Well everyone this is it. A week to go. Crazy how the time flies. But I wouldn't take back any of it. The last two years have been life-changing.
This will be my last email. It will be a bit long, but I thought I would go out with a bang.
First, here's this week's update:
Highlights:
-We
went out to Hope! Such a beautiful small town! However, we decided to
go finding on a public trail that was not easy. Needless to say we are
super sore and it was a pretty humid day. We had a cool conversation
with a family at the end of the trail though.
-We had a
fantastic lesson with our friend Oscar this week, the Spirit was so
strong, and he is know thinking about being Baptized! We are super
excited for him!
-We went out to White Rock again which was
super fun. I love this area, sometimes you're in a town in the
mountains, or right by a beach. It's so diverse.
-We had a
really cool lesson with our friend Satya this week! We talked about
temples and we were even able to teach him in the Temple Waiting room!
It was so cool! He also got Confirmed this week so we are super excited
to help him work towards going to the Temple!
-I went on an
Exchange with Elder Hirst! It was funny cause he was my last companion,
so it felt very normal for us to be working together again. We had a
great time. One cool experience was that we were driving to a member
appointment, when we saw a huge group of goats randomly walking down the
road. Elder Hirst said we should knock one of the doors nearby to ask
about the goats. So we did. We ended up talking to this guy about the
goats, and had a good little conversation with him. Needless to say, the
goats normally do that everyday. But as we left, there were a lot of
goat jokes made haha.
Anyways that's the update for the week.
But
I thought I would also share a miracle from each of my areas that I've
served in. Each of these has helped me to see that God is refining me,
and that his work is moving forward at an accelerating pace! Here we go:
Kamloops:
It
was so long ago I was in Kamloops, but here's a cool experience: I
remember being in a park downtown late in the evening with Elder Achal,
and we didn't have any much luck talking to people. As we were heading
back to the car, I looked over at a bridge and felt the Spirit prompt me
to go over to the bridge. I thought nah no one's around it's not going
to be worth it. But the feeling came again, and I told Elder Achal we
needed to go to the bridge. So we walked over and at the exact moment we
got on the bridge, another guy did too. We ended up having a great
conversation with him and got his phone number. It was a cool experience
because it gave me the confidence that God wants to help me, and when I
act on those spiritual promptings, miracles happen.
Port Alberni:
In
Port Alberni, I remember one cold December night about a week from
Christmas, as me and Elder Walcer taught our friend Madi in a public
spot downtown. I felt like I was going to shiver to death, but as we
were teaching, the Spirit grew strong and warmed me up. It continued to
grow and I had the prompting to invite Madi to be Baptized. I didn't
know how to do that, but I just started talking. I said the invitation
perfectly and clearly. The Spirit was super strong, and each of us left
that meeting with a few frozen tears. Since then, Madi has been an
example to me of following Jesus Christ. She is now planning on serving a
Mission in a year or so.
Nanaimo:
A
miracle I saw in Nanaimo was we were driving to the church when I had a
feeling we needed to go to a park downtown. I had no idea why, but I
knew it was the Spirit, so I told Elder Walcer we needed to go there. We
heeded the prompting. We got there and started walking around. I wasn't
sure why we needed to be there. But I saw a man at the other side of
the park, looking out into the ocean. I said a prayer in my heart to God
that if he was the one, that he wouldn't move until we walked up to
him. He didn't move. I felt the spirit strongly, and as we talked to him
for the next hour, he expressed how much he loved our church, and how
he wanted to join so bad, but couldn't due to religious conflict in his
family back in his native country. We comforted him and had a fantastic
conversation. I still pray for him this day that he will be able to one
day receive the blessings of making Covenants with God. It taught me
that God has a plan for everyone and will give everyone the opportunity
to come to Him!
Surrey:
So much
happened in Surrey. But one miracle I saw was the importance of Charity.
In Surrey I had my first hard companion. We were very different and had
a hard time getting along. However I found Joy in serving him. Simple
things as expressing gratitude for him completely changed our
relationship and our work in Surrey. Because of that I don't look back
on my time other as a terrible time, but as a time of learning and
growth. I built connections that will last forever.
Prince Rupert:
Ah
I better be careful what I say cause there are some members on this
email list from Prince Rupert haha. No really I learned so much from my
short time in Prince Rupert. A miracle I saw was the power of community.
The people in Prince Rupert were some of the most Christlike
individuals I have met. They taught me that when we are all united
together in Christ, Joy is to be found, and because of that, others see
that Joy, and want to partake of it. I made lots of friends in Prince
Rupert, and even had the wonderful opportunity to see them(over zoom)
enter the waters of Baptism! What I learned was that when we are all
united in one cause, we can become a powerful, united community!
Haida Gwaii:
My
time on Haida Gwaii was tender. I learned so much. It changed me. One
important lesson I learned is when you minister as Christ ministered,
people remember, and the Spirit touches them. I barely taught when I was
on Haida Gwaii, I mostly served the community. Originally they didn't
like us, but slowly through service, and the love that comes through
Ministering, the work on Haida Gwaii has begun to accelerate. Even to
the point that someone has now made the decision to be Baptized on Haida
Gwaii. It's so incredible to see how Ministering can change
everything.
Victoria YSA:
A cool
miracle I saw when working down in the capital of BC was one night when
me and Elder Astle had some extra time pop up and we decided to let the
Lord guide us. We felt a prompting we needed to go to Sidney, which was
about a 40 minute drive north. So we drove up there, and let the Spirit
guide each turn we made until we ended up at a house in Sidney. We
knocked on the door and had an incredible talk with the lady who
answered. It was incredible to tell her that God inspired us to come all
the way from Victoria just so we could talk to her. Our testimony
touched her, and touched me. The Spirit really can guide us exactly to
where we need to be. We just need to be willing to listen.
Victoria 2nd:
The
Lord prepares people. I saw that happen in my time in Victoria 2nd
Ward. After Stake Conference one Sunday, a member in the Ward brought a
friend for us to meet. We got talking to him, and he told us his whole
story about how God has prepared him, and the Miracles he's seen along
the way. He told us he wanted to be Baptized. As we met and helped him
prepare for that, I could truly see how the Lord had changed him and
help him to have a purpose in life, and the Joy that comes with
following God. It was Joyous day when I had the opportunity to Baptize
him and help him make that Covenant with God!
Victoria 1st:
Victoria
1st Ward was my hardest area. However I learned a very important
lesson. God is still with us during the hard times. Even though it was
very hard, I still had Joy! How? I almost had to end my mission early
because I almost broke my foot. But the Lord still gave me Joy! Why?
Because I kept trying. Even though it was hard I went day by day trying
my best to serve him, and he still showed me that he loves me. It was
definitely an area to remember!
Fraser Valley YSA:
And
now we are to the FVYSA. I have learned so much here. It was the area I
was in the longest. But what I learned was the importance of
Consecration. My time here was a reflection of everything I had learned.
I had seen how the Lord had changed me, refined me into a new person. I
felt like Alma in a sense. While my conversion wasn't drastic like his
was, mine was slow. Little by little. But I can truly say that my time
here has shown me that I do know that the Gospel is true, that Jesus is
the Christ, and that God loves all of us. And that we can do this. I
loved my time here in the YSA, it has shown me the true growth and
Consecration that comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I
have loved my time here in BC. There is a saying that every single day
for the rest of your life you will remember your mission. I can attest
to that. The things I have learned and the Miracles I have witnessed are
incredible. I rejoice in the goodness of God and the Joy that comes
even thought the obstacles of life. As a final invitation to you all, I
invite each of you to listen or read President Monson's talk: "Joy in
the Journey". I love this talk. It summaries the importance of the
journey, and how it prepares us to return to God to "dwell in a state of
never-ending happiness".
I bear you my
testimony that God lives, and Jesus is the Christ. The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is a powerful virtuous cycle that changes us into greater beings
than we can ever become on our own. When we follow Jesus Christ, he can
help us navigate the dangerous waters of life, and bring us safely back
to shore.
I may only have a week left, but the memories I have from here will last forever.
Haawa
everyone for listening in the last 2 years. It's been a ride, and I
hope that you can see God in each of your lives each and every day.
Haawa Haawa!
-Elder Biesinger
Pictures: Each one is a moment from each transfer of my mission!
1-Fraser Valley YSA
2-Surrey
3-Nanaimo
4-Fraser Valley YSA
5-Vancouver British Columbia Temple
6-Fraser Valley YSA
7-Victoria
8-Victoria
9-Victoria
10-Haida Gwaii
11-Haida Gwaii
12-Port Alberni
13-Kamloops
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