Doin' fine, doin fine!

Hey Ya'll! Florida is SWEET and the work is going great =] This week was awesome. Oh, btw, I am attaching some pics. Transfer calls were last Saturday and... we got a phone call. And President Hall said that I am staying! Ha ha he actually told me that "half the members over there called me and said they were going inactive if I took you. So, after praying about it, you are staying one more. But next transfer there is no question, you are gone." So I have one more transfer in awesome SUMTERVILLE!!! Woo hoo! By the way that is something pretty much unheard of in the mission - to have President let someone stay because someone asked. Although, I'm sure that's not the only reason. President Hall is very in tune with the Spirit, and I know that the Lord wants me here one more. I am considering it a tender mercy! I was so thankful and happy to find out I will be here one more. Not only that, but I get to be with Elder Stock for another transfer and he is the man! It's kind of funny... for my first 3 transfers I was with my companion for 1 transfer, and now I will have been with Elder Stock for 3. I have also been called to be the District Leader. It will be a great learning experience for me, but I'm kind of nervous at the same time lol because I have no idea how. The Lord does though, and He will help me. :) Elder McClatchy just got called to be one too down in his District! Anyway, I suppose I can't do too much damage since I will only be it for one transfer and then I'm moving :P It is kind of nice to be expecting the call next time and not have all the anticipation build from 8-11 a.m. the Saturday before transfer week.

Yesterday at church was an incredible day. We were blessed to have 3 investigators at church for the first time (their first time), and one of them brought their 6 year old child. It was really a small miracle - something that Elder Stock and I realized after Church and after they had gone home. T M (her brothers are T and A), some former investigators whose friend S passed away in a car accident, came to church finally! We called and invited her the day before and she said she'd be there. She came, and brought her son too! It was sweet. Her sister R also came, as well as B R, a lady we have been teaching here in Bushnell. T lives in Bushnell, and her Sister lives in Sumterville (where the church is). We had actually tracted into R, got a return appointment, and had invited her to church. She said she would like to come. Well, we didn't make the connection that the same R we had tracted into was the R that was T's sister until they left. How cool is that though lol? The Lord "just happened" to lead us to tract into her and talk about the gospel. And now T and R are coming back to church again next week, and we are going to go and teach them this week! B also had a great day at church and really enjoyed everything.

T wasn't able to make it to church again, and we aren't sure why yet. We have called but she hasn't answered and haven't had the opportunity to go visit her yet. Please keep her in your prayers, as well as all of the other people too. It makes a huge difference!

L and M have been doing awesome - M just got back from Puerto Rico. We are going over there for dinner and then teaching them after tomorrow. They are progressing slowly but surely. We stopped by Saturday night and it was so cool! They were telling us about their non-member friend and how she isn't very happy about them studying the Book of Mormon. Then they both told us how they felt about it along the lines of something like this: "She (their friend) just needs to read it to know that it is from God. It is true, just like the Bible. It doesn't teach anything different than is being taught in the Bible." They both told how they felt about it, and M said that she knows a man, or even a committee of men, couldn't write a book like that and that it had to come from God. Bingo! They are going to be baptized and eventually go to the temple :) We have talked with them several times about setting a baptismal date and praying about it, but they don't want to just yet. We are going to pray hard and talk to them about it again tomorrow and see what happens.

This branch and area has been such a blessing to me. I have really seen myself grow and be stretched here, and I have learned so much! The people here are so good, and constantly are going above and beyond what they are expected to do. Everyone really watches out for each other and they are so generous and willing to help with their time, talents, money, and whatever else they may be able to help with. I am loving serving here, and feel it has been a privilege and honor to serve here for what will have been 6 months by the time I leave.

Being a missionary is the best thing ever. I am telling you! :) Elder Stock talk about how much fun and how blessed we are to be out here every night as we are going home. We always have huge smiles on our faces, even if the day has been super long and hard, because the Lord just blesses us so much! The Gospel is true. That I know. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real, and they are there for us! I am so thankful for that; They help me each and every day. It is such a blessing to be here serving the Lord full-time, and I can't believe how fast time has been going by. The days have been blending together and it seems like each week is just a normal day length ha ha. It's really weird. Thanks for all you guys do, you inspire me to be better and work harder! Your prayers and support are felt. I love you!

love,

Elder Andrew Beckett

Beautiful Temple!
Beautiful Sky!
Beautiful Boys. :)
Beautiful GPS and AJ
Beautiful Weird face...
Beautiful Boy with beautiful German chocolate from Aunt Nadja and Uncle Ben! He LOVES it!!