First Week in Missouri

Dear Family,

Well the first week in the field has been going pretty good so far! My companion/trainer Elder Sager is nice (a bit quiet like me, which does make communication a problem, but nice) and he is the District Leader, so that has been an interesting experience.  We also live in a member couple's home and they are really nice.

This week has been pretty cool as a have met the people that are working with the missionaries, and people that are recent converts, and their stories have been awesome to hear and learn about. One investigator we have, Crystal, has been amazing because she gave up both smoking and coffee before I came, and has a baptismal date set for the 22nd of this month (August)! She really has a testimony that what she is doing is the right thing and that the gospel is true!

I have really seen the hand of our Heavenly Father working out here, and it has been awesome (though a bit humid) and it has been a great experience that I am glad I got to become a part of. I can't wait to see what else is to come. Also, I have somehow lost 5 lbs... I'm not sure how, but I guess that is what going from giant meals every day, to 2 eggs for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and the only decent sized meal being dinner from the members does to you.

Love,

Elder Beelek

MTC Week 2

Dear Family,

Things are Awesome, and thanks for all you guys have been doing! The packages have been arriving and the Lemonheads have been great! I feel ready to go out and preach the Gospel to the world and to help those who don't know about it to come closer unto Christ! Though one thing that is kind of upsetting is that I wont be able to even walk into the grass because one of the sisters going to our mission told us about a bug called a chigger which bites you just for walking into the grass. Not fun. 

Thanks for the blog! I was able to pull it up on the MTC computers and it looks pretty awesome! I cant wait to give you guys some material to put on it, but right now I'm afraid I can't give you any MTC pictures, because of some error with the computers here where they wont read Nikon cameras when they are plugged in (checked with some of the other Elders with Nikons and they are having the same problem). 

I will be able to call from the airport on my way to Missouri but the only time window I can give you is sometime between 4-7am.  Sorry to be so vague but we find out our final travel plans later.  I am travel Elder so I am responsible for making sure everyone gets there and no one gets lost.

The MTC has been great but I am ready to get going!

Love,

Elder Beelek

MTC

Dear Family,

Well the MTC has been awesome, and I am so happy to be here, the spirit has really blessed my life as I have felt it these past few days. My companion, Elder Hunt, (who I will hopefully be sending a picture of soon, I just need to wait for a camera cord from one of the Elders in my District who also has a Nikon) has been absolutely awesome, and I am so happy that the Lord placed me with him, he has been such a big help in my life as we go about our daily routine (though he is a bit more athletically oriented than me.) He loves movies though so we have been able to relate somewhat on that point, though I have a feeling the number of movies he has watched are vastly greater in number and mostly of a slightly different subject than the ones I watch... scratch that, I KNOW that they are different because he and the class clown of our district (Elder Smith) are constantly making references to them. But all in all, it has been great hanging out, and learning the gospel with them.

And so far, the entire District has been awesome, and it feels like I have known them forever, despite only knowing them since Wednesday. Though, that may be attributed to the fact that one day in the MTC feels like a small eternity when it's happening (don't get me wrong, they are all fun and it is awesome how strong the spirit is, but the days just drag on forever and ever, especially after dinner is over.) But we have been able to do so much, and we have already gone through some role playing investigations which have been awesome (it's were our teachers act as an investigator they taught on their mission, and are often still in touch with, so they will forward anything they feel that their investigator needs, that we taught, to their investigator.) and so far, we have felt great with one investigator, who the teacher actually let us have an intimidate return lesson with his investigator, Jordan, and we got to the point where we seriously offered him Baptism (he refused, but we feel in a few lessons we might get him to say yes, although sadly it wont be the real Jordan).

We also had an awesome first Sunday, we got to hear a talk form someone from the quorum of the 70, and he was really funny, and had an awesome talk, and is now my favorite of the 70 (Brother Allen) and we were able to see a talk by Elder Bednar that just blew me away (sadly you cant see it outside of the MTC, but for all of you my younger siblings who still have yet to go on a mission, when you get here, SEE THE TALK BY ELDER BEDNAR, LIKE WOW, AMAZING, and you can only see it here, so make sure you see that one your first film night on Sunday.) 

Love,

Elder Michael Beelek

Testing One Two Three

Hey!

I'm on a mission!