Week 37

What an interesting/boring week.

Monday I got a haircut. Hooray! It was fun actually, there were some children from the ward over at the house, so I got to do some magic for them while Elder Jones was getting his hair cut... my magic is incredible, I must say. Elder Jones can't even figure out one of the tricks. I have two nickels, one nickel if I flip it, and they guess heads or tails, it will always be wrong, the other one will always be right. Anyway...Tuesday was awesome, I was on Splits all day with a priest in the ward, since it was spring break he was able to come, we had a great time! This ward has some great youth. Wednesday I was on splits with Elder Seiber, the District Leader, it was a good day as well. That night Elder Jones got sick, hence the boring part of the week... We had some incredible things planned for Thursday. But no, we couldn't do it. Oh well.

Sheesh, I wish there was something more to talk about. Saturday I went on Splits again with Elder Gould this time, spanish Elder, so It was not a fun day, I just sat and listened... I did get to help teach one lesson though, cause some of the kids spoke English, that was pretty fun.

I had an interesting realization yesterday in church. John 14:26 (I think that's the verse) it says that the Holy Ghost will teach us all things that we must do. It dawned on me that it did not say that the Holy Ghost will TELL us all things that we must do, but he will TEACH us... teaching is a process, if we ask for guidance, or answers to questions, he will not simply tell us what we need to know, but will show us, or teach us through experiences. It's brilliant! The Holy Ghost is AWESOME!

Sunday was an interesting day... Church was fantastic... we may have lost an investigator though, one who I've been working with since my first month on the mission. It was pretty disappointing.

Well that's all I have for the day.

Elder Martin

Week 36

Oh blast, I didn't bring pictures today from the baptism! Well, we had an awesome baptism on Saturday, Virginia Noonan. I have never taught anyone who put in so much effort. She studied the scriptures for a couple hours every day. She would ask some HARD questions! She asked about the scattering and gathering of Israel, and Mosiah 15, and about divine investiture! What kind of investigator asks about Divine Investiture! it was so awesome. She did not have a very clear knowledge of the Bible beforehand either, so she got these questions all from reading the Book of Mormon. In a month, she is through Mosiah. Well we had been prepping the ward for this baptism, we told the ward that she was worried about turnout, and that no one would come, WE MOVED THE TIME OF THE BAPTISM to accomodate people. Still, almost no one came. I was very disappointed. She bore testimony at the baptism, and it was very powerful. Her son who is not a member was there, and we will hopefully start teaching him.

Not much happened this week. A lot of meetings. We had a 7 hour meeting on Friday. I'm not a fan of meetings, but each one really is so good.

We met an awesome family last week, we were referred there, and when we got there he said "Oh hey guys, come on in" it was awesome. We're excited for it, its a full family, they have 4 boys.

Tracting has not been very common lately, and I miss it. We are going to try and do a lot of contacting this week. It's been hot here. 87 degree's last week. I'm not happy about it.

Today I get a haircut. WHOO, and more importantly, its not going to be done by Elder Kavatoe!

Well that's all for this week... not that exciting of a week.

Elder Martin

Week 35

What a crazy week! We had an awesome new investigator last sunday at church... we set up an appointment with her for Tuesday. Tuesday morning she called and said she didn't want to talk to us, and she was not going to come back to church. It was sad. But don't worry, things got worse. But before things got worse, they got much better. We had an awesome training meeting for the mission, regarding the challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 60 days, the 60 days was up, so we all went and had an opportunity to report on our key learnings and bear our testimony. I'll share with you what I shared with the mission. Early on in my reading, I was in 2nd Nephi 27, and I was tired. I was resting my head on my hand, as I read verse 4 "For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink." And after I read that, I completely fell asleep. I was out. So I wake up and I read verse 5 "For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes and ye have rejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity." I woke up real quick, and I stopped REJECTING THE PROPHETS by closing my eyes, and sleeping during personal study. President Beck came and put his arm around me, and said "Elder Martin, I love you for your Honesty... I hope you learned a lesson." Everyone found it fairly amusing. President Beck gave an incredible sermon on faith, and committed us all to have more faith, and to work miracles. My faith has since increased. The spirit was very strong for the meeting.

Then we went home. Elder Kavatoe convinced us to go to this Hawaiian BBQ, so we did. I felt kinda sick after eating there, but was able to still do missionary work the rest of the night without any problems. As soon as we got home, my stomach was quite upset, so I went to bed early. I slept terribly! I couldn't sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time, and finally I woke up at 1 AM with my stomach in a great deal of pain... I got out of bed, worrying that I might throw up, I went to the bathroom, still not sure if I would throw up, as soon as I saw the toilet, I had to run to it... I was up the rest of the night. I thought it must have been that they had gotten some fish mixed in with my meat, or used the same utensils to cook them, but then Elder Jones was up throwing up as well! The verdict: We both got food poisoning. The next day was miserable, I thankfully didn't throw up again, but also I didn't eat again... I will probably not eat certain things for a few years. It was the first night I had ever stayed in from missionary work, and I dont' want to do it again. Throughout the whole thing though, I was very grateful to be having a trial to go through. I haven't had almost any trials my whole mission, so I rejoiced in being able to get so sick! Weird maybe, but still I was so glad for my afflictions, like paul I rejoiced in afflictions. The reason is cause I know it will bring me closer to God. Physical trials are easy for me. I'm not a fan of other trials though. We had to cancel a few really important appointments, that was not good.

Friday we met with a new investigator Matt. He wants proof. We gave him a few things to check out, it was a fun discussion, because the things we talked about are things I've studied quite a bit. He always says "I really hope that you can convince me to be a mormon, I really want it to be true!" No problem big guy! IT IS True! lucky for us. I think he will be a great benefit to the Kingdom of God.

Well that's all for this week my friends,

Ofa Atu,

Elder Martin

Week 34

I had another great week! I just love this place more and more every day.

Tuesday almost every single appt cancelled on us! it was quite frustrating, we had such a busy day planned, and it all fell through. I hate cancelled appointments. Also a couple weeks ago we got this awesome referral, and we called him and he said "Oh I'd love to meet with you, I'm actually going up to Nampa ID this week for work, so call me in a week and we'll set something up." So we call the next week, and he hangs up and wont answer again... ugh.

Thursday was an awesome day! we set an appointment with the Lord to find someone that day. Elder Jones decided which street to tract, was prompted to tract there actually, so we went. We get there, and knock the first door... no ones home, but down the street there are 2 thirteen year old girls, who start shouting some choice things at us. We ignored them, and they wouldn't actually come talk to us, if we looked at them they ran away screaming. Later, a car drives by, stops, backs up and a 13 year old girl shouts "Look out the Mormons are coming!!! Look out!" Satan is obviously sparing no expenses on trying to stop us, he brought out the big guns that day. So we had an hour set aside to find this person. We had only a few minutes left. We knock on a door, Elise answers, she's somewhat interested, she sets a return appt. We think "Sweet, maybe that was who we were supposed to find" Next house, no one answers, I think "Okay its time to head back... oh wait, I recognize a house 2 doors down, we'll go to that point" so we knock the next door, and talk to a guy Matt. He essentially tells us that he would LOVE to be Mormon if he could only find some sort of evidence in favor of the Book of Mormon. He says he's seen a lot of evidence that denies the Book of Mormon. How convenient for him, I'VE STUDIED THIS STUFF!!! Whooo, so we talk for a minute, and I tell him a few things, I say "we have irrefutable evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet." and I hold up the Book of Mormon "Right here." Then I gave one of my favorite challenges to give. "If you read this book, one page at a time, and ask yourself 'could a man have written this book' and pray about it, I promise you that you will know that this book is the Word of God before you are finished reading it." he said that was a pretty heavy promise, I didn't back down on it of course, cause its true. He talked about how much he admired mormons and even said "If everyone were mormon, the world would be a much better place. The Mormon religion is growing incredibly fast, I suspect that in 100 years, it will be the dominant religion in the world" he he, how true that is... during the Millenium I am pretty sure it WILL be the dominant religion. It was really fun to talk to him, and we are going by this Friday. I'm excited. Later that night, we went to the Relief Society Enrichment, it was a lot of fun, I got to help people with Family History, I had forgotten how fun it can be! and how exciting. Most of it was helping people get started, but one person was already into it, and couldn't find information on someone. I couldn't either, but I showed her how to, and now she's excited to find it. Family History is fun! too bad most people my age think otherwise.

Saturday was an awesome day! We went on all day splits, and I was with an incredibly solid kid. He just moved into the area and he is going to be an awesome missionary! We stopped by to visit Elise like we said we would, and of course, she was gone... that happens 90% of the time. We met with the Bishops that was fun. We got to read 3rd Nephi 11 with them... we shouldn't have, because they should have read it themselves, but since they didn't we read it with them. We met this guy who had a hole in his throat from smoking, and he had to use a device that he held to his neck to talk, it was pretty crazy! On all day splits, I always like to call the boys family and secretly set up an appt. with them for that night. Throughout the day I tell them about how we are going to be teaching a lesson that night, but I don't tell them who until we show up, I take them to their neighborhood "Oh this is my neighborhood, you're teaching someone here?" ha ha, yes... yes we are. Then when I get them to their street, they start suspecting things.

That's all for today... This was a long one...

Bye.

Elder Martin

Week 33

Sheesh, I don't even know what to write about! I don't know what happened specifically last week, and what I've written about. My mission is destroying my memory! I can't remember things unless I write it down. If someone asks me to do something, I have to write it down, or it doesn't happen... I have to SCHEDULE time to think about it! how silly.

Let me look back through my planner to find out what happened this week. We set a baptismal date with Virginia! She is getting Baptized on March 12th! I'm really excited about that. She's so awesome! so humble, just accepts what is told now that she has gained a confirmation of the truth. She studies a couple of hours every single day!

I'm teaching the Relief Society Enrichment this week... kind of... I actually have no idea what they want from me exactly, except that its on Family History and they want me to come and help out since I've had experience with it. In a meeting the relief society president said "All my family history work has been done! I can't find anyone else" so I told her afterwards that I have some tips that will help her find a few hundred more people fairly easily. Don't tell things like that to the RS president. I'm actually kinda excited though to be honest.

Things are going great with our investigators, and we've received 3 awesome referrals this past week, which almost never happens! we are very blessed right now. All success is a blessing from the Lord, and I am very grateful for every bit of it.

It's too bad that I haven't been able to get Elder Jones very much tracting experience! we are just too busy! again, I'm not going to complain about that... but he just doesn't get that much experience yet in tracting. We had our first 'basher' the other day, it was just your normal average basher, but I forgot he hadn't experienced it, so he was talking about it all week. I got to talk with a man who has a PhD in Bible studies yesterday. As a district we went to a museum full of ancient Bibles, it was awesome... there was even a page from the original guttenberg Bible. Elder Kavatoe started talking about the Book of Mormon. The guy was definitely anti mormon. He started trying to 'confound' us, and would ask the most ridiculous questions that no one would know, as a way to say he was smarter than us. Elder Kavatoe doesn't really know english, so he couldn't understand the guy, so I jumped in and had a good time with it. We started talking about faith, and I mentioned that one cannot have faith in an untrue principle. He disagreed. He contradicted himself a couple of times, which I gently pointed out, he decided to find another path. It was kind of fun. It was him and 10 missionaries. No one else said anything though. I thanked him for his time and knowledge and we left.

I can't remember any other stories... it was an awesome week though I remember. I have never had a bad week my whole mission! I've had a few bad days, but not really. The gospel is true, so no need to be down.

Elder Martin

Week 32

Good Morning!

So its been quite the week! Tuesday was Transfer Meeting, I went early for a meeting for Trainers, I am now training. I think there have been some obedience issues within the mission, because we got hammered about obedience all day! Which surprised me, even in our zone, because I thought our whole zone was pretty obedient! So after the meeting they brought in the new comers! I am training Elder Jones from Beaverton Oregon, he has only been a member for a year and a half! I love having a convert with me, they have great testimonies, and can relate to the investigators much better. He is the only member in his family. He's been good this past week, we get along, and he teaches very well! It's going to be a good 6 - 12 weeks! perhaps even more... most likely 12 weeks. Which is so exciting because that means I get to stay in Waddell! People are now starting to realize that I have been here for a very long time! I went into a home the other day, where I taught a lesson my first couple of weeks out, and was shocked at how much their daughter had grown, I've been here a while! I just love it here though!

Saturday we had a baptism for David Hall! the place was packed! it was so great to see so much support for him. The Baptism went very well, and it was a great event. We had a get together at a friends house afterwards for dinner, its a family that I love so much! the five year old girl always wants to wear my name tag and my glasses so she can be Elder Martin. She had a little Dog bean bag thing, and I asked her what his name was, and she said "hmmm... ummm... It's Elder Martin!" BRILLIANT! What an excellent name. Being a missionary is so much fun!

I'm including pictures of the baptism of David and Lauren, cause I forgot them last week.

I've been making a lot of Grapefruit Juice, its good stuff! We get so much citrus, I think I already mentioned that, but its true.

Hmmm, I can't think of anything else. I am excited for this week!

Elder Martin

Week 31

It's been a wonderful week. Again. We had a great talk with a family whose 5 year old has a fixation with keys! he has literally hundreds of keys! I gave him a new one, and he was so excited, and he has never seen a church key and was really excited to see that one as well. He gave me a caribeener, which his parents said never happens. I was happy about it.

We had a great talk with the Bishops a few times this week, they are such a great family, and they love us. We still don't know if Billy is a member, he he, but we will find out. We got a huge bag of grapefruits, I love this area at this time of year for that reason, so much citrus!

We had a baptism this saturday, and I forgot to bring pictures dang it! oh well. Lauren was baptized in the YSA ward, my first baptism in that ward! she was baptized exactly 6 weeks after she told us she was going to be baptized. It was a good experience.

Transfer news came today! I am getting a NEW companion, and Elder Nuttall is leaving, so I am staying in the area! I am so excited to be staying here! I just love the Waddell ward so much. Same with the YSA!

Sheesh well I don't know what else to say! It was a great week. I am learning so much, and growing even more. It was a trying transfer, but in a good way. I will miss many of the people who are leaving today. Elder Westbroek, and Elder Coburn are going home today! I have been around Elder Coburn for my whole mission, I will really miss him. Same with my good friend Elder Murdock who is leaving the area. I have really grown to love the missionaries I am serving with... well actually I haven't grown to love them, they are easy to love.

David Hall is getting baptized THIS Saturday! it moved up! I am excited! and that means that this sunday I will be confirming him a member of the church! I am nervous about that. But excited as well.

Elder Martin