No Better Gig

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been action-packed for sure! And luckily I've survived it all unscathed. It's funny because I'm actually starting to recognize some of the cops in our area now. If only there was someway to talk to them because I'm sure they'd make great Mormons.

Last P-Day we went to the Federal Reserve thinking that it would be interesting/fun/exciting, but it ended up being a waste of time/boring/uneventful. I got a 15 minute background check to see a bunch of old coins and fake money. I wouldn't recommend using your P-Day to go there.

Brodi Elwood (my old companion for those who skim) and Melissa Villanueva came on Saturday to treat us to some Oklahoma Joe's BBQ as they toured the mission. Kansas City barbeque is almost as life changing as the gospel. It was such a trip and delight to hang out with some besties and catch up seeing how it's been three long weeks since Brodi left. My friends are just the best.

I went on two exchanges this week. One with Elder "Silent" Myers and Elder Taylor. Elder Myers is notorious for being a quiet guy, but I couldn't get him to stop gabbing on our exchange. He goes home with me and is heading to the U. How nice it is to find another Ute amongst this sea of missionary Cougars. Elder Taylor is a stallion of righteousness, like his trainer and one of my former companions, Elder Sjoblom. 

It's been a great week and the work is progressing. Noami is getting closer to her baptism. We've started working with some other Part Member Families and hopefully we can help them as they come closer to Christ. The mission is seriously a dream. I can't think of a better gig than that of dedicating myself to helping others.

--Elder Beau Hart

Mini Missionary Michael‏

Mini Missionary Michael: July 13th

Dear Family and Friends,

Not much to report on this week seeing how I just emailed ya'll last Thursday.

Friday we received a "mini missionary" named Michael and he chilled with us until Sunday night. It was a party for sure. A part of me thinks that he might have been shocked a little about the mission (especially our area), but he was fun to have around for a while to keep Elder Fullmer and I from becoming one person. We get along too well.

Highlights include, but are not limited to:

Another Marshallese Party. This one was to finish some New Member Lessons for some recent converts. How great is that? We brought McDonalds to Brother Dinteru as a joke because he always wants to take us out on Sunday to get some. It's not a sin if it's drive-through, right?

Service in Independence painting a school. Cool, huh?

Yesterday's drama-fest at church. Sacrament was a musical testimony meeting where everyone would bear their testimony and include a hymn and then we would sing two verses of it. It was awesome. That and it drowned out the sounds of crying babies. Win win!

We also found a Hello Kitty Story in Independence. Hahahahahahh Satan is everywhere! Guess, we have to keep up the fight.

Well, love ya'll. Make it a great week. 

MUCHO AMOR,

Elder Beau Hart

(Very poorly lighted with the Dinteru's. #ILOVEIT and Satan's Store in Independence)

Culture Reviews‏

Culture Reviews‏: July 9th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week...wow....

Last Monday we went to the Community of Christ temple and had an interesting tour and they said pictures were allowed, including selfies (nice), and we ended by receiving origami Peace Doves that
now decorate our car and keep me from raging at our lovely future wife impersonating Tiwi when it says, "check your speed", when I go 5 over the limit. (That's a rough, run-on sentence, huh?)

The Fourth of July was a bummer. All we ended up doing was ushering for a concert and then tucking ourselves into bed while Canadian smoke blocked any view of fireworks in the distance from our apartment window.

Today we went to the Nelson Atkin's Art Museum with Ivan (recent convert) and Areos (recent move in/future missionary) here in KC. My summary: I didn't know that any time I'm naked in the shower that I'm considered Greek and Roman art. Too much genitalia. Also, if logic flows, Hooters is just a renovation of ancient statues techniques. Finally, modern art is so bad that I thought the stairs leading to the exit of the museum were part of the exhibit. 

I've gained a testimony of how the Lord provides whenever we ask. I'm not going to lie or try to sugarcoat it, but this past Monday I was kind of bummed that we weren't "P-Day-ing" and was not in the mood to
tract after our appointments fell through. I was just begging the Lord for something to do.

So He sent a tornado our way.

Elder Fullmer and I, keeping our cool of course, scrambled for a place to hide. We asked for a safe place. We got the Wong/Huesca's house. We were hungry. Sister Huesca's gave us more Mexican cheesy cauliflower than we could handle. We wanted to help out. We got to help prevent flooding in the basement. We didn't ask for it, but somehow we got a laugh out of their "rescued" baby raccoons. So there I found myself sweeping water to a drain bit by bit, my stomach super happy and full of food, listening to the screams of baby raccoons and Brother Wong chattering in Spanish with his cholos across town, super grateful for the adventure and memories of the mission which my giving Heavenly Father has given me. And glad I didn't die in the tornado also.

The temple was great this morning. Elder Fullmer and I get along almost dangerously well. We have the exact same interests so we oft get carried in the spirit of talking about non-mission related tangent. 

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Us judging art and Us at the museum)

Temple Week‏

Temple Week‏: July 6th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week we are attending the Kansas City Temple, so our P-Day has been moved to Thursday. Talk to you then! :) Have a great week! 

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Happy Fourth of July, I got to spend some time with my favorite family Los Huesca/WONG)

The Bible Belt‏

The Bible Belt‏: June 29th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

What an exhausting week...

First off, Thursday was goodbye to my friend, Elder Elwood, who's currently resting from all cares and worries in the Undying Lands of the West and hello to Elder Fullmer--my 30 Rock best friend. We've served around each other for a good chunk of the mission so it was an easy transition.

I've also heard from some very old and very insane people here in the city that the White House has turned "rainbow" and that our mission calls have to reassigned to the "United States of Sodom and Gomorrah" this week. People are the funniest when they are so upset about politics. The Bible Belt is full of some interesting people indeed.

Wednesday, Brian was baptized and his family and baseball team came to it! What a fantastic service full of members being late, Brother Wong, crazy testimonies, President Cato, the fount being over filled. Wouldn't have expected any different here in the great Riverview branch. Brian was also confirmed on Sunday and ordained to the office of a Priest. I couldn't ask for any better. 

Thursday night was also the storm of the century for Kansas City apparently and Elder Fullmer and I slept right through all of it's tree snapping and telephone line ripping fury. We woke up to find KC in absolute chaos and everyone asking us if we from the Power & Electric Company. Everything was shut down in the city, except for Church's Chicken, of course. God forbid if the chicken went out of commission. 

So, here we go on the final transfer here in the great land of Kansas City. I'm loving every minute of it.

MUCHO AMOR,

Elder Beau Hart

(Brian's baptism and Elder Fullmer and I with our favorite Senior "Swagster")

Casting out Demons‏

Casting out Demons‏: June 22nd, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Things are warming up out here. Missouri--all the benefits of ocean humidity and storms, minus the ocean.

Elder Elwood and I ate some sketchy Asian food from an investigator the other day and he has has been plugged up ever since. We've been sending him into the bathroom with a prayer every time that he goes in
hopes of casting out the tiny Burmese demon that's been plaguing him.

Brian is progressing towards baptism this Wednesday! We are scrambling about to get all of the arrangements in order. If everything works out correctly we are going to have Brian's baseball team attending also. Because they have a game right afterwards, we are totally going to have oranges and Gatorade as refreshments.

I went on exchanges with Elder Bingham this week, my grandson (My trainee trained him). What a blast showing my little country son around the "big city". (Kansas City is just an overgrown backwater village, honestly.) I also took him to eat my our Indian family, the Shethi's, and found out that curry about kills him, but the champ wolfed it down and we had a good ol' time for the rest of the night.

Our branch mission leader, Brother Alcocer, took us to eat Saturday at an Ethiopian restaurant, the Blue Nile. It was a no-utensils joint, so that was an adventure figuring out how to even eat the meal. We've
been all over the world, meals-wise that is, this week with dinners. LuLu's Thai Noodle Shop, the Blue Nile, Long Boards Wraps (Hawaii), and good ol' McDonalds. I love eating. Don't be surprised if I come home fat.

I'm going to be killing Elder Elwood this Thursday, that is unless the fried noodle demon doesn't beat me to it. It'll be sad to see him go, but the ladies in Arizona have been lonely for so long that it's time for him to return. After that, on to my last companion.

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Pictures: Elder Elwood after being crowned King of the Kwe's with our Marshalese members of the branch. And Elder Elwood is poisoning/fattening up the Sister missionaries in the zone)

KC Love‏

KC Love‏: June 15th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week down here in the books...

I'm in love...with Kansas City. I grew up in the Valley, but there is something about the city life that makes me feel like I'm walking on sunshine despite the unseasonal rain lately. We've spent quite a bit
of time walking around downtown this week trying to find some people to invite unto Christ. Hopefully, we will see some fruits of the labor soon. It's interesting to see all of the people from all over the world and find out how they made there way to the middle of the U.S.

Mid-week we had the blessing of eating with our dear Indian family, the Shethi's, who have been back to the Branch for medical visits. Just like last go-around they tried to murder us with curry and love.
I love how close I've become with people on my mission. The thing that floors me about our branch is that it's the poorest in the entire mission, but I've never had so many meals with members. They sacrifice so much for us, I just hope that we are paying them back with our service.

This week was Stake Conference and man, what a blast it was. Our stake president, President Cato, is a fireball! What a stallion of righteousness and motivation! The Independence area is going to blow up now with work. He just nailed the entire stake about the Gospel and now everyone is stoked to go out and preach.

Our investigators on baptismal date weren't able to make it to Stake Conference due to car problems and vacations, which was disappointing, but hopefully they will be here this upcoming week.

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Perfectly describes what Riverview is like. And we tried to take a quick selfie while walking around on the new fancy toy the church is letting me borrow.)

Primary For Days‏

Primary For Days‏: June 8th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week....wow...

So many meetings...Zone miles, Stake Reports with our fireball stake
president, President Cato, Mission Leadership Council, meeting with
the district leaders, Zone Training. I'm a Mormon so meetings are in
my blood, but I will lose my mind if we have so much as another
agenda or opening hymn and prayer this week.

Saturday, Elder Elwood and I partied it up with the one and only Elder
Parker Dixon. #WeberWarriorsForLife We had a blast checking out Kansas
City downtown, street contacting in the culture-packed City Market in the midst the skyscrapers, eating italian food, talking with a one man band, having dinner with Mama Katadrik and the Marshallese colony in our branch, doing service in Independence at a strawberry festival, and teaching a couple lessons. It was a colorful day indeed and I was pooped out by the end.

Sunday was just a blast. We had a couple of investigators at the branch and I got to teach Primary for the first time in my life. My team, Valiant 10 and 11, dominated the picture matching game in opening exercises and we had a solid lesson acting out Jesus's parable of the unmerciful servant. It was an absolute hoot to sing "Book of Mormon Stories", eat snacks, and memorize the first Article of Faith instead of fighting off sleep in Elders' Quorum. The funniest part was at the end, one of the girls prayed that their "new teachers could stay because they are awesome". Sadly, it was a one week only gig, but now I have a little crew of future missionaries that freak out and jump on me to high five me when I go to church.

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

Los Odiosos Van a Odiar‏

Los Odiosos Van a Odiar‏: June 1st, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

What a week! 

Being home in KCMO, in the great Riverview Branch, is super surreal. We’ve been making rounds and connecting with all of the people that I taught and worked with back in ’13. I’m so surprised by all the people that throw open their doors and welcome us in, geez, I’m just happy they remember my name. The teaching pool is slowly building up again. We are seeing tons of miracles. The Church is true!

This week we had a visit from Elder Clark of the Quorum of the Seventy and what a hay day that was! Man, I've never seen a General Authority speak with such power and borderline sarcasm. It was inspiring--to go out and get married, because that's what most of these trainings end up being on. Weird, huh?

Elder Elwood and I have been making big sacrifices this week for the work. I mean, Friday we found out a part-member family owns a restaurant and is never at home so we hit up "Guadalajara" for some lunch and before we knew it we were at a table scarfing down a heaven-sent Torta Cubana and scheduling times to begin teaching Noami (the non-member daughter). Sometimes you have to do the hard things, right?

After reporting about the lessons and baptismal date of Noami, many members of the branch council shot us down, doubting that the family would come to church. It was understandable because apparently they've put a bunch of effort into them with no results, but it hurt to have them rain on our parade. The moment they walked into sacrament meeting, luckily I kept it in my head, I almost said, "Los odiosos van a odiar." It's true. Satan wants you to feel like crap. Unfriendly people aren't going to be nice. Evil dogs are going to try and bite you. Haters are just going to do one thing: hate. So keep up the good work and keep fighting for the Lord with a smile on your face. 

Oh, and we had interviews this week with President Vest. I just want to sit down and absorb all of the knowledge and wisdom and charm out my main man, President Randy "J-Dawg" Vest as I like to call him. He told me that I'm a "delight to work with" (that's a first) and that he tolerated my border-line unapproved Christmas Rendition of "Angels We Have Heard on High".

MUCHO AMOR,

Elder Beau Hart

(Elder Valdez and I at the WWI Museum and Me rockin' it back in good ol' KCK)

The Riv‏

The Riv‏: May 26th, 2015

Hey Mom,

Do you remember my first area where my neighbor a couple houses down passed away due to some gang violence?

I’M BAAAAAAAAACK!

Transfers came this week and, wow, what a whirlwind of change. Oddly enough, I’ve returned to Kansas City, Missouri, my home, my birthplace, “the Riv”. A lot of things have changed since I left over a year ago, the Riverview Ward is now the Riverview Branch and many of the members that I knew have since moved, but there are things that haven’t like random people walking into sacrament, running odd errands during church like cleaning buckets full of cream, and people saying amen to things they liked during my talk. Every day is jam-packed with craziness.

It was tough saying good-bye to the beloved Kaw River Ward. I’m going to miss so many of family members there. Our week was full of farewell meals—so much mole and Mexican food, pictures, lessons, and just pure love. Sometimes I wish we could just stay in one area our entire mission, but change is good. I wouldn’t meet all of these amazing people if I stayed in one area.

Some highlights of the week include:

My Kaw River Family the Torayas' giving us KC socks.

·         Brandon Sanderson coming to the Riverview Branch sacrament meeting. I get super nervous giving talks in church, let alone when my favorite author is there listening to me. It’s such a small world in the church.

Giving a talk during my first sacrament meeting back in Riverview. I was so stoked to be back that I almost jump onto the pulpit and started shouting. 

Gi

·         Having Ivan, my best friend and recent convert from here in the Riv my first time around, teach us the first missionary lesson to help prepare for his mission in the coming year or so. Nothing is better than hearing someone you taught say, “I have to get this down because I’m going to be a missionary soon!"

·         For P-Day we went to the Union Station and WWI Memorial yesterday. Who knew there was so much culture here in downtown Kansas City? It was a wonderful way to spend Memorial Day.

Elder Elwood, my new comp loves to run, which is the worst, but he’s helping me work off all those enchiladas and tamales. He’s super chill and we are doing some work here in the Riv. Here’s to the next chapter of my mission—Riverview: The Return of the King. Hopefully I’ll finish the mission here before I return home to the Undying Lands in the West. 

It’s good to be home.

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

References 2‏

References 2‏: May 18th, 2015

Dearest Family and Friends,

The weather here has been interesting. Our phone blows up every night with flash flood warnings and tornado alerts due to the insane amount of rain and lightning, but I’m still sleeping like a champion[1].

At the start of the week, our Elders Quorum President called us and asked us if we could help a family out by just "moving some furniture and packing some clothing". We didn’t tell us why[2], but we went anyways. So a couple days later we show up to the apartment building and when we explained to the receptionist who we were helping she went pale and then waved us on through without any questions[3]. So suspicion began to creep into my mind as we ascended the elevator and went to this certain family’s apartment. Being good Elders we put ourselves to work and immediately helped with the clothing and bed, but when we lifted the mattress up we were greeted by a little surprise that this family was infested with bed bugs[4]. EVERYWHERE. Oh cheese and rice, it was horrendous. So we busted out the service, exited the building--nobody would get near us because they knew we had the plague--and ran home. I'm not going to lie, I was super panicked because suddenly my body was itchy everywhere because my mind was playing tricks on me. We stripped[5] down in the hallway of our apartment, threw our clothing and shoes in a garbage bag, and showered about three times just in case those demons were anywhere on us. New rule: never do service without finding out why.

This week we also had an interesting lesson in Spanish Elders Quorum and learned about anointing and blessing the sick and afflicted. Things got a little heated and had some confusion to how it went, but in the end everything got settled[6]. They also debated why "gringos" use oil for every blessing no matter how small the illness and how "latinos" only use it for serious matters. It was interesting because everyone started to look at me[7], thinking I had the answer. It's so much fun to see other cultures on the mission.

Oh, and on Sunday, my friend Julian[8] came to visit and go to sacrament with me because he's out here in Olathe doing summer sales. It was so much fun to see him and catch up on times.

We've been having a lot of final meals[9] as the trio with so many beloved families here in the ward--The Jurado's, Gaona's, Gonzalez's, and Toraya's. Transfers are this week. Maybe I'll stay here in the Great Kaw River Ward or maybe I'll be heading to my final resting place in another part of the Missouri Independence Mission. Wish me luck.

MUCHO AMOR,

Elder Beau Hart

[1] Thanks for training me with all of your snoring, Dad!

[2] Red Flag #1

[3] Red Flag #2

[4] SURPRISE! They climbed up our arms when we lifted the mattress….

[5] Elder Hart’s Non-Mission Approved Talents Vol. 2

[6] As in, everyone decided to stop arguing because the hour was up and Mexico was playing at 4 so they needed to get home STAT.

[7] Because I was literally the only white person in the room. How does that happen in Kansas?

[8] AKA Tuna

[9] So much mole…. My companions must hate it by now, but it’s my favorite.

Mother's Day‏

Mother's Day‏: May 11th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was great. Just great.

Tuesday I went on exchanges with one of my best friends ever, Elder Smedley. He braved KCK craziness and Spanish appointments all day and we had a wonderful time being white together.

Thursday I woke up sick with stomach problems and made "Poop Soup" for a couple of days.

Saturday we had a Mother's Day Celebration at the church house for the Great Kaw River Ward. So much fun. So many latinos. The best part was the pinata and seeing all of the mothers attack it and almost kill all the little children running around waiting for candy.

Sunday we had a family that we contacted through a referral from church headquarters come to church. They actually came! Elder Gomez asked me how many times that's happened on my mission and I couldn't tell him never because I was too shocked.

Sunday I got to talk to the lady who birthed me and put up with my attitude for now almost 20 years. It was fantastic to see that my family is still just as crazy as when I left them.

Sorry I don't have much time, but I sure do love you all! Mucho amor! Especially to all the Moms out there!

--Elder Beau Hart

Dinners‏

Dinners‏: May 4th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

What a busy busy busy week! I'm loving it here in the great Kansas City.

This week we went to the Kansas City Temple Run with the Toraya's and supported the ward. What an amazing time! I also had the blessing of seeing some of my bestest of friends and family, including Mama Lyons and the Graff's from St. Joe, from past areas as members from all over the plains of Kansas and Missouri met together to run (for fun?). I loved being with my great ward here and experiencing all things latino like taking two hours of photos for a 20 minute race. That and we scored a Salvadorean dinner with a part-member family because of it.

We had another dinner with another family we work with, the Andrade's, on Sunday. Man, the carne asada never ended and it was super fun to hang out with them, teach, find some new investigators (in-laws) and just live a rockstar missionary life. Again, all by just eating with them. It seems like all of my appointments are based around meals. I live such a hard life, huh? 

The most dramatic moment of the week would've had to been Tuesday when our member team-up, after having a killer lesson with her friend and setting him on date for the end of May, walked home because we couldn't take her in our car. She called us to ask us if we could help her find a ride and that she would be at the nearby McDonalds. When we showed up with the Hermanas from our ward, we were greeted by flashing lights and sirens from an ambulance and firetruck. Turns out she had a seizure while waiting. Twenty minutes later, after the Hermanas took her and her companion dog home, we gave her a blessing. Good news, she's doing fantastic. Bad news, I was not able to get a selfie with her dog despite by best efforts.

Well, lots to do and loving it here. Sure hope the same for you!

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

Love Me Like You Do‏

Love Me Like You Do‏: April 27th, 2015

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week I found out that I am a walking champion. We turned our car into the mechanics on Tuesday (reference email about crazy lady rear ending us two months ago) to get repaired and began "There and Back Again: A Missionary's Journey Between Appointments" here in Kansas City. Just like my dear friends in my beloved tale in Middle Earth, Elder Parry, Elder Gomez, and I had some interesting adventures with drunks singing to us, being chased by a pack of dogs--missionary classic, and taking some Non-Mama Hart Approved streets home at night. Good news, I'm alive and my journal has never been more interesting.

We had an awesome lesson with a part-member family this week. Technically it's a no-member family because they aren't married and the kids don't live there, but that's besides the point. Alonzo and George are the sons of an investigator of the Sisters here in the Kaw River Ward and we've begun teaching them on Wednesdays. We started our lesson with George saying that he's atheist and ended with a committal to pray and be baptized. Things are progressing well, indeed.

Friday we went to a piano recital for a beloved family here in the ward, the Toraya's to support their daughter and also to do some work with all of the non-members. I love how much love the members give you on the mission and the absolute willingness to help us in anyway. I love them so much. I love serving here in the Great Kaw River Ward and in Kansas City. I love my companions. I love the Lord. Things are all well here indeed. 

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Sorry no photo of the recital, but here's some sweet pics we got while walking)

Mud and Fiestas‏

Mud and Fiestas‏, April 20th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

The Kansas City craziness continues this week.

Saturday we got to play in the mud and help Darrell and his family out with their garden. What a blessing service is! We showed up while Darrell was at work and went with all of his kids and did work in the garden turning it over and ended up with a mud fight by the end. My oh my, was it fun! That and when Darrell got home he was elated. Things are progressing and they are such a wonderful family. Please keep 'em in your prayers.

The members in our ward are the absolute best here in the Kaw River Ward. Saturday we had a "little" party (strobe lights, giant speakers, and tacos as far as you could see) for a less-active family's daughter, Isabela. Man, I love latino parties. Good thing I have companions to take care of me or else there would have been a ton of dancing going down on my part.

We had another lesson this week that was pretty unique. We were visiting with a homie with his member fellowship (names have been omitted, sorry) and before we started to talk about the lesson, somehow, without us knowing they popped in a recently released comedy that was definitely not missionary approved. So there we were amidst the laughing 30 year old gangsters, politely asking for them to turn it off so we could maybe just maybe have the Spirit in the lesson. The look of Elder Gomez's horror made the situation journal-worthy for sure. Have no fear though, after a bit, we got them calmed down and had doo-rags removed for respect during the prayer and we took off. It even ended with them committing to a baptismal date.

Well, not much time, but I sure do love you all. MUCHO AMOR!

--Elder Beau Hart

(Us after the service and just a hint of the party)

Possum, That's a Dang Rat!--Ed‏

Possum, That's a Dang Rat!--Ed‏: April 13th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was interesting. I don’t have much time, but the highlights would be the following:

Working at Sanctuary of Hope with Crazy Ed. Every second Saturday of the month we do service at a Christian Center/Retreat/Forest with the funniest man, Ed, I’ve met on my mission. During the couple of hours that we work with him he always enlightens us about certain roadkill recipes, how to keep the marijuana industry a small business game if it’s legalized, and how he would have the nature trails constructed if he wasn’t working for “them city boys”.

Then Saturday night we had a glow in the dark Easter Egg Hunt with a wonderful family here in the ward. It was a super fun family home evening and the kids loved searching the yard for the glowing eggs. Can you tell that my mom is the best? Always making us Elders look creative and what not.

We’ve been performing a lot of service this week. Saturday we helped out a great guy named Darrell with his yard, mowing, tearing down a jungle-gym, and set stuff on fire. I’ve got such a testimony of service because afterwards he was about to cry and wants us to come back and share the gospel with him and his family. Do good!

My brain is not working currently, I think that some of the chile juices made their way inside my skull and are messing with me. Anyways, I sure do love you all and can’t wait to hear from ya’.

 MUCHO AMOR,

Elder Beau Hart