Dear Mom,
I am glad to hear everything is going well at home. WAY TO GO with getting some of the blocks in a store!! That's super awesome!
I can't believe you got to go to an Alex Boye concert! I never heard of him before my mission but I've been listening to his music since like day one! I really like his unique twist on music and his style. Peponi is like my favorite song on that CD you gave me. I think that's really cool you got to see him:)
Dad, I received your letter last Monday. That meant so much to me. I sent a reply letter on like Wednesday or Thursday so it should be there or getting there today. I feel there is a lot I felt and wanted to say that was hard to in my letter but I hope you know I really do appreciate that a lot. I've read it multiple times and I gave a training in a District Meeting in the Zone on "the value of peace within" and have been able to share your insights on the subject multiple times while teaching and helping other missionaries. Thank you so much.
Elder Bradley got called as the Assistant about a month ago and he came on exchanges with me and Elder Meeks last week. It was so fun to work with him again and to see the way he's changed and grown. We started teaching this family, the Lane's, last week. They've kinda met with missionaries in the past a little bit. They're in there mid 60's and have a lot of faith. This is good but they are very founded in their own church so it also brings challenges. Their neighbors are the ones that introduced them to the church.
We've started doing this thing called "the prayer approach". We can use it as an approach for tracting, for picking up former investigators, for solidifying potential investigators, to build trust with members, etc. When tracting we say something like, "We are representatives of Jesus Christ and he has sent us here to leave a blessing of His peace and love upon your home. Would you allow us to leave this blessing with you?" Obviously it's different every time but that's the idea. We talk with them and ask anything they would like us to pray for or loved ones or friends going through a rough time and one of us writes down the information (obviously we explain why we're writing it down). Then we kneel down and invite them to join us as we are kneeling. We then offer a prayer and blessing on their home and whatever other information they gave us, saying something like..."In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of His Holy Priesthood, we leave the peace and blessings of the Savior upon this home." And then just leave a blessing according to what and who they asked you to pray for and according to the Spirit. We've only done this twice so far and it's been so powerful both times. We did it with the Lane's the other night and they were so touched. For many people it's the most Spiritual experience they've ever experienced inside the walls of their own home. We have a return appointment with them this Thursday!
I'm excited to see where Spencer goes! That's pretty cool he'll be going soon. I need to write him a letter soon.
I'd better be going but I sure love you all so much. Mom, Thanks for the concern about my back. I'm handling it all right. I hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Elder W. Marks
I am glad to hear everything is going well at home. WAY TO GO with getting some of the blocks in a store!! That's super awesome!
I can't believe you got to go to an Alex Boye concert! I never heard of him before my mission but I've been listening to his music since like day one! I really like his unique twist on music and his style. Peponi is like my favorite song on that CD you gave me. I think that's really cool you got to see him:)
Dad, I received your letter last Monday. That meant so much to me. I sent a reply letter on like Wednesday or Thursday so it should be there or getting there today. I feel there is a lot I felt and wanted to say that was hard to in my letter but I hope you know I really do appreciate that a lot. I've read it multiple times and I gave a training in a District Meeting in the Zone on "the value of peace within" and have been able to share your insights on the subject multiple times while teaching and helping other missionaries. Thank you so much.
Elder Bradley got called as the Assistant about a month ago and he came on exchanges with me and Elder Meeks last week. It was so fun to work with him again and to see the way he's changed and grown. We started teaching this family, the Lane's, last week. They've kinda met with missionaries in the past a little bit. They're in there mid 60's and have a lot of faith. This is good but they are very founded in their own church so it also brings challenges. Their neighbors are the ones that introduced them to the church.
We've started doing this thing called "the prayer approach". We can use it as an approach for tracting, for picking up former investigators, for solidifying potential investigators, to build trust with members, etc. When tracting we say something like, "We are representatives of Jesus Christ and he has sent us here to leave a blessing of His peace and love upon your home. Would you allow us to leave this blessing with you?" Obviously it's different every time but that's the idea. We talk with them and ask anything they would like us to pray for or loved ones or friends going through a rough time and one of us writes down the information (obviously we explain why we're writing it down). Then we kneel down and invite them to join us as we are kneeling. We then offer a prayer and blessing on their home and whatever other information they gave us, saying something like..."In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of His Holy Priesthood, we leave the peace and blessings of the Savior upon this home." And then just leave a blessing according to what and who they asked you to pray for and according to the Spirit. We've only done this twice so far and it's been so powerful both times. We did it with the Lane's the other night and they were so touched. For many people it's the most Spiritual experience they've ever experienced inside the walls of their own home. We have a return appointment with them this Thursday!
I'm excited to see where Spencer goes! That's pretty cool he'll be going soon. I need to write him a letter soon.
I'd better be going but I sure love you all so much. Mom, Thanks for the concern about my back. I'm handling it all right. I hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Elder W. Marks