Ma'u 'a e foaki o 'e Laumalie Ma'oni'oni -- September 16, 2016

September 16, 2016

Hello Everyone,

I have exciting news! I was called as the new District Leader this past week! So far it has been really good! My district has a few little things we need to work on but nothing that we can’t fix! The best way to lead is by example as I have already learned, and I am happy to report that I am a good example to everyone and I am friends with all the Elders. Wish me luck!

What a great week it has been! Time is a funny thing here. Sometimes it feels as if here is not enough time in the day to finish anything then the next second, it will feel as if time has sopped completely! Earlier this week I was having a rough day studying and learning and time seemed to be going by so slow. I said a prayer to help me not pay as much attention to the clock and I had the prompting to write this poem. The words just came to my head without any error.

The Race of Time
- If time could use bait, 
it would look like a race.
The longer you wait,
the more it will sit in its place.
When looking and watching,
the small arms tic away.
You will always be left longing,
wishing for time to slip away.
So how can it be?
Is there too much time ahead?
It feels like I will never see,
until I am dead.
Is there a way to win,
this continous race of time?
The best way to win,
I will tell in a rhyme.
Never stop learning, listening, and acting,
What if it was your last day?
In the future you will be pondering,
how can it already be someday!
This race of time,
will only be in defeat.
If you never cross that line,
and stay in repeat!

This really helped me a lot; it was exactly what I needed to hear to become more focused and I never knew I could write poems! Haha 

I got to hear from three Apostles in the past two weeks! All of their messages were so inspiring! We heard from M. Russell Ballard, Quinton L. Cook, and D. Todd Christofferson. My favorite was from Elder Cook! His message was about the four loves of a mission. He said to love your companion, the people, the Mission President, and of course the Lord! I came up with this phrase to remember it:

* Learn from your companion
* Open minded to the people
* Value your Mission President
* Eternally love the Lord!

Another cool part of his message was when he was testifying of the Savior. At the very end he paused and said this, "I know his voice and I know his face. He stands at the head of this church." The spirit was so strong, it was one of those times I will never forget!

Last Saturday, My companion and I got to teach two Tongan members! It was so cool. My Tongan has been coming really well. I can teach lessons now, not in perfect Tongan, but I can teach without looking at notecards or notes!  I have felt so grateful for how well I am learning Tongan! Anyway, in our first lesson, we were teaching a woman going to school who grew up in California speaking Tongan. Our lesson was about the Savior (Fakamo'ui). At the end of our lesson, I was prompted to ask her if it was okay if we sing a Tongan hymn about the Savior. She said yes, so I got out my hymn book and we sung Tongan Hymn 92. Halfway through the song she started to cry. The spirit entered the room like a flood and it was so peaceful. She bore her testimony after and told us how close she could feel to our Savior through our song, It was an incredible feeling!

As some of you know the food here can get old after a while, and there is a lot of food! So me and my companion started and made a goal to run a mile every day and do another form of running with it like stair running, sprints, or elipticals or something! So far it has gone really well, I already have lost 5 pounds in a week so I am glad I am developing the habit here of working out hard before I get to Tonga where they will be feeding us all day! Haha

We got to go to the temple again today as a district and it was really fun! Temple days are fun because we all get to wear our skirts! It makes me even more excited to go to Tonga! I only have 18 days left here which makes me super excited!

I hope everyone at home is having a good time and things are going well! If I could give any advice on something you could do to feel closer to the Savior, I would extend a challenge Elder Bednar gave in an old talk to missionaries. He said, "The character of the Savior is what made the Atonement possible." If you look at any story of the Savior, it is always true that he always cared about other people. He was constantly serving other people. Even in the midst of his greatest suffering and temptation, he still turned outward and showed love to other people. Search the scriptures for some of the stories of the Savior and I promise you will be surprised on how unselfish he truly is!

I know this gospel is true and I love that I am called to this work! I have never learned so many things about the truths of the gospel as I have by studying the scriptures for hours every day! I know my Savior lives. The Tongan word for Savior is really inspiring, it is Fakamo'i. Faka is like a conetcting word where it means to make, and mo'ui means life or to be living. So Fakamo'ui literally means to make living or make alive = The Savior. I know that He stands at the head of this church and it is his work that I am serving in. I have felt him in every step of the way and I know that this message is so important, that I am not afraid to travel 6,000 miles away to preach it in a language I had never known four weeks ago! I love you all very much and I pray for your health and well being every day! I he huafa 'o Sisu Kalaisi,  Emeni!

Ofa Atu,

Eleta Bingham

Elder Wakefield & Eleta Bingham

 

Provo Temple

The District in their Tupenus

 

Eleta Rosales & Eleta Bingham

 

 

Until We Meet Again West Virginia Charleston Mission-- June 8, 2016

Hello Everyone,

Well this is it, my last email as a missionary. . .  I have been so blessed to see so many great miracles at the end of my missionary service; this is the greatest one of all!

Brother Kenny Pauley was able to get baptized this last week. A brief conversion story for brother Pauley: he was taught by missionaries fifteen years ago, close to Washington DC. He almost got baptized there, but failed at living the Word of Wisdom. He was super close at the time, he even went to the DC temple and toured the visitor’s center with the missionaries, but then soon lost contact with them after he felt like he could not succeed in the gospel. Well fast forward fifteen years later in little Richlands, Virginia. Kenny saw us from outside his trailer and was thrilled! He came out and stopped us and we pretty much picked up where the last missionaries left off. The previous Sunday, we had fasted for a miracle and we received one! After teaching him multiple times in the first week, being brief with every lesson, Kenny committed to being baptized just one month after he was found and this time nothing got in his way! 

It was a great service and he had a lot of support from the branch that was very much needed. He asked me to perform the ordinance, which I was honored to do. Before we went back to the font, we walked past a window and outside it was storming, in fact it was raining so hard Brother Pauley said maybe we should just walk outside and do this. Well, we went down into the font and came back out after he was baptized and looked out the same window and it was clear and the birds were out singing! Brother Pauley took it as a sign and he was very happy and really feeling the spirit. He got confirmed the next day in sacrament meeting and that was a good day! The biggest miracle of all came after all was said and done. We took brother Pauley to start doing his family history and once we got rolling with it, we discovered that someone had done almost all the work on his dad’s side of the family and all that was needed to be done was the actual temple work. Through one man repenting of his sins and being baptized, it brought hundreds of precious souls that have been waiting to have someone do their work. To see what the Lord has done! To think this whole process started out with a simple fast of my companion and I that we could find someone who would be ready to be baptized. I am so thankful that we were worthy of such a blessing. Brother Pauley was found and baptized in just thirty days. Miracles do exist. God loves his children, Kenny was prepared long before we found him. What an example of “the field is white already to harvest." 

I have learned so much in the last two years, more than I could ever write about. I am so thankful for the companions I have had to serve with (more like brothers.) I have learned so much from each of them and have had so many great times laboring in the Lord’s vineyard. I am so grateful they have been patient with me and always encouraged me to do my best. I have made the best friends I have ever had while being out in the field. I have a testimony that we’re called to go out two by two! I am also thankful for my parents who have helped carry me through my mission, being my greatest support.  I love them and will be eternally grateful for them. 

I have such a deep testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know he lives and loves us. I picture my mission as He personally led me day by day and night by night. HE has always been there for me and for my companions in this work. Multiple times I have seen the promise in D&C 84:88. His angels have always been there to bear me up in trial in places of danger and in the times I was in need to call down blessings from heaven. I love him and will always serve him. 

The greatest lesson I have learned is how much God loves his children. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, God’s love is equal everywhere. He wants all of his children to know him and return to live with him. He loves us so much he has given us a chance to become like him if we only follow his son’s example. I love the people here in West Virginia and Virginia. They have won over my heart as I have worked myself almost to my breaking points to try to help them escape from the evils of this world and of the ones who have repented and who were changed, how great their joy has been. I love this work and this gospel and always will! How fun it will be to see what lies ahead. Keep going and keep trusting because there is always miracles around the corner. "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." 

My Father made a motto for his mission in Mexico to "Keep the Faith." I have also kept the faith and can say I have done all I could and I have done my very best--what a great feeling, the Lord has magnified my efforts and it was only possible through Him. May we all Keep the Faith! 

 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith!

Much Love! 

Elder L. Kaleb Bingham

A Final Message~Dear Kaleb, We are so proud of you!  You were an exemplary missionary, leader, friend, and disciple of our Savior, Jesus Christ!  You tried your hardest every day to listen to the spirit and follow the promptings that were given to you to help those that Heavenly Father sent your way. As you taught your "friends" you learned to recognize and appreciate the daily miracles that come with being a missionary. They are the works of our Heavenly Father that you helped bring to his children. So many times you were in the "right place at the right time" - all of them true miracles! You always have such a positive attitude and were always able to see the good in what was happening, no matter the challenge. You were like Nephi who, at the end of his life, was able to recognize that even after "seeing many afflictions in the course of my days," he saw himself as "highly favored of the Lord in all my days." And just as you learned to recognize the miracles that happen all around us, you were able to teach your friends to recognize the miracles in their lives.  We are so grateful for your service and the many blessings that we received as a family for your efforts.  You are such a great example to us all, especially to your siblings and for that we are truly grateful.  In this process, you have truly been converted yourself.  You understand the atonement and what the sacrifices that Jesus Christ made for us really mean.  You have come home with such a valiant testimony and our testimonies were strengthened as you shared your "miracles." Your mission was a success and we know that your mission will continue to serve you throughout your life.  Please continue to come back to this book and remember how you felt as a missionary, and remember the love that you felt from your Heavenly Father.  We have a testimony of Jesus Christ and know that this is his work and that he is pleased with your sacrifice.  We love you with all of our hearts!  

Love, Mom and Dad

Always Keep the Faith!

After TWO years, You run out of Subject Titles-- May 31, 2016

Hello Everyone,

Well church was fun yesterday! So sacrament meeting started late and we were rushing to get the sacrament set up and just as we were finishing up, the branch president came up to us and said that his concluding speaker for the meetings truck broke down and he wasn't going to make it. . . so I said, “Do you need me to fill in?” He said that would be great and slapped a talk in my hand as a topic. Well I still had to bless the sacrament and in between that I was trying to read parts of this talk I was supposed to go off of and it was chaotic! But it all turned out fine; the talk went well and it all worked out. I really liked the talk; it was called "What thinks Christ of me?" It had some good thoughts. My favorite from it was that we should be more worried about the judgments of Christ than our fellow man. But yeah, you gotta love serving in a small branch! Most Sundays are stressful, but I know I will miss it when I am gone.  

So Brother Kenny Pauley had his baptism interview this last week and he passed! He will be getting baptized this coming Saturday. We are pretty excited for that and so is he. He has opened up so much to the branch, he was glowing at church. When they announced his baptism from the pulpit, he said he felt chills. He was so excited, it was awesome. We are trying to get him rolling with Family History work so he can go to the temple soon after he is baptized. Keep him in your prayers! 

There is an outstanding family in our branch, the McClure's. They have held the branch together for years. Sister McClure is not doing too well, she has cancer and as Brother McClure put it, she is on a downward spiral at the moment. It is really sad to see such a good family go through such a hard trial. We had an opportunity to go and take the sacrament to them with some members of the branch this last week and it was a powerful experience that I will never forget. We administered the sacrament after singing a hymn (there is a green hill far away) and afterwards, Brother McClure, in tears, wanted to share a message with us. He talked about how there is always more we can do, that no matter what, we always need to serve just a little more. This blew me away. I don't think I have ever met someone so humble and so Christ like. I guess no matter what the trial is or the challenge, we always need to give just a little bit more. Please keep them in your prayers. 

Well, this is my last full week as a full time missionary! I have accepted it I guess. There are a lot of good things ahead and I know everything will all work out. I feel overly blessed that is for sure! I will always reflect back on these moments that have changed my life. I love you all--thanks for the support!

Remember that God loves you! 

Keep the Faith! 

- Elder Kaleb Bingham

Last Minute Miracles -- May 23, 2016

Hello Everyone,

Things in Richlands are going pretty well, we are faced with many challenges, but we are pressing forward and always trying to find new ways to improve our area. One thing that I have learned in the last few months is the principle to endure. We have had some disappointments and some challenges with those we teach and with those we work with. I promised myself that I would finish my mission strong in the best way that I could so we have not given up at all. We have stayed diligent and we just kept trying. At the point where we almost couldn't do any more on our end, the Lord provided us with a miracle. He led Brother Kenny Pauley right to us and boy has he been prepared. We have been teaching Kenny for three weeks now and he hasn't missed a Sunday at church and has been taught all the commandments and is ready for baptism. He initially was going to get baptized in the end of June, but he has been progressing in the gospel so fast he is ready to do it a lot sooner. We challenged him to be baptized on June 4th because we felt like he was ready. He was a little nervous for that because it is pretty soon, so he decided to pray on it and let us know what he thought. The following day after that lesson we get a random text from Kenny one morning and it said, "We getting baptized June 4th!" What a miracle it was! The Lord is behind his work and how grateful I am that I followed the impression to just try a little bit harder. If we hadn't have kept pushing ourselves, we would not have found this man! 

The next best experience we had this week is our friend Clyde came to church! He was the man we found a few weeks ago that had lost his wife not too long ago and was really struggling. He tried to drop our meetings, but I wouldn't let him. I guess persistence paid off? Now he is really working towards baptism and being able to see his wife again. He is one of my favorites; he really is such a great guy. Our lessons this last week were awesome with him. We really focused on the Spirit and how his life would be blessed as he came to church, and it worked, so we will see how the blessings come for him this week! 

I am doing better about facing the reality of coming home. . . I think I am going to do better than I think I will and I am excited to apply the things I have learned out here back there. It will be good, my mission President told our mission, "The greatest success you will have on your mission will be your own complete conversion." I find a lot of comfort in that because I know where my testimony stands. I am so thankful for such a loving Heavenly Father and a loving Savior. I am so blessed, that is for sure. I love you all! Have a good week.

Keep the Faith! 

 - Elder L. Kaleb Bingham 

Things are Rich in Richlands! -- May 16, 2016

Hello Everyone,

This week was pretty mellow! It went by fast, but it was kind of slow on the teaching and finding end of things. We did some fun stuff though, we had a zone conference in Pembroke this week with our mission president and that was fun. We went over some talks, one about pride and the other about our purpose as missionaries: Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts.

Last week I mentioned Kenny, one of the guys we have been teaching. Well he has been doing great; it has blown me away, he has been keeping all kinds of commitments. This last week we saw him a few times and we decided we would go over the Word of Wisdom and try to commit him to living it. I was a little worried about the lesson because fifteen years ago when he almost joined the church last time, he didn't because he couldn't quit the things he needed too. Well we prayed and we taught the lesson and he soaked it in and when it came to the commitment end of the lesson he was more than happy to quit drinking coffee and smoking! We even walked out with a giant thing full of coffee mix to throw in the dumpster. It was pretty cool. He is such a simple guy and he truly just wants to change. He knows that is what the Lord wants him to do. 

We even had a lesson last night (on his birthday.) We had gotten him something and we brought over our recent convert, Brother Gunn, to help us teach. I don't think there is anything more powerful than a recent convert bearing his testimony to someone who is preparing to join the church--it was so awesome. Kenny is a little nervous about paying tithing when he joins, so keep him in your prayers! 

Well this week we almost got hit by lightning! At least we thought we did. We had some crazy weather and Elder Burgener and I were getting things out of the trunk of our car when we heard a giant boom right above our heads. It was so loud we both fell to the ground pretty much expecting the worst, but all is well, we were safe! Very grateful for the Lord and how he watches over his missionaries.

We also had a cool lesson with a less active sister in the branch that has not been coming to church. She recently lost a son who had a lot of handicaps and has been grieving. We listened to her concerns and we promised her that she needed the Lord’s spirit to be healed from her loss. We committed her to coming to church and she was a little soft with it. Then on Sunday morning, she called before church and was crying. She said she couldn't make it this week, but that the Lord has told her she needs to come back and she said nothing will stop her for this next week. It was a tender mercy for sure! 

How great the mission is. I am enjoying the blessings from it. I have really been focusing on my relationship with the Lord and with the spirit. Preparing to go home, I really don't want to feel a big difference in my life when I get released. I have enjoyed being so involved in my scriptures and being lead consistently by the spirit. Something I will need my whole life! I love you all and thank you for the support and encouragement!

Keep the Faith!

-Elder L. Kaleb Bingham