Highlights From Brandon's Last Two Weeks:

-Taught some women who sell food on the busses between Loja and Catamayo. They are very poor. They taught that faith brings blessings.

-Had a rainstorm!

-Have been teaching a 16 year old boy named Christian. He has a baptismal date.

-Ate lots of rice and an amazing lasagne that he couldn't keep down:(

-Elder Hirschi had a birthday, so they made cake and ate it too!

-Met with an older member who has been lonely. He even built a soccer field and basketball court to encourage visitors!

-Fed 70 Ecuadorians. (That was fun!)

-He received his Christmas Package in record time! Thank you to mymissionaryshipping.com!

-Can't wait to talk to the family on Christmas Day!

We only have 30 minutes to write because some missionaries have been violating mission rules. It was a hrad week for president. I love pictures from home. Especially cooper. I have been doing well this week, and started teaching lessons myself. Everybody is super suprised and there's a rumor that I may be the youngest assistant in mission history. None of my boxes have arrived, but they should get to me in the next two weeks, as the zone leaders will be going to Guayaquil for the next few weeks. I went on a split with Elder Valdivia, the missionary from Santiago, on Tuesday. He let me in on the buzz about me. Apparently there are high expectations for me. All is well in Catamayo except none of our investigators will come to church. My spanish is well. I think there isn't anything I need -Elder Beech

Brandon had a conference this week, so he got to travel to Cuenca to hear from their area authority. While there, he found his best friend from Mexico City, Elder Toledo! It was a sweet reunion. Below, you can see pictures of them as little guys, and now as missionaries! Two new missionaries are serving with him in catamayo. They are Elders Ibañez and Hirsche. He is enjoying working with them. They have not had much progress with their investigators, so there is not much to report on that. Please include their efforts in your prayers! He was excited to find a rangers hat, a cowboy hat, and some formula 1 toy cars. It looks like he is having fun and growing in his testimony of our Savior.

Below are a few more pictures from this week!

Brandon sounds like he's doing well. He is still as funny as he ever was. I am sure his sense of humor isn't quite understood by the Latinos, but that's ok. He didn't write much today. I think he has been busier than he thought he would be. He said they had a baptism this week, and he got to eat his favorite French dish, Carbonara. He seemed to enjoy that. Transfers occurred this week, and he and his companion will stay in Catamayo together for at least 6 more weeks. However, they will get to work with another companionship starting on Wednesday. One of the missionaries will be brand new to the mission. He is hoping it is Elder Toledo. Elder (Carlos) Toledo and Brandon were best friends when they were very little living in Mexico City. Carlos's mom and I served in the Ward Primary Presidency together. Both families were excited that these sweet boys were called to the same mission only weeks apart. I am so looking forward to hearing about their reunion sooner or later!

Hey all! I fought a goat this week, and almost got stabbed by it's owner. It's all good, because i'm a Jesus man, so he couldn't stab me. He has no interest for our message though. Funny contacting experience this week though: YO- Hola, nosotros tenemos un mensaje sobre Jesucristo. MUJER- Gracias, pero no. Soy Católico. YO- ¿Católicos no creen en Jesucristo nada mas? Bueno, ¡hasta luego! which translates to; Me: Hi, we have a message about Jesus Christ Lady: Thanks, but no. I'm Catholic Me: Catholics don't beleive in Jesus Christ anymore? Well, see you next time! My compañero gave me a nice backhand to that. I thought it was funny. Nothing too cool happened this week, other than we had conference with President Moreno. He's a great guy. I wish I listened to more of what he said, but I ended up throwing up all this week's food during his sunday talk. On saturday though, he talked about how we should be nice to everyone, and that sharing the gospel is necessary for everybody, because everybody needs a chance to accept or reject the restored gospel. He also talked about reading scriptures,

and how people don't do that a lot anymore, and lose their faith. Full triste. Anyway, send me letters about your lives! I want to hear from you all! -Elder Beech

A little video today!

I'm doing super good out here. Spanish is going well and I had my first baptism! It was a 10 year old girl. It was such a neat expirience! First week out and I'm baptizing. The work of the Lord. We're not aloud to eat anything super weird, so my diet consists of rice, chicken, bannanas, and water. But It's fine. The only problem I have with the food is that they feed me too much. It sucks having to eat three times as much as I'm used too. The first night I stayed at the assistants' house. My house is a castle compared to their's. Next time Audrey or Maddie complains about what they don't have, show them where I have to shower, when we have water. There are only 2 missionaries in Catamayo, and we're in a branch. There are a ton of inactives around here, so there's always work to do. I had to buy a blanket last week because it gets pretty chilly up here. So I bought the most normal one possible. I'm having fun out here, and Elder Merizalde is most of the reason. he's such and awesome guy. Also, I think I was called here because of the stupidity of the kids. I love them, but they're always running around with no shoes on and getting stabbed by one thing or another. So I have to bandage their feet up and do EMT stuff all the time. It's cool though. Not much else to report on, other than the kids love El Gringo, and the 20-odds hate me. The people are super awesome for the most part. We have to teach the word of wisdom a lot, because all the drunk dudes want to drink with the Gringo. It's awesome.

Hey Gringos, I leave the CCM on Monday and get to Ecuador on tuesday. A quick report on the Elder who got hurt, he has a great attitude, despite having half his head shaved and stitched up, and his face all wacked out. He's back at the CCM, and hes doing awesome. The doctors said, that he shoul've died or at least been blinded in one or both of his eyes. Hes seeing fine, and is more than alive. Right after the injury, we gave him a preisthood blessing. He was pretty out of it, and was bleeding a ton from his nose and several lacerations. As soon as the blessing ended, and we said amen, a peace fell over him, and he stopped bleeding. I've seen a ton of broken faces, but I've never seen one stop bleeding, or a patient calm down without drugs. It's truly a blessing that he is alive and recovering so quickly. I spent a little time with him this week, when he wanted to take a nap, so I went on splits. He's super upbeat. He's a real trooper. This just goes to show that blessings work and God will help us if we have faith. can't wait to bring back more stories, -Elder Beech

Hey everybody! It's really boring here, and nothing much has happened. I was able to give a priesthood blessing to an elder who got a severe injury this week, and use my EMT skills to help him. As always, I appreciate emails and words from home! I love you all! -Elder Beech

Hey Gringos! I'm still alive, but today is Mexican Independence day, so I might get shot. The language is coming to me pretty easily. We also started teaching real investigators this week, and that's going great. My district is still amazing, and we stay killing other districts in Ultimate Frisbee. I'm ramping up to leave the CCM on October 4th, which is exciting. Just a small talk about The Church. I know it's true, and I know Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God and that it's all true. No doubt in my heart nor my mind. God works in mysterious ways, but He answers our prayers. Pray to your Heavenly Father, He wishes to hear from you! He loves us and wants us to be happy. You can do anything through Him. Also this week, an investegator asked "If God is real, why does He let bad things happen?" God gave us agency, but agency includes the ability for men to be cruel to other men. It's sad, and I know it makes Him sad to see this happen, but He still helps us overcome the horrible things that happen. I wish to hear from you all! And I still need baseball and football info! I have not heard anything other than Tony Romo getting hurt, but to be honest I could have guessed that. Anyway, Love you all! -Elder Beech

Hey guys! Mexico has been kind to me so far. The gunshots are becoming soothing, and it's awesome to fall asleep to that sound. There's not much to report on my end, other than that Elder Clark, an Elder from Seattle, and I are having a contest to see who can receive the most Dear John's over the course of our mission. So please send some. My mom will attach the mailing adress, because they must be in letter format to be accepted. I hope everything is alright in the states, everything is nice down here. Spanish is coming to me really well, and we've started teaching real investegators from outside the CCM (MTC), and they've been able to understand me very well. I've sent so pictures to my mom, so hopefully you'll get them. I got a haircut today and I'm almost bald, so that's one step closer to becoming a Buddist monk. There's an Elder here, Elder Hunt, great guy. He's really inspiring, and I can't say much, but what i've learned from him is that no matter what; you can do anything, and that nothing is about you. Service is key, and sacrifice is worth it. I miss you all, and please send me E-mails about how your lives are going! -Elder Beech brandon.beech@myldsmail.net mailing address: Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828 Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero 07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal Mexico pouch mail: Mexico MTC P.O. Box 30150 Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150 Pouch Guidelines: Only letters that are single sheet, folded into three-panels, and taped at the top and postcards may be sent through the pouch. Letters sent in any other manner will be returned to the sender.

Querido Madre, La CCM es OK. Me Compeñero es bien. He's from American Fork, and he's chill. I've learned a ton of Spanish. The schedule changes everyday, and it's busy. The food is good, and i'm eating, so don't worry yet. Elder Carlson is a hard worker, he's my companion. My district is cool, and I wish I could tell all their stories to you. My favorites are Elder Hunt and Elder Clark. Hunt is from Utah but he's a rocker. Clark is from an island off Seattle. They're both pretty funny. I've had trouble sleeping the past few days, and I don't know why. I've seen teh doctor and he's given me some antihistmines that help me get drowsy. I've been doing good other than that. An Elder from my district rolled his ankle, so I've been having to still be an EMT down here. Also, If you could post on my FaceBook that if I'm going to get Dear John'd I will only accept it in letter format. Please help those poor souls to send those letters to me. I will also be collecting dear johns over the next two years, along with Elder Clark. Clark, Carlson and I are all going to the same mission. -Elder Beech okay, the extreme close up is Elder Hunt, and the weird guy is Elder Carlson, and then theres me with my small tie and a bird i killed with the spirit (el Espiritu Santo)

Hello Mom, I am e-mailing to let you know that my planes did not crash. My P-days will be thursday starting next week. Thinking of the family! -Elder Beech

Elder Beech leaves Dallas tomorrow morning for the Mexico City MTC! We are excited to see the Lord's miracles at work in Ecuador. His email address is: brandon.beech@myldsmail.net Please send lots of encouragement to him. Check back frequently for his letters and pictures, too.