Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Merry Christmas


Kia Ora Mother,

I think I forgot the beginning of the letter by the time I got to the end.

Ok, I remember now. The homemade chocolates were wonderful and actually quite hard since I put them in the fridge after they arrived. Tell Grandma thanks for the fudge. I love that stuff and I am planning on trying the caramel very soon.

I am grateful for this refiners fire even if it is driving me nuts. I think it will truly take two full years to get over this trial and maybe longer. I have actually tried both sets of prayers and both work in different ways. I think the first one is better though. I am always trying to change although I don't like it much.

I am currently down in Taupo hence I am emailing so late. the computer we were at had issues. So here I am now. I told dad I will call around 4 pm tomorrow but don't be surprised if it is around 6 pm. Missionary work is crazy sometimes. At least it is p-day. My companion will call on Christmas day probably in the evening.

Thank you mum for all you do and I love you heaps. I also like you heaps as well. I remember being at odds with you a bit but I am sure that most is block from my memory. I remember mostly good memories of us together. I guess that is true repentance when the past is the past, the future is the future and the present is going along great.

Talk to you soon!
Merry Christmas,
Love You Heaps,
Elder Beckstead

Monday, December 12, 2011

Goofball Mother :)

<<This is Trevor's reply to his mother's email. She typed it and thought she sent it (last week), but it went to the draft folder instead. It is so full of Kristin's personality, I had to include it with Trevor's reply>>

Those are very gee whiz comments. Tell the Robinsons for me to tell Elder Greening thanks for being a great AP. He was one of the best in my opinion of the ones that I have had. Him and Elder Cline.

Anyways, thanks for that. 
Love,
Elder Beckstead

On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 4:54 PM, <krtxk@comcast.net> wrote:
Kia Ora My Wonderful Trevie,

Here are a few gee whiz comments for you.  Totally random and you'll think, hmm, that's interesting, and go on to the next.....

1 - Did we ever tell you (or did any of the girls write you) that your former home of Juniper Hall at SUU has been condemned and the students had to move out in the middle of the semester?  Chelsea Hyatt was living there and had to find a new place last October.  The water pipes were breaking and causing all kinds of problesm, so school closed it up and sent the students packing.

2 - The other night we were visiting with Eric Robinson and he was telling us about Rylee.  She is dating a very nice young man who attended Timpview High School and just got home from his mission about 2 weeks ago. They reconnected through facebook. As he continued talking there were some interesting points... he is from New Zealand but his family moved to Provo some years ago and that is when he attended Timp.  He actually served his mission in NZ but didn't know which mission.  So Janee grabbed me yesterday as we were setting up for the Ward Christmas Party and told me he knows you!!!  You were never companions but he knew who you were and told the Robinsons that you are a very hardworking missionary and an obedient one, which, he said, can't be said of all the missionaries in your mission.  Have you figured out who it is?  Elder Vaughn Greening!  Small world yet again.  I'm telling ya... "don't say nothin bad bout no one!"  

And I'm grateful to hear again and again what a great missionary you are.  I know what you are going through on those days when you think you can't do it anymore or wonder if you are doing any good.  Did you know at one point in my mission I called my mission president from a phone booth on the street and told him I was going home early?.  I felt as though I wasn't doing any good and was done with the whole mission experience.  I was grateful for having served and would he please arrange my flight home... he listened patiently and told me to get back to work; no he wasn't going to send me home or agree for me to get home on my own.  I had to stay, stick it up, and enjoy being a missionary.  I still wonder if I really did any good... I didn't have what I consider the "icing on the cake" of baptisms.  I attended a few of people the Elders in my areas taught, but thought I personally was wasting everyone's time.  I have been a bit jealous of your opportunities but have been so very delighted to hear your favorite part of missionary work is seeing people change after receiving the gospel.  It truly is amazing isn't it?!

3 - Last night at the Christmas Party, Xane sang in a quartet with Chris Brousseau, Collin Williams, and Joseph Barley.  They sang very well!  Later, Dad read a story to the children about Santa and Jesus Christ.  There was a beautiful statue the Williams family loaned him of Santa kneeling at the manger of baby Jesus.  Dad showed the the statue to the congregation and put it on the tablecloth on the piano so the children good see it.  Part way through the reading of the story, one of the children bumped and pulled the tablecloth which sent the statue crashing to the floor.  We will be looking for a new statue to replace the one that broke :)

4 - I've always been pretty bad about having a clean house.  It's sort-a clean but there are piles and stacks everywhere of stuff and half finished projects.  Alison's Pantry in one corner, Soccer on a table, puzzles on other tables, everything I don't know where to immediately put is in the bathtub, clothes to go to DI on the closet floor, science fair project in the middle of the floor, Sweden report on the sofa, School Papers to correct at the end of another table, scriptures and unfolded blankets on the chairs and couch, etc.  Well, it's getting worse!  Now add all my relief society projects and the house is sad.  Tablecloths hanging from the doors, visiting teaching on the bed, unfolded laundry in the hall, teaching materials next to my bed, the kitchen always has food on the counters either in preparation, the middle of a meal, or didn't have time to clean it up yet before leaving to do the next thing, and the list goes on and on.  My goal of "stay home and clean the house" is never fulfilled!  I used to be distracted and now I'm distracted from the distractions.  It's all very silly.

Aside from those random thoughts everyone is doing well.  We are happy and healthy.  Oh!  I did get your Christmas package sent, and of course, forgot one thing you actually asked for!  So, I'll try to send that in a separate envelope this week.  We hope you know we love you and are honored to be your missionary supporting family.  Is there anything more that we can do to help you? You just started a new month so you should be able to drive around in the car for at least a couple of weeks.  Are you melting in the heat?  Is there something you hear of other missionaries families doing that you think, "it would be cool if my family did that?"

Question of the week - What is something you have learned about yourself from each of your companions (or only a couple if you don't have time to list them all)
Elder Tham
Elder Meyer
Elder Kimball
Elder Smith
Elder Thomas
Elder Allred
Elder Battsagaan
Elder Dyunti

did I miss any?

NO WAY - I couldn't figure out why you hadn't responded to this email and I just found it in the drafts folder.  Stinkweed!!!!!  That totally reaks, especially because
1)  I started it at 6:30 this morning so I could be sure and get it to you before the day got away from me.
2)  I was even on the computer at the same time as you were this afternoon and helped Sam send his email and I saw your talk and responded.
3)  I am practically positive I sent this and hear it is, not sent.

I am so sorry!  I don't know why you aren't supposed to see this email til now that you are reading it.... a week later, but I guess you weren't supposed to yet.  So hopefully you are seeing 2 emails from me today. This one now a week old and next week that I'll be writing soon.

Still love you even though I am your goofball mother!
love,
Mother

Christmas Cheer

Kia Ora Mother,

First off, Yes I did get the suggestions on the Atonement Talk and I will take them and put them in immediately. Secondly, I haven't finished my plan one yet so next week hopefully.

We have been invited to 3 places already and one of them is 118 Km away one way. We won't be getting to all three that is for sure. We are still deciding on where to go. However, I will call on christmas day for yous so on the monday for me.

Ok, With too many emails today I am very short on time as usual. So, I will tell you of one day this week that was unusual. We started off with weekly planning and as we were finished with that we got a call from this guy who had been kicked out of his house and had to get moved out by 3 pm. We had to run around like chickens with our heads cut off finding a trailer and a place to put his stuff for a few days. Then we went to a different service project painting some doors and a chimney. A miracle there was the mum of one of the investigators showed up. We gave her the form to sign and she will talk to layla and hopefully sign it.

Then, we had an hour left and we found 3 choice new investigators. It was great and busy and stressful, but good.

Ok, I will tell you two things I have learned from my companions so far. The first is good the second is not. Ok, the good thing I have learned or I guess been reemphasized is that when I get annoyed or something, I am very quick to forgive and get over it. I have told my companions to just wait a bit and then I will be over it.

The second thing I have learned is that the longer I have been on my mission, the more impatient I have gotten with my companions. Why is that? I have no idea. It should be going the other way. If I didn't have that first attribute I would have been in real trouble.

Anyways, i did receive the package and all the presents are still safely wrapped for christmas. Thanks for all of the goodies and I can't wait to see what else I got.

I hope everything goes well this week and after this week you can assign the kids to clean up the house. Our favorite :)

Love you heaps mother!
Elder Beckstead

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Prayers for Missionaries - Quotes

Kia Ora Dad,

It is cool to think of all those temple prayers for the missionaries. Too many to count. We need those prayers right now.

We had a great week actually this week. We taught lessons, talked to heaps of people and had 9 new investigators. Not all of them are choice, but some of them hopefully are.

Thanks for the quote. I have one for you too. "Let us be as quick to kneel as we are to text." Elder Ardern. I don't have to worry about that right now but lots of the world does.

Here is another quote. "I will take the liberty of suggesting to my brethren, who addresses the congregation that our sermons should be short, and if they are not filled with life and spirit, let them be shorter." Brigham Young.

Anyways, random tangents. I hope all goes well with the decorations and all the other busy things happening at the moment.

I'm sending mum a talk that we had to write for revision. I want you to read it as well please.

I love you dad heaps and hope you are well. Have a great week!
Elder Beckstead