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 

March 16, 2021

 Hi Momma,

This last week was great! One of the best! I don't remember if I mentioned last week but we have a new area with the area we already have. It's called Oceania. The secretaries used to have it before another area was opened up so they already had a couple people they were teaching. Now we have several people that we have regular appointments with. We were actually able to put a baptism date with a new person last week. Right now he is working about an hour or two outside of the city and he is living there. He plans on being back for his baptism which will be the week of general conference. The other lady we have on a baptism date attended Church the other day so things are still set for that. It is still difficult to get a hold of her sometimes and we haven't been able to have a set lesson in a while. We also got to participate in another baptism for a primary aged child. His name is Alonso. He was really excited and it went well! I led the program that time. We have zone conference coming up this week so I'm excited! ALSO we are now a companionship of four haha. Another Elder came in last week and there was nowhere else for him to go so he is with us for the remainder of the transfer.

I found out last week at the doctor's that my blood sugar levels are pretty low and my blood pressure is a little off. So now I have a special diet with more sugar haha. Things should be back to normal with that soon but I would appreciate any extra prayers for my next appointment coming up soon that it isn't anything more serious. I need an ECG scan, blood drawn, and an x ray on the heart. I'm sending more details to Dad but that's about all I know for now. I'm actually fine and it's not really a big deal. But I would still appreciate prayers!  

Also one of my companions, Elder Aguilar, was having some problems with his organs due to an excess of air backed up. So if you can pray for him too I'm sure he would appreciate it! 

I love and miss you lots!! 

Love Elder Blake Markham 

March...? Tuesday March 9, 2021

 Family and friends,

There's a little bit to catch up on!

These months are going by too fast. We think we got rid of all the rodents in the house. The other week we eliminated two mice and we've seen no evidence of any more. So we think we might be past that but you can't ever be too sure. 

We put a baptism date with someone we recently found and I hope it holds. It's supposed to be for the 2nd of April (just before general conference by the way. It came up so fast!) and she doesn't answer her phone very often. But tells us how much she loves the lessons and how much she believes everything. She even came by the mission offices to get a copy of the Book of Mormon from us. I certainly have faith but I just hope the date holds. We'll see what happens!

I got to do a baptism last week for a family in our ward with a primary aged son. He was so brave! The water was cold since the boiler wasn't working but he was still able to go through with it. 

We didn't find anyone new to teach this last week. But some experiences are more humbling than anything. I look forward to seeing what happens this upcoming week! Last Tuesday President Parry called me into his office and told me about some situations going on with areas. Missionaries are arriving at odd times and it didn't help when I had arrived. Originally the companion I'm with now was going to train but the new missionary didn't arrive due to visa problems so I was put with the missionary who was supposed to train instead. Just last week that new missionary finally arrived and we've now all been in a trio for the last week. So that's been fun! The new missionary is Elder Linton. He is fresh on the mission from Rexburg, Idaho! He is hilarious. So I may or may not stay in this area the rest of the transfer. We'll see what happens!

The last week was also pretty packed with some days going to get immigration stuff done. The first day we were up at 3:45 to get in line early enough to set an appointment. That's all we did when we were there. But the whole process from going there and back was several hours so I wasn't able to get an email out. Then we went back later in the week to actually get everything done. But it's all good now. Our house is where all the missionaries in the mission stay that need to get that all done. So there have been some pretty early mornings and fun nights with all of them there! We have several bunk beds and the most Elders we had staying in our house were eight. But it's fun to have visitors!

I don't know when I can get pictures out. Hopefully soon haha! Take care!

- Elder Markham 

March 2, 2021

 Hi Momma!

I hope all is well back home!! 

This week went by so fast! But it was great! We had stake conference this last weekend. It was a lot of fun. President Parry and Sister Parry shared a message. The Mexico City temple president and matron also shared a recorded message from his home in the U.S. We also got to hear from an area authority seventy. It was a great conference! It was all over zoom. The one friend who was able to watch it said he felt good. His name is David. Last night I had to work alone for a bit at the office (contacting in my area) since my companion needed to go with the zone leaders to a baptismal interview. The secretaries and assistants were with me. But I got to send a scripture to David about the story of Enos. Then I invited him to repent and he accepted. He said he felt good that God hears his prayers. He is making good progress. I also baptized a little boy on Saturday. At the request of his parents, we helped with the baptism. He was so brave! The boiler for the water in the chapel was not working so the water was freezing cold. But he still went through! We've been able to find a couple more people to teach and it's been fun!

I hope to hear soon! I love you lots!

Love Elder Blake Markham 

It's Good To Be Back Tuesday Feb. 23, 2021

 Family and friends,

What a crazy first week! I'm not really sure where to start so I'll just mention my area I'm in first. It's the area Aragon. I am with Elder Aguilar from Tijuana, originally from Chiapas. He arrived here last July after the other missionaries left. We're opening up this area but it's nothing new to the mission. More like boundary changes. But it's the area with the offices and the Temple! Our Chapel is here right next to the Temple so I get to see it every day! It felt strange arriving and just going a couple blocks to our house. But it was crazy when we did our first look at the house! It's the one that has been used since about last August for Elders getting ready to go home. They would just sleep there for the night before heading out the next day. What freaked me out was when Sister Parry told us that this house had a rat problem the other night. Sure enough when we showed up that night the kitchen was absolutely destroyed. I couldn't believe it and actually nearly passed out. I felt like Mormon describing the scenes of war he saw in the Book of Mormon. And on top of that there was evidence of rats throughout all sides of the house except one room. Thankfully it was the bedroom! So we spent the first few days cleaning the house. It was fumigated so we spent a few nights with the secretaries in the mission office on a sofa. I don't really know how much the fumigation helped because we are still at war with them. Each time we leave poison out it's gone later in the day. The first day was certainly a big Mexican welcome back haha! There are only about 80 missionaries in the mission right now. I was the third to return from the States with more on the way!! My zone is very small. Just us, the zone leaders, the secretaries, and the assistants. Some companionships in the mission have to cover more than one ward. We are teaching three people right now. They are ones who we found in the last week. Two of them attended sacrament meeting. There are no in person meetings besides district counsels. The daily routine is pretty much wake up, exercise, eat, come to the chapel and work, then go back at the end of the day to sleep. Of course some days are different depending on certain events but that's the majority of it! But it doesn't even feel depressing or anything. This is just how it is and I enjoy it! 

We got to have a zoom call with President Ballard last week! He did this with two other missions here in Mexico. Along with him was a couple other members of the seventy. It was awesome! I had to listen through translation in Spanish though. I really wanted to hear President Ballard's voice directly! He shared things from his mission and shared testimony. He gave encouraging messages too. There wasn't time for any missionary interaction with him. But we really felt the Spirit! 

Quick spiritual message!

I was pretty disappointed that I didn't get to hear the Prophet's voice directly. We tried to set something up where I could use headphones to get his voice while my companion listened in Spanish but it didn't work. I tried to not let it affect my attitude during the meeting. Instead I just tried to focus on the Spirit. It helped a lot with trying to shift my attitude! I was later then reminded of how necessary opposition is. We remember that Lehi teaches us how we need opposition and that without it God's plan would be frustrated. After all, the plan of salvation is in effect because of opposition. We have it for redemption, for healing, for being fixed, for returning, and for being happy! We are happy because we know pain. Adam fell that man might be happy. How can we have grace without first making a mistake? If we did not suffer then we would have no need for the Lord's Atonement. Or in other words, if we did not experience pain then we would not need the Savior. But we are always in need of Him! Perfection comes after learning and growing. If we knew all answers to everything then we would have no need to act in faith. And according to Ether 12, without faith there can be no miracles. Each blessing we receive is truly a miracle! And we don't earn blessings, we qualify for them. The greatest blessing of all that Heavenly Father can offer us is exaltation with our families. So without first suffering and opposition, we would not be able to receive the great blessing of exaltation. This all connects in so many different ways. Hence the reason God's work is one eternal round. It all comes back to one another. Opposition is given so that we overcome it. And remember the Savior's words from John 16:33, "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." So we don't need to worry about relying on our own strengths. We put our trust in the Savior that He will pull us through. Last thing about becoming, remember how important it is to be building and nurturing our Spirits. Tad R. Calister gave an article sometime last year where he talked about shielding ourselves from the adversary. He said how he once met with someone who needed help with healing spiritually. He wanted to change but wasn't doing the necessary things to receive help from the Lord. He would try to fight off temptation when it came but it was always so hard. Elder Calister at the time compared it to a basketball game. What would happen if the coach told the team that all the players shouldn't play offence but rather save all energy for defense? Well the best that could happen is the game would end in a tie. Last I checked in the scriptures, a tie with Satan won't get us to exaltation with God and our families. So we need to also be playing offense by reading our scriptures, staying active in callings, saying our prayers, and just making an effort rather than going through motions. It all helps! And I hope that this has helped. 

I'll send more next week. Take care!

- Elder Markham  

Mexico Wednesday Feb. 17th, 2021

 Family and friends,

It's been a while!! Crazy new updates!!! Not much time haha.

I will need to send pictures next week if I can. But recently we had a baptism for Neysi, quickest one I've ever had! She is from Panama, moved into Florida about a year ago and had read the Bible twice during the time she's been here. We met her, she read the entire Book of Mormon in about two weeks and we baptized her a couple weeks ago. And Nuong is on date for later this February. The issue with her is her parents not letting her progress since they don't want her to switch Religions. They only speak Vietnamese so that's a challenge. It's just been a crazy few weeks, I've had like no time on pdays! Lots of lessons and having to get other things set up. I even went to Utah for a bit to get travel arrangements figured out for *drum roll* MEXICO!!!

That is right. Tomorrow morning I am headed back to Mexico City to finish my mission there for the last six months or so of my mission. It's sad leaving Florida. I've been training my new companion, Elder Torres, who arrived from Puerto Rico a couple weeks ago. He's fresh and ready to go! He's never really been to the U.S. before but he is excited. I hope the new trainer will do him well. 

It feels weird going back to Mexico City. But I know it's all been part of the Lord's plan! He's known it all along. I'm headed out tomorrow morning around 11:00. I'll give more updates next week!! Thank you all for your prayers and support!!!!!

- Elder Markham

Heading back to Mexico! February 1, 2021

Blake is going back to Mexico!  He had to fly back to the Consulate in Salt Lake City to get his Visa taken care of.  He will return to Mexico to finish out his mission on Feb. 16th, 2021 

Hi Momma!

I am here in Salt Lake waiting to go back at the airport. I'm stopping in Dallas first. I will be back around midnight. A long day! We finished with the Consulate. It was the same thing again, photo and finger print. Aunt Bubs was so kind to take us! We went to look at Temple Square a bit afterwards since we had some time. 

We had the baptism for Neysi yesterday! It went very well and many members went and were involved with the program. She is so happy to be a member! We also gave a blessing to another Sister we are teaching. We hope she feels comforted because of it.

I was so happy to watch the service for Grandma   It was beautiful. I look forward to hearing from you!

Love Elder Blake Markham