Final Letter to My Boy Tuesday July 27, 2021

Oh how I love this boy of mine!!  I am so proud of him and all he has worked through during these last two years.  First to Mexico City for 7 months, then home for 3 months, then to Florida for 8 months, then back to Mexico for the last 6 months of his mission!  He has shown grit, perseverance and has fought through sickness, lock downs and having to find ways to serve all on his own.  He has proven to Heavenly Father through it all that his testimony is stronger than any trials that might be placed in his way.  Well Done Blake (Elder Markham)!  I will see you next Week!

 Dear Elder Blake, 

I hope you still get to read this. I knew you were going to the pyramids today, so I hoped you would get a chance to read emails when you got back later.

It's time. You have served well and have done everything Heavenly Father has asked you to do.  Through all the turmoil this past 18 months has caused, you never complained and fulfilled your responsibility as a missionary with hard work, dignity and perseverance. You can be proud of all that you have accomplished. You went above and beyond in trying to find ways to serve, even though road blocks were thrown in your way. I am so proud of you, and I know Heavenly Father is as well. The people of Mexico have been blessed so greatly because of your service to them. They will miss you  but will always remember the blessings that you brought to them.

Good luck through this final week as you end another chapter in your book. You have been, and will continue to be a good leader when you come home. JJ and your younger siblings are counting on you. 

I can't wait to give you a big hug to welcome you home! Well done Blake!! 

Love Forever, 

Momma 

Pictures of his final Zone Conference and his final Testimony given to his fellow Missionaries in the Mission Field,  "Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant"

 

Hi Momma Tuesday July 27, 2021

 Hi Momma!!

Is this really the last email??? I can't believe it! The last two years went by super fast.

I've loved it all, but it's time. It's time to come home. I'm pretty darn exhausted! I learned so many great things, I've been with many great companions, and serving has brought such a great joy in my life, but I miss my Momma! 

This week we're helping out with the stake FSY for the youth, we're going to be helping them learn how to teach the first lesson from Preach My Gospel. I also have my last mission leadership council on Friday. So it's still going to be a busy week for my last one in the mission. Sunday is really my last day in the field since next Monday is the start of a new cycle and we'll be with President and Sister Parry all day. We have our exit interviews and they'll be feeding us. I'm not quite sure what else will be going on but I look forward to it. This last week was a bit rough haha! Most of our zone got sick so I was sent with them to the hospital since I wasn't feeling well either. I'll have to tell you the whole story of that later since it's a lot longer! But I ended up being able to go home that night, the rest had to stay a couple more nights. So I lucked out.

I'm writing this email the night before I send it since tomorrow I'll be at Teotihuacan! I love you! Thank you for all of your support through emails, calls, and pictures!! It's hard to believe that's it's all coming to an end   I'm excited to see all of you! I'll see you when I get off the plane next week 

Love Elder Blake Markham

Final Email....? Tuesday July 20, 2021

 Family and friends,

Surprise!! This will be my last group email. It's tradition that President and Sister Parry take the missionaries that are going home to Teotihuacan for their second to last pday, but it was moved to next week instead of today! Knowing I probably won't have much time to write next week since we'd be getting back late, I'm making this the final email. So here it goes..

I'll start with the update to begin. Last week I had my last zone conference, I can't believe it! I gave my final testimony. I just can't believe how quickly that moment came. For the last couple of years I've been watching other missionaries going home give their last testimony, and I remember thinking, "It's still so long until I give mine." But it was a great zone conference to end on. President and Sister Parry´s anniversary was that same day so they celebrated with us by having cake.

We're looking forward to some ward activities that we're planning to help encourage everyone in the missionary work. It's been hard to schedule our meetings with everyone since they're so busy but our stake President has really been looking out for us. We are going to have an afternoon scheduled where the ward is participating in different games. It will be an opportunity for them to invite their friends and family. We've been planning it with our Bishop but we're still not exactly sure what day we'll have it. And we also scheduled appointments with visitors centers from around the world! We have them every weekend. It's also an opportunity for the stake to have a spiritual experience and so they can invite friends and family. We've done two already, one from Mexico City and the other from Washington DC. At both we had 50-60 people and everyone says they love them. Our next one this weekend will be done from London.

These last two years have certainly been an adventure I had no idea was going to happen. I'm grateful for it though. I got to meet so many different people from so many different places. I had opportunities to grow my faith and testimony. It was very hard but well worth it. I now get to carry this experience with me forever! The hardest may still be yet ahead for me, but I know enough now that the Lord will always be with me as I keep the commandments and Temple covenants. I think I'm more nervous about coming home than I was about coming on the mission haha! But it's time. It all comes to an end some day. I still remember my training so clearly. My time has been full of many changes and traveling. I guess I do enjoy traveling but the repetitive staying for a short time and going has really stressed me out and made me tired! But I'm happy that I'll get to spend a lot of time at home when I get back. As far as plans on returning home, I'm not sure about a lot of things, but I'll be starting school at BYU next January.

I know the Savior lives and loves us. I have a testimony that Heavenly Father sent His son to die for us. I know that the Book of Mormon is the single most powerful book that will draw us nearer to truth than any other book. Through it we can better understand Christ's role in all our lives, and we can gain a stronger testimony of His love for us. We go through many trying times but thankfully the Lord has provided a way out. If we look to Him then we will never need to doubt. Remember all of the things that He has done for you. When we look towards the positive we can better align our perspective with God's, and thus, our eye will be single to His glory and we will be filled with light. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Here is the final count of some things accumulated over the last couple of years!

Companions:16

Areas:10

Missions:2

Mission Presidents:3

Flights including all connecting:13

-In a companionship of three twice

-In a companionship of four once

-More than one area at once thrice

-Three months spent at home

Thank you all for your support, love, and prayers! And thanks for keeping up on group emails.

Take care!

I'll see you all soon!

- Elder Markham

3 Tuesday July 13, 2021

 Family and friends,

The final three! This surreal feeling is a little difficult to describe. Narrowing down on the last few weeks has me on edge. Ever since this last transfer began it has been slapping me across the face saying, "wake up, you're not staying here!" I know I've said it before, but for the longest time I've just felt like this is my life now. It's like you enter this trance where you think that life before the mission was just a dream and life after is an imagination, but it's clear that this is becoming more and more of a reality. So it's an interesting process.

Until it's over, I still have two more letters to write after this and I'll try to include some of the good things that have happened in the previous week!

We began teaching English classes. We've had one so far which went very well! Teaching English classes is one of those things that people like to call the "Ammon principle." Which means you're focused on serving first before you can expect anyone to be interested about the gospel. When Ammon did this, it led to the conversion of much of the Lamanite nation. So we'll see what happens!

I have my last zone conference coming up this week. I had my last normal interview with President Parry last week. My last interview will be the exit interview. All the in between that goes on really isn't too exciting since we sit in the Chapel all day to work, but I think there are many things that I get to learn even if I don't recognize it at the moment. I've learned at least a little bit more about how to use technology haha. That's something that I've never really been skilled in. Things like Facebook, slide presentations, teaching in zoom meetings, etc.. I'm still not always sure but it's going well for the most part.

Thank you all for your support!! It helps a lot and I hope you know that you're all part of the small miracles and blessings that I get to see!

Take care!
- Elder Markham

4 Tuesday July 6, 2021

 Family and friends,

This last week went by pretty quickly! A week ago, last Sunday, Francisco was not able to make it to Church for his confirmation, but thankfully he was able to this last Sunday so we were able to do it there! He is really excited to start preparing more for the temple. I remember when we taught him about the temple and he was really emotional because of what that meant for some of his family who has passed away. We are excited for him to go to the temple and do the work for them!

We've been struggling trying to help one family that we found on Facebook. This guy is really into the Bible and he was quick to accept help from us on using it better. But when we introduced the Book of Mormon, he got a little worried. All his life he has read the Bible and thought it was the only scripture. But now he is a little slow on accepting something else too. He says he will read it to find out for himself so we really hope he keeps that promise. It's been extremely hard trying to maintain contact with him. He brought his wife to Church last week and they seemed to really enjoy it. Everyone was really nice to them. They are a family of 10. But it's been pretty difficult getting along which seriously hinders the Spirit that can help them become closer. We obviously hope for the best and pray for them often!

It's been wonderful being able to learn more about the Lord's atonement and what that means for all of us. No matter what, we can look to Him in faith because of what He has done and because He descended below all things. Because of that, He knows how to lift us up. I really like the words that President Nelson has used when he said, "The Lord paid a debt that He did not owe, and we owed a debt that we could not pay." How wonderful it is to know how much our Savior loves us. His love for us is what took Him to the depths of such great suffering. At times, we might feel like we hit our "rock bottom," but always remember that Jesus Christ broke rock bottom and kept going into the unseen depths of eternal suffering. Not just once over, but for as many souls as we are from eternity to eternity. All of God's children that have lived, are living, and will ever live, Jesus Christ is the Savior of them all. He was alone, no one was with Him. I'm sure He knew of the kinds of places he needed to go in order to suffer, but knowing that He would walk it alone makes it that much harder to comprehend. I don't want to deny what the Savior has done for myself, or for others. I believe that's at least part of the reason why we ought to be kind and forgive one another. It's so that we don't deny what the Lord can do and how He can change others. If we don't forgive then we deny the Savior's atonement. I believe that if we walk with grudges like that up to judgment day in front of the Savior, we might very well fall to our knees and weep that we rejected the idea that the Lord can change others and change ourselves. I love Him, and I am forever grateful for Him.

Take care!
- Elder Markham

5 Tuesday June 29, 2021

 Family and friends,

It was a great start to the transfer this last week! We had Francisco's baptism and we continue to find more people to teach. Sunday was pretty cool actually! Originally we had only planned for a couple people to attend sacrament meeting but earlier in the morning we were able to get in contact with a few others and five of them came! It was great.

I don't remember if I mentioned it but a while ago we got to have a devotional as a mission with Elder Pingree of the Seventy. It was great! He talked about the gathering of Israel and it really brought a good energy! Then just the other day we had a devotional with a professor from BYU who teaches religion. He talked about the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum since it was the anniversary of that event. That was also exciting!! There isn't too much else going on so that's all for now!!

Take care!
- Elder Markham

6 Tuesday June 22, 2021

 Family and friends,

Wow! I have now entered the last transfer of the mission. Each transfer is 6 weeks so I figured I'll now just have the group email's title be how many weeks are left. It saves me a little time too haha!

It was a great week! We had Aracely's baptism on Saturday. She had asked me to do it so that was extra special! Then she was confirmed on Sunday in sacrament meeting. She really enjoyed the experience!! We're supposed to also have Francisco's baptism this Saturday. It is going fine but just last week he had lost his phone. His girlfriend who is a member had told us and she sent us his Facebook so we could try to get in contact with him there through his computer. That didn't really work. But just yesterday when we followed up with her she told us that he was there with her and we could do a quick video call! So we did and we were able to get back on track. He got a new phone so he gave us that number. We were really worried at first but now it should all be good. Last week was also a little more eventful than usual. An Elder in our zone got pretty sick. We got a call from them pretty late at night. Later our mission President told us to go over to their house. After we gave the Elder a blessing, my companion went to the hospital with the sick Elder and I stayed with his companion in their area. That was a pretty late night. Not quite as late as my companion who went with the Elder! They didn't get to bed until after 4:00AM. So that was rough. The next day my companion came back and switched with the sick Elder's companion. He got out of the hospital yesterday and he is back to normal so all is well! But since this transfer ended, I got a new companion, Elder Barraza from Sinaloa. He is great! It's just hard to believe that he will be my last.

That's it for this week! Take care!

- Elder Markham

Pictures of Blake's visit last week to Teotihuacan and various Companions and Missionaries in his Zone.

Teotihuacan Tuesday June 15, 2021

 Family and friends,

Not much time today!! We actually went into Teotihuacan as a zone all day. President Parry told us that we can visit so we decided to use the last pday of the transfer. It was awesome! We got to see a lot of the ancient civilization from here in Mexico. It dates back to the first century A.D. And they're still discovering more! There were a lot of pyramids and different structures. We didn't have a tour guide or anything but a lot of the other Elders were talking about similarities to the Book of Mormon and the set up of the area. Such as how there are twelve small pyramids circling an area that could represent the twelve Apostles and things like that. I don't really know much about it but it's just cool to be there and look at everything! I'm going again in a few weeks with the rest of the missionaries in the mission that will be going home. That's just part of the tradition that President and Sister Parry do with the missionaries that are going home, so it will be even better with a guide!

This week we'll have Aracely's baptism which we're looking forward to. She is really excited about it as well!! For the longest time she had been asking about when her baptism is haha. Francisco was going to have his as well this week but it was decided to move his a week later due to being pressed for time in getting lessons in. But he is also really excited!!

That's it for this week but hopefully I can write more soon!

- Elder Markham

Dear Momma June 8, 2021

  Hello Momma!

That all sounds great!! It's always nice to hear good news! And I'm excited to be involved in the fundraising and everything for Damian when I get back.

Good luck in the singing, I know you'll all do wonderful! 

It wasn't a very different week. We spent time getting things together for one of the people we are teaching with a baptism date. She is still very excited! It's coming up on the 19th. We had this Facebook event with a member from the Bonner family and it was great! A lot of people enjoyed it. He just answered questions and shared music videos from his family for about 30 min. 

We're getting ready for our zone conference this week. Elder Osorio and I were assigned to give a training so we're preparing for that. It's on Thursday. 

Are there any exciting new plans for your birthday tomorrow?? I'll be calling sometime around the afternoon maybe. Probably close to my lunch hour which is around noon your time. Let me know if there is a better time to call, I'll see what I can do. 

I love and miss you lots!!

Love Elder Blake Markham

Loving It! Tuesday June 1, 2021

 Family and friends,

What a week! I'm not really sure where to start this time but I'll try to begin with some activities we were able to do with our ward.

Last week I think I mentioned that we were going to do an activity with the youth. It went really well! We played Jepoardy first and they were really into it. The theme of the get-together with the youth was obviously missionary work so all the topics were on principles we teach from the lessons and pamphlets. After that we gave time to them to ask questions or express any concerns about serving a mission. It was pretty incredible to hear some of the things they came up with. They were things that had to do with what it feels like leaving home, asking if it's worth it, how we are dealing with all of the changes and what it's been like since the pandemic, most important lessons learned, most beautiful experiences we've had, etc.. We didn't have as much time as we would have liked at the end so we gave them all a copy of the Book of Mormon as well as a pamphlet and invited them to find just one friend to bring to the next activity. They all seemed excited to get going on the invitation and we've already heard from a couple that they already have names of people to bring. So we'll have to adjust some things for the next activity depending on how many nonmembers we get. Our Bishop who was there also really enjoyed the activity and he thinks it would be a great idea to do something like that with adults in the ward with their families. Since our stake is a lot more opened up than others, we are able to do more in person activities and that really helps a lot to at least strengthen the ward. Another activity we got to participate in was with our mission President and his wife. They are going around the mission trying to do family home evening with the wards and they were with us this week. Everyone loved it! They shared about ways of how to invite and share the gospel. So now we also get to continue to use that with the members to talk about. It's nice to have spiritual experiences like that as a group that help uplift and inspire. As for our area our baptism dates have kind of been jumping around haha. One of them is on track without any issues and she has already attended sacrament meeting several times. The others, however, are struggling with some temporal issues and need a little extra help. But one of them is holding on the best he can. He was one who came to sacrament meeting on Sunday. We certainly hope he sees the blessings for being so willing to put the Lord first.

Last week we were also invited by a sister in the ward to join with some friends and family in being there for opening her mission call. It was awesome! I just couldn't help but think back to when I opened my mission call over two years ago. In rehearsing it in my mind I wondered how I've done in keeping those promises that the mission call states that I would keep. I just remember having an idea in my mind of how I thought the mission would be like. Little did I know... haha! But in the course of time since then, I've had to be pushed past my limits in being a little more extroverted than I'm accustomed to. Not already feeling natural at the start with talking to people who didn't ask for my company first was certainly a difficult obstacle to get over. And I can't say that I've really improved a whole lot on feeling comfortable with it. Attempting to be more extroverted has felt pretty costly for me mentally, emotionally, and so on. Doing all of it from day to day after all this time has really weighed on me. Before my mission I wasn't ever really required to talk to so many people or be in large groups that require my individual attention. I was fine with just sitting and listening. That was all I felt I needed. Then I arrived here! Haha! At many moments in the mission I noticed that I felt a little light anxiety in situations that I felt like I was forced or obligated into like approaching people on the street or participating in councils. In school classes it's not unusual to sit and just listen to everyone else talk. But here they actually expect you to give feedback and such!! That's crazy!! It's always been a little difficult for me while sitting in councils because most of the time I would rather just focus on listening and processing rather than trying to think of things to say. So it's certainly not been easy or natural for me to be a missionary. It's very costly and people fatigue has become a reality for me. Some people just get more energy being around more people and for others it costs them energy. My point of all of this is that it's been a difficult obstacle for me but I made a promise when accepting my mission call that I would do my best to give the message of the gospel to everyone and invite them to receive help and comfort in living that gospel. And I would rather keep that promise than cushion my difficulties. The weight is heavy but worth it. I would never trade it for anything! I've learned things that I never would have otherwise. And I'm constantly reminded that there must be opposition in all things. That and I'm reminded of the Lord's words when He said that He would prove us to see if we would do all things He has commanded. We were sent here to experience opposition. We were not sent here to live lives without pain. I know that for me I still have yet to learn greater lessons on these principles. And I look forward in faith. I've tried to internalize the Savior's words when He said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." I hope to learn more in these last nine weeks! And thank you for your support! It helps so much!

- Elder Markham

On Good Pace, But More To Do Tuesday May 25, 2021

 Family and friends,

Another fantastic week!

It's been really great. At our stake conference our zone was invited by our stake President to do some musical numbers so we all got to sing and it went really well. The Elders from Teotihuacan stayed the night with us to be there on time. They live pretty far away. So we had two nights in a row with having other Elders stay the night since we also did exchanges with the assistants. That was a lot of fun too! One of my former companions is actually an assistant so we got to catch up. He was my companion last year back in January, a while ago. Every night besides Monday we have to either give or receive accounting so it's always really late before we're able to get to bed. But the mission is working on it now to make it more simple and efficient so we can sleep on time. We also need to attend some technology meetings and I don't really know Facebook that well so for the most part I'm just trying hard to keep up haha. The Huicholes area is awesome. We have two people on baptism date and another that we're teaching asked to be baptized. So we're working on getting a date for her as well. Our stake is the stake that is most open at the moment so we're able to do more activities. This weekend we are actually setting up an activity for the youth. It will be kind of like a missionary devotional. Our Bishop says that lots of the youth are excited to serve missions so we're gonna be having some moments to share our mission experience as well as make time for questions and answers. We're having the youth come prepared with questions. And then we'll also give time to them to share their testimonies and then play a missionary themed jeopardy! At the end we're giving them copies of the Book of Mormon and pamphlets to share with their friends. It's gonna be great!! Just this last weekend the stake young men group had a camping activity, without the actual camping. But we got to roast marshmallows and hang out with them for a bit so that was fun. 

It's been a quick first couple weeks here! But it's awesome! I love it! I feel my testimony grow stronger with each passing day. 

I've thought often about conversion lately and what it implies to all of us. I like to think of it using part of President Oaks' talk "The Challenge to Become." Using what he teaches, I decided to make a comparison with us and temples. The beginning foundation of the Temple acts as our faith and where we also start. Our faith in Christ is what is developed first before we can continue to progress. It is the foundation of our testimony. Then the construction of the building acts also as our testimony. The standing building of the temple is our testimony. According to President Oaks, to testify is "to know and to declare." The object or the building itself declares a message to the world. President Oaks continues, "Jesus taught [His disciples] about conversion, which is far more than testimony." In his talk, President Oaks explains differences with conversion and testimony, partly by explaining how Peter had a testimony but still needed to become converted. So, how would conversion be placed in this comparison? Maybe you already figured it out, but that would be the same as the Temple's dedication. That is the process; foundation, building, dedication - faith in Christ, testimony, conversion. If the Temple is not dedicated, it cannot fulfill the Lord's purposes. Just as necessary as the dedication is for the Temple, it is with our own conversion and dedicating ourselves to the Lord. Testimony is good, but not enough if we only declare without becoming converted. Another idea you might be able to use is from Elder Bednar when he teaches that with the gospel we learn so we can do which allows us to become. Even though becoming is far more important than what we do, we must understand that if we forsake doing then we can't become. I have a testimony that the gospel helps us in every aspect of our lives. I know it's true and I love living it! Just remember though, even though this is the Lord's pattern, it should not be treated as a formula in every situation. Just as all things are gathered together as one in Christ, we ought to give attention to all these things of the gospel and not only obsess about one aspect; whether it be our faith, testimony, or conversion. Even though Temples are completed step by step in that way, we are different in giving consistent attention to all three of the steps at the same time. All things gathered together in Christ. 

Take care!

- Elder Markham

I'll send pictures in a minute!

Here are some pictures of our activity with the young men as well as missionaries in our zone. Then one with Elder Osorio and I with our Bishop

Changes....Again Tuesday May 11, 2021

 Family and friends,

Man, another area! The cycle recently ended and I was moved again. But this change is very interesting and here's why! I am back in the Tecamac stake! If you don't remember, Tecamac was the first area I had, my training area. That was back in September of 2019. I now attend the same Church building that I was in. Except this area I'm in is different. It's called Huicholes. I do know however that the ward from my first area attends right after us so it's going to be awesome to see them again! I'm really excited! But this feels super weird because back when I was coming here in my first area the road that the Church is on was being paved. So at that time it was all dirt. Since then it has been finished. Now I don't need to be covered in kicked up dirt when I go to Church haha. But this weekend will be exciting because we have stake conference. I guess I should also mention that I got assignment changes as well and now I'm a zone leader for the Tecamac stake. The assistants came to ask me about that a couple weeks ago and I was not exactly expecting that since I was prepared to end in Xalostoc as a district leader for my last three transfers. Either way, it's going to be a fun last two transfers! I'm with Elder Osorio who has been here for two transfers already so he's really helping me out! We have several different things to do. We set up President Parry's interview schedule which is this Friday for us, we will see if President assigns us to give trainings at zone conference, we get to visit other missionaries in the zone on occasion, we have other meetings and councils to participate in for the mission and stake, exchanges with the assistants are this weekend; it's all just gonna be a fun time! Our stake president wanted us to put together a musical number with the missionaries in our zone for this stake conference so we will also be working on that!  I was disappointed to leave Xalostoc because Victoria was going to be baptized this Sunday. I hope I get to be there through zoom though. She just had her interview on Sunday so I at least got to say goodbye to them there. 

Well I have begun the beginning of the end. I'm positive this area is where I'll be staying my last couple transfers. I think it's now safe to say I should be home on August 3rd. Apparently my brothers all had their agendas and itineraries their last several months but I'll just be left with my release date and nothing more haha. It's just hard to imagine that some day it all ends. I'm stuck in what Garrett described to be as a make-belief reality that this is just my life now and life before the mission is just an imagination that's hard to piece together and recognize as an actual reality. I'm looking forward to the rest of the time here!

Take care!

- Elder Markham

Bautista Family Tuesday April 27, 2021

 We baptized them on Saturday! It was such a wonderful experience and so many people supported them. 

This is all I have for this week since I need to make it fast. 

Take care!

- Elder Markham

Very Quick Email Tuesday April 20, 2021

 Family and friends,

I will have to make this quick but it will have more pictures!!

Last week was great! Andres and Omar passed their interviews and they will be ready for baptism this Saturday! We are so excited! It will be a special day for their whole family. I look forward to when I hear that they get to go to the temple some day!! I will try to send pictures of the baptism next week!

Take Care!!

- Elder Markham

Pizza night! And pictures with the Bautista family after interviews!!! 

Family History Tuesday April 13, 2021

 Family and friends,

Another solid week!

It's been pretty exciting lately!! Starting off with a wholesome story - We've been teaching a father and a son. These two are the only ones in their family who are not members of the church. A couple years ago the rest of the family was baptized. But the father chose not to be and one of the sons didn't want to be baptized unless his father was as well. So for the last couple of years he's been waiting. I'm not quite sure what changed in the father but after we had a couple lessons with them he decided to pray about the Book of Mormon and baptism. He said after he had done so he felt peace. Nothing big or super spiritual. But he told us that he was able to sleep well that following night and he felt a good quiet peace. He took that as a sign that baptism was the right thing to do. So he accepted and his son was thrilled as well! All that time with missionaries over this course has helped him build on his testimony that he didn't know he really had. They will be baptized next week and in time the family will be able to be sealed in the temple!

We are also teaching another mother and daughter. They will both be baptized next week as well! They were supposed to be baptized this Saturday but due to some issues in another place that the mother had to take care of which she couldn't control, they were not able to attend sacrament meeting. It was a sad situation that she had to deal with but we expressed our love to them. The mother was at first a little scared because she thought they weren't ever going to be able to be baptized. But we explained to them that it's alright and they will be able to have another week to prepare. They were relieved. There are several others that we are teaching but they are all too many to speak of individually. Yesterday we were able to get a confirmation from eight of them that they will attend sacrament meeting this Sunday. It might be a little packed! One little girl we are teaching is only nine years old. We had a very small lesson on the restoration and she was very pleased with herself that she could understand it. Her father is a less active member and has been for several years. He is also divorced and he thinks having his daughter baptized will bring some extra light into their lives. She is pretty excited but the father only has Mondays off and so we are only able to give one lesson a week. We're not in any rush to place a baptism date for her with all that in mind. It will most likely be later in May. It's just been great to see all these blessings! The last couple weeks we've had most days with six to eight lessons. We see that it's more efficient and effective to have shorter/more lessons throughout the week. When we only use about 10 to 15 minutes, the people are more willing to fit videocalls in their schedule with us because they know it won't take very long. Plus, true conversion comes by being changed by the Savior's atonement and feeling the influence of the Spirit. And people don't need an hour to feel that. It's packed but thrilling! Even though, yes, some days are slower than others and I know I'm less than imperfect. It isn't always easy to maintain good attitudes and I wouldn't want to pretend like it's always simple to just walk through and have motivation to get things done. I still sometimes struggle with things like procrastination on something that seems insignificant. But I know that with the Savior's help I can always do better!! 

The stake family history leaders asked for our assistance in a project. They went to us since they're in our ward. They suggested we get the help of all the missionaries so now we're working on getting all the new members from the last year on board with FamilySearch. I'm excited! Even though I don't really know much about how to use it haha. First we just need to help the members create an account and I know how to do that which means I am of help at the moment haha. This is a great way to connect with the members, leaders, and receive refferals!! This was one of my favorite parts to mention!!

Anyway I'm glad that I finally had some time to actually get out a good email! 

Take care!

- Elder Markham

A Lot To Catch Up On Tuesday March 30, 2021

 Family friends,

Much has happened since I last wrote! 

I can't put it all in but I'll get as much as I can. So it's already been six weeks since I've arrived back in Mexico and I've been thrown around a bit from area to area. We placed some baptism dates in each area but then I always get moved out. In the last six weeks I've already had four areas and five companions. My new companion just got finished with his training. I was just put with him as this transfer ended. I'm in Xalostoc right now as the district leader. This area was doing well before and we just found another family to teach last night so it's looking like many blessings are headed our way. There are four people on date for baptism this upcoming month but some of them haven't been talked to in a while. We'll see if it holds up! One of the better experiences I had was last week in my last area when we had received a referral after talking with a less active family. The Mother actually referred her cousin and her family from the ward who are also less active. We scheduled an appointment with them and then got to know them. We found out that the 12 year old daughter had not been baptized so we invited her to be baptized. She accepted. Then they all came to Church the following Sunday (we have in person Church here in this zone!). I'm looking forward to hearing more about how they do. The other day we went to deliver a copy of the Book of Mormon. To our surprise the referral lives on top of one of the mountains in our area. We walked for about an hour to get up there. We also took some good pictures and I'm sure I'll be able to send them out. It's honestly been a great time and we'll see if I finally stay in an area for a full transfer. I haven't been in an area for a full transfer since the last week of January so we'll see if I might end my mission here in Xalostoc! I also forgot to mention - I was in a companionship of four for about a week haha! Another Elder had arrived to the mission with a couple weeks left in the transfer and it was Elder Lundquist from the CCM! It didn't look like he had any place to go when he arrived so he was placed in my trio until President Parry found room for Elder Lundquist and I elsewhere in the mission. It was a great time to have that odd experience.

I'm really looking forward to this General Conference as I'm sure the rest of you are as well. These seem to be pretty timely. Lots of us go through the exams of life. It's not always easy but with the Savior's help it is possible to get through it. Life can be hard and I've witnessed that up close. Don't ever forget whose side you're on. Keep trying to do the right things and it will all work out. Some lessons just aren't learned well without opposition. That was actually part of the talk I gave in Church a couple Sundays ago. Without exams and trials of life we wouldn't be able to exercise many of the teachings of Jesus Christ. For example - how can we develop integrity without first being presented with an opportunity to cheat, lie, steal, or be dishonest? Or how can we develop resilience if we don't fall back first? I used to always have it in my mind that there is only good and bad. But as time goes on I think that concept has been added to. There is good, there is bad, and there is necessary. The Savior didn't have to suffer the Atonement. He was perfect. But He neglected all self pursuit and gave us everything. He let go of His personal needs and gave His life for us. The act of love and sacrifice was necessary for our salvation as is our trials in life. I echo Elder Holland in saying that the only way to salvation is through Gethsemane. Being a member of the Church isn't as a cloud that we can sit on and glide peacefully through life. However, it does act as a cloud for us to land on when we do fall and stumble in life. It softens the blows of many of life's hardships that would have come regardless if we are members of the Church or not. When it's all said and done, we might get beat up from time to time throughout our struggles, we might be on the edge of a metaphorical cliff, we might be betrayed, tried, bruised, scarred, or hurt in all shape and form. But the Savior will never let us fall. We'll cry from time to time. We will comfort those who stand in need of comfort. We will mourn with those that mourn. But as long as we keep going, we won't ever fall. Keep trying and keep going. One more step is still one more step closer to the end. I like to keep this in mind, that in any moment of opposition that emerges, change the word from 'opposition' to 'opportunity.' Each moment of opposition is an opportunity to exercise the Savior's teachings. Without those opportunities the great plan of God would be frustrated, just as Lehi said. I know the Savior lives! Have a wonderful Easter week!

- Elder Markham