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