Laatste Barbados

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

Right now I am typing up my last email to all of you. Man time has
flown too fast. Wish I could turn back time and relive all of it
again.I love being a missionary, I love it. If only I could help you
understand what I feel about my mission your heart will overflow. And
now it's coming to an end, gosh that's weird. Doesn't feel like that
at all, feels as if I can keep going for years.
This week was wonderful, it has been a great blessing that the Lord
has given to me. Everything was just perfect. This entire last
transfer has just been perfect, wouldn't have had it any other way. My
companion Elder Smith is wonderful, I love that guy so much. Miracles
have just happened, all according to faith. The thought of ending this
brings tears to my eyes. O how I wish I could go on. But to everything
there is a time and season. This weekend Khalil got baptized, was a
wonderful experience, a true testimony builder that the power of faith
exceeds all. Worked hard and felt the Spirit, I love that feeling.
Feelings of happiness, excitement, joy and peace is a consistent part
of my life. I know that all of this are gifts that the Lord has
granted unto me. I testify that God lives, I feel that with every
fiber of my body. My entire being knows it. Had the opportunity to
bear my testimony in church yesterday. Everything I have been teaching
these last months is true. God truly does love us, and He will
forever. He reaches out to us, now it's up to us to embrace Him.
Cannot believe this is already my last week, man that's tough. Words
cannot describe what these experience means to me. I would sacrifice
the world for the experience that I have gained. Nothing compares to
it, absolutely nothing. In my mind I cannot understand how a young men
can deliberately decide to not go. If only I could give them a part of
what it means to me, then they would change their minds one time. My
mission is everything to me, it is the best thing I have ever had in
my life. Without a doubt, without comparison.
I don't know how I will serve back at home, without my wonderful
West-Indian people. But I'll guess I will have to figure out
something. Maybe I can get everybody to start speaking Bajan or
something.
My dear friends, I know that God lives. I testify of that with all my
heart. You can have what I have, I desire that you gain this. This
knowledge coupled by this extreme sense of peace/joy. Let's call it
peacoy for lack of an existing word.
Well guess I'll see you soon then..
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 15

lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

No time this week sad to say, but I'll wirt more next week Monday. The week was great and the work is sweet. Love being a missionary, love to serve my God. Love being among my people, love teaching his gospel. simply love all I do. Do you love all you do? You should! Find joy in all small things, spend some time with your family and kids. Happiness comes by doing the right thing, especially the small and simple ones.
Have a good week,
Love Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 14

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

Life is so good, can't understand people that say a mission is hard. Of course the physical labor is tiring, have been tired for the last year straight. But hard? Not at all, it is so rewarding. I feel such an amazing happiness in my life. God's Spirit dwells within me freely, every week my happiness just increases. An experience I had this week was impressive. As you people might know I am coming home pretty soon (sadly enough, if you ask me) but I felt at the beginning of the week that the Lord needed me to help somebody get baptized while I am still here. What that impression I needed to just go work. The Lord had a work for me to do, so I tried everything within my power to get it accomplished. Nothing seemed to work out this week though, people weren't progressing towards baptism at all. World Cup is also a big distraction though! Gosh Sunday afternoon nobody wanted to listen to us for all where to busy watching the game. So nothing seemed to work out. But I knew what I felt, and I knew I have the faith sufficient to do what the Lord expects of me. Then the most incredible thing happened. Sunday an investigator that, due to future commitments, wasn't able to be baptized in the time frame I am still here. The Lord just changed that up, now he is good for baptism at the end of the month. Faith is so powerful. If you feel that you need to do something, that's god telling you to do it. When you get that impression, work for that. The Lord will always grant unto you power to do whatsoever is expedient unto Him, but only on the condition of faith. Show your faith, doubt nothing, and then you will recognize the Lord in your life. Doors that appeared to be locked down, will magically open. The Lord will provide.
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 13

lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

What a week! Man being a missionary is so good. I testify that whenever you do what the Lord asks you will experience blessings. Miracles will just come your way. I love being a missionary, the unique Spirit and vibes it have is so wonderful. Wish I could write down what I experience and that you by just simply reading it could feel what I feel. I testify that God lives, He is such a big part in my life. The happiness that flows from learning truth, eternal truth, is magnificent. My advice of the week is: Repent! Not in a negative way who Bajan's use it, but in a life changing way. Change, you have the power to do that, change your life. Keep His commandments and I promise you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that things will be different. Try it, prove God and see if He will not open up the windows of heaven. One great commandment that results in immediate blessings: fasting. It is a commandment and a very special one. It teaches you to sacrifice, to put aside something of great importance (even necessary to sustain life, water and food), for the glory of the greater blessing. I testify that fasting is a principle of God and it allows you to recognize, receive and cherish God's blessings more fully in your life. "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven"
Well time is out again.. Have a good week everybody!
Love,
elder Thomas Bechan 

Barbados 12

 I just love being a missionary it's the best :) No worries about anything it's such a good life! Teaching people, meeting people, serving God, there you got three ingredients to a happy life. The vibes that are on Barbados are amazing, I love the people here so much. It's hard to put it into words what I truly experience. Try thinking about some of the best memories you have and how you felt. Then put it in a row for 2years, that might be a indicator of how I feel. Even walking through the burning sun is a blessing. Had a great experience yesterday of how missionary work brings that joy into life. We took a member with us teaching yesterday. Mainly because his dad told him it would be a good idea. He had been kind of lacking on church and the desire to come was slowly disappearing, so his dad volunteered him to come out with us (great idea by the way). So we showed up at the house and he just walked out without any form of happiness. Checking his watch twice every second, and just not very motivated. Kind of tried to get him excited or to open up. After the first appointment, which went really well, he seemed more excited. Good thing me and Elder Smith are good at being ridiculous and at one point I think we really got him to open up to us. I think he really liked coming out with us. From being unwillingly volunteered to having a great time. When we asked him when he could come with us again his response was: "Any day besides Monday". The Spirit that missionary work brings is miraculous. I testify to you that it is real. I experience it every single day, my life is wonderful. And I see it happen to other people. My invitation to you is to "catch the wave", get excited, it truly is one of the greatest blessing you can have. Do you have a struggling family member who finds it hard to keep the faith? Send them out with the missionaries, they will love it!! Do you feel you could use more God in your life? Or get a boost? Go do missionary work. It is the greatest blessing in my life and I love every single aspect of it 
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 11

Dear friends and family,

What a week! My last week with Elder Hale, sadly enough. His two years is up, Thursday he'll be back home in Arizona. Really loved serving with him, he is a great guy. New companion will be Elder Randon Smith, he was in my zone in St. Lucia and he is a great guy. It will be wonderful.
Yesterday Desmond got baptized! He is a 72 year old man with a troubled past. But somewhere within those long years he decided to change and turn to God. In a miraculous way we got in contact with him and now 5 weeks later he is baptized. Every single thing we invited to do, he did it. Simply because he truly believed we are send by God and whatever we teach him is God words. He has such fire when he prays and that's how he figured out everything must be true. The happiness that started radiating from his countance grew every single time we would visit with him. It is a great blessing, perhaps even the greatest at the moment, to witness such a miracle happen before my own two eyes. 
I am simply happy. I feel great, nothing in my way. I truly know that the Gospel is true, because of the simple fact that I live it. Only way you can find out if something works, is to try it.I testify that keeping God's commandments is what gives the greatest joy, it truly does. 
This week was just wonderful, that's about the only way to accurately describe it. And we even beat Spain 5-1, how glorious is that. Not that I saw anything of it but it's still great. 
Hope everybody will have a great week! Love and enjoy, that's a key to happiness.
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Desmond Joseph's Baptism‏

Barbados 10

The nine year old

 Deborah baptism

Spending some time on St Vincent

Week was amazing! You know that you are in the best mission in the world when you get flown in to a training meeting. Spend three days in Trinidad to attend the mission leadership conference, it was glorious. 
Made a week a bit short but it was great! Deborah got confirmed and church was great! Hope everybody is doing great! Want to invite everybody to be more grateful. THis Sunday I ended up sitting next to a 9year old in sacrament meeting without any parent around. Had a wonderful time entertaining him. I made him a paper airplane and he was in seventh heaven. If only I could be more able to appreciate things as he does. Would make my life even more wonderful then it already is. Maybe that's one of the reasons why God wants us to become like a child. I testify that showing gratitude allows you to recognize blessings, and also to receive more. Count your blessings, count them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done!
Till next week,
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

 Me and president Mehr

 Our Vincy group

With my boy elder Jex

 Plane to Trini

Eating Trini Doubles

Barbados 9

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

This week was Glorious! That's I think the only proper word I can think about right now to describe it. We did a puppet show to educate primary school age children about the dangerous consequences of using tobacco. It was great! I got volunteered to be the spokesman so I had to entertain the children in between the five short fragments we performed. First group was a about 100 4-5 year old children, was wonderful. Shouting all over the place yes and no questions, was great. Second group was 8-11 so had to work out a less childlike act. All went well! Made one little mistake by calling a boy a girl (he really looked like a girl a lot), but I think he got over it. Next day we went to an all-boys school and even the news showed up! Have my face in the Barbados news papers! Was really fun to do the things. Deborah also got baptized this weekend! Oh how I love baptisms, that should be a new pass-time activity. Who cares about going to the movies if you could witness a baptism right? Feel such a wonderful Spirit during the performance of the ordinance that I simply cannot walk out with a smile on my face. Dear friends, being a missionary is so wonderful! If only I could give you a small piece of what I experience you would be in the clouds all day. It's being lead/nurtured/fellow shipped/guided/loved/corrected/taught/etc. purely by the Spirit of the Lord. It is so wonderful! Wish it would never end! The wonderful part of it is that you as well may experience what I have! It's so simple: Just do missionary work! Blessings will flow freely! I promise you that! Tomorrow we'll fly to Trinidad for a next mission leadership training! I am so excited. This mission simply is the best in the whole world, I mean who can say they were flied in to attend a meeting!
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 8

This week was great! and also by far too
short, but that seems to be every single week lately. Met a great guy
with a most troubled past. Just imagine a sin and this man has
committed it somewhere along the lines of his 72 year old existence.
He realize it has not brought him anything, besides pain and sadness.
Makes him want to search more seriously towards what does give
fulfillment, something that lasts. Well good thing we bring the Good
News right. I testify that every possession we got here, will at
one point perish. The only thing you can keep is "you". All we ever do
in this life is being "stored" (kind og like a computer) into our
being. Then at the last day we will be able to witness who we have
become. For to God is far more important to noticed who you have
become than what you have done. Our actions are merely an indication
of our identity. If we have become what we are intended to be, which
is exalted through Christ, we can abide in an eternal happiness. How
wonderful does that sound :) The most wonderful part of it all is: you
choose your destiny. As I believe President Monson, the Prophet, has
said: "Decision determine destiny". To make the right decisions you
first need to know the choice. For without law no man can be judged.
The choice at the end of the day is either "liberty and eternal life,
through the great Mediator of all" or "captivity and death" (you can
make a guess through who that comes to pass). The only way that you
know how to make these decisions is by reading the scriptures. The
scriptures teach us "what men must do to obtain peace in this life and
eternal salvation in the life to come". So read your scriptures!
That's what outlines the way (or rod) that leads to eternal life. If
you don't have scriptures ask the missionaries, we hand it out like
candy.
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 7

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

Weeks just fly by. Never have I enjoyed something as much as this experience that I am having. Almost in the literal sense of the meaning, I feel in heaven. Simply there are no worries, my mind is not troubled by anything. Nothing can hold me back and no one can tie me down. I feel free in the service of my God. People say: "Time flies when you're having fun" well it's more of a "Time flies with the speed of sound when you're on a mission". Make me feel sad that one day it will end. Sometimes wish I could keep going, never stop. I testify that doing the right thing, which means as priesthood holders to serve a mission, is the most rewarding, satisfying and glorious thing you can do. Nothing matches up to how I feel now, to how I experience life right now. It truly is the "best two years". 
To everybody, boys and girls, that have served missions I want to invite to dig out your old journals and relife it for a bit. Catch that wonderful spirit again, then call the missionaries and go life it, start flying. Yo ucan feel as if you are walking on a cloud agina.
On boys and girls who can serve a mission: Go fill out your papers. What are you waiting for? Don't miss out.
Love,
Ekder Thmomas Bechan

Barbados 6

Dear friends,

The Lord has worked through me this week. I testify of that, I was able to discover for myself how to receive pure revelation from the Lord. Not halve answers to problems, not guessing what could be correct. Direct unmistakable answers. The answers and words were as clear in my mind as these words are as clear on your computer screen. I have been pondering what my zone needs to improve here on Barbados. The idea missionaries have in our mission is that Barbados is "hard". So time to lift spirits and understand the greater purpose of God's work on this island. A story in the November Liahona kind of illustrates the purpose. It was given in a talk to the Relief Society by a Sister (don't know the lady's name of the top of my head). It spoke about a Shepherd calling in his five sheep. Four came running at the call of his voice. One didn't. This sheep was given away by her previous owner because she would always go astray. So the new shepherd tied her down, so she wouldn't run away and that slowly showed the sheep that he cared. In the story the sheep is no longer bound, but only has a little rope tied around the neck. I believe the one sheep didn't come running because she didn't trust the shepherd. She also didn't stay put because she was afraid something along the way could hurt she. The reason why I believe the Sheep stayed put was because the sheep thought it was still pinned down. The illusion of the rope around the neck made the sheep think she was still bound. So the shepherd lovingly walked to his sheep, petted her on the head and walked her inside the barn. 
Are we responding to the call of the Shepherd? Or do we believe we are still bound? Do we believe that miracles can happen or do we think that missionary work is "hard"? My dear friends please be better than a sheep. Don't "tie yourself down" by saying things as: "it is too hard", "I can't do it". When you do this you "handcuff" God. You tell Him I don't want a miracle. Faith proceeds the miracle. Please move forward, respond to the call of the Good Shepherd, there in lies safety and peace. I testify that the Lord loves you and that He is our Shepherd and we are his sheep. Trust Him, love him. There in is true joy.
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Barbados 5

Shamar, me, Elder Hale, Jalisa and Junior‏

Dear vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

So yes yet another week has flown by, where does the time go.. Had another baptism yesterday! Was a sweet sweet experience (like all others of course). Who ever attended a baptismal service will agree with me that it has a wonderful Spirit about it. The Lord testifies of the truthfulness of the ordinance through his Holy Ghost. She was just radiating happiness for she knew she got baptized the proper way. To quote her own words: " I'z a Mormon now" (West-Indian slang is the most fun way of talking by the way). Was a great great day. Don't even know where to start this week. An investigator who kind of fell of the earth for a bit, decided to jump back on again. He is now progressing towards his baptism on the 11th of May. 
Was just reflecting on the wonderful experience this mission is for me. People call it "The best two year" but that's an understatement! Honestly all you young people, there is nothing more worth your time then experiencing serving the Lord with all you got. I testify that nothing on this earth can give you greater joy for this time in your life then serving a mission. As the scriptures teach: "Learn wisdom in thy youth". Or in other words, interpreted by me, Serve a mission in thy youth! Your knowledge and understand of important things will explode! You will feel joy you never thought even existed! So fill out your papers and respond to the call! Young man it's your blessing, young woman it's your privilege. So what are you waiting for? Same thing for senior couples by the way, the Lord needs you. I testify that the calling of a missionary is of God, I feel the power of his Spirit and his hand in my life. I feel that the ordination I received to be a missionary is performed under the authority of God. You can experience this blessing, there is in your life nothing that could be more sweet then serving the Lord. I testify of that. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Barbados 4

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

What a week, o what a week! We had a baptism, Shamar got baptized!!! Oh YEAH. Had was kind of nervous which made me nervous. He asked me to baptize him. Because of lack of time I'll share something short. One investigator this week had difficulties with repenting. He felt that he hasn't repented yet because he didn't feel great sorrow and grief. Elder Hale and I where pondering and praying what we might find something that could help him. We tried to explain it to him but it didn't really seemto get into his mind. Elder Hale decided that next time we would watch a talk by Craig Cardon of the Seventy: "The Lord want to forgive". During this talk I felt I needed to grab my scriptures and open up to the D&C section 58 verses 42-43. In here in the Lord declares what it means to truly repent. "He will confess his sins and forsake them". That's all the Lord requires. After reading this with our investigator his burden seemed to just fall of his shoulder. His guilt (of not having guilt) was taken away. It is marvelous to recognize how the Lord's hand influences my life. He is just there, helping me, showing me what to do. I am working in his "vineyard" and he knows everything. All I need to do now is listen and follow his command. Usually it comes in form of an idea or thought, a feeling or just common sense. However it comes it is good to realize that it is the Lord telling you something instead of boasting of yourself. By myself I am, virtually, capable of doing nothing pertaining to doing missionary work, or work in general. I rely on help, divine help. Which always comes as long as I allow it. This truly helps me to not get frustrated or irritated when I am not able of doing something. I just take a deep breath, pray and then practice. It will always work out.
My dear friends, try to recognize the Lord's hand in your life. See it and learn to rely on it. That's when you learn to invite the Lord even more in your life. I testify that is a great way to receive more blessings in your life.
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Shamar Baptized!‏

Celebrating Shamar's baptism‏

went zipp lining‏

barbados 3

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,Where to start, life is just going so wonderfully lately. To many things to write down. But I'll write down one sweet experience we had this week. Stuff fell trough, and by that I mean all stuff. Every single appointment and back-up was just not there. And it was only 7pm, so we had plenty time left to make something happen. So we were pondering in the car (oh what a blessing it is to finally have a car on my mission) and just one name came so clear to mind. Can not describe the experience but it was as clear as looking into the Caribbean Sea and seeing the sand. Elder Hale dropped this investigator right before I arrived because she wasn't deciding to change her life and church. But we showed up anyway and she explained that she just gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the restored Gospel in the time we hadn't visited. She prayed and told heavenly Father, if it is meant to be, let them show up again. So we did and now she is making progress towards baptism. My dear friends, I testify to you that God communicates with mankind. I experience every single day and in this experience. Only the Lord knew she prayed about this "sign" in particular to know what to do. So the Lord told me go see her, in a way that I couldn't misunderstand. Was a sweet experience. I want to invite you to keep asking God for guidance and than to follow whatever you feel is the best thing to do. Sometimes the answer is as clear as can be, sometimes it is just the most logical step. What ever it may be, follow it. I can promise you as a servant of the Lord that you will receive what you desire. Not always what you ask, but what you desire. The Lord knows our hearts and will grant unto us our desire, whether they be good or evil.Well time is out, have a wonderful week!Love,Elder Thomas Bechan 

Barbados 2 foto's

a "Bayan"sunset

Us and the Assistants‏

me and Elder Hale‏

me and my friend Elder Anderson

Elder Dohrman who will be going home soon‏

Charlie the Monkey‏

Barbados street tennis‏

Barbados 2

Dear vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

My heavens what a week. I just know God lives, for I feel it. How did you like general conference? You loved it?! So did I!! This week we also had zone-conference and President Mehr and his wife and Assistants stayed the entire week. Assistants stayed whole week in our apartment, was a wonderful opportunity to meet with my dear friend Elder Anderson again. Even though we had so much things happen this week we still accomplished plenty. The Lord truly is working in his vineyard, I blink and another miracle happens right in front of me. One lady we met last week who went from deepest of despair to radiating something close to Celestial glow. What brought her from point A to point Happiness was the Book of Mormon. The moment we brought up the Book of Mormon I saw a spark light up in her eyes, as if she remembered what she had know a very long time ago. The moment we gave her a Book her countenance changed. As if a burden fell of her. She started reading the Book and now she just radiates happiness, it is a miracle. A testimony builder that God truly lives and that he has restored his fullness of truth once again on the earth to never be taken away. A fullness of happiness to be obtained in this world, freely without charge. If I would tell you all you had to do to be happy is read a Book and apply the things you read, would you not do that? It is that simple, no rocket science, no difficult psychological theories, just a reading a Book. Of course not any book but as the Lord describes it "seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118). I testify to you my dear friends that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It's teachings have provided me with inner feelings I find hard to describe. I testify of the truthfulness of the restored gospel and all the elements it contains. I know, with a pure knowledge, that this church belongs to our Savior, Jesus Christ. And now it's up to you to find that out for yourself and to go do something with it. As I mentioned before the Lord doesn't ask big and hard things, but small and simple things. By which great things are brought to pass. 
Know that I love you and that God loves you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

Welcome to Barbados

Morning studies

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

I am writing you from Barbados! This most definitely is the best mission in the world, all the different places you are able to serve seems endless. I'll be serving with Elder Hale for these next few weeks and I'm looking forward to do so. 
Coming weekend will be General Conference time, are you just as excited as I am?! You should be!! It is the time in when the prophet of the Lord will speak to us, when revelation will flow from their lips straight into my heart. It is God using his mouthpiece to talk with you, personally you. What a wonderful event it always is. I want to encourage each of you to take the time to listen to these prophetic councils and apply what you hear. Then miracles will occur in your live, I can promise you that. I have seen wonderful blessings coming into my life because of the council these leaders of the church have given me, it has given me direction and more purpose to it all. That's why God has prophets to "reveal his secrets". Secrets to bless your life specifically. For the Lord knows what you need, so he will give it unto you. Ask and ye shall receive.
Dear friends, use all opportunities you have to better yourself. This life is only so short and time flies. "This life is the time for man to prepare to meet God, yea, behold the day of this life". Use your time well and always progress. Become better than you are, listen to general conference. 
That's it for this week, enjoy your week! Recognize the beauty of it.

With love,
Elder Thomas Bechan 

52 Rendezvous Ridge Road apt. #5
Christchurch
Barbados

Welcome to Barbados

Elder Hale

Laatste St Lucia

• Xavi's Baptism (Rizaria's son)‏

Lieve vriendjes and Vriendinnetjes,

Transfer call. I will be leaving the island of St. Lucia, after 7,5 beautiful months it is time for me to leave. And of course this would not be the West-Indies mission if I would serve on a next paradisical island. From Wednesday on I will be serving on Barbados!! I am so excited!! This also means I will meet up with my one and only Dutch friend in the mission Elder Westra. Dutch UNITE!
To quote President Monson: "The only constistent thing in life is change". Change is a perfect opportunity to look back and witness the blessings and to look forward with hope and love. St. Lucia has been the scene on which the best months of my entire life has taken place. Never, but never have I experience more joy, purpose, revelation and gratefulness than these last few months. This has been my home, a few more months here and I would be longer member of this branch then of my ward back at home! So indeed it feels like him. I want to invite all of you, every single one. To stop just for a second, and ponder how has the Lord blessed you this last periode of time? This last week? Month? Day? I testify to you that God is part of your life. He is the one that makes it happen. The moment you recognize it, that's when true joy comes. To know that you don't have to do it by yourself. Their is a story of a man who want walking with the Lord on a beach. Looking back he saw two sets of footprints, right next to each other. Then he noticed on the most difficult part of the journey, the most trying, only one set of footprints. He asked: "Lord, why in these most difficult times was there only one set of prints? Why in the time of great need was there only one sets of footprints? Why did you let me walk by myself? Didn't you understand I needed you?" The Lord replies: "My son, don't you remember. I have told you I will never forsake you, never will I let you walk alone. Don't you remember, in the times you were tired, exhausted by life, burdened down, I never left. In those times I carried you".
Dear dear friends, look back at your footprints. Recognize the Lord right next to you. I testify to you that he will never leave. As long as we want him around, He will be there. He promised.

Love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

• Got stuck for hour and a halve in a police station...‏