Back out with the Missionaries!

Jared Mission Oct. 15^th, 2017

I guess the only new thing I have to add is that I went out with the missionaries for the first time in a few weeks because we haven’t had missionaries in our home ward for a while.  We went looking for people that might possibly be interested in hearing the Gospel.  Then we stopped by and checked in on an older lady in our ward to see how she was doing.  As we were walking around looking for people, I talked to the missionaries and found out that all three of us have read and like the same book series… “Kingdom Keepers” as well as the “Percy Jackson” series.  It was really interesting to talk to someone who had not only heard of the “Kingdom Keepers”, but had read it as well. 

I’ve enjoyed helping a man in our ward do yard work, harvesting and making grape juice.  I’m glad that I can help him get some of his work done.

I like doing my work at the Family History Center and going to the Temple with my mom.  It makes me feel good that I can help those who have passed on and who may not have had the chance for Temple blessings here on this Earth. 

I also lost my missionary name badge again this week.  But my mom and I prayed that I would find it, and I found it yesterday.  It had fallen between the mattress and the box spring.  We were very thankful that I found it.

I had my Regional Bowling tournament for Special Olympics yesterday.  It was fun!  My family came to cheer me on.  Our scores will be sent into the State to compare with the other regions around the area, so I will find out later if I qualified for a medal.

I tried out for our ward Christmas pageant and I got the part of a fireman.  It should be fun!

I have just started reading about the account of Zeniff, which breaks off into the people of Limhi and the people of Alma in the Book of Mormon.  I am currently with the people of Limhi, as they have just met Ammon, who is the descendant of Zarahemla.  I enjoy the accounts of the two groups of people who were able to make the necessary changes in their lives that ultimately lead them to repent of their sins and find their way to the land of Zarahemla to join the rest of the Nephites.  I encourage everyone to read the Book of Mormon to help understand the Doctrine of our church as well as to find answers for questions that you may have.

Elder Markham

** Mom's Note: I am having trouble transferring pictures to my computer to add to JJ's blog.  I just want to get updated for now and I will add pictures later!

Serving others is a blessing

Jared Mission Sept 10^th, 2017

On Thursday I worked with a man in our ward that I used to help with the missionaries.    We went to a lumber yard and we loaded up some saw dust into the back of his truck.  Then we took it to his house and unloaded it near his corral for his cattle.  He had me take a bucket of saw dust into his corral to make a bed for his cows.  We also trimmed a bush that he had, and put the branches into a wheel barrow so that he could use to feed his cattle the next day.  He also had me move some rocks around and lay them by the trough that his cattle used to drink from so that his cattle had something to step on to reach the trough.  I am going to go help him every Thursday now, even though the missionaries have been moved out of our area.   He is a very kind man and I am glad I get to help him.

On Saturday I started my bowling practices for Special Olympics.  I am really excited to participate in this.  The season is shorter this year.  Instead of going into November, we will be done by mid October. 

Everything else is still the same.  In my scripture study I am learning about different parables of how sin estranges us from God.  It teaches me that I want to try everything I can to stay close to Heavenly Father so that I can receive his blessings.

Elder Markham

Total Solar Eclipse of 2017

Jared mission August 27, 2017

The eclipse was fun (August 21^st, 2017)!!  I got to spend the day with my family because the Bishop’s Storehouse was closed due to traffic issues from a lot of people coming to Oregon to see the totality of the Solar Eclipse of 2017!  We played games and watched the eclipse from our driveway.  Dad and Areah and David drove to Amity to see the full eclipse.  We saw about 99.7 % of it from the driveway.  The whole experience of it was very cool because it was my first, and probably my last one to see.  I could tell it got “dusky” outside, but it didn’t go completely dark.  We wore special eclipse glasses so we could look at the sun without hurting our eyes.  We were able to see the dancing shadows of the solar rays, and the half moon shadows through the trees. 

The storehouse is closed tomorrow so I will go in later to work at the DI.  I have been doing the same thing that I’ve done the other weeks.  I help fill and get ready food orders at the Bishop’s Storehouse and I pull and hang clothes to be sold at the DI.  I’ve met some new people at the storehouse and DI.  One friend works with me at the storehouse, then goes and works with me at the DI.  He is a Youth Service Missionary as well.  I haven’t had a chance to talk to him very much as we work in different departments at each place.  Hopefully I can get to know him better.  At the DI there is one new lady that works there and I have enjoyed getting to know her. 

I still enjoy working at the Family History Center on Tuesdays.  The people there are all very nice and it’s been pretty busy.  There have been a lot of people come in to do Family History.  There are a couple sets of Elders that come in to do their numbers (track how there areas are doing).  I like hearing the stories the people I work with tell about the troubles they have finding certain people, because sometimes they are on one census recorded under one name, and on another census recorded under another name, then all of a sudden they seem to disappear without a trace.  The people at the Family History Center do the best job they can of tracking down records of these people to connect them with their families.  I’m so glad I get the experience to work with them and learn from them!

I’m enjoying doing proxy work on Wednesdays at the Temple.  It may not be a direct line, but at least I’m connecting someone’s family together and that makes me feel good inside and it makes me happy to know that I am helping in the work of the Lord! 

I find it interesting that no matter where I’m reading in the Book of Mormon, or the Bible, that it talks about a small group of people being preserved by the Lord. Whether it’s Nephi in the Book of Mormon talking about his vision with the mixture of his seed and the seed of his Brethren (Laman and Lemuel), and how they were preserved to keep the promised land of America.  Or in the Old Testament talking about the Jews being invaded by Babylon and other countries, and being taken captive, and a small remnant of them being left to keep the land of Jerusalem, that was promised to them. 

I know as long as we are righteous, Christ will continue to help us and our leaders make the right decisions. 

Elder Markham

Family Reunion and Garrett's wedding

Jared’s mission August 20, 2017

We had written about the reunion and Garrett’s wedding, but it somehow got lost on my mom’s computer so we will rewrite about them.

We had our Johnson Family reunion (My Mom’s side of the family) from July 3-6 in Garden Valley, Idaho at the Glenwood Girls camp.  It was fun to see everyone that could be there.  For the 3 days we were there, we played games, ate lots of food, talked and caught up with each other.  I stayed in a cabin with my cousins Kyle and Dustin.  We had different activities like water baseball, water balloon games, bingo, and group games.  I got to give a report about my mission to everyone.  And my Uncle and Grandpa led us in a ceremony to retire 3 flags.  It’s always fun when we all get together.

At Garrett’s and Maddie’s wedding, it was fun to be a part of the sealing session and I was best man.  I felt good that I could be in the Temple for their sealing and I was honored that Garrett asked me to be his best man.

I went to a basketball camp at Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Center.  It was fun to see a lot of new people and some of the friends that I see at my Thursday night basketball games.  Terrance Jones was there as a special representative from the NBA for the Special Olympics.  It was cool to have an NBA player there. 

The missionaries in our ward got transferred out of the area and now we don’t have Elders in this area, so I won’t be able to go out with them on Thursdays.  My mom and dad will check to see if I can possibly go out with the Elders from our old ward.

I’m thankful for all the opportunities I’m getting to serve as a missionary and be home and participate in my family activities.

Elder Markham