...testimony of Church and feelings about his mission

 

So, these are the final days of my mission. Today we had the mission Christmas party which was amazing because we got to go to Xetulul again, the Central American version of Disney land, to have the activities which was amazing!!!

It was really cool, there was one sister that was from a native tribe and she brought out her tribal clothing and did some really cool native American dancing that was just amazing, then there were a few others that were singing the HUH, if they went on American Idol they would easily win, lol...don't know if that is still going or not, lol.

And then we finished it off with the Tongans doing the traditional haka, that is always amazing to see. Most of all it was really cool because I had the chance to see all of my buddies that I've come really close to before I head off...Everyone was like, "The mission just isn't going to be the same when you're gone", lol, it's so weird to think that one day I'm going to have to leave the country, the people, and the culture that I've come to call home...


The other night we were hitching a ride on the back of one of the coca cola trucks, heading back to Peru from Champerico, and it finally started to get to me a little bit that one day, I won't be doing this anymore....I honestly could not have asked for a better night. I have never seen so many stars, literally there must have been millions...and it got me thinking, I love Guatemala. Diseased dogs, breast feeding women, the crazy drunk always asking for a quetz...I'm really going to miss this place.

It kills me to think that for the past two years the only thoughts that have been running through my mind are how I can become more like the Savior, what would Christ do in this situation, learning a new language and only being able to speak that language...entering into the homes of these loving people and into their lives...I seriously CAN'T believe that in 2 short weeks all of that is going to be taken from me...I can't say that I'm coming home, one..because I know nothing about this new place and TWO, because this is my home..These people are my family.

I have never in my ENTIRE life had a connection to a group of people like I have with the people of Guatemala...These people would literally give you the shirt off of their backs, if they knew that it would help you...This culture is so open and honest....there is no sugar coating, there's no need for lies, there's only love and truth. These are the children of Lehi. I've seen it. I can't even begin to tell you of the countless times that I have contacted someone and they have shared with me their dreams, when in reality they aren't dreams but visions.

These people have a faith in Christ that is undeniable, they love Christ, they live for Christ, they want nothing more than to do what Christ asks of them.


I cannot tell how I truly feel through this letter, it's impossible..Because what I feel for these people, for this country, for the traditions that I've come to accept, go much further than just words. I can't begin to tell you how conflicting my thoughts and feelings are right now...I can't wait to return and to see everyone of you and to start the next chapter of my life, but I honestly feel like a HUGE part of my life is getting ripped out of me.

I wish that I could always serve these people. To always be welcomed into their homes as a servant of the Lord. To always be constantly bothered at 11:30 in the night to go and give a blessing. But little by little I know that those two weeks are closing in and one day I'm going to have to leave my family. Further more I love my mission President. If the love of our Father in Heaven is anywhere close to that that I have seen and felt from President Maravilla, then we truly are a loved children. And I know the love He has for us is much greater. I don't want to ever forget these people. Many missionaries say that they have had the best missions, but I truly can claim that sentence...these are the children of which the resurrected Christ himself came to teach and now he has given me that great opportunity.

I love these people, and I don't want to leave them....they have refined me into the man I am today, and have helped correct my path to become the man I will be.

If there is anything more that I can say about my mission it is that I know this is the church of Jesus Christ, the only one the He directs. He loves us enough that He has given us a living prophet to guide us. That through repentance all men can return to the Father. Above all I know that we are His children and as such are entitled to the eternities, if we so choose to receive them.

I love these people. I love Jesus Christ. And I hope that I can always be a useful instrument in His hands, in the mission or as a normal disciple of Him.


I love you all and will talk to you Sunday,
Elder Marquis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...we had another baptism this week...

Dear Family and Friends:

We're coming down to the final weeks of my mission now huh?
So weird.... all day long, I can say that I only have 24 more days left of my mission, but it still doesn't feel like that. I feel like I always have been a missionary and that I always will be. It's a little hard for me to get a grip that I'm almost finished here...it doesn't really seem real. But I guess we'll see how I feel when that final day comes, lol.

Just wanted to let you all know that this past Friday, Dery Amabilia De Leon, was baptised. We had the baptism planned for Saturday, but with the Xela Temple being dedicated and everything it was just easier to move it to Friday.

It was so funny, before we went to into the font she got SUPER nervous and was like acting all goofy and laughing for no reason...when we told her that she needed to take off her ankle braclets she was like, "ok, yeah sure", but then took off for the pila and walked into the water, which scared her a little bit, and then came back and took it off, laughing hysterically, which was funny...overall it was one of the most memorable baptisms that I've had yet.


So yeah, this past week the Xela Temple was finally dedicated, and Saturday it was the cultural presentation...which was AMAZING! All the youth from each stake from all of Guatemala, got to do like an act and dance!!! It was so cool....I hope that I can get a copy of that to show you guys, lol.

Then Sunday was the dedication and only the members could come and see that so all the work we did during the week isn't going to be seen until next week....hopefully.

You gotta love ol Elder Uchtdorf...lol...he just started going at it, making jokes, and talking to everyone in English, lol, as if they understood him, lol...then after like 5 minutes of talking he was like "Oh!, and pulled over the translator and was like...this might work a little better if you said it, lol". Such a funny guy, lol!! There's rumor that maybe he is coming to the mission to talk a little with us...since this is a new misión and we've never had an general authority talk with us.

Anyways, I'll tell Hna. Flor to make the scripture covers then, HAH!...you guys are going to flip when you see them, they really are suuuuuuuuuuuuper cool!!! (We are having leather scripture covers handmade and customized for us! Excited!)

Anyways, for this week no baptism...going strong in this area with one every other week, but we'll see what happens.

Love you all tons,
Elder Marquis

Dear Friends and Family:

Well I ain't gunna kid ya either....I'm pretty excited! Everyone is like so....you baggy...you baggy....and I just play it off...no, why would I be baggy...it's not like I go home in 30 days or anything, lol!!

It's true like we were talking about before I left...about the 2 year mark you pretty much master the whole being a missionary thing and then when you're are at the top of your game, BOOM it's time to go home!!

Time really has just flown by over these past 2 years. It's so crazy...And it's not so much that I'm nervous to come home as much as it is that I know I'm going to be feeling really confused for a little while. Like my schedule is pretty set and I know exactly what it is that I'm going to be doing every minute of every day in the mission...but back home...I don't have anything, really....like, prepared..I'm sure it won't take me too long to find a job and a calling in the church though...but we'll see, lol.

As far as calling goes for Christmas I can call whenever it's best for you guys really...I usually call in the night time just out of habit...but if you guys want to get together and choose the best time for everyone to be there that'd be fine with me.

I'm not too big a fan of the cold anymore anyways, lol, I can barely sleep with the fan on these days, lol....you remember before I left how I always had those heater blankets running, lol, just like Guate, lol!!!

I'll tell you about one of our adventures this week. So, with Dady, the lady we're baptising this weekend...we
went to her house this past Saturday to help her get some wood from the forest so her family could cook a little bit...To start off, we needed to walk to Aiyutia to where she lives, which is always a fun little walk. Then we started off through the sugar cane fields, which smelt a little funny because right now is cane season and they're burning it all to cut it down. Then we got to Ocosito...the river that passes through the middle of the trail and headed across... luckily the water wasn't too high this time, just up to the knees. We contiuned on the other side of the bank through the Hule "rubber" trees to get to where the wood patches were, took out our machetes and gathered up the wood, then walked back. One of the best parts was when we were sitting on the other side of the bank putting our shoes back on there came a couple of little boys with their ropes of wood on their heads, LOL, but the best part...they didn't want to get their pants wet...so...they came across the
river with just their shirts on, LOL, gotta love Guatemala, no matter where you go, you're sure to see some lady breast feeding or the little naked kids running around, lol!! Over all, I got some pretty good stories out of that trip to share with you all when I get back, but thought I'd just give you all a little taste, lol!!

Love you all so much, take care!!
Elder Marquis

...we had another baptism this week...

Hey everyone!

So sounds like turkey day this year was amazing! Lol, but to be honest I forgot that it was a holiday until the 25th when I looked at my calender lol...woops!

But we did have a pretty good weekend. Ernesto was baptised and confirmed this past Saturday, which set us off with 2 baptisms with one family for the month of November.

We also had two more investigators come to church this Sunday...my new favorite, lol, her name is Dedi...but we just call her Daddy, lol, is going to be baptised this weekend hopefully with her son who just turned 9 so this will be really cool.

Then the other investigator, Hugo, would really like to be able to receive his baptism but unfortunately he's still only 17 and his parents don't want to give him permission...yet, we are going to go to his house tomorrow to talk with his parents...more or less about how important it is to support your children when they are trying to do good things with their life...I'm sure by the end of the month they will be good enough to at least give their signiture, if not get baptised with him, lol.

But yeah we got the Christmas packages this past week...SOOO COOL!!!, we set up that little tree and put the boxes and eveything around it, lol, it was so funny!, And we took a bunch of photos but....as usual, I don't know why, the computer won't let me upload my photos....sooo....maybe later, lol, sorry,,lol!!

Thank you so much for that! The kids are going to flip! A lot of them won't be getting anything else for Christmas this year so it'll be super fun! We're going to put the coolest little activity to give away the gifts...so far it's just going to be like a talent night with all of the members doing their acts and then a little dinner thing. Then we will end it all off with Santa Marquis, coming in with the bags of goodies for all of the kids and then end the night with a Christmas movie or something. It should be a lot of fun! Also I know a member down here that has a ligit, Santa costume that I'm going to try and borrow to make it even more ligit, so I hope everything goes well!!!

Man, we were traveling the other day in a tuk tuk, and I was talking to the guy and just trying to be nice with him and was like, Man! You ready for Christmas? This time of year is so awesome I love it! And he just kinda looked and me with a dirty look and said, there's no money, and if there's no money there's no point to Christmas....And I'm not going to lie...I macheted him, or sternly repremanded him, lol,...just telling him how much I envied him and how even though there's no money for Christmas at least he gets to be with his family which is a luxury that I wasn't going to have and how the only thing that matters in this life is family. He just kind of sat there quiet and said that he was sorry and didn't know that we couldn't see or talk to our families....it just bugs me sometimes how everyone takes family for granted and it's the only thing that I want, lol!

But more than anything I just want to wish Michelle and Mom a SUPER HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Hopefully, I will be able to find some pretty cool little goodies to bring home for a late gift for you all!!!!

Anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and thank you all for everything!! Love hearing about all of the funny little stories, and secrets store rooms, lol super cool!!!!

Love you tons,
Elder Marquis

..for a day the veil is lifted and they can see...

Alright everyone, so this week was super cool!

We did end up being able to go to the temple in Xela, which is sooooo cool! You can see all of Quetzaltenango from on top of the hill. Something else that was pretty cool is that when we were there the stake from Coatepeque was doing their service that day so I also got to see all of my buddies from La Blanca and Amparo, so fun!!


Also we are getting a lot of hits off of all of the visits to the temple...I think that we are actually receiving more than any other area...this past week we got about 100 references. We've only been able to contact a hand full of them though, but 3 of them want to get baptised so...we're definitely going to have our hands full in these next...45 days hahaha.

It's amazing how powerful these visits are. But it's kinda like everyone that's going there never knew that all of this stuff existed and now it's like for a day the veil is lifted and they can see everything that they have been missing out on their whole lives...pretty good time to be in the mission!


We contacted one guy that went to the temple and his wife is a member but he's not...anyways, we got to his house and taught him a little bit more and he is going to be baptised this Saturday. We found another woman who her whole life has been against the church...mostly because of the FALSE rumors she's heard but she really enjoyed it and going to start going to church with us this week and wants to be baptised..

There is so much work to do right now...one of the biggest challenges that I have right now is trying to make a good organization system for all of these referencias so that no one falls through the cracks or doesn't get contacted! It is pretty fun I like to have work to do with out having to try and make work for myself to do.

Anyways, Dad reminded me that this week is Thanksgiving, but this year we're not going to be doing anything too special...but hey, if we can get a few more baptisms out of the day, I'd say its worth it lol..You guys just need to takes lots of photos so that I can see all the family!!


LOL, just a little funny story...so that area Ayutia that's like an hour away, we found another way to get there and we have been borrowing bikes to get there faster, but the trail to get there is SUPER narrow and there are A LOT of rocks...Anyways, my comp was taking the lead and we were cooking just running the trail to get there faster...and to have a little fun while we had the bikes....and I looked over my shoulder for a second to check out the scenery for a second when BOOM!!! My bike smashed into a rock and I went flying over the handle bars and landed in a nice pile of rocks, haha. Man I got a good little shiner by my rib cage and my leg was looking a little yellow after, and my shirt, hahaha, well....it's not much of a shirt now, haha!! But yeah.. I was just laying there for a minute because I had the breathe knocked out of me. Looking back it's a lot more funny than when it happened, lol....then on the way back we decided to take the main road because we forgot our flash lights and again my comp was in the lead...when all of a sudden BOOM!!!! I just see my comp flying through the air and his bike doing like a million flips in the air, lol!!! The poor guy ran off the road, lol..good times, but all is good...just haven't been able to go to the gym this past week...but this week back to the schedule!!


It's so crazy this change passed by soooo fast and now....I'm starting my last change...it feels a little weird to say that one day I'm not going to be a missionary...I feel like I've been doing this my whole life....but supposedly one day...approximately 45, this is all going to come to an end...weird!!!


Anyways, I did get the pringle cookies, ( mom sent Snickerdoodle cookies, wrapped and put into a Pringles can ) lol, pretty cool idea! And they were good!! Thank you so much!!!


Love you guys!

Dear Family:
Those gift bags sound pretty sweet. Looks like we're going to be having a pretty sweet christmas this year!!! (Our family is sending lots of gift bags for the children in the branch and villages)

I really do plan on going out with a bang, and having another 50 baptisms and being Santa Claus might just do the trick lol! (Elder Marquis has one month and 3 weeks left of his mission...but whose counting :)

We had another baptism this past Saturday which was pretty cool...it was my
25th...not the highest of numbers but compared to when I came into the mission and only wanted to get to 7...lol..

It looks like we're going to be having a lot more success down here also because the Xela Temple is now doing the open houses and just from our ward we are sending out about 4 busses up to Xela, twice a day....needless to say..THERES A LOT OF REFERENCES, lol!!!

Just with the past 2 days we have received more than 20 family references and each family has about 3-4 people....this is going to be a GOOOD Christmas, lol!!!!

Anyways, it's been a pretty cool week and this Wednesday, we got permission to go to Xela to do a session of the open house which is really coool! My whole mission has been focussed on this temple and at last I get to see it!!!

Love you tons, and keep up the good work back home!
Elder Marquis

We get to go to the temple open house!!

Man this past week has been pretty special!

With all of the brujos y brujas...witches, celebrating their holidays...needless to say it has been a little different around here...lol...I never thought that I'd ever meet a real witch but hey...ITS GUATEMALA!!!!

We also had a special conference with Presidente Maravilla this week and it was pretty cool...at last!...He told us that the Elders get to go to Xela to see the open house for a day!! And maybe to the dedication also which would be amazing!!!

Supposedly we are going to be having interviews this week to see if we are worthy enough to go there...lol...man this is so cool! My whole mission has been wrapped around the Xela templo and at last I get to see a few more fruits of our labors!!

As far as baptisms go we are going to be having another one this Saturday for Andrea...she's pretty cool and the missionaries supposedly were teaching her for one year...so pretty cool, to be a part of that!

I'm pretty confident that with all of the people that are going to be going to the open houses these next few weeks, that we are going to be able to baptise a good part of them...at least the part that really want to find Christ and that will feel of His spirit there...even though it's not dedicated yet, it's still the house of the Lord.

We are bumping into a few rough spots with a couple of our families here but I'm sure that with a lot of fasting and prayer we can find and teach what it is that we need. We just need to study a little more, and we will have the success that is awaiting....More than anything in these last two months I just want to try and work my behind off so that when I get home, I'm just completely exhausted, LOL!!!, WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Anyways, love you guys tons!!!
Elder Marquis

Hey everyone!!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

So just to answer your question about the river (Mom asked if there were bridges to cross the rivers he talked about last week, or if he got into the water)....I was knee deep and I did have my backpack on my head, lol, but don't worry we found a couple of other ways to get there without rolling up the pants and taking off the shoes, lol.

Man, so me and my comp. Elder Guerra have made it a goal to be the compañerismo maravilloso...which means to have baptised more than any other area in the mission. Our goal for the month of November is 11 baptisms with 3 families...right now we have about 5 families and 14 people that are SUPER positive that we are working with right now, so hopefully I can stay focused enough to reach this goal!

Yesterday, in church it was pretty good although the assistance (attendance) went down a little bit we still managed to have 6 investigators show up and they really enjoyed it. So now we need to stay focused and hold it so that they can receive all that they need.

We've been keeping up with the investigators that we in Aiyutia and for the most part everything seems to be rolling along pretty well. My comp. and I have built an amazing system to teach, its very simple and pretty much it is just giving them what they need teaching them with love, and being VERY direct and honest about everything. To be honest this is probably the best companionship I've had yet. And if we had the chance to have more time together we could have baptised a lot of people here. But unfortunately, last night we got a call from the Zone Leaders, telling us that Elder Guerra has emergency changes and that I would be helping another Elder.

Those quotes from Elder Yamashita are really good and hopefully we can learn to be better missionaries while we're here...Something that I really enjoyed about Guerra is that at times...a lot of times...he has helped push me...that is what I have been looking for my entire mission, is a comp. that can except who I am but push me and encourage me...and it's obvious with the success that we were having that it works.... I'm going to end my mission baptising more than I ever have..!

Anyways, I have some reallly cool and funny stories to tell you about me and Guerra...but for now this is going to have to do...lol...one hour just isn't enough these days..., I remember wishing on various occasions that God would give us an extra couple hours every day so that we could reach a couple more people..but that's not going to happen so, I guess we just have to plan a little better, lol, and be wiser with our time!

Love you all,
Elder Marquis

p.s. I got the books that you sent and the package of goodies...sadly between us, the members that help us teach, and the primary....those chocolates didn't stand a chance, thank you so much!

This week has been amazing!

Puchica!!!

So... I'm back In Reu. again...this time in an area called Perú and my new comps. name is Elder Guerra. He's from El Salvador...pretty sure hes going to be the one to kill me off..oh no!!!
(Last companion..will send him home) This week has been amazing! As I'm sure you know we had a baptism this past week for Raymunda which was super amazing. It is the first time I think in my mission that I've come to an area were there was a fecha waiting for me lol. But we also found one of their old investigators and taught him and baptised him this Sunday past, which was a miracle because the members and missionaries have been trying to get this man baptised for over 9 years! His whole family was super happy that at last they were all baptised!

One of the best parts was at the end when it was only him and us there he walked over and unplugged the drain and said, YA ESTUVO, which is like THAT'S ENOUGH, and watched all of his sins just drain away with the biggest smile on his face, lol it was so cool!!! I don't know...there's such a great feeling of accomplishment when after working and working and working to finally see the fruits of your labor...like to finally see another baptism after all this time, my body was just tingliing, lol, no se...but its just a great feeling!

We also had about four investigators that came to church with us which is always a good feeling. But the best one was this hermana named Amanda. We contacted her this past week and taught her but when all was said and done, she was like, you know what...If you come to my church on Saturday( She's a 7th day Adventist ) I'll go to your church on Sunday...and we were like, Ok thats fine, lol, and her mouth dropped and was a little taken back that we accepted, lol.

But anyways, Saturday rolled around and we showed up at her house nice and early, and the first thing she said was, you guys are really going to go...then anwsering her own question..obviously you're going to go or you wouldn't be here....but then we got into the tuk tuk and headed off for her church.
Now, we always walk past churches and the pastors and everyone always says hi and what not...but when they said hi to us this time...and then we entered their doors, lool, their jaws just BROKE! and about smashed to the floor!, lol. As soon as we walked in it was like there was a magnet attached to everyones heads...and everyone just about broke their necks to look at us wondering why the 2 little mormon boys are in their church, lol!! But the best part is how when the preachers began preaching, not one of them would look us in the eyes, kinda strange, but not really, lol.

Anyways, Sunday rolled around and Amanda did come to church. I know she felt the spirit and I know that she knew that the lessons were real...but she just had the look of no matter what happens I AM NOT GOING TO ENJOY THIS!!! Which actually made it really enjoyable....it's like when there's a little kid that wants to laugh but he's just not going to do because he knows that your trying to make him laugh.....type of situation, lol.

Then after church some of the members offered to take us to another part of our area called, Aiyutía. And OHHHHHH BABAY!!! It's a good walk, lol. Just getting there was a trial of crossing not one but 2 rivers and then once we got to the other side it was an hour walk to the village, but it was fun, lol!! Most of the walk was through sugar cane fields which kinda made me think of Fenders Farm and doing the maze walk lol, baggy moment, lol, but yeah it was totally worth it. Because apparently the Elders here never came out here so the members were super happy to see us and we found a couple families where the spouse still wasn't baptised which is always a nice little treat for lil ol Marquis, lol. Then the walk back was nice, a little rain drizzle and moon light to light our way....it was pretty cool!!

Overall, I really love this area, and the members here are really llenado with the doctrine. This really is a great area and my comp. is quite the character too. I'm really going to give it everything that I've got. I have about 2 months left and still need to reach my goal of 30 baptisms so...lol...obiviosly 'Im going to have to burn some rubber to find those elected 6...or more, lol!!!

Anyways, love you guys tons!
Elder Marquis


P.S. That photo of Russi got me for a second, lol, I thought that it was Sonney, lol!!
And Lauren oh my goodness, she is getting sooooo talll!!!!!

Friends and family:

Well the ride to San Felipe was pretty fun! As usual the micro-buses that we have to catch there was full again so we were hanging on the outside of the door...which is always a refreshing ride, lol. But I'll just get to the good part, as we were riding a long the driver got a little close to the bushes and trees and little by little before I knew it I was getting ground along the bushes, lol. My shirt..needless to say is completely green, lol. I never thought that someone would try to grind me into the bushes but hey, good times right, lol!!

Anyways, this week was pretty cool. The other day our zone leaders called us up with a pretty cool reference from the stake president, which I'll have you know...NEVER HAPPENS!! So we went to go contact him and the guy turned out to be really positive. The only challenge so far that we have with him is that he likes to work on Sundays. But beside that he's GOLD!!!

We also have a couple of other pretty cool people that we're working with that are pretty positive.

We have changes coming up this Wednesday...so we'll see what comes of that.
The way I'm feeling right now I don't really care if I have changes or not, but I'd like to know one more area before I go home...but if not this area is really cool.

Tonight just to celebrate we are having a little barbecue on our roof and a little fire so it should be pretty fun!

Man everyone is getting a good laugh out of my shirt, lol! It's just a huge grass stain all over my back, lol!!!


Anyways, super cool that MaryKate got married....I'm devastated that Steve Jobs died and excited that the iPhone 4s is coming out and siri sounds super cool!!!!


Love you guys so much!!!!!


Elder Marquis

... conference weekend is like the super bowl

Needless to say that this past conference was definitely one of the best!
I love how President Monson is just so goofy and direct... it's a great combination...HELLO, lol!

It's always so amazing to have direct revelation coming out of these amazing people and I love it...at least for us missionaries, conference weekend is like the super bowl lol.. it just doesn't get much better than that.

That's so amazing that Logan and Ethan got to go there and be apart of that. This is really going to be something special that they will always keep with them. And I'm sure they learned a lot and felt the spirit so strong, that really does sound great!

It's kind of weird to think that my next conference I'll be back in the states to watch it and to receive another type of revelation. Right now, its still personal when I hear them speak but also a lot of what I write down and think about is mostly focused towards my investigators and the members of my ward...but still a super spiritual experience!

As far as our investigators go, we had them go with some really great member families since we had to go in opposite directions to different churches to hear the messages, but yes they loved it! Everytime that I've brought a group of investigators to a conference they always leave saying...WOW, these men truly have been called of God, and for the most part do get baptised..but we'll see, lol.

Now..the Saturday session went normally for us. The church was kind enough that they set up a special room for the Gringo missionaries that we could watch and listen to it in English which, for me is something quite special. Then came the priesthood session...we had a little more difficulty with this and had to carry the TV to the other side of the church so we could get the signal. What happened was that after the afternoon session a father baptised his son and we were in the baptismal room....but how can you get frustrated at that, lol, a baptism for a little moving arrangements...priceless!!!

Then came the Sunday session. Because it was Sunday, there was going to be a greater assistance (attendance) so had to give up the working TV so that the others could watch it in the overflow areas. There was another TV, the only problem was that the screen didn't work, only the sound, lol. So from where we were positioned I sat outside the room in the hallway so that I could still watch the session through the window of the sacrament room and could listen to it from the room, lol...a little bit of a hastle but sooooooo worth it!!!

Just wanted to share a funny little story with you about something that happened with us during conference. This experience whether it be a coincidence or not has strengthened my testimony..Have you seen the movie "The best 2 Years"...the part when they're praying and they ask that the man would call and immediately the phone rang and everyone was like HALLELUJAH!!! Lol, well we had a little experience with that. During the priesthood session, we had a huge thunder storm roll in and something happened and we lost the signal and were freaking out. Until we were like alright, everyone on their knees..we're praying, lol. And I kid you not, the moment we asked that the signal would come back, it did, lol...coincidence or not.. faith and prayer are two mighty tools, lol!!!!


Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed conference as much as I did, and received some well needed answers as well as I and I hope that we can begin putting these things into practice as soon as we can!

Also, from what I've heard we are going to be able to go to the temple dedication in Quetzaltenango!! But nothing is ever 100% down here but it sure would be an amazing experience to be apart of this dedication...pretty much my entire mission has been focused around this temple and preparing all of my investigators for this, but if not I'll come back one day to enter its halls!!!!

Also Good luck and I'm sooo happy for Marykate and her future husband for this following weekend!!!!!

With love,
Elder Marquis

...God does work in mysterious ways...

This photo of Retalhuleu is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Family and friends,

This week was pretty cool...as far as investigators go its a big Plffffffhghghf! So this week we get to go out and find a bunch of new people to get them ready for conference this coming weekend. We have some pretty cool little activities planned for this coming Friday..a little cook out and movie...nothing huge, but it will be fun..and hopefully be a reactivating party for the members.

The attendance was pretty good yesterday though. We are going back up every week it seems...yesterday we had about 75 with 8 less active members and both of my recent converts...so, it feels good to see some results from our work, lol!

Also pretty cool...Brandon Moroni was born this past Miercoles (Wednesday) and seems to be doing fine. They were a little scared there for a minute, because he came early but all is good and they are both going to be fine!

Also some more good news....but nothing is for sure....President Uchtdorf might be coming down to dedicate the Quetzaltenango Temple, and supposedly he wants all of the missionaries from missions Xela and Reu. to be there for the temple dedication!!!! So hopefully we will be able to see that!!!

Right now the entire focus of the mission is trying to find and prepare people to go to the open house this coming November so that they understand better the LDS people... and of course with the final goal of getting them baptised, lol!!!

Lol, while I was in Coatepeque a few months back, me and my comp. were walking through the park and we contacted this guy named Angel. It was a pretty cool little contact and the guy was really cool, he even spoke English which was cool. We got his dates and everything but then I had changes and wasn't able to talk to him again. But yesterday we were eating lunch with a member family La familia Gomez...and you'll never believe who walks into the house...ANGEL!!!! Turns out that his wife is the daughter of this family and he was like, Marquis! I've been trying to call you man, what happened?!?!? LOL, so it was pretty cool! The guy is super cool and is going to go to conference this coming Sunday and said that he would like to hear our message. Sadly I don't work in the Coatepeque area anymore but still, I think there is a very good chance for him. What are the chances of meeting a guy in one city in another area that isn't yours and is positive, and then for him to walk right up to the house that your eating lunch!!!! God does work in mysterious ways, lol.. so that was probably the coolest story for this week...hope all goes well for Angel.

Love you guys, and make sure to take good notes for conference,
Elder Marquis

...just let God take control...

This week is like any other really. It had its ups and its downs.
But I guess that's just life, lol.

A couple of the hot spots that we have right now is that we have about 6 people and 3families that we are working with to get baptised, with what we call "meta fechas" or baptismal goal...dates. So things are looking on the up and up right now.

Unfortunately, yesterday at church we did not a one single investigator which really was a big downer note to end the week on...hopefully with a little more fasting and study we can get these guys back on track! WOOOOO!!

But yeah right now its like crunch time trying to get a couple of these people baptised before conference because when that rolls around we lose a week to baptise and have to wait a little longer...which isn't bad, just depends on how hard satan works against our investigators to keep them from making these necessary covanents.

Something really cool happened yesterday though. When we got home from church and were making lunch, one of the members from La Blanca gave me a call and gave me some really good news...first off that they are finally going to get their family sealed in the temple this October and second...this is the coolest thing that has ever happened to me!!!...The sister from this family is pregnant and is going to name her son after me!!!!! His name is going to be Brandon Moroni Maldanado!! How cool is that!!!! I've never had anyone name their child after me before...a couple of dogs here and there...but never a child!!! So I was super pumped to hear that and hopefully President Maravilla will let me go to their sealing this October to be with this family.

It's just so crazy to think how my life would have been had I not served a mission. Everything that I love and need and know from life and everything that I aspire to become has all been directed by my mission. I've met some of the greatest people here and have gained so much...but that's just how God works I guess... you just have to let go of everything and let God take control, and then you'll find true happiness.

But yeah, we were teaching the primary kids yesterday about what it is to be a missionary, and what a missionary does. And to explain it simply to them we put it like this...do you guys like having friends....YEAH!...do you guys love your families...YEAH!...well as missionaries you make a lot of new friends and join a lot of new families! The church is like one big family and we get to bring them all back together!

Life is really simple... Ive learned you can follow God and be happy...or try and do your own thing, and be miserable. It's that simple.

Love you all tons, can't wait till next weeks post, and the stories of grampa and his chompers, lol!!!!

Love you!
Elder Brandon Marquis