Lâches pas la patate

Bonjour y’all!
My title translates into... don’t drop the Potato.  It’s a Québécois saying that means don’t give up or keep holding on.

I hope you are all doing amazing back home. I love hearing from everyone. My time here at the MTC is a little more than half way over. It has gone by so fast. My companion and my district are all great people.  This last week here at the MTC has been full of adventures and spiritual Experiences. 

Last Saturday our teacher invited us to have an English fast. We couldn’t speak any English all day, only French. It was really hard but we all tried our best and we did pretty well. 

Sunday was really interesting.  Elder Poll and I taught Sunday school and priesthood lessons. Thanks dad for the help, haha.  I should have asked you earlier for help but thanks anyway.  Sunday school was on the Law of Consecration and I learned a lot about it even though I was teaching. Priesthood was on the Great Apostasy and the Restoration through Joseph Smith. That's my favorite lesson to teach because I was teaching all the new elders and they missed elder Ballard’s talk from last week so we used that for the majority of the lesson. Sunday night we went and watched Elder Holland’s talk, Missions are Forever. That was one of the best talks I’ve ever heard on missions. It was a good reminder that the mission is just the MTC for your life and how we need to be the best missionaries we can be even if it is doing member missionary work.  

Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal days here. Not much happened that was exciting. We have been teaching our “investigators” almost everyday now. We teach Etienne and Joselline which are just Frére Jones and Sœur Richards. Most of the lessons go pretty well until they say something that I don’t know. Then I just resort to bearing my testimony the best I can. The TRC lessons have been going really well. The members are really nice and help us with words we don’t know. Next week we don’t get to do the TRC lessons because we will be Skyping with members instead. 

Wednesday’s here are one of my more favorite days because of the new missionaries that arrive.  I saw Elder Trevor Larsen and Ashley Potter's parents.  That night, we had a small birthday celebration for our zone leader because it was his birthday.  I may or may not have eaten 6 sugar cookies, haha. Everyone here has grown really close together and I know it’s because we  all have the same standards and are here for the same reason.

I love this church and everything it offers to those who follow its teachings. I love the MTC and I’m continually learning and feeling the Spirit stronger than ever before.  I hope y’all have an amazing week.

I love y’all. Be safe and have fun!!!
Elder Beckstrand

This is Elder Di Silva. I’m pretty sure that’s how it’s spelled. He is
from Brazil and just left to serve in St. George.

Look at this cool Rainbow!

 The Potter's.  On their way to Japan. 

Quebec Blog

I just found out that Josh's mission has a blog.   Feel free to check it out.  https://ldsquebec.blogspot.com/?m=1

President Ballard, Hosting and Sand Volleyball

Bonjour!

This week has been pretty awesome. Last Sunday in church we had two elders and one sister speak in French, Malagasy, and Tahitian and then the prayer was said in Haitian-Creole. We had every language do something because almost our whole branch left to the field on Monday. I gave away my first set of slippers to my favorite elder, Elder Ellsworth my ZL, who just left. Later we had a devotional from Elder and Sister Thurston.  He shared a lot that has stuck with me but my favorite part of his talk was right at the end. He said, “Two people can do anything.....if one of them is the Savior”. I really enjoy the devotionals and fireside here at the MTC. I also found Elder Lucero Sunday night. 

Tuesday was a super eventful day. I started off with some tutoring for French which helped a ton and then we were able to go outside and play sand volleyball.  It felt kinda weird to leave the fencing of the MTC and cross a street with real people on it haha. We have been playing sand volley every exercise time for a while now.  It is a lot of fun.  Later that day we taught our first TRC lessons. That’s when we go teach 20 minute lessons to members that only speaks French. I did a lot better that I thought I was going to do. The members are really nice and helped us a bit. That night was the fireside and President Ballard came and gave an amazing talk on Hyrum Smith and a little on Joseph Smith too. He basically gave us a super in depth history lesson of their lives and what happened in Carthage jail. He tied it in with how we can and need to be more like them as missionaries. President Ballard is definitely a man of God and so are all of the Apostles.  There is always a special spirit that they carry with them and we can feel it as soon as they enter any room.

Wednesday was awesome. I was able to host three different Elders. The first one was an Elder that now rooms just down the hall from me but in from Norway. He speaks five languages already and is now learning French. The Next Elder was able to host was Porter Dombrowski (drainy..idk how to spell it.) When he came he there was a different Elder that was told to go to his car and had already helped his get his stuff out. Porter yelled my name and once I realized who it was, I ran over and told the other Elder he can go back to the line and get the next car haha. I repented of that later. Once I got done showing Porter around, I ran back to the parking lot and waited for Jordon. I was waiting for about an hour and then this car passed me and all the windows rolled down and they started yelling my name. I ran over to his car and gave him a big hug.  He was one of the last to show up so I kinda took my time showing him around.

The rest of the week mostly consisted of sand volley and a ton of French. I have definitely learned more French now than the last two years of class at school. The only problem I have with French is that I’m starting to mix up both of the languages I know. I’ve slip up every once in a while and say English sentences with the French structures. It’s kinda confusing but it means I’m learning so I’m not too concerned. A lot of French words also sound similar to each other and the other day I was trying to do a door approach to my teacher and I accidentally said that we were missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of breakfast saints. My teacher couldn’t hold it in and just started laughing. She made us restart and helped me pronounce it right this time. I’m loving the MTC and I’m learning so much. I’m already a third of the way done with my stay here at the MTC but I’m already so excited and ready to go to Montreal.

I love y’all so much and I hope you all have an amazing week.
Elder Beckstrand

This is my district and Seour Richards. She is our other teacher.

I found Sam Lucero!

 My District, but we were missing Seour Black.

 Porter Dombrowski
 
  Jordan Ott

This is a picture of Elder Frame.  His Sister is currently Sophie's companion.  So we thought a picture together would make them happy.  He is going to Redlands California.

 Provo Sunset

My district again because the Canadian flag was flying the other day.

 This is Elder Leslie. He just left to Tahiti.

MTC!!!

Bonjour!
 My first week here at the MTC was amazing to say the least. I am in the 21st Branch and it includes everyone speaking French but about half of them are also learning Haitian, Tahitian, and even Malagasy!! Someone make sure David hears that haha. Our branch president is President and sister Adams. They were just called about 2 weeks ago. They served a mission in Madagascar together about 6 years ago and tell us a lot of stories. My French is coming along pretty well. I’ve learned more this week than I did in the last 2 Year’s of French class. My district consist of 10 elders and one sister. Souer Black is fluent in 3 languages already and is now learning French.

Almost all of us are from Utah or are going to BYU for school. We are all going to Montreal except for one elder. Elder Washburn is going to Arizona to preach to the African refugee camps. I only have 4 people in my room. My companion is Elder Poll(Paul) and every time someone some one ask what his name is he says, if doll is doll, Poll is Poll. He is awesome and reminds me a lot of Logan Scoresby. The other companionship in my room is Elder Vargas from Texas and Elder Berns
from Spanish fork. They are some of my favorite elders here. I’m loving the MTC. The spirit is so strong here and I’ve learned so much.  I’ve taught a couple lessons already fully in French. They were really hard because I knew what I wanted to say in English but then I had to try to translate it into French. I’ve only taught my teachers so far and they are both really nice but we start TRC this next week.  My teachers are Frére Jones and Seour Richards and they have both served in Montreal.

The exercise time here is a lot of fun but Elder Vargas had a high ankle sprain on Monday and it’s healing well but is bruised pretty bad.  I have been mostly playing volleyball but we found the actual gym the other day so I’ve been biking a little as well.  I haven’t gained any weight yet so I think I’m doing pretty well. My favorite Elder is one that is going to Tahiti.  His name is Elder Leslie.  He was born in New Zealand but grew up in Brisbane.  His mum is a kiwi but his dad is a Samoan.  He is amazing and super funny.  My favorite day here is Wednesday’s because of all the new missionaries that come in. The Elders and sisters here are all amazing because we are all here for the same reason. We all have a burning desire to serve our Father in heaven.  The MTC is the best place in the world to prepare to do that. This is a special place given to us to help further the work in this dispensation. I learned yesterday that this is one of the only places outside of the temples that you need a temple recommend to enter.  I hope you have all had a great week. I’m going to try to send some pictures here soon.

 Love ya!

In that group picture, that is my full district. Starting on the left back is Washburn, Berg, Poll, Wai, Newman, Sorensen, Vargas, Berns, and Frére Jones. The front row is me, Seour Black, Arce, and Mantaño.  Elder Arce just got transferred out of our district because he is fluent in Spanish and French so he is now in a different place learning English.

MTC

Bonjour!

Yesterday was kinda crazy but today has been a little bit easier. The food has been good and I'm starting to get used to it. We had some really cool workshops yesterday and we met our zone leaders and our Branch presidency. President and Soeur Adams are both really cool. Soeur Adams reminds me a lot of Mrs. G the French teacher. Or maybe Professor Trelawney from harry potter. My companion is Elder Poll (paul).  He is from Clearfield.  More than half of our zone is from Utah.  In my room, it is Elder Poll and I, Elder Berg, Elder Vargas, and two elders from Argentina and Guatemala who barely speak English.  I'm so excited for these next few weeks here. French is coming along pretty well but it is very fast. That's about it for this email.  Not a ton has happened but its been fun. Today is only a partial P-day so I'm not sure when I'll email next week. 

Love you all. 

Elder Beckstrand's 1st Letter!

Here it is in it's entirety,

I made it to the MTC.  I'm doing good so far but I have forgotten a lot of the french that I have learned.  I have already seen Elder Berg and Berns.  One of the first people I saw was Sister Hudson.  She ran over to me and shook my hand.  She is doing great.  I'm pretty sure my P days are on Fridays so you will probably hear from me tomorrow as well.  Love Ya!!

I love it!  I am so excited to see how the letter's grow.  And how he grows.  From here on out this blog will be solely written by him.  I may have to add a few things here and there.  If so I will make sure to tell you that it is me adding them.   But, this is his blog and his mission.  He will do great things.   

The Drop Off!

Josh's original arrival date was the 4th of July but we got a phone call a couple weeks later explaining that because Provo is so busy that day they would like everyone to come on the 5th of July instead.  Fine with us!  One more holiday we get to spend with our boy.  So we had a great 4th with Josh.  He, Joel, Konnor and George ran the Freedom Festival 10k that goes a block past the MTC.  While they did that the rest of us watched the hot air balloons go off in the field behind the Provo Hospital.  It's a great tradition.  Then we all headed down to Jandy's house for breakfast.  Later that night we had a BBQ at grandma and grandpa's house and then headed to a park by Steve and Juanelle's to watch their neighborhood firework show that was AMAZING!  It was a wonderful last holiday spent with family.  If you want to see picture's and more about it go to my blog: www.pennybs2cents.blogspot.com and look it up.
I have never had any problems with being sad or concerned with sending Shayne or Sophie on a mission.  Mission's are exciting and fun.  But, for some reason I was having some bad anxiety because I knew Josh was having anxiety.  I did not want this MTC experience to be full of tears and sorrow when the last two had been so positive and wonderful but I could not see how it could be anything but mournful. That night Josh gave me a blessing of peace and comfort.  His first blessing.  It was short and sweet and to the point and just exactly what he and I needed.   Then next morning we got up, got ready and went to the Provo Temple to meet Shayne and Konnor and to take some picture's before heading over to the MTC.  The spirit was light and peaceful.  Everyone was happy and excited including Josh.  Which, in turn, made me the same way.  There were not very many people there.  There was a stark difference between Sophie's day and this day.  The day we took Sophie in they had a record 739 missionaries coming in and a news crew there to document it.  The church was opening up tours for the new part of the MTC and the place was buzzing.  But on July 5th the MTC received a humble 211 missionaries.  We knew of 5 of them that were going to be in Josh's mission and 1 that was Sophie's companions little brother that was going to California.  Sister Dee's little brother, Dylan Frame.  We told Josh to go find him and take a picture of them together so they could send it to their sister's in Florida. 
Here are the last picture's of Josh with his family members, and then the morning of Nick came over to say goodbye.

 Time for some selfies.

 Then across the street we drove.  We got our blue Post-It on our window and went down underground to the parking garage to say goodbye. 

 This was Elder Ivins from Blanding.  I put this picture along with all of the other picture's of the missionaries waving on the Missionary Momma's Facebook Page so their mom's could see them. 

Last group picture.