<<This is the email from Kristin and Trevor's reply>>
Kia Ora Mother,
Wow, what an email. And you wrote it ages ago. That is so funny. Have you wanted me home that long. I am glad that I am loved back home and haven't been disowned by my family.
Well, before the list of questions get answered, my last week was an interesting one. I was pretty sick all week and had to take a full day off. I would've taken another off as well but we had a mission conference. We spent the day driving and in a meeting. It wasn't all that fun to tell you the truth but I was glad I was able to let my companion go as well as the senior couple that took us. But I am doing better now mostly. Just the lasting effects of a flu.
Also, we visited quite a few people but our most promising family did not come to church again. It is so frustrating to have people refuse to come to church even though they know they are supposed to and have promised to do so. It is very sad. I think dad is right. That is the hardest part having people refuse the happiness that the church brings and turn to the world instead.
Ok, first of all yes I might have time next week maybe. It is good that you sent it this week because if I had the chance to read it I might not have been able to respond.
Next, I will be excited to see Korin's hair. I haven't even seen a picture in ages so I will be happy to see it. Also, I have tried to do some push-ups to prepare to be her body guard. I reckon between me, xane, and dad, guys should be pretty scared. I am glad she has a year and a bit before she starts dating. Then the real fun begins.
For my first meals home. For breakfast I don't know. Puff-oven Pancake I guess. Then for dinner, probably bbq ribs. boneless if possible. I'm not too fussed as long as it is very american style.
Ok, I want in-n-out or beto's when I get home off the plane on the way home please.
The rest of the week sounds good. Just plan for a few naps here and there. I will be pretty tired. But I mostly game for anything except yardwork or gardening. I would prefer not to go hiking either.
As for school. I have been thinking about it and I have no idea on earth what I am going to do. So as for that one, I will leave that until later. Week 2 maybe. I would like to meet that guy though from SUU. I might even try out for the football team. Who knows. But as for school, that will have to be week 2 material to think about.
As for the movies. I am planning to watch heaps of them. I have heard Tangled is good so i will watch that first. I am so excited to be able to watch things other than church stuff again. So be prepared.
I have already talked to sis lekias about seeing Clarke, Marney, and Oli. Marney is apparently the oldest daughters visiting teaching companion so I hope she can pull some strings. If you are in contact with them. Tell them that they should come down to the Paeroa branch next sunday so they can hear my testimony in Maori. Also, I might send a suitcase with them so that I have to see them in Auckland to get it back. Sister Lekias said when I asked her the first time that they would be able to see me at the airport but after finding out who they were said she would try and do something more. Let them know about sunday though. Starts at 10 am. in Paeroa. I hope to be able to see them.
Thanks for all your support that you have given me and I am super excited to see you next week. I love you heaps and will do my best to finish strong.
Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead
On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 2:28 AM, <krtxk@comcast.net> wrote:
Hi Trevor - my favorite Elder Beckstead!
I'm actually going to miss writing/emailing you every week. However, I will not miss fretting about what to send in those darn packages. Ugh - I don't think I did very well at those.
Well, I have to tell you that thoughts of your impending return are "flying" through my brain but I refuse to say a word until the potentially last email I send. The little kids are now keeping a count of how many days until you get home. Just so you know I am writing this on July 8 and saving it as a draft, but hopefully you aren't reading it until the end of August. Now that you are reading it, if you can, just reply to this document with your answers next to each question. That way you won't have to try to remember the questions while writing a new letter. (But the letter portion for the week can still come first before your answers - did that make any sense?)
Do we plan to send you one more email next week? Will you have time/opportunity to see and read it? If so, I should have waited one more week to send this one. Oh well.
Here is a tentative plan for your first week home. Please let me know what you want or don't want so we can adjust accordingly. It's YOUR week, so I want you to do things you WANT to do. There will be plenty of time for you to get to do more things you don't want to do:) Maybe even hike a mountain, since we didn't get to do that yet with all our conflicts. Smile -
At the airport... Korin's hair - you better notice it and make a comment because she has kept her promise to you to not cut it and it is pretty long. She is even going to Sister Davis' home earlier in the afternoon to get it styled to look as long as possible. I think it is hilarious because she was determined to stick to that promise! You are going to have a fit when you see her. Get ready to knock guys away as you protect her, because she is gorgeous! Tall! And as beautiful inside as she is on the outside!
What do you want to eat for your first meals home? It should be something home cooked and will probably be on Wed - think breakfast and dinner.
Since you will be home on Tues night later in the evening, do you want us to have something in the car for you to eat? Or would your prefer picking something up on the way home from the airport? I'm sure you'll be starving, but it will also be late. Your call and "nothing" nor "don't worry about it" is not an option. I was thinking potentially Wendys, or In and Out, or pizza if we try to find a place. It would be a sandwich and chips or something if you want to eat in the car.
Wednesday - let you sleep to try to get over jet lag and talk and eat - maybe shop for some new clothes (but read scriptures in the morning before school so think cat naps instead of sleeping in.) And shopping at DI is definitely a must, even if we only get one thing, before heading to other stores. Nana is so excited! I'll pull down the trunk with old stuff in it to see if you want any of it first. Don't worry about it though... we will be getting you some new things!
Fishing with Dad/Grandpa on Thurs. Dad is going to check at work this week and see if he can get his hours in on other days during the week and take at least a half day on Thursday. We'll let you know when you get home.
planning to have visitors all weekend long - open door for neighbors, friends and family. Saturday morning we have a tentative ward activity for emergency preparedness, Sam has a soccer game at noon, and then the home BYU football game on Sat afternoon begins at 1:00 pm. There is no way you can go to both the soccer and football games so don't even plan on it. I'll probably take Sam and leave Dad, Korin and you to go to the stadium. But definitely an open door on Friday night, Saturday night and on Sunday.
You are speaking in sac mtg on Sunday - fun!
Meeting Chandler at some point. He is the one I tried to get you to meet in Cedar City before your mission. You did your best to try to reach out to him and he was silly pickle and didn't ever respond. He even admits it to his aunt. He is on scholarship for the football team at SUU and is struggling again with all the junk that goes along with being a guy on a sports team. He has purchased a home in Cedar City for the specific purpose of having the Spirit in his home and choosing his own roommates. He is considering you as a potential roommate at SUU based on the recommendation of his aunt and uncle who live in our ward (Melissa and Brad Swan). I don't know when you'll meet either up here or down there, and we have plenty of time to figure it out before you start school again. And of course you'll have to decide what you are doing about school. We can definitely talk more about it when you get home. This is not something you have to even think about today, but I did want you to know something was in the works in case you are getting emails from friends at SUU as school starts again soon. (tomorrow I think)
The kids have already planned your first movie to watch - Tangled. We'll give you a few weeks and then start you in on watching Burn Notices. You'll have to start with season one though to get "in" to it. You'll be playing lots of indoor games and plan to be outside with Sam and Korin playing soccer and football. And we'll be making trips to the pool too. Korin is starting on the swim team the day you get home. That will be very weird :) She referred three soccer games last Saturday and Sam played in one. He played defense the whole game and will probably be back there a lot so you'll need to give some tips and advice for being"the wall." You were actually an amazing sweeper and I regret letting you quit. However, there is no looking back, just forward and you can now pass along your instinct and knowledge to the samster.
Okay - back to missionary work. We are praying that you have an incredible week, full of confirmation that your time in the mission field was well spent, a celestial opportunity and one where you will look forward to the eternities because of the firm knowledge that you have that Jesus Christ is real and his Atonement is real. If at all possible, plan to spend some time with Uncle Clarke and Aunt Marney and Oli either at the mission home or on your last p-day. Beg the mission president if you need to. For some bizarre reason I feel strongly that you must at least see them. And if you have a testimony meeting (or "last meeting") that you can invite people to, invite them and at least two others that have a special place in your heart from your service in New Zealand. I promise there are some you will never ever forget.
We love you so much! We are getting incredibly excited for Sept 4 to come. As they say, leave it all on the field and come home with no regrets. I am very proud to be your mother and call you son. And don't worry, I'll be the mother standing there with no makeup on and tears streaming down my face because of the love that I have for you and the joy I'll feel for you because you returned with honor after having fought a good fight. You will have a week of peace. (Oh brother, I'm practicing right now as I'm writing with tears splashing on the keyboard. So pathetic :) Good luck this week! Just go out there and as people ask you about home and make you trunky like crazy, teach them of the gospel and true church that allows them to go "home to heaven" and receive their own homecoming with their Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. Teach them that you will want to be with them having received baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. I know you can do it! Embrace the teaching opportunities that WILL come! I hope you are feeling better after being sick, and if not, get a BLESSING so you can be the strongest missionary in the field this week.
Love you tons and more,
hugs and kisses flying over the internet,
Mother
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