Monday October 20, 2014

Things are going great here in Bolivia! My Spanish is actually coming along really well, not as well as I hoped, because I just wanna be fluent right now.  But it is really teaching me a lot about patience... haha.  We didn't have the baptisms.  We were preparing a couple to get married first because they were living together, but they  got in an arguement, and put off their wedding, and are still living together.  So we have to wait for them to get married. Also our other golden investigator is having a hard time with one of the commitments.  So we decided to give him more time, till he is ready. It was a hard decision to put it off, but we wanna make sure that all of them are ready before we have them make their first covenant with God!

It has just been getting hotter and hotter ever day, and it is killing me!!   But i guess it cools down a little after December, so I just have to endure it till then! It's crazy that this week finishes up my first transfer!  It seriously feels like yesterday that I left!  Time really does fly out here! 

I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing so well at home.  All day Wednesday I was thinking about Bear, and how much I miss him! Haha so we found two families this last week.  One of them Friday, and one last night. They are both amazing, and we had great lessons with them.  We just need to get them to church this next week!  That's our biggest struggle here, is getting people to come to church.  Because no one wants to take the bus for 50 minutes... But trust in the Lord and he can change their hearts! }

Im so glad to hear that you guys are working so hard.  Because you are doing the exact same thing that I am doing.... Haha it's tough walking everywhere every day, and I would do anything for a car.  But it makes me appreciate everything so much more! 

love ya! love Elder Beals

Monday October 13, 2014

This week has been kinda slow to be honest.  Other than fireworks every second, election day was pretty boring. Except I had to stay the night at another set of elders house.  It was so nice to finally speak English!! Hahaha One of the elders is from Alpine, and he has been out for about a year now.  He was way cool, and it was sweet to just sit back and tell stories about Utah!  I got some amazing studying done because we had all day to study!!! Hahaha I found this scripture in helaman 12:14 that has really made me think.

The one problem with Bolivia, is that the Chips Ahoys do not taste the same!!!  I bought a whole bunch and I was so excited to eat them, but they taste different.. Haha I will adjust hopefully in these next two years.  But I'm expecting a big glass of milk, and a whole package of Chips Ahoys at the airport in 21 months!! Isn't it crazy to think that's all the time I have left?.. It still feels like yesterday we were sitting at home in the front room with dad making fun of De Leon for something, and Bryson telling us his new way that he is going to become rich!!  Love you!! Thanks for everything!

Monday October 6, 2014

Let's just say that this week was like Christmas for me!  Conference was absolutley amazing, and the talks were so inspiring. They make me wanna be a better person!  When I walked into the first session Saturday morning my zone leader gave me a package!! It was the one you sent, and it was so great to have conference with candy, and in english! It felt like I was back home! 

It is elecion week here, next Sunday they vote for a new president.. So things are getting a little crazy here! Don't worry, I'm not saying anything about politics.  When people bring it up I quickly change the subject. I mean I couldn't really talk politics if I wanted, because my vocabulary is not broad enough for that! 

I saw a tucan this week, adding that to another more of the sweet animals I've seen here!  I have seen more stuff in these last four weeks than I think I saw all last year! 

Our investigators are slowly progressing.  We teach a lot of people a day, and we can get everyone to agree to our commitments, but they have a hard time keeping their commitments... We just have to trust in the Lord and His timing!  It was so great that we got this one guy to come with us to the second session of conference on Sunday.  Thats was where Bednar gave his amazing talk, especially for investigators!!  It was just great!!  But everything is going good here, Thanks for the package!! love ya! 

Love Elder Beals

Monday September 29, 2014

Let's just say that the bolivia life is crazy!  There was a lizard that I'm pretty sure was at least two feet long in our house, along with like 3 other smaller ones!  Then we were teaching a lesson, and a huge tarantula came and walked like 2 feet from me!  It was like the size of my hand!  A major heat wave came in this week.  It has been even hotter than it was when I first got here.  I didn't know that was possible!  At the end of the day I could take off my shirt and sqeeze like a gallon of sweat out... gross!  I saw a monkey for the first time, so that was pretty sweet!  It was small and crazy.  I wanted to catch it and take it home!

Our shower has these like sketchy wires that go to the shower head that are suppose to heat the shower, which it doesn't really heat it. It just makes it so its not freezing cold.  Well, they sparked and stopped working this week.  So good thing dad taught me how to strip and rewire.  Because that's what I spent my morning doing!  For breakfast I make myself a fruit shake, and it's the best!  I can't wait till the mangos in our front yard from our tree are ready, so I can make a mango shake!

Investigators are going great.  We have three people we should baptize this next Saturday.  I have yet to teach a lesson where someone hasn't said something about how tall I am!  I'm a giant here. It's a good thing I played so much fifa before I came.  Because that is a great way to start a convo with someone!  The mission is going great, thanks for everything, love you!

Monday September 22, 2014

This week has been kinda diffucult, and crazy at the same time! People were right when they said the time would fly by because I can barely remember what happened! On thursday it rained like all day, so that Mr Mac jacket you got me; I took out the inside layer, and the outside layer works like a champ! But, because it rained so much, the streets turn into rivers!  All the water just goes into the middle, and you have to fight your way through a foot of water to walk... Our front yard was just a big mess!  But, we had some of the best lessons in that day, so I can't complain! 

My comp is great! We're still getting along well! 

I don't think it's that hard to sleep at night, because I'm so tired.  As soon as my head hits the pillow I am out! I know that I fall asleep so fast because we have been working hard that day! Or because we just played a lot of soccer...  we do that a ton down here!!  Every chance we get, we play!  The people love to play with us, and my comp loves playing!  The only problem is I'm always starving afterwards, and we never have dinner!!! I wish I could just order some Taco Bell.  Hahaha.  But I guess they don't have it down here! 

It's really hard seeing the dogs here... I feel so bad for them! 

I"m so happy for Brandon and Tyler.  That is so absolutely amazing.  They are going to kill it out in the field!! Tell them im proud of them! Thanks for everything. Love you!!!

love Elder Beals

Jacob's house in Suarez Bolivia

Jacob's house when it rains and floods

Suarez Bolivia

Lizards all over the house

Monday September15, 2014

Wow, Bolivia is absolutely crazy!!! This has been a humbling week! My first area is called Suarez, my comp is from La Paz Bolivia. He is sweet! We get along really well. Well, at least I think we do. He doesnt speak English, so I can't really tell. But he is a really nice guy, and a great missionary! He's been out for nine months! Our house is pretty beat up, and kinda ghetto... but that's what I expected! Our ward is huge.  It's a 40 minute bus ride to get to our church.  It is so hot here!!!  I have never sweated so much in my life!  Every second I'm wiping off gallons of sweat!  There are tons of dogs here, and cats and pretty much every animal!  The streets always have tons of horses cows, chickens, and other animals in them...it's crazy!  There are lots of lizards here also!  All the time while we are studying we will see one run across the floor or something!  But there are also tons of bugs! Which is gross!  The food isn't that bad.  We have this one member feed us lunch everyday, and it's pretty normal.  It's just so much rice.  It's hard to finish it all!  I did eat cow tongue and utter my first day. And it wasn't that bad... Tell jeff happy birthday yesterday.  The big 17!!   It's tough walking all day cause its so hot. And teaching lessons you are practically dead!  But we have already committed 5 people to baptism which is great!  Even though I could barely follow the lesson cause it was all in spanish... The people are so nice!  They have nothing but they will still do anything for us!  They love the missionaries so much, it's great!!!  My package never came mom, and I'm really sad about that... but I can buy almost everything here.  Thanks for everything, love you guys!

Friday September 5, 2014

HELLO Mother!! Things are great here!! My companion follows me everywhere, and does everything I do!! He's like a little buddy! When I get pink soda so does he, and when I say I only want water so does he!!  But he sure talks fast! 

 

Proselyting was a lot different with a latino comp!  I barely talked at all.  I could understand most of it, but he just talked the whole time I didn't really get a chance! We got to go to the temple twice this week. On Wednesday, and today! It was sad thinking I might not be able to for two more years. So I took a really long time in the Celestial room, and I just felt so grateful for everything I have been given!!  I'm so happy I was raised in the church.  Thank you so much mom for teaching me about the gospel!  I am almost done with the Book of Mormon, and it is so good!!  The first time I read it, I just sped read it, but this time I'm learning so many great things, and I have a hard time putting it down!! 

Thanks for everything mom and dad, I love you guys, and I'm so excited to leave the MTC in three days!! Love ya again! 

ELDER BEALS