Hey, Hey, Hey!

So, I'll go ahead and tell ya the news.  Transfers are tomorrow.  I GET TO STAY IN PARK CITY!!!!!  I'm so happy about that.  We don't know where Sister Villoso is being transferred to.  It's sad because we only got to be companions for 4 weeks.  We found that out this morning from our Zone Leaders.  Last night just as we were closing up shop at the Family Tree Center, President Eberhardt called me.  He said, Sister Marlow we'd like to ask you to be a trainer.  Can you do that for me?  My heart was pounding and I answered him yes sir.  He said he knows that I'll do great.  I'm so glad to have the faith and encouragement of the mission president.  And the phone call was over.  I was in so much shock.  I couldn't believe it.  I'M TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY.  I just kept saying it over and over.  I'm training, I'm training.  I was literally freaking out.  AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do it.  HELP!!!!  I'm so nervous and excited and anxious and all of the above!  But last night when I was on my knees I told Heavenly Father that I can't do this.  I am so weak and inadequate to be a trainer.  But I told Him.  Father, I know I can only do this through you.  Please help me to be able to do this.  I know with Him that I can do this.  And in my studies this morning I am in Ether 12.  And guess what I read?  

Ether 12:27

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

I got a little teary-eyed.  I had an interview with my district leader last Thursday and he told me the same thing.  Because he told me that there are very few missionaries that have been out for about a year.  And that the Lord needs the more experienced missionaries to help this mission.  And that I'm going to be a leader in the mission.  I told him I wasn't ready, and I didn't know that I could do it.  He just said Ether 12:27.  

I love this scripture.  It explains why the Lord gives us weakness.  So that we are humble.  To remember who it is that gave us life and everything that we have.  To remember who it is that we need in our lives to make life worth living.  But even though we do have weaknesses, HIS grace is sufficient for all of us.  But we first have to humble ourselves and recognize that we can't do it alone.  So we have to be humble and have faith.  Something that is taught so much in Ether 12.  And I know that is something that I struggle with.  To have faith.  The faith that leads to miracles.  But the Lord promises us in Ether 12:27 that He will make our weak things become strong.  I know He cares for all of us.  And we are human.  We struggle with life.  We have temptations and weaknesses.  But the Lord is aware of them.  But as we look to Him, He can make them and us, strong.  I know that for sure.  

This is going to be such an adventure these next couple of transfers.  Please pray for me and for my new companion!  I feel like this is going to be a make it or break it time for my mission.  It's either sit down and complain, or get up and rely on the Lord to keep you going.  I know this is going to be a big test for me.  But this is HIS work.  I know it is.  

Another cool experience.  We were having dinner last night at a member's home, and they fed us salmon and tilipia.  And guess what?  I ate it.  And it wasn't pretty bad.  But that wasn't the cool experience.  Another guy from the ward, who is preparing for a mission came over for dessert and they were all talking about a guy his age that he's worried about, because when he leaves for his mission he's afraid that his friend will stop going to church.  We all were talking and I got this really strong impression to ask if his friend has received his patriarchal blessing.  The Spirit was like nagging me to ask.  And so I did.  And he said that his friend hadn't.  But that he'll talk to him about it.  He was really grateful that we were there to talk to him about his friend and he asked us to pray for him too.  We said we would.  It's amazing how the Spirit works through us.  Those simple tiny promptings, and you gotta listen and just do it.      

Also, cool thing!  We get to go to the Pioneer Day parade in Salt Lake City!  Pretty exciting!  That will be fun!  I remember going with Bethany a couple of years ago!  Oh, hey!  Ashley Sloan (I don't remember her married name!) came into the Family Tree Center on Saturday with her husband, Bryan.  It was so much fun to see her!  She is so amazing!  I hate that I had to end the visit short.  We were having an emergency district meeting.  It was so fun to see her!  Love you so much!  I'll talk to ya next week!

Love,

Sister Marlow ;)

Hey Family,

So I almost died of sleep exhaustion.  I'm still recovering.  I'll explain what I mean by that.  

Wednesday I went to the doctor because I had a horrible sore throat!  And nothing was wrong with me!  So they say.  But I beg to disagree.  So we went back to work our shift at the Family Tree Center.  Then later that evening another sister missionary, Sister Singh was feeling really sick.  And she had been sick for over a week.  And she collapsed on the couch and we thought she had passed out.  So the senior couple that was working that night said we were taking her to the doctor.  They told me to get the jeep.  So I drove her to the doctor with the senior couple in the back.  They took her back and said they think she is dehydrated.  But that we would need to go to the hospital for more blood tests.  So I pulled the jeep around again and we went to the ER.  Only me and Sister Robinson (the senior missionary) could go back to the room with her.  They put her on IV fluids and gave her med for her headache.  She indeed was dehydrated.  They have her 3 bags of IVs, I think a bag is about a liter?  So we ended up going on an emergency exchange that night.  Which our zone leaders didn't like, but oh well.  The senior couple went home and our visitors' center director, Elder Jerman stayed with us at the hospital until they released her.  Which was about 11:30pm.  I was so tired!  So then we stayed at the Family Tree Center.  I wasn't in bed until about 12:30am and I know I didn't fall asleep until 2am or so.  Then the zone leaders were texting me at like 6:20am wanting to know the status of Sister Singh.  I got like no sleep!  

Oh, but it gets so much better.  I go to take a shower in one of the other bathrooms, so I don't wake Sister Singh.  Well, I close the bathroom door and I pushed the lock in.  And the lock got stuck in the door knob.  I was like, OH SNAP!  And Sister Marlow was locked in the bathroom.  First thing I do is get on my knees and PRAY!  And I tried again to get the door unlocked.  After awhile, I got on my knees again and prayed a little more specifically.  That the Lord would give me the knowledge of how to get the door unlocked.  I ended my prayer and I looked over, the Lord has already given me the help that I needed.  Before I went into the bathroom I brought the cell phone with me just in case someone would call wondering about Sister Singh.  I know now that the Spirit prompted me to take the cell phone with me.  And it was such a subtle prompting.  But that is how the Holy Ghost works.  Quietly and softly.  That we have to be so in tune that we might miss what the Spirit is trying to tell us.   So I called up Elder Jerman and told him that I was locked in the bathroom.  He and Sister Jerman drove over as soon as they could.  So I was locked in the bathroom for about 2 hours or so.  And it didn't take long for me and Elder Jerman to get the door unlocked.  And this experience made me think about these scriptures that I read this week:

3 Nephi 27:28-29

 28 And now I ago unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you.

 29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

We all are faced with locked doors in our lives.  But these scriptures promise us that if we ask, and knock that things will be opened.  I know sometimes that the locked door isn't opened immediately like me.  Sometimes we have to wait until the Lord gives us the answer to know how to unlock the door.  Sometimes we need the help of others around us.  But I know from this that the Lord does keep his promises.

Still trying to get over some sickness and exhaustion.  But things are still going strong.  We picked up a new investigator yesterday!  She says she has issues with commitment, but we just want to help her to come closer to Jesus Christ.  So we'll see.  Hope you all have a great week!  Love you tons!

Love,

Sister Marlow 

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Hey Family!

Hope you all are enjoying this July 4th 2013!  Things are going great!  I love being here in Park City and I'm still serving at the Family Tree Center.  

Yesterday while Sister Villoso and I were working at the Family Tree our new mission president, President Eberhardt and his wife and the assistants came into the Family Tree.  It was great to be able to meet them.  We gave the assistants a tour.

This morning has been great.  We went with the Spanish speaking sisters, and the Elders to a breakfast at the Park City Park.  It is a fundraiser for the boy scouts in the Park City Stake.  They do it every year.  They let us eat for free!  And it was a really good breakfast.  We actually parked out car at the spanish sister's apartment and walked up to Main Street.  They have a parade here on Main Street.  Then we'll head down to Salt Lake for a mission conference.  And we'll be able to meet more of the missionaries in our mission.

So this week we've been teaching Bryanda.  She has been taught in the past and she hasn't really been committing to doing anything, like going to church or reading the Book of Mormon.  So we just opened up to 2 Nephi 31 and read the whole chapter with her.  And she really liked it and wanted to read more.  She says that she has a hard time reading and understanding what she is reading.  So we are going to try and go over everyday if we can and read with her.  And she loves it and wants to be taught the lessons. And she said she is really looking forward to her baptism.  YEAH!!!!  The Spirit is really guiding our companionship. Also we've been tracting this week.  Our district leader told us to tract an hour a day.  And no one!  But we just keep going.  My companion is pretty awesome.  No one can be mad at her!  She is so sweet and nice!  

In my Book of Mormon reading I'm in 3 Nephi.  And I read chapter 11 the other day and I love these verses.

 11 And behold, I am the alight and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

 12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

 13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

 14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole dearth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

 15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

I love how it says that they saw Jesus Christ.  They felt the prints of the nails in His hands and feel.  And they know who He is.  I was thinking, we can't see Jesus Christ, but we know He is there.  It is through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we can come to know Him.  It is His sacrifice that allows us to be able to repent and progress.  He is the only way.  He loves us so much that He wants us to come to Him and let Him help us.  But we must do our part first.  We have to have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and ENDURE.  That is the way we keep going.  Jesus Christ helps us to endure.  I know that is true, because He's helped me to do that very thing.  Love you guys! Hope you have a great day!  I'm so grateful for this mission!  It's the best!

Love,

Sister Marlow

Oh, and still send mail to the Family Tree Center.  I'm still serving there and I'll still get my mail and stuff there!  Thanks!

Park City West

Hey Family!

It has been a crazy, but amazing week!  We found out Wednesday night about transfers.  I was transferred to the Park City West area with my new companion Sister Villoso.  She was already in the area for about 10 weeks.  So she already knows the area and she just finished her training.  She is from the Philippines!  So I'm helping her to learn English.  She is already really good at speaking English and she's done really well.  She just wants more help with grammar and vocabulary.  So I'm excited to help her with that and so is she!  She is SO SWEET and TINY!  She's 25 too!  So we have been having a lot of fun together already.  

Thursday we had a mission conference at the Jordan River Temple.  It was so amazing to be there all together at the temple.  I love going there.  I always feel happier than when I left.  It is such a peaceful feeling when I go to the temple.  It is such a beautiful place!  Then we had lunch at the Mission Office.  I got to say goodbye to a lot of my friends as well.  We had some speakers, but mostly President and Sister Miller.  They are such great people.  We are going to miss them so much!  Then before we sang the closing song, they were going to give out certificates to the missionaries that are going to the Utah Salt Lake City East mission.  The certificates were for how much they appreciate all of our work in the SLC South Mission.  So one by one they called us up.  It was so hard.  I was one of the last ones.  It was so sad!  I knew it was going to happen.  But I guess when the realization actually hit me, it was just hard.  It felt such a long way up to the front of the chapel to get my certificate.  Then we sang hymn #255 "Carry On!" and we all stood up for it.  I was getting choked up.  It was so hard to sing.  My heart was breaking!  It's just hard because here on a mission, missionaries become your family.  I'm having to leave my family again!  It just hurts!  But I was able to say goodbye to some of the Elders and Sisters that I've served with.  The mission boundaries will change starting June 27th.  

Friday was transfers and me and Sister Villoso having been having a blast together!  We taught this girl Bryanda on Saturday, and she is getting baptized on July 7th!  The Spirit was so strong when we were teaching her how the gospel, prayer and studying the scriptures and going to church will help her in her trials.  She didn't come to church yesterday.  But we are still going to try to help her work towards baptism.  Oh, and we taught Elders Quorum yesterday in church.  We were so intimidated!  I've never taught it before.  We taught about member missionary work.    

Sunday we had the broadcast "The Work of Salvation" and we watched it at the mission office all together as a mission for the last time with President and Sister Miller.  Wasn't the broadcast awesome!  A lot of the things that President Monson and the other apostles said were things that we taught in Elders Quorum.  It was crazy!  But what a great time to be serving a mission!  I am so grateful to the Lord for this opportunity!  And to be able to serve in two different missions.  I'll be part of the missionaries that first started in the SLC East Mission!  How cool is that?  

I studied this morning Helaman 13-14.  Helaman 13 tells of Samuel the Lamanite and when the people kicked him out of the city.  Then the Lord tells him to go back again.  But this time he went another way and got up on the wall and started preaching there.  And the Lord told him that He would put things into Samuel's heart on what he should say.  That's just awesome.  Sometimes it truly is hard to do certain things.  But the Lord will always help us to find a way to accomplish what tasks or commandments he has given to us 1 Nephi 3:7.  I know that to be true.  And that we just need to trust in the Lord.  I know for me that is a hard thing to do sometimes.  But I know that the Lord wouldn't have me be on a mission, or even to go to a new mission if He knew I couldn't do it.  Thanks for all that you guys do and thanks for all the prayers!  Love you SOSOSOSOSOSO Much!  Next week I'll be in the SLC East Mission!!!!

Love,

Sister Marlow

Cool Week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has been a really cool week!  We had a mission conference and Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife came and spoke to us.  Elder Cook gave us some training and taught us more about Preach My Gospel.  He gave us experiences from his mission.  He taught us that this is the Lord's work and that things will happen in his time.  He taught us to pray specifically on how to do the work and where to find the people that are ready.  He left us some amazing blessings upon us.  One of them was to get along with your companion.  I needed that one!  :)  

So we have transfers on Friday.  On Thursday we are all going to the temple as a mission.  And then having lunch and a mission conference.  There we will find out where we are going to be transferred.  So that will tell us which mission we will be in.  Last week I was talking to all my friends from the mission and they were all like, oh no, Sister Marlow, you're gonna go to the East Mission.  It's so sad to be leaving behind my amazing friends that I've made on my mission.  But the Lord knows best.  

The work has been so slow this week.  Our investigators wont' meet with us!  :(  But I did have this really neat experience.  We were driving to someone's house.  And on the way we were driving by this road that this less active lady lives.  I've been trying to contact her for months and have never been able to meet her.  Well, I had this thought to go and see her.  SHE WAS HOME!  We talked to her and she wants us to come back over.  It was so neat that the Spirit prompted me to go to her house.  And it was so subtle and quiet.  I could have easily just ignored it.  Always remember to let the Holy Spirit guide!  I read this scripture this morning and thought about this experience.

Helaman 5:29-30

    29 And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings.

 30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—

Don't let the promptings pass you by!  If it invites you to do good, do it!  Follow the Spirit!

Love,

Sister Marlow

Dearest Family of mine!

 
Hey my dearest family of mine!

So many amazing things happened this week!  We picked up a new investigator!  His name is Ron.  He lives with his girlfriend who is a member of the church, but less active.  He really wants to learn more.  He was taught by missionaries when he was a teenager and his parents wouldn't let him join.  So he's been around tons of LDS people and he's been to church a lot.  Now he wants to learn, because he wants to be the anchor to his family and he knows that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His church can help him to be able to do that.  In our lesson, the Spirit was so strong.  And then I invited him to be baptized.  When you do that you say: "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?"  The Spirit was so strong when I invited him.  We were in silence for a little bit and then he said YES!  But he didn't accept the date that we extended.  But HE WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!  And I got to invite him!  I love being able to do that as a representative of Jesus Christ.  Because if he were here, he would invite them.  But I get to do it as well, as a missionary and His representative.  What a great blessing that the Lord has allowed me to be one of His full-time servants.  I love it!  I know this is HIS work.  

Oh, and another thing too!  So cool, so listen up!  Me and Sister Willis had an appointment at the Family Tree after dinner.  So we were hurrying up because we were a little late and it was so hard to find a parking spot around Main Street.  But we finally did and we were hurrying up and about to walk across the street when I saw President and Sister Uchtdorf walking up Main Street!  My heart just dropped!  I couldn't believe it!  Sister Uchtdorf heard me say to Sister Willis that it was them and Sister Uchtdorf turned and looked at us and I waved to her.  Then we went to the Family Tree and gave our appointment a tour and had them watch the movie, that we show everyone and we went back upstairs.  And guess who walks into the Family Tree?  Yep.  President and Sister Uchtdorf.  The Spirit that they brought was so powerful.  It just lit up the entire center.  It was AMAZING!  I got to shake his hand!  He's really tall.  I know I'm short, but he's like 6"3.  I hugged Sister Uchtdorf and she asked where I was from and I told her.  She is so cute!  Then the senior missionaries showed them around.  Our group came back up and I helped a lady with her family history. Then the Uchtdorfs were leaving and they said goodbye.  I was still sitting at the computer desk and I turned to say bye and as President Uchtdorf walked out he patted me on the back!  That's was so cool!  

I know we are so blessed to have prophets and apostles on the Earth today.  This is truly Jesus Christ's church because His apostles and His prophet leads and guides us today.  I was studying about this last week and I came across this cool scripture.

Ephesians 4:11-14 

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Prophets and apostles are there to guide us.  And help us to return back to our Heavenly Father.  They warn us of the physical and spiritual dangers that Satan wants to trap us with.  I am so grateful that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His priesthood authority has been restored to the Earth.  That we have men that hold the priesthood and can perform saving ordinances.  These are such great men that we have that hold the priesthood.  I am grateful that I grew up in a home with a priesthood holder.  And that I've had great priesthood leaders in my life.  And now I'm relying on these Elders for guidance and direction on my mission, along with my mission president.  How blessed are we to have these awesome men that hold the priesthood authority of God.  I know that this is Jesus Christ's church and His priesthood is on the Earth once again.  And that a prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson leads and guides this church through the Lord.  I know this is true.  

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Marlow

Hey Family

Hey Family!

Sometimes it's hard to remember what has happened from this week.  We are teaching to guys right now.  One's name is Alec and the other is Alex.  Easy to confuse, I know.  Our district leader gets them confused all the time when we do nightly call ins.  And then it's hard to understand the district leader because the phone reception is bad, but I think it's mostly because of his Australian accent.  :)  

We taught both of these guys and they said they were coming to church.  But then they didn't!  :(  It's so sad when people don't come to church.  Church is so good!  It is such a blessing to be able to partake of the sacrament!  That is how we are able to be cleansed and then we can have the Holy Ghost with us!  Jesus Christ did this sacrifice for us!  We met this other couple that hasn't been to church in years.  They work 6 days out of the week and Sunday is there only day off.  And because of that they won't come to church.  It's so sad.  Not even to take the sacrament, and be there for an hour to just do that?  They agreed.  But still think that because it's their only day off that church isn't a priority.  We really need to be able to nourish our Spirits by what we learn at church.  And even just being there is so good for us.  It truly is a "sanctuary".  It is a dedicated house of the Lord.  Where we can go and feel of the Spirit.  It is a house of learning and a house of faith.  A refuge from the storm.  

I just love being a missionary.  It's not an easy thing doing the Lord's work.  And that's what it means.  They didn't say that this is a vacation.  It's work.  And it's gotta be done.  It's amazing though the changes that I've seen in myself.  I love being here and helping people to come closer to Jesus Christ.  Sometimes they accept and sometimes they don't.  But you have to give them the opportunity to have that choice.  My testimony of the scriptures has grown so much.  I love the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  It's so great to be able to learn more and come to know Jesus Christ as my Savior.  You can come to know Him as you read the scriptures and make Him apart of your life.  I know that Jesus Christ is the only way back to our Heavenly Father.  We have to continue on the path that we started on.  Baptism is the gate to the path.  But we have to keep going.  Read 2 Nephi 31:21  :)

Hope you guys have a great week!  Oh, and I've been out 8 months today.  Can you believe that? Not counting down or anything.  I just can't believe I've been out this long!

Love,

Sister Marlow