April 27, 2015

Hola Mi Familia :)

Oh wow I have so much to tell you guys. But I can´t let one more second go by with out wishing a happy birthday to the greatest woman I know! Happy Birthday to my angel mother :) I have no idea where I would be in my life without your amazing influence. Your selfless attitude has given me the perfect example of the kind of wife and mother I want to be. I am so grateful to my father in heaven for the blessing of having my best friend in my life! I love you to the moon and back and hope you have an amazing day.

Okay I have big news this week... we found out this morning that as of next week the Spain Madrid Mission is going to be an IPAD mission! We are so excited! :) The coolest part is that they are flying everyone in to Madrid for the orientation by the General Authorities. Everyone! That has never happened before! So next week we will be hopping back on a plane to Madrid to pick them up and figure out what the heck to do with them ;) Super excited to see how the work will progress with them! 

You guys I just can´t even tell you how much I love our investigators. I need to start with Yamilka. She is the most darling girl in the world and has now come to church three weeks in a row! I was talking to her yesterday to see if she had any questions and she said that she actually had some doubts this last week, but they were all answered in church today and that she loves coming.  She accepted a date to be baptized, but still wants to have a little more faith. We still have some work to do, but she is progressing so well and I love her. I really can´t say it enough I love this woman!

Okay I need to tell you about Cristiani too. I LOVE HER! I am saying that I lot I know, but these two women are incredible. Cristiani has everything in the bag. Seriously. She even called herself a "almost mormon" this week. She has so much faith, believes the church is true, and has come to church 3 weeks in a row. The only problem is is she has a job that is stopping her from being able to be baptized. We are going forward with faith though and trying as hard as we can to find some other options for her. She needs the gospel in her life and we are going to do all we can to give it to her! 

We worked with a lot of menos activos this week and numbers totally don´t matter, but FOUR of them came this week! They walked through the door with the biggest smiles on their faces and there really isn´t a more rewarding feeling in the world. Being a missionary is the best. 

To wrap up, here´s a great scripture that makes my heart really happy- Sorry it is in spanish I left my English ones at the mission home. 

"Pero grandes son las promesas del Señor para los que se hallan en ls islas del mar." 2 Nefi 10:21

Lots of love from the islands! I hope you have a great week!

xo,

hermana marsh 

Making delicious enchiladas from honduras :)

 District pic! 

 We did an activity with the youth this week and had a little help contacting in the park. Here are my darling companions for the day! 

 This girl got home from her mission about 7 months ago and returned to visit with her husband. She is darling! So fun to sit and visit with her for a little bit.

 We really are serving on an island! I will never get over this stunning place.  

 SUPER fun p-day today. We had a BBQ on the roof of the elders piso. So so fun!

 More pics from our bbq :) 

A couple more pictures from Hermana Larsen

Here are a couple more pictures that Hermana Larsen posted on her blog.  She and her husband are serving a mission in Spain and have been in the Canary Islands for 1 year.  They live in what was Doug's mission home when he served in the Las Palmas Mission.  This Hermana is nice and takes good care of the missionaries on the Islands!

We headed to the airport to pick up Hermana Marsh, who is Hermana Rossberg's new companion.  She is from Murray, Utah.  She is enthusiastic and ready to work.  I think they will make a great companionship.

  Aren't these two hermanas the happiest things?

April 20, 2015

Hi cute family!

I'm an aunt i'm an aunt i'm an aunt!!! I have been dying all week this week and was so happy to see that my Ginny is here!!! She is absolutely gorgeous I am in love with her already. I am so happy to hear that she arrived safe and sound and that everyone is doing well :) I am so happy to be here in Las Palmas... I have so much to tell you guys!

First off: My companion. Her name is Hermana Rossberg and she is absolutely darling. She is from Riverton and graduated in 2014. She is in her second transfer so I will finish up training her, even though I don't feel like I am doing anything- she really is incredible! Her Spanish is awesome and already knows how to get around the area. She is really so great I feel so lucky to be serving with her.

Second off: My area. Oh my gosh you guys I can't even describe to you how beautiful this island is. We have the beach on one side and the mountains on the other it is absolutely stunning. I don't think I will ever get over the views! Our area is absolutely huge. We can take a 4 hour bus ride and still be in our area. Definitely not something you could to in tiny alcorcon! It's very different and will take some getting used to, but I am very happy to be here. We walk a lot and there are lots of hills, but we also have the guagua :) The weather is perfect- not too hot and not too cold. I lucked out and escaped the Madrid summer so that's definitely a plus :)

Next: The ward. We have a ward here in Las Palmas of about 150 members and it is awesome.  We had correlation and ward council this week and I was amazed to see the difference from a little branch.  It really is so nice to have the support and help from the members! We meet in the same place that Doug served in and I am excited to get to know the members a little better to see if they remember him. I did meet one family in the ward and he served in Dave Websters mission. Elder Leonardo says hi! What a small work. 

Okay now on to the work! We had lots of miracles this week. This email is getting awfully long so i'll just share a couple :) The first is Yamilka. She is absolutely darling! She starting come to english classes and two weeks ago the sisters asked if she wanted to know more and she said yes! They taught her lesson 1 and she came to church. This week, she came to english class both times and brought her cousin, we had an awesome lesson with her after, and she came to church yesterday with her aunt. Sooo great!! I seriously love her already.

I also wanted to tell you about Paola. She met with the missionaries about a year ago and was progressing, but for whatever reason lost contact with the missionaries. I was calling old investigators from the phone and set up a time to go visit her. We went and she is just the greatest. We are going to be meeting with her again this week, and she said she would come to church :) So excited about it!

I have so much more to say but I feel like I will just be here all day haha! I am doing really well though and I am really happy to be here :) It is amazing to see how The Lord works with us every day. There really isn't anything better than being a missionary! Thank you so much for all of your love and support. I love you guys!

xo, 

Hermana Marsh

Running on the boardwalk- thanks for the suggestion doug!

 Best thing- They have an american store and to celebrate my 7 months we had root beer floats! 

 My darling companion :)

  My beautiful island!! 

Cleaning out the stuff sister missionaries have left.. hahaha!

Madie Madie it to Las Palmas!

I made it! This place is really big and I am feeling a little overwhelmed haha. I have no idea how I am supposed to train when I have no idea where I am, but that is what the Lord is for! 

***Laurie speaking now, I received this great email from the couple living in the old mission home in Las Palmas!

Hi!

 I am Hermana Larsen. My husband and I are serving a 2 year mission in Spain.  We have been here in Gran Canaria for a year.  We are so happy to have your daughter here.  She is such a sweet girl and I can tell that she is a good missionary.  She is enthusiastic and ready to work.  We are sad that we will be leaving the island on May 4th.  We have been assigned to take the place as the office couple, so we will not be able to spend much time here with your daughter.  

We do have a blog if you want to look at some pictures of the island.  I understand that one of your sons served here.  That is just amazing.  We live in the old mission home.  I know he will be familiar with that.  

codyandcherylmission.blogspot.com

Thanks for raising such a wonderful daughter,

Hermana Larsen

April 13, 2015

Hola Mi Familia!

I am just going to cut to the chase and let you know the big news. I got transfered and I am going to... LAS PALMAS! I am going to the islands!! I was so nervous to figure out where I was going, but when I heard Las Palmas my heart skipped a beat. My companion is named Hermana Rossberg and she has the same time as Hermana Berry on the mission.  So, I will finish up her training.  I met her when we picked up Hermana Berry in Pavones and she was super cute I am really excited to serve with her.  I don´t have much time because I have a flight to catch, but I will try and write more later if I have time once I get to Las Palmas. If not, I love you and am so thankful for you! Shout out to Dantz- I can´t wait for my little peanut to come!!! Go crazy on the pictures and details I need to know everything :) ¡Os amo!

xoxo

hermana marsh 

 my favorite family. bawled my face off when I had to leave them! 

Addendum: Madie was able to get on again once she arrived in Las Palmas.  Here is part II:

I made it! This place is really big and I am feeling a little overwhelmed haha. I have no idea how I am supposed to train when I have no idea where I am, but that is what the Lord is for! 

One of the members daughters got baptized. So fun to be a part of her big day! 

 amusement park for p day! :) 

 Some of my favorite recent converts :) 

 This is the welcoming Hermana Finch gets when she comes home from an intercambio :) 

 MARIA LUISA! Cutest cuban lady in the world. 

 Yay for DELICIOUS european ice cream just down the street :) 

 Despedida- EVA :)

 Paulozky!! I love this man. 

 Marlene- This woman fed us ever Friday  I took so many pictures this day and i´m not going to send them all, but here are a few :) 

 My darling Flor. I love this 9 year old with all my heart! 

A few of my young women!  

 Words can´t even describe how incredible these two are. 

I don´t know what I would have done without them! 

 Rosa and Omar

 Hermana Finch :) 

 I had to get my chocolate croissant before I left the mainland for the next little bit :) 

 See Madrid and then Gran Canaria? I think Steph is closer to my mission home than I am haha! 

April 6, 2015

Hola mi familia!

Oh what fun pictures and videos I got this week! I am so happy that everyone had a happy easter and a happy conference. The pictures were so great! It was a great week for us here in Alcorcón :)

To start off, wow conference was incredible! I was able to watch all of the conferences except for sunday afternoon, but I just finished watching Grandfather´s so don´t worry i´m all caught up on that! I watched some in Spanish and some in English, but am happy to report that I was able to understand both! I really love this time of the year it was so incredible to hear the words of the leaders of the church.  I only cried 4 times!! Hahaha little bit of an emotional wreck over here ;) 

One talk that really stuck out to me was the man that spoke about listening to the words and hearing the music. I can´t remember his name right now, but this one really hit me.  It is so applicable to every person no matter where their circumstances are and I can´t wait to share it with our investigators, members, and less actives here in Spain.  I also loved Mike´s talk on service. His insight on his missionary companion answered so many questions of mine and I will definitely be reading that one a lot through out my mission. And I can´t forget Grandfather´s! Oh keeping the Sabbath Day Holy is such an important concept and it was so fun for me to hear his words. Oh I love conference! 

This week for the work was a great one.  We were able to continue to meet with Ike and he asked to have his baptismal date pushed back a few weeks. He feels like he likes coming to church and feels the spirit when he reads, but hasn´t received an answer yet and would like to be more sure.  I am suprised at how okay I am with it! Even though I might not be able to see it, it makes me happy that he realizes what a big decision this is and the importance to be converted.  

I have to tell you a quick story about an older spanish lady we contacted on the street this week names Irene.  We asked her is she had heard of the Book of Mormon before and she said yes! Then she just started going off about all the doctrine of the Book of Mormon and we were stunned at everything she knew! We then asked her what she knew about that restoration and she said oh I know all about Daniel Smith and how he found the Book of Mormon in Canada! Hahah made me giggle :) Minor details, but this woman really knew so much about the church! She unfortunately lives in a different city, but the missionaries in Toledo are very lucky! It made my day to contact her :) 

Something really awesome about my mission- Spain likes to stay up really late so the hour changed this week and we now work from 7:30 to 11:30 which means we got to sleep in a little yesterday. Wahoo! It will be a miracle if I can keep myself awake until 11:30, but it really is so necesary for the people we are teaching.  

I think that is about it for this week! We had an awesome Zone Conference where I learned the importance of Preach My Gospel and talking to everyone we see. It was such a great meeting it made me so thankful to be a missionary! I also just need to take a second to tell you guys how much I love the Book of Mormon. I have always loved it, but this week I was reading in Mosiah and Alma the Younger is the best.  I love his dedication to serve the Lord and I want to be more like him. The Book of Mormon is incredible. I love you guys thank you so much for all of the love and support. ¡Tenga una buena semana!

os amo :)

xoxo

hermana marsh

This is my favorite person... Beatriz :) No clue what I would do without her!! 

 I got spoiled rotten this week!! Easter package from the family and a happy unbirthday package from emma :) Thank you so so much!!! 

I have a really cute window now :) 

 I faced my fear this week! 

 Dying easter eggs with the Hermanas in Mostoles :)  

 Dying eggs! 

 My cute companions :) 

 Thanks for the easter skirt! :)