Good news, I'm sending you a package today with some mail, books, a cd that is awesome (I kept a copy with me), and a tape... sorry it took so long. Anyway, hope you enjoy it! Great news, I got to meet an Apostle of the Lord this week! Elder Neil L. Anderson came and spoke to us. It was amazing, and the Spirit was definitely there! I love him so much, he is very personable and his happiness is contagious. The Brethren just amaze me. He talked to us a good bit about the media and the whole "Mormons are a cult" thing, how to react to it, etc. He also spoke to us about recognizing the Holy Spirit, and then the Atonement. It was very powerful. He told us that in our lifetime (he kinda just slipped in this prophecy casual, but nonetheless I took it as prophecy :) we would see in our country that it would be quite less common to be Christian than we are now. Those weren't his direct words, but that was the jist of it. I found that interesting... Elder Jensen and I were talking about that, and we both felt like when we first got out here the main "competition" the Church had was maybe the Baptists, or the Jehovah's Witnesses. But for some reason I kind of think it's going to be Islam in the final days.. it seems like that is becoming more and more prevalent and Satan is doing all he can to convince people that Jesus Christ was just a normal man. A good man, yes, but just a normal man. I loved how Pres. Callister touched on that in his talk, quoting C.S. Lewis. There is no middle ground; either He was and is the very Son of God, or He was completely opposite of what He claimed to be. He didn't leave any room for doubt or middle ground; He didn't intend to. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know that He lives. He guides this church through living prophets and apostles, and this really is His work. My testimony has been strengthened of that so much these past few weeks.
Things have been pretty rough here. Elder Jensen at the start of this transfer (2 weeks ago) set some goals. A couple of those goals were that we would be more humble, and that we would learn to submit to the Lord's will and timing. Well, we are certainly learning a lot. Lemme tell ya. This has probably been one of the lowest weeks of my mission, when it comes to the numbers. It has been HARD. Yet we have been working harder than ever before, praying more, being exactly obedient, etc. I feel happier, my faith has grown more, and my testimony is more sure than ever before - despite the number results. We aren't quite sure why things are going the way they are. Nobody is keeping their appointments, the investigators we had all won't talk to us anymore, we are having the hardest time finding those who will listen.... yada yada yada. I feel extremely humbled and almost unsure what's going on... aren't the zone leaders supposed to be an example?? I don't know. But, I'll tell you what I am feeling. I am feeling hope. I know that even though things may look bad, everything is in the Lord's hands. I feel peace because I know that. I know that this is the Savior's work, and even though we can't always see the desired outward results we'd like to, we don't necessarily know what is going on inside of people. No effort is wasted. The Lord loves the people in the Lake Reams area, and is sending his Spirit and angels down to minister to them and prepare the hearts of many people to accept His gospel as the time of His coming draws near. Read Alma 13:24. We may or may not ever know the results of our work in this lifetime, but regardless of that I have a love for my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I will give it my best all day everyday. Even if that includes being rejected, ridiculed, and reviled. I will happily go about the Lord's work because I am thankful to be a full time representative of Jesus Christ. It is a privilege, more than I ever could have thought so. I will forever be indebted to the Lord for the many, many blessings and miracles He has shown me in my life. I love Him, and I love His children! It does make me sad when they reject the truth, especially when I know that they feel the witness of the Holy Ghost. But, that is part of Father in Heaven's plan for all of us - to have the ability to choose for ourselves.
Thank you for your examples, for being a great strength to me in my times of need! I love you all so much. Hope you have a great week!
love,
Elder Andrew Beckett
p.s. Do the Popes know a Sister Brittany McClain from the Oakley Stake? She is a missionary here. Also Sis. Barlow from the Rupert W stake?
p.p.p.s. Happy birthdays Grandma & Grandpa!
Darn it all, we don't know them but that is cool that they are serving there! That gives you another reason to come to Burley when you get back!!! :)
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