Dwelling In Pure Joy

Hey Y'all!

 

I've always wondered if I would ever actually get to this point, You just really don't think it will ever end. Now that I am here I am almost speechless as to what I should write home and say. I know that whatever I try and come up with won't justify and express my love for the past 18 months, but it's worth a shot... right?

 This last week has been unreal. Every emotion I could possibly feel has been felt. There have been moments of sadness and anxiety, joy and excitement, heartache and pain, love and peace. One moment I will be so sad to leave that I start crying, the next I am ready to do a cart-wheel, (but then I remember I'm in a skirt and no one needs to see that.) It has been the best last week of my life.

As Wednesday hit last week, I realized it was the start of my "last days".... my last day at bingo, last time visiting our favorite less actives, last door slammed in my face on an early saturday morning... and my heart felt heavy and a lump was in the back of my throat, at any moment I could have broken down. A thought came to me, that wasn't my own.... the Lord told me this, "Your mission has been nothing but joy and peace, end the way you have served; happily". From that moment on, it really has been nothing but happiness. This mission that the Lord has allowed me to serve has brought me the greatest joy in the entire world becaue I have come to know some pretty great things....

I am happy to not only have hope and faith that God exists, but to know that He is real. He is my Father and loves me. I know that I come from Heavenly Parents and that their love for me, as imperfect as I am, is eternal. I know that God loves all his children..... and that His love can be felt as we turn to him.

There is no greater joy than to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Almighty Father and that He is our Savior. I know that His Atonement is the best thing that we each have because it testifies of the love that both our Father, and the Son have for us. He came to Earth to live and to die for each of us, I know that even though it was not easy for Him, He was happy to do it because of the happiness that it brings to us, the hope and light of forgivesness, eternal life and eternal families, and peace amidst the chaos.

How could I find happiness if I didn't know that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a young boy and restored everything back to Earth? The Priesthood is back on the Earth.

There is joy found in the knowledge of living Prophets, as well as having the accounts of Prophets of old found in the Book of Mormon and Bible. God has spoken to His people, and still does.

The Plan of Happiness is just that, and is the Fathers Plan for us to bring about our Salvation.

There is no greater news than the good news of the Gospel of Christ and that we can become like Him as we do as he commands.
Obedince to the commandmetnts, laws, and ordinaces of the Gospel allow blessings, and in return, allow joy to be felt.

Eternal Families = Happiness

When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God. If I didn't know this before serving a mission, I do now. No greater joy has come to me in this life then it has as I have served the Lord and my brohters and sisters. I have seen the Gospel change the lives of broken and whole people, from that, it has changed me.

 

The bottom line of everything I am trying to say here is that this life is about finding out these truths, because they make you happy. I knew these things 18 months ago, but I go home with a far greater understanding of the connection between my eternal happiness and my testimony of eternal truth. Beause I have felt, experienced, and seen what I have here in Georgia I am happier. This happiness isn't the kind that fades, this is the the joy that can be felt forever.

 

18 months is an inspired amount of time. I came here and did what the Lord needed me to do. I know that if I stayed longer I wouldn't be where the Lord needs me. I have no regrets at the end and feel so grateful for that! I am ready to go home. 78 weeks ago I entered the MTC. While I was there, the group of missionaries I came out with gathered one night and at my request, sang my all-time favorite hymn, "O My Father". I think I was the only one who really knew how the song went, but as we sung it I realized that this song is about being homesick. Not the homesickness that a new missonary feels as she leaves her family for a year a half, the kind of homesickness felt by children of God as they are away from their loving Heavenly Father, going through tough challenges and trials here on Earth. What else I realized though, is that the Gospel is the connection back to the Father, and as they come to know of it.... that hurting becomes less and less. As missionaries, we were being sent to Georgia to remind people of their home; of their Celestial Family.

O my Father, thou that dwellest

In the high and glorious place,

When shall I regain thy presence

And again behold thy face?

In thy holy habitation,

Did my spirit once reside?

In my first primeval childhood

Was I nurtured near thy side?
 For a wise and glorious purpose

Thou hast placed me here on earth

And withheld the recollection

Of my former friends and birth;

Yet ofttimes a secret something

Whispered, "You're a stranger here,"

And I felt that I had wandered

From a more exalted sphere.
I had learned to call thee Father,

Thru thy Spirit from on high,

But, until the key of knowledge

Was restored, I knew not why.

In the heav'ns are parents single?

No, the thought makes reason stare!

Truth is reason; truth eternal

Tells me I've a mother there.
This song has carried me through this Mission. It has changed my experience and my view.

The last verse, however, is carrying me through the bitter-sweet end...

When I leave this frail existence,

When I lay this mortal by,

Father, Mother, may I meet you

In your royal courts on high?

Then, at length, when I've completed

All you sent me forth to do,

With your mutual approbation

Let me come and dwell with you.I know that I've completed here in Georiga all that the Lord sent me to. And now, it's OK to go home and dwell with my Father, Mother, and the rest of my family and friends.

This mission has inspired a patter of living. At the end of my life, I want to have the exact same sense of readiness, peace, and excitement to return home to my Celestial Family as I do right this very moment.

This is the happiest hurting I've ever experienced. How wonderful is that?

I am unbelievably grateful for eveything, literally everything, the Lord has blessed me with. I am changed forever.

 

I love you all! Thank you for your support and love. We did it!

-Sister Beasley

 

Prepared To Serve The Lord

Hello Everyone!

Another week here and gone. Things are so wondeful here in Cumming, fall is in full swing and the weather couldn't be better! I love this time of the year in the South. We had a lot of good things happen in the past seven days, but at the same time some of the days were long. We had a lot of appointmetns fall through, a few rude people here and there, and of course a lot of knocking doors. That's life though... and it made the really fantastic things that happened even better.

Last week we met an athiest young man. He told us he wasn't interested in God but after I bore my testimony to him he said we could come back and that he would "give our message a shot". We went and taught him and it was great. He said he doesn't have a full desire but that he is willing to do what we invite him to do, just to see if he can feel something or come to know something about our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We talked a lot about darkness, and even he referred to his beliefs as "the dark side". We were able to teach him that darkness doesn't actually exist, it's just an absense of light. I pray that he will be able to come to not only feel of the light of the Gospel, but know it as well!!

One day we went knocking doors. No one was receptive. As we were about to go get in our car and head to dinner... someone walking around the neighborhood called out to us, "hey.. are you Jehovas Witneses?" we replied no, we are mormons.. and then he proceeded to come towards us. We stood off the road and taught him about our beliefs and set up a return appointment; last night we were able to go and teach him (Mike) and his parents! Mike is searching for truth and he has found it! The lesson went great, and not only was he receptive... but so were his parents! Those who are seeking will find the Gospel. We may not knock on their door, but the Lord will time it perfectly so that people can come to know of Gospel truths, even if they are just out for a walk!

So this morning we were asked to go to seminary and share our testimonies on how we were prepared for our missions. As I pondered over that... I realized that it wasn't just one thing that prepared me, instead it was hundreds of little things along the way that got me to the point where I would be able to serve a mission. And even then, was I fully prepared? Are we ever fully prepared for what the Lord needs us to do?  In D&C Section 35: 13-14 the Lord states, "Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit. And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them."

We rely on the Lord. That is what makes us prepared. He takes our weak things, and makes them strong. He is the preparer.

As I prepare to go home in the next few days...what I didn't prepare for and what I didn't realize was how impactful this time has been for me personally. I had the highest hope that I would be able to serve the Lord, His children here, and my family and hopefully bless each of them; but at no point did I prepare for the blessings that would come to me.

When I made the choice forever long ago to serve a mission I felt that it was my duty. At no point was it an option, but almost an obligation. I truly felt called. I felt that I would be able to hopefully use this time to give my gratitude back to the Lord for blessing me.

It's best explained like this....
"I grabbed the food that was in my pantry and cubboards and took it all to give to a foodbank so that people who needed it would be able to have it. As the garbage sacks full of the canned goods and boxed meals emptied the back of my car my heart was full. The song "Because I have been given much I too must give" ran through my head. After taking the last load into my brothers and sisters who were hungry I hopped in my car and returned home. When I got out of the car I went to grab my purse, but I found that the back seat as well as the turnk was completely full of new groceries and five times more food than I had given. Because I gave what little I had, the Lord has given me far more than I could have ever dreamed of."

This my friends, is the beauty of the Gospel. I don't think there is anything any of us can do to prepare for the blessings that come as we rely on the Lord. I only know, that I am prepared to serve the Lord and do all that he asks so that I can feel of the goodness and light that has been poured on me over the last 18 months for the rest of eternity.I know that this is His work. He has been my constant companion through the ups and downs. He loves these people more than I know how to express, I can feel that love daily. He wants to bless us and help us along our journeys. His whole hope and existence revlolves around us. I am forever grateful that I have had the opportunity to wear his name and do my best to represent Him. It has been the greatest honor and happiness of my entire life.

10 days more.

I love you all

Godbless and Godspeed!

-Sister Beasley

All You Need Is Love, Love Is All You Need

Hey Yall!

So I hope you had a great week. I sure did. I feel frazzled and crazy just because I have so much to tell you, and yet so much to do today. Time is running out on my mission, and yet the wonderful experiences and blessings seem to be flowing constantly! I need to first and foremost declare that I love being a missionary. I have never been happier in my life than I have been as I have declared the Gospel to my brothers and sisters. I am so grateful for this opportunity the Lord has blessed me with. I have 15 more days and will use every minute I have to do all that I can to serve my Heavenly Father and His children!

This week I went to my last Zone Conference, so crazy! It was so good! I learned a lot of good things and I got to bare my testimony one last time. I read the lyircs to a song that has changed my mission,

"Brightly beams our Father's mercy, From his lighthouse evermore, But to us he gives the keeping of the lights along the shore. Dark the night of sin has settled; loud the angry billows roar. Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights along the shore.Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed, Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman...You may rescue, you may save."

I chose to share that, because still... I am so humbled by the fact that the Lord allows his imperfect sons and daughters to take part is His Sons perfect work! What a gift it is to know that the Lord see's our potential and knows that by being apart of this work we can become better. What is even more important than that, is helping to save someone else. This Gospel is about rescuing lost and lonely people. The Atonement's light shines so brightly and brings people back Home. I have felt that in so many different ways and know it is true.

After the Zone Meeting it really hit me how heartbreaking it is that my time is so short! I was having a hard day and then I got home and just broke down. I remembered that Zach, my amazing baby brother sent me a package that day so I opened it... and inside of it were letters to me for each day of the beginning of October! The letters were so sweet and so inspiring.  It was exactly what I needed and felt so much love from not only my family, but from my Heavenly Father as well! I am so grateful to be on a mission and for Zach to be on a mission at the same time as well! The Lord is aware of us....this I know for sure! He shows us that through other people. I hope I, like my brother, can be an answer to someones prayer!

So.... if I haven't mentioned this before, missionary work in large part, is just kinda awkward. This week we were counciled to talk to EVERYONE. So me and Porter are out tracting and we come to a house with teenage boys outside in the driveway. I can't do teenage boys. So we skip it. By the time we got to the door of the next house we both felt like we needed to go back, so we did, and luckily the car with the boys had left, but we knew there were people still inside. So we turn around and start walking towards the house, we are halfway up the driveway when the car full of the teenage boys come back! They were starring at us before hand... and probably wondered why we skipped their house, and then were most likely like, "why did they come back?" anyway, I then awkwardly talked to them, but none of them lived there... so we walked up to the door and another teenage boy comes walking out and just completely ingores us! Haha! so he gets in the car and they drive away... AWKWARD! but we decide to knock on the door of the house anyway, turns out it's a good thing we did because behind the door was a new investigator!!! she is way interested in learning more and is excited to meet with us! three cheers for strange situations, like such!

We were able to teach Ekta this week! She is doing so well. She had studied beforehand a chapter form the Book of Mormon about the Holy Ghost, and then we taught her more about it. She asked us how she can receive the Holy Ghost and we were so excited to be able to explain it to her! It's not everyday you get that question! She is still working towards baptism, but said she wants to know even more that this is right. We showed her the videos patters of light, which I highly reccoment to anyone who is looking for how to recieve revelation, and then we read Maroni's promise with her again. Afterwards, she said the sweetest prayer ever and the Spirit was so strong! She is so wonderful and I am learning so much from her!

Fun facts from the week....

- Our weekly service project of Bingo had some drama ... one of the guys thought everyone was cheating and stormed off, someone tried to calm him down and he just yelled, "GO TO HEL*" ... I guess you can't please everyone, haha.

- Costa Vida opened in the South. 2 meals there in the past 3 days. Things are so good for me.

So I'll end with this .... Clarisa, the most amazing girl ever, is still the best! This week we had a lesson with her and we brought up baptism and setting a date. She told us she wants to be baptized sooner than April, and said that she should do it this week! We've started making arrangements, but now she is thinking she needs more time, which is totally understandable!  Last night we asked if we could meet with her and we had the most powerful chat ever! It wasn't powerful because of anything we said, but more the love that was felt... not only between us as missionaries and her as our investigator, but as sisters! And then, of course, the love that our Savior and Heavenly Father have. It was so overwhelming and powerful. I said a prayer, and I can't remember anything that was said .... but I know it was one of the longest prayers of my life, and the Spirit was doing most of the speaking.

We meausre life by nothing but love. We measure success on missions with nothing but love. Love is what matters. I love that I have had 18 months of nothing but love. I love that it is going to be hard to leave this place and this people. I love that I get to share my testimony of the Love God has for each of His children on a daily basis. I love that sometimes things are awkward. I love that I get to see people recieve guidance and light. I love that people are seeking for truth. I love that I need these experiences with these investigators, just as much as they need them. I love that our Savior is there for us. I love that I love my family so much it hurts. I love that I have a family  here in Georiga. I love that success is found daily because of love. As the Beatles say, all you need is LOVE! LOVE is all you need!

I hope each of you know how much I love you and how much you  have helped me while I have been out here! I have felt your love and prayers and support, and for that I am so so so grateful. I encourage you each, this week, to show your love to someone who needs it! Or, find love for a situation in your life that isn't what you would consider ideal. I think if we could all learn to love like our Savior does, than we would be happier and see our lives as a greater success. He see's our success. He loves us. He wants for us to be happy.

I love you all.

Hopefully this made sense. I feel so scattered, but as always.. so grateful and full of joy!

Godbless and Gospeed!

-Sister Beasley

Good Things Learned

Hello! Hello!

 

I feel like I was just writing y'all like five seconds ago, and yet this last week was such a long week, and at the same time it was quick? Is this a normal feeling? Am I losing my mind? At this point in the game, anything is possible.... Time on a mission is a strange thing, time in general is a strange thing. No matter how fast or how slow it goes though, we get to experience some pretty excellent things as we go throughout our busy schedules. This week I learned a lot and had some sweet experiences, I hope you had that same thing happen to you! 

 

Monday - Pdays are great, but this last one we had way too much time on our hands and not a lot of things to fill that time with! It was good to be relaxed though, relaxing isn't a common word used to describe a day in the life of a sister. Haha.

 

Tuesday - We had an incredible district meeting! The District I am in right now is full of spiritual giants! We talked a lot about the Atonement and as we left, we each had a greater desire to share that with all those we meet. I love that the Atonement is the heart of everything we do. As we went throughout our day, whether it was visitng a new family in the ward, or teaching an investigator for the first time, we did our best to focus our efforts there. It was profound to feel the difference it made in our lessons.

 

Wednesday - Our busiest day. It started with a lesson with our top investigator Clarisa, this girl is the best!!! We introduced the topic and the words to come out of her mouth next, "Why don't I teach you about that and why it's important to live". And so she did just that!!! That makes teaching the law of chastity about ten times easier!  After our lesson we had an exchange with the Sister Training Leaders, and my friend Sister Paulsen joined me down here in Pilgrim Mill. We had a fun day and got some good work done. When everything fell through, and we had an awkward amount of time we went and got frozen yogurt. That exchange was so needed, I can't even begin to say!

 

Thursday - A member took us to one of her neighbors and we were able to teach her the Restoration! Just like that we had a new investigator and an awesome experience with this sweet sister in the ward. We also ate dinner with a really amazing, less-active/part member family. They now go to the RLDS church, but they have a son serving a mission for our church! They were so happy to have us in their home and it was a great evening.

 

Friday - LONGEST DAY OF MY MISSION. No joke. The weather was rainy, and after weekly planning we headed out and everything fell through! We picked an area to tract and no one spoke any english. I was so frustrated and my companion was as well. It felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Then we went and followed up with this awesome investigator and had a great lesson with her!! From that point on, we had a great evening and accomplished good work. I think the opposition came becasue so many good things were in store for conference weekend!

 

Saturday - First of all, the weather COMPLETELY cooled down and wait for this... I got to wear TIGHTS! I did a happy dance and thanked the Lord we wouldn't be dealing with humidity!!! We had a lesson with Clarisa before Conference where we invited her to pray about a specific baptismal date ... after we asked her, she just looked at us and smiled and said, "That's already on the list of questions." SHE IS A ROCKSTAR! (And watched all 4 sessions of conference!) In between sessions we went and tracted and got to teach this random guy named George the Restoration! I asked him if he wanted to hear a message about Jesus Christ and he said sure.... so we taught him right there on his porch! It was a bold lesson, and we invited him to be baptized. He didn't say no, but he SURELY didn't say yes. I felt so much conviction from Conference about how true the Restored Gospel, and then to have the calling to go out and teach that, to teach about Christ, and Prophets, and Apostles, and Restoration, and the Atonement...well, it was powerful to say the least. After Confernce we ate dinner with one of my favorite families in the ward and we did a role play with them! Their oldest son who just turned 16 wanted to be a missionary, so me and him were companions. That probably wouldn't happen in real life, but hey, when in Rome, ya dwwk nw? Anyway... it was an awesome lesson and cool to get the members involved and have them ask questions! We also had a few good laughs... I am so grateful that my mission has been so spiritual, and at the same time so fun. I think that's how the Gospel should be!

 

Sunday - We were supposed to have a lesson before the first session started with one of our new investigators and for him to come to conference after, but he no-showed. That was a bummer. We did some tracting, and then had dinner wiht another one of our favorite families in the ward. (Are you realizing that this ward is only full of favorite families, haha?!) Anyway, before dinner we had a test to take- A test on the Sunday sessions of Conference, we were able to use our notes and the prize was $100. I didn't win, but it was still a blast!

 

So that's the week, as for things learned in Conference- here's a some main things that stuck out for me....

 

- The things we learn are inspired, what is presented...are things the Lord knows we each need to hear.

- We need to be strong members of this church, relying fully on the Atonement of our Savior. Without the hope that comes from our Saviors sacrifice, it would be a much harder and more impossible world that we can realize.

-Face God. That is who we are accountable to. Don't rob yourself of change because you are more concerned with what the world thinks.

-Happily repent and focus on the Savior as you take the Sacrament each week.

-This gospel is about being a team. We are a part of the rescue, because it saves us as well.

-We have been given agency, use it wisely. It is God's will for us to be free to choose, being free to choose continally comes from righteous decisions.

- In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we recieve personal revelation! To do that we study the scriptures, we reflect on the love God has for us, we ask Him questions and we do His will.

- Things are Glorious.

- KNOW that your Redeemer lives.

- Love everyone

- We are here to be tested and challenged, that means being around people who don't have the same beliefs as us.

-  Joseph Smith is a prophet and we need to have a testimony of that.

- Look forward to being a parent, and being able to teach your kids about how true this Gospel is, and how Good our Savior is.

- Pray for good people to come into your life

- Don't live in darkness, it's unnecessary and unhealthy!

- Make sure you are following the voice of the Lord

- Serve others. This work is about love, not statistics.

- Look at your foundation! It is strong! Don't do anything to tear it down, instead, continally build on it, build on your testimony of Christ.

- Receive answers, receive revelation, take it as truth, and don't be offended.

- Sustain the Prophet. Change your deeds and heart.

- Choose to follow the Prophet, he leads us back to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

- In everything you do, think of your future family and ask youself, "Is this going to help them?"

- The Sacrament teaches the Atonement. The bread is the promise of resurection. The water is the possibility, if we choose, to be made clean.

- Come Home

- Decisions determine destiny. Our Heavenly Fathers greatest desire is that his children make it back to him by realizing this.

- Stay in the boat, the old ship Zion.

- Stick with the Basics. Christ is our Savior, he performed his Atonement, He leads and guides this church- everything else is apendages from that.

- Pray daily, study the scriptures, have family home evening, and go to the temple

- Make choices so the promised blessings in your Patriarchal Blessing can come!

- Our dead need us. Start doing more family history and temple work.

- First Observe, Then Serve

- We are given blessings from the Lord so we can reach our divine potential

- Stay away from currents that pull us away from the Lord

- We share the Gospel because it has blessed us so much.

-Be better than you've been in the past.

 

Good things learned. I know, and I am so grateful that God lives.  Christ is our Savior. He is the head of this church. We are guided by a Prophet of God. We have the Priesthood. We have eternal families.  Thd blessings that come from living this Gospel brings hope of so much more than we can even realize. We have these lives to rely on Christ and learn and do, so we can make it back to be with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. There is no greater knowledge that can be acquired than this.

 

I love you all!

Godbless and Godspeed-

-Sister Beasley

 

Things Are Going And In A Good Direction...

Hey Y'all!!!! <---- said with a SUPER thick southern belle accent! (Yes I've been working on mastering that for the past 17 months!)

This week was great! Between getting in with some promising part member familes, bearing testimony of Gods love, tracting with a member, doing role plays with active families, tracting A TON, going to the womens broadcast, seeing a lot of our investigators, playing Bingo at the old folks home, avoiding TWO scary dog attacks, watching meet the mormons, praying, laughing as we work, enjoying the cooler weather, teaching new friends, eating fried chicken, facing opposition,  and learning a few important life lessons, it's more than safe to say that things are going! And in a good direction.

I feel like I could expand on just about anything that happened this week, but I'm more going to focus on some things that were extra fantastic....

So, "Meet the Mormons", ya heard of it? Well this week I got to see it! They gathered our zone together and showed it to us at the stake center. Of course we as missionaries are pumped because we actuallly get to watch a movie and take a moment to relax..... but what I didn't realize was how powerful the film was going to be and how much it impacted my testimony! It is SO worth seeing, no matter who you! It is funny, emotional, inspiring, and just down-right sweet. it shows a few very different latter-day saints around the world and how they live their faith and focus their lives on our Savior! It wasn't until after it was over, and all the missionaries sat there for a moment of silence, that we realied how strong the Spirit was, yet in a very subtle way! We had a testimony meeting and something that I realized was how grateful I am for the Gospel and how this is going to be something that will not only bless my life now, but forever! No matter where life takes me! Anyway, I highly encourage all yall to get to the theaters and see it!! Take a friend or 2 with you!

Our investiators are solid. What a blessing it is that that's all I can come up with to say to update you!!

There was a day this week that I wasn't feeling so great, I had a headache all day and just felt sick! Not only physicallly, but emotionally as well. I was just drained. I had no desire to work hard towards the end of the night and would have done anything to just stay in bed... but we went out anyway. Five minutes into tracting I realized I couldn't continue on like this, and I remembered that in an email I recieved from Zach last week... he said when he was having a hard time he said a prayer to find people to teach. I followed his example and said a prayer as we walked up to the next house.... that night we found 3 solid people to go back and teach for this coming week! It was amazing to see that the Lord, when I asked, provided.

As mentioned earlier, me and my companion were almost attacked by 2 VERY scary dogs this week.... on two seperate occasions! I have never had that happen to me before, but I know the Lord was watching over us and protected us.

One of my favorite families in the world came to see me and take us for lunch this week! I had such a wonderful time with them talking about life and getting caught up. It was exactly what I needed and I am thankful for the Dustin family!!!

We had some crazy opposition last night! We took a recentlly returned sister missionary out with us tracting. NEVER in my mission had I experienced so much rudeness from people, so much rejection, and so many harsh words against our church! The advesarry obsiously doesn't want success to come to the work, especially when members and missonaries are involved together.... but I know that the opposition can be good... and can encourage us to keep going!

The Womens Broadcast Saturday was so great! What did I take from it? GET TO THE TEMPLE!!! That is where we want to be, and where the Lord wants us to be! I am so excited for Conference and to hear more inspired words from the leaders of the church! We need the council, and to take it to heart! I have made my list of quesions, and can't wait to see what is answered! I hope you all do the same!!!

Well, I'll close with this...

This week I learned about the power of forgiveness, and the strength and peace that comes from simply saying "I'm sorry". As humans, we all fall short, that's just how it is, but we have the choice to rise above and make right what is wrong. If there is someone you need to make peace with, do it. It is the most incredible feeling to realize that frustration, anger, irritation, stress, and heartache can all be swept away as we pray for the Lord to soften our heart and their heart, appologize, let it go, and allow the atonement to do it's job!

I love you all!

-Sister Beasley

Don't Try To Live Too Many Days Ahead

Hey Y'all!

So much to tell you!

So much has happened over this past week! As you all know I am down to 6 weeks and this my last transfer. The call came and when I found out Sister Summerhays was leaving it was so rough! Making the rounds and saying goodbye to everyone was hard as well, it's not like it was Summerhays and Beasley, it was SummerBeez! The ward is so awesome and it was fun seeing everyone! We had a little goodbye party for sister summerhays and everyone was like, "it's just not going to be the same!" So even though I got to stay, it is still like part of me left. I love that it was hard to say goodbye though because it shows me just how blessed I have been and just how blessed I have been my whole mission! I knew my companions would teach me a lot... but I don't think I ever fully realized I would one day go home with a handful of people that will be my friends for life! For that, I am eternally grateful! 

So Sister Porter is my new companion and we are learning a ton from each other! We had served in the same ward, but in different companionship back in Dacula. Going into this we both thought the other person hated us, but as it turns out we are figuring out how to work together. It has been and will continue to be a good learning experience for me, for that as well I am eternally grateful. Sister Porter got here on Wednesday and luckily we had a day packed full of meeting our investigators and doing good work! The ward is so involved with the 2 ladies we are teaching and it's a neat experience to watch them help participate in missionary work! The Work of Salvation is the best thing to be apart of and the moment you get involved with the missionaries and the people they are teaching, is the moment you see your life change. Watching someone learn about just how sweet the gospel is for the first time is unreal! I've said it before and I'll say it again that everything the Lord asks us to do helps everyone involved!!!

Ekta is doing awesome! Every lesson she has the best insight into the topics we are teaching and asks the best questions. I can see the Gospel changing her life and her countenance and so can she! She is always so thankful for what she is learning and says the best prayers!! Keep praying for her please! She is doing so well, but is going through hard things and it will be a long while before she can get baptized! 

While me and Sister Porter were out tracting this week we met so many wonderful Indian people and I am slowly being convinced that we are needed here to start an Indian branch! Too bad I don't speak, well, I don't even know what language it would be .. but I for sure know I don't speak it! Haha! A super sweet Sikh girl let us in and we were able to teach her about Prophets and she is really wanting tot learn more!  I don't care how many times I am let into homes from knocking on doors, it still amazes me and makes me aware of the Lords hand in this work! 

I can report happily that I am working harder than ever! We have been practicing lessons with the members, doing all sorts of fun service projects, knocking doors, and doing our best to invite people to come unto Christ and make the best use of the time we have been given. Of course we had some rejection and doors slammed in our face, but that just makes it interesting! Everyone is always trying to tell us we can't solicit in their neighborhood. When are they going to realize we aren't selling anything? Sister Porter has this genius idea to one day walk around door to door and sell "no soliciting" sings. I think that is the funniest thing I'v ever heard!!

My companion is a lot more quiet than me, and a lot more quiet than any other companion I've ever had.... so I've been doing a lot of thinking and talking to myself! I am truly so grateful for this mission and for my time out here. I am grateful for the people that the Lord has brought into my life. I am grateful for the truth of the Gospel and for my responsibility to share it with my brothers and my sisters! Even though I have so much to be grateful for, sometimes, I still seem to find something to murmur about. There have been many days this past week where I have felt overwhelmed, exhausted, done, irritated, annoyed, stressed, and even checked out. When these times come I try and remember what my Dad wrote to me in an email a few weeks ago, "there is something to say about how a person finishes the race." I am not trunky, I am not quite ready to come home, I am not done yet but I am trying to face the fact that a lot sooner than later, this time will indeed come to an end. In my moments of despair, one evening in particular, I remember thinking "only 6 weeks"... I then found an old Ensign sitting on our kitchen table with a quote face up, that the Lord needed me to read, it said this....

"In a recent meeting I listened to a young girl's heartwarming testimony. Her father was afflicted with what the doctors had pronounced was an incurable malady. To his wife one morning, this stricken father, after a night of pain and suffering, had said with great feeling "I am so thankful today." "For what?" she asked. He replied, "for God's giving me the privilege of one more day with you." Today I could desire with all my heart that all within the sound of this broadcast would likewise thank God for one more day! For what? For the opportunity to take care of some unfinished business. To repent; to right some wrongs; to influence for good some wayward child; to reach out to someone who cries for help- in short, to thank God for one more day to prepare to meet God. Don't try to live too many days ahead." -President Harold B. Lee

I am going to soak every last moment of this sweet, sweet experience in. Everyday out here is a gift, even the hard ones. I don't want to wish one second away! I don't want to end this experience with the "almost done" kind of mentality. There is so much good here and I still have so much to learn and do. 

 I know that God lives and that he loves us. I know that Jesus Christ is His son, and that He is our Savior, Redeemer, and Advocate for the Father. I know that this is His church and that His power is found within it. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, as well as the Bible. I know that we have a prophet on the Earth today. I know that families are eternal. I know that everything that comes to us in our lives is for our benefit and for our betterment. I am a better person because I have this Gospel and a true understanding of who our Heavenly Father and Savior are. I love that. I love this time. I love the Lord. I love each of you. 

Godbless and Godspeed

-Sister Beasley

Mercies In Disguise

Hey Everyone!

So today I got my last transfer call EVER! And I am so heartbroken about it. Sister Summerhays will be leaving me and going to Dacula!!! As for me, I'm staying here and getting a new companion. I think it is going to be a tough transfer, but it will be my last one... and you can do anything for 6 weeks, right? I am so grateful for the past three months with my best friend. Serving here with her has been the best and I have learned so much! It is the biggest blessing to have a sister with me at all times, and literally that is what she has been! Last night we were explaining how missions work to some friends and how things are out of your control.. and you just go where the Lord needs you to go.... and even though I've been doing this for a long time it doesn't get any easier each time! Bitter-sweet is the only way I can describe it! Ah!

Even though we are totally bummed, the Lord blessed us so much this past week! We had some of the most spiritual lessons ever. We've been really thankful to teach as much as we have here. I know that we needed to be here together to teach and find these people!!!!  Let me just say that the Gospel is true! I have felt it in my own life and I have literally seen it change the lives of others!

We finished teaching Ekta the Plan of Salvation and showed her the video "Because of Him" and it is just so amazing how with Christ, we can know that the Lord is there for us and has a bigger picture. The members here have been so good to get involved and I am so grateful for them and the Spirit that they bring to the lessons.

Trevor is doing well at College, and since we miss teaching him so much, we decided to stop by his parents his house and we had the most lovely visit with his Mom! Then we invited her and her husband to church on Sunday and they came! We sang a song... and so we used that as a way to get everyone there! The song went great! We were nervous but it sounded good! Some people even cried and we got a lot of compliments!

The lyrics to the song go like this...

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I am so grateful for the many blessings in my life. I am grateful for the things that happen that are obvious .... and also grateful for the things that at first, you don't realize are blessing. This next transfer will be a mercy in disguise, I know that.

I love you all. I love the Lord. I love this work. I love Georgia. I love the people here! I love being a missionary. I love the Gospel.

-Sister Kate Beasley