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

Week 30

Dear people who read this blog. Are there any of you who still read this?

This week has been another good one! I really don't want to leave this area! Transfers are next week! I can't believe it. I think something will change. I just hope I stay. I've really grown to love the people here, in the ward as well as though we are teaching. We have a baptism this coming saturday. Satan's out to get me though. He keeps trying to break my foot! Sunday morning at about 1:30 AM I heard a loud knock on my door, it woke me up but I couldn't tell if I really heard anything or not, so I forgot about it. That morning I opened my door to leave my room, and a very heavy wooden closet folding door came flying into my room, narrowly missing my face, and came even closer to landing on my foot. It was leaning up against a wall for probably the past month, and for some reason it fell last night, it put a whole in the door. 2 or 3 other things happened that day that almost broke my foot. I also almost broke a tooth. Last Tuesday I got the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Westbroek, who was recently released as the Assistant to the President, he goes home in a week. I asked a lot of questions and tried to gain as much wisdom from him as I could! He is an excellent missionary and has been helpful to me, it was a great experience.

We taught two new people this week, both of them had committed to baptism prior to meeting with us! they will be baptized soon, one is in her 60's and the other is in the singles ward... but he has 2 kids... so I may get to baptize a family in the singles ward... That would be weird. We've had another great week, and I'm excited for this week cause its going to be even better.

Ummm, I think that's all. I need to start remembering to write down the good stories to tell about. Elder Nuttall, who weighs all of 140 lbs tried wrestling Elder Kavatoe who weighs 250 lbs, mostly muscle. That was interesting. Elder Kavatoe is very afraid of me though, one elbow in his ribs completely neutralizes him. We have a lot of fun in this district.

Elder Martin

Week 29

What a busy BUSY week! I had almost no time for tracting this week, its so awesome.

We finally found the 11 year old Jason boy! YES! we talked to him, and got him all set up to come to scouts and things! We're excited! He's such a neat kid! there were about 5 kids when we got there, and they were all SO excited when I gave them pictures (pass along cards) of Jesus and of the Temple. It was fun!

We set a date for baptism for Kelly!!! Everyone remember him? I've been teaching him since AUGUST! if not JULY! We tracted into him, and he's finally going to get baptized. We just have to get him to quit smoking. We gave him a program to help him stop.

We were called on to give 6 blessings in 4 days this week! between wed and sat we gave them. They were some remarkable experiences! I love the priesthood. I love being able to use the priesthood to bless the lives of others. I love the work that I have been called to do, its the most rewarding thing I've ever experienced.

Lauren may be getting baptized this saturday instead of February 12th. Hurray! David is still scheduled for February 19th, and now Kelly is for the same date. We had 9 investigators come to sacrament meeting yesterday! it was so wonderful. Some didn't even come! There were 3 that didn't show up. We have so many people to teach right now, and so many more on the horizon! I have never seen so much work to do! and not NEARLY enough time to do it. That's the hard part, that's why we can't tract, we are busy all day every day... and unfortunately we have meetings! I wish we didn't have such long meetings each week. We had a Zone Conference on Friday, but that was a great meeting, I love Zone Conferences. The Spirit was so strong. Our president is very inspired! We were just given a rule that we can no longer listen to EFY music. Most people were really upset about it, I was thrilled... I hate EFY music! I've always believed that much of the EFY music detracts from the spirit, and the President now agrees!

The older Jason investigator is doing well, super busy so we can't meet with him very much, but he is very close to baptism. I love that family. I love everyone we teach. Also the Billy Bishop family we are teaching, they are wonderful!

A couple weeks ago we raked the yard of an investigator, and that night there was a wind storm and blew the rest of the leaves of the tree... dang it! It's satan's doing, the bible calls him the prince of the air. or wind, or something like that. But now there are no more leaves to fall, so we'll go rake again.

Well I wish I could tell more stories but I haven't the time.

Elder Martin

Week 28

What a week! It was quite busy, I'll just get right into some stories.

Wednesday I was on splits with someone in the YSA ward, and the sister missionaries called us and asked us to come give a blessing to one of their investigators. Actually it wasn't even an investigator, it was a friend of their investigator who has MS. So we went and gave her a blessing, and then their investigator also asked for a blessing to help her quit smoking. Her daughter was also there, who has not yet been an investigator. Her daughter held her moms hand through the blessing, and afterwards she commented "It felt like electricity was rushing through my body when you were giving the blessing." So we talked to them a bit about why. It was a great experience. I encouraged them to listen to the sisters.

Tuesday we set two baptismal dates... kind of. David set his for May 14th. AGH! SO far away! not good. Lauren set hers for January 22nd! Awesome! or rather, we set it, and she accepted it. Thursday, Lauren canceled that date, and said no to it. Saturday we set two NEW baptism dates. David set his to February 19th! and Lauren to February 12th. We are so excited for both of those baptisms! David asked me to confirm him a member, and give the gift of the Holy Ghost. I'm excited, yet somewhat nervous as well. But mostly honored. He's doing so well, he is so humble and willing to learn, he is doing more than what is asked and is being blessed accordingly. He has changed his life so completely, I'm amazed at the faith that he shows! What a great man.

Friday we decided to rake some leaves. It was fun, we stopped by an investigators house and raked their leaves without them knowing. We even borrowed a garbage bag from the son. This is the family that has the Foosball table. Did I tell that story last week? I think I did.

Well, I wish I could write more, but time is running out, I would have written yesterday, but all the libraries and such things were closed.

Elder Martin