9/19/13

Hey!!!

     First off I want to say HAPPY 50th TO THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

    Anyway, maybe I’ve said this before, but we are so spoiled in this mission!  Seriously, I don't know how else to describe it!  First off, this last Friday we had Zone Conference. It was at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum.......it was awesome!  A lot of the conference was based on going back to the basics and doing all the “little things” and doing the things from the 12 week program, (a program used for your first 12 weeks as a missionary........self explanatory  haha but applying and using it for your whole mission, not just the first 12 weeks!  One of my favorite quotes that President Gillette used was, " The world would change human behavior, but Christ changes human nature."  I love that!  The AP's announced the theme for conference and so the day after Zone Conference started our 21 days till conference pump up!  We have little activities that we do every day to get us prepared and excited for conference!  I love my mission and all the sisters and senior couples in it!  They are all amazing and bless me so much.  President Seppi, (one of President's couselors) prepared a mission FHE for Monday night.  But actually, it was for like all day!  So Monday we had a progressive dinner with different members from the Seppi's ward.  I was blessed that I went to the home of the nicest couple in the whole world!  We had appetizers and we took a personality test, (the one where you find out what color you are) and she gave us all Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD's!  After that we went to the stake center in the park where we had a delicious dinner with a ton of food and then Cold Stone catered the ice cream......soooo good!  We played volleyball, frisbee and football, (actually only me and Sis. Cummings played football),  but hey dad and brad.......Elder Creer a senior couple in my mission told me I am super athletic and throw a football very well :)  I was very happy!  So, we were able to play outside for 2 hours and it was the best thing ever, to just be outside in normal clothes playing games!!  Then, how cool is this.......the guy who WROTE the personality test came and spoke to us!  He talked about the colors and everything about the different personalities.  It was soo fun and so interesting!  It was so funny to listen to the personalities of sisters.  Some sisters were laughing because it was “totally them” and some are like, “Ohhh that is so not me” and trying to deny it,  but it totally is them!  So 2 quick funny things;  Sister Finau is this girl from Tonga.......really dark skin and so pretty, and her color was “white”.........so she wanted to ask a question and it is a tradition in Temple Square that you stand up say your name and where you’re from.  So she stood and said, "I am Sis. Finau from Tonga, and I am white!" and all of us started laughing soooo hard!!!  I don't think I have seen Sis. Gillette laugh soo hard!!  Holy cow, so funny........now we all make fun of her!  Then this other Sister Jarrett from Hawaii stands up to ask a question, but forgets her question,  so she sits down, then stands up again, sits back down, stands up again, then sits back down and is like, “I am so sorry, I forgot my question..........and the speaker was like, “You’re a yellow!!”  We all just busted up again!  It was hilarious and the night was soo fun!

    On a more spiritual note!  I have really been trying to think so hard about what to teach this girl Karlie (19) and how to build her desire to learn.  She is the sweetest girl in the world and I had talked to her once, (she was a referral).   I thought she was just being nice and didn't want to tell me she didn't want to learn about the church.  But, then I called her this week and was just asking about how she was.  She said, “I was thinking a lot about you this week, so I looked up a couple Mormon Messages and watched them and was hoping you would call”.  She said, “I have had so much confusion about religion my entire life, and  I was actually wondering if I could ask you something? .........(she got soo nervous and I was nervous too), then she said, "Mindy, I was wondering if you could actually teach me all the lessons?"  WOW!!!!!!!!!  Seriously, it doesn't get better than that!  She is someone I care so much about and I didn't want to offend her.........but then SHE was the one to ask me!  So, now I am teaching her and I just love it!!   Miracles happen every day if we will just open our eyes!

    I love you all!  Thank you for everything and for the love and support that you all give to me! 

The church is true.

Love, 

Sister Marsh

9/11/13

Hello Family!!!! 

   Well to be honest, this week has gone by sooo fast!  It has been  crazy just dealing with all the new things for the recent transfer and with a new companion.  We get a long super well though and I am excited to be with her.  I feel bad that I am going to leave her for a while, and she will have to be in a trio......she isn't too excited, but she’s just glad that I will be all “repaired” for Conference!  
So, this transfer we are in charge of “Member Events”, and we had our first one this week.  It was a big YSA conference from Weber.  So we had to plan the program and that basically means that we do the opening song, a game and then we show a video that can relate to the game, then we conduct short testimony meeting and then send them on a tour of Temple Square.  I was so nervous.  I usually do totally fine with huge youth groups or a bunch of older people, but I was so nervous for the YSA group;  probably because they are close to my age.  But it went really well, so I am happy about it, and I’ll be excited for the next one so that I can do it again!
   Oh, and its been raining a lot lately!!  I am praying the rainy season doesn't last very long, because it is sooo hard to take a group of people around the Square when everyone is holding umbrellas and isn't very happy that they are wet and everything!  They just don't always have the best attitudes and that makes it hard for them to feel the Spirit.  
     So, one thing that happened this week that was really good; was an investigator lesson that we had!  We took around a mom and her son Zach.  The mom is NOT active in the church, and the son is her step-son; so he has not been baptized.  The lesson was supposed to be for the mom, but the elders asked that we try and have Zach participate because their goal is to eventually teach Zach the lessons.  Well, I found out that Zach has Muscular Dystrophy and he wasn’t suppose to be able to walk or talk at all, but he did both!  I don't know what it is, but realized I love kids with disabilities like Zach!  The lesson turned out to be all for HIM and his step mom was helping us teach!  It made her realize the things that she needs to be doing in her life.  At the end of the lesson we were talking to them and the elders said, "Zach, would you want us to come back and to teach you more?"  And I will never forget how cute he was.......he said, " Yes that would be great......you are all sooo nice!!"  I am such a baby, because that answer, and that boy  Zach touched my heart, and I started to tear up when he said that he wanted to learn more.   
     Then a couple hours later we took 2 ladies around Temple Square and they asked me what we have learned since we have been on our missions.  I always have a different answer every time we get asked that question; but on that day, (after teaching Zach), I told them that I have learned how to love everyone and to see people the way God does.  God loves every single one of us, and I was able to truly feel a piece of that love when I was with Zach.  The love that God has for each of his children is uncomprehensible, but since being on my mission and meeting certain people, I feel like I have experienced a tiny bit of that love through meeting some of his children on the Square.  
   I was so sad I wasn't able to see Jessi!  Yesterday my companion was sick, so we were home all day :(   Luckily I was able to see her a couple weeks ago!  I miss her and I always tell people that she was my only friend when I lived in California!!  I hope she is doing good on her first day in the MTC. 
I sent her an email already, but if she is anything like me........I felt more relieved to finally be in the MTC compared to all the anticipation leading up to it!  Hey speaking of people we know.........I saw Jared Heywood today mom!  He served in the Phillipines in the area where my companion is from;  so they know each other really well!  (you might get a picture from Jill)  
   Ahhhh the Thayer Park ward........I miss that ward!  It seems really weird to think that you don't live in that ward anymore.  It doesn't  seem right, but I bet that all the people in the new ward love you guys!  How could they not love you! And NO WAY.........Garrett Rhoton is leaving already!!  Honestly I feel like just yesterday he was 12 passing the sacrament.  And I totally didn’t even remember that Madison was going on a mission.......where is she going?  Also, I am so sad to hear about President Olsen.   There are just some people in the ward that you think will always be there; and I feel like he is one of those people.  
   Holy cow, I am sooooo happy that Brad and Emily got an email!  That is so exciting!!!  Babies are going to be a part of the family by the time I get home!!  I wish I could be there when Baby Ryan is born, and when Brad and Emiliy get a baby........but I am so happy for them!  I always make sure to put “Baby Marsh” on the prayer roll in the temple and I pray for them too!  
    Well, I hope that I answered some of the questions.  I tried to address every single thing you said mom, so hopefully you appreciate it!!  And to address Dad's email now:) Pday doesnt really feel weird cause mine only changed from Thursday to Wednesday, so it’s not bad at all. I actually like Wednesday better.   And everything is all set for the surgery and for the flights.  I don't know the exact times yet, because the secretary hasn't talked to me yet, but I know that she booked them yesterday.  Conference is going to be crazy though!!  We have to be contacting people extremely early in the morning and we are here really late;  but I think it will be fun!  When I saw Elder Banks, he said at conference he gets bombarded by Mesa people!  I think that will be fun to see people, but I might be distracted because we have very lofty goals for referrals and things at conference!  It is going to be a very busy weekend; but I am excited to be in the middle of it!  Actually, being in the “middle” of everything that goes on for the church is pretty exciting!!  My mission is the BEST!  I love it soo much and I am so blessed to here, despite what I might have thought or said before I got here :)  
It is the best and I love it!  I love you Mom and Dad!!

The church is true.

Love, 
Sis. Marsh

9/4/13

Dear Family,

    Hello! Well, this week has been super crazy!!!  First off, my p-day is now on Wednesdays.  Transfers happened today and my new companion is Sis. Marquez.  She is from the Phillipines!  She was in my zone last transfer but I don't know her very well, so I am excited to get to know her and to learn Tagalog!  Also, we are now in charge of “Member Events”!  This means all the YSA groups, Youth Conferences, or private tours that get scheduled, we are in charge of.  I am excited!  I am sad to leave Sis. Lotoa, but she is still here and I see her all the time, so its still good.  And, I didn't have to change apartments so that is very nice.  Oh, and I am almost positive Mom, that Sis. Peters (Tazmine) is living in my apartment with me......how crazy is that??  

Well, today has been a little sad.  I took Sis. Tukavatu to the airport because she has finished her mission......it was depressing. The only bad thing about my mission is that you get so close with the sisters here, and then you have no idea if you will see them again, and they are from all over the world!  Or maybe that just means I have some traveling to do after!

    This week was a good week for my investigators.  I went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders and I was in TC (phone and chat center). And I don't know why that day was different, but everyone answered their phones and everyone was progressing. It was sooo good!  One of my investigators has been liking everything we are teaching him, but I just didn't feel like he was actually “getting it”, and it was so frustrating.  So, I called James and he asked if he could call me back because the missionaries were on their way over!  I have NO IDEA how they got a hold of him, he lives in the middle of no where and I didn't give the missionaries his number and he didn't call them........truly a miracle!!!  That night he called me back and he has a baptismal date set for the 28 of Sept!!!  

Another miracle, we had a chat with a kid named Jon back in June, and he told us he wanted to learn more.  So, we would text him scriptures and try to call him, but he NEVER answered!  It was sooo annoying and frustrating.  He told us that his cell phone only works when he is in the city because there is no reception where he lives.  So, I was thinking......wow, it would be a total miracle and perfect timing to have our schedules match if we call him when he is in the city........so, I decided to call him and he answered!!  I was SHOCKED!!  I was like, “Is this JON!?”  Anyway, I was talking to him for a while and he told me he has been going to church since we chatted with him in June and he reads from the BOM every morning and night!  I was like WOW, this is awesome!  We put him on date for this month as well, and I really think it will happen!!  Miracles are all around us and if we are praying and have faith, then we will be able to see them.  I love this work! 

    For transfer conference we had John Bytheway speak to us!  Wow, he is awesome.  He talked about Luke 15 and the 3 different parables about the Lost Sheep, the Piece of Silver, and the Prodigal Son.  I have never understood as much about those stories as I did when he went into so much detail! He talked about how they are all lost, and are redeemed in a different way; but all through the same person, Jesus Christ.  He said, " We are all beggars.  NONE of us can do it alone.  We need the Savior, ever hour of our life”.   I love when we have lessons about Christ, because I have come to a much better understanding of the Atonement.  I love Elder Holland's quote when he says, "It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane.  But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of the price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price”.  I love my Savior, I have realized that I am NOTHING with out him and that he is the one that will help me and carry me through! 

   Thank you for all you do!  I love each of you and miss you!  Have a wonderful week! 

   The church is true.

Love,

 Sister Marsh

8/29/13

Hello Familia!!!  

     Well, I stayed home two days this week; so I feel like nothing happened.  Actually, a couple fun things DID happen this week! Saturday we had a big “enrichment activity”.   We hiked Ensign Peak.  Ok, you all know me........I am not usually into  devotional-type hikes........BUT, it was very good!  We stopped along the way to have  little thoughts, and then at the top the AP's talked to us as well!  There is something about being on top of a mountain that makes you feel very small, and like you are the only person there.  It caused me reflect a lot on my life and what I want to do in the future....... things like that.  I'll admit it, I really did enjoy it!  Well, except for the fact that it caused my hernia to flare up. Sunday it was so bad that I had to stay home and rest almost the whole day!  And Monday I was still in a lot of pain.  I am anxious to get it fixed and to not have to worry about it again!

     Monday was a "mission meeting"!  We were all a little nervous that we were going to get chastised on obedience or something  serious.  But, we were way wrong!  President announced that ALL of the mission is going to read the Book of Mormon TOGETHER, from the beginning!  But I have a little head start, because after I finished reading Jesus the Christ a couple weeks ago, (amazing by the way) I started the Book of Mormon again.  So, I am a little ahead right now:)  

President also announced which sisters would be going “outbound” and there are 28!!!  It’s so crazy........the mission is going to feel way different!  Many of the sisters going outbound are some of my favorite sisters, and there are also some going home next week.  It is really sad.   

Speaking of transfers, they are happening next week!  Me and Sis. Lotoa will be getting split!!! :(  I am very sad!  I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful trainer and companion.  Seriously, I am nervous for Sunday, but we will find out everything then.   I am not sure when my new p-day will be.  So, maybe write me Sunday just in case my p-day is earlier than Thursday.  Crazy things are gonna happen.  New zone, new assignments, new roommates, new companion!  

     Also this week, President wanted to let us see the new temple movie, so we got to go to the Bountiful Temple!  We left this morning and it was sooo awesome!  The Bountiful Temple is gorgeous and the new movie is 1000 x better!  I love that we are able to go to the temple as often as we do!  It is such a blessing, and it’s so nice to be able to just relax and feel the Spirit and not have to worry about where we need to be, or what we are going to teach.  

     Quick little side story!  We have a sister from Taiwan in our district and she speaks Mandarin Chinese.  She thinks her English is terrible, and it is just hilarious!  But I love the International sisters because they know simple English, and they teach really simply.   So Sis. Chang led this tour and she shared the scripture James 1:5 and talked about Joseph Smith and after she read the scripture she asks, "So what does this mean or say?"  No one answered, so she said, "Well in other wards, if you are ‘stupid’ then ask God".  Seriously, I could not stop laughing!  So that is my moral to you, that if you are “stupid” and you don't know things, then just ask God and he will help you!  Hah!  

     The mission is amazing!!  Love you all!  Have a wonderful week and thank you for all the love and support you give me!

The church is true.

Love,

Sister Marsh

            

                At the temple with President Seppi

A picture will my people...the Poly's of course! 

                              

Me and the Phillipino Sisters!  Yes I am a Giant!

Brooke Eagleston and her kids

8/22/13-Elder Holland

Hello family!!!

     This week has been filled with so many things!!  At church on Sunday, President got up and said that we had to go over “General Authority Protocol” and so he described what the procedures are and said that a general authority would be coming to speak to us on Tuesday morning.   Then everyone was dead silent and he waited a VERY long time........then he said,  “He is actually a 12 apostle........and his name is....Jeffrey R. Holland!!”  Every sister seriously gasped and screamed in the middle of Sacrament meeting!!!  So, Tuesday morning everyone woke up super early so we would be extra early to the room, and we got to hear from Elder Holland.  I was expecting a very serious, and stern talk, but it wasn't as bold as his talks usually are.  He talked mainly about missionary work and how we should embrace every moment of our mission and enjoy it!  Something I loved that he said was,  "Don't you ever ever ever ever ever underestimate the gift that you can give to someone.  This part in your life (referring to the mission), will NEVER come again........so embrace it, do not miss it.  Love every single minute of it because it will NEVER come again.  You are NEVER supposed to be the same after this mission."  I love how much he stresses the mission.  He talked about how we need to guarantee that there will be “1 true devoted convert”, and it should be US.  He said everything that we want our investigators to do: “Come closer to Christ, read more from the Book of Mormon, and to pray more to our Heavenly Father.”  It’s EXACTLY what God wants US to do too!  The talk was very powerful.  We had a little question and answer afterwards and a question that he spent a lot of time on was something that a sister asked, "How do we forgive ourselves?"  (Elder Holland is in charge of restoring temple blessings to those who have been excommunicated or have been on probation or in prison and things like that.)  He said that he has to interview each person.  He said as a normal member, “forgiving others is way easier than forgiving ourselves.”  He said EVERY time he will ask the person 2 questions:  1) Have you forgiven everyone that was involved in the situation?  Usually the answer is “ Yes.”   2)  Have you forgiven yourself?  He said often times they say, “I am still trying to forgive myself.”  He said he always has the same answer.  "You HAVE to forgive yourself, because if you don't, you are denying the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  He has forgiven you, he has paid the price for you, and YOU are getting in the way.  If you do not forgive yourself, you are saying,  I CHOOSE to block the Son of the Living God who lived his whole life to die for me.  I choose to be in the way."  This hit me very hard.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest gifts we could ever have.  We need to accept it and be able to use it in our lives.  I am so grateful and have even chosen a scripture to dedicate my mission to.  I found this scripture right before my mission and I love it.  It is 1 Nephi 21:16 and it talks about how Christ has engraven us upon his palms and his feet and we are continually before Him.  This means a lot to me.  I have gained a very strong testimony of my Savior. Because Christ has physical evidence of the pain that he went through for me; he can NEVER forget me. He is ALWAYS there for me and he is the one that I can always turn to.  I need to be the one to accept him and to always remember him and to let him always be a part of my life.  

      WOW.......long paragraph about Elder Holland!  Anyway it was very very cool!!  

    Then today we had Relief Society and Sister Rose from the General Relief Society Board came!  She talked about how important Relief Society is and how our missions can help us be a better member of Relief Society when we go home.  She shared a quote from Elder Anderson that I really liked. He said, "Your sacred duty is to return to heaven safely and bring MANY with you."  And that is EXACTLY what we are trying to do on missions as well!  Our mission is so privileged to have so many wonderful speakers come and talk to us!!

     Anyway, on a lighter note...(Don't worry it was my p-day, so I wasn't really part of it) Temple Square was closed for a couple hours today due to a chemical spill in the building!  Everyone had to evacuate and the street was blocked off and there were bout 12 ambulances there. All the sisters had to be tested to make sure they didn't inhale the chemical, but a couple of sisters actually went to the hospital!  There were cameras everywhere and there was Security everywhere, even a helicopter!  Everyone is OK and the Square is open again, but it was intense!  Me and Sis. Lotoa were at home, but we went down to the Square to check out the scene! :) 

     The mission is Awesome!!  I love it so much!  I am so happy that I am here.  I pray that my mission will change me spiritually for the rest of my life.  I want my mission to mean everything to me, just like when Elder Holland talks about how his mission meant everything to him.  I love this gospel and I know how much it can bless us as we follow it.  I love all of you and I hope that everyone has a wonderful week!!   

     LOVE YOU Mom and Dad!!

The church is true. 

Love, 

Sister Marsh

Visitors

Mindy has ran into a lot of friends and family since being on Temple Square. She loves seeing familiar faces!

Here are some pictures from when she saw her best friend Rylee (Rogers) Zylstra and her mom Kim.

              

Rylee and Mindy

          

Lots of love

              

Rylee, Mindy, Sis. Lotoa

          

Mindy, Kim, Sis. Lotoa

        

Mindy and her companion

Sis. Lotoa, Mindy, and Rylee

She also saw her old roommate MarLeice Robison.

Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Broadcast

Mindy got to sing in the missionary choir at the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Broadcast. She talked about it in her last letter. Here are a few pictures of Mindy singing.