Walk Week

This was a beautiful week. The weather was great. Super hot, pretty cool, tons of rain, light drizzle. It was great. We met a lot of great people, and had some really good Spirit led lessons. We have this one man we are teaching who wants to get baptized sooooo bad, but he kept missing appointments so we had a talk with him about that, and it really helped. I love how the Spirit is able to guide us to say exactly what people need to hear to help them come closer to Christ through the restored gospel. It is beautiful. Also, we keep finding more amazing people at his house. I love it! And I had exchanges this week. I went with Sister Zollinger again. And we had fun. The most crazy part was when we came home for dinner, I slipped off the curb and scraped my ankle. But that wasn't the worst part, my sticks (The Holy Bible that I've been marking for the last nine months, and the Book of Mormon) and my iPad fell out of my hands. Now the reason I slipped was because I was standing over a different section of curb than normal. This one had a big hole right where I tried to put my foot. His big hole went into a storm drain sewer thing. My heart stopped as I saw the blue books sliding under the curb. Luckily Heavenly Father is in charge and my iPad landed on its corner against the ground and the tops of the curb, it stayed where it landed, but my poor Bible and Book of Mormon kept going. Then I heard something hit the bottom of the tinned underneath. I quickly squared down to look under the curb, my heart leaped when I saw the Book, but then I realized it was just my Book of Mormon. My bible was the one that fell. It had my beautiful plan of Salvation card in it. My commandments cards. Some things I've been working on memorizing. And all my marked scriptures. We moved the car, and Sister Zollinger pulled out the Book of Mormon (her arms are longer). And Sister Wakolo was on the phone parked in front of us. (Ok, so the STLs live with members, and they are in the Wakolos Ward, and the Sister they live with teaches Jasmine Wakolo piano). We looked around for an idea, and saw a manhole in the ground right over where it fell. Idea!! Let's open it and get my bible back. We couldn't lift it. So we went and asked the Brother they live with for a tool to lift it up. So we got it up and looked down. There was my Bible. In a small stream of water because it had rained in the last two days, oh well, but my plan of Salvation cards were ok, they were in ziplock bags and we could see them on the rock. Then Sister Wakolo came out to see what was happening, and she joined in on figuring out how to get it out. Then the Brother climbed into the hole and got the Bible and passed it up to us. Then we had to figure out how to get him out. He couldn't get back up the ladder on the wall, so we went and grabbed a ladder from his garage, it didn't work, so we grabbed a step ladder and he got out! Then we had to get a hoe to get out the step ladder. It was so fun, and Sister Wakolo was there to join in. And I scared the members' dog because my ankle started to bleed a little from my fall. It was fun, my Bible was completely soaked, but the papers were ok. There was no way to save the Book so I made an art project out of it. I'll just have to start over my marking.

But also this week, the power went out. Some of the traffic lights are still out. Saturday night there was a huge storm and it knocked out our power, and the power at the church. So we had to change where we were meeting, but at least we still got to go take the sacrament. Is was sad though because the man who is super excited about being baptized didn't come because we were in a different building. That was hard, it then we had an amazing lesson last night, so we're not worried.
It was a fun week. We learned a lot. And I want to say that I just adore Sister Brumett. She is amazing and we have so much fun teaching together. I love it!

Love y'all!
Kimber
Sister Beckstrand

My art project!

Who's Counting?

My thirteen month mark...it snuck up on me. 

This week has been fun! We've met some interested people, and some people that are not willing to talk to us. This week we met a couple guys who had some questions about what Mormons believe, and we were able to answer them and help clear up things they've heard before, and they were really nice. One of them accepted a return visit. We were on walk week so we didn't get to see a lot of our investigators who don't live very close, and one day we decided to try biking, (I borrowed an elder's bike), but we had to bike for about two to three hours to get to our dinner appointment. Then Sister Fifield fell and got scraped up a bit, but she's all fine now. 

Sis Fifield & Sis Beckstrand.
"Crazy us!!"

Overall, I just love Sister Fifield. We have a lot of fun together!

Sis Zollinger(?) & Sis Beckstrand

This week we had exchanges, and I went to The STLs area with Sister Zollinger and we had a fun time. We had some really good lessons with people and some successful finding. We found a cool guy who actually lives in our area, and he texted us a question after we left. We told him to read chapter one in the Book of Mormon because it answers his question. I had a goal to share doctrine in first contact. I did better that I usually do, and I'm trying to continue that every time I talk to people. 

Yesterday I interpreted in church! (ASL) I was fun, and a lot of people were surprised that I could sign. But it was fun to interpret again. We do language study every day, usually, and we've had two language studies over Skype with another companionship who are also doing some ASL work. It was really fun. And then I went and and played piano for the Spanish branch (it wasn't very pretty) but that was fun. 

And, this Saturday, we have an investigator getting baptized!!!! He is such an amazing mad, and he has a lot of fun stories. Last night we went to talk to our top investigator who is getting baptized the Saturday, but he was already asleep, so we talked to his grandsons out side, they are super less active. We were talking about the gospel and about how they know things, and he got onto us about how we were raised in the gospel and that it was easy and we didn't know anything because of that. I've been getting similar statements from a lot of people ever since I got here last January, and I've always known it wasn't true that I didn't know life, and I never felt that it counted against me that I grew up with it, but those comments always made me wonder how to describe that it was a very good thing that I grew up with it. At that moment I finally understood why I felt that way. I understood how to explain to him so my point of view on how that does not count against me was a good thing. This is sort of like I said it, but in my studies this morning I was thinking about what I said and decided to write it down in my journal because it is an answer I've been searching for ever since the first time it was mentioned. 

'I have been raised in this gospel. I have never strayed far from the path. That doesn't mean that I haven't messed up, and it doesn't mean I know everything and it doesn't mean I don't know any different. Enos 1:1, "...my father...was a just man--for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord--and blessed be the name of my God for it" I do not regret being born in the Gospel. I do not feel like I'm missing anything, it is not less sweet to me because I am used to it. I don't have to mess up to understand. I can be the smarter one, and learn as I observe others mistakes in the lessons they learned from it. It's like the concept in Alma 32:14–15, "...because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word? ...Yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble" In most cases these people are smarter, wiser. They don't have to hurt as much in the process. Again, that doesn't mean I don't mess up, but I like this less painful route, and it has been a blessing in my life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission, to see people from all walks of life, to talk to them and learn from them. It is a beautiful blessing that I will never let go.'

Love y'all! 

Kimber

Sister Beckstrand

Cream Cheese is the universal ingredient

Sister Lloyd & Sister Beckstrand

Sister Daily, maybe?

This week was a miracle week. We taught so many people, and set so many dates!! There are just so many prepared people here. I love Mountain View.

Sister Lloyd is really fun. We talk really well, and we agree on lots of things. It's been fun to laugh with her about stuff we do, think, what happens to us. All the things.

This week on exchanges Sister Daily came here and Sister Lloyd went to Searcy. It was a great experience to teach with Sister Daily. I loved how much she just shared the gospel whenever we talked to anyone. Even the waitress at dinner. It has inspired me to do better. Also, she had the goal to ask for referrals, and ever since three I've been better at asking for referrals than I have been my whole mission so far. It was a good exchange. And I learned so much.

One time this week we taught a restoration lesson with a young woman who is the friend of A, our investigator, and it went pretty well. We had two members there, recent convert and the Ward mission leader, and then S and A, the ones getting baptized this Saturday, there for her lesson. We even set a date with her! Then right as her lesson ended they wanted to have S and A's lesson because they couldn't make it to the appointment we set for the next day, and we hadn't prepared for their lesson yet. It was on the priesthood, and the rest of the points in lesson five they hadn't gotten yet. So we kind of just winged it. The Spirit helped a ton, and it ended up being a really good lesson. And it was really neat to have a big lesson on the priesthood with the new investigator there having just talked about the restoration. It was a fun experience.

By the way people, we have a double baptism this Saturday!!!! S and A are getting baptized this weekend! And they are so ready! I love them they are hey best. And so fun to teach and talk to. They have such strong testimonies it is so inspiring.

We also figured out that cream cheese works with everything. We've been trying to think of things that it would taste bad with all week, but so far we've found nothing. It literally goes with everything!

This week I have been thinking a lot about how the spirit works with people, and how Heavenly Father's hand is manifest in our lives. We have an investigator who is struggling big time recognizing that God is there, he can't recognize the blessing God has given him. It got me thinking, and as I studied and though about things I have gained a clearer understanding of the Lords hand in my life and in the works in general. I found the scripture in Moroni 7:12-13 where is says that all good things come from God, and anything that invite them and entice do good is from God. And then I realized even more that the Spirit is always talking, always encouraging us to be better. Always telling us things, in all the positive, enticing to do good thoughts. That Heavenly Father is so incredibly busy because of all the positive things in my life. His hand is so prevalent in the world that people miss it. They assume that it is just coincidence, or that providence is kind, or they're lucky, or that's just how life is, but really it's all a gift from God. Just because He loves us most of the time. Heavenly Father is the best!!!

Love y'all!
Kimber
Sister Beckstrand

Evidence that they are in the South!

🎃Happy Halloween y'all!!! 🎃

Sis Ellis & Sis Beckstrands

Hi everyone! How are you? Sounds like you've had a fun week.

It was a busy week. On Monday we took brownies to the bishop and Ward mission leader, and then we got to talk to them about people we are teaching and just say thank you for everything. Also, that day I made the chicken on rice casserole again, but for us. It was sooo good. I love that stuff. I've been eating the leftovers all week. Mmmm. So good.

Tuesday started out with quite an adventure. We had district meeting that day, so we went to the church at 10:30 like normal and sat here for a few minutes. But nobody was there. So we texted the district leader and asked if we were having it this week. Yes, but forty minutes away in Frasier. What!? They forgot to tell us! It had been at our building for the last eight weeks, and now hey randomly switch? So we arrived halfway through the meeting and used so many miles (good thing we had an unusual amount for the rest of the month). Then we had to drive back. So many miles. Ew. Then we were running around all day trying to make up for the lost time and get to all our appointments. We were fifteen minutes to half an hour late to everything. It only worked because our last appointment cancelled. Really, the one day when most of our plans actually happened and we are so behind on them. It was a crazy day. 

We had a trunk or treat on Wednesday, that was really fun. We met some people there and got to know some members better. A couple members brought friends and we helped take them around and talk to them. It was really cool.

On Thursday we helped a member tie some quilts again! It was so fun to be doing that again. I've missed it. The. We went and contacted some referrals. We had some pretty good lessons with them. 

Friday, weekly planning. It was such a fast week. Already? Again?! Wow. We helped another member set up for a Halloween party the next day. Then we went and saw some people. That night we started our exchanges. I went to Bartlett with Sister Farr, and Sister Ellis stayed here with Sister Boren. It was a really neat exchange. We planned that night, and it was cool to plan for the day I was actually going to be there for.

The next morning we helped the primary kids prepare for the primary program, that was fun. I met a lot of members. Lots of them knew Sister Havran super well, (she served there for nine months). Then we had a thought, Donna (she got baptized in my last area), her brother and his wife live there, and we had referred them to the sisters there. I was with one of those referring sisters. So we decided to go see them. We didn't get to see her brother, but I got to talk to her sister in law, and she is really nice. Apparently they are golden investigators. It was really cool. Then we went and taught a lesson with a girl that is super busy and about to graduate high school this year. She plays the cello and is in a couple orchestras. It was so cool to talk to her and get to talk about music stuff again. She is really smart and really understood everything we were telling her. She would talk herself through the point and totally get how it works. It was awesome. We had a great time together, Sister Farr and me. We learned a lot, and had fun. I really like her. Then we went up to Millington to exchange back. We had missionary correlation before we were going to go the the Halloween party and see how it went, but the meeting got pushed back because the elders, (a different set,) had something go longer than they planned. So after a really good and much needed correlation, we went home to plan. Oh well, no parties for us.

Then on Sunday we went to church, church is just incredible. I love it. A start-over every week. So useful. After church we went and had a Halloween dinner with some members and they fed us Maggot-Chile and Mummy-Dogs. It was really good. We went end to end of our area yesterday, from the vey bottom to the top as we went to try some people while we still had miles. It was pretty fun up there. We gave out a lot of cards. And we met an amazing lady who told us that her grandmother was a member and told us about her going through the temple a few years ago. She thought it was really interesting and wanted to know more about us. So she invited us over to her house sometime and said that she'd feed us dinner. So yay. Also, she didn't live there, but down in Munford, a lot closer to home than where we found her. Double yay.

It was a fun fast week. Plus, last night we had a really great lesson with an investigator named Nicole and were able to set a date with her. She is so cool I really like her. And her kids are adorable. She really understands everything we share with her. 

It's been neat. Like someone once told me a couple months ago (if I haven't told y'all already) a mission is like toilet paper... you take the same amount every time, but the farther you get the quicker the roll runs out. I can feel it happening. This week has flown by. It's crazy, but I absolutely love it here. Best experience of my life. 

Love Kimber
Sister Beckstrand

Only in the south (with Women's Day on the table next to her,
it looks like she's not at the church, yet here's a Holy Bible.)

A ginger in a field of white that looks ready to harvest! 

That's for you mom! (Inside family joke)

My new favorite thing, I just gotta say I want one so bad. That's it.

Happy Halloween! Love y'all!