3Nephi11

MOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy cow! Seeing those pictures of Branten pitching threw me so far back to playing in those tournaments when I was his age. Man he is looking awesome! I am so glad that he is still willing to go where ever the coach wants him! Help him be better than I was and always be happy that he is playing the game that he loves as well as allowing other kids to experience and grow in their own way! Man he looks soooooo good! He is getting so big too! I forgot how big my brothers are going to be when I get home! I am so happy that he is healthy and has your looks, drive, love, compassion, amio (like attitude), and then has dads love for baseball like it all works out for that kid! Just tell him to keep it up and to always remember that if he is having fun and always looking for the good things in that game that there will never be a day/game that he leaves mad/sad.

Easton! He is trying to play first! Oh my word that is like the perfect position for him! He is such a stud! I hope that he is all in all just enjoying being out there and having a blast every single day no matter where he is put! I know that he is because lets be honest you could put Easton in a room full of drug addicts and he would still find a way to have an awesome time with all of them and leave with a huge smile! That is sooo cool is he still with his little squeeze Rachel or are they "taking a break". LOL I can't believe that he is sooo old! Man I hope he is still doing awesome and just enjoying being awesome! 

Jaden! I think that it is awesome he is just enjoying soccer! One thing that I wish I would've played more while I was in the young ages.... ;) That is good he has a job! Getting all of that money so that he can pay to come back with me to Samoa one day! Is he excited to be on his last year of high school or is he just kinda whatever about the whole thing? Has he started to go to Mission Prep? Does he have a PMG? I really hope that he is studying that every day! I know I wish I would've done that my entire senior year! But in all reality is he constantly in focus of his mission or is his mind on other things? As I have been out here I have gained a desire to study constantly! I truly regret not having this spirit while I was home. I hope that he is taking the initiative to read the BoM every single day! No matter how much or what he reads I hope that he is constantly working to find a time to at least read one chapter every day! I know the power that the BoM has had in my mission just by simply reading it for one hour every day! Seriously everything runs so much better throughout the day! I hope that he tries to start making that a habit before he enters to the mission field.

Crazy! Layton is home (for once) and I hope he is enjoying the atmosphere of BLANDing. Tell him I love him and to keep doing good! I have no concerns about that child.

No I have not received my card yet and my money is now currently at 0. So I am just working off of what members give us throughout the day and just living the life, eating bananas, drinking coconuts, and living the island life. 

I love my new camera! It helps so much that it is waterproof. There have been many rainstorms as well as crazy children so it has been a blessing non the less. 

No I am still trying to fill the 32GB card! I am almost there just don't you worry! I will send it asaf (as soon as filled)

Shoes nah! I haven't gotten anything sense you sent the protein and the oatmeal! I am still waiting so don't you worry mom! 

That is awesome you all get to head out to Florida on Friday! And YES I WANT ALL THE PICTURES FROM FLORIDA I WANT TO SEE EVERYONE!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how excited I am to see everyone in Florida! So yes please send pictures!

Thank you for the love! I will take it and use it every day!

The work is going You will hear about it in my weekly!

Just know that I love you and I am working hard! 

Alofa atu

Elder Bethea

This week was an awesome one! We were able to set some dates with a couple of our families that we have been able to find. This is just one of the amazing experiences that I had this week.

We went over to a potentials house and she had the Matai (chief of the village) over at her house so she rescheduled. I constantly could not get her out of my head that entire day! So I prayed that night to help me know what I should do to help Fa understand our message the next day. We went over and she invited us for "just a second". As we sat down I asked her if she had a chance to read the Book of Mormon. She stated that she didn't but read the Restoration pamphlet...the entire day after we left. She compared everything to the bible and said that everything that we teach is in the bible! I testified to her that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but then she interrupted and said that she thinks that the Mormons and the LMS church teach the same thing. I testified and taught her the differences for 20 minutes and she was unable to understand why our gospels were different. Then I told her about the BoM and how that was the evidence of the truthfulness of our gospel. She looked at me weird so I asked her to grab her Book of Mormon so we could all read together 3Nephi11. She stated that she would only listen to us read because her eye sight was pretty bad but she would try to follow along as well as she could. As me and my companion read I could see tears enter into her eyes. Then she stopped the two of us and asked if she could read. Then she read the last few verses of chapter 11. After she finished she looked at us and told us she knew what she had to do. She then told us she needed to be baptized by the proper authority! I invited her but she told us that she needed to talk to the old lady first but said yes! Her and her two daughters as well will enter into the waters of baptism. We are not sure when but probably in August. 

Christ is our Savior. He visited America and taught a perfect gospel. We have that perfect gospel in this lifetime and it is my humble privilege to donate two years of my life to focus on the progression of His Gospel. 

I love all of you and thank you so much for your love and support!

Alofa atu

Elder Bethea