Zone Conference

Hey Everyone,

     Since Wednesday, its felt like a whole week already filled with all sorts of craziness. Right after I sent the last email, My companion, 2 of the ASL missionaries Elder Alsop and Elder Neilson, and I went to sight-seeing at the Griffith Observatory right up near Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Sign. The trip up there was quite the eye opener, seeing all the fancy million dollar houses and driving down Santa Monica Boulevard. The street was packed with every type of store you can think of. It's an experience that you have to see first hand to describe. Let's just say it was very.....flamboyant....yeah. Anyway. We enjoyed looking out over the city and get a closer look to the Hollywood sign as well. It was also funny as the ASL Elders ran into a  young Jehovah Witness couple who knew ASL as well. It was the nicest conversation I've ever seen between LDS missionaries and JWs, mainly because they were saying a single word. It could have been an argument all that I know...haha.

        Then this Friday.....We had Mission Zone Conference in the Inglewood stake center where Elder Paul V Johnson from the Seventy came to visit. Every single talk that was given was amazing! Sister Baker spoke on the Atonement (the best one I've heard since Elder Holland), President Baker spoke on the Holy Ghost and how missionaries can able to be able to be worthy and attentive to use it in every aspect in missionary work. Lastly Elder Johnson spoke on how we can learn and teach spiritual knowledge. He earned his doctorate in learning development, so he spoke to us on how learning different types of knowledge requires different types of methods. For example, Learning Facts = Memorization, Learning Skills = Practice and Evaluation. Learning spiritual knowledge requires EXPERIENCE. We cannot receive a testimony of any principle of the gospel unless we take action, such prayer, reading, service, etc. It's just an amazing perspective. And While he was speaking, He stopped so he could do a role play practice with a set of missionaries so he could practice the concept of teaching investigators "spiritually" He had a sister pick a random number, which was 77, and he counted 7 benches and then counted 7 missionaries over. Guess who he pointed to? No it wasn't me but yes it was my companion, so in the end yes he pick us. Oh Goodie. We taught Elder Johnson and his wife as investigators who had received the first lesson on the restoration, and we were going to follow up on their commitments if they read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. In this case, they did not read or pray, but they wanted to hear the next lesson. As missionaries, this isn't good, as if we are just teaching them the lessons and not having them keeping their commitments, they are not learning by the spirit, the are just learning facts about the church. The role play was really fun, and went really well. I didn't really realize that I was teaching a General Authority until I sat down back in my chair. I was extremely lucky to have that experience and It's really re-enforced my desire to teach by the spirit.

     Lastly his Saturday, we were able to bring one of our investigators to the Visitors Center. I would tell more, but I have no time. It was a testimony builder and I was great to see how all the exhibits really helped Freddy in understanding the gospel more.

     I hope everyone can try to see to find spiritual knowledge everyday through reading and praying. As it says in 2 Nephi 32:3, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. But in verse 5 it also says the Holy Ghost will show unto you all things what ye should do. What a promise.

Os amo tanto!

Elder Marrott

Amazing Temple Trip

Hey Everyone,

        Sorry that I didn't write this Monday. This week they moved P Day to Wednesday so that we could go to the Temple this Morning. The LA temple is absolutely beautiful! It's just so huge and magnificent in every way. I was just in awe walking into every room. It's definitely one of my favorite place's now. Anyway this week has been so eventful, with the highlight of my week being my birthday. It was by far the most rewarding and memorable birthday I had in a long time. It started with having 3 investigators coming to church this Sunday. It was especially awesome to see Freddy come as he has had some struggles with living the word of wisdom. But we had an extremely spiritual lesson with him and his girlfriend as we committed to set a goals and make plans to abstain from drinking. Since then, he's only wanted to do what's right for him and Maritza. He actually showed up to church 1 hour before the service started, and we didn't have to go with them. After church, We went to visit two of my favorite families, one is Griselda and her kids Connie, Manuel, Daisy, and Little Joey. They surprised me with a bucket of sour gummy worms, a seviche lunch and tres leches cake AAAAAAAAAAAHHH so GOOD! It was so much fun. I recorded a video of them singing happy birthday to me, hopefully I can send it over some day. We also had Dinner with the Sanchez family with their three little girls who are totally obsessed with us. We had even more cake and took a lot of funny photos as well. Man, I've gotten so close with all the members here already, and when I blew out my candles (twice) I wished that I could spend 6 more months in this area. The teaching is going a lot better as we've made more goals and plans to have every time we teach. The investigators that we are working with now are progressing exceedingly Our finding opportunities are skyrocketing as we are working with the referrals we've received. We determined that the only way that we can maintain efficient contact with our investigators is through using members. We've been setting Family Mission Plans with many of the members in our ward and they are really opening up to going to lessons with us and finding ways to do the work. Members are awesome in having us come over all the time for dinner and we always are sharing messages with them. I just love it here. The weather has been perfect and its been a while since its rained. It just amazes me how it is just perfect weather everyday. True and lasting happiness only comes from living the gospel, especially as we help others live it as well. I know service is the best way to show your love to the lord and your fellow man (Mosiah 2:17) Always remember that God has a plan for you and you are never forgotten. Make sure that your friends and neighbors know this as well.

Os amo tanto!

Elder Marrott

Golden Investigators, All in One Apartment!

Hey Everyone,

      One thing that I've clearly noticed here on the mission is that days are like weeks and weeks are like days. It's really hard to watch time go by as my mission progresses. Anyway this week was filled with surprises

     This past Monday, Violeta (our recent convert) and her husband Sergio took us out to In n' Out for dinner. The whole time while we were there I felt like I should be in the back kitchen cutting potatoes. The burger was great, but I can say from the bottom of my heart (more like stomach) that Five Guys is truly the best burger joint, and I cannot deny it. I'm going to trying to convert Violeta and her family the truth as they have been blinded by the fancy logo and the Californian touch of In 'n Out. Also the fries were disappointing.

     ANYWAY (with things pertaining to missionary work). We've finally made some real progress with our group of investigators Enrique, Freddy and Oscar. They all live the same apartment complex, but it really is like a dormitory hall. We found them through a referral from the ward mission leader in another ward outside our stake. His name is Bishop Madrid, also known as one of the 3 Nephites because his amazing missionary capacity. He's the owner of the old run-down apartment that our investigators live in. One of the new residents, Maritza, a less active member, talked with Bishop Madrid and said that she wanted to introduce her boyfriend Freddy, Enrique, and Oscar to the missionaries.    Bishop Madrid gave us a key to get into the building under the conditions that we at least baptize everyone who lives there.....yep....And the great thing is that all 3 of them have the desire to be baptized and 2 of them understands what it means. The other, Oscar, is usually drunk most of the time, and we are praying that he can stop so he can remember and apply what we teach him. With Freddy and Enrique, they have really opened up and truly shown to us their desire to repent as we have taught them the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. They shared with us some of their past experiences and expressed their desire to be rid of their guilt with using drugs and other things. On Saturday, we were able to get the permission from both of them to toss out all the substances and items that would tempt them to fall back into their old habits. We also gave them both blessings so that they could have faith to overcome their addictions. We are hoping Freddy will be committed to living the law of Chastity and find a way to get married soon so that he can get baptized. But wow, It crazy how much they love us. They are GOLDEN investigators, and I have loved seeing the changes they are making to come closer to Christ. Enrique, Freddy and Maritza all came to sacrament meeting for the first time. The members were great with befriending them. Miraculously, one of the recent converts Javier is good friends with Enrique as they both work in the restaurant business. Small World! It’s been great how everything has been working out for them. They have truly desired to prepare themselves to stand before God with pure hands and clean hands, and have the image of God engraven on their countenances. (Alma 5:19) I hope you all can find the joys that come from understanding and living by the plan that God has given us, it will bring the most peace and happiness that can be offered in the life and in the one to come

Os amo tanto!

Elder Marrott

FAMILY

Kurt I hope that you are able to get accepted in the animation program. I'll pray for you.

I got the Bible thank you.

Thanks for the Birthday wishes, it will be a great one!

 I'd love to get a copy of the Stake missionary newsletter

THANKS

Week 17, in Sum

Hey Everyone,

       I don't have much time, so I'll give a quick summary. This week again started off really tough, but the rewards always come at the end. Elder Cressman and I are getting along together great, but it has been hard to adapt to each other’s ways of teaching. My teaching really focuses on sharing doctrine, and Elder Cressman tries to teach according to what the investigators want to hear. We had a couple shaky lessons, but now we understand how each work and I going to get a lot better. Also, one of our investigator families that week found last transfer dropped us last week. Patricia decided to go with her friend to her church last Sunday and she felt more comfortable there. I we've regretted not getting members more active in our teaching with them, but we feel there's a chance that she might come back. We have hope! But this weekend was fantastic! We went to Violeta's and Sergio's wedding on Sunday as Bishop Vargas performed the ceremony in their backyard. It was beautiful! Then on Sunday..man.. it was the most stressful Sunday of my life as we were planning for Violeta's baptism. Making programs and following up with speakers and other people participating, while we were coordinating rides for investigators to get to church. I also had the privilege to ordain Violeta's son Kevin to the office of a priest as he was going to baptize his Mom later that night. Wow! I was mentally and spiritually drained by 12:00, but the baptism still had happened yet. But in the end it was great. I got to see Elder Ditton again, Kevin performed the baptism correctly, My companions and I sang Grande eres Tu!, and Violeta bore an amazing testimony. It was so worth the work. I have had a true change of heart this week and I am excited to have more experiences just like yesterday. I will never forget it. Everyone stay safe and healthy. I know that Christ lives and loves us all.

Os amo tanto!

Elder Marrott

Week 16!

Hey Everyone,

         This week has been a roller coaster, but in the end, it has been a great blessing. Wednesday was transfers, and my trainer Elder Ditton left to another area after spending 6 months . You can imagine how I felt to know that I'd be leading an area just after one transfer in the mission. It was pretty hard to sleep that night. But it's all worked out. My new companion, Elder Cressman, is super awesome and super ambitious to help the area here in Lawndale. He's from Spanish Fork and has been here since December. He's Spanish is great and easily gets along with everyone we have met. Before he came, we was on BYU's track team as a high jumper, so it been fun talking about our experiences. Also Elder Cressman said that his dad served in Madrid Spain......hey wait so did my Dad. He said he served from 1981-83, the same time as Dad. Does the name Elder Dale Cressman sound familiar, Dad? Anyway, we are getting along great, but It's been difficult determining what to plan for the day especially because we no longer have a car. We've struggled a little bit on getting on time to appointments, but it's getting better. This week is exciting as we will be planning for Violeta's baptism, it will be a new experience for me, and I'm looking forward to it. She's been waiting a long time, at least 12 years, for her baptism as she's been trying to get divorced to her husband in Guatemala, so she get married to Sergio. After talking with the Stake President and President, they found out that if she has been separated from her husband for at least 10 years, she's permitted to marry another man legally in America. So she's going to be married on Friday and baptized by her 16 year old son Kevin on Sunday. It's a great miracle, and I'm just lucky to be here to witness it. We are also making a lot of progress with a group of investigators that live in the same apartment complex. We found them through a member in another ward that owns the apartment building. Long story short, we've found 3 investigators who want to get baptized. There's one guy especially, Enrique, who just understands everything we teach and understands the concept of receiving personal revelation. He knows that he needs to receive answer about the Book of Mormon directly from God through reading and praying. He's Golden! Anyway, we've made arrangements to teach the lessons to them individually, and come together every Saturday to read from the Book of Mormon. AHHH! I love it! I know that if we do our best to share the gospel, I know the the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to hear the gospel. I love the scripture in Matthew 16 where it says, " Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" I can testify that if we give ourselves  up to Him, we shall be given more than we can imagine. 

Os amo tanto!

Elder Marrott       

Poor Elder Marrott Got Sick, but He's Better Now!

Hey Everyone,

        This has been a very interesting week full of unexpected twist and turns, but in the end has been very rewarding. Well, from the second that I send my last e-mail, I started feeling queasy as we were leaving the library. Because the bathroom was occupied, I ended up throwing up my breakfast in the parking lot. Thinking that it was just a spontaneous reaction, Elder Ditton and I went to visit around Redondo Beach, but not on the beach however (really pretty area). By the time we headed back to the apartment and got all our errands done, my insides just imploded and became really sick.  The Zone Leaders and my companion gave me a blessing around Monday afternoon, and I was in bed the rest of the day. From 1:00 pm Monday to Tuesday Morning, I was basically throwing up every 15 minutes. I did my best to stay hydrated with water, but nothing stayed down. Tuesday Morning, My companion had Missionary Leadership Training, and I just went along with him, so I could just sleep in the foyer. It was quite the scene having President Baker come up to me wearing my pjs. He understood, and I was completely feeling better by Wednesday. Some other notable moments included a 2 hour lesson on the Plan of Salvation with two of our new investigators Patricia and her 15 year old son William. They are from Colombia and I loved having us over the first time when we tracked their apartment last week. They had some legitimate questions about Adam and Eve that we answered pretty well and the committed to coming to church. It took some work to get them there but they were able to see half of sacrament meeting and last 2 hours as well. They really enjoyed it and will see them again on Friday.

It's great to hear that Aubrie is a missionary again! She will be so blessed for her efforts to get back into the field! Make sure to send me her emails over to me, and her address as well.

The Mission is hard, but very rewarding in the end. God's work cannot be stopped (D&C 3). If you get the chance to read Alma 48? about Moroni and the Title of Liberty, it has truly opened my eyes to how we need to stand up for what we believe in, especially in days like today.

Os amo tanto!

Elder Marrott