PICS!!!!!

Me and the Tituaña Family. She's from here and he's from Quito...he served his mission here...and came back for her. Not the best way to meet your wife, but hey, they're a good family lol.

Elian, and his mom trying to be tall ;) lol And Andreé, the priest who baptized Elian.

Me and the Menendez family. The one on the left is Fanny, our Mamita.

I love you tons!!
Enjoy the pics!
Love, Elder Beck

Awesome week!

4

Hola mi querida familia!!!!

How is everybody doing this week? I'm guessing every body is doing well...cause it seems like everybody is always doing well ;) I'm great, too!! This week was a really good week. I just don't get tired of the mission...I love it more and more as time goes by. And when I love it the most, it will all have to finish...but the commandment is only 2 years, and that's ok with me ;) haha

One reason I love the mission is because we get to help so many people...members and non members. This week, we went to our first appointment after lunch, and they weren't there. So, we went to our backup plan, who wasn't there either :P So, we thought for a second about where to go and decided to go visit a member family. We both still don't know why we decided to go there, because they are active and strong in the church and they didn't seem to have any problems. But we just felt like we needed to go there. When we got there, just the dad was there with their baby. He told us that when he said his prayer for lunch, he asked for help because he felt overwhelmed and things weren't going so well with his wife. And he said that within 10 mins my comp and I arrived. He told us all of this after we had shared a scripture about trusting in God and being able to overcome trials and temptations. And he said it was exactly what he needed. So, I guess that's how the Spirit helps us, right? That's why it is so important to follow the Spirit in all that we do...especially as missionaries. I love the mission.

Another reason love the mission is cause this week we went to the big city of Guayaquil for a huge conference with ALL of the missionaries from Guayaquil North and South. There were about 400 missionaries there. And Elder Walter F. Gonzalez from the Presidency of the 70 was there and Elder Hooker (an area 70). It was an AWESOME (and super-SHORT) conference. Elder Gonzalez talked the whole time about the importance of teaching Christ's doctrine, especially as taught in 3 Nephi 11... He pointed out that the first thing that Christ did when He got here was ordain people and teach them how to baptize. He really stressed how important baptism is..I think in chapter 27 is when it says, more or less, "If we are baptized we will saved. If we aren't baptized we will be condemned." It's very simple, we all need to be baptized as Jesus taught and showed by his example. It was a really good conference....but only 1 1/2 hours :P I wanted more haha.

I also love the mission because THIS WEEK WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!!!! A 10-year-old boy named Elián Jared Mendoza Muentes was baptized on Saturday night. His mom is a member and his brother is on a mission in Mexico...his dad is not a member and doesn't live with them anymore. His mom always said that he couldn't get baptized cause he was too young and he wouldn't understand what he was doing (she was inactive until about 4 months ago when her other son was about to leave on his mission...now she's super active). Elian always said that he wanted to get baptized. Finally, one day we went to visit them and said "Elian is going to get baptized on May 28th" and she just looked at us and said "OK!" So, on Saturday night at the baptism, she bore her testimony and thanked us for being very direct and helping her realized her son needed to be baptized. She said that when we said that about Elian's baptism date she just felt that it had to be that day and she couldn't say no. The Spirit was really strong in the baptism service. A priest from the ward baptized Elian..it was his first baptism ;) Elder Pinza did the same musical number from the last baptism, so there isn't a new video this week.

I love the mission because yesterday there were 53 INVESTIGATORS in Church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, 53!!!! It was SOOO awesome. Yesterday was the Ward Conference and the Bishop said that all of the members needed to bring at least 1 investigator or less active member. Elder Pinza, our Ward mission leader, and I did a small meeting last week just for the ward leaders to get them excited to do missionary work and invite. And it all paid off. The members worked hard just for one week, and there were 53 investigators! And the total attendance was 230....on a good week about 130 usually come to church. It was SOOO great!!!!! Now we just need to help the members realize that it was because they were actually working...and help keep them working ;) But we need a new ward mission leader, too, cause our ex-WML is now 1st counselor in the Bishopric ;) haha

Well, I guess that's all of the news for this week!!! I just LOVE the mission...in case you couldn't tell haha. There's so little time left and so much work to do!!! Especially with all of those people that came to Church yesterday. And I'm ready to keep working...even more now that I've written to the best family ever! I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beck

More pics!

Me in front of a Mausoleum with some ashes of Eloy Alfaro. He was a Pres. of Ecuador that did some good thing, like religious freedom in Ecuador. This place is really close to the school where we were translating, next to the National Assembly where all of the important government people meet for meetings.... or something lol.

The 4 of us in the Mausoleum

Me and the Ecuador flag :)

Me, inside the Mausoleum, in front of a giant statue of Eloy Alfaro. There's a box next to my right arm, and supposedly Alfaro's ashes are in there...but I didn't see them haha.

I love you Fam!!!
Love, Elder Beck

PICS!

FHE with the Balda Family
Me with Montecristi in the background
Elder Hancock, Beck, Hooker (70), Juliana, and Hansen in Montecristi
Me in front of the Catholic cathedral in Montecristi


Love you!
Elder Beck

Lost in Translation

Hola mi querida familia!!!

Hey! How is everybody doing up in the Northern Hemisphere? Down here in Ecuador it is finally cooling off at night...cool and windy enough up in our 4th floor apartment to use my blue swim/dive blanket ;) I'm thankful for that! Except the part that the water in the shower in the morning is even COLDER than before (I didn't think that could be possible, but it is :P). But I'll be able to take steaming hot showers soon! ;) haha Yesterday was my 22-month-CLICK! in the mission! I seriously can't believe how fast time is flying. It seems like just yesterday was my 21-month-CLICK! Everybody time would go faster after 1 year..but I didn't think it would go THIS fast. I hope time is flying quickly for all of you back home, too :)

Well, the big news for this last week is all of the translating I was doing (hence the Subject line lol). But I'm pretty sure I didn't lose anyone in the translation proccess ;) I was in the town of Montecristi on Tuesday and Thursday with the other 3 gringos from Portoviejo. Elders Hansen (Texas), Hancock (Utah), and Juliana (Oregon). It was like a big gringo field trip! lol The Navy had a big clinic set up at a school called Eloy Alfaro with dentists, eye doctors, pediatricians, women's doctors, and general medicine. They weren't operating anybody at the school, only on the ship in Manta, but they sent some people that needed operations from Montecristi to the ship. There were also a lot of LDS volunteers from foundations called LDS Charities and Continuing Promise. Also, some of the soldiers/doctors were members.

On Tuesday I mostly helped with crowd control and getting peoples' papers fillled out with all of their info and why they wanted to see a doctor. It was pretty fun, but not as fun as Thursday. On Thursday, I was with Dr. John Podraza (from Brooklyn) in Pediatrics all day. We saw about 50 patients that day with all sorts of complaints. I learned a lot about URIs (Upper Respiratory Infections) and that most kids get those 6-12 times a year and they can be sick for up to 2-4 weeks. So there are some really unlucky kids that get URIs 12 times a year that last 4 weeks each....in other words they are basically ALWAYS sick. Poor kids! lol But pretty much the only thing you can do is try to prevent it by practicing good hygiene. Once you get a URI pretty much you just have to wait to get better. And that's how we build up our immune system so we don't get sick so much as adults. We also saw some other pretty random cases that I'll have to tell you about when I'm home....I'm guessing some of the kids won't want to hear about them. Or more likely, the parents won't want the kids to hear lol. But yeah, I was translating everything the parents said to me about their kids into English, and everything Dr. Podraza said into Spanish. It was awesome. I've always wondered if I'd like translating or if I'd even be good at it...and now I know that I like it and I was pretty good at it :) All of the docs and navy people said that they wouldn't have been able to do it without the Elders. Elder Hooker was there too..I think he's a 70 or area 70, I'm not sure. But I've got a pic with him haha.

Elder Hooker is going to be there for the conference this week in Guayaquil, too. The one where I mentioned that Elder Scott was coming. But Elder Hooker told us that Elder Scott had a last-minute assignment and that Elder Walter F. Gonzalez would be there. He's not Elder Scott, but I know it will still be a great meeting!!!!

Well, I think that's all the news for this week. We are still working hard, investigators keep coming to Church, some of them just need help to have the desire to get baptized :) I know we can help them there. There's very little time left in the mission and I'm going to work hard until I'm home! And I'll keep working when I'm home too ;) haha That's basically what we have to do in life to be successful and happy...work, work, work, and work some more, especially in the Gospel! I love each and every one of you so much. I can never say that enough, so I just keep saying it :) You are the best family a missionary or anybody could have! I'm thankful for all of you. I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beck

PIC!

Elder Pinza and I ready for Stake Conference. That's my new suit.....you can't really tell in the pic, but it has white pin stripes :) And I'm not wearing the vest, cause it was too hot lol.

Love you all!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck

Do Work...

Hola mi querida familia!!!!!

I can't believe Monday is here again! It seems like just yesterday I was writing to everyone and reading everybody's letters and seeing all of the fun pics you all send me. But I'm definitely not complaining! It would be nice if every day were Monday... But, since not EVERY day is Monday, we did get some work done this week! ;) haha

But first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LYLA ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!! I love you SOOO much Lyla, and I hope you have a great birthday! I can't wait to hold and squeeze you soon. I hope I get some pics of her eating her first birthday cake ;)

This week, we have been working really hard. As I mentioned last week on the phone, yesterday we had Stake Conference. The Stake Presidency had asked for every active member to bring at least one person, less active or investigator, to fill up the stake conference. So, my comp. and I were working hard all week to get all of our investigators to Stake Conference. They didn't ALL go, but we DID have 16 INVESTIGATORS in Church yesterday!!! It was so great :) One of the Pres. Gamboa's counselors spoke, and a member of the Temple Presidency, and Elder Richard Zambrano from the 70 (I think he's from Peru....?) All of the talks were so great, and focused on helping families, as usual ;)

We've also been working hard to fix baptism date goals with our investigators. This week we invited a few more people to be baptized and they accepted, so we are hoping to have plenty of baptisms in this transfer...and maybe leave a couple of baptisms for the Elder that will be replacing me ;) haha I love missionary work. Last week, in the District Meeting, we all introduced ourselves saying where we are from and how much time we've been out (I'm the 'oldest' in this zone BTW :P lol) and we finished with our testimony about missionary work. It was so great to hear every one's feelings and testimonies. It helped strengthen my testimony. I love missionary work because of the joy that you feel as you do it, and the joy in other peoples' lives as they accept the Gospel. It's so great!!!!

This week, Vilma Corrales (the one who got baptized a few weeks ago) received a special assignment from our Bishop because of the Stake Conference. She did visits every night last week with the Relief Society pres (our Mamita, Fanny). They worked super hard and almost all of the sisters that they visited went to the Conference. She was telling us how happy she was to be able to visit the sisters and see the results of all of her hard work. Next week is our Ward Conference, and it looks like she'll be doing the same thing. She is an AWESOME convert! ;)

Well, I think that's all the news for this week! I hope all of you have an amazing week this week. I love each and every one of you SOOOOO much! I couldn't ask for a better family! I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beck

PICS!

A Family home evening with our Ward Mission Leader and William (who got baptized recently) and another investigator (Frank) who needs to get baptized ;)

Trying to get a good pic of the whole Portoviejo Zone. (Almost like trying to get a pic of all of the nieces and nephews looking at the camera and smiling lol).

Love you!
Elder Beck

HAPPY MAY!

Hola mi querida familia!

How is all of the fam doing this week? I hope everyone is great...and it seems like you always are :) HAPPY MAY!!! I can't believe it is May already....where did April go??? After May, is June...and we all know what's happening in June ;) lol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NICOLE ON THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have an awesome birthday! I love you tons!!!

Today is Super P-day...that's why I'm writing a little later than usual. The last Monday of this change! I hope Pres. leaves me here to finish the mission....and with Elder Pinza would be fine, too :) Today we super-cleaned the house. I introduced this house to that acid I have mentioned before...and our bathroom looks way better ;) It didn't really LOOK dirty before, but now it looks way better. I still like cleaning every so often..... I miss vacuuming lol. Only the people that have a lot of money here have vacuums. I think it's cause basically nobody has carpet. But it's way better to vacuum tile, too, than to sweep it. Soon I'll be able to vacuum again :)

Yesterday we were invited to the Ward Council meeting, and I'm still not sure why, cause they didn't say one word about missionary work lol. It was kind of a sad meeting....there are some problems with YM and YW and even Primary kids and all of the leaders are trying to think of what they can do to resolve those problems. The leaders here have a lot of work to do, and I know they'll do it. They are good leaders. I've learned so much in the mission about what kind of member/leader I need to be when I'm not a missionary. I think that what I've learned most is that complaining doesn't help with anything. People need to look for solutions, not just complain about problems.

This week we had interviews with President Gamboa in Manta. I saw the ocean!!!!!!!! haha My interview went great...I'm going to miss President Gamboa. We talked a little about my release date, and I'll be explaining more about that in the PHONE CALL on Sunday, but it looks like I'll be arriving on June 28 in the morning to Arizona! :) The 'end' still seems kinda far away, but I know that it will be here before I know it. I want to work SUPER hard and take advantage of every day until the last day.

Well, that's the news for this week!!!!! I hope all of you have an AMAZING week this week! And to my AWESOME Mother....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Happy Mother's Day to my sisters that are mothers too....Aby, Carlie, and Nicole ;) I can't wait to say that to you on the phone this Sunday at 2PM AZ time!!!! ;) I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!! Thanks for being such a great family...such a great support. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beck

CAMBIOS!!!

Hola mi querida familia!!!!!!

How's everybody doing today? It was SOOOOOOO EXCELLENT to talk to all of you yesterday! And before we know it, we'll be talking to each other cara a cara (face to face!). So exciting. Phone calls don't really make me trunky...they actually make me more excited to keep working hard. But we can't deny that the end is near haha.

Like it says in the subject, today is CAMBIOS!!!!!! .................But not for me! And not for my companion either! We're staying put, just like we hoped. It looks like I'll be 'dying' here in the beautiful city of Portoviejo. I'm happy about that, cause I love it here. Last night, we went to the Mamita's house to give her the chocolates for Mother's Day and she was so happy that she cried haha. She's a great mamita...but not as great as my REAL Mamita!!!!! I love you Mom ;) Happy Mother's Day, yesterday.

On Friday and Saturday, there were some elections here in Ecuador about some new laws that the President has made up. So, for the missionaries, that meant lock-down in the house from Friday at 2pm until Saturday at 5pm. It wasn't long enough to get too bored...just long enough to catch up all of the greatly-needed sleep ;) All I did was sleep and eat haha. The laws were passed...it seems like most of the members aren't too happy about it...a lot of people don't like Ecuador's President. But obviously, there are more people who like him.

THANKS FOR THE EASTER PACKAGE I GOT LAST WEEK!!!!!!!!!! Church News, Sacred Priesthood duties pamphlet, letters from buds in the mission, Al's Sacrament mtg talk, artwork from the kiddos, McConkie Atonement talk, Stride gum, Reese's Chips Ahoy, Reester Bunnies, Al's Spanish Vday card, chocolate bars, cards from E and R, stuff to color eggs, Easter card with hilarious sound. THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess that's all the news for this week. The BEST part of this week, by far, was the PHONE CALL yesterday!!! I love all of you SOOOOOOO much, and it was great to talk to all of you. I hope you all have a great week this week. Thanks for being the BEST family ever! Elder Contreras (my son) just found out that he'll be TRAINING this transfer!!!!!!! So, I'll get to meet and live with my grandkid ;) LOL I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beck