Week 82

Dear People of the World, certainly I have many followers of the blog from all over the world right? Okay... well maybe instead of anyone reading this, I can use it as a type of Journal! that'll be good.

There were a few great events that happened this week... I know they happened, I sure hope I remember them.

Again, I left my planner (brain) at home, so I will try and recall the things that occurred this week.

Tuesday, I do believe that there was a tuesday that happened this week.  I also believe that we had a lesson with Deanna that day... nay, it was wednesday that we had such a lesson.  We taught the plan of salvation, and the Word of Wisdom, and the Law of Chastity.  How nice it was of Deanna to start LAUGHING during the Law of Chastity lesson.  ... things got awkward... But the lesson has been taught, and she has agreed to live the law!

One of the days this week we had a guy who wanted to be rude.  So he was.  He listed a bunch of things he believes in, and said "did I cover it all? thats all you have to believe right?" I said no.  And it began.  He didn't last long, we just simply said "You also have to do all things that God has asked us to do, which include; Baptism by the Priesthood Authority" He didn't much like that, he said "There is only ONE baptism that needs to happen, and its the catholic baptism." He later, speaking of baptism, said that sometimes for good measure, they do THREE baptisms.  So I said "Wait, but I thought there was only one baptism necessary" he then yelled at us and swore bitterly and slammed the door. 

Hmmm... anything else happen this week? We had a few more stories like the one above, I went on exchanges with an Elder, which was fun, Elder Fagersten who is the man! we had a good time.  There was a baptism this week! but it was an 8 year old baptism, so it had nothing to do with us. 

Sheesh, I can't remember all of what happened this week.  Well, Until next week!!!

Elder Martin

Week 81

Welp.

 

Hmmm...

 

Slow week.  Quite frustrating in many ways.  I have a trend on my mission... every single time that I have 4 solid appointments with investigators in a single day, not just one, but every single appointment will cancel.  We had such an exciting week planned, so many appointments, and so much potential.  Every appointment but 2 cancelled, some people rescheduled, and cancelled AGAIN! its not just us.  I think its the adversary, I had a missionary come up and say "What's up with Cottonwood? is it just me, or does every appointment seem to cancel?" and then talking to other missionaries, they have been struggling as well, and are getting frustrated.  HOW EXCITING!!! Why would it be exciting? well quite clearly because when opposition arises, that means we are on the right path, and that blessings are soon to follow! So bring on the opposition, and get it out of the way so we can have the blessings.  But if not, that's okay to.  One of my favorite scriptures is Shadrach Meshach and Abednego, when they tell the king that they will be spared, and then they use the phrase "But if not".  I also read about the unprofitable servant parable this past week.  I always thought that the unprofitable servant meant a worthless and lazy servant... but I now understand it to mean that as Servants of God, we should not expect profit, or reward for what we do, so I shouldn't be expecting blessings for hard work and obedience, I should just do it for the sake of the Lord and if the blessings come (which I do know they will) then so be it.  But if not... that's okay too.

 

We had one incredible lesson though this week, which was actually last night.  We taught a part member family that I have been teaching since I've been here.  Missionaries before me asked the non-member if they could teach him the lessons, he said "No, but you can still come by and have dinner, and share a message, just not the lessons." so that's what we've done... then we just decided to teach him without permission... not sure if that's bad, but if we don't tell him they are the "lessons" it should be fine.  We first taught lesson 2, which went well, which is the Plan of Salvation.  Then we taught The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith... before we got to the story of Joseph Smith, we set it up for the Spirit (Which is something we just started doing to segway from Apostasy to Restoration) and told him that he would be feeling the spirit as we taught, and explained what he would feel.  I taught about Jospeh Smith, and turned it over to Elder Davenport for the First Vision, he then bore testimony of it, and the Spirit really came into the room very strongly.  We asked everyone how they felt, the non-member said "Very peaceful" we testified it was the Holy Ghost, and the Spirit came even stronger! It was an incredible Spirit in that home, one of the best experiences of my mission.  I absolutely love teaching!

 

I am out of time, so I must go now, that will have to suffice for the week.

 

Elder Martin

Week 80

Let's have a look at the ol' planner and see what last week brought.

Tuesday night we went and visited an investigator Deanna, who we haven't seen in a while, because she kept cancelling appts.  We thought that she was being flaky, but in fact she was not! her reasons were legitimate, and she still wanted to meet with us.  We went without an appt to her house and found her there and more than happy to talk with us.  We set an appt for the following day.  It was a huge relief to know that she was still interested in our message. 

Wednesday was transfers.  As usual it was a good meeting! Got to see a lot of friends and former companions.  Many of my former companions are already home, in fact my first 4 are already home, that's half of them.  As usual, it was a long day, a trip down to phoenix and then back up and sitting all morning, but that is my absolute favorite meeting! I get to see all the new missionaries that come in, and all the companionship changes, its just a lot of fun.  That night we met with Deanna and set a date for her baptism and gave her a calendar that we made for her progress towards baptism. 

Thursday we met with a family we've been trying to teach, but they also cancel every appt.  We finally got in there and had a lesson with them.  They aren't understanding really what we are saying.  They say they agree wih it all.  Yet they wont do anything, or change their ways, and they wont be baptized.  They don't think they need to... which contradicts the statement that they agree with everything we say.  But that's okay, its normal, and the Spirit will work with them.

Friday was interviews.  It was really good, the meeting that went along with it was a really good meeting.  I gave a talk on sanctification, then we had a new missionary give a talk on Miracles, which was really good, and then Elder Davenport gave a talk on having a positive attitude.  Most of it all tied back into miracles.  It was enjoyable. 

Saturday I went on exchanges... sheesh, I can't think of any real good stories to tell! this is a really boring entry, I apologize.  On exchanges we met with a crazy couple! the guy was super hyper and wound up, and the girl was very subdued and laid back, very strange mix.  He told us a story about how an angel stopped a bullet from hitting him, and then how he shot at a guy and it ricocheted off the angel, so he reached around the shoulder of the angel and shot the guy anyway, and then the angel looked really mad.  He was selling drugs... it is highly possible that he may have been doing them as well... or maybe the angel just had slow reflexes... Either way, it was a good story, and the couple was really cool and knew the Book of Mormon was true.  We had a good discussion with them.

Hmmm, I really wish I had some good stories this week.  Kinda boring letter I know. 

Elder Martin

Week 79

"Well, I think we should tract ridgeview" I wisely suggested to my companion. "Okay." it was as simple as that.  The plan: Tract on Ridgeview from the hours of 2:30-3:30 where we would find 1 person who was ready to hear the gospel.  Didn't go as planned.
Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock. (I usually like to knock 7 times).  "GET OFF MY PORCH".  Okay lets try again.
Knock x 7 "You guys Mormons? Not interested." SLAM. Okay, no worries.
" " " " " "    "....." SLAM.  We'll try again.  2 more, just like it.  and again! Knock x 7 "Ooooh hey look at that, you guys are mormons huh?" "Yes sir, what gave it away?" "The goofy outfits.  Tell you what guys, you're wasting your time, I don't have any imaginary friends."  "Well that is very reassuring sir, we teach a message about the reality of God." "Oh I know, but I'm sane, I have my head on straight.  You should try my neighbor, he'll convert YOU!" "Oh you mean Paul?" "Yeah you know paul?" "Oh  yes, we know him... he tried to convert us." "Well, that's all I have to say, goodbye fellas" closes the door... I may have slipped in "Good luck in life." before he closed it and "Good luck in the next life" after he closed it.  His neighbor we knew to be a "Super-Basher!" so we skipped him, and continued to have EVERY SINGLE DOOR SLAMMED.  I was shock-ed.  On the other side of the street, we had pretty good success though.  Let me just say... the most un-elect street in all of cottonwood... next to hermits lane.

Ah, another good story.  This has been a good week by the way.  So, actually its not a good story, its a very sad story.  Baptism of a great man named Jerry.  1 o clock on Saturday.  He is not our investigator, but the investigator of some other missionaries in a different ward... so we get everything ready, and he shows up and is all excited to go! but his best friend can't make it cause she was really sick.  That's a bummer.  Oh well, certainly the ward will support him.  We call the man who is supposed to baptize him, who came from a very long distance.  He heard the wrong time! he heard 2 o clock, but we can't wait til then because there is another baptism at 2 o clock.  So its 12:45 and we go into scramble mode.  He didn't yet confirm that he would be late... but we call later around 12:55 and he says he cant' be there in time.  Ugh! So we say "Okay Elders its gonna be you.  Jerry who do you want to baptize you?" "Oh I don't care, it doesn't matter who does it, it just matters that it happens." What an AWESOME attitude! so its 12:55 and NO ONE is there.  Not a single person other than the Ward Mission Leader and his wife.  So I look at the Elders and say "Who's going to baptize him?" and they say "We don't have time to get a change of clothes." so how it ends up is I live right around the corner from the church.  I was elected/told that I would be the one to do it, I was on exchanges so it couldn't even be my companion.  So the first person I baptize is someone who isn't even my investigator! but I did teach him before and I really like the guy.  So I rush home and get my clothes and get there just in time for the baptism.  Total of 8 people in attendance, 4 of them missionaries.  It was really sad, but a good experience for me.

Yesterday we had an equally bad street that we tracted, but it was worse because I slammed my knee into a stupid door, it still hurts. The person was rude too, so I had to pretend it didn't hurt til I left the area.  Good things happened this week too.  We found someone who will be baptized named Cody.  That's always exciting.

Well I have to go...

Elder Martin

Week 78

So how's the weather? I definitely endured 117 degree days here so I could fully enjoy the winter! New Years Eve, December 31, 2011 it was 70 degrees! I love Arizona.  I'm not going to lie, I'm excited for the weather when I get home, I come home end of June, by that time here in Arizona it will be well into the 100's, possibly the 110's... and I will return to 90 degree weather? maybe it will be that hot? I'm going to have to wear a jacket! But seriously, 70 degrees in the middle of winter is pretty awesome.

Nothing too exciting happened this week.  On I think tuesday we went to visit a potential investigator, and this kid stopped us. "Hey what are you guys doing?" he was definitely challenged mentally, but was quite intelligent at the same time.  We told him what we were missionaries going to visit someone and talk to them about Jesus.  He said "What you guys should do is go around the neighborhood and knock on peoples doors and tell them to believe in Jesus.  I already believe in Him, because I'm catholic." He later tried to sell us some porcelain owls for $350.00!!! and then told us about how much he hates when people buy expensive cars, and how he always shouts at them that they are show offs.  It was definitely the funniest conversation I have had up here in Cottonwood, perhaps my whole mission.  I tried so hard not to laugh, I didn't want him to think I was laughing at him, he was the coolest kid ever.  He was riding a schwinn bike, and we commented on it a lot about how cool his schwinn was... when he was talking about the expensive cars people buy he made a list "Like corvettes, or mustangs, or convertibles, or trucks." and my companion said "Yeah, Schwinns are pretty nice too huh?" he said "Oh yeah, the Schwinn is a really nice multi-million dollar car." He talked to us for about 30 minutes, and told us all the horrible things about his neighbors "Don't talk to him, he hurts his dogs, and he's really mean to me, always giving me mean looks, he's going to go to hell, so he doesn't want to talk about Jesus." So we said "Oh well I think he needs it more than anyone right?" "Oh no, he's a bad man." What a memorable conversation.

Well, I can't believe its already 2012! what a great year to be alive.  I certainly hope everyone has a chance to read through the Book of Mormon at LEAST one time this year, what a magnificent book it is! I have decided to read the new priesthood/relief society manual for the year, about the Teachings of George Albert Smith.  I started it yesterday and am amazed at what a kind man he must have been, my desire is to become like him and be someone that just loves everyone they meet.  It tells of a story where he is informed that his buggy was broken into and someone stole his 'buggy robe' whatever that is... and he replied something to the effect of "What a shame we don't know who did it.  If we knew who it was, we could have given him a blanket, for surely he is cold, and we could have given him some food as well, for he must certainly be hungry." That story really struck me.  I hope that one day I can have that kind of love for everyone.  I believe that by reading this book throughout the year that I will become more Christlike. 

Love

Elder Martin