New Investigator

Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 11:18 AM

Email #48 – La Grande, OR

    

Elder Brant Bevell - 10 months as a Missionary 

Hey Bevell Family!

So it looks like we will be emailing earlier in the day now. I noticed you usually email me around one my time, so if you want me to get your email for the day your going to have to email me earlier now. sorry if that's inconvenient.

   I loved getting your family home evening letters! It's so good to hear from you all, and I'm glad you all are doing so good. And Mom, I also got your miracle letter. I was so humbled, and grateful as well. Elder Zurbe and I found a thrift store the other day and we plan on checking it out today. He showed me a suit of his that is so legit!! Its a brown 80's suit with gold buttons that he got for TEN BUCKS!!! so I figure I can get a nice suit as well for cheep. His brown shoes only cost him 5 dollars. Already God is helping me find stuff that I NEED for good prices.

   So I got an email from Danielle telling me that I am an UNCLE!!!!! WHOOOOOOT!!!! I am so excited! And I also sent an email to Izaak with some pictures for him. I am sure you will all enjoy them. The one of all of us jumping was taken by sister Rosenbalm who happens to be a professional photographer!

   Now, more about the work. Libby is doing much better. She decided not to move into assisted living because her legs are getting stronger again, and the Elders Quorum is building a ramp for her trailer! She loves all the help that the ward has given her and is always looking for ways to help others. She doesn't want people to think that she is just going to live off church welfare. She wants to serve as well! 

   We aren't helping with the buffalo sadly, but we did see some when I was with Elder 

Richards! I've attached a few pictures for you.

   We have also found a new investigator! His name is Dave. His wife is a member and we taught him the first lesson yesterday. He asks very good questions, and told us that he is really open minded about the Book of Mormon. He doesn't want to join a church and then find out after he dies that it was wrong and that he lost his salvation because of it. He will probably be baptized soon. 

   One sad thing, we had a less active we were working with drop us yesterday. We had just met her a week before where she told us that she wants to come back to this church, and suddenly she calls us and says she is done and that she is going to go to the catholic church with her family. I was crushed. Elder Zurbe thinks we can get her back though so we are not giving up on her yet.

   Well it sounds like things are only getting busier back there with you guys! I'm super excited that Izaak is in the play this year! And tell Alyssa and her Mom I say hi back! I sure miss all the GFAA gang. You should tell them to write me!! lol. That's a bummer that Zack wasn't there. He was so fun at those, and I know a lot of people will be bummed that he's not there. I still haven't heard from him, Have you guys? I also got a letter from Josh, he sound like he is doing way better! I love getting letters form him. Tell him I said hi and that I will write him back soon!

  And of course HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol, you almost thought I had forgotten I bet! Sorry that there is no card or anything but know that I love ya, I appreciate everything you do for me, and I am very proud to call you my father. Thank you.

      Well that's me for this week. Thanks for all you do, your prayers are very much felt. I love you all and pray for you every day. Take care, and stay cool!

                        -Elder Bevell-

Thespian - Word of the Day...

Date: Tue, Aug 23, 2011 at 1:02 PM

Email # 47 – LaGrande, OR

Hey Family,

   Yet again we are at the beginning of another transfer. Elder Richards is gone off to Boise, and I am really going to miss him. But I am positive that I am going to like my new companion Elder Zurbe. He is from Pennsylvania, and turns out his older brother also served in the Idaho Boise mission! lol. And since he is new to the area it's up to me to plan out our days. Man, I am so glad that I have a GPS - otherwise we would so get lost. I thought I knew the area really good but looks like I still have a little bit to work on.

   I finally got to meet the Bevells that live here!! I gave them your cell phone Mom, I hope you don't mind. Roland, or Bro. Bevell apparently knew Leland Bevell! I have a feeling that we might be related to them. I wouldn't mind that at all because I have heard nothing but good about them since I have been here. Let me know what you all find out ok?

   So I am really looking forward to this Wednesday because we get to help work on the set for a play up in Elgin!! One of our ward missionaries is in it and when he found out that I am a huge thespian he asked us to come help out! I cannot think of a service project I would love to help out with more. lol.

     It's a short email this week, but know that I love you all, I pray for you every night. Take care and stay cool!

                                                    -Elder Bevell-

p.s. I got Teasha's letter......25 pages and each line a different color.

   That's Teasha alright. lol.

Libby is a Member!

Date: Tue, Aug 16, 2011 at 3:08 PM

Email #46 – LaGrande, OR

Dear Bevells,

   Wow, another transfer has gone by. I am amazed at how it can feel like such a short time, and yet like it’s been forever, at the same time!! You know what I mean? If not then I sound like I have gone crazy.

   So as far as transfers go, Elder Richards and I are pretty sure that I am staying here in La Grande. Elder Richards was told at the beginning of this transfer that he would be leaving, but as to where, we don't know. I am really going to miss serving with him. We have had so much fun and success together.

Libby's baptism was so good. Elder Richards baptized her and I confirmed her right afterwards. The spirit was so strong, and it was because of Libby. WE had planned to carry her down into the font and sit her in a chair and baptize her like that, but when she arrived she told us that she wanted to walk in and stand. I was amazed as I helped her down into the font, You could tell that it hurt so much to simply slide her foot a few inches forward. But she did it!  Attached is a picture of us at the baptism.  Her Daughter was there also, she is not a member and wants to learn more. You could see on her face that she was feeling the spirit. After the baptism we followed Libby home and helped her daughter, Candy, literally carry Libby into her small trailer. Once inside after we had sat down Libby looked at me and said, "Wow. I'm a Mormon now." I looked right back at her and said, "Yes you are. Welcome." I just love visiting with her, and Mom, you would get along with her so well.

   We also had zone conference this last Monday! Oh it was my favorite yet. They talked about a new training program and passed out a whole bunch of training materials!!! Apparently they are using new manuals in the MTC, and they want us to become familiar with them so we can work off what the new missionaries will already know. The new manuals have set study guides for different days, and evaluation sheets. We also got portable DVD players along with copies of the districts 1 and 2. I am so excited to look through all this new stuff and learn how to become a better missionary, and a better teacher. The speakers were very good too. We had the first councilor to President Cannon talk to us, President Kotter. He told us to always try and be the best we can be. One thing he said that I really like was, "You become who you want to be by being who you want to become every day." I am really taking this to heart, and I also hope it motivates you all as well. Sister Cannon also spoke to us about the Book of Mormon. The statement from her that moved me was, "Some people read the Book of Mormon enough to feel the guilt, but not enough to feel the joy." That hit me very hard, and as I looked at my times of reading the Book of Mormon in the morning, I was very happy to realize that I have been feeling the "joy". And I think that feeling comes when we gain a deeper understanding of the Atonement. Because when we understand the Atonement, we can better see how it can affect our lives through the examples of all the wonderful people in the Book of Mormon. I hope all of you have felt the "joy" in reading the Book of Mormon as well.

   Well, Happy Late Birthday to Braylon!!! I'm sure he will be very happy to know that I knew it was his birthday because I have it written down on my calendar!! I hope you had fun man!!

   And thank you so much for the pictures! I LOVE them! Breck! You are so beautiful and I love the way your hair is. I am going to have to chase off all those guys because of how beautiful you are! (and you know I will too!  lol.) And Izaak, you are growing up way too fast little bro.. I am so excited for this next big step in both of your lives. I love you both!

    I love you Dixon family and I miss you all! How's Sarah, Zephra, and Jacob doing? And is my violin still being used?

    Thanks for the email Dad. I do love hearing from you, and I pray every night that you will sleep well, and that you will have the strength and energy to do the work you need to, and that God will provide for you. I love you Dad. And Thank you Mom, for all the help that you give me in word, and in everything else. I love you! Stay Cool!

               -Elder Bevell-

Elder Bevell - Sister Libby Davis - Elder Richards

Libby is getting Baptized!

Date: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Email #45 – LaGrande, OR

Dear Bevells,

   Wow, I am a little surprised that there are no questions to answer this week! lol, But it sounds like you guys are busy, and having fun. I am very happy to hear that. XD

   So, we had another busy week in the Idaho Boise mission. We decided to work in Enterprise at the beginning of this week and did so by driving up on Wednesday night and working all of Thursday. We stayed the night at the Bishop’s home, Bishop Hipple. He's a great man and tries very hard to help us out. A huge reason for the lack of work in Enterprise is due to all the anti going around from the other religions there. I do not like anti stuff at all!  Now back to work in Enterprise, on Thursday we did service for a member by helping him split a huge pile of wood outside his house. We had two splitters going and it took us close to three hours to split it and stack it! It was fun work!, and afterwards the member took  us out to eat lunch at a burger place. That was a very good lunch. With the logs done, Bishop Hipple took us over to an older couple’s home. The wife is a member so we spoke with her husband for a few minutes. Their last name is Lewis btw. Brother Lewis recently had surgery on his shoulder and was on medication, so the conversation was a little slow and he spoke in a low mumble so Elder Richards and I couldn't understand what he was saying. But bishop Hipple could aparently cause after I asked Brother Lewis a question he seemed to just exhale and Bishop said, "That's a very good answer Brother Lewis!" lol It was fun and they said we can visit them whenever we are in Enterprise.

   The rest of the week, as I look back, Seems to have been centered on Libby Davis. The ward has been so good at being there for her, and she seems to be doing a little better. We visit her every two days or so, and the very good news for her is that she is getting baptized TODAY!!!!! Yep at 7 pm Libby Davis will be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are very excited for her and she is supper excited as well. Because of her legs however we will be baptizing her in a chair! We are going to carry her down into the font!! lol. That's the best thing that has happened this week in my opinion.

   Those are the highlights of this week. I got Josh's letter as well. He sounds like he is doing a lot better and I am very happy about that. Tell him that I really appreciate the letter and that I will be writing him back soon.

   And attached is a picture of my shoes. It looks like I will need new ones soon for as you can see the inside of them are falling completely apart.  And how are my pant's coming a long? Let me know ok? I love you guys! Stay cool!

                     -Elder Bevell-

Mission Tradition... Hmmm...

Date: Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 2:42 PM

Email #43 – LaGrande, OR

  

Dear Bevell Family,

   Once again it sounds like you all had a busy week! From saying bye to Carsten to setting up rooms last minute, lol it sounds like a fun time.

   I hope you enjoyed talking to Sister Cannon. She's a great woman. The perfect "mission mom". ( of course she will never be able to replace you Mom! ;D. ) Of course I took the first opportunity to tell her that I can sing, and after she heard me she told me that I will be singing a lot more often in missionary meetings.  The violin however, I have gotten really rusty with that. I tried to play one recently and did terrible. But I am getting much better at the piano now! I know two hymns, and am working on another whenever I get the chance.  As to my inhalers I have one left and it had about 80 puffs left on it. I usually don't have to much trouble with my asthma but apparently they are mixing two types of grass seed and that's all in the air now. It's been affecting Elder Richards as well. I know the preventive I have right now doesn't work for me, so the only thing I see happening is to either go with the singulair or the allergy medicine. I will probably get a call from Sister Cannon sometime this week, so I will discuss it with her then.

   Carsten's heading off to the MTC!!!! I am so excited for him. Is he English or another language? I don't think you guys told me yet. And yes, the picture I sent him is on the card. I will be sending that to you guys at the end of this transfer.

   Brother Wood met Elder Willis!!? Thas awesome! I knew him in my first area. He was crazy fun. I was with Elder Watson at the time. Good memories.

   Your experience in church was crazy to read about. That hasn't happened to me yet, and I hope it doesn't. But I'm glad to hear how you handled it. I wish I could have been there to see and feel the spirit as you spoke. I will put your talk on my flash drive and print it off to read it sometime.

   It's good to hear about Richard as well. I love that guy and miss his jokes. You can tell him that I used his rabbit one with some kids and they loved it. You know the one: How do you catch a unique rabbit? Unique up on it!  lol. And I really do feel the love of the ward. Tell Gabi, Br Holland, and Sis Boyer thank you for there care and support. I can't wait to see them all again.

   So about my week now. We had the baptism of Ginnessa Webber and her daughter Karia this last Saturday. It was a great baptism, and the Webber's took us out to dinner that day as well. As we talked Ginnessa told us that when she first started the lessons it was because a member friend had told her "If you would listen to the missionaries you would want to get baptized." So she decided to try and prove her friend wrong. So she decided to take the lessons, but told herself that she wasn't going to get baptised!!! We laughed hard when she told us this story. But she has changed so much, and I just know she will be an amazing member of the church.

   A sad thing happened as well. The Webbers were not the only people scheduled to get baptized this last Saturday. Libby Davis couldn't make it because she was in so much pain it hurt to move. She called to tell us this 40 minutes before the baptism started. I was crushed. I have only known this woman for two weeks, yet I love her as much as all of you guys. We decided to go and visit her after the baptism but she didn't answer. However she was there when we dropped by later that day. As we knocked we heard her yell, " Please come in! Hurry! " As we walked in we found her trying her hardest to stay standing by clinging to the wall. We helped her sit down and she then told us how she had been stuck there for quite some time, when she remembered us telling her that when she was feeling down, to sing and invite the spirit. Well, as soon as she started singing we showed up. "That," Libby said, " strengthens my testimony that God does hear my prayers." I am so grateful that Elder Richards and I decided to go visit her when we did. We almost stopped by our house first to drop some stuff off when we just decided to see her first. We visited her again yesterday as well, but she is getting worse. Her kids and her have decided to put her in an assisted living home. They are actually thinking of putting her in Wildflower! The same place where we do service at! We told her that and she was happy to hear that if she goes there she will see us possibly even more. We are also working on setting a new baptism date with her.

   So for Pday today we drove up to Mnt Emily to look for a place for Elder Richards to burn his pants. I don't know if I told you this, but it is tradition in this mission to burn an article of clothing for the amount of time you have been out. The burnings go as follows:

     6 months- a tie

     1 year- a shirt

     18 months- pants

     2 years- a suit

I have already burned an ugly tie that I found, and at the end of this transfer Elder Richards will have been out 18 months. (Don't worry I will not burn anything of worth) After that we went shopping, and now we are emailing.

   Well, that's me for now. I'm gad you liked the letters, I look forward to getting some from you now. And thank you for the pictures. I love getting those. I am saving them on my flash drive as well. And tell Teasha and Hope I said Hi!!!  I'm still waiting for their letters as well. lol. I love you all, I pray for you every night. ( Really, I do. )

Have fun and stay cool!!!!

                                       -Elder Bevell-