Saturday, October 31, 2015

Week 7 in Campina

Week #94
10/26/15
Well, this week went pretty well. On Tuesday, we had the meetings for trainers and new missionaries pretty much all day. Well, the funny part was when we were sitting in the chapel, and President Baquerizo was announcing the new companionship's. I was sitting with the trainers, and I saw that there were 4 of each left. 3 of the new missionaries were gringos, and one Latin. the trainers were 2 and 2.
One of us would train a gringo. I was the last one left to be assigned, and my new companion is Elder Ibañez from New Mexico. We got on a bus up to the terminal at 6, took off around 7, and got home at 11:30. It was a very long day. Wednesday morning we stayed home, Elder Ibañez was feeling sick.

So a little about Elder Ibañez. He´s from New Mexico, his dad´s family comes from Chile, and his mom´s from Mexico. He already speaks a lot of Spanish, so that's pretty easy. He is kinda shy, but is very obedient, and knows why he is here. Its very strange having a companion that speaks English. So strange.

This week was full of good work. President yet again raised the bar on finding, and it challenged my faith. It has definitely, however, made me work harder, and I love it. We are talking to more people in the street, and trying to find more through the members. I feel the spirit more working hard, and It has been really neat.

This week we actually had investigators at church, and a few! First was Andrea, a lady we found 6 weeks ago tracting. She went on vacation for about a month, but now she´s back, and super excited about church.
Its such a blessing having such great investigators. Juan and Ana also came to church for the first time, and they've read from the Book of Mormon! I was so happy when they told us, we've been trying so hard for them, for so long. Its great to see them progressing, and a lot. The last people who came to church was the Mora family, who we found last week. They left after the first hour, because the husband was having some knee pain. It was amazing having people in church again, and I felt so blessed.

I have learned this week to follow the Spirit more, and to love unconditionally. I feel like I have become the missionary Ive wanted to be my whole mission, and I am so grateful for this time the Lord has given me. I know that God loves his children, and that he Always will help us to change and get better.

Thanks for reading!

Elder Beck

 Elder Ibanez y Elder Beck
 Grupo de Nuevos y sus companeros

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Week 6 in Campina

Week #93
10/19/15
Well, this week was very similar to the last few. Things went a little better. We have been visiting Jose Rojas more. We try to visit 3-4 times a week, 2 times a week teaching a lesson or a commandment, and the other 1-2 reading with him from the Book of Mormon. We have been able to create a good relationship with him. We have also been trying to visit 2 other investigators, Juan Sebastian and Ana the same way.
They are family of some recent converts, and they really want to be baptized, and do things right, but they have a lot of opposition. We are just being patient.

Now that this transfer is over, its really cool to see the transformation the area has had. We have found a lot of people who are really intent on changing their lives, and coming closer to God. Its special to know how much God trusts us. It is always a really special experience to visit someone who needs more of God in their lives, and helping them to understand correct principles and Christ´s doctrine. I am finding the more I focus on them in my prayers and thoughts, the better I can serve them.

This week the zone leaders talked to us about trusting in God. They asked us how we normally feel when an appointment falls through. One normally feels sad, because we cant help the person we had planned on teaching, and it can be discouraging when a lot of appointments fall.
I found that last week I had learned to trust in God more, and rely on the Spirit. On Tuesday, we had run out of plans around 7pm, at one end of our area. We prayed to God for inspiration, and my companion and I had different ideas. We decided to do them both. First, we got to have a good visit with a less active family, inviting them to share the gospel. We felt the spirit. Then, we went to a different part of our area, and when we got there, we weren't sure what exactly we were supposed to do. We decided to look for a lady we had contacted, and we talked to a few people, trying to find her house. The last people we talked to was a young couple, who accepted our visit, and are really great. It was amazing to see how God can guide us to the people who need to hear the gospel right now.

Well, transfers are in. A sister in the district finished her mission.
The other companionship will stay the same. My companion will be going to Fusagasugá, a pueblo outside of Bogotá. he´s really excited. He had been in this area for a while. I will be training, and I feel very privileged. I hope I spelled that right. Its probably wrong.
Pirvileged? Priveledged? Oh well. Tomorrow we have to be in the terminal at 6:30, and we will get on a bus to Bogotá. The bus ride should be around 3 hours, I believe. I am very excited.

I know that God loves us, and that He is always ready to guide us. He wants to be a great part of our lives. WE show him our love when we keep his commandments.

Thanks for reading!
Elder Beck

pics
a dog bit me, i made crepes and the chocolate sauce, the zone



Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Week 5 in Campina

Week #92
10/12/15
Well, this week began with the same challenges with appointments falling through. It can get really discouraging, but I think that maybe things are better this way because the people who don't really want to listen wont, and well spend our time looking for people with really interest. The other thing that has helped me a lot has been my scripture for the week, from DC, that I shared in my last email. Just trusting that this is Gods work, and relying on him has helped me to be calmer and work better.

This week we had some coo experiences finding. That has gone good for us. Not from anything we did, but just seeing the Lord provide for us.
On Tuesday we knocked on a whole street with no success. We got to the bottom of a hill, and sat down and said a prayer, asking God to help us find someone to teach. Just after we finished our prayer, an man came out of his house, set up some chairs near us, and stared talking to us. We ended up teaching him and his family right there. A young man also joined us, who was raised in the church, but was never baptized. His mom is a member, and we should meet all the family this Friday. That was really neat.

This week we taught Jose Rojas more, and he has really begun progressing. He is an older man in a wheelchair, who is a friend of a recent convert family here. He has been really sick, and we met him at church 3 weeks ago. He had listened to the Elders years ago, and is really receptive. We are passing by twice a week to read with him, and twice a week to teach the lessons. He attended church this Sunday, which rocked, and has a date for the 24th! We really hope that he´ll make it!

This week we have plans to get the members more involved in the teaching process. We hope to have members in the lessons to our investigators that accept baptismal dates. Its a big challenge here.
The members are really busy, everybody is ALWAYS working. Things are going better with my companion, and its strange to think that next week Ill enter my last transfer in the mission.

This week Ill ponderize Alma 13:28. I really like the instructions Alma gives to help us put off the natural man, and become saints.
Every week, I am writing my scripture on the mirror in my bathroom.
Its quite effective.

This week has taught me a lot, and I know that God loves us, and guides us. I know that our challenges are to help us grow, and we need to face them with the right attitude. I know that the Book of Mormon is God´s word for us in these latter days.

Thanks for reading!

sorry, I forgot my camera.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Week 4 in Campina

Week #91
10/5/15
This week was difficult, the same problems as the last week. I´m not really sure what to write about this week. Its very strange to think how fast time has gone by. Its really sad if you've never heard a missionary tell you about ending the mission before. Thinking of leaving this life and work behind is hard, because it is so gratifying being completely about the Lord´s work all the time. I think that if I was offered to extend my mission, I might.

General conference was really great! I enjoyed listening to the talks, and they humbled me a lot. President Monson scared me in his talk, his physical condition was alarming. Lets not forget to pray for him. I very much enjoyed hearing inspired messages that comforted, instructed, and corrected me. I decided to ponderize DC 101:16, ¨Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.¨ It helps me not to worry, and just trust the God is taking care of everything.
That if I do my part, I will pull through the difficulties.

I had been thinking a lot this week how unfair it had been that we were working hard, and nobody would really listen to us and keep their commitments. I was frustrate thinking that if God had me here, that I had prepared myself and become so trained as a missionary, why wouldn't he give me all the prepared people so I can just baptize them all?
Obviously such is not the case. I felt humbled in the talks as the authorities talked about adversity and trials. I was reminded that as a missionary, things are not about me, that I need to be meek and accept God´s will. I learned in companionship study from Alma, that if everyone rejects us, that we still have a reason to rejoice, because we are faithful to God.

None of our investigators come to conference, but that's okay, someone should come to church this week.

I know that God answers prayers, and that the Spirit can inspire us in our lives. I know God is aware of me and you, and that He loves us. i know that when we decide not to doubt nor complain, the Spirit can comfort us in our afflictions.

Thanks for reading!
Elder Beck

pictures: the zone, and a tamal (tamales)