EMAIL: WEEK 11 - Faith, Food and Fun (and more food:)

WRITTEN 10/10/16

 On Monday we went to the park and we played football all day. It was ok. I don't like football that much so I just kinda played a little and then watched a little. We had two zones there and a lot of people showed up so it was fun to see them all. The park is super nice! Way big and there's even a pond! It made me want to go fishing! I kept on looking and pointing out fish in the water and my companion thought there was something wrong with me😂

Tuesday we had zone meeting which was in Englewood (like 40min away) and it was awesome. President Taggart and sister Taggart were there and they gave us some awesome trainings and things to practice. The group that came with me in the beginning of September was a lucky group because we had all the big meetings and trainings in this transfer (our first) sister Taggart said this was the first time she's ever seen this before. She said that that we are going to be the best missionaries that she's ever seen because we are going to have these trainings right off the bat. We've had meeting after meeting every week and they are all like a hour away but now that we are done with big meetings for a while (zone meeting is in January) we can really get to work!

Wednesday we got up and went to this philipino bakery around the corner and got some donuts for comp study, let's just say they were way good! Remember K.C. Donuts? I think they were philipino because this place is super similar.

We also did a table stand, It was pretty cool. When we find somewhere where there's lots of foot traffic we get a lot of people that stop by and see what we are all about. And we also get those peoples info that want to know more so we can stop by one day and tell them more about how awesome our church is and how it's different than all the rest. On our way home we saw this super cool suburban haha. I had to get a video of it.

There is also tons of really cool art around jersey city, on the buildings and such.

Thursday we had service at the Salvation Army and we had weekly planing which takes anywhere from 3-4 hours to do so that was most our day. We met with one of our investigators that night and she has two children that were baptized like 7 years ago and she's been having the missionary lessons forever. We've been trying to figure out why she wast baptized, she said she knew all of it was true but she wants to be baptized in the river Jordan😬 so that's been kind of a curveball but we are trying to teach her that her salvation can't wait. We told her that if she would die tomorrow she wouldn't be able to be with her two children because she hasn't been baptized, sooo we asked her to think of a date to be baptized so we are waiting.

Friday we had to go to the doctor to get some blood work done for my companion and that didn't take very long but then we went to do some service at the Hoboken homeless shelter. We prepare food and serve the homeless for lunch. It's pretty fun but sometimes it's really hard to see those people who take advantage of these opportunities. People that can provide for themselves but yet they still depend on the shelter for everything else. But I'm still willing to serve even when it's hard. Like it says in the scriptures "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

After service we (and the other elders that were there with us. Elder Garfield and Elder Merritt.) went to Jonny rockets for lunch. We spoiled ourselves with some big juicy burgers haha!

Later that day we met with a recent convert and she's Peruvian. Super cool lady, talks a lot! She got us two dominos pizzaz. Anyways you know what happened to those. We've been trying to get her to do family history but she's afraid that if she asks her extended family for names that they'll all get offended and stingy. All of her extended fam is catholic and they don't really like her decision to be baptized into the Mormon church. Sooo we are gonna see if she'll go to the temple to do proxy baptisms.

(FYI. Family history for Hispanics is nearly impossible because they rarely use there really name and they have like four last names and every once and a while they'll just decide to drop on of the names. Or the rest of the family only knows them by a nickname and what not. So yeah it's hard)

Right after that we went to a Dominican lady's apartment, her name is Brania. She's a member but just inactive. We see her once a week. She always makes us SO MUCH FOOD! And it's really good food and she usually makes us eat all of it, but we were so full from the pizza before that she just packed it up and sent us home with it. So that's what we've been eating for leftovers haha.

Saturday we helped a member move out of an apartment. It's only her and her son (came back early from a mission in Guatemala), and the father was deported about 4 years ago so it's kind of a tough situation. She's trying to find more work but hasn't found any luck yet:/

We also went knocking some apartments. It's not too efficient. It's kinda hard because all the Hispanics are scattered, there isn't one area where they live so we are trying to find some more. Some of the apartments are so small! The ceilings short and the doors are tiny!

Man this week I've really felt how blessed I am to have such an amazing family and friends back home in st George. Here there could be four families to a single apartment (specifically Hispanics are known for this) which is crazy! So glad that back home my dad works hard to provide for every need of the family. He's setting a good example to me. I want to work hard so that one day I can provide enough for my family to have a house and not have to cram in a apartment.

It also rained all day. It's starting to look so pretty around here! All the leaves are falling and changing colors. It's starting to get chilly! It's been it the low 60s this past week and pretty windy.

Sunday was awesome. We went to church but during church there were two guys who just walked if from off the street. They stayed for sacrament and then after we talked to them a little bit and gave them a Book of Mormon and got their info so we can stop by so that's awesome. They just want change in their lives and they felt something really good during sacrament meeting so hopefully they come again.

Today I made some French toast, it was bomb!

And then we went shopping at Walmart and went to sams club for lunch and now we are at the chapel just hangin out. There was this cool truck at sams club, I had to take a picture of it.

Well I'm doing great! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! Love you guys!

EMAIL: WEEK 10 - District Meeting & Human Hungry Hippos

Well this week was full of lots of stuff!

Monday was pday as usual and we went shopping, went to Sam's club for lunch and then went to go play basketball at the church for the rest of the day.

Tuesday was way fun! We had our last district meeting of this transfer (which is weird because we would usually have one every week for six weeks but the one tomorrow is zone conference so multiple zones meet together). It was really good, we did a bunch of trainings and role plays to help us with the work. We also talked about love, love like Christ's. We need to have love for every person no matter what they look like, who they are, or how the treat us, we need to love everyone. Our senior missionaries set up this activity for the whole zone (the whole zone has district meetings on the same day, in the same building, but in different rooms) to do after the meetings. We played human-sized hungry hippos 😂

It got crazy!

We also went to go help a member move a Piano into his new apartment. It sucked. The apartment he was moving out of was the first apartment on the first floor but the one he was moving into was up a flight of stairs (which was about the width of my shoulders). Anyways we couldn't get it up the stairs but I did manage to wreck my arms😂

Wednesday we went up to Morristown for our 3 week "see how we are doing" meeting and it was good but long. It's so pretty up there, so many trees and nature. It reminds me of st George.

 President Taggart and Sister Taggart talked about how to manage stress for all the new missionaries. I got to see some of my buddies from the MTC, we talked about how different our areas were and such. It sounds like elder _____ is still having a pretty hard time but we talked about it and hope it will start to turn around.

We had this awesome lunch and then after we stopped by the mission office to get a couple Arabic Book of Mormons for some other elders. While I was there I got my mail! I got Wallys painting! I could just see him on the sitting around the kitchen table painting that😂I got a package from Scott, Holly and the kids and Mishawn:) Now I have SO MUCH FOOD! haha both of the packages were packed full of food! Oh and the decorating was really good!

Package from loved ones

Wednesday night we had a dinner appointment with this super awesome family! It's a part member family. The Dad/boyfriend is not a member. He has the greatest testimony though and knows the gospel is true, he comes to church every Sunday! He just can't baptized yet because he's waiting on legal stuff (previously married and trying to get divorcement papers finished) so he can marry and be baptized. Kinda a hard situation to deal with but he is super sweet and the whole fam is super nice. They have 5 kids (all from her previous marriage) and they are just the sweetest. She always makes so much food for us and it is always sooo gooood!

Thursday was our service day! We got up in the morning and started our studies and we noticed there were a lot of fire trucks and ambulances passing by our apartment and we were wondering what happened. It turns out there was a pretty big train wreck in Hoboken which is pretty close to us (10min drive) but luckily no missionaries were on board so that's good. God watches over his children!

We went to pick up the elders (the elders in our area that don't have a car) for service after our studies and we went to Greenville! Greenville is probably the most hood area I've ever seen but then again I haven't been to a whole lot of places😂 We do our service at the Salvation Amy store.

After service we get sandwiches at a little corner store 

Friday we pretty much helped a member all day. All they had was a old mini van and we  just kept on taking trips back and forth with all there stuff. We prob took like 13-15 trips that day and then we had to go to some appointments. 

Saturday and Sunday were awesome! We did our studies in the morning and then went to the chapel for conference. Conference was sooo good! One of my favorite talks was by Elder Oaks, he talked about missionary work and it was so awesome! Every session was really good. We had an investigator come to both of the sessions on Sunday and we got to come by later that night and talk with them about how they felt about it. They really liked it!

Well another week has flown by and it keeps getting better and better! The hardest thing lately is finding people that are prepared to listen to our message. We've had to drop a lot of people this week and we are almost having to start from scratch but that's ok cause setbacks are necessary for growth and we are working harder and harder everyday.

EMAIL: Questions about Facebook?

I have been able to volley in email just a bit with Evan on most of his Pdays. I was able to ask him some questions  about how Facebook is used, if it is hard for him to see friends and family and if it presents a temptation for him. This was his reply. Made my heart nearly burst. 

"It would be distracting but with the training I have received I know how and when to use it. On Wednesday we had specialized training (I only go twice my first 3 months) and we had a surprise iPad audit which means that our mission president looks over our iPads to see if we have been using it in the ways we are supposed to. He looks at our facebook, photos, email, IMessage, Skype, internet, notes and basically the whole thing to make sure we are being focused and dignified in our work. My mission Pres said that I have been using my iPad in just the right way that the prophet and apostles would want me to use it. He said that I'm using my time wisely (he can see how much time I spend on email, Facebook... so on) So that's good. Something I do before I get on my iPad is pray and ask for the spirit to guide me and I make sure my companion watches everything I do. 

When I get on and see pictures of fam and friends it just helps me. It helps me knowing what's going on at home and just seeing pictures makes my heart get warm and fuzzy and gives me motivation. I miss my family but I don't get homesick. I miss home but it doesn't distract from the work or my physical, mental, or spiritual state. I give myself 3 min a day to think about family. One in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one before I go to bed."

Love you, 

Elder Marz;)

EMAIL: WEEK 9 - Pizza & Exchanges

Written - September 26, 2016 at 1:36pm

(Partially edited)

Hey Mama,

This week has been good, just as fast as last week! It's crazy how fast time flies!

Been trying to get to know all the members and less actives but it's been really hard! The Hispanics here have a really hard time with setting a "specific" time and date when the missionaries can come by but we've been able to still find people to teach.

The area is nice. There are some sketchy areas but we don't go into them often.

We've been fed quite a bit from the members, they are super nice. I got my haircut done by one of the members that was nice. The food from the members is way good! I've had all sorts of food from different places. Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Salvadoran, Mexican, all sorts! But I'd have to say that Peruvian food is the spiciest! One day this past week we went to this really cool pizza place and the slices were HUGE!

we are trying to go try some more local restaurants around here just so we can get a feel of the type of food here in jersey, so far there're tons!

I'm so exited for conference! Our whole weekend is going to be constant so awesome! It's so nice to hear from our prophet and apostles! I can't wait to be spiritually fed! Each day I get spiritually fed but being able to listen to general conference is a whole other thing!

I went on exchange with my district leader Elder Garfield. We went to this area of Jersey city called The Heights and it's a English area. I stayed a night and two days with him and it was so weird teaching in English cause I haven't taught in English for a while now and I kept on forgetting the English words haha but it was also really nice jut to take a small break from Spanish

.

My companion is having a hard time this week so we are trying to pick up momentum. 

I'm learning and using more and more Spanish so that's good!

The weather here is so nice! The high yesterday was 70! The leaves are starting to change and we are getting a little rain  and cloudy days here and there so that's nice. And the sunsets are so pretty! Reminds me of home! Last Monday I went to tjmaxx and bought two more pairs of pants and a light rain jacket so that's been helpful.

Hey remember how I had 43 dollars in quarters? Well I brought those and I had no idea why, at the time it was just extra weight. But it turns out that I was suppose to bring them! There are tons of toll roads here and parking meters, and for our laundry machines so those quarters were nice to have haha.

 That's awesome that Craig and Jody got to come down though! I would have loved to have some of those cream puffs!

Well I'm doing great! It's getting better and better everyday! My testimony is growing everyday!

Please send me more pics throughout the week, I love to see them!

Love, 

Elder Marz;)

3 Nephi 13:31-33

"31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

"31 No os afanéis, pues, diciendo: ¿Qué comeremos o qué beberemos, o con qué nos hemos de vestir?

32 Porque vuestro Padre Celestial sabe que tenéis necesidad de todas estas cosas.

33 Mas buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia, y todas estas cosas os serán añadidas."

EMAIL : WEEK 8 - Facebook and Poem

Wrote 9/19/16 (No pictures this week. But was able to volley just a bit:) Slightly edited/combined letters)

Hey fam!

This week has been good! It's been raining a lot!

Been talking with lots and lots of people! Most of the ward is inactive so we've been trying to meet all the members this week and try and get them to church. Yeah I've gotten my training on the whole facebook thing. But the new facebook thing is way cool. My mission is one of fifteen missions (of the 460ish) that have "online proselyting"! It's such a great opportunity to be able to give our investigators "daily bread" and be able to further there faith every single day even if we just see them once a week in person. We use it as another way to have contact with the members, less actives, and our investigators. I'm able to see pictures of friends and family I just can't communicate with fam.  

I had training on Friday up in Morristown which is about a hour away and it started at 9:30 and went to 3:30. Well we decided to get a bunch of elders together to play basketball at the chapel at 6 soooo we got up at 4:30 and got ready for the day and we went and played ball. Let's just say it was a very long and hard day haha!

So I got the package of Mac n cheese and gummy bears! Thank you! What blanket were you going to send?

Could you send me one of my blender bottles? And maybe any of the leftover protein powder that's left in the pantry? oh and send me some of those eco drinks! The water here is kinda gross so it's nice to have something else. I'd tell you to send some pre workout but I won't haha. There's this poem that my friend shared with me while I was in the MTC and I really really like it a lot. It talks about enduring to he end and missionary work, I read this anytime I need a "pick up".

"I'd been in that hole for a very long time-

In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.

The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear,

But there's no way I ever could reach it from here.

Nor could I remember the world way up there,

So I lost all my hope and gave into despair.

I knew nothing but darkness, the floors, and the walls,

When from off in the distance I heard someone call,

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter!

Take rocks and take sticks and build up a fine ladder."

This had never occurred to me, had not crossed my mind,

So I started to stack all the stones I could find.

When I ran out of stones, the old sticks were my goal,

For some way or another I'd get out of that hole.

So I soon had a ladder that was really quite tall,

And I thought "I'll soon leave this place once and for all!"

Then I climbed up my ladder, it was no easy chore -

For from lifting those boulders my shoulders were sore.

So I worked and I climbed and at last had to stop,

For my ladder stopped short - some ten feet from the top.

I climbed back down the ladder and felt all around,

But there were no more boulder nor sticks to be found.

I went back to my ladder and started to cry.

I'd done all I could do; I gave my best try.

But in spite of my work, in this hole I must die,

And all I could do was to sit and think, "Why?"

Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much too deep?

Then from way up on high came a voice: "Do not weep."

And then hope, love, and faith entered my chest,

As the voice said to me that I'd done my best.

He said, "Nothing's the matter. There's reason to hope.

Just climb up your ladder; I'll throw down my rope.

You have worked very hard, and your labor's been rough,

But the ladder you've built is at last tall enough."

I climbed up the ladder, then climbed up the cord.

When I stood at the top, there stood the Lord.

I've never been happier; my struggle was done.

I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son.

I fell to the ground; his feet did I kiss.

I cried, "What can I do to repay they for this?"

He looked all around Him- there were holes in the ground.

They had people inside, and were seen all around.

There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep.

Then the Lord turned to me and He said, "Feed my sheep."

Then He went on His way to help other lost souls.

And I got right to work, calling down to the holes,

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter!

Take rocks and take sticks and build up a fine ladder!"

It now was my turn to spread the good word.

The most glorious message that man ever heard.

That there's One who is willing to save one and all,

And we've got to be ready when He gives us the call.

He'll pull us out of the hole that we're in,

And save our souls from death and from sin.

So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope:

Just build up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope."

OH AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY TO SAM!

But I'm doing great here! Each day keeps on getting better and better!

Me and my comp are getting along really well and we are getting lots and lots done!

Love you guys!

Elder Marz

3 Nephi 5:13

"13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

"13 He aquí, soy discípulo de Jesucristo, el Hijo de Dios. He sido llamado por él para declarar su palabra entre los de su pueblo, a fin de que alcancen la vida sempiterna."

EMAIL: WEEK 7 - Jersey City, Fearbuster & Thriving

On Sep 12, 2016, at 10:50 AM, Evan John Marz <evan.marz@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Elder Marz and his new companion Elder Jordan

Hey Mama

Fist things first! New Jersey is so cool! The flights were long, the fist flight we were all together (Elder Davis kept falling asleep on me) for the most part but on the second flight we all sat away from each other and we got to place 2 Book of Mormons.

 I got here last week and my first day was a little hazy, you know a little jet lag a little trying to comprehend that I'm actually in NJ now, it's so crazy!

When we got there we went to downtown Newark and we did a "Fearbuster", each of us went street contacting with another elder. It was freaky (cause I was fresh out of the MTC and my Spanish is really rusty) but it was fun. That night we hung out at the mission home. Pres and sister Taggart are so awesome and so sweet. They really love each missionary and want to help each and every one of us. She made us a huge feast! All the kids that came from Mexico just went to town on that food! It was sooo good! We each had interviews with the Pres just to get to know us. We stayed the night and the next morning we had some training about the cars (me and my companion have a car in our area) and some other stuff. And then Pres took us in the gym and we separated the greenies and then started callin out names.

"Fearbuster" in Newark

My companions name is Elder Jordan he's pretty cool. He's from Oregon and has been in the mission for a year and a half. We got assigned the Jersey city area and specifically Journal square (we were doubled out which means that the two missionaries there got replaced with us).  So far the area is awesome! So many people! Lots and lots of different cultures! Most of the people here are pretty nice.

We live in a good part of town (I think haha), it stays pretty calm for the most part. We've been walking around in a few hood places with just a few crazy things but that's about it.

I think you can send stuff to my apartment. We usually see packages in the first room by the mail boxes (the front door is always locked and you need a key to get in so I think it's safe). 

I haven't gotten anything yet but if you do send anything to the mission home then I'll have to wait a week or to to get it from them.

Sooo I've got an iPad now. And it's been so inspired to use technology to hasten the work. We can do skype calls with investigators if we can't stop by there house and if we are given the opportunity to use social media (Facebook). In a week or two ill be on Facebook, I just have to finish my training first. We are able to supply our investigators "daily bread", inspirational videos or talks or other things to further their faith. We can also do group chat room lessons which is really cool! We have a phone as well that we just use to contact people and our zone leaders and district leaders.

My Spanish is coming along nicely. Pres Taggart says not to stress about the language for the first 90 days so I'm not, I'm using more and more everyday. And getting better and better!

We have 6 investigators and 3 with a baptismal date. And we are constantly meeting more and more people who are prepared and ready to listen and accept our message. The people here have been prepared. On Thursday we did a table stand for about a hour and one guy came up and told us that this is the message he's been looking for. He's been looking for something to further his faith in Christ. We gave him a copy of of every pamphlet we had and a BOM and we gave him our number. Super cool guy

Well I'm doing so good here, just thriving and thriving. I love meeting new people, every person has a different story and I love that. I also love that every day is a new day, if I have a bad day I can just put one foot in front of the other and now that tomorrow will be better!

Love you all!

Estoy fantástico!😊👍

With lots of love!

Elder Marz

(2 Nephi 31:20)

"20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

"20 Por tanto, debéis seguir adelante con firmeza en Cristo, teniendo un fulgor perfecto de esperanza y amor por Dios y por todos los hombres. Por tanto, si marcháis adelante, deleitándoos en la palabra de Cristo, y perseveráis hasta el fin, he aquí, así dice el Padre: Tendréis la vida eterna."

FYI: I can receive/read emails throughout the week but I cant email you back till pday, would love to hear from you guys. Send me pictures, thoughts, questions, concerns, anything!😊

EMAIL: WEEK 6 - First Day in Jersey

9/5/16

Hey Everyone! I made it to Jersey safe and sound! Its been a really long day, we had to leave the MTC at 1am this morning and we got to Jersey a little after 4pm. Its so cool to be here, its so cool to see New York. We flew into Newark and now we are at the mission house in Mendham. Tomorrow we get our companions. When we got here we got started and got to contacting on the street, it was kinda freaky haha. 

Well I thought Id let you all know that im doing great! 

Love you all!

Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts!

Elder Marz

Talk to you next monday!