Email 7-22-11 Leaving the MTC

Well its comin. My time to finally leave this place.  I can't even describe how excited I am, but at the same time I can't describe how scared I am.  I have been here for 9 weeks.  Thank goodness I didn't have to stay much longer.  But I have grown so much here both spiritually and physically.  I have grown to love my Savior as I do my best friend, because you know what? He is our best friend.  He did all those things for us because he loves us.  Why wouldn't you want a best friend like that? Someone who was willing to do anything for you, even to die and suffer for you.  I have grown so much in appreciation for those that are serving now in different countries and here in the US.  Here in the MTC we are taught to love everyone, to glory in the accomplishments of others and to give our glory and praise to God for our success.  In a world where the younger generation is brought up on pride and self satisfaction it has been a struggle for some of the elders here to learn humility.  I myself have had trials with learning to love everyone and to give all my praise to God for my accomplishments.  It was hard because for so long in track and in school and in life if you got anything done you would feel so proud in yourself and in your own capability.  But here its different.  We all have to learn that humilty and to give praise to our God.  Alma 26:12....." I do not boast of my own strength but in the strength of my God."  I now give glory to God for all the things I have accomplished here and for all that he has allowed me to learn.  Spanish is still progressing, my teaching is become progressingly better, my testimony is becoming stronger.  And for this I give thanks to the Lord for giving me the determination, the strength, and the pacience to "keep moving forward".

 

Elder Marple and I have been called to play in another devotional.  I am so excited to have this amazing opportunity again.  We have grown to appreciate the music that is in our lives so much.  Its awesome to see how silly we get when we start talking about the music that we have created to help people feel the spirit through music.  Also Elder Varney and I have done well here in the MTC.  We had 5 investigators in all and three will have been baptized this saturday.  Even though they are simply our teachers acting as the investigators that they have taught on their missions I feel that I have grown to love this person.  To be a part of their life and to want them to be sincerely happy.  I am grateful the learning experiences that I have had here in the MTC with learning to teach and become closer to my Savior and all those others that I love.

 

This week there has been an experience in our district.  One of the sisters in our group Hermana Lao has been struggling because she has had to have surgery on her knee.  The doctors told her that they would have to move back her departure date because the rehab needed to be complete before she could be cleared.  This sister was amazing.  She said that there was no way that she would be leaving after we did. That she was going to be leaving with us... her district (she is tongan) :D

SHE BROKE RECORDS.  The doctors say that they have never seen someone recover from this surgury that fast. Truly you could see the blessings of the Lord being showered upon her.

 

 Everything was going great until yesterday when sweet, strong Hermana Lao found out that her mom has brain cancer and that she won't be living for much longer.  How could this happen.  When Hermana Lao was doing all that she could to be the successfull missionary her family wanted her to be and now this happens. She told us that she had talked with her father about what was going on.  She said that when she spoke that she told him that she wanted to go home to be with her mom for that little precious time that she had left in this life.  When her mom got on the other line of the phone and Hermana Loa could hear her strong mothers voice saying "Don't you dare come back, until the work is done. Don't you dare come back."  Hermana Lao was crushed.  Why would her mom say this? With tears streaming down her face she told us of the testimony that she had gained here.  That what she had been teaching to the fake investigators was more than just lessons.  What we are teaching is real.  The plan of salvation is a plan of happiness where all the children of men can be with their families for eternity with God. There wasn't a dry eye among us. We gave her a blessing as a district last night and as she was walking out of the room I couldn't help but think to myself of all the events that had been happening the last 2 hours.  What would I do if that had happened to me? Would I want to go home? Would I be able to have the same attitude as Hermana Lao?

I still don't have those answers for myself, but ever since then I have been pondering on the words her mother spoke to her and the same words I'm sure my mother would speak to me as well as any other person who loved me. "Don't you dare come back, until the work is done. Don't you dare come back."  This is a story that some have only been able to hear about; but I feel that I have come to experience it first hand.  I love Hermana Lao with all my heart and I feel her loss as my own.  My thoughts are with her and with any of you that are having struggles at this time.

 

I just want to bear my testimony about His work.  We are all called to be missionaries.  Yes, some have already served honorable missions as a missionary with a badge and all.  Others have served missions as mothers in bringing up great children and teaching them the ways of the gospel. I know it sounds a little rough but I can hear my Father in Heaven speaking words to me about my entire life being as a mission saying "Don't come back until your work is done"  We are continual missionaries in our lives.  My time as a missionary now is to the people of Paraguay.  And I will go and I will not come back until my work is done because now I realized that my work and the Lords work is the same.  I will not come back until the Lord's work is done.  I hope that after my mission I will be able to live this missionary life as well, because I will not stop my missionary life until every phase of missionary work has been completed.  We must all strive for the welfare of every soul.  Because every soul is great in the sight of God.  Oh, and how great shall be your joy if you bring save it be one soul unto God,  and how great shall be your joy with that soul in the Kingdom of God.  I challenge you all to figure out what is your missionary calling now.  And as you do this God will give you the strength, patience to bring to pass all things.  I love you all and am so thankful for your love and support.  I wish the spirit of the Lord upon you in all things and that you can be guided in your daily activity.

 

Yo amo a mi familia, para siempre

-Elder Beatty

Changing Address

Friends and Family,
Presten will leave the MTC on July 25th.  If you would like to continue to write to him (which he would really love), just go to www.dearelder.com  and follow instructions for pouch mail.  Presten is in the Paraguay, Asuncion Mission.  The pouch system is problably the most reliable way for him to get mail.  Thank you all; for your love and support to Presten.

Email 7-15-11

Wow! What another crazy crazy week that has come and flown by like a storm in Hurricane.  It seems like just yesterday that I was writing another letter and email to all my family and friends.  Things are going great here in the MTC(as usual).  The language is still going good.  I guess still the only trouble I have is remembering words.  I guess I should have payed better attention in high school spanish when memorizing words like mariposa (butterfly) hehehe  No, but I really have come to love spanish.  The only really frustrating thing is when I can't remember a specific word that I wanna use.  One thing that has been awesome with me in learning the language is that you really have to learn to dumb it down.  I mean not dumb it down but make it simpler.  Not only for your sake but for the sake of your investigator.  One thing I have realized is that your going to be teaching people who have never even heard about multiple things that are taught about in the 1,2,3, lessons.  Its all so natural for us because we have been growing up with it our whole lives.  One challenge I have for you is try actually teaching about prophets and dispensations and apostacy to a person who has no idea what a prohpet is or what a dispensation is or an apostacy.  Its really helped me in getting to know more actual history and doctrine of the church and I have only come to love it even more every time I learn something new. 

 

This week I got released from the Zone leader position.  Sad I know, but its ok; they just wanted some other elders to get into the leadership positions and get the experience but I'm glad I still got released because now I can really focus on the language and preparing for the people of Paraguay.  Its awesome because everynight I always pray that the people of Paraguay will be prepared to hear my message.  And I begin to feel that somewhere in another country there is a person who is going to feel the spirit from my message and have a desire to be baptized.  There are people out there right now that the Lord has been preparing for years to hear the gospel and all I need to do is go and clap on their doorstep (this is what they do instead of ringing doorbells because most homes don't have front doors) and give them what they have been looking for. 

 

Lessons have all gone super well this week.  Except for one day when my brain was just not in the lesson or in the Spanish.  I just finally started laughing and my companion and the teacher just looked at me and gave me the crazy eye.  The teacher gave us a break and let us come back.  It was funny but I'm sure glad it didn't happen with a real investigator.  Elder Varney and I have 3 investigators with baptism dates and 2 are very very close.  Its great to see how teaching different investigators allow you to change your teaching styles to best fit the situation at hand.  We have really done well I think but I'm glad I made the mistakes I have made because they have helped me to grow and rely not in myself but in the Lord and his power to do all things.

 

This week as I have been reflecting on the spiritual experiences I have had, I can't help but reflect to the song "I believe in Christ".  Elder Marple and I usually are always humming or singing hymns in spanish and it can be quite a fun experience especially when we get to make up our own words because we forget what the spanish words say.  But in english whenever we sing that song, in a devotional and in class; I always have a great feeling of love and peace come over me.  I will share some of the lyrics with you, hopefully I don't slaughter them.  "I BELIEVE IN CHRIST"....  Oh baby you better believe I do.  I can't wait to get others to have the same faith I do in the capabilities of our savior and all that he does for us.  "SO COME WHAT MAY"....  These lyrics just get me reflecting on the trials I have not only had here in the mtc but every time in my life when I have felt so insignificant to all my trials and problems.  There was always someone who knew my feelings and my sorrows.  Someone who knew me. "AND THOUGH I STRIVE THROUGH GRIEF AND PAIN, HIS VOICE IS HEARD YE SHALL OBTAIN."...... This is my favorite part of the song, when it becomes all large and grand.  Its because through the love of God and Jesus Christ, through our faith no matter what we strive to accomplish through grief and pain.  When we have faith that through the power of God we can accomplish all things, His voice shall ring out in our whole soul and body, that ye shall obtain. 

 

Another song that has really got me reflecting on how blessed I am, is the song off the Prince of Egypt when all the people of Moses are leaving Egypt and they are saying...

"There can be miracles if you believe, though hope is frail, its hard to kill,

Who knows what miracles you can acheive, when you believe, somehow you will, you will when you believe."

 

The Lord has brought to pass so many miracles in our day.  He parted a whole red sea.  Just take a minute and image what it must have been like to see that.  Can you see the power of God in the faith that Moses had to save his people.  We can all have that faith.  We live in miracles now though.  Just the blessing of having the opportunity to live here in a country where we can serve our God with all our heart might, mind and strenght is a miracle that some people have not yet come to see in other countries.  The blessing that we all have to go out every day and to have the spirit with us and to lead and guide is our daily activities.  That is a miracle.  The whole gospel of Jesus Christ is a church and gospel of miracles.  We don't have to do some grand act of power to have completed a miracle.  We only need to simply live our lives that way we know we should. 

 

I know that the Lord is in our lives and that without him we are nothing.  We have all been placed in this time for a reason.  Some have figured out that specific reasons and others have not.  Its all part of the plan and everything happens for a reason.  I know that my Savior loves me.  He suffered undescribable agony that none of us will ever be able to experience and never have to experience thanks that the love of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the way to God.  We all have problems and trials but we can be free, because of the knowledge that we have been blessed to have.  I know that through the Savior Jesus Christ we can all have love for our fellow man.  And as we try to possess charity, the pure love of Christ, towards all people we will find blessings beyond compare.  I love you all and am thankful for your support in love and knowledge in the gospel.  You all have the talents and gifts needed to bring people unto Christ with the same love and gifts that he used to bring all people unto him.  I wish you all the love of the Lord to be with you and your families this day and for always.  There can never be enough love.  We all have those times when we need love the most, but those are the times when we should be giving others all the love that we posess.  I want you all to know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  He has given us the path, the way, and the leaders, all we have to do is lose our pride and give everything we have to him, and surrender our will to the Lord.  I can promise you that as you turn your heart from pride and that as you make your will the will of Lord, you will have happiness beyond compare in your life as I am only now beginning to understand as I lose myself in the work.  I hope that if you have read this that you have a desire to turn towards God and his plan for you.  I truly love you all as I love my Lord and am thankful for your love and support.  I wish you all the best of luck in all things

 

Yo amo mi familia mucho, para siempre

-Elder Beatty

Email 7-8-11

Well hello again all of you living in the outside world of which I have so quickly forgotten.  Its been crazy because the first few weeks we were in here in the MTC we were trying so hard to stress being set apart from the rest of the world, its crazy to think that now its hard even for me to remember the words the my favorite song before while I can now so easily recall the words to almost every hymn we have sung here or the words of the first vision or my purpose.  I think it just goes to show that we are here for a purpose and as we begin to lose ourselves in the work we can see that it doesn't matter what our favorite song was or how much of an athlete or into music or school we were before because, now, here, engaged in the Lord's work, we are equal.  We are united in purpose in posessing the same characteristics as our brother and Savior Jesus Christ in trying to bring the souls of men unto remembrance of their God.  And ohhhhh how I love it.

 

Elder Marple and I finally got to play in the huge mission conference that we had wanted to play in so bad.  I was so nervous when we were getting ready to get up and play.  My hands started sweating really bad.  There were over 2,500 missionaries there.  I was scared that as I was playing I would look up and see myself on the big screen playing.  so I  just looked at my hands the whole time.  It turned out awesome.  As I sat their waiting for the sound to die out in the room and the quiet still had its grasp on the missionaries, I could feel the echo of the sound in my whole body as if the Spirit was testifying to me that I had done well.  That the song we had played was the truth.  That we truly had a prophet here on this earth now and forever.  And if we do truly show our thanks and listen to the words of the prophets our lives would be blessed.  It was awesome to be blessed to have the opportunity to play and bring the spirit into that specific meeting.  I hope that I get another chance to do the same.  To use my small gift of music to help other people come close to the Lord and to feel the Spirit.

 

Well this week has actually been pretty crazy.  Our original progressing investigator is actually on vacation so Elder Varney and I thought that we would actually get a break from teaching but nope.  We got 4 new progressing investigators this week.  Holy crap...........  Its crazy because we don't really have a ton of time to actually prepare for each investigator individually.  But thats a good thing.  It has taught me faith in the Holy Ghost and how it can influence a lesson even if I haven't had alot of time to prepare.  If I have studied the subject sometime before the class.  Even if I don't really remember the scripture reference or the exact example, the spirit somehow testifies to me of the truth of what I'm saying and helps me find that words I need to express what I need to express in my own words.  Truly being a missionary is all about having faith and opening your mouth.

 

Anyway.... our investigators are doing well.  We have 2 with a BAPTISMAL DATE.....  BOOM ASADO!!!!!! I'm so freaking excited but we still have to help them learn so much in so little time.  Hopefully we have taught them the value of learning the truth by the Spirit so that they themselves won't have trouble looking for their own answers in the BOM.  I think the hardest part of the lessons to talk about so far would have to be the end of the 2nd lesson when we talk about the Spirit world and Kingdoms of Glory.  Sometimes its just so hard for other people to swallow because its so different and new.  Definitely there is probably a language barrier but I guess I will continue to try my best and teach with the spirit so that my investigators can be influenced and feel it testifying to them.

 

We had a really legit devotional this week by a member of the Quorum of the 70.  I think his name was Elder Kofford.  But anyway it was great because he talked about 2 things that are really important to missionary work.  He really stressed also that it isn't something new, but it was something that we all knew was right in our hearts and as we gained a new appreciation for it we could gain a stronger testimony.  1st he talked about obedience.  He said that we needed as missionaries to want to be obedient not for others, not for ourselves, but for God.  We needed to want to be a obedient like we have a thirst or hunger.  He said that if we have this testimony of obedience that we would be able to tackle any problem and that we could also bring the spirit into any situation.  The 2nd point was about the Holy Ghost.  He talked about the influence of the Holy Ghost and how we need to take advantage of it.  He said that we shouldn't be traveling in groups of 2 but groups of 3. Me, my companion, and the spirit.  The last thing we talked about the Holy Ghost was giving thanks to the Holy Ghost.  This was totally new to me.  I don't know if I wanna admit this but I have never actually thought about expressing my love and appreciation for the holy spirit and its influence on my life.  I have expressed my love to the Lord and Savior countless times but never to the Holy Spirit.  And I agreed that the Holy Spirit should be thanked.  He hasn't received a body.  He may have made a sacrifice for all others to not have a body and to the influence of the Lord on the earth.  I would challenge all of you who read this to take some time in your prayers to thank the Holy Spirit and the good influence that he has on your day.

 

As my time here in the MTC rapidly comes to a close I have contemplated the growth that I have had here in the MTC.  Its amazing.  Simply to start off with.  Before coming into the MTC I couldn't even speak spanish, but now I can easily give a 45 minute lesson with minor troubles.  Before I came here I struggled to read my scriptures every day, but now I long for those moments when I can simply sit and search for truths that lie in the scriptures.  Before I beleived in helping others simply to help others, but now I feel a love for others a desire to help every single person I come in contact with not only with their physical trials but with their own spiritual Journey to God.  I know with my whole soul and being that this gospel is totally about love.  Our Lord created this earth out of love so that we would have the same opportunity to have a body, to live with the same blessings that He had received.  Out of love He sent prophets to guide us on the path of righteousness.  Out of love He created a plan that through the atonement and the love of Jesus Christ we could live forever clean of all our sins, afflicions, and pains.  This Gospel is love.  I love all of you for your desire to be close to the lord in choosing to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I know that the love I have can be a tool in the hands of Lord.  As we all strive and continue to have the Gospel in our minds and Love in our hearts we will all be able to bring others close to God and that we can stand in front of him while he is on his judgement seat as his hand is reaching down to us saying "Well done thou great and faithful servant".  We can be surrounded by the love of God and Jesus Christ wherever we go.  We all have that choice to follow the Savior's example and love all people in all places and in all times.  And I can promise you that as you have love in your hearts and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your mind, body and soul, that God will bless you and your families forever.  I thank you all again for your love and for your example.  I love you all and hope the spirit and love the lord is with you always.

Yo amo todas las personas aqui en la tierra

-Elder Beatty

Email 7-1-11

WElllllll hello all and welcome to my email.  I surely hope as I go through what I have been doing this past week that you feel good inside and that you can somehow find in your heart to write a missionary about your life and how its going.  If there has been one thing I have learned here in the MTC that letters sure do make ones day. 

 

 We have one Elder here, Elder Edwards.  his story is amazing.  He started investigating the church when he was about 17 years old. He decided that he finally wanted to be baptized.  His parents wouldn't let him be baptized until he was 18 and then if he was baptized he couldn't live in their house anymore.  He was baptized in May of his senior year of school.  After that he had to live on his own and pay for his house and everything.  He has such a strong testimony but it saddens me when every day all the elders in our district recieve multiple letters and he just sits there pondering on the gospel while receiving none.  No support from his parents.  Only from his past girlfriend and from his bishop.  I have truly come to understand through his example what it means to stay motivated here on the mission.  Its about having so much love for God and for Jesus Christ that you are going to go out and serve a mission for them.  Not for your family, not for your friends, not for you, FOR GOD AND JESUS CHRIST.  I have that testimony now, that as long as I stay focused to the purpose of my mission, I will never care how many letters I recieve (that doesn't mean stop sending them) I appreciate all the support and love that you show me by sending me mail and reading my emails because it goes to show that you care.

 

AHHHH finally the time has come.  Elder Marple and I got today an invitation to play this Sunday in the Mission Conference Devotional in front of 2600 missionaries.  I'm so excited but nervous at the same time.  I hope some of you have had a chance to listen to the email my mom got with the arrangement of "God be with you till we meet again".  It was very nice from what I hear.  I guess just my biggest hope is that Elder Marple and I can bring the spirit into the meeting to allow the speaker to know and discern what is going to help us as missionaries most.  We have been arranging other songs as well.  We have definately considered getting together after our missions and writing a "For the Strength of Youth" album.  I think it would be alot of fun, besides creating opportunities for us after.  It has been a great opportunity to bring the joy of music into the lives of the people here in the MTC.

 

I got a haircut today.  WOWOWOW I thought that my haircut was short before I came, you should see it now.  It is pretty much the shortest haircut I have ever recieved in my life.  Yes, even shorter than the haircuts from TOM's clip joint.  But i'm liking the short hair for now.  But don't think for a second mom that I will keep it this way, I have been debating whether or not to grow my hair super long after the mission.  I think I would look good with long hair and a perm.   hahahah I always did want curls.

 

AHHH Spanish is going well.  Its a little frustrating when we sit down in class and we don't learn much spanish anymore.  We talk about how to be effective missionaries and what is going to help us best out in the field to teach the people.  Don't get me wrong, I love that stuff.  I love learning to be a missionary.  But I still get plenty scared when we started to have to teach only in spanish and I still didn't know about all the grammer rules and what was best to say.  I sure am growing though.  I really hope that I can just get the accent down.  That is probably going to be the hardest part that I will have when I hit the field.  I sound true blue American.  Just a funny little tidbit.  I thought it would be pretty cool if I took that Guarani (that is the language most people in Paraguay speak) dictionary and wrote my testimony out in that language so that I could share it in my email or on a letter.  I opened up the book and WOW.  That has to be one of the most confusing languages I have ever seen.  The pronunciacions are all weird sounding and nazally.  I thought it was fun though to look up some words and how they sounded.   I can't wait to get down there and get emerged in spanish.  It is going to help me grow so much, not only because I will need to humble myself to learn but also so that I can come closer to my companion who is going to train me.

 

Things have been going well here in the MTC.  I have finally been able to control myself when it comes to eating.  I have lost 13 pounds so far since coming in.  I guess its better than gaining pounds because I can probably guess that its not muscle weight.  Things with Elder Varny have been going good as well.  He has hit a spot in the language where he struggles alot to understand all the words that everyone is saying.  Its hard to help him because when I correct him to help him, he gets really mad.  I hope he can learn that I'm not trying to correct him to make him sound stupid I'm trying to help  him become better. 

 

Things as zone leader have been going very well.  We have been keeping busy because we had a huge bunch of missionaries come in last week, a group of 24 which is huge.  and we have another group of 10 coming in this week.  Its good to get out of class sometimes to have to help the missinaries but it sure makes me stressed when I miss the lessons and the Spanish.

 

The biggest thing that I have gotten out of this week would have to be out of one of the lessons that our teacher gave us.  We were talking about how much we can do in our calling.  How much effect we can have on people.  We started talking about the sons of Mosiah, about Ammon, and Alma.  All those people were not only prophets,  they were missionaries.  They would go around and baptize whole cities.  Thousands of people can be turned to the gospel in a matter of days in the BOM.  Its crazy to think that it was even possible.  But you know what... it is.....  I have that same power now.  If i can teach with the authority and power of the Holy Ghost I could bring people unto christ in a matter of days.  If they feel that spirit testify of how the things i'm saying is the truth and if the people yeild to the promptings of the spirit, the capability is there.  I know it is.  Every day I come in to class at 7 in the morning and have to ask myself what am I doing here.  I'm getting only an average of 3 hours of sleep a night.  My investigator doesn't understand the truth of what I'm saying.  My companion and I don't see eye to eye.  I can't seem to focus in class because I'm just so tired.  I ask myself these things and I immediately see the answer why.  HOW much did Christ suffer on the cross?  HOW much did He suffer in the garden?  Not only did He suffer for our sins, He suffered for our pains, our sickness, our feelings of sorrow and everything.  He literally knows how I feel this very instant.  After this thought comes into my head I think...... If Jesus did that much for me, I know that I can do what little I can now to be able to be the best missionary that I can be in the field.  All of those times that I think everything is so hard.  Its not.  I know that through the atonement of Christ and through the power of God I can do anything.... ANYTHING...... Some missionaires don't comprehend that one simple truth.  I pray for all of you to feel the power and mercy of Jesus Christ in your life.  I challenge all of you to come closer to Christ and as you do you can feel His support and love for you.  I love you all and hope you all are successfull in all your problems and trials.  The love of the Savior is real and you can feal His support and love forever.

 

I love you all so much

-Elder Beatty