Hey Fam!
The baptism this last Saturday went really well - after waiting for almost six hours! We got the church to set up and clean at 1:30 for the baptism to start at 3:00. But there was no water in the big cistern for water. So we called Bishop to have him get the water guy on the way, but there is some construction going on between Milagro and Las Margaritas. So the water truck showed up at about 6:00 or so. After getting the font filled up we got underway and it was a nice spiritual experience for everybody, including an investigator of Quetzals. The name of Miguel’s wife is Ilse, she has been a member for about two years. She was able to go to the temple with us so that was really good I think for the family.
This last week was another good week. We found four new investigators, which was one under our goal, but we really focused on having our investigators attending church again. We had 10 investigators in church with us. We have a number of potential baptisms this months. We have both adults and kids who are investigators. We have a number of people who we are working with to be able to baptize them this month, and a lot of them are in a similar place, they have a desire to know but now they need read more and actually pray and ask God if this is true or not.
We have one investigator named Liseth who wants to know what is true. The thing with her is that she feels good when she goes to the Evangelic church, but she also really likes the messages that we are teaching her. But she has been praying trying to get an answer. We had a lesson with her yesterday to try to help her understand how it is that she can identify her answer and how the spirit works. I am really happy with the work that Elder Fogg and I get done together and I hope that President Shumway leaves us together for another change.
We were fed cow stomach again for lunch! But this time I was prepared. I just slowly put pieces in a plastic bag because the family that fed us were outside and kinda coming and going from the house. I knew I should just man up and eat it, but when you don’t clean that stuff right it tastes like things you really really do not want to eat.
I’m looking forward to getting that package, it will be nice to get a few things from home. The umbrella that I have works fine so worries about that. I use the Alpha Smart every week, and sometimes Elder Fogg as well. It is so nice to have.
I’m sure the stretching does get old, that is a lot of time devoted everyday to stretching but if that is the main thing that helps just keep stickin’ with it. I know you can lock in the rest of the way! Mom keep stickin’ with the run walk program, really good on ya for getting up earlier then you usually do to be able to take care of your health.
We are careful around dogs, when we look down the way we need to go and there are a bunch of dogs we usually go around when we can. I really don’t like when I see dogs that look like they are on the edge. We will keep being safe and making sure we are alert of our surroundings.
Sounds like a lot of things are still changing there and like you guys have some big plans for changing some things up. Although doing the whole shop and getting a filter system set up, it will take some time but I think it will be well worth it. The short video that you sent showing the yard and stuff was awesome. It is so green and clean!
A volcano erupted this last week so we had some sandy raining last Sunday. It has not erupted for about 30 years or so. We are a little ways away from the volcano so we are totally safe here, but still getting a little ash. The Volcano is in another mission but the same zone as we are in. We were not really able to see anything. I am hoping that we will be able to get some good service work in with the current situation. That is so nice of Shawna to call so worried. She is such a nice loving lady. The weather here definitely is changing. We are starting to get more and more rain almost every day now. Those coconuts were brought from the coast, then some lady who happens to speak English wanted to practice speaking so she gave us each one for free, and we practiced for a little bit.
One of my current favorite scriptures is in 3 Nephi chapter 5 verse 13. The first part is Behold, I am then insert your own name. Behold, I am (name) a disciple of Jesus Christ the Son of God. I have been called of God to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. How true it is! We are all called as disciples of Christ. Whether we have a name tag on teaching for 9 to 10 hours a day or not we can all do our part. I know at times it is a little hard to open our mouths and talk to random people or even our friends about the Gospel. But with this new emphasis on Ministering, I think that this is a good reminder of the duty that every one of us has to try to help and do our part.
I love each and every one of you so much, and am so grateful for the example that you all are for me. I am so happy for the time that I am having here to help other people grow and to come unto Christ, but also for the strength of testimony that I feel growing, I’m becoming a strong converted disciple of Christ.
Love, your brother and son,
Elder Marks
The baptism this last Saturday went really well - after waiting for almost six hours! We got the church to set up and clean at 1:30 for the baptism to start at 3:00. But there was no water in the big cistern for water. So we called Bishop to have him get the water guy on the way, but there is some construction going on between Milagro and Las Margaritas. So the water truck showed up at about 6:00 or so. After getting the font filled up we got underway and it was a nice spiritual experience for everybody, including an investigator of Quetzals. The name of Miguel’s wife is Ilse, she has been a member for about two years. She was able to go to the temple with us so that was really good I think for the family.
This last week was another good week. We found four new investigators, which was one under our goal, but we really focused on having our investigators attending church again. We had 10 investigators in church with us. We have a number of potential baptisms this months. We have both adults and kids who are investigators. We have a number of people who we are working with to be able to baptize them this month, and a lot of them are in a similar place, they have a desire to know but now they need read more and actually pray and ask God if this is true or not.
We have one investigator named Liseth who wants to know what is true. The thing with her is that she feels good when she goes to the Evangelic church, but she also really likes the messages that we are teaching her. But she has been praying trying to get an answer. We had a lesson with her yesterday to try to help her understand how it is that she can identify her answer and how the spirit works. I am really happy with the work that Elder Fogg and I get done together and I hope that President Shumway leaves us together for another change.
We were fed cow stomach again for lunch! But this time I was prepared. I just slowly put pieces in a plastic bag because the family that fed us were outside and kinda coming and going from the house. I knew I should just man up and eat it, but when you don’t clean that stuff right it tastes like things you really really do not want to eat.
I’m looking forward to getting that package, it will be nice to get a few things from home. The umbrella that I have works fine so worries about that. I use the Alpha Smart every week, and sometimes Elder Fogg as well. It is so nice to have.
I’m sure the stretching does get old, that is a lot of time devoted everyday to stretching but if that is the main thing that helps just keep stickin’ with it. I know you can lock in the rest of the way! Mom keep stickin’ with the run walk program, really good on ya for getting up earlier then you usually do to be able to take care of your health.
We are careful around dogs, when we look down the way we need to go and there are a bunch of dogs we usually go around when we can. I really don’t like when I see dogs that look like they are on the edge. We will keep being safe and making sure we are alert of our surroundings.
Sounds like a lot of things are still changing there and like you guys have some big plans for changing some things up. Although doing the whole shop and getting a filter system set up, it will take some time but I think it will be well worth it. The short video that you sent showing the yard and stuff was awesome. It is so green and clean!
A volcano erupted this last week so we had some sandy raining last Sunday. It has not erupted for about 30 years or so. We are a little ways away from the volcano so we are totally safe here, but still getting a little ash. The Volcano is in another mission but the same zone as we are in. We were not really able to see anything. I am hoping that we will be able to get some good service work in with the current situation. That is so nice of Shawna to call so worried. She is such a nice loving lady. The weather here definitely is changing. We are starting to get more and more rain almost every day now. Those coconuts were brought from the coast, then some lady who happens to speak English wanted to practice speaking so she gave us each one for free, and we practiced for a little bit.
One of my current favorite scriptures is in 3 Nephi chapter 5 verse 13. The first part is Behold, I am then insert your own name. Behold, I am (name) a disciple of Jesus Christ the Son of God. I have been called of God to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. How true it is! We are all called as disciples of Christ. Whether we have a name tag on teaching for 9 to 10 hours a day or not we can all do our part. I know at times it is a little hard to open our mouths and talk to random people or even our friends about the Gospel. But with this new emphasis on Ministering, I think that this is a good reminder of the duty that every one of us has to try to help and do our part.
I love each and every one of you so much, and am so grateful for the example that you all are for me. I am so happy for the time that I am having here to help other people grow and to come unto Christ, but also for the strength of testimony that I feel growing, I’m becoming a strong converted disciple of Christ.
Love, your brother and son,
Elder Marks