Week #16

Amis

BONJOUR everyone!!! Had a super fun week this week. On Tuesday we had District meeting, and an apartment inspection! We passed - Woot Woot! Then right after that I went on a split with the District Leader he is so tight! We just pretty much hung out the whole day we went out to eat and had a super fun time! Taught 2 good lessons as well! Then we both realized that we both needed to go to Brussels together for Legality stuff. So we went went on an exchange the next day to Brussels! We went into Elder Karl's sector and Elder Karl's Companion is friends with the DL so we all went out and ate together and stuff. It was so much fun! I got to go to Mons - it's so pretty there! It got voted the prettiest ville in all of Belgium! (That's what the picture is of) On Thursday my companion was sick.  We stayed inside for almost the whole day. But we taught a lesson to one of our new amis (Ami means investigator I'm going to start using that now because it's a ton easier) anyway his name is Achile he is soooo sweet and so is his family! So glad we went to it. Then we just went knocking on doors that night and this old man lost it at us and tried hitting me with is cane haha it was so funny. At the time it was a little scary though! On the 14th Elder Bates was sick again. We went to the church so I could  work on a Power Point I am making for the ward so they can actually learn how to Index. Then we just stayed inside all day again because my comp is still sick. We taught a lesson to an inactive family. Happy Valentines day to me! Then on Saturday we went contacting for a long time because I really want to find some new amis. We visited this dude who lives in our sector taught a way good lesson on faith! Come to find out his 9 year old son has never been baptized and he said he wants to be now! SOOOO good news everyone - probably going to have another baptism soon. Sunday was awesome! We went to church and after we taught Dario and 3 other young men 18 and up the importance of missionary work! They all committed to start preparing for missions - so freaking awesome! Probably the best lesson on my mission. The bishops son was baptized so we got to go to a baptism it was really good! Funny side story, when the bishop was walking up the steps after he just baptized his son, the littlest boy yelled out "Dad you're NAKED" because he could see is underwear hahahah so funny. Today I got a hair cut and its not as bad as last time. So there is some good news for ya! Love you guys thanks for all your emails! 

-Elder BECK

(phots one is of mons, other one is me and Elder Karl in Brussels)

Week #15

Day 100 of my mission! Time flies-I kid you not.

BONJOUR everyone! On Monday last week we started out the week super good! We had to go to Liege (in Belgium) for the night because we were leaving for Paris the next morning. We had to sleep over with the zone leaders because they had our tickets for the train. Anyways on the way up to Liege we contacted this guy on the bus.. super sweet guy. We taught him the whole 1st lesson on the bus. The only bummer was he doesn't live in our sector, he lives in the other Elders. We got all of his information and passed it. 2 days later the other Elder set a baptismal date with him on the 1st lesson!! So sweet! Then when we arrived in Liege we had 1hr until the zone leaders came and picked us up. So we got to walk around town and eat. It was super sick. Liege is a beautiful place! Then on Tuesday we had to wake up at 4 am to be able to get to Paris on time. The reason I went to Paris was for my French legality. I passed luckily. The process was weird though. I had to take off my shirt multiple times in public.  I got to see almost everyone in my old district which was super nice! It was really fast and we were out of there in like 2hrs so I didn’t get to see anything. I was super bummed. Then we came back to Charleroi and had dinner with a super sweet family in the ward! It was soooo good! On Wednesday we started making a Power Point for the ward to teach them how to do indexing. (thanks to my dads indexing Power Point back at home :). Some dude on the way there like flipped out at us for being Mormon. I’m still not sure why... Then we had another dinner with another super cool family in the ward that’s who I took the picture with they are so sweet. I got to play the guitar for them. On Thursday it was day 100 of my mission time flies, I kid you not. It was District Meeting that day. It was super fun our zone leaders came they are super cool and so is our new district leader. It has been pouring rain all week so contacting people has been pretty hard. But by some miracle people have taken time to listen to us! That day we got like 2 pass backs! We taught a lesson to a family on the bus! Friday was another pretty sweet day we taught this really cool man on the road his name was Achile, super interested wanted to come to church which like never happens! Then we went to a less active families house and the dogs were going crazy the whole time I wanted to kill them. But that’s all that really happened that day. Saturday day we had some really good lessons. We taught this family we met porting on doors. We taught them the first lesson it was good but I don’t know how interested they are. We had a really good road lesson. But she lives in Luxembourg so that was sad. We stopped by a referrals house and had a really good lesson! She is friends with members in the ward and I totally think she will be baptized! The only problem is she is really busy. But right after that the Hoffman family just stopped by randomly literally a minute after we left and she started crying because she felt the spirit so strong! We had ANOTHER good lesson with a dude that lives across the street from us he actually read the BOM like we asked which was a miracle in itself and he remembered what he read! Sunday was good as well! Church was super good we had 13 people in investigators class! Elder Bates had to give a talk. We taught Darios a short lesson. We had breakfast and lunch at Patricks house haha. Cabrinas farewell was that day and I was kind of sad I wasn't there! We we had two sweet miracles after. So we prayed for direction and I chose a road to go knocking on. Then I chose this random house. A lady with a family opens the door and was really interested. She told us to come back on Tuesday. I can’t wait to see her again! So that picked up my spirits! Then we are walking home and some random dude says you guys look cold come inside my house and have some coffee. So we went in and explained why we don’t drink coffee. He gave us water and told us that it was his Birthday! Gave us birthday cake and was just the nicest dude ever. It totally made my day. So thank you for the people that were praying for me because I know that’s the only reason why that happened. Today has been a sweet day too already! It’s Patricks birthday so we went and drove down to this super cool Charleroi castle haha Then we went BOWLING! So much fun!! And just went shopping so that explains the pictures.  I love you guys thanks for all your emails! 

Love

-Elder Beck

Week #14

3 month mark in Paris

I actually remembered my journal. I know it's a miracle! So I am going to start this one on Tuesday. We had a super weird morning. We had an appointment really early in the morning at 10:00. It was this guy named Gile. He is a dude from Africa. I contacted him on the street, and at first he came off as a really chill dude. But before we actually got in the apartment complex we were greeted by some friendly devil worshiper lady. She called the cops on us and stuff and was really vulgar and then slammed her door and broke it haha it was so funny. Then we had our RDV with Gile. He had over million questions. He did his studies. So it went nothing like what we practice taught for. Then the UPS guy called me and said that he dropped off my package to the wrong persons house and they are keeping it and there is nothing they or I can do about it so that stunk. And while we were porting I got attacked by a dog but he didn't rip my pants or anything so that was good. We knocked on 500 doors and got in 2 houses. Yea!  Wednesday was different as well because we went contacting for 3 hours, which feels like a whole day! Then we took a train to Brussels because we were staying over night to get ready to go to Paris on time. We had to wake up at 4am and sleep on the floor because there weren't enough beds.  They didn't tell us we needed to bring blankets! On Thursday I realized that I had been on my mission for exactly 3 months!! Kind of cool because it doesn't feel like that long. And we celebrated it in Paris!! Me and Elder Karl took the same train in the morning so we got to talk and tell stories for a long time until we arrived in Paris so that was really cool! I got to see almost everyone in my old district, that was super awesome! We heard a man in the quorum of the 70 speak. His name was Elder Kearon he did a super good job it was so awesome. We had Subway for lunch it was soooo good! This is a funny story so we missed our train on the way home (shocker I don't think I have ever actually caught a train 1st try) So we had to exchange our tickets and the only ones that were open on the next train were 1st class so we sat 1st class haha!!!   On Friday we had another RDV with Gile, it went better than last time. And to be honest nothing else really happened that day. Saturday it was my moms birthday!!!! A member showed me her facebook wall it was really cool! It rained like crazy that day and Patrick drove us around and we visited less active families! Then we gave a blessing to an investigators mom in the hospital. On Sunday Darios received the Aronic Priesthood! So cool the bishop gave him such a good blessing. I totally think he will serve a mission! Sunday was also national crepe making day so we made a bunch of crepes, they were so good! It has been warm here today! I will be going to Paris on Tuesday this week. It's about a 3 hour train ride from Charleroi to Paris. I love my mission president! I had an interview with him the first day I got here, and it was really good.  That's all though. I hope everyone had a good week! Thanks for everything, love you guys! Thanks for your prayers, I don't think I could do it without them. Remember to read your scriptures and pray :)

-Elder Beck

 Cool picture of the moon. Picture of the meat in Kangaroo and we bought it. I will let you know how it is.. 

Other one is all of us lost at the train station. haha.do it without them.

Week #13

I ate rabbit!

Ok sorry I totally forgot my journal again! So this one might be a little short... So first day of the new transfer (last Monday) we just had the normal p day thing going on. Then we went and had a family home evening with an  inactive family in the ward.  They made an amazing desert!  Then on Thursday we went and mapped out this really huge city full of the inactive people that live there. We spent a really long time searching for people and seeing if addresses were still valid. It was super cold this week! I bet its even colder back home though so sorry for everyone still in Utah! It snowed this morning (that's what the picture is of)! After we went and searched for people on Monday. Later we ate at a members house. I ate rabbit. It wasn't bad, but it was still weird.  We went and knocked on some doors it was good we got let it quite a bit. Mainly because it was so cold! On Wednesday we taught this guy in the morning.  His name is Piemie. He is an African man and really cool! He has had the missionary lessons before, but they dropped because he went to Africa for a while. He totally believes in our church and reads the BOM all the time, but he said he won't get baptized because he has already been baptized (diff church), really hard. Then we got bailed on a bunch that day but later we taught this guy.  We thought the lesson was going to go really bad, but it turned out it went really good! On Thursday we started off the day by going contacting. We met this super cool guy who asked us if he could come to our church - which has never happened before. He was super interested. Then later that night we had the ward meeting it was pretty cool.Then we taught a lesson that night. On Friday we did some weekly planning and mapped out another city to go find people in. Mapping out cities is super effective people! We taught a few lessons.  Then we taught a lesson to a Romanian family. Her two sons listened to the lesson, who were all really active at one time. We taught the Plan of Salvation, they like it a lot. I was really hoping that the lesson would go good. On Saturday we had lunch with Patrick (the super cool member in our ward) and went and tried to teach some less active families.  But that night we had a super good lesson with a recent convert and he really wants us to teach his brother so he came too and had a really good meal and a super good lesson. Then after that we went with them and watched that movie Courageous at the church. We didn't stay, but they really liked it.. There was a super crazy rain storm that we had to walk in FOREVER, and we went and did some pass-backs. On Sunday we went to church, it was good. We taught Darios a lesson about the priesthood and he its getting it next Sunday. So that is super cool. We are preparing him for a mission. We went to Patrick's and visited some people who didn't show up to church.  That night we taught a pretty good lesson to some old Catholics. And that's really all that happened this week. Next week we are going to Paris for a half of the mission zone conference one of the 70 is coming! It's going to be super sweet! And then back to Paris the following week for legality! Thanks for all your emails. I love you guys!
Elder Beck
The photos are when I found a skate board in an apartment complex. It was really weird because no one skates here. It was snowing this morning. And I found some cheese today that is 320 euros, super crazy!

Week #12

Darios was baptized

Hello everyone!!! OK so on Tuesday it was just a pretty normal day, but it was it was raining hard core so we stayed inside and did some area book work. We got bailed on by two of our lessons for that day so that was a bummer. We searched in the rain for 2hrs for a house that ended up not existing... But the day ended good! Darios had his baptism questions and passed! The DL said that it was his best interview yet. Then we taught a lesson to this lady named Margarita. She said that whenever we come over she gets a good feeling, so she invited her sister to come over.  Then we had dinner at the Bishops house, he invited us over to talk about baptism with his son who is about 8. His dad told us a really funny story. He said how he asked his son if he was ready for baptism he said, "yes I have been preparing for it my whole life" and the dad asked how and the kid said, "whenever I take a bath I hold my breath for an extra few seconds" haha!! Then on Wednesday we had district meeting in the morning and that is when we took those pictures with all the numbers. The numbers mean how many months we have been in France. After we called some people to schedule some RDVs and went porting. We got let in 2 times and taught some pretty good lessons. So on Thursday we had 4 really good lessons lined up...but all of them bailed! We were so bummed but only 2 really bailed the other two were just really sick. We had DMP meeting that night. It was pretty good we prepared for the baptism on Saturday. Then we went and knocked on some doors.. On Friday we went to Brussels because I needed to be made a legal citizen. I passed woot woot. It took us two hours to get there and it took 5 minutes and another two hours to get back! So that was pretty much all that happened that day. Also I got to see Elder Karl again. I'm so glad he is in my Zone! After all that we taught a lesson to a family where the mom is a member and no one else is in the family. The lessons went really good. Maybe another Baptism coming up soon :) On Saturday this was the best day ever!  Darios was baptized!!! Before the baptism we had weekly planning, it took 3hrs! Then we had to fill up the Baptismal font which took another 3 hours.  We made cookies and got everything ready! Darios came like 1hr early because he was so excited and we got to teach him a little bit and bare our testimonies, it was super good.  I was the witness at his baptism. After the baptism we just ate food with the ward and had a good time.   But Transfers are today, I started my second transfer. Only 14 more and think how fast this one went by. I think it's weird how fast time goes by.  Elder McKenchnie is leaving and being made a zone leader somewhere else. He's a cool guy. And a new missionary will be getting trained here.  I'm still here in Charleroi, I really like it here. I really like the ward and the people here. I had a good week! Tell Alexa thanks for the package, I got it today. It's on my wall.  Thanks for all your emails, love you guys! 
Elder Beck

Week # 11

Best week by far

Ok so on Tuesday we had a 3 way companionship because the district leader had to go to Paris for training. It was super fun! We taught this guy named Theirry, it was a great lesson. Then we went porting, didn't get let into any houses, but had a super fun time just talking and stuff. On Wednesday we started off the day by doing some area book work. We contacted a guy on the street after. He was 18 and really nice and really interested.    Then we just did missionary stuff the rest of the day! The next day was Zone Conference, it was super fun and super good! We read a scripture in D&C 123:16( it's really good go look it up :) It talks about how little things can throw you off. I got to see Elder Karl again, it was super good! Then we had DMP meeting and it went really well. The district leader went on a split with a zone leader so we had a  zone leader spend the night, it was really fun! Next day was really normal just did studies and ate at a members house for lunch and that was really good! We went porting forever and taught some good lessons. Next day we a TON of lessons. We taught 5 which is like what we normally teach in a week haha. Really fun!  This weeks letter is going to be really short, but this was my best week by far, just a lot of good lessons and good people! And we have a crazy week lined up. We are having to bail on people because we are so packed! And we have a baptism on Saturday, so just crazy stuff! On Sunday we gave him all the baptismal questions and he answered them all perfect. Today was good too! Got a sweet new jacket! All the pictures are old this week, sorry forgot to take pictures. I'm over my hair, I decided I don't care anymore.  I will send everyone a pic of my hair next week don't worry. haha! Don't forget to read your scriptures everyday. I love you guys! 

Love, 

 Elder Beck

Week #10

First mission field haircut...toothbrush

I had a very wild week this week! So let's start on Tuesday. (New Years Eve) We started off the day by doing area book work because Elder Bates wasn't feeling good. Then we tried to street contact and everyone was in a super big hurry, so probably not our best idea. So after that we came home and there was a little problem...someone seemed to have broken into our apartment. They busted out the lock and twisted the lock. We couldn't get in to see if the man actually got in or not because the lock was gone. We went down to the people who live below us and got their phone book and called the Police. It's not 911 in Europe, it's a really long number and there is a different number for each emergency.  So we called like 200 lock smiths and they were closed because it was New Years Eve...pretty much all hope was lost.  We called the senior missionaries in our zone asking them what to do and they just said come stay the night in their apartment. We tried to call one more lock smith. He answered and said he would come! He came after 2hrs and good news the robber didn't get in! Bad news the lock smith charged us 200 euros ($275 dollars)! Then our New Years Eve dinner appointment canceled after we had already walked half way there, so we tried looking for an open store. Every store, no joke in Europe is closed until Jan. 5th! Its so crazy! Then we just went back into the apartment and wrote letters and stuff so that was my New Years Eve! Beat that! I woke up and it was a new year! It felt so weird, I remember seeing 2013 for the first time last year with Dakota and Branson on a ski lift! But we had the whole day to do nothing. So here in Charleroi it used to be a pretty cool place with a bunch of factories, but they all went out of business and everyone left and now there is just a bunch of abandoned factories and houses every where. We went and looked inside them and checked them out, it was really fun and cool! Then we all made food.  We met up with the sisters at the church, we all popped bottles, ate and played ping pong - it was really fun! We played ping pong with plates because we couldn't find the paddles haha. On the 2nd we had District Meeting and we just talked and learned how to contact people. After that we went Porting and we met this old man by chance named Jumet. His wife used to be a member. She died, he started crying and it was really spiritual. It was like a scene from the movie UP.  On the 3rd we woke up early because we had a meeting with this guy named Diego. It took us 2 hrs to get to his house and he wasn't home. Then we got stuck in the biggest rain storm I have ever seen! I had never been so soaked in my whole life! Luckily I didn't have anything important with me so we are good. So then we a had meeting at the church with one of our good investigators. He texted us after we walked in the huge rain storm that he converted to Muslim and he wants us to do the same. He was one of our super good investigators. On the fourth nothing really happened. I guess I spoke really loud and laughed in my sleep so I thought that was really funny! We taught our best investigator the Law of Chastity and he did not seemed too thrilled. On the 5th it was the last day of Christmas Contacting which means I get to stop singing for strangers so I was really happy about that! Ok so this is why I didn't email on Monday.  I'm sure some people noticed. So...worst day of my mission so far...I made the worst decision of my life. I got a hair cut at a salon place. I have no hair now. Don't expect pictures of me without a beanie for at least 2 months. Hopefully you guys know what Macklemore's hair looks like because we have the EXACT same do. I look like a tooth brush. Lesson learned. But whatever YOLO life goes on! Love you all thanks for all your support and prayers I needed them this week! Happy New year have a good week!!! 

-Elder Beck

P.S. I read this quote I really liked "There is only as much generosity to receive as there is to give."

By Julien Green