Hurricane Season

Hey all!!

As you've heard, Irma is on it's way. We have had many mighty prayers over here in the FFLM hoping it won't come our way. We know that God is watching out for us so if it does hit, we will be safe. We have evacuation plans as far as what chapel to meet at and President Garns has everything under control. If we don't get hit straight on there will still be a big storm nonetheless. If it does hit there will be a surge and we will start looking a little like Texas. They have been in our prayers as we have been praying for our own safety. So as far as Hurricane Irma goes, we will all be safe and you'll hear from me again.

This week was fun! We saw a lot of progress in our less actives. It is really hard to find YSA especially when they are spread as thin as they are here in Hialeah. So we have been working a lot with less actives and have seen the blessings. We had 3 come to institute on Thursday and one of them we hadn't even talked to about institute so it just goes to show that God is good. This weekend Sister Bingham wasn't feeling well so she spent the weekend at the President's home so I was in a trio with Sister Murdock and Sister Diamond who was Sister Bingham's trainer. They are the other comp in our house and they are so awesome. It was fun. They serve in the Spanish ward so I didn't understand a single thing on Sunday but the spirit was still just as strong. President Garns came to the YSA ward we went to 6 hours of church on Sunday. It was a party.

Our miracle for the week comes from the temple president himself. I don't remember if I mentioned this or not but two weeks ago we got a call from President Garns who had just gotten off the phone with the temple president who said there was a young woman who just stopped by the temple because she loved the good feeling she had driving past and wanted to find out why. So she went in. Well we texted her to see if we could meet with her and we waited and waited and waited. And waited. And she finally texted us on Sunday asking if we could meet her at the temple Monday morning at 10:30 to learn more. We were ecstatic!! So yesterday I went to the temple for the first time here. We met Mary and got to teach her more about our church. She is Catholic but was so open to our message and just soaked it all in. After answering questions for an hour and teaching the restoration we went inside in the waiting room to say a prayer. She said she has felt God's love before and was so excited to learn more. We have a chapel tour with her this Saturday as long as Irma doesn't come so we've been praying. 

That's it as far as Spirituality for the week. I had my first Croqueta this week. It is kind of like a pancake puppy but has like minced meat inside. The one I had was ham and it was so good! I also tried a trigo shake. Trigo means wheat in Spanish and their shakes are what they grow up on in the Latin culture. It was a lot sweater than I thought it would be and way good. I also had Gator! Our less active took us out to dinner. He said they taste different depending on how they were raised. If it's fishy, they were wild. If it tastes like chicken, they came from a farm. The ones we had were kind of fishy and it was soo good. Definitely would recommend it if you ever get the chance. 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week and it was so nice to just strengthen and solidify that testimony I already have. I learned so many new things and I am so excited to find people that are ready to hear what we have to say so they can know what I know. I love this work. I love the people of South Florida. I appreciate all your prayers, especially for Irma. We have been prepping like crazy the past couple days and the rest is up to the Lord. I love you and hope all is well!

All my love,

Sister Beckstrand

p.s.  Before I forget! If Irma doesn't come, we get to go to the temple next Friday which means we wont have p-day on Monday, it will be Friday. So if you don't hear from me Monday, that's why. If you don't hear from me Friday, I will for sure be on the next Monday.

Pictures for the week.

1: This is Sister Murdock and Sister Diamond

2: We made some s'mores cause it was a rainy night and it was needed

3: Sister Diamond eating a s'more. (Mum, please find her mum and send her this pic)

4: This is what I did while at the Spanish Ward cause I didn't understand anyone.

My Florida Sunshine for the week is the TEMPLE!
We got to teach our lesson here and then take some pictures. It is soo beautiful.