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
maandag 19 mei 2014
maandag 12 mei 2014
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
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
woensdag 30 april 2014
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.
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.
maandag 21 april 2014
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
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
dinsdag 15 april 2014
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
dinsdag 8 april 2014
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
maandag 7 april 2014
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
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
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