Week 14

I´m a Scorpion Killer, I´m a Wedding Planner, I believe in miracles, and I´m a Mormon

Hello! I hope you all had an awesome, scorpion-free week. I had an awesome, but not scorpion free week.

I´m a Scorpion Killer-This week we had a scorpion in our room. He was just a baby though. A little guy and his outside wasn't hard yet. But the fact that he was a baby didn't stop me from killing him mercilessly with a shoe. He is the third scorpion casualty in our room. The concerning thing is that if there´s one baby there might as well be a thousand because I´m pretty sure scorpions don´t have babies one by one. But don´t worry, I am dedicated to remaining vigilant and killing any scorpion on sight.

I´m a Wedding Planner- The other day was cool. We had an English class and family night planned- both of which fell through. Appointments didnt work out. But the saying which is cliche but so true came to pass, that when one door closes another opens. We had some time when something fell through so we went to see Aurora in the market to change an appointment we had. When we finished talking with her, there was someone waiting to talk with us. She approached us and asked if we were from the church of Jesus Christ of saints. We said yes and she said she wants to learn more about our church. Whaaaa? Happy Christmas everyone! Missionary dream come true. Anyway her name is Margara. She and her boyfriend want to get married. They feel their life isn't exactly in line with God´s will and they want to start their married life off right. Her boyfriend doesn't come to church much but did teach her how to pray. He didn't know exactly how to go about teaching her more about the church and that´s where we come in. We had an awesome lesson on the Restoration and they have a baptismal and wedding date for October 12. Taylor, Cammie, and Elise- ¨They´re finally gettin married they're finally gettin married they're finally getting married, it's a party in Agrabah!¨.

I believe in Miracles- we were in need in serious of help this week to help us meet our goals. We needed to find new investigators. We decided to fast and then go to this little town in our area that I´ve never been to before. It was probably about a 30 minute walk. It didn't take long to meet the `person I think we needed to. Her name is Lydia. She told us that before when she was having a hard time, and after just praying, some missionaries like us knocked on the door and shared a message with her. She felt this was her prayer being answered. They left and after she reopened the door, maybe just to see where they were going next or something. She said no one was to be seen. I don´t know if they were missionaries or angels, but I do know that the Lord answers prayers and prepares people to have the faith to listen to our message. It´s so true how He prepares things to come about in His time and His way. 

The church is true! Love you guys! Have a great week!

Hermana Beckstead

Week 13

¨I'm King I'm King Lalalalalala¨ (read in the voice of the hyena from lion king please) and if you don't know what I’m talking about then go watch the lion king again

September 9, 2013

Hey Family Wamily and Friends!  Hope your week was swell! 

 My Week:

First of all, I have a new companion! Her name is Hermana Caicedo. She is 26 and is from Ecuador. She is going home in October, so I will be getting another new companion next change. She’s got a lot of personality. I have heard some people mention she has a likeness to Whoopi Goldberg. I’m not very familiar with Whoopi, but if she’s really spunky then yes, I would probably agree.

The fun thing about this transfer is that I have a title!  A title I didn't know even existed, but nonetheless, a title. It’s called Director of the Area, and basically means King of the World! Since my comp doesn't know the area and I do, I am the king. Can you tell that I haven’t let it go to my head at all? Haha. No, but it is kind of fun. At first it was scary the first planning when I realized I had to do it basically by myself. But now it’s kind of fun because if I feel like we need to visit someone I can just say we are going to do it! 

For example, as King of the World, I wanted to go back and visit someone Hermana Olivera and I had contacted. His name is Manuel. We were talking to him just a little bit inside his door and, surprise; I invited him to be baptized! You just never quite know when those are going to sneak up on you as a missionary. That was Saturday and we haven’t invited him for a specific date yet but I’m really excited for him. I think he can progress. 

Also, Luz Marina is still doing great. This week she and Rajjoo came out with us for a little bit. She also has the desire to be baptized for her mom and grandma. Also, our branch finally got a gospel principles class so she can go to that now. Yay! 

Elena and Roxana. This week I was so happy when they kept their commitment to read and pray. The thing here is even if people listen and read and pray it is still really hard for them to change because of their really strong catholic tradition. She asked us how she could change her religion. She was baptized and married in the Catholic Church and has raised her 11 children this way also. They accepted the teaching well but it is hard for them to accept attending a different church. Hopefully we have progress with them soon. 

This week we were having lunch and I found some shrimp swimming in my soup. Okay, well that makes it sound like they were alive. At least they were dead, but they were whole. Like complete with the head and these long antennae looking things. For the old, non-missionary Emma, this would have been torture. But I want you all to know that I handled my trial of faith with calmness and an eye of faith. As faith always brings blessings, so was mine. I learned that it was optional to eat the head. I opted out and gave my heads to Elder Villa. Also we had this soup for dinner too. Also this day we had two lunches and two dinners. My poor little stomach! So don’t be surprised if I come home bieeeen gordita. Also the other day I had an unmentionable part of a chicken in my soup that will go unnamed in this email. I’m getting a lot of practice to get better at trying new things. 

Hope you all have an awesome week!

Love, Hermana Beckstead

Week 12

September 2, 2013

Just pictures this week! Love the wild pig in the 1st pic and how tiny the doors are in the last one!

Week 11

August 26, 2013

Alpacas are friends, not food

Hey Everybody! This week was pretty spectacular. On Tuesday we went to Machu Picchu. One of the coolest parts was the bus ride to Machu Picchu up into the Andes. It was really beautiful. Peru is super cool. I also enjoyed hanging out with some llamas for a while, because I’ve been feeling a little llama deprived. Speaking of llamas, this week I ate alpaca with our pensionista. It wasn’t bad, but I have reached the decision that I like them better as friends.

This week we met a really cool lady, another reference of Hermana Juanita! This lady is in her late 70s but is young because her mother lived to be 115 years old and her father was 125, I think she said. She has cool gray and white hair and she’s nice and smiley. She is a recent find so we haven’t had the chance to teach her much yet but I’m very excited for her.

Also this week I learned that the Spirit works in interesting ways. We were walking and I had the thought come to my head that we were close to this one lady’s house and I shared this with my comp and she had just received the same thought. She told me this was this spirit working and we needed to stop by. We went to her house and I was excited for something spectacular. She wasn't home. But on the way back from her house we met a woman carrying a bunch of stuff so we helped her. She invited us to visit her in the market the next day and we did so. She is a recent find too, but I think we will have success with her. 

There is a less active we have been working with and this week his wife was sick. We were talking about having the elders come over to give her a blessing and she asked her husband something along the lines of why won’t you give me a blessing? This was a really cool moment. I think the Spirit is working on him to get him back active in the church. I hope he will. 

This week my comp asked someone if she was going to have a baby. She wasn't pregnant. Never guess! Ever. 

Speaking of my sweet comp, today we said goodbye. She has served the Lord faithfully and now its time to return home. It was a pleasure to serve with her and she taught me so much. I feel very blessed and it was hard to say goodbye. But this is why it is important to endure to the end. If we both do so, we can have a reunion in heaven. Now I am in a trio with the Urubamba sisters and tomorrow I will find out my new comp. 

Love you all lots and hope this week is the BEST for you!

Lots of love,

Hermana Beckstead