Hey all!

How was your Thanksgiving? We had a wonderful one here! Yes, many hispanics do celebrate Thanksgiving, and many do not. But the people who had us over had dishes that were rice or gumbo type stuff. They do make turkey. I didn't see any mashed potatoes, that was bizarre! And it's one of my favorites, so we're gonna make our own sometime. Speaking of, Mom could you please send the recipe for gravy? I know it's simple, but I can't remember exactly how, and I have to make it without you on the other side of the phone, and that's dangerous! Haha! There also wasn't any pie or orange rolls or anything, which I think I'll consider a blessing in disguise :) Made it easy to eat a good portion size and no pastry really cut down the calorie intake, although I'd be lying if I didn't say I missed a good piece of mom's dutch crumb apple out of the oven with some ice cream. :) Thanksgiving in Spanish is "Dia de Accion de Gracias" or literally, "day of action of thanks." I think that's really neat because our gratitude should cause us to DO something! I love learning things like that through learning another language. Different meanings are brought to light about different topics.

We had an amazing week! I wish I was feeling a little energetic today in writing about the details. I'm honestly just super tired and we have deep cleaning today of our apt. Last Monday we had a Turkey Bowl at an awesome park in Metairie. President allowed some missionaries from a little farther away to come play so they had a tournament organized. He didn't allow sisters to play, but it was a beautiful day and it was fun to go hang out, time the games, stuff like that. And they had a little trophy they made out of aluminum foil, I'm sure the pic will be put up on the mission website. We also taught the most lessons we ever taught in a week, almost all to less actives/recent converts. It was awesome! A week ago from yesterday, Merilyn and her two kids came to church, it was the best ever!!!!!!!! And her kids loved it! I feel a really close friendship with her, one that I expect to continue, and coming to church was such a big step for her. It'll be hard when she moves to Texas.

There's a journal entry I made Sunday November 18 that pretty much sums up how I'm feeling. It was in reference to the previous week (so two weeks ago).

"After Coordination all the missionaries stayed and worked on cleaning the ward list. We've all been working on it in our own areas so we came together to pool our info for a grand updated master list. I'm really excited that this is being done because it's going to help us work so much more effectively and with more direction.

"We had 1 new investigator this week, 8 hrs of service and 8 MA/CR lessons. (side note: we had more this week :) We met all our goals (key indicators) except for member presence in lessons. We worked on all, and were able to complete assignments given to us by ward leadership. And some of the less actives we've been working with came to church! That's real growth right there, regaining members. It's an awesome feeling. And it's only the very beginning. I know I'm going to serve in this ward for awhile, and I'm excited!  All my life I've had this knowing that I had to serve a mission, that I was needed somewhere, so it's neat to start seeing that come to light. To meet the people that I had such strong impressions I needed to work with. I'm so grateful the Lord has given me this great privilege or working amongst His precious children here."

I feel like each of the last two weeks here have been a year each. There's so many things I would love the share, and you'd think it's neat to know, but I have to go. One day, it'll be fun to share all the stories. That new investigators name is Yaneli. She's not interested in coming to our church because she loves hers, but she's really interested in what happens to families after death. We also have a new investigator from last night. Berta from Honduras. Super sweet spirit. Then her husband came in with his family and they are hardcore southern evangelists. I'm not even sure all what that means. But he kept saying that the Jesus in the Old Testament then "robed himself in a body" in the New Testament. And they don't believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ being two separate beings. I just wish I could call Dad and talk to him about it because I know Dad, that you must know so much about that kinda stuff! I was confused because I could think of a lot of examples in the Bible when it's clear that there are three separate beings. And how grateful I am for modern revelation to make it even clearer. Sometimes, though, I feel so weak as far as knowledge goes, and yet the things that I know, I know. I have a strong testimony of them. And I'm ok to be weak as far as things of the world as long as I'm strong to things of the gospel.

Okay, I kind of went off on a little tangent, and now I really have to go. I love you all! Have a great week.

Love,
Hermana Marks

P.S. I got the package this morning! Thank you so much!! First thing I'm doing when I get home tonight is having some of that zucchini bread while wearing my comfy sweats! Also, I know that was a sacrifice to let some jam go, so thanks :) haha, and thanks mom, for the advent calendar. It's a great reminder of home :)

Sometimes letters are just too personal and close to the heart to share, so Thank you Kylie for that beautiful letter you sent Dad.  So not much to post this week, but here are a few things I can share that give a bit of insight into Kylie's mission ...

Hey Mom and Dad,

... I asked for that package because yes, I need warm sweats and wanted the hair thing, but I forgot to ask for the most important thing of all!! Could you please put in my organ shoes? they're in a drawstring bag out in the shop. And an organ book. It's orange/yellowish and I believe it's titled "Quiet Organ Pieces." I now officially have the unofficial calling of ward accompanist. I'm literally the only one that plays the piano. And I thought it would be super neat for the members to have an organ accompany them, especially with Christmas coming. Most have never been in a ward and heard an organ.

Ok, I've gotta run. We have an appointment (speaking of which, you must be good luck because ever since I talked to you, we have taught more lessons than maybe all of them in the rest of the transfer combined!!)

Love you!
Kylie

Because of Jeff's accident, Kylie's letter was also short. We had an opportunity to talk with her a bit that evening also.

Hey Mom and Dad,

Sorry about no mail yesterday, all the libraries were closed. We don't have a long enough chunk of time to be at the library to email, but we stopped for a minute now to write our presidents emails and then were going to return later to write our families, but I saw your emails. A little scary, eh? Definitely scared me. When William wrote me, he told me to ask my mission president for permission to call home tonight. President Wall didn't answer his phone, but I'm sure he'll want me to call, so I'll probably be talking to you later. Dad, I love you. I pray each day for my family's safety, taking comfort and confidence in the promises found in Doctrine and Covenants 100, that the Lord is looking out for you all. We have a teaching appointment in 10 minutes, so I'm gonna go for now.

There isn't a doubt in my mind there were angels there. Garrett, you're a trooper. I love you. Dad, you're amazing ... I would tell you to just watch a comedy, but the laughing might not be too comfortable :) My love to each of you. 

Kylie

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 :)