Behold your little ones

It's interesting how sometimes in life there's big events that happen and then shortly after there's nothing. This week was one of those weeks. Other then the increase of fireworks this week was normal. Some good ole work in the jungles of Honduras.

Our little buddy Yair is doing well and is still happy and man he's such a stud! To be honest I feel like Heavenly Father sent me here to this area for the kids. All of our references and the people coming to church are younger than 15 years old. It's interesting because every area I've had there's been a specific purpose in every area and although it takes a while to realize, once I do it's an interesting experience. The kids and youth here are super awesome and I love their willingness to follow the Savior. There's been a kid named David coming to church for the last 2 months and we thought he was already member but turns out he's not. He even comes alone which man, he has my respect. This week we will have our first appointment with him and we're already planning on putting him on date for December. Such a good kid. There's also like 2ish more kids that we might be able to teach which we're excited. There's a family here that brings more and more kids to church every week. I don't know where they're finding them but I'm not complaining. They're ministering their neighbors or at least their neighbors kids. Lots of respect for them as well haha

All these things happening with little kids reminds me of what happened in 3 Nephi when Jesus visited the America's. He asked them to bring their kids so he could bless them. I love verses 21-23 which say:

21) And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it,  and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. 

22) And when he had done this he wept again;

23) And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. 

I love how Jesus loves little children. He loves them so much that He not only teared up but he WEPT after being able to bless them. Children are such a blessing in our lives! Their examples allow us to be better and to love like they do: unconditionally. My challenge to you is to become more like innocent children of God. As you do so the Lord will bless you with greater joy in your life like little kids do! :)

Love you all! 

Elder Beardall 

Interesting but Rewarding

What a week! So many eventful things happened this week I don't know where to start and if I'll be able to fit it all in but we'll see. 

Two side topics:

First off I'd like to give a shout out to mah boys at Lone Peak for beating AF and taking state in football. #RESPECT

Second this week we got transfer calls and...........  WE BOTH ARE STAYING HERE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!  My comp and I are super happy. It's gonna be a party! 

Now starting with the most special of the week. YAIR GOT BAPTIZED!!! With all the struggles and the weeks teaching our little buddy we were able to help him start his path to Eternal happiness. I love my buddy so much. Such a good kid! Also we had another baptism for a little girl named Sofia. We are reactivating her family and realized that she is 9 years old and not baptized so we were able to help them. The awesome thing was that her dad was able to baptize her! I love being a missionary!

Another interesting thing this week was we had a Gira Misional (mission tour) with Elder Cordon. He's an area seventy and in the presidency for Central America. He shared so many cool things that I wish I could send you a recording (translated in English obviously) of what was said. One thing he shared was about Moses and how the Lord asked him to help free Israel from Egypt which was a super power like the United States or Russia nowdays. But God didn't just give him a walking stick and say "Go conquer Egypt" He comforted him and showed him the comparison of the earth to other gigantic stars that made earth look smaller than a grain of sand which made the superpower of Egypt insignificant. With God we can do all things. Elder Cordon then related that to our obedience. He asked why are we afraid to talk to people when we have God helping us. All the fears we have to limit us from serving and sharing the gospel are insignificant. DON'T BE AFRAID! God is there in everything we do. Then he related that to obedience. Why are we afraid to be obedient? Is it because we are afraid of what others will think and say? People say those things because they're jealous that you're more obedient and they want you to be like them....... So don't be afraid to OBEY!

We also saw a miracle through the blessings of the priesthood. We were walking in the street and we greated some ladies as we passed and they were really nice. We kept walking and I had a strong impression to contact a house down the street. Nobody. We sat there and my comp says we need to go back to the two ladies to contact them. We get there and start talking about their families and they say their dad (86ish years old) had a stroke or something like and and couldn't do basically anything for the last 5 months. He could hear and understand but nothing else. He didn't even want to eat and only had been drinking water for the last 5 months. My comp had the impression to give him a blessing so they let us pass and give him the blessing. We were kinda shocked because it was true. The old man was literally skin and bones. His stomach was so caved in he looked like a skeleton no joke. But above all he looked like he was suffering. We have him the blessing of peace and comfort and then left them that day. The next morning we get a call from a member that said something along the lines of "that blessing you gave the old man let him rest and gave him peace and he passed away content." As I hear those words my body was filled with the chills. The Priesthood is real and blesses lives! I am so grateful for the many blessings and miracles I've seen through having the Priesthood in my life.

Enjoy your thanksgiving feasts and like my grandpa always says, "Stuff it turkey!"

Elder Beardall

ps: so the no-shave-november pic I sent last week lasted only 4 or 5 days and then I shaved haha

Things Rolling

These weeks keep going by faster and faster!

This week was a good old grind. We've been working hard to get the members motivated and to get them to do their visits. Ever since Elder Ludueña has gotten here that's what we've been focusing on and we are finally seeing some action which has pumped us up! The primary president has been super excited these last two weeks and so we've been working a lot with her and we've found some people through her. One of them is Yair! Super pumped for this weekend because he'll be baptized with a girl that her family is being reactivated which will be awesome! Super excited for them!

Today was pretty fun because we'll we planned a pretty good Pday I would say. We had a water fight in the morning and then ate some pizza while watching church videos. Somebody robbed my clothes that I hung out to dry but what blows my mind is that it was on the church property. But yeah nothing too big haha I'm still alive and nothing too serious.

The light the world initiative has started, well at least the preparation has begun and we are super pumped about what's in store. The members were excited when we presented it and this December is gonna be super busy but we're excited. Busy is good! I love this time of year because it allows us to focus on the blessings we have and how we can share those blessings with others. I have been super blessed to have been born in the Lords restored church here on the earth. He loves us and has shown us the way to find that love and comfort in our lives. All we've gotta do is look for it! 

Elder Beardall 

Visits

Heyo!

This week was a lot of the same stuff like visiting. But we were able to get the Bishop out and visiting with us. He helped us to find some of the inactive and less active members. We had some quick visits but they were very appreciative and some of them came to church yesterday! It was super exciting and rewarding to see the fruits of our labors.

We also had divisions this week. I went to help out in their area and my comp stayed here. We visited a ton of people and were able to find some cool families. They said that we would always be welcome there and even said if I'm around town I'm welcome with my comp haha. They were very open which was surprising because I don't know how much I'd tell a pair of 20 year olds. But I guess what kinda helps is they think we're like 25ish year old haha I guess we look older. 

Our little investigators are doing awesome! We went to their house right before the baptism for the secretaries that share our ward on Saturday to invite them and they quickly agreed to go. They really liked it and were singing the hymns and listening contently. We're preparing them for the 17th and we're really excited for them! Lots of prayers for them! 

Something cool I read from my studies this week was a scripture from Doctrine & Covenants 107:99-100 which says: 

99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. 

100 He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen. 

Do what you should and do it with all of your strength!

Elder Beardall 

Keepin' the Flow

Oye!!

This week flew by in the blink of my two eyes. The work here in Pineda never stops which is good but man does it wear us out!

We have an investigator that's progressing a ton! We've put him on date for the 10th of this next month so we're super excited for him. He's only 9 years old but his grandma is supporting him a ton and getting us to help his sister and cousin to go to church as well. Those two still aren't as along as our buddy Yair but they're getting there. In fact Yair and his sister came to church yesterday, a little late, but the cool thing was a member (about 14 years old) saw them coming and when they came into the sacrament meeting, she was there and brought them to go sit by her. She beat us to it! But it made me so happy to see the support and to see it come so quickly. Future missionary right there!

So apparently it's starting to get close to the Christmas season because there have been an increase in fireworks going off. They always do it when you're not expecting and they're the kind that launch into the air and they explode really loud but they don't have color, it's basically pure sound. But yeah I feel like they always happen when I'm on the phone with people. Yesterday I was on the phone with a sister coordinating an appointment and out of nowhere a firecracker explodes the next street over and like a normal person would I kinda jump (I should be used to this by now). As I'm hanging up I hear the sister laughing to her family about how the firecracker exploded and my reaction and all that jazz. I feel like we're in a war here sometimes. Only in Honduras! It'll be weird going home and not hearing them haha

I love being a missionary because it's helped me see the Lords hand more in my life and in the lives of others. There are so many little things that happen every day's it's CRAZY! We normally miss these opportunities because of the many mind numbing distractions we have in our lives. Take a minute to reflect on how much God has impacted your day. He's there. He loves you. He wants the best for you. Go find the small miracles!

Elder Beardall