Missionary Monday - My Spanich is Coming Along Nicely

Let’s have a talk. I’m going to keep it real with you guys. I am not sure why, universally, missionaries have decided to sugarcoat missions and everything about them but I intend to be completely honest for the next 18 months. So please, don’t be worried about me. Don’t think that I’m complaining or that I’m having the worst time and definitely don’t think I’m trying to scare anyone away from serving a mission! I love the week and a half that I’ve been serving one so far! 😂 But, it would have been nice to have been warned about some things, instead of thinking it was going to be rainbows and butterflies! That being said, noooooooo onnneeeeeeee, not one single missionary friend warned me about how brutal it is, sitting in classes and lessons and studies and workshops for hours and hours each day. The saying that "days feel like weeks and weeks feel like days" could not be more true. Sister Nielsen and I were talking to our teacher about a discussion we had last weekand then he kindly informed me that the discussion I was referring to happened JUST THE DAY BEFORE. I was seriously so shocked. It felt like we had talked about it days ago but it was just the previous day. Time is unreal. I’ve been told that as soon as you get adjusted to it, it’s totally fine and I want to believe that. I really do. For all you future missionaries, make sure you take every opportunity you get to stand up/walk around, and go outside! (That is if you’re doing the online MTC. I'm not sure what it’s like in person) 

Again, I am loving it. But you can love something and it can still have parts that are kind of the w*rst.. ;)

Fun little story time. We were doing some teaching role plays and the elders we were with were pretending to be of a different faith. At one point in the lesson Elder Taylor goes "Well what about the dead sea squirrels?" When I tell you that I was so genuinely confused and lost. I was like what on EARTH do dead sea squirrels have to do with this conversation? Why are they dead? Why is no one addressing the fact that we're talking about squirrels? Does "squirrel" stand for something? Is that a Muslim thing? I did not know sea squirrels even existed.. Why is no one else confused??

I didn't talk at all after that because I was just so befuddled by these dead sea squirrels and what they had to do with anything. 

Come to find out, over an embarrassing amount of time, he said the dead sea SCROLLS. I'll just say it, I don't know much about those either... Yikes.

You’re probably wondering what the heck Spanch is or if you know me well enough you already know that it’s Spanish and French put together. Learning a third language is definitely easier in so many ways but harder in a few that I wasn’t expecting. First of all, I cannot compartmentalize Spanish and French from each other. I just can’t do it. Someone asks me “Comment ça va?” (French) and my first reaction is “¡Muy bien! ¿Y tú?” (Spanish). Unfortunately once I think of a response in Spanish there's no turning back. My mind is then in Spanish mode and I can't think of a French response to save my life. 

“Pourquoi” will always be “porque” to me and there’s nothing the French can do about it.. (Except maybe kick me out of their country). 

I think because my call was to speak Spanish I’m giving myself a lot of grace and time to learn French. I don’t feel stressed about it and my mindset is, "it will come when it comes". Ask me how that’s going though when I have to do a TRC in French or I don’t know how to simply ask for directions when I’m in France. That “grace” will go flying out the window. 

Speaking of TRCs!! Me and Sister Nielsen did our first one (in English) this week and I lovehate to be that person but we actually killed it 😂 It went so well! Way better than I was expecting and it was so much fun (which I also wasn’t expecting). It’s so cool to get to know people and to share with them something you love so much. I also didn’t realize how awesome it would be to get to start from ground zero with someone. There’s so much that this Gospel has to offer, it’s so exciting to be the person introducing it to someone for the first time. I know, I know, you don’t have to tell me. The TRCs are fake and it’s all just to practice BUT STILL! Getting that little glimpse of it made me ready for more! Plus, the spirit that was felt was very real. 

I am so grateful for ma collègue, Sœur Nielsen! She is one of the funniest people ever and we get along so well. Somehow every time we talk, we end up laughing ’til we cry. I really hope that someday we can be companions in France too, that would be so fun!

Shout out to my momma for getting accepted to student teach as a seminary teacher this week!! 🥳🥳

I think that's pretty much it, though I have more to say with each of my pictures! 

¡Los quiero muchachos!

Passez une semaine incroyable! 

-Sir Beck

Pictures :)

POV: You’re the French guard who’s letting me into France because I have my proof of vaccination. 

Got my first dose this week! Normally I think it’s kind of weird when people post their vax cards but getting this means I’m being considerate of others/keeping them safe and I can get into France sooner! So I am feeling thankful. 

I go on daily walks with my dad (and sometimes mom). Usually in between my two, 3 hour classes, and then after my french tutoring at night. We just walk around the block and talk. It’s very therapeutic. 

Here’s me waiting for my nightly walk. Tuesday was the longest day of my life. You probably could’ve read the Book of Mormon all the way through three times AND be a slow reader and the day would still not have been over. But no need to worry. I allotted myself 10 mins of cry time and then we saw a beautiful sunset and the purple/pink mountains on our walk. I was cured. 

I love these little Spanish reminders so much. They’re so cute and hold such simple truths! If you speak Spanish I would highly recommend checking out masfe.org it has some great stuff!

Every once in a while my dad will go outside my window and entertain me for a few seconds. Sometimes he'll pass me some snacks and treats. He's a good dad. 

For those who followed along my little Garden series last year, I started another (much smaller) one! This year I have Italian oregano, spearmint, garden sage, and fern leaf dill! All new ones! Plus a purple African daisy! I loved my little garden last year and my dad brought up that I should start another one so I have something to do/look forward to during my breaks 💚🌱 

Also I'm taking applications from those who would be willing to take care of them once I leave. My family just lets them die when I'm not around.