Hey, I'm a missionary! Cool huh?

Hi!

Another great week in Sumterville. Cool fact: we might be moving from Bushnell to Sumterville, just up the street from the Bs. Not-so-cool fact: I'm most likely going to be transferred (I'll find out this Saturday, March 5th), so I won't get to experience the new place. That's alright though, the Lord will put me where He needs me most. It was kind of neat though seeing the Lord's hand in moving and everything. Sumterville is more central to our area, and is where the Church is located. Sister B noticed that a house just up the street from them was for rent, and so she called us to have us talk to the mission leaders and see if they wanted us to move there. We called, and it "just so happened" that our lease for our current living quarters is just about up. The new place we will be moving to is a lot cheaper as well. Long story short, it was pretty easy to see that the Lord had His hand in things.

I got to go on exchanges with Elder Thomas (Bailey D, from Montpelier, ID) up in Belleview. It was a blast! We had talked about that in the MTC (we came out together) and thought, "Woah! What if we got to be companions at some point? Nah, that would never happen." Well, it did, even if it was only for 24 hours lol. Still super cool though, and I learned a bunch from him. He is a great missionary.

Our district is on fire right now - our whole zone really! We are excited for the work, and everyone is setting dates left and right.

Sunday night we set a baptismal date with T for March 12th. She is super excited and we are too! The Lord is really blessing us. Now we just need to keep working hard, fighting Satan, and help people see that this is the only place where you can find true happiness.

Friday night 2 of our investigators/friends (they haven't really accepted to be taught yet, but we've talked with them and done service for them, teaching is coming next :) took us to dinner at the Coyote Rojo, a delicious Mexican Restaurant in Bushnell. I ate there my first day here with President Fort and Elder Rice. It reminds me a lot of Casa Del Rey, although it's not THAT good. You can't beat Casa. It was fun though. The next morning Scott had us come give some service on his property for a few hours; he needed help adjusting a tree stand where he hunts hogs. That was pretty cool.

Saturday night was a blast - we got to ride with Lester and Mary and go to the Saturday night session of Stake Conference! It was so good. Elder Kevin W. Pearson and Elder Robert C. Gay spoke. They did a wonderful job and I learned a lot of things. President Hall and Sister Hall were there and bore their testimonies. L and M had a great time and enjoyed it. I think it was especially good for them to see the Stake Center full of saints - there is strength in knowing that TONS of our brothers and sisters are spread all throughout the world and know the same things that we know to be true! We never stand alone. The Sunday session was excellent too - most if it was just taking care of reorganizing the stake presidency. That is always interesting to see. President Carter, the former stake president, has been called to be a mission president in the Buenos Aires West mission.

________ :) inspired me tons to work even harder to find the elect! They are out there, the Lord is preparing them, and it's just up to us to teach them the truth! That is why members are VITAL to missionary work - they already have the relationship and friendship set up, and know someone who is in need of the truth. We can only knock so many doors in a day, and that tends to get old pretty quick. We LOVE teaching, and if the members help us get people to teach then we can be much more effective. I am getting the feeling that the growth rate of the church is just about to explode and people are going to be getting baptized left and right. That has already started, but it is going to only continue to grow! The work WILL go forth whether we do our part or not, but we want to have no regrets. This truly is the most important thing anyone could be a part of - the consequences reach far into the eternities. I am so thankful to be here and be doing this.

BTW, I think I'm about hitting that stage where I am forgetting what "normal life" is like. It's really weird. All I feel like I know is missionary work. You hit some weird walls in your mission, and you really become a changed person. They are for the better of course, but I feel like my perspective on life and people and everything is constantly being switched up pretty good. Anyway, just thought I'd throw out that random thought. I'm really behind on letters right now, so sorry if anyone is waiting to hear from me. I'm not sure if I'll get to write any today or even next P-day with cleaning, packing, and other things we have to get done. I kind of wonder how they expect us to get all of our "me stuff" done on P-day, clean our apartment, clean our car, do our laundry, shop, write letters, have fun, and just relax. There is no time! P-day is the fastest day of the week, and we only have from 10-6 to do those things. Plus if you take out lunch and dinner, changing, etc. it makes it even shorter lol. That's alright though, it is for a good reason. I'm not here to focus on me, but to learn to forget about myself and focus completely on other people. I love it, and I know that I will be truly happy if I do. It's just a continual process of trying to better myself and work harder, being more obedient.

I love my family so much. You mean the world to me, and I pray for you by name regularly. Keep the faith and stay strong! Satan tries to make us think we are alone and weak, but that is never the case. You always have family and friends supporting you, whether on this side of the veil or beyond. The Lord is always there as well. I have a testimony of the scriptures, and know that they are true! We really can find answers to our questions if we diligently search, ponder, and pray over them. I love the topical guide more than ever before. It is a missionary's best friend :) Have a fantastic week, talk to you soon!

love,

Elder Beckett

p.s. If you mail anything to me, it would probably be best not to mail anything after Wednesday to the Bushnell address because of transfers. I'll let you know next monday if I'm gone or what for sure. Love ya!