Christmas Letter from Payden - Received Dec 22nd 2009e

Dear Family,
Merry Christmas!!! Thank you so much for all the support and all of the gifts. I appreciate everything. Its pretty weird being away for Christmas. But don't worry - I am surviving. I just want you guys to know that I am very happy here and I am glad I am serving a mission. I know that Christ lives and that this is His church. I know that anything is possible with Him. I have seen his influence in my life and in others lives. No matter what happens here, nothing can shake the testimony I have. Thank you so much for everything. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I hope all is well with you guys. I love you and I am thinking of you. Merry Christmas! Love Elder Beus

Hey guys! Guess what? I have been transferred. I am now in the Graham zone in Puyallup. My address is 10324 137th St. E. Puyallup,Wa 98374. I live in a trailer park with this old guy. His Name is Gary Morton. I've only said hi to him once but he's a cool guy. We only have a bathroom and bedroom. It's pretty cramped. Oh and I"m on a bike! woot woot. It's okay though I am in the smallest area in the mission. It's like a few miles by a few miles so we don't bike too far. It's relatively flat too. My new comp is Elder Draper. He actually came out with me but in a different district. I like him a lot. He is a hard worker.I'll tell you more about him on Christmas. So on Christmas we are going to this families house in the morning to open presents. I am planing on calling 8:30 to 9:00 our time so it will be 9:30 to 10:00 your time. So be there! haha!I am so excited!!! It's crazy this week. I did get everything you sent me and I only opened the sweaters and the missionary tools book. So I still have quite a few to open. Kennedy was grateful for the package too. Okay my favorite president of the church is President Hinckley. He was amazing. An I'll think of some stories. Well I need to get going. I love you guys tons and I can't wait for friday!! Love YA!!!

Hi,

My name is Cindy Redd, I'm the activities committee chairperson in Silverdale 2nd Ward, and I thought you'd like these photos of your son. I always try to take pictures at our ward activities, and I realize these are mostly candid shots, but it's always so great to see pictures of them. Elder Beus is a great missionary, he's a hard worker and is willing to help, and is outgoing and friendly to the investigators. The ward loves him. Our youngest son just left on his mission at the end of October, and so far the only pictures I have of him are some that a senior sister missionary emailed me from the MTC in Brazil, so I hope I can pay it forward and share these with you. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your phone call on Christmas day! This is from my husband's email, mine is cindy_redd@hotmail.com. If you want larger files of these, let me know and I'll send them.

Best wishes,

Cindy

I logged onto Paydens account at America first the other day. He had been shopping at Best Buy. Hmmm.... What did he buy there??? And then that night we had a very short e-mail. It said that he had his camera in his jacket pocket and when he got into the car he slammed the door shut and his camera was shattered. He wanted to get a new camera so he he would have it for the holidays. On Monday we got another e-mail. He said that he hopes to stay in Silverdale for Christmas because he loves it there so much and he really loves the members. They have really been good to him. Transfers are on Dec 21st and I think it would be hard to move just days before Christmas and be with a new companion and be in a new area for the holidays. BUT... if anyone can handle it it - it would be Payden. He is so easy going and easy to get along with and he would adjust just fine. The mission had a Christmas party on December 14th. We were told to have all of his Christmas sent to the mission home by the 7th. I kept finding things to send. I ended up sending two large boxes. The secretary at the mission home asked us to send something to Paydens companion Elder Kennedy. I am not sure of his situation but Payden also asked if we could send something to him too. He said that Elder Kennedy has only received about three letters since he's been with him. So we sent some of the same stuff to him too. I hope Christmas will be a good one for them both. The ward had a Christmas party and they had a lot of leftovers so the missionaries were blessed with extra food for the week. Payden said they are hoping for a white Christmas - meaning a baptism set for December 19th. well - six more days and we get to chat on the phone for one hour. I can't wait!!!!