7.23.2012

Dear Family,

Hola!! It sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun and staying safe.  I bet Yellowstone was really fun! Loved the pictures! I won't lie, I miss you guys - ha.  Didn't know I would so much.  But don't worry I’m glad to be here serving a mission and helping the people here.  This is where I’m meant to be. I've already seen that in so many ways. One way is that in my Patriarchal Blessing, Grandpa was so wonderful to do for me; it says that my testimony will help others that I meet.  I had a great opportunity to bear my testimony to the family about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and all that He did for us to be able to be with our Father in Heaven again.  I hope that even this little paragraph will help someone who is reading this, whoever it may be, that the Savior is there for us. All we need to do is trust in him and turn to him.  I know that you will be happier by doing this. Sorry to sound so sappy - ha.  That just helped me this week.

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with my zone leader here in Caribou. His name is Elder Bowen.  He is leaving in November and he helped me in my teaching efforts. It was great to get to know him. I've been on 2 exchanges so far and they really do help me increase my knowledge of different ways to bring the gospel up.  It was really nice to have that.  I even have the opportunity to go on another this week. 

It's the end of the transfer on Wednesday. Elder Harris and I are staying here in Caribou.  Phew - ha.  I still need some more training, even though everyone is saying that I’m doing good and all. I still feel like I need to know way more.  I definitely do.  But it's amazing how much I’ve already come to know about teaching. It’s pretty cool - ha.  

Well  both people we are teaching came to church yesterday, and they seem to be doing really well.  It's been an honor to teach them and to see how much the gospel makes their lives better.  We met some nice people this week that we are hoping will let us keep coming so we can teach them more.  It’s crazy how I’ve come to love everyone I meet.  I can’t wait to teach them more! 

And I would love to hear form Caleb, Ella and Aunt Janeen, (I told him I sent your letters) I think that’s awesome that they want to write ME a letter :)

Thank you for all that you guys do for me.  Thank you for your examples to me, and thank you mom for that quote from Elder Holland. Being thankful is definitely important to show. 

I love you all so much!!!

Love, Elder Beckert

7.16.12

Dear Family,

It's great to hear about your week and the stuff you guys have been doing.  I'm glad to hear you guys are staying busy. 

Well, both the people we are teaching didn't make it church, but they are still doing good and the will get there at some point.  Elder Harris and I just need to be patient with them and they will get there.  We met someone in Washburn yesterday on Sunday, and he was a nice guy who let us teach him. He said yes and yup a lot so sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s not. I guess we will see as time goes on.  He's the same age as me, so it was cool to talk to him. 

And Carlie had a question about if there was a temple in Caribou? Umm, no there is not -  ha.  The closest one is in Halifax Canada, and the Boston temple. As missionaries we can only go to the one in Halifax because we have to stay in our mission boundaries.  So we don't go to the temple at all, really, unless we’re in an area in Halifax. 

Things are going really good. I’m having a good time doing this work.  I do miss you guys a lot. Thanks for the family picture. It is awesome to have.  The hardest part is just being away from everyone and everything I’m used to. But I know I’m here for a reason and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. 

And yes there's always something for you guys to do:).  You can send more treats and goodies - ha.  Um and, actually, I would really love more CD's.  If you guys could do that it would be AWESOME.

Thank you guys for all you do and thank you for supporting me.

Love,

Elder Beckert

7.9.2012

Howdy Family,

It's been about a month that I have been here in lovely Caribou.  Doesn't really seem like it.  You really do get lost in the work, and I’m glad for that.  Sounds like you all had a wonderful week :).  That really is cool how you guys fasted for rain for the fires and it came!!! That’s awesome.

Our 4th of July consisted of a mtg. with the President Leavitt, where we learned more about him and Sister Leavitt.  President Leavitt is from Canada, actually grew up in Halifax, but moved to BC.  Sister Leavitt is also from Halifax, and she told us her conversion story and it was really cool to see how far people can come.  She grew up with not much in Halifax. The city was pretty much split from rich people and poor people. She met this girl at school and Sister Leavitt looked up to this girl, because it looked like she had everything. She was wealthy and had friends everywhere and was liked by everyone.  So Sister Leavitt decided she wanted to be friends with this girl.  And it turns out that they became so close and were best friends for a long time.  Both Sister Leavitt and the friend weren't members of the church.  So after being friends for years they kind of went separate ways for school, but still kept in touch.  Turns out that the friend died in a car accident and it really tore Sister Leavitt up.  Then one day not too long after all that happened, missionaries showed up at her door, and she knows that they were there for a reason, and that reason was that she needed to know she would see her friend again.  Long story short, she got baptized into the church and even did her friend’s temple work for her, first getting permission from the friend’s family (of course).  But yeah, I really liked that story she told because that’s what I’m here to do. I am here to find those people who need the gospel and teach them and bring them closer to Christ. 

I really liked that quote from Elder Holland, I’m actually going to print it out and put it on my wall, right next to the tower of sprit cans I’m making.  Thank you for that quote.

("Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it. Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”  —and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you.")

Well work here is expanding pretty well.  We met another family this week and they went to church! Yes! The Strides didn't make it to church again this week, but we went over there Sunday night and talked to them about it and they grew 2 notches. So they will come next week I’m 98 percent sure :). We had to push back their baptismal date because they didn't make it to church.  

I think I talked about Mari last week, but anyways, we got her on date for the 28th of July along with the Strides. It’s hard for Mari to come to church because she works a lot, I mean like a lot. So that’s going to be a trail, but she has that desire to do it, and she is amazing at reading the Book of Mormon and she loves it.  So that’s good.

The members here in Caribou do work a lot and help us with our missionary work.  Something interesting is that the Caribou ward has the most members attending church, but also has the most members who are less active. We have 350 people on the roster for church but only like 70 come, or something like that. So that has to get better.

Things are awesome here.  I’m having a good time. It’s hard for sure, but worth it. 

And no I have not got a package yet???? I wish I did.  Don't know what’s going on there, but I haven't received a package yet. 

Thank you for all your prayers and I hope the fires in Utah will stop! I definitely will pray for that and for all of you. Thank you all. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Beckert

7.2.2012

Hello everyone,

I’m glad everything is going good! I'm sorry that my emails haven't had all the information you guys want in them. There's just so much stuff going on, it’s hard to sit down and write it all down.  I don't mean to leave out stuff it's just whatever comes to my mind when I’m writhing it all down.  And you guys know me, I’m not good at explaining everything.  

Well Dad, I'm not even sure how much money we get right now. I think it’s like 200 or something like that, and we do get a card we can use for that.  They put the money on there each month and we spend it on food and stuff.  A normal day here, I guess, is wake up at 6:30, personal study at 8, companionship study at 9, and because I’m getting trained right now our companionship study is 2 hours long, but usually it is 1 hour.  Then we go and do missionary work, either lessons we have set up or knocking or calling people.  I’m not sure what else I can say, it all depends on the day. 

That’s cool that the Dale and Diane came over. That was nice of them.  I’m glad Dustin is doing well.  And thank you for the chapters in Alma; I’m actually reading in the same spot so that’s pretty weird ha.  But I like Alma and Amulek. They are pretty good missionaries. 

{I think this is his companion...Elder Harris}

But yeah, things this week have been going good. We met this old guy yesterday, his name is William and he is a cool old man. He works hard and is very spiritual, and we gave him a Book of Mormon. He seemed very happy with that, and we're probably going to see him next Sunday, so that’s exciting.  We didn't have any baptisms in the month of June, but we have 5 lined up so far in July and they seem pretty solid right now. 4 of them are a family, the Stride family. They are really cool and are progressing really far. Hopefully they will start coming to church. They weren't there last week, but hopefully they will start coming. The other one a guy named Kenny who is sick all the time. He has something wrong with his liver, I think. He said he had like Hepatitis C or something, and he had to go get a shot. It is kind of like chemo for the liver. He said that his hair was going to fall out and that he was going to be bed ridden for a while.  I will be good in the long run, but he so desperately wants to come to church. He can't until he can actually get off his bed.  

We are teaching some other people who are close to getting a baptismal date. I’m excited about that. I’ll tell you more about them when they get a baptismal date.  One's Mari and she's cool. She's started reading the Book of Mormon right when we gave it to her and she likes it. There are a few more who are not progressing as much as they could, but are still trying to do good and stuff.  I do have to be sensitive about how much information I do give everyone about the investigators here. I hope you understand, but yeah,  I can tell you some stuff, just not everything.  

I’m having a real fun time here in Caribou. Elder Harris and I are working hard.  On Tuesday and Wednesday we get to meet our new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Levitt. So I’m way excited for that.  Also there was a huge rain storm on Friday last week. It was huge!!! Huge lightning and lots and lots of rain. It was actually pretty cool. 

Also I’m sending some pictures of Caribou and I think there’s one of Elder Harris. But yeah. I’m sending those.  

And in the package you’re going to send, can you put in some candy and some treats? :) hehe 

Thank you all for the prayers and good thoughts you send.  I love you all!

Love, 
Elder Beckert