They are going with the second. lol. But they are such nice people; I actually told you about them in my last letter, they are the ones with the daughter who prayed in public! After that we gave blessings to an entire family that had gotten phenomena. They are all better now!

On Wednesday we had interviews with President. When I was in with him I asked him what he did to have a successful personal study. He told me that being a Mission President he doesn't have the same schedule as me but when he does study he reads a little from the Book of Mormon, then from Preach My Gospel, and while he exercises he listens to conference talks then goes back and marks what stood out to him. And the whole time he does this he is listening to the spirit as best as he can. He says when he does this he usually finds a theme that Heavenly father wanted him to learn about. I've been trying to do that in my personal studies as well, I read from the Book of Mormon, then I think about who we will be seeing that day and read out of Preach My Gospel the topics we will be sharing with them, And I finish up by reading a talk from the Conference Ensign! The spirit is very present when I do this. It’s just great!

On Thursday we did service at the Wildflower Care Center. We spent time with the old folks who are staying there and played some bingo with them. I actually won once and got a Snickers!! (I offered it to the people at my table but they all said no due to the fact most of them didn't have teeth.) We actually do service there on a weekly basis! I look forward to this week when we will be helping out with a pot luck dinner!!

Friday we taught Sister Takahashi and her son Milo the Plan of Salvation. She didn't doubt it at all. She said that she really liked how the Plan took off all the pressure of messing up. How we could always have a second chance. Her and Milo accepted a baptism commitment and will be baptized on July 9th!!

So I am hoping/assuming that all of you are doing just great! I'm still waiting for your letters to arrive, and look forward to reading them. Know that I love and truly appreciate all that you guys do to help and support me on my mission. This gospel is true, if it wasn't I wouldn't be out here wasting my time, and your resources. I know blessings will come! "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or fathers, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, shall inherit everlasting life." Matt 19:29.

I love you all. Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

FUNNY STORY!!

June 2011

Funny Story in Breck’s Letter...

“On Saturday we had a dinner appointment at 5:30. So when it was time to go, we looked up the Karrels address and headed out. When we got there Sis Karrel answered the door and let us in. Now it’s important to note that she is in her mid 50’s and was wearing a pink tank top. So we assumed she hadn’t been through the temple yet. Anyway she let us in: We used the restroom and then sat and talked while waiting for dinner. As we talk we find out that Sis Karrel and her husband have been inactive in the church for years. Elder Richards and I find this puzzling, and wonder to ourselves, “Then how did they get on the dinner list?” Bro Karrell then gets up and goes outside. We assumed he was checking the grill to see if dinner was ready. We were thinking “All Right! BBQ Dinner tonight!!” Then he comes back in and sits down as we continue talking. It’s been about 30 minutes and we haven’t started dinner! We were starting to think they had forgotten that they signed up to feed us when we got a call… from the OTHER Karrels wondering if we were coming for dinner?! WE WERE IN THE WRONG HOUSE! LOL Of course we all broke out laughing. Sis Karrel actually fell off the couch because she was laughing so hard. I think we made some great new friends that day, and Sis Karrel took down our number so she could call us when they COULD have us over for dinner. “

Summer in the Mountains - LUCKY!!!

Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Email #36 – LaGrande, OR

Hello Mom and Family,

I am doing just great and I cannot believe it is already week two in the transfer! The first week has just flown by. Elder Richards and I are getting a long just great! He is from Carmel, Indiana and has been on his mission for about 16 months. He is a fun guy and we laugh a lot together. And the Town is great! It’s so much smaller than Mesa, and all the towns around it are even smaller!! I seriously feel like I am in Mayberry! It’s so much fun!

I'm glad to hear the blog is being updated! I wish I could look at it. And how’s the finding out about my facebook page? If it's gone then I will just make a new one when I get home, But I don't think I will be able to find all my friends from school. So much lost, but none of it really needed to live right? lol

A lot has happened this past week, I wrote you a long letter about what I did; so I will take the time in this email to talk about the spiritual events. The first thing is how beautiful it is out here! Whenever I look at the green hills and the snow covered mountains, and the beautiful sunsets I feel nothing but gratitude to God for making such a beautiful world! Mom, you would seriously love to live in Oregon up in the mountains! It's just perfect! And Breck could even have horses up here too! lol. And the spirit that is felt when we teach is just wonderful. The people we are teaching are so nice, and willing to hear something new or to learn about what we believe, and to simply grow closer to Christ. In a lesson we had last night we learned that the couples little girl who is only 5 will stop the family before eating, and will bless the food herself! I felt so touched as the father told us how he watched his girl get some pizza at the place he works at, sit down at a table, then bow her head and pray. When was the last time you saw anyone pray over their food in public? I hope that anyone who saw that girl at that moment felt the spirit like I did just hearing about it.

We have already been blessed for our work up here by one of our ward mission leaders taking us up the tram at Wallowa lake! It was awesome! We rode the tram up to the top of the mountain with a great view of the lake on the way up. At the top there was snow everywhere, and it wasn't that cold strangely. I took several pictures and a few videos of Elder Richards and I. I've attached a few for you to see the stunning view!

Well I am really watching what I buy and spend my money on here, and I'm doing a really good job thus far. It helps we get a lot of good deals here. Free subway whenever we want, free KFC once a month, It’s great, and we even have a member who buys us cereal! Very nice.

As for something humorous, that is in the letter I sent to Breck! You will all enjoy it I'm sure. lol.

I am curious, have you seen or heard anything from Zach and his family? Are you keeping in contact with them? How are they doing? Have you seen or heard from Aaron, and Carsten lately? I got Ryan's wedding invite! He doesn't look any different!!! I want to know how he did that! lol. And of course how is Amanda and her Family doing?

That's all I have for now. I’m glad that things are going good for you all right now! Enjoy the break you have and have fun! I love you all! Stay cool!

-Elder Bevell-

Lake Wallowa

Elder Rudd, Elder Bevell, Elder Richards & Elder Sanders

Roomies at Lake Wallowa