Hey family!
First off, something I forgot to include in my email this last week, we received the information for changes Sunday and yesterday we actually had changes. Nothing changed for me this time around, Elder Barczi and I are still companions, but now elder Barczi is the district leader, which is kinda funny because he really did not want to be a district leader.
This week is going to be a little crazy! We have to take the two and a half hour bus ride to the capital two different times. Thursday for the training for first time district leaders, this is now my second time going to this meeting. We also have to go Saturday for a multizona (Spanish) that we are going to have with Elder Pineda from the 70. Then Saturday night we have the baptism for Hermanita Sarah, who is the 9 year old daughter of a mom that we are trying to help get reactivated in the church. Hermano Rafael is progressing really well, and super fast. He actually already has all of the lessons and the three times attending church and two of the three commandments. He really only is missing one of the commandments and his answer that this is the true church. However we did have a lesson with him yesterday in respect to the Book of Mormon. We had already taught what is the Book of Mormon and the reason that we have it, but after teaching about the Book of Mormon again it was a lot clearer to him. He feels that the Book of Mormon is true, and if it is true, this is the true church.
We also had a lesson with Gladis. She told us again that she knew that the Book of Mormon was true and that this is the true church and that she is willing to defend that. But she doesn't want to go to church because she does not learn much. She is a sixteen year old girl who acts like she is in her thirties. We asked her if she had a desire to be baptized, and she told us that for now she does not. But she also told us that we could continue to visit her. She has something that is in her way. Maybe it is fear of her family.
We had a new investigator Tuesday whose name is Jose, original, I KNOW RIGHT! (Note: please read “I know, right!” in the voice of a 15 year old girl). He lives about thirty minutes walking distance from our house, and lives with his wife and three of four kids. When we made first contact with them we only talked with the dad, who is thirty five. His wife and kids were not there. He expressed his desire to us to find the true church and that he feels that he had been looking for some time and that he really liked the lesson. Then after ending the lesson he asked if he could tell us something. Of course we said, “No” and left as fast as we could... no, just kidding! Of course we said, “Yes”. He then proceeded to tell us about a dream that he had in 2006 in which he saw a picture of Jesus holding a lamb. Which is also the exact same picture that is on the front page of the Restoration pamphlet. Normally when people share experiences like that my reaction is a little skeptical, especially after so many years. But when he told us about that experience I felt tingling go through almost all of my body. We do not know what will come of this family, but we feel really good and positive about them.
I was watching a Mormon message this last week, or as they should now be called, messages from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and a quote really stuck out to me. The quote is, "Where is the wisdom when we obtain knowledge, and where is the knowledge when we obtain information." We live in a world of information. We live in a world of an excess of information, some of which is great and some of which is from the work. When we don't give heed to the information that is most important for each one of us, the excess of information ends up becoming misinformation. In a world full of different voices saying to do different things it is imperative that we learn to recognize and obey the voice of the spirit that will never lead us astray. I love you all so much and hope and pray for the best for each one of you.
Love your brother and son,
Elder Marks
First off, something I forgot to include in my email this last week, we received the information for changes Sunday and yesterday we actually had changes. Nothing changed for me this time around, Elder Barczi and I are still companions, but now elder Barczi is the district leader, which is kinda funny because he really did not want to be a district leader.
This week is going to be a little crazy! We have to take the two and a half hour bus ride to the capital two different times. Thursday for the training for first time district leaders, this is now my second time going to this meeting. We also have to go Saturday for a multizona (Spanish) that we are going to have with Elder Pineda from the 70. Then Saturday night we have the baptism for Hermanita Sarah, who is the 9 year old daughter of a mom that we are trying to help get reactivated in the church. Hermano Rafael is progressing really well, and super fast. He actually already has all of the lessons and the three times attending church and two of the three commandments. He really only is missing one of the commandments and his answer that this is the true church. However we did have a lesson with him yesterday in respect to the Book of Mormon. We had already taught what is the Book of Mormon and the reason that we have it, but after teaching about the Book of Mormon again it was a lot clearer to him. He feels that the Book of Mormon is true, and if it is true, this is the true church.
We also had a lesson with Gladis. She told us again that she knew that the Book of Mormon was true and that this is the true church and that she is willing to defend that. But she doesn't want to go to church because she does not learn much. She is a sixteen year old girl who acts like she is in her thirties. We asked her if she had a desire to be baptized, and she told us that for now she does not. But she also told us that we could continue to visit her. She has something that is in her way. Maybe it is fear of her family.
We had a new investigator Tuesday whose name is Jose, original, I KNOW RIGHT! (Note: please read “I know, right!” in the voice of a 15 year old girl). He lives about thirty minutes walking distance from our house, and lives with his wife and three of four kids. When we made first contact with them we only talked with the dad, who is thirty five. His wife and kids were not there. He expressed his desire to us to find the true church and that he feels that he had been looking for some time and that he really liked the lesson. Then after ending the lesson he asked if he could tell us something. Of course we said, “No” and left as fast as we could... no, just kidding! Of course we said, “Yes”. He then proceeded to tell us about a dream that he had in 2006 in which he saw a picture of Jesus holding a lamb. Which is also the exact same picture that is on the front page of the Restoration pamphlet. Normally when people share experiences like that my reaction is a little skeptical, especially after so many years. But when he told us about that experience I felt tingling go through almost all of my body. We do not know what will come of this family, but we feel really good and positive about them.
I was watching a Mormon message this last week, or as they should now be called, messages from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and a quote really stuck out to me. The quote is, "Where is the wisdom when we obtain knowledge, and where is the knowledge when we obtain information." We live in a world of information. We live in a world of an excess of information, some of which is great and some of which is from the work. When we don't give heed to the information that is most important for each one of us, the excess of information ends up becoming misinformation. In a world full of different voices saying to do different things it is imperative that we learn to recognize and obey the voice of the spirit that will never lead us astray. I love you all so much and hope and pray for the best for each one of you.
Love your brother and son,
Elder Marks
We took about a forty minute walk to get to a lesson this last week and we came across a little stream as we were walking, so thought I would snag a few pictures and videos. Sorry for the singing:)