Feb. 13, 2012

Hello Everyone,

guess what... I GOT A SUNBURN THIS WEEK! yes it is that hot here already and I'm freaking out because it's too early to be hot!

Sister Doll and I are working hard to get to know the new area and to keep in contact with the people that the elders were already working with, and then find new people as well. We don't live in our area anymore so we've been biking like crazy.  since they just cut out 150 of our miles,  we have been averaging 25 miles per day which is great. The new area is great and we have already seen miracles.

on wed we were biking to and from different peoples houses and we ran into this guy named Joel. He is our age and so we talked to him and his friend and set up a return appt.  A few days later we confirmed the appt but he was a no show. Our fellowship left and we called him and left a message not thinking that he would call us back, BUT he sure did about 10 min later and he apologized and said that he was at his friends house on the next street over, so we headed over there. we ended up meeting him and his 2 other friends on the street and teaching them all about the Restoration of the gospel on the street at 8 at night HA HA! but it was seriously the best lesson!!! The spirit was so strong and 2 of them really related to Joseph Smith's story about  being confused on which church was true when all of them are so contradictory. in the end we left them with copies of the Book of Mormon and they were excited to read and pray about the things which they read and then we are meeting them again on wed.

Lessons like these are my favorite because there was no time to prepare, all you have to go off of is pure testimony! In my patriarchal blessing it talks about how i will help to bring others to the gospel by just being myself and in these situations I can see that exactly! This week we have met so many people and it's just exciting. We met with our new bishops and they are excited about the change as well. In church on Sunday sister Doll and I got up and bore our testimonies which was great, so that everyone could know who we were. We also asked the bishop if he could commit the ward members to pray for both of us by name daily with their families! Prayer brings MIRACLES!!!!
Guess what....?
We had a missionary fireside and SHERRY DEW came and spoke to all of the missionaries! Ohhh man was it powerful!
"This life is not about this life, its about the next" This life is a time to Prepare to meet God and so what are we doing to be prepared?

She told us this story of how one day she spent all day planting 40 plants in her front yard. she finished for the day and then woke up the next morning to find all of her plants GONE! long story short her 6 year old neighbor came over to pick a pretty flower and as she picked it she noticed that all of the flowers came out all together since the roots had not yet rooted into the ground yet and so she pulled all of her plants out so that her yard could be pretty too! the related this to our testimonies. How deep are our testimonies rooted? anyone, even a 6 year old, could come and challenge our testimonies and how could we withstand that? she talked some more about how interesting it is that the most important part of the plant was not the pretty flower, but the roots that help the plants to the ground and that is the part that Isn't Seen!!!

this lesson is EXACTLY what i needed to hear and to help me be able to find those that are being prepared for the gospel at this time IN THIS AREA because obviously, sister doll and I need to be here together!
I love this gospel and I know that its true and THIS IS THE LORDS WORK!
hope you all have a great week!
love sister martin

Feb. 6, 2012

Hello,

This Morning was CRAZY! so I'm staying in Queen Creek for another 6 weeks making it 9 Months in total here!!! HALF OF MY MISSION!  I'm totally fine with that BUT they threw in a curve ball this morning and took away 2 of my favorite wards and so now we are white washing into two new wards....I wanted to cry! its crazy how attached you get to people and areas here when you are with them ALL the time and when you are just so focused on helping them! I am excited for the new adventure to white wash into a new area and that is what i have always wanted, but I'm still very sad!

I have a Testimony of receiving answers to prayer.   This morning was rough and so after the heartbreaking news I knew that there was nothing that i could do but to pray and receive a confirmation for myself that this was a change that Heavenly Father needed Sister Doll and I to do- OH ya I forgot to tell you that Doll and I are staying together too! My baby and I will be together for 6 months! CRAZY- During that prayer the biggest sense of peace came over me and i KNEW that even though i didn't like that change,  it was inspired and that we need to be there! What a great blessing that Heavenly Father has given us, that we can pray to him and receive comfort and peace.

 "Council with the Lord in ALL thy doings and he will direct you for good." Alma 37:37

This is going to be a weird change because pretty much everyone we were teaching was in the San Tan Park ward but i know the elders and they are great so it will be good for the area.

This week was GREAT! we got in  doors of those we haven't seen for a Very long time! We have a lesson with that 9 year old's parents Thursday,  which is great,  BUT now we wont be there haha. well, we might be to introduce them to the elders but that's it.

one things for sure... ITS TIME TO WORK. . .and i am excited for that! I fee like we've been transferred but we really haven't. This week has been a Very humbling week and Heavenly Father has been by my side the whole time.

 I love this work, its not easy, but it is the best work that I have ever done. I am a child of God and so are each and every one of YOU!

I love you all so very much!
love sister martin

MOM! thanks so much for the awesome gift! i love the earings sooo much :)  you are the very very best :)

AUNT CAROLYN! thank you so much for the AWESOME letter
I will be writing you this week :) love you