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!

Beth's Mission Feb 5 Round Rock 20

And that is so exciting about the babies(Dylan and Bree's little boy born Jan 18 Luca Neil and Melissa and Matt's little girl born Feb 1 Mikayla) and upcoming weddings!!! Wow!!! 

Jaylynn is getting married! So exciting!! Tell them all congratulations!!! Family is the best!!

Sister Bleak is awesome!! She has been out about 3 months. She came out the transfer after me. She has already helped me so much and we have made some great goals and just have so much fun! 

This Week was a great week!!

 First to explain the subject of Blessed by the Best. On Tuesday we were out with Jasmine contacting a potential and he man we ended up talking to was super excited to talk to us! His answer to almost everything we said was "Yup! Cause we're Blessed by the Best!" It was the greatest thing ever and it's true!! We really are Blessed by the Best!

Something crazy happened this week -- we got Smartphones!! The area slide phone was replaced with a Smartphone!! It is the craziest thing ever and yet so amazing to see the options that this will give us to reach more people on different levels and to truly further the work of the Lord!! He truly is hastening His work in His time!!!

Yesterday we had an amazing Sunday!! Sunday's are always so incredible, and yesterday was no different!! We had a lesson with Dominic and Sister Power and it was just so amazing!! Dominic shared with us that he feels that the church and the gospel just make life better! He's noticed a difference in his family relationships, in his work relationships, and in how he sees life in general! It was such a great lesson and He truly has been so prepared by the Lord! It feels like we as missionaries have played a very minor part!

Then church was amazing as always! Fast Sunday is always so amazing! To feel the strength of the Lord and to be able to listen to the spirit's guidance is just incredible.

Then! Last night we had a church tour with David!! It was so great! He works on Sundays and right now it is impossible for him to get it off, but after our tour he said that he can't wait to go to church! He shared some incredible insights with us and again, it is so amazing to see how the Lord prepares each of His children!! It is such a miracle to witness that and to truly be an instrument in the Lord's hands!!

A lot of our focus has been on strengthening the members and helping them to find missionary opportunities and ways to share the gospel with everyone around them! There is so much potential here, but most people are way more receptive when their friends are the ones to share the gospel with them. Even through service and just showing them that you care. If there's one things I've learned while serving as a full time missionary, it's that we can not do this work without the members!! \

I just want to testify that I know that Heavenly Father truly has a plan for each of us, for each of his children!! He cares about everything that is going on in our lives and He wants more than anything to help us on our  journey!! All we have to do is reach out and let Him help us!

I love you so much!! Thank you for everything and for being such an amazing example in my life!! I am so grateful for you!!

I hope that you have an amazing week!! Love you!!

Love,

Sister Broadbent

Pictures: 

1. Smartphone!!

2. Comparison of old phone to new phone

3. Donald Duck chillin' in a tree!

Beth's Mission Feb 1 Round Rock 19

 That is so cool about Called to Serve!! (Called to Serve was written for a New Mission Presidents conference, Elder Packer asked the MTC to sing it, they came down the street with flags of ever country singing the song) I love that song so much!! That is so exciting about the New Stake Presidency! (Tyler Kunzler Pres, Kevin Garner 1st Counselor, Dane Allred 2nd Counselor)  I know they will do all that Heavenly Father needs!!

I am So grateful for yours and Dad's example of service to the Lord and for your willingness to do what Heavenly Father wants even when you don't understand right now all the reasons. That is something that I am learning- to completely rely on the Lord and trust in His eternal perspective and knowledge. What a blessing it is to know that He has a perfect plan for each of us! And what a blessing it is to allow Him to change us and shape us into the person He needs us to be!! That is something that I have come to realize this week- how important change and progression are and how important it is to be guided by the spirit and to allow the change to make us into the person that Heavenly Father needs us to be. We all can improve every single day and what a blessing it is to allow Him to help us!!

This week was a great week! It is always so crazy how time works and feels haha- last Monday feels like yesterday and yet this week has been so full of changes and so that makes last Monday feel like forever ago! Crazy! But so good!

My new companion is Sister Bleak! She is from Bountiful, UT and is "tall and loves Dogs." She is so awesome and motivated to work hard and it is inspiring! The past few days with her have been so amazing already! On Saturday we were able to go out street contacting and tracting for most of the day and we met some incredible people that were just so kind and said that we could come back! Such good things are happening and I know that this work truly is lead by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! Sister Bleak and I will have a great time together and I am excited to see the things that will happen!! 

The Spanish sisters that live with us are both staying so that is exciting! They are amazing and we all have way too much fun together!

This week we were able to have a lesson with David! It was so good to meet with him again and to see the progress that he is making!! He loves to study the Book of Mormon and some of his insights are just amazing!! He compared Lehi to Joseph Smith and it was just incredible! He is awesome and we are going to have a church tour with him and we are super excited!!

We also had a lesson with Dominic and Sister Power before church yesterday and it was amazing! Dominic is just so great! He loves going to church and loves how kind everyone is. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and has made it all the way to the end of 2 Nephi! It is amazing to see how just in the past 6 week he has changed! We asked how he feels in comparison to before coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon and he said that he just feels good, like everyday he reads is better and that he is able to be more level headed at work and that life is just better! It is incredible to see his progression! And I couldn't agree more! The gospel just makes life better!!

I am so grateful for the hand of the Lord in each of our lives! I know that He truly loves each and every one of us and that He only wants what is best for us! When change comes, it is an opportunity to improve and become more like He needs us to be! Even when it's hard, because it definitely gets hard! But He is always there and He only wants what is best for us! 

I was reading in 2 Nephi 4:20-35 this morning and I feel just like Nephi did. "My God hath been my support; he hath led me through." I know that as we truly trust in Him and do our best to do as He needs, he truly will lead us through! 

I love you so much!! I hope that this week is a great one and that all is well!! 

Thank you for sending the package! I am so grateful for all that you do for me and for the support and strength you give me!! 

I love you so much Mom!!

Love,

Sister Broadbent

Pictures:

1. Fun with all the Sisters before transfers!! Love them so much!!

2. Sister Watt and I right before transfers! I Love her so much and I am so great for her!

3. Sister Bleak and I! She is so awesome and I love her already!

4. We went to a "vintage" candy shop today and it was so awesome!! 

Beth's Mission Jan 22 Round Rock 18

The weather has been back and forth all week haha it was super super freezing on Tuesday, then warmed up a little Thursday, rained a bit Friday, was warm and windy Saturday, rained all day yesterday, and is sunny and windy again today! Kind of all over the place, so it keeps things interesting!

Thank you for sharing that story!! That is so amazing! So touching and full of so much hope!! I love hearing stories like that that are full of so much growth and where you can literally see the hand of the Lord working in the lives of each and every one of His children! I think a lot about that with people that refuse us, or with in-actives, or with those who don't want us to contact them- I know Heavenly Father truly has a perfect plan for each of us! It is incredible to see that in my life and in the lives of our brother's and sisters!

Joe is so amazing! I love him so much!! He is so strong and I love hearing of his growth! Thank you for sharing with me! He is so much more than he knows and I am so grateful to have him in our family! Life is such a blessing!! We were able to talk about the Plan of Salvation and the role of Jesus Christ in that great Plan and I just realized again how incredible life is! We are able to be here in our families where we learn and grow and help each other so that we all can return to live with our Father in Heaven again! How blessed we are to have that knowledge and to know that this truly is the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ!!

This week was an amazing week!! 

It was so incredible to watch the announcement from the First Presidency! I am so grateful for those inspired men and I truly know that they are called of God! As we were listening to President Nelson speak, I felt the spirit testify to me so strongly that he truly is the Prophet of God on the Earth. I know it! He is the mouth piece of God and I am so grateful to follow his counsel!

That night we had a lesson with Meghan and it was amazing! She is really learning and it has been amazing to see her growth and desire to learn the gospel!! She got to go to a Stake dance on Saturday and loved it! She is so cute!

Thursday we were able to go to the San Antonio Temple! It was so amazing!! So beautiful!! We went with three of the ladies in our ward and it was such an incredible time! I am so grateful for the temple and for the peace, love, and strength that I feel there! I know it is truly the House of the Lord!!

Yesterday was such a great Sunday! We were able to have a lesson with Sister Power and Dominic and it was amazing!! Dominic basically considers himself a member and just wants to learn everything that he can!! They gave us a ride to and from church and we were able to have such good discussions about the chruch and they are just the best! I love them so much and I am so grateful to be able to help them at this time in their lives!

Today We got transfer news!! I can't believe how fast the time flies! And I have been in Texas for 4 months! Crazy!!

So for transfers: Sister Watt is leaving! After 10 months in this her first area she is being transferred! It's kind of bittersweet, but she will continue to do such great things and I am so grateful for her!!

I am staying here in Walsh Ranch and will be getting my new companion on Thursday and I am so excited!! I love this area so much and I am so excited to continue the great work here with these amazing people!!

I am so grateful for this great work! I know that Heavenly Father truly has a perfect plan for each of us and I know that Jesus Christ truly leads and guides this church! How blessed we are to share the joy we have with all those around us!

I love you all so much!! I am so grateful for the strength and love and prayers that you give!! I love you!!

I hope that you all have a great week!!!

Love,

Sister Broadbent

Pictures:

1. Round Rock Zone/District!!

2. Sister Boyer and I on exchanges!! She is so awesome and we had so much fun!

3. Sister Watt and I at the San Antonio Temple!! 

4. At the San Antonion Temple!

5. So beautiful!!!!