Oh Happy Day!!!

Last Friday, the doorbell rang, so I answered it.  The lady standing at the door said, "You don't know me but I'm Patti Maxwell, I live in North Carolina and I know your son!!!"  Oh my goodness!  It was so kind and thoughtful for Sister Maxwell to stop by the house!  Her parents actually live just down the street from our Stake Center.  So we HAD to take some pics.
I am amazed at the blessings and tender mercies and angels that Heavenly Father sends us!  Thank you! Thank you Thank you!!  She even fit in her luggage some much needed clothes (another crash) and a Valentine's goody bag for Elder Beach.  Thank You Thank You Thank You ever so much Sister Maxwell!  You will always be in our hearts!!!

Dex was in his car about to drive away, luckily Sister Maxwell stopped him!

Thankfully she loves pooches!

E-Mail from Elder Beach after seeing these pictures:
Yes, Sister Maxwell is awesome! She is pretty funny! Thank you! I need new slacks, bad. I need a new belt as well. haha.

Yes, I know I will be very sad as well when I have to transfer, because the members here are so fun! But it's okay! I'll continue to meet the wonderful people of North Carolina! Yeah that's #4 or 5[bike accident]. I don't remember... He [Elder Buckner] hasn't had a very bad crash here.

Well last Monday for preparation day we played basketball from 8:00-4:00! We played with the priests and some teachers in our ward and their friends, then we played with the other missionaries in our district.

Tuesday we had another lesson with Jessica and Trevor. It went great! Brother Meisner came along with us. We answered some of the questions she had and talked about the Book of Mormon more, then we watched "The Restoration" DVD. That also answered a lot of the questions she had.

Wednesday Nothing really happened. Just a lot of closed doors.

Thursday A whole lot of nothing really happened. I did vomit a few times, yes I was sick.

Friday We had Zone Conference. I was very sick in the middle of it and vomited...again.

I may or may not have fallen asleep during our break at Zone Conference

Saturday We visited a less active ward missionary.  Bro. Brame, It is very sad because the only thing holding him back from church is a ride.  He doesn't have enough gas money to pay for the ride all the way down to the church and back.  So we try to stop by and leave a spiritual message with him once a week.

Sunday, Had church, we taught Priest Quorum and kinda threw down on them about missionary work.  I told them with the new age change, serving a mission will come a lot quicker than they think, it sure did for me.  I told them how I regret not going to Sunday School and Seminary, and told them to take these things seriously.  It wasn't until I was out here that I figured out that these programs are here to help us!  They may be boring but it will help us in the end!  I let the things of the world get to me, like football, phones, etc. and because of that I didn't have an eye for the eternal things, the knowledge that I will gain of this Gospel and the friendships I will make at church.  So yeah, it was a pretty good lesson!  Had a lot of fun!

Today is going great! It's 65 degrees! It feels so great! Elder Buckner and I were just outside throwin’ the ball! But tomorrow it's supposed to snow... again! But I don't mind that because everyone goes crazy, so we will be "forced" to stay indoors.

That's all for now, I'll send some pictures now.

Love ya,

Elder Beach

Thought this was funny!  Saw it last night driving home from dinner. 

Elder Beach and Elder Buckner

Few and Far Between

We really haven't had a written letter or a "real" email from Elder Beach since before Christmas but I put together these snippets of quick communications we've had for the last month. Okay, putting this all together in one place, it's not so bad.  I am a very lucky and blessed Mom and so glad my son is right where he should be serving the Lord!

January 2014

January 6 - There is nothing to really talk about I was sick the whole week. Had to stay in the apartment. Pretty boring.

[after much prodding about what he did after we spoke to him on Christmas, he sent this...]

We spent it [Christmas] at the Anderson's, the Ward Mission Leader. We spent all day there playing games and eating. Then later that night we went over to the Johnson's for a while. Had a lot of fun there. New Year's Eve was pretty boring. We couldn't be out of the apartment after 6. Because people get a little crazy before going to the parties. It feels weird and kinda good to be able to say I go home next year! haha. But its still a long while. We were talking about how the people who just came here this last transfer (1 Week ago) won't be going home until 2016! :/ yikes. That just hurts to say haha. But um. That's kinda all. Nothing is really going on right now. Hopefully it will change soon though!

Another Day...

Mom, it's killing me. I wish SOOOO bad I could watch the Bronco's game tomorrow night. Everyone is saying that tomorrow night's game is pretty much the Superbowl.

I'm eating too much.  I can hardly do a pull up anymore!  I am eating so much that I am out of money.  You know how some missionaries surprise their family by coming home all super skinny and what not?

what if i do the opposite and just come back freakin’ fat as heck!?  I eat so much, even more than my Comp.  I run a 5K everyday.

This was the email we got for January 13th - "Just another hard week. of working hard and nothing happening."

January 20 - 

Brother Anderson told me last night! [about the Broncos going to the Superbowl!] Let's say I didn't get much sleep because I was soo excited. I was hoppin off the walls I was crazy. Keep it recorded for 19 more months ;) So this last few weeks have been pretty good. We have two baptismal dates with a single mother and her 16 year old son. Oh, uhh So I may need another new pair of slacks because I may or may not have crashed...again. and tore up my slacks and leg and hand.

I was going too fast, like usual :) and when I was going up a little incline, my pedal got caught on the incline and sent me flying, I almost hit my head again! but didn't. I almost flew head first into a big metal gate. It was awesome... Why am i so accident prone?

Uhh any color of slacks? I don't know. Dark color? Yeah good thing. I was actually thinking about if I was in James' mission. That would be rough to get stuff! Yes I got the package, loved the 17 points and the key chain! It was a complete miracle teaching the Single mother and her 16 year old son. They were a referral from the Spanish Elders who are teaching their next door neighbors. So we started teaching them on Tuesday night. We have a return appointment tomorrow night at 7:45! It was a very powerful first lesson with them. the Spanish and us taught them the Restoration. The spirit was so strong there. She started to tear up and to describe how she felt and we explained that is the Holy Spirit testifying to you that what we are talking to you about is true! It was an amazing first lesson with them! They both said they did feel the Spirit and would like to feel it every day. It was amazing! I cannot wait to see what tomorrow night will be like! I've got to go now. I love you! Be safe have a great week!
Elder Beach

I just got back from exchanges with our new District Leader earlier today. He has been out for 20 months and has two more transfers to go.

I asked him as a "greenie" if he has any tips coming from a "veteran". He said to live it up and to not worry about the small things. Don't stress about the little things, because most of the time it is the little things that gets the missionaries super stressed and therefore can't really work their 100%

Great advice!

yeah he is pretty awesome! Best District Leader I have had so far!

So yes, I will have a lot to say this Monday [he didn’t.]

It's hard seeing these amazing people go through such rough times.

Uhhh can you send me some Girl Scout Cookies?  I like Thin Mints and Tagalongs.

Someone told me that Hilary Duff is coming out with a new album again!?

You are going to have to buy the album for me!

We’ve kept Elder Beach up to date on the other kids his ages getting their mission calls and realized that Amanda Ayre, Kaitlin Reed and Sarah Taylor will all be entering the MTC in February, which means they’ll all be coming home in the same month!!  

Got bored one night didn't have anything to do...so got a good idea! (**WARNING  Mother Rant***Mom said, how about write us a letter if you are so bored?  He said they are only allowed to do that on Mondays... so DO IT on Mondays!!!)

Another thing we did when we really had nothing to do.