I Love Doing the Lord's Work and Helping People Everyday

Bom Dia do Brasil!!!!

This week had a lot of crazy and awesome experiences. We found some new people that we have started teaching. One of them is Nathalia. She is 17 and awesome. We planned to teach her at her mom´s burger restaurant. We brought Gabriel and Elicya with us to teach her. We thought it was going to be just her but we show up and she has 4 other friends that she brought to hear our message. One was her age, and the other 3 guys were older who worked at the restaurant. So we had like a party going on teaching the gospel haha. The restaurant hadn’t opened yet so we were able to have everyone´s attention. It was way awesome though. I was so happy when Elicya, who was baptized last week, even bore her testimony and talked about how she decided to be baptized!! It was way legit. The bonus was we got free burgers after :)  But they were all really interested. We are teaching them again tonight. So this whole week we went by Sandra´s house everyday. But she was never home. We ended up talking to her neighbor who said she works a lot and stays with her sister a lot who is going through a hard time. We are going to keep going over hoping to find her. We have been teaching Sarah, familia of Sabrina and Carol. She is doing great and we had a way cool spiritual experience with her this week. Really Spiritual.  She is progressing well and has a baptism date for the 15th of Fevereiro. Her mom as well!!  Another investigator of ours, Atila, was progressing really well and he loved our messages and believed in what we taught him. He could feel it was true. We met him during one of the English classes that we teach on Wednesday nights. We were planning on marking a date for baptism with him for the end of February,  But he moved last Friday to live with his dad in a different state until July.  

Me and Elder Tippetts have been having a lot of great experiences teaching together and being companions. I’m never stressed and I love being here in Gama. We are able to trust each other very well during lessons and when one of us goes on about a different part or something, we both trust in each other that the spirit is guiding what we say. The dude is a stud and has helped me grow a lot as a missionary. 

The other night we were on our way home, when we rounded a corner and saw a crowd of people gathered. We walked over and there was this little old lady just lying on the ground. We asked questions and found out that a car hit her, clipped her right in the hip and she flew in the air before landing on her back on the side of the road. The car just drove off but someone saw the license plate number (even though police never do anything here..) I got down and started talking to this young dude who was comforting this woman and taking care of her. I thought he was her son or something, but he happened to just see it happen and ran over to help. The guy was such a stud, the way he was helping and comforting her. I looked at him and realized that a lot of people probably judge this guy, thinking he makes bad decisions or just doesn’t care about anyone. He’s covered in tats, and has several earrings all over his face, just pierced up. But yet he was the one acting more Christian to her than any one else. He was on his knees the whole time by her side. I asked her husband and the guy if I could give her a blessing, the husband was kinda shocked and out of it but the young guy said, Yes!   So in the midst of this huge crowd of people just standing and watching, I put my hands on her head and gave her a blessing. I felt prompted to tell her she would live and everything would be ok. It really humbled me and I felt the Spirit really strong. We stayed with her until the ambulance came (they did a crappy job of loading her onto the ambulance). One of the ladies was a member of the church but in a different area. She came up and talked to us and to explain what happened.

I have the phone number of the husband of Maria (the little old lady) so I’m gonna call today to see how she is doing.

I’m doing great though!! love doing the Lord´s work and helping people everyday :) it truly is so rewarding and I can feel myself changing into a better person and having a greater love for everyone. It is so awesome being in lessons and really feeling true love for these people and just wanting to help them. I love being a missionary, and I am so grateful for all of you at home supporting me and continuing to write me and show your love for me. It really keeps me going and wanting to be better. I Love you all so much!!!! :)

Love,

Elder Bean!!

quatro missionários impressionantes

Sunday lunch at the Bishop's house

Soccer stadium in Gama

6 Months and 3 Baptisms

E aÍ!!!!!! :)

I love and miss y’all a ton and hope y’alls week was great!!! My week was awesome!!!! 

We had 3 baptisms on Saturday!! For Elicya, Sabrina, and Carol!!!! It was so awesome and spiritual. It was such a great experience seeing them make this change in their life. It was very special too cause we helped the uncle of Sabrina and Carol get more active and worthy so he could baptize his two nieces which was awesome!! The next day when we went to their house, he started crying talking about it and saying it was the best experience he has ever had and increased his faith and testimony!!! I was so awesome!!!

Carol has such a strong testimony. She is only 11 years old but has told us how much this has changed her life and the Book of Mormon always makes her feel better and has moved her life. She was taught several months ago by different missionaries but she never felt anything when they taught. She said after our first lesson with her, that she just knew it was all true based on how she felt and the way we talked with her. She is so awesome and reminds me a lot of Olivia so I love talkin with her and when we go over to teach her and Sabrina. Irmão Hélio has been the stud that has helped us a ton with his two nieces. He is there for every lesson and his testimony is really strong now. Me and Elder Tippetts made it a goal to help increase his faith while teaching his nieces. We helped him get worthy so he then could baptize them which was an unbelievable experience for him and for us. Elder Tippetts is a stud. He has already helped me a ton and so grateful for him!

After they were all baptized I could already see how different they were. Especially Elicya. She is so awesome and she seems like a whole new person!! When I confirmed her yesterday during church, the Spirit was so strong and by the end I was a little teary. I was really grateful for that opportunity and it really strengthened me. She is even talking about maybe going on a mission in a couple years. Her boyfriend Gabriel is such a stud, and helped me the most feel welcomed here in Gama. He will probably go on a mission this summer. I am so thankful for these opportunities that I have had here. It is such a great experience seeing the growth in these people from the first lesson, until they decide they want to be baptized. It is one of the most gratifying and amazing parts, is seeing peoples lives change and them so much more happier and knowing it will only get better from here. After the baptism, one of Sabrina´s cousins came up to me and said she felt really good being here and wanted to learn more. And then yesterday we met Sabrina´s sister who was taught by missionaries a long time ago but never got baptized, and yesterday she told us she wants to hear the lessons again but from us.  The work here in Gama is really starting to Boom! They hadn’t had a baptism for 7 months. Elder Tippetts and I found about 5 more people that are really strong and will probably be baptized.

Last Thursday, I had a cool experience. Our lesson with Sabrina and Carol wasn’t until 3 and it was 2 so we decided to go see a youth in the church who hasn’t been going in a while. I got an impression as we were walkin to just go to Sabrina´s house instead. Even though it was only 2:00.  Elder Tippetts agreed so we turned around. As we got closer to their house I saw a woman who was in her 30s carrying two big suitcases ahead of us in the street. I would of asked to help her regardless, but I felt a burning in my heart and felt the spirit really strong. So I ran up to her and asked if I could help. She was really grateful and we just started a casual conversation. When we got to her house she said she has seen us in the streets a lot before and always wondered what we did. As we explained to her our purpose she agreed to meet with us Monday night (Tonight). Her name is Sandra. She then was like I’ll invite my sister and friend too!! I’m just thinking yesss this is awesome. Then she told us that last week her two pre-teen nephews were shot and killed. It has been really hard on her sister (their mom) and for her too. 

I knew we were meant to run into her. That by going to Sabrina´s house early, it really was for another purpose. That’s why we need to always trust in promptings. That is something I have really learned here on my mission is to trust in promptings from the Spirit. Sometimes I don’t know why I need to do it, but when I do it always ends up working out and in ways I didn’t even suspect sometimes.

I love being a missionary!!! I love spreading the Gospel and the Lord´s word to these people. Even though it’s hard sometimes, I am always happy and full of joy. It is seriously awesome :) I am so grateful that I made the decision to come out here for two years to serve the Lord. Heavenly Father has blessed me in more ways than I could imagine. My relationship with Him is firm now and I truly know I can always go to Him in prayer. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. That through Him we can return to live with God and our families forever. I know these experiences I am having will bless my life forever. Eu sou muito grato estar aqui no Brasil. Por meu oportunidade tenho para servir o nosso Senhor. E amo sendo um missionario. Amo demais. Eu sou muito grato por vocês. Por seu amor e apoiar.

Eu amo vocês!!! Para Sempre

I love you all so much, and know you are always in my prayers :)

Love

Elder Bean

Service project, cleaning up a road covered in 5 feet of mud.

Elder Reis, Me, Elder Sowards, Elder Tippetts

Mangoes some of the "fruits" of that day's labors. They have a ton of mango trees here so
I will always grab some and eat it like an apple then spit out the skin....sooooo good!!!

Starfruits, we picked the fruit from the trees to eat later.

We ate lunch at a guy's house who is from Japan and still practices Japanese traditions.
He had us wear these legit Japanese slippers in his house (they only fit like half my foot).

 

Irmao Hélio ready to baptize his nieces, Carol and Sabrina

I love this picture that hangs in the church.

Carol and I, this little girl is seriously so special to me, she reminds me so much of Olivia.

Elicya's baptism, she was nervous for pictures.
Elder Tippetts baptized her and I got to confirm her.

Gabriel is such a stud!

Elder Reis

Houses in a wealthy area, they all have electric fences.

Making brownies, got the mix in a package from home.

6 months as a missionary and loving it!

It actually got a little cold so I took advantage and put on a sweater :)

Gama is Beleza

Beleza!!!

Wow, talk about a great week!!! This week was awesome!!! The people here in Gama are awesome. They help us a ton and are really involved which is great. We have 3 people that will be baptized this Saturday so we are so stoked for them!! All three of them are so strong and firm and have such a great desire. Teaching them and feeling their spirit has been a blessing for sure. Sabrina, Carol, and Elicya. We have possibly 4 others that will most likely be baptized in the beginning or middle of February. This area is usually hard to baptize but it’s booming now!!

I can’t believe I will have 6 months in the mission this friday!!! Golleyy time has flown by! Nossa!! The past couple months have been like a blur. Every week gets faster than the last. I am so grateful to be here. Really am. I have felt so welcome and loved here in Gama. When we get back home after a long day, even though I’m beyond exhausted I can’t help but smile and be so happy!!  The only way I can describe the feeling is like after taking a pre workout and feeling pumped :)) haha

I never thought I would say this but.. I regret quitting the piano. lol. Mom, I know you are dyin laughin and thinkin told ya so. haha. I remember when yall made me take it and the first chance I had to quit, I did!! But now I regret is so bad, lol. There have been so many opportunities where I could have played here on the mission during church or meetings. But its all good, sorry momma :)

Today our zone had interviews in our apartment with President Gaertner. He and sister Gaertner wanted to see how all the apartments are so they went to all the houses to do interviews. It was good! He was impressed with how good my Portugues, which is great! I am starting to like talkin in Portugues than English more, it just sounds better. It’s hard to explain. lol. but its nice speakin English every now and then with my companion. Elder Tippetts is a stud!! He has helped me a ton. In our first week together we got the Pattern of Excellence (The numbers the president gives us every week to shoot for to get). It is way hard and some people only get it a few times. But we got it our first week together and this week we almost got it but only had 3 investigators in church instead of 4. But it was still a great week!

Some members have bought us pizza at night after we have returned home and brought it to us. Since I’ve been here its happened like every other night!! ha its way awesome. Its always the same members and they understand we are usually hungry so they try to help us out. 

It’s a lot of fun getting to hang out with Elder Reis and Sowards. They are awesome!! The work here in Gama is good and starting to grow! The people are accepting our message and starting to get realtionships with Heavenly Father and the members are doing great at helping us.

I love yall so much and hope yalls week is good!! I sent a letter last week so hopefully yall get it soon!! Eu amo vocês demais. Sou muito grato por vocês. E tambem meu oportunidade tenho para servir uma missão e adjudar pessoas. 

Sinto falta de vocês tanto!!!

Tchau Tchau!! I love yall :))

Elder Bean

Drinking tereré while his companion takes pictures without him knowing.

Tereré, an herbal tea that you drink cold.

Elder Tippetts

We cleaned the apartment spotless for the visit from Brother and Sisiter Gaertner.