Loved the Package...

Date: Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Email #60 - Jerome, ID

Good morning Bevell Family,

   Or probably good afternoon by the time you read this. lol. Wow so much happens at the ranch! I love hearing about it all. I'm sure your all tired at the end of the day but I am also sure that you are having a blast! And I'm glad your Thanksgiving was great as well. I am so jealous that I missed seeing Tyler!! You need to write me his address asap so I can write him. Actually tell him to write me! That is probably easier. Tell him I miss him and hope to see him at my homecoming! It's also good to know that Ethen ans Shar are doing good. (Did they get married yet? I haven't heard anything about it.)

   Well I was surprised at your email as all your questions cover a part of my week!  Yes I loved the package! I am eating a grapefruit in the mornings and the people we live with love them as well! Yes I am sharing it all. I only got to meet br. Schneiderman when I picked it up. He seems like a really nice guy and he told me that he LOVED his stay up at the ranch and he loves you guys as well. I really do have the best family. lol. Elder Bailey and I are getting along just great. To answer your question he is from Hastings Michigan. Its a small town from what I 've heard, and he is 6,6. We work really well together. This last Saturday we taught Gary the first lesson and committed him to baptism! He truly has been prepared. He's also been coming to church for a whole month before meeting with us. He has a good amount of LDS friends who are a good influence on him. It was funny, he told us that when he told his friends that he was listing to the missionaries they were very surprised. lol.  We also had a surprise on Sunday when another investigator, Charlene came to church as well! Elder Bailey and His last companion have been trying hard to get her to come to church. We were happy and very pleased as the ward welcomed her in with open arms.  Also the Kuper family came to church as well. They have a nine year old son who we are teaching. We helped them to church by going over to their house before church and helped get the kids ready. It was fun, the kids love the missionaries and do what we tell them without complaint. Now if we can just get them to do that for their parents. lol. So we had three investigators at church this last Sunday. The fruit of our labors were very apparent in our numbers as well. Last week we had only two lessons. This week we had seven, and we got a list of 15 people who the wards want us to visit!

   I have not seen anyone that knows people from home yet. If I do I will let you know.

   Yes, I love it here.

   Yes, Its very pretty.

    The people are wonderful, and my GPS is helping. I actually don't really need to use the GPS here. The way the town is set up is a grid, so it’s easy to find your way around.

   As for my birthday and Christmas, all I want is my Grinch tie, my two front teeth and a hippo! lol.

   More details on the past week are in the letters that I just mailed off this morning. Sorry for the wait. You wouldn't believe how much mail Elder Bailey gets. He gets mail every day from his family and about three other girls! Its crazy! Just the other day we came home and there was a package and five letters....all for him!!! lol. I have gotten used to it though...somewhat. lol.

   Anyway, Thank you all for everything! I was looking at your pictures last night and wished so bad that I could hug you all. I love you and pray for you often. Take care, and stay cool!

                      -Elder Bevell-   

Guest from Jerome ID visit the Ranch

Preface to this week’s email from Brant – Excerpt from Mom to Elder Bevell.

Hello Elder Bevell,

First off --- Please call Lynn Schneidermann.  His business is located in Jerome Idaho and he has a box from home for you!  How fun is that.  Now for the story.   He and two of his boys (Asa and Alex) stayed at the ranch this last Tues - Saturday.  They were attending a fishing tournament on Saguaro Lake.  Well the cool thing is that when Lynn called in the reservation I had told him that I had a son serving a mission in the Boise, ID mission.  He asked where you were at and I laughed and said "well, actually he is in LaGrande, OR right now".  Then you emailed us last Monday about your transfer and when he came on Tuesday I told him that you had been transferred.  He doesn't live in Jerome, so I didn't know if you were even close to where he was.  But when I told him Jerome, ID --- he said "That is where my business is!"  I was amazed.  He and his boys are sooooo nice.  He offered to take a box back with him since he was driving and we were all excited about that.  I hope you and your companion enjoy what we sent up.  Also --- the boys (Asa & Alex) are really cool youth.  Asa is the taller one in the pics with Breck.  He is 19 - your age.  I also gave them one of your cd's. 

Schneidermann Family From Jerome Idaho visits the Ranch

Alex, Emily, Breck & Asa

November 21, 2011 @ 10:33 AM 

Email #59 – Jerome, ID

Dear Bevells,

   First off, I am very excited to find out what you sent me!! I have been feeling kinda forgotten due to the fact that elder Bailey gets mail and packages EVERY DAY!! No joke! It's crazy! lol. So I am very excited to get something from you.

   Well it's my second Thanksgiving in the mission. I'm glad to hear the ranch will have some business that day. I have found that one of the best ways to celebrate most holidays is to give service. After all, the best part of Christmas is the giving not the getting.  One thing our mission president has asked us to do for Thanksgiving is to make a thank you note to someone. I plan on making one for the family we live with, the Farnsworths. Every morning Sister Farnsworth gets up early to make Elder Bailey and I breakfast. I'm going to take a picture of Elder Bailey and I, cut our faces out, draw cartoon versions of us and glue our heads to them then write a big THANK YOU in a word bubble. I'll send you a picture when it's finished. And that's how I am celebrating this Thanksgiving. (as well as eating a bunch of food and spending time with some families in the wards. lol.)

   This last week was one of the slowest I have had on the mission. Sadly this area was not in the best condition when I came in. So now Elder Bailey and I are working very hard to get the area back up to par. And we have seen a little success. We have received about five referrals from the members already, and one from Mormon. org. We contacted that one. His name is Greg, and he is GOLDEN! he has several good LDS friends and is really interested to learn about our faith. He has no religious background. He has also had an amazing experience. Apparently he was in a motorcycle accident. He was hit by a truck as he was going 60, he didn't break any bones. Yet another example of how God prepares his children to accept the message when they hear it.

   Now to comment on what the kids are doing! Breck, it seems like every time I hear about you you are going to a dance with some guy! What happened to the girl I used to know who said "I'm not ready to deal with boys yet."? lol, jk. I'm glad to see you going out and having fun. Just be sure to let all the guys know that if anything happens I will find them after my mission. THERE IS NO PLACE THEY CAN HIDE!!!!

   Izaak getting buff eh. I need to get back to working out as well. Did I tell you. I got on a scale last night and guess what it read. 184!!!!! I've gained weight and I am FAT! ok not to fat, I've actually always wanted to be about 180. Now I just need to turn it into muscle.

   How's Dan and Braylon doing? Have they found out if it's a boy or girl yet? Let me know.

That's it for me today. I've started a few letters to all of you so be looking for them by the end of this week or the beginning of next week. I will try to see if we can find the people you said are here, but no promises. lol. I hope we can find them.

   I love you all, I pray for you every night. Take care and stay cool!

                            -Elder Bevell-

p.s. Here's a picture of me and Bailey. HES TALL!! lol.

Elder Bailey & Elder Bevell - Jerome ID

Transferred to Jerome, Idaho

Monday November 14, 2011 3:21 PM

Email # 59 – Jerome, ID

Hey there Family!

   Gosh! Much has happened in the past two days. To start off, I was transferred to Jerome ID. It's right next to Twin Falls my first area! My new companion is Elder Baily who has been out for 8 months now. He's from Michigan and is much taller than me. I will send you a picture next week.

   I am really going to miss La Grande though. I have had such a good time up there and made many friends in the wards. On Sunday the bishops announced that I was leaving and everyone I walked by shook my hand and told me how much they appreciated the hard work I have done and that I would be sorely missed. It feels so good to know that the work I did had a positive influence on the members. How grateful I am to have served in La Grande.

   It sounds like a lot has happened back home as well. I loved the pictures of Breck and Izaak at the play! Izaak looks so much older!!! I can't wait to be in another play when I get home! lol. Glad you guys are having fun!

   Breck and Izaak. I was so very glad to hear that you guys are getting along better. You are brother and sister. Family to each other. Keep building that relationship because it will be a strength to you both in hard times. I love you guys!

   So the last thing to happen in La Grande was a baptism! The baptism of Brendon Beusey! I was so happy to be there for that. It was wonderful. Brendon even bore his testimony. He spoke of how when he first started reading from the Book of Mormon he was very sceptical and tried to find fault in it. But as he kept reading it he couldn't find any!! He read it several times and each time he began to believe in it more and more till he Finally could not deny that it was true. He is going to be a great member. I also got to confirm him a member that Sunday.

   Now to your questions. Yes we are aloud to listen to talks so please do send the CD! I am eager to hear it. I did get my new shoes, thank you so much for that! Right now I am using them as my Sunday pare till my old ones are completely useless. My cloths are holding out just fine. My pants are getting a little tight though. lol. I haven't been working out lately but that will likely change as Elder Baily is very physical and likes to work out. I am also in a car area. My funny moment happened this morning as Elder Reinsch and I got to the transfer spot. The whole drive over I just had this feeling that I had forgotten something. I wasn't sure what though. I found out as Elder Sanders texted us asking if I meant to leave my ties in La Grande!! I have only the tie that I am wearing!!! I don't know how I forgot to pack them but I did. lol. They will be sending them to me ASAP.  As for a faith building moment, that was when I talked with Brendon just before his baptism. I asked him how he was doing and he said that this was all still very new to him, that he didn't really understand it all. As we talked I could literally see his faith. He didn't understand anything we had taught him. It all made since, but it was very new, yet he had felt the spirit testify to him that it was true and he was acting on that feeling. Pure faith. I was amazed and my testimony of the gospel grew. How grateful I am to be a part of this great work.

   Well, that's all I got for now. I'll write you soon and email you next Monday. I love you all and pray for you every day. Take care, and stay cool!

                      -Elder Bevell-

One of the Best!

Driving in town...- I (mom) knew I was going to miss getting an email to Elder Bevell.  Thanks to Aunt Erika - he had an email in his inbox --- Elder Bevell wrote back to the family thru her... Sweet!

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 11:57:25 -0800

Email #58 - La Grande, OR

Hey Aunt Erika! Thanks for letting me know about what's happening. Its also good to hear from you and know that you guys are doing well. I am so excited to hear about the upcoming baby! Do you guys have a name planned out for him yet?

   Hows Sarah Zephrah and Jacob doing? I miss you guys so much and can't wait to see you all again. Hows good ol Dave doing as well?

   Sadly I will not have an opportunity to check my email later today, So I will just tell you what I've been doing and you can forward it to my Family! lol, Consider yourself an email carrier! lol.

   I have been doing great! This past week has been one of the best weeks I have had on my mission. Work has gone back up a little but not as good as it has been. But that's not what made it so great. This week was stake conference, and I loved hearing the talks on Sunday. It felt like an actual general conference! I had my note book out and the talks were very inspired. One man who got up was actually a convert of six years and told the members what fears he had and how they can help future converts with similar fears. He talk about how different a world the church is. He literally had nothing to relate to down to the structure of the meeting house. The thing that helped him stay was a kind bishop who reached out to him in love and invited him to stay. One thing he said really stood out to me. He said," If converts do not have support and love from the members they will leave, even if they know it is true. We who are true followers of Christ can not let this happen." How powerful.

   My favorite talk though was given by a man named David Westenskow in the 4th ward. He only talked for 5 minutes, but it was powerful! He talked directly to the young men and how Satan is doing everything he can to get them to mess up. He said, "Satan is literally putting things in the path of your mission."  He encouraged the young men to try their best to not give into temptation, and if they have to go home and repent! "Wake up young men! Don't be fooled!" is what he said. His closed with this thought as well,"It is no coincidence that all these things, parties,school and girls pop up right before your mission. Satan planned that to keep you from finding those people that only you can find." How true is that. I hope you find that helpful Breck with that boy at school. Just be an example like you always are and bear testimony of the blessings that come from serving a mission. Not only for the missionary, but for the missionaries family as well. After that it is all up to him.

   So transfer calls are this Friday and I am pretty sure that I will be leaving. I will be sad to leave, this has been the best part of my misison. I will always remember the amazing people here in La Grande and I plan on visiting here after the mission. Hopefully with all of you guys as well. 

   Thank you all for all the love and prayers you give me. I feel it every day and it gives me the strength to move on during the hard times. I love you all and you are constantly in my heart and prayers. Stay cool!

                   -Elder Bevell-