New Guardian Angel and Zone Conference

Kia Ora Mum and whanau(family),

Before I begin, I want you to go over to grandma great and tell here how much I love her and am grateful for those cheese and crackers those many years ago. So goodbye for me before it is too late.

Ok, so this week we had zone conference which went pretty well. We talked about heaps of things which were all pretty good. President did call that morning last monday but we had already left. Then he called me again that night down in Whangarei. He spoke to me again at zone conference but not much was said. Then we came back up to Kaitaia and this week hasn't been to productive until yesterday. We were able to go on splits. My comp went to Matauri Bay and I stayed here. Then we met up again and went to Ahipara to teach a 15 year old girl named Temz. She has been taught for ages and has been to church for ages as well. We had a prayer and a song and then she told us that her dad finally gave permission for here to be baptized. We set a date and made sure she new everything, which she does. It was a miracle.

Not much else to tell other than I am healthy and well. Trying to work as hard as I can. This week is full of interesting trade-offs and such so we will see how that goes.

I love you more that I can say and I hope that everyone is coping alright. Tell Xane congrats again for making it into BYU and I will tell you as well to not set me up with any of his friends. I will get into the swing of things when I get home.

Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead

On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 4:11 AM, <krtxk@comcast.net> wrote:
Dearest Wonderful Trev,

I certainly hope you had a fantastic week!  The email we sent you last time was pretty brutal and I am terribly sorry about that.  We tried calling the Mission President from Boston and only had the phone number from the LDS.org mission website.  It was busy for the first several tries and then when we finally got through I just had to leave a message ($32.83 for a 15 second voicemail from the hotel phone - youch! :)  We spent the next day finishing up convention and then traveling home.  I worried that you may not have found out about it yet and so dad and I sat down to email you before church.  In the afternoon, Dad tried calling the Mission President again and this time was able to talk with him.  He said we would not be able to speak with you directly - mission rules say that missionaries can only speak with family if a parent or sibling dies.  That was a bummer but we understood.  Then he said he did get our message but hadn't had a chance to reach you yet.  I panicked and raced to the computer to see if you'd responded.  You had, in a state of shock.  We honestly didn't plan for that email to be your first communication about your Grandma.  Aunt Randi and Uncle Jeff spent all Saturday trying to find a translator to call Tara's Mission President - native Portuguese who doesn't speak any English - and were able to talk with him and let Tara know. (He actually called a conference call and let them talk to Tara for 29 minutes :)  So, when we didn't get to talk with you, I justified it by thinking for some darn reason you had to have this experience and I really, really hoped you would have something wonderful happen this week because of it. The something wonderful could be peace and comfort in your heart, or it could be teaching the Plan of Salvation with deeper meaning, or it could be some investigator or member or your companion was able to offer you some support and love.  In the end, I hope the Mission President eventually contacted you!  And if not, oh well.

We actually did have a great time in New York City and Boston.  We were gone for a full week.  I hired referees (a new couple in our ward for the first Sunday), Grandma and Grandpa B and Nana switched off during the weekdays/nights, and then Taylor and Brooke came in for the second weekend.  I think the kids had a great time and we certainly did.  Bowler and his wife, Donna and her husband, Kelli and her husband, Dad and I were able to go together.  Heather and Burton had another commitment with the Ice Breaker Tournament down in St. George for President's Day weekend and couldn't go with us this year.  Hopefully next year will be better.  We did get you a spinner key chain in New York and ended up without one in Boston.  Dad says we'll just have to go back again (or get one online:)  We also got one plastic one from the 9/11 memorial.  In New York City we visited the Empire State Building, took a Staten Island Ferry to go past the Statue of Liberty, visited Times Square, Sacrament Meeting in a Spanish Ward, saw the Ground Zero visitor's center, drove down 5th avenue, drove past the Manhattan Temple and ate lots of great food.  I tried to order dessert first and drink milk, but some restaurants didn't either one or both!  How crazy is that!  One waiter that did accommodate me was so surprised; he said he'd worked there 5 years and no one had ever requested milk "to drink" and eaten their dessert at the beginning of the meal.  Well!  That made it all the funnier.  In another restaurant I ordered milk and the waiter said they didn't have any.  Strike One.  Then I requested a dessert menu and he said they didn't have any desserts.  Strike Two.  There were several other strikes during the meal but some good things happened too so by the time we left, he was back to only strike one and did get a tip :)

In Boston, we visited the USS Constitution - a warship built in 1774 and used in the revolutionary war and the war of 1812 - also known as Old Ironsides, and the Monument at Bunker's Hill and walked the Historic Freedom Trail.  We also got to go inside the Boston Temple (100th temple dedicated) and participate in a session there.  It was wonderful!  Convention was Thursday, Friday and Saturday and on Friday night after we got the dreadful news about Grandma both Dad and I received Priesthood Blessings of comfort from the Bowler, Jorge and Jim.  Kelli later said it was the most spiritual soccer convention trip she had ever been on.  It was a very nice trip and we did have a wonderful time!  I have to say one of my favorite meals there was an italian one.  I had butternut squash ravioli.  My goodness!  It was delicious!

Once we arrived home, plans were in full swing for funeral preparations and Dad just joined right in.  It took me a couple of days, but I realized my primary job of supporting was to keep everyone fed.  Meals were coming in like crazy, but I had to make sure they were on the table ready to eat so that the family just sat down, ate, and then got back up to finish what they were doing.  I then cleared and cleaned up.  We have such a loving and supportive neighborhood/ward.  They kept us going throughout the week!

The viewing was very nice.  There were people who waited in line for an hour just to speak to Grandpa.  One man said he met Grandma in the 4th grade and knew her in school.  Another said they knew Grandpa before he was born.  All of Aunt Rae's coworkers came and many of Aunt Randi's came too.  There was a beautiful spirit there.  One lady came up and tapped me on the shoulder and said "could you tell them to talk less; the line goes down the hall and around the corner."  I actually did try to mention it to dad and finally said "forget it."  So I went back over to the long line - I was the first to greet people - and started thanking them for waiting in the very long line, and apologizing for the wait, and then saying Grandma and Grandpa are amazing and they have tons of people who love them and so how do you tell friends and family they can't chat and offer their condolences?  I could almost feel the whoosh of aggravation leave them and the smile of love and support replace it.  They all agreed that Grandma and Grandpa are amazing and that they didn't want their few minutes of tender support to be cut short either.

The viewing in the morning was also very nice but I didn't hang around that one at all.  I was busy in the church doing "busy beaver" activities.  The funeral was beautiful.  Aunt Rae gave the life sketch, Aunt Randi, Dad and Bishop Fehlberg all gave talks and did a marvelous job.  I learned later that Aunt Randi hadn't spoken in a chapel from the pulpit since Taylor was 4 years old.  That was 2 years before I joined the family.  She did a very nice job!  Xane and Korin sang "I Believe in Christ" and were amazing.  It wasn't an amazing singing rendition so much as it was an amazingly courageous effort and The Spirit was incredibly thick!  The Bishop asked some people later how it was.  "It was Perfect."  Could you hear? "No, but it was perfect."  Please explain... "We could hear just enough as the music faded in and out that we sang in our mind the lyrics we knew and we saw Korin and Xane standing there as a tribute to their Grandma because they loved her so much and it was absolutely perfect."  The crazy thing about that for me was that they were already on the program before I ever got home.  All I could think was "are you kidding??? Just the two of them??? No other voices to help when they get emotional???  They are great singers but definitely not professional. Why on earth would someone ask a youth to do that?"  Let's just say I was a wreck before they even started.  They didn't know the song well, and they refused to practice much.  We did run through it once from the hymnbook and Xane asked me to find an arrangement.  I called Sister Raynes daughter and asked if her mother had any arrangements which she did and Danielle brought them right over.  We practiced once more to see which arrangement we liked best and then Korin practiced once more with me at home while Xane was gone, and then Xane practiced once more with me 30 minutes before the funeral.  Brother Williams accompanied them (it was way too hard for me, and we decided Aunt Rae didn't really have time to practice it either) and they never practiced together, ever.  Phew!  Made it through - the married grandkids also sang "Families Can Be Together Forever"  Brynne and Bambi had a difficult time with that one.  All in all, it was a beautiful funeral and I'm glad it's over.

That afternoon we all met back at our home.  The salt and pepper shakers grandma wanted Taci to have, but she loved the CD party with Uncle Dee's music and wanted us to do something again for Grandma.  So she and Jake took down families together to the cabinet and each member of the family got to choose a set of their very own to remember Grandma with.  You and Tara will get to choose yours when you get home.  It was very sweet and a nice ending to a very Spirit filled day.

Yesterday, all the endowed members of the immediate family went to the temple together.  There were 15 of us in the Celestial Room - what a legacy!  We figured out that of 11 grandchildren, 8 have been sealed in the temple and 10 have temple recommends.  The only one that doesn't is Sam cuz he's too short at the moment.  Bryan then reminded us there is a great granddaughter with a temple recommend as well.  Isn't that amazing?!  You are part of an incredible family!  I'm sure we could have gone on and figured out returned missionaries too.  We topped the day off with lunch at Mama Chu's.  Dad and I grabbed Korin and Sam and joined them.  Korin scored 3 goals and 1 assist in her futsal game.  Last night BYU won their game too.

There you have in a tiny nutshell, our week.  Again, I hope yours is worth telling about too, even if it is in a tiny nutshell :)

We love you and have prayed extra hard for you and Tara every prayer this week!  I hope you were consoled and comforted and in answer to your question, I don't know "why" she went home to heaven before you got home from serving the Lord.  I just know the Plan of Salvation is real and you will see her again.  She doesn't have to fight the frailties of her mortal body any longer.  She was getting pretty miserable.  Prepare yourself for an email regarding Grandma Great.  She had another mini stroke yesterday and Nana says she has given up.  It shouldn't be too much longer before she gets to shed her mortal frail body as well.  She isn't strong enough to walk any more and she can't see anything at all.  Her speech is slurred and she is miserable. She just wants to "go home."

And on that happy note - We love you!!!!!!!!!
hugs and tons of kisses,
Mother

Grandma B. Funeral & Crazy Week

WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Kia Ora Mum and Dad and Whanau,

I can't believe this. It is a good thing I teach the plan of salvation on a regular basis and i know that it is true. When I read the email, my mind just froze. I don't know how to react.

Well, to try and get over it, I will tell you of my crazy week. I don't know if I told yous but last week we went to the cape. It was really fun and only the back of my neck and my feet got really burned. Oh, yeah the back of my knees as well. It was a very fun trip although it kinda made me and my companion a bit trunky hanging with a dead missionary all day.

On tuesday we had district meeting and it was a bit unusual with this new district leader but it went alright. We then went on a split in our area with some members which worked out pretty well.

Wednesday was a normal day. We taught a dutch lady and she is pretty interested in learning. Her problem is that she works on sundays so we will see what will happen.

Thursday was a very busy day in which we visited a lot of less-active and former investigators. It was a good day but still we haven't found much good potential here in this area. It seems like everyone is too dead or lazy up here. We also found out that one of the members here past away. We had talked to him the previous saturday so he could bring someone to church. That night he had a stroke and so he wasn't at church. Then we found out that he died on thursday or Wednesday or something like that. Too many deaths happening around the world.

Friday was a pretty boring day. We have this crazy maori investigator that we spent some time with and then we were trying to figure out how to burn a dvd. It worked and Saturday and sunday we have been exchanging discs about every 4 hours or when we can. It takes ages to burn a DVD. Oh well, we will continue to do what we can.

Saturday wasn't too exciting and sunday we were able to have 3 at church. All 3 can't get baptized for awhile so it is still really hard to get going. We will still strive to continue however.

This week we are going to the glow worm caves in Kawakawa. It should be pretty fun but we will see if it is worth it.

I hope that everything goes well this week and I will definitely be there in spirit for the funeral. I still can't believe that grandma is gone. Why? I guess another one of lifes challenges that I haven't had to deal with much until now. Uncle Dee and now Grandma. Tell Grandpa he can't leave for awhile. At least until I see him again.

I love you all heaps,
Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead

---

Dearest Trevor - Elder Beckstead,

We hope this email is not the first time you get this news, but if it is please grab a tissue before you continue reading.

Your sweet wonderful Grandma B went "home" last Friday evening.  She wasn't feeling too well on Thursday night and then Friday, all day she was just a little off balance.  Grandpa kept checking her blood sugar and it seemed within the good range but she fell down several times during the day. The first time all the kids were at school and Grandpa was here with Grandma alone (we were in Boston!).  Grandpa couldn't get her up and then after a few phone calls John DePalma came over and helped.  They struggled getting her down the hall into the living room from the kitchen and were really having a very difficult time getting her through that last corner.  Grandpa called the Bishop and not long after some of the Denning boys and Lynette along with Mary Fehlberg came and helped get her onto the couch.  How grateful we are for loving neighbors who come immediately.  Remember you never know when you get that "inconvenient phone call requesting aid" who you will be helping.  We weren't here but others were!

She took a really great 2 hour nap and appeared to be better.  By then, Xane, Korin and Sam were home.  She collapsed again on her way to the bathroom and Grandpa came and got Xane.  He went right down and they helped her up and got her slightly but not quite situated on the toilet.  Turned out to be an outfit changing experience and Grandpa took care of that. She tried to get up and get back to the couch on her own and collapsed again in the doorway of the bathroom and hallway.  Again Xane went down to help but this time she was unconscious.  He was on the floor with her and cradled her head in his lap.  He said to Grandpa "she isn't breathing."  Grandpa said she was because he could see her chest rise and fall, but he decided this was different than a regular sugar low and called 911.  Xane again said to Grandpa that Grandma wasn't breathing.  The paramedics arrived quickly and went right to work. They said they had to take her to the hospital right away and Grandpa requested they give him enough time to give her a blessing first.  They said no time, could do it at the hospital and they were off.  Gordon Smith drove Grandpa behind the ambulance.  Meanwhile, Xane called us in Boston and told us of what was happening.

Here is where the tender mercies and outpouring of love for our family continue on... Suzette and Lexie Stewart were hugging Korin and Sam while the paramedics were here.  Brent Campbell was right with Xane and there were neighbors everywhere.  Gordon and June were with Grandpa.  And Hoa LeBras was here too. After the ambulance left, the Stewarts piled the three kids into the car to see a puppy in Spanish Fork and try to distract them.  Gordon drove Grandpa to the hospital and Sister LeBras started the food coming in.  Dad was on the phone in Boston calling Aunt Rae and Aunt Randi and letting them know.  Taylor and Brooke were on their way down to stay with the kids for the weekend. The Bishop was on his way home from Salt Lake and stopped at the hospital where he called your Dad to tell her she was gone.  Grandma had no pulse on the way or in the hospital.  The very kind doctor came out and told Grandpa there was really nothing they could do for her and if he wished he could go in, be by her side, and hold her hand.  When Grandpa held her hand, her pulse rate immediately shot up to normal and she squeezed it (I think).  After very few seconds it slowly decreased again and she passed away.  It was like she came back just to say goodbye.

We know you love her very much and will miss her too.  We received the miracle of getting on an overbooked plane and sitting in an emergency exit row and being home early from our soccer convention trip.  She passed away on Friday evening about 6:10 pm, and we arrived home Saturday night about 11:00 pm.  We finally got to bed about 3:00 am (Boston time).

We still hope to be able to talk with you about this if your mission president allows it.  We only had the office phone number from LDS.org with us and tried several times but the line was busy.  Once we finally got through I had to leave a message and don't know if anyone has even listened to it yet.  Now it is 4:00 am your time and so we will try the President's cell phone this afternoon after church. I bet you already know simply through the Holy Ghost.  We are so sorry if your only info is this email.

We love you and pray for you and Tara.  We know you are being comforted as are we.  The Plan of Salvation is real!  The Atonement and Resurrection are real!  The resurrection is real! We know Grandma was greeted by her parents and Uncle Dee and her brothers and tons of other family.  

Sending tons of love, hugs and kisses your way!

Mother and Dad

Couple a weeks of craziness :)

Kia Ora Mother,

I will tell you of the craziness that accompanied my couple weeks but first I want to tell you that I am now at full health and and waiting to see who my new companion is. Transfers this week. Ok also, to answer your two questions. I think the first one had to do with being the right person or something. Anyways, yes I am trying to be what God wants me to be not just do what I am comfortable doing. It has been extremely tricky this transfer with all of the no's for permission and trying to work with the ward here in Kaitaia and with the branch in Matauri Bay. Anyways, your second question, I am pretty sure that there has been righteous indignation a lot in the mission at the moment by most people. Either in presidents case about disobedience, or in the missionary's case for the recent converts or investigators disobedience. I'm sure every mission goes through that.We will push on no matter what.

Ok, back to the start of 2 weeks ago.
Monday the 23. We had a good fhe with bishop and his wife with some investigators in Ahipara. It went really good and we did the egg into the bottle trick. I might have to show yous if yous don't know what it is when I return. You basically put thing in a bottle and the put a match in it. Then you put a preshelled hard boiled egg on top and it gets sucked in. It is pretty good. It says to use rubbing alcohol but that doesn't exist in this country so we used methylated spirits instead. It still worked good but would've worked better in a glass bottle.

Tuesday we had a trade-off after district meeting. I went with Elder Lamb who is a canadian who is pretty funny. It is pretty weird how much alike we are though. Personality-wise anyways. We had a pretty good day and the trampoline picture was with him.

Wednesday we traded back and we were supposed to stay the night out at our ward mission leader. Then from there we would stay in Matauri Bay at our Branch Presidents house. But we got permission denied. We still made it out to the ward mission leaders house and another member for dinner out there about 40 K's from Kaitaia but we had to come home. We still tried to get permission for later but it never worked out.

Thursday, we didn't have anything exciting happen because we hadn't planned anything because we were supposed to be headed to Matauri Bay. We did stay about Kaitaia though and had a good day.

Friday was the same as thursday except we did heaps of service. We had mowed this lady's lawn on thursday and on friday we helped her move. We also moved some rocks for a rock garden for a member just down the road. I got a few blisters which was no good. Oh well.

Saturday, we got permission to stay in Kaikohe so we went on the route we were going to take to Matauri Bay and visited all of those people who we were supposed to on thursday. Not too many people were home because of the long weekend but it was still a good day. That night we stayed in Kaikohe at the elders flat there.

Sunday, we spent the whole day out in Matauri Bay. It was good to see the members there and get to know them. The only down part of the day was almost ripping our front bumper off because of a metal post sticking out of the ground. It was ridiculus. A cool story from the day was that we went out a ways not knowing where these people stayed other than a road. We went on a road and asked a few people. We finally found the right house and as we walked up he said we were welcome to come inside. He said it was kindof a rude awakening to see us because he knows where he should be on sunday but other things take him away. It was pretty funny to hear him talk the way he was. He was happy to see us but I know the spirit was eating him up on the inside. We stayed in Kaikohe again that night.

Last Monday we went to email at the chapel because all the shops were closed for a public holiday. But the internet wasn't working. So we went on with the plans and went to the cape instead. It was good to go see the ocean and the very top of New Zealand. There are some pictures but the best ones are on the elders camera in Kaikohe. I hopefully will get them later. It was a good day doing that and we stayed again in Kaikohe and that is when the trouble started. That night I was up all night throwing up and having diarrhea. It was not a fun experience.

Tueday I made it to district meeting but after that it was just a long day of sleeping, eating nothing, and trying not to be sick. There was another missionary named Elder Ngalu that was also sick. We boiled it down to some fish we ate the previous day on the way back from the cape. It was no good. So we had to stay an extra day in Kaikohe because I couldn't drive home or Sister Lekias wouldn't let me anyways.

Wednesday, we made it back finally and had a pretty good day taking it easy. Then that night my companion got a call from President telling him he was training down in the city and that he would be in the tongan program. He was excited about the tongan program but he does not want to train at all. He wasn't happy about that at all. Anyways, the ap's then called and told us they would pick him up in Kaikohe the next day at about 2 pm. Because of that our thursday was shot.

Thursday we drove down at 12 pm and got to kaikohe. We went with the other elders to a few appointments and the ap's finally got elder Pohahau at about 4 pm. Then I stayed with Elder Ngalu while Elder Lamb went on a trade off to another part of their area with a member. So I was in Kaikohe that night and Elder Pohahau was in Auckland.

Friday was weekly planning. I did that by myself and then when Elder Pohahau came back he went with Elder Lamb to see some tongans at the edge of our area closest to Kaikohe. I stayed again with Elder Ngalu. That night we again stayed in Kaikohe to prepare for a baptism for those elders.

Saturday, the baptism was very nice. We got back to Kaitaia about midday and worked over here. We had a few good lessons which went well.

Yesterday we went to church and only one of our investigators showed up when we were supposed to have about 5 or 6. Ridiculus but that is life. Then we went to ward council in which I was finally able to introduce a 21 day program. We will see how it works out. Then we went to a members to break our fast and were there the rest of the evening because my companion crashed on the couch. I just talked with the bishopric member about things that could help the ward. There is some serious issues with this ward but nothing that can't be fixed if we rely on the lord and actually get to work. We will see how it goes.

Well, today is a lazy day again and another public holiday so everything is closed. We are at a members house which is good and I am getting all of Elder Pohahau's pictures before he goes.

I love you heaps and I hope not to miss another p-day because the email gets to long to write.

Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead

Enjoying Serving Up North & Letter from Mother Included

Kia Ora Mother,

This is a very good email today I have to admit. I can literally picture all of yous as you currently are and how I remember yous as well. There is a big change in spirituality but still the same personalities. Ok, so to answer the question (regarding what breakfast we should enter into the family breakfast cookoff), I love Breakfast Casserole, but I love Beto's breakfast burritos or breakfast burritos in general. Also, I love Jamba Juice for breakfast. Anyways, I will let you choose what to enter as I like them all.

Ok, my week was an interesting week this week with a lot that happened.

Last, Monday was a very boring P-day. We just slept after emails and that was about it.
Tuesday was a regular day, no district meeting. That brings it to a total of 3 district meetings in 9 weeks. Pretty odd for sure. Not much happened on Tuesday. Just a couple lessons.
Wednesday was a trade-off with the zone leaders. I was with, Guess Who? My MTC companion, Elder Devey. We of course had a great time and we didn't have many lessons but we talked to lots of people and I got a picture of him at 90 mile beach. We split the area which is already pretty small anyways, at least Kaitaia where all of our investigators were. It was hard to stay busy but we managed.
Thursday, was another regular day, for the most part. It went fairly normal in the morning and then we had a service project for a member. He is canadian and pretty funny. We helped him with his garden. Then he made us dinner. It was soo American. We had T-bone Steaks, baked potatoes, salad, and corn of the cob. I loved it. Then we drove to Kaikohe and then to Whangarei.
Friday, we went to Auckland for a conference with Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Callister, Bishop McMullen, Elder Hamula, and Elder Watson, and all of their wives. It was a very good conference and very different from normal. Elder Cook ran in and basically asked everyone questions. Then they would come up and give short answers. Some of the questions he asked the other general authorities were, What is one thing that you want the missionaries to know?, What is something you want them to do?, He asked elder Callister about Spirituality, and Bishop McMullen about Planning. All of their responses were just by the spirit. No planning before hand and it was really good. Then I had to drive a car back to the mission office and we got stuck in traffic. It was horrendous. It added and extra hour onto our trip. I was following the zone leaders because I knew not where to go and I had to run a few red lights because of them. Oh well. They are forgiven and I hope I am as well. Oh, I forgot to mention that all the missionaries in our mission plus the MTC were at the conference. About 250 missionaries in all.
Saturday, We finally made it back to our area in Kaitaia, and the day was alright. We had a wonderful lesson in Ahipara with some kids. We drew out prayer with them and had them list things they were thankful for and things that they wanted to ask. So now when they pray they can pick and choose from the list. I hope that they do what we asked them to.
Sunday, only one of those kids came to church but we had two good lessons afterwords with some other people. We don't have anyone set for baptism yet but we hope to have at least 5 by the end of the week. Wish us luck.

Ok, I hope that is a mother approved email and of course I am way out of time. As usual.
Have a wonderful week and I love you heaps.
Elder Beckstead

P.S. Here is a picture of me and my companion and another of me at a Maori Cemetery.

On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 4:06 AM, <krtxk@comcast.net> wrote:
Hi Trev,

We finally got some snow!  It rained a bit Thursday, about enough for spitting, then as I recall Friday we had balmy temps up to at least the 50's.  I thought the car said 63 F at one point.  Saturday morning we woke up to rain and it literally poured all day yesterday until last evening.  It cooled off enough to turn to snow and this morning we have a couple of inches on the ground.  But that is snow on top of frozen rain water making it verrrrrry slippery.  Hope you are enjoying your time away from "shoveling:)"  We are planning to go with Uncle Clarke and Oli tomorrow to do some sledding.  We planned it before it actually snowed so I really, really hope it stays at least until tomorrow night so we can get some sledding in tomorrow after school,

So yesterday we had Relief Society Super Saturday!  And today I'm thrilled how it went.  There were some slight obstacles and some major disasters through the whole planning and carrying out of the activity, but we got it done and it was a nice event and I had to come home and take a nap because I was so exhausted.  Korin had a futsal game and then dad dropped her off at the church so she was with me for several hours.  We had a great time together.  It's funny though, over the last couple of years I've realized I don't work alongside you kids very well.  I dole out assignments and then find something else that needs to be done for myself to do.  Korin made the comment yesterday that she liked doing the etching of pans with me.  It just worked out that I could stand beside her as we put a strip of vinyl on a glass pan, added etching cream over the top, waited for 5 minutes for the cream to etch into the glass, scrap the cream off (because I can't waste anything), and then wash it off with water at the sink.  We tried to etch 3 pans, but only 2 of them worked - weird.

Then I had to work in the kitchen while I "assigned" her another activity without me.  She did great as she put stickers on vases and loaded them up with "dead" candy from our freezers to give to the family for Valentine's Day.  They looked darling, but I didn't sit down with her at all - just assigned her to do it.  Later, I did get to sit for a few minutes and enjoy lunch beside her.  One of my goals for 2012 is to be alongside you guys (well, not you for a while, but yes, with the littler ones).  I realize that I just always have myself so overbooked/overscheduled that I can't just be right with you.  Somehow my "multi-tasking" gene kicks into to overdrive and each has their own assignment to complete, making it so 5 or 6 things get down instead of one.  The idea is okay, but it literally keeps you from learning how to work together on one project.  Hmmm.  Lots for me to still work on and improve.  Maybe I'll get it figured out for when I have grandchildren!

Soccer has begun with the pre-spring season.  Sam is loving basketball and Korin is excited to get back into soccer by playing futsal.  She scored one goal yesterday and had an assist.  I loved having her tell me about it at the activity since I didn't get to go.  Dad took Korin for her game at 8:30 and Xane took Sam for his game at 9:00 while I was at the church.  See, we do divide and conquer extremely well.  I'm trying very hard to be smart with my time on how I serve in my many callings - Wife, Mother, Daughter/Daughter-in-law, relative to others (sister, granddaughter, cousin, etc) Relief Society Presidency Member, Soccer Executive Board member, School classroom helper, Alison's Pantry representative, friend, neighbor, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some of my roles.  It is pretty impressive you get an email from me at all!  Even if some of them are my whining to you:)

Okay, enough about me... how about everyone else?  Xane had a straight A college semester last fall.  That brother of yours is amazing with his school learning and study habits.  He is brilliant and retains knowledge and takes tests well and is doing fine (does he get that from dad and you?! - He does NOT get it from me!!!)  He has a wonderful sense of humor and is very kind to our family.  He has started coming in the kitchen and asking if I need help with anything.  I, of course, always have something that needs help so I give him lots of tasks, especially with dinner. I think he figured out that he has a 20 credit semester this winter so he can get all the classes in that he wants before graduating with his Associates.  He has institute instead of seminary and he loves it.  Says the college kids speak up more in class and have intelligent things to say.  Can you even imagine him bored to tears at Orem High?  UCAS has been a fantastic thing for him.  Just like MATC was a fantastic thing for you!  I love being blessed!!!

Korin has the cutest personality.  She is happy, fun, smart, tall, teases her friends good-naturedly, helpful, all the traits of a good Eagle Scout who honors the scout oath and law, just in female form.  Her hair is getting longer, but isn't quite to waist length yet. Her hardest class is history and she is constantly trying to get extra credit from her teacher to help raise her grade.  She is becoming an awesome artist and is now taking ceramics.  That should be fun for her.  She just made it into the audition choir of treble trios for second semester after singing with ladies choir in the first semester and she is WAY excited about that!  She loves her science and math classes and is at the top of the class in both.  (surprise? no way!  She takes after Trevor and Xane!) She helps me a lot and I'm now understanding she likes being around me as well.  She has all these "guy friends" and she tells me the daily anecdotes from her school experiences.  She doesn't even have to be in the school building.  These stories come from the bus stop and other areas too.  I think she is just too cute for her britches.  Her friends keep telling her she is so tall, and she just nods and says she's short compared to you.

Sam makes me laugh all the time.  His comments and answers are so timely and sweet.  I wish I could think of one of them right now to tell you, but I can't.  He is honest with a great attitude.  He is ALWAYS getting hurt either at home, or recess, or playing.  He has more bumps and bruises than I have cells.  Okay, not really, but it sure seems like it.  Every day he shows me a new bruise and tells me the play by play of how he got it. I love listening to him describe things to me.  And did I tell you, he makes me laugh!  His Spanish is great and he is also an excellent student. We are now in a carpool with two other families for Orchard and I am loving, loving, loving it and believe he is too.  Pinewood derby is this Wednesday so we are in the thick of finishing his car.  Dad is doing it with him.

Your dad is the most caring, serving, amazing man ever!  I love him to pieces!! When he was gone to California a week ago, I just sort-of wandered the house as if half of me was missing.  I couldn't focus on what I was supposed to be doing.  I am in seriously big trouble if he happens to die before me.  Luckily I don't have to worry about or deal with that yet, but it's going to be a whopper of a trial for either one of us I'm sure!  Anyway, he is the glue that holds this family together.  He serves his whole family well!  Don't you just feel his Spirit crawl through the computer emails and grab you, support you, love you, challenge you to do better, and then guide you in doing it?  Yep,  that's my main squeeze and I am the happiest girl on the planet.  I love him more than anything else in the world except my Heavenly Father and Savior.  And it's because of their wise and perfect plan that we get to be a family forever and ever and ever.  Sigh. Bigger sigh.  I'm very content.

Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and everyone else - they are wonderful, kind, loving, caring and are so incredibly patient with us.  We love them all!  Uncle Jeff is recovering very well from his knee surgery so that is very good.  We are having a birthday party/breakfast cookoff next Saturday.  Do you have a favorite breakfast that you want us to enter in your name?  Tell me what your favorite breakfast is and we'll make it.  We are also hoping to give out THE COOKBOOKS.  You know the ones.  We have been working on them for two years!

So in hindsight, who cares about all those worldly other things I have to do?  Not me, not today, not ever - okay, that's pushing it a bit far.  I've gotten so caught up in my own ramblings that I'm thoroughly enjoying the moment :) Hey, did we also tell you?  We are fasting today as a family for missionary work both here in our own stake, but also for NZ and Brazil and all over the world. This is the "40-day fast" that our local missionaries asked us to participate in.  Each ward in our stake has sign-ups for a family or individual to fast over the course of 40 days for the missionary work in our stake.  We began January 1 and will continue through Feb 9, I think.  Our day is today!  We hope you feel our prayers and fasting for you this week as you work with your investigators and ENJOY your companion.  You're still enjoying him right?!  The first three weeks is barely up and he is NOT driving you bananas yet, right?!  See, you are making huge headway here.  Keep enjoying his "different than you"ness for the whole transfer!!!!

Love you tons and tons, my darling missionary. Hope you have a fabulous week.
Only question of the week is the breakfast question.  You can just tell us whatever you want today:)
I adore you immensely and am so grateful to have you as a son, and be your mother.  Oh wait, who else says hello?  Bro and Sis Furr, Brother Jones, Bro and Sister Schwarting, Bro and Sis Wood, Bishop and Sis Fehlberg, Vaughn Greening, Bro and Sis Robinson and Bro and Sis Kirkland - those are the ones I remember.
Love,
Mother

Keep the Faith - pictures :)

Kia Ora Mother,

Thank goodness it was only last weeks craziness. You can write long emails if you so desire, however, don't feel pushed to do so. Keep your priorities in order remember.

Ok, the first picture is me at a members house and the second picture is the beach that I am hiding. My companion needs to work on his photography skills. The third is the picture of me by Kaitaia. This is where I live and spend most of our time. Our area is huge, bigger than I said before but this is the headquarters you could say. The weather is finally acting right so better pictures should be coming. The other pictures including the ones of me and my companion are on his camera and currently not here. So I will get that to yous later. His name is Elder Pohahau and he is from Tonga. His English is pretty good but there is improvment to be done just like with us all.

Ok, the first news is bad news. I was sick this week which was no good. I think I had a bad cold/ sinus infection/ or flu. The weather is horrible up here lately switching between hot and cold and has cause a lot of sickness. I will try to get back into my old routines but it is quite challenging after moving and being sick. Oh, well, just more challenges.

Ok, a miracle for this week was that yesterday we went and saw this girl that I had never met but that had been taught for awhile. We went and she said that the elders in Kaikohe (where she went for a holiday) had set her for baptism this weekend. We are just praying that her dad will give permission which has been the cause of the delay for several months now.  It was good to hear that he was thinking about it instead of just saying no and we are all praying heaps. She is very prepared and we hope to see her baptized this week.

Ok, a crazy story this week was one of the members picked up a hitchhiker on the way to church and brought him along. He is from Canada studying in a bible school in the south Island. Anyways, it was good that he came to church and we had a good lesson with him. He was one of those people that believes in doing nothing to be saved except accepting Jesus in our hearts. We are saved by grace, not by works. The Bible annoys me sometimes, but it just continues to help me know that Book of Mormon is true. We basically just tried to help him understand the necessity for the Book of Mormon which ended up in his accepting a copy. Whether it will be read or end up on the side of the road is another story.

Thanks for all that yous do for me. Oh, thanks for the pictures. I like the one with everyone (at aspen grove?) It was cool to see all of the changes a year and a bit makes. Does Oli have an older brother, cause oli was a lot smaller last time I saw him.

Love yous all heaps, and have a fantastic week.
Elder Beckstead

P.S. I was rereading the email and forgot to answer the question. I am currently studying in Helaman and today I read Helaman 5. Everyone knows the first part of the chapter with Helaman teaching his sons or more like his sons, Lehi and Nephi remembering their fathers teachings. I don't think too many people look at the last part of the chapter and the significance of it. Nephi and Lehi teach with such power that no one could deny them. 8000 people were baptized. Went to the Lamanites and were thrown in Jail. Surrounded by fire and black smoke covered the Lamanites. They hear gods voice and repent. Fire surrounds all of them and angels teach Lehi, Nephi and all of the others there. They all go out and convince many of the truth. So many in fact that the Lamanites yield up the lands back to the Nephites.

It is a testimony to me how when we teach with the spirit no one can deny us. Also, the word of god does more than the sword. Middle East, listen up.
Thanks for the question.

Also, tell the Brousseau's and the Oliver's thanks for the emails. People in the ward truly are progressing forward and it will be exciting to see them all soon.
Arohanui!!!!

Rain, Visiting a Tangi & Upcoming Mission Conference

Kia Ora Mum,

I am short on time today because we only get half and hour at the library and that is it. It is very annoying but thats life I guess.

I am doing good and enjoying up north. However, it has rained everyday but two since I have been here. It is so annoying especially since it hinders my beach views as we visit members. Anyways, enough complaining.

We are teaching some choice families which I hope we can help into the waters of baptism. We had 4 people at church yesterday which was good but I wish we had all 9 or 10 that were supposed to be there. We will keep trying. We also had a miracle with a ysa named trey. He is set to be baptized at the end of the month, but was planning on going to gisborne this week. After lots of prayer and a fast yesterday, he said that he is staying to the end of the month. Yippee. He is so choice and has friends in YSA that he hangs with all the time.

Ok, some other things that happened this week was that we went to a Marae last monday after emails. It was really cool because you have to be invited first of all and it was for a tangi which is like a funeral. We didn't go to the funeral but to the viewing type thing before hand. It was very different that american culture that is for sure. It was cool never the less. We had interviews last week which was good. We are having a mission conference this month with Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Callister, Bishop Burton, and Elder Hamula. It should be a pretty good conference. I am very excited.

I got some pretty good pictures so I will have to send them next week. I will try to at least. I love you all heaps and thank you for the support that you give me each and every day.

Arohanui,
Elder Beckstead

Transfer to Kaitaia & Missionary Miracles

Kia Ora Mother,

Thank you for sharing your miracle. And I have a few on this end as well.

It started with transfers. I got transfer and where to? If you look at a map of New Zealand. Find Kaikohe, then find Kaitaia. I am located in Kaitaia but I cover everything north and a bit south of it as well. Another big area but one filled with beaches which is my favorite. I am sad I can't go on them. I will take lots of pictures though just to remind me.

Ok. So after the 3 1/2 hour drive to transfers and the 4 hour drive from Auckland to here I was pretty tired. I am still trying to catch up and I think that will be in September. I think you are trying to make me trunky aren't you. Well it ain't going to work because I am content where I am for the moment and September isn't coming for awhile. I am however, very excited to see yous then.

Ok, so the miracles were on Friday and Sunday. On Friday we went with a member to a dinner appointment 40 minutes out of Kaitaia. We were able to teach 4 grandkids of the member and they came to church. It was great.

The second miracle was that our set investigator name Trey, didn't know if he was coming to church yesterday because of a Tangi (funeral). We said alright and hoped and prayed he would make. Yesterday morning he called us and asked us to pick him up. I have never had an investigator do that before. It was a miracle.

I love you heaps and heaps and you know me. Always out of time. Have a great week.
Elder Beckstead