Teaching English classes and eating pupusas!

Hi Family!

This week was a pretty great week of activities! But first the pupusa eating competition didn't go as well as I hoped. We couldn't do it Monday because they got back to the house late. So we said we would do it Thursday because we had a huge pupusa party. It was an activity between our branch and the other ward that attends our church. Whoever wanted to participate could make a pupusa and whoevers was the best won a gift basket for Christmas. All the other people played games and watched "Meet the Mormons". Then everyone got to eat pupusas. It was awesome and we had about 10 investigators there. But one of them had to leave early and it was pretty late so we walked her to the bus stop and waited for her to take the bus to get home safely, But when we left, the guy I was going to do the competition with, started eating pupusas. Then when I got back he said that he was already eating 6 and was about to get numbers 7 8 and 9. I had to hurry and start eating but when I got to 6 they ran out of pupusas. Then he got all happy and said he won and everything. haha it wasnt cool.

We've been teaching English classes and we've had tons of people come. And they all love it! Especially the Hernandez family. We started teaching them las week. There are the two parents, and two kids but one is 13 and the other is 5. They go to all the activities and they even went with us to a baptism that the other Elders had. They said that they really liked it. It's been great being able to teach them. They just haven't been able to go to church yet and they don't want to accept a baptism date. But they say this week they are going to be able to go to church. 

Yesterday we found another family just sitting outside their house listening to music together. We began to talk to them and turns out the husband is the brother of one of our investigators. But the part most surprising is that they already don't go to another church and haven't been baptized! Because here, everyone is baptized in other churches. But we were able to teach them that families can be together forever and that they need to be baptized by the authority. They said that they aren't sure yet but that they are willing to prepare to be baptized on the 16th of January. The lesson was super spiritual and awesome! I am so happy that I can live with my family forever and that the true authority to do it has been restored! I love the mission and everything I get to do! I love and miss you all!

Love Elder Markham

Another Baptism for Garrett and Watch out for flying Fireworks!!

Hey Family!

This week was great! Saturday morning we had the temple trip with our investigators and members. We were able to bring two investigators, Jose Henriquez who will probably get baptized within the next month and Leonel who got baptized later that day! I want to send pics but I can't because my memory isn't working haha. But I did the baptism Saturday and my companion did the confirmation Sunday. We had lots of members come! It was great but a little stressed and rushed because we went straight to the church after the temple trip. Leonel shared his testimony after his baptism and it was awesome! He kept talking about how he was going to come here then take his girlfriend, who's a member in our ward, to his other church after he came here with us. But he liked it so much that he wanted to get baptized after the first time he went to church! That just shows the power of the Spirit that testifies to everyone about the truth. I know without a doubt that the church is true and can feel my testimony growing every day!

The temple trip was fun. There were 4 different groups that came through out the mission. Each group came at different times and there was a total of about 1,200 people that went! It was awesome! My companion and I were going to teach about the life of Christ but we got there late because the bus that was supposed to pick us up with our Branch never came so our branch president rented a bus that he drove. But it was cool because I also got to see Carlos Jimenez. He was super happy to see me too haha. But he didn't get baptized yet because he still has to get married but I guess he's scared to talk to his...señora? I don't really know what to call that in English. 

All the kids in El Salvador like to set off fireworks in the streets at Christmas time...we have to be careful cause sometimes they don't watch where they are throwing them....or maybe it's because they like to throw them at me!

We watched the devotional Sunday and it was awesome because I could understand it! I'm pretty sure that was the first Christmas Devotional (Link here) that I actually learned something from because all the others I just slept through...oops. Tonight I'm going to have a pupusa eating competition with a guy whose mom is a member but he still hasn't gotten baptized because he feels like his mom is pushing it. He's been to church a ton of times and already knows everything... But he's a pretty big guy so it will be hard. We are going to make a deal that if I win he has to get baptized. haha wish me luck! I love and miss you all!!

Love Elder Markham

A Baptism coming up and a trip to the Temple

Hey Family!

Well first things first! This next week we are going to have the baptism for Leonel Olivares! He passed his interview so this Saturday will be his baptism! Saturday is going to be a great day because in the morning we are going to have our Temple trip with the investigators and less active members. That's when we all go with them and they learn a ton of stuff about the Temple and the Book of Mormon and a ton of other stuff! It's super awesome! Then we will have Leonels baptism that afternoon, then that night we are going to watch the Christmas Devotional! I'm super excited for that because last year I could only understand the choir singing the Christmas songs....pretty sad right?....oh and that's because it was in English.

This week was another tough week. It's not too hot though in our area because it's up on a mountain. Lately we've had some wind passing through so it's felt pretty good. But since all we do is walk up hills and stairs it still feels like it's 100 plus degrees sometimes. 

This week we were able to do divisions with the members a few times. They helped us out with finding more investigators. Our branch president gave us a reference for an older guy named Jose. We taught him a few times this week and he went to church with us yesterday! He's a great humble guy. He doesn't have a lot and a few years ago had an accident so there's a pretty big hole in the side of his head. But he is always wanting to learn more! He always reads what we leave and he's picking it up well. It's just that he talks a lot so we don't get to teach much in one lesson haha. But he's married so that is super awesome. He has a baptism date the 26th of December so it's another day I'm really looking forward too! I miss you all so much! I hope the Radio is playing all of dads favorite Christmas songs haha.

Love Elder Markham

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.