Latest Update

Note:  Brad's Visa has moved to "authorized" so he will be leaving for Brazil very soon.  Until he leaves, his new MTC box number is 223 and his P-Day is changed to Mondays.  Thank you for all of your love and support of him.  He is thrilled to receive any and all letters and packages you feel so inclined to send.


Ola Familia!


I haven't gotten the PACKAGE yet but I did get the photobook yesterday and it was amazing! My district was so happy they got to see y'all before they left! Elder Pauls leave in like three hours and it's freaky! This week has no doubt been intense. It's our last week as a district and everyone is feeling kinda weird about it. I think there's something wrong with me though because last night we had an extremely spiritual last class with Brother Dopp our incredible teacher, and everybody was bawling... except me... again. It was a little weird but it was still fantastic. I got a little discouraged about not getting the visa this week but I guess there's a reason I'm supposed to stay here for a little while longer so I guess I'll exercise some faith and follow the Lord's plan for me, even though it's 100% unknown and a little weird. So before I forget my new mailbox number for my new Portuguese district is 223 and it starts tomorrow. I get two new companions and I hate the thought of moving my stuff for only a week, it's a little bit of a pain but oh well. By the way, I LOVED getting letters from everyone and finally getting one from Dad! It was a nice surprise!




I feel a little nervous to start Portuguese tomorrow but I had an interesting temple experience last week that really helped and we get to go again today. I can't explain how good it feels knowing that the Lord is watching out for me so closely and He wants me to succeed so badly. It was really interesting last night as well (during the same lesson with Brother Dopp) that I couldn't help but feel that the Lord is and has been preparing me for something great. I don't know what or how it will be great, but I can just feel it. All the ups and downs in life and the trials and afflictions, are for our benefit and as we are promised in Doctrine and Covenants 121: If we endure it well, we will be exalted on high. This whole week has been ridiculous. It's been up and down but overall just one huge incredible spiritual experience. It will be tough to say goodbye to my district tomorrow morning and to Elder Clawson but we should always be moving onward and upward. The song Lord, I would follow thee meant a lot to me this week. It just made me think about what I would do to follow God. If we have the faith to follow God through the fire and back in this life, that we will never have to experience it in the next, but we have to go through fire at some point, whether here or there.: No matter what happens in your life, no matter what terrible things have happened or what is happening, if you endure it well, and follow your Savior out of the fire, it will be for your benefit. It will never be easy, but it will always be worth it." I'm so proud to be serving the Lord and even though it's super tough I know that if we live the commandments and we keep the faith that the Lord will never forsake us. I know that as I continue to live obediently that I will be able to teach and serve with all the authority of God and I will be worthy to act in His name. This church is the true church restored to the Earth today, this really is a marvelous work, and for the next two years as I work my heart out to serve the Lord, I know countless lives will be touched and the Glory of God will be praised forever. I love you all, thank you so much for everything and for all the support. This is a miraculous experience.

Elder Marley

P.S. Sister KNIGHT will be at the visitors center in Portland in 3 weeks. I told her to look for all Beans and Marley's and that my Grandma Peterson will no doubt initiate a conversation with her.




Also, I hope you got my pictures!

Week 2

This last week was incredible. Our district successfully got away from the sophmore slump where the second week districts enthusiasm drops. We did get a new district of elders headed to Virginia and Texas and they're super rowdy but I am sure next week it'll be a different ball game. At devotional last Tuesday we were able to hear from Elder Clarke of the seventy and he gave an incredible talk on being a successful missionary. It was just a roller coaster week. Sometimes I get down because I feel like I'm not progressing but that usually lasts only about 5 minutes and then I feel fantastic again. I sent some pictures this week and I hope you get them soon! So I was thinking the other day about something that's really cool. I'm the fifth Marley to serve a mission and all five of us have had different languages on our tags! Engliush, German, Spanish, Chinese, And now Portuguese. I just thought it was cool. Anyways this week Elder Paul and I made great progress with a few of our "investigators" and committed two of three to be baptized. It's super crazy to be able to feel the spirit so strongly all the time. We went to the temple today and after the session I had a little time to think and pray and I was so moved by the spirit. I feel so incredibly blessed to be serving and especially to have met these wonderful missionaries. It's crazy to think that I almost didn't take the opportunity to meet all these guys. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways. I love this whole experience and it's really going to be incredible. This is my last week as an English missionary and I start Portuguese next wednesday! Unfortunately that means my whole district and Elder Clawson leaves for Minnesota, Brazil and North Carolina on wednesday too. That day will be so rough. But on the plus side this upcoming wednesday we get to train new elders and sisters in our zone and one is a Sister Knight who is going to PORTLAND OREGON!!! She's going to work in the new visitor center so everyone go there next month and tell Sister Knight you're my family! Way too awesome! I just feel the blessings of living obediently so much and I'm so grateful for it. I'm so grateful to know that my heavenly father has forgiven me for the stupid kid I once was and that He trusts me with this work He has for me in Brazil. I know what I'm doing here is the work of the Lord and if I serve Him with all my "heart, might, mind, and strength" that I will be able to rest well in two years and that I will be able to have success in the next 23 months. I love everyone so much and I am so grateful for all the love and the support. What an amazing experience. Everything that will happen in the next two years, good or bad, will be for my benefit and the benefit of those I serve. I'm really growing close to the missionaries I'm serving with and I'm growing even closer to the Lord. Stay faithful and strive to feel the Spirit everyday because it's possible.
Muito Amor Familia,

Elder Marley

Brad's First Letter Home!!!!

Oi Familia!

Yep. The amount of Portuguese I knew when I left is the same amount I know now! We''re doing the pilot program so we learn our gospel stuff here then leave for the CTM in Sao Paulo on February 29th, in theory, to focus on language. This week was so nuts. The first day, I was just losin all my stuff. I got my companion, his name is Elder Paul and his twin brother and him are in our district. My Elder Paul is going to my mission and his twin is going to Joao Pissoa Brazil up north next to Nick Anderson. This whole week has been one spiritual punch in the mouth. We have the most incredible district ever. Elder Pauls by the way mom, are the ones from the missionary mom website. So yeah, I don't know how that worked out.

Anyways, day one I was feeling down and doubtful, but I had a life changing spiritual experience the next day that turned everything around. I explained it in my letter. The missionaries in my district are Elders Paul, Elders Barker, Johnsen, and Yorgason from Utah, Elder Mattison from Arizona (reminds me exactly of Craig Burwell, mega stud) Elder Winkler who is easily the most inspiring person alive, but I'll get to that later. We have four sisters Sister Morgan from NC, Sisters Briggs and Fitisemanu from California, and Sister Rider from Florida. It's true that Sister missionaries are what keeps the church together. They're incredible! Sister Morgan is the Zone coordinating sister which means she runs all the things that concern the sisters in our zone. Elder Paul and I are the Zone Leaders which is the same thing but with the Elders.

It's funny being here because all the Brazilian missionaries come up to us and try speaking Portuguese and we're just like, “Uhhh, we don't speak Portuguese." Then we have to explain why. Oh! I've run into Elder Clawson and Hermana Layton a few times! Makes me SO happy to see them! I'll try to get a picture with them soon. Anyways. One Elder in our district, Elder Winkler, is the most inspiring guy on the planet. He has been homeless and in and out of foster care since he was four years old. He ran away from his abusive aunt and uncle for the last time at age 13 and literally ran away to join the circus... he played drums for Cirque Du Soleil and has worked as a professional drummer since. He is a former drug addict and alcoholic, and received the gospel at 17 when he was living in the attic of a strip club in West Hollywood. He's so hardcore, but his testimony is truly amazing. I wish I had more time because there's so much to write about him alone!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the missionaries in our district are all going to Minneapolis Minnesota. Which is funny because they're all from hot climates and Elders Paul and I are from cold climates going to BRAZIL. It's been so good getting those letters and I sent one last week so it should be there soon. Our devotional on Sunday was given by Brother Heaton an exec here at the MTC and then we watched one of Elder Bednar’s talks. Like I said, it's just been one huge spiritual rollercoaster this whole time and I've only had one day when I was being a pooper. Not bad for me! Hmmm what else? Oh Elder Paul and I get to teach a few mock investigators and two of them are really tough cookies but we work so well as a companionship that our lessons often end in tears. My teachers’ names are Brother Dopp and Sister Itri. Brother Dopp is really close friends with the Kunzler boys! Small world AGAIN. I just love this place and it's sad to see some of the Elders that you can tell just hate it because of their bad attitudes. Come on guys. I love it, the Spirit is so intense here, and the food is mediocre but does terrible things to your digestive system, and it's true I laugh at EVERYTHING now! I don't get it!

Anyways, I came here knowing nothing and my testimony has been strengthened so much since I got here. I know this gospel has the power to change lives and even though it's tough, I know every second of the next two years will be so worth it for me, and for everyone I can touch. I love all of you so much and thanks for the few letters I've been getting they really make my day and I love writing back. If you sent me a Dear Elder I've already responded - it just has to get to ya! Once again I love you and thanks for all the support!

Love,

Elder Marley 

Elder Marley has checked into the MTC and we are anxiously awaiting his first letter on P day.  I will post it here when it arrives.  Please feel free to contact him at the addresses here under "contact Elder Marley" I know he would to hear from everyone.