No water for 4 days but still trying to be positive!

What a crazy week its been! 

This week was changes and I got moved to another area but it's still super close to my last two areas! I'm also now District leader and a trainer! My district has 5 companionships. It's pretty much the whole Zone, except 2 other companionships. My new companion only has about 7 weeks here in El Salvador and he's from Texas. Since he's new he can't speak or understand a lot of Spanish, but I definitely know how that was haha. But the week was super crazy because we had two different days of service in the morning and we didn't have a lot of time to get to know the area or the investigators. But if we work hard, we should be able to accomplish a lot! Almost the whole district is new. One new sister and 6 new Elders. But everyone has been working hard so I'm happy. All the Elders and Sisters are doing great. Oh...did I mention we haven't had water for 4 days in our house now? It's the worst. My companion forgot to tell me that they didn't pay the water bill. So here's a little bit of my week. But everything is great and I'm loving all the work I'm receiving! It feels great when there's lots to do. Just like senior year of high school again haha. I love and miss you all! Oh and my area is called Monte Carmelo...Carmel Mountain!!!! Woo hoo! Hahah in Ilopango.

OH! Every Wednesday night we eat at a families house for free. Their 17 year old son cooks and he is a professional! He works at a 5 star restaurant! He's putting in his papers soon. Imagine being his comp and always having something amazing to eat every meal. Its soooo good!

Love Elder Markham

**Garrett was going to call the owner of the house they are staying today to see if they could get the water turned back on.  He has access to buying big jugs for drinking, but he would really like to have a shower.  

Another change...and hopefully rain soon.

Hey everyone! 

Well another change has come and gone. They go by so fast! I don't know what will be happening this change because my companion is going to train so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have changes. We will get the call tonight. Nothing too exciting or crazy happened this week....which is kinda odd for El Salvador. Just a kid stopped us in the street asking where we were from and what are we were doing and what was in our bags. But that happens every once in a while. The days get hotter and hotter and I don't know if I will survive if they send me to the east because it is way hotter! The rain will come in about a month, so there's all these giant bugs that sit up in the trees and make noises all day. My companion says that they do that before it rains, then as it starts to rain they all die and fall out of the trees. This week was fast and testimony meeting in church and Alex got up to bare his testimony! It was one of the best ones I've ever heard! And he's only known the church for about 6 or 7 weeks! You could tell he was pretty nervous at first but after a bit he was fine. He also got his (baptism) certificate and he seemed to be super happy about that! I miss and love you all so much! 

Love Elder Markham

**Fast and testimony meetings are the first Sunday of the month where church members fast 24  hours (2 meals) and give money for the meals that they missed to their ward Bishop for those in need.  And the members can choose if they want to stand and bare witness of their testimonies of Jesus Christ during Sunday worship service, instead of assigned talks given.

Another great week...but it is getting really Hot!

Hey family! 

This week was a great one! First, we had another little Temple trip with investigators. This is when the whole mission brings their investigators to the temple and we have different classes about the temples and families and stuff. It was super great! I also got to see Elder Custodio and a bunch of my other favorite missionaries! Also a bunch of people from my other area including Blanca Zepeda and Karen Zepeda! And of course they gave me some some snacks and juice and stuff haha. Me and my companion were guides and helped our group go around to the different classes. The Zepeda sisters were in my group and Ronald was too. If you don't remember he was my second baptism. I talked to him and he said both his grandparents were able to get married and baptized shortly after I left! We had been teaching them a few weeks before I left the area. I was so happy for him and he said he was super happy to see them be baptized also. I loved General Conference! I learned so much especially great stuff about families! Which didn't help a few missionaries in my district because they are almost done with their missions and all they can think about is families and stuff after haha. But it was great to be able to watch it in English with air conditioning. It is getting hotter and hotter everyday. Even the nights are ridiculously hot! I don't understand how it can be so hot ahah. I love you all and miss you very much!

Love Elder Markham

Excited to watch General Conference!

Hey!

So I'm sorry I'm writing a little late again. We came to write this morning but nothing was working.

We had the baptism for Alex this weekend! It was just another great baptism and he chose the Bishop to baptize him. He is super excited about the church and has sacrificed so much! I don't have tons of time this week but I hope everyone is doing well back home. I'm so excited for General Conference this weekend! I can't wait to hear what the prophets have to say to us this time. The mission has really helped me find more meaning for GC. It's my first in the field! It seems like yesterday when we were watching it in the MTC! Luckily there's another Elder from the states in my district so hopefully we can watch it in English in the office haha. But I will miss the cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. Maybe I can find something here but the people here just eat the same sweet breads haha. I hope you guys are able to enjoy it too! I have to go but I love and miss you all!

Love Elder Markham

** General Conference is a biannual conference that is broadcast on TV that we watch the first weekends in April and October.  It is on cable channels and BYUTV.  Our church leaders speak about issues of our times and give instruction for following the Savior.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and other choirs perform musical numbers and it is a wonderful weekend to spend together as families!  The 5 sessions are 

Saturday 9:00 am to 11:00 Pacific time
Saturday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Pacific time
Saturday 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm (Priesthood session for men)

Sunday 9:00 am to 11:00 
Sunday 1:00 pm to 3:00 

"The faith of the people here really strengthen my Faith..."

Hey family!

We had our baptism for Sister Vilma this Saturday and Sunday! It was such a great experience. She was so ready to get baptized. Most of the members thought that she was already a member! The spirit was super strong and  helped me feel better to have another great baptism!  We should have another baptism for Brother Alex this Saturday and Sunday. It's amazing to see his faith and desire to start his life over. He spends all day selling stuff to make his living. He has had to start his life over with nothing. But when he gets home at night he just reads the Book of Mormon, and the other books for the classes at church. And he has been taking out his tithing to pay after his baptism! The faith of the people here really strengthen my faith. Oh...I also had to give a talk in church. The only problem was was that I lost my voice the day before and couldn't talk very well. But a few people said it was pretty good. I talked about following the prophets and general conference in a couple weeks. Which is weird because I feel like I was just watching it in Mexico! The time is going by way too fast. I love and miss you all very much!

Love Elder Markham

Elder Mansilla, Sister Vilma, and Garrett at her Baptism

One of the Lizards Garrett wants to eat.

Elder Ramirez from Mexico (one of Garrett's Zone Leaders) and Garrett

So Busy...But so Happy!

Hey everyone!

Sorry I'm late again. We went to play soccer on a turf field in the morning. I had fun! I had two super cool goals. I got a nice turf burn on one and the other I got with my head and it seemed to impress all the Latinos because they kept talking about it haha.

Well tomorrow marks six months and I'd say quite a bit has already changed about me. I'm getting used to the heat, I can eat raw eggs without a problem and I love cow foot soup! Haha, I think I might be a little darker. It's weird because you don't really tan here. It's just super hot and humid and after you burn, you're right back to being white again. Last night we finally got a little rain! Then there was some type of explosion outside and the power went out for about 20 seconds. But like they say here, es la vida en El Salvador! 

We are going to have a baptism this Saturday! I'm super excited! Her name is Vilma and she lives with her 25 year old son. The missionaries before have been teaching her in her friends house. I'm super excited and she just loves the church and everything about it! Then we should have at least one more next week. His name is Alex. It's kinda sad because he really doesn't have much. He lives in the back room of someones house that is about the size of my room. He sleeps on a sheet on the floor and has a little stove to cook with. I'm just very glad he is super humble and still willing to sacrifice his work time to come to church and read the Book of Mormon. He is super great! We visit a lot of families and with a new convert named Rene. I had to get the soles of my shoes resowed because they are falling apart. He was able to take them for me and a few days later he offered me his old shoes haha. I tried to offer to buy them from him because he doesn't have much even though they were only size 8 but he said no and if they don't fit I can just leave them in the house for when another missionary comes. It's amazing how nice and generous the people are here.

I love you all so much and can't wait to hear from you! Oh and guess what dad! You wouldn't believe how many times I heard George Michael this week. I think the song is called careless whispers...with the saxaphone? You'd be so proud haha

Love Elder Markham

**Note: Garrett's Mom loves Wham and George Michael...his dad does NOT!  So Garrett and Brad always loved to torment him and play Wham's Christmas song "Last Christmas" over and over and over....

A more dangerous area to teach...but big lizards to eat! And LOTS of Pictures!

Hey Family!

So I had transfers this week. I'm now in Soyapango. My actual area is called Paleca 1. I don't have a whole lot of time, but here's a little about my area. I'm super happy because my companion is from Guatemala! They are always my favorite missionaries. So he's super cool. It's still pretty hot here but there are bigger lizards that are pretty cool to see crawling around. The people love to eat them. I'm still looking for my chance to get a big bite of one. There's a sweet lemon tree in our backyard. The only problem with this area is that we have to be in our house by 6:00 p.m.. I don't know why because this area seems to be way more calm then my last area. But if the President feels that way then I guess it's for a reason. This letter is quick so that I can send some pics. I love you and miss you all!

Love Elder Markham

This is from Garrett's first area that he was just transferred from.

Some ooey-gooey chocolate cake made for Garrett by the sweet Zepeda family.  One of his favorite desserts from home!

Garrett, Elder Custodio (trained Garrett) and Elder Golden (trained Elder Custodio)

Garrett's new companion from Guatemala Elder Mansilla

Garrett's new kitchen

Garrett's backyard lemon tree

Garrett's pila...."Yes Mom, we wash our dishes in there"

Garrett has a home gym! He's actually very excited about it since he can now do more than just pushups! I hope he doesn't get a sliver in his hiney!