My Comp is SO Funny

Dear Family and Friends- 

Things are going well :) I love being here.  

That's great to hear Austin gave a talk on Sunday. I hope he filled the room with the spirit.

Good to hear the building is moving forward. I hope everything runs smooth.

That's really sad to hear that President Smoot passed. I'm sure he will have a HUGE turn out. especially being a mission president, it will almost be a mission reunion. I hope the drive goes well :)

That's really sad to hear about his Sister Kesterson.  I hope her family is doing well.

HAHA My comp is SO FUNNY! the other night he had me rolling on the floor! I had to beg him to stop so I could get enough energy to run to the bathroom cause I was about to pee myself!!!  HAHAHA We have a great time together. I do need to straighten myself up though.  Having fun is great but working hard is also important.

Oh look up how to make pavlova cake. You can make either vanilla or chocolate. It's DELICIOUS! One of our investigators daughters has traveled the world and she made it for us! It's heavenly. You would absolutely LOVE IT!

Can you have Evan send me some gummy worms :) He knows what my favorite kind are and where he can get them. Tell him I love him long time! :D I miss Cassie and Evan.

I miss Sunday dinner with the family.  How is Dan and Angie? I bet the twins are getting big. 

Lars, my comp has a "zipper belt." He got it at Farrells in Idaho falls. it's a CTR clothing item. I think you can find it online. It's the same belt you have from Russia.

Dad, can you make another copy of those Spanish cds, but in MP3 format? :) if not don"t worry about it.

So this past week has been terribly and wonderful! We had no hot water in our apartment from last Wed. to Sunday morning... HORRIFIC. I'm not in a 3rd world country. haha

We had zone conference this last Tuesday. That was great! I really enjoyed being able to be around other missionaries.. I'm so lonely in Big Spring... just my comp and I.. I am glad we get along!

We've been working hard at finding new investigators and setting baptismal dates. We went from 5 dates down to one... NOT GOOD.  The one we have is super solid.  He should be getting baptized in the very near future. Hopefully in a week or two. We've been jumping his date but it will happen soon. 

Well. I don't really have much to say today. I'm sorry. The church is true and I love sharing it.
I hope all goes well through out the week.

Love,
Elder Marshall

Waffles

HEY MOMMA!
Things in Big Spring are snowy, wet, and ULTRA COLD! Not like winters in Vegas!

I am enjoying being with Elder Simpson. Lately I just haven't had the drive to be out working as diligent as I can be. I'm blaming the snow, but it shouldn't slow me down.  We are still going out and working, just not as diligent as possible.. I'll work on it. I don't want Elder Simpson to feel like he's wasting his time out here.

We are working on getting a couple baptisms this transfer, but it seems like they won't happen till the second week of Feb. I pray we will be able to get something to work out so we can get a baptism under his belt.

I love all the families we're working with right now. They're all so great. We enjoy watching them grow their faith in Christ.

There's one family :) The children are members except for the youngest. The Youngest has expressed to us that she wants to be baptized, and the mother and father are working towards baptism too. I LOVE their family. They are so great to spend time with, and help them grow in the gospel. The Mother got a Quad for Christmas and the whole family is now reading on there own. I'm going to try and put some family home evenings together so we can do that with them. I want so badly for their WHOLE family to become active again in church. They are so wonderful. 

There's a 23 yr old that we're working with. We visit him several times a week to teach him. HE has a baptismal date for Feb 4th! HE's so great, and LOVES the church. I love seeing his testimony of the gospel grow.  He has a solid testimony.  Just waiting for time.

I hope Sister Walker gets better! She seems to be spending a bit of time in the hospital recently.
WOW, just about the whole Black family.. Are they all doing better? I miss spending time with Palma. She's great! :) All of the Blacks are great.  I hope they feel better soon.  They will all be in my prayers.

OH! I have a waffle maker:) Did you see it in the pictures that were sent home? I got it at goodwill for 15 bucks! It's just like yours except the handle folds down for easier storage! :D I love it. I'll make a whole box of waffles and then have them to heat up later on in the week :) 

Quotes for the week...

“The missionary servants of the Church of Jesus Christ today are sent forth, not to assail nor ridicule the beliefs of men, but to set before the world a superior light, by which the smoky dimness of the flickering flames of man-made creeds shall be apparent. The work of the Church is constructive, not destructive.” Elder James E. Talmage

Boyd K Packer
"True doctrine, understood, changes attitude and behavior.  The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior faster than a study of behavior will improve behavior."

Marvin J Ashton
"The speed with which we head along the straight and narrow path isn't as important as the direction in which we are traveling."

Finally in our letter from President Augustin he said...

Let's follow the Prophet Joseph Smith's teaching of "being virtuous and pure...  Men and Women of integrity and truth; keeping the commandments of God and then be able to more perfectly understand the difference between right and wrong---between the things of God and the things of men.  Your path will be like that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day."


I hope all is well.
Love,
Elder Marshall

p.s. The hot water was out in our apartment today.. No shower and a lot of cologne... hahaha GROSS! i hope the hot water is working again before 6!!!! :/

I LOVE THIS GOSPEL

Hey Momma,

Things are going magnificent out here. Elder Simpson and I are doing wonderful. We are getting along GREAT.

You know how I've always had a hard time staying focused and keeping on track? Well I'm still bad at it haha. But I am trying to b obedient!

I've decided though, if I absolutely fail at everything as a trainer I hope he learns how much I love the gospel, and knows how much I love him. He's told me that since he's been with me he hasn't been home sick. I'm so glad. I want him to love his mission. He is probably one of the greatest missionaries, yes he has his fall backs, definitely less than I do, but he has a huge heart. I didn't quite understand him at first, but I've look past our differences. 

Things are progressing out here in Big Spring. We are trying to meet with our investigators now that the new year had past and continue to teach them so they will have the opportunity to accept Christ, and feel of His love.

I am so grateful to be able to be teaching this gospel. I know it is true. 

We knocked on a door this past week, and a lady answered, and she started preaching to us about how our church is wrong. I felt stuck in a hole. She was wording questions like she was trying to bash with us, and trying to prove everything wrong. Elder Simpson, LIKE A BOSS, bore a solid testimony, and gave them a copy of The Book Of Mormon to find out for themselves if it was true. I've been out here 6 months, and I had absolutely no idea what to do, and Elder Simpson just felt to bear his testimony. It is so great to have the spirit be able to guide us out difficult things. 

I LOVE THIS GOSPEL.

It sounds like you have a fun new calling :) That may even help in the family, with all of the newly weds we have :) haha

That's great to hear Tyson proposed to Britt, tell them I love them and hope they will achieve their goals together.

Ask Evan if I can play GRAB ---..  with him when he is walking down the isle to bring me my drink! ;) Tell them both I love them.

Tell Dan and Angie I love them.

Tell Lars and Liz I love them.

Tell the Whole World I love them :)

That's so great to hear that Austin is growing up and being responsible :) I knew he had it in him! Tell him to keep being a BOSS. He'll know what I mean :)

I'm glad everything is going well at the office.

I pray for you always :)

LOVE,
Elder Marshall
your prettiest son :)