1 YEAR!!!!

Future missionary in toothless form!
Someday he'll go serve in the Uganda Kampala Mission
In honor of Elder Beck's one year mark, we are celebrating with pictures...see below

Hello! This week was great. We are seeing the blessings of hard work and obedience. ALso officially past  1year on mission going on the back side of 2 years. Crazy! Time has flown by and it is weird to think back 1 year ago and think of what was going on. Felt like yesterday.

This week started of a little slower, but on Tuesday we had a good day. There is only 1 problem here in Uganda. People they don't understand time very much. We were teaching Benard, who is suppose to get baptized this week, and he fed us and man he took forever. So we had to make it a quick lesson so we could go do other things that we had planned. haha. They are great people here, but they don't understand time too much. haha. (sounds like a farmer!)   ALso it rained today,. So that was nice.

On Wednesday we said goodbye to Elder Roylance in the morning and so we were with Elder Chifamba for a few hours. We visited some RC's and then we tried meeting with this new guy, but he kept saying he was in a certain place, but he wasn't there. It ends up that me and him were at different hospitals. hahaha. Ooops. WE still ended up meeting him later in the week so that is good. We also met the new missionary in our district. His name is Elder Dibatyi. He is from DRC Congo man! He is an awesome guy. He has a French accent and is a great missionary. I went golfing with him before.

On Thursday we had a great day. There are 2 traveling missionaries now and so they go and visit people in their different areas. SO they visited us. We were with Elder Ward. And we were in his old area. So that was fun. We got a family referred to us which is awesome and we had a good time. 

On Friday, we had a good day, but for some reason i was just really tired and had a headache all day. We taught James who is also going to be baptized this upcoming SUnday! Then we had an institute lesson about Plural Marriage. That was an interesting class and it was super funny as well. haha.

On Saturday, we had a great day. WE had some powerful lessons and we even got some more referrals which was awesome. On

ly problem is that a really powerful investigator that we are teaching. Her husband came back and after we taught her, he told us not to come back to his house that he has his church. So that sucks, but I know someday that family will join the true gospel. 

ON SUnday we had a powerful day as well. Church was good. Attendance was a little low, but After we had some powerful lessons. Even an RC, Benard, that got baptized last,  came limping all the way to church. Man that guy is powerful! We got another referral from a family. So this week was a super nice week for referrals we hope to continue to get more referrals. Solid week. Finding new people. Hoping for some baptisms this upcoming week. Things are good.

My favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon might be Moroni 7. I love when it talks about charity. If we don't have charity than we are nothing. Charity is the pure love of Christ. We need to be praying with all of our heart to have this same love! It really has changed me this week. Also I really like the verse from D&C 123:17. If we do all that we can do, then in the end we will be sitting still and at peace at the last day. We have to do all that is in our power. WE are not perfect, but we can always do our best and never give up. So never give up and pray for that Charity in your life. Love you. Have a great week.

Love Elder Beck




MOM QUESTIONS....
1. Do you all feel safe?  Anybody try to rob you ? Do you take your passports AND such with you. How does that work?

Ya i feel safe. NObody has tried robbing me. We don't take our passports, but we carry a copy of it. (I think they keep the originals in the mission office safe)

2. Did you do something to celebrate your 1 year mark?   We moved in your honor!!

No not really I didn't know what to do. I was also really tired. hahaha.

such a squeezable kid.... Elder Beck's first tie

Family photo of Elder Beck's early years

Smart, quiet, funny good kid!

Preparing for mission by studying

Packing bags for 2 yrs in Uganda

Taking the essentials!!

A little father son golf time just prior to mission

Good bye amigos!

Temple time

Elder Beck in Rexburg

Bro and Sis

Look out Uganda, here I come!

South East Idaho boys heading out....Uganda have fun!

One last picture with the girls

This picture still pulls at my heart strings...one last glimpse of brother and son

The paper captured what we were feeling when sending off Elder Beck...
BUT


IT
WAS
WORTH
IT!!

Here's the evidence...look at those smiles and experiences....priceless

happy

more happy

happy golfing

more happier

mostest happiest

very happy

happy, happy, happy

Smiles everyone!

Giraffes and safaris.....fun

Look at my tall friend

just plain cute!

Keep on, Keeping on Elder Beck!
WE LOVE YOU!
(cue Toto and Africa music.....la la la la)
Happy one year mark!

Transfers!!

Waiter, there's a fish in soup!!

Eating fish the Ugandan way!

Hello. Transfers this week. The news is that I am staying another transfer here in Lugazi with Elder Goodrich. Only one leaving from the house is Elder Roylance he is going to Masaka and Elder Dibatyi is coming to replace him. He is from the Congo I believe. So pretty exciting eh! Some zones are closing and some big changes around the mission so that should be good adn we will see what continues to happen here in the ukm (Uganda Kampala Mission). This week was good.

We had a great week we taught a lot of lessons and we found some really cool people as well. Our teaching pool continues to increase. We should have some 2 baptisms coming up on the 25th of September. Benard Sam and also James. They are powerful. So hoping and praying they can be baptized that day. We had some rain also this week. It rained like crazy for a little bit and it was nice because it cooled it down and there was no dust. So that is a bonus. haha. Got fed by a member. Super nice food, but I am not so sure about Ugandan fish, but still ate and it tasted ok. hahaha. This week was kind of a blur and I don't remember it too much. so I can't write too much this week. Things are good though. We played golf and also some football. Super fun. The Zone is powerful.

So this week I learned a lot. Even a lot about the power of Fasting. Go study it. Isaiah 58. Make your fasting more meaningful and it will change your life. Also I was studying in D&C this week and going through when the Prophet joseph smith was going through that time when he was in Liberty Jail. There are some of my favorite sections. 121 and 122. I learned that even the prophet of God has to plead with the father. Even the prophet of God has to go through trials that seem like they will never end. But even like the prophet Joseph Smith we can overcome these trials in our life and the lord can say to us. "Peace be to thy soul" "The trials shall be for your good".  Our Trials they are for our good and they help us become stronger than we were before. I love the example of Joseph Smith. And we can always remember that our savior descended below them all! And he can help us! Have a great week. Love you.

Love Elder Beck

Elder Beck and the kids

Those eyes tell me he's happy!  I heart Elder Beck!

Another solid week!

Hello. this week was great. Good things and miracles happen everyday.

ON Tuesday we had a solid day and even did some really good finding. It is cool to see how the Lord works with a companionship. One of us feels that we go to this area and another person is prompted to visit this persons home and there we find a referral from a muslim. Powerful! THe lord works 2 by 2. that is his pattern established. Also the our drunk friend Noah gave us some fruit from what he says is from the Garden of Eden. hahaha. and guess what? when we got to the tree there was a guy that we got his contact and taught later in the week. Thanks Noah! haha. 

On wednesday we met this super cool member from Kampala and apparently he is moving to Lugazi. he can play the piano and his favorite hymn is America the Beautiful hahaa. He is awesome.

On Thursday there was like a solar eclipse and it was super weird because we were at the apartment and then it got dark but it was still sunny outside. I wasn't sure what it was, but apparently it was solar eclipse. That was pretty cool. Then we got to a lesson later in the day and it started pouring and hailing like nothing! It was insane. Then we came out of the lesson and the tree right next to the home had fallen over. hahaha. Crazy! 

Tree broken during storm in Lugazi

On Friday we had a good day. (the end?  ha ha.  I love that he has good days even when they aren't so good and memorable!!)

On Saturday we had a super powerful lesson with an investigator named Martha. She is only around on the weekends, but she is super smart and loves the lessons. She writes down notes and always has questions and we love teaching her and her children.  Also we went to visit a member to go teach an investigator and when we get there. There are a ton of people crowded around there home and I just thought  " momma is having her baby" and sure enough she was! ha. She delivered it there at the home and then went to the hospital. Pretty crazy. She is doing well and the baby is good as well. So another future missionary is born. It is a boy. 

Sunday we had a great day. had some investigators at church. We got a branch mission leader and he is a great help to us. We have an investigator named Benard. He is progressing to his baptism on the 18th. He is looking good. Also visited some members including the Branch President. he has an awesome family. I love that family. Then today we had a chill p-day. Played some catch phrase and some pool. It was a fun day.Good week.

this week I really liked my reading of the Book of Mormon in 3 nephi. I love the words of the Savior. Especially 3 Nephi 18:25. we are commanded to invite everyone to come closer to christ. If we don't we will be subject to temptation. Invite everyone! Also 3 Nephi 18:32. Us and the savior... we work together. We are like his hands here on earth. He needs us to be diligent and faithful so that he can heal people and change them. The book of mormon is true. Have a great week.

Love Elder Beck

 favorite recent convert..... Issac Olelo

MOM QUESTIONS!!!!

1. What is your favorite movie?   We need a good one to watch.

My favorite movie is the Testament. Also there is a movie called Everest that Elder Goodrich likes. It sounds good. maybe go and watch that. I really can't remember movies very well. Except for nacho libre. ha  (concho, can I borrow some sweats? ....do you like my frilly shirt?  ha ha... love this movie, maybe we'll watch on his one year date!)

2.  What food  item do you miss from home? 

I miss meat from home. Steaks, Pork. Bacon. Things like that. Super Nice meat.  (we will try to have some SUPER NICE MEAT when he gets home!)

3. What are a couple of things you'd see in Africa, that you'd never see in poky? 

 In Africa you always see motorcycles called boda bodas everywhere. Also a ton of goats and chickens and cows randomly around. Also people with not enough clothing on......stuff like that. (oh my word, he cracks me up!!)

Thank you mother. Love you.

Elder Beck

Things are heating up!

Hoops with Elders n Prez (pic by Sister Collings)
Elder Beck in whited

Hello! THis week was awesome. I have a lot of funny memories that i hope not to forget and the work is progressing and the branch is strong.

On Tuesday we had exchanges with the ZL's. We were with Elder Nsenguymva for the day. He is from Rwanda and powerful as dump! (what is this expression?) We had a fun day. It was a bit hot, but it was still good. WE also taught a guy with more than 10 wives! What! Maybe he will bring them all to church with him. hahaha. 

On Wednesday we had a good day as well. we taught some good lessons and got to spend the day with Brian. He is an awesome guy.

On Thursday we had a good day... we got fed. We found a new family and had a member that is in school show us this new salty snack he found. We found out that it was play dough. hahaha. He thought it was food....... 

On Friday we had a great day planned, but it seemed like almost everything fell through, except for a great lesson with a progressing investigator and setting a baptism date for him. I asked a member why people lie to us and why things just have to go south. He told me to go pray about it. hahaha. I thought that was really good advice. If we are troubled. If we have a question. we can always just pray about it. Prayer works anytime and anyplace. SO go and pray about it!

On Saturday we had a good day. Benard, the one that was bapized last Sunday, is improving so much on his learning and even his English. It is amazing to think about the first time I met him and too look at him and his wife now. Tender Mercy/.....  Also had a really great lesson with a new investigator. I mean this lady was the smartest person I have met. She is one of those people that is prepared, so we are hoping the best for her and her family. Also got to carry some geri cans. Super sweaty,, but super fun. haha. Also had a drunk guy named Noah dance for us. hahaha. He is awesome. 

ON Sunday we had a great sabbath. Church was great!   Benard and Hanifa were both confirmed. Had 80 at sacrament meeting. Really super nice. and the other guys had a baptism as well. Really good day and week. Today for P-day we killed some chickens, played some football, and ate some chicken. It was a lot of fun. Things that you can only do in Uganda! haha.

SOmething I really liked and learned came form d&C 101:4-5. It talks about be chastened about being tried and that is what makes us sanctified and purified if we endure. I then thought of the refiners fire and how it has to be really hot to make something the right shape and to purify metal. Sometimes things are going to get "hot" in our lives, but if we endure it well that is how we become sanctified and purified. It is not there to punish us, but to help us become who we need to be for the Lord. Thanks have a great week. Love you.

Love Elder Beck

(I love that he is always having a "good" or "great" day!  Love this Elder!  and killing chickens??  He's gaining skills!)



MOM QUESTIONS.....

1.  Why do you suppose the BOM is so important to read? 

The book of mormon is so important to read because it teaches us so much more about the plan of salvation and atonement. My favorite lesson is the plan of salvation and the book of mormon is really good at helping me teach it. There are many other reasons, but plan of salvation and atonement.

2.  How goes the training? Is it easier or harder than you thought it would be?

Training is good. It is harder than I though for sure. But I am still loving it more than I thought too.

3.  How's the weather right now?  Still hot and rainy season coming?

The weather has been hot the past 3 weeks. It was suppose to rain this past week, but it didn't. so who knows. The weather is unpredictable here in Uganda.

4. So happy about the marriage and baptism of Henifa and Benard...they looked so happy and YOU looked so happy....makes MOM happy happy happy ( and Phil Robertson!)

Yes very happy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWp1VOFQxKg

5.  Is there anything you need? shirts, shoes, undies, letters, etc?  Did you get the last package we sent?

I got the last package and I don't think I need anything else for now. I will let you know when I need something.

6.  I saw Elder Bednar came to visit Rwanda...that is awesome!  I'll bet your people there loved it!!

ya he visited and I really wanted to go back to Rwanda for that. 

7.  What are you doing to be the best missionary that you can be?  Do you think there are a few key things that makes for a great missionary experience?

I am really trying to make my personal study the best I can. I think the morning schedule is so important. 

burning sugar cane field

they are serious about soccer in Uganda.
Elder Beck when to find the field but got lost and ended up at Pizza Hut!!
(picture by Sister Collings)

Baptisms! Basketball w the prez! Pizza!

Elder goodrich, Elder Beck Hanifa Bernard, ?, ?

Newlyweds......ready for baptism

Hello! This week was great. WE had another great week of work and interviews with the president and finished it off with Benard and Hanifa's baptism. It was a great week. Can't ask for a better one.

This week we worked hard and me and Elder Goodrich continue to improve together as a companionship. He is learning quickly and the food isn't getting to him as much as I thought it would....... hahahaha. It is also hard because here in Uganda a lot of people they lie to us. they say yes yes we would love to meet you and come to church, but then they disappear. Number busy our phone and say don't come. not easy, but hey if they weren't here it wouldn't be called missionary WORK. haha. WE also had some great interviews with president. President Collings is a great man and so intune with the spirit. Some really good things I learned from him. For example, if we are being obedient and doing what we are suppose to do and we get a feeling or a prompting we need to do it. Act on those promptings from the spirit. Don't hesitate just do it! Also had some really good lessons with Elder Goodrich. We were teaching a lesson and I felt like we needed to talk about and teach about the sacrament. So i started teaching about that and after the lesson. Elder Goodrich said he had the same prompting. It was a strong testament to me of the spirit and that we need to always follow it. Crazy how we can teach and agree on something that we never said anything to each other about or had to do with the lesson we planned.

Also on Sunday we finished with the baptism of Benard and Hanifa. It feels like they are already members. Their baptism took a little bit longer than we thought, but it happened and it was awesome to see and be a part of their baptism. Families can be blessed by the Gospel and they can be together forever. They were so happy and the branch was excited as well. Also had a lot of other investigators at church as well and had a good sacrament attendence as well. It is going well here in Lugazi. It was a little hot this week, but no problem. Also helped carry some geri cans for a member and man those things are heavy. I can't believe they women carry them on their heads with no hands! Crazy. Still don't know how they do it. hahaha. Also got to go to Kampala today for P-day. Played some bball with President COllings. I got matched up on him. He is pretty good for an old guy. hahaha. It was fun. Also got to eat some pizza hut today. Weird. Some places in Kampala are crazy nice. 

Hello Pizza Hut!

Goodbye Pizza!  Yum!

this week I have been reading in the book of mormon. Finishing up about the war chapters. the stripling warriors amaze me every time. they give everything to the lord. Their faith is insane. Not one of them had the smallest amount of doubt. That is something I want. To be able to completely and totally rely on the lord. Also I learned about faith. In the bible dictionary it tells us " Faith is kindled when hearing the testimony of someone having faith" That is awesome. Go and share your testimony strenghten someone else. Give them that desire to increase their faith. Thanks for the lvoe and support. I love you. Have a great week.

Love Elder Beck

Sunset Uganda

MOM and other questions.....

1 (Stacy George)  Do you experience voodoo there like in Brazil?.

Ya there is definitely voodo here. There was more of it in Gulu, but I haven't seen to much of it personally.

2. (Kelly Barnes) what  do the little kids think about the missionaries.?

The little kids when they see a white missionary they just saw bye mzungu (white person) over and over like a thousand times a day. lets just say it gets kind of annoying, but it is also fun to mess with the kids as well. haha. Some of the little ones start crying. hahaha. (teasing the little children Elder?)

3. (Sue Ann Hodge)  How big are the bugs? Is there any bug or snake you've  been warned about?

The bugs are pretty big. I guess. There are some big cockroaches here and a lot of ants and stuff. Ants in the pants is something that actually happens here, but the bugs overall are not to bad. Nothing they told us to run away from. ha

4. Whatcha eating?  Do you eat the same things most of the time? Give us the low down on your grocery shopping and what you eat and cook.

I usually eat eggs or oatmeal for breakfast pancakes. For lunch maybe noodles, maybe a rolex, maybe some kikomondo( what is that? isn't that a karate move? ), maybe some beans and rice. Whatever I am feeling like. For dinner something small. The members and investigators feed us sometimes during the week. SO that is extra. hahaha.

found this on internet....Kikomando – Seen as a poor man’s food, kikomando is a chopped up chapati with stewed beans dripped over the top. Not the tastiest thing in the world but it is very filling. If you can only eat one cheap meal a day I can see why this would be it.

5. If you could have prepared more as a teenager for a mission, what would you have done or what do you recommend for those preparing to go?

ust read your scriptures more and pray more. SImple things. Maybe work with the missionaries as well.

Great week of work! and WEDDING!

What do you get when you have a newlywed, a kid and a missionary.....yup, this here picture!
I think Elder Beck looks pretty darn happy :)

WEDDING!!
Newlyweds...Hanifa and Benard..and their cute son...woot!

Hello! THis week was awesome. WE did a lot of great things and saw some great things happen.

On Tuesday we had a good day. We really decided to work with members and use members more in our work this week and it really worked out for us. We had some great help from a member and when we did some finding we taught a lesson that went really well and they want us to meet the rest of their family. Tender Mercies. 

On Wednesday we had another good day. We worked with members again and had some really powerful lesson. It is just frustrating when you can see the investigator is fighting the spirit. He starts questioning and going off topic when you know he has felt of the spirit. It is tough to see, but we never give up.

On Thursday we had a really good day. Worked with some members again and also went back to the people we taught on Tuesday and there was another family there that we taught and seem really interested in the gospel. It is a gold mine that place. hahaha. Also met a Less Active that I haven't seen in a long time and it was a blessing that we met up with her. WE stopped by her home and she wasn't there, so I decided to head to this school that I wanted to know where it was with a member. We got there and started talking to someone and then the Less Active member showed up and we went to her home and were able to share with her. It was a tender mercy. 

On Friday we had a good day. Met a new family that is super nice and humble, but the only problem is that he is in the military so he is always moving different places. 

On Saturday, we had a good day. we had some good lessons and also went to the reception of Benard and Hanifa. They had their wedding in the morning and we stopped by at the reception to congratulate. It was funny. Everyone was dancing and having a good time. It was awesome!! WE had to move their baptism till next week because their was no time for their interview before Sunday. But they are excited and ready for it. 

ON Sunday we had a great day. we had 80 at sacrament meeting, I gave a talk, and we also had 8 investigators at church. It was great. The branch is doing well. Both areas are working hard and we are seeing good things happen. The church is true!

This week I have been studying in the war chapters in the BoM and I never realized there were so many great examples for each of us to learn from in them. Moroni is a great example for fathers and husbands and men. The stripling warriors are great examples for Young men. and The mothers of the stripling warriors are great examples for mothers. It went right a long with a talk I read this week by Elder D. Todd Christofferson about Fathers. It was awesome. WE have some many great examples in our life that we can learn from. WE should try to learn something from everyone. I know Heavenly Father loves us so much and wants to help us if we just go to him in prayer. Have a great week. Love you.

Love Elder Beck

MOM QUESTIONS:......

1. What is one of the favorite things you like about your new companion Elder Goodrich?

 I just saw a glimpse of the 100m finals in the olympics and Usain Bolt won it again. That was cool. This week was good hear. We were busy and did a lot of good things. Benard and Hanifa didn't get baptized this Sunday, but they did get married. So they are looking good for this upcoming SUnday. The work is good. The companion is good. Just working as hard as we can here.

What I really like is he likes to talk sports. Most sports except baseball, but I can talk other sports as well. It is nice talking about sports...(he loves his sports!!)

2. Tell us about a member or nonmember in your branch or area that you either admire or makes you laugh

We have this nonmember guy. He is usually drunk and he is always crazy. We always see him around as we are proselyting. He says we are his best friends and he usually is always there on Sunday. He likes to give us free stuff as well. Like pineapples, pumpkins, ties. hahaha. He makes me laugh when I see him. He always says. "God is good all the time. The demons, they are under our feet." hahaha.

3.  Are you taking your daily malaria pill? Daily exercise? Practicing your piano skills?

Ya I am doing those things...

4. When you struggle to study and read the scriptures, what helps you stay motivated?

It doesn't take much to stay motivated. I love the scriptures too much and there is so much to read. If I get maybe a little unmotivated to read one book. I just switch to another. And I like it. I always love the scriptures though. (this makes a mom heart happy happy happy !)

5.  When you are dismissed or rejected, what do you tell yourself? (oh well, there is someone else right around the corner. who is ready.....or what do you think?)

I try to tell myself there is someone else, but I usually just think man it won't be easy for you in the next life and then I just try to move on.....

6. Are birthdays a big deal in Uganda?  what are the big days of celebration?

Birthdays are not very big here, but weddings are huge here. They always have to make the wedding too big. More than it needs to be. They spend way to much money on weddings. Even Benard and Hanifa...... They went too big. The church is encouraging members and people to just have simple weddings.

7.  If you could encourage us to make one change in our lives to become better people and closer to God, what would that change be?

Prayer. Pray more and with more intent and love and heart. Relying on your Heavenly Father through prayer. It is so simple, but so easy.