We went proselyting...it was nuts.

This week's emails were particularly hard to follow...but at least we gathered that he is doin great, enjoyed  his first experience with proselyting, and is continuing to pick up spanish.  all good things.


This past week has been the bombshack.  espanol is comin, i feel like i dont make progress but in two weeks i can teach an entire lesson in spanish and that is more than my first day i suppose.  its hard to explain ccm life in a few minutes but its a lot of fun, a lot of work too, but a lot of fun. We went proselyting, all 100 of us, as companions in one barrio.  it was nuts.  


There are no gun laws so everyones on edge.  Shops are barred up, have to pay through bars, gas stations have armed guards..its a smaller city than jakarta with a better sewage system but some parts are still pretty poor. weather is hot, but not too bad and nights are pleasant.


oh! and we talked to members by the temple.  it was so sick! speaking spanish is ezy when im relaxed.  because they were members i was killing it.


d leader! yuh yuh! i basically make sure my chalk is up to snuff and conduct meetings and stuff.  we've got a great group of elders and the two sisters are pretty cool as well.

CCM is da bomb!

It's Sam's second week in the MTC and he has really surprised us with his eloquence.  Not only did he write to me, but also to my mom and dad!  We're not sure how much longer he can keep up the individual emails, but for now, here's a sampling from all...Ya'll might want to write him now while he's feeling so generous with his words!


CCM is da bomb! This past week has been awesome.  We went to the temple in Spanish.  I was made district leader.  My district is great, my companions are great, the latinos are calidad.  I had minor diarrhea,  but nothing I cant handle, some of the others are having problems though.


My companions and I make a great team, even though being in a threesome is kind of difficult. There are seven of us in our district, the others have 12 and 14, but we are clearly the better district.  days are all scheduled.  breakfast, personal study, language study, lunch, missionary study, dinner, teaching, bed, everyday all week.  MTC is small, about 200 people, but relatively clean. we had the MTC guru visit for the week, he watched us teach, he is a cool guy. mtc south africa is basically a bednbreakfast only has 20 missionaries max.


Tell hayden going on a mission is the best decision he can make in his life, no joke so uhh why not start preparing now.  




Well, there ya have it.  Elder Beckstead is alive, well, and loving the CCM.  its da bomb ya know.

First Email Home!

Sam made it! He just wrote his first email from the Guatemala CCM. We didn't hear from him for four days, so he very well could have gotten snatched, but he emailed us last night.  He is alive and well and even more well fed. He's in a threesome with two other stressed out gringos, which kind of makes sam disgruntled, but hes trying to be patient.  The MTC has inspired mixed emotions in Sam.  He loves learning spanish and absolutely loved teaching his first investigator, but not so much the lack of exercise time.  The spirit there has got to be amazing.  After only a few days he is telling hayden to read his scriptures and preach my gospel, and pray everyday, something that my mom has been telling him for years!

we taught our 1st  investigator yesterday in english and today in spainish. even though i

 might have come across kinda disgruntled i know that im supposed to be
here and teaching the investigator last night was a great experience.

i cant wait to get in the field and start baptizing. tell hayden to
 read his scriptures every day and to pray every night and to read
 preach my gospel!!! in fact, just read the scriptrues preach my gospel
has with the lessons. i miss home, but i no my place is here.

well, thats all for now! hope everyone is having a great week!

Guatemala!

so.  It's me.  Isabel.  Sam is on the airplane heading to Guatemala City and Im officially taking over the blog.  For the next twenty four months Sam will be serving in the Guatemala City Central mission, including six weeks in the MTC.

Dropping off Sam at the SLC airport was quite an ordeal. We went over how to say "can i borrow your phone?" in spanish a bajillion times until Sam felt confident that he could call the MTC if they forgot to pick him up.   Many tears were shed, though we are so happy and excited for him! He is going to be such a great missionary.

Elder Beckstead and Hector after their last meal together...for a few years.

k guapos!

Sam's Disclaimer

In my absence my dear sister Isabel will be keeping a blog on my behalf, telling my tales to those who care.

Elder Beckstead

E-mail: samuel.beckstead@myldsmail.net