10.15.12

Dear Family, 

Well I did get the boots and the garments.  Thank you so much for doing that and sending it to me. Speaking of sending things, my mailing is changing because our P.O box is expiring and we don't want to pay the money to renew it.  It expires at the end of October. My new mailing address is in Canada. It is: 

71A Queensway  

St.Stephen, NB E3L 1L3

Canada

And mind you, that you are sending it to Canada so that means you need to put 2 U.S bound postage stamps on letters and so on, or get Canada bound postage stamps.  So if you could let people know so they are not lost.  Thank you:) Sorry for the change. 

So news for Carlie, you have to go to Provo to get a passport, the Payson post office won't do it for you. So go to Provo and they can do it for you.  It will cost, I forgot but it is up in the 100's.  Good luck!

And gheze girl, calm down with the dates - ha.  Or at least tell me who they are please - ha. Good luck

Well other news.  Shealynn and Amy told me that Emily is engaged!!! What!!!!??? That’s sweet!!!!! I would love if Emily would email me and tell me about it:) So you guys could tell her to, I told Amy and Shea to tell her as well, so I better be seeing some emails from her ha-ha;)

This week is transfer week -- almost another transfer in the bag - ha. Elder Hadley and I are staying here in St. Stephen and we are seeing really good things happen in this area. Hopefully we will have a baptism on this coming Sunday, on the 21^st.  he is a sweet guy. He has been taught on and off for 2 years and he wants to get baptized.  He does have some concerns with tithing, but we are trying to work with him on that by promising the blessings that come from paying your tithing. He is going to pray about it and find out if he needs to do it.  So he will get the right answer - ha.  It's just if he wants to act on that.  He is really a sweet guy though, he works hard and he does have a strong testimony of the church and of the Book Of Mormon.  So he is sweet!!!!!  The girl is doing well, she hasn't gotten her birth certificate yet, but it should be coming this week. We should see her at church soon, and  her roommate is also doing well. We had a dinner over at their house yesterday with some of the ward members and it was really good.  I love food. Food is great.  It was really good to have them meet some ward members.  Those are our top investigators and we keep finding new people so hopefully we will be able to help them and to give them the gospel, so it can bless their lives as well.  

Sorry for not writing a whole bunch - ha.  I am getting better at writing emails though so bear with me.:)

Thank you all for all that you do.  Have a great week and be safe. I love you all!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beckert

Here are a couple photos.  The one with a person in it is the bishop of the St. Stephen Ward - ha.  He is a sweet guy.  You don't have to show that one in the Ward newsletter, but I think it is a funny picture, Amy could use it for her blog or something – ha but whatever.  I will try to get more in the coming weeks!!!:)

10.8.12

Dear Family.

Hola!! It’s great to hear from you guys!!!  Conference was pretty good - ha.  I really liked it:) And Presidents Monson's announcement was a shock - ha.  Didn't expect that!! Whoo!  I think it is awesome! I do believe that, because of this, more young men and women will want to serve and be ready to serve. I thought about Carlie when that announcement was announced.  And I'm proud of you Carlie for making the decision to serve.  I knew you would.  You are a good kid, great example to me.  You will be a great missionary because of your good heart.  And if you decide not to go in the future, that’s okay.  You don't need to, but I know if you do you will see the blessings of helping other people like I have.  Good luck with your decisions, and keep me in on them.   

I was asked by Shea if I would have gone at 18 or if I’m glad I went at 19.  The Lord really does know people - ha.  I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to go at 19; I know that is what I needed to do. I was not ready to put 2 years on hold when I was 18, I could have gotten ready at that point, but I’m thankful for the experience I had to have a year to prepare myself.  So I think the announcement couldn't have come at a better time:)

We saw a tooshie load of miracles this week:) It was really a blessing to see what happened this week.  the man, who has been taught by missionaries on and off for 2 years, came to conference with his wife and friend and they really liked it.  On Sunday afternoon. we went over to their house and he said that he wants to get baptized!!:) So he will be baptized on the 27th of Oct.  That was a miracle.  We also had an experience with the girl.  She kicked out the guy she was living with, and she got a new roommate who just so happened to have taken the missionary lessons about 2 months ago.  She moved to Michigan but came back about 2 weeks ago!! We knock on her door to see her and the roommate answered the door, and we talked to her as well and she wants to start the lessons back up -- another miracle. We have seen countless others that have been so amazing!!  I can really see the effect the gospel has on people, when people really let the spirit drive them, they can accomplish anything.  I've seen that through the people that I have been able to teach.  And it's a blessing to see it.  

I also liked Elder Holland’s talk, just like Dad. Elder Holland really knows how to get to the core.  I loved  how he took on the Savior’s role and said "Do You Love Me"  I thought about that for a long time after that. I do love our Savior.  And I know that through him we can do all things, even go through the hard times.  If someone hasn't seen that talk, I say go watch it.  It is SWEET. I liked it and it helped me.  

Also did you guys see Elder Gay!!! He talked, I think it was like the Sunday afternoon session or something. I talked with that guy - ha. Shook his hand and listen to him for like 7 hours!!!! It was cool for me to see him there and know that I talked one on one with a guy who is talking in Conference - ha.  But, anyways I want to thank you guys for your support and for all that you do.  I want you to know that I love you all. And I hope you guys have a great week.  I love you all very much. And again good luck Carlie.  If you need any advice or anything I’m here on Mondays to talk to you:) love you all.  

Love,

 Elder Beckert

10.1.12

Dear Family,

Well first off, thank you for the letters that you have written to me.  I did get dad's email about the shipping of the boots.  Thank you for doing that for me.  I haven't really looked that hard for a winter coat.  I'm told that here it is better to have a lot of layers than just one big coat.  So I’m looking around for layers and maybe a big coat. I don't know.  But I’m looking - ha. Right now the weather is SWEET!!! It's raining sometimes and sunny the other times.  I love rain, and it rains different here than in Utah.  I love it.  

Also, thank you dad for the pictures of the thingy outside (a cement pad we are pouring in the back yard), it's looking mighty nice!!! Keep up the good work.  Sorry I can't help you, but I’m far away ha-ha.  But seriously though, you are doing a good job on that, it’s looking really nice. Also you lost 35 pounds?!! Atta kid! Good work man! 

I love the scriptures in 3 Nephi as well.  I also wonder what those people thought of the sign of the Savior's birth.  It would have been SWEET to be there, but I know that happened and I love Nephi.  He's the bomb.  

Faith is a huge thing. That is the first principle of the gospel and also it's one the first things we as missionaries look for in people.  If they don't have faith then our main concern is to help them build that faith and the do the things necessary to find that faith in Jesus Christ.  And if they do have faith, then it is our job to help them progress in the gospel by helping them make those commitments in their life to more fully follow Jesus Christ.  I love faith.  I study it a lot out here.  And my faith has grown just being out here.  It's a pretty neat experience.  

Any ways, sorry about that - ha.  This week here in St. Stephen has been a good week.  We've seen some cool things happen here that I know are miracles. On Wednesday, we watched the talk "Safety for the Soul" by Jeffery R. Holland with an investigator..  She is progressing really fast.  She liked the talk and has been reading from the Book of Mormon. She can't come to church right now though.  She can't cross the border from Calais to St. Stephen; she doesn't have her birth certificate yet. But she is trying to send for it from New Jersey where she was born.  We had a great lesson with her yesterday on Sunday, and got her committed for a firm baptismal date on October 27th, and Elder Hadley and I are both very sure that she will get baptized, just as soon as she gets the birth certificate thingy down.  

Another neat thing, there was a family that was taught by the missionaries like 2 years ago and we visited them. Beau, the dad, let us in and we taught them and they came to church yesterday and it was sooooo cool to see them there.  I really like them.  They’re very funny, and I like spending time with them.  

Also another neat thing, the  family up in Caribou -- they got baptized!!!!! I was able to talk to the mom on Saturday, and she was so happy about getting baptized.

It was really cool to know that they got baptized.  

Well I have to go. Thank you for all your prayers and everything that you guys do.  Have a great week!!!! Love you all very much.

Love Elder Beckert

9.24.12

Dear Family, 

Holla! Well I guess I will answer questions first...  The interview with Elder Gay was nice. He just kind of got to know me and asked me questions about how I am doing and about my family.  He is a really nice guy.  The things that he shared with all of us were really awesome. He shared a lot about himself and about his family and the heartaches and things that families go through things. It really made me realize that the general authorities do have lives and sometimes they’re not glamorous or spectacular. They even stink sometimes.  But that’s not all I got out of his little address thingy.  He said some sweet things about missionary work and how we can do better as a mission.  He gave us a challenge about working more with the members and getting referrals out of them, instead of spending all our time out knocking and stuff.  It really opened my eyes about how much member work really means to missionary work.  So he gave us this challenge and I’m excited to start doing it.  I think we will see some cool things come out of this.  My trip back to Caribou was awesome!!! It was really nice to see all the people there that I got to know and it was really mighty nice to talk to some of them and see how they are doing.  Like for example the family we were teaching..  They are actually doing awesome!!  The mom and the daughter are both getting baptized on Saturday!!! I got to go see them and tell them how proud I am of them and everything.  It was a pretty sweet experience.  And it’s too bad, but I can't make it to their baptism because it is too far away, and I can't spend that long away. Dang it!! But oh well.  They are doing the right thing and I can't wait to congratulate them:)

That’s cool that you guys went to Braden’s concert!! I bet it was awesome! And dang, that m&m puzzle they did, I’m pretty impressed!! That looked really hard to do.  Good job guys:) I've never sang the Lord's Prayer before, but I bet it was really beautiful.  

That’s sweet that you guys were able to go to the temple dedication. I bet that was SICK!! And the Payson temple is sweet. They are making a lot of progress with it and it’s looking really pretty.  

Travis Pitcher did what!!!?? OUCH.  40 ft of falling. Thats alot.  I'm soooo glad that he is okay, and yes there was for sure a lot of miracles that happened that day.  Man that’s a long way.... Tell him not to do that again.

Cake!!! I love cake.  That’s really the first cake that you have made since I left?? Wow, 4 months with no cake.  That’s hard - ha. Good thing people out here make cake when we go over - ha. Not all the time, but I love cake:) I do miss your cake though.  And having it every Sunday was sweet.  

Um - with the boots.  You could get either.  I know that my dress shoes are 11 1/2 but I could pull off a 12.  It's really up to you.  Both would work out I think.  But yes I do need those in the next coming month because it will start snowing soon.  So thank you so much for doing that :)

I am doing great here in St. Stephen.  I'm really getting accustom to this place.  Elder Hadley and I are doing great together. The little girl from the family came to church yesterday, and loved it!! She is really excited about the church.  We also taught a couple more lessons to people.  another investigator, is doing better and may come to church next week!! 

It's really been a blessing being out here on a mission.  I have really seen the impact the gospel can be on people’s lives.  Sorry I don't have more stories about what happened this week, but I kind of forgot what happened - ha.  Sorry.  It was a good week though - ha.  

Thank you guys for all that you do and have a great week.  And I Love you guys!!! Have fun.

Elder Beckert

9.17.12

Dear Family, 

Well it's great to hear from you guys:) and I guess I’ll answer all of mom's questions first - ha.  

It's not that hard to cross the border because most of the guards know us and let us though. Sometimes we get someone who doesn't like us, but they can't deny us to cross the border. Sometimes they just hound us with questions. There's this one guy who is awesome. In fact this week when we crossed and he was the guard he asked us if there was anything going on in the world that we wanted to know. So of course I asked him about sports, you know me.  We also asked about the elections and what’s going on with all that.  He told us that something was going down in the Middle East with fires and what not, and that it's getting pretty bad.  So that’s pretty much all I know about that. And oh yah, Elder Hadley and I sent for our absentee valid thingy, so we can vote!!! Boo-ya!!!!  

Caribou and St. Stephen are a little different. In the fact St. Stephen is prettier. There is a bunch of trees and bunch of water around, and the weather here is awesome right now.  The leaves are starting to change. In a few weeks it is going to look dandy:) can’t wait! - ha.  

The members feed us a lot down here and it’s really nice.  Some make some really good food:) I’m eating ALOT!!

Yes we have a car.

Sounds like you guys had a blast at Park City!! That sounds like it was fun - ha.  And too bad about the BYU game:( that blows.  Nailed the crossbar, dang.)

  

The Payson Temple looks awesome right now.  It's going to be so pretty, I can’t wait to see it up and fully done!!  Keep sending me pictures:)

And about the shoes, well I wear 11 and 1/2's and I don't really care where you get them.  And feel free to use my money.  You can buy it with your card or something, Then just take money out of my account.

I also did get Grandma’s package, so it’s good.  

Well this week for us here in St. Stephen has been great!!  We were able to find some new investigators and teach them this week.  We found a less active family with 2 kids who want to be baptized, but we need to teach them first.  One is 13 and the other one is 8.  It was pretty funny, the 8 year old named Kira, asked this really good question about how our spirits were made. We told her God made our spirits.  Then she got this questioning look on her face, and then she asked, well then how are our bodies made..... Ah-Ohh!!!!!!! Red Alert!!! ha-ha.  It was funny we just said that’s a great question for your mommy:) ha-ha. It was pretty funny.  

Well anyways so yah, this week has been good.  Tomorrow we are going to met with Elder Gay of the Seventy.  He is interviewing some of us. And guess what.... I got picked, of course - ha.  No it should be good.  I'm excited to meet him.  Then we’re having a missionary training thing with him and I should learn a lot.  So I'm pretty excited about going. Also we are having exchanges and Elder Harris is coming to St. Stephen and I'm going to Caribou!!! I'm excited to go up there and see those people again for a day:)

Well that's what’s going on with me. I'm having a dandy old time here in St. Stephen and I can't believe how fast it is going.  It’s been a blessing being out here.  And I’ll talk to you guys next week!!! Have a great week everyone!! Love you all!!!!!

Love Elder Beckert 

9.10.12

 

Hey Family:)

What’s going on??? Carlie went on a dance and nobody told me before hand!!?? ha-ha, What are you guys doing??? I need to know these things before they happen. Think about that - ha.  

The reason I say "Think about that" is because there is a cool story it's called "Bill Carpenters Conversion story". I don't know if you guys have ever heard it before, but it’s really cool. I recommend it. It says that phase a lot, and it’s pretty funny and cool - ha.  

But seriously, I need to know these things!!! 

Well anyways, I don't have Grandpa's email address so can you guys wish him a happy birthday from me?? I would really appreciate it.  

And yes we were able to watch Elder Holland’s address last night. It was really good. We watched it with the senior couple here, elder and sister Tibbits. They’re from Alpine (I think) and they are really nice and awesome. But yah, I really liked the talk he gave. We need to be the best Latter Day Saints we can be, and not "check our religion at the door".  We need to stand in holy places and stand for what we believe in, and not be afraid to do so.  We need to be sensitive to other people and always try to help them, BUT not judge them because we have no right to. We just need to be there for people and help them all we can and be there for them.  That’s what I got out of the talk and a bunch more things but I can’t remember - ha.  But yah it was really good, and I hope a lot of people watched it. 

Transfers were great!! I miss the people in Caribou, but the people here in St. Stephen and Calis are really cool and really nice.  On Sunday, yesterday, I gave a talk on missionary work. It went pretty good actually, I’m getting better at speaking in crowds and it was a pretty good talk.  I talked about the 3 things missionary's need to be good missionaries. The same 3 things I gave in my farewell talk and the 3 little coin thingys that mom so awesomely gave to me. 

1) A Desire to Preach 

2) Develop your Testomony 

3) Love Others

The talk went really well and people came up to me and said it was a great talk, so I guess I did okay - ha. Things are going good here in St. Stephen, Elder Hadley and I were already good friends, so it's been awesome to be serving with him. A cool thing happened on Saturday, we visited an investigator named Angel and we set a baptismal date for the 20th of October!!! It was a really neat experience to have that my second day in the area. I feel really good about this area and the way it is going to go. 

I'm doing well and I’m glad you all are doing good too:).  Ummmm, I can’t think of anything I need right now.  But I’ll think about it and let you know. Have a great week!!! You guys are awesome, keep doing good :) and yes I meant to write good:) I love you guys 

Love,

Elder Beckert

9.3.12

Dear Family,

Sorry this one has to be a fast one.  We had to do some kind of survey thing and now I don't have a lot of time to write.

It sounds like you all are doing awesome.  Labor Day weekend, I bet, was sweet!!! That’s why I’m emailing you on Tuesday instead of yesterday. Because of the holiday, the library was closed.  Well anyways, the biggest thing that happened this week was transfer calls came in and drum roll please....... I'm getting transferred to St. Stephen New Brunswick. It is right on the border of Maine and New Brunswick.  Crazy huh? 3 months in an area and now I’m already leaving.  I’m going to miss Caribou and the people here.  It's hard to say goodbye - ha.  You guys know me; I don't like goodbyes at all. I bore my testimony at church on Sunday and thanked everyone for their support and everything.  They are really nice people.  Well Elder Harris is staying here and training a new missionary again. My new companion down in St. Stephen is going to be Elder Hadley. The same Elder Hadley that was in my MTC district. I roomed with him at the MTC, so that’s going to be cool.

Well I am sorry but I have to go. I might send another one later today, if we have time. 

Hope all is good. Love you all very much.

Elder Beckert

(Later that day)

My new mailing address is PO Box 1359 Calais Me, 04619. So start sending things there.  You guys are awesome and I’m sorry this email isn’t very exciting, but don't worry I’m going to try to have the next one be better :) Have a great week everyone. Love you guys:)

Elder Beckert