Cascavel May 28, 2012
Captains
log, Stardate 28 de maio 2012
Thank
you so much for the letters. You have always been such a great font of counsel
and support for me. It is really a strange feeling right now. I get really
happy and then really sad from one minute to the other. This past week was
really crazy. We started off doing a division in a small city called Palotina
to do some more baptismal interviews. We got back running like crazy people and
divided with all the members we could to teach tons of messages with members.
Then on Friday we had to go back to Palotina for another interview because the
first one didn’t pass! We ran back (it is 3 hours by bus to Palotina) and taught
the family of Joao, Nilva, Larissa and Fernando. They are a super special
family. They weren’t baptized yet, but it is just a matter of time. Last night
we had a super spiritual lesson with them and I told them I was leaving.
Everybody was crying and they are just so good. I will talk with them on Facebook
and for sure hear about their baptism.
We said
goodbye to another awesome couple named Donizete and Tuane that are just
waiting to get married to get baptized and the Sisters baptized and young man
that we had been teaching named Victor. It was really great. Also, just as a
side note we worked so much that we ranked second place in the mission in that
championship thing I told about last week, even with one pair of sisters sick
and 2 visits to Palotina. Not to brag, but just that it felt good to work really
hard!
So, I´m
all packed up and just waiting now. I don´t have too much more to say, but I am
very excited to see ya´ll. The assistants gave permission to be trunky now,
so.... já era!
I am so
thankful for the chance I had to serve this mission. If I ever had any doubt,
which I don’t think I did, but if so it is gone now. This is the Church
of Christ. This is the true gospel. There is so much evil in this world, but
there is a force so much more powerful. Miracles happen, people change, and the
work will go forward. I know this church is true and the Book of Mormon is too.
Most importantly I know that families are forever.
I love you so much.Signing out
Elder Markham
Cascavel May 21, 2012
May 21, 2012
Hello! How are ya´ll?
Thank you very greatly for your letter! That is some exciting news that we got a new stake presidency Presidente Maw huh? Legal. I think maybe I know Pres. Gagan but I´m not sure. Thank you for the letters from Ryan and Nils. Its way fun to hear about what happening with them. I can believe that Joe got in a motorcycle wreck. Here in Brazil there are approximately 1.789 billion motorcycle wrecks per hour. For example just yesterday we were walking in the road and a motorist speed past us. The road curved ahead and apparently he didn’t notice the large and brightly colored building in front of him. Fortunately he wasn´t hurt, but the wall has a nice helmet mark now. Crazy, crazy people. I´m glad Sharon will graduate as well. I will be praying for her a lot and I will try to help her out. Mission accepted. That is also very neat about the Provo temple. Elder Holland is a little crazy and also very awesome. It will be fun to go there when it is done.
Thank you very greatly for your letter! That is some exciting news that we got a new stake presidency Presidente Maw huh? Legal. I think maybe I know Pres. Gagan but I´m not sure. Thank you for the letters from Ryan and Nils. Its way fun to hear about what happening with them. I can believe that Joe got in a motorcycle wreck. Here in Brazil there are approximately 1.789 billion motorcycle wrecks per hour. For example just yesterday we were walking in the road and a motorist speed past us. The road curved ahead and apparently he didn’t notice the large and brightly colored building in front of him. Fortunately he wasn´t hurt, but the wall has a nice helmet mark now. Crazy, crazy people. I´m glad Sharon will graduate as well. I will be praying for her a lot and I will try to help her out. Mission accepted. That is also very neat about the Provo temple. Elder Holland is a little crazy and also very awesome. It will be fun to go there when it is done.
So this week has been exciting. This week we started a
little game between Foz and Cascavel and things are pretty excited. Everybody
is working hard to teach more and bring people to church. One of the things
that counts the most is lessons with the members and so this week we combined
with the Bishop, ward mission leader and 4 young men who are almost leaving on
missions and we managed to teach 30 lesson with member! This was great seeing
as how the mission average is 6. We are excited to do it again. We are teaching
some really great people and working very hard. We had the blessing of having a
baptism Saturday. Larissa is a girl the sisters were teaching a little while
ago and decided to be baptized. The baptismal service proved to me that the church
is true because of the following story. Because it was a young woman being
baptized the girls in the ward prepared a special musical number. Summing
things up it was VERY special, if you know what I mean. Then Bishop passed this
reeeaaaaalllllly old church movie were the actor for Jesus was cross eyed and
looked crazy. I thought it was a disaster, but the whole family felt the spirit
really strongly and the whole family of 6 went to church yesterday (* see below
for other funny story) and are preparing to be baptized soon! Bishop is getting
really excited and called a bunch of ward missionaries. Bishop is really funny.
He kept joking with us about how he wants to take seriously Pres. Hinckley talk
about Raise the Bar, or ´´Raise the bar´´ and have to call Obama to send in an
airstrike to destroy the bar that sits in front of the church.
*Funny story: So, when the whole family went to church actually at first it was just 4 of them. The little sister got embarrassed and the 18 year old named Wagner (who has an awesome Mohawk) didn’t get out of bed. So we drove over to their house and their aunt let us in to almost literally drag Wagner out of bed. He was a little grumpy at the moment, but then he just made friends with all the young men in the ward and 8 of them went over to his house after church to play video games. Integration: Check!
We are working hard to baptize a lot of people from incomplete families and help the ward grow. Also since we had to switch houses with the sisters I got a nice surprise this morning when I was cleaning the bathroom and got to find all the girl hair in the shower drain. BAHHH HUMBUG! But other than that, things are just good! Today I´m gunna buy some stuff, eat said stuff and then have a great P-day!
In fine, I love you very much mother. Thanks for being such a great mom and always giving me such a good example. I really owe a lot to you and Dad. Good luck with graduation and stuff! I know that Jesus is the Christ. His plan makes it possilble for all to be saved. I know God loves us and watches over us. I know the Book of Mormon has great power. I know our family is forever.
´Till later!
-Elder Iron Markham
*Funny story: So, when the whole family went to church actually at first it was just 4 of them. The little sister got embarrassed and the 18 year old named Wagner (who has an awesome Mohawk) didn’t get out of bed. So we drove over to their house and their aunt let us in to almost literally drag Wagner out of bed. He was a little grumpy at the moment, but then he just made friends with all the young men in the ward and 8 of them went over to his house after church to play video games. Integration: Check!
We are working hard to baptize a lot of people from incomplete families and help the ward grow. Also since we had to switch houses with the sisters I got a nice surprise this morning when I was cleaning the bathroom and got to find all the girl hair in the shower drain. BAHHH HUMBUG! But other than that, things are just good! Today I´m gunna buy some stuff, eat said stuff and then have a great P-day!
In fine, I love you very much mother. Thanks for being such a great mom and always giving me such a good example. I really owe a lot to you and Dad. Good luck with graduation and stuff! I know that Jesus is the Christ. His plan makes it possilble for all to be saved. I know God loves us and watches over us. I know the Book of Mormon has great power. I know our family is forever.
´Till later!
-Elder Iron Markham
Cascavel May 14, 2012
Hello mommy oh mother of mine!
Once more, Happy Mother’s day! It was really great to talk with you as well. I didn´t really know all that much to say, but it was great just to see ya´ll.
So, here is what happened this week:
Once more, Happy Mother’s day! It was really great to talk with you as well. I didn´t really know all that much to say, but it was great just to see ya´ll.
So, here is what happened this week:
Last Monday was P-day and we had to
leave early to go to Londrina for the leadership counsel. We pretty much just
sat on the bus all day and got there about 9:30 at night. Cascavel is pretty
far away! Tuesday we had the meeting and it was really great. We learned about Real
growth and how to help our investigators gain a testimony through prayer and
the Book of Mormon. We learned some great skills that are helping lots of
people. I also had to give my last testimony at the counsel and that was super
weird. President always has the people ending their mission give their testimony
at zone conference or leadership counsel. After that we knocked some doors in Londrina
and taught a few people.
The next day we got to go back to
Cascavel with President in his HiLux which was pretty neat. ITs always fun to
talk with President and Sister. We got back kind of late as well and helped a
woman unload a bunch of bricks to her house and then taught a few of our
investigators. There is a young kid named Vitor who is going to be baptized
soon. Unfortunately he wasn´t baptized yet because his sister got really sick
and went to the hospital so let’s pray for him. On Thursday we had interviews
with President that lasted basically all day, but it was really good. Then on
Friday President called at like 6:45 and told us that he was going to switch
our area with the Sisters because their house had allergy problems and it was
an area a little dangerous for sisters. So we spent all morning packing and
running our stuff over to the new house and then at 3:00 I had to catch a bus
to a small city called Palotina. The area has been open for about 2 weeks and
the Elders had a baptismal interview marked for that night. I went there with
E. C. Silva while E. Sepúlveda unpacked our stuff. We got there a little bit
early and decided to visit a family that are strong members of the church and
have two adoptive daughter named Lorrana and Yianca who weren´t members. They
had been going to church for a long time, but didn’t have an answer yet. We
went there and taught a little bit and then knelt and prayed with everybody.
The spirit was very strong and they both felt an answer. We challenged them to
come with us to the baptismal interview and they both passed and were baptized
Saturday afternoon! A huge miracle! I don’t have any pictures because I had to
get back on the bus before the baptism, but I´ll try to get some.
Saturday we had a meeting with bishop
and found some great new people in our area. There is a girl named Larissa who will
probably be baptized this Saturday. We are pretty excited. Sunday church was
great and I got to play piano in sacrament meeting which was fun. Then we went
on divisions with Bishop and that kid named Willer that was with us when we
were on the Skype. It was really fun. This week has just been really crazy!
Thank goodness today is P-day. I will sleep a little bit. Thank you so much for
the letter and the love and everything. I´m am excited to keep on working real
hard these last 2 weeks. I hope I can do some good here.
I know this church is true. I know the priesthood
has real power and the Holy Ghost can speak to us if we are worthy. I know
Christ lives and that families can be together forever.
I love you so much! Thank you for
everything you have done for me and for the family!
Never give up! Never Surrender!
-Elder Iron Markham
Never give up! Never Surrender!
-Elder Iron Markham
Cascavel May 7, 2012
Bom dia!
Thanks for the updates and the great questions. I´ll try to start by answering them on this not Spanish keyboard this time:
So on Mother’s day that would be just fine to talk at 2:00. I´m pretty sure we´ll be able to talk for 40 minutes so it´ll be good. I´ll get the skype code things from your other e-mail. That’s neat that it´ll be Dad’s birthday. I´ll have to remember to celebrate a tiny bit. We don’t really have all that much time but it´ll be good. So Cascavel has been pretty good this week. We worked really hard and I´m super destroyed tired right now, but we were able to bring 2 families to church and mark 4 baptisms for next week. We are pretty excited! Pray for our investigators to stay strong!
Cascavel is
actually a very German influenced city. It is pretty cold here and I´ve had to
sleep with covers a few days now. Especially when it rains it gets pretty cold.
There are a lot of tall white people here and so I don’t feel tooo out of
place. Actually yesterday I convinced some people that I was Brazilian with
lots of German roots. haha! It is really about 100% different than Foz. Here is
a pretty wealthy city kind of like Maringá. There are several colleges here
including the ever famous FAG University, which I find terrible funny. The ward
here is suuupper new and a lot of real work has actually been trying to help
Bishop put things in order. When I think about our ward I get really amazed by
how well things actually work! You learn a lot on the mission!
So Elder
Sepulveda and I are still zone leaders. That’s cool that his name is sort of
famous. There is a famous Politian name Sepulveda and everybody asks him if he
is related. Also everybody here is talking a ton about Mitt Romney. Funny how
great an impact the USA has on the world. Our zone has 12 missionaries
including 4 Sisters and so that is interesting. One poor sister got bit by a
dog this week and has to get vaccines. Ouch! We are pretty isolated because it
is about 7 hours from Londrina. The church here is kind of strong, but there
are only 3 chapels for a city of 300,000 so there is room to grow!
About
holidays, yes there are a ton of holidays in Brazil. It is a very catholic
country and so there are a whole bunch of Saint Days. Nobody really knows who
those people were but all like the holiday! Today we have to leave in a little
bit for leadership counsel in Londrina so I get to pass my whole P-day in the
bus. Yeah!! That’s pretty awesome sweet about the new Provo Temple. I´ll be
excited to see it done! Who knows we’ll get to go to the dedication? I am also
really happy to hear that Zack is doing well. How is Tyrel? Is he doing well
all married and stuff? And Joe and Jeff? Seen any of them lately?
So, that’s about it for this week. I´m excited to talk a little bit on Mother’s day and for the baptisms the Lord has blessed us with. I know that this is the true church of God. Sacrifice really does bring forth the blessings of heaven. I know that our Father in Heaven lives and loves us. We may not understand everything in this life, but we can know Christ overcame all suffering. I love you lots! Until Sunday!
-Elder Iron Markham
P.S. Cool side note, I found out the Guilherme is doing super well on the mission. He has about 6 months and has already baptized more than 20 people. Woohoo!
Cascavel April 30, 2012
Hello! Hello! Hello!
Firstly: This keyboard is in Spanish and doesn´t have a question mark button.
Secondly> Wow have I got a lot of news for you!
So first off> Elder Cook: Wow!!
Firstly: This keyboard is in Spanish and doesn´t have a question mark button.
Secondly> Wow have I got a lot of news for you!
So first off> Elder Cook: Wow!!
On Saturday at 4:30 in the morning we
got on the bus a journey to Londrina. I was actually kind of nervous because I
had to play piano and sing in front of Elder Cook. We sat down there one hour
early and I was practicing and playing some prelude and in general just being
nervous. Then all of a sudden we just felt something different about the
building. Everyone started looking around and in a few minutes entered
President Tavares, Elder Cook, Elder Whitney L. Clayton, and Elder Godoy. It
was the strangest thing because the moment I saw him I just felt happiness and
love and I didn’t even feel nervous anymore. We all stood up as he came in and
he just smiled and waved at us and said ´´oh sit down sit down!´´ He came up
and shook everyone’s hand and thanked me for the prelude. His wife is really
nice too! I was literally sitting right next to them at the piano and she was
just telling me what hymns to play and being happy. I didn’t feel even the
least bit nervous and was able to play everything just right. We heard some
wonderful talks about Real Growth and how to baptize and reactivate more
people. We talked about the power of the Book of Mormon and prayer, ward
counsels, and a ton of other great things. I think Elder Clayton will be an
apostle. He´s the man.
At the end Elder Cook stood up again. He
said that he would like to bear his testimony and leave an apostolic blessing
with us. He blessed us that we could always remember how much God loves us. He
blessed us that we could understand the atonement. He told us that many of us
had passed for many hard things in life, and also many of us had made big
mistakes in the past, but he said that Christ literally paid for all of that
and the Holy Ghost is a purifying agent. If we can have the spirit with us we
can be completely forgiven and all of those bad things will fade into the past.
There was not a person in the room that was not crying. It was a very special
experience that I will not easily forget.
So, moving on: I got transferred. Sad!
Actually awesome, but I will really miss Mandacaru. Before being transferred I visited
everybody we had taught. The Parents of Peterson and Larisse have decided to
come back to church and they also won a new house! Angela and Margarete got a
cute little puppy from Admilson. Alex, Rosimeire and Mario are going to be
sealed in the temple this July! Christina is helping her mom come back to church
and is super happy. Michelle helped Angela get a job and Mirani and all the
kids love the church. Fernando was baptized yesterday and they will go to the
temple next year! Their son is Gabriel and he has 3 years and is completely obsessed
with Iron man **coincidence. I think not!**. We managed to bring the church
attendance up by 40 and the church authorized a new chapel in Mandacaru. YEEHAA!!!!
Man, I really miss everybody there already, but oh well. We can dream about
going back right.
I was transferred to Ward Coqueiral in
the city of Cascavel. Funny enough, they only city in the mission that I hadn´t
visited yet. Now I can say that I´ve been everywhere! My new companion is Elder
Sepúlveda from Piaui Brasil. He is way cool. Here in Cascavel it is really
cold! I Love it!! Yesterday it was 45 degrees! It was sooooooooooo good!
Everyone was looking at me crazy because they were dying of cold and I was
running around in short sleeves. So, we are already teaching some good
families. One went to church yesterday and wants to get married to be baptized!
Another guy from Paraguay went to church too and will be baptized probably this
Saturday or Sunday. The ward is brand new and only has 5 months and so things
are a little crazy, but it will be good.
So, rapping things up: That’s some cool
beans news about home! I am so glad Sharon is doing well. I got her graduation
announcement! Craziness!!! I´ll be excited to see the new bathroom as well. That’s
awesome that Joy got married and Sharla is engaged! The Lord really blessed us
with that scholarship! Can things get any better? Also, if you get a chance
tell Jessica that I got her letter yesterday and I am suuuper stoked that her
brothers are going to Brazil!!! I would write her back but I think that I´ll
get there before my letter, so just pass it on.
I know that Christ lives and love us. I know more than ever that this church is led by living prophets and Apostles. I know the book of Mormon is true. I love this work and I love ya´ll a whole kilo ton. I think I´ll just go outside and yell Gloria halleluiah!
Love, Elder Iron Man
I know that Christ lives and love us. I know more than ever that this church is led by living prophets and Apostles. I know the book of Mormon is true. I love this work and I love ya´ll a whole kilo ton. I think I´ll just go outside and yell Gloria halleluiah!
Love, Elder Iron Man
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