Two Weeks... Happy Birthday

Hello!!! (August 6)

I got TONS and TONS of cards every day leading up to my birthday.  I am terrible at writing people back, and I am SO SORRY! I am so thankful for all of the birthday wishes. Hearing from home made my birthday great!  I love getting mail!! All missionaries do.  It was so exciting everyday to go to the mailbox and find TONS of mail in most of it was for me!!  Thanks for the happiest of birthdays! BTW.... I didn't get the cologne, but it could have come today. I will let you know when I get it.

I am so excited for Scott. I hope they decide to use the timeshare because they will enjoy it EXTREMELY! The time shares are so nice to use. There are so many we have loved going to. 

 Tell Austin that it sucks to study. Lets be real. I don't enjoy getting up and studying, but to teach something I don't know is impossible. Pray before you study, ask God to help you learn how to love studying. Then as you are studying pray and ask for help to remember it, and then after you study pray and ask if what you have studied is true. IT IS POINTLESS TO STUDY AND THEN NOT ASK FOR GOD TO TESTIFY TO YOU OF WHAT YOU STUDY. I know when I read the Book of Mormon I read in my head as if I was narrating a play, and try to make it dramatic and exciting. As I do that I don't want to put the book down. Preach my Gospel section 2. read it over.

Sharing the gospel makes such a huge difference in lives. I've realized talking about the gospel, and growing in it together with someone; especially sharing your testimony, will make a friendships that is unbreakable. I've seen it in so many lives. Those that I have taught are so important to me. I would give anything for them.

Things are going well here. We have several investigators with many struggles. Some of the things we are not allowed to council with them about, and it makes it very difficult, but we are helping them to learn how to pray and receive revelation about their struggles. We are doing everything we know how to do to help them.

The other day we had about 20 minutes till 9 and we had gone in. When we got in we both felt that we needed to go knocking. Which is not easy to do late in the evening. So we decided that we would just knock the houses right by our apartment. We knocked 3 doors and nothing. The 4th door a woman in her late 20's answered the door.  She was very apprehensive at first. We talked to her and she knew some members of the church, and then we found out her husband is LDS and that his whole family is! She told us that missionaries have never talked to her in Clovis, but the missionaries in Utah had and they were very pushy. She said she didn't want to know anything about the church but would be willing to have us over for dinner. So Sunday evening we went over to her house with the sisters for dinner and had a good talk. She asked us questions about things and we just talked and talked and.. yeah.. talked some more. Then after dinner she texted us and told us she would like to hear more about the church!!! :D SO TIGHT!

Well that's all for now folks.
I love you!
Elder Marshall

Hey, (August 1)

Hope all is well with everyone!  New Mexico is hot and dry but I love the people here.

That's so great to hear that Austin is getting involved in so many things, church and sports. I hope he finds a friend, a solid best friend. I love knowing Tyler and Matt were always there for me and know that I am making great friends here that will be with me through my life.  I hope Austin gets his call soon.  The sooner he leaves the soon I will see him. 

I am going to miss Evan. I hope he remembers once a Marshall always a Marshall.

Building relationships as a family is so important.  Praying as a family. FHE may seem unnecessary when there are only two or if you have a young family, but it really will bless them. Taking time every night to talk to each other about their day things that are bugging them or things they love about each other. Praying together helps to building a relationship.  They could even go early in the morning and take a walk around the park. There are a lot of things that can be done to build a great relationship. Marriage is sacred.  What a great blessing the temple is too.  Attending often gives you a sense of peace.  I miss being so far away from the temple.

Things are going well. We are teaching a couple people that are great.  I have been fasting and praying more than I have in my entire life.  I am reading a lot in the Book of Mormon. I have been going through King Mosiah's speech. It is so great to be able to receive revelation through the scriptures. God loves us!

I love you. 

Love,
Elder Marshall  

All in the Lord's Time

Elder Marshall's birthday is August 4.  
If you would like to send him a card his address is:

 2100 Mitchell apt 11 Clovis, 

New Mexico 88101 

Hey everyone-
So transfer rumor is I am staying in Clovis North with Elder Krizin. I have a feeling I will be with him until the end of his mission, 12 more weeks.  Sister Lao is staying and she is training, and Sister Sekona is leaving :( to Lubbock. Sister Lao is training Sister Peterson. Sister Lao is really stressed about it, but I know she'll do a great job. She is a great missionary

As far as the waiting for Austin's papers goes- Stop stressing about it. I know you are excited. And the longer it takes for his papers the longer before the whole family is together again but the Lord is in charge.  The other day I was talking to Sister Lao about how it took pretty much forever to get her papers in. Her stake president went on a vacation for like 2 months right before her papers got to him, and before that her bishop was taking forever to get them through. We talked about how it was frustrating for her to wait forever, but it seemed to be the right timing. If her papers had been in when she sent them in she may not have ever met the people she had, or even came to this mission. I know the Lord has it all planned out even when it takes forever for things to happen. It's in the Gods hands. Breathe! 

Oh I forgot Laura was doing the surrogate mother thing. That is so neat. I'm sure it is a blessing for them, and those who have always wanted their own children.

Happy birthday to Knox and Soleil! Last Tuesday....

My finger is doing well. It hurts when I bump it and to touch things with it is kinda weird. It hasn't popped off though. I don't know if Terry is still checking my finger. It seems to be healing well. I am a little nervous that the nail will become ingrown, but the dr said, "Let's just leave it the h... alone, and it should be fine."   ......ok.... 

The people we are teaching are well. We are working with a couple right now to help them get married. I feel bad we will go with them to a members house for dinner and then we'll start talking and then the member teaches the importance of marriage. it's been like 7 lessons in a row... It is insane. It is starting to get to the point to where I think they are thinking we are planning this to guilt them into getting married faster. But they are great!

We are working with a couple other people right now.  I am glad we are teaching.  I just hope they understand what we are teaching them.

What would an absentee vote do? Do they even count? or do they just disregard them? I don't really know who to vote for because I can't follow any politics. But, I 'd like a ballot.  I know it's important to voice our thoughts so we can complain if it doesn't go MY WAY!!!

I did get the most recent package. I opened it, then realized I probably shouldn't have... lol I didn't really look through it though.

A couple of thoughts
The other day I realized how some of us say things that are so repetitive in our prayers. We say good thing, but they just seem to stay affixed to something along the same lines. I was listening to one of the sisters investigators pray, and he was so humble when he prayed. He really talked about things that matter to him. He prayed about his wife, things he was struggling with. I know that man knows God. He has a relationship with him. The spirit was overwhelming after he closed the prayer. I know of the power of prayer. God listens. He wants to bless us, to talk to us, to love us. Some food for thought, If love is spelled t i m e, how much do we love God.

Sometimes companionships are hard!   WE are all children of God.  If the other or what he thinks of himself as normal, elders would just remember God has placed us there with that person. It is a commandment to endure to the end. We must endure happily. I know I struggle myself, but I just have to remind myself that I must humble myself as our Savior did in Gethsemane and do what God has planned for me. I may not want to, but it is what God has planned. Not my will, but His will. 

The district is much larger now.  Elder Brown is the DL. I don't know him, but I've heard he's cool. Less stress!

Thank you for everything you do for me. I love you so much. I miss you.
Love,
Elder Marshall 

1 Million Steps

Hey,

A couple good things have happened this past week. We went out and went tracting. We had pulled up in front of a house with a bunch of cars and my companion got a little upset with me because people sometimes freak out when someone parks in front of their house. Well, a man came out to smoke, and I got out and walked up to him. We started teaching and he put out his cigarette. Then he started asking questions and the lesson went well. We left him with a copy of the Book of Mormon and committed him to do a couple things. When we left we went and knocked on several neighbors doors after about 45 minutes we went back to the car, and he was still sitting there reading the Book of Mormon. While we were out knocking we saw another guy out working on his car. He was putting a new stereo in and couldn't quite get it figured out. I hopped in the car and set it all up while Elder Krizin talked to him. We went back a few days later and we were able to soft commit him and his wife to baptism.

I had leadership training this past week on Wednesday. It was pretty good.

My finger is healing pretty well. Still pink!

Don't worry about the cologne. I would love to have it, but it doesn't matter. I smell good anyway:) 

Oh one more thing I just hit 1 million steps. I'm sure I'm way over that because I don't keep it on all the time, but I just hit it today.

I love you. The church is true. I am grateful for the atonement.

Thank you for everything you do for me.

Love,

Elder Marshall

Three Weeks

June 25

I got the package! Thank you for all of the 'hugs!" They were great to read :) Thanks for the early birthday gifts.  I will put them to good use.  Don't forget E Simpson's birthday is at the end of the month.  You should mail things before transfers on the 24th.  I think that is also his actual birthday.  My district really enjoyed the card games. We played phase 10 for a while the other day. That was a lot of fun. I can't remember how to play nerts... I am going to have to see if I can find some instructions for it or someone can send them to me.

Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world!

Thanks Jessica for the wonderful doodles... they make me smile.

I like my area. I am still getting use to it.  I hate white washing because neither of us know anything about the area, and neither of us know the investigators. Most of the time missionaries pride themselves in white washing an area, but I feel like we have too much interrupted service, but the Lord put us both here for a reason, so we will work.

I'm in a ward. Elder Krizin and I cover basically everything north of 21st and a little bit more, and the sisters cover everything south of 21st. We cover the same ward. 

That's great to hear that Austins papers are in to the Bishop! I'm excited for him. Maybe He'll come to the TLM and I'll train him. :) 

Well I don't really have anything to say. I'm exhausted, and my mind is empty. I am grateful for the gospel. Life is better when the Lord is on your side.

I have a ton of stamps. I am not very good at writing people back. I love them and I want them to know I am grateful for the letters, but I really just suck at writing. If I had to write you once a week I would probably break my hand so I didn't have to hand write anymore... 

I love you,
Elder Marshall

July 2

Hello everyone-

I am sure by now all of you have seen the picture of me with a bandage on my finger.  If not, it is on facebook and thank you Jessica Swapp for taking care of that for mom.  Some things she is great at and others...well lets just say I love my momma. I thought y'all would enjoy the picture. The ward sure opened up to me on Sunday. Usually when someone gives them the "Bird" they close off, but they all loved it. I had so many pictures taken of me!

It is really hard to type.... I finally got good at using all of my fingers and now I can't use one. I am okay :) I am glad Sister Augustin  was able to call and let you know I am alright.  I do feel good at least the Sisters were at our door and could take us right away to the hospital. My Dr was great. She had me come back last night, Sunday, When she began her shift so she could look at it rather than hand me off to someone else. She said it should be fine and it will heal up well. The color was in the tip of my finger so it shouldn't fall off :)

I Don't know if Sister Augustin told you what happened or not. I was putting on my companions front bike tire, and it has disk brakes. (I would send a picture, but I forgot my cord.) We spun the tire to get it to true up, and then I was going to pinch it down to keep it in alignment.  When I pushed the lever down my finger got caught in the disk (there are holes in it)  and it cut me. I have a pretty good laceration and a fracture of the distal phalanx.

Happy Birthday DAN!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope he liked his stuffed shells.  Italian food is what he loves the most. Happy birthday to Uncle Steve and Ha Ora Hewlen, I can't believe he is one, not Uncle Steve!  And of course...Happy Happy Birthday Austin!!

We had a lot of fun this past week. We worked at the food bank a lot to help them get ready for the week they are having off. It is nice to be able to do service.
Sorry I would type more, but it's hard... I keep hitting my finger on the keyboard.

The church is true.  Everyone should hand out pass along card, feed missionary, have discussions in your home and pray for missionaries.
I love you,
elder Marshall

July 10

Hey, I don't have much I want to talk about. I'm kinda frustrated right now. I spent well over an hour in a drs office to talk to him for about 2 minutes. I understand they're busy, but it bugs me. I have never been good at hurry up and wait! My finger is healing well.

My finger is good. I have to keep the bandage off as much as possible. it is weird cause it looks gross, at least that's what everyone else says.

That's good to hear that Austin had a good birthday. The card I sent is pretty funny... Pirates always make me laugh.  I hope he enjoyed it.

I don't have anything super great that has been happening.  

Well. I wish I had something exciting to say... but I don't. I'm really just emailing so you know I'm alive.  

Jesus wants us for Sunbeams...share your light with someone this week.

I love you,
Elder Marshall

Clovis, New Mexico

Hello everyone,

I am being transferred and have a ton of things to do so this will be really short!  I am serving with Elder Krizin in Clovis, New Mexico.  If you have heard that name before it is because we have served together already.  I am the district leader and we have 4 people in our district.  The two of us and a set of sisters.  I don't know much about the area but the address is 2100 Mitchell apt 11 Clovis, New Mexico 88101.  

I will really miss Midland and Elder Rose.  We were a great team and had a lot of fun with the members and those were taught. There are some wonderful people there!

It is so great to know that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to care for us as individuals!

Gotta run...Love to everyone,

Elder Marshall

Oh, the church is true!

So Grateful For This Gospel

Hey,

You asked if we can go I get to go to baptisms in my district.  If there is a baptism in the area we are allowed to go if we have an investigator.  I would like to go to them all especially those I interviewed.  There is such a great spirit that is at baptisms. 

Not to much has happened this week for us. We are out working, but it's been slow, and kinda hectic as you can tell I ended up having to email you on Thursday.

We are working with a few people who are wonderful!  

It breaks my heart to hear about people doing thing they know are wrong or breaking commandments, but I can't control anyone's agency, that was satan's plan. I know we teach and talk about what is right and wrong. It is agency, but to every choice their is a consequence or reaction. We will be judged for our actions especially those we are making when we KNOW what is right or wrong. It tears me up inside to know people I love are not living up to their potential... Thank goodness for the atonement.  We all can use it as often as we need it.

I am so grateful for this gospel. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon, and the rest of the canon of scripture we have. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet. It's either that or he is the greatest con-artist in the world. I know with out a doubt that the Prophet Joseph Smith was directed and lead by God. It is undeniable. God loves us. I know that. I know he wants the best for us even if it means we have to go through trials to learn. We are to become more like God. We can do that as we endure through our trials with a determination, and a joy knowing that we are becoming like God. I know that Thomas Spencer Monson is a prophet of God. Listening to him speak is so soothing. I know that he is directed by God. I am forever grateful for the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ. It makes logic sense and you can feel the spirit as you study it. 

I love you,
Elder Marshall 

PS I am jealous you were all at the cabin, but I bet you are jealous I am serving a mission!  I can't wait to go to the cabin again. We have fun going with the Walker's. I love that game we play where we all act things out.  We all look silly but do it anyway because we all like to WIN!!! I guess next year Marissa and I will be back, and the year after Craig. You'll just have to wait till then to see who is on the winning team.  

I saw some of the photos of the office! It looks great!! Congrats Dad on all of your hard work. 

God Love Us

Hey Everyone;

This week was excellent!!  I was able to interview a couple people for baptism. I love interviewing for baptism. Usually it takes about 20 minutes, but we end up talking for over an hour. I love how strong the spirit is as we talk. One I did Sunday I was almost in tears, and it wasn't anything in particular she said. It was the power of her testimony and the spirit in the room. I love this church. I am so grateful for the divinity of the doctrine we have. I know everything we teach to be true. I know of the love God has for each and every single one of us. It is proven to us through everything we teach. We have a prophet, we have the opportunity to live with our families for eternity, Christ's church was restored, the priesthood is on the earth, we have truth through the Book of Mormon, the Prophet and other scriptures.  All of these things show us of how much God loves us. I can not express how wonderful this is to me. I am so grateful for this truth.

We had Zone Conference this past week. That went well. We were able to have some time as a Zone to play games and relax. It was pretty nice.

Oh we have a new mission office address right now.
The new address for the mission office is:

 

Texas Lubbock Mission

6310  114^th Street

Lubbock, Texas  79424

I guess if you have anything to send around the time of transfers you can send it there. Transfers is the 12th & 13th that Tuesday and Wednesday.  We will find out next Saturday if we get moved, not this up coming one the 9th.

Oh I spoke to soon about the MICE. They're BACK. Well at least we got a couple more. We know right where the hole is so now we can shove some steel wool in there. I guess that prevents them from coming back in. I HOPE!!

Oh, my birthday is coming up... hint hint...I need razor foils, my razor is a remington. I need to find out what the model number is to the razor so you can get more foils. My foil now has a hole in it and it hurts like flippin crazy to shave, but I got a manual razor until I can get some new foils. Oh in the next package can you send me my cologne. the one million. the one that looks like a gold bar? Don't forget the gummy worms!

I can't really think of to much new that's going on.
I love you.
Love,
Elder Marshall