Wash, rinse, repeat

TRANSFERS: A day where missionaries experience emotions ranging from apprehension to unbelief to confusion to excitement.

You would think it's always a full moon when transfers come along by the way all the missionaries start acting... Transfers always make things a little exciting and interesting!

Sister Pearson, Morales, and I all thought that this trio thing was just temporary and that we would be back in two's by this transfer. Welp, we were wrong! Sister Pearson got transferred to Washington (She'll still be in the VC) and Sister Morales and I inherited another sister! Sister Shoemaker. We'll get to meet her tomorrow. And she's Spanish speaking so Sister Morales was pretty happy :) This will be my THIRD trio in my THIRD transfer! (I was in one for about a week in my last area). Apparently I have been in all the first trios in our mission for the sisters so far! I guess President Center is starting to like this trio thing... And I am too! We have soo much fun :) And get a lot of work done too!

The other day in the VC we had the opportunity to take a grandmother and her daughter on a tour. They were from Las Vegas and were Southern Baptists. They were SUPER friendly! And came all the way to St. George JUST to come to he Visitors' Center. I guess they ran into some missionaries in LV who told them to come here! But anyway, we started at the Christus and played the message of the Christus for them. They loved it - and we got to talk a lot about Christ's role in our lives and theirs. We were asking them a few questions to hear their testimony of Him and of what His sacrifice means to them. It was so funny because the grandmother started asking us many questions as well like, "Now you believe Jesus is your Savior, now is that right? Mhmm, okay." Followed up by another 20 questions that were followed up by the same "Now is that right? Mhmm, okay" in their southern accent. Then they asked Sister Morales and I a question that really made us think... She said, "Now if you got up to the gates of Heaven and Heavenly Father was standin' there and asked you why He should let you into His kingdom, what would you say?" We sat there looking up at the Christus pondering on her inspired question. When we gave our answers, tears filled our eyes and I think we both realized we had a lot of work to do! I think that's a question we can all ask ourselves to prepare us for judgement day - to prepare us for that day where we can stand before our God with a clear conscious and confidently state the reasons why we should be let into HIS kingdom. 

Something I've been reflecting on lately is the Young Women's Theme - especially the part where we state, "We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places." I think it's ALWAYS important to uphold these standards, but especially when (as a missionary) we're only with other missionaries or just with our companions. It shows how dedicated and serious we are about missionary work - that being set-apart to be Christ's representative is not just some cloak that we put on when investigators or leaders are around and then take off when we are just with other missionaries. The other day I had to remind some sisters of whose name they were not only wearing but whose name they were representing. It wasn't exactly easy to do, but other sisters had come up to me afterwards and thanked me for saying something. Earlier that day we had another interesting experience. One of our WML's had given us a referral so we went out to go contact them. It was in a really rough part of St. George (And no, it wasn't rough compared to STL haha), but we have a few other investigators that live there so we thought it would be fine. When we got to the door they had this really dark netted screen on it, so we could barely see their faces. Long story short, there were not good angels in that home and they shouted some pretty cruel things at us. Don't get me wrong, we have cruel things shouted to us ALL the time, but this was a bit different. We made sure to walk/run away as fast as we could, and the whole time we were walking I had the beginning of the YW theme playing in my mind. "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him." I was a little hurt and afraid, but that simple phrase gave me such comfort, peace, and hope. I have never been more grateful for the Young Women's program then I was that day when I was able to replay those words in my mind of the theme that have given me strength so many times before.Later that evening was the Woman's Conference where they once again stated the theme. Can you tell I just love Young Women's? :)

Speaking of conference, how did you all like conference?? I LOVED it! So fun watching it as a missionary; it gives everything a new perspective. Elder Hales once said, “The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them.” Isn't that the truth!! After instructing the people in the land of Bountiful, the Lord invited them by saying, “Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.” (3 Nephi 17:3)

It was no coincidence that multiple references were made during conference to the events of the Restoration of the Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. General Conference is a tangible blessing and a fruit of the Restoration, as we are blessed to be active witnesses of modern-day revelation through living prophets and apostles.  I am working on setting goals that I can do to improve myself spiritually this week, and follow-up with myself at sacrament meeting next week! And then, “wash, rinse, repeat” for every following week.

I would LOVE for you all to send me your favorite General Conference talk and explain why! I would love to hear about your missionary experiences you are having and things that you're learning out of Preach My Gospel (every member a missionary ;)

I love every one of you!! Thank you for your unfailing support and love!! :) It strengthens me each and every day!

Much Love, Sister Martin

If a picture paints a thousand words

Beautiful view from temple stairs on a morning run.
That's a stake center right across from the temple. 

Beautiful sunset after much walking and teaching.

One of my favorite MTC teachers, Brother Tiatia stopped by the VC! 

Giant tumbleweed!

One of the sisters in the VC bribed some ice cream guy
to bring all these wonderful beautiful ice cream bars in for us.
They were gone in one day... Whenever Elders come in to drop off desserts
for us or unwanted goodies, they make sure to say things like "Just remember, eat it slooowly" or
"you better eat some before the rest of the vultures attack it" or "make this last for at least a few hours" ...

Practicing our posture on a slow night in the VC :) 

This guy in our area has a bunny farm!! ahh so cute!!
We just went up to his house and said,
"We heard you have bunnies, can we see them?"

My old zone, STGWest. Now I am in the STG Central Zone, or the STG Celestial Zone.

Miracles in the Visitor's Center

So I heard about all this wind that everyone is experiencing in the Midwest!! Well guess what, we have been having our own windstorm here!! Last Sunday we were walking back from our chapel to the VC and we almost got blown away... literally. Dirt was blowing EVERYWHERE and branches were falling down and nature was getting stuck in our long hair... and it was raining to top it off. Perks of not having a car: You get to experience the elements. I actually thought a tornado was brewing by the looks of the sky and I started getting really nervous... but I realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore. I mean Missouri.

Dad asked me if I am learning any Spanish from Sister Morales, and I'm learning a little! But not enough... One night for dinner we went to this family's home who were Mexican (all the Mexicans are always inviting us since Sister Morales is from Puebla). We had some DELICIOUS pozole (like a soup...I had a few bowls and was completely full) and I started telling the family how much I had enjoyed it. They had daughters our age so it was also a lot of fun. The dad then said to me, "You know how you compliment someones meal in Spanish? You say 'TENGO HAMBRE!' " So I looked at them with a huge smile and threw up my hands and said "Tengo hambre!!" And they all started laughing and laughing. I guess it means I'm hungry... So yes, I'm slowly learning more Spanish. 

Every week we are experiencing miracles in the VC - it's amazing. I have a lot of neat stories of so many people who have come in recently that say coming into the VC that day changed their lives. Its fun to keep in contact with them via email and telephone in our Teaching Center (where we accept/make calls and emails all over the world and chat on mormon.org) and check on their progress!  But something the other day really stuck out to me! There was a little girl who came bouncing in and I welcomed her in. She told me in a very exciting voice that she had come to see her father. I said, "Oh, your dad's here?" And she replied, "Yes! Father is here!" Then her mom caught up with her and said in a sweet voice that she didn't have a real father who was around, but that she was talking about her Heavenly Father. And then the little girl kept skipping along and looked back to her mom and said, "Come on mamma! Let's go see Father!" And I just stood there with my eyes full of tears. 

How sweet is that!! Another experience we had was in a lesson with a less-active who just recently divorced from his wife, and he had custody of their new born baby. We were teaching the Plan of Salvation and when we were talking about Heavenly Father and our life before earth, this baby started, literally, jumping and leaping and shouting for joy! With the biggest little smile on his face! We then said, "I think this is all a little familiar to him!" Which it totally is! Now I feel I really understand why we are told to "become as little children," :) 

Sister Morales, Pearson and I and all of our investigators are SO excited for conference this weekend! In the message of the Christus in the VC, we always here the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that says:" Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me." What a wonderful opportunity to abide by this scripture!! We can learn more of our Savior and how to be like him, listen to his words through our prophet and his apostles, and then walk in the meekness of his Spirit by ACTING on the things which they've said! 

Since our gospel, our message, and our lives are centered in and around Jesus Christ and His Atonement, this conference I have decided to find out how each and every talk is centered around the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Being a missionary provides a new perspective on listening to the words of the prophet - I thought I loved conference before but I REALLY  love it now!!! 

And I love all of you!!! :) 

Love, Sister Martin 

Triple Baptisms

WOW!! Where to start! 

So we had three baptisms on Saturday!! The first was a couple named Robert and Kelly who were previously homeless and hitchhiked their way to St. George from Colorado. Every person who picked them up and drove them was LDS! So they took that as a big sign from God, met the missionaries at the VC, and then wanted to be baptized! They weren't our baptisms but since they live in our area now we are going to teach them the follow up lessons. Sister Liu and I sung "I stand All Amazed" with Sister Hansen playing a beautiful accompaniment of it on the piano that she wrote. The spirit was so strong I had to try my best to hold back tears and keep singing! 

After Robert and Kelly's baptism, we had Jose's. He is so sweet. The night before his baptism he wanted to meet us at the VC and talk about some more about the baptism. He repeatedly told us how much he will miss us (since he's from Mexico and still has a hard time understanding English, he will be transferred to the Spanish ward) and how much we have helped him to change his life. He said he wants a picture with us and a picture frame that says, "The three sisters that changed my life!" So sweet. I will never forget seeing him time after time walk into the VC holding his Book of Mormon and reading it like it was his only possession he ever owned. You can see in his eyes that he knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that it has already brought much comfort, peace, and direction into his life. And guess what?! I got to play a viola for his baptism!!! One of our ward mission leaders mom's plays and she let me borrow it! (it was a really nice viola...) I played "The Lord is My Shepard" with Sister Liu accompanying me. Jose just loved it. It was a really special baptism. 

Anyway, this week has been absolutely wonderful. I LOVE working with Sister Pearson and Morales. We have way too much fun together! Sometimes we just cannot stop laughing! Especially when we are all trying to go to bed...we can just never stop talking and laughing! They are also so sincere and thoughtful in their teaching and they truly care about each one of their investigators. It's inspiring. They've helped me a lot in getting used to teaching with different companions. 

I've made a few goals of things that I want to look back on and say that I did as a missionary when I return home. One of those goals is that I want to be able to honestly say that I loved every single one of my companions. I think when you learn how to love your companion, you learn how to love your investigators. It's kind of like what mom always used to tell us: "If you want friends, you better be friends with your family first." I think that when we realize that companions can be more than just an assigned roommate and that they are indeed friends, then we will have a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father wants us to live, not only as two or three random people stuck together by random circumstance, but as very close friends who can help us progress in this little time we have. The same goes for family. 

I have to leave now, but I know a lot of you are all probably thinking of the words in Alma 60:6... "And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state." I PROMISE I will get letters to you all sooner or later... The work is just blossoming out here and there is so much to do!! 

I love all of you!!! Keep standing for truth and righteousness!! 

Much love, Sister Martin

Our room.. the apartment is really only made for 2 sisters

e.t.

When Sister Brenders asked me how I felt about E.T.'s, I thought she was referring to the little fictional alien that's always pointing his finger... You know, the movie Seth always quotes? haha! Well, it stands for Emergency Transfer. Not the best phrase around the mission, I'll tell you that. 

Transfers (where you could be transferred to a new area with a new companion) happens every 6 weeks. When you first enter the mission field and are being trained, you almost always stay with your trainer for 12 weeks so you can complete the 12 week training program. Well, it's been about 8 weeks so far and our next transfer isn't coming up for another 4 weeks. BUT there was a sister up in Beaver waiting to get her visa to Russia...

So, first off, when we are not on shift at the Visitors' Center we can teach lessons to our investigators there, which is extremely helpful with all the great resources, theaters, and movies we have. After a wonderful lesson with a 20 year old boy named Aven there (who believed in Taoism until we introduced the idea of God. Making excellent progress.. Went to church for the first time this last Sunday!), our mission president appeared and pulled Sister Brenders and me aside to talk. Uh-oh! He told us that this sister in Beaver that's waiting to go to Russia just got her visa and had to leave immediately. He needed a sister to go up to Beaver. "Sister Brenders, you're going to Beaver." It felt like a reality TV show or something... So then I ask, "What's going to happen to me?" He replies, "Sister Martin, you're going to downtown St. George." AHHHH!! Leaving your trainer and greenie area unexpectedly with only 2 days to prepare was a little.... overwhelming. I had barely got the hang of the seven wards we were covering, the names of everyone, the leaders and investigators trust and friendship, etc etc. Sister Brenders and I were not ready to leave the beautiful Bloomington area, our faithful investigators, our inspiring leaders, or each other!! The other set of sisters who were covering the other half of the stake now cover the whole stake (14 wards) for the last 4 weeks of the transfer. It was REALLY hard saying goodbye to all of our investigators and members... but I know they will be in good hands and that the Lord is still watching over them.

So I am still serving in the Visitors' Center but I am also in the St. George Stake (it's a walking area - and I am so glad because the weather right now is absolutely gorgeous. And I could use a good tan...). I am now in a trio with Sister Pearson (from England) and Sister Morales (from Puebla, Mexico). It is a joy to be with two very sweet sisters like Sister Pearson and Sister Morales. Things are different, but I'm learning to adjust. It's not going to be easy to re-learn wards, names, streets, investigators, and so forth, but just from our first day together I know that the Lord knew that this is exactly what I needed! I already love the people in the St. George Stake and especially my two companions. Their optimism and genuine kindness is more than I could ask for :) Andddd the temple apartments that VC sisters stay in are teenytiny so I'm kind of living out of my suitcase... but that's okay! Because the church is still true! And the book is blue! 

We taught a man last night named Jose. He has amazing faith and is on date for baptism pretty soon. He was telling us how people that he works with bash the church and try to convince him of all the reasons he shouldn't join. He has a very strong Spanish accent so sometimes he would just describe his feelings in Spanish. I thought that Sister Morales would translate for Sister Pearson and me but then Sister Pearson started speaking Spanish! Ahh! Between all the French and Spanish speakers, I feel like I got the short stick on this whole gift of tongues thing! But anyway, he kept on explaining how happy he feels when he reads the Book of Mormon every day and how he knows the the adversary is cracking down on him because he is making all the right decisions in life. He told us that he knows that how he reacts to this opposition in life will strengthen him and his testimony, He's awesome. And SO nice! His baptism was supposed to be pretty soon, but we had to break the news to him that he couldn't get baptized since he was still living with his ex-wife (they are now best friends). We felt really bad about saying this after he had just poured his heart out to us about how happy and excited he was for doing the right thing... We shared with him 1 Nephi 3:7 and told him how the Lord will provide a way for him to keep this law of chastity. I thought he might be really discouraged...but nope! He said he knew that was the right thing to do and that he will text us today and tell us how he will make the situation work! So. Awesome. The Lord will always provide us a way to keep every commandment He has given us. I know that for a fact. It just requires our faith and trust in Him!

One of our last lessons Sister Brenders and I taught was about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It's not the typical Preach My Gospel lesson, but this lady had a LOT  of questions about it, so we studied it out and came back. Something that really struck out to me (don't ask me why I haven't realized it before) was JUDGEMENT DAY! Ahh... And why did judgement day all the sudden pop out at me? Because I realized that in reality, every day is a day of judgement. WE speak, think, and act according to celestial, terrestial, and telestial law. Our faith in Jesus Christ, as shown by our daily actions, determines which kingdom we will inherit. After this insight, Sister Brenders and I made the goal to make every day a CELESTIAL KINGDOM day! Not only that, but we are preparing our investigators for the Second Coming and judgement day! So something I have been thinking is, "Am I preparing these people to stand before the Lord at the judgement bar with a clear conscience and the feeling of confidence in standing in His presence?" Are WE preparing ourselves for this day? This day will come, no doubt about it. And THIS is the time we have to prepare for that day. Having the spirit is not part of the formula for preparation, it IS the formula. Preparations focused on earning the blessings of the spirit are essential to our day of judgement. 

I love all of you! Remember, as mom always says, stand for TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS! 

Love, Sister Martin

Pictures

We have a senior couple serving in the VC from Sydney, Australia
and they are just the cutest! So we have a lot of these Koala bears hangin around 

In one of our district meetings we baked our secret "missionary cookie recipe"
all of our bishops... that's a lot of bishops! We have 7!
And yes, we are cutting up Milka chocolate to put in them :) So good!

Sister Garcia and me on shift at the VC!

Sister Leota and me before she was transferred.

Sister Biery and me!! I love her!! She's from Kentucky :)
She is German speaking.

niece/daughter, mother/daughter, mother/grandmother, daughter/aunt/sister.

 My favorite little french canadian, Sister Antian!
She has the cutest french accent ever. She was transferred to Price.

Sister Busteed, one of my STL's (Sister Training leader)!

Confessions of a Chocoholic

So on March 1st the "No Sugar March" diet went into effect... implented my Sister Center (mission presidents wife) and other Visitors' Center sisters. Of course I wasn't exactly thrilled about this, but I thought I could give it a try.

Well, whaddya know, March 1st rolls around and Sister Brenders and I get up and get ready to exercise at 6:30am. And of course I need a little pick me up so I grabbed some dark chocolate.... but hey, at least I stayed with the plan for 6 hours and 30 minutes, right?! The more I think about it, the more I realize how attached I really am to chocolate. I love it :)

But ANYWAY! I just wanted to start off and say how grateful I am for my family, my ward family, my friends and those supporting me at home. Your letters mean so much to mean and I can feel your prayers every day. There is an unseen force holding me together and pushing me forward - And I know that is because of the prayers from you and the love from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now :) Especially with this heavenly weather... It's been raining a lot recently and us mid-westerns out here are LOVING it!! Reminds us of home :)

It's so fun being companions with a french sister and serving with them too! They make crepes all the time and they are SO delicious!! It reminded me of you, Adam :) (try making them with coconut milk and almond milk instead of regular) I'm still waiting for them to make some french pastries...

In the stake we are serving in our stake president invited us to attend every missionary prep. Every time he asks us to participate in one way or another. There's about 100 people that attend... a lot of youth with a few leaders. Awesome, right?! All the bishops and ward mission leaders attend. The stake president also assigned two assistants to the president and split every one up into districts and assigned district leaders. How neat is that!! They are serious about mission prep and we love it!! In every sacrament meeting we attend, we hear our names mentioned in the prayers. I encourage all of you to pray for your missionaries by name at home and get to know them!! THIS is the time to gather the Lord's sheep and work TOGETHER!!

Sister Brenders and I with Julie Rogers.
One of her original paintings behind us of Christ's baptism! :)

We currently have an art exhibit in the Visitors' Center by a local artist from Kanaab, Julie Rogers. BEAUTIFUL art. The exhibit is called "Yesterday, Today, and Forever." It depicts certain gospel principles and doctrines that have been in effect ever since the beginning of time. It shows a picture of Christ and of the pioneers side by side to demonstrate the parallels. We give a  lot of tours in this room and the spirit is very strong.

We are teaching a "lost boy" (excommunicated boy from the FLDS church) named T-Ben (short for Teancum Benjamin) and he is currently staying with the mayor of St. George's family. We teach them every Monday night and this past Monday we took them on a tour of the paintings. It's really hard to get T-Ben to open up, but he opened up to all of these paintings. It's truly amazing and inspiring the testimonies that can be conveyed through the arts - whether it be uplifting music, soothing poetry or descriptive paintings. We got to have a personal tour by Julie and she told us that she decided at a young age that she would use her talent to build up the Lord's kingdom - and boy has she done that!! Hearts have been touched,  tears have been shed, and testimonies have been strengthened in this spirit filled room.

I know that the Lord's hand is present in our every day lives. Whether he reaches out to us through others talents or loved ones around us, His spirit is there. And He loves us. I know that we are given our small talents and gifts to help build up the Lord's kingdom, just like Julie Rogers demonstrated for us in the Visitors' Center. One of my favorite quotes about this is from President Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from hand and mind. I can be one who works with respect for my associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems and with a desire to help them should they stumble. I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in this world. It may be ever so small. But it will count for the greater good. The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts." 

Never underestimate the influence YOU can have on someone!! Each one of you has influenced me in my life one way or another, each on of you has helped me feel Heavenly Father's love. And for that, I am very grateful :)

Much love, Sister Martin

Brother and Sister Thompson were in my branch presidency at the MTC.
She is the mom in "God's plan for His Family" at the VC and in many other church movies!!
So I get to see her every day :) She bought a skirt for me and brought it down here!! 

Facials at a Relief Society activity

Sister Leota and I giving tours at Brigham Young's home :)
Those are almond trees!

Senior couples

Madeline hides in the other missionaries' cubbies to scare them ... haha!