I Just Want To Work Hard.

Hey everyone!

Well what a week we've had here in Western Australia.  As President Lindsay would say, "It's a great day to be a missionary in Western Australia!"  He couldn't be more right.  We had a crazy week of transfers.  I am still in the Alexander Heights area like I mentioned last week.  I love it here.  It's probably been my favorite area so far.  I have the best companion in the world.  Sister Terry is from England.  She has all brothers.  Her older brother served a mission and her younger brother is currently serving in New Zealand!  How cool is that!? She gets to serve the same time as him!  Anyway, she is incredible.  She's been on her mission for a year and is an incredible teacher.  Her knowledge about the scriptures blows me away.  She just knows everything about how to teach and what to share with people.  I feel like I started leading and training so early that I missed a lot of learning the basics, so I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve with her now and just soak up everything I can from her.  She says that she wants to master goal-setting before she ends her mission.  We've figured out that that is why she is serving with me.  I think setting goals for the last 8 years through swimming really made goal-setting in the mission field super easy.  I love weekly planning and trying to set up an area with the help of the Spirit.  She can't figure out why in the world I love it so much but I just do and she says that that is what she is going to learn from me :)  It's going to be a dynamic companionship.  The first thing she said to me was, "I just want to work hard." And that is exactly what we intend on doing.  

We added 17 new missionaries to our mission last week and only lost 8.  That means we were able to open 5 new areas in WA.  One of which is in our ward.  We split our 12 or so suburbs between the now 3 companionships and it's been the greatest blessing.  The Elders took our "dodgey" areas so we don't have to worry being around there anymore.  We have done tons of finding in those areas though so we had a lot of things to give them to work off of and to quickly get their new area up and running.  Our district is on fire!  We found 27 new investigators this week in our district alone.  We fasted this week to help us in the work and set out in faith that we will succeed and the Lord has supported us through it all.

As Sister Training Leaders we are going to try really hard this transfer to train our sisters and help them grow in this work.  One way we do that is by being able to go on exchanges with them.  We planned them all out and then took each of the sisters' companionships a big bar of "Bubble" chocolate with a note that says, "We are 'bubbling' with excitement to do exchanges with you!"  We thought it was funny :) One of the new sisters in our Zone is from Cottonwood Heights.  Her name is Sister Brown.  I'm excited to talk to her and see if she knows any of the swimmers that I know.  I love being able to meet people from Utah here that know people I know.  I just laugh and think,  I had to go half way around the world to meet you and you know so and so."  The world becomes very small as a missionary.  Ya know, there are only 80,000+ of us now. 

We are really putting a heavy focus these next 2 months on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  After all that is why we are all here on earth.  That is why I am in Australia.  That is why I believe what I do.  That's why I know I'll see loved ones again that have passed on.  That is the reason for everything.  I've been studying Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage and it just brings every bit of the Savior's life and sacrifice into a beautiful light.  I feel like I'm growing closer to Him the more I read the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and this book Jesus the Christ.  My testimony has grown so much.  I wish I had the adequate words to explain it.  I know my Savior lives.  I know He died for me.  I know that He is central to the things I share, preach about, and teach here in WA.  I know that if I exercise my faith, repent fully and continually, and keep the covenants that I've made with Him that I will one day be able to once again be embraced by His loving merciful arms.  That knowledge and hope is the greatest thing that I know.  And nothing will ever shake me of that knowledge.     

This week I have been yet again attacked by mosquitoes.  As we met with the Elders on our back patio to divide this area for all of us I was slightly eaten alive.  I have counted 14 new bites over the last 4 days.  9 of which are on my right leg between my knee and my toes.  It's completely awful.  I got some cream from Sister Lindsay for them and I'm buying bug spray today at the shops.  Last night I told Sister Terry, "You know how in the millennium the lamb will lay down with the lion?  Well, Sister Beckstrand is going to be able to chill with the mosquitoes."

That's it for this week!  It's been pretty chaotic with transfers and meetings and such but the work is moving forward faster than ever and I am extremely humbled and blessed to be a part of it! I love and miss you all!  Hope you have the most wicked Halloween ever!  So proud of all of you for completing the Trick or Tri!  I called over one of the sisters that loves triathlons and showed her all the pictures.  Sister Bailey called Ben and David both Legends.  It looks like you've had heaps of fun doing it.  I will be showing those pictures to everyone I see :)  Thanks for the pumpkin pictures too!  It will help me show these Aussies how to celebrate this awesome holiday.  :) Last Saturday sounds like you packed as much into a day as you possibly could!  I'm glad you all get to have so much fun and enjoy every day.  I love seeing the pictures of all of your smiling faces. 

Love you all!!

Sister Shayne
  

Photo 1 - For all the Westlake people that will read this email :)

Photo 2 - Me, Sister Terry, in the back Sister Aleua, Sister Tanaka, and Sister Kennar

Photo 3 - There is a mosquito bite for every spot of cream plus many obnoxious others.
 

Koondoola and Ellerby Way

Hey there!

This has been a really long week.  I don't know what made it feel so long but I don't feel like I've emailed you in ages.  I think having General Conference last week kind of threw us off a little because we didn't have sacrament meeting.  Everything in the life of a missionary is so repetitive and exactly scheduled that when we have a change in something it just throws off my groove. 

We did heaps of tracting this week whilst trying to find more people to teach.  One thing we kept noticing was the number of Burmese families that we ran in to.  They were all extremely nice and interested in learning more about Jesus Christ.  Between the increasing number of Persian recent converts we have in our mission and the number of Burmese families that everyone seems to be finding I can't help but say that I feel like I'm seeing the literal gathering of Israel right before my eyes.  People leaving their home lands to travel to a new country looking for a better life for themselves or for their families and they just happen to find the church on their path.  I'm going back to the thought that there is no such thing as coincidence.

I have to tell you about a story.  One day two lovely sister missionaries were deciding on a street to go tract.  One said to the other, "Well it's the middle of the day let's go to Koondoola since we've been told that it's a pretty dodgy (sketchy) place to be after the sun goes down." The other agreed and off they headed to Ellerby Way :)  Ellerby way is a nice little street with enough houses to keep you tracting for about 2 hours.  As we went from door to door we met some rather interesting people that I never thought I would come across.  The first of the lovely people we met was a full on nun.  She was clothed in her nun attire with her cross hanging around her neck.  She was sweet and politely turned us away from her home.  As we carried on down the road we came across two different families that were both of the Greek Orthodox religion.  The first lady wasn't interested but was concerned for us and both of us a bottle of water.  The next man let us share a scripture with him, thanked us for the message from God and gave each of us a banana for energy while we went and spread the good word to those that would listen to us.  There was a cute little boy named Levi with his dad in his front yard.  The father didn't acknowledge that we had even walked up to his house and said hi but cute little Levi ran right up to us.  He shook my hand and said, "I'm Levi!"  Sister Kennar put her hand out for a high five and he looked at it gave her a quizzical look and then ran off.  There are two more houses that are worth mentioning.  One house we walked up to and knocked.  A man came to the door, listened to our little schpeal, and said, "I'm not the house owner" and went to get his friend.  His friend was dressed in a full-length gown looking thing.  It looked like it was made from the same stuff that flour bags from the Lehi Roller Mills are made of.  He was a hard-core Muslim.  He instantly knew who we were, took our copy of the Book of Mormon and said, "We believe this is true.  We believe everything to be true.  We just have a higher knowledge of many other things."  You could smell the stink of whatever he had been smoking.  He walked over to his car and pulled out a Qu'ran.  If you read it from the front it was English on one column and if you read it from the back it was Arabic in the other column.  He has a car full of friends pull up at that moment and they all started to share things about this book he was giving to us.  We took the book and got away as quickly as we had arrived.  As we walked away Sister Kennar said, "I see how this would be a dodgy area to come at night."  We only had 3 more houses on the street and we didn't think that much else would come about.  We knocked on our last door and this man opened it and walked out to talk to us.  He was this large Croatian man with a thick accent.  (We weren't really sure if he was mad or if that's just the way they talk. . .)  He began by saying, "Why are you not Catholic?  You young and going around telling people to change their religion.  Why?  You! (He pointed at me) Your parents were Catholic!"  I cut in and said,  "No they are member of our church." (I pointed at my badge).  "No!" he said, "They were Catholic!"  I just decided to bite my tongue.  After about 5 mins of him just talking/yelling at us about Catholicism and how no one should have ever change from that we walked back to our car trying to figure out exactly what had just happened.  I've never had such a random and exciting day of tracting in my entire mission so far. 

Thank you so much for the new scripture mastery card!  I spent an entire personal study comparing the scriptures from the 2004 version to the 2012 version.  It's amazing how many of the scriptures that I learned and leaned on growing up through seminary have been taken off. I find it interesting that my generation had scriptures that talked about trusting the Lord, getting to know Him, studying His words, not procrastinating repentance, and even Jeremiah 16:16 talked about God calling many missionaries.  There is no doubt that those scriptures were for my generation to prepare us for this time.  Now Jeremiah is no longer on the 2012 edition.  The year when the age dropped for missionaries and many many many were called.  The new list has a focus on being fulling converted to God in all we do every minute of every day.  A lot of the scriptures on the new one are also scriptures that we use every day on the mission field.  It's just amazing.  There is no longer time to be a half hearted member.  We have a huge responsibility to share the gospel with as many people as we can.  We must raise to the level that God expects us to be.  There are scriptures that are the same but have different key words.  One that stood out to me was Joshua 24:15.  My generations said, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve."  The new one says, "Choose to serve God."  They aren't messing around with these scriptures that we need to know.  The Savior is going to come again and we must be ready.  Find something to change today and get closer to the Lord and His gospel than ever before. 

Sister Kennar is done being trained.  It's been amazing to be a trainer and to help her know the ropes of missionary work here in the Australia Perth Mission.  I've learned so much about myself, about the gospel, the atonement, and about this work.  My testimony has been strengthened like never before.  We just received transfer calls.  I am staying in Alexander Heights for another transfer.  Sister Terry is going to be my new companion.  She is from England.  She has about 6 months left on her mission.  I got a call from President on Sunday asking me to be a Sister Training Leader again.  I said yes and am sooo excited!  I love being a Sister Training Leader.  I can't wait to see what this week has in store, and what is going to happen in this next transfer.  

 

On Sunday I got pulled out of Relief Society to go play the piano for primary.  They have their primary program next week and the pianist child got sick so they didn't have anyone to play the piano.  I didn't do awful but I definitely didn't do well.  Ben keep playing the piano!  Practice every day.  It's going to be such a blessing when you get older.   I really want to teach myself how to play properly when I return home.

Last thing.  I found a Maori Book of Mormon and have decided to pull an Other Side of Heaven and read it alongside an English version.  Who knows maybe I'll be able to bare my testimony in Maori when I get home.  Don't hold me to that though. Hahaha 

I love you all :) 

Sister Beckstrand

 

 

 

 

 

                     Ellerby Way :)

Our Qur'an that we respectfully placed in the bin when we got home.

 Sister Kennar insisted that we go eat Vietnamese food one day.  Yes I ate my entire meal with just chopsticks!

This is my little friend that only comes out at night.  We see him every time we pull in at night.  I finally got a picture of him.  I don't think he's poisonous though because he doesn't have red on him.  The red backs are different from the Black Widows.  Pretty sure they are more poisonous.

Happy Birthday to me!‏

Hey there!!!

 

This week was amazing :)  I'm going to start with telling you all about my birthday and conference.  Friday morning I woke up and Sister Kennar had a present for me.  She had bought me some earrings on p-day and wouldn't let me see what she bought.  I like them a lot and have worn them almost every day since I got them.  They are fun.  Then while we were tracting (yes we got to do my favorite activity on my birthday. Sister Kennar hates tracting) we got a call from the Ellenbrook Sisters in our district who sang a beautiful version of Happy Birthday.  It made me feel awesome.  Then we went to lunch at Kylie Flavell-Brown's home.  She is one of our ward missionaries.  She is a single mum of 2 super awesome boys.  Regan is the one in the picture.  He's darling.  Kylie asked Sister Kennar through the week what I needed for my birthday so she surprised me with a curling iron!  All of the pictures that you've seen with my hair curled has been done with a straightener.  I've gotten pretty good at curling it like that but I was super grateful to see a curling iron.  I've been trying to find a good one since I got into this country but we never go to the right shops for that as a missionary. It was a great surprise present.  Saba was also at lunch and she bought me a new red watch :)  It was super cute of her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then for dinner that night we went over to the Pearsons.  They are the best family.  They made an incredible lasagna for dinner (complete with garlic bread) and then bought this massive beautiful chocolate strawberry cake.

 

 

  

While we were there their son rang in from the mines and Sister Pearson gave me the phone so Caleb could wish me a Happy Birthday too!  I left their home that night and just wanted to cry because I felt soo at home with them.  I haven't met a family that I've been that close to yet on my mission.  The Berrymans took us right under their wing but just sitting at the Pearsons feels like sitting at home or and grandmas and just talking with family.  They haven't been to church in a long while.  I said that since it was my birthday I get to share my favorite Book of Mormon story.  I shared everything I know about Abinadi and bore my testimony to the family.  The spirit was so strong.  I was grateful for the knowledge and testimony that I have and for how much it's grown over the last 20 years of life and especially the last 7 months.  They surprised me with two bags of peanut butter M&M's from the American store.  I didn't even know there was an American store.  I have no idea where it even is but if it ends up being in my area one of these transfers I will be one happy camper.  I had forgotten that we had even talked about peanut butter M&Ms at their house before.  It made me feel really loved.  

 

Then we gapped it right over to Jesse Pappas' house for MCM.  We had a quick meeting and then his wife went down stairs and like 5 mins later asked Jesse if he would finish the meeting so that we could all leave.  We came down stairs and they had made a cake for me as well!  I had trouble sleeping this night from too much sugar.  It was cool to see how many people just wanted to help make my day special. 

 

 

 

 Then we went home and our house was completely decorated from top to bottom outside.  I counted this morning as I cleaned up.  There were 115 heart shaped sticky notes outside.  That was from our District Leader Elder Beck and his companion Elder Faitua.  It was just awesome!  Then we went inside and our Sister Training Leaders Sister Manu and Sister Teriipaia had decorated our room.  There were glow sticks leading from our front door to our bedroom.  They had candy and fruit and pictures and balloons everywhere! I slightly teared up at all of the love that I felt from when I woke up until I went to sleep.  It was just awesome!  

 

 General Conference was amazing!!!  It's so weird watching it a week late but I loved what Robert D. Hales said.  He said that it doesn't matter where or how we are gathered to watch conference all that matters is that we are there to be edified by the spirit.  Even though I was just watching a recording and not watching it live I still felt the Spirit stronger than I have in a long time.  Some of my favorite talks were Brother Dube's talk about not looking back.  I related it to missionary work of course.  I have seen so many less actives that have served faithful full time missions and then they return here and just fall away.  I had someone say, "But he's a return missionary."  During a conversation about one of the ward members.  When Brother Dube said to not look back I thought about that.  I agreed that he has served a mission but now it's time for him to see what his priesthood responsibilities are now that he is home and to further his missionary efforts.  I know I wont be perfect when I return and I'm not saying that this brother is unable to change but it really opened my eyes to the title of "Return Missionary."  I loved the theme of Member Missionaries.  We as full-time missionaries really can't do this work without members help.  We've been blessed with some incredible members in the ward that I am in now. I also loved President Uchtdorf's talk but then again who didn't?  I loved loved loved the musical number from the family choir at the beginning of that Saturday afternoon session.  It was so moving.  I loved every bit of it.  I felt like Elder Christofferson's talk rebuked me a bit.  I felt the weight of being a woman in the gospel really fall upon my shoulders.  I have a list of things from different quotes from this conference that I'm going to immediately start changing and applying to myself.  I feel like most conference's are that wake-up call to the things you can do better.  The Sunday morning Session overall was my favorite.  President Eyring will always be my favorite speaker.  His stories always touch me.  Sister Oscarson and Elder Nelson's talks really had a strong impact on me as well.  I don't know why those hit me as strong as they did.  I was definitely spiritually fed from this conference.  

 

 Other random things from this week.  If I had to title October something this is what it would be, "October: The month of vicious mosquitoes and mating magpies." I have acquired 14 mosquito bites this week.  5 of which swelled up really nicely and they all have tried my self control as to not itching the living tar out of them.  I have tried all kinds of things on them but over all I just have to hold my hands in my lap and try to get my mind off of the itch. 

 

 

 It is Spring here and the Magpie birds are very territorial.  Sister Kennar the other day while we were biking was attacked by one as we rode down the street.  I felt really useless as I saw it sweep at her head 2 or 3 different times.  She finally turned off the footpath and the bird left her alone.  That was a sight that I won't soon forget haha. 

With it being Spring we have some days where I think we are finally going to have sunshine from here on out and then it just rains the next day.  I sang "Rain rain go away!"  The other day when it started raining during comp study.   It's been awful coming from winter into winter.  I should have had a summer by now and my body is just craving vitamin D from the sun.  I can't wait for the hot weather. 

For District meeting last week we did my favorite activity so far on my mission.  Everyone realized that I am the oldest kid after we finished this activity.  We were told by Elder Beck that we were going to draw a story from the Book of Mormon, share them with the district, and you had to find two other scriptures that backed up the gospel principle that we can learn from that story.  It was awesome!!! I'll send you a picture of what I drew.  You should all try it for an FHE.  It was really a fun activity.  I did it with a family in out ward and even the 5 year old drew and awesome picture of Nephi to which she sang, "I will go and do!"  It was really cute. 

 

 

That's all for this week I love you all and thank every single one of you for your birthday wishes.  This was the greatest birthday :) 

Love you all!

Sister Shayne

 

 

p.s.

Thank you all sooo much for the birthday package!  I love it!  The letters were great!

Dad- I'm sorry you are feeling old.  I'm feeling it with you!  I can't believe I'm 20.  It's such a crazy thought that I'm entering my 3rd decade of life.  Sunday was really special because 7 months ago I entered the MTC and 12 years ago I entered the waters of baptism :)  A decision that has effected my life and now I've seen it bless so many others as well!

 

Mom- Thank you for all of the updates about everyone! Thank you for the eating tips as well.  I actually cut out buying bread from my shopping list about 5 weeks ago so I'm glad I'm sort of on the right track.  I really appreciate the help.  I'm glad that you all get to be a part of Zack's setting apart this week.  I can't wait to hear all about it.  Give him a big hug for me before he gets set apart! I was glad to hear about PJ and Jacob. 

 

Soph- I loved your letter.  I love being able to chat with you on p-days.  School sounds just awesome!  Mr. Candland and Ms. Schuler are the best!!! I love them.  Tell them I said hi :) I can't wait to hear about your first swim meet of the season and how the play goes.  Sounds like you are doing well and staying busy.

 

Josh- Your birthday sounded awesome!  Sorry about your ankle.  I hope it's healed alright.  I still am in awe at how much you have grown.  I saw your school picture and just wanted to cry because my little brother is big and is becoming a man.  It's crazy!  I can't believe that Tayson gets home soon! That was crazy news to me! I'm glad PV beat DHHS at Homecoming!  That's the best thing I've heard for our school in a long time!  It looks to be a great year for PV!

 

Ben-  Way to run the Color Me Rad with Alex! Mom said you two finished first!  That's soo awesome!  I'm glad that school is going well.  Crazy that they got new teachers for 4th grade.  I'm sure it will be great. 

 

David-  I love hearing updates on your football and all of the fun things that you are doing.  Tell mom to send lots of pictures of your football and things.  I loved your school picture.  I can't wait to show it off to everyone :) 

 

I was ecstatic to see a letter from Chase and the Cluff boys!  That seriously was the best birthday present ever!  Thank you for all of the things in the package.  I'm grateful for the necklace that Grandpa and Grandma sent me as well.  It's going to be perfect!  I can't wait to write everyone back.

 

I'll be sending Christmas presents during this next transfer sometime.  Mom is the only one who can open these boxes and wrap the gifts.  Mom's will already be partially wrapped so she wont know what she is getting.  I hope you all like what I'll send. 

 

I got a letter from Brad and Ashley about baby Henry!!!!!! I'm soo excited for them!

 

I loved that they sang Love at Home for one of the Conference numbers.  It just made me smile :)

 

And last but not least I hope you all know that I love you with all my heart.  Sometimes my letters may be dull or not very good but I really do want you to know that even the times that I'm a dumb big sister I love you and miss you more than you know.  I can't believe how fast time has flown and I'll be home before you know it.  I love you all and can't wait to hear all about your fun weekend. 

 

All my love from down under,

Sister Shayne

 

I believe in Christ, so come what may!‏

Hey there!

 

Well there hasn't been a whole heap that has happened in the last 4 days.  I'll start with a bunch of random things about serving a mission or that I've learned about Australia.

 

1.  While listening to a slight anti-American talk we got on the topic of gun control.  In Australia only cops and farmers are allowed to own or carry a gun.  The cops were just recently allowed to because bad people were figuring out how to get guns so the cops have them now to protect and enforce the law.  Farmers are allowed to have them to fight off extra kangaroos that invade their farms and for excess rabbits that multiply at too fast of a rate to get rid of them otherwise.  That is something I never thought I would ever hear.

2. When you drive a car as a missionary you are allotted a certain amount of kilometers a month.  If you are about to run out you end up using your bikes a lot more.  We try to keep a pretty good balance throughout the month so that we stay in shape and have plenty of ks at the end of the month.  It's been weird to think in the mindset of watching our ks instead of having to worry about paying for petrol (gas). 

3. Finishing a pen is like a major accomplishment.  When a pen finally runs out of ink and I have to toss it out I always feel like I've been busy. 

4. Teaching people from other countries makes your English super fresh.  You leave appointments speaking to your companion like, "I really happy."  It really makes us laugh. 

 

On the topic of people from other countries, we went over on Tuesday to visit with Sadaf and Monia.  When we walked in we went in their room and they had all of their stuff packed like they were going for a holiday.  We asked them what was happening and Monia said, "We're moving."  We asked when and they said that their friend was on their way to come pick them up.  We asked where they were moving to and explained that we would send missionaries to their new home.  It was all really confusing and we know that we didn't get to talk to them like we would have liked to.  We ended up calling them on Friday to get the address of their new home.  They had originally told us that they were moving to Armendale.  When we told our Relief Society President, Sister Michelle Dunlop, that she instantly started calling sisters in the ward to see if any of them could house these 2 wonderful girls so that they could stay in our ward.  When we called them they were able to give us their address.  We used the address to figure out what area they were in and made a few phone calls to reach the missionaries there.  We finally go a hold of Elder Cook and told him that we have 2 recent converts that he needs to take care of.  He asked us about them so we gave him their entire background story.  When I finished talking about them all he said was, "This is amazing."  I asked what and he told us that in their ward they are baptizing soo many Persian people that every Friday night they have 'Persian Night' at the chapel so that the recent converts can get together and other members can come to get to know them and strengthen them. That made me want to cry tears of joy and then he said, "Wait it gets better! We also have a normal English gospel principles class and then Ben (one of their recent converts of about 7 months) teaches a Persian speaking gospel principles class so that they can learn the basics of the gospel in their own language!"  How cool is that?!  God always knows what He is doing.  We might not know why things happen but He always has something bigger and better up His sleeve.

 

On Sunday I was reviewing our numbers and goals for this week.  It's been a really hard week.  We haven't had much success in finding new people to teach and the people that we do have to teach either weren't home or were busy and couldn't find time to have a lesson.  I got really down right before church and had kind of hardened my heart trying to think about how we could have improved our week and what we can change for next week.  I was frustrated over little things.  Testimony meeting was exactly what I needed.  There were testimonies born that just moved me.  I haven't felt that kind of power in a meeting for a long while.  Our closing hymn was, I believe in Christ.  I listened to the words but didn't think too much about it.  Then in Relief Society we had a lesson based around Joel 2:25 "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten".  It was a really good lesson.  I was fasting that I would be more humble and that I would regain the faith in my finding.  That I might be able to continue the great work that we've done in this area.  We closed RS by singing I believe in Christ again.  This time the line, "I believe in Christ, so come what may." hit me like a ton of bricks.  I went home and read across Mosiah 4:11-12.  I've never seen answers from fasting come so immediately before.  

 

The Lord knows that there is a mighty work to do down here and He knows that I can do it.  I'm grateful for the times that I get down because I bounce back with more enthusiasm for the work and a more determination to make it happen.  I love this work.  I love being here in Australia.  I'm so incredibly excited to hear General Conference this weekend.  It's weird to think it's already happened.  I can't believe it's been a year since the age drop.  I love seeing mom's blog every week.  Dad good job on the marathon!  It sounds like everyone had a really good year this year.  Soph it's always a joy to talk to you every week.  Josh I loved the pictures from your birthday!  Looks like it was a blast!  David way to score 2 touchdowns this week!  That's awesome.  Ben go get em this week in your game.  It's a bummer that you didn't get to play this week but I know that you will do great when you play on Saturday.  I hope you all are doing awesome.  I love and miss you all! :)  Have and awesome week! 

 

Much love, 

Sister Beckstrand 

Family letter :)

Fam!

 

Here's a little bit for each of you this week :)

 

Dad-  I wish you the best of luck at the Marathon this weekend!  Enjoy that run.  I'm learning what it means to enjoy the journey out here even when it's hard.  That mentality is more powerful than anything.  Also something fun from this last week.  Australia just had their footy final which is basically their Superbowl.  I felt really lost having members and nonmembers talking about a sport that I knew nothing about.  Sister Kennar always talked to them about it and all I commented with was, "I only miss one Superbowl being on my mission."  Most people just rolled their eyes like I know mom just did.  Maybe the Cowboys will win it this year :)

 

Mom- I got your letter.  That massive pot of pasta was shared with the Elders.  We told them we would make dinner one of the first weeks we were in this area so we held to our promise.  I'm trying really hard to be cautious of what I eat, how much I eat, and how effective I am with my 30 mins every morning for exercise.  I added the picture that I for some dumb reason didn't add last week.  I'm really working on it.  I can't believe Sister Hunter is Zack's sister!  I never thought I would see him again.   That made my day to read that.  I was glad to hear that PV and Westlake are doing well in football.  Coach Vince would be an awesome head coach!  His team is lucky.  I also need Grandma and Grandpa Beckstrand's address.  I have a letter for them but don't have their address. 

 

Soph- How is pep band!? I loved pep band.  Did everyone paint their faces for Homecoming?  It's a dumb tradition that I hope the trombones at least carried on.  Do you get to play at the marathon? I still haven't gotten your letters from girls camp and whatnot.  I think they are lost in the mail somewhere.  There was a letter from Megan that I didnt' get for like 2 months for some random reason.  Hopefully they show up soon.  Also I was talking to Sister Kennar about how excited I was to be home for your first school dance and she wants to see pictures from my dances from Sr year.  Will you send me some?  I'm jealous that you go to ride on the firetruck for the Homecoming parade.  I always had to march it. 

 

Josh- Congrats on moving up to teacher!  I'm always so proud of you :)  I hope your birthday was great and that your ankle heals soon.  I have a favor to ask you.  I get General Conference a week after you so after you go to Priesthood session I want you to email me all about your favorite talks so I can print them off on Monday and read them during the week to prepare for conference :) Deal?

 

Ben and David-  I loved hearing mom's story about you boys getting to fill the boot for the firemen! That is probably one of my favorite things to do.  I'm glad that you got to do it for me :)  Keep practicing your pull-ups, ninja training at Taye and Kai's, and sit-ups and you will both be stronger than Josh in no time ;)  Just teasin Squash!

 

 

 

I hope you all are doing well.  Life in Australia is wonderful.  It's finally starting to warm up.  It was supposed to be 30 degrees today.  I love the sun.  Not having a warm sun for over a year is really kind of sad.  I'm glad it's finally coming out here.  Missionary work is the best!  Keep up the FHE, scripture studies, and family prayers and I know that you 4 are going to be better missionaries than I will ever become.  I love you all :)

 

All my love,

Sister Shayne

September to Remember‏

 

 

 

Hey everyone!

 

Another week has come and gone and I don' know where the time went.  I should probably start off by explaining why I am writing to you on Thursday instead of Monday this week.  Well back at the beginning of September we set some pretty incredible goals for our mission.  Our Standard of Excellence goal is to have each of the 5 zones have 5 baptisms a month.  That hasn't been accomplished in our mission since February of 2012.  It was about time that we met our standard.  We had about 40 baptismal dates set for the next 2 months and we really anchored our faith and got to work.  We wanted it to be a "September to Remember". Clever right? Well we smashed our goal with 28 baptism this last month.  That is more baptisms in a month in the history of this mission!  President was so pleased that he talked to the Temple President and worked out that we could change our pday to Thursday (instead of Monday which it was going to be because Monday was the Queen's Birthday and a holiday where all the libraries are closed.) and we could be blessed with doing a temple session!  Yes this morning I was able to go to the temple and be part of the 9:30am temple session.  I cried when we found out.

 

The new temple video is amazing!  I was just drawn to the whole story.  I have that story basically memorized word for word but this time I actually felt that what was being said had meaning and purpose behind it.  I don't know how much I can share so I'll leave it at that.  It was incredible.  I have never felt more comfortable than I did sitting in the Celestial room looking at the perfect beauty of the temple.  I didn't want to leave.  There is such a special spirit at the house of the God.  I encourage all who haven't been for a while to go, those who aren't worthy for whatever reason to put yourself in line utilize the beautiful gift of the atonement and get back there, and for those who aren't even members of this church, talk to a missionary.  There is no better place to be on this earth that in one of the temples of the Church of Jesus-Chris of Latter-day Saints.  Just walking on the temple  grounds in peace and quiet could be enough to help you with the smallest and simplest worry you may have.  I want to be able to go with all of you to the temple when I return so start where you stand and never mind the past. It's time to go to the temple. 

 

 

 

 

Last Saturday we had the beautiful baptism of Saba :)  We had the service at 10am and it was just perfect.  That weekend there was a YSA convention going on so Saba's fellowship was able to take to those activities and then also be there for her baptism.  It was amazing to see the love and support that was there for her and Masoud, the Elders investigator that was also baptized.  Sister Kennar voluntold (not volunteer, told) me that we were singing a musical number for Saba's baptism.  I disagreed because our companionship study opening hymns are never very good but she insisted and two Sundays ago Saba came up to me after Relief Society and said, "I'm so happy that yous are going to sing for my baptism!"  I looked at Sister Kennar as she smiled and snuck out the door where I couldn't get to her.  That was that.  We practiced all week long and the night before we called up the other Sister's in our district and our Zone Leaders and asked if they would sing with us.  They agreed and it actually sounded really nice.  We sang I am a Child of God and Sister Manu and Sister Kennar added a harmony bit to the last verse that really made it sound good :)  Jesse Pappas our Ward Mission Leader bought a cake for refreshments because it was Saba's birthday as well.  It was just the perfect everything.  I feel soo blessed to have been a part of it. 

 

 

Those were definitely the highlights of this last almost 2 weeks. We've had a lot of awesome training on effective ways to tract that we have been trying to implement into our finding this week.  It works for some it doesn't for others.  That's the definition of tracting though.  This work moves so much more quickly when we have members involved.  President has started these "Member Lesson Xtreme" lessons.  Where we go teach a doctrine to members, have them bare their testimonies, and ask them who they know that needs to hear that testimony or who could be strengthened by that principle of the gospel.  We've just started these MLXs but I really think they are going to have a mighty effect on the hearts of the members in our ward.  These members will feel a finding fire like they never have before.  This work isn't possible without the help of members and we are really trying to help them realize that.  If you have missionaries in your ward, go out with them, trust them with your friends, invite them over to teach your family.  It will bless you and bless them.  I'm grateful for the wonderful members that we have in our ward.  This work is great :)  I love being a part of it.  I thank God every day that He lets me be a part of this marvelous work. 

I hope and pray you are all doing well.

All my love,

Sister Shayne