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
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