Senior

Hey Momma, family and friends,

Sounds like everyone enjoyed Christmas. I'm grateful for the time I was able to talk with y'all on skype. I miss laughing with y'all. Happy New Year to Everyone!  

I am still in Big Spring... BS... haha

I am "follow up" training, and have gotten my senior call!  I'm so nervous... I'm serving with Elder Simpson.  He's from Idaho via Las Vegas! :) This is his second transfer,  he is still on the training program so that is why it is called "follow up". I talked to President Augustin last night, he said he felt very impressed to place us together. He also told me how much of a responsibility I have. I don't feel 100% ready for it, but because I know if the Lord has placed us together I will do what needs to be done. 

Things were pretty hectic this past week. I was in Midland for part of it. I went on exchanges with an Elder Porter. GREAT MISSIONARY. We had a lot of fun together, and worked very hard. It helped get me into a really good mood to meet my new comp. 

I did get the walkers package :) I loved it! The letters were SO FUNNY! at least craigs and ryans :)

Congrats to Elder...I mean Gideon Harris.  Hope things are good for him!

It is such a blessing to be out here working as a tool in the Lords hands. I love the people out here, and the opportunity I have to serve them. I am so grateful for this gospel. It brings so much joy into my life and others.

You're continually in my prayers. Even those of you that read the blog.
I love you,
Elder Marshall

Superb Week

Hey Momma!

Merry Christmas!! I can't wait to see, skype you on Christmas.  I love being on my mission!

The Penguin Suit, in the pictures was a gift from an investigator to Sister Tall, and I found out they had it  and wore it for the majority of a p-day. :)

This Past week was superb!! Last Thursday was Sister Keyes last p-day, and we partied all day long. It was very busy and a lot of fun :)

Friday E. Salmond and I had a presentation at a senior center. We sang songs and read several stories about the true meaning of Christmas. It was only to a few adorable little old ladies, but it was great to enjoy their company :)

Monday I went on exchanges with a new elder. Elder Strawn. He's a Spanish speaking missionary, and we had a great day. Together we taught over 7 lessons. We were a little bad at knocking doors, but we decided we were going to teach a lesson at every door step possible. Anytime someone would give us a chance we taught :) It was really great.

Our mission Baptismal goal is 444 and we're at 424! We are so close. The mission is on fire right now, and we are breaking records left and right.

I'm so grateful to be out here serving the Lord. I know that if it is His work and with Him all is possible!

Oh I'm going to try and send out a package today. I'm putting a couple memory cards in there if you could please get all the photo's off, back it up and then empty them so I will be able to re format them :)
I love you :) Thank you for everything.
Love,
Elder Marshall

Miracle

I'm glad there's some pictures on my blog and facebook. Thanks to Cassie and Aunt Betsy for helping momma.  I try to take a lot of photo's.

I got my Christmas package at Zone Conference. I haven't opened the box so no need to worry :) I don't want to ruin the anticipation. haha There was a sister in my district Sister Keyes, She got her box and opened it right away! haha She's going home next week! She asked her parents to not send anything.

We will be on Skype! :D The bishop in the ward here is going to let us use his computer! Him and his wife are really wonderful people. I love them.

Zone Conference was great. I recorded most of the skits, but the card got full during my skit. I will have to get it from another elder or sister. So I've got another full memory card to send home to you :D 

I got my Christmas package at Zone Conference. I haven't opened the box so no need to worry :) I don't want to ruin the anticipation. haha There was a sister in my district Sister Keyes, She got her box and opened it right away! haha She's going home next week! She asked her parents to not send anything.
We will be on Skype! :D 

The bishop in the ward here is going to let us use his computer! Him and his wife are really wonderful people. I love them.

Zone Conference was great. I recorded most of the skits, but the card got full during my skit. I will have to get it from another elder or sister.

J and E are doing wonderful. We love to spend time with them, and help encourage them to constantly read and pray :)

This last week my comp and I had a miracle. We went WAY across town to knock, and we felt like we weren't supposed to be there, not a bad feeling. So we started driving and we went to the street where we had knocked the previous day (way way way away from where we were), and we got out of the car and started walking. We decided we needed to knock the other side of the street. So we started knocking. We ran into a couple people who had mormon relatives but are DIE HARD baptist. They had no interest in us or the gospel... So we kept knocking feeling a little down. I was praying in my heart that we would find someone to talk to us as we were walking up to a door. We knocked and this lady answered. She was kind, and politely set up a time for friday, and said she was busy. She shut her screen door, and we started walking away. We got to the end of the drive way and I just stopped walking. 2 seconds after I stopped walking she opened up the screen door, and hollered for us to come back. She explained how she couldn't believe that we came by on that day and asked us around back to the screened in porch. When we got there we sat down and started talking, and she had explained to us how she had some depression, and she had been feeling very down and had a lot of questions about religion and God on her mind for the past couple days! We taught her a solid lesson, and set a Baptism date with her! I can't believe we were literally right across the street from her just the day before! Way SOLID.

The Lord will provide when we humble ourselves and open our hearts to His will.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He is the reason we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. I know that through the atonement we can become free from the fetters of sin that bind us, and hold us from our true potential. We are truely blessed because of our Savior and Redeemer. I can't even imagine the pain our Father in Heaven felt when He watched His son take upon the sins of the world. If we truly know that through our Redeemer we will reach our full potential, but it is only through our efforts to repent and humble ourselves, to accept His sacrifice for us, we can do that. 

I love you so much, and I am so grateful for all that you do.
Love,
Elder Marshall

Basketball and Scriptures

Howdy :)

So this week was good. :) We had the baptism of J and E! They're so great! I absolutely love them! heir baptism went really well E. Salmond fell when Juan was coming back up! It was really funny... we all couldn't help but laugh. :D

We had an interesting bible study with them last night. We played basketball and as we all took turns shooting, if you missed you had to tell something about what you know or have learned from the lessons or the scriptures. Afterward we read with them the story of Joseph in Egypt and Potipher's wife and how he interpreted dreams and more. We went over how it's important to stand against what they know is wrong. It is continuously more and more difficult to choose the right. 

Oh L decided I look like I'm from the 50's or 60's, and then everyone else decided I was too haha

Tuesday we did exchanges with the elders down in Midland. I was with Elder Cahoon. He was great. We did a whole lot of knocking, but it's difficult to teach in Midland. The people there are not very accepting or interested in our message. 

As for Christmas We are able to Skype home if there is a member in the ward that has that capability to do. I will have more info next week as to possibly when. I will also be able to call home while we are setting it up. :)

I'm glad you love the scarf! :) (Devon made a scarf for me for Christmas.  It was in a package he sent home for Christmas not wrapped)     I was a little nervous it would be to short.

I figured dad would love the sign and help him realize life is easy when your not in a blender :)(Dad's present was a sign that said You thought your day was stressful and had a fish in a blender) hahaha
Well I don't have much more as of right now :)

I love you, and I am so glad things are going well.. except for austin being sick. I hope he feels better soon. :)

The church is true.  Keep studying the scriptures!
Love,
Elder Marshall

Saturday at 5

Hey Momma,
Boy oh boy,it is time to set up for Christmas-- you always have so many nativities up! :) at least it's better than Santas and snowmen.

E is getting baptized this week with her Husband J. :) I'm going to be baptizing E. You can add her to facebook and chat with her if you want :) haha You would love her.  We're/ The Lord is having a baptismthis Saturday at 5! :D NEATO! I'm really excited for it!

Hermana Gomez is a member :) She has a family you could probably find her daughter Itzel on FB and talk to her.
The ward is treating us great. :) they are all very good people.

My comp and I are.. Doing WONDERFUL.... I'm just getting tired of being with the same person constantly. I love him, but I feel like I've been trapped in a room with him for 3 years.. I have a hard time with that.

Next Transfer call is the 26th of Dec. and then We will leave or stay the next day or so.

You can send me anything you want to. I'd kinda like another memory card for my camera, and a couple of flash drives so I can put the Photo's on those and send them home :) SO YOU have pictures! :D

I'd rather have cash than gift cards, but if anybody wants to give gift cards they're more than welcome!! ;) Walmart ones are good, cause that's mostly where we shop. I'd like a copy of Marking the Scriptures by Daniel Ludlow :) It would be nice to have:)

I love you. I know that this is Christ's church and it is restored in it's fullness. I know that this Gospel will bring anybody closer to Christ, The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
Love,
Elder Marshall