This week has been very good. We have not had a lot of teaching appointments but the people we have been teaching have been blessed a lot. Just to let everyone know until further notice send letters to 4627 Austin Pkwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479. I will most likely be transferred not this Wednesday but the Wednesday after. I will miss Rosenberg but who knows I might stay but from what President Saylin told me it sounds like I am going to a different area.
So this week I will start from the beginning. Our district went to Brazos Bend state park on P-day. It was a lot of fun. They have alligators there and lots of wildlife. There were some huge spiders that looked awesome. I am going to send home some pictures this week with those included as well as some other pictures. It was a lot of fun. We also had interviews this week. I love talking with President Saylin. He is great and he gave me some good council on the work. A Needville area is opening in 3 transfers. So it will be a while but we are getting information together with members who live there and so on. If I never mentioned Needville before it is a small country town in the bottom of our area.
We are teaching a family and they are doing great. They continue to progress and come to church. They are really nice people and they are so willing to change. It is a wonder to see the faith and diligence of the people that we talk to. I know some people who have been through a lot of stuff.
It strengthens my faith to see the hope in other people’s eyes even though everything is going wrong for them. It lets you appreciate and find joy in what you already have.
Our ward had a big activity on Saturday. The activity was cooking without electricity. Being Texas people brought smokers and huge BBQ stuff. The food was sooooooo good. I am going to buy a smoker when I get home. The food here is really good. I was not a huge fan of BBQ until I had the BBQ that they do down here. They make it good. Most of the ward showed up and it was a great opportunity to talk to the members and for the members to get to know each other a little more.
On Sunday we had our primary program. It was pretty good/funny. There was one kid who sang really loud but really monotone. A lot of people were giggling at times about it because when the kids would walk up to say there little sentence some of them were really awkward and shy. It was a good program and our investigators who came to church loved it.
The weather today is CRAZY!!! It has been raining extremely hard and our car almost flooded trying to get out of our parking area. Also it is really dark today. Luckily we went to the state park last week and not this week. As I sit here typing this email my shoes are soaked also the front side of my pants are soaked. Well I am sorry that this email is so short. BTW the investigator who went to jail is home safe and sound. I don’t know if I talked about that last week so if I didn’t then let me know. I love you all and I wish the best of luck to all of you in your lives.
Love,
Elder Devon Joel Marr
P.S. Name that song
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
"Come thou fount of every blessing"
This week we had zone conference. It was great as you would expect it to be. There were some great talks and some great principles taught. President Saylin really tried to get it across not to put what we learn on the back burner but to apply it to our lives and to study and change from it. I have learned a lot lately how much you can change because of the gospel. I see it all the time. Even though you remain the same person you don’t have to repeat the same mistakes that you have made. That’s all the Book of Mormon and Bible are is showing what happens when you make certain mistakes and what happens when you follow the rules. They are there so that we don’t have to make the same mistakes that they made and don’t have to follow the same patterns of human nature that cause so many problems.
We had an interesting week. We had some really good lessons but there was a lot that happened this week so I will try to cover a lot of stuff.
Mark and Mary a part member/less active family that we teach are doing very well. He has medical problems that hold him back from coming to church but he has been studying and really trying to gain a testimony. He is progressing slowly but strongly. Their family already seems much happier than they did before we started to meet with them. I love the peace and joy that the gospel brings into people’s lives.
We had some interesting mornings this week. One morning a member asked us if we could talk on how to share and teach from the Book of Mormon for her seminary class. We had to wake up at 5:00 to get out there but I loved her class. It was a fun way to start off the morning. Also another morning, I think Friday, we helped at the old folks home with their garage sale. Getting things outside and stuff. It was fun and some of those ladies are so funny. I like that people at places like this find ways to laugh and to be happy.
Our whether has been great this week. During the day it has been around 75-80 degrees. Also at times with a light breeze. It has been clear skies all week. It has been beautiful. It actually makes Rosenberg look like a pretty place. Everyone here is astonished over how long it has been nice like this.
So another funny story from this week. Elder Garcia and I were going to see if a less active member was home. We go up there and knock and no answer. It is an apartment complex and to our right there are two older ladies sitting on the balcony. Out of nowhere a lady comes up the stairs and starts getting really mad at one of the ladies saying that she stole her 3 quarters that were on the washing machine. They said that they had been at the store so they couldn’t have stolen them. One of the old ladies picked up a cane and told the lady accusing one of them to be a thief to get off her porch. We tried not to get involved because it was not our business but we couldn’t get past them. So we tried to cool them all down and eventually gave the lady that was mad 3 quarters so that she could do her laundry. The Spanish missionaries saw all of this because they were on their way to visit an investigator and saw the argument.
Also the funniest/weirdest/saddest story of the week is that the sweetest and nicest of our investigators went to jail. Her wallet was stolen by one of her neighbors and she needed it because it had information on it for her housing meeting that she needs to make to keep her apartment. So she called the police and they came and she told them about it. The man could not confess ,even though she didn’t want to press charges, because he was on probation. So the officer asked if she had been drinking at all. She said that she had two sips of a beer. She took a breathalyzer test or something and she passed. But he said that she had been drinking outside which is public intoxication. So she was arrested. She told us later that the police officer can get into trouble for arresting her when he didn’t see her do it and she wasn’t drunk or anything. So she goes to jail and we hear because she gets to call us. So we go down there the next day to talk with her. They just built a new jail this year and it is really well made. I have never been to a jail before. It was really different. When we went in to talk with her we could tell that the police officers really liked how respectful and good we were. In the room there were people who were rude and loud and completely disrespectful. It was really strange. So we talked to her and she was not sad at all. It turns out that she has to stay for a few days because of some old tickets that she didn’t remember. Since she makes hardly any money she wasn’t really sad. She said that by the time she meets with the judge they are going to release her because her tickets will be paid for because of jail time and that they are spending money to keep her there when she didn’t do too much wrong. When we talked to us she told us that she is never even taking a sip of alcohol again. She said that she has been having Bible study, playing basketball, and has been trying to give love and kindness to her fellow inmates. We laughed pretty well when we met with her. She is so cool. She looked at this as an opportunity to help other people. She is amazing and she is not afraid to tell other people what she believes about the church. She is being released today and will hopefully be baptized in the next month. I have never been as shocked as I was when Elder Garcia hung up the phone and told me “*name* is in jail.” I was more shocked than ever before.
I love you all and I love my mission. Even though things have been a little rough for the people we teach this week it has been an uplifting and edifying week. I feel more consistently happy now than I can ever remember. Serving the Lord brings great blessing and feelings and capability to change. The fullness of the gospel is on the earth. That much I know without a doubt.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
P.S. The title to my email is an amazing song
We had an interesting week. We had some really good lessons but there was a lot that happened this week so I will try to cover a lot of stuff.
Mark and Mary a part member/less active family that we teach are doing very well. He has medical problems that hold him back from coming to church but he has been studying and really trying to gain a testimony. He is progressing slowly but strongly. Their family already seems much happier than they did before we started to meet with them. I love the peace and joy that the gospel brings into people’s lives.
We had some interesting mornings this week. One morning a member asked us if we could talk on how to share and teach from the Book of Mormon for her seminary class. We had to wake up at 5:00 to get out there but I loved her class. It was a fun way to start off the morning. Also another morning, I think Friday, we helped at the old folks home with their garage sale. Getting things outside and stuff. It was fun and some of those ladies are so funny. I like that people at places like this find ways to laugh and to be happy.
Our whether has been great this week. During the day it has been around 75-80 degrees. Also at times with a light breeze. It has been clear skies all week. It has been beautiful. It actually makes Rosenberg look like a pretty place. Everyone here is astonished over how long it has been nice like this.
So another funny story from this week. Elder Garcia and I were going to see if a less active member was home. We go up there and knock and no answer. It is an apartment complex and to our right there are two older ladies sitting on the balcony. Out of nowhere a lady comes up the stairs and starts getting really mad at one of the ladies saying that she stole her 3 quarters that were on the washing machine. They said that they had been at the store so they couldn’t have stolen them. One of the old ladies picked up a cane and told the lady accusing one of them to be a thief to get off her porch. We tried not to get involved because it was not our business but we couldn’t get past them. So we tried to cool them all down and eventually gave the lady that was mad 3 quarters so that she could do her laundry. The Spanish missionaries saw all of this because they were on their way to visit an investigator and saw the argument.
Also the funniest/weirdest/saddest story of the week is that the sweetest and nicest of our investigators went to jail. Her wallet was stolen by one of her neighbors and she needed it because it had information on it for her housing meeting that she needs to make to keep her apartment. So she called the police and they came and she told them about it. The man could not confess ,even though she didn’t want to press charges, because he was on probation. So the officer asked if she had been drinking at all. She said that she had two sips of a beer. She took a breathalyzer test or something and she passed. But he said that she had been drinking outside which is public intoxication. So she was arrested. She told us later that the police officer can get into trouble for arresting her when he didn’t see her do it and she wasn’t drunk or anything. So she goes to jail and we hear because she gets to call us. So we go down there the next day to talk with her. They just built a new jail this year and it is really well made. I have never been to a jail before. It was really different. When we went in to talk with her we could tell that the police officers really liked how respectful and good we were. In the room there were people who were rude and loud and completely disrespectful. It was really strange. So we talked to her and she was not sad at all. It turns out that she has to stay for a few days because of some old tickets that she didn’t remember. Since she makes hardly any money she wasn’t really sad. She said that by the time she meets with the judge they are going to release her because her tickets will be paid for because of jail time and that they are spending money to keep her there when she didn’t do too much wrong. When we talked to us she told us that she is never even taking a sip of alcohol again. She said that she has been having Bible study, playing basketball, and has been trying to give love and kindness to her fellow inmates. We laughed pretty well when we met with her. She is so cool. She looked at this as an opportunity to help other people. She is amazing and she is not afraid to tell other people what she believes about the church. She is being released today and will hopefully be baptized in the next month. I have never been as shocked as I was when Elder Garcia hung up the phone and told me “*name* is in jail.” I was more shocked than ever before.
I love you all and I love my mission. Even though things have been a little rough for the people we teach this week it has been an uplifting and edifying week. I feel more consistently happy now than I can ever remember. Serving the Lord brings great blessing and feelings and capability to change. The fullness of the gospel is on the earth. That much I know without a doubt.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
P.S. The title to my email is an amazing song
Monday, October 12, 2009
"My head looks like a wet dog"
Hello everyone back at home. This week was alright. It was an uplifting week that felt good and had lots of happiness but for the most part things went a little slow this week. The area took a little dip in the way it has been going before this week. Things have been getting better but this past week was, like I said, a little slow. But the work presses onward and this coming week we already have several good planned appointments.
I am sorry for not sending any letters last week. I got busy on Monday then I remembered that we aren’t supposed to write letters during the week so for those who have recently or long ago have sent me letters let me say that I am sorry.
This week we had birthdays for Mark and one of our investigators sons Isaiah (sp?). So it was nice to see them happy. This week has been a happy week although a little slow. It has been much cooler here this past week. It has been rainy and overcast all week. Reaching during the day about a high of 70 and a low of 64 so it has been rather cool. I feel more at home this past week maybe that’s why I think it has been so nice.
Our phone broke so we had to drive to the mission office to get a new one. All of our numbers were deleted so this week people would call and we would have no idea who they are. It made things a little more exciting. Our mission is doing well. Zone conference is this week and I am looking forward to that. Also Elder Garcia’s 18 month mark is on Friday. Mine will be one month from Friday. I can’t believe that time has gone by so fast. I feel like I just got here but yet I feel like I have been here for a long time. I am going to miss Rosenberg when I do leave it. Although there are some strange characters there are some really great people that I have become very close to over these past few months.
Sorry my emails are so boring I wish that I would have prepared something better. I think last week I said I would but I thought that the library was going to be closed today because it is Columbus Day but I was wrong and didn’t prepare anything. We are also getting our hair cuts today. I need one bad. My head looks like a wet dog. Anyways I love the work. I wouldn’t choose anything else to do than to serve a mission. Feeling and being led by the spirit are the best things that you can do and I just love it so much. I love teaching people and hearing their life experiences then being able to give them something from the restored gospel that helps them and leads them to the Lord. I know that my email is short but I am going to end it. I love you all and I bear you my testimony that I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the priesthood has been restored, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith was called of God as a prophet to bring in the dispensation of the fullness of times. I love you all and I hope that you have a good week. I know that I said this last week but I will definitely prepare something to say in my email next week. I can think of a few stories to share but without my journal they would be presented horribly.
Love,
I am sorry for not sending any letters last week. I got busy on Monday then I remembered that we aren’t supposed to write letters during the week so for those who have recently or long ago have sent me letters let me say that I am sorry.
This week we had birthdays for Mark and one of our investigators sons Isaiah (sp?). So it was nice to see them happy. This week has been a happy week although a little slow. It has been much cooler here this past week. It has been rainy and overcast all week. Reaching during the day about a high of 70 and a low of 64 so it has been rather cool. I feel more at home this past week maybe that’s why I think it has been so nice.
Our phone broke so we had to drive to the mission office to get a new one. All of our numbers were deleted so this week people would call and we would have no idea who they are. It made things a little more exciting. Our mission is doing well. Zone conference is this week and I am looking forward to that. Also Elder Garcia’s 18 month mark is on Friday. Mine will be one month from Friday. I can’t believe that time has gone by so fast. I feel like I just got here but yet I feel like I have been here for a long time. I am going to miss Rosenberg when I do leave it. Although there are some strange characters there are some really great people that I have become very close to over these past few months.
Sorry my emails are so boring I wish that I would have prepared something better. I think last week I said I would but I thought that the library was going to be closed today because it is Columbus Day but I was wrong and didn’t prepare anything. We are also getting our hair cuts today. I need one bad. My head looks like a wet dog. Anyways I love the work. I wouldn’t choose anything else to do than to serve a mission. Feeling and being led by the spirit are the best things that you can do and I just love it so much. I love teaching people and hearing their life experiences then being able to give them something from the restored gospel that helps them and leads them to the Lord. I know that my email is short but I am going to end it. I love you all and I bear you my testimony that I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the priesthood has been restored, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith was called of God as a prophet to bring in the dispensation of the fullness of times. I love you all and I hope that you have a good week. I know that I said this last week but I will definitely prepare something to say in my email next week. I can think of a few stories to share but without my journal they would be presented horribly.
Love,
Monday, October 5, 2009
THE ELDER REPORT
Conference weekend is sort of like a missionary’s vacation. You wake up like normal and have the normal morning routine but you go to conference. Then after the first session you eat lunch and visit somebody for a lesson. Then you go back to conference. After the afternoon session you have dinner. Then you go to priesthood session. After that you go home and end the day. The next day you can guess how it is laid out. Also this week we had a move down in Needville that took up most of the day on Friday. So that was nice I love doing things like that. And then today is P-day. Life has been very laid back lately. It is a little nice but I want to get back to teaching people and having lessons all the time. You feel a little non-productive during conference because you are sitting there just taking notes or listening.
There were many great talks at conference but my favorite was the one by Jeffery R. Holland. His talks the past few conferences have been phenomenal. A few conferences ago he spoke on our Biblical view of the Godhead. Then I believe two conferences ago he spoke on how it is that we are “Christians” and how the Book of Mormon is very plausible in its reality of being an ancient record. Then this conference he spoke of several little things but what struck me was two things. When the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hiram, were going to Carthage jail, where they knew death awaited them, Hiram read a scripture from the Book of Mormon to comfort Joseph at this time. He then folded the page to show that this is what they stood for in life and whomever saw it after they had passed on would know of what they stood for. Elder Holland made the point that why would Hiram give comfort to Joseph at this time from the Book of Mormon if they were going to their death and knew that if all was a lie that reading from the Book of Mormon would profit them nothing. Also why would Hiram read to Joseph a book that “Joseph wrote?” It would make no sense. Elder Holland also gave his name and testimony for the entire world that the Book of Mormon was true. It was a powerful talk.
A funny story this week:
We receive a call from a lady who asks us if we would like to have a lesson. She tells us to bring representatives from the church and that she wants to see what Mormon Bible study is like. So we are driving with the Spanish missionaries to go to this lesson. We look up the address and drive to it. We see an apartment complex on the right and soon come to find that it is not on that side of the street but the other. It is an assisted living home. We walk in totally taken off guard. We ask the receptionist were the person is. She calls her to the desk. She is the lady over activities at this home. The ladies who stay here want a Bible study so we walk into the dining room and there are a bunch of senior folks sitting there waiting for us. We had no idea that this was what she meant on the phone by Mormon Bible study. So we talked about a few things that Christ did in the Bible and afterward it wasn’t that bad but it took us all for surprise.
This week has been pretty good. The work continues even though this week it hit a little bit of a slump. Several people went out of town this week or weekend and some of our investigators have been busy which left us with little productive things for us to do. But it was a good week none the less.
I am sorry this letter is so short but there is not much to update upon. I love you all and I hope that this week goes well for everyone. I hope that everything is going well for all of you individually and within your own families. Have a great week and I will hopefully have more information to update upon in the following week.
There were many great talks at conference but my favorite was the one by Jeffery R. Holland. His talks the past few conferences have been phenomenal. A few conferences ago he spoke on our Biblical view of the Godhead. Then I believe two conferences ago he spoke on how it is that we are “Christians” and how the Book of Mormon is very plausible in its reality of being an ancient record. Then this conference he spoke of several little things but what struck me was two things. When the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hiram, were going to Carthage jail, where they knew death awaited them, Hiram read a scripture from the Book of Mormon to comfort Joseph at this time. He then folded the page to show that this is what they stood for in life and whomever saw it after they had passed on would know of what they stood for. Elder Holland made the point that why would Hiram give comfort to Joseph at this time from the Book of Mormon if they were going to their death and knew that if all was a lie that reading from the Book of Mormon would profit them nothing. Also why would Hiram read to Joseph a book that “Joseph wrote?” It would make no sense. Elder Holland also gave his name and testimony for the entire world that the Book of Mormon was true. It was a powerful talk.
A funny story this week:
We receive a call from a lady who asks us if we would like to have a lesson. She tells us to bring representatives from the church and that she wants to see what Mormon Bible study is like. So we are driving with the Spanish missionaries to go to this lesson. We look up the address and drive to it. We see an apartment complex on the right and soon come to find that it is not on that side of the street but the other. It is an assisted living home. We walk in totally taken off guard. We ask the receptionist were the person is. She calls her to the desk. She is the lady over activities at this home. The ladies who stay here want a Bible study so we walk into the dining room and there are a bunch of senior folks sitting there waiting for us. We had no idea that this was what she meant on the phone by Mormon Bible study. So we talked about a few things that Christ did in the Bible and afterward it wasn’t that bad but it took us all for surprise.
This week has been pretty good. The work continues even though this week it hit a little bit of a slump. Several people went out of town this week or weekend and some of our investigators have been busy which left us with little productive things for us to do. But it was a good week none the less.
I am sorry this letter is so short but there is not much to update upon. I love you all and I hope that this week goes well for everyone. I hope that everything is going well for all of you individually and within your own families. Have a great week and I will hopefully have more information to update upon in the following week.
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