Working hard

Hey all,

It’s been a great week in Montreal. Literally it’s been the busiest time on my mission. Maybe some more experienced people in life could tell me, but it seems to me that the longer you live, the busier you get. That’s how my mission has been at least. Because we have a four man companionship, we almost kinda feel like we have superpowers, because we can be in two places at once! Thank goodness we’ve had that, because I do not know how anyone could do what we’ve done without it. We most days both teams teach all day. We have 5 people preparing for baptism this Saturday, so between them, our other on dates, progressing friends, recent converts, and mission merge business, it’s been pretty full. 

I’m grateful for a little quote dad had sent me at the start of my mission. I’m glad I feel like up to now, I’ve left it all in the pool, so to speak. I’m definitely going to keep it up. Nothing is more rewarding than serving our Heavenly Father. 

Heres some advice I have [for Joey]:

1. Understand your missionary purpose. You’ll receive lots of training on it, I promise, but true understanding will start with you. Everything else will fit into your purpose. Remember what you are supposed to do, why you are doing it, and who you represent, and you’ll be a powerful missionary. 

2. Become like the Savior. As you live like him, you’ll be happier. You will be a better missionary. It’s a process, and sometimes you’ll feel like you need to work on one thing, or two, or maybe a lot, but just become more like him bit by bit. 

3. The better you use your morning, the better your mission will go. In the morning, you’ll study, you’ll plan, it sets the pace for your whole day, and each day builds your mission.

It's easier to give advice though, than to really do everything everyone says. As you go through your mission, you’ll find your own things that feel important, so just do your best. Once you feel like you’re really getting good at being a missionary, you’ll be released. 

Also, to be honest I really haven’t been thinking about home much. I don’t have any plans. The only things I can really think of is trying to spend time with family, and trying to plan to make sure important things in the future (school, a job) are taken care of. I’d love to get in a pool. I’m excited to practice the piano again. I’d like to do some yard work. Probably pretty boring stuff to all of you.

I love you all! Have fun dropping off Boo tomorrow. I’m so excited for you Boo. I love you! See you all sometime in the future. 

Elder Marsh

P.S. Some people have asked when my homecoming is, I don’t know how many people would actually come, but I don't know when church is, or remember the address. You could create an event or post on Facebook, and tag me, then I could share it with others. I don’t want a party after though. But that’s all way too far in the future for me to worry about, so I don’t really mind either way.