Transferred to the island of Fogo!‏

December 5, 2011

Hello my lovely family and friends,

 

It has been a looooong time since I have written to everyone, and I appologize for that. A lot has happened and I do not even know where to start...

 

Last transfer I was transferred to Praia (again) and was working as General Secretary in the mission office. All though I leanred a lot, I am sooooooooo happy to be out of there!! Two weeks ago I was transferred to a little beach/mountain town called Mosteiros on the island of Fogo. I am here training another mini missionary, Sister Da Costa, from Assomada, Santiago. We are the FIRST Sisters to EVER serve here in Mosteiros. There has never been sisters here before. I think its because of how difficult of an area it is to walk. We have the LARGEST area in all of the mission split with another companionship of Elders. The Elders live a 45 minute walk from us so we only see them when when things happen at the church.

 

The branch here is so great. There has only been one set up elders working here in Mosteiros here for months and they have worked hard. About 4 months ago the branch of Mosteiros had only about 30 active members. Yesterday there were a grand total of 125 people at church yesterday!!! So it is growing like crazy...thanks to the hard work of the elders. Our Mission President wants to create 2 branches here come the first of January. The Elders will have a new branch up in their area and we will continue to have the branch in our area. The problem is, we currently have 3 active members in our entire area that takes 2 and a half hours to cross on foot...like if we start on one far point of our area and walk to the other furthese point of our area, it will be 2 and a half hours before covering our entire area. And on top of that, in two weeks we will be taking over the mountains (if you see the pictures I sent you will see those great big mountains....up at the top of those mountains is currently the Elders area, but we are gonna have to start hiking straight up it and take over the town up there in 2 weeks) and one other large zone of the Elders...because it will all become one branch. Then the rest of Mosteiros that wraps around over towards the volcano will become another branch that the Elders will be working with. So lots and lots is going on here and it is very exciting.

 

Our area is beautiful. It reminds me of Hawaii. Like how you are RIGHT on the coast, but also have the giant green mountains right there. I am a little nervous to take over the mountains. I takes about an hour to hike straight up them on a rugged trail that goes straight up. I heard its hard and super tiring. But up top is where they have all the banana, orange and other big fruit and tropical trees are. So it will all be worth it.

 

As far as holidays go...they blow here in the mission. For Thanksgiving I forgot that it was even Thanksgiving until I was writing in my journal that night and it suddenly dawned on me. Pretty lame. But seeing that Im the only American for miles, nobody celebrates it for me to really remember. I did just get a big Thanksgiving package from my lovely and amazing mother though on Friday, and me and my comp are going to cook up a good feast tomorrow.

 

I am not sure if Christmas will be any better then Thanksgiving was. People are so poor here that they dont have money to really celebrate it here. I heard unless you were in an area with a "missionary couple" serving near by, Christmas often times is just like any other normal day in the mission. And I DEFINATLY have no missionary couple near by...nor do we have any missionaries that are really near by. But us 6 companionships of missionaries that are here on the island of Fogo (that would be 12 missionaries in total), are gonna maybe try and have a small Christmas celebration the Thursday or Friday before. We will see. But, either way, I will get to talk to family that day...and that is always very exciting.

 

Well, I am pleased to say that I am very happy right now and am loving my new area, companion, and the mission. It is truly an adventure. We are working hard and looks like we will be having lots of success here in Mosteiros. The future will tell. All I know, with faith and trust in the Lord, all is possible!

 

I love you all and have a wonderful week!

 

Love,

 

Sister Taryn Beus

arrggg!!

Nov. 28, 2011

.......So I have spent 20 minutes trying to send this ONE email to you. The internet here is rediculous. I dont have time to do a mass email anymore. It will have to wait until next week. Tell everyone I love them though. Love you!!!!

Re: Im stuck in Praia‏

November 28th, 2011

 

 

Hey Mom,

 

So I am here in Mosteiros, Fogo....and LOVING IT!!!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL here. BIG green mountains and right on the coast.

 

So first to answer your few questions...

 

Did you get it all furnished? Nope, we live in the NICEST house of the entire mission. It is HUGE! But it is empty as heck and looks rediculous because of the little we have in it.
How old is she?  How old is who? My comp? 21....she is a mini missionary from Assomada (thats on the island of Santiago...same island as Praia). She will be getting her call while she is here serving with me this transfer. She should get it right before Christmas.
Have you heard from your last companion?  Sister Vicente...yea she calls me ALL the time. She was my favorite comp by far. I love her. She is actually serving another mini mission right now in Sal.
When does she get to Boston?  Be sure to get an address for me so I can send her something. She is suppose to leave for the Provo Mtc in February...but that all depends if she has a visa yet or not.
Are you close to the Elders? There are only one set of elders that also serve here in Mosteiros. But they are a 45 minute walk away from us.
How many are there inFogo? There are 7 companionships currently on the island.
How are you feeling? Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!
Have you run out of water there? Only once...but it only was for a few hours.

 

Mom, I am so so so so so so so happy with where I am. This is seriously exactly what I needed. I will explain more details in my mass email.

 

As far as the packages...I really dont know. The thing is is that they have to wait until someone travels from Praia to Fogo....and then i am a one hour drive to the OTHER side of the island from where you fly into. It only takes 2 hours to drive around the entire island. It is really small. But it is great.

 

Well, I love you. Thanks for everything. Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving...I cant quite say the same. But what can you expect on the mission.

 

Love you Mom!

 

Taryn

The Greatest Gift

December 12, 2011

  I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.
  No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
  Her presents were sandals, blouses, and skirts, a shoulder bag and luggage...no bother.
  I've bought her all new clothes because... This year I'm giving Christ
  my son.

  I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
  I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.
  Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
  Abraham seems closer because, This year I'm giving Christ my daughter.

  I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
  Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
  My loss will be her presence, I'll miss her smile a ton
  For 8 more months we will pray for her, I'm giving Christ my daughter.

  I stare at her picture every single day. I memorize her eyes, their shine.
  She has always hungered for the part of her, that makes her soul divine.
  The stories and lessons she always heard, His choice and mine are one.
  I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year, I'm giving Him my daughter.

  Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand
  Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
  It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that she's in a far off land.
  My gift has taken years to make, This year... I'm giving Christ my daughter.

  I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.
  Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.
  For He has done it all before Greater love - there could be none.
  For years ago God gave to me, His only begotten son.

  The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;
  Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what she'll say.
  Because I know Christ needs her, Until all the gathering's done,
  My gift has taken years to make.  This year...I'm giving Christ my daughter.
Sweet Taryn,
YOU are among my GREATEST GIFTS of a loving Heavenly Father, and because He gave me YOU, I KNOW He loves me...MORE than I could ever comprehend.  You are the light of my life and I am so honored to be your mom. Give Christ your all this Christmas season and for the next 8 months.  Give the Gift of the Gospel to the entire island of FOGO this Christmas....I know it was
the greatest gift I've EVER received for Christmas. 

Know that you are loved and loved and loved soooooooooooo much!!!!

Mom

Praia-Serving in the office

November 21, 2011

 

Hi Mom,

 

So first I am going to respond to everything you wrote and asked me in order before reporting about my week:

 

Yes I did receive the letters from the achievement day girls. I gotta it a little over a week ago. They are WONDERFUL and it made me so happy. I did not however get anything from the primary. Send me an address for them if you would like (like to the primary president) and I will write them a letter thanking them even though I did not get it yet. I have not yet written to the achievment day girls. Being in the office there is no time for ANYTHING!!! Even on pday we are working. This morning we have been at the Portugal and Brazil embassies since 8:30am until 1pm...THAT was our pday!!! But I should get time later this week so I will for sure get a letter to them.

 

Tate is so cute. Those pictures are too funny.  I miss them all!

 

Here are responses to your questions:

 

Where do you live? I live in an apartment that is about a ten minute taxi drive from the mission office and mission home. 
Is the office in the mission home? They were until President Oliveira become mission president. They got him a new home that is snazzy and super nice about 5 minutes away in a sky rise apartment complex...the largest here in Praia. Super super nice.
Who do you live with? I live with my companions, Sister Laimana (from Hawaii) and Sister Gomes (Portugal)
Do you go home to eat, or do you eat with the mission president? If we get to eat, we go home. The office is so busy we sometimes only get a 15 minute lunch when the rest of the missionaries get 2 hours!
Do they run out of water where you are? More here then anywhere else in this country. The day I got here they ran out and we went two weeks before getting any back. We lived off of taking showers, drinking water, brushing our teeth, cooking food, ect. out of 5 liter jugs during that time that we would take and fill up at the mission office every day.
Are you in your mission presidents ward? Yes...but that doesnt mean anything cause he attends another branch every week.
Do you get to know his family since you are in the office? It is only him and his wife. But I know them both VERY WELL being in the office.
Are there Elders in the office too? Yes, we are the general secretarys. There are also Financial secretarys who are a companionship of Elders, and then the APs.
Can you listen to music in the office? Negative
Can you get eggs and oil to make cake mixes? YES YES YES
Take pictures of the office. Already have
Did you get another package? The last package I got was your Halloween Package a little over a week ago.

 

 The office is TIRING as heck. Like I find myself more exhausted some days then when I would work a 20 hour day for Gay.  

But.......................I am being TRANSFERRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo HAPPY!!! Crazy Happy as you like to put it. And my transfer is PERFECT for me.

 

So tomorrow I will be flying with my new mini missionary companion that I will be training (again) to the island of Fogo!!! President Oliveira is having me open a new area (again) for sisters. Only this time, I am opening an area that has NEVER had sisters ever before!! I will be in a little town called Mosteiros. All of the Elders call Mosteiros the "boonies" of Cabo Verde. I guess its just small and poor. But there is A LOT of work to be done there. I am assigned to build a seconed branch in Mosteiros. I will be flyng with my mini missionary tomorrow (she is from Assomada, SanTiago...the same island as Praia). We will arrive in São Filipe where we will stay for a day to buy kitchen appliances and food to take to our home in Mosteiros (it is a brand new apartment the mission just bought for us so it has NOTHING in it). Then on Wednesday, a truck will pick us up for us to put the beds and everything else in the back, and then ride in the back of the truck for one hour to our little town. I am sooooooooooooo sooooooooo soooooooooooooooooooooooooo dang excited!!! Oh, and President told me that I will be with this new mini training her and practicing as I wait for my real companion to arrive from the MTC...so aka, I will be training a new missionary next transfer after new years. I am excited about everything and I know that the Lord had a hand in all of this.

 

So that is about it as for right now. I will be sending a bunch of photos that I hope you get from my time here in Praia these last 4 weeks. I will write a big mass email next week once I am in Mosteiros. I have to finish working on trying to download photos.

 

As far as Thanksgiving goes, I am not so sure if I will be celebrating it. I will be with a Cape Verdian sister and according to the rest of the Elders, we'll be living in the boonies. So unless I somehow manage to do something with missionaries who are in other parts of the islands, I dont think Ill be doing much. But thats ok. Eat lots of food for me. Ill probably be eating the typical beans and rice that day :)

 

Oh...and I dont hit my half way mark next month...I hit my half way mark in TWO days!!! Yup, I have already hit 9 months! February to November...thats 9 months! Its crazy to think that I have already gotten this far. Its been a rollercoaster but I have learned a lot. I am looking forward to these last 9 months.

 

Well Mom, I gotta go upload pictures. I love you!!!

 

Your little girl in Africa,

 

November 21, 2011

 

Hi everyone,

 

Here are a few more pictures of my area in Praia and from this last transfer. I have a lot more that I tried to send but the computer here is just wayyyy too slow. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Taryn Beus

November 21, 2011

 

Hi Family and Friends,

 

Here are some pictures from these last four weeks that I wanted to share. These were all taken in my area in Praia. The little girls are a family that we have been teaching. The mother was baptized my first week here in Praia a month ago and we have been helping the oldest daughter get prepared to be baptized as well. They are probably my FAVORITE family in this area. They live in a one bedroom 10x10 cement home. It is the mother and her 3 girls...and she is 7 months pregnant with another one on the way. No husband. No help. And hardly anything to live off of. It is very humbling working amongst these people every day and always makes me want to help in any way possible. These people are all truly incredible. We are so blessed back at home for the good life we truly have.

 

Love,

 

Sister Taryn Beus

 

 

November 21, 2011

Hi everyone,

 

Just thought Id share a few pictures of the adventure me and my companion Sister Laimana did for Halloween. This is a Christ statue that is placed at the top of this mountain that we decided to climb up to on Halloween day. We needed to do something fun this day. So while our other companion went with some other sisters to get their hair done, this is what Sister Laimana and I did. It was a lot of fun. We like to call it "Little Rio De Janeiro, Brasil".

 

Love,

 

Sister Taryn Beus

Praia Zone Conference

November 14, 2011

Hi Mom,

 

We had zone conference this last week and here is a bad photo of part of our zone here in Praia. Oh, I forgot to mention, Elder Gerald Caussé from the area 70 was here this entire last week. He went home today. He gave us a training on Tuesday and then spoke at our District Conference yesterday. He is a beautiful piano player too!! But it was really good. I learned a lot.

 

I wanted to send more pics but they are loading SUPER slow this week. So here is a pic of my zone and one of me doing what I do best every day...studying the scriptures :) Im a lame missionary.

 

Anyways, love you Mom!!!

Back to serving in Praia‏

November 7, 2011

Hello family and friends,

I just wanted to share with you all some pictures from these last few weeks here in Praia with my two new companions, Sister Gomes (from Portugal) and Sister Laimana (from Hawaii). It rained a lot last week and our entire area turned into a giant mud slide. I wound up slipping and falling and getting mud all over me. It was pretty funny.

We have also had two baptisms since I have arrived here, Maná and Domingos.

I hope you like the pictures!

Sister Taryn Beus

Add caption

Goodbye Mindelo :(‏

November 7, 2011

 

Hello family and friends,

 

I am very sad to say that I have been transferred out of Mindelo. I am now serving back in Praia as General Secretary in the Mission Office. I have been here now for a few weeks, and although I am learning a lot, I really miss my last area. I espcecially miss my companion, Sister Vicente, who has returned back home in Fogo to prepare for her mission in Boston. We were both very very sad to leave our area and to seperate from each other.

 

Here are a few photos of me with all of the wonderful people I met, taught and served with during my time serving in Cha D`Alecrim in the city of Mindelo. I just wanted to share some of them with you all.

 

Lots of love,

 

Sister Taryn Beus

 

 

Im stuck in Praia‏

Hey Mom,

 

So i am officially back in Praia. I am secretary now in the mission office. Its ok but I am still sad that I am not in Mindelo still, in my other area. Im pretty bummed about it all but Im slowly getting over it.  

Well, sadly thats all the time I have for now. I dont get PDAYS anymore as secretary. I have to go run to the Brazilian Embassy now before it closes in 15 minutes to request a Visa for a future missionary...sigh...

 

I love you and I will write more next week.

 

Love you!

 

Taryn

Accepting the Challenge

Mon, Oct 17, 2011

 

Hey Mom,

 

Just wanted to share with you this email my mission president sent all of us. Its just a copy of an article by Elder L Tom. Perry. It really helped me though and I think its what I needed to hear today.

 

Love you,

 

Taryn

Accept the Challenge

By Elder L. Tom Perry

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From the doctrines describing the importance of the dispensation of the fullness of times, one must have a special feeling of being privileged to be part of this final dispensation, when all things are to be accomplished in preparation for the return of our Lord and Savior. Our interests must surely be piqued as we consider where we fit in this divine plan.

As we look at the periods past and our own era in the Church, it is our responsibility to participate in the ever-reaching destiny of the Church. It would seem to me that as we follow the direction of our present prophet, this will be a time of declaring the word of the Lord to the people of the earth with more boldness and more courage than we have ever known before.

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley said: We see some around us who are indifferent concerning the future of this work, who are apathetic, who speak of limitations, who express fears, who spend their time. With doubt concerning its past, they have no vision concerning its future. There is no place in this work for those who believe only in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good news. It is a message of triumph. It is a cause to be embraced with enthusiasm.

The Lord never said that there would not be troubles. This work has consistently moved forward and has never taken a backward step since its inception.

How glorious is the past of this great cause. It is filled with heroism, courage, boldness, and faith. How wondrous is the present as we move forward to bless the lives of people wherever they will hearken to the message of the servants of the Lord. How magnificent will be the future as the Almighty rolls on His glorious work touching for good all who will accept and live His gospel, and even reaching to the eternal blessing of His sons and daughters of all generations through the selfless work of those whose hearts are filled with love for the Redeemer of the world.

I invite every one of you, wherever you may be as members of this church, to stand on your feet and with a song in your heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom.

You are a part of this special generation. It is not by chance that you are here at this important time in the history of the Lord's work. It is your opportunity to declare this message of the Restoration with greater force and effect than any of the previous generations. You have been preserved and prepared for your time on earth to be a part of this great army, to make this the most exciting period in the history of mankind in declaring the gospel of our Lord and Savior to our Father in Heaven's children. You are better educated and trained for this responsibility than any of the other generations which have inherited the earth. If your declarations are to have any force and effect, your words must be backed up by your actions.

 The Apostle Paul felt deeply this sense of incurred debt when he wrote this in his letter to the Romans: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1).

I challenge you to use all of the power and enthusiasm your souls can muster to move forward with this great opportunity which is ours. Let us again hear the Prophet Joseph Smith's words ring in our ears: Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing.

 Com amor,
 Pres. Oliveira

Another new transfer!‏

October 10, 2011

 

Hello family and friends,

 

I have not written one of these mass emails in a few weeks but I want to let you all know that I am alive and well...still! The last few weeks have been good. Conference was good (all though I only got to watch one of the four sessions in English and all of the rest in Portuguese...it just isnt the same when you dont get to watch it in English). We watched it at our church building with some of the people we have been teaching and some of our recent converts.

 

This weekend was a treat. We had Elder Donaldson from the quorum of the 70 visit our island on Saturday and Sunday (He is from Liverpool, England and has the sweetest accent...I attached a picture of me and my comp, Sister Vicente with him). He spoke to just us missionaries (there were 16 of us)Saturday morning and shared some thoughts and words of advice with us. Sister Holland (my MTC companion) and I hungout afterwards for about 20 minutes and just the two of us spoke to him. He is an incredible man. Later that afternoon we went back to the church to attend the baptism of four people we have been teaching over the extent of the last weeks to months. Those who got baptized included Iarine (11 years old), Yannick (9 years old), Hammilton (11 years old) and Antonio (32 years old). Iarine is actually a young girl who has been receiving the missionary discussions months before I ever arrived to this area. The problem with why she had not yet been baptized is that the missionaries could not get permission from her parents for her to get baptized. We FINALLY got their permissoin though and she was soooo happy to have the opportunity to get baptized. Yannick and Hamilton are two brothers that we have been teaching since my first week in this area...so for over two months now. Sister Namwanje and I had gone to there home our first week in request to the branch...but to talk to their parents who are less active members and help them come back to church. In turn, they wound up requesting us to teach their two sons and prepare them to be baptized. So that is what we did and I am so happy that they were also able to get baptized on Saturday. As for the fourth one, Antonio, he is another story. He was a blessing sent from Heaven when we found him and started teaching him. I have never found and taught anyone who was so ready to hear and accept the gosple in their lives like Antonio. We contacted Antonio in the street the week that our recent convert Nilton got baptized. He turned out to be a really good friend of Nilton. After attending his friend Niltons baptism, he told us that he wants to be taught and be baptized. He has gone to church ever week since and was the only person that we have been teaching who was not yet baptized who attended all four sessions of General Conference AND Priesthood Session. Him and Nilton attended all of them together...that is a rare rare thing. We get lucky to get people to attend at least ONE of the four sessions. So we were proud of them for being so dilligent and desiring to attend all of the sessions.

 

Later that Saturday evening, we returned to the church once again to attend a fireside that Elder Donaldson (the 70) was giving. I was excited to hear him speak again and to also hear our Mission President and his wife speak. My mission president, President Oliveira, wound up pulling a surprise on me during that time as well. After he and his wife spoke, the district president stood up and announced that before hearing from Elder Donaldson, we will be pleased to hear the testimony of Sister Turnbow...My companion and I were confused because Sister Turnbow did not attend the fireside. I looked at President Oliveira who was sitting up on stage and he shook his head at the announcent that the District President had said then looked at me and pointed his finger making it clear that it was ME who was to be going up, not Sister Turnbow. I was so caught off guard but stood up and made my way up to the front of the mic. I was sooo nervous. The thought of standing up in front of everyone and bearing my testimony in Portuguese on the spot got the best of my nervous...especially since it was also to be in front of my mission president and Elder Donaldson of the 70. Afterwards everyone told me that they had never scene a person so white before and so nervous. Kind of embarresing. I was greatful for the opportunity though.

The next day (yesterday/Sunday), we had the opportunity of hearing from Elder Donaldson once again at our District Conference. It was one of the most incredible conferences ever. Our district includes the two branches from the island of Santo Antao, the 4 branches here in Mindelo, and the one branch in Sal. So all of the members were all congagrated together from the 3 islands and it was really neat. I got to see some of the members from my first area in Sal for the first time since leaving and it was sooooo great!!!!! We were all so happy to see each other.

 

Oh, I almost forgot, transfers take place today. I am sooo happy to say that I am staying yet another transfer in my amazing area of Cha D'Alecrim. And what is also exciting, is that our mission president is allowing my companion, Sister Vicente, to stay one more transfer and serve again as a mini missionary. So Sister Vicente and I will be spending another 6 weeks together. This will be her last though before going back home and preparing for her real mission in Boston that she will be leaving for in February.

.....Sister Holland (my companion from the MTC), has been transferred to the island of Santo Antao. Until now, there have been only two companionships of Elders there. Today, both the companionships were transferred out and Sister Holland is going over there on a boat with a mini missionary! Her and her companion will be the ONLY TWO missionaries on the ENTIRE island now!!! There are ZERO elders that will be there with them. Sister Holland is a little overwhelmed but she is going to do a great job.

 

Well, that is about it for this week. I look forward to another great transfer. This last transfer Sister Vicente and I were blessed to teach and witness the baptisms of 10 souls who accepted to gospel of Jesus Christ. We are praying that we can continue to find those who are ready to hear and accept Christs gospel in their lives during this next transfer like we did this last transfer.

 

Amo todos voces muito!!

 

Com amor,

 

Sister Beus