It's Christmastime!! Ahhhh!

Dear Family and Friends,

Christmas holidays does make it hard to get the days of the week straight. I find as a missionary, days of the week are SO hard to get. Sunday is the only thing that helps me remember, cause we do the same sorts of things every day and then we go to church on Sunday, so I remember what day it is.  haha. 

I think everyone has times where they just struggle, and as a new convert it can be really hard, especially if you feel alone. I have noticed that a lot with the recent converts we visit. The most important thing to remember is that our Saviour is there for us and understands how we feel and what we are going through. There are points of time where I have felt like I don't feel 100% committed to the gospel. That is because Satan tells us that we don't really know, that we didn't really feel anything, and that God isn't there to hear us. But that is ALL false. Satan is called the Father of Lies for good reason, because he is. When you feel that way, just remember that EVERYONE has felt that way at one point. I have, and because Jesus feels all that we have felt, He has felt it to. 

Something that has helped me when I feel alone, is to really have a conversation with God. One thing I have done, on my mission and before as well, is when I pray before reading my scriptures (because starting study with prayer is SO important!) that I just leave the connection to God open. So pray, but don't close the prayer. Then start reading, and just talk to God as you read. Ask questions about what you are studying, and have a journal and pen nearby, and I can promise you that you will feels gods love and get answers! It is amazing. Sometimes it takes time, but having those kind of conversations with God can really strengthen us. As we give him time to respond during our prayers, we can really just have a conversation with him in our own way. That is just an idea though :) Alma 5:26 - "If ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" - you can feel it if you pray and ask for it. Just talk to God. He is ALWAYS there for us! Never forget that. 

On Monday we went shopping with Vicki, and then went into town and got secret Santa gifts for our district. There were SO MANY PEOPLE IN TOWN. Christmas shopping is insane. We then went to the Bernards for dinner, and after we played Christmas charades with them, which was SO fun! Ffion is so good at guessing charades..and I am horrible at it! Monday was good though :) 

We had a district meeting on Tuesday and gave eachother our gifts!! Sister Gaffney had drawn Elder Jones name, and I had Elder Wilson - so naturally we got them children's toys haha. They LOVED them. Elder Wilson got some toy guns cause he is from texas, and I think he probably is driving Elder Kent insane with them... I got a disco ball from Elder Winterton, and Sister Gaffney got a wooden flute from Elder Kent...it was pretty fun! We then went to a lesson...but got flogged (which means they didn't come :( ) Christmas is wonderful, but Christmas week is really hard to teach people in, cause no one wants to see us till after New Years. So that has been hard. But its ok! 

On Wednesday we got to see Rosemary! We also got to meet her granddaughter and great granddaughter, they were at her house to pick up some packages, and it was so good to meet them! Her great granddaughter is the cutest little ginger child ever. We then had a lovely dinner with the Pettersons, and they gave us a Christmas gift as well, which was SO sweet! We were so spoiled by the ward. SO spoiled. 

Thursday - CHRISTMAS EVE!! We had a giant Christmas Eve zone meeting, which involved a zone Christmas competition, and Rhiwbina won 2nd place, so we did pretty good! There were lots of random challenges, and also we had to do a skit which was VERY entertaining. zone meeting went long, so from there we went to the Webbs and had a lovely Christmas eve with them. We played a fun board game, and just had fun. I love the Webbs! 

Friday - CHRISTMAS DAY!! Christmas was absolutely wonderful! We went to a Christmas Day service at the chapel, and then went to the Holcombes and had a GIANT DINNER. Oh my goodness. I don't think I have ever eaten so much food in my life. We also played with some lightsabers, and some funny face things, and had a lot of fun! Sister Gaffney got to Skype home, which was wonderful for her. She has a GIANT family (7 siblings and a brother in law now!). We then went from there to the Maizeys, and just played some board games with the kids. We didn't even eat cause we were sO FULL from the Holcombes, but it was so fun! I got to Skype my family, which was wonderful! It was SO good to see everyones faces and hear their voices, and just such a wonderful day in general. Christmas is a wonderful day :) 

Saturday we had our extra Pday which was weird, but it was fun! We emailed a tiny bit, uploaded a load of pictures to our flash drives so we had more space on our cameras and ipads, and then went to Sister Pembertons house for lunch, and had a lovely lunch there! I swear I have never eaten as much food as I have in the past few days...we ate so much...and then we went into town for boxing day stuff with the Elders in Cardiff and the Rhiwbina elders (who all bought new suits!) and we missed the bus home so we walked....we walked over 12 kilometeres in total this day. It was insane. And my feet hurt just a bit. BUT it is ok, we got some planning done and it was good! 

Sunday - We went to church, and we were SO ill. I haven't felt so ill for a long time, and when we came home we just crashed...the Maizeys picked us up for our DA (dinner appointment), but we just got some medicine from sister Maizey and played a couple board games once the medicine kicked in....the medicine helped SO much! we are so blessed to have such a wonderful ward who takes care of us. Church was amazing though, we had some wonderful talks about missionary work and about how every family can be missionary minded, and it was just such a good way to end the year! 

spiritual thought and CHALLENGE!

So my thought this week is just that the new year is coming! I looked at my planner this week and realized it was soon going to be 2016. For me, I have a whole 366 days of missionary work. A whole year (plus a day, cause I am pretty sure it is a leap year next year) full of missionary work. So my challenge is to focus on just one thing you want to accomplish this year, whether it be in your year full of university, your year full of high school, middle school, elementary school, your year full of being a mom, or whatever it may be. Everyone has a year full of SOMETHING. And everyone can accomplish something amazing in that year. I want to work my hardest every day to brighten at least ONE persons day. That is my goal for 2016. I want every day to be able to make someone happy, and to help at least one person. It is a good goal, a goal that will push ME to be happy every day, and to look for service, and a goal that will help others as well. So make a goal for yourself, that will push you to be better in one way, and that will help those around you! 

I love you all so much! 

Sister Emma Beazer

send real mail to:

Sister Emma Beazer

44E Heol Llanishen Fach

Cardiff, Wales

CF14 6LE

United Kingdom  

or the Mission Home Address:

Sister Emma Beazer

England Birmingham Mission

187 Penns Lane

Sutton Coldfield

West Midlands

United Kingdom

B76 1JU

e-mail anytime:

emma.beazer@myldsmail.net

The attached picture is me
shaking Elder Ballards hand. :)  

Multi zone Conference Picture - Crazy!

Multi zone Conference Picture - Respectable...

My planner for Christmas Day!

Our amazing Christmas Dinner with the Holcombes!

Christmas Dinner

Sister Gaffney!

Crazy Christmas Dinner with the Holcombes!

Our POSH dessert!
The gold bar was like..
filled with chocolate mousse
and caramel and the
gold was just coloured chocolate....
it was SO GOOD.

Christmas at the Maizey's!!
Sister Beazer skyped on Christmas Day from the Maizey's home.
Thank you Maizey Family!!
This is her Bishop and his family. The Bishop's wife is her doctor!  

MTC District kinda reunited...
Elder Clayton was at the chapel today so we took a picture!
He is serving in Cardiff as well - he was in my MTC district

Staying in Rhiwbina!

Dear Family and Friends!

So we spent Monday in Cardiff for district p-day, which was SO fun! We went on a roller coaster simulator, which actually was super fun...I'll send a video of that :) but most importantly, when we got the call that night about who was leaving and who was staying....I STAYED IN RHIWBINA!!!! WITH SISTER GAFFNEY! Which means....when she goes home at the end of this transfer on February 3rd....I will probably still be here! YAY!!! That'll be a total of 7 1/2 months in Rhiwbina...just saying. Almost half my mission! I am praying that happens cause that would be amazing!  My week has been amazing! Honestly, I was so stressed about leaving Rhiwbina, all the missionaries thought I would leave and the ward did as well, and I just cried on Monday right before we got the call that I was staying....I am so happy. I just felt like I hadn't accomplished what I needed to in Rhiwbina yet! There is things here I have to do before I leave, and I haven't done them all yet, so it was SO wonderful to get the call that I stayed! Actually, all the missionaries in my entire district stayed, which is CRAZY, so I am happy about that! 

Still together with Sister Gaffney!

Staying in Wales! YAY!

On Tuesday we saw Lisa again! She is amazing! We were able to have a really good lesson with her,  and it was wonderful! :) we went to the Jones that night for dinner, and they gave us a lovely Christmas present, and just were so sweet! They have the nicest family.

We spent Wednesday helping the Holes move! We packed up an entire house, and helped clean it, and then helped unload everything into the new house! I LOVE service and I love that we were able to just help them, and it was so fun as well! I feel like service is just the most fun thing to do, cause you get to help people and it just makes you happy! I loved it :)

On Thursday we had district meeting, which was WONDERFUL, I learned so much! We then went to see Lisa again, and to visit a few other people, and later that night went to the Holcombes for dinner. Oh how I love them :) we stopped by a few more people on the way home, and just had a lovely day!

Our District.

You can tell this district has been together for a while! ;)

Friday was our MULTI ZONE CONFERENCE!!!!! This was SO fun! We travelled to Cheltenham for a conference with the Cardiff, Merthyr, and Cheltenham missionaries! I saw sister Lowder, cause she is now serving in Worcester! We got to have a lovely spiritual meeting, and then each of the zones did an activity...we did a skit...and I was Santa Clause...it was SO fun though! We then travelled home and I had games night with Paul, who the Elders are going to be teaching now so that was fun as well! It was a LOT of travelling which was exhausting, but worth it.

Fun at the Multi-zone conference!

So good to see Sister Lowder again!

We went carolling again in city centre on Saturday! Only this time we went with the Stake Choir, and were able to sing and to share a message of Christmas with all the people around :) it was wonderful, and we invited so many people to our Stake Carol concert! We then went to see Lisa, and some other people. We got to help Rosemary with her personal progress again, which was lovely! She is almost done her faith project now! We then went and had a lovely meal with Vicki and some of her family, and we will get to spend time with them on Christmas Eve as well!

With Vicki (I stole this pic from Facebook)

Sunday was amazing! First of all, we had a lovely sacrament meeting and church in general was just lovely, as it was all focused on Christmas and sharing the message of Christ with those around us!  I played the organ and played for the Primary children as they sang, it was lovely! Sister Gaffney and I also spoke in church this Sunday, and just talked about the gifts we are giving this Christmas vs. Christmas in the past. It was lovely! That sounds like a WONDERFUL Christmas meeting! It was SO wonderful! We then had a lovely meal with the Riders, who take such good care of us, and then went to the Carol Concert! IT WAS AMAZING. I don't think I have ever been in a building with so many people, and so many people singing as LOUD as they can. It was incredible! Lisa came and so did dear Marilyn :) it was lovely!             

Spiritual thought and challenge :) 

So I have been thinking a LOT about how to focus more on Christ this Christmas, especially as a missionary, because we are focused on him all the time (or try to be anyways) so I was trying to think of what I needed to do to improve and I was reading some stuff from the lesson we were going to have on Sunday and it just says

"The Lord asked the question of His disciples, "what manner of men ought ye to be?" He then answered His own question by saying  "Even as I am." To become as He is, we must have Him on our mind - constantly in our thoughts. If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, then we must think Christlike thoughts."

So this week, I am really trying to improve on focusing my mind on just thinking Christlike thoughts. It can be easy to be impatient, frustrated, or upset with people, but I really just want to take the time to focus on how I can be Christlike, by thinking Christlike. As I focus on thinking in a kind, loving way, I think that my actions will show it! 

And so my challenge for you all is to take the time, when you get upset or frustrated, to think like the Saviour and focus on being patient, loving and kind with those around you, regardless of the circumstances. It is a wonderful time of year to take the initiative to focus more on Christ and becoming like him!    

I love you all lots!

I am so excited to see you this week! We get an hour to Skype as well, so that is exciting! Last Christmas, the missionaries only got 30-40 minutes. So we get a whole hour! I am very excited :) 

From Cardston 4th Ward!  Thank you!!

More Christmas packages from friends and family!
"I'm so spoiled!"

You got my letter? Did you get my Christmas package as well yet? Just wondering...I sent a little package. Nothing too big. I did get a letter from Aunt Angie! It was full of Missionary Christmas stories, I loved it!  I got some lovely emails from my study group from university this week! Also, they sent a giant group letter last week, I can't remember if I told you that. I am so grateful for their support..it is amazing! 

Love,

Sister Beazer  :)  

P.S.  Also Boxing Day this week (Saturday) will be my pday for next week, so please mention that on my blog and stuff so people will email me back! LOVE YOU! :) also for you to know :)  

P.S.S.  Here is a message from our district leader.....

  

e-mail anytime:

emma.beazer@myldsmail.net

send real mail to:

Sister Emma Beazer

44E Heol Llanishen Fach

Cardiff, Wales

CF14 6L3

United Kingdom  

or the Mission Home Address:

Sister Emma Beazer

England Birmingham Mission

187 Penns Lane

Sutton Coldfield

West Midlands

United Kingdom

B76 1JU

Christmas is coming.... and so are transfers....

Dear Family and Friends,

First of all...transfers are this week  so I will find out tonight
if I stay or if I leave Rhiwbina. So that is exciting...if anyone
wants to send anything to me, just send it to the mission home until
we find out what happens!

Monday - so we went to the Bernard's for dinner, it was SO lovely and
they are just so missionary minded! It is amazing the missionary work
that members can do. They can do so much more than we can as
missionaries...it is awesome. We were meant to go on exchange this
night but it ended up happening Tuesday instead! We stopped by some
people and had a lovely night.

Tuesday - Exchanges! Miracles happen on exchanges :) so we exchanged
at like...7am, which was fun. We then had to go into Cardiff for a
practice for a musical number I was helping out with, and then on the
way back we saw one of our investigators we haven't seen for AGES and
we were able to make an appointment with him, which was a miracle! We
then were also able to see Lisa again! And we had such a good lesson
with her, and it was AMAZING. We were also able to stop by another
investigator we haven't seen for a long time as well, which was
wonderful. We then stopped by a new friend, who is a motorcyclist, a
DJ, and also has his masters degree in science...it was quite
interesting. He is reading the Book of Mormon, and told us if he
decides he doesn't like it, he will throw it at us next time he sees
us. I can't tell if he is joking or serious...but...that's ok! We were
also able to drop by our dear friend with the fluffy dogs....who are
psycho. But I love them :) and we also taught Wendy again! Tuesday was
just wonderful, and we exchanged back that night :)

Wednesday - we saw Lisa again, and then travelled to go visit someone
who said we could come back, but they ended up not being home...but
it's ok! Cause we had a lovely walk, and were able to talk to lots of
people along the way. We were also able to visit Marilyn, and she gave
us a ton of presents for Christmas! She is the sweetest thing. She
gave us these cool German Christmas ornaments that are kind of like
Russian dolls, and a lovely candle holder and these tiny hand painted
ornaments from Germany as well. She travels a lot and so she wanted to
give us something from her travels. What a sweet thing. We also got
invited to youth night, as did the elders and we played
hockey...and...IT WAS SO FUN! It was a good end to a lovely day.

Thursday - we saw a few people in the morning, had district meeting,
and then we went carolling in town with a lot of other missionaries.
We had a proper missionary choir...and...surprising enough we sounded
pretty good! We were able to talk to a lot of people as well, and a
ton of people came and took some Books of Mormon and talked to us,
which was really cool to have people come up to us and ask questions,
rather than the other way around. Thursday was just wonderful :) we
had a lovely dinner after carolling and it was a wonderful day!

Friday - we had zone meeting! It was a wonderful meeting, and we got
to hear the testimonies of the missionaries who are going home. Elder
Myrtaj (one of our zone leaders) is going home this transfer, so it
was wonderful to hear those. We then went to deliver a bible to
someone who had requested it online, and searched and searched but
couldn't find their house...and ended up going to visit Rosemary. She
is the sweetest thing. We also went to a Christmas get together at the
Liassides, and had a lovely evening there.

Saturday - we did some weekly planning, went out to Marilyn's and
dropped off some Christmas cards, and did more weekly planning. We
were supposed to go see Paul, but he didn't end up coming so we didn't
get to do that today.

Sunday - I love Sunday's!! We went to church, and Lisa came and she
just loved it and we had a wonderful meeting and classes afterwards.
We walked over to the Maizey's and had dinner with them that night, and
also had Lauren, our only YSA in the ward there! She is awesome and is
putting in her mission papers soon (I am praying she goes to Canada!).
We then got to go see the Christmas devotional, which was AMAZING!
Wow. I love Christmas!

Love you!

Sister Emma Beazer

P.S.  As we are not sure where she might be in a week, you can send real mail to the mission home:

Sister Emma Beazer

England Birmingham Mission

187 Penns Lane

Sutton Coldfield

West Midlands

England, B76 1JU

United Kingdom

e-mail anytime:

emma.beazer@myldsmail.net

Cardiff

exchanges 

exchanges

zone meeting

caroling

found a chocolate on the floor!