I really don’t know how to approach this email......yep......... Well I guess I will just do what I always do in my emails and give yall an update.
So we had interviews this week and I saw Elder Voeks. My trainer who has been home for 15 months. Crazy A.
............I am going to miss my mission. The greatest time of my life and i have to go home. I love teaching the gospel. I love feeling the spirit. I love talking to someone on the street and testifying to them. i love talking to somebody that does not want to talk with us. I love the random people that you see and talk to, that make no sense at all. The mission is so full of inside jokes that i just can never really convey well unless you were there. I love the missionaries in this mission and for their love and support that they give to those that they teach. I love the people who I have taught out here. Even those who have not been baptized. I love the faith of so many people and for their determination to serve the Lord. I love President Saylin and for his faith and for his closeness to the Lord.
As i have done in my past emails I will do so in this email. In the words of President Monson this last conference during priesthood session. "If you have not read the Book of Mormon, then read it!" I would like to add if you have read it then to read it again and again. i have found that on my mission that when i think that I know everything about something I am only scratching the surface.
Gain a testimony of this gospel by the power of the Holy Ghost by praying and asking if these things are true! Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ. And if you don't believe in these words then believe in Christ. And if you shall believe in Christ you will believe these words. For they are the words of Christ. And they teach all men that they should do good. What can I say more? The scriptures are laid before you. Please do not rest them.
I know by the power of God that this gospel is true that the Book of Mormon is the word of Him and that Joseph Smith even though a young unlearned boy with his own struggles and problems was and is a true and holy prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that God exists and I know that Christ lives and has a resurrected body of flesh and bone. I know that we all one day will live again.
If you have any doubt of anything that I have said then that is just fine. There will always be a need for faith. But faith is not the end goal. There is a chapter in the Book of Mormon where Alma encourages everyone to try an experiment. It is in Alma 32 and i encourage all to read it. We all can plant a "seed" in our heart and see if it grows. I know that in this way we can all going a perfect knowledge after we exercise our faith.
I love you all and I sure do love my mission. For those of you preparing to go. Be worthy. If you are it doesn't matter how experienced or shy you are you will perform miracles in the lives of those you will be sent to serve. That is a promise. If you are not worthy than push back when you will be leaving and talk to your Bishop and work with him to get your spiritual life in order. If you may be reading this and leaving on a mission very very soon then be obedient to your mission president and to the white handbook even if missionaries around you are not.
I love my mission. I need to repent still of so many things and i still have changes that I am planning on making even with this one week left to serve full time. I am sorry to all of you if i have ever done anything in that past that has hurt you or if I have been a bad example to anyone. I am a new person and look forward to talking with all of you in person again.
love,
ELDER MARR
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Turning up the Heat
This week it was hotter than usual. The temperature here in Texas has been crazy hot. Besides one day for an hour of sprinkling and about 5 minutes of actual rain it has not rained since early January. So hopefully I bring some of that back with me when I come back to Washington. But I want rain. I am getting tired of seeing a cloud that is a little dark and being extremely excited hoping that it is going to rain. And then it doesn't. It has been a little hot lately too. For the past week and a half it has been in the low to mid 80's with two of those days being in the low 90's. It's hot but not that hot.
Anyways, this week we went to the temple. We were in the earliest session and went through with President Saylin. It was a very sacred experience. Our session of 15 missionaries got to go to a sealing of an office senior couple here in the mission. It was a very special experience. They have a son who has passed away and they were sealed to him as well. Elder Whippy was proxy for their deceased son. It was a very special experience and a powerful one. We all felt the spirit strongly and many if not all shed a few tears. It is an experience that I will not soon forget.
When we came out of the temple we took a few pictures and I took some with past companions. Elder Hansen and Elder Cayas were both there. It was strange that this was the last time that I would see them as a missionary...... Weird. I love those two Elders. I have loved all of my companions. It has been one of my favorite blessings of my mission. I have made friends that i will have forever. I am going to miss them. I love my areas, i love the people that I teach, I love to teach, I love to be a missionary, but the two biggest things that i will miss will be feeling the spirit this much and this intensely and being away from my close friends in the mission field. I feel almost like Alma the younger when traveling to a city to preach. At this point he had not seen his brethren, the sons of Mosiah, for 14 years. They were rebellious together, they spent time together, they saw an angel together, they were converted together, and they preached separately but the same message. Then he sees them and as the record says he was overcome with joy because they were still his brethren in the Lord. I have that feeling sometimes when i see some of the missionaries that I have become so close to. We have served together, been more converted together, has special spiritual experiences together, and preached the same message together and then later apart. I will miss these great missionaries I have come to know on my mission who have served with zeal and with love. I hope to be more like some of my companions one day and more like those missionaries who serve with such care and love. There is still time.
I love this time of my mission. To be perfectly honest I don’t think i am coming home in 2 weeks. My mind just doesn't let it register. It seems to me like a joke or something. Don't get me wrong I am very excited about coming home and being able to spend time with each of you but i just have such a hard time understanding that there are only 2 weeks left and then it will be over for a very long time. I wish I could get a 2 year extension. *sigh*
Anyways you guys only get one more of these after this one so I love ya. Look forward to sending you a message next week. And maybe one the week after but I have no idea.
I love you all and keep reading the Book of Mormon and going to the temple. If I had to choose one or the other it would be the hardest decision of my life.
love,
ELDER MARR
P.S. Be good and go to church. :)
Anyways, this week we went to the temple. We were in the earliest session and went through with President Saylin. It was a very sacred experience. Our session of 15 missionaries got to go to a sealing of an office senior couple here in the mission. It was a very special experience. They have a son who has passed away and they were sealed to him as well. Elder Whippy was proxy for their deceased son. It was a very special experience and a powerful one. We all felt the spirit strongly and many if not all shed a few tears. It is an experience that I will not soon forget.
When we came out of the temple we took a few pictures and I took some with past companions. Elder Hansen and Elder Cayas were both there. It was strange that this was the last time that I would see them as a missionary...... Weird. I love those two Elders. I have loved all of my companions. It has been one of my favorite blessings of my mission. I have made friends that i will have forever. I am going to miss them. I love my areas, i love the people that I teach, I love to teach, I love to be a missionary, but the two biggest things that i will miss will be feeling the spirit this much and this intensely and being away from my close friends in the mission field. I feel almost like Alma the younger when traveling to a city to preach. At this point he had not seen his brethren, the sons of Mosiah, for 14 years. They were rebellious together, they spent time together, they saw an angel together, they were converted together, and they preached separately but the same message. Then he sees them and as the record says he was overcome with joy because they were still his brethren in the Lord. I have that feeling sometimes when i see some of the missionaries that I have become so close to. We have served together, been more converted together, has special spiritual experiences together, and preached the same message together and then later apart. I will miss these great missionaries I have come to know on my mission who have served with zeal and with love. I hope to be more like some of my companions one day and more like those missionaries who serve with such care and love. There is still time.
I love this time of my mission. To be perfectly honest I don’t think i am coming home in 2 weeks. My mind just doesn't let it register. It seems to me like a joke or something. Don't get me wrong I am very excited about coming home and being able to spend time with each of you but i just have such a hard time understanding that there are only 2 weeks left and then it will be over for a very long time. I wish I could get a 2 year extension. *sigh*
Anyways you guys only get one more of these after this one so I love ya. Look forward to sending you a message next week. And maybe one the week after but I have no idea.
I love you all and keep reading the Book of Mormon and going to the temple. If I had to choose one or the other it would be the hardest decision of my life.
love,
ELDER MARR
P.S. Be good and go to church. :)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
THE BEST WEEK EVER!!!!!!!!
I have no time to write this email because of some other stuff that I had to print out and my email to President Saylin.
Anyways so this week I have several events to mention.
1) I went on exchanges with Elder Williams in Chinatown. It was awesome. It was a little strange and we only taught one lesson all in Chinese but I loved it. It was way different than what I normally am used to in the mission. We got along great and he was best friends with one of my past companions Elder Richardson before the mission. So we talked about him and we had both served in Broadway in the past but at different times. So we got along way good. We had a great exchange and some spiritual lessons. It was a good exchange.
2) During our exchange I received a phone call telling me that I would be going on a two day exchange on Thursday night to Saturday night. And that I would be spending two days in Pasadena North,(my area two areas ago) with Elder Richardson (who I served with there. He is still there) So it was like a flashback. It was like watching your favorite T.V. show but you have missed a season. Some of the characters are new and some are gone and some have different haircuts and beards. Any ways it was the best exchange of my mission I think. It brought back so many memories and it was great to see some of the people that I was able to teach while I was there in the area and to talk to some of the members that I had gotten close to. I don’t have time so I have to move on but this exchange alone could merit a whole page of a weekly entry.
3) While on exchanges in Pasadena i received a phone call that one of our investigators, Brother John Adams, wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. We held his baptism this past Sunday and it was a wonderful experience. I love that man with so much of my heart. He is so humble and willing to change even though he could keep going through his life living it the way that he always has. But he wants to follow the Savior and do what God has revealed to him that he needs to do. He has a strong testimony of the Savior and that the Lord has restored all of his blessings and teachings in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter0Day Saints.
This is all I have time for I am sorry that this is so short.
love,
ELDER MARR
Anyways so this week I have several events to mention.
1) I went on exchanges with Elder Williams in Chinatown. It was awesome. It was a little strange and we only taught one lesson all in Chinese but I loved it. It was way different than what I normally am used to in the mission. We got along great and he was best friends with one of my past companions Elder Richardson before the mission. So we talked about him and we had both served in Broadway in the past but at different times. So we got along way good. We had a great exchange and some spiritual lessons. It was a good exchange.
2) During our exchange I received a phone call telling me that I would be going on a two day exchange on Thursday night to Saturday night. And that I would be spending two days in Pasadena North,(my area two areas ago) with Elder Richardson (who I served with there. He is still there) So it was like a flashback. It was like watching your favorite T.V. show but you have missed a season. Some of the characters are new and some are gone and some have different haircuts and beards. Any ways it was the best exchange of my mission I think. It brought back so many memories and it was great to see some of the people that I was able to teach while I was there in the area and to talk to some of the members that I had gotten close to. I don’t have time so I have to move on but this exchange alone could merit a whole page of a weekly entry.
3) While on exchanges in Pasadena i received a phone call that one of our investigators, Brother John Adams, wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. We held his baptism this past Sunday and it was a wonderful experience. I love that man with so much of my heart. He is so humble and willing to change even though he could keep going through his life living it the way that he always has. But he wants to follow the Savior and do what God has revealed to him that he needs to do. He has a strong testimony of the Savior and that the Lord has restored all of his blessings and teachings in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter0Day Saints.
This is all I have time for I am sorry that this is so short.
love,
ELDER MARR
Monday, April 4, 2011
General Conference Weekened. We have been fed!
This week was a good one. We had some of our investigators come out to conference with us. Armando Escobito and John Adams. It was a good weekend. I especially loved the talks gave by Elder Bednar, President Uchtdorf, President Monson (especially his priesthood session talk for those who heard it), and Elder Holland. Elder Holland's talk was great that he emphasized the importance of conference and what it can do for all of us. He spoke of fulfilled prophecy and of the special expereince that is general conference. It really helped me to understand that I need to cherish the gospel more and be more grateful. In between sessions we went out contacting. Trying to talk to all that we see. It came more naturally to bring up modern day prophets and apostles to these people. Yet so many people are stuck in what they believe. I talked with one lady this week who seemed to me to fulfill prophecy gave in the 28th chapter of 2 Nephi. I told her about the Book of Mormon and the blessing it is to have more of The Lord's word. She told me that she had the word of God and didn't need any more. Because she had enough. It is a little sad when people shut the door as it were on what you have to say. It is all worthwhile to find those who are willing to accept what you have to say and have the faith enough and humility enough to ask the Lord if our message is true. I love it! I have been able to teach so many people who are so sincere in trying to find more purpose and meaning to life and who want to just know the truth.
I love the gospel. Hearing the words of modern day prophets and apostles is a marvelous blessing. Having a modern day prophet is more valuable to us than a dead prophet. Even though what they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost is scripture having a modern day prophet warns us of dangers not experienced by prophets before him.
Elder Bednar spoke about light. I loved his talk. It goes hand in hand with President Uchdorf's talk on the Melchizedek priesthood and its privileges. How I wish I could have these great sermons printed today and not have to wait a month. I loved conference. I learned a lot and I know some big things that I need to change to come into conformity with what will make me most happy and what the will of God is for me.
To all of those brethren who read this blog/email whatever it is. I challenge all of you who hold the priesthood to study the sections that President Uchdorf asked all of us to study. I sadly can only remember 3 of the sections off the top of my head. Read Doctrine and Covenents section 20, 84, and 107. These will tell us what our duties are, the promises we make and that the Lord makes with us, and the gifts, powers, and blessings of the two priesthoods. These things are important and are gave to us to let us know how to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost through the magnifying of our callings and priesthood.
I love my life. I am quite sad yet have a piece of joy that my mission will be ending so soon. I only have one month left. I love my mission and all that has happened in it. I thank all of you for your faith and for your prayers. I would ask you to do something for me and for someone else. Sister Jennifer Saylin our mission president's wife is pregnant. There have been a few complications and she may have a premature baby a few months before she should be giving birth. She is in the hospital right now and has been for about a week. I ask you to pray that she will not give birth to the baby for some time. They are in need of many prayers and much faith. They are great people who love the Lord very much. Sister Saylin has a laptop and her phone and is still fulfilling her calling in taking care of sick missionaries and giving them advice and guidance and co-coordinating doctor’s appointments. Please pray for her and for the baby.
love,
ELDER MARR
I love the gospel. Hearing the words of modern day prophets and apostles is a marvelous blessing. Having a modern day prophet is more valuable to us than a dead prophet. Even though what they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost is scripture having a modern day prophet warns us of dangers not experienced by prophets before him.
Elder Bednar spoke about light. I loved his talk. It goes hand in hand with President Uchdorf's talk on the Melchizedek priesthood and its privileges. How I wish I could have these great sermons printed today and not have to wait a month. I loved conference. I learned a lot and I know some big things that I need to change to come into conformity with what will make me most happy and what the will of God is for me.
To all of those brethren who read this blog/email whatever it is. I challenge all of you who hold the priesthood to study the sections that President Uchdorf asked all of us to study. I sadly can only remember 3 of the sections off the top of my head. Read Doctrine and Covenents section 20, 84, and 107. These will tell us what our duties are, the promises we make and that the Lord makes with us, and the gifts, powers, and blessings of the two priesthoods. These things are important and are gave to us to let us know how to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost through the magnifying of our callings and priesthood.
I love my life. I am quite sad yet have a piece of joy that my mission will be ending so soon. I only have one month left. I love my mission and all that has happened in it. I thank all of you for your faith and for your prayers. I would ask you to do something for me and for someone else. Sister Jennifer Saylin our mission president's wife is pregnant. There have been a few complications and she may have a premature baby a few months before she should be giving birth. She is in the hospital right now and has been for about a week. I ask you to pray that she will not give birth to the baby for some time. They are in need of many prayers and much faith. They are great people who love the Lord very much. Sister Saylin has a laptop and her phone and is still fulfilling her calling in taking care of sick missionaries and giving them advice and guidance and co-coordinating doctor’s appointments. Please pray for her and for the baby.
love,
ELDER MARR
Monday, March 28, 2011
Hot and Cold
Last P-day was a sad one indeed. Several missionaries ended there service of 2 years. We had to meet Elder Howard at the mission home to take him with us for a few days until transfer meeting. I was able to say my final goodbyes to Elder Hall. He is a great guy and I hope that he reads this and then sends me some letters and stuff.
So this past week went pretty well. We had some disappointments with some of our investigators but some great strides with others. There is a lot of potential in this ward. We are teaching some great people and they are sincere. We have been teaching a man by the name of Armando for quite some time. He just set a date for his baptism this past week. He will be baptized shortly before i leave the mission field. We have been working with him my whole time here. He reads the Book of Mormon every day and knows that it is true. Our lesson with him was not very usual. In our lesson this past week the majority of our lesson was describing what the spirit feels like and sharing our experiences with it. I shared with him my experience of how I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and Elder Moreno shared some of his experiences. It went really well. He then shared what he felt as he has been reading the Book of Mormon and an experience he had in his yard. He said that he was watering a plant a few days before we came over and was just thinking about different things. He then said that he had a scripture pop into his mind very strongly that he had read form the Book of Mormon. Then he said that it was so clear that he could almost read it in his mind. I do not remember what scripture it was but it was talking about forgiving others or you will not be forgiven. He then decided that he was going to forgive one of his co-workers that had wronged him. He said it was a great experience and the scriptures helped him to be a better person.
As we spoke to him in our lesson he began to realize that it was the spirit that did all of this for him and helped him feel these feelings and have this scripture pop into his mind. We then set a goal for his baptism. He is excited and sees how the gospel has been helping him to be a better husband and father and how he has been more patient and loving to his family and co-workers. He is a good man and evidence of how the gospel can bless you if you are willing to "experiment upon the word." His seed has grown and now he has felt the light of the gospel lift him to be a higher person and a encourage him to be a better person by expanding his capacities.
I love the gospel!
Elder Moreno and I this week biked for about 6 hours straight. No one let us in to teach them so we were outside all day long. It ended up being a good day and in the evening we had a wonderful lesson with a less-active family and a great visit with Bishop Owens. But it was warm. mid 80's with about 90 something percent humidity. Elder Moreno was dying. He has not experienced humidity like this before. I can just imagine what my trainer must have thought about me and how I could not stand the heat when I first got in the field. I love it though. I am going to freeze when I get off the plane (I'm not trunky). It is going to be in the mid to high 90's early May. And at home it won't be near that temperature.
So there is a member in our ward whose son wrote a New Era article in this month New Era. It is the one about the grandfather and the grandson working on the car. It is by Justin Gessel. He is on his mission now but the article is in the New Era.
We had a R.M. come and bear his testimony yesterday in church and he also went to the same dinner as us. He is a lot like me and it was like getting a trailer of the movie of my life for what it's going to be like after I get home. It was really strange. Like, REALLY STRANGE. He is a lot like me and R.M.'s are weird. i think I am going to be a little bit of a goof when I get home. Readjusting and all that jazz.
Anyways. This week is going to be a good one. We have a few great people who will be getting baptized in the next few weeks. I really look forward to that. I will let yall know more as their baptisms get closer. I love yall and keep reading from the scriptures. They will tell you all thinks that you should do. As well as following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Have a great week and I love yall.
ELDER MARR
So this past week went pretty well. We had some disappointments with some of our investigators but some great strides with others. There is a lot of potential in this ward. We are teaching some great people and they are sincere. We have been teaching a man by the name of Armando for quite some time. He just set a date for his baptism this past week. He will be baptized shortly before i leave the mission field. We have been working with him my whole time here. He reads the Book of Mormon every day and knows that it is true. Our lesson with him was not very usual. In our lesson this past week the majority of our lesson was describing what the spirit feels like and sharing our experiences with it. I shared with him my experience of how I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and Elder Moreno shared some of his experiences. It went really well. He then shared what he felt as he has been reading the Book of Mormon and an experience he had in his yard. He said that he was watering a plant a few days before we came over and was just thinking about different things. He then said that he had a scripture pop into his mind very strongly that he had read form the Book of Mormon. Then he said that it was so clear that he could almost read it in his mind. I do not remember what scripture it was but it was talking about forgiving others or you will not be forgiven. He then decided that he was going to forgive one of his co-workers that had wronged him. He said it was a great experience and the scriptures helped him to be a better person.
As we spoke to him in our lesson he began to realize that it was the spirit that did all of this for him and helped him feel these feelings and have this scripture pop into his mind. We then set a goal for his baptism. He is excited and sees how the gospel has been helping him to be a better husband and father and how he has been more patient and loving to his family and co-workers. He is a good man and evidence of how the gospel can bless you if you are willing to "experiment upon the word." His seed has grown and now he has felt the light of the gospel lift him to be a higher person and a encourage him to be a better person by expanding his capacities.
I love the gospel!
Elder Moreno and I this week biked for about 6 hours straight. No one let us in to teach them so we were outside all day long. It ended up being a good day and in the evening we had a wonderful lesson with a less-active family and a great visit with Bishop Owens. But it was warm. mid 80's with about 90 something percent humidity. Elder Moreno was dying. He has not experienced humidity like this before. I can just imagine what my trainer must have thought about me and how I could not stand the heat when I first got in the field. I love it though. I am going to freeze when I get off the plane (I'm not trunky). It is going to be in the mid to high 90's early May. And at home it won't be near that temperature.
So there is a member in our ward whose son wrote a New Era article in this month New Era. It is the one about the grandfather and the grandson working on the car. It is by Justin Gessel. He is on his mission now but the article is in the New Era.
We had a R.M. come and bear his testimony yesterday in church and he also went to the same dinner as us. He is a lot like me and it was like getting a trailer of the movie of my life for what it's going to be like after I get home. It was really strange. Like, REALLY STRANGE. He is a lot like me and R.M.'s are weird. i think I am going to be a little bit of a goof when I get home. Readjusting and all that jazz.
Anyways. This week is going to be a good one. We have a few great people who will be getting baptized in the next few weeks. I really look forward to that. I will let yall know more as their baptisms get closer. I love yall and keep reading from the scriptures. They will tell you all thinks that you should do. As well as following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Have a great week and I love yall.
ELDER MARR
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Whittling and Whistling Brigade
One of my close missionary friends leaves today. I will get to see him at the mission home though. His name is Elder Hall and if there are any ladies looking for a good man to marry in Las Vegas send me a letter and I will give you his info. :) Anyways I am going to miss him. He knows a lot about the gospel and we have had some really great conversations with each other and he was a great district leader back in PASADENA.
This week went well. We have a lot to do and a lot of people to follow up with. Our stake had a trek this week in east Texas. They all dressed up like pioneers and pulled handcarts. Elders Stevenette, Harris, Bellomy, Peterson, Moreno and I all put on a skit for the trek. We were asked to do it by President Saylin. He read a story about a group of kids that would scare people out of town as mobbers or people up to no good would wander into Nauvoo. Then we acted it out. I have to say that it was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life that I know I can look back on and get a good laugh. Sadly there were pictures taken. Which means there is evidence of this for other missionaries to see. I know that the picture is going to wind up being framed in the mission office or something. So funny.
Anyways, we taught a lot of people this past week and have a lot of things coming up. We are teaching a lot of great people. We have grown really close to some of those in this ward and also to our investigators.
This week is transfer week and for the first real time in my mission our entire district of 6 missionaries is staying the same. Elder Breeze and Elder Thomson, our zone leaders, told us that they have never seen this happen before. Especially with a district of 6. Most of my districts have been 4. Anyways, I am really excited for this coming transfer. 6 more weeks of greatness. There is a lot that I want to accomplish and do. There are a lot of people that I can still help and lead closer to the Savior. Including me. Thank you all for everything that you do and remember to share the gospel with your friends and family. Help someone come back to church or read the Book of Mormon or meet with the missionaries. I love you all and have a great week. Sorry this is so short. Keep doing well.
love,
ELDER MARR
P.S. I have another challenge for yall. It is not as important or spiritual as my past challenge about reading the whole Book of Mormon beofre I get home. BUt I challenge everyone even though I am goign to be home in one transfer to send me a letter. Every single one of you. This way i can have at least one final letter on my mission from all of you. BUt I have one requirement. No mentioning how soon I will be coming home or how little time is left until you can see me. If you are someone who has been reading these emials and have never met me. Send me a letter anyways.
4010 Indian Point dr.
Missouri City, TX
77459
:)
:)
This week went well. We have a lot to do and a lot of people to follow up with. Our stake had a trek this week in east Texas. They all dressed up like pioneers and pulled handcarts. Elders Stevenette, Harris, Bellomy, Peterson, Moreno and I all put on a skit for the trek. We were asked to do it by President Saylin. He read a story about a group of kids that would scare people out of town as mobbers or people up to no good would wander into Nauvoo. Then we acted it out. I have to say that it was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life that I know I can look back on and get a good laugh. Sadly there were pictures taken. Which means there is evidence of this for other missionaries to see. I know that the picture is going to wind up being framed in the mission office or something. So funny.
Anyways, we taught a lot of people this past week and have a lot of things coming up. We are teaching a lot of great people. We have grown really close to some of those in this ward and also to our investigators.
This week is transfer week and for the first real time in my mission our entire district of 6 missionaries is staying the same. Elder Breeze and Elder Thomson, our zone leaders, told us that they have never seen this happen before. Especially with a district of 6. Most of my districts have been 4. Anyways, I am really excited for this coming transfer. 6 more weeks of greatness. There is a lot that I want to accomplish and do. There are a lot of people that I can still help and lead closer to the Savior. Including me. Thank you all for everything that you do and remember to share the gospel with your friends and family. Help someone come back to church or read the Book of Mormon or meet with the missionaries. I love you all and have a great week. Sorry this is so short. Keep doing well.
love,
ELDER MARR
P.S. I have another challenge for yall. It is not as important or spiritual as my past challenge about reading the whole Book of Mormon beofre I get home. BUt I challenge everyone even though I am goign to be home in one transfer to send me a letter. Every single one of you. This way i can have at least one final letter on my mission from all of you. BUt I have one requirement. No mentioning how soon I will be coming home or how little time is left until you can see me. If you are someone who has been reading these emials and have never met me. Send me a letter anyways.
4010 Indian Point dr.
Missouri City, TX
77459
:)
:)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Huo Ji Junglou
This week I went on exchanges with our district leader Elder Tsui. His English is alright. He had to learn it for the mission. He speaks just fine but sometimes he has a hard time understanding others. So when he talks to people on the street he is very straight forward and to the point. I love it. He is not scared to say anything and gets right to his purpose. I love him. He is a strong member of the church and he is going to continue to be a great missionary.
This week was a little bit sad by the end of the week. We had a few people not make it to church. We really thought that some of them said that they would be there but they did not show up. It was a little disheartening. I wish people would just come to church. But besides that it was a good week. We have some investigators who read the Book of Mormon like they found it in buried treasure. The book has such a power in it that people who do not normally feel the spirit or even those that do. Can feel the spirit and love to feel it. I love the scriptures. It is like eating food. It just nourishes you.
This email will be a short one just to let you know. We are trying to find more investigators to teach. We have been doing a lot of finding lately. We have found some success from just riding around on our bikes and talking with whoever we see. I am not a huge fan of knocking doors. In some places it is the best way to find but in my past few areas it has been very ineffective. We are finding more people to teach. The members of the ward are more than willing to come out with us to teach but I have not been able to teach a members friend. We are doing our best to find people to teach but referrals from the members are the best. Member's friends who are not already members of the church have a drastically better chance of both joining the church and staying active in the church than people that the missionaries find and teach. Our mission president has shown us statistics on it. I have not had a baptism on my mission that is not a member referral or a part member family. I have taught many that are not but they have never come to baptism. I invite each of you who read this to pray to know who you can share the gospel with and invite to be taught by the missionaries with you. It will change your life and the life of those you share the gospel with.
I have seen so much happiness on my mission when a part member gets baptized or a member referral gets baptized. It brings families and friends closer together. At the end of April I will be going to a sealing for one of those part member families. I believe that if the member who was already friends with the family would have asked his friend in the part member family to come over for a lesson with the missionaries and dinner that the family would have been reactivated much sooner and the wife would have been baptized much much sooner. But the active member did not act. The missionaries were going to visit a less active member and ran into his brother who is the husband of the part member family. Then they asked if they could come over and have a lesson. So they did and the remainder of the family was baptized and reactivated. It happens. How I wish that the active Brother would have acted and tried to have them over before to meet with us. I am sure that he was the last person that he thought would be reactivated. But it happened. I just wish he could have been the foundation of the coming back to church and to have participated in their baptism and reactivation in a larger way.
I invite all of you to pray sincerely to know who of your friends should be invited to be taught by the missionaries, with you there. Fear is opposed to faith. Exercise your faith and try. I know that the Lord will guide you in the right way and you will know what to do. Even though I only have until May 3rd send me a letter and let me know how it goes. I love you all and I thank you for your support and for your love have a great week and be strong. If you need any help with sharing the gospel with your friends then call the missionaries. They can give you tips and pointers. And if you are not a member than call the missionaries and have them come over and explain all the crazy stuff i talk about every week and why I love it so much. I love you all and have a great week.
love,
ELDER MARR
This week was a little bit sad by the end of the week. We had a few people not make it to church. We really thought that some of them said that they would be there but they did not show up. It was a little disheartening. I wish people would just come to church. But besides that it was a good week. We have some investigators who read the Book of Mormon like they found it in buried treasure. The book has such a power in it that people who do not normally feel the spirit or even those that do. Can feel the spirit and love to feel it. I love the scriptures. It is like eating food. It just nourishes you.
This email will be a short one just to let you know. We are trying to find more investigators to teach. We have been doing a lot of finding lately. We have found some success from just riding around on our bikes and talking with whoever we see. I am not a huge fan of knocking doors. In some places it is the best way to find but in my past few areas it has been very ineffective. We are finding more people to teach. The members of the ward are more than willing to come out with us to teach but I have not been able to teach a members friend. We are doing our best to find people to teach but referrals from the members are the best. Member's friends who are not already members of the church have a drastically better chance of both joining the church and staying active in the church than people that the missionaries find and teach. Our mission president has shown us statistics on it. I have not had a baptism on my mission that is not a member referral or a part member family. I have taught many that are not but they have never come to baptism. I invite each of you who read this to pray to know who you can share the gospel with and invite to be taught by the missionaries with you. It will change your life and the life of those you share the gospel with.
I have seen so much happiness on my mission when a part member gets baptized or a member referral gets baptized. It brings families and friends closer together. At the end of April I will be going to a sealing for one of those part member families. I believe that if the member who was already friends with the family would have asked his friend in the part member family to come over for a lesson with the missionaries and dinner that the family would have been reactivated much sooner and the wife would have been baptized much much sooner. But the active member did not act. The missionaries were going to visit a less active member and ran into his brother who is the husband of the part member family. Then they asked if they could come over and have a lesson. So they did and the remainder of the family was baptized and reactivated. It happens. How I wish that the active Brother would have acted and tried to have them over before to meet with us. I am sure that he was the last person that he thought would be reactivated. But it happened. I just wish he could have been the foundation of the coming back to church and to have participated in their baptism and reactivation in a larger way.
I invite all of you to pray sincerely to know who of your friends should be invited to be taught by the missionaries, with you there. Fear is opposed to faith. Exercise your faith and try. I know that the Lord will guide you in the right way and you will know what to do. Even though I only have until May 3rd send me a letter and let me know how it goes. I love you all and I thank you for your support and for your love have a great week and be strong. If you need any help with sharing the gospel with your friends then call the missionaries. They can give you tips and pointers. And if you are not a member than call the missionaries and have them come over and explain all the crazy stuff i talk about every week and why I love it so much. I love you all and have a great week.
love,
ELDER MARR
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
