Monday, April 30, 2012

Eventful splits with Zone Leaders


Kia Ora Mother,

It sounds like you had a good week. Don't worry too much about Xane wanting to be by himself. He will come back to see yous soon. At least he can as where I couldn't without a long bike ride.

Anyways, my week was an interesting one. We had a tradeoff with the ZL's on Wednesday night to Friday morning. It was only supposed to go until Thursday night but an emergency happened so we were stuck together for an extra night. It was ok though. He is a pretty hilarious guy or elder excuse me.

We had a service project which was pretty crazy on trade off. We had to turn this overgrown garden into just plain dirt so that they could turn in back to grass. We broke two spades in the process, or shovels as we call them and our primary weapons of choice was then an ax and a rake. It was pretty ridiculus seeing us try to get some of the stuff out with those. There were bushes that were over 15 years old and the root reaked havoc all over the place. It was an adventure to say the least.

Then the rest of the week was alright. Trying to find our investigators that have gone missing. Two have disappeared and one we think is in the hospital with his partner having a baby. We were able to get up to the visitors center with one of our investigators for an elders quorum activity. It was pretty fun. We met a new sister from Italy who was pretty nice. There are two sisters that go home this week which is pretty crazy. Our investigators wife who is an active member was trying to set me up with them when I get home. Thank goodness it was not with them present. I kept trying to remind her that I have ages left and that they would probably be married by then. She was having none of it. I hope that you don't do the same before I even get home. I am proud of you so far.

Have a wonderful week mother and I love you heaps.
Elder Beckstead

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Interesting Week


Kia Ora Mother,

Wow, it sounds like everything is moving forward at an incredibly fast rate. It will be so weird to come home and see everything that is different. Thanks for the package by the way. I loved the photos even though I can barely recognize anyone in them:) JK

This week was an interesting week for us. We had interviews with President and our district leader lost his status. So now the zone leaders are our temporary district leaders for 2 weeks. It is very strange having to call them for everything now. Oh well, I guess it is one of the adventures of missionary work. Also, we had a service project for a PM family and we weeded the garden. He made a picture for another family we are trying to help remain active and start teaching the parents. It turned out really good.

Besides that, not much new news this week. We had an investigator show up at church that we had never met. She is one of the recent converts sisters. We were unavailable to teach her so our Ward Mission Leader taught her for us. He came up afterwords and told us to visit. We are just hoping she lives in our area. We are stilling trying to get people to progress, but it seems most are at a standstill. Now with the school holidays over and school is back in session, we should be able to get people to start acting normal again. Although, we want them to not act normal and come to church. I guess you know what I mean.

I hope that you have a good week this week and know that I love you heaps and heaps.
Elder Beckstead

Monday, April 9, 2012

Happy Easter & Family Surprise


Kia Ora Mother,

It sounds like an interesting Easter weekend to say the least. I am guessing from the reaction that the release (Kristin from Relief Society Presidency) came as a shock to the whole stake. I guess that is what happens when everyone and their dog knows who you are. From the sounds of things you are doing just fine and are kinda relieved that part of your workload is removed. I reminds me of when we are transferred really quick out of an area. What did you do? or Are you ok? are questions frequently asked. The response is that we are where we are called for as long as we need to be and when we accomplish what we are called to do we move on. Sometimes it happens faster than others, that is for sure.

Yes, i did get my surprise and one answer to that question is that i didn't know how much i would miss my family when I entered the MTC and I still hadn't realized until I actually saw some of them. Then it hit me how much we rely on our families and how much of a sacrifice a mission really is. We do give up two years with our family so others can be with theirs for eternity.

Well, this week was a hard week up until conference and seeing Clarke, Marney and Oliver. People just avoided lessons or were busy doing other things. With Easter weekend, everyone was partying and drinking up a storm. People just didn't seem interested this week, so much so that we didn't even get one new investigator. The highlight was of course seeing conference and Uncles, Aunties, and Cuzzies. Also, one of our investigators, William was watching conference on the Internet at his house when we went by. I guess we just had to be patient.

So, last week you said you wanted details of Clarke and Marney's visit. Well, we had just started watching Pres. Uchtdorf's talk during priesthood session. It was about 7 pm or so. Anyways, I saw movement in the foyer and looked up and saw two people with a little kid. I looked back down and then realized that i knew those two people. i again looked up and saw them motioning for me to come out. I hastened to do so. (Nice scripture language eh?) I couldn't believe that they were hear and we had a great talk for the next hour and a half. It was great to catch up and I am going to have a hard time adjusting to american english again i realized last night. They caught me on heaps of things that are just second nature now. Like "heaps" in that last sentence. It will be interesting to say the least. They also gave me two huge boxes of honey bunches of oats and lots of little snack size candy. It was like halloween and easter rolled into one. It was sooooo good to see them and it will be soooo good to see yous as well. Hey, we were wondering if I could stay with them for a week after my mission finishes? I don't know if that is allowed but you might have to arrange it from that end. Anyways, it was just a thought.

Thanks for the email and don't let peoples comments get you down. I try not to over here. Have a wonderful week.
Love you heaps.
Elder Beckstead

Temple, tree & Conference


Kia Ora Dad and Happy Easter,

It sounds like a lot is happening back home. Which tree (we cut down a tree) was it, the one closest to the road or the one by the house? If it was the one by the road, I remember giving blood and less than an hour later I was back cutting down one of the branches. What an experience to remember about that tree.

Anyways, we only get to go (to the temple) twice a year now with the mission. It used to be once a month when the temple was open on Mondays. Then when it closed, it switched to just public holidays when the temple was open on Mondays. But Pres Lekias cancelled that as well. So just twice a year and I think this past trip will be my last. We will see though.

Conference was good this year. I tried to apply the parenting talks to our investigators. I guess they are kinda like our children just a little older and wiser in the worldly ways. Anyways, it was great. Halfway through priesthood conference I got interrupted by a good surprise. Clarke and Marney and Oliver were outside in the foyer. Suffice it to say, i missed the rest of that session. I don't mind though as it was great to see them.

Have a great week dad and I love you heaps. Thanks for being the parent that all of the speakers in conference were talking about. I'm pretty sure they used mum and you as the template for what others need to do :)

Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead

Monday, April 2, 2012

New Area and Going to the Temple



Kia Ora Mother,

No surprise this weekend unless it consisted of my having to conduct a fireside. I also heard that you emailed sister Milham. Other than that nothing else exciting has happened in my life.

Except going to the temple this week. That was exciting. I love going to the temple and feeling the Holy Ghost in such abundance. I have a name for you to write in my book.

My companion is pretty good. The only not good is what you would expect with two unknown people being stuck together. We are getting there though. No investigators to pray for yet. Well I guess pray for William. He is the only one that can possibly be baptized anytime soon. The others in our teaching pool have a little anklet that prevents them leaving the house. If they do they will be arrested.

Anyways, I love you heaps mother and am grateful for the short email. Not really, I like the longer ones better. Tell Xane to cut his own hair:) Good practice for his mission. JK

Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead