Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

MONDAY APRIL 11

WHAT A WEEK, WHAT A WEEK.

It's been a good one out here in Maine :) I think overall this week
I've just been blown away By such Christ-Like members. I have had two sick little 

companions this week :( Nice thing about being in a trio was I was able to go to
a lesson with leaving the sick ones at home, and go to Church while my
companions stayed home and got better. It's been fun to have members
as companions this week, it's helped me not to die from cabin fever!
After church on Sunday, a member came over knocking on our door with
homemade soup. It sometimes just blows my mind at how kind people can
be. I'm very grateful I haven't gotten sick and hope that'll stay that
way!

A little miracle that we can this week was on Thursday we had a lesson
with one of the members of our branch. We followed up and asked them
if they had set a date for someone to be taught in their home. They
said yes! April 9th.. And we were all like umm hmm... That's in two
days! But we cheerfully said that was awesome and both us and the
member started praying that she could find someone to invite to take
the missionary discussions in her home. Well she exercised great
faith, and that night at the grocery store she ran into an old friend
who she invited to take a discussion! He said yes and we were able to
teach him yesterday! It went great, other than that awkward moment
when there was a miscommunication error somewhere in the conversation
and he thought he was there to teach us.... Hahah... Haha.. Man so
awkward. Anyways we were able to have a very good lesson with him. I
truly hope we helped this man begin the search he didn't know he was
on. He told us that he would read, pray, and come to church. It was a
neat experience of us all bearing testimony how we know this can and
will bless his life.

As new companions we're still in the "get to know you" stage. Haha!
This week Sister Bishop asked me to tell her about my family. She
probably realized pretty quick that that was a mistake, because once
you get me started on my family, I just can't quite shut my mouth! As
I went through each family member and told her about all of your
"super powers" and the qualities you have, my love grew even more for
you all. As I was describing dad, I thought of kind, loving, soft
spoken, and supportive man that he is, I thought of how he never
missed a dance competition or ball game of mine. Even if it was a
simple church basketball game, I knew I could look over to the stands
and see dad cheering me on. (Loving every moment of him being there,
until he pulled out the video camera! Lol) I couldn't help but be
grateful for all the times throughout my life that dad has showed me
glimpses of exactly what Heavenly Father is like. Always watching,
always caring, and always loving. I loved how Elder Hallstrom in this
past General conference said "Our most fundamental doctrine includes
the knowledge that we are children of a living God. That is why one of
His most sacred names is Father--Heavenly Father." I love Heavenly
Father, I know that He is our literal creator and Father. He is there
for us, always watching, supporting and caring. I often think of how
moms are with baby monitors. They can hear and see us through those
monitors, but sometimes those loving moms often leave their babies to
cry it out by themselves, so that they can grow and become a better
person. I know that is how Heavenly Father is, He may be quieter than
some of us like, but I can promise that He is our number one fan, and
wants all of us to return to Him! We are A child of God! Elder
Hallstrom came to our mission about a year and a half ago and I
remember leaving that conference knowing that I was a child of A God
who loved me. I think that is such a special message that we can
share. He told us that anyone can get up and sing the beloved hymn, "I
Am A Child Of God" but do we really know it? Do we live like it? I
hope that through this week you can remember how special you are,
being out here on a mission has helped me realize that we can't give
up on ourself, or on others, why? Simply because we are children of a
Supreme being who loves us, and who is our loving Father.
"Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep
growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."
-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Have a happy day.
Love you forever, and ever.
-Sister Bee

Happy Happy Happy!

MONDAY APRIL 4

Hi dear family,

Hope all had a wonderful week! Things are going so well here, I
couldn't love this area or my mission more. We are working so hard,
and Heavenly Father really is blessing this area with such great
things. General conference was simply terrific. We watched it in the
church with our recent converts and one of our investigators that is
just full of surprises showed up! It was a very neat experience to
listen to conference for myself, but also having people right next to
me who I loved, knowing their questions and concerns and seeing them
all be answered. The gospel really is for everyone, and it does help
us no matter where they are in life, or no matter what they are going
through. I was thankful to have that reconfirmed to me yesterday, the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ is for everyone, even you and me!

So we got some pretty exciting news this week.. Elder Rasband of the
quorum of the 12 is coming to our mission this May. So exciting! His
grandson is in our mission, so he's coming up for a conference. The
sad news is, he's coming right after I come home. With this neat
opportunity our mission President has allowed the missionaries going
home this transfer have the option of extending their missions. I have
put much thought and prayer, and fasting into this, and I have decided
to extend my mission for 2 weeks. It works perfectly where I'm in a
trio and the flight plans weren't hard to change at all. I will be
coming home now Wednesday May 25. I hope you guys are okay
with this.

It was hard to say goodbye to Sister McVey, she has become such a good
friend of mine over the past 12 weeks. I'm very grateful for all the
things she taught me, she brings out the best in everyone. Tuesday
this week we went down to Portland to pick up our new companion and
received the cutest thing you ever did see, Sister Bishop! (No her dad
is not the bishop, but it would be the coolest thing if he was, lol!)
She's from Bountiful Utah, cheered and danced growing up, and
graduated the same year that I did. We get along so good, shes a
sweetheart, and I'm so happy to have her and Sister Draper as my
companions for this transfer!

We had such a good zone conference last week. It was on the importance
of Sabbath day observance. At the conference a slide on the slide show
stuck out to me that said this:
Picture yourself receiving the most important invitation of your life:
A chance to spend a day with Jesus Christ!
- How would you prepare spiritually and physically?
- What blessing might you hope would come from such a visit?
The Lord has invited each of us to set aside a day to commune with
Him, the Sabbath day which He has established. I really pondered these
questions for a long time. I felt the spirit impress on me little
things that I could change just a little bit to make the sabbath more
of a delight. As I was studying later this week I realized that when
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses that all of the commandments
had one verse, except for the for the sabbath day, it had five verses.
I think that's sayin somethin! I know all the commandments are here to
bring us happiness, and blessings, and especially this one. I know
that as we prepare for the sabbath and for partaking of the sacrament
far before when we sit down in he pue that it does make our Sunday
more of a holy day. I have came to love this day of rest, service and
peace. I know that as we strive to keep it holy that it does connect
us with our creator.

I love the gospel, and It's the best thing in the world to share it.
I'm grateful to have this wonderful church in our lives. Sometimes I
just don't know how I got so blessed to have it in my life. I know that
because of Christ we can overcome death and sin. I don't know what I
would do without my Redeemer and Savior. I'm grateful that because of
Him we can be an eternal family. I believe in Christ, and its sure a
joy to serve Him at this time.

I'm very happy, and I certainly hope you are too!

Oh and by the way, Elder Rasband really is coming to our mission, and
his grandson is in our mission.. But Aprils Fools on the extending
part, I wish I could! We ate dinner with the funniest family on April
fools that had pulled HILARIOUS April fool jokes on each other, and I
thought I'd had to share a little with you. Love you much :)
Have a lovely week.

-Sister Bee

I have really struggled this week. I have spilled and dropped anything that has been put in my hand. This time somehow I dropped the phone and it landed perfectly under the car.. Instead of my companions helping me, they laughed and took pictures.. lol

The new trio!

Got caught in a rainstorm during some service we do at the food pantry. Don't worry, a sweet old lady let me borrow her cute rain coat!

Saving the world with love.. one sticky note at a time!

Sister Draper and I!

LAST TRANSFER!!!

MONDAY MARCH 28

Sister Bee fail...
I didn't leave enough email time for a weekly update..
BUT, I had a great week! Easter Sunday was awesomeeee.

We had a wonderful zone conference, I learned a lot. I'll be sure to
share some of my notes with you next week.

The "Messiah" sing we held at the church went great! Two of our
investigators came! That was really exciting.

Transfer week...
I'm staying here in Yarmouth with Sister Draper, and we'll be
receiving a new companion! I'm on my last transfer of my mission. 6
weeks left. Kind of disturbing and exciting at the same time.Lol

Feeling extra blessed to be here in this area. We're teaching some
incredible people right now, and I feel so much love for them!

Love and miss you lots.
-Sister Bee

The Sisters Tay has trained!

Exchanges

Snow!

Tay's new companion... Betsy ;)

Sweet Sister Kinney!

Easter Package!

So fun being reunited with Sister Dickson!

Sister Stoker!

Easter Week!

MONDAY MARCH 21

:( Last week of team Mcbeeper... (McVey, Bee, and Draper)

BUT On the bright side it's Easter week, and that makes everything

better! Easter Sunday we have a big activity that we've been working

on! We're broadcasting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir "Messiah" sing at

our chapel, It's going to be so fun! We've literally invited everyone

and their dog to come, and have hung posters up everywhere in the

community! So.. PRAY THAT PEOPLE WILL COME! The branch is really

excited for it, and really helping us out with it by inviting friends

and they even made a Facebook page for us. We're going to hang these

huge poster boards all around the church explaining what we as Mormons

believe in. It should be neat, and don't worry I'll take pictures!

Yesterday I was able to attend my first linger longer. Where everyone

lingers, and stays longer after church and eats food... What a

glorious thing! It was kind of a cool thing to watch, after church we

walked into the kitchen to see if there was anything we could help

carry out. When I saw how much food was there I got a little nervous,

knowing how many people were staying after and seeing that there was

not to much food in the kitchen.  We had a really cool miracle though!

It may sound silly, but I saw it with my own eyes! It reminded me of

Mathew chapter 14 in the bible when Jesus feeds five thousand!

"17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two

fishes. (we had five sandwich platters, and two bags of chips,

literally)

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took

the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he

blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the

disciples to the multitude.

(We went in to the gym and had an opening prayer, as we went back to

the kitchen we had our own little miracle! There were platters on

platters coming out of the kitchen!)

20 And they did all eat, and were filled"

We all left fed, and happy, it was a great Sabbath!

I really am grateful for a living Savior, who performs miracles of all sorts.

This week was great, we taught lots of people, which is always

wonderful. Tuesday one of my companions woke up with this huge stress

cold sore on her upper lip, that morning we had an appointment with

one of our investigators. We go into her lesson and before we start

she looks at me and the companion with the cold sore and says "I know

you are sisters in Christ, but are you two related and really

sisters?" We said "no, we're just companions!" She then goes on to

say, "hmm.. That's weird! I totally thought you were related, you both

have the same upper lips!" So there I am with no cold sore, and was

just told that I have the same upper lip as my companion with a huge

cold sore on her lip. Nicccccce. Hahaha.

Welp... I hope you have a wonderful week and Easter. It's such a

special reason to celebrate.

He is Risen!

He lives

Because He lives

Wherever He Walked,

Wherever He Taught,

Wherever He Healed,

HE CHANGED EVERYTHING.

Then everything changed...

The man they called Master, Messiah, friend, was gone..

BUT THE GREATEST MIRACLE, was yet to come.

He is not here.. HE IS RISEN!

>>>He Lives<<<

And because He lives

If you reach out, call out, cry out,

HE IS HERE!

Then, now, always, HE IS HERE..

During the good, the bad, the in-between,

He is Here!

No matter who you are

Or who you were

HE IS HERE

No expectations

No lost causes

At all times, in all places, He is Here!

He rose on the third day

HE LIVES TODAY

-- and I'm so grateful that He lives, and Because He lives we will all

live again!

I miss and love you guys 🎈

-Sister Bee

If you haven't checked out this website... Check it out!

>>>> FollowHim.mormon.org <<<<< #HALLELUJAH

Went on an exchange with Sister Lewis this week. She is the coolest girl!

Some of the women in the ward play volleyball in the mornings at the church, our schedule finally worked out where we could go! I got a little too into it and the knees are all floor burned, but it was SO much fun! Such great people here!

Some of the sweetest ladies we serve at the food pantry with!

Wilson family, and Abbie!

Planting eggs for the primary easter egg hunt!

Hair colored!

Beautiful little lakes everywhere!

"Golden Branch"

MONDAY MARCH 14

Hi, Hi, Hi!!

This week was good. Sometimes there is just not enough time in the

day.. Busy busy busy! We had stake conference so I got to see some

friends from the Farming-dale (Augusta) Ward, so that was really fun!

They were all happy to hear I was serving in the "golden branch" haha

I guess that's what other wards call it. I truly understand why they

do call it that. There are so many incredible people here. It just

continues to blow my mind. So loving, caring, and willing to help

others and to come to lessons with us. We rode down to stake

conference with the Stake Presidents wife, Sister Thomas. They are

such great people too! Crazy thing about my Stake President is that

his Mission President is our neighbor! Gerald Simmons, such a small

world!

It's amazing to see how prepared this area is. We have some wonderful

people that we are teaching. We had a really neat experience last

night. So the Reynolds family found some friends that just moved to

town, they have invited them over a few times, and this last time they

invited them over and asked if they would be up to hearing a lesson

from the missionaries, and they said "yes!" They had us over for Cafe

Rio Sweet Pork Salad (you can imagine how happy I was!) we were able

to have a lovely dinner and get to know them. There were lots of kids

there, put together I think there was 21 people. After dinner one of

the members took all the kids downstairs and we were able to have the

first discussion with this sweet couple. We taught them all about the

restoration, and answered their concerns. They've just moved here and

we all feel like they were led to the church. They didn't accept

everything about our church, but I know with time, and prayer that the

spirit will work through them and great things will happen. I have

never had quite the experience like I had last night, but I am so

grateful I was able to be there. The members all shared their

testimonies and helped make it such a good night. I hope and pray with

all my heart that they'll accept this gospel and these blessings into

their lives.

I am a grateful that I have came to know the truthfulness of this

church. I have prayed with all sincerity to know what is true,  and I

have received several confirmations, or tappings on my heart,

witnessing to me of the truth of this church. I know that Gods main

desire is for us to be happy, and that is why He's given us His Son,

the commandments and the gospel. I know that when we follow His

counsel and the Prophets counsel that we find indescribable joy from

loving the gospel. I know with clarity that this church has been

restored, it's true and complete. I know that Jesus Christ is our

Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. He is the Prince of Peace, The King of

Kings, The Author of our happiness. He has paid that eternal price for

us. I know that our Savior loves us perfectly, as does the Father that

sent Him. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who hears and answers my

prayers. I know with my whole soul that He listens. I know that Joseph

Smith had a humble prayer in a grove of trees and saw God the Father

and Jesus Christ. They called Him as a prophet and restored the exact

same church Christ established when He was here. I'm grateful for the

many restored truths that give us hope, and guidance in this world.

It's a blessing in my life to know that families are forever. I have

came to know that The Book Of Mormon, is the word of God! My whole

life I was told what a special book it was, and never took the time to

read it, but once I finally sat down and made the time to read it, I

realized just how special it truly is, it changed my life, and I know

that it can change anyone's for better. This is the church of Christ,

it is divine. Now is the time to prepare to meet God, and we can do

that through the Atonement of Christ, and by living His gospel that He

so freely has given us! I love you dearly, and I leave you my

testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

-Sister Bee

The Assistants.. Such hard working Elders!

The Sister Training Leaders in the mission!

Sweet sweet Sister Holms. I love her with all my heart! She works in the mission office and sadly her mission ended Saturday so she headed back to Idaho. I am going to miss her sooo much!

Oliver is the little boy of one of the sweet ladies we are teaching. This week during our lesson he comes running in the room with this stuck on his head. It was hilarious! haha he's such a cute boy. This investigator is AWESOME, and is really loving the gospel. Sadly she just has a work schedule that demands her working on Sundays, but it's changing in April!

Fluff and moxie, two of New England's finest. Moxie, everyone loves here, to me it tastes like cough syrup. Haha but the fluff is delicious! Lots of Mainards put fluff and peanut butter on a sandwich and call it a fluffanutter.

Miracle!

MONDAY MARCH 7

Quick weekly update coming at you my fellow family and friends!
Just so you know I'm in public emailing you, eating cheese puffs, with
no makeup on sipping on a soda pop. I've really let myself go. Lol,
great thing about living out side of Utah is you know no one.
Hmmm... It's been quite the week!
This week we did a church swap with our investigator Valerie, that was
somethin' else!We go to her church with her, and then she comes to our
church with us. She is Seventh Day Adventist, and her church was in
Portland ME. The people there were SO nice, the teachings were about
Jesus Christ which was great, and they even had a fun pot luck after
so we got to talk to a lot of people. What did come to such a surprise
that there was just something missing at their church. Im just once
again, feeling so fortunate to be apart of the mormon church,
sometimes I don't quite know how I got so lucky to be born into this
true and amazing gospel.

HUGE MIRACLE OF THE WEEK
Let me tell you about the wonderful Wilsons. So the Wilsons are the
most darling family ever. Just a young couple with little kids, all
boys! 4 little boys, and 2 are adopted. They are one special family,
who love the gospel. I could not say enough good things about them. So
awhile back we committed the Wilsons to pick a date to have a non
member friend to take the missionary discussions in their home. They
prayerfully selected a date as a family for the end of February.
During weekly planning last week we were talking about which members
in our area had dates set. As we were talking we realized that the
Wilsons date was only a few days away and we hadn't heard an update so
we decided to ask them about it at a ward activity that next night. At
the activity we were talking to Sister Wilson about it and she said
"We really just didn't put our all into it, we've only fasted for it
once, I guess we will have to set a new date and try harder next time"
we then told her that we were going to be praying in every prayer that
a miracle would happen before their date, and if it wasn't their time
we would plan on teaching them a lesson to raise their spirits and get
them excited for their new date!... So fast forward a couple of days
and we still hadn't heard from them so we assumed that nothing
happened. Then we get out of a lesson and see that we had a voicemail
from Sister Wilson and it said "Guys, I found her! I know that it's
all thanks to you and your faith. Call me back!" (We were freaking
out, and gave her a call back oh so fast!) a random friend of hers
showed up on her doorstep the day of her date, and the conversation
went right to God. The Wilsons were able to give her a Book Of Mormon,
and invited her to take the missionary discussions, she happily
accepted! A couple days later we were able to have a lesson in their
home with our new investigator Abbie! She is prepared for the gospel,
and I truly know that Lord has been preparing her. All of us learned
so much from this experience of the power of prayer and of faith.
Missionary work can sometimes be scary, but I do know that as we
exercise faith in and trust in the Lord, He will do the preparing. All
He needs is our faith, and the rest is in His hands. The Wilsons both
got up yesterday in sacrament meeting and bore there testimonies of
this wonderful miracle. I know that it inspired many others to set a
date and put the effort into this vision. I feel many great things
ahead with this 2016 mission vision of setting a date. I LOVE BEING A
MISSIONARY.

I love the gospel of Christ, it's became apart of the person I am.
This church brings so much peace to my soul. I know that it is the
only true and living church on the early. I'm eternally grateful for
the grace of God that allows us to enables us to increase our faith.
Have a good week.
I Love you very very much! Xoxo
Miss you
-Sister Bee

STAR TIPPING

We are in trouble ;)