Good Morning Everyone,
 
Another week gone by, where does the time go? I really loved and appreciated your email Dad, thanks. I'm concerned about our Elder Marks, but am proud of him that he's finding peace. I don't think I could do it! I find I don't really have much to write today. Weird, huh? :)
 
I'm waiting for Sis Carolan and I I figured since I wrote such a short letter with no experiences from the week, I could at least send you a picture! The other day, there was a storm so big and so loud we thought lightning struck the tree in front of our apartment. And you know how the rain is here from other things I've told you. Well, my toe is actually healing pretty quickly, and looking good, but I still had to have it wrapped. And, being the good little missionaries we are, we were determined to go out, but I knew the wrapping would come off. But, I saw my Chacos, which I knew I had for a reason...and I saw some saran wrap, and whalah!! Problem solved! Unfortunately, we were only trying to go like a mile away, but once we started on the main street, we saw it was flooding, and that scared us (I would really like to not flood an engine!) so we turned onto a side street. About 3 blocks that way is the mission office, so we thought we could just get there. Well, all of a sudden that street was flooded worse (how does Louisiana not have better drain systems?! Also, I think everything is just so wet all the time from the humidity, the ground can't soak up any more water!), so we pulled up into this raised parking spot, and then sprinted on the sidewalk (ok, as fast as you can through 8 inches of water) to the office! We were quite the sight when we got there. I think my jacket was waterproof until that day :) The office Elders took a picture of us that they haven't send us yet. But here's two pics from when I was all geared up ready to go out! We really should of just stayed in and studied Spanish or something. But no, we wanted to go out. Oh well, we organized the mission office storeroom for two hours :)

Lots and lots of love,
Hermana Marks

Dear Family,
 
How are you all today? Is it sunny there? It is here! I LOVE the name Miss Nelli! I like it way better than Miss Bertha. Glad you like the "miss" thing :) Also, I don't know why, but that Maximiss vs Maximus thing totally got my funny bone. Love it! It's pretty much a win win situation.
 
Sister Solorzano didn't get her visa but she was transferred yesterday because of a situation with some other visa waiters who got their visas. It was hard to watch her go. She did a lot of good while she was here, and many people at church missed her yesterday.
 
I unfortunately don't have a huge update on the people here. Nancy won't be baptized, even though she wants to, because of her husband. Tricky situation. He walked in a lesson the other day and we were able to talk to him. He's a good person, I like him. What he doesn't know is that most of his beliefs fall right in line with ours. He'll practically quote the book of Mormon to us without knowing it. We had this great discussion with the two of them though, and really committed them to coming to sacrament meeting together. It took some doing, but they committed. They weren't there. Nancy all but officially committed to baptism on the 11 of May, but we'll need a miracle with Irenio for that to happen. We need the two together in order to set them up for lasting success. At least, that's how we see it right now. Basically same story, different person with our other investigators and members. But, Claudia did come to church yesterday! She came for Sacrament meeting. It took a lot of faith on her part and I was so proud and happy. She may have partly come because I was speaking.
 
My topic to speak on was service, but I didn't want to talk about it in the way we often hear it here. "We should do this, and we're supposed to do that." The big things like organized service. No, no. I don't want to tell people what they should do, I want them to want to do it! Service should be a way of living I think, an attitude that we carry throughout our day with the many encounters we have with our fellow sojourners on this earth. So I approached my talk by beginning with first looking at our baptismal covenant, and the second great commandment to love others. The topic really is a duty and responsibility of each of us who were baptized with the proper authority. I also studied the phrase "to become a disciple of Jesus Christ." It was fun because I feel like on a personal level, I've been able to identify that as the main theme of my mission. Mostly through the Lord teaching me how to love others and show that love. I think that all started with my setting apart by President Ballard when I was blessed with a greater capacity to love all. One thing that became so clear to me through my studies is that at baptism I took upon me the name of Christ, and each Sunday I renew that covenant, and then it is throughout the week that I demonstrate that discipleship through the way which I live. In my readings I felt like I rarely found the word "discipleship" without the word "dedicated" very near. I believe that by definition discipleship is dedication and diligence. You cannot become a true disciple of our Master and Savior by sporadic acts of goodness. The word is become. That's why service is a way of living, it has to be if we want to truly become like Christ.

I felt like Elder Ballard's talk from last October about the honeybees helped me best to discuss that. It's a powerful and simple analogy! I really love that talk. Remember how in each bee's lifetime, they only contributed 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey? And yet, it was absolutely vital for the livelihood of the hive. Likewise, very simple, small, yet regularly occurring acts of love and service can have a transformative affect on the world around us. One thing I've noticed in the branch is a lack of kindness. I mean there's kindness, and I feel loved, but almost each week we have at least one investigator in church, or one less active that we did everything we could to get to church. They exercise their faith to come, even though they may be nervous. We have one sweet returning member that will come in a little late (I think because she feels uncomfortable still with the sacrament) and she sits alone. Not a person says a word to her. Not a single handshake when the meeting is ended, let alone a conversation. Why? There is no reason! There might only be 30 people in Sacrament! I've watched it happen too much. Everyone knows it's going on, but doesn't really know what to do. I felt so strongly from the Spirit that I must directly and lovingly address that. There's a quote in Elder Ballard's talk that says: "We are to love God and to love and care for our neighbors as ourselves. Imagine what good we can do in the world if we all join together, united as followers of Christ, anxiously and busily responding to the needs of others and serving those around us—our families, our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens." And I added the members of our branch, our family here. (Actually in a very literal way, because most of their families are in south or central America). I couldn't really tell you what all I said as I shared and testified about this principle, but it was a special moment for me because I recognized the Spirit working through me. I'm no motivational or great speaker. I was so nervous! I kept telling myself to hold still, speak slower - and yet I could feel that no one noticed those things because they noticed the Spirit. I observed many tearful eyes. When I was finished I walked back to the piano to play the closing hymn. The meeting ended, and you know what I watched as I played postlude? At least 5 or 6 different people go up to Claudia, as well as others, and happily talk to her. And in my head, I could just imagine the good that this small branch could do as united saints, working to become dedicated true disciples of Christ through their actions towards one another.
 
So there are some of my insights from things I learned this week. Seems like it's always about service! Well, that and the Spirit. We went to the temple Thursday night, we had some members who were going to do baptisms for the first time, and then we did a session. I had a special experience in the celestial room with Sister Solorzano. I came in, sat down to pray when immediately verses from Doctrine and Covenants 138 came to my head. That section to me is kind of a pick me up. It talks about those who were called for these last days and received their first lessons in heaven. Something like that. Well, when I thought of that scripture, totally unrelated to anything that had been on my mind, I just thought I needed to be more focused in my prayer. Again, I suddenly looked up and saw Hermana S across the room with her head completely bowed over, and I thought, "Oh, I should find that scripture and show her!" Then I wondered why my eyes were open even though I'd been praying, and again tried to focus. After about 30 seconds of trying, I got up, got a Doctrine & Covenants, found the scripture, went over and show Sis S. I told her she was amongst those that the scripture was talking about. She's not a new missionary, she's been prepared for a long time, and some other things. Her eyes welled up and she told me she'd just been wondering again if she should be here. She was missing her boyfriend, and was earnestly praying to God for Him to tell her if she was where she was supposed to be. She said now she knew for sure because He sent her an answer almost immediately through that scripture. Moral of the story: if you think your mind is just wandering because you're restless while praying or something, it's not! Follow random thoughts (if they're good) even when you don't have a clue why!
 
On a completely separate note, my right big toe has been bothering me a bit for awhile and Sis Wall had me stop by the urgent care Saturday to get it checked. There I was told they'd need to remove the nail because it was a really bad ingrown toe nail. I decided that when you wake up in the morning, you just really don't know what your day is going to bring! So I was just back there in the "conversation" room for a while by myself. But seriously! When the doctor ripped open the bag of tools and laid them out, I could just see Jack Bristow! :) haha So I just decided to be as tough as Sydney Bristow :D. I'll spare you the details, but I watched to whole thing, and it was gross. And painful. Although they only removed half of it. And I couldn't let Sis C come back there because I knew without a doubt that then Sis S was faint, but even though it hurt really bad, I was ok. I won't downplay that it was painful, and it freaked me out (especially when she left me there in the middle to find another doctor because she couldn't get it, but then she couldn't find him), but somehow I didn't shed a tear. I didn't feel alone at all. Right in the middle, when it was bad, the thought that came to my mind that I couldn't believe that Christ even had to suffer the pain of my dumb in-grown toenail since I didn't get it checked sooner. And then in that moment, I felt strengthened. I testify that the Spirit is real, as a communicator, as a strengthener, and as a Comforter. Also, I'm considering cutting the toe out of one of my shoes because I need to have two of the same shoe on. And what I keep thinking of is your experience dad, and Grandpa's words, "Good thing you're there to save souls, not soles!" Is that how it goes? Well, I just hope my nail grows back!
 
We have to go. I will say that fasting yesterday was a powerful experience, and I'm anxious to find out what Will is going to do. I'm grateful to each of you. I love you lots. Stay safe.
 
Love,
Hermana Marks

Morning Everyone!
 
Guess what I'm doing today?! Going to New Orleans!!! Sister Solorzano really wanted to see it before she left, and it just so happened that the senior couple in our branch is going down  today, so we got permission to go. We're excited. I'm going to show them the French Market, which is right downtown and next to the Mississippi River Walk, so it'll be good. One day it'll be wonderful to see members and missionary friends and everything, but today will be a day just for us (and mainly Sis S) because I was worried that seeing too many people would make it difficult to come back to BR (almost like going home) but I do get to see Edy and Aura for a bit because they're helping us with part of our transportation!
 
We saw Claudia - finally!!!!!!!!!! Something has maybe subtly changed in her, in a good way. We had one lesson where she brought up concerns again about the prophet, so we did what we could with visuals and analogies to help explain again prophets. Then in our second lesson we watched President Monson's talk from Conference. It was great! She stopped and would ask questions about all sorts of things. Mostly about the commandments. By the end, she didn't think a prophet meant some crazy thing about some man who stood up and told us all what to do. She said she really liked it and it made sense. Also, somehow through learning about obedience, she said at the end that she felt like she understood so much better her relationship with God. That she's always known He's her Father, but now she could feel more that He's really literally her loving Father. It was really cool, and so imperative. That's the love we've just been aching for her to feel, because I don't think anyone here on earth has really loved her, except Greysi.

And speaking of Greysi, we saw her Saturday at the fields. It's the first time I've seen her in so long, and it was so great. She's stolen my heart! I gave her the necklace (a Spanish "I am a Child of God), and she LOVED it! I don't know how to tell you! Immediately she said to "tell my mother thank you so much." It was awesome because right there just while walking, and me giving it to her, we were able to have a mini lesson about God's love for her. I asked her if she's still reading the kids Book of Mormon we gave her and she said yes. She says she always has it in her bag and when her teacher gives them extra reading time, that's what she reads! She said if the other kids ask her what it is, she says she's reading stories by Jesus. She's accepts truth so readily and naturally. Why isn't everyone like that? I mean everyone, including myself. She has really shown me what it really means to be humble and submissive. Because Claudia hasn't really received love in her life, I think it's hard for her to give it, especially in a motherly way, and she's starting to see that it will have an affect on her and on Greysi. She can't treat Greysi like a best friend or kid sister. Now that she's starting to realize it, I think she'll take the gospel messages in a different way.
 
We had a great lesson with Nancy, following up on conference. It was neat because we were talking about obedience and commandments and really helping her see that it's a way God shows He love her. And we hadn't planned it, but while listening to her I kept feeling we should turn to 3 Nephi 27:20 and invite her to be baptized again. If there's anything I’ve learned, it's to follow any thought that comes to my head while teaching, so we read it. There's nothing better than letting that invitation flow from Christ himself, and not from us, which is how that scripture is. It was so cool, because we let Sis. Solorzano do the actual invite, and that is not a common occurrence here! It went along perfect with the training material we'd been doing this week. Anyway, Nancy accepted, but still for "later." We talked about it for awhile, and found out it's because of her husband. She wants so badly for him to do it with her. We've taught him once when they called one night and asked for us to come over and explain what the Book of Mormon was because he was off work. Anyway, I finally asked Nancy to step away from all of that, and just think about if she knew it was all true. There was the sweetest spirit when she answered yes, she knows. We understand and even agree with what she said about her husband, so we'll be trying harder with that this week, maybe even tag team it with the Elders. It was an awesome lesson, but it was a bummer because come to find out afterward, Sis Solorzano felt negative about it since she didn't know we were going to invite to baptism. Well, that' the great thing about missionary work: I didn't either! But the Spirit did, and I thought it was awesome!
 
Vanessa, an investigator, isn't doing very well. She's progressing amazingly in the Book of Mormon, but she is physically sick. We don't understand exactly, but she's still not sleeping and she has this continual migraine. She went to the doctor and they just gave her these drugs that knock her out and make it worse. I think she's developing diabetes and I just wish she could have payed a nutritionist to come help her instead of paying for those meds, because I think that's what would help. Anyway, she still has interest to learn, so we've been teaching. We went over to teach her Friday night and there were all these kids there (maybe 8) and she wasn't doing well, and the house (which in total is maybe the size of the mission home living room) was a mess. I just didn't feel like teaching the Plan of Salvation lesson we had planned would be very productive while she had so many other apparent needs. So instead we tried to do what we thought Christ would: clean! The state that that kitchen was in, it was hard to know where to start! But we rolled up our sleeves and dug in! My mission is teaching me to love, it sounds so simple but it's a lesson quite dear to my heart. If people in the world really did do what they thought Jesus would do (instead of just a phrase on a bumper sticker) it would be so awesome!

I feel like I don't know how to explain everything I'm thinking through this email! It's just that so many of these people have lived harder lives than I can imagine. Most were abandoned by parents at a young age who came to the states for work, but then never went back. And so I'm learning how to love people that are so thirsty for love, but maybe don't know how to accept it. Or they're just shocked when someone does something nice for them, that they are worth it! When I was struggling really bad with Spanish at the beginning, President taught me that, "who I was would speak way louder than anything I said." I don't think Vanessa would have heard one word of the Plan of Salvation (even though we planned so much for it), but I hope she got to experience that night what the Plan of Salvation is all about: God's love for us and our families. In no way am I trying to say I know perfectly how to love, but I'm truly learning and applying what it means to be "God's hands here on the earth, to strengthen the feeble knees and lift the heavy hands that hang down." I've never felt more fulfilled in my life than in this focused journey to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. I don't want it to ever stop.
 
Well, I better hurry and go because we're going to get on our way. Mom, I'm so sorry I didn't answer all your questions. I'm going to try and write a letter so I can address some of those. It's so hard to know they're there and not be able to answer. Know that I'm aware and I'm so grateful for your interest, love, and prayers for the people here. Just this morning in the shower I was wondering how RS was going there and so I loved hearing about the activity! That's awesome I have a VT!! We are two months in to implementing Visiting Teaching in the branch, and it's not going super well, so I might be the only one here who got "visit taught" :)
 
I also loved hearing about the chicks! Can't wait for more pics!
 
I love you all SOOOOOOO much!
Hermana Marks

Morning Everyone!!
 
I was so tired this morning, but am in such good spirits after reading y'alls emails and looking at pictures!!! Seriously, I LOVED looking at those pictures!!!!!! Oh my goodness! Is Garrett tall? I need to see a pic of him standing by Erika or Dad or something to give me some reference. I was cracking up because, I swear, in every picture Garrett has the drill, is on the foundation, or on the roof, or stapling or cutting mesh... and Erika? Well, she's watching...uh, I mean supervising :D. But hey, someone's gotta do it!! No, I know everyone was working, it just caught my funny bone. Dad, truly always happier with his kids and a project!! Haha, LOVE it! Also, the chicken coop looks legit! I love the names of the chicks. I'm so glad that Shaniquah made it as a name. Also, I loved "Lola" and "Gertude." The last one should be....Miss Bertha? Bertha kinda sounds like a cow. But it could work :) The "Miss" has to be there because that goes before everyone's name here, so there's a little southern flare :) Speaking of which, I've noticed I say "yes ma'am" and "no sir" ALL the time now. Before it was sometimes, but now I can't remember not always saying that. I guess it's about time I learned some respect :)
 
President changed his mind last Tuesday night about transfers. What's new? :) We're still here, but we're training! We took the visa waiter who's going to Brazil. Cool, huh? Her name is Hermana Solorzano, she is from Ecuador, but grew up mostly in New York. She's awesome! Her English is perfect, and she is already fluent in Portuguese, so she's tri-lingual! Pretty amazing because I wonder if I'll ever really be bilingual. She's a sensitive soul, and was only in the MTC for 2 weeks, and is doing well. She's a rockstar teacher, and has jumped right in with being part of planning and teaching. Before my mission, even before I knew I would be learning a different language, I said that if I was, I just wanted to have a native speaking companion, or trainer. Well... that never really worked out! But now, when I get stuck in conversations and lessons, she can help us! It's kind of a little tender mercy. After 9 months of a day in day out struggle on the language side, that's pretty cool. I'm just so excited to be around her accent 24/7. I want to pick up more Spanish idioms, be more comfortable speaking, and sound more native.

... All missionaries have to learn a language too - the language of the Spirit. President asked me last week which is more difficult - Spanish or language of the spirit. I'm not sure, but I think that the Lord has used Spanish to help me learn the language of the Spirit, which is of course more important. And I am very grateful for that. It's a pretty amazing ride to be on - fully relying on the spirit day in and out just to communicate. I still sometimes listen to Spanish, and don't fully understand what they are communicating (I mean the vocab I have still to learn is endless!) but a thought or scripture always comes as I don't worry, but just listen. Anyway, I don't feel I'm struggling, but I'm excited to get better! And I don't know how long she'll be with us, but it'll help to accelerate my learning. And in more ways than one - trios are a little tricky! And we are all certainly going to grow close real quick because of the proximity of our apartment! That's our joke. We had to do math just to figure out where to put a mattress because we have to sleep in the same room. They thought we'd have to move, but we did it!
 
That's pretty much my news for the week. Conference was amazing. On Sunday, we listened in Spanish, although we were invited to the mission home for the afternoon session, so we got to hear that in English. We were so glad, because I just had to hear Elder Holland's message in his voice! What an amazing talk! I had the thought, "how do I fan the flame of my faith?" Also, the same thing really stuck out to me, as did to Mom about how we need to acknowledge where we're at. There's really not much of a point of declaring our lack of faith, and it really hit home when he said that what we do know will always trump what we don't. We each have more faith that we think. Very true, I'd say. What a balanced person - the one who can feel happy, content, and acceptable for the faith they do have, while constantly and humbly seeking and building more faith and all that entails. A lot of the morning session was lost on me with the translator and quality so I'll be going back and listening to those soon, especially President Monson. I'm pretty sure it was about obedience... haha just kidding. As did... well parts from many of them. I loved President Packer's poem, and I decided I want to start writing bits of a poem every decade. Twenty two seems like a good place to start! Especially since lots of things rhyme with "two." :)
 
The weather here has been crazy so I've had quite the nasty head cold. It's 80, sunny, and relatively dry one day, and 40 degrees and humid the next. My system struggles with the up and down so I hope it'll level out soon.

I got the necklace Mom (a Spanish "I am a Child of God" necklace for Greysi)! It's awesome! I really hope we see Claudia and Greysi soon. We haven't taught them for almost a whole transfer. They are kinda breaking my heart. I don't really know how they are, so that's why you don't hear as much about them. We've spent a lot of time fasting, and also on our knees praying for them. The worst part is we just don't know what is going on in Claudia's head. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. Nancy and Vanessa continue to do ok. Although, each is having their struggles and are pretty insistent on not committing to a date. Vanessa had been excited and committed to coming to Sunday Conference, but didn't show up. But Nancy did!
 
So Spencer got his mission call (Marshall Islands)! What language will he speak?
 
And you drowned your worms?!?!?! How could you?!! Haha, chiste. That is sad though. That's funny you gave one to a chick. I feel like quite a bit of amusement could come out of those little chicks.
 

Morning Everyone!
 
It's transfers week! That's why you aren't hearing from me till today. But we are safe another round! We're super excited. ... It's amazing the bond and friendship I have with Sister Carolan. I'm sure you'll meet her one way or another someday. When I had my interview a month ago with President, he told me that it was the main reason he transferred me here - to be companions with her. That we needed each other. So that's been neat to see. Plus, when you go through things with someone as intense and difficult as a mission can be, you just grow close. That's all there is to it!
 
We did each get sick last week. Sis C got the worst of it - she has a nasty sinus infection which is no fun. But we a good week. The highlight was Saturday when we were able to go to the temple. There's a family (of 6) who were baptized 6 years ago. They then went inactive, and the Elders have been working with them to reactivate them. And Saturday they went through the temple, and then were sealed as a family! It was so amazing to see! The Elder who even baptized them originally came back with his family. Awesome to go through with them, but then to watch their 4 kids (2 boys, 2 girls) come in the sealing room in white, and be sealed. That was one of the happiest times I've had. You can't but help but just smile from ear to ear. They were sealed by Hermano Huerta, and of course all in Spanish. To be right in the center of that priesthood power, where things are bound on earth and in heaven for eternity, and to feel of God's love so strong for this little family who's been through so much. To feel of something that is just so much bigger than all of us that we can't really even conceive. Made me reflect a lot on our family, and how we have a potential, individually and together, in the eternities that we can't really imagine or fully understand. Pretty neat.
 
Easter was good... We had a packed house in sacrament at 70 people! (people don't miss church on Easter or Christmas :) It was really great though. I just love testimony meetings in this little branch. They are each so pure. The testimonies they have are basic, but pure and vital. And because that's what they share (instead of stories or something that really doesn't belong in a testimony meeting) the Spirit is so strong and unrestrained. It's really neat.
 
I hope you all have a great week.
 
Love,
Hermana Marks

Dear Family,
 
Dad, I got your letter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think a letter has ever had better timing than when I got that one on Friday... it was so great!
 
We almost died from exhaustion this week, but we are so happy!! When Elder Packer came to visit at the beginning of the year, he issued the challenge and standard to teach 20 lessons every week. More than twice the average I think. Ever since then, we've been working so hard to do it. Each week we don't, and we'll be so tired from working, but we'll remind ourselves to judge our efforts, not the results of those efforts when we report in Sunday night. When we got to baton Rouge, there was one non committal investigator, and about 5 lessons a week. We have been working and working and this last week we were determined!! And a miracle happened- WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We taught 20 lessons! Oh my goodness!!! We were blessed so much. We have about 5 new investigators, and they are so amazing, they're for real. We taught so many lessons through Thursday, and then all of a sudden, almost every single appointment fell through Friday and then every appointment on Saturday (usually the days we teach the most.) I don't really know how to explain how tired we were physically. It's more than just thinking you'll fall asleep in a lesson (which seemed unimaginable to me when I got here) it's more like you just completed an ironman, and every emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual energy is spent. So Friday and Saturday were difficult. We should have overshot our goals with all the lessons we had set those two days, but instead we were still sitting at 15. We prayed so much that we would find all the people we were supposed to teach. We never went home after all our church meetings, and right before curfew last night, we hit it right on: 20. Needless to say we were very happy when we left that appointment! When you work hard and are 100% determined, the adversary does not like it. He fought against us, especially Friday and Saturday, but when you keep the commandments, and your covenants, there's nothing he can do to overpower you.
 
Also, we had lots of opportunities for service. We visited the Alzheimer's unit at a care center, which was really fun. They love music. :) And I'm teaching piano to a boy in the branch. I discovered he has pretty severe ADHD so it's a challenge, but he's great. His name is Jose, but every calls him Chivo. And our new investigator, Vanessa, has 2 children who really needs help with English. They are 7 and 8 years old. We contacted Vanessa and her friend Ruth and Ruth's house about 3 weeks ago. Gave each a book of Mormon. When we were able to follow up with them, we found out that Vanessa had read, and she wanted to learn more, and she was desperate for help with her children, who up until about 2 months ago, have attended school in Mexico. So we went to Vanessa's and her entire apartment complex has only Hispanics living there. Perfect!! It's a long story, but word spreads fast among Latina women and after teaching Isaac and Cesia once, we have a little English school for the ninos. The last time we taught we had about 9 kids, ages 4-13. Apparently, the schools here don't offer any help or aids or anything for people who have English as a second language. Pretty crazy, so a lot of these poor kids are so frustrated. Poor Cesia started crying in our first lesson because she says she feels dumb and she's gonna fail but she's trying so hard. I looked at her most recent test and saw that she really is trying. Heck, I would have messed up "scent" and "cent" or "muscle" and "mussel" when I was 7, and my parents always spoke English to me! So it's slightly overwhelming, because we don't know how to teach kids, but we're doing our best and we love them! We use my little whiteboard, and sidewalk chalk and objects. I just love those kids already. We'll take a pic this week so you can see it next week. And Vanessa!! We taught her three times this week! In one day she read 4 chapters of the Book of Mormon, which we were pretty stoked about. The next night we taught her with our Branch President and his wife, and Vanessa got this notebook out of questions she'd written. Sweet. She said she had a question about chapter 17. What chapter?!" I said. It thought I'd heard her wrong. So she's just eating it up. Although one thing I've noticed - it's amazing how many people think that Nephi is our version of Noah. I mean, they both built a boat. haha, I think every investigator I've had in BR has asked that.
 
Another day, I found a paper that had some old scribbled notes about contacts elders had had. I read them and almost threw it away when I read one about two women they'd taught once, and felt like we needed to find that address and go there. We did, but a different lady lived there, Judy. When we gave her a Book of Mormon and told her what it was, she opened to the introduction, and read it out loud right there. We were just sitting outside on her steps. We went back this week and after talking to us for a while, she said that the other night she was praying. And she started to cry because her children and grandchildren are going through such hard things in Mexico, like hunger and extremes. Like really when I'm hungry because we skipped meal breaks, I don't even know the meaning of hunger. She said after praying she looked at all her scriptures and books (she's been religious her whole life) and felt like she should open the Book of Mormon. So she did and started flipping. And where did she stop? Alma 32. Wow. She read the whole thing and loved it. She said she knew God had sent us to her in the time she needed. Then our lesson fell through with her on Saturday. We think she just forgot, but we don't know. We'll see what happens.
 
That happens with a lot of people. They say we're angels sent, or our message is really nice, but when it comes down to it, only a very few will act. Or one of the 100’s of Baptist churches here gets to them. But we labor anyway, just to find the one who will act on their faith, and receive all the blessings that wait for them. And the others we labor for because I believe strongly in planted seeds. The church did a study a year or two ago that showed that on average, a person will have 7 contacts with the church before baptism. That means they could have heard some of the missionary lessons, or they were a street contact, or they have an LDS neighbor, or just work with one. So sometimes, we have contact with people, and we can feel that they aren't ready, we know we were the first contact. Or maybe the 3rd. But that's why we open our mouths with EVERYONE!! Because they might not even know it, but if they just had a positive experience with a Mormon, or hey even saw one of us rounding up carts at the Burlington Coat Factory, it'll help. :)

Speaking of shopping carts, did you know Southerner's call them "buggies?" It is SO funny! We heard it once and thought it was just a fluke. But it wasn't. They say it like it's totally normal! Well, it is to them. "Hey, Fran, did y'all need a buggie?" Haha, a what!?
 
Alrighty, we have a goal to leave the library soon! So I typed so fast and there's probably lots of mistakes. but I also just thought I'd tell you that I translated yesterday! I tried once in NO through the headsets, and it didn't go so well. But yesterday when we got to church, President Estrada told me there was an american lady speaking and they wanted a female translator. Oh? That means me. Yikes! But I did it! From the pulpit! And it was a solid 20 min talk! But our members are so nice! I was so nervous, but boy did I have a captive audience. Every eye was right on me, encouraging me, just wanting me to succeed! And there's this really sweet couple, Los Huerta. They're from Bolivia, and serve in the temple presidency. They actually made us meet them at the store last Monday so they could buy some cream for my sunburn, which is turning into a nice tan by the way. They're really salt of the earth people. Well, he's fluent in English, and she knows a lot. They always sit on the second row, and I think he mouthed every word along with me. I couldn't really read his lips, but if I got really stuck, he'd say the word out loud. Bless his heart! They're my Bolivian Grandparents! Between them and Edy and Aura, I'm starting to have grandparents from all over! haha
 
Well, I must be going. I hope you all have a fantastic week! I'm very excited about General Conference in two weeks. I'm pondering what question I want to have in my mind while I listen this time. I know that if we do, we will receive answers and guidance from our living prophet and apostles on the earth. What a blessing.
 
Love ya!
Hermana Marks

Good Morning!
 
Thanks for the update on home! It seems it's usually about this time of year when I'm wondering if spring will ever come :) That's super cool about the elk and the chicks. I REALLY want to see pics of your project! I'm jealous I'm not there to help with it! So I suppose pics is the best we can do. :)

... Sis C and I eat really well together, which feels good. Well, except for .99 cent frozen yogurt cones at TCBY on Wednesdays. :) But we sometimes bike there to earn it - haha. We have a lot of women/moms we are teaching that we have to see in the morning. It's been getting earlier and earlier because they'll want to meet right after their kids go to school. So we weren't getting in all of our studies or all of our exercise time. So we thought of a way to fix it, and got it approved by president. ... Almost everyone's prime teaching time is night, but we're opposite. We teach during the day. We can't go into these areas at night without set appointments, but we can't get the appointments.
 
I decided that being a missionary is such a roller coaster because you walk out of one home where the people are doing well - maybe it was a good lesson, or the spirit was strong. And then walk into the next, and maybe there is a spirit of fear there, or someone was deported, or they're just facing bad or hard things. Because of the deep love we have for everyone we work with, our emotions tend to naturally follow that of how the people are doing and the decisions they are making. But thank goodness, I have the final say at the end of the day if I'm happy or not! That's what it was like this week.
 
Just a little idea of what I did this week... we taught 12 lessons (we fell short here again, still going for 20, but this is a high for this little branch and area), gave away 7 other Libros de Mormon (we've really been focusing on teaching out of the Book of Mormon right away - even contacting, we might not get another chance!), spent time in Branch RS meetings, did a TON of contacting (we are seriously starting to have investigators coming out of our ears!!), found lost members, and did 20 hours of service. And we taught more with members than we ever have before! A pretty good week. Actually, it was AWESOME! I'm exhausted to say the least. It's like a new level of tired, probably preparing me for when I have my first child! Sometimes I think I might be like Ammon when I get home, and just faint at the pulpit of my homecoming talk from being so happy and so exhausted! Well, that's our joke anyway.
 
Nancy is doing great! She's progressing. Tanya's aunt told us yesterday that Tanya has moved out. She moved in with some friends, and told her aunt that she was young, she didn't care, she likes to dance and wants to be able to go clubbing and do all the things she wants. Another reason life's a roller coaster. I don't know why she called us that night to say she wanted to be baptized. I remain firm in my faith that one day she'll make the right decision, but for now she is officially dropped, and that's never fun. We are slowly losing Claudia. It's breaking my heart. Still not a doubt in my mind that she and Greysi are the primary focus of why I'm in Baton Rouge, but she isn't willing to work for all the things she says she wants. And she's in a bad spot, like the Lord is trying to humble her maybe, but she's not choosing to turn to Him. She was accepted to apply for citizenship in the US. So that's big. But she needs to go to Honduras, and she's waiting to see if a law is passed or not this month that will maybe make it so she doesn't need to be there for years, just a few months. If it doesn't pass, it would literally take a miracle for her to get citizenship. .. I feel like the Northwest is a different country than the rest of the US, and the rest of it, and the world, are pretty bad. I can feel the Lord speeding things up. ... And I feel like I'm right in the middle. It'd be scary if I hadn't firmly planted myself on the Lord's side.
 
We had an Easter picnic on Saturday combined with the English ward, and it was a HUGE success!!!! EVERY SINGLE PERSON we invited (we made little flyers in Spanish) came!!!! That is... UNHEARD of! I mean investigators, members, less actives, and people we contacted during the week that aren't even investigators yet! I don't know how to explain both what a miracle that is, and how awesome it is. We break our backs each day just inviting and inviting people, because that's our purpose as missionaries - invite others unto Christ. And it's a joy, but people do get to exercise their agency. Anyway, it's everything we plan for, we study for, we tract for, we teach for, we pray for. These people don't know it, but they're EVERYTHING to us!! Well, we try to show them, but some don't see it. And to see so many come out with their families, it was amazing! Also, one thing I feel that did not come in the job description of missionary is we are the biggest match-makers there are! Match making for fellow-shippers! (don't you agree, Will?) We work with all these people who really just need a friend, a reason to come to church, someone they feel comfortable around. And because we work with everyone, we can see who would be great friends, but they don't come so they don't meet each other. Well, with everyone at the picnic, we got to match-make away! So it was work. But I also had fun making lots of plates of food for all the ninos (except one got chocolate and ketchup on the white skirt I was wearing - that's talent! :) It was also fun playing soccer and exploring with them. They found this rubber snake, so we put it in this hole in the base of a tree. They could kind of see it, kind of couldn't. Then I had a group of about 7 of them getting closer and closer to it, while I was telling them it was ok. Then, just as they got close, I screamed, and they all jumped so high and screamed and ran laughing. haha :) Those are the good times - simple joys ya know? I also decided kids are way less complicated than their parents so it was good to play with them for a bit. I'm pretty sure Dad has done that exact thing to us all TONS of times. :) Well...maybe not with a snake. But there's a certain scare-box I remember opening once... :D
 
Oh, I also got burnt to a crisp! In March!! I mean it was a beautiful day, but it wasn't hot, and we're practically at sea level still I think. A big difference to home, or the high elevation the last summer when I was living on the Grand Canyon. But boy, did I get burned. I felt like I should repent for what I did to my body, and tell Heavenly Father sorry! I haven't slept for two nights. My neck, arms and face are beet red. Everyone at church thought it was really funny. Haha, instead of being a blancita, I was a tomata. (Instead of being a whitey, I was a little tomato :) I've never put on so much aloe vera in my life. Finally, in the middle of Saturday night, nothing was helping. I was exhausted, but felt like my skin was bubbling, so I knelt up and said a prayer. But I did something I wouldn't have done a year ago - I didn't pray the pain would be taken away, but just that I'd be strong enough to handle it, that my body and senses could be strengthened that I might sleep, that we had a big day Sunday, and I wouldn't make it through if I didn't sleep some. I don't remember anything after that because I went right to sleep. I had been awake for hours, and then I went right to sleep until my alarm went off a few hours later. The strengthening and enabling power of the atonement may even be applied to sunburns. God is in the details of our lives, even, and maybe especially, when we don't deserve it.
 
Well, my email was random like usual, but I just love telling the things that give you a real idea of my life right now.  I sure hope you have a fantastic week!
 
Love,
Hermana Marks