Week 53

This last week I hit 1 YEAR in the mission and I can't begin to describe what the mission means to me. I have never done something so difficult yet SO rewarding in my whole life. Nothing has ever brought me so much joy. 

"Long before leaving our earthly home to serve a full time mission, we left heavenly parents to fulfill our mortal mission. We have a Father in Heaven who knows us-our strengths and weaknesses, our abilities and our potential. He knows which mission president and companions and which members and investigators we need in order to become the missionary, wife, and mother we are capable of becoming.

Just as with missionaries past and present, the Lord knows you and has a mission experience prepared for you. He knows each of your companions and what you will learn from each of them. He knows each area in which you will labor, the members you will meet, the people you will teach, and the lives you will impact for eternity. Through your devoted service and willing sacrifice, your mission will become holy ground to you."-Christopher Waddell

 

The mission truly is holy ground for me. It's here in the streets of Chile where I have found myself and have found my Savior. It's here in Chile that I have gained another family. It's here in Chile where my life has been changed forever! 

I am very aware that the mission would be impossible without God and His help. 

"Yeah I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak. Therefore I will not boast of myself but I will boast of my God for in His strength I have been able to do all things. Behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land Chile for which I will praise His name forever." Alma 26:12

I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ. I have felt His help and love every day in my mission. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and help lighten the load of another. 

Eat some pie for me.

Hermana Beardall

 

 

Saying goodbye to Hermana Bohling

Starting to celebrate early

Hermana Mariaca





Our apartment

Training

 

 

UN ANO!

 



 

Week 52

This week Elder Teixeira who is president of our area and a seventy came to visit our mission and it was amazing! They testified of the Book of Mormon and the power it has to change lives and I left feeling so excited to share this gospel with everyone. Especially with all that is happening in the world. We heard that 8 earthquakes happened in the past week and I have no doubt that the second coming is getting closer and closer. I have never been so motivated to talk with everyone!

This week we found 2 Haitians in the street and ended up teaching them a lot in the past few days. We were able to receive a Book of Mormon in Creole and in Spanish and promised that if they read the two together they would learn Spanish. Yesterday they came to church and told us that they know the Book of Mormon has power because they are learning more and more Spanish every day. I feel so incredibly blessed for this book and for the impact it has made on my life. I haven't missed a single day in almost 6 years and I feel like I wont be able to miss a single day for the rest of my life. I know without a doubt that God loves us and wants the very best for us. He wants us to be happy and knows that the only true happiness is found in this gospel. I am so incredibly happy to be a missionary at this time in my life and don't want my time to run out. I am so grateful for you all and pray you have an amazing week and lighten the load of another.

Hermana Beardall

Rainy days with my companions
 

 

 

 

My daughter in the mission- I miss her so much!

 

 The city - Los Condes (This is where the Mission President lives)

We got to travel there to get my companions Visa.

Week 51

Okay being a missionary during Christmas time is the best! Our mission has gotten so excited for #illuminatetheworld and we have been sharing it with everyone! If you haven't seen the video I beg of you to go watch it and share it with everyone you possibly can. I am really trying to lose myself in the service of others this month to not think about home and invite you all to serve every day before Christmas too.

This week we found a family that began progressing so fast! We had a family home evening with them this Saturday and they assisted Sunday. There is a happiness I can't describe in teaching a family and watching them change drastically. I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for my family and the life I have had with them thanks to this gospel. Yesterday marked 12 years since I was baptized and even though I didn't fully understand the decision I was making, I am so grateful I did. And also so grateful for my parents for raising me with the gospel in our home. 

I know this life is not easy but with Christ, it is more than doable.

He lives.

He loves us.

He knows us.

He understands us.

He knows the silent pleadings of our hearts.

He will never abandon us.

I love you all and pray for you daily. Have a stellar week you hooligans. 

Hermana Beardall 

 

#Illuminatetheworld - My friend Patricia

Having Family Home Evening with an investigator family.

STL Training

 

 

It's been a LONG LONG Day! Gift from Pamela and Felipe. 

My companions and our new apartment.

 

 

My desk. :)

 

Week 50

I cannot believe I am in the cyber sending yet another letter. Time is flying by. This week was filled with ups and downs just like every week in the mission but I am so grateful to be here in Talagante with 2 companions. There is never a dull moment with Hermana Henriquez and Hermana Bohling. Never. Yesterday we were heading to our sector when a 50 year man stopped us and began talking to us. We got excited thinking that he was interested in the gospel when he touched my arm and said,"Diga mama guapa" translation. "Say hot mama" hahaha we basically ran away and started dying laughing. Flippin Raul.

Thursday was Thanksgiving as you all know and its always super hard during holidays knowing your family is together while you are alone in another country. We all got home Thursday night kind of bummed so I decided with Hermana Bohling to make our own Thanksgiving. We cooked a ton of breakfast food and ate till we were sick. I will never forget my Thanksgiving in Chile. 

I often think of my life without the mission and just feel so grateful to be here. I am so grateful for my companions from all over the world, for converts, ward members, everything. The mission is my MTC for life!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I love you all.

Hermana Alexandra Kay Beardall

 

Beautiful Talagante!

 

 

 

 

 This week we bought many things.. toilet paper. plunger. laxatives.

 The people here feed us gooood....reallll good!

 Our Thanksgiving FEAST!

Week 49

This week I hit my 20th birthday in my new sector and I have got to be honest, it wasn't all that great. Nobody in my ward knew it was my birthday, we worked all day in the hot sun, and I wasn't with my family. I was kind of feeling sorry for myself when I thought of my 20 years of life and all the blessings I have received. I have had so many good memories, learning experiences, and have received so much help from my Savior. To sacrifice a birthday wasn't easy but I was happy to do so for my Savior! 

Talagante is absolutely beautiful and I feel SO blessed to serve here. I miss Los Heroes a ton but I know its my time to help others here. I am loving having 2 comps and I am loving getting to know so many people here. My companions were so annoyed with me this last week because I couldn't stop talking about how green and pretty it is here. They don't understand I am from the desert...haha I cannot believe I am making my way to a year in the mission. I love this country more than I can say and am so honored to serve here. Thank you for all the birthday wishes! I love you all.

Hermana Beardall 

 

 

 

Week 48

This week I finished 6 months in Los Heroes and I have to say it was the most fulfilling time of my mission. I learned to confide in my Savior more than I ever have in my life and I was sooo blessed. It about killed me to leave my family in Los Heroes, I felt like I was leaving the airport all over again. But now is my time to serve here in Talagante. Talagante is super green and we live so close to the mountains which makes me feel like I am home. I am now in a trio with Hermana Bohling from Indiana and Hermana Henriquez from Chile. We are super excited to give it our all this transfer and hopefully see miracles come because of it.

I am so incredibly grateful to serve my Savior for just a short 18 months. I am blown away to think a year ago I was preparing for the mission and had no idea what blessings were awaiting for me. I know that God is watching over me and each of you.

 

It's not always easy to be a member of this church, but its not any easier to live without it. Hang in there friends and family, I love you and will pray for you all this week,

Hermana Beardall

Saying goodbye in Los Heroes

 

Birthday cake/party at our bishops house.

 

 

 

 

Birthday outfit from my sweet bishop and his family.

 Farewell Hermana Alcantara

 

 

New companions - Hermana Bohling & Hermana Henriquez

 

Week 47

Here we are in November and I feel like I just got here yesterday. Last week for Halloween we walked around the whole night giving out candies and mormon.org cards with our number, it was a lot of fun but I sure missed home. I keep thinking it will get easier to be far from home but it never does, I think I just get stronger. 

This last week I was talking to my bishop and his wife who are like my parents here about the mission. We started talking about success and I was telling them how I have hardly entered a house my last 6 months here in Los Heroes. I have actually spent most of my time outside. haha I don't feel like I have had a ton of success helping people become converted to the gospel. But I can say with all my heart that here in Los Heroes I feel like I have been converted myself. I knew before the mission that the church was true but I don't know to what extent. Being out here alone has left only the Savior as an option. Jesus Christ has become my rock in every aspect and I am so grateful for the trials that have helped me turn to Him. I was walking Thursday in 110 degree weather with 2 blisters on the soles of my feet and a huge stomach ache thinking about dropping dead when the idea came to me to just plead for help from my Father in Heaven. I know He listens to our prayers and answers in His timing. I know I am being converted myself here in the mission and that I am being prepared myself to be a better mother and wife. I can't explain how much I love this gospel, my Savior, and the people of Chile.

I LOVE YOU ALL

Hermana Beardall

 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 46

This week Agustina was baptized!! 

The family of Agustina were less-active and said that they watched us walk up and down their street but never had the courage to stop us and talk to us. One day we were kind of bummed after an appointment with an investigator fell through and walked past Agustinas house when her mom left and shouted, "Hermanas, come here" Long story short we began talking to her family and invited her family to come to church with us that Sunday. They came for 2 months and Agustina got baptized yesterday. I know God has a plan for each of us and will take us by the hand and lead us if we let Him. I know families can be together now more than ever and just love the Alvarez family. 

This week I got to leave another part of Maipu to receive training from another leader Hermana Morrell. We were 8 Hermanas in the apartment from all over the world and it made me realize how much I love the mission. I am so excited for what the next 7 months brings.

 

I LOVE YOU ALL

Hermana Beardall

 

Agustina's baptism

 

 

 

 

 

Martha

 

 

STL Training in the City

 Hermana Morrell from Elk Ridge

 

 Bolivia, Arizona, Bolivia, Utah

 

Week 45

Los Heroes is a huge sector full of possibilities but it’s also very wealthy. Everyone has huge homes here but are never in them because they are always working. When people finally come home at 8 or 9, the last thing they want to do is listen to two Hermanas talk about Jesus. For a lot of people here, their God is money. I have struggled in this sector at times but I have always known I am here for a reason. This last week we went into the mission office and a few of the elders started talking to me. They asked what sector I was in and when I said Los Heroes they are were saying negative comments. I left feeling so discouraged. We ended up contacting the whole rest of the day and didn’t enter a single house. We trudged home and I prayed the whole walk home. Just then my district leader called and said, "Hermana Beardall. I want to read you a scripture. Ether 12:37….

“And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me, If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful. Wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my father." I heard that and just started bawling. I knew then God is aware of me. He is aware of His children here in Los Heroes. And even though some of His children don’t accept Him, He loves them still. 

I want you all to know I know this gospel is true. I can promise you I would not willingly let people yell at me and slam their doors in my face and say horrible things to me If I didn’t have a testimony of what I am doing here. I know God loves me enough to sometimes let me go through hard things. He gives me trials to make me stronger.

I talked to my mission president today and he said, “Did you ever think before your mission you would be talking to strangers all day about Jesus with a Bolivian woman?" I have to admit, that thought never crossed my mind. hahaha

I know God is aware of us all. 

 I LOVE YOU ALL

New workout jacket :)

Bougainvillea - Reminds me of home!

Teacher from the CCM

 

I LOVE CHILE!