April 24, 2012

I love you Heather!

HELLO HELLO

Chelsey Evans... YOU'RE ENGAGED!!!! I knew that I'd be the last cat lady in the bunch! Congrats I love you so much. I need an invite! :)

This week was SOO great! We are getting more and more teaching opportunities as the weeks go by. May 2 is transfers and I'm stressing about it a little because I DO NOT want to split up from Sister Price. We work really well together and are finally figuring out things here, so change is not needed!

Okay, so Paco and Jaclyn: well I LOVE them! We met with them and taught the Plan of Salvation. We were a little nervous about telling them about the importance of getting married and keeping God's commandment by doing so, but it went very well. At the end we were really rushing for time, so we briefly covered getting married here while on the earth. At the end Paco said, "Wait, so we just need to go to the courthouse and then we can live together for eternity?... that doesn't make sense. Shouldn't we need to get married before God?" HOLY AMAZING! We told him that he was exactly right and then we briefed the temple, but sadly, we had to run off because we were late for the next lesson. Paco is sooo prepared, and Jaclyn understood too because it's not like all religions teach the need to get married before you live with each other. SOOO COOL!

We also had another awesome lesson with Phoenix -the 8 year old whose parents are Buddhist. I think I talked about him last week- but so we taught him again, and his parents took him to church and he LOVED it.

Sister Price and I had two awesome experiences this week where 2 different people living in separate homes told us they love it when we came over because their home always feels more peaceful! I love that because IT DOES! The spirit is so strong and so evident when you are talking about Christ, praying, and reading the scriptures and people who aren't used to having the Holy Ghost in their homes definitely notice it!

I just thought that was so awesome, especially because I figured they would say they don't like us coming over because we are so sweaty when we come! Yes... THE HEAT IS BACK! My tan lines are out of this world. Literally, when I get out of the shower I look like I'm still wearing a white suit! HAHA! It's horrible but I love it!

Helaman 15:6 "striving with unwearied diligence" Today I read this in my personal study and it just really struck me! This is exactly what we have to do at all times throughout our lives. I'm so grateful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon!

I love you all so much!
love sister martin

April 16, 2012

WEEK OF MIRACLES!!!

If I learn nothing more on my mission it will be that God answers our prayers! We have been struggling to find more people to teach in this area, but this week I'm pretty sure our teaching pool exploded!

Late Tuesday night right before we were about to head in, we were walking around this condo plex and Sister Price spotted a couple sitting together on a bench so we made our way over to them. (haha isn't it funny that on pitch dark nights we are walking up to random people! don't worry we're protected)

We talked with them briefly about the Restoration and shared our testimonies about the blessings the gospel brings to families. Then we invited them to learn more and they said something I haven't heard for a while.... "YES"! Really, that word seemed too good to be true! So we set up a time on Thursday to meet with them.

I really don't know how to describe the lesson we had with them...
the very first thing we asked them at the beginning of the lesson was "Why did you want to learn more" and Paco told us that he just felt like he needed to have his questions answered. These were a few of his questions:

1. Why can't we pray directly to God? Why must we pray to a saint in order for them to relay our message?
2. Why are babies baptized; they couldn't possibly have sinned yet?

It is an understatement to say that these questions blew me away! Then we began to explain about Christ's earthly ministry and the effects of the Apostasy. If there were any doubts in my mind about my testimony up to this point, they were shattered during this powerful lesson! The Spirit was thick as fog and I was not the only one feeling it. After we taught them about the Restoration, Paco and Jaclyn committed to read and pray about the things we talked about. They said also when they knew that these things were true, they would be baptized! Unfortunately, they are not married YET, but this week we will teach them the Plan of Salvation and they will see the need to make that committment to each other.

This is just one of our many amazing lessons this week. I know that I am a child of God and that He loves ME! If you don't know this, then pray and ask... he WILL answer your sincere prayer!

I love you all so very much
love,
Sister Martin

April 9, 2012

Sister Martin's one year mission birthday!

Easter Pageant at Mesa Temple with Sister Price

We couldn't stay away. Loved visiting the Mesa Temple!

Craig, Linda, Crystal, and Heather

Had to find the Cafe Rio in Gilbert!

Heather is mimicking Emily's former picture.

Hello!
Mom and Dad,  thank you so much for all of the wonderful treats that you sent Sister Price and I in the Easter basket! You are so awesome and all of it was really appreciated! Those peanut butter eggs are AWESOME and might already be gone... haha! I LOVE the calander that Christy made too!  I was so excited to get it, so now I have that one in my bedroom and the other one with inspiring quotes by my desk. Thanks so much for all that you do.

Weird that everyone is here in AZ for Easter, and that I'm not, but its good though. Easter has become one of my most favorite holidays and it is great to be able to celebrate it twice on my mission! I love you all sooo very much. Ohh and I love love love the stationary that you sent me:)!  The cloud one I kept because it was def. the cutest. Ask Heather if she will be still living in the same place next semester because I sent her a latter last Tue. and it will be in her mailbox when she gets home. Love you!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!
So this week was crammed full of small miacles! It's interesting when weeks are like this because when I look back and think about what heppened this week, it's easy to totally skip over all the small and simple things.  I feel like the Nephites in the Book of Mormon after they had already seen with their own eyes the signs of Christ's birth and slowly in time they forgot all the signs and wonders that they had seen. Remembering should be easy,  but it is definitely not. I'm always trying to remember names, dates, places, and most importantly, times in my life where I have had spiritual experiences; where I knew the Lord was leading and guiding me.

In Alma 37 it talks about how small and simple things are "great things brought to pass".  Missionary work is hard sometimes because each week we have to give our "stats",  meaning how many lessons and so on we've had. Well, before getting lessons there is usually a lot of work done first, aka, small and simple things that have to take place. This week was full of that. Days go by that we don't get any lessons, BUT the great thing is, Heavenly Father always gives us little miracles that help us to know He is mindful of us and that He cares. For example .... alot of times Sister Price and I will get done talking to someone or have an awesome conversation with someone and afterwards we look and each other with a huge smile and are just like "OHHH YA, they are Golden", (meaning their hearts are softened and ready to learn about the gospel and accept it) and then... nothing happens or comes of that amazing visit! This could be so discouraging OR it could be Heavenly Father just showing us His love everyday. His love for me is so evident and I am so grateful for that.

This week was a rough week, BUT just like they said at conference, we are just getting "more polished"! I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and that without Him this life would be pointless.

I love you all so very much!!!
Love,

Sister martin

April 2, 2012

Happy Late birthday Bridget and Happy Early Birthday Pops!  LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU BOTH!
This week was another one for the books!
Slow and steady wins the race, right?  Well in this case it sure will because that is the exact pace at which we are moving. There have been a lot of dropped lessons and such, but there is still a lot of really good things happening, so it's awesome! Sister Price is pretty much a pro missionary and she has only been out for 5 months! We have so much fun together and also are really great together. It's so fun how with every new companion it's different, but so good at the same time.

Wasn't conference just AMAZING!!! wow after watching those sessions we were pumped up and ready to share with the world what we had just heard and FELT!  It was awesome because after hearing the prophet we talked wih this guys for about 30 minutes about the need for a prophet today. There is no doubt in my mind that having a prophet today is completely necessary! It shows how much God really does love us.  I mean we could do it on our own but he loves us so much and He wants to give us every opportunity to have added help and support in the crazy life. ohhh and did everyone hear the Elder say "WRITE THE MISSIONARIES LETTERS"! yep an apostle of the Lord said that,  soo I'm pretty sure you should listen :) haha!

Sooo... mom and dad! Sister Price's bike was stolen this week so I gave her my Walmart one. I hope that is okay.  Not sure if she is going to keep it though because she has long legs and it's obviously not the best bike in the world,  but it's hers for now.  It was so random though, because only her's got stolen and they left my piece of junk bike alone... I guess it's a good thing to not have a good one.

I'm so excited for Easter and for the blessing it is to be able to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The Easter Pageant has been sooooo amazing and it's incredible to be able to join with people of all faiths and be able to celebrate the life, ministry and sacrifice of Jesus Christ all together.


I love you all sooo much and I just want to add my testimony that I know that Jesus is the Christ and that "there is no other name whereby we can be saved, only in and through the sacred name of Jesus Christ" How thankful I am to Him!
Take care and Happy Easter!
Love,
Sister Martin

March 26, 2012

I love my Norweigen girl!

Sad to leave!

I love Doug - one of my favorite people!

Queens of the Creek - I miss them already!

Marti and Dolli

Martin and Price! ROCKIN SKYLINE!!

A toast with Martinelies from Bonnie to start the transfer off right! I LOVE YOU BONNIE!

Hello Hello!!!
IM IN SKYLINE!!! Actually that is just the Zone's name, which is just a street,  but I've moved and now I cover another part of Gilbert and also Mesa and I LOVE IT! iI came into a brand new area that  started 6 weeks ago and it is a struggling area with zero progressing investigators BUT its awesome! The people here are SO nice and there is just tons of potential. I love being here and it is awesome to be with my new comp., Sister Price who is from Driggs, ID.  If Christa Strebel is reading this... She knows RAD hahaha small world! But she is awesome and I have no doubt in my mind that big things are about to happen in this area! This week we did a LOT of street contacting and got several return appointments that is cool.

I can't forget to mention that i wouldn't have been able to make this transition as smoothly if it was not for my TRANSFER SURVIVAL KIT, which was a gift from all the Algers! I love you all and miss you so much ! xoxoxx be sure to check out the pictures.

 One amazing blessing is Ginny!  Ginny lives right next door to a member and this member talked to us about Ginny the day I got here. She told us how her husband was super prepared but that the Ginny has a mother who isn't fond of the church at all and that was her big hold up. WELL,  the next day we were biking in that area and Ginny was outside :) soo of course we went up and talked to her and it ended up being an awesome 30 min conversation. The spirit is so cool because when people feel it they can't help but to be relaxed and just open up. A lot of the time I feel like we are are therapists!!!! but it was awesome and she completely opened up to us and pretty much bore her testimony to us. She told us that she knew that the Lord was preparing her for something. In the end we asked her if we could come back but she didn't have a good time yet. She took a Mormon.Org card with our phone number on it and looked at us dead in our eyes and said "thank you so much. I WILL call you"!
I know that she will. THEN the very next day were having dinner in the area and we saw her husband outside and rode up to him.  We stopped and he said "Hey , I know who you are!  My wife talked to me all night about you two last night!" He said that they dont have a time set up yet, but that they will soon :) It was crazy awesome. Miracles are happening !!

Its so weird because we only cover 3 wards in this area and in my other areas we covered 4 but I love it because it helps us to really focus on these 3. We've also met some very unique people in this area, which is always fun, and we cover homes and apartments, which is fun too. We met with this guy named Rafael, and he is very unique and awesome at the same time.

Sister Price and I teach really well together which is fun... no awkward transitions and such, which is WAY nice. I am her "breaker" meaning that she just finished being trained and so I'm here to break her of all the bad habits her trainer taught her :) haha, but she doesn't have any and is already a pro teacher!

It's weird not knowing this area at all or the members after being in Queen Creek for so long. It really is great though, because being a missionary wherever you go, people love you.... and hate you! but it's all part of the experience. For all of you out there,  you should honk and wave when you see the missionaries. I can't even tell you how many times we are biking and for some reason or another that day is just particularly hard,  and then someone honks and waves at us and I am ALL better and I have a smile on my face!

This is the Lord's work and no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing :) Its great to see that at a time when the world is turning away from God and religion in general, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Christ's church Restored back to the earth,  still continues to press forward and more and more people are joining in to help.


my new address is 4776 E Guadalupe #2088 Gilbert, AZ 85234 (I LOVE letters and Packages :)

love you all so much
sister martin

March 19, 2012

"Queens of the Creek" tees

 

Sister Doll and I with Omar.

Hello Hello!
Mom, thank you SOOOO MUCH for the awesome shirts. They are seriously the
best ever and i love them so much.  I love the story about the shirts.  I don't know if you remember but when I read my call, I read "Arizona TEMPLE Mission" and it wasn't until Heather
said, "wait,  that says 'Tempe' not temple".  ha ha so its kinda funny to have a
shirt that says it.

And the verdict on transfers is....................... I'M GOING!!!!
Crazy! seriously I'm sad, excited, and just freaked out about where I'm
going and who my next companion is going to be! I have lived in Queen
Creek for the past 9 months and I cant even imagine leaving- mom I
have MANY boxes for you that I'm giving to bonnie- I have too much
stuff and I really don't know how I'm going to be able to pack it all.
Thank goodness though,  it's not like college where I had to pack
bedroom and kitchen stuff as well! Ughhh, that's the worst.

This week has been such a great week though! Omar got BAPTIZED!!!!
We have been teaching him since Nov. and he is the one that was looking for the 100%
answer. Well... he never had a huge answer that was earth-shaking, but
after looking back at the changes the gospel made in his life so far and
thinking about where he wanted to be in the future,  he knew this
was the right decision! His parents and sister came all the
way from Texas to support him in this huge decision he was making.
To thank them,  he stood up and talked about his life growing up and
great memories that he had with each one of them. It was so
touching and of course, I was bawling like a little baby. It was so
cute too, because he got baptized on St.Patty's Day, so he bought a whole
bunch on clover pins for everyone who attended.

We had Easter Pageant training on Sat. and never have I been more proud
to be serving in the Arizona Tempe Mission under President Howes! We
combined with the Mesa Mission and their president is great too,
BUT President Howes is hardcore!! He is just such a powerful speaker
and I NEEDED him to be my president. There again, Revelation, is such a
beautiful thing!

We had such a great lesson with Kelly this week. We talked about
real intent and how he can know if the Book of Mormon is true by
Sincerely praying about it! Think about it... this is Christ's Church!
He would want us to know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God
and Another testament of Jesus Christ, as well as anything else pertaining
to our salvation, such as baptism. Heavenly Father answers our prayers
and I have such a testimony about that, and that by the power of the Holy
Ghost, we can know the truth of ALL things.

Lori and Jay came to church this Sunday and it was just Fantastic! The
spirit is so strong at church and we can always feel God's love for us
while being there.
Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 26:23-25:

23. " For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God
worketh not in darkness.
24.  He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world;
for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that
he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they
shall not partake of his salvation.
25. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I
say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the
earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price."

WOW! this scripture is SUPER powerful! come unto Christ and partake of
ALL that he has given us. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life.
I love you all so much,

Love,
Sister Martin

March 13, 2012

HELLO

So this week we finally saw some fruits from our labors! We had lots of good teaching opportunities and miracles happen through LOTS of prayer,fasting and diligence.

We finally contacted CATHY! woohoo!!  The elders taught her and she was super awesome and receptive,  but we haven't been able to contact her until this week! She is as great as they made her out to be and we are excited for the opportunity to teach her.

Last week there was a huge stake fundraiser we helped at and this family in one of the Elder's wards came up to us and asked if we would teach their 13 year old cousin. I guess the Elders taught her a few times,  but for some reason it just didn't sink in and she was very confused about everything so they asked if we would give it a try. So we did and we REALLY went basic with lots of "Sister flare"! haha!  We used object lessons and analogies to help her understand and that was all she needed for it all to just click! She is on date now and will be baptized on the 18th. She is such a cute girl and really has a desire to follow Christ but just wasn't quite sure how to do that. She is from the Ukraine originally,  and while living there she never even heard of the name God or Jesus Christ, which is just so sad. She came here 2 years ago and since then has developed a great relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study. It's just really great to be able to witness.

Omar is also getting baptized on St. Patty's day!!  He had also taken the lessons several times before we started teaching him.  We have been teaching him since Oct. or Nov. It's just cool to see how the Lord is preparing people for the gospel.

Sister Doll and I are DEFINITELY NOT perfect teachers but seeds were planted a little at a time for both of these people and then finally one day it just all clicked and they both received their own witnesses that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church restored to the earth. Ohhh what Love He has for each and every one of us.

Sister Doll and I are starting a new thing each week where we will personally have a scripture of the week for us as a companionship that we read and memorize.  If you want, you can join us. This week's scripture is Alma 57:21

"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."  Miracles come from EXACT OBEDIENCE!

I love you all so much,
sister martin