I have 20 years!

Week 41

March 24, 2014

Hey Guys!

Hope you had a great week!

I turned 20. Or, as a Peruvian would say, I have 20 years. That's kind of a lot. We kicked it off by my companion calling me up to help her get something and had me open the cabinet. I knew it was a trick. So what was in the cabinet? Oh nothing. She just used it as a distraction to crack a raw egg on my head and then pour flour on me! That was pretty fun! 

Then we went and had a lesson with Dante. He has family that are members but they don't come to church. One Sunday he just came to church on his own! We invited him to be baptized on the 12th of April and he said yes. Happy birthday to me!

Then we walked around a lot because no one was home.

Then the sister leaders made me real pancakes and they even found maple syrup. It was sohoho good. 

Also for my birthday we got another companion. She was serving in Venezuela but it's too dangerous, so there are only Venezuelan missionaries there now. This last transfer she wasn't allowed to leave her room because of the things happening outside. A member brought them food. She read everything. She's great!

But now there are transfers and she is going somewhere else. I'm staying here with Hermana Valverde! Woohoo! 

Also this week we had an awesome ward activity. The guys did free car washes.  While people were waiting for their cars, we gave them tours of the chapel. There were so many people that said they didn't know they were allowed in, or that they thought we were closed off people. but now they know we are not a cult!  And our churches are great. And now they will feel more comfortable to come on a Sunday. 

Anyhoo love you guys! I took pictures but the computer isn't recognizing my sd card reader....boo. But picture me in your heads. With egg and flour plastered on my head and dripping down my clothes. Have a great week!  

Week 40

March 19, 2014

Well, Hello!

This week was pretty good.  We met a new investigator, Norka. We met her when she came into the open chapel because there were people outside doing carnival and she didn't want them to get her wet. We taught her and her sister and they are pretty prepared. They would ask us questions that led perfectly into what we were about to explain, which was awesome. We taught them the restoration and her sister told us she thought it was true. Awesome! They are named Betsi and Norka. We hope they will keep progressing. Sometimes we meet cool people and then they go on a trip or something and it gets hard. But summer vacation just ended and school is back in so hopefully that will stop happening and we can keep teaching them! And hopefully we will get back with Laura and Ale who I talked about last week. 

Sometimes people diss on sister missionaries, which is kind of awful, but it's okay because it helped me reflect a lot this week. A mission isn't necessary for all sisters, and it is a personal choice with lots of prayer for everyone, but I know I needed to serve one. I have grown a lot in 9 months and it kind of required stopping for a second and looking back to realize that. I still have a long way to go but I am grateful that the Lord is using my mission as a way to teach me a lot of things that I needed to learn.  I really am grateful to be here. We are where we are for a reason. So we will see what happens next! Transfers this week. Love you guys! Sorry no pictures, I forgot my sd card adapter. But love you all the same! 

Hermana beckstead

Tukuy Sunquywanmi Munakuyki

Week 39

March 9, 2014

 

I bet you've all been wondering how to say ¨I love you with all my heart¨ in Quechua. That is how. 

Well, first of all, a new missionary arrived from a different mission. So they stole away Hna. Hansen to be her companion in a new area. So it´s back to being a normal companionship (not a trio). It is really weird. Two is the loneliest number you could ever feel. Just kidding. But good. So I´m with Hna. Valverde and she is wonderful.

Joe got baptized! It was awesome! And his dad, a recent convert (who recently was ordained to the priesthood) was able to baptize him! It was soooo awesome to see that cycle. They both shared their testimonies afterwards. Joe said what he felt was indescribable but that he felt as if Jesus was by his side. And Felix said he didn't have words to describe it but he felt very happy. The testimony part is always the best. 

Speaking of water, they kept doing Carnival. We had a member with us and when we saw a big truck full of shirtless men with lots of water she acted like it was World War 3 and rushed us to cover. And we made it out unscathed. But then a little later, they got me. A little kid throwing water out of his car window. Well played Peru, well played. They got me. The Quechua women here have awesome hats, and when it´s raining or whatnot they just put plastic bags over the hat. Doesn't matter if they get wet, just not the hat. I love it. 

Also this week we taught a first lesson to a mother and daughter we found contacting. First, the mom, Laura is MARRIED. That is so cool. And rare here. And Alejandra asked all the perfect questions, like s there something after this life? And will we be able to see our loved ones after we die? Basically a missionary´s dream come true. We just answered the questions very simply and the Spirit was so strong. He always testifies best to simple, true statements. But it was seriously incredible. As the words came out of my mouth the Spirit was tangible in the room. I think it was the strongest I have ever felt the Spirit in the field. It just strengthened my testimony that there are people here that need the Gospel. They have questions and we can help them find the answers and the peace that the answers will give their soul. Heavenly Father is so mindful of His children and where they are, and He helps us find them. Just trust in Him always!

I hope you all have a great week! I love you tons!

Pictures- the trio goodbyes

the baptism

and I promise Joe´s not just happy because he has some awesome cake in his hand.The cake was really good but the baptism was better...

Tukuy Sunquywanmi Munakuyki!

Hermana Beckstead

" Hehehehe. Hit my 9 month mark."

Paros, Cambios, y Bastante Agua

Week 38

March 3, 2014

Strikes, Changes, and lots of water. That pretty much sums it up. Hi everyone!  This week was NUTS. Okay, Monday and Tuesday Cusco went on strike. So that´s fun. Also, Carnival was this week. We got water balloons thrown at us and foam sprayed at us. Okay, that part was actually really fun. It was hot at first, so I just embraced it and held my arms out and smiled real big and then they would attack me. Hermana Hansen was less excited to have them thrown at her. And then there was a companionship in the mission with some problems I guess... so emergency transfer. They stole away Hermana Luque and gave us another missionary. Really sad sad day. I guess our trio was too awesome to last forever. But she´s really great. She´s named Hermana Valverde and she is from Trujillo. So maybe you are wondering if we got any missionary work done. Well, yes we did!

We have been teaching Yoe all of my time here. He is the son of a really great recent convert. He just hasn't really understood baptism, so he didn't really want to do it. But he is an awesome kid. We kept visiting him and his dad. This week Yoe had studied in his faith in God book all about baptism. And when we got to their house he just started teaching us all he learned. And he had learned a lot. And wanted to be baptized! It was really cool because he was so excited to teach us and he read us like three baptism scriptures. So yeah super cool. His baptism is Saturday.

Crazy week. But good week. But sad. But good. Also, I have less than half my mission left. That´s just too weird to think about. So let´s not! Love you guys! Have an awesome week! 

Hermana Beckstead

Oh yeah. And the church is true. And someday, the gospel will just click for people. So don´t give up on your friends. God has a plan for all of us, we just need patience.  Love you all!

Week 37

February 24, 2014

Hey Guys! 

So this week we walked a lot. How is it that everyone always disappears at the same time? Huh. But walking around is much more exciting when it´s Carnival!  Carnival is basically a huge South American water fight in the month of February.  We've had several water balloons thrown at us now, but nobody´s really got us yet. I just always smile and hold my arms out real big at all the little kids with water balloons and then I say ¨casi ¨when they miss. Basically I am just really asking for it. This Sunday, though, is when they really go crazy, so maybe someone will get me. 

Remember Ernesto? The awesome old man that´s the best? Yeah. Well we were teaching him and his wife and at the end, she gave us a nice drink (Cusco weather is kinda nuts. This week has been really hot. It just feels like the sun is too close...) but anyway. We were drinking it and Hna. Luque just looks at me and she´s smiling about something but I didn´t know what. So I just made a face at her and kept drinking. And then she starts to laugh but she had drink in her mouth so it starts coming out. But then it continued for awhile, and upon further inspection it was vomit. Lots of vomit. Lots of pink vomit. It was like a fountain that just never stopped and kept going onto her hands, skirt, and legs. And we were just like, is this real life?  It was just really surprising!  Hna. Luque was surprised too. She said she felt great and she just couldn´s stop laughing. She said my face killed her. Oops. And why do we always die of laughter there?  But we cleaned it up right away and apologized profusely and apologized some more and disinfected and apologized some more and left. It was just very strange. The weird part is where we got to the point where we usually ask when we can come back again, but I just couldn't get myself to say it.  But hopefully sometimes we get the courage up to go back because they are really so awesome. 

It seems that Hno. Farfan (my favorite less active member) read some anti-Mormon stuff. So that was really sad sad. Praying for him.

Roxanna talked with her boyfriend and it went well. I´m so proud of her.

Well, I realize this was a strange email. But it was a strange week, so there it is!  Love you guys tons! The church is true!

Hermana Beckstead

The Trio

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!