Fried Oreo Cookies

Hello everyone,

We love fried oreo cookies.  It's super easy and a delicious desert. Here is the recipe for you. It's pancake mix. I have one of those huge bags it's blue... I think it's Krusteaz? I'm not exactly sure, it's the one we always buy, oreos or twist and shouts from walmart, basically the same exact thing and oil about 300 or 350 degrees, we just turn the stove top to high let it get hot put 1 SMALL drop of water in wait till it starts popping and then turn it down to med high. Then you dip an oreo into the batter, use a fork to get the whole thing covered real well, then fork it out and drop it in the hot oil. you want to put the oil in a pot make sure the oil is like 2 and a half inches or 3 inches deep. after you drop the batter covered oreo into the hot oil you'll want to use tongs or something to flip it a few times so it cooks evenly and then pull them out and stick them on a plate with paper towels to soak up the grease. I'm sure you could look it up on line like on youtube and watch a video of how to do it. It's pretty simple.

I'm trying to keep it off the weight but it is , but it's tough.

So this past week not to many thing happened. probably the most exciting thing was going down to Odessa to baptize Becca! :D I was about ready to cry when we were in the font. It was so great to see her make the decision to get baptized. Oh there is a book her husband needs to look up. "The Little Book of Book Of Mormon Evidences" - John Hilton. If you post it on the blog she'll make sure he knows about it. 

Besides the baptism not to much has happened. We've found someone new to teach. He's brilliant about the bible, and super hard to teach. He has read the New testament over a thousand times. Literally. He quotes scriptures like a BOSS. The hardest thing is he's developed his own views about certain things, and we can't convince him of anything so we're really pushing him to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He said he should have it read all the way through in a week or so! that's ridiculously fast. haha 

We got a package yesterday!  It was great.  We loved opening it :) Elder Simpson was in heaven especially with the zingers and ding dongs.  He loved the apron.  

Next Monday is transfers so if you send anything before then send it to the mission office and it'll get to me.

I love you and I hope everything is going well. I appreciated this spiritual thought. It was really good.

D&C 64:33-34 "33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the lad of Zion in these last day." 

"The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner." Gordon B. Hinckley

I love you,
Elder Marshall

Super Exciting News!

Hey Family and Friends,
Sounds like some exciting things are happening in up there! I am excited Austin is starting his papers!  Soon there will be no one at home, except you and dad.  

Our transfer call is Monday the 19th of March so we have one more good week together. :) at least one more for sure week. Elder Simpson and I need a package with treats in them. Actually I am trying to eat better so I can loose some weight, but a package would be awesome!  We really appreciate you mailing us stuff!  We love mail and stuff :) !

Yeah I got the package with the apron. I love it! I use it all the time especially when I'm white ninja and I don't want to make a mess of myself :) My comp needs one too!  He is always trying to wash stains out of his clothes...kidding...really he does need an apron.

It so so sad to hear about Sister Black's passing, at least she'll be doing much better up in heaven. :) But we will miss her quick wit. 

Happy Birthday last week to Evan!  Happy Birthday this week to Grandma C!  

SSSSOOOOO!!! I have some super exciting news! So this last Saturday I got a call from my Zone Leaders and they had the GREATEST news EVER! So remember we were teaching a girl in Odessa-- R --- my very first area, she has accepted a baptismal date!  We let the sisters who took over 2nd ward in Odessa know who she was and when we moved out they went to visit her.  SO the best part of all is she wants me to baptize her! Saturday E. Simpson and I get to drive down to Odessa! I"M SO PUMPED!

That's so exciting to hear the progress on the office building! I can't wait to see the pictures! HINT!! I'm sure it looks great and dad is probably excited to be moving in soon! :D

The weather is so weird here! Yesterday, Wednesday it was 84! and today it is 39 with a good mist! What is wrong with Texas. It has hot flashes and cold sweats... 

That's not good to hear that grandma isn't doing well. Tell her to feel better! And to be happy!  

We've been really busy knocking a lot! Tuesday Elder Simpson and I went on exchanges I was with our district leader up here in Big Spring. I was with Elder Harrison. We had a great exchange.

OH! what's the recipe for the pizza casserole and any other quick meal? Will you see if any one has any like 15- 20 min meals I can make. I'm pretty sick of eating fruits and veggies raw and  freezer food. I wish there was a missionary cook book that had healthy meals for cheap that don't take most of the hour to prep and make. HINT!

I love you. Thanks for everything. 
Love,
Elder Marshall

Studying A LOT

Howdy Momma and Poppa and Family and Friends.....

I was listening to the talk Profile of a Prophet, by Hugh B Brown. MAN! That is a great talk! I would definitely recommend ANYONE to read or listen to that talk. It is another testament that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The whole talk just proves that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. I've been trying to use it in my teaching.

Lately I've been studying a lot on the atonement and I read a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland. I want to Quote something out of it.   "When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon, and cast out, and made a hiss, and a byword, YOU ARE STANDING WITH THE BEST LIFE THIS WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions."   I would have to recommend to every single missionary to read the talk entitled "Missionary Work and the Atonement"  20 June 2000

That's great that Miah is home! I'm glad he loved his mission! :D Ask him to write me and send me any pointers :)

I love you :) Thank you for your letters and emails :) I really can not tell you how much they mean to me. I truly appreciate them.

Love ya,
Elder Marshall

PS  I love this..
This was in a talk by Henry B. Eyring, but I believe he was quoting someone else... and made a few changes?

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

I

---

"Fellowship of the Unashamed" by Henry B. Eyring.

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

The die has been cast.

I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tainted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I don't have to be first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on his presence, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast and my goal is Heaven.

My road is narrow, my way is rough.

My companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, diluted, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the fare of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up and paid up for the cause of Christ.

I must go till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of GOD unto Salvation to ever one that believeth... " Romans 1:16.

Honor the Name You Bear!

Howdy Momma & Poppa and friends,

Things are good. We've still been doing quite a lot of knocking while attempting to not go insane. We found a potential investigator!  We saw him working on his car when we pulled into our apartment complex, and I walked up to him and asked him if he needed help. He looked really confused. He said he had just replaced a tube to his radiator and couldn't figure out if he had fixed the leak he was having. I went and sat down in his seat and turned over the engine and told him he'd never see the leak if the engine wasn't running. It was still leaking, so we gave him some water to add to his radiator until he could get to an auto store. We were able to have a really good lesson with him and then he gave us his number to come over and teach him some more. I can not wait! :D

I'm glad things are going well for you. :)  The building seems to be going well, I am glad Austin is reading his scriptures and preparing lessons for Priesthood.  Mom I am sure you are loving teaching  in church again. That's great that you are the church Bus. We have an 80 year old sister here Sister Menges who is pretty much the bus. She's wonderful!  I love her.

Elder Simpson and I are getting along great. We are still finding things to laugh about and have fun. Some days are rough, but we give it our best positive attitude.  HE WOULD LOVE MAIL.

President Uchtdorf talked about a military base in his talk, "You matter to Him" in this past General Conference.  The military in base Big Spring base is closed down now. It's been closed for several years now. But I think it is important to remember that every one is important.  The members here didn't know that he would one day be an apostle, he didn't know it.  But God knew who he was and he knows who each of us are today. :D

This story is incredible. I was in tears when I read it. 

“A number of years ago I was seriously ill. In fact, I think everyone gave up on me but my wife. … I became so weak as to be scarcely able to move. It was a slow and exhausting effort for me even to turn over in bed.

“One day, under these conditions, I lost consciousness of my surroundings and thought I had passed to the Other Side. I found myself standing with my back to a large and beautiful lake, facing a great forest of trees. There was no one in sight, and there was no boat upon the lake or any other visible means to indicate how I might have arrived there. I realized, or seemed to realize, that I had finished my work in mortality and had gone home. …

“I began to explore, and soon I found a trail through the woods which seemed to have been used very little, and which was almost obscured by grass. I followed this trail, and after I had walked for some time and had traveled a considerable distance through the forest, I saw a man coming towards me. I became aware that he was a very large man, and I hurried my steps to reach him, because I recognized him as my grandfather [George A. Smith]. In mortality he weighed over three hundred pounds, so you may know he was a large man. I remember how happy I was to see him coming. I had been given his name and had always been proud of it.

“When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, he stopped. His stopping was an invitation for me to stop. Then—and this I would like the boys and girls and young people never to forget—he looked at me very earnestly and said:

“‘I would like to know what you have done with my name.’

“Everything I had ever done passed before me as though it were a flying picture on a screen—everything I had done. Quickly this vivid retrospect came down to the very time I was standing there. My whole life had passed before me. I smiled and looked at my grandfather and said:

“‘I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed.’

“He stepped forward and took me in his arms, and as he did so, I became conscious again of my earthly surroundings. My pillow was as wet as though water had been poured on it—wet with tears of gratitude that I could answer unashamed.

“I have thought of this many times, and I want to tell you that I have been trying, more than ever since that time, to take care of that name. So I want to say to the boys and girls, to the young men and women, to the youth of the Church and of all the world: Honor your fathers and your mothers. Honor the names that you bear.”

I really have been trying to apply that to me personally and as a missionary. I want to honor my grandfathers name, and I want to honor My Saviors name. I bear it on my chest for the world to see. I want all I meet to know that Christ is central to our message. I want to honor His name.

We should all remember weather we have His name on our chest or in our hearts it is important for the world to see what we do each day with his name. 

I love you!
Love,
Elder Marshall :D

True Charity is Love in Action

Hello to all of my family and friends and those who come upon my blog,

Well  this week was full of knocking and not to much happening. I did get the letters you sent us. Elder Simpson was very joyful about it.  (Thanks Jessica for the beautiful doodles!) We really needed the uplifting. Letters make us happy!  

We had interviews with President this morning. They went really well. We had a lot to talk about but there wasn't quite enough time.  I love talking to my mission President.  He makes me feel good about myself and helps me refocus on the important things about serving the Lord.

I'm sick right now. Elder Simpson was sick earlier this week and then I caught it yesterday. I was in bed all day, and I didn't want to be. I have never been a good sick person, or good when others are sick.  I think I get it from Momma (Kidding...sort of....love ya momma) 

There's not to much going on with our area right now. We were told by our AP's in district meeting to get solid commitments and how to get the work going.

There's two types of missionaries. Do-ers and Almost-ers. I know what kind I want to be. I've resolved that I want to be a more positive missionary and get the most out of the work. the more I put into it the more I will get out of it.  I'm tired of surface level conversation and small commitments. I want more.

I have more to talk about, but we need to get going. I miss you all.  Happy Birthday to Sarah on the 13th...sorry I missed you last week,  Liz on the 22nd,  Linda the 25th and Tyler the 27th.  Some of my favorite people were born in February.  

Thanks for all of the letters this week...I guess you put that in the blog...glad it worked....I love hearing from so many people!

I know this work is divine, and inspired of God. I know our Father in Heaven loves us with the most pure love.  President Monson said "There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere."

You are all in my thought and prayer. Be happy!

I love you,
Elder Marshall

Staying...

Family and Friends,

I'm staying in Big Spring for another 6 weeks. We got our transfer call this Monday. I will have been here for 6 months at the end of this transfer. Four and a half with my comp, who I still like. 

Oh I'm learning sign language. I'm would like to find a deaf community or person, I can work with or practice with but it's going to take a lot of work.

I got the package you sent. I saw all the pictures. It was really nice to see everyone thanks, but there was only like a couple pics of you and dad.  

That's great that the office building is almost done. Are you thinking you'll be in there by the end of the month if not sooner? Moving is so much fun:)

B.. is still as awesome as it gets.  I feel so close to him. He continues to learn.  My biggest problem is I don't want to leave because of some of the families here. But I am sure that this is my last transfer here.

That's crazy to hear that Julia is coming home so soon.  Times flies........

It's true what people say about the mission. You get your highest highs and your lowest lows. 

The church is true.  

Happy Valentine's Day!!
I love you all.
Love,
Elder Marshall

PS I NEED more letters.  I am feeling ignored by my friends.

Teaching, Learning, Happy

Hello family and friends,

Still teaching, still learning, still happy!

I bear my witness that this is the true church. This is Christ's church restored to the earth. I know that our Father in Heaven loves each and every one of us. I know that with out a doubt in my heart. God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to die for us. He loves us so much that He asked His son to sacrifice himself for our eternal life. What incredible charity. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know that through the power of God Joseph was able to translate the Book Of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It will draw anyone who reads it with an open heart closer to God than anything else. It is a Blessing to have it in my life. I rely on the comfort it brings me. Nothing else brings me more peace than when I'm feasting on the words from it. I love this Gospel. I love knowing that I will be able to return to my Father in Heaven, and live with my family once again.

I love you,
Elder Marshall