See You Wednesday!!

Marry My....

Ahem... um... This next week will be the last ... everything ... of my mission experience here in the land of Perth, Australia.

It is interesting to think about the kind of person I would be if Heavenly Father didn't send me here. It makes me sad to think about all the people I wouldn't have met, all the opportunities I wouldn't have had to bear my simple but strong testimony of Jesus Christ. So I don't think about it very much, and instead my heart is overflowing with gratitude for all the people I have met, all the opportunities I have had to bear my testimony, and all the lessons I have learned.

I. AM. SO. GRATEFUL.

Sister Fife has told us that when we go home, we shouldn't leave our mission here. We should pack it up and take it with us. I'm halfway packed as far as my clothes and such goes. I still need to buy some Tim Tams...can't forget those!  But don't worry, I've packed up my mission and I'm definitely taking it with me. I hope to take it with me everywhere I go. I hope to leave traces of my mission and of Australia with the words I speak and the things I do.

Yesterday was overwhelming. It was my last Sunday in the Greenmount Ward. I love Greenmount Ward. These are my people. I had an opportunity to bear my testimony and I was filled with love as I looked out and made eye contact with almost everyone in the congregation. I love them. Greenmount, I'll come back one day. I'll bring my little babies and my hubby too. Just give me a few years. ;)

Speaking of hubby, yesterday was also overwhelming because so many people were trying to set me up with their friend, grandson, brother, you name it! I don't think I can move past the handshakes yet!! Hahaha! President Brown (he's in the mission presidency and is in our ward) came up to me with a paper and a pen and told me to write down my name, my address, and my phone number. He will tell his grandson in Utah to call me. Gahhhh!!!!

General Women's Conference was so good. It was too short!! I was just getting comfortable and then it was over! I love conference. It's up there on my favorites with Dec. 25 and June 25. ;)

In a testimony we sometimes hear the words love, grateful for, believe, know. Those are words of great importance and power. I also like the word, testify.

I testify that there is a God in Heaven and He is our Father. He knows us perfectly and by name, and His love for us is incomprehensible. I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Because of Him we will all live again, and we can be made happy, whole, and sanctified. What a blessing! I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and through Jesus Christ, he restored the fullness of the gospel to the earth. Joseph Smith is my hero. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. Don't take my word for it. Read it yourself. I testify that the Savior wants to forgive. I testify that eternal life and exhalation are attainable for all of us if we will repent and keep a humble heart and make and keep covenants with God.

I will see you all soon. Well, most of you. Some of you I hope to see you again soon!

I love you all. 

Love,

Sister Beardall

Our friend Rachel made us her famous donuts.

I'm in the fourth row, third one in from the right. It was a pleasure to be in his presence!

A Chinese Date! 

We had dinner with our friends Donna and Carl! We love them.

What we find when tracting.

Reminders again to Preach My Gospel

Becoming Butterflies

Hey Y'all.

I just sent you an email 4 days ago, so not much to say, but actually, there is always something to say. So here's what I have to say, today:

A story is told of a caterpillar named Yellow who was trying to find out what she should be doing with her life. In her wanderings she discovered another caterpillar seemingly caught in some gauzy, hairy filament. Concerned, she asked if she could help. He explained that this was all part of the process of becoming a butterfly.
When she heard the word butterfly, her whole insides leapt. “But what is a butterfly?”
The cocooned caterpillar explained: “It’s what you are meant to become.”
Yellow was intrigued but a bit defiant. “How can I believe there’s a butterfly inside you or me when all I see is a fuzzy worm?”
On further reflection she pensively asked, “How does one become a butterfly?”
And the answer? “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” (From Trina Paulus, Hope for the Flowers [New York: Paulist Press, 1972], pp. 67–75.)
This was from a speech given at BYU some years ago by Wendy Watson, which from looking at her photo I think she's now Wendy Nelson - President Nelson's wife.

I really loved this whole talk, but also this story. We have been sent here to this earth to become butterflies. We aren't supposed to stay caterpillars. I don't want to stay a caterpillar! I want to be colorful and I want to fly! Whenever I see a butterfly, I think that God sent it my way, as His way of reminding me that He is aware of me right then and there in that moment. I know He knows me. I know He loves me. He is a perfect Father.  I know with His help, He can transform me from a Child to a Woman of God.

Love you all. 

Sister Beardall

Some strange legs I decided to sit on. 

The Bosch Family invited us over this week. They have been having two French backpackers stay with them for about two months now. We brought both of them a French Book of Mormon and tried to explain it to them in very simplified English and lots of charades. Haha. I was literally sweating. It was fun and they had good questions! Tiffany, the girl (duh) even wanted us to send French Missionaries to her so she could understand better! Yeah, I think we can do that... ;)

PMG - Preach My Gospel, a good reminder. ;)

The STL's helped Sister Tuifua celebrate her birthday! We went to Scarborough for exchanges this week. 

Sister Penrod's hair looked like a heart! So I had to take a picture. She's beautiful. She thought it looked like a lion's mane. 

Sister Kelleher and I on exchanges! She's a true Maori, aye? True bro. Oh hey cuzzy!

Black Swans - WA's State bird... I think...

We got a photo with my favorite boy! Can you find anything cuter??

Fair Dinkum

(Edit: Fair Dinkum is a phrase in Australia that means "the truth")

Dear Everyone, 

I have learned and experienced more this week than I have in a few weeks combined, I feel. Plus I just read 33 emails, and I've been to the temple and the shops today, so....my brain. You know what I'm saying? Okay cool.

I've decided I'm tired of driving so much, so I made it a point to bike and walk more this week. We've been doing lots of wall sits during exercise to help our legs. ;)  We tracted a long street both sides and we found two families, they are married (check!), have jobs (check!), and have children (tripple check!). It was so fun to talk to them. They were actually interested in our message of the Restoration and we gave each of them a Book of Mormon. They said we could come back and teach them more!

We also had a few members refer their sister or their friend. They told us to just pretend we were tracting and see what happens. Haha. There is a more effective way.....but. We did so, and I feel their hearts were softened! All you need to do is smile and complement their garden for them to start talking to you. ;) The sister of one member doesn't like our church, or so she says, but by the end she was asking if we could stay so she could show us her new dog. She told us to tell our member that we just about had them converted. ;) One day.

We had Stake Conference and I was able to see my Recent Convert, Belinda! She is doing good. Her boy, William is 15 months now and huge! She is totally embracing the gospel. I'm grateful to be her friend. I will be forever.

Something to ponder: We know that Christ is our Advocate with the Father. An advocate is basically someone who pleads your case on your behalf. When we are brought before our Heavenly Father to be judged, Christ will plead our case to Heavenly Father. He will be our advocate. What facts, matters, and circumstances will Christ be able to use to plead your case to the Father?

Did you know? Pink and Grey Galas mate for life? You will always see them as pairs. If not, they will always be alone.

Thank you for your support and prayers. I love you.

Love,

Sister Beardall

Sister Fife offered to take our photo and she got really close! haha. I love Belinda.

We had an Islander Party for Sister's Pday. I was one of the non-islanders, but I just pretended to be one and it was a lot of fun! Haha!

We cracked coconuts in the parking lot and drank the water!

Last time I touched a real coconut was when my parents went to Hawaii for their....what was it...20th wedding anniversary? 

Tracting in the jungle. 

Hibiscus!!

The STLs came over to do splits for a few hours. This was when we became unsplit after, of course. ;)

Language Study turned art show. 

The Duo.

It's Sister Tuifua's birthday today!!

That's the bishop and his wife. He's the most sarcastic man I've ever met. At least he goes to the temple. ;)

Oh! Can you find me?? This was with Elder Renlund

Stand Up If You Are Willing

Hello!

I had a great week this week. I hope you all did too! 

Our investigators, Adon and Sarah from New Zealand are reading the Book of Mormon. Lesson by lesson, their questions are getting answered and their concerns resolved by it! I LOVE the Book of Mormon. Have you read it recently? ;) We are just waiting for Adon to get down on one knee and ask the question, "Will you marry me?" They can't get baptized because they are living together. One day...

Elder Cardon from the Pacific Area Presidency came to Perth for a Mission Tour. He presided over our Zone Conference! It was very good. I always feel a feeling of peace and courage when I stand in the presence of a general authority. I know they have a heavy burden to carry, but because they are equally yoked with Christ, they carry it with strength.

At the beginning of the Conference, before we really got started, Elder Cardon asked us to write down some questions that we wanted answered. I thought of three in the time he gave us and one of them was, "What are the most important attributes in a daughter of God?" The conference began and Sister and President Fife spoke. And then it was Sister Cardon's turn, but Elder Cardon stood up and said some things along the lines of, "Sister Cardon and I have 42 grandchildren. We have been married for 46 years. Sister Cardon is the love of my life, she is the sweetest woman I know, and I wouldn't be the man I am without her influence in my life. Sister Cardon abhors contention. She will have none of it. She will not engage. Please give your attention to her now," and he sat down.

He answered my question: an important attribute in a daughter of God is to abhor contention. To have none of it. To not engage. :) She really was the sweetest lady...

Something influenced me strongly during the second half of the conference. He had previously asked President Fife to ask us to study Ch. 4 of Preach My Gospel - Recognize the Spirit. When he came, he asked who studied that section, and who prepared their 3 minute talk on something that stood out to them. No one raised their hand! Hahaha! We were never told to prepare a talk! The look on everyone's face, including President Fife was hilarious. Anyway, Elder Cardon said, "Well I was going to ask you to forget your talks anyway, but I want to ask you to do something different. I would like for some of you to come up to the stand and share how you have come to know how the Spirit works with you. Don't give us a talk on the Holy Ghost, share with us your personal experience on how you recognize and understand the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Stand up if you are willing."

Only a few people hesitantly stood up. Elder Cardon was silent and he just waited. A few more stood up. Then a few more. Then I stood up. Then a few more stood up. Just about everyone was standing up and I looked around me and I felt the Spirit. It was like someone dumped a bucket of cold water over my head. It went from my head to my toes. I felt like I was standing in the middle of God's Army. We were willing to give a little 3 minute testimony about the Holy Ghost, but that symbol of standing up if we were willing made me think of every other major decision I need to make in my life. Am I willing? Am I willing to defend truth? Am I willing to keep my covenants for the rest of my life? Am I willing to serve my neighbor? Am I willing to be rejected? I am willing. Stand up if you are willing.

See you later, alligators. 

Love,

Sister Beardall

New Mormon Message! Spiritual Whirlwinds

Zone Pday Olympics

Robert and Kathy, our investigators came to our ward International Night!! They loved it. (They are in the middle.)

Robert even got up and danced!! 

A YSA I knew from my first area came to Greenmount Ward on Sunday. :)

This is real.

Have you told anyone?

I don't know, I was just eating this rockmelon (cantelope) for dinner and it was the best rockmelon I'd ever eaten so I asked Sister Tuifua to take a picture so I could remember the moment... ;)​

Hello, Sister Tuifua

G'day Mates,

I'm happy to be here today. And everyday... 

My new companion is Sister Tuifua from the Kingdom of Tonga!!! I love her. She is so beautiful and so kind and so funny. She eats 2 minute noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so that means I've gotta pick up my cooking and baking game...! Haha!  Her favorite food is fruit. Her favorite color is green. She has four siblings, like me! She is a convert of 3 years. She likes to play basketball so we will get a long well... She learned English in Tonga, but we still do language study. Her English good! It's always difficult transitioning to a new companion, for me at least. I was with Sister Johnson for such a long time. Different people, different cultures, different experiences, different personalities, all make up different lessons I'll be able to learn and changes I'll be able to make in myself. I'm excited for the miracles I hope will happen, and for the new friend I'm able to gain.

Sister Tuifua must have a magic touch... this week 3 of our investigators/less actives have prayed in our lessons! That's a big deal people! It can be so hard for that to happen. I felt the spirit as they prayed and they felt it too. 

When we were tracting this week, we met two friends, a boy and a girl, Oliver and Sienna, 10 years old. They rode up on their bikes as we were approaching Sienna's house. We started talking to them. I totally agree with the Saviors commandment to "become as a little child" (3 Nephi 11:37, Mosiah 3:19 etc.). They were so open and they both believed in God. They loved to be good and they went to church on Wednesdays at their church school. Sienna went in to get her dad, and as soon as she saw us he said, "No thank you. We're fine." I was hoping we would have an experience like Harriet Uchtdorf in Pres. Uchtdorf's talk, Fourth Floor, Last Door. We left and eventually Oliver came around the corner behind us on his skateboard. We started talking to him and told him more about what we do as missionaries. He said, "Thanks really cool." He told us his parents aren't Christian. I hesitated to go on because he's just a little kid and his parents weren't with us, but I decided to go ahead anyway. I gave him the Book of Mormon that was in my hands and showed him the pictures. He loved it because it was bendy and not stiff like his hard bound Bible at home. ;) We gave him a Plan of Salvation pamphlet to read too and he was pretty excited. We hope that he keeps the Book of Mormon and that someday he'll join the church.

I want to share some quotes with you that I love.

"A happy attitude and smiling countenance could boost one over almost any misfortune. Every individual is responsible for his/her own happiness." Ada Bitner Hinckley

"If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble." Henry B. Eyring

I hope you all know I love you. I'm your sister. We are family. Share the good news with someone this week, okay?

Love,

Sister Beardall

Let's do this.

Sis. Penrod and I went to a Ceramics shop in Guildford on Pday.

There were about 6 antique shops we went in. Pretty interesting!

We played ping pong in the Guildford Hotel. (There was a fire and it has been turned into a restaurant.) 

I just really like Palm Trees.

A perfect palm tree.

San Churros for the win. I had an expiring voucher so we HAD to go.

Haha. 

Ikea has the BEST Sweedish Meatballs! Pretty cheap too! 

I brought my watercolors and look what she did.

Look at these clouds!!! There was lightning in them later that night.

This rooster wins prizes in shows. It's perfect.

Just some roos doing what they do.

Sister's Study

Sister's Study 2

How beautiful upon the paving are the feet of those that publish peace... (Mosiah 15:6) Hahaha. Jokes.

Love heart.

Love heart again. I think it was a sign from Heaven. 

I'm just too bright...