Jan 7, 2013 "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives"

First things first: Emily got her mission call!!! J  My twin will leave in 23 days for the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission (speaking Spanish)!  I’m so proud of you Emily, and so excited!  You’re going to do so great.  And my prayers go out to you, always.  J  Congrats, parabens!  For all you peoples preparing to serve missions, be excited. The best part (or one of the best parts cause it’s all SO good) is the love that we learn to have for our investigators.  I feel such responsibility to help them all I can, and I want their success so much!  It’s cool after a while, cause it’s beginning to feel like a part of their families.  It’s legit. J  God’s love is really great when you feel it for other people.  Also, when you feel His love for you yourself.

On Wednesday (1/2/13), Elder Lago got a phone call from President Martins, saying that we were having an emergency transfer.   Elder Lago is going to open a new area, and I will stay in Osasco with a new companion:  Elder Nielsen.  I learned a lot about reliance on the Lord while with Elder Lago—also lessons in humility, patience, diligence, and love.

Elder Nielsen is from Sacramento, California.  He’s been on the mission for only two months longer than I have.  He is a hard working, high-spirited, positive, and faithful missionary who really understands our role in the conversion of people.  Super cool.  Such a blessing.  He’s very bold/direct, with people. He “gets in their grill” as DF would say, but he’s also very friendly.  I’m gonna learn a lot with him, and I’m excited he’s going to wrap up my trainamento.  We also have two more newbies in our zone, fresh out of the CTM.  It’s crazy to remember I was as lost and scared as they are only one transfer ago.  Time.  Crazy.

  We had the baptism of a lady who is 66 years old this week.  I got to baptize her.  So great!  J  Elder Nielsen and I already have plans to baptize everyone here in Osasco.  Yeah, stay posted, we’re going to experience miracles here, just wait.

Hmmm...  What else?   I got hit on by a prostitute yesterday (so sad); a couple we are teaching has decided to get married (yea!); I got letters from the Wood Family, Mary E, and Elder Shane McQuarrie (Thank you guys)! J  It was crazy getting Shane’s letter, ’cause he returns from his mission in Chicago Illinois in only about seven days.  One week.  Wow.  On Wednesday, when Elder Lago and I were traveling by taxi to the mission home, there was an airplane flying really close, getting ready to land—and I felt for Shane.  I felt like I was in that plane returning home, and it was so good, and so sad too.  My mission is going to go by really fast.  L  I already don’t want to leave, and also can’t wait to return, too.  It’s very surreal.  Good luck Elder McQuarrie, my prayers go out to you.  And I know it’s going to be me soon, flying home.  Whoo.  Just a little more than 19 months left.  Last thing: It was cool starting the New Year this week, because for me, this is THE year for the Lord.  For the year 2013, every moment will be spent in His service.  Legal.  A whole year!  I’m here to live a consecrated life.  It is my prayer that all of us, whether serving a mission or serving other ways, preparing for one or preparing for other things, will dedicate this year to our God, to His work, His holy purposes.  I love you all, keep choosing the right.  J

Love, Elder David Bean