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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.

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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

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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

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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