Dear Family,
It was an absolute joy to talk to everyone on Christmas. It gave me such a boost! What would I do, and where would I be without each one of you? I don't even want to know!
We have been teachin' up a storm down here! Huh, I probably shouldn't joke about storms here :) We had a legit lesson today with Lourdes, our investigator Downtown, with a member who came and everything! Now, that's how it's supposed to be done! Lourdes committed to be baptized on February 2. :) It was awesome. Our other investigator, Caroline, cancelled today, but she did come to church on Sunday!! And she loved it! President and Sister Wall were here speaking and that helped. I needed to use this time to write President too and I'm gonna include some of that email so that you can know a little more detail...
"Since I wrote last we have two new investigators who have the light of Christ so strongly! One is the woman Caroline, who was at church when you spoke. We've taught her one lesson and that was her first time at church. She really wants to make a change for the good of her family, especially her little girl. As we talked about Christ's life in our lesson and were getting ready to invite her to baptized, she said, "I want to be baptized like Christ was." "Perfect!" I thought, "We can help you with that." She had a wonderful experience at church.
The other woman is Lourdes who lives Downtown, but the elders were having a hard time seeing her since she is single, so they asked us to go teach her. She is a single mom who is trying to do her best for her two children. The gospel seems to "ring true to her." She is a little timid to give her opinion or to pray, but when she does, it is so powerful. We had a wonderful lesson with her and she would like to be baptized a month from today. I've been perfectly fine with the work we've been almost solely doing with less actives here for the last 4 months, but I'm happy to see two more souls putting themselves on the path to Christ."
Speaking of those returning members, we have one family that we've been working with for months now who has been returning (Vianey & fam), and it has been wonderful! We found out that the father actually isn't a member, but he's worked with lots of missionaries in the past. We feel really strongly that this family just needs love and time so we're not going to pressure him, but we are going to ask their family if we can practice our teaching with them once a week or so.
I'd asked some of the Elders if they'd be willing to have a language study together. Elder Pope and Elder Gillett took me up on it (my Zone Leaders). After the first study session, they called to see if we could do it three times a week. They must have really seen the help we need :) We've only done it twice now, but it is SO much help!!! Wow, I am so grateful for their desire to serve whoever is in need. It's what makes them good leaders I think. They see a need and they fill it, for which I am grateful, and also respect!"
We had a good New Years Eve P-Day down here. We were invited to go to New Orleans at the last minute with some other missionaries and it was really fun! There were so many people there! WOW! Tourists for the holiday and everything, and there were so many more street bands than normal - which I love! And little did we know, but it was the Sugar Bowl! wow, it was insane! Bummer we couldn't go, but we did get a free t-shirt :)
We were on lockdown here that night because people here are crazay! The fireworks started at 5:00 and didn't stop all night. I mean literally. There were no gaps or delays between them. I thought I was in a war zone. Eddy and Aura were going to a party with their friends and Eddy kept trying to get us to come over to watch their TV. He said we could even watch in Spanish to help with Spanish! Haha, well, we couldn't do that, but we did use it to watch the Joseph Smith movie. That was fun! We even had a little sparkling cider at 10:30 (pretended it was midnight) and then went to bed. I don't remember the last time I didn't stay up! But I guess we were blessed for our obedience because I was somehow able to sleep despite all the noise. :)
It's kinda short and not a very personal email, but I love you each dearly. Continue to take care of yourselves.
Love,
Hermana Marks
It was an absolute joy to talk to everyone on Christmas. It gave me such a boost! What would I do, and where would I be without each one of you? I don't even want to know!
We have been teachin' up a storm down here! Huh, I probably shouldn't joke about storms here :) We had a legit lesson today with Lourdes, our investigator Downtown, with a member who came and everything! Now, that's how it's supposed to be done! Lourdes committed to be baptized on February 2. :) It was awesome. Our other investigator, Caroline, cancelled today, but she did come to church on Sunday!! And she loved it! President and Sister Wall were here speaking and that helped. I needed to use this time to write President too and I'm gonna include some of that email so that you can know a little more detail...
"Since I wrote last we have two new investigators who have the light of Christ so strongly! One is the woman Caroline, who was at church when you spoke. We've taught her one lesson and that was her first time at church. She really wants to make a change for the good of her family, especially her little girl. As we talked about Christ's life in our lesson and were getting ready to invite her to baptized, she said, "I want to be baptized like Christ was." "Perfect!" I thought, "We can help you with that." She had a wonderful experience at church.
The other woman is Lourdes who lives Downtown, but the elders were having a hard time seeing her since she is single, so they asked us to go teach her. She is a single mom who is trying to do her best for her two children. The gospel seems to "ring true to her." She is a little timid to give her opinion or to pray, but when she does, it is so powerful. We had a wonderful lesson with her and she would like to be baptized a month from today. I've been perfectly fine with the work we've been almost solely doing with less actives here for the last 4 months, but I'm happy to see two more souls putting themselves on the path to Christ."
Speaking of those returning members, we have one family that we've been working with for months now who has been returning (Vianey & fam), and it has been wonderful! We found out that the father actually isn't a member, but he's worked with lots of missionaries in the past. We feel really strongly that this family just needs love and time so we're not going to pressure him, but we are going to ask their family if we can practice our teaching with them once a week or so.
I'd asked some of the Elders if they'd be willing to have a language study together. Elder Pope and Elder Gillett took me up on it (my Zone Leaders). After the first study session, they called to see if we could do it three times a week. They must have really seen the help we need :) We've only done it twice now, but it is SO much help!!! Wow, I am so grateful for their desire to serve whoever is in need. It's what makes them good leaders I think. They see a need and they fill it, for which I am grateful, and also respect!"
We had a good New Years Eve P-Day down here. We were invited to go to New Orleans at the last minute with some other missionaries and it was really fun! There were so many people there! WOW! Tourists for the holiday and everything, and there were so many more street bands than normal - which I love! And little did we know, but it was the Sugar Bowl! wow, it was insane! Bummer we couldn't go, but we did get a free t-shirt :)
We were on lockdown here that night because people here are crazay! The fireworks started at 5:00 and didn't stop all night. I mean literally. There were no gaps or delays between them. I thought I was in a war zone. Eddy and Aura were going to a party with their friends and Eddy kept trying to get us to come over to watch their TV. He said we could even watch in Spanish to help with Spanish! Haha, well, we couldn't do that, but we did use it to watch the Joseph Smith movie. That was fun! We even had a little sparkling cider at 10:30 (pretended it was midnight) and then went to bed. I don't remember the last time I didn't stay up! But I guess we were blessed for our obedience because I was somehow able to sleep despite all the noise. :)
It's kinda short and not a very personal email, but I love you each dearly. Continue to take care of yourselves.
Love,
Hermana Marks
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