Saturday, August 1, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Venha o que vier 07-13-2009
Two years ago, I was asked to devote everything that I had, or in better words, everything that I was, to this mission. At the time, I was not at all prepared to do so. I had just finished my first year of schooling. I had just left behind my family, friends and all of the things on which I spent all of my time. I even left a special friend behind. I didn’t want to let any of those things go, even though I had recently obtained my own knowledge and testimony that this church is the true Church of God. I actually did have the desire to serve Jesus Christ, my Lord. Yet my mind was not focused and my heart was split; I had not left everything behind.
Two months later, with an unfortunately low understanding of the Portuguese language, I stepped out into the field of my new home, Portugal. In my first interview with my mission president, President Henry, he told me that my mission would be a humbling experience for me. And looking back, boy did I need the humbling. I was ready to prove something to someone, although who that someone is, I’m not quite sure; perhaps it was I myself, or perhaps it was God. And thus it began. 22 months have passed today since I began work in my first area. Those of your who have read my weekly emails know of my joys and successes as well as my hardships and frustrations. It has flown by “as if it were a dream.”
One year ago I made a promise to give “all that I am” to this work. I think that it was at that time that I finally started to understand why I was here, in deed instead of only in word. Ever since I arrived in Portugal, I have had a dream of seeing the Gospel spread over all of Portugal. I wanted it to fill this country. And the longer I spent in the country, the more fulfilled my blessing became which told me that I would love the people whom I served.
And so now I am here today. Those things that had occupied my thoughts so much at the beginning do not impede my ability to preach this word. The Spirit of God and this work, which work is the same dream that I have had from the beginning, only so much less selfish, have filled me and made me realize that I love it. I have had success stories on my mission. I have had great disappointments. But I believe that I can say to you all that I gave it my all. Even when my all was more clouded than it is today by selfishness and ambition, it was my all, and I gave that. My testimony of the reality of the Son of God and His restored Church has grown to the point that what I had before seems small and insignificant. I have finally learned, in some small way, how to put my trust in God.
This is not over. Missionary work has become so much a part of my life, and working at it has made me a better person than I could have been doing anything else. I invite all people to come and learn of this Gospel.
How will you be able to tell if my mission was a successful one? How can any of you who have looked on from the outside in know if what I say about my mission is true? Most of you who are reading these words have met me before and seen my face. So, if you can see the countenance of Jesus more fully in the man that comes back than the one who came, then you can say that my mission was a success.
Don’t ever lose hope.
The future is as bright as your faith.
Love,
-Élder Carson Marsh
Two months later, with an unfortunately low understanding of the Portuguese language, I stepped out into the field of my new home, Portugal. In my first interview with my mission president, President Henry, he told me that my mission would be a humbling experience for me. And looking back, boy did I need the humbling. I was ready to prove something to someone, although who that someone is, I’m not quite sure; perhaps it was I myself, or perhaps it was God. And thus it began. 22 months have passed today since I began work in my first area. Those of your who have read my weekly emails know of my joys and successes as well as my hardships and frustrations. It has flown by “as if it were a dream.”
One year ago I made a promise to give “all that I am” to this work. I think that it was at that time that I finally started to understand why I was here, in deed instead of only in word. Ever since I arrived in Portugal, I have had a dream of seeing the Gospel spread over all of Portugal. I wanted it to fill this country. And the longer I spent in the country, the more fulfilled my blessing became which told me that I would love the people whom I served.
And so now I am here today. Those things that had occupied my thoughts so much at the beginning do not impede my ability to preach this word. The Spirit of God and this work, which work is the same dream that I have had from the beginning, only so much less selfish, have filled me and made me realize that I love it. I have had success stories on my mission. I have had great disappointments. But I believe that I can say to you all that I gave it my all. Even when my all was more clouded than it is today by selfishness and ambition, it was my all, and I gave that. My testimony of the reality of the Son of God and His restored Church has grown to the point that what I had before seems small and insignificant. I have finally learned, in some small way, how to put my trust in God.
This is not over. Missionary work has become so much a part of my life, and working at it has made me a better person than I could have been doing anything else. I invite all people to come and learn of this Gospel.
How will you be able to tell if my mission was a successful one? How can any of you who have looked on from the outside in know if what I say about my mission is true? Most of you who are reading these words have met me before and seen my face. So, if you can see the countenance of Jesus more fully in the man that comes back than the one who came, then you can say that my mission was a success.
Don’t ever lose hope.
The future is as bright as your faith.
Love,
-Élder Carson Marsh
Monday, July 6, 2009
Imperfect Faith 07-06-2009
Well, it looks like I'll need to be getting a gmail account when I get back! Everybody's doing it...!
The Zone of Madeira had an awesome week this week! I was incredibly happy for them all. There are five companionships in our zone (small, I know) which are Funchal 1, Funchal 2, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço and Machico. If you recall, I was in Caniço before I came to Funchal 1. Funchal 1 and 2 are always doing at least reasonably well, but the other areas are hard because everyone comes to Funchal to work so the other areas are almost empty come the weekday afternoons. Any meetings we have are also generally in Funchal, so it can get difficult for them. Well, last week we had a Zone Meeting (which we had already mentioned before I think) about giving your whole self to the work and about making the most of your time. I guess that must have had an effect because we saw some great things happen out of our zone this week, and it was great to think that perhaps something that we did or said may have been a part of it. Caniço had their first baptism in a year or so: a 25 year old way cool girl named Cátia. She was way happy afterwards. It's awesome to see God's love be poured on someone for her correct decisions, for it brings us closer to Him. Machico, in turn, marked a baptism of a Brasilian guy named Erikson this week! That should be way awesome! And then Câmara de Lobos got like 5 new investigators, and I think Funchal 2 had 9 or something, and they both taught a lot this week. Everyone is doing very well and I hope to see continued fire and progress in all areas. It's great to be here on Madeira!
Things are starting to come together. Word has spread that the next Sunday will be my last, so many people have promised me that they will come to church. Marlene promised to come and bring her boyfriend; an older man named Jaime who works at a store in Funchal promised to come, and a doorman of a restaurant (maybe they call them greeters... I don't remember anymore!) named Afonso is on holiday and said that he would come. So we are in the makings for a great next week here in Funchal 1! Getting people to church has been Madeira's weak point for some time now. But now that we are starting to work better with our members, things should start solidifying... if we keep it up! Seriously, Funchal 1 is an AWESOME area. It could be just like any area in the States or in Brazil, if we start organizing well and working our hardest. The members are going to have to decide if this growth is what they really want, and moreover, if it is worth fighting for. I certainly believe that it is. We saw a little miracle yesterday in that Sérgio received the Aaronic Priesthood! We didn't think that we were going to be a part of it, but then we were upstairs for a meeting and President Ventura told me that I should do the setting apart! It was cool to be a part of that, and I know that Sérgio is worthy of the call.
Bruno and Joana are our marked baptisms right now. They haven't come to church since I think my first week here with Elder Nieveen. They keep saying that they will come and then not showing up. I don't really know what the problem is, but we have some awesome members who should be able to help us out. We have seen that our time with members has not been wasted as many of them are taking initiative to make things happen. Joel, who happens to be Joana's uncle and has helped us a lot in teaching them, has been bringing a friend to church named Francisco. Well finally we did what we should have done a long time ago and marked an appointment with him. Well, it was probably a good thing that we waited because he has been liking church more and more and been seeing the difference that it makes, so this should be an optimal time to go see him. I know that most people won't understand this analogy, but for you nerds out there, here goes: A lot of wards feel like those single player video games, where you have allies, but they don't actually do anything and you are expected to do all of the work. They are there and occasionally they will do something, but you kind of have to force it to happen. This branch is not like that at all. They will fellowship, they will volunteer themselves occasionally, and they are instrumental in the success that Funchal 1 has seen. It's really great to witness.
So when I did my personal study this morning I felt (for whatever reason, but we know that whatever reason is usually an important one) like I should read something in Jesus the Christ. So I started flipping around to places that I thought interesting and I finally came across the part in the Biblical accounts where Jesus heals the woman who touches His raiment. Elder Talmage states simply that the woman was not going about it the right way; touching His clothes was a nice act of faith but would not truly make her be healed without the Lord's consent or acknowledgement. But then in an act of compassion the Lord turned to her and told her that because of her faith (which was previously termed as imperfect) had made her whole, and THAT was the moment in which she was permenantly healed as opposed to temporarily feeling good for having acted on her faith in Christ.
Jesus continues to help us in this same way. Over the past few days I have incorrectly assumed that I would have all the success that I wanted because it was in my final hours and so I somehow deserved more success. But of course, all in the Lord's time. I wondered if my faith were somehow incomplete or unable to produce the kind of miracles that I know that God wants to have happen here. But as I read this I think I started to understand. Jesus Christ is still going to help you if you don't exercise your faith exactly in the right way. Sure, it would be better if so done, but He will still have compassion on you. He will lead you by the hand and show you the miracles, even if you don't do it right. You just have to do it the best you can.
Venha o que vier, e desfrute!
Elder Carson Marsh
The Zone of Madeira had an awesome week this week! I was incredibly happy for them all. There are five companionships in our zone (small, I know) which are Funchal 1, Funchal 2, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço and Machico. If you recall, I was in Caniço before I came to Funchal 1. Funchal 1 and 2 are always doing at least reasonably well, but the other areas are hard because everyone comes to Funchal to work so the other areas are almost empty come the weekday afternoons. Any meetings we have are also generally in Funchal, so it can get difficult for them. Well, last week we had a Zone Meeting (which we had already mentioned before I think) about giving your whole self to the work and about making the most of your time. I guess that must have had an effect because we saw some great things happen out of our zone this week, and it was great to think that perhaps something that we did or said may have been a part of it. Caniço had their first baptism in a year or so: a 25 year old way cool girl named Cátia. She was way happy afterwards. It's awesome to see God's love be poured on someone for her correct decisions, for it brings us closer to Him. Machico, in turn, marked a baptism of a Brasilian guy named Erikson this week! That should be way awesome! And then Câmara de Lobos got like 5 new investigators, and I think Funchal 2 had 9 or something, and they both taught a lot this week. Everyone is doing very well and I hope to see continued fire and progress in all areas. It's great to be here on Madeira!
Things are starting to come together. Word has spread that the next Sunday will be my last, so many people have promised me that they will come to church. Marlene promised to come and bring her boyfriend; an older man named Jaime who works at a store in Funchal promised to come, and a doorman of a restaurant (maybe they call them greeters... I don't remember anymore!) named Afonso is on holiday and said that he would come. So we are in the makings for a great next week here in Funchal 1! Getting people to church has been Madeira's weak point for some time now. But now that we are starting to work better with our members, things should start solidifying... if we keep it up! Seriously, Funchal 1 is an AWESOME area. It could be just like any area in the States or in Brazil, if we start organizing well and working our hardest. The members are going to have to decide if this growth is what they really want, and moreover, if it is worth fighting for. I certainly believe that it is. We saw a little miracle yesterday in that Sérgio received the Aaronic Priesthood! We didn't think that we were going to be a part of it, but then we were upstairs for a meeting and President Ventura told me that I should do the setting apart! It was cool to be a part of that, and I know that Sérgio is worthy of the call.
Bruno and Joana are our marked baptisms right now. They haven't come to church since I think my first week here with Elder Nieveen. They keep saying that they will come and then not showing up. I don't really know what the problem is, but we have some awesome members who should be able to help us out. We have seen that our time with members has not been wasted as many of them are taking initiative to make things happen. Joel, who happens to be Joana's uncle and has helped us a lot in teaching them, has been bringing a friend to church named Francisco. Well finally we did what we should have done a long time ago and marked an appointment with him. Well, it was probably a good thing that we waited because he has been liking church more and more and been seeing the difference that it makes, so this should be an optimal time to go see him. I know that most people won't understand this analogy, but for you nerds out there, here goes: A lot of wards feel like those single player video games, where you have allies, but they don't actually do anything and you are expected to do all of the work. They are there and occasionally they will do something, but you kind of have to force it to happen. This branch is not like that at all. They will fellowship, they will volunteer themselves occasionally, and they are instrumental in the success that Funchal 1 has seen. It's really great to witness.
So when I did my personal study this morning I felt (for whatever reason, but we know that whatever reason is usually an important one) like I should read something in Jesus the Christ. So I started flipping around to places that I thought interesting and I finally came across the part in the Biblical accounts where Jesus heals the woman who touches His raiment. Elder Talmage states simply that the woman was not going about it the right way; touching His clothes was a nice act of faith but would not truly make her be healed without the Lord's consent or acknowledgement. But then in an act of compassion the Lord turned to her and told her that because of her faith (which was previously termed as imperfect) had made her whole, and THAT was the moment in which she was permenantly healed as opposed to temporarily feeling good for having acted on her faith in Christ.
Jesus continues to help us in this same way. Over the past few days I have incorrectly assumed that I would have all the success that I wanted because it was in my final hours and so I somehow deserved more success. But of course, all in the Lord's time. I wondered if my faith were somehow incomplete or unable to produce the kind of miracles that I know that God wants to have happen here. But as I read this I think I started to understand. Jesus Christ is still going to help you if you don't exercise your faith exactly in the right way. Sure, it would be better if so done, but He will still have compassion on you. He will lead you by the hand and show you the miracles, even if you don't do it right. You just have to do it the best you can.
Venha o que vier, e desfrute!
Elder Carson Marsh
Monday, June 29, 2009
Looking to Others 06-29-2009
So I have decided that I am going to start writing my big email first from now on. I think that sometimes I am so pressed for time that I don't properly transmit to all of you the wonderful Spirit that is present with us here. Don't think about the number, don't think about the number, I keep telling myself. But when I really lose myself, whether I can think of it or not it doesn't matter.
The work is going along quite well this week on Madeira. The entire zone is feeling the power of the Lord. We had a zone meeting this last week in which we spoke of giving our best effort, or in other words, in giving 100% of ourselves. King Benjamin talks about this and how it leaves us being unprofitable servants. While this is true, the way for us to qualify for the blessings of the Lord is by doing exactly this. Now, 100% does not equal perfection, for it is not this that the Lord requires. It's kind of as if you were invited to a barbeque and all that you were required to bring is the cups. You bring the cups and the meal is there waiting for you. All you have to do is bring the cups.
Machico has a marked baptism! That is way cool for them because they haven't had a baptism in like three years, and this may be just what the missionaries and the ward need to get the fire going again. We are way excited for them.
Here in Funchal, we are in over our heads. There is so much work to do! God sent me here because He knew that it would make me too busy to be able to be trunky. Our recent convert battle is a constant struggle. Yesterday was a big storm day, so almost no one came to church. Sérgio didn't come and he felt really bad about it afterwards. I'm not too worried about it, though. He will be getting the priesthood next week! As I prepare to say goodbye to people, I think of their great potential. As Elder Nieveen has recently pointed out to me (I guess I haven't changed that much after all...) I'm a big worrier. I want some kind of assurance that everything is going to be okay with these wonderful people and with this awesome branch. This is my favorite place of my mission, by the way... I just decided that it may even be better than beautiful Viana! That's saying something. I have a dream of seeing the gospel fill this place. I believe that it can happen and I know that the Lord would love to be able to pour His Spirit upon all of His children here, as he did with the men to whom Peter preached (Acts 2) or to whom King Benjamin preached (Mosiah 4-5) but He will do it when they are ready.
I have been having a bit of trouble focusing sometimes. I wonder at times why this happens. But I think that I have discovered the reason. For example, this morning I did not want to do my studies. I know that this temptation is going to creep into me after the mission. I also know that it affects people here on the mission. The Lord is giving me these experiences so that a) I will be prepared for after-mission life and b) so that like Jesus, I can feel a little bit of that compassion for others that only comes from walking in their shoes. This is a divine concept. When you have a difficulty that you have never had before, think about this: The Lord may be giving this to you so that you can be a support for another who is passing through something with which you have never dealt before. So when new temptations afflict you, look around so that you can see how the Lord may be sending you to another.
In Funchal 1, the work is on fire as usual. We had a great lesson with two members, Domingos and Jenaína, and they afterwards gave us a reference who will soon be a new investigator. Marlene and Janete are also doing really well. Every time I go to teach Marlene, I feel the Spirit and a sense of gratitude for being able to teach her and for being a missionary. She and her boyfriend should be coming to church next Sunday. Janete has a three-year-old son named Ângelo who normally makes a big fuss when we try to teach her, but this time he was quiet the whole time.
A little side note about this story: Coming into my mission, I had always heard about missionaries who were so upset when they taught their last 1st discussion because they loved doing it so much. Well I have very rarely taught the 1st lesson through to investigators and so I didn't really know what that was like. I figured that our mission was an exception to that.
Anyways, so Janete basically called us out and asked us what was so special about our church, or why it was worth investigating. Well, that's exactly what the first lesson is about. So we taught it to her. Elder Nieveen is really good at teaching the Great Apostasy. As I told about Joseph Smith's first vision, I felt the Spirit, and I saw its effects in her. Afterwards, she told us that she hadn't yet prayed but now she definitely felt reason to do so. She also offered to meet with us twice a week, which is going to be an inconvenience to her because of her busy work schedule but she feels that it is worth it. Miracles are certainly happening here!
Just live it and love it...
Elder Marsh
The work is going along quite well this week on Madeira. The entire zone is feeling the power of the Lord. We had a zone meeting this last week in which we spoke of giving our best effort, or in other words, in giving 100% of ourselves. King Benjamin talks about this and how it leaves us being unprofitable servants. While this is true, the way for us to qualify for the blessings of the Lord is by doing exactly this. Now, 100% does not equal perfection, for it is not this that the Lord requires. It's kind of as if you were invited to a barbeque and all that you were required to bring is the cups. You bring the cups and the meal is there waiting for you. All you have to do is bring the cups.
Machico has a marked baptism! That is way cool for them because they haven't had a baptism in like three years, and this may be just what the missionaries and the ward need to get the fire going again. We are way excited for them.
Here in Funchal, we are in over our heads. There is so much work to do! God sent me here because He knew that it would make me too busy to be able to be trunky. Our recent convert battle is a constant struggle. Yesterday was a big storm day, so almost no one came to church. Sérgio didn't come and he felt really bad about it afterwards. I'm not too worried about it, though. He will be getting the priesthood next week! As I prepare to say goodbye to people, I think of their great potential. As Elder Nieveen has recently pointed out to me (I guess I haven't changed that much after all...) I'm a big worrier. I want some kind of assurance that everything is going to be okay with these wonderful people and with this awesome branch. This is my favorite place of my mission, by the way... I just decided that it may even be better than beautiful Viana! That's saying something. I have a dream of seeing the gospel fill this place. I believe that it can happen and I know that the Lord would love to be able to pour His Spirit upon all of His children here, as he did with the men to whom Peter preached (Acts 2) or to whom King Benjamin preached (Mosiah 4-5) but He will do it when they are ready.
I have been having a bit of trouble focusing sometimes. I wonder at times why this happens. But I think that I have discovered the reason. For example, this morning I did not want to do my studies. I know that this temptation is going to creep into me after the mission. I also know that it affects people here on the mission. The Lord is giving me these experiences so that a) I will be prepared for after-mission life and b) so that like Jesus, I can feel a little bit of that compassion for others that only comes from walking in their shoes. This is a divine concept. When you have a difficulty that you have never had before, think about this: The Lord may be giving this to you so that you can be a support for another who is passing through something with which you have never dealt before. So when new temptations afflict you, look around so that you can see how the Lord may be sending you to another.
In Funchal 1, the work is on fire as usual. We had a great lesson with two members, Domingos and Jenaína, and they afterwards gave us a reference who will soon be a new investigator. Marlene and Janete are also doing really well. Every time I go to teach Marlene, I feel the Spirit and a sense of gratitude for being able to teach her and for being a missionary. She and her boyfriend should be coming to church next Sunday. Janete has a three-year-old son named Ângelo who normally makes a big fuss when we try to teach her, but this time he was quiet the whole time.
A little side note about this story: Coming into my mission, I had always heard about missionaries who were so upset when they taught their last 1st discussion because they loved doing it so much. Well I have very rarely taught the 1st lesson through to investigators and so I didn't really know what that was like. I figured that our mission was an exception to that.
Anyways, so Janete basically called us out and asked us what was so special about our church, or why it was worth investigating. Well, that's exactly what the first lesson is about. So we taught it to her. Elder Nieveen is really good at teaching the Great Apostasy. As I told about Joseph Smith's first vision, I felt the Spirit, and I saw its effects in her. Afterwards, she told us that she hadn't yet prayed but now she definitely felt reason to do so. She also offered to meet with us twice a week, which is going to be an inconvenience to her because of her busy work schedule but she feels that it is worth it. Miracles are certainly happening here!
Just live it and love it...
Elder Marsh
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Invisible Hand 06-22-2009
Whoa.
Yesterday I just saw President Henry and Sister Henry for the last time. They go home on July 2nd, and they will not be coming out to Madeira anymore until then. That was a surreal experience. President gave me my exit interview, though I will have another one given to me by the new president.
Anyways, so reflecting on that and on the little time that I have left, I started to get really nostalgic, as I am prone to do. I was really upset that my mission was ending so soon and that I wasn't going to have the opportunity to be a missionary anymore. So in response to my whining and complaining, Elder Nieveen said the following: (he is a stud)
(By the way, this is a quote from Elder Spiel. Remember him? See transfers 2-4 from when I was in his district. He's another mission stud)
"Well, the mission is really supposed to be like a hamster wheel. You run and you run and you run, and then one day out of nowhere a hand comes out and snatches you and puts you out into the world, and you have no idea what happened."
Haha, funny little idea, huh? Basically, what he was trying to say is that you shouldn't spend time worrying about when that "invisible hand" will come take you out, as missionaries are so prone to do. Some anxiously await its arrival; others dread its coming. But both types of missionaries miss out on the experiences afforded them in these last weeks of their mission experience.
So I don't want to do that anymore. Full steam ahead, I say!
So, in short, we have a lot going on, still with the recent converts. All of them came to church yesterday except for Filipe ( :( ) and some of the Silva family that was sick. The good thing is that Élvio Silva is going to be a lot more available to meet with us now, so he will get the spiritual growth that he will so desperately need in these next months. He is a stud, and he will be able to do a great work for many in this place.
In zone conference Friday we talked about giving it your all. That's a promise that I made almost a year ago, to give the mission all that I had. I have been doing, human weaknesses included, a fairly good job at putting the world aside and TRYING (key word) to give everything that I have and am to God. But the battle is not over. It still continues onward. Yet with even the endeavors that I make to give everything to God, I cannot succeed without His help.
If you replace the letters in the alphabet with the value associated with the order of the letters (aka a = 1, b = 2, z = 26, and so on) you get the following:
Knowledge = 96 %
Hard Work = 98 %
Attitude = 100%
Love of God = 101%
So while Knowledge and Hard work can get you close, and attitude can take you there, it takes the love of God to get you farther than you had even imagined.
I pray that God may give me the strength to be the missionary that He had always wanted me to be.
The work is going great, and continues onward. Let us all press on, and hearken to President Hinckley's advice, "Brothers and Sisters, it's all over but the work."
Venha o que vier,
Elder Carson Marsh
Yesterday I just saw President Henry and Sister Henry for the last time. They go home on July 2nd, and they will not be coming out to Madeira anymore until then. That was a surreal experience. President gave me my exit interview, though I will have another one given to me by the new president.
Anyways, so reflecting on that and on the little time that I have left, I started to get really nostalgic, as I am prone to do. I was really upset that my mission was ending so soon and that I wasn't going to have the opportunity to be a missionary anymore. So in response to my whining and complaining, Elder Nieveen said the following: (he is a stud)
(By the way, this is a quote from Elder Spiel. Remember him? See transfers 2-4 from when I was in his district. He's another mission stud)
"Well, the mission is really supposed to be like a hamster wheel. You run and you run and you run, and then one day out of nowhere a hand comes out and snatches you and puts you out into the world, and you have no idea what happened."
Haha, funny little idea, huh? Basically, what he was trying to say is that you shouldn't spend time worrying about when that "invisible hand" will come take you out, as missionaries are so prone to do. Some anxiously await its arrival; others dread its coming. But both types of missionaries miss out on the experiences afforded them in these last weeks of their mission experience.
So I don't want to do that anymore. Full steam ahead, I say!
So, in short, we have a lot going on, still with the recent converts. All of them came to church yesterday except for Filipe ( :( ) and some of the Silva family that was sick. The good thing is that Élvio Silva is going to be a lot more available to meet with us now, so he will get the spiritual growth that he will so desperately need in these next months. He is a stud, and he will be able to do a great work for many in this place.
In zone conference Friday we talked about giving it your all. That's a promise that I made almost a year ago, to give the mission all that I had. I have been doing, human weaknesses included, a fairly good job at putting the world aside and TRYING (key word) to give everything that I have and am to God. But the battle is not over. It still continues onward. Yet with even the endeavors that I make to give everything to God, I cannot succeed without His help.
If you replace the letters in the alphabet with the value associated with the order of the letters (aka a = 1, b = 2, z = 26, and so on) you get the following:
Knowledge = 96 %
Hard Work = 98 %
Attitude = 100%
Love of God = 101%
So while Knowledge and Hard work can get you close, and attitude can take you there, it takes the love of God to get you farther than you had even imagined.
I pray that God may give me the strength to be the missionary that He had always wanted me to be.
The work is going great, and continues onward. Let us all press on, and hearken to President Hinckley's advice, "Brothers and Sisters, it's all over but the work."
Venha o que vier,
Elder Carson Marsh
Monday, June 15, 2009
Doing It All 06-15-2009
Okay, so here we go. God is great. It is interesting to see just how fully He tends to bless His children when they will just make a little offering unto Him. He has put me in just the place in which I need to be to end my mission the way that I want to. I am completely swamped with things to do. When the Sisters left, they left with them a lot of work to cover. Turns out they were doing a pretty good job; who knew?
The Lyman couple also left for the continent, as we call it. They left us with a present of 20 references of people that they had visited. So, long story short, Elder Nieveen and I have packed weeks ahead of us. I wouldn't have it any other way.
A great part of our work consists of taking care of the many recent converts that we have here. Of just the ones that I know, there are 13 recent converts in Funchal 1, although I know that there are a few more that I have never met. The 13 have never all been in church in the same week. If we could make that happen once before I head out, I would love it. In addition, we have two marked baptisms that the sisters left us named Bruno and Joana, an awesome single mother progressing investigator named Janete, a lady that works at a store we visit named Marilene with whom we had a way spiritual first lesson, and many other investigators and members with whom to work. Add to that our duties as Zone Leaders (we have an awesome zone. They really are all the Lord's army) and we are swamped, like there is almost no free time for us, which allows me to forget the continually marching countdown breathing down my neck.
Obviously, I can't handle all of this by myself. Even with a companion, we do not have the capacity, weak vessels as we are, of doing it all. 2 Cor 12:10 is my message for today. As we recognize our weaknesses and rely on the Lord, that is when we are really strong. That is how we become the Lord's studs. And the army is marching forward.
Venha o que vier,
Elder Marsh
The Lyman couple also left for the continent, as we call it. They left us with a present of 20 references of people that they had visited. So, long story short, Elder Nieveen and I have packed weeks ahead of us. I wouldn't have it any other way.
A great part of our work consists of taking care of the many recent converts that we have here. Of just the ones that I know, there are 13 recent converts in Funchal 1, although I know that there are a few more that I have never met. The 13 have never all been in church in the same week. If we could make that happen once before I head out, I would love it. In addition, we have two marked baptisms that the sisters left us named Bruno and Joana, an awesome single mother progressing investigator named Janete, a lady that works at a store we visit named Marilene with whom we had a way spiritual first lesson, and many other investigators and members with whom to work. Add to that our duties as Zone Leaders (we have an awesome zone. They really are all the Lord's army) and we are swamped, like there is almost no free time for us, which allows me to forget the continually marching countdown breathing down my neck.
Obviously, I can't handle all of this by myself. Even with a companion, we do not have the capacity, weak vessels as we are, of doing it all. 2 Cor 12:10 is my message for today. As we recognize our weaknesses and rely on the Lord, that is when we are really strong. That is how we become the Lord's studs. And the army is marching forward.
Venha o que vier,
Elder Marsh
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
And then there were 42. 06-02-2009
No, I'm not counting how many days I have left. I have more than 42, anyways, fools. But 42 is the number of days in a transfer period. And I am about to be down to one.
This last transfer came and went way too fast. Yet at the end of all of it, some great miracles happened.
I don't know if you remember Sérgio and the Abreu family. We have spent nearly all of our concentration on them this transfer. Sérgio reminds me a good deal of my father in that he is around the same age, he's way smart and a hard worker. The only difference is that for whatever reason, he can't hold a solid job. Madeira doesn't know what it's missing. Anyways, last Sunday he was baptized. Then we had to book it, figuratively speaking, to prepare the Abreu family this week for baptism. Luciano, the father, was already a member, whereas the rest of the family was not. Iraida was the name of the mother, and their three kids are Jessi (actually her name is Yecsymar, but everyone calls her Jessi) Tobias (14) and Jaques (10, pronounced Jacks) Jessi is about to have a baby as well in a month or two, and I hope that I'm still here to see it. Anyways, they were giving doubts up the wazoo (Wow. I'm out of style.) especially Tobias. He questions EVERYTHING. (Sound like anyone you know?) Whether God exists, how to know the truth, why Adam and Eve lost against Satan, anything! Anyways, so the ward got involved, thankfully. The Relief Society (bless their hearts) planned to throw a baby shower for Jessi! She loved it. After that moment, their hearts were changed. They probably already knew that what we were saying was true, but now they had reason to believe that this truth would actually help THEM solve their REAL life's problems.
The baptism went great. Tobias and Jaques loved it especially. Luciano baptized Jessi, but they didn't want him to baptize them all for whatever reason, so Elder Smith (who had been on division with us once) baptized Iraida, I baptized Tobias, and Elder Tovar baptized Jaques. Hey, they wanted it that way! Tobias and Jaques afterwards told us that they felt really light afterwards and wanted to know if they could do it again. Luciano said that he hadn't felt too much at his own baptism but that seeing his family get baptized and participating in it left a spiritual impact on him that he would not soon forget. It was a miracle. Two days later, they (including Sérgio) were all confirmed. Of course, they had ME confirm Jessi, whose real name is Yecsymar Yamalyt Correa Abreu. Yeah, I had fun with that one!
Elder Nieveen is my new companion for this last transfer. Elder Tidwell is the new Assistant, just like I always said that he eventually would be. That will be fun, but I will miss him. Elder Nieveen is a great missionary and always ready to work, so I am excited for my last 42 adventures while serving as a missionary. There's only one way to finish, and that is strong.
How strong are you?
I'm TOO strong!
Venha o que vier,
Elder Carson Marsh
This last transfer came and went way too fast. Yet at the end of all of it, some great miracles happened.
I don't know if you remember Sérgio and the Abreu family. We have spent nearly all of our concentration on them this transfer. Sérgio reminds me a good deal of my father in that he is around the same age, he's way smart and a hard worker. The only difference is that for whatever reason, he can't hold a solid job. Madeira doesn't know what it's missing. Anyways, last Sunday he was baptized. Then we had to book it, figuratively speaking, to prepare the Abreu family this week for baptism. Luciano, the father, was already a member, whereas the rest of the family was not. Iraida was the name of the mother, and their three kids are Jessi (actually her name is Yecsymar, but everyone calls her Jessi) Tobias (14) and Jaques (10, pronounced Jacks) Jessi is about to have a baby as well in a month or two, and I hope that I'm still here to see it. Anyways, they were giving doubts up the wazoo (Wow. I'm out of style.) especially Tobias. He questions EVERYTHING. (Sound like anyone you know?) Whether God exists, how to know the truth, why Adam and Eve lost against Satan, anything! Anyways, so the ward got involved, thankfully. The Relief Society (bless their hearts) planned to throw a baby shower for Jessi! She loved it. After that moment, their hearts were changed. They probably already knew that what we were saying was true, but now they had reason to believe that this truth would actually help THEM solve their REAL life's problems.
The baptism went great. Tobias and Jaques loved it especially. Luciano baptized Jessi, but they didn't want him to baptize them all for whatever reason, so Elder Smith (who had been on division with us once) baptized Iraida, I baptized Tobias, and Elder Tovar baptized Jaques. Hey, they wanted it that way! Tobias and Jaques afterwards told us that they felt really light afterwards and wanted to know if they could do it again. Luciano said that he hadn't felt too much at his own baptism but that seeing his family get baptized and participating in it left a spiritual impact on him that he would not soon forget. It was a miracle. Two days later, they (including Sérgio) were all confirmed. Of course, they had ME confirm Jessi, whose real name is Yecsymar Yamalyt Correa Abreu. Yeah, I had fun with that one!
Elder Nieveen is my new companion for this last transfer. Elder Tidwell is the new Assistant, just like I always said that he eventually would be. That will be fun, but I will miss him. Elder Nieveen is a great missionary and always ready to work, so I am excited for my last 42 adventures while serving as a missionary. There's only one way to finish, and that is strong.
How strong are you?
I'm TOO strong!
Venha o que vier,
Elder Carson Marsh
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