Home at Last

This is probably the last post I'll do, (though Jason may decide to do some) because Elder Martin is home and has been released.
Here is the post from the mission blog about Jason's departing group. http://azphxmission.blogspot.com/2012/06/departing-missionaries-june-2012.html

Week 102

Well here it is.  My last entry.  My last week. 

My mission has been one incredible experience after another. I will do a recap of my mission.

I was called to serve in the Arizona Phoenix Mission, the APM, the Number One Mission in the World! I arrived at the MTC on June 23, 2010, it seems at times a very long time ago, and at other times, just yesterday.  I met my two companions, Elder Paulson and Elder Carlson.  Elder Paulson sadly didn't make it out of the MTC, that was a difficult experience. 

I arrived in Phoenix on July 13, 2010 and as I recall it was 114 degrees... an average day.  That very day I met my companion and trainer, Elder Campbell, I spent 3 months with him.  I was assigned to the Waddell ward as well as the Cottonflower YSA ward, and I served in those two wards for 14 months.  Waddell is my home away from Idaho.  I would live there if it weren't in Arizona! That is where I would say I experienced the most growth as a missionary.  I had 6 companions while I was there, two of whom I trained. 

On September 7, 2011 I received word that I was going to be transferred.  Very hard to leave my area.  I promised the people that if I served there more than a year, I would tell everyone that I served in the Arizona Waddell Mission.  Thus, I was called to serve in Phoenix, but served mostly in Waddell.  I was reassigned to serve in Cottonwood.  That was my dream, if I left Waddell, I wanted to serve in one of two places.  South Phoenix, or Cottonwood.  I struggled in Cottonwood, it was hard to love the people.  That has changed.  I very much love the people here, and it will be very difficult to leave.  I have served here for 10 months.

I have met many people on my mission who have influenced my life forever.  From members, to non-members, to missionaries.  Many people I know I will never again see in this life, and some I will make sure remain in my life always.

When I want to complain and whine, I sometimes look at this experience as taking up 7 years of my life, as it took 5 years to come out and 2 to be out here.  I would gladly give another 7 if the Lord asked for it.  This is not the end of my service to the Lord or His church.  I will serve in whatever capacity required, hoping and praying that what is required of me is to be a nursery leader for the duration of my life.  I can never be who I was when I left.  Either I will rise to greater heights, or I will fall from the light, but I cannot ever be where I was when I left.  I have learned too much to not be a missionary always.  I have gained and experienced too much to not try the rest of my life to repay the Lord.

My testimony at this time is unshakable, as it is built upon the Rock of my Redeemer... yet I know that such a testimony can once again become fragile.  I know through the whisperings of the Spirit that Jesus Christ is the Savior of my soul, and of this world.  I know that Joseph Smith is His Prophet, and the Prophet of the Restoration.  The Book of Mormon IS the word of God! To deny that is to deny the power of God, as well as reality.  It proves itself on every point.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Gods church on the Earth today.

Elder Jason Martin

Link

Here is a link to the mission blog. Elder Martin is a big part of the most recent post. Check it out.
http://azphxmission.blogspot.com/

Week 101

What a week! I wish I could put it all down right here, but I haven't the time.

 

It all started on Monday.  Cause that's when the week starts for me.

 

It really began tuesday though, we had a meeting tuesday, and then I rushed to waddell! I had a wonderful evening of visiting old friends and investigators.  I learned that one of my recent converts has already been through the temple!!! What incredible news! I was so happy.  Speaking with other families this week, I found that two are preparing to go to the temple later this year.  It was so good to see everyone.  The meetings throughout the week were pretty good as well. 

 

Saturday I was asked to speak at a funeral! I had never even heard of the guy, there were about 10 people who came, it was pretty sad.  I taught the plan of salvation to all in attendance, it was a little bit awkward, but that's quite alright. 

 

Sunday I played the violin in a trio in sacrament meeting, it went really well! it was a lot of fun, I sure do like that instrument, and music in general.  Ah, I wish I had more time to go into more details on my week.  It was such a good one!

 

Church is true, next week is my last entry, its been good!  Real good.

 

Elder Martin

Pictures from the mission presidents wife's blog

Week 100

Whoa, 3 weeks remaining! I don't know what to do or think right now.  It doesn't feel like I'm going home soon, because nothing has changed! But I guess that's good, every now and then I get glimpses of reality and understand the fact that I wont be doing this full time anymore. 

 

This has been a good week mostly.  First half went well.  Thursday Elder Fluckiger got really sick, and carried it into friday.  He then passed it on to me and I have been sick ever since! Saturday was miserable, Sunday was awful, and today isn't as bad.  Saturday I spent all day in Mesa! That doesn't happen often.  Elder Fluckiger had a recent convert who was going through the temple to be sealed and they invited us.  Whenever a recent convert is sealed we get permission to go to the temple.  That is the only time for those in cottonwood, except Christmas.  It was awesome!! Except for the fact that I felt like I was going to die.  I had never seen a sealing session before.  Very strong Spirit!! That's a really neat ordinance!

 

Sunday I didn't stay for all of church, I think that was the first time ever on my mission.  I haven't slept for a few days.  I should be good by tomorrow I hope.  Next sunday I am playing a violin trio for sacrament of If You Could Hie to Kolob. It's an incredible arrangement, and its starting to sound really good.  Some timing issues, but we're working them out.  I'm excited for it.  These things are great tools to convince investigators to come to church! HA, Isay Pop who hasn't come to church since October has agreed to come.

 

Hmmm... what else has happened? Not much, but this week will be super busy, we have 24 hours worth of meetings crammed into 3 days.  Should be really good! I'm actually excited, normally I don't like meetings... okay ALWAYS I don't like meetings, but I'm excited for these ones. 

 

Sorry for a super short entry! But that's what you get today.

 

Elder Martin

Week 99

Melanie here. Be sure to read this post and the previous one. I posted them both today because somehow the letter from last week was deleted from my email or something and I had to have Jason send it again. Here is this week's:

It's been another great week as a missionary! I usually get pretty tired of my companions after about 6 weeks... still goin' strong! my companion is awesome.

 

Wednesday marked the 23rd month as a missionary for me! That day we got a referral, which does not happen very often.  Oh side note... so I was talking to my companion, who served in Maryvale... south phoenix area, and apparently in parts of this mission, there are a lot of people to teach! I never knew, he said they would get 5-6 media referrals a day... which means that they get a text on their phone saying someone wants a book of mormon or something like that... he got more in the span of 2 days, than I have seen in my entire mission.  Sometimes I want to be bitter about it, but then I remember I have had a perfect mission, so I'm happy.  So anyway, we get one of these, for me, rare referrals and we go to the house.  House is out in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road, it looks like a scene from a horror movie as we are walking up to the house, I step on the porch, I look down and see a giant chain.  Oh no... Chains that size usually lead to very large dogs.  I quickly assess the situation and realize that the chain is plenty long enough to reach me.  I follow it and find that underneath the trailer the chain is indeed attached to a large dog.  I see my companion looking at some dog remains, and coming to the same conclusion as me... I point out the dog to him and we both stand in horror! I notice the wind is at my back, driving my scent right into the dog's face... he knows we are there.  The dog stands up and pokes his head out.  This isn't just a dog, its a huskie! But oh, what's that? the dog is BLIND! Doesn't stop him, he comes out, my companion books it... but not very far, and I am still on the porch... He's not making a move to eat me, so I knock on the door, which alerts him to my presence.  Turns out, he's a very nice dog! and a very poor guard dog.  The lady was nice said we could come back but that it was a bad time for her.  Story end=good.

 

Thursday we had my last ever Zone Conference! it was the greatest one I've ever been to.  Some of my favorite missionaries in the world were there, and it was so good to see them all and talk to them, I got a lot of pictures afterwards.  I remember at the very beginning of my mission thinking "Man, I hate these meetings, I dont' know ANYONE" and now I know almost everyone, except the ones who are now where I was saying "Sheesh, I know no one".  It was a wonderful day.

 

It was a good week.  I am not sure what this week has in store for me, but next week is going to be awesome I think! Talk to you next week.

 

Love,