Dear Mom and Dad!
 
I feel I needed your emails today. Thank you for being so diligent in writing me, I love getting news and hearing about everything at home. It sounds like everyone is doing relatively well and is happy! This last week was an interesting one for me, I would definitely classify it as a  roller coaster... Last Sunday we had 2 boys get baptized and then yesterday we confirmed them, and after church we got news that they were kicked out of their home, they and their Mom were living with some less active members in the ward and we would visit them like twice a week. We didn't see it coming at all. We still don't really understand what happened and are getting very contradicting stories, so we're doing our homework :)

My comp, Elder Meeks, is a really good guy. He's only got about 2 months left on his mission so it's kind of weird for me to see him go through some of the emotions he's dealing with right now knowing that I'm not far behind. When I first got Emergency transferred to Chatfield/Columbine, he was one of the Elders in my District so it's cool to work with him now. He's from Alberta Canada.
 
Hongye's baptism went great and it was awesome to see so many people from the student ward at her baptism! I've never seen someone so nervous to be baptized before. She is very shy and introverted but with a great heart! It was amazing for me to see the immediate change in her countenance and attitude before she was baptized, how nervous she was, to immediately when she came out of the water she was just so excited and happy! Right when she came out she looked at me and exclaimed "Thank You!" and it was so heartfelt and genuine, it was a really neat experience.

I really do miss that area A LOT but I feel like you're right Mom, it was time for me to go. I had performed what work I needed to do there so it was time to go. I am adjusting all right to this area but the work is pretty different over here. The people’s attitude is different. Everywhere I've served on my mission have been pretty affluent areas and that can be tough sometimes with the members and the people we teach because most of the members are pretty well off but the people we find to teach aren't... not necessarily poor though, just a different outlook, generally more humble. I am amazed and sad about how much Satan has worked sly and cunning, misconceptive mindsets into so many hearts of the members, and people become prideful and set their priorities on things that will not last beyond the grave. It makes me sad. My mission has taught me a lot about what I want in my life and how I am going to choose to treat others and view people... IDK if "misconceptive" is a word or not but it sounds good - lol.
 
I haven't gotten your letter yet Dad, but I bet it will arrive today! I got letters last week from Richard and Nancy and the kids. It was so cool to see the little pictures they (the kids lol!) drew and to read their notes. I also got a note from Kassidy and Grace the other day, those two are real sweethearts.
 
Well, time is running a bit short and I have to email President Maynes. I really do love you all so much and I believe in each of you.
 
Your Son Forever,
Elder W. Marks
 
p.s - "you look like a Hellan" rofl!

P.p.s - Oh! look up these scriptures and tell me what you think/what you learned...
 
1 Peter 1:7 and 1 Peter 4:12-13
 
I am grateful for my trials of faith. Love you all!
 
-Elder Marks

Hey everyone!
 
Thanks for your email! That's really cool to hear about the chickens and the worms, that's awesome - haha!
 
I was on exchanges and on foot yesterday for the first time in a year! It also happened to be the day of the big storm so that was fun. My bike has just been sitting in a box forever... I'll have to send it home at some point I guess.
 
We are actually in the city of Aurora... I forgot to get the address again but I texted the guy we live with and hopefully he will send it to me... sorry about that.
 
I'm not really sure what to say. I feel like I was just emailing and the work is pretty much the same. Oh! Hongye is getting baptized this coming Saturday! That will be great to see everyone over there again.
 
I love you all, thank you for being such a great family to me. I'll send you the address if he texts it to me... if not it's no big deal to just have people send stuff to the mission office, they forward it right over and it takes like a day longer to get here.
 
Love,
Elder W. Marks

Dear Mom and Dad,
 
I feel like I needed to hear a lot of what you both had to say. Thank you for your insights and wisdom. I feel pulled so many different ways sometimes, there is just so much to do, so many people to serve that really need help and all the while I am trying to become better and repent myself while attempting to help others do the same! I feel I will never have experiences in life quite like my mission. The emotions involved, the spiritual experiences and exhaustion. The growth in conversion. The intensity and persistence of Satan's attacks. It's truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
 
This recent transfer was tough for me. I am in Arapahoe with Elder Meeks, he's been sick all week and I haven't been 100 percent either. We were able to go back for Cinda and R.J's baptism. It was neat to see them make covenants with our God and become clensed from sin. I feel there are so many concerns and feelings and experiences that I just cannot do justice attempting to explain through email. I miss the old area a lot but believe this is where I need to be. I am starting to love the people here as well. I feel recently like my heart is going to burst and I cannot explain why, even to myself. I hope you know I am really really grateful for your support and faith. I miss the family.

I got an assignment from President Maynes. He pulled me into his office after transfer meeting and told me that the Arapahoe and Denver Zones will be merging with the Denver North mission on July 1st and I am going to stay as a ZL here to help the zone transfer to the north mission and the mission president. He told me I needed to get to know the zone and the missionaries here very well so I can do the transition effectively. I am kinda sad to have to go to the north mission to die but it's what needs to happen I guess!
 
I apologize if the tone of my email has been a little down - haha. I am doing well overall and handling things fine. Once again I need to keep this pretty short. There's a ton of missionaries at the library here and we're all trying to email. I sure love you guys a lot. Thank you for your prayers of faith on my behalf, you all mean the world to me.
 
With Love and Perspective,
Elder William Marks

 
ps...58 new missions announced worldwide!!! Usually they announce 3-4!

Hey everyone!
 
This week has been full of exciting events and miracles!
 
Smokey’s baptism went great, it was a powerful service and he shared his testimony after he got done changing and the Spirit was strong. He would have been confirmed yesterday but church was canceled because of all the snow! :(  I was super bummed because I got a call Saturday night that I am being transfered. They are keeping me as a ZL but putting me somewhere else. So I didn't really get to say goodbye to a lot of people in the ward, but it is what it is! I feel right about the transfer, it is hard for me to leave this area more than any before but I think I'm kind of used to the style of life and I knew it was probably coming, so I actually really am doing fine with it.
 
Cinda still hasn't smoked and is getting baptized on Saturday! R.J too. So next Sunday Smokey, Cinda, and RJ will all be confirmed! Then on the 30th Diedre will be baptized.
 
So I would call Joe (Hongye's boyfriend) about every other week just to check up on her and have him let her know we still cared about her and were praying for her. And last Tuesday we got a call from Joe saying Hongye wanted to meet with us, so we set up an appointment for the next day. (This was the first time we've met with Hongye for a couple of months). We had no idea what to expect. After asking us a couple questions and just catching up a bit she told us how she had been thinking if she was baptized she could pray with greater power and be close to God. Her family is going through something really hard over in China and she has been asked not to tell so we have no idea. She was kind of beating around the bush and I just asked her if she was saying she wanted to be baptized and she said yes! She will be baptized on March 16th. She asked me to baptize her and I didn't know what was going to happen with transfers so I called President right after our lesson and he said I would be here for the baptism so I know I am at least staying Metro...
 
...There is one ZL companionship that opened up on the Metro side and so I assume I am going there. It is the Arapahoe Zone and I will probably be serving with Elder Meeks. Another Canadian - hahaha. It's not guaranteed but that’s probably where I will go. They are forming a new mission in Colorado (58 worldwide!!). It will be the Fort Collins mission. They are dissolving 2 of our Zones into the North Mission and Arapahoe is one of them. That will happen July 1st. So there is a pretty good chance I will be moved to the North Mission in a few months. We'll see!
 
Dad, I am sorry to hear you are still suffering from the accident. I really admire your efforts and ability to move forward despite adversity. Thank you for that example. I will pray for more specifically for your recovery. Transfers really are a riot! haha thats a good way to describe it - lol. I appreciated your thoughts about our circumstances physically and spiritually. We really are in control of our agency and how we choose to react. Thank you for your insights on that. I heard one time... maybe from you - haha that "Satan don't kick no dead dog". He is actively making efforts to be engaged in our lives and it can be hard. Our responsibility is to do things in our life that will cultivate building our spiritual walls and armor so his affects are dulled and limited.
 
I hope you all know I really do love this Gospel so much. I am happy to serve my God as a full time representative of His Son and I am doing my best. I love this work. I felt so much emotion the other night as I pondered the work I have performed in this area and thinking of the people who have repented and either renewed covenants with God or entered into them. And then I reflected on all of the children who have chosen not to and I felt like my heart would burst. I feel I leave part of my heart with the people here. I truly love them.
 
I sure love you guys. Keep finding areas to improve and become better. That's really what repentance is. God doesn't expect immediate perfection but I do believe he expects immediate progress. Take joy in the moment. Choose not to get upset. Find people to help, I know we are happiest when we do that and I pray I will be able to hold onto the conversion I have gained as a missionary. You all mean the world to me.
 
Your Son, Brother, and Missionary,
 
Elder W. Marks

Dear Family,
 
...  I've been to Vail and Frisco probably 8-10 times in the past 7 months since I've been in this area. We only do baptismal interviews for our District Leaders, and then the DL's do interviews for the missionaries in their Districts. We were not able to see Andrea and her family last week but we set up an appointment for 1:00 today, hopefully it will hold.
 
Cinda didn't smoke at all last week!!! This is such a miracle because of how long she has struggled with it. She has so much faith and really has a desire to be baptized. We are seeing her tonight as well and will be teaching her about Tithing and the Law of Chastity.
 
Smokey passed his baptismal interview and is good to go for this Saturday! He is having a recent convert baptize him which is pretty cool. Smokey is 44 years old. Smokey has been his nickname since he was a baby because when he was born his eyes were kinda foggy and it just stuck! I don't remember his actual name...
 
There is a lot that could happen with transfers this time. You can usually guess what will happen but there are so many options of what they might do with our area with it being split or not and putting in Sisters or not... we just don't know. I really don't want to leave right now though. If I do get transfered and I go out west I won't be here for Kimberly going to the temple, or Cinda and RJ getting baptized, or Diedre getting baptized... so I'm really hoping to stay. I will go where I need to go.
 
Elder Bradley just got called as the new AP! ... so I'm safe - haha. By the time they call the next one I will only have 3 transfers left. Elder Bradley will make a great Assistant. He's a natural leader with a powerful testimony and ability to motivate and inspire the humble. I fully sustain him as my leader.
 
I got a letter off in the mail to Erika and Garrett today so it should be there in a couple days. I sure love you all. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I hope and pray you are doing well and all are happy. Love you guys.
 
Love,
Elder W. Marks

Dear Mom,
 
Happy Birthday Mom!! Well, another week gone by... this time is too quick. I appreciate your email. Thank you for filling me in on things happening back home. It is good to hear about peoples Spiritual progression and the experiences you all are having. This last week was a busy one. We had our whole Zone together for our Zone Meeting (once per transfer), there are a total of 22 missionaries in the Zone and this was the first time I've talked with them all in one place. Elder Ellis and I did training for about 30 min each and then had some Question/Answer time and a testimony meeting at the end. We drove up to Vail on Saturday to do a baptismal interview which took like 10-15 min. and then drove back! So that took like all day and the roads were pretty bad, so it took like 2-1/2 hours one way. I was asked to speak on Sunday for 15-20 minutes in the student ward (Table Mountain) about how to make our prayers more powerful and sincere, and then this morning I gave a training in District Meeting for 20-25 minutes on Repentance... it's been busy!! But I love it! :)
 
We are going to try and visit Andrea and her family at 4:00 today. We'll see how it goes! It's not a set appointment but that's the time that felt right and we didn't want to visit them tonight after our dinner in case it was too late, so we're going to try them today even though it's our P-day. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven!
 
Cinda is doing alright. She is still struggling with giving up smoking. If she is going to be baptized on the 26th she needs to quit by tomorrow. We'll see! She had a friend up in Brighton whom she went to church with about twice and then wanted to come to a closer ward, so she sent in a request for missionaries through Mormon.org and that's how we found her.
 
Trisha and Dick didn't show up to dinner last Wednesday:/  We're going to stop by sometime and see if they are willing to let us in.
 
Smokey is doing great! We had a powerful lesson with him this past week about baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and President and Sister Maynes came with us. He is so elect, I hope you guys can meet him someday. We have become pretty good friends.
 
I don't remember if I told you about Diedre or not, but she came to church for the first time 3 weeks ago. She's a senior in High School. She came with a friend. She initially started coming because she was doing a research project about the church. We met with her to "answer some questions" and taught her the first lesson! haha. She is on date to be baptized March 2nd! I often feel like I do so little in this work. I have truly realized that we are not and cannot be the ones who do the converting. I am amazed at the way the Spirit works in people.

Give my love to the whole family. I was able to finally get some letters off this past week that I have been procrastinating on for so long, and I plan on getting some in the mail this week for you guys. Thank you for being so good to me. For teaching me and loving me and being patient with me. Have a magnificent week! I bought a really good jump rope last week that should last for a long time and will start using it every morning as soon as the bruise on my heal goes away (bruised a couple weeks ago playing ultimate). I hope you all are making a conscious effort to take care of yourselves and be healthy. I am trying to do the same! Love you all.
 
Onward!
Elder W. Marks

Dear Mom and Dad,
 
Sigh* time is too short. I will definitely send Erika and Garrett a letter very soon. I really don't know what to say, we have to go in about 15 minutes. Thank you both for your emails so much. I love hearing updates about what is happening at home, even if I can't reply to all of them. I hear what you're saying about the mission Dad. I am kind of afraid that the connection I have felt with God over the last 16 months or so may fade as well. I want to do all I can to keep the Spirit strong in my life, I know it won't be easy, and perhaps no matter how hard one tries, it just won't be the same as when you are a missionary to keep that connection with heaven.
 
Mom, I want to fill you in a little bit about those contacts we had last week... The Kingdom Builders! haha. Andrea lives with her family on a little ranch in Golden taking care of horses. I had felt like we needed to knock on their door time and again when we passed but I either didn't listen or we didn't have time. One day we did have time and I did listen. There were a bunch of people outside with the horses and we just walked over and started talking with them. We ended up talking with Andrea (one of the owners) for about 15 minutes. You can tell they have good hearts, and are a hard working family with faith. We haven't seen her since but she wanted us to come back on the 11th and explain more about the Book of Mormon we gave her. We prayed with her out on her ranch. She has got a bunch of kids, all of which were working with the animals and doing stuff. We are praying that appointment will hold!

Also we helped move a couch for some members from their neighbor’s house to their house. Their neighbors names are Trisha and Dick. They are very nice people. While we were moving the couch we saw a picture of him in his uniform. He was a General in the Army. They said we were welcome to come back for cookies sometime - haha. That was last Sunday and this Wednesday we are eating with those members and they are going to invite them over. We'll see!
 
Cinda bore her testimony at church yesterday! It was cool to see her standing up there. She is still struggling with smoking but is making progress. Her and R.J. are planning on baptism on the 26th and Smokey is Planning on the 23rd for his baptism.
 
LOVE the Gladiator picture hahaha!! You can picture me running around like that slaying people with the Spirit - lol.

Since time is so short I wanted to just include my email to President... he replied very quickly so I included that as well. He replies about once a month or so...

Dear President Maynes,

... 

I have really grown to love this area. On my mind this past week is just that I am truly willing to go wherever the Lord would have me go, wherever that may be, but there is really a lot happening here right now and I feel I could do a lot more good with the people here. Time is just going too fast and I want to make the very most of it. I know I am far from perfect, and there are areas I need to do better, but we are really doing our best to be obedient and we don't waste a minute. As I have heard of other missionaries I grew to respect and admire doing small acts of disobedience, it has impacted me and made me realize just how silly those things will seem post mission. I think many missionaries will find themselves asking "wow, I really couldn't keep that simple rule?" People will realize the disobedience wasn't worth it. I thank the Lord for His patience with me. And I thank you for your patience with me. I am sorry for where I have fallen short in the past. I will never stop looking for areas to improve and repent.

 It is a privilege to serve with you. Thank you for everything.



Sincerely,

Elder W. Marks


04 Feb 2013
President Maynes

Elder Marks,



Thank you for the wonderful letter. You are doing a superb job as a Zone Leader. Also, your area is doing wonderful. I love serving with you, I love your honesty, and I love your desire to be the best you can. Thank you for teaching me in your letter about obedience. Keep doing all the things you are doing for it is pleasing unto your mission president and unto God!



Your friend and fellow servant,


Pres. Maynes
 
I sure love you all! Thank you for being my family! Make this week a phenomenal one and recognize the miracles for they are surely there!

Your Son forever,
Elder W. Marks

My Family!
 
Thank you so much for your emails. You both have a way of inspiring me and pumping me up for the week ahead, and I'm grateful that you both take time to write instead of doing a collective email. I loved what you were saying in yours dad about rising to our own potential. Thank you for that wisdom, and what an awesome quote! I wrote that down in my planner and will remember it: "Greatness is defined by your adherence to the things that matter most." I am so grateful to be learning that while I am young. That is really something I have learned from both of you.
 
I want to forward my email to President to you because it says a lot of what I wanted to say...
 
Dear President Maynes,

Great things are happening in the Zone! We are excited about the change up at transfers. We have some solid leadership and a sense of excitement around the missionaries. Elder Smith was much needed down in the Columbine District and Elder Ellis and I are working well together, I absolutely trust that was revelation for transfers. I like working with Elder Ellis because he doesn't waste any time. He is a very hard worker, and we have seen a lot of miracles in the past week working together!

We found two solid potential families we are praying to start teaching. They are real kingdom builders! And we were led to each of them by divine guidance.

I learned a couple of valuable lessons this past week. This past week we didn't hit the standard of 20 lessons for the first time since I got to this area in August. We taught 19 lessons. At first I was a bit disappointed in myself because that was a personal goal to always hit that standard, but I truly feel good about the work we did and I know we were guided throughout the week and led to those we could help most and we worked as hard as we could.

I also learned another valuable lesson this last week. We knocked on this investigators door named Joe and the first thing he told us is that he had read some of our "material" and decided that Mormonism wasn't for him. I asked him if he had read the whole Book of Mormon and he said he read parts of it. Elder Ellis asked him is he prayed about it and he said yes, and then he asked him how he felt when he prayed and Joe said he felt good but he wasn't willing to give up alcohol and pornography. I told him that God’s law has always been set high and if he wasn't willing to live God’s law he would be missing out on blessings God wants to give him and invited him to repent. He again told us that Mormonism just wasn't for him and shut the door. This broke my heart to see someone use their agency in such a way. No matter how bold we were with Joe, he chose to reject the Holy Spirit.

I love this area so much and feel there is a lot happening. We are doing all we can to prepare the area to be split and I believe that God will bless us with the people to teach as we continue to do all we can. Thank you for your patience and motivating leadership.

Your fellow-servant,
Elder W. Marks
 
 
The more I have thought about it the more I am amazed at all of the ripple affects made by the age change in missionary service! The Lord is truly hastening His work, and since the missionary force is about to double, I firmly believe the Lord has prepared more of His children to receive His gospel. What an exciting time to be directly engaged in this work!
 
Mom, in your email you talked about how some people will seem so interested and want to meet with us and then fall off the map. That can be very frustrating sometimes! But we continue to pray for those people and I trust God’s hand is actively working in their lives to steer them towards His gospel. We recently started texting a "scripture of the day" to all of our less actives and investigators, and I think that is good.
 
Well, we are out of time again. Thank you all so much for being my family and teaching me things and inspiring me. I really love you all.
 
Your Son, and Brother,
Elder W. Marks (Gladiator) hehe ;)
 
P.S. Do you guys ever play BF anymore Dad and Gdog?

Dear Mom and Dad,
 
I feel bad because you have both put so much energy and thought into emailing me, and I truly appreciate that, but my time today is just so short. The library was closed on Monday and then yesterday we had transfers and Smith got transfered! I'm still here - haha! That's 6 months here already. My new comp is Elder Ellis, he's from Boise. I feel he and I are going to do very well together. He is a lot more serious than Elder Smith and he has a powerful testimony. Elder Smith went to my last area, Chatfield/ Columbine to follow up train a missionary down there.
 
I am SOOO grateful that you raised us to think on our own and stand on our own two feet. I am not afraid to think of things deeper and more philosophically, I don't think there is anything wrong with that as long as we hold to the knowledge we have been given from the Holy Ghost and to our faith. I liked how you ended your email Dad. I have actually started finding it a lot of fun teaching people about the gospel and how we learn from the Spirit. It's awesome!
 
Nubia was baptized! I thought I told you about that, sorry! haha. She was baptized on December 22nd or 23rd, I don't remember. She moved to Nebraska shortly after to start her new job as a tunnel engineer. Hongye has still been coming to church most weeks but we haven't had a sit down lesson with her in over a month and a half. She had some stuff happen with her family in China that has hit her pretty hard and she hasn't felt up to meeting with us. The appointment with Isaac fell through and we haven't been able to get a hold of him :(  Same with Savannah and Melissa.
 
Smokey is on date to be baptized February 23rd. He set that date and is excited! Cinda and her son R.J. are planning on baptism for February 9th. She just has to quit smoking. She has been smoking since she was 12 and she's 37. We are eating dinner with them tonight and are planning on going through the "quit smoking program".
 
Ready or not here they come!!! There are so many missionaries coming out it's just awesome/crazy. Yesterday at transfer meeting there were 3 missionaries that went home and 21 that came out! Next transfer there are 8 going home and so far they are expecting 27 coming out, maybe more. So Elder Ellis and I have 5 weeks to prep the student ward to be split. The only real investigators we have there right now is Matt Mapes. There are others who we are trying to re-establish contact with after break. Elder Smith and I were working pretty much only in the family ward for the last 2-1/2 weeks because during break all the students were gone. But there was enough work to do! There is a lot of work we do with less-active members in the family ward so really it's the student ward we need to prep. We have already baptized all of our solid people in the student ward! L.T. Ellen, and Nubia. So we're really trying to build it up right now.
 
I am concerned to hear about Grandma and Grandpa. I will send them a note as soon as I can. Thank you for telling me about them, they will be in my prayers.
 
I feel there is a lot more I wish I could reply to, I just don't have time. Thank you for everything. I really love all of you a lot and think of you often. I hope you make today a great one!
 
Your loving Son,
Elder W. Marks

Dear Mom and Dad,
 
Last week was super slow all week until Saturday. Up to that point we had 13 appointments cancel on us and our student ward teaching pool was still gone. The "Standard of Excellence" for every week is 20 lessons and going into Saturday we only had 8 lessons and we hadn't found any new investigators yet. We had been praying so hard all week for a way to be provided to hit the standards and set the example for the Zone. On Saturday we taught 7 lessons and found 3 New investigators and re-set Cinda with a Baptismal date and put her son, R.J. on date as well, both for February 9th! On Sunday we had 6 more lessons. The Lord provides a way! Our Zone average teaching is still under 15. The problem is that there are multiple areas that consistently teach less than 10 lessons. There are 12 companionships in the Zone. We found, as a Zone, 9 people last week, 3 of those from us. It's hard to do our part in keeping the Zone uplifted and inspired. There are some key areas we are working with and for the past month or so there has been steady improvement in the right direction for them.
 
Our area will be splitting by the end of next transfer, which is only 5 weeks instead of 6, so Elder Smith and I are doing all we can to build the teaching pool in the student ward to prepare it for it's own set of missionaries. The students are just getting back so we have just under 6 weeks to get it ready. Transfers are on the 22nd and we have no idea if we will both stay or not...we'll see! I feel I still have work to do here in this area but who knows...
 
I am not feeling burnt out at all, I feel like I am at a point where I can do more good as a missionary than ever before. All of a sudden missionaries are coming to me for advice and with questions because I am the "seasoned missionary"... and I've actually learned enough that I know how to help! haha. Granted there are hard times, some things can be discouraging if we let them, but there is too much to be grateful for to get caught up in the parts of Gods plan that we feel are an inconvenience to us. I love this work!
 
I am proud to hear about the way Erika handled the challenges with her team. Good for her! Never Never Never Quit!
 
We found out Smokey lives outside the Stake boundaries and when presenting the options he had to him he wants to move inside our ward so he can keep coming here. He is such a solid guy! It has been amazing to see him transform into who he is becoming. He is willing to sacrifice moving into the ward. His lease is up at the end of March, he will most likely be able to be baptized before then if the Stake knows his intentions.
 
I am sorry but time is short again today. I thank you so much for praying for me and supporting me so unconditionally. I love you all and pray for you each every day. Eat right! ;o) love ya!
 
Hurrah for Israel!
Elder W. Marks