bit of heaven

Wow it's been 6 whole weeks since I got here to Manti... I think this is officially the fastest a transfer has ever flown for me. But with this transfer we actually have one more week so we get our transfer calls this Saturday. Ahh!! I really hope to stay in Manti. To say I love it here is an understatement... this feels like a little bit of heaven for me :)

We taught 45 lessons this week so needless to say I'm slightly exhausted in all aspects of life right now. Sometimes the thought of living eternally makes me wonder... But this morning I just came across a lovely verse in the book of 2 Chronicles 15:7 "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." Every time I feel exhausted or beaten after some hard task I've accomplished in the Lord's service, my mind is brought again and again to "Remember Him." When I'm tired and just want to rest, my thoughts are brought back to the Savior after his death. He didn't stop. He never stops. He went to the spirit world for a whole 3 days still preaching deliverance and accomplishing the work His Father sent Him to do. Sometimes I wonder just how He did it...

We've had some great meetings this week in preparation for Elder Bednar to come this weekend - I'm SO excited! There will be a Saturday night session and then on Sunday he is going to be organizing the new stake presidency. The perfect time for some of our less-actives and investigators to receive confirmation of what we've been teaching them is true.

 

Something I've been realizing lately: Whenever I feel discouraged, tired, or just kind of "blah," teaching a lesson ALWAYS perks up my spirit. That's what I love about teaching so much, it doesn't give you a whole lot of time to think about yourself. Whenever I come out of someones home I feel lighter inside and out. It always brings me back to what my purpose is - To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. 

 

I unfortunately have not been taking very many pictures lately but I need to take more...

I love you all :)

 

Much love, Sister Martin

closer

I feel like a travelling missionary. In the past two weeks we've spent time on exchanges and meetings in Filmore, Price, St. George, and now tonight we're going to Richfield. It's fun doing road trips as a missionary :) Just hard to leave the area again and again. Sister Lasalosi is a great travelling companion - as well as my mint chocolate m&ms. I should probably use something else to keep me awake but they are just so divine. And thank goodness we have not hit any deer yet.... eek >.<

This week I've been thinking a lot about loving those we're teaching. Sometimes when we get home for the night I find myself sitting on the chair thinking about those we taught that day. Sometimes I will sit in awe thinking "Heavenly Father sure has prepared this one. I hope we don't mess it up." But sometimes I'm sitting there with a heavy heart thinking "What can we do? What's left to do? What needs to be done so that they see?"

We are teaching a family right now who are non-members except for the mom. The parents are both meth addicts. They have pictures in their home from a few years ago - beautiful family. But now you see their eyes half open, sores on their face, bones that should hide. The littlest girl is 7 and goes to church every Sunday and reads the Book of Mormon by herself. It really pains me to see her as the only one with a true desire. But I know this family needs saving. I can't stop thinking about them. Something needs to happen to bring them to their senses. It's painful for the whole town to see them go in this downward spiral.

I feel like throughout the week there are always moments that pain us and worry us of those whom we are working with and then other things that make us jump up for joy and cry tears of happiness. Honestly, I don't understand why I am so happy right now because I'm exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally. I am so tired. But I feel so happy. I can hardly explain it.

Last week we had a really neat experience with a 20 yr old guy we began teaching. He has long blond hair, lots of tattoos and piercings. His name is Tage. We met him at his parents home in Manti as we were teaching the rest of the family and he was the only one that was really listening and participating. So we went with it and committed him to pray to know if what we taught was true. He invited us to his own home, only a few streets over, to learn more.

As we came in the door we started making conversation and I felt like asking him about his tattoo on his arm. It was of a rabbit in a straight jacket in agony trying to reach a carrot out of his reach. Interesting. As he explained what it meant we realized it had a lot deeper meaning. I asked him if he felt like sometimes he's that rabbit that can't reach the carrot. He said yes. It got really quiet and then Sister Lasalosi asked what he felt he couldn't reach in life. He responded that he didn't know what it was, he just felt like something was missing. And then Sister Lasalosi very beautifully compared this carrot to the gospel. I was thinking in my mind then if President Center walked in that moment he would probably wonder what in the world was going on. But at the end of her analogy he looked at her and said, "I really like that. That makes a lot of sense to me. Thank you for explaining it to me."

We went on to talk more about prayer since that was still a foreign concept to him. He was baptized at 8 but never went back to church after that. The spirit was so incredibly strong the whole lesson. It was one of those moments where you think, "Is this really me sitting here? Did he really just say what I think he did?" It was perfect. He began to really open up and said, "I feel like I've taken for granted what's been in front of my eyes this whole time. I don't know why I never listened to others around me telling me about the gospel. I'm glad I'm starting to see what everyone has been talking about." We knew that we had definitely felt the spirit that whole lesson but we wanted to see how he felt, so we asked him at the end. He only responded with one word but I don't think I will ever forget the answer he gave us. "Closer."

It's beautiful moments like those that make it all worth it.

I love you all and am continually feeling your prayers :) Thank you for your unfailing support.

Love, Sister Martin

A picture of Sister Nicholls, Sister Lipke and me at one of our meetings in St. George :)

the work is hastening!

Greetings loved ones!!!!!

The work is literally HASTENING here in Manti! My goodness there are people coming out of the woodwork wanting to learn more about the gospel. I love all the teaching that has been prepared for us here. There are some really neat experiences I want to write all of you next week... because I have ran out of time for his week :( We are going to the temple (mom I am taking the name of Sarah Battel to do and then one of our recent converts is going to do the baptism of Jessie Martin!) and we are going to be able to see some of our activated members and recent converts do baptism as well!! I'm so excited.

I love you!!!

Love, Sister Martin

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in St. George anymore ...

Glimpses of the Manti Temple 

Welly Lu's baptism. This guy is awesome. Wonderful baptism service. He is on fire with the gospel!! 

our friends. we love the chickens eggs. the ducks are really stinky. 

typical Manti. "Well hi there!!" 

The Vasquez family. Different family, almost same name. A less-active family we're teaching. We spent some of Christmas with them :) Their little girl right in front of me is the cutest little girl ever! Oh my goodness I love her. 

My beautiful tongan queen companion!! 

The Vazquez family. My favorite Mexican family in the whole world. We spent some time with them on New Years Eve and Maria made us some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. Dad, I am taking you there when we come back to Manti. You will love them and their food. They are all Catholic, not really open to the gospel right now. But we go over every now and then to show them that we care and share a little message. Plus, Maria makes some killer Mexican hot chocolate. One day will be the day for them :)

Mule deer :) Whenever we leave peoples homes it's always, "Be safe! Don't hit any deer!" I really hope that day never comes.