Zach's Mission: 💥Let's Go Out With A Bang💥

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