Life is very fragile, that is something that I have learned here

Sierra Leone is very different from the rest of Africa. Its quite a unique country.  Its actually insane, but we cope, its amusing. If you showed up right now and took a look around you would think every thing here is crazy. There is no structure or rules. Its just a free for all!

Occasionally we have some really good sacrament meetings but most are just planned last minute. We did have the best district conference I have been to. It was the first time I felt the spirit in a church meeting, if that tells you how the sacrament meetings are. 

Mom, to answer your question about the Relief Society women here, occasionally you see women who apply all of the purposes of RS, but for the most part not really. What I have learned is that people should study the doctrine of the church, the people who read the Book of Mormon understand all of that stuff. The church is new here, but its really not an excuse, the people just don't understand everything. So no, there isn't any visiting teaching going on yet. This branch and the past branches haven't really had great leadership, but we are working on it and improving. 

Wholly molly! I got the packages. So much stuff! Its like I have America in a package. I wont need one for a while but letters are really appreciated! Thank you so much for the pictures and all the fun stuff. Thank you to the Gold's and Sister T for all the great stuff in the package. I will write you guys a letter soon. My companion loves everything too! 

An average day for us starts at 6:30 am.  We prepare and study from 8-10am, then we spend the whole day proselytizing until 6 pm (because there are no street lights here ). Then we eat, plan, and sleep. 

Pretty much the people here just try to survive for the day. Most children go to school, but that doesn't mean they learn much. Most people here have food to eat and most people share their food. If we walk down the street, 4 or so people will invite us to eat with them. The biggest challenge for the people here is living the gospel and everyone is after money. Almost everything that happens here is for rice so they can eat. But they do need a good education. This place needs a lot of things, but small small the gospel will change them. 

For our monthly allotment we go to a bank to pick up our subsistence. There is no such thing as credit cards here. There is really no such thing as credit. I'm  really never in need of money because there is not much to buy here, at least in the east side. The country is very different as you travel. I don't know how some other places are, but this place is pretty deprived. 

I take a good amount of pictures and I will send an SD card home with a returning missionary, and he can mail it to you. I don't trust the internet cafe computers here.

I was sick earlier this week. I had a fever and flu symptoms so I couldn't go out one day, but I am good now. We had a sweet district conference on how to "Hasten the Work" and how to retain the members. I was impressed with the speakers gospel knowledge. I have a better hope for the people here now. 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week. Its so sweet! I'm already starting to re-read it. Back home I disliked reading and now I love it, as long as it affects me in a good way. The Book of Mormon has strengthened my testimony so much, especially in Jesus Christ. It really clarifies the bible and strengthens people. I really love it. I will try to finish it again before your seminary class :)

We had a super p-day and we watched the Prince of Egypt. Its really good, I remember watching it when I was little. 

Life is very fragile, that is something that I have learned here. 

I'll see you soon!

PS - Thank you dad for all you do for the family.

I am enjoying this crazy demanding opportunity as much as possible

So great to hear about Connor (his good friend who just received his call to the England, Manchester mission)! And Wholly Molly.. that is insane to hear about Baylor (a cousin who is serving in Peru and was in a car accident which rolled 3 times and he and his companion were completely fine even though another person in the car had died). 

 The best part of my week was working, although not much progress in this area, but we are going out and looking for the people who are ready for us. The hardest part really is finding people that will comprehend the message that we have. Most people don't have good educations. Its amazing to me that some people who graduate from the "highschool" here can hardly speak English but there are a select few that are great and as the gospel comes it will get better. I have really just noticed how unorganized and unplanned everything is, but thats why we are here, to clean it up with the gospel!   Its a good thing we have companions, so we can talk about stuff during the day instead of getting distracted with all the problems we face.

The people here have muscles you have never seen before. You can see every muscle in their body. Thats what it means to be "jacked".

Welp, Brad moving to Hawaii?! At least when I get back I will be with Brad in Hawaii. You can see us on Facebook I guess or come visit us! 

That's great to hear about Jana going to spring training in AZ. I saw someone with an Angels shirt on the other day. 

Dang, dang... Zac went 10 feet at his first meet?  That's what I got at my first meet when I started as a Junior. He's going to be a really good pole vaulter! Kushe Zac for clearing 10 feet!

I got a few packages today. Two from you, one that you sent with Ruth and one from Sue. I haven't gotten to look in them yet, they were delivered right before I left the apartment. Thank you so much!

We live a few hours from the mission office, so Ruth Ostler went home before I could get the things to her to take back to you, sorry. I will send the pictures home with an Elder who is going home soon.

If you look in the February Ensign, there is a talk by Richard G. Scott that talks about how we get direction and meaning in our lives. When I read it I felt the spirit witness to me so much that it was true. Everyone in the family should read it. If that was my one wish, it would be to have the family read that article (click  here to read/listen to it. Cody's wish family....so don't skip it!!)

 I really am learning and growing, you may not even recognize me when I come home :) I am enjoying this crazy demanding opportunity as much as possible.

Thank you for all you do for me!

I will see you soon...

Elder Beckett

"This is Africa"

Good Afternoon Mom,

Wow seminary sounds so sweet. I want to join your class just to learn more. What age are you teaching again? Its pretty crazy some of the changes you see in people here, and I am sure all over the world.

The rice sickness has past, but these days I am not eating it all that often, because it is really unhealthy, and I want to get back in shape. I haven't met Ruth Ostler, I don't know if I will, but I am sure I will get whatever you sent me. Whoa you sent 4? Thats a lot! Packages are expensive, so you don't have to send them too often but if you love me that much its not bad :) If you do get the sd card, you can just put it in your camera or you can ask the Golds how, they know.

Family history is something that doesn't quite exist here yet. Sierra Leone is some how stuck in the 1830's. They are still using make shift hand carts and mixing mud and cement, with an addition of power occasionally and phone and cars. So family history is a little bit harder here, but the district here is doing a temple trip to Ghana in April, so they are collecting names. I miss the temple so much, I want to come back here when they get a temple. Save some family history for me!

THE AREA

Elder Bogh and I have been doing really good in our area. We are having to do a lot of finding, we are looking for serious investigators. My favorite people to teach are old men, because they are wise and they are sensible and for some reason more educated than the rest of the country. These old men usually take a while longer to convert, but thats okay because they stay once they are there. We have a miracle investigator, his name is Emanuel. He is 24 and he was so excited to meet LDS missionaries. He has been waiting for years to meet us. He has read the Bible 3 times and is going to be the next bishop in Wellington! He has been to church twice and on his second visit he was teaching the elders quorum about the priesthood. He seems to know more than most of the members. Its really amazing how people can be prepared for the gospel. I gave the CTR rings that Aunt Pam sent to me to the primary, they loved them! Its probably the nicest ring they will ever have. The city is unorganized and has lots of hills. There is lots of dust thrown in the air from motorcycles and everything is congested. This area is not like you would imagine Africa. There isn't really any bushes in this area and limited greenery. 

THIS IS AFRICA

Its funny, people will actually tell me "This is Africa" when I learn something new or I see something as strange. All the South Africans don't like it when people here say that, because there home is very different, in most cases, more like home in America. Something I noticed this week that has been a trend since I have been here is that all the investigators who accept the gospel and are serious are people who live in quiet areas or are more secluded from the world. Everything here is loud, the music, the streets, and the peoples voices. Most people don't have time to even feel the spirit. Nothing is planned here, but the people who do seem organized seem to accept the gospel. So I have seen, those who are in the world but not of the world are more prepared and can feel the spirit more. This place has a lot of work to be done. We go do um small small! I have decided that Ugandan's are my favorite people here in Africa. I have met a few of them serving here and they are the nicest, funniest, most sincere people I have ever met but everyone is great here.

ME

I am doing great! I run every morning, because I am trying to get rid of my rice gut, and its quite an adventure running here. We mostly worry about  dogs when we run, but grandmas dog tazzer works great!

 I'm always learning and having a great time. I always think of you guys back home and my friends on missions and what everyone is doing when I am laying in bed sweating to sleep. Its going really fast. Welp that's all about me.

I love you.... I'll be home soon.

Elder  Beckett

One of the big reasons I came on a mission was because I knew that my life would be greatly affected by it!

Well Hello,

I have a lot of experiences here in Salone. I don't really tell you all of them because they aren't that great to dwell on. Its actually not an easy mission to be in because you see so much suffering. It's a good thing we have companions to talk with and laugh with otherwise you would just be sucked into sadness. So, I don't tell you most things for your sakes :) and you will never truly understand what its like here until you come. 

Hot yoga? I have heard of that. If you came here and did yoga it would be the same thing! Elder Bogh and I are trying to get in shape. Rice is basically like a poison, and I am tired of eating it, so we are going to try to eat other stuff, I don't know what really. We are running every morning which is really great. We decided to stop running on the median of the road and found a road to run on that is a little more safe. It's pretty hard to stay healthy here. Most people here are not healthy. You find lots of over weight people who have high blood pressure and other random problems. They essentially eat oil and carbs.

Wow, Landon is home (a friend who just returned from his mission in South Africa)! hahah I can imagine how he talks. Wow, to surf and to eat Pedro's -  I bet it was great (Randy and Landon went surfing and to Pedro's day after he was home)!  All I ask is that you send me a Pedro's sticker. I can't even imagine going home, that would be so strange. So sweet to hear about Connor Lee (another friend who just sent in his mission papers and waiting to find out where he will be going)!! Elder Bogh has 6 months till he will go home so I might send my SD card with pictures home soon with the Ostler's daughter.  

Wow, that is really sweet, yeah there are a few things that you could send to me that would be great!  Pres. Ostler, Cody's mission presidents daughter is a friend to one of our friends and his daughter is going to Sierra Leone this week and offered to take items to Cody so this is what he has requested:

1. Pictures of whatever is going on at home recently and a memory card for my camera because I will be sending mine home.

2. Letters

3.  Chocolate 

4.  Another journal

5. Music

6. Vitamins

7. Gillet Fusion razor blades

8. Anything else you want me to enjoy :)

I received a letter from Sister T. It was one she sent me 3 months ago, I finally got it. I loved all the pictures inside. I got the package from Aunt Pam. The chocolate is what kept me alive this week. The seasonings will really come in handy, I will definitely use them. The Nuetella is glorious, I put it on all of my pancakes every morning. The hot chocolate is also great, I have enjoyed this week! Thank you!

So this week was like waking up from a 5 hour nap, all sweaty and glorious. Elder Bogh and I have been on fire. We have found the coolest poeple and have taught the coolest lessons. I am loving Elder Bogh.

If you read Doctrine & Covenants 4:4  "For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul" ... you see that he that thrusts in his sickle with his might gains his own salvation. I have seen that on my mission, even just on the 6 months that I have been here. I couldn't even imagine what my life would be like if I didn't come. I have been listening to a talk by Gordon B Hinckley about "Switch Points" in our lives (you can click here to read or listen to), and how the choices we make lead our lives down certain paths. The small and big choices that we make in our lives have a great affect on who we become. One of the big reasons I came on a mission was because I knew that my life would be greatly affected by it, and it was the best thing for me.. now that I'm here I have learned so much and really have come to love the gospel of Jesus Christ. A mission is so great!

That's all folks!
Elder Beckett

The work is what makes me happy!

Picture from his "super p-day at Bureh Beach two weeks ago. It's blurry but we'll take it!! Cody is back row, right, fourth person in. His companion Elder Bogh is top row left, fifth Elder in. 

Hello, how is everyone? I'm guessing that eveything is still the same. Not to many exciting things happened this week. We have been working with a lot of members to help fellowship the investigators that we have and it is really working. I received Elder Bogh today. Elder Appiah has been transfered. Elder Bogh is from Redlands California, so not too far away from home. I am glad to have Elder Bogh although missionary work is a little bit harder with two white poeple, but not bad. I still have the district leader as a companion which is still sweet because I like going on exchanges.

To answer your questions, I got the hymn book and I really love it, I wrote grandma a letter to thank her. Haha... when you send a package, all the food is gone within a week, except for the Famous Amos, I have kept those because they are really good. Yeah, I will get those sandals made for you and Jana. I can't send anything home unless I send it with a missionary who is going home. There is no mail system here, well... there is only one post office in the whole country, but its in the West of Freetown.

So the best part of my week was working with this man named Lance. Lance got baptized the first week that I came into this area. He is really strong. He gets a lot of opposition from his family. His family only feeds him once a week, they no longer pay for his schooling or his transportation and sometimes they wont open the door to the house at night to let him in but he still comes. Even on Sunday the family took his white shirt so he couldn't come to church, but he came anyway dressed in casual clothes. He is always ready to go with us to teach and is already preparing to go on a mission. He is reading Preach My Gospel already. I was talking with Lance last night and I was listening to some music with him. I remembered that I had the music from that movie Blood Diamond, so I played it to him. There are three songs on that track that have Sierra Leone indigenous languages in them. He translated them for me and it was really sweet. All the music that you hear around here is fast and really loud pop but I guess that the people in the countryside make more "cultural" music. Lance has taught me a lot about the history of this place and I have really enjoyed it.

We will also have one woman baptized this week and she will also be really strong.

The work is what makes me happy and we are working pretty good. If I wasn't on a mission here, I dont really know what I would do here.

All in all I'm good!

Elder Beckett

I have just been realizing some sweet things!

Hello Mother,

I don't have much to say about this week other than it went really fast. Mostly because we have been working hard. I'm realizing how short my mission is. I will be out 6 months this transfer. Transfer news is coming soon and I'm most positive that I will be staying and my companion will be leaving.The area is growing and we are working hard. We have some good investigators who are very serious about the gospel. One investigator named Aminata is really liking it even though all her fellow work mates give her a hard time about it, she still comes and knows she is going to something that will help her. This area has a lot of people that are against the church. 

So once every three months or so you just get so tired of eating rice that when you force it down your throat it makes you feel sick, and that usually lasts for about a week. This rice sickness hit me this week so instead of eating full plates of rice I have only been eating half or quarter plates. So it was a really a great thing to get two packages, one from you and one from grandma grandpa and uncle Brent. Your package was really awesome! The elders in the apartment and I really enjoyed the talks that you sent and  I'm really enjoying the Famous Amos cookies, the Bell family cook book and the Richins family cook book. Because of the area that I'm in I can really only cook a few desserts, but when I get in an area with a super market it will be better. Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Brent... thank you for the oatmeal, the letters, treats and the shirt! You really saved me this week. Jana the sweets and the letter were awesome. I loved the Chicklets! I got letters from dad, Rushton Hiltbrand and the priest quorum. Thank you... you guys are really supporting me. Oh and I don't need AA batteries but AAA. Thank you for all the notes and the family card, ... that made the package!

That's sweet, I can't wait to see the river house. (The following comment  from him is a response he had after I shared the following in my email to him this week. " So this week was filled with lots of shopping, shopping and shopping for the river house. We have been doing a big make over and it's looking super great. Sister Gardner and I have been doing most of the decorating and several times we got laughing at ourselves when we were shopping b/c we would be trying to find matching decorations or bed pillows and paint, etc and think about you in Africa dealing with 3rd world problems and we would say geez ... the people in Africa would laugh at our 1st world problems!! Helps me put things in perspective...We are a blessed nation for sure!" )The people here are always looking for money, that is the first thing on there minds really so if they had money they would be doing the same, but yeah, it's not that easy to live here.

What? ..the Sequoia is going??  What are you going to drive the whole family in? Is the Lexus fast? Send me pictures of Zac pole vaulting.

We have been studying the Atonement this week and have just been realizing some sweet things. Without the Atonement what is baptism? The sacrament? The temple? This life? The priesthood? I have come to see that the Atonement is necessary in the gospel. Once people here better understand the Atonement they will better under stand the gospel.

Welp that's all folks!

Elder Beckett

I learn everyday!

This week has been really great, we have been really working hard, although on Thursday I did get the flu, I am better now. I borrowed some John Bytheway talks that got me through the day. My companion is still a district leader and because of that I go on many exchanges. Friday I went on an exchange with Elder Mongalo from South Africa, that was a good time. 

Today our zone went to Bureh Beach again and enjoyed ourselves. We played futbal and frisbee and ate. Of course people were surfing again. I talked with some of the guys I met last time and met someone from San Jose, California. This guy is traveling from London to Cape town on a motorcycle, all the way down Africa. He is surfing all the way down. He's a really sweet guy! He has enjoyed Bureh Beach so much that he has stayed there for 3 weeks.

Bureh Beach, Sierra Leone

Some members of the Bureh Beach Surf club

When we are working hard I am feeling good and this week we really have been working hard. We have really been sticking to the basics and it is paying off. We have particularly been focusing on God and who he is and what he does. Everyone here thinks God is a spirit, even some of the church members. The longer I'm here the better I'm understanding the people here. Back home I know the missionaries get rejected and get told crappy things. I have found out that people say those same things here, but not to our face. Except for one investigator we have, she is giving us a hard time. She has decided that all churches are Christ church and you can worship anyway. She is convinced that this is Joseph Smith's church or something. So really this mission is a lot like every other mission, once you get past the language and the culture.

Mom can you send some AAA batteries and a nice frisbee. Does anyone want a shirt made for them? I can have them made, you just wont get them for a long while. Mom and Jana if you take a pair of sandals and measure the bottom of them and send me the measurements, I can get some sweet sandals for you.

I am getting pretty tired of eating rice but hey, almost a quarter of the way till I can have some In- n -Out! 

Wow, Zac is taking finals. I'm glad I'm not in high school anymore! Send my greetings to grandpa, Uncle Verlin and Joel for their birthday's this week. 

Oh water problems ... we have water problems here also, only on certain days can people get water from the faucets. 

I learn everyday and have found that there is no perfect missionary and that we can all work on something. God really does love us, I try to look for the blessings everyday, I always try to imagine what prayers are answered throughout my day.  The plan of salvation is my favorite gospel topic, because you can always learn more and its the most amazing thing I have ever really knew to be true.  I have realized that there is so  much we need to do in this life to go back to God but that is why we have missionary work.

Alright talk to you next week ....

love , me