Sunday, February 20, 2011

Love the temple

Dear Mother,

The temple is always a great experience and it is so cool that you got to go twice. I hope Tara had a great time. Also, I will definitely hold you to that, taking me to Tucanos. I miss that restaurant. Anyways, this week was better for me. We accomplished two baptisms which was great. One barely happened but we were able to save it. We also had to drive an abnormal amount this week. We had trade-offs and meetings and interviews. It was nuts. This next week should be a little calmer.

One thing that wasn't so great is that with these baptisms, we have hardly anyone else that is preparing for baptism. We are having a really hard time with finding new people. We won't give up however. Transfers are the 10th of march so I still have a wee while.

have a wonderful week in Kentucky and Tennessee. I hope everything goes as planned.

Love you tons and thanks for all you do.

Elder Beckstead

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Valentine's Day 2011

Kia Ora Mother,

Happy Valentines Day!

Ok, now that is out of the way, it sounds like a great conference. It takes a lifetime to master the language of the Spirit with repentance and obedience all along the way. Great topic to speak on.

Ok, just clarifying to Dad, one of the points brought up in Branch Council about that leadership training was that they are raising the bar for leaders like they did for missionaries. Correct me if I am wrong. That goes along with what I have noticed lately in the recent Ensigns. The main focus is now on missionary work but it has been more towards members and leaders than actual missionaries. We as missionaries can only do so much but with the help of the members the work moves along in exponential comparison. I don't think all members know how much influence they can have on the world if they have the courage to open their mouths and share there beliefs.

I read an article this morning that was by an Apostle. I wish I had the article with me but oh well. Anyways, it was about removing ourselves from in front of the door and allowing lost sheep to enter into the fold. It focused a lot on how leaders should focus less on important members bearing testimony and giving prayers and focusing more on letting the less-active and recent converts do that. I have noticed that they are the ones that have powerful testimonies but are not given the chance to share it. It takes great faith to call those people to speak or to bear testimony but they learn by doing.There was a good quote about how those that are whole do not need medicine but those that are sick. It is a great article and I encourage you to read it if you haven't already.

This week was pretty slow on our end. We had several sets fall through and only three new investigators. We are doing our best not to get discouraged. Hopefully we have 2 set for this weekend that will go through. None yet so far in February have been baptized. We are doing the best we can and we will continue to do so. I heard you were going on your soccer trip. Where is it this year and have a great time.

I love you both tons and am thankful for all that you have done for me on my mission and before it.

Elder Beckstead

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Welcome to February

Kia Ora Mother,

It sounds like a very full week with a very full saturday. I am glad that everything worked out all day. It is amazing how much I miss all of the cooking at home. Your good food, dad's good food, grandma's good food. I can't wait for that meal I will get in 19 months time when I get home. Enough of that though. Our baptism fell through this week which was sad. We have one next week hopefully and then the 29th is the real biggee this month. I will keep you updated. Other than that, this week was pretty boring. My companion went to Auckland for a Leadership training council thingy and I was left in an Area I had never been in before. I was also with Elder Singh who had been out of the MTC for a week. So our whole objective for the day was to not get lost. It worked out quite well I thought. We didn't get lost once. I was a bit sick this weekend with a stomach ache but nothing to serious there. Things are just moving along as usual.

Have a wonderful week and I will talk to you again next week.
Love you tons, and thanks for all that you do.
Elder Beckstead

Sam's baptism

Kia Ora Sammie,

How is my now old 8 year old brother? I am so excited that you had a great experience. I can remember how it feels to be baptized and it is great. You know what is also great? Helping other people get baptized as well. You will get your chance in a few years. Keep up the good work and choose the right so you can keep the holy ghost forever.

Have a good week,
Love,
Elder Beckstead

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 5:02 AM, <krtxk@comcast.net> wrote:
Hi Trevie,

Yesterday I got baptized and Xane said the prayer wrong, so I had to do it a second time.  I got a 1976 silver dollar from Grandma and Grandpa Great and Nana gave me 4 two-dollar bills because it is "Great to be 8." (G2B8)  A lot of my cousins came over for my baptism.

I got baptized because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted me to.  I felt something come into me when I was in the water.  It felt like happiness and made me happy. When I was confirmed I felt warm inside and really happy.  The best part about being baptized was receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost can guide me so I can do better things.

I got new scriptures with my name on it, and a small hymn book to keep with my scriptures, a new scripture bag, a new brown suit from grama b, and some candy and a ctr/football pin and a book from the Ortegas.  They were my primary teachers last year.  My teacher this year Sister Measom came to my baptism too.

It was cool having Xane baptize me because he's my older brother.  I really liked having Dad confirm me.  I didn't think the hands were very heavy on my head.  Dad was there, Grandpa, Greg Belliston, Brother Smith, cousin Brady, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Brad, cousin Taylor, President Draper, and Brother Ortega.

I hope you are baptizing lots of people too.
love,
Sam

Monday, February 7, 2011

Good week!

Kia Ora Mother,

Sounds like you had a great week and I did as well. Transfers did come and go with no effect on me whatsoever. Both sets of sisters got double shifted and so only one of the three remained here in Temple View District. I am still in Te Awamutu which is a branch. No more hiking yet. Bike is still holding up but I haven't ridden it in awhile and the weather isn't too bad.
One thing that was interesting this week was that I got to go inside the temple for a session.

Ok, to answer dads questions about the investigators, two are doing well and the other two are having a hard time. Natasha has a lot of work to do for baptism so she isn't set again yet. Robert is awesome as well as Shannon. Shannon just needs to keep up the no smoking. Dave cut all the way down to one smoke a day from about thirty but he can't give up that one. He needs work and help from Jesus Christ. We also have another investigator set for baptism named Ease. Or that is his nickname. He is for the twelfth of February so I hope that all goes well for him.

Oh, something weird happened this week. Both my companion and myself had to go up to Auckland for transfers even when neither of us were transfered. It was a long boring trip in which I couldn't sleep at all. Also, we had a trailer that weighed a ton. It was a miracle we made it to Auckland with that load.

Well, thanks for all that you do and I love you all tons.
Elder Beckstead