Hey Family!
Ok, well we had the chance to go to the temple with Gladis this last Saturday. The tour went really well and we had good weather while we were outside. At the end of the tour the investigators always has the chance to enter the temple and sit in the reception to pray and hopefully receive an answer. After about two minutes Gladis stood up and was ready to leave. The sisters who work in the temple always ask the investigator how their experience was in the temple. Gladis said that she did not really feel that much. Later on the bus back to Jalapa I was talking to her more about what she felt in the temple. She told me that she felt something in her chest and a huge feeling of peace, and that she felt that God answered her prayer about being baptized on the 27th of this month. Sweet, right? The next day we had a really great lesson with her, talking about the answers that we receive and the importance of following the answers that we get. She told us that she felt that what she felt was an answer from God and everything. However, when we started talking about the baptism, she told us that she does not want to be baptized on the 27th or any other day, and that she does not want this in her life. I guess we planted a big seed, and maybe down the road other missionaries will knock on her door and she will have a changed heart. I guess that is the thing about free agency and that we can’t force things onto others. The missionary purpose states invite others, not convince others.
On the bright side, Axel is still doing well and we will be having his baptism on Saturday the 27th. There is also a kid named Henry, who is only nine, but wants to be baptized. He lives with his grandma on the weekends. He might be young but we’re not going to say, “No, we are not going to baptize you because you are young”.
Rafael really is not progressing much more. Ever since his pastor said something to him about how he needs to think about how many years he has going to this other church, he has made himself a little more distant. But the thing is, to God it does not matter if we have 60 year attending one church that is not the true church, what is important is that we find the true church. Even if it is only for one month and then we die, it is better than the 60 years not attending His church. We will see what ends up happening with him.
It is raining a lot more here these last few days. Almost everyday it rains, I sure am glad to have a good rain jacket. It has also been nice because the weather has been a little bit cooler, so it makes working a bit nicer. It sounds like the weather there is starting to drop off cold. I miss walking out on the front deck and being able to see the clear sky with stars and feeling that really crisp air.
The plow looks sweet on the truck! That thing will be so nice to have this year and the years to come for plowing. I am also glad that it went on without to many bad words! :) And that the electrical part was easy and that up is not right and down is up! J
A couple of things that would be nice to get in a package:) Underwear! No just kidding. But just the backpack, (assuming that you are able to find it), something that might seems a little weird is some new socks. A lot of the socks that I brought with me have holes in them and I am starting to have to throw some away. I have looked for dress socks here and I can find some, but they are either really thin, or scratchy and uncomfortable. If I could get a six-pack of Reebok mid-calf or low calf socks, that would be really nice. Bacon cannot be found in Guatemala so far, so that would be great to get, but I know that’s impossible so maybe just some beef jerky. :) If some black pens can be found that write smoothly but don’t put out a lot of ink, that would also be nice. Maybe one of those little squeeze juice things that dad and I like, perhaps cherry limeade. Those are the only things that I can think of that would be nice to have, as well as anything else that you guys choose to include. That makes sense about wanting people to receive smaller packages. Sometimes missionaries receive packages that are like three different bags packed! Unfortunately, countries like Chile cannot send packages to the mission. Gracias!
I love that one of the biggest things that you noticed about reading the Book of Mormon this time was about how being carnally minded is death. It reminded me of a verse in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that is talking about the two different types of sadness, the first is the sorrow of the world that produces death and the second is Godly sorrow that produces repentance. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
I love you all so much and thank you all for your love and support.
Love,
Elder Marks.
Ok, well we had the chance to go to the temple with Gladis this last Saturday. The tour went really well and we had good weather while we were outside. At the end of the tour the investigators always has the chance to enter the temple and sit in the reception to pray and hopefully receive an answer. After about two minutes Gladis stood up and was ready to leave. The sisters who work in the temple always ask the investigator how their experience was in the temple. Gladis said that she did not really feel that much. Later on the bus back to Jalapa I was talking to her more about what she felt in the temple. She told me that she felt something in her chest and a huge feeling of peace, and that she felt that God answered her prayer about being baptized on the 27th of this month. Sweet, right? The next day we had a really great lesson with her, talking about the answers that we receive and the importance of following the answers that we get. She told us that she felt that what she felt was an answer from God and everything. However, when we started talking about the baptism, she told us that she does not want to be baptized on the 27th or any other day, and that she does not want this in her life. I guess we planted a big seed, and maybe down the road other missionaries will knock on her door and she will have a changed heart. I guess that is the thing about free agency and that we can’t force things onto others. The missionary purpose states invite others, not convince others.
On the bright side, Axel is still doing well and we will be having his baptism on Saturday the 27th. There is also a kid named Henry, who is only nine, but wants to be baptized. He lives with his grandma on the weekends. He might be young but we’re not going to say, “No, we are not going to baptize you because you are young”.
Rafael really is not progressing much more. Ever since his pastor said something to him about how he needs to think about how many years he has going to this other church, he has made himself a little more distant. But the thing is, to God it does not matter if we have 60 year attending one church that is not the true church, what is important is that we find the true church. Even if it is only for one month and then we die, it is better than the 60 years not attending His church. We will see what ends up happening with him.
It is raining a lot more here these last few days. Almost everyday it rains, I sure am glad to have a good rain jacket. It has also been nice because the weather has been a little bit cooler, so it makes working a bit nicer. It sounds like the weather there is starting to drop off cold. I miss walking out on the front deck and being able to see the clear sky with stars and feeling that really crisp air.
The plow looks sweet on the truck! That thing will be so nice to have this year and the years to come for plowing. I am also glad that it went on without to many bad words! :) And that the electrical part was easy and that up is not right and down is up! J
A couple of things that would be nice to get in a package:) Underwear! No just kidding. But just the backpack, (assuming that you are able to find it), something that might seems a little weird is some new socks. A lot of the socks that I brought with me have holes in them and I am starting to have to throw some away. I have looked for dress socks here and I can find some, but they are either really thin, or scratchy and uncomfortable. If I could get a six-pack of Reebok mid-calf or low calf socks, that would be really nice. Bacon cannot be found in Guatemala so far, so that would be great to get, but I know that’s impossible so maybe just some beef jerky. :) If some black pens can be found that write smoothly but don’t put out a lot of ink, that would also be nice. Maybe one of those little squeeze juice things that dad and I like, perhaps cherry limeade. Those are the only things that I can think of that would be nice to have, as well as anything else that you guys choose to include. That makes sense about wanting people to receive smaller packages. Sometimes missionaries receive packages that are like three different bags packed! Unfortunately, countries like Chile cannot send packages to the mission. Gracias!
I love that one of the biggest things that you noticed about reading the Book of Mormon this time was about how being carnally minded is death. It reminded me of a verse in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that is talking about the two different types of sadness, the first is the sorrow of the world that produces death and the second is Godly sorrow that produces repentance. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
I love you all so much and thank you all for your love and support.
Love,
Elder Marks.