St Lucia 18

• Lucian Bread‏

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

I learned a valuable lesson this week. I did a trade-off with a Elder in my zone who has been struggling because of lack of succes. He expressed that he really tries to be obedient to the rules lately but that he is still not seeing baptisms. Made him question whether it is all worth it to follow the rules. I was able to help him understand that that's not why the Lord asks us to follow his commandments and his plan. The Lord doesn't want you and me to keep the commandments to only bless us. Of course He gladly wants to give us blessings to see us happy and to make our day. But I came to a personal believe that's just a side-purpose. I believe his main purpose is to change us. To become like Him, to be sanctified and purified even till we are like he is. We shouldn't do obedient, we should be obedient. Receive blessings by keeping the commandments will help us to allow God to change us. When we receive a reward for something we are more likely to do it again. Please brothers and sisters, keep the commandments. Experience the power of God's Spirit that will polish your character. 
We also had a baptism this week! Silas is the name, he is amazing. Very sensitive to the Spirit. He is reborn, I can see that at him. He is a new person now and he is feeling the blessings of it.
Crap out of time..

Well have a good week!

Love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

• driving to baptism‏

• Love baptisms with waves and ting‏

• Silas baptism‏

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  • st lucian daycare telly-tubby‏

  
  
  
  
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St Lucia 17

Daniel's Baptism

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

Was another great week. Being a missionary is the best, everything I do just gives me happiness. This week no time.. But we had a baptism! Was the BEST. Want to invite you to ponder for yourself why you decided to get baptized. Just ponder on that and see how that blessed your life. If your not baptized, go find out why you should, it's the start of great blessings in your life.

Peoples take care! And know that I love you.

Elder Thomas Bechan

• P-day activities are the best in the Caribbean‏

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  • Pirates of the Caribbean (tam-tam-tamtam-ta-ta-tam)‏
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St Lucia 16

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

How are you enjoying life? Is it treating you as wonderful as it is doing to me? I hope so. This week has been amazing. Since two weeks I have a new companion Elder Glade. He has some rough edges but he will get there. I worked so hard this week, it makes me feel amazing. But I also learned a very valuable lesson: "The Lord does not walk on crooked paths" (D&C 3:2). What does that mean? I experience that the Lord uses you and me to bring "to pass the immortality and eternal life of men". He takes me, just a 20 year old (gosh where does the time go), and puts me on a strange island to help souls come unto him. He then leads me, I feel that guidance every day. It is almost tangible, that's how real it is. He doesn't just tell you what to do and then leaves. He stays with you, he shows you the way, you are just merely a tool. It is kind of like a parent teaching his child to swim. Everybody knows that it is very important to know how to swim. But you don't just take your 4 year old and toss him in a swimming pool! You step down first into it. Then hold your child while he is in the water. You tell him how to make strokes. You remain with him till he is capable to swim by himself. But even then I believe you will still keep a close eye on him, just to make sure he is doing alright. God is always there, helping and guiding. Sometimes holding you so you don't drown, sometimes just watching till you ask him for help.
So yes to get back to the walking on crooked paths. The Lord will never bring his work to pass by unrighteous means. That is not in his nature. For only a good tree brings forth good fruits. So if we want to be able to help build the kingdom of heaven, we need to be righteous. The moment you choose (for it is always a choice) to be unrighteous, to willingly decided to disobey. Even if it is just one tiny commandment, the Lord will withdraw his hand in his work. For a good fruit can never come from a bad tree, a banana tree will never ever grow a mango. Then we realize that everything just doesn't work anymore, we repent and become righteous again. Then without hesitation the Lord will continue his work. He did that with Joseph Smith, and he even does it with me, a simple 20 year old. I can testify to you that you will never be successful in doing the Lord's work, till you be righteous. You might see some blessings, but those will only be for a short season. When the Lord calls you to his work (whether it is to be bishop or a second counselor in a young woman presidency or whatever) just be righteous. Then you will see miracles.
Shoot out of time..
Love,
Elder Thomas Bechan