Doin service :)
Lunch after service
Love you!
Elder Beck
Monday, April 25, 2011
VIDEO!
Here's the song we sang in the baptisms this week...since you liked last week's video so much :) Love you! Elder Beck
21 MONTHS
Hola mi querida familia!!!!!
How's everybody this week! I hope you all had a Happy Easter!!!! From all the letters and pics I received, it sounds like it was a REALLY Happy Easter. I had a Happy Easter too....it was a pretty normal day, but it was Happy ;)
On Wednesday we had exchanges and I went to Chone. They say that in Chone there are a lot of people that look like 'gringos' .....white-ish and colored eyes. And it's true...there are more people there that look like 'gringos' haha. But that city is not very pretty...there almost aren't paved roads...and it rains a lot there. Thankfully the day that I was there it didn't rain, cause the missionaries told me that almost the entire city fills up with water :P When I was just there, it was just full of mud ;) haha But it was a good exchange... While we were travelling to Chone, a girl came up to me and asked if I was from another country. (DUH! lol) And I told her yes, and she said that she had to make a video for an English class in the University of her speaking English with a native English speaker (that's me!). So I helped her out a little bit and we had a 5-minute conversation in English. Thankfully there was a script to follow, cause I couldn't understand a word of her 'English' lol. I hope she passes that class...... :/ haha
We did a service project on Friday! It's been a long time since I've done service. We helped our ward mission leader and his fam 'mop' their house. But there wasn't even a single MOP in sight. His house has rough, cement floors, which would be very difficult to mop. So they get it all wet with the hose and then pour laundry detergent and bleach and then scrub it like crazy with those really rough brooms. I couldn't believe how dirty the water was when we were scrubbing. And there is nowhere for the water to escape, so they have to empty it bucket by bucket. It was really hard...and I had blisters on my hands lol. But now I'm ok, and the house looks really clean ;)
This past week I passed my 21-month 'CLICK!' in the mission!!! I can't believe how fast the time has passed. It's crazy to think about...we'll be talking in person before we know it! Speaking of talking (that sounds kinda repetitive and redundant lol), MOTHER'S DAY is really close! Dad has the phone number and we're going to talk at 4pm Ecuador time, 2pm AZ time. I can't wait!
This week we had 3 BAPTISMS!!!!!!! William, Nubia, and Aideé were baptized on Saturday. William is a 14 year old, and Nubia and Aideé are 'older'.....aunt and niece. It was a B E A UTIFUL baptism. All of the members got back from the Temple and went straight to the baptism. The Spirit was so strong!! William bore his testimony and I think everyone that was there was crying. Including his Mom and Dad and sister who still didn't want to be baptized. He said he wished that all of his family could be baptized in the true Church and be an eternal family. It was awesome. So, we're gonna work harder with his family ;)
Yesterday I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting...it was the same one I gave in another sector...but the members here don't know that ;) lol It went well.
Well, that's the news for this week!!!! I hope you all have an awesome week this week! I love you all SOOOOOOOOOOO much! I'll never be able to say that enough. I LOVE YOUUUU!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
How's everybody this week! I hope you all had a Happy Easter!!!! From all the letters and pics I received, it sounds like it was a REALLY Happy Easter. I had a Happy Easter too....it was a pretty normal day, but it was Happy ;)
On Wednesday we had exchanges and I went to Chone. They say that in Chone there are a lot of people that look like 'gringos' .....white-ish and colored eyes. And it's true...there are more people there that look like 'gringos' haha. But that city is not very pretty...there almost aren't paved roads...and it rains a lot there. Thankfully the day that I was there it didn't rain, cause the missionaries told me that almost the entire city fills up with water :P When I was just there, it was just full of mud ;) haha But it was a good exchange... While we were travelling to Chone, a girl came up to me and asked if I was from another country. (DUH! lol) And I told her yes, and she said that she had to make a video for an English class in the University of her speaking English with a native English speaker (that's me!). So I helped her out a little bit and we had a 5-minute conversation in English. Thankfully there was a script to follow, cause I couldn't understand a word of her 'English' lol. I hope she passes that class...... :/ haha
We did a service project on Friday! It's been a long time since I've done service. We helped our ward mission leader and his fam 'mop' their house. But there wasn't even a single MOP in sight. His house has rough, cement floors, which would be very difficult to mop. So they get it all wet with the hose and then pour laundry detergent and bleach and then scrub it like crazy with those really rough brooms. I couldn't believe how dirty the water was when we were scrubbing. And there is nowhere for the water to escape, so they have to empty it bucket by bucket. It was really hard...and I had blisters on my hands lol. But now I'm ok, and the house looks really clean ;)
This past week I passed my 21-month 'CLICK!' in the mission!!! I can't believe how fast the time has passed. It's crazy to think about...we'll be talking in person before we know it! Speaking of talking (that sounds kinda repetitive and redundant lol), MOTHER'S DAY is really close! Dad has the phone number and we're going to talk at 4pm Ecuador time, 2pm AZ time. I can't wait!
This week we had 3 BAPTISMS!!!!!!! William, Nubia, and Aideé were baptized on Saturday. William is a 14 year old, and Nubia and Aideé are 'older'.....aunt and niece. It was a B E A UTIFUL baptism. All of the members got back from the Temple and went straight to the baptism. The Spirit was so strong!! William bore his testimony and I think everyone that was there was crying. Including his Mom and Dad and sister who still didn't want to be baptized. He said he wished that all of his family could be baptized in the true Church and be an eternal family. It was awesome. So, we're gonna work harder with his family ;)
Yesterday I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting...it was the same one I gave in another sector...but the members here don't know that ;) lol It went well.
Well, that's the news for this week!!!! I hope you all have an awesome week this week! I love you all SOOOOOOOOOOO much! I'll never be able to say that enough. I LOVE YOUUUU!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Monday, April 18, 2011
PICS!
Elder Beck, Vilma Corrales, and Elder Pinza.
A few of the members that went to the Baptism.
The view from my study desk.
Love you all!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
musical number in the baptism
Here's the musical number that Elder Pinza and I did for the baptism we had on Saturday. It's Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing in Spanish, just in case you can't recognize it with my voice lol Just try not to pay attention to the parts that don't sound so good ;) lol. Love you! Love, Elder Beck
HAPPY EASTER!
Hola mi querida familia!!!!
How's the family doing this week? I hope everyone is great! It seems like everyone is ALWAYS great :) We are blessed!
HAPPY EASTER THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope everyone has a great Easter....remember why we really celebrate Easter :) And eat a lot of chocolate bunnies and eggs for me! And jelly bellys! And Peeps! And color an egg for me! Where did all of those traditions come from? Oh well, I like all of them! Any excuse to eat more chocolate is good for me ;) lol
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRENT ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!! I hope you have an awesome day! Love you so much!!!!!!!
So, on Friday night we had a Family Home Evening with all of the members in the ward. The missionaries and the Relief Society were in charge of it. It was based on an article from April's Ensign about Holy Week...the one where it talks about what happened each day in the last week of Christ's life. They talked about the things that happened each day and in between the days we sang hymns that are about Jesus Christ and the Atonement and everything. It was short and sweet and spiritual. And 8 investigators went, which made it even better! That was the real reason we did the activity...so that the investigators can become friends with the members.
On Saturday we had a BAPTISM!!!!!! Vilma Corrales was baptized and it was a very spiritual baptism. We did it at 230pm cause her other sisters had to travel to Utah that day and they had to leave at 5pm. All of the people who needed to be there were there, and she invited some non-member friends too. And all of her family was there, which was what she really wanted. My comp and I did a musical number (the video I sent). Talk about being nervous....I've never been so shaky in my life! lol My hands were shaking uncontrolably....but according to the members, it sounded good :)
After she was baptized, she bore her testimony and it was amazing. I think I always talk about how much I love to hear the person's testimony right after the baptism...it is always so great. She has such a strong testimony and she always says that she wants to be a 'good Mormon' and do everything that the Lord has commanded us to do. She arrived on time to Church yesterday and was confirmed and she looked SO happy. She was glowing ;) And last night she had her interview with the Bishop to go to the Temple on Saturday with all of the ward! I love playing a part in the Lord's work. This work is SO important and I've never felt so happy in my life. Vilma has been ready for a long time to be baptized...but she just still didn't want to do it. And now her time came and I'm so happy that I am here to be a part of it.
Well, that's all the news for this week! I hope you all have an amazing week this week! Enjoy the Easter Pageant! And eat lots of 'C' foods for me.... ;) And send pics! I love seeing all of the pics everyone sends each week. Thanks for all of your letters. Thanks for your support and prayers and love! I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
How's the family doing this week? I hope everyone is great! It seems like everyone is ALWAYS great :) We are blessed!
HAPPY EASTER THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope everyone has a great Easter....remember why we really celebrate Easter :) And eat a lot of chocolate bunnies and eggs for me! And jelly bellys! And Peeps! And color an egg for me! Where did all of those traditions come from? Oh well, I like all of them! Any excuse to eat more chocolate is good for me ;) lol
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRENT ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!! I hope you have an awesome day! Love you so much!!!!!!!
So, on Friday night we had a Family Home Evening with all of the members in the ward. The missionaries and the Relief Society were in charge of it. It was based on an article from April's Ensign about Holy Week...the one where it talks about what happened each day in the last week of Christ's life. They talked about the things that happened each day and in between the days we sang hymns that are about Jesus Christ and the Atonement and everything. It was short and sweet and spiritual. And 8 investigators went, which made it even better! That was the real reason we did the activity...so that the investigators can become friends with the members.
On Saturday we had a BAPTISM!!!!!! Vilma Corrales was baptized and it was a very spiritual baptism. We did it at 230pm cause her other sisters had to travel to Utah that day and they had to leave at 5pm. All of the people who needed to be there were there, and she invited some non-member friends too. And all of her family was there, which was what she really wanted. My comp and I did a musical number (the video I sent). Talk about being nervous....I've never been so shaky in my life! lol My hands were shaking uncontrolably....but according to the members, it sounded good :)
After she was baptized, she bore her testimony and it was amazing. I think I always talk about how much I love to hear the person's testimony right after the baptism...it is always so great. She has such a strong testimony and she always says that she wants to be a 'good Mormon' and do everything that the Lord has commanded us to do. She arrived on time to Church yesterday and was confirmed and she looked SO happy. She was glowing ;) And last night she had her interview with the Bishop to go to the Temple on Saturday with all of the ward! I love playing a part in the Lord's work. This work is SO important and I've never felt so happy in my life. Vilma has been ready for a long time to be baptized...but she just still didn't want to do it. And now her time came and I'm so happy that I am here to be a part of it.
Well, that's all the news for this week! I hope you all have an amazing week this week! Enjoy the Easter Pageant! And eat lots of 'C' foods for me.... ;) And send pics! I love seeing all of the pics everyone sends each week. Thanks for all of your letters. Thanks for your support and prayers and love! I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Monday, April 11, 2011
Portoviejo!
Hola mi querida familia!!!!!
How's everybody doing this week? I'm doing great...getting all settled in to my new sector :) So far, I love it! There aren't as many members as in my last ward, but the members here are really great. We eat plenty (many members have said that I will gain weight here...but I hope that's not true lol). Our clothes mamita doesn't charge us anything to wash and iron our clothes :) Elder Pinza and I get along great! It sounds like he has had a number of 'difficult' companions, but so far we haven't had any problems. He likes to work really hard, and I'm glad about that. I've heard of a lot of missionaries who, when they are close to finishing their missions, have a companion that isn't too excited to work, and they get lazy at the end and basically stop working. That's something that I don't want to happen, and it won't happen :)
Speaking of being close to finishing the mission....I'll be coming home in the end of June! Not the end of July/beginning of August. It's so that I can get everything ready to get back in school, change my major, etc. And, I'll be finishing with Pres. Gamboa which is even better! So, I think only Mom and Dad knew about that...but now everybody knows :) That's just a little over 2 months from now! I'm excited to be back with all of the fam! ;) But for now, I gotta keep working hard!
Speaking of hard work, this week we have worked really hard. In this ward, they haven't had any baptisms in more than 7 months...and that's pretty rare here in Ecuador. But my comp. and I want to change that, and that's why we are working so hard. This week, 6 people accepted baptism dates. One investigator, Vilma Corrales, had accepted a baptism date for April 23. And then yesterday, in Gospel Principles, they announced that on the 23 the ward is going to the Temple. She asked, "And if I get baptized on the 16 instead of the 23, can I go to the Temple with the Ward on the 23, too?" and the Bishop was there and said "Of course!" So Vilma said, "I want to get baptized on the 16 then!" And who would say no if somebody wants to get baptized sooner than the date she had accepted at first?? lol So, we are planning the baptism for this week. She has a sister that lives in Salt Lake, and she said that she wants her baptism to be really pretty like they do it in Salt Lake ;) The members are excited!
I'm glad that we live SO close to a temple...and soon SO close to 2 Temples! Yesterday in Ward Council, the members were planning everything for that trip on the 23.... how many buses they would have to rent, how much budget they could spend on food, etc. And I was just thinking how much easier it is to live 10 mins from the Temple... We really should take advantage more that we live so close. It is a huge blessing. I think it was Pres. Monson (??) that talked about the imortance of the temple in General Conference. He said that there is no goal more important than keeping yourself worthy to enter in the temple. The temple must be pretty important!
On Friday, we were teaching a lesson and a bee came out of nowhere and stung my left hand. It hurt really bad lol. But after about 15 mins it didn't hurt anymore. And I guess it was a good thing that it chose to sting ME, cause afterwards everybody else said that they are really allergic to bees lol.
Funniest thing I heard this week: We were in a lesson with a family and a friend of one of the daughters was there. She said that she likes to read the Bible and that she has studied the Bible for many years.....but it was kinda obvious that she was just saying that so that we wouldn't try and teach her haha. The daughter that we are teaching asked her to name one book from the Old Testament. And the girl said "Well, the first book is GEMINI!!" BAHAHAHAHA I'm pretty sure she meant to say Genesis.....LOL It was HILARIOUS.
THANKS to Grandma and Grandpa Beck for the Birthday package that they sent me!!!!! I got it a couple of weeks ago, but I had forgotten to say thanks! Love you!
Well that's the news for this week! I love all of you SO much!!!! Thanks for everything you do for me :) Thanks for the letters, pics, prayers, etc. I'm thankful for all of you and all you do. I couldn't do it without your support! You all are the best family ever! I LOVE YOU TONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
How's everybody doing this week? I'm doing great...getting all settled in to my new sector :) So far, I love it! There aren't as many members as in my last ward, but the members here are really great. We eat plenty (many members have said that I will gain weight here...but I hope that's not true lol). Our clothes mamita doesn't charge us anything to wash and iron our clothes :) Elder Pinza and I get along great! It sounds like he has had a number of 'difficult' companions, but so far we haven't had any problems. He likes to work really hard, and I'm glad about that. I've heard of a lot of missionaries who, when they are close to finishing their missions, have a companion that isn't too excited to work, and they get lazy at the end and basically stop working. That's something that I don't want to happen, and it won't happen :)
Speaking of being close to finishing the mission....I'll be coming home in the end of June! Not the end of July/beginning of August. It's so that I can get everything ready to get back in school, change my major, etc. And, I'll be finishing with Pres. Gamboa which is even better! So, I think only Mom and Dad knew about that...but now everybody knows :) That's just a little over 2 months from now! I'm excited to be back with all of the fam! ;) But for now, I gotta keep working hard!
Speaking of hard work, this week we have worked really hard. In this ward, they haven't had any baptisms in more than 7 months...and that's pretty rare here in Ecuador. But my comp. and I want to change that, and that's why we are working so hard. This week, 6 people accepted baptism dates. One investigator, Vilma Corrales, had accepted a baptism date for April 23. And then yesterday, in Gospel Principles, they announced that on the 23 the ward is going to the Temple. She asked, "And if I get baptized on the 16 instead of the 23, can I go to the Temple with the Ward on the 23, too?" and the Bishop was there and said "Of course!" So Vilma said, "I want to get baptized on the 16 then!" And who would say no if somebody wants to get baptized sooner than the date she had accepted at first?? lol So, we are planning the baptism for this week. She has a sister that lives in Salt Lake, and she said that she wants her baptism to be really pretty like they do it in Salt Lake ;) The members are excited!
I'm glad that we live SO close to a temple...and soon SO close to 2 Temples! Yesterday in Ward Council, the members were planning everything for that trip on the 23.... how many buses they would have to rent, how much budget they could spend on food, etc. And I was just thinking how much easier it is to live 10 mins from the Temple... We really should take advantage more that we live so close. It is a huge blessing. I think it was Pres. Monson (??) that talked about the imortance of the temple in General Conference. He said that there is no goal more important than keeping yourself worthy to enter in the temple. The temple must be pretty important!
On Friday, we were teaching a lesson and a bee came out of nowhere and stung my left hand. It hurt really bad lol. But after about 15 mins it didn't hurt anymore. And I guess it was a good thing that it chose to sting ME, cause afterwards everybody else said that they are really allergic to bees lol.
Funniest thing I heard this week: We were in a lesson with a family and a friend of one of the daughters was there. She said that she likes to read the Bible and that she has studied the Bible for many years.....but it was kinda obvious that she was just saying that so that we wouldn't try and teach her haha. The daughter that we are teaching asked her to name one book from the Old Testament. And the girl said "Well, the first book is GEMINI!!" BAHAHAHAHA I'm pretty sure she meant to say Genesis.....LOL It was HILARIOUS.
THANKS to Grandma and Grandpa Beck for the Birthday package that they sent me!!!!! I got it a couple of weeks ago, but I had forgotten to say thanks! Love you!
Well that's the news for this week! I love all of you SO much!!!! Thanks for everything you do for me :) Thanks for the letters, pics, prayers, etc. I'm thankful for all of you and all you do. I couldn't do it without your support! You all are the best family ever! I LOVE YOU TONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Monday, April 4, 2011
Cambios?? Today??
Hola mi querida familia!
How's everybody doing this week? I hope every one is great, and I hope you all enjoyed General Conference!
I really enjoyed Conference. First, 2 whole days in an air conditioned chapel ;) lol And Second, all of the talks were AWESOME! I must say that my favorite session of all was the Priesthood session :) But ALL of the talks were incredible. It is just so obvious that this is the true Church. I am so glad that we have prophets and apostles on the earth today. They truly receive revelation from God. They just say the things that one needs to hear. I was able to learn so many things and think about lots of ways that I can improve. I liked the talk about doing and being too. It really made me think. As a missionary I can ask my self 'I'm doing what a missionary does. But am I BEING a missionary...a representative of Jesus Christ?' I think there are always ways that we can be better :)
So, last night when we got to the house there was no power, again. It was raining pretty hard with lots of lightning. It reminded me of the monsoons in Arizona ;) I was sweating like crazy because I couldn't turn my fan on, so I decided to lay down on the tile, cause it was a little bit cooler haha. As I was laying there, I was thinking about what I would write to the Best Family in the World the next day (today). I realized that basically the only exciting thing that had happened this week was General Conference, and I couldn't think of anything else to write about. But, this morning I received a call that gave me something else to write about!
The 4 of us in that house woke up and exercised and everything, and then we were kinda sitting around lazily.....just talking...and putting of cleaning the house. Suddenly, at about 730am, the phone rang... Elder Garcia answered and all he said was "Yes, yes, yes, OK, ok, 900am, yes, Bye." And then he hung up the phone and told me that BOTH of us were being transferred! So, I sat there for a few seconds waiting for him to say "Just Kidding" ....but he never said it..he just went and started to pack. And so did I. lol I think that was the fastest that I have ever packed. I left a few things in the house that I don't use much and a pair of pants that was too worn out to put in the suitcase ;) We got all ready and then went and waited, in the rain, with suitcases, for a taxi.
When we got to the Bus Terminal where we always go for transfers, I met my new companion Elder Pinza. He is from the southern part of Guayaquil. So, my record of all companions from different countries is over haha. And now we are in the city of Portoviejo, in the province of Manabi. We aren't very far from the beach! ;) This is one of the 3 zones in the mission where we can eat seafood, too. The zone is called Portoviejo, and the sector is called Reales Tamarindos. Elder Garcia was here before he came to Los Rieles lol. It was about a 4-hour bus ride from Guayaquil. And guess who else lives in this house?! Elder Contreras! It's the first time in about a year that I've seen my son ;) haha Elder Garcia got transferred too, and I think he is in another part of Guayaquil.
So, that's the big news for this week. I guess it's a good thing I got transferred or I wouldn't have had anything to write to you all about ;) lol Next week I'll send a pic with my new companion, cause we still don't have any pics together. It's very possible that this could be my last sector....but nothing is certain, just like EVERY thing in the mission ;) lol I'm gonna miss the members and investigators from Los Rieles a lot. That was SUCH a good sector! And we were going to baptize an entire family next week....lucky Elders that are there now. (I just hope they can find them! lol) I love each and every one of you SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! Thanks for being such an awesome family. You are the best! Smile always :D I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
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