Hey! Wow, what a great week! General Conference is always so wonderful. And now that I had the privilege of enjoying it on the mission again, I just realize a little more how grateful I am to the Lord for blessing us with living prophets and apostles. I sure learned a lot! Some other cool things I saw/noticed:
-Benjamin Gibson singing in the choir! Awesome job! I was telling everyone "Hey! That's my cousin! Yeah!"
-President Hales, who always does an incredible job. I love an miss him! It was refreshing to see him and hear his voice.
-The Meridian, ID temple? Woo hoo! That will be awesome for our family up there (they still live there right?) Cool!
-We sang the version that the MoTab did of "Have I Done Any Good" with Sister Roberts leading us back in the day as a stake youth choir. I love that version!
-They talked about God Gave us Families! We love that song, remember? :) I thought that was special. And then they were playing that as prelude in the Sunday morning or afternoon session. Awesome!
There were also tons and tons of incredible spiritual truths that I learned/had brought to my remembrance from the general authorities! Elder Bednar's talk was great, Elder Oaks', and a bunch of others. I should've brought my notes with me. Anyway, it was awesome! You'll have to tell me about your favorite parts.
This week we had a couple of teaching appointments, but mostly we've just been working our hardest to find people. I'm not going to lie, or area is pretty stinkin' ghetto. No offense, but like nobody we have found so far has kept any commitments, and it seems that way with all ghetto places. AAaaaaaah it gets kind of old. We can only do so much for people, they have their agency and have to choose to follow God and ACT on what the Spirit teaches them as we talk to them. That's alright though, it us up to us to make the effort - the result is always in God's hands. So, we are just happily carrying on in the work, doing our best to find people to teach, and learning a lot along the way. Elder Larsen is doing fantastic, and catching on really well. We have been focusing a lot lately on transitions, speaking about equally, and asking inspired questions as we teach. It's been really great for me to be training, because it causes me to evaluate everything I do and say, and try and put myself in Elder Larsen's as well as the investigators' shoes.
I had the opportunity to give a blessing to Sister Reid this week in my district, and that was a super neat experience. It was one of those blessings where the words just came. It is a blast having Sisters in the district! There is me, Elder Larsen, Elders Brown & Ellis (Zone Leaders, but they come to all of our district stuff because we live with them), Elders Fox & Moon, and Sisters Reid & Worwood. It is a blast. Sister missionaries own too! I bet you were the best Sister missionary ever Mom! It's a lot of fun because even though I can't be back home watching out for Mindy & Allie, I can kind of watch over my Sisters here in a similar way! Our district is great.
By the way, I didn't end up buying a suit. I wasn't quite sure what to do (did you get those emails I sent?), so when we went there I just kind of prayed on the way over that the Lord would let me know what the best choice to do would be, and he helped me realize that I had no need for another suit right now; regardless of the price. So the Spirit helped me make the best choice :) That's one thing I've really learned a lot more about on the mission - distinguishing between wants and needs.
Random question - any new update on Matt and Nick? I heard they were ok, but I haven't heard much else. Are they helping with clean up or what's going on? I have been praying for them and was super thankful to hear that they were safe.
Thank you so much for the birthday package! I did get it! :) Sorry, I just must have forgotten to mention it. I am so forgetful... I think I was a little better before my mission, but now I just feel like I have 50 trillion things going through my head all the time ha ha. I need to learn to relax more. I feel like if I don't have everything planned and figured out and know all the details of how it's going to work out and everything, then something's wrong. I think I just need to have more faith. I have not yet received the tape & jerky package yet, but I'm sure it will come this week. I have been working on a tape for you guys, but I haven't quite filled it up yet. I'm so slow... ha ha. I haven't written any letters or anything for quite a while. I am going to try and finish the tape and see if I can write some today. P-day is always crazy! It might sound like it's the "break day," but really it's probably one of the most hectic days of the week because of all the rushing around trying to get everything done lol. But, know that I love you despite my terrible writing/recording skills! I will work on that.
Seth, go for it buddy! You can use my tennis racket =] Go get 'em champ! You'll have to keep me posted on Nate and Seth and how tennis goes for them. Mindy, keep me posted on your plans and school and friends and whatnot! Btw I knew Allie took the pic because of the title you had on it ha ha. Mom - keep it up on the job! Sounds like a huge blessing. I am glad to know that you are also (still) blessing the ward and those around you! I love my family. Dad - how have things been for you? I hope your back is better by now! What have you been up to? You probably told me in the tape I'm sure :) Nate! You stud! I was so proud of you when I got your program and newspaper clipping and everything. I showed everyone in my apartment and they were impressed. They are impressed with all of you! You are all amazing. I feel blessed to be a part of our family.
Well, I've gotta go now. The church is true! So true. It amazes me sometimes when I catch a glimpse of just how important the gospel is. He really does live! He lives and loves us. We just need to turn to him, humble ourselves, and recognize that we can't do this on our own. Have a great week and I'll talk to you next!
love,
Elder Andrew Beckett!
So sweet how he watches out for his 'sisters'!
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