Elder Marx

serving in Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission

Scotty reached his year mark last week, June 11th. This year has just blown by. Last week's letter by far has been my favorite from him.

Dear mother,

Well I guess every thing has to come full circle. Sometime a year ago today I was sitting in the airport and a nice man saw my tag and took me to get an ice cream. He was flying to Texas for business and he was a member from Alaska. We had an interesting talk about the weather, my family, and what the next two years would be like learning a language and teaching people about the Lords true gospel here on the earth today.

Looking back on the year, I must say that it has been a ride. From the ctm till now has been a rush of excitement with ups and downs, happy moments and sad letdowns, but through it all I’ve gotten stronger in the faith and closer to my Father in heaven and His Only Begotten. I can tell you with a whole heart that this church is true. That our God is a god of miracles. Sitting in that airport a year ago, I didn’t know that, I had a hope of that. I can now say that that hope has grown into faith. In the 3rd chapter of 1st Nephi there’s a promise that almost every buddy in the whole church knows that is the Lord never gives us a commandment except before providing a way (or method). Last night I realized as I was giving a message at an *integration night. That I came, I’m completing a commandment of the Lord that every young man from 19 to 26 needs to serve a mission, I’m doing my best and the Lord is providing the way -- and in my case the Lord gave my specific assignment in Portuguese. He is providing a way and is blessing me and my companion for our efforts. I can say with a firm belief that our God is a god of miracles.

The area is good. My comp isn’t too happy with me ‘cause I marked an appointment at 10 this morning and its p-day, so he isn’t too happy. He also isn’t happy that I insist on using the internet here at the chapel cause there’s only one cpu that works and will have to take 3 hours not 1 and a half (if we were to go to a internet cafe). But here the cpu are free and its faster and I don’t have to wait if there are a lot of people and there’s air conditioning in the room here so it’s way better.

So far every brasilian comp I’ve had has always told me that I’m the worst American when it comes to money. That I have a "gringo card" (as they call it) or in other words, a card that my parents give me money on. The thing is, yea, I get a little money but I’m not going to go spend it if I don’t have to, or if I don’t want to, or if there’s internet for FREE! but whatever. I’m just careful with my money that’s all.

We are teaching a good group of people that I have faith will get baptized. Nothing too important on the news here in the mission. Everything is good here in the promised land. I love you all and hope you all have a good week until week 53 HAHAHAHA CRAZY!!

Love the one and only Elder Marx

*integration night is when they have a game a message and people from the branch come and integrate with our investigators

I know has I read it, his testimony has strengthened and he has grown so much spiritually. Missions do amazing things. They change the lives of those serving and the people they come in contact with.

I'm grateful to those that choose to sacrifice two years of their life, living away from family and mostly out of their comfort zone to preach the gospel.

At Sunday dinner, Pete told us this story (and I hope I get the details right) but it's amazing to think of his life and how missionaries changed it forever. The youth in the stake were in Salt Lake for youth conference this last weekend and a group going into the Joesph Smith movie saw an older couple outside the temple and offered to take a picture of them. The husband saw the shirts the youth were wearing that said Las Vegas and asked them if they knew Peter Shields from Las Vegas and they said yes, he's our stake president - we're on this youth conference trip, etc. They talked and the man said I am the missionary that baptized your stake president in Australia when he was 8 years old. The couple continued to tell the group they had just spent some time in the MTC and were headed out on a mission to serve in the Manila Philippines temple.

What a coincidence for this man to see the fruits of his labors from his FIRST mission just as he's leaving on his SECOND. A little boy he baptized in Australia 44 years ago has grown up, served a mission himself, gotten married in the temple, had five children in the covenant, and sent two sons thus far on missions, and has had two children married in the temple. Missions change lives and being married into this wonderful family - I've seen it first hand.

I'm grateful for missionary work. It really does change lives.