Fun Family Times!

I am continuing to do the same work at the Bishop's Storehouse and Deseret Industries, which is that on Mondays I leave my house about 5:30 am and arrive at the Storehouse at 6:30 am to load meat (food) orders to be put in the trucks where they go to the greater Portland area.  I work there until about 9:30 to 9:45 and then I walk over to the Deseret Industries (DI) and sort clothes that need to be removed from the floor or tagged to be sold.  I work here until 5:00 pm and then my dad picks me up and we make the  75 minute drive home.  I eat dinner and then I go with Garrett to the Young Single Adult Family Home Evening Activity (YSA FHE).  I am still enjoying my work at both of these places on Mondays.  It makes for a long day, but I'm glad I can learn work skills.  And I really like going to the YSA Activities.   They are alot of fun!

I am doing the same work on Tuesdays at the Family History Center, although it was closed this past week, and will be again this week.  I am enjoying it and I'm glad I can help put in the information about people so that their relatives can access that information.  I also like hearing the stories from the patrons and the other people that help run the History Center.  For example, when they shares stories from their past.  I find it very interesting to hear these stories.  One of the patrons shared that he and his wife are waiting on a mission call where they will go and take pictures of the documents that need to be indexed!

On Wednesday December 14th, I was going to go be a Priesthood worker at the Temple for our Youth Temple trip for my family ward.  Three of my siblings were going to do baptisms and my youngest sister was going for her first time.  But we had a big snow storm that day so it was canceled.  We are looking forward to going another time.

I still like going out with the ward missionaries to visit people and I like getting to know those people that we visit.

This past Friday at the Hillsboro Washington County Bike Coalition and Transportation Shop, I got to cut up old bike tires that were deemed too old and damaged to be resold.  I am really enjoying my work there, learning how to recondition and recycle and fix bikes.

My brother Brad and his wife Michelle and their baby Banks, all came from Utah on Tuesday and my sister Sara, her husband Trevor and their kids Mayli, Elena, Derek and Roselin came on Friday from LaGrande, for Christmas!  We have had so much fun playing different games and spending time together as a family.  We really miss my brother Brock and his wife Brittany as they are spending Christmas in Utah with her family.

Today was a wonderful day as we celebrated Christmas!  I really like having mostly everyone here for Christmas!  We haven't had a chance to do that for several years.  I really liked going to church today.  I really felt the Spirit, especially through the songs performed by the different choirs.  I also liked Brother Boinay's talk about his childhood and early adult life, and even though it was hard, he learned important lessons and he gained a strong testimony.  He is a great example of courage and perseverance.  Even though his early life was hard, he didn't turn his back on Christ and Heavenly Father by blaming them for his misfortunes.  I know that Christ has more love than we can comprehend for each and every one of us.  So we need to do our part and get back to Him.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Markham

All the Markham kids and grand kids, missing Brock and Brittany

Our Annual Nativity Play we do each Christmas Eve

Waiting to come down the stairs to see if Santa has come
(Another Family Tradition)

A Snowy Week!

Jared mission journal December 11, 2016

There really isn’t anything new to report this week except at the bike shop I got to bend tire rims to make them unusable because the tires, tubes and wheels were all deemed unsafe and not fit to sale. 

My sister Jessica and her husband Stephen and their two kids came for Christmas!  They get to stay for 8 weeks!!  I’m happy about that!

I went to the temple with my mom on Wednesday and we did initiatories.   It was another great experience knowing I am helping those who have passed away.

Thursday and Friday my brothers and sisters didn’t have school because we got snow and ice.  I wasn’t able to go play basketball Thursday night because the roads were too slick.  Thursday I went to meet the missionaries to go tracting, but they were out of town for the day so I wasn’t able to go with them.

Friday after my work at the bike shop, Garrett and I were able to go visit and teach some members of the branch.  That was a great experience to go with my brother to teach the Gospel.

Tomorrow starts early so I better get to bed!

Elder Markham

Snow or Rain...ready to share the Gospel!

Ready to go out and teach...but next time JJ will smile :-)

Still Loving his Mission!

Jared Mission December 4, 2016

I didn’t go to the Bishop’s Storehouse this week because they were closed.  At Deseret Industries I did the same things and met this new employee.  He seemed like he was pretty nice.  We talked about movies we like and books we like to read.  It was fun getting to know him.

Tuesday I did indexing when I went to the Family History Center.  I looked through documents like obituaries, census records and other documents for names of people and their birth dates, marriage dates, death dates and other important dates in their lives.  Then we put those names and dates into a form and send it into the Family Search database.  Then people from all over the world can search for their ancestors and the dates they need for their personal family history.

Wednesday I did my first Initiatory session at the Temple with Mom and Dad.  It was fun and, as usual we went to the cafeteria to eat.  It was good food.

On Thursday I did splits with the missionaries and we taught a man that we found in the neighborhood. 

On Friday I got to take apart a bike and get it ready for resale.  I got to use bolt cutters to take the spokes off of wheels that were deemed unusable.  I got to help get two bikes ready for “adopt a bike”.  I got to switch out the axels of one of the wheels.

On Saturday I gave a talk at my friend’s (Gio) baptism and got to stand in the confirmation circle today at church.  I am thankful that I have the priesthood to be able to participate in these ordinances.

It was a great week and my mission is fun!  We are supposed to get a little snow this week and my family and I are excited about that!  My sister and her husband and two kids are coming for Christmas this Friday so I’m excited about that! 

Elder Markham

Jared Mission November 27, 2016

On Monday I went to the Bishop’s storehouse and met the son of the Gentleman that is in charge of running the Storehouse.  He seemed to be really nice guy and said that he’d be working every Monday, so I will get to see him during my early morning shift!  Then at the DI I got to know one of my co-workers a lot better.  He’s had a very hard and interesting life.  He shared with me his conversion story and that made me feel good because it made me feel like he trusted me and he thought of me as a friend.  I am looking forward to going back tomorrow to work with my new friends at the DI.  The Bishop’s storehouse will be closed so I won’t be doing my early morning shift tomorrow.

The Family History Center was closed on Tuesday so I just did my scripture study and exercising and spent the day with my family.  We were able to go to the Zoo lights and then out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Red Robin.

On Wednesday we went to look for a new suit for me, but didn’t have any luck finding a good one.   I helped my sister Aubrey make a Pecan Pie for our Thanksgiving dinner.

On Thursday I spent to the day with my family for Thanksgiving.  We had lots of food but we had a little trouble with the Turkey.  It wasn’t done by the time we had everything else ready to eat.  My dad went to carve the Turkey and as my Mom said, “It let out a Gobble!!”  So we put it back in the oven and ate the rest of our feast and ate the Turkey for second meal later that evening!  It’s the first year that I can remember that the Turkey wasn’t done with the rest of the meal.

On Friday I worked at the bike shop and got to actually take part a bike mostly on my own.  It was a great experience.  At lunch time I went to get me hair cut at Diane’s place.  Then we had to close up early at the bike shop because the worker in charge was not feeling well.  My dad and brother Garrett picked me up and we went and found new nice suits for us!!  They will be ready in a couple of weeks after alterations.

Yesterday we did more stuff as a family and I got to see a couple of my friends from high school that I haven’t seen in a while at my friend’s McKenzie’s wedding reception.  It was fun to see them and catch up with them.

Today I fulfilled my assignment in the YSA Branch and I got another assignment to help coordinate the sacrament each week.  Overall it was a great week and I’m glad I got to spend it with my family and friends.  I can’t wait for this coming week! 

Elder Markham

PIE!...the best part of Thanksgiving!

Jared mission November 20, 2016

Monday at the Bishops storehouse I filled meat orders and was given a safety orientation.  I learned about safety in the workplace.  For example, where the fire extinguishers are, where all the exits are and how to be safe around the forklifts.

At the DI I worked in clothing where I sorted and hung clothes to be tagged and put on the floor to be sold.  I also helped take off dresses that weren’t selling.  I’m feeling more comfortable around the people I work with as I spend more time with them.

Tuesday at the family history center I learned how to index and read obituaries for information on people’s ancestors.  It was a long task but was fun and fulfilling.

On Wednesday I went to the Temple and did Endowments for someone who has passed away and it was a very inspiring experience.  I felt good that I had done this work for the person and I’m looking forward to all my other opportunities to do the work for those who have passed on.

On Thursday I went tracting with the missionaries.  We talked to the same gentleman that we talked to last week and it seems like he is making progress.  We met a lady who gets her hair done at the same place that our family goes to (Diane Mecham)! 

On Friday I worked at the Bike shop doing the same things I did last week which were, removing tires from the frames and organizing the tires into their respective sizes.  I like getting the work experience at the Bike shop and DI.

On Saturday it was National Adoption Day, so our family went to eat at Sweet Tomatoes to celebrate my sister and brother who were adopted into our family about 7 years ago.  That was their restaurant choice.  It was lots of fun and I ate some good food!

On Sunday I attended the YSA branch and was assigned to be Garrett’s assistant Branch Mission Leader.  I am looking forward to being able to work along side Garrett and learn about how we help the Branch function in our callings.

I am looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family and friends and I can’t wait for this week. I’m also looking forward to all my duties and the blessings that I will receive from my new assignment.  I know this church is true and I’m thankful I can serve a mission!

Love,

Elder Markham

Jared Mission November 13, 2016

Jared started serving his mission on November 7^th, 2016

I began by working at the Bishop’s storehouse.  I left at 5:30 am and arrived by 6:20 am in Happy Valley, Oregon.  I helped fill meat orders by opening boxes of different types of meat and put the packages of meat in a bag and put the bags in bins.  We also had a safety briefing, which is where someone talked about work place injuries and how to prevent them.  

Then at 9:45 I walked over to the Deseret Industries and met the people that worked there.  I began to work there at 10:00 am.  I started in the clothing department and hung up clothes to be tagged for sale items.  I then talked to the vocational counselor about what I wanted to do after my mission.  Then I took a break and ate my lunch and went back to the hanging department.  I then talked with the man in charge of the DI about other things that I liked to do, and things that he liked to do.  I then helped clear old shirts that weren’t selling to make room for new shirts.  The shirts that don’t sell are boxed up and shipped to other countries for refugees and those in need.  I finished my shift at 5:00 pm and my dad picked me up for the hour and half ride home.

I then finished my Monday by going to the Young Single Adult Family Home Evening activity.  My favorite part of working was getting to meet all the new people at the Bishop’s storehouse and the Deseret Industries.

Tuesday I worked at the Family History Center in Hillsboro, Oregon from 10:00 to 4:00 pm.  I started my day with an hour of scripture study and half hour of exercise (as I am required to do each day).  At the family history center I learned how to attach records to ancestors on the computer.  I liked learning how to do that and look forward to doing more family history work.

On Wednesday my mom and I went to get my Temple clothes.  That was a fun experience.  Later that night I went to Institute which is a Scripture class for Young Adults.  We are studying the Book of Mormon.  If anyone would like to join me, just give me a call!

On Thursday, I went on splits with the full time missionaries in my family ward.  We visited many people and I especially enjoyed meeting a man from Europe who moved here when he was 8 years old. 

On Friday I worked at the Washington County Bike Coalition and Transportation in Hillsboro Oregon. I worked from 10:00 am until 3:15 pm.  I learned how to remove reflectors and tires from the wheels for recycling.  I helped get two bikes ready to get moved into the inventory by reading the model number and other information to one of the volunteers that worked there.  My favorite part of that day was learning how to fix and repair the bikes.  I am looking forward to learning more about repairing bikes.

On Saturday I went to the Temple to receive my Endowment!!  It made me feel good but a little bit overwhelmed with all the new things to learn about.  I am so thankful that Sara, Trevor and Garrett were able to be there with me.  It made me really happy and I’m thankful that I can go to the Temple now!

On Sunday I went to the YSA branch.  I like being around a larger group of people my age who have the same goals and values that I do.  I feel the Spirit when I attend the branch.

I know that what I’m doing is right.  I am looking forward to this next week and all the experiences that I’m going to have.  I know this church is true.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Markham

JJ signing in at the Bishops Store House

Filling meat orders

Sorting clothes at the Deseret Industries (DI)

Blessings of the Temple...Families are Forever

I love to see the Temple