THANKSGIVING!!!

pet or din din?

Hello. So this week was really nice! A nice feast and powerful missionary work.

So this week started off ok, and it also rained a lot this week. It was nice. Except for all the Mud. But the week really jumped forward on Thursday. Thanksgiving day! We went to Mukono in the morning and had a quick meeting preparing us for the mission tour of President and Sister Hamilton. Then we came back to Lugazi and had a thanksgiving lunch! I bought a nice turkey and we had a member come and cook it for us. Also made a ton of mashed potatoes and some rolls. Then we feasted. My stomach was smiling the rest of the day. I can't compare it to Thanksgiving back home, but it was nice...... Then we got to work. We have two members George and Steven that helped us a ton this week and we were even able to go on splits to cover a ton of lessons this week. It was awesome!

unsuspecting turkey

 

Steven the branch member and Elder Beck

Steven in hat and Elder Beck looking for people to teach

Elder Beck and helpful member Reagan

We kept getting help the rest of the week from these members and we found some powerful families. We are focusing as a mission on finding constantly. Never stop talking and trying to find those elect people and I saw a big difference this week. The lord is preparing people for us we just have to open our mouths. On Sunday we had a great day. We didn't get as many investigators to church as we wanted, but definitely next week. The Lord is blessing us here in Lugazi and I am so grateful to be a part of this work.

Today we got to learn from President Hamilton of the seventy. It was great and we learned a lot. They are great people and it is amazing to think we have such great people leading us in this life. Also got fed some nice pulled pork from Elder and Sister Phelps....... Bonus!!!! Transfers are next week, so maybe it is my time to go somewhere else, but who knows! I will know next week. 

In the conference with President Hamilton we talked a little bit about pure testimony. Then we had some people bear pure testimony. The spirit is there when you bear pure testimony. Not when you share a story or teach a principle, but when you bear SIMPLE, HEARTFELT TRUTH. Our testimonies are found as we share them. Have a great week. 

LOve, Elder Beck

HOW OUR TURKEY DINNER CAME ABOUT....

Step one...purchase turkey and try not to become attached

Step 2... have other people do the dirty work. buh bye feathers

Step 3... build a fire....just like we do back home....ummm.. not so much

Step 4... skip the other steps but set up a fine spread of turkey, taters, rolls n coke
Also...wear Indiana Jones hat :)

Step 5....Invite your roomies
Lugazi Elders with thanksgiving dinner and photo walls

STEP 6...  look for your next meal??

Step 7.... relax and enjoy an African rainbow
(is that another turkey in the street?)

MOM QUESTIONS....

1.  how do you get to and fro from one area to another or city or to jinja?  carpool? bus? walk? those crazy motorcycles?

If we move from one place to another we move by taxi. It is like a 14 passenger van, but small. They squish us in and we ride in a sweaty and uncomfortable taxi until we get where we want to go. Not my favorite.

2.  What should I get dad for Christmas?

Get him a ping pong table........ I am not sure what to get him. Maybe something for his bishop service......  or a lump of coal

Stake conference in Africa....Jinja, Uganda!

Sisters and Elders in the Jinja Stake

This week was super nice, but also super short.

So it started with exchanges in Mukono. I had the privelage of being with my beloved Zone Leaders. It was fun. We did some service, which always puts a smile on your face and the one you are serving. Then we had a powerful day. I also got to play some ping pong at FHE. There was this kid that was super good. I almost lost to him. But it was fun to get the old swing back out. haha. (Elder Beck better be ready as we will be practicing and ready to school him! har har) Then we came back on Wednesday. It is always good to be back home in Lugazi. We had a great day. We taught some powerful lessons and even found some powerful new investigators. you couldn't ask for a better day. We also taught William and Justine. they are an awesome family and every time we teach them I feel happy.

the Beck family is preparing to school Elder Beck in ping pong when he gets home!

On thursday we had a powerful DDM and we are really coming together as a district to finish of this year. It is fun. On Friday we also had a nice day.On saturday we had a nice day. We worked with a Recent convert and even his little brother who is 10 went with us and walked with us and taught and found with us the entire day. They are awesome. They are a lot stronger in the gospel than I was at 10. hahaha. 

On Sunday we went to Jinja for the Stake Conference. It was very nice. There were some great talks. President Collings and even a seventy from south Africa came. President talked about the church being on FIRE and how we can be on fire with the gospel. He read through the beginning of 4th nephi and how even here in Jinja Stake we can be on fire just like the church right after Jesus Christ had established it. Then the Seventy talked about listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and acting upon it. It was a powerful talk. It was a nice Stake Conference.Then we had a nice Dinner appointment with the branch President. Tender mercies.........

Jinja stake conference.... can you find the missionaries??

Cute family at Jinja Stake conference...photo credit to Sister Collings
quote from Sister Collings..
"This was the largest gathering of Saints I have seen since I came out on my mission. President Collings and I were asked to speak, so we were sitting on the stand, and one by one, bus loads of people were dropped off at the church.  The stake president said that they they had set up 900 chairs, and he was hoping to fill them all.  From where I was sitting, they all looked full.  It was amazing.  We have over 30 missionaries serving in the Jinja Stake, and they are staying pretty bust.  It was so fun to see them scattered throughout the congregation.  At the end of the meeting, several of them introduced us to recent converts, or people investigating the church.  all very happy to be a part of such a wonderful event."

For p-day we went and played some b-ball. Super fun. Also cleaned the apartment because we got told to....hahaha. Also met Elder Cooper. he is from Salem, UT and said he graduated with Makell Spencer (Elder Beck's cousin). He is from Ethiopia originally and was adopted in the US and now he is back! Small world. (very cool!)

This week was a great week and something I really learned was from Jesus Christ's parables in the New testament. In Matthew 25,Jesus Christ teaches us with 3 different parables. the first is about how we need to be prepared for the Second Coming. Then the next two are how we can be prepared. The first is using what God has given us and developing and getting more out of it. Or in other words Progressing! Becoming better and more talented and following Jesus Christ more closely! The next is about the sheeps and the goats and the difference between them is SERVICE. So we need to Serve and progress with what the lord has given us. Then also in Mark ch5 and 6. I love the two stories of Jesus Christ. Where he tell his apostles and also the people to BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE!!  Even Jesus christ can do that in our lives. He can heal us and also calm the storms in our lives if we only believe. Have a great week.

Love Elder Beck

package sent for Christmas...pray for it's arrival

Here's some packages that arrived at the mission home in Kampala

(PS... He's happy and feels at home.... that certainly makes me happy too!) 

MOM QUESTIONS....

1a.  Looking forward to our Christmas skype or call...do you know where you will be?
I don't know where I will be for Christmas. So I don't know if I will be skyping or not. so don't just expect me to skype, but hopefully. This week was a good week. Had fun. We are doing well here in lugazi, seeing a lot of progress here.

1. did you get through watching all of conference?  Where do you watch it at?  do you have access to the conference Ensign?

I watched all of conference and I also have an ensign so don't worry. We watched it at the church.

2. Are you doing anything for Thanksgiving or will it just be another day of thanks and giving?
on thanksgiving I am expecting to have a nice feast. I am going to buy a turkey and have a member cook it. Also make some mashed potatoes and gravy and some rolls. If I was better at cooking I would make more, but I am not so good. hahaha.

3. I'm studying Grace.  i was watching a few talks about Grace....one by Pres Uchtdorf   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-gift-of-grace?lang=eng      

and one by Brad wilcox  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXr9it_pbY       . 

I think we forget how grace is given to all of us. That because of the Grace of God we will all be resurrected and reunited with our bodies..... and that through grace we LEARN HEAVEN not EARN HEAVEN.  Grace is like the refining fire that will help us become like Christ so that we are comfortable and at home in the presence of God.  How it changes us so we will want to be in the presence of God. How grace fills us, it doesn't fill in the gaps.  But it helps us BECOME.  i like that.  Thanks for suggesting we study Grace.  What have you learned about GRACE?

Grace is awesome. We all receive grace in some ways, but we can access it a lot more in our lives. through faith and repentance. Those two simple things can help us to access grace and accomplish things that would never be possible by ourselves. 

4.  Dad performed his first marriage on Saturday.  Did you know that that ability to marry comes automatically with the calling of the bishop.  No training, just a script they are supposed to follow.  Who performs the marriages in Uganda?

i didn't know that. In Uganda the bishop does the church marriage, but really most people are not married. here. Marriage is a mess here in Uganda. i still don't understand it here.

Kim Wacaster BIRTHDAY questions...

5.  What do Africans think of Americans?  Do they like us, hate us, indifferent?  think we are all rich?

Africans think of Americans. It varies slightly throughout, but it can range from thinking all americans are boastful and prideful and don't care about others. Also they think we are all rich. They usually like us, but sometimes.They don't think we know how to do anything by ourselves and they don' t think we eat anything except pancakes. hahaha. But for the most part the people are awesome.

6.   What kind of rights to women have there? can they vote? work? are they considered less than men or equal.  Are there any eligible, worthy, handsome men for me to set Kim up with there? Are there arranged marriages there?

Women they have rights. they vote and work, but they are considered less than men. They are always at home while the husband is gone. Which makes it hard to find families together. They have more of the traditional role as women. Home keepers and taking the children. There are some possibilities, but I can't say I am a match maker....ha ha . Yes there are some arranged marriages here.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE UGANDA KAMPALA MISSION....

this is Africa...Uganda is in yellow.
Africa is humongous. HUGE!
Elder Beck traveled from the South Africa MTC in Johannesburg to Uganda...
that is like flying from LA to NYC! and you're only halfway across Africa.

This the the Uganda Kampala Mission.
It includes Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Southern Sudan
Most of the missionaries are in Uganda and Rwanda....only 4 or so in Ethiopia, none in Sudan


 

  d

Kampala Uganda is near the equator...22 miles
Next to the 2nd largest fresh water lake in the world...Lake Victoria.
Look at all the interesting countries around Uganda

 

Kampala is where the mission home is.
Jinja is where the stake conference was this week.
so...where in the world is Elder Beck?
(look for Lugazi..somewhere betwixt the two)

Stake conference in Africa....Jinja, Uganda!

Sisters and Elders in the Jinja Stake

This week was super nice, but also super short.

So it started with exchanges in Mukono. I had the privelage of being with my beloved Zone Leaders. It was fun. We did some service, which always puts a smile on your face and the one you are serving. Then we had a powerful day. I also got to play some ping pong at FHE. There was this kid that was super good. I almost lost to him. But it was fun to get the old swing back out. haha. (Elder Beck better be ready as we will be practicing and ready to school him! har har) Then we came back on Wednesday. It is always good to be back home in Lugazi. We had a great day. We taught some powerful lessons and even found some powerful new investigators. you couldn't ask for a better day. We also taught William and Justine. they are an awesome family and every time we teach them I feel happy. 

On thursday we had a powerful DDM and we are really coming together as a district to finish of this year. It is fun. On Friday we also had a nice day.On saturday we had a nice day. We worked with a Recent convert and even his little brother who is 10 went with us and walked with us and taught and found with us the entire day. They are awesome. They are a lot stronger in the gospel than I was at 10. hahaha. 

On Sunday we went to Jinja for the Stake Conference. It was very nice. There were some great talks. President Collings and even a seventy from south Africa came. President talked about the church being on FIRE and how we can be on fire with the gospel. He read through the beginning of 4th nephi and how even here in Jinja Stake we can be on fire just like the church right after Jesus Christ had established it. Then the Seventy talked about listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and acting upon it. It was a powerful talk. It was a nice Stake Conference.Then we had a nice Dinner appointment with the branch President. Tender mercies.........

Jinja stake conference.... can you find the missionaries

Cute family at Jinja Stake conference...photo credit to Sister Collings

For p-day we went and played some b-ball. Super fun. Also cleaned the apartment because we got told to....hahaha. Also met Elder Cooper. he is from Salem, UT and said he graduated with Makell Spencer (Elder Beck's cousin). He is from Ethiopia originally and was adopted in the US and now he is back! Small world. (very cool!)

This week was a great week and something I really learned was from Jesus Christ's parables in the New testament. In Matthew 25,Jesus Christ teaches us with 3 different parables. the first is about how we need to be prepared for the Second Coming. Then the next two are how we can be prepared. The first is using what God has given us and developing and getting more out of it. Or in other words Progressing! Becoming better and more talented and following Jesus Christ more closely! The next is about the sheeps and the goats and the difference between them is SERVICE. So we need to Serve and progress with what the lord has given us. Then also in Mark ch5 and 6. I love the two stories of Jesus Christ. Where he tell his apostles and also the people to BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE!!  Even Jesus christ can do that in our lives. He can heal us and also calm the storms in our lives if we only believe. Have a great week.

Love Elder Beck

(PS... He's happy and feels at home.... that certainly makes me happy too!) 

MOM QUESTIONS....

1. did you get through watching all of conference?  Where do you watch it at?  do you have access to the conference Ensign?

2. Are you doing anything for Thanksgiving or will it just be another day of thanks and giving?

3. I'm studying Grace.  i was watching a few talks about Grace....one by Pres Uchtdorf   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-gift-of-grace?lang=eng      

and one by Brad wilcox  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXr9it_pbY       . 

 

I think we forget how grace is given to all of us. That because of the Grace of God we will all be resurrected and reunited with our bodies..... and that through grace we LEARN HEAVEN not EARN HEAVEN.  Grace is like the refining fire that will help us become like Christ so that we are comfortable and at home in the presence of God.  How it changes us so we will want to be in the presence of God. How grace fills us, it doesn't fill in the gaps.  But it helps us BECOME.  i like that.  Thanks for suggesting we study Grace.  What have you learned about GRACE?

4.  Dad performed his first marriage on Saturday.  Did you know that that ability to marry comes automatically with the calling of the bishop.  No training just a script they are supposed to follow.  Who performs the marriages in Uganda?

Powerful!!!!

Companions overlooking Mukono

Hello! This week was a great week. YOu could even say it was a powerful week! There is a guy we are teaching. Even his children are baptized, but him and his wife have some marriage issues, but he comes every week to church and even he is blind. But every time we finish saying a prayer he says, Powerful! haha. It is the best.

So this week turned out well. WE started of strong and even on Wednesday we had ZOne interviews. WE gathered in Mukono as a zone and had a powerful meeting and I also had a greagt interview with the President. He is an awesome guy and he brings the spirit and the excitement for the work everywhere he goes. Every time I see and talk to him. I know that the church is true. hhaha. AFter the zone interviews we had the Zone leaders come on exchanges with us. We were with Elder Kgomo. He is an awesome guy.

We are teaching some really great people right now. THere is this one family that I really like. We found them last week and we have taught them a couple times now. Their english is pretty good, but sometimes struggles. They are super nice and we taught them on Saturday. It was a great lesson. I couldn't help, but smile after the lesson and feel the spirit and love of God. Families are awesome and they are so blessed with the restored gospel. There name is William and Justine. Even on Sunday we had 2 families come to church and even we had a few other investigators come to church and we had a baptism. The baptism went super well. The lord is blessing us at the end of the year. Even the entire mission is being blessed. 

Also for P-day we went to this super cool place and took some pics and also found 3 drunk guys singing and yelling. Super funny. haha. Uganda is the best. 

This week was an awesome week. I was reading in Alma about alma and amulek. They are a great example for us, but I really like what amulek said. IN alma 10:5-6 he talks about how  he has seen the power of God in his life, but didn't notice and he has been called many times and didn't hear, but eventually he heard and he saw and he realized the power of God in his life. Sometimes for us we may feel like that. We may question or feel like he isn't there or he is not apart of our lives. But if we take a second and we look. We can find Him there. HIs is in our lives everyday. If we pray and seek for His hand we can see His hand in our lives and we can realize the power and the help he is giving us everyday and even to those around us that we love. God is our loving Heavenly; father and Jesus Christ is His son and the Savior and Redeemer of the World.

Have a great week. Love you.

Love Elder Beck

baptism

Buddies....three friends

in mukono

Elder Beck hanging loose

Silly brothers in the zone

Brothers in the Zone

Brothers having fun!

Mukono

MOM QUESTIONS.......

1.  Do you see the super moon there?  here is a picture melanie johnson took....my camera couldn't capture how big it is.

That is a super nice pic. It looks like a super moon to me.....

2.  Are you driving at all?  have you driven since being in Rwands?

No I am not driving. I haven't driven since I have been in Rwanda.

3. How is being a district leader?  What responsibilities do you have?  is it hard?

Being a district leader is good. It is not much different. ALl you do is talk to the zone leaders twice a week. and a few other things. It is not too bad

Tender Mercy...manna from heaven

Elder Beck, ? , Elder  Goodrich with his usual hang loose sign (love it!)

Elder Beck and mystery woman?
(I beg for pics and then he didn't label....sorry)

Hello! I am glad everything is going good back home. Things here are also going well. 

Tuesday we had a busy day of teaching and finding. We even went on splits with the members for part of the day. It was awesome. The members are a great help here. 

On Wednesday we had a zone meeting. It was good. WE have some fresh new misisionaries in the ZOne and man I forgot how green you really are when you first come to the UKM. hahaha. It was good though. Then we did some finding, but all we found was a bunch of stubborn people that have trouble with english or at least pretend to, but maybe we are planting some seeds. haha.

ON Thursday we had a nice day even had a lunch appointment which was super nice.It also rained a ton, so it messed up with some of the missionary work in the evening. Got to see some cool lighting and stuff though. 

ON Friday we had a great day. WE taught some powerful lessons and even taught a new family that we had found. I love teaching families so much. THe spirit is there!  (keep praying people....for the missionaries to find families!!)

 On saturday, we had a good morning. WE visited this member. He has a small farm and even a small truck. He is a super good guy as well. His name is SUnday! Then the ZOne Leaders came down for an interview for Joseph. WE also went to lunch. It was fun. Our zone leaders are powerful. One of them is my mission brother Elder Foster and the other is from SOuth AFrica named Elder Kgomo. Then in the evening I was able to go to my old area to do an interview for them, but also to visit and see some people I used to visit all the time. It was good to see them. 

On Sunday we had a good day. It was fast sunday. Got to hear some powerful testimonies. ALso they did like 6 or 7 baby blessings. Not easy, but good to bless those babies! ALso had 2 baptisms. One on our side and one on the other side. Super nice! Then we had a good rest of the day. I was super hungry and we were visiting this RC and she came to me and gave me a piece of bread and some soya cup. Tender Mercy right there! haha. (he loves food!!) For P-day we played some b-ball. It was good!

This week was good and I learned a lot! I was reading at the end of Mosiah this week in the book of Mormon. I love the story of ALma the Younger. I love the way he tells us about his change and how through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can accomplish that change. He talks about how each of us needs to experience a change from our carnal state to a state of righteousness and if we don't go through that we can't be saved. Mosiah 27:25-26. No one is born ready to inherit the kingdom of God. That is why there is this life. To prepare ourselves and to learn and to grow so that we are ready to Inherit the kingdom of God. We need to be constantly changing from carnal to righteousness and preparing everyday to meet God again. WHich is all possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ! He lives and He is our savior and Redeemer!

Love Elder Beck

MOM questions....

1. What do you think about the Cubs beating the Indians in the world series?

WHat i feel is that man.... I really wanted clevelend to win.  Not the cubs...they are my team's DIvision rivals.  Division rivals winning the world series. NOt easy, but they needed it. It had been a long long time. ahhaha. Also just wanted to be able to watch it. hahaha.

2. Getting your Christmas package together....what do you need?

goldfish, white shirts, face sunscreen and wash, candy, essential oil

3. Is there anything else we can do to support your mission?

NOthing else. I am doing well right now.

cutie patootie baptism....

A family Elder Beck loves....

FYI for those interested......
Mckaden has talked about food and eating this - - you can try on your own.  We may try and surprise him when he gets home in a year.  Plenty of time to practice.  Enjoy.

Kikomando. “An affordable meal on the go”, best describes kikomando. The meal of chapatti and beans became popular with many a casual worker but today has been modified and is served in upscale restaurants as well.

fried beans and chappattis

http://raebear.net/recipes/chapati.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFt9US9WA8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UbwwR7OOvQ