Thanksgiving

This week has been pretty rough, but I am glad we got some work done!  Last Wednesday I was really sick and for the rest of the week I could't do anything.  I was in bed for like three days with a high fever.  I'm not sure what it was, but my comp took care of me!  The first two days we worked and met our goals and then we had to stop, but on Sunday we did Chapel tours and those are a really easy way to get contacts and referrals. The air is cold here and it feels like Oregon, the thing I miss the most about home it getting together as a family and eating lots of food and playing some sort of game afterwards.  Those were my favorite memories back then! (see our cheesy video below)
Whenever I told someone that I was sick, they immediately gave me their recipe for a healing! And they were pretty weird!  This week my comp is Elder Gearig, because our companions went to Madrid, so he is someone you could pray for because he will need it!  I think that you can send me a package, but I would have to wait in import line on my p-day to pick it up and pay tariff so that it why we have everything sent to the mission office with "missionary supplies, not for resale" written on the outside.  We'll see.

How are your parents? I didn't see them in the video, it was so great to see all of you surrounded by Grandpa's cherry cheesecake!  We had Zone Conference last week and it was awesome, I loved it!
I love you guys and can't wait to FaceTime or Skype y'all, it doesn't matter!
Moroni

We went to a Indian Kebab  and ate food it was
really cheap but kind of sketchy  because the meat was rotisserie
chicken and lamb that is straight instead of horizontal but it was in
open air all day!

Moroni's only Christmas wish!

Elder Beal,

     I know Thanksgiving is just like every other day there in Spain, so you might have not even realized it came and went.  We made three silly videos to entertain you.  I love your video letters, it looks so pretty there, and the weather still seems nice. Malachi's favorite contained a water bottle, I did not post that one on your blog cause I don't want you to get in trouble, but it did make us all laugh to know not much has changed.

      You know how we always dedicate 5th Sundays to missionaries? It was so wonderful to get an update on each of you.  I will try to recall a little of each.  Jenna Schlosser is serving in Wisconsin, her parents moved to our ward while she was on her mission.  The mom said she looks and acts like the main red haired character on Brave.  I think she said she has been out just over a year.  Adam Huntsman comes home in two months.  His dad challenged him to work really hard, harder than the rest of his mission during the final three months and he would see miracles.  He is and shared one.  They had an appointment with a less active family.  When they rode up on there bikes it was obvious they were having a hard party and they felt like they needed to leave.  Adam felt impressed to go a different route home. As the were riding this new route home, a lady who was on the phone in her yard shouted out hello.  They smiled and waved and kept riding. Adam felt impressed to turn around and visit with her.  They did.  She said I am on the phone speaking to the sister missionaries at Temple Square, they said they would send you and here you are.  Needless to say she is progressing well. 

      Rick is a trainer again, he is now in Albuquerque, his first big city.  His companion has been real sick and so Rick is spending his days cleaning up the books.  When he cleaned up the books in his last area, they had over 400 contacts.  One guy was 80 years old with 12 kids and he is getting ready to be baptized and some of his children are starting to visit with the missionaries.  When they contacted him, he said I have this pamphlet from your church, I have been to a lot of churches but none of them felt like how this pamphlet makes me feel. Rick has just passed his year mark and feels like he needs more time to get it all done.

       Gavin is on some island I can't recall in the Philippines, says being obedient to every rule is the hardest part, but he is trying.  Loves the place and people.  Ate a two foot worm that this man harvested from a log deep in the water, which scared Lisa to death as there is no doctors there but Gavin said I'm okay mom.  He is a trainer now as well and thought the look on his companions face was priceless every time this family kept offering him more chicken heads and feet.

        Donavaghn is in the deep remote parts of the country now and says there are swine and wild pigs everywhere.  He wore a big hole in his shoes but just kept wearing them without telling anyone.  It was getting pretty bad and he was trying to figure out how to fix them when they tracked into a guy who repairs shoes.  He says they are better than new now.

       Eric is really startled by the amount of people in West Australia who simply don't care if there is a God or not.  He says it is a real tough mission but when they find someone whose heart is softened and ready to let the spirit teach them it is amazing!

       Brother Ogle's daughter just left for the MTC last week.  She is headed to Brazil.  They were able to see her off. 

       Dad got up and shared about you teaching in the park in Madrid, where you are now, your shrimp and rice dish and most importantly the powerful impact you have on your brothers. Malachi has figured out to the day how long before he can serve like you.  Dad shared how grateful he was that you were able to influence your older brother to pray.  

      All is well here, I am going out with the sisters to meet less active families and I think they are so wonderful. I want to help support our ward missionaries, but I never have any friends who are interested in the gospel so it is difficult.  I hope that you do not feel discouragement and that your ward members are sustaining you and Elder Howard.  I am glad to hear you are being fed good lunches and get along so well.  I want to send something directly to you so it doesn't perish.  Is that an option?  I need your address if that is a possibility.  I can still mail your main Christmas small package to the mission home, but I am concerned about this one going bad if it doesn't go straight to you.  I would like to mail it tomorrow so let me know!  

             We called Karlita on her birthday and sang to her from you.  She is really looking forward to visiting with you at Christmastime.  Do we FaceTime or Skype? And you are 9 hours ahead of us so what time do we visit? It is just a couple of weeks away!  Collin comes home on Tuesday and Sariah is giggly as a little schoolgirl.  She is also nervous because she really feels like she is supposed to serve a mission.  

       I am glad you are meeting  25 contacts each day, that is a great goal.  It is a good thing you are in good shape to walk a lot.  What other goals do you guys have?  Do you have a set of Spanish scriptures? Do you need some? Is there a family you are working with that we should be praying for?

     Dad and I are really proud of you and hope you continue to look for the best in people and keep up the hard work.  We love you!!!!!

J'Taime Toujours,

Mom

ps. the most important questions to answer from this letter are:

1. Who / what can we pray for?

2. Can I mail a little package straight to you tomorrow?

      If yes, what is your address?

pps. Tell Elder Howard we love him and will keep him in our prayers as well.

Love,

Mom

Video Letters :)

Elder Beal,

Hey son, I always love hearing from you!  I looked Vigo up on the internet and it looks amazing!  Please tell me more about the food, you mentioned it was different there.  What are you doing in the picture you sent that looks like your hand is in a bowl full of Taptatio? What is your companion's name? I hope the two of you get along well, I am certain you will make eternal friends. 

Tell me right away what you would like for Christmas.  I need to know!  Do I ship it to the mission home like they asked with you being so far away from there?

I love going out with our sister missionaries, it reminds me so much of you.  I took the girls to Portland last weekend for Time Out For Women & Girls.  We briefly stopped at the Portland temple for a quick photo-op and to share the beauty of it with Megan.

My ponderizing scripture this week is found in Words of Mormon 1:7, I love that Heavenly Father knows all things and he will prompt us for a wise purpose to accomplish his work and glory if we will just be obedient. 

Dad in Crescent City with Jeff

Sariah and Camilla both made Varsity Basketball and Nauvoo is playing on the Freshman team so it will be a busy season for these girls!  Sariah is applying to colleges but leaning towards serving a mission.  Lots of people are always asking about you, you are loved by many!

I love you and can't wait to see your pictures and read about your week! Here is one of dad for you.

J'taime Toujours,

Mom

Video Letters from Moroni

A fun reminder of dad!

VIGO, SPAIN

Elder Beal,
Thinking about you all day. Wondering how difficult it is for you to travel on the public system with all your luggage. Wondering how your first haircut by someone else went. Wondering about your new area and companion. Thinking about the people you will meet today as you travel who might strike up a conversation with you because of all your luggage and your bright eyes and loving smile. Also, thinking a lot about Christian and Aleesha with tomorrow being veteran's day. How you both are serving in different capacities in foreign lands. I love you! Have a fabulous day!
Love,
Mom                                       

Here is a picture of your brother.

Hola Buenos!
My week here in Vigo has been awesome and I love it here!
My comp is awesome he is a ZL and he is a great teacher! I love the people  here but the food is kind of weird! Last night we contacted 60 people and we put a bunch of pamphlets on a desk in front of the chapel we got a lot of referrals! Vigo is really pretty and I love the beach I am really close to Portugal! I wish you guys could see some of the things that I see! The members are awesome I have been fed every day for lunch but we never eat dinner because the lunch is so big! I love ya'll and I hope that you're safe! I'm having lots of fun and I can't wait to tell all you about my wonderful mission!
Love,
Moroni

I have no idea, looks like Tapatio initiation?

 Pictures of his Piso in Vigo, above.
Pictures of Vigo, below.

Paris Attack

Dear Parents,

We are saddened by the acts of violence perpetrated yesterday in Paris against innocent people, and are closely monitoring the situation.

We want you to know that all the missionaries in the Spain Madrid Mission are safe and accounted for. We are continuing to monitor the situation regularly. We are fortunate to have access to serveral news channels in the mission home so we can stay abreast of things.  Thes misison ahs an emergency plan, and we are taking this opportunity to review it and make sure that all of our missionaries know what they are to do in the case of an emergency.

We pray the Lord´s safety and blessings upon those affected by the awful attacks in Paris.

Sincerely,

President and Hermana Pack

 

Querido padres,

Estamos muy entristecidos por los hechos de violencia que se han cometido ayer en París en contra de personas inocentes y estamos monitoreando la situación cuidadosamente.

Queremos que usted sepa que todos los misioneros en la Misión España Madrid están bien. Seguiremos monitoreando la situación con regularidad. Somos bendecidos de tener acceso a algunos canales de noticias de televisión en la casa de la misión para que podamos enterarnos de los acontecimientos de tales situación. La misión tiene un plan de emergencia y estamos tomando esta oportunidad de revisarlo y asegurarnos de que todos los misioneros saben que hacer en caso de una emergencia.

Rogamos que las bendiciones del Señor estén sobre los afectado por estos ataques tan terribles en París.

Sinceramente,

President and Hermana Pack

Last day at CCM (MTC)

I have only been getting emails from Moroni on Thursdays, his prep day at the CCM, what is this in my inbox from him on a MONDAY?!

Hey Mom today is my last day at the ccm! I leave tomorrow at 7am and

that is when I find out where I am going! I am going to miss a lot of

things about the ccm! I get an Ipad tomorrow and I cant wait to take

pictures and send them! I met my mission president yesterday and he is

awesome! I am going to miss the Lovell's they are so loving and kind

and they have prepped me for the field! I hope that I go somewhere

cool! I love you guys! The Field is White and ready to Harvest! I love

it here and I love the people! A godly love my testimony is growing

especially about the Libre De Mormon~ I love sharing Gods gospel and

Testifying of Jesus Christ I love you guys and pray for y'all every

day -Moroni

Aahh, my heart flutters, he is moving on, I'll check back tomorrow to see where he went.  Oh no, I had to wait a week!

Elder Beal,
I love you so much! And I am so proud of you. You will love whichever place they send you to. Thank you for keeping the family in your prayers, you are always in ours! Enjoy your new companion, these friendships will last forever. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your new area and companion. Keep your chin up, I love you!
Mom

Feed My Sheep

Family,

I want you to find the talk by Elder Holland called feed my sheep I think that it is a MTC devotional or a conference talk! It is truly inspiring!

Love,

Moroni

( His letter is at the bottom of this entry.)

Click on this link Feed My Sheep if you would like to hear Elder Holland's talk.  His words are always so powerful and profound.

First Contact Slip :) !

So beautiful here.

Elder Beal,
I love that you can look right out your window and see the temple. I really should have a picture of one in each of the kids rooms. Of course it is okay with me if you did Grandfather's work in the temple. I spent a couple nights with grandmother recently and I look forward to doing their sealing work. I am so grateful for the knowledge that families are forever. Remember *** & ***** across the street? She died on Halloween. She went to the hospital a couple days prior for a common surgery and her body just kept shutting down. He called me at midnight after she passed and asked me the typical questions about life after death. My heart just hurt for him. He said he is not much for organized religion, but the Mormons always  made him feel something. I can't imagine losing loved ones with out the testimony that families are meant to be eternal.   I do know beyond a shadow of doubt that when we give our struggles up to the Savior, he will help us through. Sometimes he carries us, other times he strengthens our backs.
For the most part ours is doing well. Nauvoo  is still sweet, kind, and easy to love. Sariah has been studying really hard for the SAT test while playing basketball. Most importantly, she had the chance to go on splits with the sisters. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that we finally have sisters here!!! Tell the sisters in your training center that I love them! Camilla has such a heavy class load right now. I don't know how she keeps up. Malachi had his last games on Saturday till Spring anyway. He was one of just a few that scored the top on a quarter review test in his math class at the middle school, which is more amazing by the fact that he joined the class only a couple days prior to the test. Smarty pants:)
Dad and I escaped for a night with the Barber's so they could ride their motorcycles through a couple of ghosts towns. It was a fun silly thing to do on Halloween morning. I imagine you'll need a haircut soon if you haven't gotten one yet. I know dad is overdue. If I understand the program right, you just have one more week in the MTC. Do you know where you're headed to? We love you and are super proud of you.
J'taime Toujours,
Mom

Mom

I hope that *** is doing ok! Send the sister missionaries over there fast! I pray every day that all is well at home! the girls are going to be fine! I went through a long ruff patch and now I am here helping people through theirs! I am happy that y'all got a way for a trip! Tell my grandparents that I love them and I am looking forward to going to the temple with them when I return! I love you guys so much and I can't wait to see you during Christmas! Could you invite Karlita over!¿ I would Love that! I miss you guys a ton and I'm excited to do grandpas work! 

Love Moroni

Ghost town on Halloween

Birthday Wishes!

So many daily experiences remind me of you, and each one makes me realize that your really serving the Lord....I just can't imagine Heavenly Father doing anything else but cheering you on, cause that's what were doing.  I daily have you in my prayers and joy in the thought of you learning who the Savior truly is.  He is really the key to everything, everything leads back to him in some way, think about it.
     On another note, I took Malachi on an adventure ride this last weekend to Squaw lake.  The lake was about 5 feet down, while Applegate was almost empty,  bad drought this year.  Malachi caught 9 Bluegill and 1 Bass.  We hammocked and it got down to 39 degrees, but we didn't get cold.  Malachi misses his big brother a lot, I have to teach him things, but I just don't seem to be as good as you are with him.  I think that's why you were put together in our family.  We also hiked to the big foot trap, but big foot wasn't there.
     Work is the same, but life is really good.  Keep being obedient and fast for baptisms, the Lord will show you the way.  I love you, and hope you had a great Birthday.

Dad

Click here to see the video Brett sent Moroni:  Applegate fishing trip

Hey dad I'm bummed that I missed the trip but there will be more to come. Malachi is doing awesome and I WANT HIM TO USE MY FISHING STUFF and all the rest! I miss not being around you and being moved by your powerful spirit and wisdom. I love you dad! and I loved the video! Moroni

My buddy Elder Tullis sent me this. its from outside our class window!

Here are several pictures from the MTC:

Moroni's bed is top right, by the window.  We figured it out by his Karlita wall:)

Karlita wall :) + Sariah

Lovely view of the temple from dorm room at MTC.

I sent you a card but I might as well send you an email too!! Happy birthday!!! Can't believe you are all grown up!(: I pray this email finds you well and that you are thriving. Hopefully the language isn't coming along too hard and that you see the lords hand in your everyday life. I love you lots(:
Sariah

Sariah~I love you you and the rest of the fam so much and I cant wait to FaceTime y'all! and I am doing good!~Moroni

Elder Beal,
Today is a very important day in history for on this day you were born on Earth. You chose to follow our Heavenly Father's plan and you are still on that course of obedience. You were so eager to obey you came super early. You were the strongest baby in the NICU, really probably didn't even need to be there. One week later we came home and your journey in our family and through this test of mortality begun. I love you with all my heart and pray this day you might recognize the many gifts our Father in Heaven has blessed you with for they are more numerous than you realize.

Happy, Happy Birthday!
J'taime Toujour,
Mom

Ps. You should have received your package by now, if not very soon.

Mom~

I loved the package and the apron and all the letters! I wish that you guys good see Spain through my eyes! I am so glad that you guys raised me right! because I know that there is someone here that before we came down here to earth wanted help to come and partake of the plan of happiness and live forever! I know that I am here for the right reason and the right time I cant wait to FaceTime y'all and i want to send you guys some letters! I love you guys so much and I have Lots of pictures! ~Moroni

This is a picture of the apron I sent him for his birthday, many thanks to Kim Marshall, his birthday buddy for helping me make it!  It is a riddle that I don't believe he has solved yet.  ;)   ~Kimberly