Good hot week!

     What’s up to all my fam, friends, and coaches back home, at school, and serving around the world! Hope this email finds you all doing well and enjoying the nice toasty weather.  It’s been a pretty hot, humid week here in Minnesota. I can slightly sympathize with my brother, Jackson, but we are nowhere near the heat and humidity you’re at in Alabama haha. Also, happy 19th birthday to Jackson! Hope you had a great birthday in the mission field! This week has been pretty good! Lots of biking, finding, etc....

     So for my last transfer I’ve decided I’m just going to share things I’ve learned, insights, etc., plus include stories from the week instead of doing a “travel log” haha. 

     This week I’ve been able to realize how much I’m going to miss Minnesota and the people I’ve come to know and love here. Elder Sherwood and I got to go on exchanges this week. He’s the ZL and I’m the DL so we exchange once a transfer. I trained him about a year ago in Apple valley and now we live together again. It was fun to talk about our experiences, challenges, successes, and humorous times we had a year ago and then work together now and see how much we’ve changed and grown! I’m really going to miss the missionaries I’ve been able to serve around this transfer, Elders Akins, Peterson and Sherwood. Those guys are awesome and I’ve learned a lot from each one of them! It’s also been fun to reconnect with some people I’ve taught or been friends with earlier in my mission. My parents are coming out to visit at the end of my mission next month and I’ve been getting stuff set up with people to visit them. It’s crazy how many people I’ve become friends with! There’s so many members and others here that I’ve grown to love so dearly. As excited as I am to go home, it’s gonna be so hard to leave all those people behind. Anyway, back to exchanges with Elder Sherwood! We found a guy named Jeremy who just got out of teen challenge. He lives like 4 blocks from the church and told us he’s looking for a home church for himself because he just moved from Lakeville to Minneapolis. Crazy part: we met him on a bike trail bridge going over highway 35W which is like 4 miles from the church. He was just sitting on a bench and we biked up and stopped to talk to him. We shared a Book of Mormon with him and hopefully we can meet with him again this week! He said he would come to church, but didn’t show up. That was probably our coolest story from exchanges. We basically did a lot of stop bys haha, and most people had moved. 

     One thing I really learned on Saturday and Sunday is that things work out according to God’s timing and plan, not ours! We planned to stop by Eric (we taught him a few weeks ago at Sister Wetzel’s house and haven’t been able to contact him much since) in the morning and when we got to his apartment Saturday morning, we realized I didn’t have my bike lock and neither did Elder Akins. So we had to call the South Elders and have them bring them up to us. While we were waiting we did some area book work, and then we went to try to get into Eric’s apartment building. We got to the front door and it was a lockout building, so we tried to get the buzzer to work and it didn’t. Then Elder Akins just grabs the door and it opened right up so we got in! We knocked on Eric’s door and nobody answered, but it sounded like the shower was on so we walked outside and met this lady named Alexis. She was sitting out front of the apartment smoking and we talked to her about prophets and the Book of Mormon for like 20 minutes. She had some interesting beliefs, but we found a lot of common ground and she was excited to have a Book of Mormon to read. After we talked to her, we went back inside and knocked on Eric’s door and he was there and working us in! We ended up having a really long talk with him and he just told us about all the struggles he is going through. We shared some advice and shared a few scriptures with him and downloaded the gospel library app on his phone for him! We also got him a ride set up for church with Sister Wetzel, and he told us he was for sure coming to church because he had the whole weekend off. As we left, I thought it was awesome how everything fell into place perfectly so we could meet Alexis and still meet with Eric even though I forgot my bike lock and we were running a little behind schedule. Nothing happens by accident. So that was awesome! 

     Sunday morning, we waited for Eric forever and he didn’t show up. So we were some sad pups for about 30 minutes. We had to run home really quick to get Thome’s baptism form so the bishop could sign it. When we got back, Eric was there! He ended up taking the bus to church, so he was late, but he showed up and stayed for the whole time! The members were awesome fellowshipping him and he’s going to “Solo” with the Elders Quorum today for their activity haha.  In Gospel Principles we talked about studying the scriptures. Eric had told us he had a friend struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, so we shared Alma 7:11-12 with him to share with his friend. He talked about how he shared it on Saturday with his friend and his friend texted him and said, “Where did you get that scripture? Cuz it isn’t in the Bible!” Eric told him it was from the Book of Mormon. His friend was amazed and really liked it. Eric said it impacted his friend a lot and helped him tremendously. I’m so grateful for the power of the Book of Mormon to “comfort, cheer and lift our souls” as President Nelson said last October. The Book of Mormon truly does that. The impact it had on Eric’s friend was some convincing evidence of that. I am very grateful for the Book of Mormon, Bible, and all other scriptures and revelations we have. They have helped me so much in my life. They contain answers to literally any questions we have. The answers aren’t always found in the words on the page, but as you read, the spirit can speak to you. It is an amazing revelatory process and evidence that God truly does speak to us. So those were some cool miracles as part of a huge story haha.

     I think I talked about this last week, but I’m grateful to be able to serve others. I love it! I’m so excited to get home and be able to minister to others through serving them and being their friend! It’s exciting! On Monday night we helped Brother Parsons haul a bunch of wood from his back yard to his truck and then we cleaned off this huge tarp he had. It was fun to help him out, build our relationship with him, and be able to serve! We also were able to do a lot of yard work for Sister McLain this week. We did a lot of landscaping with bricks and cinder blocks in her yard. We put in a couple of retaining walls in her garden areas and that was pretty fun! I’ve never done it before, but I enjoyed it. It was super hot on Thursday. Elder Akins and I were pretty dead after we got done. We dug out a 30 foot ditch and laid cinderblocks in the bottom. We had to level out everything and make sure it was all straight and stuff. It was hard work haha.  Sister McLain is awesome and she fed us Thai food every day we helped her this week. She’s a great lady, and I’m thankful we were able to help her out a lot! We also were able to help Sister Scott and Sister Solie dig out a big bush in their yard and replant it in another part of the yard. I’ve never done that before either, but I think it turned out pretty good.  haha We also got to go to the VA again this week for service. We made some collages where we cut out pictures from magazines that represent us. So I cut out football stuff and outdoors stuff and I look over at Frank who’s sitting right next to me. He’s cutting out Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.  I almost lost it.  These guys are like 80-90 years old and that’s what they’re cutting out for their collages haha! Elder Peterson and I had a good chuckle at that. Pretty funny!

     Another lesson I learned this week is to always, always, always share your testimony with people. People can gain a testimony for themselves, but hearing others share their testimonies is so powerful. Elder Akins and I have had the opportunity this week to teach and testify together while finding and it is powerful. The spirit is so strong when we both teach and then testify together. Friday night we did a zone finding hour and Elder Akins and I tracted this street in the northwest part of our area. We didn’t find anyone super solid and we were walking back towards our car to hit a few more houses before we had to leave. There was a lady sitting out on her front lawn and we stopped to talk to her. Elder Akins shared his testimony of the power the Book of Mormon has had in his life, and then I was able to share mine too. She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. She didn’t want to meet again, but I know she felt the spirit and I’m hoping that she will read so she can feel the spirit again! Yesterday we were way over by the Mississippi River doing some stop bys and we were walking down the road and this guy was behind a big row of bushes trimming them up, so we stopped to see if we could help. We ended up talking to him for nearly 30 minutes. He was Jewish and we talked about our beliefs and he talked about his as well. He didn’t believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior or Messiah, and Elder Akins and I both shared our testimonies of Jesus Christ and of the knowledge we’ve gained from reading the Book of Mormon. In the title page of the Book of Mormon it states that one of the purposes of the Book is “convincing the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ.” I’m thankful for the Bible which testifies of His life and mission here on earth and the Book of Mormon which gives us additional knowledge and a second witness of his reality and divinity as Savior and Redeemer of the world! As we shared our testimonies, I felt the spirit so strong. I was hoping and praying our words would touch his heart and I don’t know if they did. He wasn’t super excited about anything we said, but hopefully he felt the spirit and feels it again as he reads the Book of Mormon and prays about it!

     Well, it’s been a great week here in Lake Nokomis! Only 4 more weeks. Pretty wild! I’ll be forever grateful for this time I’ve had here to serve the Lord and the great people of Minnesota. I always find it funny when we knock on someone’s door at 2 or 3 pm and it’s 100 degrees and we are just dripping in sweat and they say, “What the heck are you doing outside?” or “Why are you doing this?! It’s so hot!” We usually just say, “Yeah it is pretty hot! But we have a great message we are sharing today!” I’ve thought a lot about why young men and women leave home for 18-24 months to face the unknown, all sorts of extreme weather, angry/rude/ignorant people, illness, homesickness, stress, etc...the list goes on. When I first came out I was just here because it was my plan all along to serve a mission. Other than that, I couldn’t really give you a solid reason I was here. The longer I’ve been out, the more I’ve come to know why I am still out. I’m still out because I love God, my Father in Heaven, and His son, Jesus Christ. I’m humbly grateful to be their voice and hands in the work of salvation. I do what I do because I have a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen the fruits of it in my own life, in my family’s lives, and those evidences along with the spiritual witness I’ve received help me know it is true. I love serving others and helping them feel of God's love that I am so lucky to feel each day. I have truly grown to love the work, even when it’s hot, hard, tiring, stressful, depressing, etc. It is in the fiery furnace that God refines us and makes us into something more pure and better than we were. I’m grateful for my family and friends back home! I love you all and hope you know how much I appreciate the impact you’ve had on me to help me get where I’m at today. I’m also grateful for the family and friends I’ve come to have here in Minnesota. It’s been my home away from home for the last 23 months. I love being a missionary and I love sharing the gospel with others and serving them in any way I can.  It’s amazing! I love you all! Thanks for the prayers and support! Have a great week!

Much love,

Elder Beach

P.S. I did Memorial Day “Murph” workout today in 49:41! 

1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, 1 mile run

 Elder Sherwood was kind enough to do the runs with me! 95 degrees with 65% humidity. It was a scorcher haha.

Working hard in the yard!

Showing off my boots after district meeting.

Elder Millicam doing a "grinch impression".  He went to Sky View with me!

Happy Memorial Day!

The baptism of “Mormon Brother” Thome’

     Howdy to all my fam, friends and coaches back home, at school and serving the Lord around the world! Hope you’re all doing well and enjoying whatever phase of your life you are in! I’m so happy to be here in Minnesota and be sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ that I have come to love so dearly! The last 23 months haven’t necessarily been the best of my life but they have for sure been the best for my life. This week I’d like to just share some cool miracles we had and also some fun stories and not so much a day by day thing like I usually do.

     One of my favorite things about Minnesota is the members here. They are some of the greatest people I’ve ever been able to associate with. Just a quick two stories on this: last Sunday, Brother Parsons grabbed us and was like, “Hey! I’m cooking this week, come over Monday and we will have some brats and grill a little bit!” We were like “Sweet, we will be there!” So on Monday we got to have brats and some good food with Brother Parsons and his family. We were able to have a great discussion about President Nelson’s talk on revelation and shared some experiences we have each had, and it was really awesome to just be able to spend time with them and feel the spirit. 

     So the coolest part of our week this week was Thome’ Nicocelli go baptized! He’s been investigating the church for about 6 months. He’s known about the LDS church for nearly 20 years. He basically was a dry Mormon and lived basically all the same standards we live as members of the church. Originally he wanted to join the church to find a “blonde Mormon wife and have 10 kids with her.” He quit meeting with the Elders for a few weeks when I first got to the area and for the last 4-5 weeks he’s just been on fire. He epitomizes “feasting on the words of Christ.” It is so awesome to see his growth in the gospel. The members of the Lake Nokomis ward have been instrumental in helping Thome’ in his conversion to the gospel. Elder Bearss has been a beast with joint teaching and being a role model for Thome’ to follow. Brother Shaffer baptized Thome’ on Saturday and Elder Bearss confirmed him on Sunday at church. The Elders Quorum has done a great job of fellowshipping him and he already has ministering brothers and is getting set up so he can be a minister to others as well. Thome’ is amazing and seeing his progression in the gospel and his love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has been an inspiration to me. It’s been even more proof of the power of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel to not only change lives, but to bring us to Christ! It was such a blessing to be able to be a small help to Thome’ with his decision and effort to “come into Christ and be perfect in Him.” 

     On Sunday after church, Elder Akins and I biked over to the northeast part of our area. We have a ton of members over there that nobody knows anything about so we are helping the ward sort through the list of people. We stop by each member and then knock 2-5 doors around each member we stop by. We were able to share 3 Books of Mormon and find 2 new investigators in 3 houses. So we did 3 member stop bys and at each one when we knocked a few doors we found someone who was excited to hear the message that God is speaking to us through prophets and that His church is on earth today. We met a man name D'Mar who was at home watching basketball while his girlfriend and kids were at church. We talked to him about the Book of Mormon and shared Moroni 10:4-5 with him and testified that he could know for himself the truth of our message, just like we know of it’s truthfulness for ourselves. He was so excited to receive more of the word of God. He told us, “It would be disrespectful for me to turn this book down! I’m excited to read it!” He told us he would read Moroni chapter 10 and pray to know if it is true! It was sweet!  After that we met a college age guy named Tegan. He told us he was atheist but that he was studying a lot of religions right now. He said he still didn’t know if there was a God or how to know absolute truth. (Back story) We had Brother and Sister Lankton write their testimonies in the front cover of some Books of Mormon for us to give out while tracting. I had Brother Lankton's and it was my only one left. He had written that you can know that God lives and loves you as you read the Book of Mormon as part of his testimony. I shared it with Tegan and he was really intrigued by it. We also shared Moroni 10:4-5 with him and told him, “You can know the truth of all things, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” That’s what we are promised in verse 5! Tegan said he would start reading it and we could come back next Sunday and share some more with him! Sunday was such a fun day, just being out, talking to people, sharing the gospel, and bearing my testimony to those we met. Not everyone we talked to wanted to listen, but as we testified I knew the spirit was there and hopefully somewhere along the way they will remember the feelings they had while talking to us! 

     On Friday we got a service referral from a lady who is here doing an internship for a photographer in our area. The photographer had like 20 yards of dirt they needed help moving so Elder Akins and I did like 15 wheelbarrows full of dirt moving for them and then shoveled like 5 feet deep of dirt off the sidewalk and made a path so people could walk through it! The lady who referred them was an RM from Provo and she was out here working with them. So she was there helping too, and we were able to talk a lot about missionary work and the church with them. It was fun to serve and teach at the same time! That is my favorite part of missionary work is serving others.  It’s awesome! After that we got to serve at the VA! Haha this week we had lunch with them and played some board games and just visited them for a while. They have the greatest hearts and I love talking to them. We also did a little music time thing. Hermana Nissinen played the piano for all of us and this one guy started taking all his clothes off while she was playing so like 3 staff members had to wrestle him and get his clothes back on.  It was quite funny haha. 

    Elder Peterson and I started “MyPlan” on Tuesday, which is this thing you do your last transfer to prepare you to go home. This week were to read through our patriarchal blessing and look for promised blessings, warnings, and Christlike attributes/things your Heavenly Father wants you to become. That was probably one of my favorite studies I’ve done on my mission. One thing that really stood out to me was that I will have lots of moments in my life where I will have to choose between my will and the Lord's will. Doing the Lord's will is not always easier, but it said I will be able to find true, enduring happiness as I humbly submit to the will of the Lord. What a cool promise that is! I’m so grateful that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and speaks to us so often. We only have to listen.  I’m thankful for our prophet, Russell M. Nelson. I know that he was called and prepared by the Lord and that he is truly a prophet of God. I know the Book of Mormon is true and we can truly get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book. I know this for myself because I have read it many times and felt a strong desire to change things in my life to draw closer to my Savior each time I read it. I’m so very grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and for repentance. I fall short of what I would like to be every single day. There are times where I’m just like, “Man, what are you doing?” I’m grateful that through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and his Atonement for each of us, that I can be forgiven for my shortcomings, weaknesses, and sins, and be comforted in my afflictions and strengthened by the Lord. This truly is a gospel of peace and hope. I know it is true! 

     I love you all and hope you have a great week! Thanks for the prayers and emails, I love hearing how everyone is doing back home. Can’t wait to see you all soon! 

Much love,

Elder Beach

Thome's baptism.

Showing off our boots.

Quite the contraption we came upon.