Brother D is an All-Star

Heya! If you are wondering about the subject, well I just figured that I would give props to J D. He should be called as a missionary lol. He came out 4 times with us this week and each was a great experience. I love Brother D and have learned a lot from him since being here about always being positive, listening to the Spirit, and other things.

Update on investigator D: he dropped us. NO! It's always so frustrating to see how fast Satan gets his hands on people after we talk to them. Especially when we know that they have felt the Spirit. People still have their agency though... Anyway, we had been calling him, stopping by, and leaving him messages, but he wouldn't reply to anything. He eventually called us and just told us he wasn't interested anymore. What?!? Not interested in the most important message since the announcement of the birth of the Savior? Hmm. What can you do? Just pray really, and keep trying to be a good friend. He said he'd call us if he ever is interested.

Monday night was good - we tracted into a Mexican family last week, and talked to the son outside for a minute. He was nice and said we could come back Monday night. We did, and none of them except him spoke any english ha ha. We weren't going to let that stop them from feeling the Spirit though! We brought in the movie "Finding Faith in Christ" and F (the son we talked to) called his family in to watch the movie. There were probably about 7-8 people total. We watched it in spanish, and they all sat down and were glued to it! It was way cool. We have a return appointment tonight with Bro. P (who speaks spanish), so we'll see how that goes.

Sister W, a member in the branch we have been working with for a while, has officially reached day 14 of no smoking! And she is really done this time. She is constantly reading the Book of Mormon and other scriptures like crazy; it's great! It is wonderful to see the change that has happened in her life, and how the branch has really reached out to help and fellowship her. The people in this branch really are amazing - they have to really pull a huge load. I think it must be extremely hard being a member in a branch and helping it grow because they have to really do above and beyond what each person has to do in a ward. There are less people to help out with everything.

Brother D asked us to help out with a service project, moving a fridge for some people. The same people as last time. The same one I told you about on the phone. And.. we got kissed on the cheek again. Hmm. Don't people get it? We are untouchable! COME ON! And it was just like WHAM! Didn't see it coming. Ha ha Elder Stock has now joined the club too with me and Elder Creer. In the future, if we ever are asked to go back, I will be constantly coughing or something so that she will keep her distance. Or just explain to her that it's not appropriate for missionaries. She probably was just trying to thank us the best way she knew how.

We met with a member who hasn't been to church for about 40 years (his records weren't here and he was a referral from his mother in the Lecanto ward). He was really nice, but pretty depressed and in pain. The gospel is just what he needs! He has rheumatoid arthritis (I have no idea if that is spelled right, I'm just guessing) and that gives him a lot of trouble. Apparently if you drink apple cider vinegar with "the mother" then that helps a lot. Bro. P in our ward had it, and he started drinking that after every meal (I think he mixes it with water and honey) and he is completely better! I guess it is supposed to be really good for you so we will have to tell him about that. Have you heard anything about drinking apple cider vinegar? Bro P is about 80 years old, but you'd never guess it. He came to pick us up for an exchange once and was looking at our weights and perfect pushups... then got down and did 20 perfect pushups like it was nothing lol. He is awesome.

Yesterday we were so blessed! T and her daughters, and L and M and their friend all came to church! They are such great people and I am confident they will be joining the church soon. T has a baptismal date for the 22nd, and L and M are still praying to find out if the Lord wants them to be baptized. He does. They will, it will just take a little time. Please keep them in your prayers, especially praying that they will receive personal testimonies and recognize when they are feeling the Spirit.

I am learning more each day about recognizing and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. He is so vital in our lives, and especially in missionary work. When we follow His promptings, we will be happy. When we don't, we won't. It's pretty simple :) The hard part is just disciplining ourselves to where we can constantly be listening and watching and pondering on what the Lord would have us do throughout the day. And then when our main desire is to just do whatever the Lord would have us do, that's when the blessings really flow!

Florida is beautiful right now... the temperatures have been perfect, and tracting and everything else is super enjoyable because of it. Blue skies are what I like to see! I am suprised at the lack of rain that has come since I've been here. I was thinking it would rain everyday, but I've really only been soaked in it maybe 2 or 3 times. It is kind of fun when that happens though, and you'd be surprised at the difference it makes when people see us out sharing the message in that kind of weather.

I want you to know that I love the Lord, I love you, I love the gospel, and I love the people here! Serving a mission has been and will still be such a blessing to me. I think everyone should serve a mission - you have countless experiences that you really would never get from anything else. It is incredible :)

Have a great week, you are all in my prayers! Happy birthday to Nolan on Thursday (Wow... not a teenager anymore! Ha ha crazy)! Love ya bye :P

-Elder Andrew Beckett

p.s. We are likely going to be able to go to the temple Wednesday morning! Woo hoo!