Hermana Ward and Hermana Marks. Hermana Ward was Kylie's 2nd companion, Kylie was her trainer. They served together for only 6 weeks when Hermana Ward was transferred and Kylie was given a new companion to train. This picture was taken on their last day together as companions. They became good friends in the short time they served together.
Hello All!
I LOVED LOVED LOVED your emails this week!! Well, always, but especially this week. I, like William, appreciate receiving "intelligent" emails. :) Like usual, you each seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear! Mom, I absolutely LOVE that talk!! Actually, when I got to this mission, I had just missed a visit from Elder Bednar, who talked about....the enabling power of the atonement! It's totally changed the whole way I view the atonement, or la Expiacion. ... I just restarted the Book of Mormon, and am going through this time with the goal of finding examples of when people called on the enabling or strengthening power of the atonement, and marking it. Should be interesting, I'm sure I'll learn lots! I know as we all keep striving to understand and apply, our lives will be bettered, and our perspectives broadened. Although, it is called the "infinitve" atonement....so, lots to study :)
Dad, thank you so much! We sure are alike in lots of ways, and I'm glad. I feel like its always helped you to understand me better. ... Anyway, I think that it's a huge blessing for a daughter to have a father who she feels like he really understands her. Often you understand me and what I need more than I do! ... Thank you for making us kids your priority. We are each eternally blessed, and eternally grateful.
William is doing amazing! I don't know the last time someone had 20-30 lessons/week in this mission. I think it's so amazing, and what a blessing to see such success. I remember the good ol' days of having lots of members present in the english ward... but almost none here. We're just trying to get this ward functioning! As of last Saturday, I hadn't seen an investigator for two weeks, and it wasn't for lack of trying. It was super weird. So my hope was just to find one, get one appointment, have someone be home, someone to answer their phone, anything. Well, I caught Luiz at home (after about 5 tries). He's the 17 year old we've been working with for about 1-1/2 to 2 months, and I had a first that wasn't so fun. He told me that he didn't want to keep meeting with us. I really thought he'd been genuinely busy and that was why we haven't seen him. So it took me off guard a little bit. It's a social decision of his really, and pretty sad. ... I'll continue to pray for him of course, but… oh what can you do.
Then this morning I had the impression to go and see Merilyn (less active from Salvador that we "randomly" found, and are trying to get her records here. Her husband Carlos is, well, was an investigator of ours). Merilyn is my favorite! I love her sooo much! She's a bit older than me and has two kids. She was home and I found out that she's been out of town. It's a good thing we followed the feeling to go because she is just torn up right now. She's leaving Carlos and moving to Houston. Because of a whole bunch of things going on that I didn't know about. Carlos has apparently been making some decisions now for years of choosing his construction company over their family, and it's gotten really bad, so she's leaving. Lots of turmoil. She's who I fasted for yesterday (and I didn't even know about all of the stuff happening) and I'm grateful we were able to see her. We'll continue to do everything we can for her before she moves in December. I'm worried she'll go to Houston though and no missionaries or bishop or anyone will know about her, and what will happen? I don't know.
So, sorry it wasn't happy news with the work this week! I wish it was. ... Oh, wait!! Here's good news - we had 11 people at English class both times this week!!!! There was one class a week when I started teaching, and just one person came. So it's really starting to get rolling. We have fun learning, they're comfortable with us. This last Thursday they started asking more questions about the church. Also, we had 110 people at church yesterday (a good amount for this ward!) But what's funny is that when the meeting started we probably had 40. In Hispanic culture no one really cares about when something starts, they just come when they want :)
Here's a few pics from the week. Story: we were just about to start our training hour of study when Sis Blauer looks down and sees a GREEN lizard!!! Boy, did she scream :) haha! usually the lizards are little here, but this one was a good 8 inches long, and then his tail another 4 inches or so. Intense! Also, they jump and for that reason I really don't like them. It took me awhile but I got it outside. I kept trying to catch it in a box, but it's so fast and jumpy. So I just herded him toward the door. So hey, at least I'm an accomplished lizard-herder! :D Hna Blauer learned the hard way to not leave the door open - hehe. The other pic is Hna Ward's and mine last day, and the other is the pic of my district this transfer (minus my ZL's who are also in my district).
I love you all tons, thanks bunches for your support. I'm so happy Erika had a good b-day, I was thinking of her a lot!!!
Love,
Hermana Marks
Also, I loved hearing the story about hunting and the burgers and everything :) I was lol-ing here in the library :)
I LOVED LOVED LOVED your emails this week!! Well, always, but especially this week. I, like William, appreciate receiving "intelligent" emails. :) Like usual, you each seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear! Mom, I absolutely LOVE that talk!! Actually, when I got to this mission, I had just missed a visit from Elder Bednar, who talked about....the enabling power of the atonement! It's totally changed the whole way I view the atonement, or la Expiacion. ... I just restarted the Book of Mormon, and am going through this time with the goal of finding examples of when people called on the enabling or strengthening power of the atonement, and marking it. Should be interesting, I'm sure I'll learn lots! I know as we all keep striving to understand and apply, our lives will be bettered, and our perspectives broadened. Although, it is called the "infinitve" atonement....so, lots to study :)
Dad, thank you so much! We sure are alike in lots of ways, and I'm glad. I feel like its always helped you to understand me better. ... Anyway, I think that it's a huge blessing for a daughter to have a father who she feels like he really understands her. Often you understand me and what I need more than I do! ... Thank you for making us kids your priority. We are each eternally blessed, and eternally grateful.
William is doing amazing! I don't know the last time someone had 20-30 lessons/week in this mission. I think it's so amazing, and what a blessing to see such success. I remember the good ol' days of having lots of members present in the english ward... but almost none here. We're just trying to get this ward functioning! As of last Saturday, I hadn't seen an investigator for two weeks, and it wasn't for lack of trying. It was super weird. So my hope was just to find one, get one appointment, have someone be home, someone to answer their phone, anything. Well, I caught Luiz at home (after about 5 tries). He's the 17 year old we've been working with for about 1-1/2 to 2 months, and I had a first that wasn't so fun. He told me that he didn't want to keep meeting with us. I really thought he'd been genuinely busy and that was why we haven't seen him. So it took me off guard a little bit. It's a social decision of his really, and pretty sad. ... I'll continue to pray for him of course, but… oh what can you do.
Then this morning I had the impression to go and see Merilyn (less active from Salvador that we "randomly" found, and are trying to get her records here. Her husband Carlos is, well, was an investigator of ours). Merilyn is my favorite! I love her sooo much! She's a bit older than me and has two kids. She was home and I found out that she's been out of town. It's a good thing we followed the feeling to go because she is just torn up right now. She's leaving Carlos and moving to Houston. Because of a whole bunch of things going on that I didn't know about. Carlos has apparently been making some decisions now for years of choosing his construction company over their family, and it's gotten really bad, so she's leaving. Lots of turmoil. She's who I fasted for yesterday (and I didn't even know about all of the stuff happening) and I'm grateful we were able to see her. We'll continue to do everything we can for her before she moves in December. I'm worried she'll go to Houston though and no missionaries or bishop or anyone will know about her, and what will happen? I don't know.
So, sorry it wasn't happy news with the work this week! I wish it was. ... Oh, wait!! Here's good news - we had 11 people at English class both times this week!!!! There was one class a week when I started teaching, and just one person came. So it's really starting to get rolling. We have fun learning, they're comfortable with us. This last Thursday they started asking more questions about the church. Also, we had 110 people at church yesterday (a good amount for this ward!) But what's funny is that when the meeting started we probably had 40. In Hispanic culture no one really cares about when something starts, they just come when they want :)
Here's a few pics from the week. Story: we were just about to start our training hour of study when Sis Blauer looks down and sees a GREEN lizard!!! Boy, did she scream :) haha! usually the lizards are little here, but this one was a good 8 inches long, and then his tail another 4 inches or so. Intense! Also, they jump and for that reason I really don't like them. It took me awhile but I got it outside. I kept trying to catch it in a box, but it's so fast and jumpy. So I just herded him toward the door. So hey, at least I'm an accomplished lizard-herder! :D Hna Blauer learned the hard way to not leave the door open - hehe. The other pic is Hna Ward's and mine last day, and the other is the pic of my district this transfer (minus my ZL's who are also in my district).
I love you all tons, thanks bunches for your support. I'm so happy Erika had a good b-day, I was thinking of her a lot!!!
Love,
Hermana Marks
Also, I loved hearing the story about hunting and the burgers and everything :) I was lol-ing here in the library :)
Hermana Blauer, Hermana Marks, and the Elders in their district. This picture was taken on transfer day. Kylie and Hma Blauer would have just met. It would be Hma Blauer's 2nd day in Louisiana, Kylie is her trainer.
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