You can send your stuff once again to for a little while longer till he moves into an apartment
701 Mary Ann Dr.
Friendswood, TX
77546
This week has been beautiful. the weather has been
So good. I love it here in Friendswood and I will be staying for at least one more transfer. Elder Robertson is staying here as well. We are both very happy to be staying here and as companions. This week was a little bit more tough than usual.
Most people weren’t at home or weren’t around. Also a lot of our investigators got busy or sick so there were some that we didn’t even see and others that we only saw at church and talked to on the phone. There is a part member family that has been coming to church the past two weeks and they are awesome. We have taught him several lessons and he is not a member. He was at first opposed to it and since we have been meeting with him he has really enjoyed church. He works 12 hour days on Saturday and he gets home late but he is determined to come to church. He is a great guy and I love talking to that family.
This week a lot of some of my really close missionary friends are packing their bags. Elder Voeks flies home tomorrow along with many other great missionaries. It is sad to see them leave and to see them all have to give up the title of missionary. I will miss them all a lot.
The Oliver family has been a great family to us these past few months. They feed us a ton and they are always willing to help. There son who is home for medical reasons goes out with us all of the time and he helps us teach and gives rides to us. He also is willing to do anything for us as long as we ask. We are getting together after the mission for sure. He would have been a really great friend especially if I would have met him before the mission.
This week we got a call on Wednesday from Bro. Mckee. He asked to talk to me. So I answered the phone and he asked me if I would give a talk that Sunday. I said sure and talked with him about what I should give it on then I asked him how long it should be. I said; “So should I prepare a 10 minute talk or so?” He told me to prepare a 15-20 minute talk. Even though I am on my mission speaking to a large group of people is tough especially at church. I gave the talk though and I am glad I prepared for a long talk because I was the last speaker and had to talk until the end of sacrement meeting.
I want to share an experience I had this week with all of you. Elder Robertson and I were heading out for our day to talk to people and we had several appointments. All of our appointments canceled and no one answered their phones and no one was around to talk to. I started to get discouraged. This has happened several times this past week and I just felt like going back and taking a nap. But I prayed for strength to get through it. I was still having troubles. I didn’t know what it was. I was working I was doing all that I could and nothing seemed to change anything. I felt like throwing in the towel that day. But I felt like we should go back and have a lesson with one of our recent converts. They were home luckily and I felt impressed to read Moroni 7. She liked it but I feel also that I really needed it. The beginning of the chapter talks about the difference between the feelings that God gives us, and the feelings Satan gives us. It talks about how God will not give us feelings to give up or to get discouraged. He only gives us feelings to do the right thing. I read this and I felt the spirit. I know that the Book of Mormon is true because it has done things like this for me more than just once. The Lord can answer prayers through the scriptures. He as for me. I am so happy to be on a mission and it has brought me so much joy. Thank you all for your support and love. Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
P.S. If I have not replied to any letters written recently please forgive me. We don’t get mail that often. You can now send mail to the member we live with again. It is all cool. Then when we eventually do move into the apartment in a few weeks I will give you that address.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Martin Luther King jr. day late email.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day everyone. The library was closed yesterday that is why this is late and stuff. The weather here has been very rainy and cold this past week. Mostly rainy. It has been wet and overcast the past week with hardly any sun brakes. It has been a little more of an adventure in the rain but I have enjoyed it. This past week has reminded me a lot of home. This week it will be sunny and it is already warmer so things are going back to how they should be in Texas.
Last week was very productive. It was one of the best weeks in this area. We had a lot of lessons and follow up with our investigators. Also we have been meeting a lot of new people and have been getting to know them. There is an 18 year old man who lives a few houses down from us. He has a lot of problems and has had a rough past. But when we talked to him he expressed a desire to change. He told us that those things that he was doing are not bringing him happiness like he thought that they would. We talked to him about the Atonement and how he can change and put his past behind him because of the sacrifice of Christ. We meet with him every day and he is a great guy who I pray will be able to get over his past and choose a better future. He is an example to me that even if you sort of know what someone is like they still need the gospel. I would have never dreamed of teaching him or even him being receptive to what we talk about but the spirit can change the hearts of others and testify of the truth even to those who you would never think to be interested or even open. It is experiences like this that keep me on my mission. We try to give everyone the same chance in a hope to find someone who is open and willing to try the experiment mentioned in Alma 32 and plant the gospel in their hearts and to see if it grows.
This week I went on exchanges with Elder Nielsen one of the zone leaders. I went to his area which is Friendswood 2. We had a lot fun and taught a lot of great people. The people in the city of Friendswood are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Even if they do not want to hear what you have to say they are usually extremely nice. I don’t think I will ever move back to the Houston area but if I had to I would probably live in Friendswood.
We have an investigator and his name is Brad. I may have mentioned him before but he is a great guy. He has a strong testimony and isn’t even a member yet. He does “home teaching” with Brother Williamson and this week at church I overheard him getting on Brother Williamson that they had to go out this week to see the families they teach. It was awesome. He is a great guy and he is a good friend. I look forward to the day when he is baptized into Christ’s church. He will be a very happy man.
Things have been a lot more busy but in a different way. The past while most of our business has been trying to find people to teach and meeting the members but lately it has been trying to make time and contact all of those who are interested in the gospel. We have a lot of people to teach just planning everything out is the tough part. I feel very bless that we have so many people to teach. It is definitely nothing that Elder Robertson and I did because we are not the best missionaries. I feel for the missionaries in Europe especially missions in Spain or Greece were a missionary usually doesn’t even have one baptism the whole time they are there. They in my opinion are some of the best who go through the toughest experiences but they stick it our because they know that the gospel is true and in a hope to let those answers they have found be found by others.
Yesterday we went putt-putt golfing. Elder Robertson destroyed all of us missionaries and beat us by far. It was fun but the course was pretty lame. We all had a great time though. The missionaries in this district are all very great and it is very easy to get along with them. Elder Nielsen and Elder Schwartzman are especially funny.
Well my emails aren’t what they used to be but I will keep trying to make them better. I love you all and I hope that you have a great week.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
Last week was very productive. It was one of the best weeks in this area. We had a lot of lessons and follow up with our investigators. Also we have been meeting a lot of new people and have been getting to know them. There is an 18 year old man who lives a few houses down from us. He has a lot of problems and has had a rough past. But when we talked to him he expressed a desire to change. He told us that those things that he was doing are not bringing him happiness like he thought that they would. We talked to him about the Atonement and how he can change and put his past behind him because of the sacrifice of Christ. We meet with him every day and he is a great guy who I pray will be able to get over his past and choose a better future. He is an example to me that even if you sort of know what someone is like they still need the gospel. I would have never dreamed of teaching him or even him being receptive to what we talk about but the spirit can change the hearts of others and testify of the truth even to those who you would never think to be interested or even open. It is experiences like this that keep me on my mission. We try to give everyone the same chance in a hope to find someone who is open and willing to try the experiment mentioned in Alma 32 and plant the gospel in their hearts and to see if it grows.
This week I went on exchanges with Elder Nielsen one of the zone leaders. I went to his area which is Friendswood 2. We had a lot fun and taught a lot of great people. The people in the city of Friendswood are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Even if they do not want to hear what you have to say they are usually extremely nice. I don’t think I will ever move back to the Houston area but if I had to I would probably live in Friendswood.
We have an investigator and his name is Brad. I may have mentioned him before but he is a great guy. He has a strong testimony and isn’t even a member yet. He does “home teaching” with Brother Williamson and this week at church I overheard him getting on Brother Williamson that they had to go out this week to see the families they teach. It was awesome. He is a great guy and he is a good friend. I look forward to the day when he is baptized into Christ’s church. He will be a very happy man.
Things have been a lot more busy but in a different way. The past while most of our business has been trying to find people to teach and meeting the members but lately it has been trying to make time and contact all of those who are interested in the gospel. We have a lot of people to teach just planning everything out is the tough part. I feel very bless that we have so many people to teach. It is definitely nothing that Elder Robertson and I did because we are not the best missionaries. I feel for the missionaries in Europe especially missions in Spain or Greece were a missionary usually doesn’t even have one baptism the whole time they are there. They in my opinion are some of the best who go through the toughest experiences but they stick it our because they know that the gospel is true and in a hope to let those answers they have found be found by others.
Yesterday we went putt-putt golfing. Elder Robertson destroyed all of us missionaries and beat us by far. It was fun but the course was pretty lame. We all had a great time though. The missionaries in this district are all very great and it is very easy to get along with them. Elder Nielsen and Elder Schwartzman are especially funny.
Well my emails aren’t what they used to be but I will keep trying to make them better. I love you all and I hope that you have a great week.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
Monday, January 11, 2010
FREEZE
Hello EVERYBODY!!!! This week has been freezing!! It has been extremely cold for here with the temperature one day being 26 degrees with a wind chill of 11. So this week we have tried to get rides with some members who have been available. One day we were riding our bikes and we needed to go down a road that crosses over a bridge in a more residential area. We rode up and there was a sign blocking the road that said the bridge is being rebuilt and would be done by 1/30/10. The start date for the project was 8/?/09. We rode up to were they were doing construction but no one was there. All there was, was a huge gap and nothing built. I don’t think they will have it done by the end of the month. So we had a little extra riding which was no problem but for people who live there they have to take a long detour.
My writing skills have faded away as you have probably been able to tell over the past few emails. I am just not that interesting I guess. But this week was good. We have started to teach the lessons to some great people who we have met. One of them we met 3 weeks ago and then never talked to him since then. He came to our mind one day randomly so we thought we would try him again and he invited us in for a lesson. He is a really cool guy and he is going to school to be a cook. We are actually meeting with him again today.
Two days ago Elder Robertson and I noticed that he had run over a nail. Anyways he ran over a nail and it was huge. It completely destroyed his tire so we are going in today to fix it. I have taken pictures so you will get to see it eventually. Luckily it happened at the end of the day Saturday so we really haven’t needed to be on bikes since then.
This week was a little sad for me. Elder Olsen who is someone that I got very close to in Rosenberg is going home in 2 weeks and I will not see him again. He is so cool. There are a lot of missionaries that I am close to that are going home. Like him, Voeks, Cambell, and Manning. I love them all and they are all great missionaries who I will miss a lot.
There have been a lot of great things going on in this mission. The Lord is blessing us very much. I am sorry but I have to cut it short this week because we have a lot of stuff to do. I love you all and have a great week!
Love,
Elder Marr
My writing skills have faded away as you have probably been able to tell over the past few emails. I am just not that interesting I guess. But this week was good. We have started to teach the lessons to some great people who we have met. One of them we met 3 weeks ago and then never talked to him since then. He came to our mind one day randomly so we thought we would try him again and he invited us in for a lesson. He is a really cool guy and he is going to school to be a cook. We are actually meeting with him again today.
Two days ago Elder Robertson and I noticed that he had run over a nail. Anyways he ran over a nail and it was huge. It completely destroyed his tire so we are going in today to fix it. I have taken pictures so you will get to see it eventually. Luckily it happened at the end of the day Saturday so we really haven’t needed to be on bikes since then.
This week was a little sad for me. Elder Olsen who is someone that I got very close to in Rosenberg is going home in 2 weeks and I will not see him again. He is so cool. There are a lot of missionaries that I am close to that are going home. Like him, Voeks, Cambell, and Manning. I love them all and they are all great missionaries who I will miss a lot.
There have been a lot of great things going on in this mission. The Lord is blessing us very much. I am sorry but I have to cut it short this week because we have a lot of stuff to do. I love you all and have a great week!
Love,
Elder Marr
Monday, January 4, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is 2010!!!!!!
Just to let you all know I will not be able to get mail very fast so I might not be able to respond to a letter for a few weeks. Also after this week we cannot except emails from any non immediate family members. I wish I could but that is the rule.
This past week it has been cold. It has been in the 50’s during the day all week and this week it is supposed to have days with a high of 30. It is crazy cold. Everyone here is complaining a bunch but all of the missionaries are mostly from Utah and I am from Washington so we are used to it but the people are freezing. (Mom I do have a coat that I wear that keeps me warm so don’t worry).
This week we switched over to the 9:00am church time. It is a lot different than the 1:00pm time. A lot more people showed up for church which was actually really cool. I think that this time is a lot better for the kids and stuff because 1:00 is right in the middle of their nap time.
The members this week split up into committees to talk about missionary work for the ward mission plan. The members are very excited to share the gospel and help others know what they know. There has been a great spirit in the church lately that the members recognize and are willing to follow. That is one thing that I love about the church. When you seek the spirit and let it into your life it can tell you great things and can influence you to do things that you don’t even necessarily want to do but the Lord needs you to do them. I used to rationalize the feelings of the spirit and say that my mind could be making it up. I have seen how I have felt the spirit the strongest when it is telling me to do something that I do not want to do. Why would I trick myself into thinking something that I don’t even want to do? I have been a lot happier ever since I have understood at least to some degree the spirit and how to be guided by it. It will be a life long pursuit but it is worth it.
Yesterday we went to a baptism. Elder Robertson had taught this couple in Angleton. One of them is a member and he was not. He came to know it was true and they got married a few days ago and moved into the Friendswood 2 ward boundaries. He was baptized last night and was sooo happy. Elder Robertson really got his spirits lifted by that. It is so great to hear about a family that finds the truth and seeing them be blessed by the Lord.
So for New Years Eve we went to the Segrera’s. We ate dinner and got to play games until 9:00. The rule was that unless you had something to do or a place to be at you had to be in by 7:00. But we had dinner and could be around them. It was fun. Sorry if this email is really boring my good writing skills are gone (did I ever have them?). Bro. Segrera is a really nice guy and helps us out a lot. Him and his family are taking care of Magda’s dogs while she is out of town.
With this New Year I have allot of things that I want to improve about myself. I have already changed a ton. This mission has been tough at times so far but the blessings are sooo worth it. And to be able to see the gospel bless the lives of others is something that is hard to describe. I love every moment of my mission. It is so worth it. I wish that I could do it forever but I will be able to part time when I am home. Everyone is a missionary. Then when I am dead I want to do it full time again. I love the work.
Heavenly Father exists. Jesus Christ is His son. They love us and they have a plan for us. I know that because I have done the things that they have asked me to do and I am blessed and things always seem to be better than when I am not.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
Just to let you all know I will not be able to get mail very fast so I might not be able to respond to a letter for a few weeks. Also after this week we cannot except emails from any non immediate family members. I wish I could but that is the rule.
This past week it has been cold. It has been in the 50’s during the day all week and this week it is supposed to have days with a high of 30. It is crazy cold. Everyone here is complaining a bunch but all of the missionaries are mostly from Utah and I am from Washington so we are used to it but the people are freezing. (Mom I do have a coat that I wear that keeps me warm so don’t worry).
This week we switched over to the 9:00am church time. It is a lot different than the 1:00pm time. A lot more people showed up for church which was actually really cool. I think that this time is a lot better for the kids and stuff because 1:00 is right in the middle of their nap time.
The members this week split up into committees to talk about missionary work for the ward mission plan. The members are very excited to share the gospel and help others know what they know. There has been a great spirit in the church lately that the members recognize and are willing to follow. That is one thing that I love about the church. When you seek the spirit and let it into your life it can tell you great things and can influence you to do things that you don’t even necessarily want to do but the Lord needs you to do them. I used to rationalize the feelings of the spirit and say that my mind could be making it up. I have seen how I have felt the spirit the strongest when it is telling me to do something that I do not want to do. Why would I trick myself into thinking something that I don’t even want to do? I have been a lot happier ever since I have understood at least to some degree the spirit and how to be guided by it. It will be a life long pursuit but it is worth it.
Yesterday we went to a baptism. Elder Robertson had taught this couple in Angleton. One of them is a member and he was not. He came to know it was true and they got married a few days ago and moved into the Friendswood 2 ward boundaries. He was baptized last night and was sooo happy. Elder Robertson really got his spirits lifted by that. It is so great to hear about a family that finds the truth and seeing them be blessed by the Lord.
So for New Years Eve we went to the Segrera’s. We ate dinner and got to play games until 9:00. The rule was that unless you had something to do or a place to be at you had to be in by 7:00. But we had dinner and could be around them. It was fun. Sorry if this email is really boring my good writing skills are gone (did I ever have them?). Bro. Segrera is a really nice guy and helps us out a lot. Him and his family are taking care of Magda’s dogs while she is out of town.
With this New Year I have allot of things that I want to improve about myself. I have already changed a ton. This mission has been tough at times so far but the blessings are sooo worth it. And to be able to see the gospel bless the lives of others is something that is hard to describe. I love every moment of my mission. It is so worth it. I wish that I could do it forever but I will be able to part time when I am home. Everyone is a missionary. Then when I am dead I want to do it full time again. I love the work.
Heavenly Father exists. Jesus Christ is His son. They love us and they have a plan for us. I know that because I have done the things that they have asked me to do and I am blessed and things always seem to be better than when I am not.
Love,
Elder Devon J. Marr
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