Hey Everyone!  

Kylie wrote me an epistle! haha ;o) Time to email will be a little shorter than usual. We email at a college now (the school of minds). I am working with Elder Bradley in the same zone and we are both the Zone Leaders! I am grateful that they have it as a companionship calling, there's a lot to do! Last week we had a meeting with the Stake President, tomorrow we have ZLCs (zone leader conference) early in the morning in Frisco. and we'll be going to the Columbine District meeting next week and on exchanges with multiple companionships with either a District Leader or some Elders who need help. ... This is the biggest Zone in the mission (The Rocky Mountain Zone). The Golden Stake is one of the biggest Stakes in the country and then the Columbine Stake is also in the Zone. Right now our Zone has 9 people on date for baptism and Elder Bradley and I will be putting at least one on date this week. There is so much potential here! At transfers EVERY SINGLE COMPANIONSHIP got changed up, so there is a lot happening right now in each area, including the Clement Park ward being white washed by Sisters.  

I basically live in an apartment now. We live down under the garage but there is a lot of room, and I cleaned that place up like crazy last week, I don't know how missionaries lived in that place like that! We live down there with another companionship, so it makes things a lot of fun. We live with Elder Lund and Elder Smith as the DL. They're both really good guys, Elder Smith was my second DL on my mission and I loved the guy so it's kinda cool now to be in his district again! He was just released as a ZL because of some health problems with his stomach and they thought the stress could have been contributing.

Elder Bradley came out 1 transfer before me...he hits his year mark this Friday! Elder Bradley and I are working super hard and doing what we're suppost to. Last transfer when we had interviews, President asked me if there was anything he could do to help me out and I talked with him about mornings still being a struggle and that I wanted a companion who was good at the morning routine, or at least had desires to be, and since Elder Bradley and I have been together we've done a great job at that. It has helped not being with someone that turns off the alarm before I notice it ha! I am so happy for Adrienne going through the temple and recieving her Endowment, it does my heart good! And It makes me so happy that she and Doug are most likely getting married, that is such an answer to so many prayers for so many people. I look forward to meeting him! 

I can't believe school is starting already! And Erika is going to be a Sophmore and G-slice is goint to be in 8th grade! That seems super fast. I haven't been able to do push-ups because of my wrists, so tell Garrett to get ahead while he can - haha. I'm glad he's looking forward to football :o)  

Honestly it is going to be even harder to write letters and keep up with people the way I want to now as a Zone Leader. I know people have said they understand in the past but it's probably just going to get further inbetween when I can respond to people. My focus is where it needs to be and I feel good about that.

Send everyone my Love, I sure do think of everyone often and pray for people specifically often. Our family is still in my prayers every day and I am so thankful to have a family like you back home supporting me, and praying for me. You're all doing great! Make healthy food choices this week, I am making a real effort to do the same! I am sick of being fed so much food and just accepting it to be polite lol, I've decided to quit accepting dessert when people offer it (which is about 90% of the time). I refuse to gain any more weight, I weigh 205 right now. When I came out I weighed 180. This most likely comes as a concern to you but I want you to know that my heart is in it, I pray about it often, and I am going to drop that weight. I know this is possible for anyone! God has asked us to be healthy and treat our bodies with respect and we can learn from Nephi's wisdom when he said that the Lord will not ask us to do anything without providing a way. I believe you have to approach any hurdle regarding "putting off the natural man" through spiritual eyes. Whether it be struggles with food, moral issues, or whatever...will power is simply not enough. I know that because I've proven it to myself time and again.  

I believe in you all, I trust you, I respect you, and I love you! Have a really great week!

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder W. Marks

Dear Mom and Dad,

Hey Hey! I had a really great Birthday thank you all for your great gifts. I actually got that package ON my birthday! Everything was so appreciated and perfect:D The RASPBERRY JAM is really great, the cards and letters, I loved Garrett and Erikas gifts, the sourpatch was perfect and you can always use some gum! That cracks me up that you picked the first card you saw...that was a great card! Most of all those leather scripture cases are really treasured, thank you. It reminds me of you Dad, just to carry my scriptures that way, it means a lot thanks!

We were waiting for transfer calls last Saturday and President called around 8:00. He has asked me to be a Zone Leader! When I asked him if he had any hints for me where I would be serving (not really expecting anything) he told me it was West of the Mississippi and East of the Pacific haha! Today during my email to President we found a way to see who I will be serving with...it shows on the site where we email. I will be staying in the Zone! the Elder I will be serving with is Elder Bradley (one of our current ZLs). He is a really cool guy and I think it will be great serving with him. I am really excited for the opportunity to improve and become better.

That's so cool that you got to talk with Sister Woodruff and Sister Hill! Dinner on my B-day was ALMOST as good as when you make it;o) It was really great though and I am going to miss that family a lot. The Hill family is really great and I will miss them a lot. That's cool that she called! Both Sister Woodruff and Hill have very energetic personalities. :o)

This area has been my favorite so far, the people here are really great and I have grown to love them a lot. Sacrament meeting yesterday was a bit emotional, especially for Elder Brown. I'm going to miss it a lot.

That is sooo great that Adrienne is going through the temple to receive her Endowment! I wish I could meet Doug, he seems like a great guy. Please let everyone over there know I love them and am doing well.

How's Robert doing?! That's great you went with him and Doug to Hiawatha, that place is so pretty. I told Robert I would write him at some point on my mission but I don't have an address to contact him. Could I get his address?

I love you all! I miss you and I pray for you. Keep being great!

Faithfully,Elder Marks

Dear Mom and Dad,

I really thank you both for your great words and advice and wisdom. I needed it right now and it helped me a lot. Thank you.
 
Christina Cook is no longer on date for this Saturday:( Her parents felt that she was moving into it way too fast and shut it down. They are both Lutheran as well and so they've grown up hearing all kinds of anti stuff about Mormons. We had a really good sit down visit with her and her parents and talked about their concerns. They accepted the invitation to learn about what we believe and take the missionary lessons, and they both said they would read the Book of Mormon.

It is almost certain that I will be getting transferred on August 7th. President called me this week and asked about the people in the District and who I thought could train a new missionary and what kind of companions I thought people needed to succeed.

We have left messages and had no return calls from both Joshua and John and Ruth:( That's one challenge that we've dealt a lot with, especially this summer. We've had a hard time getting set appointments.

I can't believe I have my birthday coming up! It doesn't really seem like it at all. I am eating lunch on my Birthday with the brother and sister Heinritz and then dinner with the Woodruffs that night. I'm having funeral potatoes and chicken and corn with salad. I'm going to give Sister Woodruff (Laura) your cell phone number and she's going to call for the recipe for the potatoes, and also Pistachio Dessert! That's been sounding sooo good and I haven't had it since before I left. I'll look forward to getting the package! I don't know if they will ship it to me or wait for transfer meeting.

I was able to send Kylie a DearElder letter today before noon. I hope she's excited to get into the mission field! Her time at the MTC sure went fast for me, hopefully it did for her as well.
I hear what you're saying about having your kids growing up and moving on to bigger steps and getting bigger responsibilities in life. You've both done such a great job at raising this family and teaching us correct principles and then letting us govern ourselves. That is what Joseph Smith taught and I'm grateful that you never micro-managed our lives. You taught us how to live the gospel, ask intelligent questions while holding to our faith, work hard, do our best, learn from our mistakes, and never give up. While dealing with the challenges of a mission I am grateful for the perspective that is a part of who I am, I will never loose that. It was really meaningful to me to get a helpful reminder about how to be happy and how to choose who we are and what we do. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I will always respect and love you both as my faithful parents on this earth. I'm thankful for the patience you've had with me, and for the unconditional love as well.

Make this week a great one! That's what I'm doing! Please send my love to the whole family!

Love,
Elder W. Marks

P.S I have this quote written on the front of my planner by Henry B. Eyring "Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like him." Love ya!

Dear Mom and Dad,

My heart is so full right now just with missing the family and dealing with challenges. I sooo appreciate both of your emails a lot. I want you both to know that I am trying to do my best, I feel frustrated with my weaknesses (I guess everyone does) but I feel that I am learning a lot as I become better and conquer those things which have held me down in the past. ...

I had a really good talk with President Maynes last week during interviews. I love the way President handles conflicts and struggles we have. He is such a good leader and has all my respect. ... During interviews President asked Elder Brown if he was ready to take over the area and we've been together for 4 1/2 months so I'm most likely out!  I will really really miss this area a lot, I've truly enjoyed my time here. And I feel good about the work I've done here, the area has grown and blossomed and I think one of the best things is that we regained trust with the members in both wards. I think it had been a while that these wards had missionaries who were at least trying to work and be obedient. 

That's hilarious about the boating incident with Doug and Sherry! Hard to Port LOL! That kind of stuff cracks me up ha :D Thank you for telling me about that experience you had with Doug, Richard, and your parents. It does my heart good to hear that you guys were able to do that. ...

This last week with the shooting was really tragic, I hope that people will be searching for answers and having hearts softened because of it. It has had a real effect on the community here, especially for people who don't have the gospel....obviously. 

Garrett is taller than Erika!? That's pretty crazy.  ...

Kristi's ex-boyfriend is still pretty much the same and Kristi has handled it fine as far as I can tell. She spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday and shared her conversion experience and testimony and it actually really helped Christina (the girl getting baptized on August 4th).

Ha! I can't believe I'm almost 20, it doesn't really seem like my B-day is even coming up, it's kinda weird. ...

We had a cool teaching visit with John and Ruth Oss and we had an older member couple come with us, they had some really good input. I know that John and Ruth will continue to progress, I really feel that they are ready to receive this gospel.  It means so much to me to hear that you're pleading with the Lord for my spiritual safety, I need your prayers. Thank you. Everybody keep doing your best, I miss you all and am thinking of you. I'm so blessed to be a member of this family.  

Your Elder,
Elder W. Marks 

Here is an excerpt from William's letter, and a few of the experiences he had that week:

I brought my journal today and so the next few things I'll just quote from that.

 7/11/12

"Today was wonderful! Woke up on time andhad our studies, we even role-played for the first time together. Alex (a recently returned missionary) came to the lesson with Joshua  with us and it was really great. We were going to put him on date but when his roomate came in and started benging around the kitchen we both felt it wasn't time.

We taught John and his wife Ruth today. Last time Ruth just sat in the living room and acted like she wasn't listening, today she sat at the table with us and was engaged. They are in their 70's and both grew up Lutheran and have been unhappy about changes in the church regarding its stance on, and acceptance of, abortion and homosexuality. They found answers with us that they liked and are going to come to church with us on the 22nd. We read 3 Nephi 11 with them and it was powerful. I don't know if they will get baptized while I am here but I believe they will be baptized.

We had another great lesson with Christina, a new investigator, she's in her early 20's and came to church with Blake Crowther (another recently returned missionary). She is so open and thirsty for spiritual truth. I felt prompted to extend a soft baptismal invite and she said that's what she wanted! She also grew up Lutheran and didn't feel right about it, or that it was complete. We had the lesson in Blakes home. Next time we will invite her to a specific date. I am so amazed at the Lords mercy toward Elder Brown and I. He has blessed us richly. I have certain frustrations with Brown but the better I get to know him the more he becomes a friend."

Hope you know we're trying and doing our best. It's hard being tied to someones hip 24/7 month after month. I love you all and am excited to continue serving. Our mornings were a lot better last week. As a district we've started getting up and working out together...so far it's working. We do Ultimate Frisbee, basketball, p90x, dodge ball, etc. Hopefully that will continue to work, in the past when we tried this for a couple days it stopped working and fell apart as soon as one person or a companionship decided they didn't want to anymore. 

I hope everyone can rededicate themselves where needed and attack their weaknesses with renewed energy! Everyone knows what their personal goals and challenges are. That's what I'm trying to do! "gird up your loins, fresh courage take, our God will never us forsake!" 

Love you all!
Elder William Marks