This week William did it a bit different. Normally he write his letter home, and then sends that letter also to Kylie. This week, he did the reverse:
Hey everyone!
Alright, today I have to do the reverse of what I normally do. I felt Kylie really needed a letter from me so that is what I'll send to you as well… so you at least get something!
I gotta highlight a couple things...
L.T is getting baptized for sure this Sunday!
... I hit my year mark this Friday. I am excited but a little upset also, this has gone too quickly and I don't feel half way done yet.
... These guys are so ready to go and are giving me a hard time - haha. I love you all so much. I've been eating way healthier lately and hope everyone back home continues to fight the good fight! I believe in you!
Your Son,
Elder W. Marks
Dear Hermana Marks,
Kylie, I don't really know where to start with my email today. I wanted to send you your own because I just have been thinking of you a lot lately and I wish we could be there to talk with each other.
You have such a powerful spirit Kylie, don't you ever suppose you aren't "as good a missionary as me". You've dealt with challenges and situations on your mission that I don't know I could have. You've had to learn to cope with a whole new language, a different culture and climate, and you're already training! You were not even commanded to serve a mission yet you chose to serve! I look up to you in so many ways and I hope you never undervalue yourself.
That warms my heart to hear about Mahala. Thank you for sharing that tender experience with me. It is so cool to hear about my big sister serving God so faithfully and bringing people to Him. You've already had quite a bit of success on your mission, I think that is so cool! It took me a while on my mission before I did a lot of things which should have been done in the first weeks. It was a transfer and a half before I taught a formal lesson from PMG. I had been out 4 months before I ever found a new investigator. I feel like the start of my mission was a little slow but I also know that I learned a lot as well. During that time with my trainer I basically learned what not to do! :D
We finished teaching L.T the lessons and firmly set him on date for the 30th! He will be baptized this Sunday. He continues to deal with the challenge of his family but he knows the gospel is true. He is not telling his parents until later down the road. We've encouraged him to confront them about it but it's ultimately his choice. ...
Kylie, let's bind the Lord! "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise" Do all you can to do your best and leave the rest to the Lord...he will provide. The Master will provide! The minute we say "amen" and close our prayers is the time when the miracles may come. It is our responsibility to ask in faith, and then ACT! When we ask God something in faith, that is a righteous desire, that is in line with His Will, and then we close our prayer and GET TO WORK, then will our answers come. Then will the miracles come to pass. If we can help those we teach understand this eternal principle then we can help them progress in a remarkable way! Granted they have their agency, but we can only help people to the extent they let us. Our responsibility is to take this message "unto the hearts of the children of men" only God can bring it into their hearts and change a person.
I am sure you are a great trainer! Have fun with the work, be patient with your companion… and yourself, and stay teachable! I believe that these are among the most important attributes to develop in order to serve a happy mission in which we grow and become what God desires us to become. Grandpa told me the last time I saw him "Kia Kaha, Kia Nagwari" That means "Stay strong, stay teachable". That is something I strive to live by. We must surely stay teachable. As soon as we think we know everything, in that very moment we have damned ourselves. "damnation" means that we have stopped progressing… like a dam in a river, the water has stopped progressing. Since the nature of our very existence is one of continual progression, then when we think we know everything we have consequently damned ourselves. … Ok I want to keep writing but these Elders are ready to go and are getting impatient - hah.
I just hope you know I love you so much and you are in my sincere prayers every day. You just keep doing your thing Kylie! I believe in you! I send all my Love and Faith your way.
Your fellow servant,
Elder William Marks
Hey everyone!
Alright, today I have to do the reverse of what I normally do. I felt Kylie really needed a letter from me so that is what I'll send to you as well… so you at least get something!
I gotta highlight a couple things...
L.T is getting baptized for sure this Sunday!
... I hit my year mark this Friday. I am excited but a little upset also, this has gone too quickly and I don't feel half way done yet.
... These guys are so ready to go and are giving me a hard time - haha. I love you all so much. I've been eating way healthier lately and hope everyone back home continues to fight the good fight! I believe in you!
Your Son,
Elder W. Marks
Dear Hermana Marks,
Kylie, I don't really know where to start with my email today. I wanted to send you your own because I just have been thinking of you a lot lately and I wish we could be there to talk with each other.
You have such a powerful spirit Kylie, don't you ever suppose you aren't "as good a missionary as me". You've dealt with challenges and situations on your mission that I don't know I could have. You've had to learn to cope with a whole new language, a different culture and climate, and you're already training! You were not even commanded to serve a mission yet you chose to serve! I look up to you in so many ways and I hope you never undervalue yourself.
That warms my heart to hear about Mahala. Thank you for sharing that tender experience with me. It is so cool to hear about my big sister serving God so faithfully and bringing people to Him. You've already had quite a bit of success on your mission, I think that is so cool! It took me a while on my mission before I did a lot of things which should have been done in the first weeks. It was a transfer and a half before I taught a formal lesson from PMG. I had been out 4 months before I ever found a new investigator. I feel like the start of my mission was a little slow but I also know that I learned a lot as well. During that time with my trainer I basically learned what not to do! :D
We finished teaching L.T the lessons and firmly set him on date for the 30th! He will be baptized this Sunday. He continues to deal with the challenge of his family but he knows the gospel is true. He is not telling his parents until later down the road. We've encouraged him to confront them about it but it's ultimately his choice. ...
Kylie, let's bind the Lord! "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise" Do all you can to do your best and leave the rest to the Lord...he will provide. The Master will provide! The minute we say "amen" and close our prayers is the time when the miracles may come. It is our responsibility to ask in faith, and then ACT! When we ask God something in faith, that is a righteous desire, that is in line with His Will, and then we close our prayer and GET TO WORK, then will our answers come. Then will the miracles come to pass. If we can help those we teach understand this eternal principle then we can help them progress in a remarkable way! Granted they have their agency, but we can only help people to the extent they let us. Our responsibility is to take this message "unto the hearts of the children of men" only God can bring it into their hearts and change a person.
I am sure you are a great trainer! Have fun with the work, be patient with your companion… and yourself, and stay teachable! I believe that these are among the most important attributes to develop in order to serve a happy mission in which we grow and become what God desires us to become. Grandpa told me the last time I saw him "Kia Kaha, Kia Nagwari" That means "Stay strong, stay teachable". That is something I strive to live by. We must surely stay teachable. As soon as we think we know everything, in that very moment we have damned ourselves. "damnation" means that we have stopped progressing… like a dam in a river, the water has stopped progressing. Since the nature of our very existence is one of continual progression, then when we think we know everything we have consequently damned ourselves. … Ok I want to keep writing but these Elders are ready to go and are getting impatient - hah.
I just hope you know I love you so much and you are in my sincere prayers every day. You just keep doing your thing Kylie! I believe in you! I send all my Love and Faith your way.
Your fellow servant,
Elder William Marks