Skype was great! So good to hear from you all! (May 14, 2017)

This is Nate's Mom--we got to Skype with Nate on Mother's Day, and it was wonderful!! Here are a couple of pictures of him while we were Skyping.  He still sent some pictures and a short email after our Skype time, so I will put that on now.  WE LOVE NATE!!

One quick cool experience--sorry we have to get some stuff done for p-day.  A few weeks ago Elder S and I were leaving towards the subway to head somewhere, and we saw a 40-50 year old guy standing on the side of the road, by a parked, car, smoking. We said hello to him. He was pretty nice, but I thought maybe a little strange. He tried to use lots of English in talking to us. His name was Joe. He told us he had a son, and worked at the Citizen Center right across from our church. He said we could visit his office anytime, and then we left. I think we gave him a pass-along card. Anyway, he was really nice, and Elder S and I wanted to try and meet him again to share the gospel with him. So we went to the second floor of the Citizen Center, like he said, but all we found was a bunch of kids in/preparing for the army, which was kind of intimidating. They said check the 4th floor, but we couldn't find our guy! So we left. I remember later praying to ask God to help us be able to meet Joe again.

A few mornings later, we were doing our 7:30-9:00 morning proselyting, and just nobody wanted to talk to us. We kept going, nevertheless. We met a few good people, and invited them to meet again later. In the last few minutes, around 9:00, we were walking home, past the Citizen Center, and Joe was standing out there! He greeted us. We explained that we had tried to find his office, but couldn't. He said, "Let's go! I will show you!" So we went up with him into his office. It WAS on the 2nd floor--past all the army guys, because Joe was the general! He was in charge! We sat down with him, he gave us some soda. We talked about him and his family. He is Christian. We taught him about the Book of Mormon, and gave him a copy. He accepted it gratefully and said we could come back any time.

It was a great example to me of how God heard and answered MY PRAYER while at the same time blessing Joe and his family! It was great to get that little lesson in that morning!

This is me with Brother P, who I told you about before--the man who received the miraculous answer to prayer when he was in the military.

We went street proselyting with this young man from our ward who is preparing for his mission. He is super fun! It was a good experience.

 I love this scripture from Romans, that describes both our relationship with God, and facing hardship:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are God's words! They bless me so much with the wisdom found in them. I love testifying of the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon is true! The principles in that book have blessed my life and helped and strengthened me. They are not, by any means, the easiest or most comfortable way of living, but they have far greater meaning and reward than any other way to live in our short time on this earth.

Elder S and I with an investigator.

I love you all! Have a great week! And remember that, as Paul says in Romans 8:28:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Have a great week!! Love,

Elder Beckett

PS:  I just want to encourage you all to KEEP A JOURNAL. The things you enjoy and go through now will be of great value later! They will not only be fun to look back on, with fond memories, but a source of great strength, and a way to see the Lord's hand in your life. We can't always see how He is guiding us now, but as we look back, it becomes crystal clear.  And write fun things too!  Seth--high school friends, activities, etc.  Haha. Love you!!