August 30, 2017 - Week 2!

Hola everyone, this week has been pretty great. The days are flying by but I can't even remember what happens on certain days.

We finished up our first investigators and now on to our second one. Her name is Erica and she knows so much about the restoration so we didn't talk to here about that but we were talking about the plan of salvation and she said something that me and my companion kinda laughed about but she said that she was scared of judgement day and doesn't want to be judged about everything that happened in her life, so we kinda explained about Christ's atonement and how she can repent about her sins in the previous years of her life. So tonight we are gonna teach her more about the atonement which is way cool.

So this week I have been reading in ending chapters of Alma and I admire the faith that Moroni and Helamen had as they were going up to battle with the lamanites. My favorite story in Alma is about the 2 thousand stripling warriors and how courageous and brave they would have to be to go against that big lamanite army but they had so much faith that none of them died in the battle. I know that if we have that much faith we will be just fine in life. I know that's true and I promise if you pray to know if its true then the Holy Ghost will manifest that unto you.

Peru Culture:

1) Everywhere there are street vendors so you can basically get whatever you want for really cheap.

We don't get out of the ccm very much so I haven't gotten too much of the culture which is kinda sad but in a month I'll see lots of it.

Love you all!!!

Elder Beck

1) Pic of me on the bus to the temple

 2) Me, Elder Davis, and Elder Anderson in front of the temple today

3) Our district in front of the Lima temple

4-5) Pics of Lima on the way down to the temple

6) The fountain in the middle of the CCM

More information from emails-

To dad: It's going so great down here. And the CCM is amazing too, loving people and the best food ever. and I'm glad you are doing well. I always think about you and yesterday in our district we were saying how our prayers should be like we were talking to our dads and I just got thinking about all the amazing talks we had and the smile you always have on and that really made me happy thinking about that. Love you!

Thanks mom! and I will read your letter no matter how long it is. The food is soo good. Most of the time it's just rice with some meat and potatoes and we put ahi and vinaigrette sauce on the rice and it's so good. Mi espanol is muy mal but from where I started it's getting pretty good. There are so many good devotionals they play for us that were originally from the Provo MTC and those really put the spirit in me so those are the best experiences I've had so far.  I forget I'm gone most of the time so I'm doing amazing emotionally and physically. The people in my district have become my best friends so it's always fun no matter what. Yeah every pday we go to the temple.  The temple is like a 5 min bus ride. I get along with all of them equally i think, My companion is so awesome too. 

August 23, 2017 - First Week at the CCM

Hey everyone, this week has been so crazy and long but so good! Wednesday morning I got up at 5:30 to get to the airport at 6:30. I hated leaving my family but I know I will get to do great things in Peru. When I arrived to the airport we said our goodbyes and I went into the terminal and there were 8 other missionaries there including my airplane companion Elder Ward, he is one of the coolest guys I know with a super strong testimony and he is also in my district which is super fun. We arrived in Peru at like 3 in the morning and they let us sleep for 5 hours before we had to get up for the first day.

The next two days were the longest days of my life. I didn't eat or sleep very much cause of how nervous all of this was sounding to me. But my companion Elder Davis is super cool guy that played a lot of sports in high school. Also in our dormitory we have Elder Anderson and Elder Call which are so fun to be around also, all in all I'd say we have a pretty solid district. It's so fun here after the first days and everything is going well.

So everyday we wake up at 6:30, eat breakfast and then teach our progressing investigator which is also our Spanish teacher, Hermano Veliz, then classes basically till we get back to our dorm around 9 every night. But the time flies by so fast lately and they are so fun.

On Sunday we had an amazing day. We watched 2 talks that were broadcasted from Provo MTC from Elder Ballard and Elder Holland. They were such amazing talks about missionary work and it makes me want to stay out for the right reasons. Elder Holland's talk was so inspirational that everyone came out of that devotional in awe.

Well I just want to let everyone know that I love them and that I know that serving a mission is the best thing you can do. I have learned so much and have learned to love it here. I have been reading in Alma where he talks to his sons. There is so much information in there and I love it!

Peru Culture:

1) they wear their wedding ring on the other hand which I thought was really weird.

2) all the people are so nice here. if you say hi to them they will talk to you no matter what. In America there aren't that many people like that.

Love you all!

Elder Beck

1) me packing before I left

2) A picture of the CCM at night

3) me and Elder Ward (my airplane companion)

4) Me and Elder Davis (my CCM companion)

5) in my dorm

6) Me and Elder Davis on our way to the temple today

7) Me and Elder Davis in front of the Lima temple

8) pic of the lima temple

9) the courtyard in the middle of the CCM buildings

10) the terf soccer field in the CCM, it's super cool

11)sand volleyball court also

12)our dorm at the temple, coolest guys, I love them

Here is some more information Tanner sent us through emails:

Oh yeah, the food here is so good! some of my favorite I've ever had, and I'm having the best time. Our district and dorm is so cool. I love all of them!  My companion is from Layton and he came a little later but on the same flight to Atlanta. Yeah everyone in my dorm except Elder Ward is super tall.  There are about 52 missionarys here from our group that flew from Atlanta.  Si, un poco, lol, we have learned how to pray, bear our testimonies and a couple of other things and I have picked up on so much while I am here.  It's fun to talk to the natives that are only here for 3 weeks because we try to teach them English as well as them teaching us Spanish. But I love it down here so much.

August 18, 2017 - First email and surprise text

After a very long 24 hours, it was nice to finally get the first email from Tanner.

August 18, 2017  10:37 a.m.

Hey Mom and Dad, I arrived safely and am doing well, I just got a sweet new haircut and name tags just barely. We got in around 2:30 yesterday night and had to get up at 8:30 for breakfast and orientation. I am learning bits and peaces of Spanish just by being here but the classes in the next days will teach me so much more. But just wanted to let you guys know that i love you and im safe in Peru.

Love, Tanner

Then on Sunday we had a nice Sister missionary send us a picture that was taken of Tanner and his district.What tender mercy!!!  He looks amazing and his smile made our day!  Her husband is the area medical and also the Branch President in the MTC.  She said, "They are all so good.  Great group of young men!!!  You should be super proud."

August 15, 2017 - Departing for Lima, Peru MTC

The morning finally came for Tanner to leave for the MTC.  The night before he told me he was nervous to go to bed since he would have to wake up the next morning.  He said he slept pretty good the night before even though we had to get up very early in the morning to get to the airport.  We left home close to 6 a.m.  Byron helped Tanner get all of his luggage checked in.  His luggage weighed 46 and 39 lbs each.  We decided to say our goodbyes before heading upstairs where we had more room.  I was taking a picture of the kids all together, when I started sobbing and soon Byron and Bradley followed.  It was pretty emotional saying our goodbyes.  Tanner has been such a source of strength in our family and will be greatly missed by all!!!

Johnathan and Tanner have always had a special relationship.  They have always been very close and shared so many experiences together.  Johnathan was telling Grandma Beck on Sunday (two days before Tanner left) that he doesn't know who he is going to talk to now.  These two have always gotten along and rarely have an argument or disagreement.  I can't wait to see that glorious reunion in 3 years after Johnathan returns from his mission.

It has been fun to see Camille and Tanner's relationship formed the past few years.  Tanner looked forward to Camille's letters while she was on her mission and was always one of the first ones to read them.  It was also cool hearing Camille tell Tanner a great set of scriptures to read before he left or sharing experiences with him from her mission.  Bradley has been following Tanner around the past couple of months and won't let him out of his sight.  Tanner has been so sweet to take Bradley fishing quite a few times at the Jordan River and Bradley was beaming every time he spent time with him.  Tanner also was awesome to let Bradley join his group of friends when they went to play futsal and Bradley loved feeling included.  Tanner has always been so patient with Carter and Parker and talks so nicely to them.  He was great to include others in all that he did and just made everyone feel important.

We walked upstairs to the security and found a lot of other missionaries saying their goodbyes also. We weren't upstairs very long before Byron mentioned it is probably time to go and I quickly grabbed one last hug before he turned around and walked away.  It was fun to keep watching him as he was in the long security line.  He waved back to us and then we lost track of him.  His travel campanion was Elder Chandler Ward.  We were hoping he found him and that there were more traveling to the Peru MTC with him.

 

 

 

August 14, 2017 - Tanner setting apart as missionary

Tanner was set apart on August 14, 2017 at 8 am.  President Davidson came over and was so nice to come to our house.  The Grandparents were also up bright and early to get to our house in time. Tanner was given a beautiful blessing with many promises that were so comforting to us.

Tanner Byron Beck set apart as full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  To serve as a full-time missionary for the next 24 months with specific invitation to serve in the Peru Trujillo South mission.  Bless you as you prepare yourself that begins tomorrow that you will approach this opportunity to serve with excitement and an understanding that our Heavenly Father has prepared and called you for this specific purpose to Peru for you possess all of the skills, attributes and talents necessary to succeed as a full-time missionary in Peru.  Bless you to conduct yourself in a manner to carry the spirit with you at all times and in all places and that you will constantly use the spirit and its promptings and be willing to act upon the spirit with the impressions and feelings your companions and fellow missionaries receive in relations to the work that you have been assigned to complete.  We bless you as you move forth that you will gain a greater appreciation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and develop a stronger personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ and you will come to a greater understanding of how his atonement and sacrifice and how our Heavenly Father’s plan allows you to progress eternally – allows you to benefit from lasting happiness and peace and will be a great source of strength and support to you over the course of your life.  And how you at this time will have the opportunity to share this message of hope and perspective to those that you will have an opportunity to minister to and help these next two years as a missionary.  Brother Beck we bless and admonish you to be mindful of the great call and responsibility it is to serve our Heavenly Father on a full-time basis.  We encourage and invite you to dedicate all of your heart, might, mind and strength in this great work and to be obedient in the invitations and assignments that have been given to you that you will be mindful and look to your mission president and his wife as a great source of strength and perspective and help and that you will be willing to follow their counsel in all things and in all times for they have been called and set apart as a mission president with the priesthood keys for and in behalf in your call as a missionary.  We bless you also with health and strength.  We bless you that you will have no physical limitations in the next two years that your body will be strong and healthy and you will be able to withstand and carry forth with all assignments given to you.  We bless you that you will wake and arise each day excited and anxious for the days opportunities.  That you will put forth your effort in a way where each night you can retire knowing that you have given your Heavenly Father your best.  Bless you to exercise the priesthood that you hold that you may help others understand that the priesthood and the authority given to you by God is one that can directly bless others.  We invite and encourage you to reach out and exercise that priesthood in ways and in times that will be a strength to not only those that are not of our faith, but to also those that are of our faith but for reasons that you at this time cannot understand as they have separated themselves from the church.  We bless you also that you will have an opportunity to look to the temple in all of your missionary assignments and endeavors. That you may help others prepare themselves to enter the House of the Lord.  We bless you that you will also have an opportunity to bear testimony in all times and in all places with strength and conviction that the Spanish language that you learn will be a great resource and strength in you – that you need not worry about any language barrier or deficiency.  Heavenly Father will provide for you all that you need to succeed in whatever tongue you have been called to speak.  We invite and encourage you to put all of your heart, might, mind and strength into this work and in so doing as you exercise faith and are willing to submit your will to the will of Heavenly Father great opportunities will come your way.  Doors will be opened and you will have an opportunity to grow a great love and appreciation for the people of Peru and at the same time providing them an eternal pathway back to our Heavenly Father.  These things we say and leave with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.  

Tanner also received a Father's blessing on August 6 that was very comforting for Tanner.

Bless you to know that your Heavenly Father knows you, knows you by name, and loves you very much.  Bless you to know that he is happy with the decisions you have made that the knows of your struggles and wants to help you continue to overcome them.  Bless you to have the strength that you need to come closer to our Savior to feel of his spirit that you can be a powerful and effective missionary.  That you can feel inside the good person that you are and the readiness that you have to serve our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.  That you can be an extension of him and his gospel to others.  Tanner bless you with a calmness, bless you with the ability to know that all will be fine and that Spanish will come.  That learnings from Seminary and feelings you have had will come to the surface as others ask you questions.  Bless you to know that your mom and dad love you very much and we know that you are doing what you should – you are making the right decision.  Bless you to get through hard times through the next couple of years that you can learn and know you are where you are supposed to be.  That you are finding and seeking out people that are waiting to feel of your personality and those things which for those people only you can reach.  Bless you to work hard to represent the Savior and our family well.  That you an feel of our love – bless you to be safe and protected while you are away that you can also have strength and take care of your body such that you can walk and not be worry and walk and not faint.  Bless you to continue to read the scriptures and have a love for them and the Savior and all that he brings to us.  We bless you to have the ability to write home and spend the time necessary to make sure we are lifted at the same time that you are on your mission.  

After the mission setting apart, I took the kids to Hogle Zoo to enjoy the morning/afternoon together before the packing started.  Then that evening Tanner was able to pick one last place to eat as a family.  He picked One Man Band Diner.  It was fun to spend that evening together just enjoying the time we had with Tanner.

August 13, 2017 - Mission Farewell

Tanner went to the Stake offices at 8:30 a.m. on August 13 to have his final interview with President Davidson.  Then our meetings started at 9 a.m.  Johnathan was also asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting with Tanner.  Johnathan did awesome speaking about unity in a quorum.  Then the Senior Primary sang "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission." Bradley was so cute up there singing.  Tanner did a fabulous job also speaking about the Atonement.  Many friends and family were able to attend. Tanner had a big group from Trafalga come along with his other friends.  It was fun to see him talk to each of these groups.  Afterwards we went back to our house for a breakfast potluck.  We provided breakfast casseroles that were a hit.  It was fun to see everyone.  I loved watching Tanner go from group to group - not staying with the same people the whole time.  He also got pictures with most of the people that came (minus Scott Chapple's family).  What a special day and Tanner was beaming!