Well hey guys, how are ya'll? How's life? Things are going really well down here. Yesterday we had our Mission Christmas Conference, and we had a lot of fun and the whole mission got to see each other. It was a blast but unfortunately, I got no presents... yet. Oh well, here's to hoping that they get here next week. Actually, we had a bit of a... fun... experience coming back from the conference. Well, we had yet to recieve a closet for our house and we were just getting by without one. So, while we were at the mission office they gave us a closet to take back to our area and set up. Well, the sucker was HEAVY and the only way to get it home as to take it through the roller coaster known as the Curitiba bus system during the peak hour of activity. So, every time the bus hit a bump or took a turn the dang box went flying and either hit us or other people. We finally got it home, but I'm not anxious to repeat the experience.
Actually, we had an AMAZING experience this last week. So, last Wednesday, we went to a pizzaria to grab some pizza before we went home. While we were waiting for this pizza Elder Thorpe felt like he should talk to this one woman and her family. So he did, and taught her a lesson right there in the pizzaria. We marked a date to go by her house and teach her and when we got there we found out that she's pretty much the most elect woman ever. After she talked to us she went home to her abusive boyfriend and that night she prayed to the Lord that if He took the boyfriend out of her life she would repent and changer her life and follow Him. So, that night she had a dream where she talked with Christ and woke up the next morning and the boyfriend was gone. Also, by the time we got there, she had also quit smoking without us saying a word to her about it. She just said that she felt that it was what she needed to do. We challenged her to be baptized on Christmas but seeing that she won't be here for Christmas, we're going to baptize her this week. She went to church with her three kids and they all loved it. The members are helping them out and she said that she'll walk to church if she can't afford the bus (our area is REAAAALLLLLY far away from the chapel) Its great to see how the Lord is preparing his Elect in every situation and place and that miracles truly do happen! We've been working our tails off here and its all paying off now. I love missionary work!!!
So, I just got back from the temple. It rocks. 'Nuff said...
Can we do like a super Skype conference together? Lemme know
So I gotta run and write my letter to Prez, but I love you all and want you to know that the Gospel is true!
Love you all!!!!
-Elder MarxSo , I still haven't exactly figured out how I'm going to talk to ya'll but when I figure it out I'll let you know. Is there any way I can talk to everyone at the same time? Does everyone have Skype?
Hi
Well hey there, how's everyone doing? Life here is going on as usual. I'm crazy busy trying to be "mom" of a troop of missionaries, trying to find people to baptize, and fight trunkiness all at the same time. So, things are going well. Can you all believe that its December already? Wow, time is flying!!! About the Christmas call home, I can use Skype to talk to you all, I just need to find someone who has a webcam and internet. But when I do, I'll be ready to talk to you guys. Will you guys be all together or split up for this Christmas? Can we do a conference call via Skype so I can talk to you all at the same time (and most importantly see my nephew...)? Lemme know...
Well, this week we had a pretty hard experience actually. This Sunday was the Brazilian equivalent of the Super Bowl, and of course we worked as usual. So, we were standing on a street corner trying to find a street on our map just after the game finished and on the other side of the road we see this guy just drop like someone cut the strings. We ran over to him to try to help him but he was purple already, had no pulse, and was fading fast. We gave him a blessing and did everything we could to try to help him, but there wasn't anything we could do, and we watched him die in front of us, and in the hands of some of us. It was a pretty difficult experience, but at the same time I'm grateful that I know the Plan of Salvation and I know where he is now and that death isn't the end of life. We die spiritually to live physically, and we die physically to live spiritually again and return to the presence of our Father. The knowledge that we have made us completely different from the rest of the people that were there, especially his family when they arrived. I'm truly grateful for the gospel in my life and that I have this knowledge. Its made me re-double my efforts to help as many people as possible so that they can receive this knowledge and that they can return to the presence of God with a cleanliness, free from the spots of this world.
So, like I said, we're in a trio, which is pretty interesting. We actually finally got beds so I'm no longer sleeping on the ground (what a blessing!!), but we're still lacking several necessities, like a washing machin that works and a sink. But we make it work. We're have a few growing pains because we're not used to teaching in trio, but we're working it out. But its all lots of fun being in a group of more than just 2.
So, have I mentioned that its pretty stinking hot down here? In dad's words: "Disgusting!" Its nowhere as hot as Arizona, but in Arizona we have air conditioning...
So yeah, time's about up, so I'm gonna have to run. Hope you all have a wonderful week and in just a couple more weeks we can all have a nice, long, 45-minute long chat... I can't wait.
Love you all!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Well, this week we had a pretty hard experience actually. This Sunday was the Brazilian equivalent of the Super Bowl, and of course we worked as usual. So, we were standing on a street corner trying to find a street on our map just after the game finished and on the other side of the road we see this guy just drop like someone cut the strings. We ran over to him to try to help him but he was purple already, had no pulse, and was fading fast. We gave him a blessing and did everything we could to try to help him, but there wasn't anything we could do, and we watched him die in front of us, and in the hands of some of us. It was a pretty difficult experience, but at the same time I'm grateful that I know the Plan of Salvation and I know where he is now and that death isn't the end of life. We die spiritually to live physically, and we die physically to live spiritually again and return to the presence of our Father. The knowledge that we have made us completely different from the rest of the people that were there, especially his family when they arrived. I'm truly grateful for the gospel in my life and that I have this knowledge. Its made me re-double my efforts to help as many people as possible so that they can receive this knowledge and that they can return to the presence of God with a cleanliness, free from the spots of this world.
So, like I said, we're in a trio, which is pretty interesting. We actually finally got beds so I'm no longer sleeping on the ground (what a blessing!!), but we're still lacking several necessities, like a washing machin that works and a sink. But we make it work. We're have a few growing pains because we're not used to teaching in trio, but we're working it out. But its all lots of fun being in a group of more than just 2.
So, have I mentioned that its pretty stinking hot down here? In dad's words: "Disgusting!" Its nowhere as hot as Arizona, but in Arizona we have air conditioning...
So yeah, time's about up, so I'm gonna have to run. Hope you all have a wonderful week and in just a couple more weeks we can all have a nice, long, 45-minute long chat... I can't wait.
Love you all!!!!!
-Elder Marx
hey
Hey- so this email will be super short. Basically, we grabbed the wrong bus and we ended up´accidentally going to a completely different city and it took more than an hour longer to get to where we wanted to. I'm now hot, sweaty, frazzled, and I have very little time to send a quick email to ya'll and then we still have to take another bus to get back to our area where we have an appointment at 6. Yeah, things are kinda nuts. So really, really quick:
- life is good and we're working really hard and finding new people to teach (... but now we're knocking like crazy).
- So an Elder got sick and had to go home so we're now in a trio. There's me, Elder Thorpe, and now Elder Bezerra as well. He's from Recife, way up in the northeast. He's a good guy and we're all going to work our tails off. We just need the necessities in our house now, like another bed, a sink, closets, etc...
- Its getting pretty dang hot down here, be grateful for the cold.
- gotta run, the church is true. I'm alive... I'll talk to you next week. Buy ice cream for the missionaries. Its way hot down here
- love you all!!!!!
So you guys are NOT going to believe who is my companion now...
So, first off, how is everyone? Excited for thanksgiving? So, we had transfers this week and I am no longer with Elder Gomes. I picked up a new companion... Elder Thorpe! (To those of you who are not currently residing in Texas, Elder Thorpe is from the same stake as mom and dad). I couldn't believe it when I heard it. So, I'm with an American for the first time in nearly a year. Its a little odd, actually. But it'll be great. We're going to go nuts here in the area and baptize everyone.
Speaking of baptism, they happened!!!! It was great!!! So, we showed up at the chapel rather early to make sure that everything would be ready and we went to fill the font, but we discovered that the door was locked and we didn't have the keys. So, I kinda had to do a spider-man type climbing action to get over to turn the water on, but it all worked out in the end. Also, the water heater wasn't working (I spent two hours fighting with the sucker and it still didn't work... grrrr...) so it was rather cold but the day was really hot and it all worked out great in the end. I love baptizing!!!
So, funny story rapidão: So we were at a member's house and I saw that they have a pull-up bar. So, we were waiting for lunch to be ready so I decided to goof a little bit and do a couple pull-ups. Well, I did a few and then on my third or fourth, I pulled myself up a little too much and bonked my nose on the door frame where the bar was mounted. Well, I actually thought I broke my nose, but it turned out I just scalped a couple layers of skin off my nose and for the last week or so I've been walking around with this huge scab on my nose because of it. When the members ask me what happened I just tell them we got jumped- their reactions are way funny.
So, I also had the coolest lesson of my mission last week. I was in a division with another Elder and we went to teach a Jew. Well, as you know, Jews don't believe in Christ. He had quite a few doubts about the fact that Christ was the Messiah... It wasn't bible-bash, but we opened up scripture after scripture in the Old Testament proving that Christ was and IS the Messiah and the Son of God. You could see his head spinning, but it was soooooo flipping cool!!!!! My whole mission we always testify that the Church was restored, that the Book of Mormon is true, that God calls prophets in our days, etc. But I never had to testify to somebody that Jesus is the Christ. It was a really cool experience and the Spirit was so strong when we testified to him. I love the fact that I know the scriptures well enough to be able to open them and teach people about the truthfulness of our message. Its great!!!
So, I have received 2 birthday packages. The Skittles and Pay days are gone and the electric razor got here safe and sound. Thanks so much for them. Oh, and do you guys remember what I asked you all for a couple weeks ago- to get together that Christmas package for the Elder in my district who won't receive anything? Are you doing that? Please do it and please let me know about it. I would mean a lot to him. Please let me know.
So yeah, things are rolling along here really well. Life's great, the mission's great, I love where I'm at and what I'm doing. The church is true!!!
Love you all, have a great Thanksgiving!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Speaking of baptism, they happened!!!! It was great!!! So, we showed up at the chapel rather early to make sure that everything would be ready and we went to fill the font, but we discovered that the door was locked and we didn't have the keys. So, I kinda had to do a spider-man type climbing action to get over to turn the water on, but it all worked out in the end. Also, the water heater wasn't working (I spent two hours fighting with the sucker and it still didn't work... grrrr...) so it was rather cold but the day was really hot and it all worked out great in the end. I love baptizing!!!
So, funny story rapidão: So we were at a member's house and I saw that they have a pull-up bar. So, we were waiting for lunch to be ready so I decided to goof a little bit and do a couple pull-ups. Well, I did a few and then on my third or fourth, I pulled myself up a little too much and bonked my nose on the door frame where the bar was mounted. Well, I actually thought I broke my nose, but it turned out I just scalped a couple layers of skin off my nose and for the last week or so I've been walking around with this huge scab on my nose because of it. When the members ask me what happened I just tell them we got jumped- their reactions are way funny.
So, I also had the coolest lesson of my mission last week. I was in a division with another Elder and we went to teach a Jew. Well, as you know, Jews don't believe in Christ. He had quite a few doubts about the fact that Christ was the Messiah... It wasn't bible-bash, but we opened up scripture after scripture in the Old Testament proving that Christ was and IS the Messiah and the Son of God. You could see his head spinning, but it was soooooo flipping cool!!!!! My whole mission we always testify that the Church was restored, that the Book of Mormon is true, that God calls prophets in our days, etc. But I never had to testify to somebody that Jesus is the Christ. It was a really cool experience and the Spirit was so strong when we testified to him. I love the fact that I know the scriptures well enough to be able to open them and teach people about the truthfulness of our message. Its great!!!
So, I have received 2 birthday packages. The Skittles and Pay days are gone and the electric razor got here safe and sound. Thanks so much for them. Oh, and do you guys remember what I asked you all for a couple weeks ago- to get together that Christmas package for the Elder in my district who won't receive anything? Are you doing that? Please do it and please let me know about it. I would mean a lot to him. Please let me know.
So yeah, things are rolling along here really well. Life's great, the mission's great, I love where I'm at and what I'm doing. The church is true!!!
Love you all, have a great Thanksgiving!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Hey family!!!!
Well hey guys!!! First off, thanks for all the birthday wishes!!! Am I really 21? Well, not quite but still... Wow, I'm old... I also passed my would be "slump day" If I had entered in the CTM on the right day I would have passed my one year and six month mark. How crazy is that? It seems like yesterday that you guys dropped me off in the MTC but then I realize that P and J have a KID, Mom and Dad live in TEXAS, I've lost 50 POUNDS, etc and I realize that things have really changed a lot. Oh well, I'll stop being sentimental.
So, this week has been absolutely CRAZY. Crazy good. We've been working like crazy. This email is going to be fairly short...If this stinkin computer would let me, I'd send you pics but it doesn't, so this'll have to be in bullet form:
- We're going to Baptize tomorrow!!! 4 People!!!!!!
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - I discovered my companion's scared of chickens, so I chased him around a member's house with a chicken until he locked himself in the bathroom. Then I gave the chicken to the member and told my companion I let the chicken go. When he walked out of the bathroom the member popped out with the chicken and scared him out of his skin. I've never seen him run so fast! It was hilarious!
- So, we were at a member's house and she asked me to help haul her pig to her car to take it to another ranch-dealy-thingy. So another member jumped in, wrestled the pig into submission, hog tied it, and then told me to grab it and help haul it to the car. I looked at the pig and thought, "where?" His answer? "I'll grab the ears and the legs and you lift it up by its tail!" SO, I had no choice, I lifted the pig up by its tail and the sucker SCREAMED SO LOUD!!!!!! Well, I can't really blame her, I would too.
- So, did I mention WE"RE GOING TO BAPTIZE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? (I'm a little excited...)
- Thanks for all the love and support. I'm going to get a Christmas package together in a week or two and hopefully it'll get to ya'll for Christmas
Well, time's up, gotta run!!!! Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!! The church is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Carta de Elder Marx. Vocês conhecem... aquele missionário lá no outro lado do mundo...
Hey guys, how's life? Things are going great here. I'm pretty sure I already mentioned it to you all but I'm working in a branch that's struggling to grow, but things are going really well now. We have 4 baptisms scheduled for next week! Its going to be great! We've been working our tails off and haven't been seeing lots of success but now things are going really well and we're going to baptize!!! (We're pretty dang excited).
So, seeing as Chritmas-time is coming closer and you guys are asking me what I'd like in a package I'll address that. Well, I don't really need anything. Before you guys send me something I want you all to make another package and send it to another missionary here in the mission. He's in my District, and his name's Elder Justino. I've known him all his mission and I'll tell you his story: He's from Fortaleza, Ceará, which is up in the Northeast of Brasil and its really poor... He and his sister are the only members of the church in his family and they're both serving missions right now. His parents are from another church and don't support him serving a mission. In fact, its been about 6 months since they've written him anything. He's a great missionary, but I don't think he's going to receive anything for Christmas. So, before you guys send me anything, I want you all to send him a package so that he doesn't go through this Christmas receiving nothing. So, he plays the violin (got one second-hand and taught himself how to play) but doesn't have much sheet music so I'd like you all to send him some sheet music and training books on the violin on the intermediate level. Make a really great package-fill it with cool stuff from Deseret Book, cool church things and cool American things and send it to him, he's a great guy and deserves to receive something for Christmas. I'm sure it'll mean a lot to him. As for me: oh whatever, you guys know what I like.
So, funny story... I threw a load of whites in the washing machine (our washing machine is total rubbish but oh well) and they went through the wash. However, I forgot to pull them out until the next day. So, when I pulled them out, all my garments were completely moldy. Gross. Like they were covered with this black mold. So, unfortunately I had no other choice but to use them this week until today when we got permission to run to the temple and buy new garments. It was straight up nasty. But oh well, life as a missionary, and now I'm careful to never leave my clothes in the washing machine in the Brazilian heat.
Well, time's up, gotta run!!!
Love you all!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Hey!!!
Hey family, how are you all doing? Are you liking the cold? Is it snowing yet? How is football going? Anything fun or exciting happen?
So, this week was fairly difficult work-wise. We were teaching quite a few families but this last week they all pretty much decided that they don't want anything to do with anything. So, our teaching pool pretty much evaporated. Annoying, but its life and its their decision. So, (as always) we're starting from scratch again and we're working hard to find new people to teach. We're trying a different approach now: in this area nobody's home until about 7 at night (they all go to Curitiba to work during the day and only come back at night) and at night they don't let anyone in for safety reasons (I understand why, I'd do the same thing, it gets dangerous at night) so knocking doors isn't the most effective way to try to find people to teach. So we're now trying to work more with the less actives. I'm working in a branch right now, so we're going to try to reactivate the less-actives so that they help the branch grow. Also, the less actives always have friends and family that we can teach so that's our new focus. Let's hope it works out because we REALLY need people to teach.
So we walked in front of a magazine stand this last week and the owner called us over. When we got there he told us that Veja (this really popular magazine here in Brasil) had written an article about the church. So we took a look at the article really quick. It talked about Mitt Romney and how the church is growing here in Brasil and talked a lot about the Book of Mormon. They even interviewed Elder Andersen. It was way cool to see the church get good publicity and that more people are paying attention to us. It was way cool because there were some times the church has had some REALLY bad press here...
So, I'm going to start getting a Christmas package ready for you all. Do you want anything specifically? Just let me know...
So I gotta send my report to President and then I'm gonna have to run but I love you all. The gospel IS TRUE!!!!!
Have a great week!!!!
-Elder Marx
Hey
Hey family, how're you all doing? First off, I'm so sorry to hear about Molly. I knew it would be coming this week (actually, I think I actually knew before the email last week- the Spirit prepared me). To be honest, I was really sad last Wednesday when I heard about her and when we got back to our house I sat and pondered and I remembered a scripture I had read quite a while back- D&C 77 2-3:
Q. What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse?
A. They are afigurative expressions, used by the Revelator, John, in describing bheaven, the cparadise of God, the dhappiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the espirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the fbeast, and every other creature which God has created.
3 Q. Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or aorders?
A. They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined border or csphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their deternal efelicity.
So, I read that and remembered how marvelous the Lord's plan truly is. Christ truly created all things spiritually before he created them physically. That includes you, me, the trees and Molly. I read this and I believe that this means that if she existed before, she'll exist after as well in "[her] enjoyment of [her] eternal felicity." That brought me much comfort and I hope it helps you guys if you're struggling with her loss.
Okay, so let's move on to happier topics. So, the stupid postage strike is over and my package finally came in. I promptly gave my comp the BYU T-Shirt (he's really grateful for it) and gave the CTR Rings to several of the Brazilians (its hard to get those down here). They all really appreciated the gifts and said thank you. There was just one problem: the deodorant you guys sent me? Didn't get here. The police went in and robbed it. (I don't know HOW the iPod got here safely- I truly count that as a miracle) . So just a lovely reminder not to send anything too valuable to me down here- you really can't trust the police. But thanks a ton for the love and support and packages that I always get. (Hint hint... birthday in three weeks... hint hint... Christmas in nine weeks... hint hint...)
So this week was a good week in our work- I had a huge realization actually. There are some times when we get so caught up in all the little things that we completely forget about the big picture. We get so stuck in the nitty-gritty that we forget about the things that really matter... get so preoccupied with numbers that they forget that there are PEOPLE behind the numbers- and we're here to help them, not just see who can post up the highest score like we're in a huge video game. Its actually something I've been fighting since I've gotten here, but I found myself falling into the same trap- doing things only to get a number- not for the benefit of our investigators, and certainly not because we love them and desire their salvation. So, as I started to fall into this trap I found myself getting more and more depressed and frustrated and miserable. I lost the Spirit because I wasn't working the way the Lord wants us to work. So I had this huge realization this week that I was falling into this trap and we (Elder Gomes and I) made some drastic changes to the way we do our work. We've completely changed the way we do everything- the way we work, the way we study, the way we act with the members, everything. It all has one huge focus- helping the investigators. Everything we do isn't for us and it certainly isn't for the numbers- its to help these children of God receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ by helping them have more faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by the priesthood authority of God, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by the same means, and stay strong and firm the the Gospel until the end. I'm sure some of you (especially the returned missionaries) are looking at me and thinking, "well no durh!!!" but you'd be surprised how many missionaries haven't realized this yet. After we realized this and changed the way we work, things have changed 100%. We have the Spirit so much more while we are working, we're honestly trying to help these people. They're progressing better, they're feeling the spirit more, and I'm positive the Lord is more satisfied with our service. Its remarkable the difference that happens when we stop and look at the things that matter most.
Well, I sure do love you all. I want you to know that the Gospel IS true, Jesus truly is the Christ, he truly is our savior and redeemer. (By the way I finished reading Jesus, the Christ in Portuguese this week). This work is a work to do nothing more or less than help our brothers and sisters receive the same blessings we're receiving daily. I'm kind shocked to realize that in a couple weeks I'm going to hit 1 year and 6 months- man time flies. I'm going to do all I can in the little time I have left to bring as many of our brothers to Christ as I can, and I have a testimony that the Lord sure does bless us when we trust him.
Love you all!!!!
Go help the missionaries!!!!!
-Elder Marx
So, I read that and remembered how marvelous the Lord's plan truly is. Christ truly created all things spiritually before he created them physically. That includes you, me, the trees and Molly. I read this and I believe that this means that if she existed before, she'll exist after as well in "[her] enjoyment of [her] eternal felicity." That brought me much comfort and I hope it helps you guys if you're struggling with her loss.
Okay, so let's move on to happier topics. So, the stupid postage strike is over and my package finally came in. I promptly gave my comp the BYU T-Shirt (he's really grateful for it) and gave the CTR Rings to several of the Brazilians (its hard to get those down here). They all really appreciated the gifts and said thank you. There was just one problem: the deodorant you guys sent me? Didn't get here. The police went in and robbed it. (I don't know HOW the iPod got here safely- I truly count that as a miracle) . So just a lovely reminder not to send anything too valuable to me down here- you really can't trust the police. But thanks a ton for the love and support and packages that I always get. (Hint hint... birthday in three weeks... hint hint... Christmas in nine weeks... hint hint...)
So this week was a good week in our work- I had a huge realization actually. There are some times when we get so caught up in all the little things that we completely forget about the big picture. We get so stuck in the nitty-gritty that we forget about the things that really matter... get so preoccupied with numbers that they forget that there are PEOPLE behind the numbers- and we're here to help them, not just see who can post up the highest score like we're in a huge video game. Its actually something I've been fighting since I've gotten here, but I found myself falling into the same trap- doing things only to get a number- not for the benefit of our investigators, and certainly not because we love them and desire their salvation. So, as I started to fall into this trap I found myself getting more and more depressed and frustrated and miserable. I lost the Spirit because I wasn't working the way the Lord wants us to work. So I had this huge realization this week that I was falling into this trap and we (Elder Gomes and I) made some drastic changes to the way we do our work. We've completely changed the way we do everything- the way we work, the way we study, the way we act with the members, everything. It all has one huge focus- helping the investigators. Everything we do isn't for us and it certainly isn't for the numbers- its to help these children of God receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ by helping them have more faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by the priesthood authority of God, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by the same means, and stay strong and firm the the Gospel until the end. I'm sure some of you (especially the returned missionaries) are looking at me and thinking, "well no durh!!!" but you'd be surprised how many missionaries haven't realized this yet. After we realized this and changed the way we work, things have changed 100%. We have the Spirit so much more while we are working, we're honestly trying to help these people. They're progressing better, they're feeling the spirit more, and I'm positive the Lord is more satisfied with our service. Its remarkable the difference that happens when we stop and look at the things that matter most.
Well, I sure do love you all. I want you to know that the Gospel IS true, Jesus truly is the Christ, he truly is our savior and redeemer. (By the way I finished reading Jesus, the Christ in Portuguese this week). This work is a work to do nothing more or less than help our brothers and sisters receive the same blessings we're receiving daily. I'm kind shocked to realize that in a couple weeks I'm going to hit 1 year and 6 months- man time flies. I'm going to do all I can in the little time I have left to bring as many of our brothers to Christ as I can, and I have a testimony that the Lord sure does bless us when we trust him.
Love you all!!!!
Go help the missionaries!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Hey
Hey family, how are you all doing?...
So, this week was a really great week. We're working hard here in the area and we're seeing fruits. Its kinda refreshing to be with a companion who isn't a junior, and we're working really hard here. This area opened up just a transfer or two ago, and it had been shut for a year or so because of several Elders breaking a lot of the rules, so we're working really hard trying to get the branch excited about the work and win the confidence of the members. Its going pretty well, we're recieving lots of references from the members and they're introducing us to lots of people, so we're teaching like crazy. The problem is, nobody's married so we're going to work with all of them to get them all hitched and baptized. Its actually a fairly lengthy process for someone to get married here in Brasil (stupid Satan trying to ruin the sanctity of marriage...) but we're going to do everything we can to get them all ready to be baptized. Maybe we'll have a huge marriage and marry everyone at the same time and then we'll take them all straight to the baptismal font to be baptized. That'd actually be amazingly sweet...
So this area is also in the same Zone where I started off my mission, so I'm getting dejá-vu like crazy here. It seems like only yesterday I was starting off up in Pilarzinho and now its a year later and I'm back here. Things are coming full circle here. ITs crazy how much time has flown by. But let's not get sentimental here.
So, we also had a really cool activity here in the branch. The banch presidente and all the branch leaders went out and we all knocked doors and distribuited pamphlets and DVDs and got the people's addresses so we can go and teach another day. It went really well, they all felt the spirit of missionary work and they all got more excited about it. One of the sisters in the ward got really excited about a young man that she talked to and wants to go with us when we teach him. Best of all, one brother said, "man, I didn't realize knocking doors was this tough! You guys really need our help and more references!" That was like music to my ears. The missionaries really need member help, so don't hesitate to give it to them! Go out on splits! Talk to people to see if they want to hear the missionaries! You'll see that if you do that the Lord will bless you more and more and you'll be an instrument in His hands to help other people recieve all the blessings of the gospel. I love you all and hope everything's going well for you. Go and help the missionaries!
Love,
-Elder Marx
P.S. The postal strike ended and its now only four weeks until my birthday... hint hint...
So, this week was a really great week. We're working hard here in the area and we're seeing fruits. Its kinda refreshing to be with a companion who isn't a junior, and we're working really hard here. This area opened up just a transfer or two ago, and it had been shut for a year or so because of several Elders breaking a lot of the rules, so we're working really hard trying to get the branch excited about the work and win the confidence of the members. Its going pretty well, we're recieving lots of references from the members and they're introducing us to lots of people, so we're teaching like crazy. The problem is, nobody's married so we're going to work with all of them to get them all hitched and baptized. Its actually a fairly lengthy process for someone to get married here in Brasil (stupid Satan trying to ruin the sanctity of marriage...) but we're going to do everything we can to get them all ready to be baptized. Maybe we'll have a huge marriage and marry everyone at the same time and then we'll take them all straight to the baptismal font to be baptized. That'd actually be amazingly sweet...
So this area is also in the same Zone where I started off my mission, so I'm getting dejá-vu like crazy here. It seems like only yesterday I was starting off up in Pilarzinho and now its a year later and I'm back here. Things are coming full circle here. ITs crazy how much time has flown by. But let's not get sentimental here.
So, we also had a really cool activity here in the branch. The banch presidente and all the branch leaders went out and we all knocked doors and distribuited pamphlets and DVDs and got the people's addresses so we can go and teach another day. It went really well, they all felt the spirit of missionary work and they all got more excited about it. One of the sisters in the ward got really excited about a young man that she talked to and wants to go with us when we teach him. Best of all, one brother said, "man, I didn't realize knocking doors was this tough! You guys really need our help and more references!" That was like music to my ears. The missionaries really need member help, so don't hesitate to give it to them! Go out on splits! Talk to people to see if they want to hear the missionaries! You'll see that if you do that the Lord will bless you more and more and you'll be an instrument in His hands to help other people recieve all the blessings of the gospel. I love you all and hope everything's going well for you. Go and help the missionaries!
Love,
-Elder Marx
P.S. The postal strike ended and its now only four weeks until my birthday... hint hint...
Well, new things have happened
Well, first things off: I am no longer in Paradise. Yes, Elder Bubba is a little sad... So, after apenas one transfer, I got transferred again. I'm now in the City of Colombo (google map it, would you kindly...) Its a suburb of Curitiba so Bubba's back in the big city. I'm working in a Branch, not a Ward now as well, so things should be fairly interesting.... Also, for the First time in more than 6 months, I'm working with someone who ISN'T a greenie, so that should be fairly refreshing. I like working and helping out the new elders, but they were starting to burn me out. So my new comp is Elder Gomes, he's from São Paulo (surprise, almost all of my comps are from there) and he's got a little more time on the mission than me. He seems pretty chill... But yeah, we're going to go nutzo on this area and baptize everyone that we can.
So, this last week things went really well, things were finally starting to get going with the ward. We taught a bunch of lessons and were finally starting to see success but now we're not there to see the fruits of our labors.... Also, today is a national holiday: Children's Day! I'm actually really glad that its P-Day because on the holidays its almost impossible to do anything other than walk around the whole day accomplishing nothing- the people all get drunk and ´party so I'm glad its P-Day and we can relax a little.
Hmm... what else? Well, as I said I'm trying to collect books in Portuguese and I found another one for my collection. Do you guys know the book Eldest (mom should at least)? Well, I saw it in Portuguese and I couldn't resist. I'm getting a fairly large collection. Its the one trunky thing I do, and I don't read them, so I feel justified. It'll be lots of fun to read them all AFTER my mission.
So yeah, I got transferred... I'm no longer in Paradise, and I'm going to forget all about it and go crazy on this area and baptize everyone we can!!! I love being a missionary!!!!! Hope you all have a wonderful week!!!! Love you all!!!!! The Gospel is TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
PS I made Root Beer. So. Flipping. Good.
Hey!!!!
Well hey there everyone! How're you all doing? I gotta say, thanks everyone for writing me this week. I really appeciate hearing from you all and the pics of my little (big) nephew. I also got my package with the sweet BYU Football shirt. Thanks a ton! I will also be making lots of pancakes, french toast, and Root Beer with my district. I didn't especially like the Krispy Kreme hats, but at least it wasn't an In-N-Out wrapper, and I know it was well-intentioned.
So who liked General Conference? I did!!!! How many talks were about missionary work? and THEY'RE MAKING THE PROVO TABERNACLE INTO A TEMPLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Woah, how did that go over in Provo? Did everyone get way excited? I am! I'll probably be there when it gets dedicated! (In Provo, not the temple mesmo). I seriously thought conference was ridiculously good this time (its always really good).
So this week was fairly interesting. Murphy's Law was in effect in our area, just about everything went wrong. Remember how I said that I was feeling feverish? Well that shortly exploded into a fever of 101, so we didn't get to work much. Then, on Friday, we had interviews with President Cordon and then I had a couple baptismal interviews in my district so we didn't even work in our area that day. THEN, on Saturday my comp woke up puking because of food poisoning and that put him out of commission for the rest of the weekend. So... it was... interesting...
...but I followed what the Spirit told me and I feel strongly what I did was best. It was interesting to me to realize how much I've learned here on the mission about the Spirit and about following his guidance. It'll all work out in the end.
...So, has anyone gotten what I sent yet? They should have arrived in all of you respective houses now. Have they gotten there? LEt me know when they arrive!
Well family, I'm glad that you're all doing well. Everyone's doing great and so am I. The Lord sure blesses us. I love you all and hope that things will keep going along well for you all and that life keeps going spendiferously. The gospel is true and we are all truly being blessed. Keep´it up! Oh, and can you believe that its October already? NUTS!!!!!! My birthday is next month! CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Hint hint... presents...)
Love you all! Gotta run!!!!
-Elder Marx
So who liked General Conference? I did!!!! How many talks were about missionary work? and THEY'RE MAKING THE PROVO TABERNACLE INTO A TEMPLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Woah, how did that go over in Provo? Did everyone get way excited? I am! I'll probably be there when it gets dedicated! (In Provo, not the temple mesmo). I seriously thought conference was ridiculously good this time (its always really good).
So this week was fairly interesting. Murphy's Law was in effect in our area, just about everything went wrong. Remember how I said that I was feeling feverish? Well that shortly exploded into a fever of 101, so we didn't get to work much. Then, on Friday, we had interviews with President Cordon and then I had a couple baptismal interviews in my district so we didn't even work in our area that day. THEN, on Saturday my comp woke up puking because of food poisoning and that put him out of commission for the rest of the weekend. So... it was... interesting...
...but I followed what the Spirit told me and I feel strongly what I did was best. It was interesting to me to realize how much I've learned here on the mission about the Spirit and about following his guidance. It'll all work out in the end.
...So, has anyone gotten what I sent yet? They should have arrived in all of you respective houses now. Have they gotten there? LEt me know when they arrive!
Well family, I'm glad that you're all doing well. Everyone's doing great and so am I. The Lord sure blesses us. I love you all and hope that things will keep going along well for you all and that life keeps going spendiferously. The gospel is true and we are all truly being blessed. Keep´it up! Oh, and can you believe that its October already? NUTS!!!!!! My birthday is next month! CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Hint hint... presents...)
Love you all! Gotta run!!!!
-Elder Marx
Hey!
Hey everyone! How are you all doing? Things are going well here, actually, I'm a bit feverish so I'm not feeling all that great, but life goes on. How was everyone's week? How is my little sobrinho? (Hint Hint... Elder Bubba wants new and current fotos...). Are things starting to get a little cooler now that its almost October? Things are starting to get a little warmer here. Spring officially started here and the sun is STRONG. Don't worry, I'm using lots of sunscreen so I don't fry like a shrimp. But yeah, is everyone excited to watch General Conference? I am! Its going to be sweet! And did you all see the new Liahona/Ensign all about the Book of Mormon? It thought it was cool. I think it will help out a lot of people investigating the Church, and the members as well. Actually, speaking of the Book of Mormon, PResident Cordon (my mission president) challenged us all to read the Book of Mormon before New Years. So, we're having to read about 6 pages a day. You'd think it a lot of reading, and it is, but he then pointed out that it took Joseph Smith about 75 days to translate the Book, which is way less time than its taking us to read it. Its kinda crazy to think about, but its just another testimony builder about how the book IS true.
So, if I remember right I challenged you all to do something to help out the missionary work. How did that go? Did you guys go on splits with the missionaries or give a book or mormon or pass along card? I'd like to know how it went (and if you didn't do it repent and DO IT). I had an interesting experience this Sunday, one of the people who would have given a talk in Church didn't show up so they asked me to give a talk about missionary work. I had about 10 minutes to preapare, but it worked out all right. I read Alma 13: 24 to them and testified to them that angels really are preparing the people to recieve the Restored Gospel. I then told them that many people think that the angels that Mormon is referring to here are the missionaries, but actually we aren't the angels- the Word that comes in its glory. There's actually a better way- the members. There's someone who can prepare the people before the missionaries even say a work to them, and that's the members. The members can help the people prepare and accept the Gospel well before the missionaries show up. We (the missionaries) are the word that comes in its glory, but the angels that are working beforehand are actually the members. I then challenged them all to be angels and to help us find the people that are "who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" (D&C123:12). I think it went well, I felt the Spirit at least and I think and hope and pray that the members did as well and that we can start working together to find more people.
But how is BYU Football going? Is there anything exciting going on that I should know about? Its been more than a month since I recieved any letters because I'm waaaaaaay out in Podunk, so if you're counting on me getting your letters its doubtful. If there's anything important that you want me to know, put it in the email. Oh and speaking of letters, has anyone gotten what I sent to you all? I think its been about 2 weeks since I sent them so you should be getting them soon. Let me know when they arrive and what you all think of them.
But yeah, so I haven't really heard from anyone so I'd like to hear how you all are doing. Drop me a line! Especially Mr. I'm-engaged-but-won't-write-to-Brasil-Boy-to-tell-him-what-is-going-on... *evil glare*. So people, drop me a line! I love you all and would like to hear how you're doing! Give Bronson-Boy a hug from his uncle as well...
Love you all!!!!
-Elder Marx
So, if I remember right I challenged you all to do something to help out the missionary work. How did that go? Did you guys go on splits with the missionaries or give a book or mormon or pass along card? I'd like to know how it went (and if you didn't do it repent and DO IT). I had an interesting experience this Sunday, one of the people who would have given a talk in Church didn't show up so they asked me to give a talk about missionary work. I had about 10 minutes to preapare, but it worked out all right. I read Alma 13: 24 to them and testified to them that angels really are preparing the people to recieve the Restored Gospel. I then told them that many people think that the angels that Mormon is referring to here are the missionaries, but actually we aren't the angels- the Word that comes in its glory. There's actually a better way- the members. There's someone who can prepare the people before the missionaries even say a work to them, and that's the members. The members can help the people prepare and accept the Gospel well before the missionaries show up. We (the missionaries) are the word that comes in its glory, but the angels that are working beforehand are actually the members. I then challenged them all to be angels and to help us find the people that are "who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" (D&C123:12). I think it went well, I felt the Spirit at least and I think and hope and pray that the members did as well and that we can start working together to find more people.
But how is BYU Football going? Is there anything exciting going on that I should know about? Its been more than a month since I recieved any letters because I'm waaaaaaay out in Podunk, so if you're counting on me getting your letters its doubtful. If there's anything important that you want me to know, put it in the email. Oh and speaking of letters, has anyone gotten what I sent to you all? I think its been about 2 weeks since I sent them so you should be getting them soon. Let me know when they arrive and what you all think of them.
But yeah, so I haven't really heard from anyone so I'd like to hear how you all are doing. Drop me a line! Especially Mr. I'm-engaged-but-won't-write-to-Brasil-Boy-to-tell-him-what-is-going-on... *evil glare*. So people, drop me a line! I love you all and would like to hear how you're doing! Give Bronson-Boy a hug from his uncle as well...
Love you all!!!!
-Elder Marx
Carta Semanal 21 de Setembro
...So how is everyone doing? Life down here is going amazingly! Our P-Day is going great, I'm going to another area tonight to do a baptismal interview so we invited the other Elders in our district to come hang out with us. So, there's a member who teaches Muay Thai here and every P-Day he teaches us for free, so Bubba'a learning Muay Thai. I'm actually really liking it too. Is there a gym or place with Muay Thai in Provo? If so, I want to keep at it after the mission, I'm really liking it. So after that we went and climbed this HUGE hill and tooki pics of the area. It was really pretty but the hill was covered in mud so we all kept slipping and sliding and falling and by the time we made it to the bottom of the hill, we were all covered in mud. So after we get done writing emails we going to the beach play soccer in the sand. Yeah, this is a pretty darn good P-Day. Also, thanks for getting me your addresses, you all have post cards en route to your new addresses and I hope that they get there sooner than later.
So the work here is going along well. We were blessed to have a lot of investigators at church and they all really liked it, so things are going really well here. I was in a division with a zone Leader yesterday and we actually had a really cool experience. We were knocking doors and these two people let us in the house. At first, I thought it was going to be a bible bash but they let us share the message.The guy said he was in seminary (training to be a priest in the catholic church) but the spirit was in the room really strong. In the end we gave him a book of Mormon and he had a ot of interest. Its great to know that D&C 123 is true, that there are people everywhere in the world that are seperated from the truth only because they don't know where to find it. So the work's going really well here. We're working really hard and we're starting to see fruits. Its a great feeling to be here and work hard and start to see fruits for all your hard work.
So how is BYU Football going? How is college football in general? Who's number one right now? I don't want lots of details, but I would like to be informed. How's mom and dad's new house? Any fun, new, and interesting developments?
So unfortunately, I don't have much to write about this week. Nothing really exciting happened, just lots of hard work, and lots of blessings from the Lord. So I'd like to just share my testimony with you guys. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that He wants us all to help our brothers and sisters out to find the Restored Gospel. Without the members, missionary work is waaaay more difficult. I ave a challenge for all of you guys: Either go on splits with the missionaries or invite someone you know to church, or give someone a Book of Mormon. Simple and little things, but that make all the difference in the long run. Love you guys!! Tell me how it goes this week!!!
-Elder Marx
Pictures!
So the work here is going along well. We were blessed to have a lot of investigators at church and they all really liked it, so things are going really well here. I was in a division with a zone Leader yesterday and we actually had a really cool experience. We were knocking doors and these two people let us in the house. At first, I thought it was going to be a bible bash but they let us share the message.The guy said he was in seminary (training to be a priest in the catholic church) but the spirit was in the room really strong. In the end we gave him a book of Mormon and he had a ot of interest. Its great to know that D&C 123 is true, that there are people everywhere in the world that are seperated from the truth only because they don't know where to find it. So the work's going really well here. We're working really hard and we're starting to see fruits. Its a great feeling to be here and work hard and start to see fruits for all your hard work.
So how is BYU Football going? How is college football in general? Who's number one right now? I don't want lots of details, but I would like to be informed. How's mom and dad's new house? Any fun, new, and interesting developments?
So unfortunately, I don't have much to write about this week. Nothing really exciting happened, just lots of hard work, and lots of blessings from the Lord. So I'd like to just share my testimony with you guys. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that He wants us all to help our brothers and sisters out to find the Restored Gospel. Without the members, missionary work is waaaay more difficult. I ave a challenge for all of you guys: Either go on splits with the missionaries or invite someone you know to church, or give someone a Book of Mormon. Simple and little things, but that make all the difference in the long run. Love you guys!! Tell me how it goes this week!!!
-Elder Marx
Pictures!
Hey!!!
Hey family!!! How are you all doing? How is life on the other side of the world? How is College Football going? I don't want too many details (no trunky!) but I would like to be informed. How is life? Is it getting colder now? Can you believe this week made 10 years since September 11th? How did all that go? Any fun and exciting new developments?
...So, this week was actually really good. We worked really hard and saw some success. Its kinda complicated here because its a tourist town and summer's starting so most of the people we talk to aren't from our area, but we're making it work. I actually got back last night from a rather fun excursion to Curitiba. So here's what happened: so to get to Curitiba we had to take a bus for an hour and a half to get to Paranaguá, where the nearest missionaries live. We slept in the LZ's house and got up at 4:30 in the morning so the four of us could shower and get to the bus at 6. We then took another bus another 2 hours to get to Curitiba, where we then had a training for all the leadership in the mission. After sitting in the training the whole day, we then had to run BACK to the bus station and take the bus BACK to Paranaguá and then take the bus BACK to Matinhos, another hour and a half. Yeah, I spent a LOT of time on the bus.
Actually I had a really cool experience on the bus coming home to Matinhos. I sat in a seat away from my comp and another person sat down next to me. I was really tired and was starting to fall asleep but I felt a strong prompting to talk to the guy. I kinda groaned to myself about how I was tired and didn't want to talk to him but the prompting came back even stronger. Finally, I started to talk with him. He was actually a cool guy and works with music, so we sat there chatting about music and then I started to talk to him and teach him about the Book of Mormon. He got really interested and I started explaining to him about how God called prophets here in the Americas and how Christ came and taught the people here in the Americas after his Resurrection. He got really interested and so I went on to 3rd Nephi 11 and he started reading right there on the bus. He said he really wanted to know more about what Christ did here in the Americas and so we marked a day to teach him. After he got off I felt so great, I was so grateful that I listened to the promptings of the Spirit and that I opened my mouth and taught this child of God the Gospel, even if it was 9 at night and I was tired and wanted to sleep. If you follow the Spirit you can find opportunities to share the gospel with anyone and in any situation, and last night strengthened my testimony of that.
So yeah, we had a great week. We had lots of experiences like that and I'm grateful that I'm here serving as a missionary. I love this Gospel and I love the Book of Mormon. Its true!!!!!!! I get sad when I think I only have a few more months that I can keep sharing the Gospel with these wonderful people here in Brasil. I hope you all are doing well and I want you all to know that I know that this work is the work of the Lord and that this church is true!
-Elder Marx
Pictures:
...So, this week was actually really good. We worked really hard and saw some success. Its kinda complicated here because its a tourist town and summer's starting so most of the people we talk to aren't from our area, but we're making it work. I actually got back last night from a rather fun excursion to Curitiba. So here's what happened: so to get to Curitiba we had to take a bus for an hour and a half to get to Paranaguá, where the nearest missionaries live. We slept in the LZ's house and got up at 4:30 in the morning so the four of us could shower and get to the bus at 6. We then took another bus another 2 hours to get to Curitiba, where we then had a training for all the leadership in the mission. After sitting in the training the whole day, we then had to run BACK to the bus station and take the bus BACK to Paranaguá and then take the bus BACK to Matinhos, another hour and a half. Yeah, I spent a LOT of time on the bus.
Actually I had a really cool experience on the bus coming home to Matinhos. I sat in a seat away from my comp and another person sat down next to me. I was really tired and was starting to fall asleep but I felt a strong prompting to talk to the guy. I kinda groaned to myself about how I was tired and didn't want to talk to him but the prompting came back even stronger. Finally, I started to talk with him. He was actually a cool guy and works with music, so we sat there chatting about music and then I started to talk to him and teach him about the Book of Mormon. He got really interested and I started explaining to him about how God called prophets here in the Americas and how Christ came and taught the people here in the Americas after his Resurrection. He got really interested and so I went on to 3rd Nephi 11 and he started reading right there on the bus. He said he really wanted to know more about what Christ did here in the Americas and so we marked a day to teach him. After he got off I felt so great, I was so grateful that I listened to the promptings of the Spirit and that I opened my mouth and taught this child of God the Gospel, even if it was 9 at night and I was tired and wanted to sleep. If you follow the Spirit you can find opportunities to share the gospel with anyone and in any situation, and last night strengthened my testimony of that.
So yeah, we had a great week. We had lots of experiences like that and I'm grateful that I'm here serving as a missionary. I love this Gospel and I love the Book of Mormon. Its true!!!!!!! I get sad when I think I only have a few more months that I can keep sharing the Gospel with these wonderful people here in Brasil. I hope you all are doing well and I want you all to know that I know that this work is the work of the Lord and that this church is true!
-Elder Marx
Pictures:
Hi!!!
...Anyhoo... How is everyone doing? I'm glad to hear that BYU won... So is it starting to cool down or is it still blazing hot? Its actually pretty chilly down here (again) its cold and rainy and wet.
So unfortunately I only have 45 minutes now to send email. So, Bubba is now going to have to start writing letters because this silly computer isn't even letting me type very much. The keys are all sticking together so I can't even type very fast and I have to pound on the keys to get them to type.. grr...
Anyhoo...
So, I'm really starting to like my area. I seriously think I was transferred to paradise. I live about 100 yards from the beach so we go jogging on it in the mornings. The people here aren't from Curitiba so they're a lot more open, and we have a member who will teach us Muay Thai on P-Days. I'm really loving it here. The downsides: Every time I have to do a baptismal interview or go to district meeting I have to take a rickety, old, slow Brazilian bus for an hour and a half to get to Paranaguá. Then take the same rickety, old, slow bus back to Matinhos after. I feel like I live on the bus. But our area has TONS of potential. We have several investigators who are progressing well and I'm hoping and praying that we'll help them be baptized soon.
Okay well... my time's up. I feel really bad that I couldn't type much but I'll write a letter and when I know everyone's addresses I'll start sending letters to make up.
The gospel IS TRUE!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Pictures:
So unfortunately I only have 45 minutes now to send email. So, Bubba is now going to have to start writing letters because this silly computer isn't even letting me type very much. The keys are all sticking together so I can't even type very fast and I have to pound on the keys to get them to type.. grr...
Anyhoo...
So, I'm really starting to like my area. I seriously think I was transferred to paradise. I live about 100 yards from the beach so we go jogging on it in the mornings. The people here aren't from Curitiba so they're a lot more open, and we have a member who will teach us Muay Thai on P-Days. I'm really loving it here. The downsides: Every time I have to do a baptismal interview or go to district meeting I have to take a rickety, old, slow Brazilian bus for an hour and a half to get to Paranaguá. Then take the same rickety, old, slow bus back to Matinhos after. I feel like I live on the bus. But our area has TONS of potential. We have several investigators who are progressing well and I'm hoping and praying that we'll help them be baptized soon.
Okay well... my time's up. I feel really bad that I couldn't type much but I'll write a letter and when I know everyone's addresses I'll start sending letters to make up.
The gospel IS TRUE!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Pictures:
So there have been some changes...
So... guess what happened... Okay everyone made their guesses? I got transferred!!!!! I am now writing to you all from the city of Matinhos. Don't know where that is? Neither did I until I got transferred here lol. (you guys can go google map it and look it up). So, I'm waaaaay out in the boondocks now. So, to get here I had to wake up at 5 in the morning, then I had to have a member drop me off at the bus station, took a bus for 2 hours or so until I got to the city of Paranaguá, and then I took another bus for another hour and a half until I got here in Matinhos. Yeah, I'm pretty far away. From everything. Seriously, the nearest missionaries are like an hour and a half away so we're pretty isolated. Actually, it'd probably be easier to get a hold of the missionaries from the Florianopolis Mission. We're also like right on the beach. Like the beach is 10 minutes from our house. So, all in all, I think Elder Bubba's in for an adventure. Oh, and my companion is Elder Bruce, despite his name, he's actually Brazilian. He's got 3 transfers here on the mission so I'm not training, but he's young and full of energy, so it should be good. I'm actually super excited to be here, its going to be a whole new ball game, but I'm excited for the challenges. Oh, and what does this mean to you guys? Well, once again, packages and letters will only come once a month when the LZs go to the super-secret-special-boy-club meeting (Also known as the Zone Leader Conference). So, if you've got something important to tell me, put it in the email because it'll take a while for the letters to get to me. Perguntas até agora? Muito Bom.
So, I was actually really sad to leave my area. I had spent 6 months there and I had come to really love the ward. I kinda almost cried a few times when I was saying goodbye to the people I had come to know and the people that I had the blessing to help to know the blessings of the Restored Gospel. I feel like I honestly made a difference with the people and the ward and I am truly grateful for the time I spent there. I baptized 12 people in the ward and it was great to see that every one of those people is still going strong in the church. Most of them have callings and they're all super strong. One of the young women I baptized came up to me with tears in her eyes and thanked me for everything I did helping her to know the gospel. There's nothing better than that in the world. It reminds me why I'm here as a missionary.
So... I think I've told you all that I'm working on making a collection of books in Portuguese so that I can get back and still stay strong and current in the language. So, we were walking and I saw a book by Glenn Beck. In Portuguese!!!! If I remember right its called "The Overton Window" It should be a good read when I get back. (I promise it won't leave my suitcase and I won't read it until there isn't a name-tag on my chest anymore.)
Okay, and one more thing. I know that my time is starting to disappear rapidly here on the mission. I really, truly want to avoid getting trunky at all costs because I can't afford it. If I get trunky I'll get less effective as a missionary and I won't be able to do the Lord's work. So, I'm asking you all now for your help. I don't want to hear anything about how much time I have left, what I will do when I get home, or what the plans will be. We can worry about that in another 8 months. I'm saying this because this last transfer the trunkiness started to get to me and I became much less effective as a missionary and the work suffered. I want to forget all about that stuff and stay focused on the mission.
So what else, well, here's some fotos for you all!!
hmm... what else? Does anyone have questions for me? I'm kinda out of it because I'm tired beyond reason and so if I forget anything forgive me. I love you all, I love this work and I love being a missionary. I truly have a testimony and I want to do everything I can in this time I have as a missionary of God.
-Elder Marx
PS Next week I'll have pics of the beach for you all!!!!
Hi!!!!
...Anyhoo... how is everyone doing? How's life up in the US of A? Life down here is pretty cold. Like its been cold and rainy for the last few days. Its getting near freezing at night. Not a big deal you say? Well, you forget that heated houses don't exist here in the Brasil and so how cold it is outside is just how cold it is inside. I'm not dying or anything, I'm just fine. I just had to bust out the fleece liner for my jacket and the thermals and things were just dandy... So yeah, I'm enjoying the cold while its here because soon it'll be gone and Elder Bubba will be cooking.
So this week, things are still going slow. We adopted a new program with our investigators called "Lute ou Chute" (Fight or kick) Basically we go in and lay it all out on the table that we are here to help them come unto Christ by helping them have more faith, repent and be baptized. The things we ask them to do are the things that will help them do just that... a lot of the people don't want to go to church, stop drinking coffee, read and pray, so our teaching pool is dwindling rapidly. Its kinda sad but necessary... So, this fun phase of the work involves "burning" the investigators a little so now we have some fun "Elder Marx-isms" and quotes:
- "You look sad, why are you sad?" "Because you didn't go to church like you said you would!"
- "You're only here for your church!" "No! I'm here for CHRIST!!!!"
- "Who are you to decide what Christ cares or doesn't care about?!"
- "I don't believe in that!" "That's great, but it doesn't change the fact that its a commandment from God!"
I just want to make it clear that I'm not doing it for fun, but to help these people realize that this IS the path that leads to true happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. It actually helped out quite a few of them... and they're now progressing and keeping their commitments. So, it was all worth it. I truly know that this is the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that this is the only way for people to get back to live with our heavenly father. I know that this is the work of the Lord and that the Lord truly wants everyone to follow this gospel. I love you all and hope you all know how important this is to me and that I truly have a testimony of this work. Its true!
Love you all!
-Elder Marx
So, I saw the Emperor's New Groove in Portuguese.
Well, just that. I SAW it, I did NOT watch it. We had lunch with a member family and as we were waiting for lunch to be ready, the kids were watching it. It was weird. And trunky. I was reading my Book of Mormon most determinedly trying NOT to listen...
So how is everyone doing? I'm glad to hear the the Utah trip was fun and that everyone got to see each other. How was the graduation? Has college football started? If so, I haven't decided if I want to hear details or not. We'll see... So I guess its "já era" for Arizona, huh? I don't think my mind has truly accepted that I'll be coming home to Texas yet, and it probably won't until I'm back. Okay, enough trunkeza.
So, this week wasn't the best week we've had. I actually got pretty sick and got a case of the "Brasil Belly" and had stomach pains the whole week. It wasn't very fun, I had stomach cramping and lots of other problems and we actually didn't get to go to the new missionary training meeting for my comp because I got sick. The Assistentes weren't happy with me but oh well, what can you do. We're working hard and seeing some fruits... So we're having the fun "finding people" phase of the work. But its actually going well, 2 days ago we were walking down the street in a hurry trying to make it to an appointment on time and a guy from the other side of the road stopped us and asked us what exactly we do. So, we explained the first lesson to him in about 3 minutes and marked to pass by the next day. The next day, (actually we were in a division, I had to do a baptismal interview) we went there and taught him. He's a golden prospect and we marked a baptismal date with him for the 28th of this month. We're going to work like crazy trying to get him ready for baptism. Actually, the best thing that happened this week wasn't in my area, but actually in my district. So, my district had been working hard but not seeing many fruits here but we finally are starting to see success as a district. One companionship baptized 2 people this last week and the other area in my district will baptize this week as well. Actually, we saw a miracle happen. For 5 months, the elders were trying to get permission to baptize this you man named F. He has been going to church every week for 5 months, goes to seminary, does all the activities and is an absolute stud. However, the mom never would give her permission for him to be baptized... Well, finally after 5 months of trying everything we knew to do, the mom finally gave her permission for him to be baptized. We all were SOOOOO happy. It was a serious miracle. The Lord truly blessed the missionaries and F and he'll be baptized this week.
So, yeah, the work is going along well. I truly know that this IS the Lord's work. He truly is guiding and blessing us as we are faithful to him. Christ Lives! This is his church! And I'm proud to share this, his gospel with the people of Curitiba.
-Elder Marx
So how is everyone doing? I'm glad to hear the the Utah trip was fun and that everyone got to see each other. How was the graduation? Has college football started? If so, I haven't decided if I want to hear details or not. We'll see... So I guess its "já era" for Arizona, huh? I don't think my mind has truly accepted that I'll be coming home to Texas yet, and it probably won't until I'm back. Okay, enough trunkeza.
So, this week wasn't the best week we've had. I actually got pretty sick and got a case of the "Brasil Belly" and had stomach pains the whole week. It wasn't very fun, I had stomach cramping and lots of other problems and we actually didn't get to go to the new missionary training meeting for my comp because I got sick. The Assistentes weren't happy with me but oh well, what can you do. We're working hard and seeing some fruits... So we're having the fun "finding people" phase of the work. But its actually going well, 2 days ago we were walking down the street in a hurry trying to make it to an appointment on time and a guy from the other side of the road stopped us and asked us what exactly we do. So, we explained the first lesson to him in about 3 minutes and marked to pass by the next day. The next day, (actually we were in a division, I had to do a baptismal interview) we went there and taught him. He's a golden prospect and we marked a baptismal date with him for the 28th of this month. We're going to work like crazy trying to get him ready for baptism. Actually, the best thing that happened this week wasn't in my area, but actually in my district. So, my district had been working hard but not seeing many fruits here but we finally are starting to see success as a district. One companionship baptized 2 people this last week and the other area in my district will baptize this week as well. Actually, we saw a miracle happen. For 5 months, the elders were trying to get permission to baptize this you man named F. He has been going to church every week for 5 months, goes to seminary, does all the activities and is an absolute stud. However, the mom never would give her permission for him to be baptized... Well, finally after 5 months of trying everything we knew to do, the mom finally gave her permission for him to be baptized. We all were SOOOOO happy. It was a serious miracle. The Lord truly blessed the missionaries and F and he'll be baptized this week.
So, yeah, the work is going along well. I truly know that this IS the Lord's work. He truly is guiding and blessing us as we are faithful to him. Christ Lives! This is his church! And I'm proud to share this, his gospel with the people of Curitiba.
-Elder Marx
Hi!!!!!
Well howdy. Has it already been another week? Wow, time's flying by. So, this week was both really fast and really slow. We're working hard trying to find new investigators and people that we can teach. To be honest, its going kinda slowly right now. I love my investigators... and we're trying hard to get them keeping their commitments and going to church. We're also trying to find new people that we can teach that we can help out to start investigating the gospel. Please don't think that I'm complaining or talking bad about my area. I love where I'm at and I love my investigators, we just need to get them keeping commitments so that we can help them progress and be baptized... So, right now we're working trying to help them out to do just that- its not always the easiest and you don't always see the fruits that you're hoping for, but its all worth it.
So anyhoo... how is everyone together in Utah? Hving fun? How is my little nephew? From the pics it looks like he's getting HUGE. I don't want to think how big he'll be when I get back in another 9 months or so. He'll be a tank... Well, my visa expired about a month ago. I was sitting at lunch and for some reason I pulled out my visa to show to the members and I looked at the expiration date and thought, "AACK!!! That's today!"... Well, I called the secretary and reminded him... Well, after ONE MONTH of being an "illegal" I finally went down to the federal police and renewed my visa. It was actually way cool, a group of elders that I knew in the CTM were all there too renewing their visa and we all were amazed at how much we've all changed. They agreed that I've changed the most, after all, I've lost like 50-60 pounds. It was pretty cool to see how much we've all changed and progressed and we're all Zone Leaders or District Leaders or Trainers and how much things have changed from the greenies that we once were. Its strange to be the "experienced" one here on the mish. Well, I guess that just comes with time.
Well family, I love you all. I hope you all are having a lovely time together up in Utah. Send my love to everyone and before we know it I'll be back with you all (no trunky!!!!!) The gospel IS true! Jesus IS the Christ!!!!!! This IS His Church!!!!!! And I'm proud to be here to help others know these things that I know.
Love you all!!! Have a great week!!!! Buy Ice Cream or Pizza for the missionaries!!!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
So anyhoo... how is everyone together in Utah? Hving fun? How is my little nephew? From the pics it looks like he's getting HUGE. I don't want to think how big he'll be when I get back in another 9 months or so. He'll be a tank... Well, my visa expired about a month ago. I was sitting at lunch and for some reason I pulled out my visa to show to the members and I looked at the expiration date and thought, "AACK!!! That's today!"... Well, I called the secretary and reminded him... Well, after ONE MONTH of being an "illegal" I finally went down to the federal police and renewed my visa. It was actually way cool, a group of elders that I knew in the CTM were all there too renewing their visa and we all were amazed at how much we've all changed. They agreed that I've changed the most, after all, I've lost like 50-60 pounds. It was pretty cool to see how much we've all changed and progressed and we're all Zone Leaders or District Leaders or Trainers and how much things have changed from the greenies that we once were. Its strange to be the "experienced" one here on the mish. Well, I guess that just comes with time.
Well family, I love you all. I hope you all are having a lovely time together up in Utah. Send my love to everyone and before we know it I'll be back with you all (no trunky!!!!!) The gospel IS true! Jesus IS the Christ!!!!!! This IS His Church!!!!!! And I'm proud to be here to help others know these things that I know.
Love you all!!! Have a great week!!!! Buy Ice Cream or Pizza for the missionaries!!!!!!!!
-Elder Marx
Well, I almost killed my mission president today.
Well, now that I have everyone's attention. How're you all doing? I LOVED getting pics of my nephew (Thanks BoB!!!!!) Oh, you asked about how and why I almost killed my mission president. Well... let me tell you. So, the Stake President invited all of the missionaries in the stake to come and have a meeting with him. We all sat down and talked about how we're going to work more closely together to get the members excited and he also invited President Cordon to come and have a part in the meeting. Well, after that he invited us all to eat Churrasco (Brazilian Barbacue) and while we were waiting for lunch to be ready we all started to play futebol (soccer). Well, we all started to play (Including President Cordon) and then went to do a corner kick and President Cordon went to head the ball into the goal but I felt reckless and went to head the ball before he did. Well, it wasn't like Phil and that German in the MTC but almost. We narrowly avoided a collision, which was good because we're both pretty hard headed. But yeah, I came pretty close colliding with my mission president. But then we had Churrasco, which was amazing. I LOVE churrasco, especially grilled chicken hearts. I'm going to have to learn how to do it properly so we can eat it when I get back. But yeah, now I'm completely exhausted but it was totally worth it.
So... the work in our area is going pretty slowly right now. Our baptism fell again. I'm getting kinda frustrated because we're working hard but the baptisms aren't working out. Oh well, we'll keep working at it and we'll start seeing success. We're working hard and I know that the Lord will bless us with success. We just need to keep working as hard as we can and we WILL see success and the baptisms will come.
So, actually this week was full of shenanigans and I don't have time to write about all of them but you're going to get LOTS of fotos this week!!!!
Love you all!!!!
-Elder Marx
So... the work in our area is going pretty slowly right now. Our baptism fell again. I'm getting kinda frustrated because we're working hard but the baptisms aren't working out. Oh well, we'll keep working at it and we'll start seeing success. We're working hard and I know that the Lord will bless us with success. We just need to keep working as hard as we can and we WILL see success and the baptisms will come.
So, actually this week was full of shenanigans and I don't have time to write about all of them but you're going to get LOTS of fotos this week!!!!
Love you all!!!!
-Elder Marx
hey!
Hey so we went to the temple and the session took WAAAAY longer than we expected so this is going to be a super quick email.
-Life's going good, the weather's great.
-Our baptism didn't work out but we have another one marked for this week and we've got several people that we're getting ready
-So I'm going to try to make a Quad in portuguese by paying a bookmaker to put together a bible and triple combination, if it works out it should be pretty sweet
-So I haven't seen it yet, but what I've heard is that my leather scripture cover is turning out pretty dang sweet
-So this week I finished up reading the Doctrine and Covenants cover to cover for the first time in my life (and it was in portuguese even!) I'm now going to read the Pearl of Great Price so that I'll have read my entire triple combination cover to cover. Then I'll get started on the Bible, we'll see if I'll be able to read the whole standard works while I'm on my mission!
-So, my new comp (and second son) is doing well, he actually got a really bad cold and was completely out of commission but we're super excited and we're going to baptize everyone!!!
-So on friday we're having a Mission Tour by an Seventy so everyone's getting ready and practicing so we all don't look like a bunch or retards in front of a general authority.
-The packages came in (thanks a ton Mom and Court). I LOVED the American Deo and Laffy Taffy. Not to mention the Beef Freaking Jerky!!!!!!!!!!
-Okay, gotta run. Love you all! The church is true! We're going to baptize everybody!!!!!]
-Elder Marx
-Life's going good, the weather's great.
-Our baptism didn't work out but we have another one marked for this week and we've got several people that we're getting ready
-So I'm going to try to make a Quad in portuguese by paying a bookmaker to put together a bible and triple combination, if it works out it should be pretty sweet
-So I haven't seen it yet, but what I've heard is that my leather scripture cover is turning out pretty dang sweet
-So this week I finished up reading the Doctrine and Covenants cover to cover for the first time in my life (and it was in portuguese even!) I'm now going to read the Pearl of Great Price so that I'll have read my entire triple combination cover to cover. Then I'll get started on the Bible, we'll see if I'll be able to read the whole standard works while I'm on my mission!
-So, my new comp (and second son) is doing well, he actually got a really bad cold and was completely out of commission but we're super excited and we're going to baptize everyone!!!
-So on friday we're having a Mission Tour by an Seventy so everyone's getting ready and practicing so we all don't look like a bunch or retards in front of a general authority.
-The packages came in (thanks a ton Mom and Court). I LOVED the American Deo and Laffy Taffy. Not to mention the Beef Freaking Jerky!!!!!!!!!!
-Okay, gotta run. Love you all! The church is true! We're going to baptize everybody!!!!!]
-Elder Marx
Well, this caps off the strangest week of my mission...
No joke, strangest week I've ever had on my mission. Murphy's Law (if you don't know what it is, look it up) was truly in effect this week with the whole zone. First off, like half of the missionaries in my zone got super sick...Yeah, it was bad. Also, we had the kid of one of our investigator families get kidnapped. Not kidding...
Well, I'm pretty sure the biggest question that was on everyone's mind is: Did I get transfered? Well, I was almost positive that I would be transferred but when the Transfer Call came, it turned out that Elder Deivid got transferred and I'm staying here, and I'm training again!!!!! Yeah, that was about the last thing that I thought would happen, but hey, the Lord called. My new companion is Elder Camargo, he's brazilian as well and from the interior of São Paulo. He's a stud and we're totally going to tear it up and baptize like crazy. So, I'm going to stay in this area for at least another month and a half and its probable that I'm going to stay with him for 2 transfers because of the new training program of the new missionaries. So yeah, its a good thing that I really like my area, because I'm going to be staying here for a while longer lol. I'm actually pretty stoked and we're going to go nuts and baptize everyone that we see.
Speaking of baptism, we have a baptism scheduled for this week!!! His name's A. We've been teaching him for about 6 weeks now, he's about 70 years old...We're way stoked and what better way to start a mission than baptizing someone, neh? Also, so we had another FHE this night and I offered to make more food. This time, I made french toast. It turned out pretty well, and everyone liked them. Actually I discovered that down here they actually make a type of dish very similar to french toast down here for Christmas so everyone was giving me a hard time asking me if it was Christmas and if Santa Claus is coming and stuff like that....
But yeah, so that's pretty much it. The weirdest things imaginable happening, new companion, second son, and baptism. Life as a missionary, never a dull moment, neh? I love this life. I love being a missionary, I love helping other to come unto Christ by helping them have more faith, repent, and be baptized. There's nothing more important than this work and I'm glad and grateful to be doing it. I'm sorry I don't write that much in these emails and don't write many letters (well let's be honest, I pretty much don't write any) but its because I'm trying to keep my mind focused on the work. I can't afford to let myself get distracted, I need to focus on baptizing people. I love you all. The Church IS true. Joseph Smith WAS a prophet of God and this is the work of the Lord.
-Elder Marx
PS
Pics:
1&2- Me and my sons
3&4: Making french toast.
Love you all!!!! Until next week!!!!!
So guess what I ate this week...
POP TARTS!!!!!!!!!
Yup, this week an elder in my district got a package and decided to share with everyone. He got 2 boxes of Pop Tarts and since he's only got a few months left and is worried about losing weight and coming home skinny he gave me like 5 packages of Pop Tarts!!!!! It was REDONKULOUS !!! So, before I realized it I had eaten like 3 packages of them lol. I was in 7th Heaven... I also didn't realize that they're so fattening, I was looking at the nutrition and man, these suckers are unhealthy! Oh well, I walk bastante every day so I don't really have to worry too much about getting fat. Speaking of losing weight, I now discovered that I can put on and take off my dress pants without having to unbutton or unzip them. How's that for losing weight?
Anyhoo... This week was a good week. We didn't have vomiting or falling into sewer lines... so it was a pretty calm week. We're working hard trying to get our investigators ready to be baptized, and we've got a few with a lot of potential. We found a women whose name is L... she actually has a lot of experiance with the church because of her mother-in-law. She'd been going to church fairly regularly a couple years back with her mother-in-law (who's now moved to another ward) and knows quite a few of the ward members already. It was pretty cool because when she came in to Sacrament meeting she saw an Irmã in the ward who she hadn't seen in quite some time and the two of them went and hugged. It just makes me kinda sad that the people that we're finding I probably won't see get baptized because I'm probably going to get transfered next week. I've been in the area for 3 transfers now and 2 with my filho so its looking pretty likely that next week I'll be writing to you from a different area. I'm actually pretty sad to think about leaving this area. We've seen tons of success ahere and I feel like the people that we've baptized are really going to stay strong. I'll probably be coming back to see some of them go through the temple and get sealed. Just saying, if you come down to pick me up, we'll most definitely be passing through this area so you all can know all the special people that are here.
So what else? Well, I did 2 really special baptismal interviews this last week. The mom had been really struggling and praying to know what truly was right and which church is true. That night, she had a dream about 3 people dressed in white, with ties and nametages at her front gate. The next day, com certeza, the Elders knocked her door and they accepted the missionaries in. They had a LOT of challenges... but 4 months later I was sitting in there with them and they were ready to be baptized. Its amazing to see how much the Gospel can change lives... now, they're clean and pure and they're going to continue strong and recieve all the blessings of the Lord. The Gospel truly does change people for the better. It moves and helps people reach their true potential. That's why I'm here. The power of the Atonement cleans any and all lingering wounds and there's nothing better in the world than to see a person before and after the gospel and the Atonement have taken affect and they're now full of the Spirit and feeling the Lord's love. I love being a missionary, I love helping people and seeing the changes that happen in the people who want to follow the Lord. To me, there's nothing more rewarding than seeing the blessings of the Gospel and the Atonement take affect in someone's life. This is the Lord's work and I'm humbled to think that I'm so richly blessed to help these people recieve these blessings.
-Elder Marx-
Photos
the zone with our nifty special zone t-shirts
my comp completely soaked because of the rain
shots of our nifty special zone t-shirt
Yup, this week an elder in my district got a package and decided to share with everyone. He got 2 boxes of Pop Tarts and since he's only got a few months left and is worried about losing weight and coming home skinny he gave me like 5 packages of Pop Tarts!!!!! It was REDONKULOUS !!! So, before I realized it I had eaten like 3 packages of them lol. I was in 7th Heaven... I also didn't realize that they're so fattening, I was looking at the nutrition and man, these suckers are unhealthy! Oh well, I walk bastante every day so I don't really have to worry too much about getting fat. Speaking of losing weight, I now discovered that I can put on and take off my dress pants without having to unbutton or unzip them. How's that for losing weight?
Anyhoo... This week was a good week. We didn't have vomiting or falling into sewer lines... so it was a pretty calm week. We're working hard trying to get our investigators ready to be baptized, and we've got a few with a lot of potential. We found a women whose name is L... she actually has a lot of experiance with the church because of her mother-in-law. She'd been going to church fairly regularly a couple years back with her mother-in-law (who's now moved to another ward) and knows quite a few of the ward members already. It was pretty cool because when she came in to Sacrament meeting she saw an Irmã in the ward who she hadn't seen in quite some time and the two of them went and hugged. It just makes me kinda sad that the people that we're finding I probably won't see get baptized because I'm probably going to get transfered next week. I've been in the area for 3 transfers now and 2 with my filho so its looking pretty likely that next week I'll be writing to you from a different area. I'm actually pretty sad to think about leaving this area. We've seen tons of success ahere and I feel like the people that we've baptized are really going to stay strong. I'll probably be coming back to see some of them go through the temple and get sealed. Just saying, if you come down to pick me up, we'll most definitely be passing through this area so you all can know all the special people that are here.
So what else? Well, I did 2 really special baptismal interviews this last week. The mom had been really struggling and praying to know what truly was right and which church is true. That night, she had a dream about 3 people dressed in white, with ties and nametages at her front gate. The next day, com certeza, the Elders knocked her door and they accepted the missionaries in. They had a LOT of challenges... but 4 months later I was sitting in there with them and they were ready to be baptized. Its amazing to see how much the Gospel can change lives... now, they're clean and pure and they're going to continue strong and recieve all the blessings of the Lord. The Gospel truly does change people for the better. It moves and helps people reach their true potential. That's why I'm here. The power of the Atonement cleans any and all lingering wounds and there's nothing better in the world than to see a person before and after the gospel and the Atonement have taken affect and they're now full of the Spirit and feeling the Lord's love. I love being a missionary, I love helping people and seeing the changes that happen in the people who want to follow the Lord. To me, there's nothing more rewarding than seeing the blessings of the Gospel and the Atonement take affect in someone's life. This is the Lord's work and I'm humbled to think that I'm so richly blessed to help these people recieve these blessings.
-Elder Marx-
Photos
the zone with our nifty special zone t-shirts
my comp completely soaked because of the rain
shots of our nifty special zone t-shirt
Another week flies by...
Well hey fam! How's everyone doing? How was the 4th of July? It was weird not seeing anyone celebrate it or anything down here. I guess I really am on the other side of the world lol.
So I gotta make this fast (as always) but here goes:
- So, we were coming back from the temple last wednesday and the bus was SUPER cramped. Seriously, I felt like cattle on a box car. There wasn't room to even breathe. Well, my comp hadn't been feeling well all day and after an hour or so in these super-cramped space he looks at me and tells me that he isn't feeling too great. Well, the bus was a kind that only stops at the terminals so it wasn't going to stop for another fifteen minutes of so so I kinda just had to look at him and tell him to hold on until we got off at the next terminal. Well, his situation got worse and worse, and pretty soon he looked like a zombie: he was pale and sweating and his eyes rolled up in his head and then he just lost it. He dry-heaved once and then he totally tossed his cookies. Yup, it was epic. Just one problem: remember that the bus was super cramped? So when he tossed it he puked ALL OVER THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF HIM!!!!! Yeah!!!! So she just looked at me like, "I cannot believe that this just happened" and I had to try to help clean her up, get my companion to a chair (which, surprisingly, the other person in front of him left the seat, since it was so close to the puke) and try to help him out (I'm pretty sure he passed out) and try to keep from slipping in the puke because the crazy Curitiba bus drivers drive like wombats (I remember how mom always says that lol). So yeah, it was definitely a bus drive that I will never forget lol.
- Also, this sunday was his birthday. As all the RMs know, the first birthday on the mish is pretty difficult, so I planned with our landlady, Dona Maria, and we had a special birthday surprise waiting for him when we got home! She made this wicked good cake and we sang and ate cake and it helped him with all the homesickness (I hope)
- We also had a division with the LZs and it went over so they had to sleep in our house (Actually, I think it was the third or fourth time that that has happened, we live pretty far away and interviews always go over) So, this is what happens when you have a bunch of tired missionaries in a house for only 2 missinoaries lol.
- I gotta run, sorry that my emails are getting shorter and shorter, I really don't plan in it being like this. But here's some pics to make it up! (I hope)
Love you all!!!! The work is true!!!!!
-Elder Marx
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