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
Sunday, February 20, 2011
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
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
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
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
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
Monday, January 24, 2011
Q&A and First Baptism
Kia Ora Mother,
It is a good thing I payed for an hour and a half today because i don't know if I wouldn't gotten through this whole email. Just kidding. Thanks for all the things that you do and i love reading your emails. Especially the jokes you send here and there.
Ok, now for the answers to those questions.
Q. Is there anything you need or want?
A. I don't want or need anything I can think of at the moment.
Q. Would you like pumpkin chocolate chip cookie mix with cans of pumpkin or would it be something you would never use or enjoy?
A. I would enjoy that a lot and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.
Q. If you would like it, do you have a cookie sheet to use? If not, would you like me to send one? I am almost positive your investigators and probably companion at this point will have never tasted anything like these cookies because in New Zealand you can NOT buy canned pumpkin to use in a dessert. They eat pumpkin all the time, but only as a squash. Is that still correct?
A. No, I do not have a cookie sheet so if you sent one with that family then great but don't send it by mail because it will cost heaps. I don't know about the pumpkin. I have had pumpkin pie twice which was a great surprise but I don't know if they have it in a can or not.
Q. Did you buy a muffin tin?
A. Yes i have bought the muffin tin and i always make muffins for district meeting. Everyone has loved them so far and I have one batch left for this week before transfers. Then I will have to get creative if i stay in Te Awamutu.
Q. Did you also buy oil? You will need oil for the cookies if we go that route. I refuse to send any chocolate this time around believing you probably haven't finished the last batch.
A. We had oil in the flat and I can get more if needed. We still have heaps though. The only thing I haven't eaten or shared is the fudge and i haven't yet made the fondant into chocolates yet. Haven't had time to but they are still there if I do find time one day.
Q. Have you made french toast or pancakes yet?
A. No, I haven't made french toast of pancakes here yet.
Q. Do you need any mapleine to make syrup with? I'm thinking you have now been there long enough to start creating food memories with the members and investigators.
A. I can buy syrup in the stores here. They only use it for dessert though which is kinda funny. Again, I might do it one morning if I have more time and more energy :)
Q. Did you ever make the chocolates? If not, put the ingredients in the freezer and make them for valentines day - February 14.
A. No I haven't. One day soon I hope. I think that has changed because we never have time to bake things. We only have an hour for lunch and an hour for dinner every day and a lot of the time that is shortened due to appointments. I wish I had time to bake more. That would be fun but unfortunately I don't. We just have time to buy things for our investigators.
Q. Do you want anything from LDS distribution, seagull book and tape, or Desert Book - and yes! I have your ring and will send it to you! I got a size 12 this time, hoping it would fit better.The 13 was really too big. You haven't gained weight in your fingers have you? Tell me quick if you have!
A. I would really like a Reflections of Christ dvd for Deseret book, and a Book of Mormon presentations DVD. They are the seminary videos for the Book of mormon. I can't wait for the ring either. I have missed wearing one.
Well, I hope I answered all your questions.
Now for my week.
But before that I will mention that the presidential interview went really well and also the trade off with the AP.
Ok, this week we had tradeoffs with the ZL's and that went pretty good. We had one investigator enter the waters of Baptism and one that didn't because of smoking. We have another investigator that quit smoking and 2 that are trying.
A cool thing about the baptism was that I actually got to do it. My first one on the mission. It was a really cool experience and I beat Xane to it. Only by two weeks though. He is catching up to me in all that he does. Shane, who was baptized also got confirmed and got the priesthood yesterday in church.
We also were able to get eight people at church yesterday which was awesome.
People to pray for: Natasha and Shannon especially. Also Robert and Dave as well.
My goodness. Transfers are here again and I might be moving. I will let you know next week if I actually do. I hope not. I have too many people that I enjoy teaching here. I will leave it up to the Lord to decide.
Love you tons, and I thank you for all that you do for me.
Elder Beckstead
It is a good thing I payed for an hour and a half today because i don't know if I wouldn't gotten through this whole email. Just kidding. Thanks for all the things that you do and i love reading your emails. Especially the jokes you send here and there.
Ok, now for the answers to those questions.
Q. Is there anything you need or want?
A. I don't want or need anything I can think of at the moment.
Q. Would you like pumpkin chocolate chip cookie mix with cans of pumpkin or would it be something you would never use or enjoy?
A. I would enjoy that a lot and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.
Q. If you would like it, do you have a cookie sheet to use? If not, would you like me to send one? I am almost positive your investigators and probably companion at this point will have never tasted anything like these cookies because in New Zealand you can NOT buy canned pumpkin to use in a dessert. They eat pumpkin all the time, but only as a squash. Is that still correct?
A. No, I do not have a cookie sheet so if you sent one with that family then great but don't send it by mail because it will cost heaps. I don't know about the pumpkin. I have had pumpkin pie twice which was a great surprise but I don't know if they have it in a can or not.
Q. Did you buy a muffin tin?
A. Yes i have bought the muffin tin and i always make muffins for district meeting. Everyone has loved them so far and I have one batch left for this week before transfers. Then I will have to get creative if i stay in Te Awamutu.
Q. Did you also buy oil? You will need oil for the cookies if we go that route. I refuse to send any chocolate this time around believing you probably haven't finished the last batch.
A. We had oil in the flat and I can get more if needed. We still have heaps though. The only thing I haven't eaten or shared is the fudge and i haven't yet made the fondant into chocolates yet. Haven't had time to but they are still there if I do find time one day.
Q. Have you made french toast or pancakes yet?
A. No, I haven't made french toast of pancakes here yet.
Q. Do you need any mapleine to make syrup with? I'm thinking you have now been there long enough to start creating food memories with the members and investigators.
A. I can buy syrup in the stores here. They only use it for dessert though which is kinda funny. Again, I might do it one morning if I have more time and more energy :)
Q. Did you ever make the chocolates? If not, put the ingredients in the freezer and make them for valentines day - February 14.
A. No I haven't. One day soon I hope. I think that has changed because we never have time to bake things. We only have an hour for lunch and an hour for dinner every day and a lot of the time that is shortened due to appointments. I wish I had time to bake more. That would be fun but unfortunately I don't. We just have time to buy things for our investigators.
Q. Do you want anything from LDS distribution, seagull book and tape, or Desert Book - and yes! I have your ring and will send it to you! I got a size 12 this time, hoping it would fit better.The 13 was really too big. You haven't gained weight in your fingers have you? Tell me quick if you have!
A. I would really like a Reflections of Christ dvd for Deseret book, and a Book of Mormon presentations DVD. They are the seminary videos for the Book of mormon. I can't wait for the ring either. I have missed wearing one.
Well, I hope I answered all your questions.
Now for my week.
But before that I will mention that the presidential interview went really well and also the trade off with the AP.
Ok, this week we had tradeoffs with the ZL's and that went pretty good. We had one investigator enter the waters of Baptism and one that didn't because of smoking. We have another investigator that quit smoking and 2 that are trying.
A cool thing about the baptism was that I actually got to do it. My first one on the mission. It was a really cool experience and I beat Xane to it. Only by two weeks though. He is catching up to me in all that he does. Shane, who was baptized also got confirmed and got the priesthood yesterday in church.
We also were able to get eight people at church yesterday which was awesome.
People to pray for: Natasha and Shannon especially. Also Robert and Dave as well.
My goodness. Transfers are here again and I might be moving. I will let you know next week if I actually do. I hope not. I have too many people that I enjoy teaching here. I will leave it up to the Lord to decide.
Love you tons, and I thank you for all that you do for me.
Elder Beckstead
The one with spiky black hair is Paul at the Baptism of Paul on the 15th.
Two sisters and companion on our hike up mount Pirongia.
Investigators at the temple.
Shane's baptism.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Paul's Baptism and Hiking
Kia Ora Mother,
This is a short emailing session today because I have to go hiking. Can you believe it? Anyways, thanks for the updates on the family. It sounds like everything is going great. Tell the Raynes sorry for me and that I will miss Bro. Raynes awesome council. The baptism of Paul went fabulously this past weekend. 1 down and 3 to go for january. Some other updates include President interviews and splits with an AP this week but I will tell you more next week. Tell dad my companion is from Wellington and that the area is good so far. We had 9 new investigators last week and most are progressing which is awesome.
I gotta go but know that I love you and appreciate all that you do.
Elder Beckstead
This is a short emailing session today because I have to go hiking. Can you believe it? Anyways, thanks for the updates on the family. It sounds like everything is going great. Tell the Raynes sorry for me and that I will miss Bro. Raynes awesome council. The baptism of Paul went fabulously this past weekend. 1 down and 3 to go for january. Some other updates include President interviews and splits with an AP this week but I will tell you more next week. Tell dad my companion is from Wellington and that the area is good so far. We had 9 new investigators last week and most are progressing which is awesome.
I gotta go but know that I love you and appreciate all that you do.
Elder Beckstead
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)