3/31/14

Hello family,

     Well this week has been crazy crazy!  I will do a day by day account or I might not remember to write about everything that happened.  Also I am sorry that last weeks email was super short and lame....I think this one will be better :)

    Thursday- Transfer conference!!! Transfer day was the biggest tender mercy ever.  I did not think that I was going to see Sister Pratt, Rogers, Roberts, or Elder Carlson at all before I left Iowa, but they were all there!!!  It was the best!  Every single person I would have wanted to be there that I don't see in my zone was there!  So awesome! We also got put in a trio until I leave so we gained a sister named Sister Bingham.  She is from Kaisville Utah and is real cool and fun.  YAY!  Though it is a little crammed having 3 people sleeping in the same room it has been having her with us! Also when we got our phonecall about transfers AP Weiss told us to have a member drive us to Iowa City but that we were going to drive a car home to have it full time next transfer!!!  We were so excited  to have a full time car and we thought we were getting a chevy malibu like the rest of the mission has but guess what we got a TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :)  It is the funnest thing!

     Friday- Not the best day.  I had my last "real" lesson with Ben.  We were reading in the Book of Mormon and as we were reading I could not help but just cry.  It really hit me that I was leaving and how much I have truly grown to love the people I serve especially Ben.  Ben was trying to comfort me knowing that I was crying because of leaving him.  He said the closing prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for me and for everything I have done for him.  Then I lost it again :)

     Saturday- It was fun to watch the Women's conference especially when I saw old companions of mine in the audience!  I really enjoyed the messages that they talked about.  I learned a lot about covenants, and I feel like recently that is such a big focus.  It has made me ponder and really learn and study more about covenants and I have realized that covenants is our link to heaven and only when we are keeping our covenants completely are we able to access that link to heaven.

    Sunday- We all didn't realize that it was fast Sunday...luckily we were in such a hurry that we didn't eat breakfast anyway, but I was grateful because I had the opportunity to bear my testimony in the ward one last time.  It was a mess though because I was crying before I even walked up to the stand and then the person ahead of me talked for 10 minutes so I just sat up there all teary eyed :(  Most of all though is it was wonderful because Tia our investigator came to church and 2 less actives that we have been working with that have been inactive for years were both there and it made me soo happy!  

     I have already started packing and it is the worst feeling ever.  I want to stay here.  I am excited to go back to Salt Lake but have realized that I feel I belong here.  A part of my heart is staying here for sure.  Today is pday obviously and Ben is coming to play sports with us so I am excited to see him one last time as well as the zone. I can't believe I will be back in SLC in 2 days.  Tomorrow my 2 companions will drive me up to Iowa City where I will meet everyone at Mission Leadership Council and then go back with the elders and sisters who are serving in Des Moines and then fly out Wednesday morning.  I might be depressed for a couple days but I think I will get over it....I don't wanna leave! But hey CONGRATS Brad and Emily on being parents to a new baby boy!  He is darling and I am so grateful that I am an aunt again and that I will be able to see the baby soon!  :)  I am excited to see all of you Easter weekend.  I love you all and am so grateful for all you do!  

The church is true.

Sister Mindy Marsh

  

  

3/17/14

Family,

     Well this was a CRAZY week!  Absolutely insane!  There is so much to write about so I am going to do a day by day!

     Monday- Because we were going to the temple this week Monday was only emailing and then we went about a normal missionary day.  We didn't have the car this week and Monday we walked ALL day!  We walked soooo far I couldn't even believe it...we walked to our dinner appointment and then we couldn't even walk home our legs were JELLO so we had the member we live with pick us up :)

     Tuesday- The BEST day ever!  TEMPLE DAY!  We went to the Nauvoo temple.  We drove a little over 2 hours to get there and went to the 11 o clock session.  It was so fun though because the session was PACKED.  They had to ask people to do different ordinances and we still had to set up chairs in each room...but the best part was that an entire zone from the Chicago West mission was in the same session and 2 sisters from the neighboring zone to us in Iowa so 90% of the entire session was missionaries! The Relief Society President and her husband were also there and we are really close with them so it was super fun! The temple was amazing.  It was pretty small but the spirit is so strong and being in Nauvoo and at Temple Square where there is so much pioneer and church history, the spirit of the pioneers is so strong and special.  I have such a great love for the pioneers that I never had before!

     Friday- the absolute worst!!  Thursday night I woke up at midnight to my ear killing me and I couldn't sleep at all.  So the day started out not to well.  We had not seen Ben for about a week but Friday is our day we meet him.  So we planned to meet him at 4 at the library. Well it was 4:05 and he is never late so we texted him and told him we were in the back of the library at the tables.  He then calls us and says, "Would you please come outside I am having complications?"  So Sister Nye and I walk outside and see 2 police cars, a tow truck and Ben's car!!!  One of the officers was talking to Ben through his window.  We are standing there and in complete SHOCK!  We don't know what the heck is happening and of course every scenario is going through our heads.  Also to add to the drama it started raining.  We didn't think Ben saw us so we stepped a little to the side and he put his finger up to us as in like one second.  We were freaking out and just standing there.  Then Ben steps out of his car grabs ALL of his stuff and hands his keys to the officer and we are like OH CRAP!  Then he walks to the police car still not saying anything to us and takes his jacket off, hat off and gets patted down....HAND CUFFED...and then put in the police car!  Me and Sister Nye were appalled and had no words.  Ben told the officer he had to tell us what was happening.  So the officer came over and told us that he switched car insurances and it didn't ever officially switch over and so his license was suspended until it switched completely over but he had NO IDEA!  So the Marion police have nothing better to do and went completely OVER BOARD with the whole situation.  Instead of just driving Ben home and having a friend pick up his car, the police took him to the police station to do finger prints and towed his car!  HOLY HANNAH!  It was the worst the whole time I was just thinking..."If he goes to jail and doesn't get baptized tomorrow...I am flying back to Temple Square tomorrow!"  But he was totally ok.  He was out 30 minutes later and we talked to him and he is a stud.  His reply to the whole situation was," Satan is the worst.  All I am trying to do is study God's word and Satan is trying to shove me into the ground.  The last 2 days Satan has been trying to get in the way of everything but I know that I am doing what God wants me to do!"  SO AMAZING!!

     Saturday- THE BAPTISM!  The baptism was at 12 o clock and Ben had to go that morning to get his license back and of course the DMV took forever and so he showed up 30 minutes late to his own baptism, but it was incredible.  The spirit was so strong and it was well attended by investigators from our ward and from members.  Elder Carlson my old district leader who knew Ben really well came from Missouri to baptize him.  So it was fun to see him again too!  He got confirmed the following day.  Bishop had an interview with him and was so impressed he asked if Ben would want to receive the priesthood that day...the day after his baptism.  Ben told him he would in 2 weeks to feel more comfortable but it was incredible!! 

     Well that sums up my week!  My days here in Iowa are coming to an end.  I can't believe it.  I know that I was brought here for Ben.  I met Ben the 2nd week I was here and he was baptized 2 weeks before I leave Iowa.  I know that missions are so specific to each missionary.  I know that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives and that as missionaries we are sent not only to serve with our assigned mission presidents and fellow missionaries but also specifically for individuals. I know that I was here to meet Ben.  I love him and feel so blessed.  I love this work and have never been happier. I love you all!

The church is true.

Sister Mindy Marsh

    

It was so windy!

3/10/14

HELLO family,

     Well, this week has been like a roller coaster!  I feel like a thousand things have happened, but I don't think this letter is going to be super long.  We have still been trying to visit a lot of the less actives in the ward, and trying to find new investigators through them.  And due to learning more about people in the ward and in this area; I have come to realize how blessed I am.  I have so many blessings and can not complain about any of the trials that I have ever had.  

     This week Ben had his baptismal interview and he was AMAZING!  It has been such a blessing to teach him.  He wants to follow Jesus Christ so much and will do anything to follow him.  I wish that everyone was like him.  It has been such a testimony to me that there are so many people that are prepared and ready to hear the Gospel. We just need to do our part and find them!  The baptism is set for this Saturday and I could not be more excited!  We have a good program set up and it’s going to be an amazing week!  Tomorrow we are also going to the Navuoo Temple!  I am sooooo excited!  I’ve always wanted to see it, but NEVER thought I’d have the chance to go during my mission, but I am! 

     This week has also been a little unfortunate.  The day we had Ben's interview we went to visit with an investigator we have named Janice.  She is an older lady, and when I was on exchanges last week I saw her.  But, when we knocked on her door, no one answered.  So we decided to go to her daughters’ apartment and talk to her grandkids. They answered the door, and told us that Monday night she passed away.  We were SHOCKED.  

I cried because I loved her so much.  I can not express how much I love the Plan of Salvation and know how true it is. I wish that everyone around me understand and knew about that plan.  

     Keep praying for me and pray for Ben as he is getting baptized this week!  I love you all and feel soo blessed to be on a mission.  I can't believe I only have 3 more weeks here in Iowa.  So weird, but I hope I can work super hard and finish strong here.  Missionary work is the best.

The gospel is true.

Sister Marsh

3/3/14

Dearest Family,

     Well this week has been rough!  We did what we could and tried to be as productive as we could, but the weather sometimes held us back.  

     Tuesday- We had exchanges with the sister training leaders. I stayed in my area and Sister Hill came with me.  She is awesome!  We had a lot of fun together!  We went and taught my investigator Tia.  She is 21 and has 3 kids already but she has gone through a lot and has come to the realization that she needs a better future and she is learning and recognizing that the gospel is giving her that hope.  She has very good desires and wants to get baptized but needs to marry her fiance.  But preferably quicker than they want.  I love teaching her.  I have been able to see her grow and see how much she has changed as she learns about Christ and the church.  

     Wednesday- We got grounded from walking and trackting due to the weather.  We didn't have the car this week so we got a ride to the church and for no joke 8 hours us and the elders practiced the musical number for Zone Conference the following day.  

     Thursday-  ZONE CONFERENCE!!!  Super fun.  I was able to see Sister Pratt the entire day! That was way cool. We had some inspiring training of course. I played the piano for the musical number and I also had to give a "farewell" testimony because the next zone conference I will already be back in SLC.  It was super emotional. I have come to love this mission so much. I love the people in Iowa, I love the missionaries, and I love it here...even though it is ridiculously cold!  

     Saturday & Sunday- We got grounded again both days from walking so we were stuck at home both days. Thankfully we still got to go to church.  BUT I got my first Sunday nap my entire mission.  That was nice.  I wrote the whole family letters so you should get them in a couple days :)  I spent lots of time studying and hanging out with the parents that we live with!  While at the time it seemed relaxing...me and Sister Nye were going STIR CRAZY!!!!!!!! We wanted to leave so bad!  Apparently this was the one of the coldest winters on record but because of this last week it because the #1 on record for Iowa.  HOLY COW!!!  I am excited for this next week! We have TONS of appointments and so many things to do!  Also keep praying for Ben. His interview is this Friday!  :)   

      Thank you so much for all your love and support.  I love you so much!  Remember...

The church is true.

Sister Mindy Marsh

Bruise from volleyball