Raking, running, ripping, riding, and sweating

Hey hey hey! I love technology! But not as much as you, you see. Always and forever... always and forever! HA.

This was a great week. It is the best and hardest experience of my life being a missionary. I feel like I have no idea what's going on sometimes, but at the same time I've never known so surely that everything is in control. The Lord is good. :) By. The. Way. YES! I did see Elder McClatchy at the mission conference! It was the coolest thing ever. I somehow forgot to mention that. It was funny because we were all in the gym, grouped by zones as Elder Bednar walked around so that we could take a picture as a zone with him. I had been watching and watching for him, but hadn't seen him there yet. Finally, I looked to the left and he was right there in the zone next to us! I snuck up behind him and gave him a big hug and was like, "JAMES! Umm... I mean Elder McClatchy!" Ha ha it was SO COOL to see him and made my week. It was good to see Elder Bednar also, but extra special to see James. He is such a good person and a wonderful example to me. All of my friends are! I'm so thankful to have so many wonderful friends out serving missions right now all over in Arizona, Paraguay, Peru, Italy, Missouri, Brazil, Illinois, Florida, and many many more. The Lord has blessed me with so many good examples in my life. Not to mention... my FAMILY! The most influential people yet :) I love you guys.

Ok, so that picture I sent was of an Elder's quorum service project we helped with this week. It was me, Elders Larsen, Brown, and Ellis, and the E.Q. President and counselor. Took like 3 hours, and we bagged more leaves than I've ever seen. I counted like 63-65 bags (they were compressed and stuffed too). I found a snake while raking that was dark black and had a bright orange belly with an orange ring kind of close to its head. It was smaller and looked really cool, but we didn't mess with it because we had no idea what kind it was. Also, I am pretty sure there are water moccasins that live in the pond right by our house. Not my favorite.

Nate! Ha ha that was so cool to see/read about you in Aladdin! What a champion. I can't wait to watch it when I get back. Did Taylor end up being found ok and performing? I miss that kid. Ben Tripp. Going to Hawaii. Ha ha YES! That will be so sweet! He is going to be an exceptional missionary.

Ok Mom, you asked about our daily activities, apt. info, the other elders, and the ward.

Daily activities - Wake up at 6:00 a.m. to go to the gym. Integra Shores has its own gym that we go to in the morning and it's awesome. They have a full set of free weights, bench, machines, and treadmills! So I alternate everyday between lifting and running. And I bought some delicious chocolate milk/protein that will hopefully help me grow into a man by the time I see ya'll again ;) 7 o'clock we are back at the apartment to get ready for the day and eat breakfast. 8-9 is personal study, then 9-11 am is companionship study. Normally it's 9-10, but just barely they decided to have the trainers/trainees have 2 hours a day. It makes it super nice to have time to practice teaching and learn together from the Spirit. Then we usually have lunch from 11-12. Head out at noon to go find the elect (unless we have appointments, which at this time we don't really have anyone solid :/), and work until dinner. Then after dinner we usually go contact some more or visit members to find referrals and get to know the ward. That's a basic day.

Apartment info - it is SO NICE! I need to get a bunch of pics and somehow find a way to send it to you. It even says on the front gate "Luxury apartment" something or other. Super cool ha ha. We live on the third floor, so we get great exercise carrying our bikes up and down every day. We have carpet, a balcony, nice kitchen, laundry stuff, etc. I love it.

Elders - it is SO fun living with Elders Larsen, Brown, and Ellis. We have a blast ha ha. Elder Larsen is hilarious and keeps us all laughing with his crazy concoctions. He often is found at night drinking chocolate syrup from the bottle. Things like that ha ha :) It's nice living with the Zone Leaders as well because after call ins I just sit on the couch with them to account for the district. Love it :)

The Ward is great here! I love them. There was still a ton of deep doctrine that makes you cringe... not proper to be brought up in sacrament meeting. Eh. Good people though!

Well, my time is up. I love you all! Have a great week!

love, Elder Beckett

p.s. It's practically APRIL?!? What? I thought March just started. Hmm.