쿨 쿨! (June 18, 2018)

Hey fam! How are you all?

Last week was cool! Last PDay we went to an international motor show with SH, it was pretty cool. We also had dinner with him during the week but he had to leave fast, so we haven't really been able to teach him much at all, and his baptism date is coming up! Please pray for him to be able to meet and receive the discussions well!

We also finished up the last couple zone conferences last week, which were both good! Nice to have all the big meetings for the transfer done; I can really focus in on the Oncheon area for these next few weeks. 

One other cool experiences. There is a boy here in Oncheon ward who is like 15. When I first got to this ward he was so smiley and loved to joke around and stuff, but the last couple months he seems to be going through a bit of a hard time. Elder B and I wanted to help him. He is such a good kid, and it was so sad for us to see him not be himself. So we talked to his mom and found out his favorite food is pizza. We knew that by his house was this cheap pizza place called Pizza School, so we took him out for pizza on Thursday! It was so fun! He was so smiley and happy. He just told us about his hobbies and talked to us about cars and other cool stuff that he likes. After eating, we split up, but it was so fun!

And I know this experiences may not sound very significant, but I felt like that was honestly one of the most meaningful things I have done on my mission. I felt like we just had a feeling that we should help this kid out, we followed it, and it felt like ministering like the Savior would. It was just a simple pizza dinner together, but I felt the Spirit confirming that what we were doing is exactly what God wanted us to be doing at that time.

On Friday morning we headed out at 6 a.m. to fly to Jeju! So that was fun! That was our last zone conference, and it was cool to go there one more time. Also on the plane they had horse meat jerky, so we bought it. But we haven't tried it yet. We flew back that evening.

The next morning early was the Busan Stake Sports day! Elder B and I had 4 investigators come with us, so that was cool! We played some soccer, ran a bit, etc. It was cool to see a lot of members who I worked with in Youngdo and Haeundae.

Well that's our week! We have another great week coming up! 

One quick spiritual thought:

This week I was reading in 3rd Nephi. Right before Christ comes among them, there is great destruction-- tempests, earthquakes, floods, etc. So many people are killed at this time. After all of the storm, there is darkness, so dark, it says, that "the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness; And there could be no light".

Can you imagine how that would feel? I don't think I can because I wasn't there, but it sounds horrible. And then, a voice pierces the darkness, and tells of the destruction, of cities buried or burned because of the wickedness of the inhabitants in them. And then the voice asks a poignant question,

 " O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" (3 Nephi 9:13).

I love the wording of this verse. I think one key is the end of the verse, where it says, "that I may heal you." "may" is interesting. May tells us that the Savior and Heavenly Father are waiting to heal us and forgive us, and the only thing preventing that is...us. There are is greater enjoyment and fulfillment and love in life as we seek to "return unto" God. There is relief from sin, and greater strength to endure hardship. 

I am not saying that when we repent and return to God that everything becomes perfect. In fact, in a lot of ways, following Christ is more difficult than not. But it is worth it.

Elder Uchtdorf taught,

 "I testify that when we embark upon or continue the incredible journey that leads to God, our lives will be better.

This does not mean that our lives will be free from sorrow. We all know of faithful followers of Christ who suffer tragedy and injustice—Jesus Christ Himself suffered more than anyone. Just as God makes the “sun to rise on the evil and on the good,” He also allows adversity to test the just and the unjust. In fact, sometimes it seems that our lives are more difficult because we are trying to live our faith.

No, following the Savior will not remove all of your trials. However, it will remove the barriers between you and the help your Heavenly Father wants to give you. God will be with you. He will direct your steps. He will walk beside you and even carry you when your need is greatest." (A Yearning for Home, Fall 2017)

I offer my agreement and testimony to the truthfulness of that! I hope we all seek each day to continue to draw closer to God, so He can heal us.

Love

Elder Beckett

Hiking and Miracles! (June 10, 2018)

Hey Fam!  We already started zone conferences this transfer, which is fun and busy! The subject is... the Restoration!! So I have been seeking to strengthen my own testimony on the Restoration. The mission is an awesome time to strengthen your testimony, but to speak frankly, my testimony has also never been tested more in my whole life! So preparing for zone conference was a time to increase my knowledge and personal conviction about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Zone Conference!

On the way back from Zone Conference, haha!

This is a sweet couple from my training area in Gyeoungju, President Lee and his wife. I saw them in Ulsan.

We went on a cool hike on Wednesday with the Elders Quorum, and had 3 investigators come!

I got to skype with my friend Matt!!!! AWESOME!

Today as I studied Preach my Gospel, I came across the following,

 "Help people recognize that the Church is not just another religion, nor is it an American church. Rather, it is a restoration of the "fulness of [the] Gospel" (D&C 1:23), the same as was revealed and taught from the beginning... Through a modern prophet, God has restored knowledge about the plan of salvation, which is centered on Christ's Atonement and fulfilled by living the first principles and ordinances of the gospel."

That is so important! The restored Gospel teaches us more about Christ and God's plan for me than anywhere else. I love the Bible because it teaches me about Christ's life, His example, and has many prophecies about Him. That is irreplaceable. And I love the Book of Mormon because it teaches me of Christ's Atonement, His sacrifice for me, and gives me a more full perspective of His role in the Plan of Salvation as our Savior.

Me and SH!

I also had the opportunity to read some of Joseph Smith History once more this week, and, if you haven't read that recently, I encourage you to do so! There is nothing like reading about his experience and how the church was organized in his own words-- it strengthened my testimony.

Me with 2 of my favorite things!

We also had a couple really cool blessings/ times when we saw God's hand in our lives the last couple days!!  For background details, last week on Sunday I was supposed to fast, but I was coming down with a bit of a cold, so I fasted Saturday to Sunday (yesterday) instead. I love fasting! Actually honestly sometimes because I really love food, especially ice cream ;), sometimes fasting is not the easiest thing, but as I fasted the past couple days I really felt the power of fasting! Small sacrifice for amazing blessings. I felt happier and spiritually in tune! Here are two ways I felt God's hand:

1) On Saturday night we got back from a choir performance in Ulsan (a city about 1 1/2 hours away), and were by the office when we heard a phone ring. The office hours are supposed to end at 5, and we were all tired, so we sometimes just let calls go in the evening. But I felt like I should grab this one, Elder B and I rushed to grab the phone, but it only rang a couple times then stopped. We spent a few minutes figuring out how to call the guy back, and it ended up being a man who has been really struggling with stress and depression raising his family. President Jeong gave him some great counsel, then connected him with the missionaries in his area, as well as encouraged him to seek any necessary medical help. I was really grateful God helped me feel like I should answer that call, as well as call him back, which I have never done before on the office phone at night.

2) We have an investigator who works for the police, SH. We haven't been able to teach him much Gospel actually, but he has come to church a couple times! Elder B invited him again on Saturday, then he came yesterday! One member here, Brother IW, gave a great talk on repentance that our investigator really liked. We were talking with SH  afterwards in a separate room, and he suddenly asked (this is a translation from Korean so it might sound a bit weird), "What is that thing that you receive in other churches? 세례? (Like sprinkling baptism) Do you have something like that here? I think it is destiny that we keep meeting and I want to keep coming to church." 

We were pretty surprised and said, "Yeah, we have baptism here!" Then we showed him a picture of Jesus getting baptized, and he accepted a baptismal date! Right now it is set for 3 weeks from now, July 1st, because he has already come to church 3 times. But he will need to make some changes in his life regarding the word of wisdom, so please pray for him to gain a testimony of the Gospel and be converted! 

I know that God's hand is in our lives! I hope we all keep looking for it.

Love you all so much!

Elder Beckett

Pictures! (June 4, 2018)

Dear Family!

Elder S, Elder B, and me (Before Elder B and I were companions)

I survived transfer week! Wow the first week is crazy!! Pretty tiring with lots of meetings and preparation.

One cool story! Last week me and the Elder in red on the left of that basketball picture (Elder S, we were in the MTC together) had an opportunity to do some street contacting together. Well we met a man, talked to him for a total of like 30 seconds, but he took a BOM from us, pointed to his nearby shop, and told us to stop by later. 

Well the next day me and Elder B went by, and it was locked! But after knocking a few times, we found out he was in there and he let us in. He gave us some crackers and talked to us. He is the owner of this cool antique and art shop. He said he had been curious about our church, so we taught him about the restoration. it was a good and quick discussion! He doesn't have a whole lot of interest, but it was neat to have him let us in his shop, and he agreed to learn some more about the Gospel later. And he was super nice and bought us dinner!

Elder and Sister C, an awesome couple, in an elevator. We helped them move!

Elder K, who I was in the MTC with, who just finished his mission.

Us and the Oncheon B Team picking up the new Elder O. He is awesome!!

We miss carpet!!! We were enjoying President Jeong's carpet... :)

Well I love you all, and am about out of time today! Before I go, I just have a couple quick thoughts I wanted to share. I am in my last transfer! I still have 5 weeks, but the time is flying. A couple nights ago I was saying my nightly prayers, and I felt the need to increase my focus on Jesus Christ this last transfer. Everything we do, the very reason we preach the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is because of Jesus Christ-- and sometimes we get a bit lost in the details. It is my prayer that as I focus on Him, as "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ" that I can help others come unto Him, and draw nearer unto Him myself. I love to learn of my Savior; there is power in His words and example as found in the New Testament. I love the symbolism of Him in the Old Testament. And I love the teachings about His Atonement, what it does for us, and how we can enjoy its power, as found in the Book of Mormon.

I have found greater hope and faith as I simply think about Him more and learn more about His life. Sometimes when I feel sad or worried, as much as taking an extra moment to feel gratitude for him seems to change my feelings of fear to comfort and confidence.

Love

Elder Beckett

Here are pictures from our Zone Conference in the mountains: