Hey family!
 
Just a heads up we don’t have a lot of time but I will type as fast as I can so if there are spelling errors, I’m sorry.
 
This last week was a crazy one but went really well. Elder Corrales is from Mexico and so far is really awesome! He does not really speak any English but that is ok because I have no choice but to speak Spanish. We are serving in the Las Margaritas area. It is out of the city but we can see the city once we walk up one of the many huge hills. It consists of several towns, Margaritas, Linda Vista, and some other little ones but I don´t remember what they are. Not a super wealthy area, as I had expected. When we arrived at our little house I thought that most of the houses would be like ours, kinda small and made just from regular house material and paint with a functioning bathroom with running water and a shower that has hot water. But the houses are just made from cinder blacks and roofing metal, but the people are all really nice. It is a really big area so there is lots of walking, but that is what I was expecting so it's all good.

There were some other missionaries serving in the south mission that left the MTC the same day, about 12, but I was the only white Elder.
 
I’m glad that President sent that picture to you guys. When we got to the mission office President did short interviews with everyone just to get to know us a little more. At the end of the interview I told him that I’m here to work and wherever he sends me I will serve with all my Heart, Might, Mind, and Strength. Later after I found out who my companion would be and where the area was. President told my companion and I that this is a really good area but that they need some really good missionaries because the last set or two have been kinda lazy.
 
We're in a ward, and the members are really nice and committed from what I can tell. We usually eat lunch at a members house but other than that we take care of our own food. Most of the food is good but we have been served a couple of things that's different from what I’m use to. Really the only weird thing was cow stomach. I tried it, but lets just say I got out of eating that one. :)
 
Overall the experience has been really good, the language part is difficult but good. It is really weird not really being able to understand what people are saying, I do a lot of listening and trying to understand but most of the time I can't tell what they are saying.
 
The sisters that were in this area last had somebody on date for baptism last Saturday, so I have officially done my first baptism! Her name is Solorzana Garcia Gabriela Fernanda. It was tough doing it in Spanish but it went fairly smooth. Not one of the stories where on the 90th time we finally got it! :) Only the second, the first time she just wasn’t quite far enough under water. It was a really neat experience and hopefully there will be many more in the next two years.
 
I can't believe the amount of snow that you guys are getting! And how cold it has been there.
 
As far as the mail system here and being able to receive stuff, I really do not know. I am not sure what our house address is. The addresses here are really weird. I will try out find our more and let you know next week.
 
I think about the goals that you guys have there at home and hope your doing awesome, Thinking of home motivates me to want to give my all here. I hope to be able to help other families have what we have. Which is truly a special and strong family unit. 
 
Good job with all of the wedding plans that are going on. Dad it sounds like you have been busy getting that video ready for those guys. You are truly a natural born expert! 
 
I was not able to figure out how to send pictures on this computer, maybe next week when I don’t have as much to write I will be able to figure it out and send home some pictures. I’m sure I have left some things out or forgotten to answer some questions. I will try to do better next week. 
 
I love you all so much! Keep doing good!
 
Love 
Elder Marks 

No letter from Garrett this week. P-day in the MTC is Wednesday, but in the mission field it is on Monday's. He left the MTC on Tuesday, so misses both P-day's for the week.

BUT... we do know that he is officially a missionary in Guatemala with an assigned companion! We received a letter real nice letter with some pictures from his Mission President and wife, President and Sister Shumway on Tuesday. You can read it below...

Dear Marks Family,
 
I am thrilled to welcome your wonderful son to the Guatemala City South Mission. It lifts our spirits when we greet the new missionaries and see their combination of faith, wonder, and youthful exuberance. We love each one of them already and rejoice in seeing them learn to communicate, to love one another, and to work together in the service of the Lord. My quiet interview with your son filled me with gratitude for the faith, righteous desires, and testimony he has developed over months and years of preparation.
 
Elder Marks´ first companion is Elder Corrales one of our trainer missionaries, who has been very successful in missionary work and exemplifies many of the attributes of Christ found in the sixth chapter of Preach My Gospel, including attributes of charity, patience, diligence, and obedience. I have witnessed the Lord’s guiding hand in both the selection of the trainers, and the assignment to serve alongside your son. Elder Corrales will help your son adjust to the mission life and set a worthy and foundational example. Surely the Lord will bless them both abundantly as they labor with their might, and they will experience great joy in witnessing many come to Christ through the restored gospel.
 
The most productive missionaries are oftentimes those who receive active support from their families, priesthood leaders, and associates through frequent letters or emails, which are positive and inspirational. We invite you to have them join you in contributing to your son’s success by corresponding regularly with motivational and uplifting thoughts.
 
We will do all that we can to lift and strengthen your son while we serve together in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, Guatemala – the Land of the Eternal Spring. Thank you for sending him to labor with us.
 
With warm regards,
 
President and Sister Shumway

Hey family!
 
Time is flying by here so fast! I can’t believe that over five weeks have already passed, less then a week left. We will leave the MTC Tuesday morning. I´m not sure if they will let us email or make us wait till the following Monday. If I do get to call of email it will be in the morning for you guys, maybe seven or eight. I´m guessing that my companion will be a Latino but I hope that he speaks a little bit of English for when I don’t have the words in Spanish, but if he does not speak English, then I’ll be faking it till I make it. :) Mom, I think you’re right about the mission home being in Guatemala, I think that is what grandpa told me. If I get a chance to get information about it I will, my guess is that I won’t be there to long. But we will see. 
 
Happy Birthday Mom! It sound like you had a good day. I’m glad to hear that you all went out to the shop together to make some Scareboxes. I know that lonely feeling when you’re out in the shop alone. I guess if you put that picture you took of me out in the shop and crank the music (rocking the Enya) it will be OK. Did the new shop filter system ever show up? I’d be interested to know if you notice a difference with the amount of fine dust particles that always settle on the benches and tools.  
 
That is too bad that grandma is not able to help with the first dress. Hopefully Mariam will be able to find another dress that she loves that will work really well.
 
Yeah, so less then a week left here, I have enjoyed the MTC but am dying to get out of here and start really doing the work. I can’t wait to see where I will be serving and meet whom I will be serving with. I hope that my first area is not right on the coast. Talking to some of the teachers here who have spent some time on the coast, they say that it gets really hot. Like over a hundred degrees hot, they say that some people actually start to go crazy. Just sitting in chairs saying random stuff! :) It might be nice to have an area or two to get use to teaching before getting my brains scrambled in the heat. 
 
What is up with the snow man! It is super easy for forget that it is still winter there because the weather here is so temperate. That’s not good that the wood pile is almost gone, how many more weeks do you think the remaining wood will last?

From the little bit of the city that I have seen, I can tell that I am going to love it and I’m sure you all would to. As far as the Spanish goes... It is a little confusing (I’m sure Kylie is laughing right about now, saying “feel my pain”!) There are so many grammar points that exist in Spanish that are not a thing In English. Its a good thing that most of the people here don´t even use the grammar properly! I have found that I can have gospel conversations and understand what I am saying and what other people are saying, but just regular conversation in Spanish is a little tough. I’m sure once I’m in the field for a little bit, the language will improve drastically. 
 
Thank you all so much for your continued love and prayers. I can feel the love of my family and I think of you all often and have so much love for each one of you. I am so excited to knock on my first door. I am sure I will be a little lost but will have a big smile on my face. My favorite phrase for a little while will be ´´mas lento por favor.´´ and ´´yo testifico que la palabras de me compenero es verdad.´´ Kylie can translate. :) I love you all so much and love getting your emails, even when there is not much going on, I love hearing from YA´LL (shout out to you Erika)
 
Love your Brother and Son
Elder Marks
 
P.S. I saw a T-shirt yesterday that I really want. It said ´´ Yo soy Latino´´ Which means I am Latino.:) If I get the chance to buy one I will. Part of loving the people is embracing the culture. So I will be a Latino. 
 
P.P.S If the fire is too much of a pain, just throw a little scout water on there:) 
 
P.P.P.S. I wish I was plowing so bad right now, also enjoy Buddy flopping around while you’re trying to back up:)
 
Also I really don’t get much information about the mail system here so I’ll have to leave it up to you guys for knowing if letters or packages can be sent.
 
Love Ya!
Elder Marks

I can’t believe that I have already been here for a month! Time really does pass fast. I’m glad that I’m only here for 6 weeks, I think it is the right amount of time before entering an area. The language is coming along well, it is tough but well worth it. We had a devotional last night that was in Spanish and I was able to understand almost all of it, or at least enough to get the ideas. There was a translator so I was able to make sure what I understood was what was being said. Not a lot of new things have happened here that I have not already written about. I’m sure once I’m in the field there will be more to write about. 
 
I’m officially over the hump for the time left in the MTC. 
 
I love the teachers that I have here in the MTC. I have two different teachers, one in the morning and one in the evening. Our late afternoon and evening teacher is Hermano Lutin, he is really awesome and is a great teacher. He was a convert when he was 18, and has only been home from his mission for less the eight months but he has lots of good insight to how to teach. 
 
Hopefully there will be more to write next week.
 
Love you all,
Elder Marks


p.s - What the heck Tom Brady! You blew it, I cant believe that the Eagles won. I knew they were good but I thought that without their starting QB they would lose. Mom, I’m glad that the underdog won for you. But for what it’s worth, I wish the ¨Pats would have won. Man - some 7 layer dip sounds really good right now! or just chilling watching some TV. :) Some of the new Elders played football so its nice to have a couple people who have similar interests and experiences. 
 
Well were out of time and lunch is right now, we’re having tacos so hopefully they are good.
 
 Love ya all
 Elder Marks