A few pics after Church yesterday ;)
Me and my comp with the Mamita Fanny Almeida
Me and my comp with the Guerrero family.
Me with Vilma Corrales and her niece that got baptized in Utah.
Love you Family!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Monday, June 13, 2011
PICS!!!
A few pics after Church yesterday ;)
Me and my comp with the Mamita Fanny Almeida
Me and my comp with the Guerrero family.
Me with Vilma Corrales and her niece that got baptized in Utah.
Love you Family!!!
Love, Elder Beck
SUPER P-day! My last one...
2
Hola mi querida familia!!!!
How is everybody doing this week? I hope everyone is great...and not TOO trunky. We'll still get to write at least 1 more time..and then you can get as trunky as you want ;) WOW..I can't believe we'll probably only get to write 1 more time....it's just weird (but SUPER exciting) to think about that! I can't keep thinking about that so much haha. 2 nights ago Sister Gamboa called and told me all of the stuff I need to know because it's almost time to go home. Just stuff like, don't leave things in the house. If you're not going to take something home, throw it away or give it away. Give away your mattress cover to somebody who needs it and throw away your pillow. ETC. I think that phone-call has the nickname 'Trunky phone call' ....I wonder why??? lol
Just one more trunky thing that I thought of this week... I need an appointment with Dr. Lavender when I get home ;) lol He is still working right? And we still go to him? I hope so, cause this week I have really been wishing for a nice 'atlas adjustment' ;) Thanks!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dad, I love you and thanks for being SUCH a great father! I couldn't ask for a better one ;) And Happy Father's Day to the other fathers in the family, even though you're not my father ;)
Yesterday in Church there were some more changes in leadership callings and something exciting happened. Vilma Corrales was called as 2nd counselor in the Ward Relief Society Presidency! She's an awesome convert and she is so ready and excited to work. She seems like she's been a member of the Church for many years ;)
Lately, I have been praying a lot for a miracle to happen before I go home. And last week something happened that I think could be an answer to those prayers. One day, we decided to walk down a street that we almost never walk down cause it's kinda out of the way. As we walked down the street 2 guys started shouting at us saying "Hey you! Come over here! We have to talk to you!" My comp. and I were a little hesitant to go talk to them cause they honestly looked like they wanted to rob us lol. But they started telling us that their brother is member of the Church in another part of Ecuador, that he served a mission in Bolivia, that his life is really good, and that they've always liked the Church and looked up to the missionaries. They said they had been observing my companion and me for a few weeks and they had wanted to call us over, but other neighbors said that they shouldn't talk to us. But finally, they just decided to do it. We taught them and they said they believed that all that we taught was true. We invited them to be baptized on June 25 and they accepted immediately and asked US when and where they had to go to Church. Yesterday we went to pick them up for Church and they were already waiting outside their house, all ready for Church with ties and everything! They participated a lot in the classes and afterwards they said they really liked it and that they wished it lasted longer. So, I'm thinking that this could very possibly be a miracle! Especially if they get baptized on June 25....there are very few people that get baptized on their first date, but I know they'll do it. Once again, I know that the Lord answers our prayers and that miracles still exist. I love the mission!
We've also got a few baptisms planned for this week ;) That's all the news for this week, family!!!! I love all of you SOOOOOO much! Soon, we'll be able to talk in person, and not have to send emails ;) But until then, I'll keep loving P-days and emails! I LOVE you family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Hola mi querida familia!!!!
How is everybody doing this week? I hope everyone is great...and not TOO trunky. We'll still get to write at least 1 more time..and then you can get as trunky as you want ;) WOW..I can't believe we'll probably only get to write 1 more time....it's just weird (but SUPER exciting) to think about that! I can't keep thinking about that so much haha. 2 nights ago Sister Gamboa called and told me all of the stuff I need to know because it's almost time to go home. Just stuff like, don't leave things in the house. If you're not going to take something home, throw it away or give it away. Give away your mattress cover to somebody who needs it and throw away your pillow. ETC. I think that phone-call has the nickname 'Trunky phone call' ....I wonder why??? lol
Just one more trunky thing that I thought of this week... I need an appointment with Dr. Lavender when I get home ;) lol He is still working right? And we still go to him? I hope so, cause this week I have really been wishing for a nice 'atlas adjustment' ;) Thanks!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dad, I love you and thanks for being SUCH a great father! I couldn't ask for a better one ;) And Happy Father's Day to the other fathers in the family, even though you're not my father ;)
Yesterday in Church there were some more changes in leadership callings and something exciting happened. Vilma Corrales was called as 2nd counselor in the Ward Relief Society Presidency! She's an awesome convert and she is so ready and excited to work. She seems like she's been a member of the Church for many years ;)
Lately, I have been praying a lot for a miracle to happen before I go home. And last week something happened that I think could be an answer to those prayers. One day, we decided to walk down a street that we almost never walk down cause it's kinda out of the way. As we walked down the street 2 guys started shouting at us saying "Hey you! Come over here! We have to talk to you!" My comp. and I were a little hesitant to go talk to them cause they honestly looked like they wanted to rob us lol. But they started telling us that their brother is member of the Church in another part of Ecuador, that he served a mission in Bolivia, that his life is really good, and that they've always liked the Church and looked up to the missionaries. They said they had been observing my companion and me for a few weeks and they had wanted to call us over, but other neighbors said that they shouldn't talk to us. But finally, they just decided to do it. We taught them and they said they believed that all that we taught was true. We invited them to be baptized on June 25 and they accepted immediately and asked US when and where they had to go to Church. Yesterday we went to pick them up for Church and they were already waiting outside their house, all ready for Church with ties and everything! They participated a lot in the classes and afterwards they said they really liked it and that they wished it lasted longer. So, I'm thinking that this could very possibly be a miracle! Especially if they get baptized on June 25....there are very few people that get baptized on their first date, but I know they'll do it. Once again, I know that the Lord answers our prayers and that miracles still exist. I love the mission!
We've also got a few baptisms planned for this week ;) That's all the news for this week, family!!!! I love all of you SOOOOOO much! Soon, we'll be able to talk in person, and not have to send emails ;) But until then, I'll keep loving P-days and emails! I LOVE you family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Monday, June 6, 2011
JUNE?!?!
3
Hola mi querida familia!!!!
How is all of the fam doing this week? I hope that everyone is great. I am feeling great and still loving my last couple weeks of the mission. But, I can't believe that it is already JUNE! That makes the 'end' seem WAY closer. I have a lot of mixed feelings at this point in my mission. For example... It's hard to leave, but at the same time I can't wait to be home lol. That's how I feel right now ;)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GAVIN ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you so much, Gavin!! Enjoy your birthday :) I'll see you soon!
This might be kind of irreverent, but I laughed so hard when it happened that I just have to share it......lol. In this ward, we have to sing the hymns with a CD player hooked up to the sound system because there isn't a piano or a keyboard. Sometimes the member that is in charge of changing the CDs turns the volume WAY up and you can't even hear yourself sing. That's kinda how it was yesterday. Yesterday, we were singing the opening hymn in Sacrament Meeting and the first 2 verses were a little loud, but it was just fine. And suddenly, in the middle of the 3rd verse, the CD player started skipping and it sounded EXACTLY like it sounds in that one part of Mean Girls (I know everybody knows which part I'm talking about). All of the members laughed a little bit and stopped singing cause they got kinda lost, but I seriously could not control myself for a moment lol. The rest of the members started following the music director, but I could NOT stop laughing. NOBODY here has seen Mean Girls (at least from what I've been able to find out from companions...I've never asked other members lol) so I didn't have anybody to laugh about it with. It was a moment where I just needed to be with my family.
Now, on to more serious, spiritual, important things that really matter ;) On Friday we had Zone Conference in Manta with President and Sister Gamboa. It was a great Zone Conference. The last one for Pres. and Sis. Gamboa......and me, too, I guess! lol We still keep reviewing and learning about those 8 lessons that I mentioned back in August. I thought it might get old to keep reviewing the same thing, but every time I learn something new. It's great. And it looks like they'll keep reviewing those 8 Principles of Preach My Gospel for a long time. At the end, it got kinda trunky when Sister Gamboa started talking about how they were called and how quickly the time has passed. And they showed a pic of the new Pres. Amaya and his wife (also Colombians) and told all of the missionaries to be very obedient. And they mentioned a number of times that it was their last Zone Conference. Also, after the Conf. I took a picture with them (just in case I don't get to take one with them the day I go home) and then ALL of the missionaries wanted to take a pic with them. It was a really good Zone Conference...and just a little bit trunky ;) lol
Well, that's all the news for this week. It was a pretty normal missionary week ;) Thanks to all of you for ALL that you do. Thanks for being the best family! I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Hola mi querida familia!!!!
How is all of the fam doing this week? I hope that everyone is great. I am feeling great and still loving my last couple weeks of the mission. But, I can't believe that it is already JUNE! That makes the 'end' seem WAY closer. I have a lot of mixed feelings at this point in my mission. For example... It's hard to leave, but at the same time I can't wait to be home lol. That's how I feel right now ;)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GAVIN ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you so much, Gavin!! Enjoy your birthday :) I'll see you soon!
This might be kind of irreverent, but I laughed so hard when it happened that I just have to share it......lol. In this ward, we have to sing the hymns with a CD player hooked up to the sound system because there isn't a piano or a keyboard. Sometimes the member that is in charge of changing the CDs turns the volume WAY up and you can't even hear yourself sing. That's kinda how it was yesterday. Yesterday, we were singing the opening hymn in Sacrament Meeting and the first 2 verses were a little loud, but it was just fine. And suddenly, in the middle of the 3rd verse, the CD player started skipping and it sounded EXACTLY like it sounds in that one part of Mean Girls (I know everybody knows which part I'm talking about). All of the members laughed a little bit and stopped singing cause they got kinda lost, but I seriously could not control myself for a moment lol. The rest of the members started following the music director, but I could NOT stop laughing. NOBODY here has seen Mean Girls (at least from what I've been able to find out from companions...I've never asked other members lol) so I didn't have anybody to laugh about it with. It was a moment where I just needed to be with my family.
Now, on to more serious, spiritual, important things that really matter ;) On Friday we had Zone Conference in Manta with President and Sister Gamboa. It was a great Zone Conference. The last one for Pres. and Sis. Gamboa......and me, too, I guess! lol We still keep reviewing and learning about those 8 lessons that I mentioned back in August. I thought it might get old to keep reviewing the same thing, but every time I learn something new. It's great. And it looks like they'll keep reviewing those 8 Principles of Preach My Gospel for a long time. At the end, it got kinda trunky when Sister Gamboa started talking about how they were called and how quickly the time has passed. And they showed a pic of the new Pres. Amaya and his wife (also Colombians) and told all of the missionaries to be very obedient. And they mentioned a number of times that it was their last Zone Conference. Also, after the Conf. I took a picture with them (just in case I don't get to take one with them the day I go home) and then ALL of the missionaries wanted to take a pic with them. It was a really good Zone Conference...and just a little bit trunky ;) lol
Well, that's all the news for this week. It was a pretty normal missionary week ;) Thanks to all of you for ALL that you do. Thanks for being the best family! I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Beck
Monday, May 30, 2011
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
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
Monday, May 23, 2011
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
