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!
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!