YOU determine if your week is good or bad!

Hello. This week was good. It had it's ups and downs, but the only way to have a bad week on mission is if you make it bad.

We had some great lessons this week and found some powerful people. We were doing some finding one day and just talking to everyone we saw and it seemed like nobody was working out and it was getting frustrating, but I kept working and at the very end I found this guy. His name is Moses. He is super friendly and seems interested. I knew that was the one I was suppose to find. It is funny how it is always the last person or the last door. I guess that is how the lord works.

 It also seemed like this week we saw a lot of opposition to the church. Here in Lugazi there seems to be a lot of rumors and lies going on about the church and people get scared or think it is something bad. It blows my mind that the greatest thing and most important thing in this world could be thought of as a bad thing by anyone. It made me realize this week that opposition is everywhere and that it is necessary. Without opposition in our lives we couldn't become better, we couldn't know Joy, we couldn't become more like our Heavenly Father.

Benard and Hanifa are still doing well. We are praying that everything can work out and they can get married on August 13th. We have another investigator named Ernest. He is funny. He loves the church and he loves reading. He also thinks los angeles is actually lost angel because of how wicked of a place it is. haha. He is awesome. We have another powerful family, but they haven't come to church yet, but I am hoping this upcoming week. Still trying to find others that are prepared and strengthen those already in the branch.

I have learned a lot this week, but something I really liked was when I read John 3:16-17. 

16 ¶For God so loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Most people know or have heard this verse before, but it stood out to me more than usual. God is our Heavenly Father, he loves each and everyone of us so much we can't even imagine. It doesn't matter what we have done or what we will do, HE WILL ALWAYS LOVE US beyond comprehension and He sent His son Jesus Christ so that there is always a way back. That we can always be strengthened through any trial. That we can have happiness in this life and even more happiness in the life to come. God loves us. Now we just have to see everyone as God sees them and have that same love. Sometimes we forget that. They offend us, they reject us, they are not kind to us, but God he still loves them, so we need to still love them. Also the church is still true here in Africa and it is true anywhere you go. 

Thanks for the love and support. Have a great week. Love you.

Love Elder Beck

Mom questions...
1. I was just reading Moroni chp 9 and 10.... do you have any favorite parts in those two chapters that stand out to you?

I love Moroni 9:6. really inspirational and gets me going. One of my favorite scriptures. 

6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.

Chapter 10 is really good. I like the gifts of the spirit. They are something I didn't really realize until I came on mission. We should always be seeking for those gifts of the spirits and recognize those gifts in our lives everyday. 

2. So the driving in Uganda is all done on the left side of the road correct? Does that mean that the steering wheel is on the right side and the gear shift is on your left side?

Yes they drive on the left side so the driver is on the other side of the car and the gear shift is on the left side.

3. Can you tell us any more about your companion and his family? I am going to try to write you each a handwritten letter  this week. Brace yourself for some mail.

Elder Tembo is a child of record, he stays in Harare Zimbabwe. He has a brother that served a mission in Ghana.  Elder Beck also told us a few items he is needing. Package coming!

4.  We went to the Nielsons for Sunday devotional and talked mostly about Sister and President Collings blog  presidentcollings.blogspot.com and Uganda and you.

We also discussed the no preaching or proselytizing in Russia and how that would affect the mission. In some ways it might be good for the missionaries in Russia and they will now be volunteers and not known as missionaries and they will do a lot of service work and then tell people if they want to know more about what they're doing they can come to their church and be taught but they can't teach on the street or in people's homes anymore... It's interesting but in some way it will work out! 

Crazy about the missionaries in Russia. Would not be easy if that happened here because people think that the church is illuminati here. At least some do. NOt sure why? 

Selfie....look at my hair?

Elder Beck sumo pose!!

Elder Roylance's birthday!!! woot!