I'm so happy to hear from everybody! This week has been insane as we all thought or knew it would be. From the moment that we arrived we have been crazy busy. My companion’s name is Elder Merkley, he is from Utah and it’s quite obvious once you are around him for a while. He is a really good kid who wants to be here and do the work, so that is really nice. Dad, I'm glad to hear that you are almost healthy again, sorry you had to be sick. To answer Mom’s list of questions. First impressions of Guatemala, it is awesome, even though I really haven't been outside the gates of the MTC (or CCM). From our bedroom window we have an awesome view of the temple, which is made from white marble. Then behind that is a large hill that some people are calling a mountain. Which is kinda funny because it is not that big. In LA I met up with about 15 other missionaries. In the MTC there are only about one hundred and ten missionaries, which is nice. The daily routine is very full from personal study to language study to progressing the investigator. We, as a companionship, prepare to teach lessons to an investigator for practice. Church was nice because it was a small break from the everyday routine. We just got a new MTC president so it will be good to meet him later today. The Spanish is coming along, it’s a lot of work but the teachers are so good they keep it fun and spiritual. We went to the temple this morning, it really is just a two minute walk, it was a really nice time, although it made me think of home and miss going through with family.
Snow Snow go away! and don't feel like you need to come back, I really don't miss the snow. The weather is amazing. All of the Latinos say that it is frio (or cold).
The Latinos are awesome, they are always super nice and really happy and willing to speak Spanish slowly so us gringos can try to understand it. The food here is really good for the most part. Some of the meals are lacking but that’s fine. We have breakfast first thing when we get up so that is hard because you know me and breakfast. Most days I try to eat something but it can be difficult. They have filtered water stations all over so that makes it really easy to remember to drink water.
A couple of the elders have already gotten sick, I've been healthy so far, hopefully it stays that way. I think that it will.
Thank you so much for sending letters in my bag, I have been rationing them out over the first few days :) However the cookies were not rationed very well, I'm afraid there is only one more. I have done good in writing in my journal everyday and plan on keeping it that way. It's been so nice to have those brand new scriptures to be able to mark in.
I'm so happy that William and Mariam set a date, I'm so happy for them and know that it's going to be a very happy day. It would be nice if I could be there with the family but for me at this time, Guatemala is where I want to be and need to be.
Erika, it's awesome that Jake is coming around to the gospel. What a great example of how the Holy Ghost works. We had a devotional yesterday and part that stuck out to me was talking about what the word unto means. When it says that the Holy Spirit will bring the joy unto our heart. When the word unto is translated from old English it means until but when it is translated to Spanish it means into. As missionaries of the Lord we can take a message to somebody’s heart but the Holy Spirit is the one who takes the message into the persons heart.
The security is kinda sweet, I have felt safe the whole time that I have been here. Around the whole building is a black fence, which has guards who patrol with a gun on their hip. Everyday we have sports time, for each district it varies, ours is at six forty five which for me is really lame because I like being able to be up for a bit before having to do physical activity, but that's OK.
After being here for just a few days, a bunch of elders and sisters were asked to go into the MTC President’s office, I was called as well. Once we were all in the room we were told that we were there to be given callings. I was asked to serve as the district leader for Isaiah, which is our district in which everybody speaks English, they have all English speaking districts so we can all be together learning Spanish. I was also called to be a technology dude, which I have not really had to do anything for yet. If somebody needs help setting up a power point of something then I am the one who gets to figure it out. I am happy for the callings and like to conduct district meetings and call on people for prayer and things. It adds a few things to my plate, that I have to remember to do, but I'm happy to do it.
They really don't give us a whole lot of time to write home but it's really nice to have access to a computer. If I missed over anything big that I wanted to include but I forgot, I will have to send it next Wednesday. Wednesday will be my P-day for the whole time that I'm here as far as I know.
I love everybody so much and am so happy to be on a mission.
Yesterday President Nelson said, "You can face your challenges in life with optimism and joy, if you have faith in Jesus Christ.”
Full of Love, your brother and son,
Elder Marks
Snow Snow go away! and don't feel like you need to come back, I really don't miss the snow. The weather is amazing. All of the Latinos say that it is frio (or cold).
The Latinos are awesome, they are always super nice and really happy and willing to speak Spanish slowly so us gringos can try to understand it. The food here is really good for the most part. Some of the meals are lacking but that’s fine. We have breakfast first thing when we get up so that is hard because you know me and breakfast. Most days I try to eat something but it can be difficult. They have filtered water stations all over so that makes it really easy to remember to drink water.
A couple of the elders have already gotten sick, I've been healthy so far, hopefully it stays that way. I think that it will.
Thank you so much for sending letters in my bag, I have been rationing them out over the first few days :) However the cookies were not rationed very well, I'm afraid there is only one more. I have done good in writing in my journal everyday and plan on keeping it that way. It's been so nice to have those brand new scriptures to be able to mark in.
I'm so happy that William and Mariam set a date, I'm so happy for them and know that it's going to be a very happy day. It would be nice if I could be there with the family but for me at this time, Guatemala is where I want to be and need to be.
Erika, it's awesome that Jake is coming around to the gospel. What a great example of how the Holy Ghost works. We had a devotional yesterday and part that stuck out to me was talking about what the word unto means. When it says that the Holy Spirit will bring the joy unto our heart. When the word unto is translated from old English it means until but when it is translated to Spanish it means into. As missionaries of the Lord we can take a message to somebody’s heart but the Holy Spirit is the one who takes the message into the persons heart.
The security is kinda sweet, I have felt safe the whole time that I have been here. Around the whole building is a black fence, which has guards who patrol with a gun on their hip. Everyday we have sports time, for each district it varies, ours is at six forty five which for me is really lame because I like being able to be up for a bit before having to do physical activity, but that's OK.
After being here for just a few days, a bunch of elders and sisters were asked to go into the MTC President’s office, I was called as well. Once we were all in the room we were told that we were there to be given callings. I was asked to serve as the district leader for Isaiah, which is our district in which everybody speaks English, they have all English speaking districts so we can all be together learning Spanish. I was also called to be a technology dude, which I have not really had to do anything for yet. If somebody needs help setting up a power point of something then I am the one who gets to figure it out. I am happy for the callings and like to conduct district meetings and call on people for prayer and things. It adds a few things to my plate, that I have to remember to do, but I'm happy to do it.
They really don't give us a whole lot of time to write home but it's really nice to have access to a computer. If I missed over anything big that I wanted to include but I forgot, I will have to send it next Wednesday. Wednesday will be my P-day for the whole time that I'm here as far as I know.
I love everybody so much and am so happy to be on a mission.
Yesterday President Nelson said, "You can face your challenges in life with optimism and joy, if you have faith in Jesus Christ.”
Full of Love, your brother and son,
Elder Marks