Rely on the Atonement

Hello Everyone!

 

Well, another great week has passed here in the great city of Wichita. We have seen some pretty amazing things happen, and we have been really blessed though it has been pretty tough.

 

This week, we had a great meeting with Maxine to transition to the Sisters in our ward doing the primary teaching. It was really cool because she just accepted them right in starting talking to them forever. She is such a grandmother, and totally will take care of any of us missionaries who go over to visit her.

 

One other thing we were able to do this week was find out how quickly we can walk through slush, while wearing boots. The weather totally warmed up and all the snow that we got last week melted into slush and water everywhere. On Thursday, we were out walking and realized we only had an hour to make it 4 or five miles back to the apartment for our ride. So, we started back, and thanks to my parents, my long strides got us back (Elder Lott jogged a little too) Plus, we even had a little bit of extra time to talk to some people we met on the way! The Lord provides constant miracles!

 

Love you all!  If you can find the time, about an hour os so, I would like you all to watch two vidoes (found wither on BYUTV, LDS.org or Youtube or something; I'm not sure exactly where)  hey are: "His grace is Suficient" by Brad Wilcox (45 min.), and Missionary work and the atonement (15 min.)  The second one is amazing, and has made me cry both times our misison President has shown it to us.  I really recommend it.  I know that our Savior lives, and that He helps us every day, if we let Him.  I know that true, lasting hapiness comes from becoming more like Him by living His gospel.  I love Him, I love His gospel, and I love this work.  And, I love you all, very, very much!

 

Elder Beckstead

Let it Snow, New Companion and Weekly Miracle

Hello everyone! 

 

This week has been an adventure! We were transferred midst receiving a good nine inches of snow, followed up by another few inches later this week. The snow sure made it fin to get around! Thankfully, I have some Utah experience under my belt, and that helped us arrive safely at our destination at all times. On that we, we were always blessed with drivers around us who knew what they were doing enough to not get in an accident with us too.

 

My new companion Elder Lott, is pretty funny. He just came in from Guyman, Oklahoma where he was covering the whole panhandle, and loving it. It was sure funny to see his eyes get all big when we went to church and there was a full chapel and overflow (normal for our ward) as opposed to the branch of 30 he was used to. We are still trying to figure one another out for sure, but we know that this next transfer is going to be great!

 

We had a major miracle this weekend in that Sister Scott, one of the less-active ladies we are working with, signed up to feed us dinner. She has told us that we are literally and answer to prayers in our timing of knocking on her door and in helping her find fellowship and come back to church. Anyway, her son who has been disinterested thus far sat in on the entire lesson, and asked questions and totally got involved. He didn't make it to church this week, but he is really coming out of his shell. Not only did we get a meal, but we were working to save some souls. It was great!

 

It has been a while since I have sent a list of people to pray for, so here is a new updated list:

Lt. Parson, Sister Scott, Brother Hull, Maxene, Stacie, Heather, the Larson family, Treeva, Katie, Mike and Christy, Sis Koppa, Bro Van Dusen, the Sheppards, and Deanna and Jeff. Thanks a ton!

 

Love you all so much! I know that our Savior lives and that He can and will give us the energy, knowledge and power to do whatever we need to. I know that if we focus not on what we want, but rather on what He wants, we will be so much happier. 

 

You are all amazing!

 

Elder Beckstead

Heartland Facts, Frozen Feet & Reactivation!

So this week has been one with lots of learning experiences filled with new facts and all sorts of stuff that has been just fun. First of all, Kansas turned 183 this week, as the 34th state in the United States. I also learned that the geographical center of the United States is in Kansas...but about 2 miles outside of my mission boundary. Guess I'll have to hit that attraction in a few years or so. We learned that biking after a major freezing rain storm is nie unto impossible, but if you do it right, you can freeze your shoes to certain porches while tracting. That will sure give you the motivation to have a good conversation, or wait for them to shut the door on you so you don't have to look like a fool chiseling your feet off the ground!

There is this super sweet less-active lady that we have been meeting with that came to church with us this week. Her story is truly amazing! She first joined the church after going on a tour to Salt Lake City and temple square. While there, she felt the Spirit, so when she got home, she bought herself a Book of Mormon, and read all the way through it. She read the promise in Moroni, applied it and prayed, and found it to be true, before trying to figure out what church used the book. Eventually, after some searching she was able to meet with the missionaries. Over time, she moved several times, and her records did not always move with her. When she came into our area, she had been less-active for years. She was praying one day that she should be told what church to go to, and a few minutes later we knocked on her door! She has accepted everything again, and is forming friendships with the members, and now she wants to go through the temple and receive of the blessings that are given there. It is AMAZING! She is sooo cool.

I know that just like Sister Scott (the wonderful lady mentioned above)  people are being prepared for each of us. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of faith and action. The Lord has commanded that we share the Gospel and help others be happy, and so we need to believe he can and will use us to do so. It is amazing to see the difference out knocking doors when I am just doing it because I am in an area with nothing else to do, or if I really want to help someone and have the faith that by tracting, I will be able to find them. The latter is immensely more successful! Have faith in any and every aspect of your lives, and miracles really will come. I promise you that.

Love you all!