Os digo. Vosotros. Como estais. estais. estais. So fun.

Week 36

February 17, 2014

Emma's Christmas package finally came so they put together the gingerbread house just in time for Valentines!

Hey Guys! Hope you had a great week! This week was pretty nuts.

Monday: found out that Hermana Smedley had a transfer. Really really sad.

Tuesday: say goodbye to Hermana Smedly. Really really sad. Another Hermana from our house left too. So that day I hung out with Hermana Florian, and when her new companion got here we became a trio.

Wednesday: Spent the day in said trio. We had a great lesson with Olimpia and her sister Vilma too. They face a lot of opposition in their family because whenever there is a family get together there is drinking. But now the two are trying to quit. So they can help each other during the family get togethers. Before, Olimpia had told us how she doesn't really understand the scriptures that well. We invited her to pray before reading to help her understand what she reads. This lesson we were talking about baptism and how you need the authority to do it, and she´s just like, oh like in this chapter where Christ gave Nephi the authority to baptize? And we were just like, wow, good job! And she´s just like, Gracias a Dios. She is so cool. She said she prayed for help and while she was reading she wasn't really understanding but then afterwards she remembered all this stuff! Blessings come after the trial of your faith. Don´t give up..... 

Thursday: My companions took so long to get here because they came from Puerto Maldonado, the Jungle, and the road was super messed up and mudslides and stuff. But they made it! And they brought Hermana Ostler by to visit for a second. That was a second of Justin Bieber singing being crazy bliss. But just for a second, then she had to go. So yeah! 2 companions! Bunk bed.

Friday; I don´t remember.

Saturday: I don´t remember.

Sunday; My favorite less active came to church again! Hermana Farfan. Seriously, that family is the best. They are almost reactivated in the church. 

My companions- Hermana Luque. She is 19 and was born in Ecuador but lived most of her life in Spain. So basically I am just always saying, ¨como estais vosotras?¨as we are walking down the street in a trio. I should probably learn how to say more stuff in Spain Spanish. But she´s great! And also, I would like to publicly and profoundly thank Hermana Ostler (her last companion) for teaching her ¨Man, I feel like a woman¨by Shania Twain. I´m not sure if she knows what all the words mean, but I will never get tired of her singing it. Ever.

Hermana Hansen- remember her? MTC! Yeah, I got a companion from my group! It´s really fun. Because she is the same good old Hermana Hansen but now we know Spanish and we are like real missionaries. She´s from Payson and went to BYU. 

Basically it was a crazy week but I am so excited to get to real work with my new companions! 

They Tried To Make Me Go to Rehab...

Week 35

February 13, 2014

But I said no, no no! Don't worry, I'll explain that later. Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great week! 

So let me tell you about Yon.  Hermana Smedley and her old companion visited him and his less active family about a month before I came, but hadn't been able to go back since. In that lesson Yon didn't believe in God. Well, we were able to make another appointment, and when I was talking to Yon I wasn't sure if it was the same person Hermana Smedley had described to me. He was great and seemed to have lots of faith in God. So we told our mission leader about our investigator in Kaira (pronounced like cousin Kyra - shoutout! It means 'frog' in Quechua, fun right?) and he wanted to come with us on our next appointment because he had a reference for us there. There was a former investigator in Kaira that he had a dream about and needed to go back to visit. So our mission leader is showing us the reference's house and turn by turn, it turned out to be Yon's house. Apparently about a year ago he almost got baptized. God led us to him again, so maybe now is his time.

Remember Vilma (Melani's mom)? That same day we met and taught Olimpia (Vilma's sister and Melanie's aunt) She has a lot of desire to follow God but is living with someone and sometimes has trouble with drinking. But we are working with her. She already has recognized an answer to her prayer through a dream (seriously, lots of dreams here). We invited her to be baptized and she told us she wouldn't commit because she was scared she would drink again and she knew baptism was something to be taken seriously. While she was talking, the Spirit brought a scripture to mind. I had her read D&C 39:10 and we didn't say anything afterward. Just silent. The scripture was so perfect, and the Spirit touched her heart and she eventually just said, "Well, it says it quite clearly, doesn't it?"  She felt the Spirit so hard it was fun to watch. She has many hurdles left but it was an incredible lesson. The gospel isn't for perfect people. It is what helps us change so that one day we can become perfect in Christ.

We have an investigator who is very addicted to cigarettes. This week my companion and I were studying about overcoming addictions in Preach My Gospel and we got to an activity that said to think of a habit you have, something you do without even thinking. I told Hermana Smedley, "I think I have an addiction to speaking English" and she was just like, "yep, that's it."  So we gave up English. We have made sooooo many language goals together and failed at all of them. But this would be like a new twist. I asked Hermana Smedley what the rules would be - like if there would be any exceptions when we could speak English and she asked if those with an addiction could drink just one drop of Alcohol - it's still alcohol. Good point. So we quit English cold turkey and it was hard! On one particular occasion I accidentally without thinking spoke in English to Hermana Smedley and she responded in English and we realized it with horror at the same time. A few minutes later I caught myself singing the "They tried to make me go to rehab" song and I realized that I must be in the denial stage! The next day is when I hit rock bottom. I found out the Olympics had started and I started to sing "God Bless the USA" at lunch. And wow. For some reason these past weeks I have just come to realize that I LOVE America so much. And I wasn't homesick, I just love America!  And I got emotional. And started to cry! I was just trying to explain to my comp and all I could say was "I just love America". I felt like that girl on youtube with the "I love cats" video. She just makes that statement and begins to cry. Except America is way cooler than cats. And I think Hermana Smedley was just kinda confused so she's just like, "you can take a few English moments if you want".  And then I realized how addicted people feel. It was like drinking away the tears. So okay, that's gotta stop.  And yeah, we are still working on it. But the road to recovery is long and hard. So just don't get addicted to anything, ever. That's my advice (reminds me of Michael Scott's advice: don't do anything to anyone, for anyone reason, at anytime, ever, at all, for any reason...      Well. Yeah. And I'm staying in San Jeronimo but they are taking Hermana Smedley away from me. It looks like I'm going to be in a trio with a gringa and a latina so I will speak Spanish. Promise. Love you all! Have a great week!

God Bless The USA

Week 34

February 3, 2014

I love America. And all things American. I got my package today! Thanks family! And happy Christmas! 

So we are still working with Roxana (Traci´s mom) and, wow, it is amazing. We were going to have a lesson and she had to reschedule, but she was like, could we just do a little prayer? It was so cute. And we gave her a pamphlet to read for the next lesson. She actually read it. People never do that on the first time! Okay, well I guess ¨never¨ doesn't work here anymore. And she is reading the Book of Mormon. This week we were walking to her house to teach her and I was thinking about what we had planned to teach her and it just didn't seem exactly right. And I told my companion and we chose something else but I still felt kind of iffy. Well when we got in there and were getting ready to start the actual lesson, I knew what to teach! We taught the law of chastity and it was the best! It was cool because she understood it´s importance very quickly, because she has seen many consequences in her life from breaking it. She is living with someone right now and it´s pretty bad, although he is gone far for work now. He hits her. And it makes me sick. But we can´t counsel people on personal decisions, just teach the doctrine. But we felt prompted to have her pray right then and there with us. And she did. Her prayer was so beautiful. She asked for forgiveness in her life, and she asked for help. She finished the prayer and we didn't even have to ask. She just told us, ¨I know it´s going to hurt, but I think I need to separate.¨ Wow. She is so amazing! She is changing so much and accepts what we teach! I know the Lord has prepared her, especially through her daughter´s baptism.

My favorite less active came to church Sunday! I love teaching him because his family is there to support him and he is so honest with us. He tells us his concerns and his complicatedish questions. And sometimes I don´t know how I teach in there. I really do feel like the Lord´s instrument. Like it´s not me teaching. Because things just come out of my mouth really well, and in an easy, bold, way. We had a lesson and he just prayed and gave thanks that people accepted him and were nice to him at church even though he left it for awhile. He thanked God and asked him to bless his angels who found his lost sheep. Oh man. That was a payday moment. I´m loving being on the mission! 

Also, I read this awesome quote this week. "There is neither man or woman in this church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it´s to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they obtain eternal life." Pres. Brigham Young

Andddd, do family history!  Äs you receive priesthood ordinances in behalf of those who have died, you become a Savior on mount Zion for them (Obadiah 1:21). Your effort approaches the Spirit of the Savior´s atoning sacrifice -you perform a saving work for others that they cannot do for themselves.¨- True to the Faith. That was really strong to me too.

And sorry. I can´t really think of a funny story right now, but I love you guys and have a great week! 

Hermana Beckstead

Week 33

January 27, 2014

Hey Guys! Hope you had a great week!

This week we taught Melani's family. It was great!  We asked a member to come with us and we got to the house and when they opened the door the member was like, "Oh, these are my friends!" Haha so that was great! 

Gillermina has come to church every week since we found her. This week she brought her two kids and grandkids. She just kind of dances into the chapel and looks so happy to be there. I need to take a picture with her sometime.

And we are teaching this recent convert here and he is the best! He is super old and makes my day whenever we visit! He's kind of blind, but you wouldn't be able to tell just by watching him. He reminds me of Great Grandpa Brown. He always wears some hat that looks like it came straight from Newsies. And I just love him and his wife. We were teaching them about family history (by the way, reading about family history in the book True to the Faith just made me want to come home and do that instead AWESOME!)  Well they always put me in a laughy mood anyway because they don't understand my comps questions, the guy always is the one to fetch the wife her scriptures, even though he can't see. They are just too adorable and the things they say make me laugh. Well, we were singing Families can be Together Forever and I look up and in a matter of seconds Ernesto had fallen asleep and, I don't know what happened, but I just couldn't control myself and started laughing, startling the poor old man awake. And then my comp started. And we couldn't stop. Like really. WE COULD NOT STOP. And I'm not really a giggly person. But after various failed attempts, we finished the song with much difficulty. Luckily, we were able to pass off our uncontrollable, unjustified laughter, as some serious respiratory issues. And Ernesto just was telling us how it's because Cusco is so dry (Which, why is Cusco so dry? It rains all the time! I guess it's because we are so high) -But yeah, they are my favorite. And that is my embarrassing missionary story of the week.

I love you all tons!

Hermana Beckstead

That Awkward Moment when your investigator asks you out on a date - you definitely did NOT explain your purpose well enough!

Week 32

January 20, 2014

So that happened.

But don´t worry- this week was AWESOME! In December I started keeping a miracle calendar - writing down one for everyday. And sometimes it was hard to think of one for everyday. And Ollantay was a hard place. But I kept doing the calendar. But I think I´ve passed that little trial and gone to missionary miracle heaven! Seriously. Here´s a few of the awesome things that happened this week:

• The other day we were trying to get to know a certain area better and talked with a member there about other members that lived close. She told us about a young woman named Melani who lived with her non-member parents. Happy Birthday missionaries! She wasn't exactly sure where she lived, but she said she'd be at church. But then we didn't see her. Not happy birthday, missionaries. A couple days later I studied about the importance of not only teaching, but finding people to teach by the Spirit. After plans fell through, we were walking to a potential investigator´s house when I saw a street. And I just wanted to knock doors there. On the second door, a nice woman answered. We got to talking and she told us that her daughter is a member of the church. What´s her name? MELANI. Ooh when that happened I just got the chills! We have an appointment with her tonight and we have an other member to come with us. I´m so excited!
•  Oh yeah. And our ward is huge. 1015 members, but only 380 attend.
• And then Traci. We were set for her baptism this Saturday. The font was filled and heated (I must never take American faucets for granted again. EVER. If I wanted hot water, I could just twist the red knob!) And it was time but Traci and her aunt and uncle hadn't come. We weren't really worried because people are just kinda late here. But as the time passed by we starting wondering and so we called the aunt. (Okay, just a little review. Traci lives with her aunt and uncle and they take care of her, but the legal rights haven´t been passed over yet. Her mom had to sign to giver her permission to get baptized) and she told us Traci´s mom had come and taken Traci away. The aunt couldn't get the mom to listen. She asked us to go talk to the mom. We offered a prayer in the chapel and went to the mom´s house. She finally came to the door and opened it just a crack and told us that Traci left with her dad (another separate house) but we kind of didn't believe her so we just kept the conversation going to I-don´t-really-know-what. We didn't really have a plan. It was all in His hands and we were going to do whatever He wanted us to. Eventually we saw Traci pass by in the background. She waaaaas there. Somehow we got in to the yard, and then she invited us into the actual house, and then let us sit down. We listened a lot. and said things the Spirit told us to. And her mom came to a conclusion. And somehow we came out of the house (probably about an hour and a half later) with Traci and her mom´s word to come to the baptism. We walked to the aunt´s work to tell her the baptism was back on. We just walked in with Traci and the aunt was watching Faith in Christ and had tears in her eyes and that was awesome. And then there was more stuff to take care of. But the point is that at about 9:00 pm we had one of the most beautiful baptisms ever. And it clearly touched the mom´s heart. She came to church the next day and just beamed. I asked her last minute (like, after someone else had been announced) to give the closing prayer at the baptism. And I'm glad I did. She said in it that she knew she hadn't done good things to help the baptism happen, but she was glad her daughter was able to baptized. It was crazy. And amazing. And Traci was so happy and is so golden. And now we are excited to try and help the mom follow her daughter´s good example.  

This week was awesome! Love you all so much! 

Hermana Beckstead

Papa Juan´s

Week 31

January 13, 2014

Well. Let me start off by saying that Cusco has a new mall.  A new, Americanish mall. That has PAPA JOHNS. We went there today and last pday after email. First hot American food in about 6 months. The happiest moment of my mission. Okay, don´t worry. That´s definitely a lie. But it was soooo good!



Okay. My first day here in my area the ward had a new years activity and we went to some. That´s where I met Traci. She's been going to church for awhile now, but the hermanas haven't taught her yet. She is living with her aunt and uncle (awesome members).  Hna. Smedley's last companion started talking with her at the activity and she's awesome! She already knows pretty much everything and she said she wants to be baptized to be a good example to her little sister. The only thing was that her mom isn't super involved in her life right now, and she would need her permission. But we made an appointment and fasted. She had some concerns but it went so great! Her mom gave Traci permission to make her own decision. The mom even came to church with us. From our first contact with her this was a miracle. Fasting is the best!

Okay so this week Hna. Smedley had a doctor visit so we didn't make appointments for that block of time, but then we talked with the doctor and my comp was a little better so he changed the appointment. So we had an hour and a half and no one to visit. We sat on a bench to think of where we could go, came up with some ideas, and headed off. Almost immediately, the relief society president ran into us and asked us to visit an inactive sister who was having a really hard time. She gave us her name and generally where she lived. We miraculously found her by asking a little. We met Giermina. She told us she was going in for surgery tomorrow (an accident with the bus) and her daughter was in Lima (she had a tumor that was causing vision problems).  Her other kids weren't home and she was pretty lonely. The next day we came back with a member to visit her after her surgery. She was really sad and lonely (her son hadn't come back yet) so we talked with her about blessings and asked if she would like one. We then offered a prayer for her and her daughter. So we came back the next day with the elders to giver her a blessing and she was SO HAPPY! Like hugging us and holding my hands and grabbing our faces, dancing happy. She told us that after our prayer she slept better than she had in a long time, and she woke up to a phone call from her daughter telling her that the tumor was gone. Completely gone. She told us she would come back to church. And she did. Her less active son even brought her. It´s just amazing. God loves His children sooo much and wants them to return back to Him and be happy so much that He makes miracles happen so they can find their way back to Him. I'm just grateful He let me be a little part of it. Really amazing experience. 

I saw Cusco referred to as a city high in the Andes Mountains, but since I'm here it just feels like a city in some beautiful, green, rolling hills. But if you want to remind yourself that really you are at about 11,000 feet above sea level, go run! Oh man that was a little difficult! But if feels good to be sore from a good run again.



It rains like crazy here. And our umbrellas take a whipping. Hna. Smedley's umbrella was already a little broken. Then a dog bit her and she tried to defend herself with her umbrella. She´ll be needing a new one of those. Then a bird pooped on her head. Then a huge moth flew out at me in our kitchen and I thought it was a bat. All in the same day.


Okay, one more story. We were talking with some members and one asked Hna Smeldey and I what happens if neither of us understands (Spanish). And for whatever reason, we understood but just really delayed. So he asked us what happens if neither of us understand and there was just a long, funny pause. Haha good stuff! But we are actually getting along great!


Remember that members are the best! And you are all helping in the work of salvation whether that means being a parent, a good friend, visiting or home teacher, or helping the missionaries. God loves us!


Oh, and read His Grace is Sufficient by Brad Wilcox.


Pics- some ruins we went to today and papa johns.
Love you all!
Hermana Beckstead

I don´t Think I´m In Ollantay Anymore...

Week 30

January 6, 2014

Hey Guys!  So I'm definitely in a very new place!  Let´s start from the beginning.

Monday I said my last goodbyes.  Specifically to Luz Marina and Rajoo. That was basically the worst ever. And I cried.

And then Hermana Olivares and I traveled to Cusco together (she is staying in Ollanta but is going to train a new missionary again).  We stayed at the apartment of some other hermanas in Cusco. And I thought it would be cool to see Hermana Coffey, but I wouldn´t get to because I thought they were traveling the next day.  But then I saw Hermana Coffey!  I guess the traveling days changed for the holiday. Oh it was sohohoho awesome to get caught up! 

Then the next day I went to my new area, San Jeronimo. I met my new companion, Hermana Smedley. We are going to be great friends. She just finished being trained and is also 19. She went to BYU for a year and she´s going to go running with me!  Ohhh, I am so happy. I miss running so much.  But not for long. We actually haven´t been able to go running this week, though, because Hermana Smedley has been super sick. She has had to go to the hospital a couple times this week to see the mission doctor. A Peruvian hospital wasn't actually too scary, and I got to be the doctor´s assistant for a little bit! Obviously, we were put together as companions because of my extensive medical experience....haha.  But hopefully the doctor figures out what is wrong soon. 

And man. Here there is a ward! Not a branch! The difference is crazy! When I found out they actually do family history here I just wanted to cry tears of joy. And we have a ward mission leader! And we have a hipster bishop! Okay, maybe not exactly a hipster. But he´s a cool cat. They have to use a speaker in Relief Society Class. And they give us references! 

And my area is ginormous! We take buses everyday. Take the lion bus, but not the fox bus. and you can take the red bus, but not the star bus. And you take the batman bus if you want to visit Yolanda! You go to the street and wave down the right bus and then they have a person working at the door pushing (okay, not exactly) you onto the bus telling you subesubesubesube (get on get on get on) and then they have like an auctioneer voice calling off the stops and when it´s your stop you better let them know!  And then they let you off telling you bajabajabaja (get off get off get off) and you better have change, not bills!  So yeah. The bus seemed like a lot to take in but now it's just a fun daily adventure. 

San Jeronimo is also a lot different than Ollanta in the kind of people. In general I'm finding they are a little more educated (there is a college here, lots of young people) and a little more well off. Oh yeah. That reminds me. I took the hottest shower I've taken in a good long while. It was SO awesome. We live in a house, four of us hermanas. Three are gringas! Out of the three I have the most time in the mission! But when my companion and I are done binge-English speaking, we will speak more Spanish. Promise. Wow there is so much that is different I don't even know.  But I'll probably think of more stuff. And hopefully my companion will get better so we can teach more.  But I've already had some great lessons where I just felt the Spirit awesome!  There are some prepared people here!  Someone actually stopped US on the street to talk to us. It's kind of like missionary heaven. Once my companion gets better, I will have more to report next week!  Love you tons!