G'day family!
I'm
so glad to hear that you all made it up to Lehi for Easter. I love
going to Grandpa's for the traditional Easter egg hunts. Last year we
colored eggs in Spokane. Here in WA all of the eggs are brown so the
color doesn't work the same. We still have our coloring pack though and
will give it a try after we buy more eggs.
This has been great week for us here in Golden Bay. We honored
Good Friday with a Zone Conference. We talked heaps about moving our
recent converts from baptism to the temple to do baptisms for their
ancestors. Sister Tomaki and I were able to jump on to familysearch.org
and we found her grandparents and great-grandparents on her fathers
side. I was incredible exciting! President has given us permission this
transfer only to go to the family history center at the Stake Center to
find a family name for ourselves to take to the temple. I'm so
excited. I haven't been able to go to the temple since about last
August so I'm excited that we will be going soon. It was an emotional
meeting from the beginning. President showed a slideshow of all the
missionaries and their converts for this year so far. We have had 84
baptisms this year so far! We are on tract to reaching our goal of 300
for the year. That is more than 100 more than we have ever reached
before. As we cleanse ourselves and keep a determined focus on the
Lord's will and how He can use us to preform His works then we are only
going to see more and more miracles. There were a lot of pictures of
missionaries who have left for home this year. A few that brought tears
to a lot of our eyes were the ones of Elder Rigby and Elder Boynton.
Sister Lindsay talked about how these elders have returned home but their
recent converts are our recent converts and how in this church we take
care of each other. At the end of our conference President Lindsay read
us an email from Conner Boynton it said that he had just gotten back
from the specialist in London who after running a whole bunch of tests
have decided that they will have him undergo surgery to remove the
cancer and then he will only go through one round of radiation. He was
grateful that he wouldn't have to have chemotherapy. We were so excited
to hear good news. He is still constantly in our prayers that the
procedure and recovery go well.
There have been a couple of random things that have strengthened my testimony this week.
#1 -
I've had these random headaches. Don't worry they are nothing crazy
but enough that I'll grab a Penadol and be fine. The other night I got
one just as I was laying down to go to sleep. I couldn't help but think
about how grateful I am that I was raised in a home where the
priesthood was always readily available. It's weird not having the
priesthood in the flat. I'm grateful for worthy elders that serve
around us and can help us when we need it. My testimony was
strengthened and rooted deeper within me knowing that I won't settle
with not having a worthy priesthood holder in my own home some day.
#2 - I read John 10:40-42 this week and it struck my heart. I read,
"40: And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first
baptized; and there he abode. 41: And many resorted unto him, and said,
John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were
true.
42: And many believed on him there."
Easter was incredibly special this year. Our ward put on a stake
devotional. Sister Tomaki and I were privileged to sing in the choir.
There were musical numbers and speaking parts through the whole
program. You hear the testimonies of disciples, Mary the mother of
Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Judean citizens who were healed by His hand and
some who were part of the miracles of feeding the 5,000, were able to
hear the sermon on the mount, and many others. There wasn't a dry eye
in the congregation. The spirit was so strong. There is no denying
that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn't a Christian
church. To that I share Gary J. Coleman's testimony http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101417650001.
Jesus Christ is the head of this Church. I know that with every fiber
of my being. This is the only true and living church on the earth. I'm
so grateful to be a part of it. I know that God hears and answers our
prayers. I felt that yesterday and I was praying my little heart out
that we could see a miracle and bring another soul closer to Christ. As
we were driving along I felt the strongest impression to go visit a
part member family that we haven't been able to catch in a long time. I
followed that prompting and turned to go to their home. Miracle number 1,
they were home. Miracle 2, we shared a message. Miracle 3, mum wants to
come back but has needed the drive and support. Miracle 4, dad has
questions and needs the lessons over again to solidify the testimony he
barely gained years ago when he was baptized. Miracle 5, the 9 year old
daughter accepted the invitation to be baptized and we set the date for
the 31st of May! They are going to come back! We have a lesson with
them on Saturday and I couldn't be happier. I said so many prayers of
gratitude that I can't even count. I love being able to feel the spirit
and see the blessings that come to others as we act upon the spirit. I
love being a missionary. I love this gospel with all my heart. I love
you all and hope you are all well. Keep up all of the amazing things
you do.
Much love,
Sister Shayne
Picture #1 In honor of Easter we bought hot cross buns. These were filled with Nutella :)
I had been thinking about the work
that I am a part of right now and how nothing I do is a miracle. I'm
part of miracles in others lives and I get to see the gospel blesses the
lives of so many but this isn't my work. It's the Lords. I was
touched when I read that John did no miracles. I would say being worthy
to baptize the Lord to fulfill all righteousness is a miracle and a
major blessing but the scripture came off to me as John preached the
gospel. That is was he did. He taught and testified and through the
spirit others believed. It is the same as the work that each and
everyone of us do today. I love being a part of this work. So many
prophets have testified that there is no better work that we can do in
our life and I definitely add my testimony to that.
Sister Shayne
Pic #2 Emma and Caitlin moved back to the states this week. We miss them heaps!
Pic #3 Another beautiful sunset.
This is our family tree :) This is at one of the parks in our neighborhood. I think it is amazing.
These are my favorite little birds. They are everywhere!
Sister
Tomaki was really hungry the other night. She made herself some sandwiches. 3 to be exact and yes she finished them all.
This is Elder Maughan as one of Christ's disciples at the Easter Devotional. We had to take a picture.
Quick story:
I finish getting dressed one morning and am
out pouring myself a bowl of cereal when Sister Tomaki comes out of her
room and shows me her leg. No tears, to screaming, just calm as a
cucumber says, "Um Sister Beckstrand can you help me?" I ran to my room
and grabbed my super big and wonderful first aide kit that you bring on
a mission when your mum is a nurse and you are certified in first
aide. We cleaned it up as you can see in the picture and then bandaged
her up. She is one tough cookie! I felt a lot like mum though. Sister
Tomaki just laughed at me when I said, "I'll bandage it up but let me
take a picture first." :) It was a fun little adventure before
personal study. She basically had just got her leg caught in something
at the flat and figured if it went in one way it should come out the
same way but that wasn't the case. It just tore all the skin off that
was in the way. Lesson learned.
(That's my girl!)-Penny
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