2/18/14

Hello family,

     This week has been INSANE!!!!!!!!!!  

     Monday:  Monday night we went to the Ruge's for my birthday dinner!  We had a really yummy dinner and cake, and then towards the end of the night we got a phone call from the AP's.  They told us that I was staying in my area, but that Sister Roberts would be leaving, so she needed to start packing and we would need to be at Transfer Conference.  We freaked out!  We thought it was a possibility that she would leave since she has been here 6 months, but we didn't think it would actually happen because of the situation with me only being here for 12 weeks! The bad news about this whole thing is that we have to share the car with the elders in our ward.  So now we have to walk every other week, which makes me want to cry when it is 20 degrees outside, but it will be okay.........I think I will live!

     Tuesday & Wednesday: We spent a lot of time saying good-bye to people in the ward and to the investigators and recent converts.  We stayed up really late both nights packing and doing last minute things trying to get Sister Roberts all ready to leave Cedar Rapids.

     Thursday:  I was dreading going to transfer conference.  We left super early in the morning to travel to Iowa City. I was able to see Sister Pratt again and my whole district was there, so it was fun to see them once again.  The mission presidency spoke to us and they all gave really good talks, but I think that everyone in the meeting was going crazy and only half paying attention because we all just wanted to know who our new companions were!  SIster Roberts is now in Des Moines.  My new companion is Sister Nye.  She is from Brigham City, Utah and has been out for 7 months.  She is awesome!  She is hilarious and super hard working and I can tell already it is going to be a really awesome transfer.  Saying good-bye to my district though was the worst thing ever.  I cried a lot because I won’t have the opportunity to see them at transfers again because I will be back in SLC.  

So, it was super sad, but it will be a good change I think.  

     The rest of the week: This has been a very long week.  It felt like it was never going to end.  Sister Nye and I have been trying to work with the less actives A TON and find new investigators through them.  It has been helping a lot and we have some really solid appointments this week that I am really excited for.  We might even have a couple new families to teach now, and that makes me really happy.  I can't believe I only have 6 more weeks here.  I am starting to wish that I could have more time here in Iowa.  I have really enjoyed it here ad the people that I have met.  

     Also, yesterday it snowed 6 inches in 3 hours!  Literally the most snow I have ever seen.  The snow piles in front of our house completely cover the mailbox and are taller than me!  It is the craziest thing ever!  Today though, it is only 40 degrees and it feels so hot.  I never would have guessed that I would say 40 degrees was nice and warm, but it totally is right now.  I hope you had a wonderful birthday mom!  I hope that everything went well with the spine surgeon and that it’s all getting figured out.  I did write Hannah, Clara and Krissy back.  I am so bad at responding to letters because I NEVER have time to sit down and write; but I wrote some this week!  

     I am praying for you all.  I hope that you have a wonderful week!  Stay positive and look for the tender mercies in every day. I love you all! I will write again on Monday!

The church is true.

Sister Marsh

2/3/14

Helllllo family!!!

     Well, this week has been a little crazy. The first couple days of this week Sister Roberts was sick and so we stayed home for 3 days!  Kind of a bummer, but I thought that it was better to stay home all 3 days instead of going out for half the day and then having to stay home again because it got worse!  So, I tried to be really productive and I studied a lot and read the Ensigns.......every one that I could find in sight :) And I made meals for Sister Roberts:) 

     Later on in the week we were able to see a couple of less actives from the ward.  That was really good.  They were all really excited to see, and to visit with us.  One of the less actives has a neice and her husband living with her, and they are not members.  So.....now they are interested in being taught!  YAY!  Then on Thursday we had district meeting and I was asked to do the training for it.  Luckily I had ALL that down time this week to prepare, and I taught on “how to recognize the spirit”.  It was a little difficult since everyone recognizes the spirit in different ways; but I think that I was able to focus on a couple of things that could apply to all of us.  

      Friday we had a really good day. We contacted a bunch of referrals and it was awesome!  We are hoping that some of them will turn into “solid” investigators, so we are going to try and go see them again this week.  It made me so happy.  We also taught Ben on Friday.  He is the coolest and best guy! We taught him about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was asking him tons of questions to make him think, and to let the spirit touch him more as he pondered and answered the questions.  During the lesson the spirit kept telling me I needed to ask him to be baptized........so towards the end of the lesson I asked Ben if he would be baptized.  He kind of disregarded my question a little bit and answered very vague, so I was like “awe come on”.  

And I was prompted to ask him again right away.  So I did.  I asked him again if he would be baptized.  And he said, he would! We still have to teach him a couple more things, but if you would pray for Ben that would be really good. Pray that he will recieve the answers he is searching for and that he will know the things that we are teaching him are true.  He could use all those prayers!  He also came to church this Sunday.  Fast Sundays are awesome for investigators and he really really enjoyed it.  

     Also, transfers are the 13th.........ya nothing will change for me unless Sister Roberts leaves; which probably won't happen.  Our district is going to be changed a lot though; which makes me sad.  We have become really close and I’m sad that they will be gone soon, but I guess it will be OK.  

    HEY, SHOUT OUT to Clay!!!!!!!!!!  I am sooo happy and proud and excited for him!  Hey, I would love to have his email if you want to send me that.  THanks!  Also, I can't believe it is already February........Holy cow!  and I turn 21 in a week!  WEIRD I am getting older:(  The only thing that I can think of that I want is stamps!  And I know this is really specific but I think Clara will know what I am talking about.  On Etsy they have these tiny dainty gold necklaces and you can get the shape of your state and they have a heart in the state.  Well I would like one of those that has the state of Utah (for Temple Square) and a state of Iowa.  You should be able to buy one necklace and put 2 states on it.  The state charms are really small though and that is what I want. and in gold please.  That would be the best thing:)  Besides that surprise me!!

     I love you all! Thanks for all your prayers and support!. Have a great week & I will e-mail again on Monday (my birthday).  Best part of pday!

The church is true.

Sister Mindy Marsh

  

2/10/14

Family,

     First off THANK you for all the birthday gifts!!  I loved all of them and I am wearing the new clothes today along with the necklace!  You did a great job; it’s all exactly what I wanted!  Thank you so much! This week has been really good.  Monday we had a zone p-day again & played tons of games.... One of them was a dodgeball-type game except that you don't have teams.  Well, it came down to me and my district leader, (who is a baseball player) and he threw it sooo hard, and it nailed me, but then I caught, it so I WON!!!  I gave him so much crap for it. 

     Also, we have a baptismal date with BEN!  He is so stinking awesome and is progressing so well!  It’s for March 15th; but keep praying for him and hopefully we  can even move it up to March 1st??

     Well, we were grounded again 2 days this week.  One of the days we were visiting with some ward members, so we stayed with her and her family and helped her with a project she was doing.  We also ate dinner, played games and had family night........we were there a couple hours, but hey, our car was stuck there.  

And transfers are this week, so tonight we are getting our “transfer doctrine.”  Our district leader is leaving for sure, plus one of the sisters from our district; which will be really sad.......and everyone keeps bugging Sister Roberts that she is going to be leaving the area.  So, now she is all nervous and now I am all nervous because I would feel over whelmed if I had to take over the area.  But I will let you know for sure this next week.  

     Yesterday, the members we live with invited me & Sister Roberts AND the Elders for dinner.  We had a big dinner and even cake for my birthday!  

The couple we live with are the best!  They also took me & Sister Roberts out Saturday night for Mexican food.  They call us their “surrogate daughters” :)

     I love Marion though.  I love the people here and I love the ward.  We are trying to work a lot with the less actives in the ward and with some of the potentials we have.   We are trying our best.  Some days it is a little slow, but we are working really hard with the new ward mission plan/ referral plan that we are testing out; so hopefully we will see the some results of that soon.  

     And yes, I am staying warm even though it is so dang cold here.  I have already decided I am NEVER coming back to Iowa in the winter, ever again!  

     I did also get your letters this week; thank you so much.  I got them after I had emailed so I couldn't thank you until now!

     HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!  I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day, and also Happy Valentines day! This Email felt so short today; but it was a little hectic!  

The church is true.

Sister Marsh 

2/10/14

Family,

     First off, THANK you for all the birthday gifts!!  I loved all of them and I am wearing the new clothes today along with the necklace!  You did a great job it is exactly what I wanted!  Thank you so much! This week has been really good!  Last Monday we had a zone p-day again playing tons of games.... we played this dodgeball type game except you don't have teams well it was down to me and my district leader (who is a baseball player) but he throws it so hard and it nails me but then I caught it so I WON!!!  I give him so much crap for it! 

     Also, we have a baptismal date with BEN!  He is so stinking awesome and is progressing so well!  It is for March 15th!  Keep praying for him and hopeful we  can even move it up to March 1st!

     We were grounded again 2 days this week!  One of the days we were visiting with someone in the ward so we stayed with her and her family and helped her with a project she was doing and ate dinner had games ad had family night....may have been there a couple hours but our car was stuck there!  

     Transfers are this week so tonight we are getting our transfer doctrine!  Our district leader is leaving for sure and one of the sisters from our district which will be really sad...but everyone keeps bugging Sister Roberts that she is going to be leaving the area so now she is all nervous and now I am all nervous because I would feel so over whelmed if I took over the area.  But I will let you know for sure this next week!  

     Yesterday, the members we live with had the elders over for dinner and us so we had a big dinner and cake for my birthday!  The couple we live with are the best!  They also took me and Sister Roberts out Saturday night for Mexican food.  They call us their surrogate daughters :)

     I love Marion though.  I love the people here and I love the ward.  We are trying to work a lot with the less actives in the ward and with some of the potentials we have. We are trying our best.  Some days it is a little slow but we are working really hard with the new ward mission plan/ referral plan that we are testing out so we will hopefully see the some results of that soon!  

    I am staying warm even though it is so dang cold here.  I have already decided I am NEVER coming back to Iowa in the winter ever again!  I did also get your letters this week thank you so much.  I got them after I had emailed so I couldn't thank you till this week!  

     HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!  I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  Also happy valentines day!  love you! i hope i answered some things.  Email felt so short today and was a little hectic!  

The church is true.

Sister Marsh 

  

1/27/14

Well hello there family!!!

     Sadly this week has been a little bit slower than normal!  I told you all about our crazy adventures on Monday.  So we weren't able to do anything Monday...well then Tuesday we had to get a ride to Mt. Vernon to go pick up our car.  As we slowly drove (in the snow and ice...and on our little donut of a tire) we finally got to the car shop.  We waited as the people put the new tire on the car.  It took us all day to do that and we were so tired we fell asleep in the tire shop.  It scared us so bad because the workers honked the horn soo bad to wake us up because they were done and we were sleeping :)  

    So our ward is the Cedar Rapids 1st ward.  We share the ward with the elders in our district.  We have been putting so much time and thought and lots of meetings throughout the week with them and the ward mission team.  We have come up with a plan as to how we would like the members in the ward to get involved and help us with the work.  It has been a real struggle being united with the members in the ward....but I truly feel like this is one of the things I was called here to do is to maybe not necessarily baptize or teach A TON in Iowa but to bring unity between the missionaries and the members.  I have the strongest testimony that the members in the ward help us the most. Without the help of the members the work that I was called to do can not hasten as fast as it needs to!  So I guess that is my invitation to you as well is to do everything you can to help the missionaries that are in the ward.  Try your best to give them names and referrals they can try.  The names members give are always stronger because they have a connection with the member.  I will probably tell you more about what we are going to present to the ward next week.  We just presented it to ward council but we are so excited to put it into action.  

     This week has been freezing!  We have had our cars grounded 2 times this week (plus the day we had to get the new tire) meaning we could still walk and go places and one day where we were grounded and had to stay in the apartment because it was way too cold! But today as we speak apparently is supposed to be one of the coldest days. They cancelled school yesterday for today and with windchill it is supposed to be supposedly -45 at the lowest....that just makes me want to cry!  It is still cold regardless, but the wind is what kills me....i honestly can't talk or breathe when it comes in my face!! 

     Friday and Saturday we went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders.  I went into the other area with one of the sisters and we went to the pinewood derby!  I think, as far as I know, it was the first one I have gone to!  It was awesome and was a more relaxing way of talking and visiting with members as well as investigators that were there!  We had a little slumber party, and I stayed at their home...we just switched spots.  It was good.  Exchanges are funny.  Because I never want to actually do them because I miss my companion and feel comfortable with how she teaches and everything like that but I also always learn so much from them.  It was fun to learn from Sister Cannon and get ideas of how to improve. 

     I love being a missionary.  Missionary work has truly brought me the most happiness that I have had in my life.  I love people.  I know I didn't talk much at home but the mission has really changed that (mom will be proud of me) I love talking with people and all I want to do is talk with others.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to come on a mission.  My mission already means everything to me.  My mission has changed me for the better and the things I have learned out here so far are so special to me.  I love this gospel.  I love sharing the gospel.  I know it is true and I know it is God's work.

Love you all

Sister Marsh

The church is true.

Sister Melinda Marsh
3455 Crown Ave.
Marion, IA 52302

1/13/14

Hello all, 

Well, Mindy arrived in Iowa last Wednesday and within a day I was notified that she was freezing and needed a much warmer coat......yikes!!

(And to think she thought Salt Lake City was cold:)

Anyway, she is happy despite the weather, and loving her new mission call.  Oh, and her mission president’s wife, Sister Jensen is Grandpa Marsh’s first cousin!  Pretty cool to have another “connection” with her President and once again it’s through Grampa Marsh:)

And if any of you have a few spare minutes; her address is at the bottom of her letter.

I know she appreciates all your love and support,

Karen

Hello Family!

     Where do I even begin; this week has been INSANE!!!  First off, Tuesday night was crazy.........we were all packing and moving our stuff everywhere, saying good bye to the sisters going outbound, saying good bye to the sisters leaving to go home, and we of course, were up all night.  Then I had to wake up at 4:30 to get ready and to be out of the apartments by 6:00 am!  When I woke up it was snowing and I thought  I might get stuck in Minneapolis, or not make it all the way to Des Moines; but it was good and I made it safely.  We sat around for a little bit when we got to Des Moines and then the AP's came and took us to see President.  The first thing we did was go to the mission office really quick to send something, then the AP's said, “So, we are going to meet President in Iowa City”.  I was thinking that it was like 15 minutes away.......but they are like, “So, it will take 2 1/2 hours to get there! I was like “WHAT?” That is the most driving I have done my WHOLE mission!  So, after we finally arrived in Iowa City we went to dinner with President and his wife and he told us what area we would be going to.  Then our companions came and picked us up.  Sister Hancock went to Quincy, another 2 hours away, and I am in Cedar Rapids, about an hour away.  So, lets just say we drove a LOT!

     Well,  so, we live in a family's home.  The couple has 4 kids and the youngest is on his mission so we live in their home.  They are the Gutierrez family and they are AWESOME!  Brother G is the ward mission leader so we work with him a lot and it’s very convenient that we live in his home. 

    So, I got all settled in that night and tried to organize all my stuff the best I could and then went straight to bed.

    Thursday we had Zone Training Meeting and I got to meet my whole zone.  Everyone is super nice and fun to be with.  My district is made up of 2 elders, 4 sisters and 1 senior couple.  After the 3 hours of training the whole zone went to Olive Garden and ate........so yummy!

    Friday was interesting.  We had a couple appointments for that night, but that day we had “freezing” rain.....you are thinking, “OK, that means snow”.......WRONG!  So, apparently the rain in the atmosphere is warmer than on the ground, and sometimes  it will rain and the second that it hits the ground it turns into a sheet of ice!  So we were grounded from our cars.  It is like black ice istantly-----it is crazy!  But it was also a bummer because we had to cancel those appointments.

     Sunday was fun!  Church for 3 hours was so long.  I haven't had 3 hours of church since I left for my mission, and that was really weird but I love being in a home ward.

     Anyway, that is pretty much what happened this whole week.  And my companion is awesome!! She has been out for 4 1/2 months and is from Spanish Fork.  She is 22 and she is so fun; I love her! I got lucky once again.

    Well, I am sure I will have much more to talk about next week;  Iowa is good even though it’s so different; but I am liking it a lot....except the fact that it is sooo dang cold here.  Thank goodness we have a car!!

Love you all!  Thank you for everything!

My new address is :

3455 Crown Ave

Marion, IA 52302

The church is true.

Sister Mindy Marsh

1/7/14

IOWA DES MOINES BOUND!!!!!

   I am so happy I had one more pday to talk to everyone before I left!  This week has been a lot of ups and downs!  A lot has happened this week and I don't want to forget anything so I am going to go day by day! 

   Tuesday-New Years Eve!  We were to come back to the members home we had our Christmas Dinner with the Saturday before Christmas, but because we are not allowed to spend time with members in their home we had to ask President.  He said we were allowed to go!  So we went up to their house all day for pday and we went sledding and it was the best!  4 of the 6 people that came had never seen snow before so it was so much fun to see them sled down the hills!  Then that night we had a mission party.  We had food, movies, and sparkling cider, and a countdown until 10:00....hahah we don't stay out till 12!  Then President announced who was going outbound and he announced my name!! 

   Thursday-President was very nice and wanted us to visit the Carl Bloch art exhibit at BYU.  So Thursday morning really early we caught the Trax and then the Front Runner to Provo.  The MTC buses were supposed to take us to BYU but they came an hour late so we waited outside in the freezing cold until the buses came I thought my toes were gonna fall off!  The exhibit was awesome and very spiritual.  We got to walk around campus as well which was kind of weird knowing that I was just there in April but it was really fun!  

   Friday-We went to dinner with Bruce!  I honestly think it was a tender mercy to have seen him that night because he was able to tell me mom was trying to get a hold of me.  If it wasn't for that I don't think I would have been able to get a hold of President to let me talk to her.  The news broke my heart about Matt.  We scheduled a time to meet up the next day so we could talk about everything that had happened.  That night I came home and cried to my Heavenly Father.  I prayed so hard that night about the Plan of Salvation and the plan that God has for each and every one of His children.  I know that God has a plan for all of us.  I know that of course it is not an easy thing for anyone and it hasn't been for me either, but I know that Matt was needed back.  I truly know that he is helping the family and is helping his Heavenly Father out on the other side.  I have felt his hand and his love in the missionary work that I am doing.  I know that he is where he needs to be and that he is watching over all of us.  

   Saturday-I went out to the temple grounds and saw Brad and Emily and all of Em's family and cousins.  They were there for Zac's wedding and it was so fun to see them and to see Shaun back from his mission.  Then the best part of the day was seeing mom!  I love you so much Mom and I was so glad I was able to see you especially this week and right before I was going to leave to go outbound.  I am so grateful for you and for all the things you do for me.  I appreciate you so much and am so grateful you are my mom!  

   Monday-Transfer conference!  Des Moines IOWA!  What the heck!  I am so nervous but I am so excited!  A sister in my district is going with me to the same place and she is also from Arizona!  I am so glad I will have a buddy going with me.  I am scared and feel so new like I am coming straight from the MTC but I am excited for what it has in store for me.  That night we got together as a whole mission and had a concert.  Peter Breinholt and David Polk performed for us.  It was amazing!  Peter is a guitarist and singer and David accompanies him on the piano.  It was wonderful!  Then there were some special guests that were from New Zealand along with the New Zealand sisters who did the haka (spelling might be wrong).  Then as a whole mission we got up and sang Aloha 'oe as we covered the Gilletes with leis.  It was a very sad night as you can imagine.  It was our last hooray with them and we were all crying but it was a really nice program.

    And now I am finished packing and am all checked out from the Temple Square mission and am just waiting to leave tomorrow.  I am nervous but very excited.  I hope I don't become "the next statue on Temple Square" as dad would say.  But I know that this is where I need to go right now and I am excited to see why! I love you all so much.  I love you Wessel family.  You have been in my heart and prayers.  I love you all.  I love this gospel and I love this work.  I will talk to you Monday and maybe you will get word that I arrived safely! 

The church is true. 

Sister Mindy Marsh