Beth's Mission Mar 5 Week 24 - 6 Month's and a Transfer!

This winter sounds like a crazy one everywhere! It's been warmer with less snow there and colder with a few snow flurries here! Lately there has been a lot of rain, but there are blossoms coming and the grass is beginning to turn green so that is exciting! Spring is on the way!

Isn't it so crazy how the time flies!? I am constantly amazed at how it goes! 

Here I am already passed 6 months and at the end of another transfer! It goes by so fast!!

I know that Heavenly Father truly does send Tender Mercies! I am always in awe of how He keeps on blessing us and how much He is truly is aware and cares for each of us!! Such a blessing to have that knowledge that there truly are no coincidences!

This week was a great week here in Walsh Ranch! I love this area so much! I love the people and am so grateful for the feeling of home that I have felt here!

That being said, today we got transfer calls and found out that I will be leaving my dear Walsh Ranch! I am being transferred to the Valley Ranch area which I know almost nothing about except that it is sort of in the San Antonio area and that Sister Holt (my MTC comp) has been there for a transfer! I also found out that I will be receiving a trainee!! And I will be a Sister Training Leader!! So many changes!! It is going to be crazy and so different, but I am excited to see what is in store and I will tell you all about Valley Ranch and everything next week!!

This week was such a great one though! We had the goal to find one new investigator and were doing all we could do to so and on Tuesday we found Guy and on Friday, we found Jason!!! It was a miracle!! Both times we were out finding and praying that we would be in the right place at the right time! We had to refer Guy to the YSA ward, but still so exciting!! And We set a return appointment with Jason for Friday and are so excited!!! Also on Friday we went out tracting (which we don't do very often in this area, but felt we needed to) and we met so many great people! A couple We met, John and Eileen, who invited us in for water and then we talked and talked and they said to come back for water or anything anytime! They weren't interested in hearing about the gospel right now, but we have begun a friendship and one day that seed will grow!

It is amazing to see the blessings Heavenly Father pours down on us for our hard work and obedience and how He continues to put people in our path! He is preparing each of His children so we can all return to live with Him! It is such a privilage to witness that first hand!

This week we also had two lessons with Dominic! He is doing so great! Every time we are so amazed at his progress and his willingness to do as the Lord asks! He is still all set for his baptism on the 17th! And is beginning to prepare for the temple as well! So exciting!!

I am so grateful for this privilage to serve and to trust in the Lord! We taught a less active family this past week and asked them about prayer and I am always amazed at the faith that people have as they turn to God and rely on Him! It is something that we have to decide to do every single day! To truly, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Knowing that as we  acknowledge him, "he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

He truly is there! He loves each of us so much and He wants what is best for us in every aspect of our lives! 

I am so grateful for this gospel! I am so grateful for the privilege to share it with those that Heavenly Father places in my path! No matter what happens, He will always be there every step of the way!

I am so grateful for all that you do for me Mom! You help me everyday! I am kind of out of sorts about the transfer news, but I know that the Lord is in charge and I trust Him! I love you so much Mom and I am so grateful for your example and strength that you give! I love you!!!

I hope that things get better with the missionaries there- I wish I could come tell them whats what haha, but everything happens for a reason as we know. 

I hope that you have a wonderful week!! Thank you for all that you do for me!! I love you!!!

Love,

-Sister Broadbent

Pictures:

1. Role play Pictures in Ikea last week  The life of a missionary!

2. At the Service Center with Meghan

3. Sister Bleak and I before Book of Mormon class

4. Last day with the four Sisters in #702- Love them so much!!

Beth's Mission Feb 26 Week 23

We heard that you got snow!! A lot of the families here have kids at BYU and they said there was a lot of snow!! Crazy! This winter has been really strange!! In Utah and here! It rained a lot again this past week! It was warm for one day and then freezing for the next couple days and then off and on with tons of wind. Everyone says it's not normally like this, but oh well!

Goodness this week was such a great week!! But then every week really is a great week!! Especially when we look at the positive things that are happening, keep counting our blessings, and taking time to notice the tender mercies that God gives!! They truly are endless!! I am constantly in awe of His love for us!!

I am currently drawing a blank as to what specifc things happened this week except that we were able to do quite a bit of service which is always awesome and great to get out in the community! We painted nails at Hearthstone, helped at the Round Rock Serving Center, helped Sister Owens' with her cute Etsy business, and we helped Sister Garcia clean her house and also got to read the Book of Mormon with her son Jr.! That was so fun! We biked to her house which is at the bottom of our area, but it was super fun--even with rain pelting us in the face haha. Service is the best!!

Other than that, yesterday was probably the highlight of the week! First I love Sundays so much! They are truly the best day of the week! As a missionary they are super busy with meetings and lessons and such, but still the best day ever!

So! First we had an awesome Ward Council- so much support and we are so grateful for the focus on missionary work that is growing!!

Then we had an amazing lesson with Dominic! I'm not sure I mentioned it last week, but Dominic has accepted to be baptized!!! There were a few things we had to make sure happened first so we had originally set the  day for April 21st, but we knew that he was ready and that we could move the date sooner. We prayed and prayed and then there were literally miracles that happened and he said the sooner the better!! So we presesnted the day we felt was right and he accepted!! Dominic will be baptized on March 17th!! We are so excited for him!! It has been the most amazing thing to see him progress and to see truly how he is becoming converted!! I feel so blessed to be here! Sister Bleak and I have discussed and agree that we truly are just instruments and are so blessed to witness the hand of the Lord in this incredible family's life!! I love them so much! I am truly grateful for the plan that our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us!!

Then two new Ward missionaries we called in Sacrament meeting! So exciting!!!

Then we had an awesome cottage meeting with Sister Power, Dominic, Meghan and the Sheen family! It was awesome!!

Such a great day!!

Sorry for the scattered email, but this week was so good! Through the good and the hard, everything is as it needs to be!

I feel like Nephi when talking about our Heavenly Father, he said, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."

Heavenly Father has a plan far greater than I will ever understand in this life, but I know that He loves us and that everything He does for us, everything we go through, everything on earth is in our best interest! He loves us so much!!

I am so grateful for you!! Thank you for your love and support and prayers!! I feel truly blessed!!

I hope that all is well and that you have a wonderful week!!!

I love you!!

-Sister Broadbent

Pictures:

1. Hermana Hill and I on exchanges! Love her so much!!!

2. Sister Bleak and I having a blast!! She is the best! 

With the Vaubel family

Beth's Mission Feb 19 Week 22

A few of the highlights:

First, last P-day we went to the Austin Aquarium! It was so much fun!! There was a lot of hands on stuff like petting the sting rays, the iguana, feeding  the koi fish and feeding the parakeets. It was awesome! Pictures to follow.

Tuesday we got to go help at Hearthstone with their Mardi Gras celebration. It was so much fun! We got to dress them all up and then they danced and had a parade and it was the cutest thing ever! I love spending time with those sweet spirits! 

Thursday evening we had a lesson with David and it went so great!! He had such great questions as usual and has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday. It has been the coolest thing to see him progress and to see how the gospel has blessed his life! Sadly he said that we wouldn't be able to meet with him for a while due to some family things that he is dealing with, but he said he will keep reading the Book of Mormon and his fellowship will keep in contact with him and one day I know that he will enter the waters of baptism and continue on the path that Heavenly Father has for him!

Friday we had Zone Conference which was super great! They did it a little different this time so instead of dividing the mission into 2 zone conferences they dividied it into 4 so it was a little smaller and more personal. It was so great and we learned some valuable things on how to better repent and help others develp faith unto repentance.

That night was "The Night of the Po Boy." It all started when We went on visits with Sister Power. We had a blast and kept saying that she wanted to do it again! It has been the coolest thing to see her return to activity and to see the strength that the gospel is bringing her! After visiting a few familes we went to dinner. We were planning on going to Chuy's but it was too busy and so we last minute ended up going to Joe's Crab Shack! We got there and all decided to get Po Boy's! Then as soon as we sat down, our waitress came over and as she was talking she was reading my name tag and then asked if she could get our contact information!! We said of course and then when she came by we gave her our card with our number and the church address and a Book of Mormon! She said that she had lost the Book of Mormon she had and was so grateful for a new one! We didn't have a lot of time to talk with her because the restuarant was so busy, but she said that she would be calling us and that we would see her soon!!! We haven't gotten a call yet, but we know where to find her! And Sister Power was just in awe of the miracle and it was so awesome to experience being in the right place at the right time with her!!

Saturday was an awesome day that started out with everything cancelling, but ended with us finding a new investigator Josette who we got back in contact with and gave a Book of Mormon to and she said we could come back!

Yesterday, Sunday, was an amazing day!! We had an incredible lesson with Dominic and we invited him to be baptized!!! He said that that is his goal and accepted!!! The whole lesson was just so amazing! He had some great questions and basically answered them himself as he was talking! Dominic and Sister Power have come such a long way and they have helped each other so much! It is so cool to see how they are growing closer to the Lord and how that is bringing them closer together!! The gospel truly blesses every part of our life! 

This week I have noticed time and time again how blessed we are to know that God has a plan of us! Not only did He gives us the blessed Plan of Salvation, but He has a plan for each and every single one of us so that we can one day become like Him! He truly knows each of us and He knows what we need in order to grow and He knows when we need it!! 

"Our Father knows us and hears the pleadings of our hearts. He accomplishes His miracles one prayer at a time, one person at a time." 

-Jean A. Stevens

I am so grateful for you!! Thank you for all of your love and support and prayers!! I hope that you have an amazing week!!

Love,

Sister Broadbent

Pictures:

1-4: Fun at the Aquarium!

5-6: Mardi Gras at Hearthstone!

7: Sister Bleak and I at the Park

Beth's Mission Feb 12 Week 21

What a blessing it is to have such a powerful and true resource to know that God still speaks to us and that He loves us and has given us the Gospel of Jesus Christ and everything for that matter so that we can one day return to live with Him! 

This week we stopped by a potential named Xinbo (pronounced Cimba) and we were able to talk about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and how blessed we are to have both! He had a really cool analogy that I just love! He related the Bible to a letter or an email. When we get an email or a letter from someone, like our dad, it is like they are right there speaking to us, guiding and counseling us, and telling us how much they love us. And that is how the Bible and the Book of Mormon are! They are literally the word of God! As we read them, it is as if Heavenly Father is right there with us, teaching us, guiding us, and telling us how much He loves us! And as we continue to read His word, we are coming closer to Him and coming to better know Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. How cool is that! We were blown away! He wasn't too interested, but said we were his heros haha and thanked us for stopping by. Heavenly Father definitely has a plan for all of us and I'm grateful that we met him if only to teach us more how we can come closer to God!

Yesterday we had Ward Conference in conjunction with Friend's Sunday!! We had four unplanned people just show up! It was such a great Sunday!! There was a lot of focus in Ward Council and Ward Conference all together on missionary work! It is such a blessing to have such strong Stake leaders who have put so much emphasis on missionary work!! 

We have been working so much on how we can get the members more involved and we are starting to see the momentum build!! It is so hard to reach out to people sometimes- we see that every day! It's hard for the members and it's hard for us! One thing we've talked about is that it will always be hard, but we just have to do it and trust in the Lord! We have the knowledge of the most important thing on earth! And we want all of our brothers and sisters to know about the peace that it brings and to know that they are loved so very much! 

Sister Bleak and I have talked a lot about what more we can do and how we can help the members recognize the many ways they can do that. It can be just Saying hello, smiling, waving, offering service or just a listening ear! Even through technology! Heavenly Father has given us this incredible tool so that we can reach all people across the globe! He truly is hastening His work in His time!

It's been cool to see how people are finding ways to reach out. There is a less active couple that we have been working with and right now they aren't planning on coming back to church anytime soon, but they gave us a referral and even went over and visited them and told us all about it! Everyone just needs to know that they are loved and that someone is there for them! What a blessing it is to help all those around us to feel that! And then as our build that trust and care, we are able to share the most precious gift from God who truly loves and is there for each and everyone of us! 

Alma 26:37

"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

I am so grateful for you and for your love and support and incredible example that you are to me!! Thank you for everything!

I love you so much!!

I hope that all is well and that you have a wonderful week!!

Love,

Sister Broadbent

Pictures:

1. Happy Valentine's Day!! Love you!!

2. Sister Ferrell and I on exchanges this past week. It was an epic day and needed an epic picture haha

3. Sister Bleak and I biking in the freezing cold and our make-shift pants!!

Great BBQ!