Week 7, 2nd week in La Paz, Honduras

Dear Mama! que pasa!! 

So 4th of July was nothing over here, just more dead dogs and a lot of walking. 

Did you watch Meet the Mormons?  I really want you to see that.

But, best news of all ...I know that the Lord provides for all our needs and he has.  I GOT A GYM!!!!!! YEEAABUDDY!!!!!!!!!  My companion and I have to wake up at 5, but it's worth it.  I can finally squat again and deadlift, life is grand.

We haven't had water in our pueblo for the last couple of days or so now.  I'm really roughing it, toilet don't flush and I can't wash my hands. Bear Grillzin it.

Is it true that those little babies are walking now!!!! They are so big it's crazy, and hairy.

So Elder Olmedo and myself taught Hermana Carmen this week.  She is a single lady with three kids in this mud house, with chickens and mosquito's run wild through the place.  Talk about animal abuse, these people put the fear of God behind there backhands to dogs and horses.

La Paz is beautiful though mama, especially at night.  The stars and my Luna light up the night and it's amazing.

I'm safe though mama, no need to worry.  We are respected by a lot of people here. (Helaman 5:12, BofM) and I have 6 baptisms in sight!

I love you mama, with all my heart.

Elder Latham 

Thank you for your continued prayer, emails and letters to Marc.  Please keep all missionaries and their families in your daily prayers.

Regards,

Patricia Vautin'Latham

Week 6 - 1st week in Honduras!

Marc is in Honduras now,  I just found out this information today.

Please keep him and all missionaries and their families in prayer.

Patricia Vautin'Latham

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Dear Mom,

You were suppose to have received an email from my mission president to let you know that I got here OK, well I guess not? Well I'm fine!!! Honduras is crazy, dogs everywhere, passed out drunks and nobody obeys street laws.  I haven't seen carpet once, my pueblo has no shower only like this place where we hand wash our clothes and I have to use the same water!

Anyway this place is nuts! Mosquito's everywhere! I was struggling adjusting, but I read your letter and the scripture in Isaiah 41:13 about fear not God is with me and I prayed for comfort in heart and hes been there with me! My companion is Elder Olmedo and he is from El Salvador.

I did receive one letter from you, but now send stuff to :

Elder Russell Latham Jr.

Honduras Comayaguela Mission

Edificio Plaza America Contiguo a Sears

una cuadra del Mall Multi Plaza, 3 Nivel

Teguicigalpa, Francisco Morazon

Honduras

packages need telephone #

504-2239-7139

I wish I had more time, but mission reglas.  I love you, give everyone my love and those babies.

Elder Marc Latham

Week 4 at Guatemala MTC!

Hey Mama!   

I've looked forward to this all week to tell you all the good stuff, and now I only have 15 minutes! 

My maestro (teacher) Hermano Abadillo asked me personally, "Did I come to this mission to baptize and teach lessons, or raise people from the dead?"  Of course I said baptize, but he made me realize the true power that I have.  With faith and obedience and diligence, I can perform miracles cause the Lord called me.  I've been set apart to bless people.  That's why I decided to work the hardest I can.  I can't waste time or joke around cause this isn't my church this is the Lords work. 

Anyways, the last group of Latinos left today so we get new ones and that's the group we leave with.  Just 2 more weeks and I'll be in Honduras.  My Spanish still stinks but it's weird cause the last group gave me pictures and ties and wanted me to sign stuff cause they said they looked up to me... how?  It made me tear a little cause here I am handed everything, not being able to speak a language, but trying so hard, and they think I'm amazing for that.  

Today I went to the Guatemala Temple and I prayed for everyone so hard.  I miss everyone and those babies; But I'm at ease cause I know He's gonna bless you all with all His mercy and grace.

I finished Genesis this week and half way done with Exodus.  I love the Old Testament.  

Anyways,  I got to go again, but I love you all and please let Nanny know I love her and I am still dancing with her from Guatemala .      

Elder Latham

_______

Thank you for your prayers for Marc.

Regards,

Patricia Vautin'Latham

Week 3 at Guatemala MTC.

Hi All! I hope this finds all of you well.  Here is Marc's latest email received today. Please continue to keep him in your prayers, as well as all missionaries.

Regards, Patricia Vautin'Latham

JUNE is bust'n out all over!!!! It's your favorite missionary!!! I was writing in my journal the other day and realized how fast time is going! So the new group of Latinos came and I have a new nickname. Team Jacob from Twilight... hahaha. I thought that was a funny new one, also I get a few Elders here in there, so my fellow missionaries are not helping keeping me be humble. Everywhere I walk I get asked to do a "front double biceps pose."

I'm also going slightly insane not being able to listen to music. I'm like a karaoke machine, singing all genres of music.

We got the chance to go to the market this week and buy snacks and all that. I bought some tuna which wasn't a fan favorite! Walking back, I thought for sure something was gonna happen with walking with a bunch of kids in suites. But the Lord protects.

The cafeteria staff is on a first name basis with me now since I'm the only elder that gets not just 2 or 3 but 4 hahaha.

I still don't understand beans and eggs as breakfast, that just doesn't seem....American.

I'm gonna try to send some pictures of our recent group photos we took. The MTC took all our cameras in the beginning because I guess they get stolen a lot.

They had me sing in church again this week, this time in Spanish but it went really good. I felt like a young Ricky Martin up there.

My Spanish is coming slowly but surely. I still have my problems, but I'm pretty good at teaching people lessons though my facial expressions and hand gestures, which they love.

I wanted to ask you mom personally to pick up a Book of Mormon and read it. Not trying to say you have to belong to any religion but as I've been reading it more, it's so universal and can help... if you want.

So, I close by saying I love you all so much and hope you all (and those babies) are in the best of spirits. Know that there is a lot of prayers going out to ya'll.

Elder Marc Latham out. mic drop!

Week 2 at Guatemala MTC

Marc's personal letter to his mom.  Thank you Trisha for sharing!

YO YO YO it's your favorite missionary from the big ol Guatemala!!!! So mama, I just have to say that I only have an hour to email everyone and I got 26 emails so I kinda just skimmed through the Lord of the Rings trilogy you sent me.  

But yeah, the weather out here is bad bottom. I was pumping some iron in the gym while my district was playing volleyball and then BOOM!!! Rain like crazy and the thunder like a giant... It's pretty awesome. 

My little dorm is like right across from the temple so I can always clearly see the angel Moroni from where I am.

I've been pushing myself hard with the language and getting extra help but it's hard.  I gotta conjugate everything and then, I was giving a talk and tried to say the atonement forgives sin... and I said the atonement forgives fish... (pecado vs pescado).  No bugs have got me though. 

I've been really optimistic this week though and happy.  All the Latinos are little so they give me there food at meals.  I end up eating like 5 meals but everyone says just enjoy it while it lasts.

I know it's been 2 weeks but I feel like everything's changing.  I don't know how the new Mad Max was.  I don't know how many likes I got on my last Instagram post, or who commented.   Is Justin Beiber still in legal trouble?  I DON'T KNOW.

I do know that the Lord, your Lord is protecting you guys.  I can feel it and those babies!!! gee wiz!!!    They gave me a solo to sing at church.  At lunch I sing all the time... Nat King Cole, the Four Seasons, and you know David Lee Roth.  

I wish I had more time to tell more experiences that have happened but I have no more time.  I  love you so much mama.  Give everyone my love and know that I'm right there with you.  Love you more!!!!!

Your son Marc

This is from Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Thank you everyone for your emails that have been sent and prayers. Please keep them coming, appreciate them all.

Elder Marc Latham's address:

Elder Marc Latham

Guatemala MTC

P.O. Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150



or email is:

marc.latham@myldsmail.net

Week 1 - I made it to the Guatemala Mission Training Center (MTC)

(This is a "family" letter shared by Marc's Mom!  Thank you Trisha!)

YO YO YO!!!! MY MOM!!!! Gosh! I miss you so very much!!!! I know it's only been a week but I already feel more appreciative of my family and especially my mom!  But, I pulled strength from prayer and actually now is pretty cool.  Besides diarrhea like crazy the MTC is great.  I can't wait to leave and start serving, but still I try to take advantage of this time too.

All they speak is Espanol here!!!!  I'm seriously like the only dude who doesn't speak Spanish.  Seriously, I should have learned some Spanish by now.  

All the Latinos here call me "Elder Hulk" and talk about my brasos aka arms so that's funny.  I always flex my biceps and they go wild!!!!  Plus I'm like the tallest guy in this whole country so I stick out like a sore thumb.

I was talking to my teacher Hermano Abadillo about how when I go back to the states and speak fluent Spanish, it's not gonna be as cool cause I already look like a Latino.  I have to admit though I'm the biggest Gringo here.  Even the kid from Utah teases me.  

I miss you so much though mom.  I have dreams about the states and when I wake up I ask myself where am I.  Or why am I doing this.  But immediately, I ask Heavenly Father for strength.  I miss those babies too!  I pulled out a picture of them to show my companion Elder Johnson and started crying those man tears.  I love those guys so much it's unbelievable. 

Anyways out of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, anywhere else people are going... everyone says Honduras is CRAZY!!!! But don't freak out hahaha.

Okay so back to the MTC haha, I've been working out in there little facility they got here, which sucks btw.  Like the weights only go up to 35 pounds, but anyways, I'm getting really creative but all the Latinos follow me around trying to do the same workouts so I've been doing a lot of personal training here as well. 

The food here is no bueno though haha.  I look at most of the food and say I shouldn't eat this... but end up doing it cause I'm hungry as heck.  The Latinos always give me their food too so I end up having like 3 meals.  I've stopped putting hot sauce on my food too because.... well it's not as nice leaving hahaha.  

The plane ride stunk though.  I tried to sleep but I'm too large and could never get comfortable.  Oh and my bed here is like a Hannah Montana small.  My feet hit the ground.  

We haven't been out that much which kind of sucks cause sometimes I get like cabin fever in here.  It's really Americanized in here though so I like it but I do want to get down and dirty.  We went to the temple like 2 hours ago which really calmed my heart and really just got to pray deeply.  I needed that. 

The weather here is weird like it's really hot with dark CLOUDS then it POURS like no other!!!!!! But I just stay in the weight room. 

I gotta go but I love you all and keep writing and praying.  I love it!   

Elder Marc Latham

Elder Marc Latham's address:
Elder Marc Latham
Guatemala MTC
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

or email is:
marc.latham@myldsmail.net

Farewell May 10th - Mother's Day