Lots of walking and extra time for Scripture study

Hey Everyone!

This week was a crazy week. So a few things happened last Monday just as we finished writing and we had to buy our stuff and head home because they shut down all the buses. Luckily we got the last one going to our house. We had to be in the house at 7 every day so that took a little time out of our schedule and we didn't have any buses until Friday! Tuesday and Wednesday we had to walk all the way to San Marcos where the church is. It's almost 4 miles away and took 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was quite the walk. But now everything is back to normal but our branch president still wants us in at 7:00 pm. With the extra time in the night I've really been able to do a lot more reading in the scriptures. I read Genesis this week and I have really developed a love for the scriptures. I can feel the Spirit so strong as I read the scriptures, there's no way they can't be true. I'm so grateful for what a huge blessing they are and for how much they have changed me here in the mission. I know that as long as we read the scriptures we will never be lost. I hope all is going well at home. I can't wait to see what's been going on! I love and miss you all!

Love Elder Markham

** Mom's note

Garrett doesn't share specifics about why some things happen for good reason...but because of the internet, I can find things out that maybe I don't want to know anyway!!  But I must trust in the Lord that He will keep my boy safe and pray every day that he will be watched over.  The Church also does whatever it can to keep the missionaries safe.  And it sounds like the gangs are getting worse in El Salvador, calling for Garrett to be inside his apartment earlier for safety reasons.  Here is what I found:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/06/us-elsalvador-violence-idUSKCN0QB04520150806