A new area with lots of hills, and Garrett's testimony of the Savior.

Hey Family!

So this week was kinda hard and long. But first let me tell you about my area a little bit more. It sits on the side of a mountain so all we do is walk up huge hills and walk down huge hills. And we do that about all day looking for people to teach. The members here have helped us a lot! One family brought their friend to church and he's already gone to church two times and is obeying the word of wisdom! He should get baptized here pretty soon. His name is Leonel. But when we aren't teaching....we're walking... But at least I might be able to get my big strong legs back?? 

We also still don't have a house so that's a big problem. We are still living in the next area over. I gave a talk in church this week. It doesn't really feel like giving a talk in church because we have a small branch so it's more like teaching a class. This week we met an older lady that lives with her sons and a few grandchildren. She is super sick and can't really talk much. We taught her about faith and blessings. Then we were able to give her a blessing which was a super spiritual moment. And when we had finished she was crying and said thank you and just sat there for a bit. Then she said that her only wish is to be healthy like she was before and be able to talk like before. I thought a bit about how we are all going to be healed after this life and that we all will be blessed with a perfect body but only through the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and that He paid the price for our sins. I know that all things will be made right through Him. I am so grateful for the blessing He's given me to be here preaching the Gospel. There's no other place I'd rather be. I love and miss you all so much!

Love Elder Markham

Opening a new area in the mission and PICTURES!

Hey Family!

It has been one of the hardest and craziest weeks.....

Monday: I was in the office all day because my companion had to talk with president. Then we had to go back to the house so he could pack his bags and had emergency changes. Then I went to stay with Elder Hale and Elder Guzman again.

Tuesday: We just worked and taught in their area and I was told that I would receive my new companion the next day at changes.

Wednesday: At 7:30 in the morning getting ready to go to changes I got a call that said I had changes as well. All my stuff was still in my house and nothing was packed but they said that I'd pack after I got my new assignment and turns out I'm opening an area called San Patricio. It's close to my old area. But there hasn't been missionaries in this area for more than a year! We have to start from zero. We just went around with the first councilor (of the Bishopric in the ward) meeting the members. Oh and we don't have a house there yet so we are still looking to rent one.

Thursday: We went with one of the members to find a house. We found a few options that are in a super nice area. But we still have to talk to the owners. That will be tomorrow.

Friday: We went with another member to find some people to teach.

Saturday: The same

Sunday: A family brought a friend to church so that really helped us out a ton! 

The place I'm in is a pretty small branch of about 40 or 50 people that are active. The first few days were a bit hard but I think we have a hold on things. I'm just glad we've been able to get so much help from the members! 

I love you all! I hope everyone's doing great! Estoy muy feliz para poder servir aqui en El Salvadro! Amo la mision. Amo El Salvador. Y no hay otro lugar donde quiero estar! Les extraño y les amo mucho!

Elder Markham

Some of Garrett's favorite children in El Salvador

Here are the stairs to Carlos' house. It was difficult for Carlos to get up and down the stairs as he was missing a leg.  But he would do that to get to church each week.  Carlos will be baptized soon but Garrett had to leave the area before getting a picture with him.

A rainbow at the church

Heres alberto and his wife from Santo Tomas.

They are the ones that survived a crazy mooto accident and now he's getting better from his surgery that he had from internal bleeding. He's a member but his wife isn't. She couldn't get baptized because they aren't married but they'll get married soon!

Garrett is practically a Latino!

Hey everyone!

It's been going great here in Santo Tomas! So I have already been here for 5 months and I'm here for at least one more month because changes are this week but I don't have changes! Just my companion. This change is only going to be for 4 weeks because it was going to end too close to Christmas. But the next change is 8 weeks. I will be here for at least 6 months and if I have to stay the next change I will be here until February haha. 

Carlos Jimenez went to church again and loved it! We found out this week that he's not married so we will have to help him get married before the 8th of December. That's his baptism date. He hasn't drank coffee or alcohol and he just needs to keep going to church and get married and he will be good to go! He is such a great guy! We also found a few new investigators that were super happy to have us come in and visit them. They are a young couple and their names are Iris and Rene. They said that they need help with where they are and are super willing to listen to us. They had a ton of questions for us so it helps us know that they really want to change. 

I can't believe Christmas is already coming!!! Thanksgiving doesn't exist here at all soooo....but hey! This week we were walking down one of the passages and there was a family setting up some Christmas lights outside their house so we stopped by to help them out! It felt so good to hang up Christmas lights! But...it wasn't the same because it was about 90 degrees and so I wasn't freezing. But there are tons of trees up and everything haha. I have to go but I love you all and miss you so very much! 

Love Elder Markham

**Garrett gave a talk in church yesterday and a guy told him he was pretty much a Latino because his Spanish is so good.  He only gave Garrett two things to change: 

Garrett:  "I would say todos de nosotros, trying to say all of us, but it's only todos nosotros. Then he said I said mas que when I'm supposed to say mas de. He says it's not a big deal because every missionary does it" haha

"Day of the Dead"...And "All Souls Day"

Hey Family!

It was quite the week! So I didn't write yesterday because here for the 1st and 2nd of November they do this thing where everyone goes to the cemetery to decorate their families graves and stuff to remember them. And man there were soooo many people. We went there to talk about family history with everyone. We had a table display with a huge banner and a ton of family history pamphlets and stuff. But it wasn't that successful haha. Not many people here are interested in learning about their ancestors and stuff haha. So we just had to start talking about the plan of salvation to get references to teach people.

Well Orlando probably wont be getting baptized soon because his niece in Guatemala hasn't been able to take his papers out. The office of the mission says that they can't help us so there isn't much we can do but wait and pray. But we have another super awesome investigator that I talked about a bit last week. Carlos Jimenez went to church with us. He only has one leg but still walked down...I guess hobbled down....those huge stairs and waited for us to pick him up for church! We visited him with two members two different days this week and they both struggled to get up those stairs. But he is amazing. The only problems he has is alcohol. But I know that the healing powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will help him. I've already seen it so many times here in the mission.

I can't believe it's already November! I hope to see a few pics of the bright Christmas tree that was put up on Sunday....right? hahah I miss and love you all! 

Love Elder Markham

http://ucanr.edu/sites/Spanish/Calendario/Major_Holidays_and_Celebrations_of_Spanish-Speaking_Countries/

***Nov 1 & 2

Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead (Mexico, Central America). In most regions of Mexico, November 1 is to honor children and infants, whereas deceased adults are honored on November 2. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1 mainly as Día de los Santos Inocentes* ("Holy Innocents Day") but also as Día de los Angelitos ("Day of the Little Angels") and November 2 as Día de los Muertosor Día de los Difuntos ("Day of the Dead").
Traditionally, it is an observance festivity to celebrate and honor one’s ancestors. It’s based on the belief that there is interaction between the living world and the world of spirits. On the Día de los Muertos, thealmas, or the spirits of the dead, are said to come back for family reunions. Many celebrate setting upofrendas (altars) in their homes to honor the memory of deceased loved ones and to welcome their visiting souls. Others visit their loved one’s cemetery plot and decorate it with flowers, candles and food. The holiday is celebrated with family and community gatherings, music, and feasting, and the festivity of its observance acknowledges death as an integral part or life.

* Día de los Santos Inocentes is not to be confused with Día de los Inocentes (April Fool’s or All Fools’ Day) which is celebrated on April 1st.

Nov 2
All Souls’ Day or Día de los Difuntos. This Catholic observance celebrates the memory of all early martyrs, saints and the faithfully departed.