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...‏

St Lucia 25

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

Yet a next week has flown by hasn't it. Have very limited time today but just wanted to say that life is wonderful. Because I make it wonderful! You know people say: "you are what you eat", I kind of look more at it like: "you are what you think". The sciptures plainly teach this principle "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he". Be positive, smile!
Love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

• Christmas in March! Got to love this mission‏

St Lucia 24

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetjes,

Was a rough week I have to say. But what makes things worthwhile is charity. Not for any random reason Christ taught this to be the greatest commandment. There is nothing more important then showing love. For a wise man once said "They that show not love, are they that do not love". Ponder about that for a little bit. What acts of love have you shown lately? Do you say to people you love them? With this quote in mind, why would that be something important? Honestly just love one another, I can promise you it will make your life full of sunshine. What holds you back from showing love to somebody? Is it embarrassment? Or maybe somebody upset you? Take the following inspired words in consideration: "Never let a problem to be solve become more important then a person to be loved". 
My dear friends, take away the obstacles that prevent you from showing love. Bridle your idle foolishness, so that God can fill you with his love (Alma 38:12). 

Love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

St Lucia 23

Lieve vriendjes and vriendinnetje,

Today is yet another Monday, time goes by too fast. Makes me almost afraid of blinking my eyes. I think everybody who ever served a mission will agree with me on this one: It's the best experience I have ever had in my entire life. As missionaries in my zone describe it: "I radiate happiness", I feel happiness. It's really hard to describe how it feels, even impossible I think. Unless you experienced it before, feeling the Spirit of God working trough you is something you can only understand if you know how it feels. Otherwise it's like trying to explain how salt tastes to somebody that has never tasted salt. Please try it, you cannot. That's kind of the same with the Gospel. You need to experience it! me telling you what I know is not going to help you. As missionaries we invite all day long. For only then can you taste salt for yourself. By just looking at a spoon full you're not going to understand the taste, nor by trying to smell it. Same with Gospel. By watching me you can see the beauty it brings into my life. By reading how happy I am, you may think it really works. But only when you taste will you know for your self. So go do something, read the Book of Mormon, go to church or even as simple as pray. Just do it.
Well that's all out of time I guess! Know that I love all of you!
Love,
Elder Thomas Bechan

One more thing that makes this mission the best in the entire world: in march it still feels like Christmas! This week I received a package from my wonderful homeward Zoetermeer! You brothers and sisters are the best! Made me feel like it was Christmas all over again. Really loved the card, thank you very much!