Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Week 12 in La Candelaria

Week #35
8/25/14
This week went well, it had its challenges, like these last few weeks have, but I am hopeful we are going to have success. 
So last Monday night we didn't really have any lessons planned, and our ideas fell thru. We ended up just walking around a lot, and I felt terrible I didn't do anything. I have decided I am going to work harder, because I know when I work hard I am happy. I also want to talk with more families in the street, we need to find families to teach, and its tough to get references from the members. 
This week went pretty normal, we visited the recent converts in our area a lot. One night we were going to visit Zully, who was baptized 2 weeks ago, and we saw a family go in the house where she lives. We asked her about them, and they live on the second floor, but she did NOT want to introduce us to them. I'm not sure how to explain it in English, but here we say "se dio pena" or it gave her embarrassment/shyness. Its hard to explain, but she didn't want to introduce us. After insisting for about 15 minutes, we got her to introduce us to the family, and it was pretty great teaching someone new. The dad had a lot of doubts about why there are so many churches and why they all want to confuse him. It was understandable, and we did our best to explain to him why that was. We still don't think he fully understands, but we have an appt tonight with them and we are going to review the restoration. 
Saturday the sisters had the baptisms of the Silva couple. The mom asked me to baptize her. Id rather a member do the ordinance, but she didn't really want any of the priests to baptize her. It was great to baptize, and I love the experience when I can. 
After the baptismal service, we went up to our area to meet a man we contacted to go meet his family. We waited at the bus stop for him, but he didn't show. It was kinda sad because we had a lot of hope with him. So then we decided to go contact some people, and went to a more commercial part of our area. I tried contacting a man that was with his family, but when I first said hello to him he showed no interest, and told me no at the first chance he got. I was a little sad, but decided not to get discouraged.
So then we were walking and I saw a family about 50 yards away. I crossed the street to talk to them. When I began talking to them, they seemed really receptive, but things turned bad, and the contact went even worse. In the end I asked if there was no time when we could come share a message, and the dad invited us to his church. 
I was feeling a little down, and we started to head home because it was getting late. We were walking down some stairs when a man stopped and asked us if we were from Colombia. We told him no, and he recognized us as missionaries from the church. He is from Mexico, and has been all around the country. He even said he knew San Juanico! So that was pretty cool to hear. After about 10 minutes of talking to him, he asked when we were going to take his name and number, which was pretty funny. We placed an appt for this Sunday, and I felt a lot better after that. I know the Lord was watching out for us, and it was great to find hope. 
Oh- there are exchanges tomorrow in the mission, and I'm staying here with Elder Martinez. I'm really glad I get to serve in this area another 6 weeks, and feel like we are going to be able to grow and learn a lot. Its great being with a good companion that has the same vision as you. 
I spoke in church this Sunday, and I shared a message about the duty every member had to share the gospel and the story of Hugo Torres(my first convert) and how the members helped us out. After the sacrament meeting ended, a member told me my Spanish has improved a lot, and it was really great to hear. 
I know this is where I'm supposed to be. I am so glad to be the Lord´s servant, and work for Him. I love what I get to do, and time is really starting to fly. 
Thanks so much for reading!
Elder Beck

Pictures:
we made burgers this week, and the Silva´s baptism





Scriptures I liked:
DC138:31-35,54

Monday, August 18, 2014

Week 11 in La Candelaria

Week #34
8/18/14
Hey everyone!
This week has been pretty normal. Like last week, a lot of appointments fell through. We had Interviews with President Lozano, and I felt really good. I feel like he was able to give me some pointers on how I can improve, and I feel very hopeful. 
This week we walked a lot. We haven't been able to find many people, and nobody came to the chapel this week. That was tough. It was a bummer because quite a few people said they would come for sure, but in the end nobody turned up. So we are gonna see this week who really wants to progress, and who we are going to stop teaching. Although we have very few investigators this week, I know we are going to find the people the Lord is preparing to hear the gospel and make changes in their lives. 
I have felt good with my Spanish lately. Having a companion that speaks Spanish a lot, and I feel like im beginning to lose my accent. I hit 8 months today, and can´t believe a third of the mission has already gone by. Its so crazy.
This Saturday we had 2 baptisms in the ward, and our whole district baptized, so that was pretty cool. For our part, Dahiana M. was baptized. She is the daughter of Idalia, who we baptized about 2 months ago. It was really cool to watch her finally progress and start to do things in the church for her own part. The sisters here in the ward baptized Gina, who had been investigating the church for over 4 years. She decided to be baptized, and said in the service when she was baptized, she felt a great peace. Oh, I baptized her, she asked that I did it, even though I don't know her. So that was cool. 
Today we went to the center of Bogotá to buy trinkets and stuff. It was cool being in the middle of the city. I found a sweet machete for about 11 bucks, and got a bunch of other fun stuff. Im really loving it here, and feel very comfortable.
I know this is the Lord´s work I´m doing, and I'm so grateful for this time I have to give everything I have to the Lord. 
Thanks so much for reading,
Elder Beck
 
Pictures:
When lunch falls thru, just make flame broiler.
 Baptism pictures.




Monday, August 11, 2014

Week 10 in La Candelaria

Week # 33
8/11/14
So a lot happened this week, it started rough, but ended great. Things didnt go well at first because a lot of appointments fell thru monday thru thursday. Well, basically everything fell thru. 
Here in August in Bogotá, everyone is flying kites because its the windy season, and we might have a ward activity in the big park here in 2 weeks to go fly kites.
On Wednesday Elder Martinez turned 23, so it was fun having his birthday this week. We werent able to do much. Im not sure Ill have a companion in the mission who is younger than me...
This week we had the baptismal service of Zully and Manuel! They are super great, and the service was a lot of fun. Elder Martinez and I sang "lead kindly light", in spanish of course. Then we had the baptism. Elder Martinez baptized Manuel, and Andres (our recent convert) baptized Zully. The baptisms were really funny, because when Elder Martinez submerged Manuel, he didnt put his feet back down, and was floating on his back. Then with Zully, Andres didnt submerge her completely, and the witnesses told him he had to do it again, so right away, he began to push her back into the water without repeating the prayer. After a moment of confusion, he figured it out and successfully performed the ordinance. 
In our last specialized training, President invited us all to offer "specific" prayers, praying to find the people who are ready to receive the gospel. So based on the instructions, we prayed to find a man with a black pants, a green jacket and a ballcap about 2 weeks ago. I have been scanning the streets all week looking for him. Im surprised how few people wear green jackets and black pants. FINALLY yesterday we found him, and i contacted him right away. My introduction was super bad and awkward, because i realized him and contacted within a split second, but by some miracle he actually listened and showed interest. I was just thinking how weird it would be if a foreigner talked to me in the street and invited me to hear about the restored church of Christ. But we were able to place an appointment with him, and were super excited!
I dont have much time, sorry i couldnt write more. I fould a cool scripture in my personal study in the book of mormon this morning in 1 Nefi 14:1.
I love this work, I am so glad to be one of the Lord´s representatives, and am so excited to be here in Colombia.
Thanks for reading!
Elder Beck



Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Week 9 in La Candelaria

Week #32
8/5/14
This week went well. Sorry im writing a day late, we had some complications yesterday, and got permission to write today. 
So this week we had emergency transfers again. Our district leader, Elder Quintana was moved to a different zone here in Bogotá, to be a zone leader. Elder Neilson is the new Elder in our district, and was trained by Elder Macias as well as me. He is super cool, and I met him in my first zone in Neiva. 
This week we have been focusing on finding new investigators, because right now we only have a few investigators that are actually progressing. Zully and Manuel had their baptismal interviews, and will be baptized this Saturday, and we are super excited. We are hoping that Andres Torres will be able to baptize them. They are great, and are moving along really well. 
This week we had our first lesson with Jefferson, who heard the missionaries about 3 years ago. He still has his copy of the Book of Mormon, and is super excited to remember everything he learned when the missionaries were first teaching him. He told us he was going to introduce us to his family, and we are really excited to find new people. 
This Saturday we went to the temple with our investigators as part of an activity we do every month, and it was really cool to go again. We took with us Angela, who is really great, and loves the church. Her baptism was also planned for this week, but she didn't come to her interview, or to church, so we are going to see tomorrow what happened. When we were at the temple, I saw Elder Cribbs who lived across the hall from me at BYU, which was really cool! I was so excited to see an old friend. He is in the MTC here in Bogotá, and is going to Bolivia on his mission. At the temple I also saw Elder Hurtado, and President Dyer from the MTC.
Other than that, not much happened this week. im still loving it here, and having a great time with Elder Martinez. We are working hard, and seeing the fruits of our labors. I love this mission, and I am so content to be serving the Lord. 
Thanks so much for reading,
Elder Beck
Pictures: 
Missionary friends, us at the temple, and our old district.