tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38874376401086911052024-03-18T20:01:53.158-07:00Sister MartinCalled to serve as a sister missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Oakland/San Francisco MissionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-66702341980464453492014-02-24T13:49:00.001-08:002014-02-24T13:49:34.967-08:00They Call Me Sister<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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My dearest Family (which includes my former companions reading this),<br /></div>
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Some scattered thoughts....<br /></div>
I LOVE YOU.<br /></div>
<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1216305052" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> my ward surprised me by not only announcing over the pulpit that I was returning to Danbury, TX, but they said a special tradition for their departing missionaries is that the whole congregation stand up and sing "God Be With You Til We Meet Again" after the closing prayer. So I had to go up front on the stand while the people of Alamo sang to me. What a moment! It was like a movie! They said they have only ever done that for their own children that leave, but never one of their own full-time missionaries. I felt so honored :).<br /></div>
Well I have spent my last few days teaching amazing families, knocking on doors(even at night), going on one last exchange to a Spanish area, and I just had a great last interview with my mission president. This last area was really hard (still prepared though!), but also helped me grow tremendously, and I love it. Many members have offered their home for us to come stay when we come back and visit!<br /></div>
I don't know what else to say, except I feel really weird, it has been a blur, I am sleeping horribly this week, my apartment is a mess with suitcases. HOWEVER I am of course really excited to see you all!!! It's one of those times you of course feel mixed feelings of reflecting back and looking forward.<br /></div>
This morning I happened to read in the Book of Mormon in the exact spot I remember getting stirrings in my heart as a teenager that it was true. I see my testimony and knowledge has grown stronger, my conversion deepened. Faith really really really really works. When we put forth more faith in Him, He blesses us. I have seen miracles, and I love my Savior and Heavenly Father even more.<br /></div>
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Share the gospel.</div>
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I can not WAIT to talk all your ears off about my mission ;) GOD BE WITH YOU TIL WE MEET AGAIN....WHICH IS SOON!!!<br /></div>
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Signing off with my official last letter to you as a full time missionary.</div>
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Love,</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: 'courier new', monospace;"><span style="color: magenta;">Sister Martin</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: 'courier new', monospace;">CA Oakland/San Francisco Mission</span></b></span> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1216305053" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sept 26, 2012- February 26, 2014</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-48986796629096579042014-02-17T15:30:00.000-08:002014-02-17T15:30:07.055-08:00Finding<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Dear Family,</div>
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<strong>Finding</strong></div>
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This week was great. I had a great experience on exchanges here in Alamo with a sister missionary from French Polynesia. Whenever we would see people on the side of the road, we would pull over and talk to them. Once I was on a busy street, but saw a cute Asian family out gardening TOGETHER, the wife was even in a modest skirt and frilly cardigan, she LOOKED like a Mormon already. I felt prompted to turn the car around and talk to them. It started off awkward as the only place to pull up was right in the driveway next to them. They were really nice though and said we could come back to see them. Last night went to see them and they totally remembered me and that I was from Texas and everything. We took an Asian member and were able to add them as new investigators! They were saying how they had only been there a year, and wish they had more community, more friends. They had looked at other churches but couldn't decide. They also wish their 9 and 12 year old sons would do more than video games. We discussed the gospel blesses families and they want us to teach them! BLESSINGS AND MIRACLES! Finding a family at the end of my mission is a spiritually high feeling!</div>
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And for some reason, we have met a ton of people lately who have recently lost loved ones. I see the Lord humbling this area and preparing them to recieve us. I have been able to bear testimony, show love, and discuss my experience with them and then see the Spirit work through them.</div>
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<strong>Final Week</strong></div>
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Our members all bombarded me <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1567829921" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Sunday</span></span> asking me how much time I had left, was this my last Sunday, etc. I even had a member give me a book titled "Major Decisions" haha. I can't read it now, but its supposed to help me with my life after this.</div>
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Well see you all in 10 days. I think I can email next week too, so if you have last minute testimonies or uplifting stories or advice for me, it is still totally welcome! I really appreciate all who took time to write to me and to send me packages. Also, I relaly appreciate all those who prayed for me. I truly felt it.</div>
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Quote from Elder Featherstone:“The Lord really loves returned missionaries. He really blesses missionaries. Just think—for two years they gave more than seventy hours a week proselyting and teaching, and they paid their own money to do it.”According to President Spencer W. Kimball, missionaries should have the understanding that their mission “is not a two-year mission; it is an eternal mission. It not only includes all their mortal lives, but their spiritual lives after their demise when they will continue to preach the gospel.”<br />
I have loved my mission and will continue to work this last week to find, teach, and baptize! And then do it again when I return! Love you all.<br />
Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-5313548480297499472014-02-10T19:11:00.001-08:002014-02-10T19:11:11.540-08:00LOVE<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Dear Family,<br /></div>
WE GOT TO HEAR FROM AN APOSTLE THIS WEEK! I have been dying to say it, but we were not supposed to. We got a special visit from Elder Quentin L. Cook <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346430683" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span>. He is actually from the Bay Area and used to be the stake president in the San Francisco stake. So I also got to go to San Francisco side for the day! And our entire mission was all together. It was pouring rain, all almost 300 of us packed into a chapel. The Spirit was so strong during the opening hymn, many were crying, including me.<br /></div>
He first took the time to shake every person's hand. Then we heard from the Meredith's, our area 70 Elder Packer, and the Elder and Sister Cook. Something interesting he shared was that from a study of a focus group, they asked converts and less actives what they remembered from the missionary's visits.90% could only remember 2 things: Joseph Smith's 1st Vision and the Plan of Salvation. That just goes to show it really is all about the Spirit! He also taught us there are 3 reasons missionaries get assigned to the specific mission they do. 1)you will be deeply influenced by the mission president. 2)you are there for the people 3)you will do something there in the future. And they are not afraid to change the assignment if it doesn't feel right. Then he also reminded us that we need to be more loving. We HAVE to <b>love</b> the people, we need to<b> love</b> and respect our companion,<b> love </b>the mission president and his wife and 4)of course, love the Lord. Now is the time to put away foolishness of pointing fingers, and learn from one another's differences. There is a reason a whole chapter is dedicated to Christlike Attributes in Preach My Gospel.</div>
Then he left and testimony and blessing. The testimony was SO POWERFUL. He expressed that he has had experiences that have allowed him to hear the Savior's voice, and he feels comfortable saying he knows He lives. This is His church. He blessed us to open our mouth and we will feel love and warmth for the people.<br /></div>
We added some new investigators this week. One is from Mexico, but he also speaks Polish. He is studying to be a lawyer and is really open. He had read the pamphlet we left him, and had it marked with questions when we came to teach the first lesson. He thought terms like "evidence" was interesting when talking about the Book of Mormon, because he just studied that for the BAR exam. We are meeting him again tonight.<br /></div>
Another miracle this week was visiting a potential investigator (named Bonnie)some other missionaries had written down. I had tried her last transfer with Sister Olsen, but it was on a day she was emotionally distraught because her dad had just passed away 2 days before. We had tried to talk about the Plan of Salvation, but she was crying and so we just left our number. But we tried again this week. She said she remembered me from 5 weeks ago. We had a great discussion, and Sister Goddard was talking about service with her. We have been trying to share/teach from the Book of Mormon more, so I felt prompted to share Mosiah 2, where I had been reading anyways in personal study. I explained a little about the Book of Mormon, and about King Benjamin. She looked at me and said "wait, what? my dad's name was Benjamin!" Coincidence? NO way. Then after I read verse 17, she said "I like that." She is such a faithful woman, and ate up everything we shared! We said we wanted to give her the Book of Mormon, and she said "seriously? I will read this. No I am not even fooling you. I really will." She carefully took it from our hands and we will be back to follow up! The Spirit is the best :)<br /></div>
This week for Valentine's Day watch how God uses <b>love</b> to help us become who He envisions:<br /><a href="http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1839005837001" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.mormonchannel.org/<wbr></wbr>video/mormon-messages?v=<wbr></wbr>1839005837001</a><br /></div>
I <b>LOVE</b> you all. Have a fantastic week!<br /></div>
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<b>Love</b>,</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-7120981784487475912014-02-03T14:23:00.000-08:002014-02-03T14:23:00.293-08:00Scatter Sunshine!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi Family!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This past week we had
an incredible experience in contacting less actives. We were so pumped from
finding a pool of investigators last week, that we tried to work on the less
actives next. We made like 6 stops one night, tracking down almost completely new
names no one knew much about. Incredibly, we were either let it, taught at the
doorstep, or got a return appointment in all of them! So amazing, and we
reached our goal. Heavenly Father is truly pouring His blessings on us to help
us teach here. We also are helping the Alamo 2nd elders with some of their
teaching appointments. It's filling our week with more exciting things, and we
are helping the work move along, and reporting to our ward and everyone is
getting excited.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another project we
started with our ward missionaries is moral authority emails. I think I have
told you about Elder Packer, our area 70, having the stake presidents email him
about their missionary experiences EVERY WEEK. And he can do this because he is
working on having an experience every DAY. This is so the stake presidents can
stand at the pulpit and not just tell the members to do work, but to say
"look at what happened to me, this can happen for you". Then the
stake presidents are doing it to their counselors as well. We do this as full
time missionaries, by talking to more people every week, and then telling our
members about our experiences to build their faith just whenever we are around
them. So we thought we would start that in our ward mission. Now our ward
missionaries email our ward mission leader every week about an experience. When
we got into gospel principles</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> this Sunday</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, that's all anyone was talking about! They were so excited, it
has really been a hit so far.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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Then we got to speak to early morning Seminary students (the juniors and
seniors) this morning. We shared our experiences and discussed the blessings of
a mission. It was cool to see them all groggy and yet no one was sleeping! I
know the school here has a lot of wealthy kids who get into really bad stuff
because they have the money to. So amazing that these kids choose to study the
scriptures with their time. Future missionaries coming your way in the next 2
years!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Speaking
of the youth, One of our investigators is Ryan, he is 12. His mom is a member,
and they have been doing so well coming to church! He wants to be baptized! His
grandpa is going to fly all the way from Idaho to baptize him. I know this is
something his family has really been wanting for a long time.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will send you 2 last
pictures of me, just so you can see my new companion Sister Goddard. We have
rode bikes a couple more times. It really gets better after the first time.
Also, I ran into the coolest cat. He had a unique mustache, and I asked the
owner what his name was, and its Mario :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I LOVE YOU ALL!! Pray
for and seek for an opportunity to share the gospel this week, and you will be
blessed with the Spirit more in your life, and a smile on your face! Then email
me about it, I would love to hear, even if it is a rejection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love,<br />
Sister Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">p.s. I picked the title of
scatter sunshine, because we fasted in california for rain this week. Even
muslims and other faiths did it, and this fast</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> sunday <span style="background: white;">morning, it was already raining! But yet we still sang
sunshine songs at relief society haha.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-61783739552252291462014-01-30T20:11:00.002-08:002014-01-30T20:11:45.336-08:00Are You Kidding Me!?<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Family,<br /></div>
This week has been the biggest pouring of blessings and miracles I have ever seen. Every day with Sister Goddard is so diligent! She pushes me so hard, its great. I feel like she is training me! We knock doors every day now, even at night sometimes, just so we can talk to more people. You have to here in Alamo since it is all residential and really quiet. This has led to many many potentials and new investigators!! We also tracked almost every former investigator we could, no matter what, even if the address was wrong. This led to 10 NEW INVESTIGATORS IN ONE WEEK. We reset a baptismal date and even found families. We also tried less actives that no one seems to know about, all in one night the Lord allowed us to see them and get many return appointments.<br /></div>
One of our families, the Lincolns, we met door knocking. They were super open and the son is taking Japanese so he wanted to talk to my companion, who is half Japanese and speaks it. We went back to follow-up one night, and our member made treats. The dad answered and said they were having dinner, but he took the treats and said to try back at 4 the next week. Yay! So we came back, and the mom thanked us for the treats and let us in the home and we just had great conversation, which naturally turned to the gospel. It was there we asked if they had ever wondered why there were so many churches, they said "we were JUST talking about that the other night after you brought by the treats" and then we talked about the Book of Mormon, and they got so excited and said they would read it when the went to Tahoe that weekend, and even try to find an LDS church there! THEN we said we wanted to come back and talk about God's plan. We asked if she had ever wondered what her purpose was here. She responded "I have asked myself that question so many times in my life!!" We couldn't believe it. We are going back to see them this week to teach plan of salvation. The son wants to come to church so badly! He is so smart and kind and would add so much to the young men's program. They are amazing. We have tried the treats thing with a lot of people, and let me tell you it softens the heart like nothing else! We figured out people here need gifts. We are trying to have moral authority and get to know our neighbors and take them treats too haha.<br /></div>
Another miracle. We got a referral from some other missionaries in another area. All it said was "stevie. in his 20's, a rapper. lives on the first house on the___ street" we went to the street only to find it was gated. We went back one morning, praying we could just get in somehow, and literally as we pulled up a car came up behind us and pushed their remote, smoothly letting us in no problem. We went to the first house and they said he didn't live there, there were only 2 houses that even had younger people in it. She pointed to one saying it had college aged kids there. We were planning on that house since it was a different street than the one we were given, but we thought maybe it was the Spirit guiding us, or why not, but whatever the prompting it was inspired. We didn't ever meet Stevie that day, but we met Caitlyn. She was so amazing, looking to do mission service/peace corp types of things and it was so easy to talk with her! Weasked if we could come back to share a message and she said she was busy that week, but we asked what she was doing right then and she said "nothing really. i guess we could talk right now." so we went in, taught the restoration and asked what she would be willing to do if this was true. She said she would change everything!<br /></div>
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We went back to visit an old referral from a member when Sister Olsen and I were together. She originally wanted to give us back our BOM. But we said we just wanted to come visit because she had been so nice to feed us and our member. She is a sweet Norwegian lady that recently lost her husband. We just had a very normal conversation. Then she was really intrigued by my companion's re-activation story, we explained a little about word of wisdom (one of her questions), and our simple testimonies of the Book of Mormon. We just casually said we needed to go, and on her own all the sudden she said "well maybe I will hold on to this a little longer and read some more." Wow! She said we could come back. Another heart softened! </div>
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We have had to ride bikes twice so far this transfer and it gets so much better after the first time you do it. Our district is working really hard, and our total investigator pool is getting so much bigger! As a mission we have seen an increase in investigators lately. We are working on expecting to find daily and its really pushing us.<br /></div>
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On top of this, we are getting swamped at church! We have almost 6-7 families setting up dinners with nonmember and less active friends and we got to speak to the young men about serving missions (which many are struggling with that decision) and we have a request to come help with seminary one morning and also take the Laurel aged young women out from a different ward that has elders. Last week we helped with Primary and Relief Society. Things are really starting to catch fire here and it is so exciting! We are working really hard to show the ward we are serious and trying to find on our own, and many are so surprised to hear about the miracles happening here.</div>
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Our zone got to go to the temple today. It was so cool being in a session with mostly set apart missionaries. And throughout the temple the workers just gush over you and make you feel like a rock star! Its moments like that when you never want to give up the tag! With all the miracles we have seen this week, we literally cannot stop smiling and screaming and are left to wonder. A typical night in our car lately consists of "Are you kidding me?!" "What just happened?!" It's amazing. I love being a missionary. I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!<br /></div>
MUCH LOVE,</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-12501157976530669852014-01-20T19:08:00.002-08:002014-01-20T19:08:36.694-08:00A God of Miracles<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Helloooo Family,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love you all, thanks
for all you do to email and pray for me. Keep supporting your local full time
missionaries as well!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My new companion is
Sister Goddard. She is amazing. She was born in Los Angeles, but came on her
mission from Japan. She is half Japanese, and speaks it too. She is very driven
and has already pushed me to work harder. She actually lived in San Francisco for
a while before the mission, where her records were in the YSA ward, and that is
where she just got done serving! She wasn't active at the time, so ironic part
is as a missionary she saw her name on the records as a less active
haha. Her story is incredible how she came back to the Church and her testimony
is super solid now after some experiences with the Spirit in Tokyo Japan.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week we knocked
doors everyday, and we had at least 73 conversations about the gospel with an
invitation extended to either nonmembers or less actives at doors or on the
streets. We are working hard to find. Through this we saw many miracles. But
before I explain them, I wanted to copy to you the definition of miracles from
the Bible Dictionary:</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"</span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An important element
in the work of Jesus Christ, being not only divine acts, but forming also a
part of the divine teaching. Christianity is founded on the greatest of all
miracles, the Resurrection of our Lord. If that be admitted, other miracles
cease to be improbable. Miracles should not be regarded as deviations from the
ordinary course of nature <b>so much as manifestations of divine or
spiritual power</b>. Some lower law was in each case superseded by the action
of a higher. They were intended to be a proof to the Jews that Jesus was the
Christ (</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/11.4-5?lang=eng#3" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Matt. 11:4–5</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/2.11?lang=eng#10" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">John 2:11</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/10.25?lang=eng#24" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">10:25</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/20.30-31?lang=eng#29" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">20:30–31</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)...Miracles were and
are a response to faith and its best encouragement. They were never wrought
without prayer, felt need, and faith.</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is important to notice the different names
by which miracles are described. They are called signs, as being visible tokens
of an invisible power; they are powers or mighty works, because they are the
acts of One who is almighty; they are simply works, or the natural results of
the Messiah’s presence among men; they are wonders, marvels, because of the
effect produced on those who saw them...</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. <b>If miracles cease it is because faith has ceased</b>. See </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/6.5-6?lang=eng#4" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mark 6:5–6</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/morm/9.10-20?lang=eng#9" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Morm. 9:10–20</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/12.12?lang=eng#11" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ether 12:12</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">."</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notice what I bolded.
So saying it is manifestations of His power in His work, than if you want your
faith built, talk to your local full time missionary and ask about the miracles
they see. So sometimes I share what I consider miracles, and maybe not everyone
agrees, they think missionaries just think anything positive happens is a
miacle. Well you would too, if you saw what happens 90% of the time. But its
the 10% that makes it all worth it. So this week in Alamo, Miracle
1)Finding a former investigator <i>from Houston</i> Texas ready to
learn 2)you would never think knocking doors would produce someone prepared,
wrong. A mom and son want us to come back, they happen to love Japan and my
companion happens to be from there 3)we found out an apostle is coming to our
mission, and its before I go home. These are just a few little things of God
putting people in our path to show us that He knows us and loves us. His work
is so well orchestrated, I don't believe it needs to always be a miraculous
healing to be considered a miracle. It can just be those
"coincidences" in life we take for granted. Like John Bytheway says,
how many times do we pray to get home safely and we actually do? Do we thank
Him? Our <i>lives</i> are miracles!! We need to share miracles and
experiences with people, and that is one of the biggest ways to build faith.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love you, God lives.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Martin</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">P.S. I have the temple next week, so my P-day will actually
be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="aqj">Wednesday</span>, so thats why you will not hear from me until
then.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-42228888287166008022014-01-13T19:36:00.001-08:002014-01-13T19:36:42.358-08:00Missionary Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello Family,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How are you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week we went on
exchanges and then a few days later got a call from the sisters saying to not
freak out, but their ward had a breakout of lice. They said we needed to come
get it checked immediately. Then we realized we had borrowed the elders bikes after
the exchanges. So then we had to call the elders cause we had to wear the
helmets (don't worry we put paper towels in them). Six missionaries getting
checkd for lice on a Friday night=party. Siiiiiiick. No worries, I am
clean!!! Thank goodness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other news,
transfer calls came. I will officially be staying/dying in Alamo. However,
Sister Olsen will not. She get surprise transfer call Saturday morning,
she is going to Oakland 9th, which is inner city, where I used to do exchanges.
She is really lucky, that will be an awesome last area. She also got released
as Sister Training Leader. I am getting a new companion on Tuesday, Sister
Goddard. She has been out almost 9 months, and will be another Sister
Trainer Leader with me, so basically I have to train her up as STL, so
President had to separate Sis Olsen and I ( alot of the leaders are leaving
next transfer with me). But from what I have heard, Sister Goddard will
probably be training me, she is a fireball and a hard worker, so Alamo will
only continue to get better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of our less
actives is really starting to love our lessons and the Spirit he is feeling. He
is a personal football coach/trainer that played for Cal Poly and helps kids
now. We had to go to the football field at the local high school to teach him
one night. He had a football in one hand and The Book of Mormon in the other.
We had a great talk about Alma 32 and he said he believes Joseph Smith was a
prophet-"why wouldn't God call another prophet?" Amazing, we know
through his example, his nonmember wife and son will want to learn more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love feeling the
Spirit so much as a missionary. It always comforts and inspires me, and truly
is a companion. I know as we study the word of God daily and share the gospel,
we can all have the Spirit, the best feeling in the world, with us always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much Love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PICS:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. All the amazing
sisters in the Walnut Creek Zone that we went on exchanges with!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. SICK. Lice check...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. on bikes
again....haha <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-83451343205167192852014-01-06T14:18:00.001-08:002014-01-06T14:19:49.745-08:00Calling Down the Powers of Heaven<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Family,</div>
This week has been mind blowing with miracles!</div>
First of all, Sister Olsen and I have set goals and started applying having better prayers, and relying on the Spirit more. We are praying for fervently for missionary opportunities and for our members to have missionary opportunities.</div>
<b>Praying for Baptism</b></div>
On exchanges, I was in Alamo with Sister Pena. We were trying a lot of potentials that weren't home, we weren't getting in anywhere, and finally I talked with Heavenly Father and said this isn't working. Help us be guided to those being prepared for baptism. We have changed our prayers to not just find someone, but find someone ready to be baptized. We felt prompted to go to a certain park. We pulled up in the parking lot and Sister Pena gets out first and says hi to the first lady we see right next to us in the car with her window cracked down. The lady is really nice, and SHE starts the conversation. She is from Thailand, and likes that we are missionaries, she wants to be one, she is looking at different churches. She then asks a golden question 'I've always wondered what the difference was between Mormons and other religions. Can you tell me?" We'd thought noone would ever ask haha. I asked her if she had a few minutes right then. She said yes of course and we got out, found a bench, and offered a prayer, taught the Restoration, and committed her to baptism. SHE SAID YES. To all those who read this, I want you to know that Heavenly Father is real, He knows us, He listens to us, and He answers us. This is His work, we need to help Him hasten it, but we need to ask and then seek. By the way this woman's name is Seeve, if you could keep her in your prayers, we are meeting with her again tonight.</div>
<b>Praying for Our Members</b></div>
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We have really been praying for our members to have missionary opportunities in almost every prayer we offer. We have been trying to visit members and help them pray for them too. One of our members gave us a referral, he arranged for us to have dinner with her, and she wasn't really taking the invitation to learn more from us, but when we said the prayer at the end of the night, the Spirit filled the room and she was softened. I bore my testimony to her and opened up to Alma 40 to talk about her husband that had passed. We asked her to finish the chapter, she accepted, and asked if we could call her to follow up and we got her number. Then we are working with a member of the stake presidency in our ward. He has been wanting to invite 2 families to meet with us. One is a part member family and the other is somewhat less active and needs the lessons. We finally went over there to see how it was going and he said he was going to send an email invite to them. We have been praying this would go well, we know he has really thought and prayed about this. This morning we got a text saying BOTH accepted his invitation to meet with us.</div>
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<b>Praying for a Missionary Minded Sacrament</b></div>
A lot of our ward is wonderful, but also very comfortable. They don't talk much about missionary work or simple doctrine and testimony in sacrament. We have been a little frustrated with the quality of our church meetings, and when we went to Mission Leadership Council this week, both Sister Olsen and I had the thought that we would love it if President Meredith could come fire up our ward. Turns out, yesterday was the second <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_244393987" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> in a row we had a general authority come randomly! This week was Elder Packer, from the area 70, who is INCREDIBLE with missionary work and extremely motivating and inspiring. He takes his priesthood duty seriously and is on board with President Monson on hastening the work. He gave the last testimony. It was incredible. He had all the deacons/those who helped passed the sacrament, he called them out by name and said thank you to them in front of everyone, he said "No one else will bless and sanctify my soul this week. Thank you for changing my life this week." He was so full of fire and recognized my companion and I's testimony as well as the brother who bore his testimony on taking us to dinner with that referral. He talked about how the only problem this ward should have is that the building is too small to fit everyone!!! And said amen and sat down. A lot of the ward and the youth were inspired. No one knew why he was there, my companion and I almost couldn't believe how obviously answered we were.</div>
<b>Praying for East Bay</b></div>
I have been thinking about the singles ward since I left. I ran into the missionaries from my old district and zone and asked how it was doing. They said they all are really praying to find for East Bay. I was so touched of the team effort, and decided I would really keep praying even harder for that ward to keep doing well. I got an incredible email from Sister Evans (who is tearing it up there! so proud) and she told me of numerous people we had taught and helped who are now passing sacrament, going through the temple, going out with the missionaries, becoming fully active, and receiving callings! There was even a story of a lady who I STILL REMEMBER contacting at night once in a trailer park. We invited her to church and she said not right now and just looked so sad. After really trying, we finally had to leave. In the car I remember Sister Evans and I both saying how odd that was, we felt really good about her. Even though she told us no, we felt she really wanted to say yes. We tried inviting her to an activity a month later, but no response. Then Sister Evans called me recently and said you will never guess. This lady (named Laura) CALLED THEM and said "does church still start at 1?" MIRACLES!</div>
I know this church is true. We have revelation today. We have the priesthood which allows us to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I know God answers our prayers. He loves us, and I love Him.</div>
I LOVE YOU!</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-12014008982229568992013-12-30T17:02:00.001-08:002013-12-30T17:02:25.159-08:00Acting on the Spirit Daily<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Dear Family,<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It was great seeing you on Skype! Thanks for singing to me, I really loved that.</span><br />
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This week I saw a coyote walking alongside the road. Being closer to the mountains, we see a lot of deer, but first time to see a coyote here.</div>
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For Christmas, We had 2 breakfasts, a lunch, and a dinner. We spent the day with members, but we took time to always share a message, invite them to pray to share the gospel and invite others to meet with us. Looking at this ward's past, the only converts have been through members, and its been over a year since they had any. So with that said, some new year's goals Sister Olsen and I have are to just work hard and live the rest of our mission with happiness and satisfaction. I want to enjoy it and see miracles. We want to start off the Alamo 1st ward's new year by having baptisms and reactivations. This quote from President Uchtdorf's Talk, "Your Potential, Your Privilege" sums up a goal of mine for the whole year of <u>not letting a day go by without acting on the Spirit.</u>:<br /><b><i>"The words written in the scriptures and spoken in general conference are for us to “liken them unto [ourselves],”<sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/your-potential-your-privilege?lang=eng&query=privilege#7-PD50028768_000_3040" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">7</a></sup> not for reading or hearing only.<sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/your-potential-your-privilege?lang=eng&query=privilege#8-PD50028768_000_3040" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">8</a></sup> Too often we attend meetings and nod our heads; we might even smile knowingly and agree. We jot down some action points, and we may say to ourselves, “That is something I will do.” But somewhere between the hearing, the writing of a reminder on our smartphone, and the actual doing, our “do it” switch gets rotated to the “later” position. ...let’s make sure to set our “do it” switch always to the “now” position!</i></b><br />
<b><i></i></b><b><i>As you read the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets with all your heart and mind, the Lord will tell you how to live up to your...privileges. <u>Don’t let a day go by without doing something to act on the promptings of the Spirit</u>...</i></b><b><i>If we are not seeking to use this channel of revelation, we are living beneath our ...privileges... </i></b><b><i>Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit for our specific life situations and for our challenges and ...duties."</i></b><br />
I had a day this week, where I did a lot of work of tracking down people, knocking on doors and trying to talk to many. However, by the end of the day it was not very fruitful. This made me ponder what went wrong. I realized I hadn't really asked the Lord where He wanted me to go, instead I focused on checking off what was in the planner. While this is good, it could have been better, because He knows where His prepared children are. I read a story about some missionaries who prayed at every single street and house until they both confirmed for sure that a particular house was the one that was prepared. They knocked, said they were representatives of Jesus Christ and they had a message for them, and they let them right in!<br /></div>
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Then <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_695431844" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Sunday</span></span> we had a general authority randomly come to our sacrament. It was Bishop Davies from the presiding bishopric. It was an amazing meeting, the Spirit was so strong. He apparently used to go to our ward, but he hasn't been in our chapel in 21 years. He said he remembers when he was here last time, one of the being-released bishopric members didn't get a chance to share his testimony, and so at the pulpit on the spot he called up this brother. So after 21 years, he was able to give his departing testimony haha. I think about how general authorities always have to rely on inspiration and act on it with how many people they visit. Sister Olsen and I also got to talk to Sister Davies his wife. She was so amazing! She talked to us about their time as mission presidents, and she talked to our members asking them if they were finding for us.<br /></div>
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Anyways, so summary of the week, I have been setting goals to rely and act on the Spirit even more, and I know that the Spirit acting through the members and missionaries, will do the Lord's work, and do it right.<br /></div>
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Much Love,<br />Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-44780031299762745072013-12-23T16:21:00.002-08:002013-12-23T16:21:55.639-08:00Merry and Bright<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Happy Christmas Family!</div>
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<strong>Christmas Online </strong></div>
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Did you forget the challenge from general conference?! You still have 2 days.</div>
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<a href="http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/reach-out-in-love?cid=HPTH121913272&im=true&lang=eng" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.lds.org/topics/<wbr></wbr>christmas/reach-out-in-love?<wbr></wbr>cid=HPTH121913272&im=true&<wbr></wbr>lang=eng</a></div>
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For you to please watch, this is so beautiful and moving, it really made me think about how Christ's miraculous life really did start in a manger.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mormonchannel.org/christmas-videos?v=2008190983001&cid=HPFR122013274&im=true" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.mormonchannel.org/<wbr></wbr>christmas-videos?v=<wbr></wbr>2008190983001&cid=<wbr></wbr>HPFR122013274&im=true</a></div>
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<strong>Catholic High School</strong></div>
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I really really love this season. The Spirit is so strong. I love my Savior and all He has done. My life is the way it is because of Him. I love being His missionary and getting to share His message.</div>
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This week we had a unique experience in getting to share that message. We were asked by a local Catholic high school world religions class to come answer questions. Sister Olsen and I were asked to help with this, so we went one morning to stand up in front of an all girls class. They presented their report and slideshow first (which only had a little false doctrine ;)) , the slideshow being titled "The Mormons", and then said they had some guests here to answer questions. They had soooo many! They asked why we were called Mormons, and I explained a little about the Book of Mormon, and how we got out nickname from a prophet who wrote in it, and I said I didn't mind being called that, he was a pretty cool guy :). They mostly asked about serving missions, but when they asked about crazy or scary experiences, we talked about the Holy Ghost, and that spurred more questions on what the Holy Ghost felt like. Afterwards, the girls in charge of us escorted us back to the office, and told us on the way that we were the most interesting and exciting religion that has presented to them :)</div>
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<strong>Funeral</strong></div>
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This week was also another wake up call to the reality of the Savior and the Plan of Salvation. One of the recent converts in East Bay ward passed away this week. He was just baptized last year in September, and transferred to our ward. We never got to teach him, he said he didn't want the lessons from us, he wasn't comfortable with sisters. However, now I know he was suffering from schizophrenia.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_416747119" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">This Sunday</span></span> he took away his life (which is apparently common when people who suffer from this reach middle age). We attended the funeral <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_416747120" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Saturday</span></span>, where his completely nonmember, mostly Catholic, family was all there. They chose to have an LDS funeral in honor of his decision to be baptized. His parents were great in expressing how much the church helped him find peace and knowledge that God was there. He had said he wouldn't be able to keep going in life if he didn't know God existed. He was an all-American guy, a leader, played water polo and track for UCLA, so a lot of UCLA athletes were there, as well as his coach from high school. His girlfriend from East Bay ward was there as well. We stayed around and served there all day. We talked to some people and had great conversations. Offered missionaries, they kindy declined, but readily accepted our invite to learn more from Mormon.org or talk to missionaries on the streets when they see them. They said they liked the scriptures read from the Book of Mormon (Alma 7 and 40 were quoted frequently). I know this good brother is no longer suffering and that he will be made whole one day due to Jesus Christ. His girlfriend told me later she knew that the messages shared at his funeral were what he would have wanted his family to hear. I know hundreds heard the word of God and the Plan of Salvation and this will affect them all one day. Also, interesting I had to do a presentation on this particular affliction at BYU, the Lord really has prepared me in so many ways to better understand things and serve my mission here.</div>
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I am grateful that the Savior makes things more merry as we experience the joys of this mortal life, and also that He sheds brighter light on the harder times.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Merry Christmas!</span> Talk to you in 2 days--face to face!</div>
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Much Love,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-81330445147565218312013-12-16T13:23:00.002-08:002013-12-16T13:23:24.110-08:00Miracles and Moral Authority<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Family,</span></div>
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Thanks for your emails and prayers. I have truly been blessed to have you as my family, I can't thank you enough. I love talking about what my family does at Christmas and holidays to others here. And to be able to testify how the gospel has blessed my family is always hearfelt and true.</div>
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The fancy thing I did this week was attend a ward council "get together", aka have a catered dinner in a mansion. They served us appetizers, then basil chicken, steak tips on a stick, samon, rolls, fancy potatoes, fancy flourless chocolate cake thing with cream sauce on top, etc. I felt like I was at a wedding. Everyone here is so successful. You have to be to afford it! And yet, you wouldn't think we would find people to teach---wrong!!!</div>
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This week alone we had many miracles. First, after seraching through the area book and finding a name and address but no other record about one person, we decided to stop by. I was on exchanged when this happened, but SIster Olsen told me what happened. This woman answered the door and said right away "You're Mormons." After a pleasant conversation, learned her family had JUST moved in 3 weeks before. They took a Christmas pamphlet and said we could come back. So the next day when Sister Olsen and I were back together, we took a member and went to their house. Turns out it was a family of 7. Only 6 lived there, but still, how cool that big of a family let us in. The husband is Jewish and the wife grew up southern baptist. But they had us sit around their table and talk. We just wanted to get a feel for how interested they were, and when we invited them to church the husband said they would like to see one of our services. They are going to talk and consider learning from us this week. PLEASE PRAY HARD FOR THEM. They would be such a wonderful addition to our ward and such awesome people, totally searching. They are new and looking for community as well.</div>
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Also, miracles of visiting our members. As soon as we come over, they are like "sit down sisters, we have some people to talk about." and they launch right into referrals. Recently our stake presidents were taught by area 70 to have<strong>"moral authority",</strong> which means you cant just stand up at the pulpit begging members to share the gospel, you have to be able to say "look what happened to me" so now they (the stake presidents) all have to write and email and report to the area 70 about their personal missionary experiences---weekly! And that is trickling down to the stake presidencies reporting to the stake presidents,etc. We happen to have a member of the stake presidency in our ward so he is all fired up and ready to help us now that he is having experiences. Our area 70 told us about this at last weeks zone conference, it's so exciting, the stories we have heard are incredible. The area 70 asked us as full time missionaries to help members know how to pray for opportunities. Some of our members are finding families! I love Alamo!!</div>
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Ok, speaking of zone conference, the time we spent with the area 70 was the highlight for sure. Before he even started, he just walked around the room and walked right up to random sisters and elders and asked them where they were from and what they wanted to do with their life. He just got to know us before he ministered to us. Such a great example of love and leadership! He says its always best if you ask someone 15 things about themselves before you get them to listen to you. So then he told us about his childhood, and he brought in a larg bag of marbles. He said he was the marble champion, but one day at school the marbles all spilled out of his pockets, and he got in trouble. So his mother made him a drawstring bag. He said usually we can help all our scattered problems with one thing. In this case, it is the Book of Mormon. He challenged us to study the questions of the soul more, and how we can answer them with the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is like the drawstring bag. I don't know if I typed that right or if that made sense, but basically use the Book of Mormon more to help people resolve their concerns(the marbles). Then he taught us about <strong>moral authority,</strong> and what our own stake leaders were doing to share the gospel. And he didn't say it, but it was clear from the Spirit that that is how we ourselves help people into the gospel. Love them and invite them, share experiences, not just talk at them. Same with us also working with members, help them share the gospel by loving them and saying look at what we are doing, not convincing them. It was so so good. I had been feeling stressed the entire conference, which made me a bit sad seeing as it was my last zone conference. I was stressed with constantly having to last minute play the piano for everything, including multiple special musical numbers, and also giving a training 3 times. So to have such inspiration from a leader was so uplifting. Part of the reason I know this is God's church is by the fruits of the leadership. How can they not be men of God?</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">MUCH LOVE,</span></div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-47656969788847125992013-12-09T19:01:00.000-08:002013-12-09T19:07:45.172-08:00#ChristmasDevo and Alamo<div style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Family,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, I thought it
was hilarious that during the 1st presidency Christmas devotional, in the
corner was a little twitter sign, "#ChristmasDevo" --so hip church!
Hashtag the gospel!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#Alamoisamazing. #Ilovemycompanion</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week has been THE
craziest!! Every day is an adventure with Sister Olsen. We are constantly
laughing and having a blast, but yet we are stoked to be together and work hard
and turn around Alamo! Our first day, we had to take care of one of our sisters
we are over in my new zone. She was training, and had to wait to pick up her
new companion, so it felt like a giant trio slumber party! And we saw miracles
on the first day! The first man we walked up to at his garbage can let us in
his house with his wife. She said they have never let in missionaries all these
years until now. Then we visited some members, and I don't know what people are
talking about, but this ward is doing amazing with missionary work! One of the
couples in our ward told us about how they just got a mission call to Hong
Kong, only to be personally called from Elder Oak's office a few weeks later!!
Then they had a video conference with President Uchtdorf!! They are now being
called to serve as a mission president and wife!! They will be so amazing! So
President Uchtdorf told them"You only need to know 3 things. Preach My
Gospel. Preach My Gospel. and Preach My Gospel." when she shared that with
us, it just reminded us how amazing that book is. So anyways, they are having us
teach them the lessons to help them prepare! They are so cute, they have all
the PMG videos, pamphlets, etc sitting around in their house. AND this means
they are praying VERY diligently to have missionary experiences. The sister
said she had to go to the bank for the first time in 10 years (I will discuss
the richness of this place later), where she ran into an old neighbor from
like 22 years ago!! After saying her name, which she completely
remembered, they caught up on each others lives. Turns out the neighbor had
JUST lost her husband, and was now mad at God. Our member testified about
the Plan of Salvation, and when the neighbor didn't want to believe her, up
comes ANOTHER MEMBER in the parking lot. She came over, and our
member told her what was happening, and the other member just looked
at the nonmember and said "It is absolutely true." BY THE MOUTH
OF 2 WITNESSES! How cool is that?! Reminded me why we go in companionships.
Anyways, so now our futuremissionpresidentwife went over to her house later
with chocolate offering chocolates and a hug. They talked some more and then our
member invited her to our fancy relief society dinner. She accepted the
invite and totally came. We were there, and just got to know her a little.
Eventually, she is going to invite her to meet with us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#ourwardisold. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Sooo speaking of
rich, this place is loaded! We are the richest part of the mission. The member
I was talking about earlier who said she hadn't been to the bank in 10 years,
is so funny and just says"my husband is my ATM. Whenever I want money I
just take it from him." I think I have been in like 20 mansions since I
got here. One time was for our relief society dinner. It was the men serving us
in matching cumberbuns (sp?) and bow ties, with a full blown meal on porcelain plates
with wine glasses. We even had the men </span><span style="color: #222222;">chauffeuring</span><span style="color: #222222;"> and parking everyone's cars. However rich though, they did good in
bringing nonmembers, which was the idea. In our last ward, a sister commented
how she went out with a rich guy once, partially to use as an opportunity
to share the gospel, because quote </span><b style="color: #222222;"><i>"missionaries can't get to
that door".</i></b><span style="color: #222222;"> So profound! We are going to be working really
closely with the members here. We will work as hard as we can to find as well,
but we know the miracles will come through the members. Even if on Sunday,
literally 95%of relief society has gray or white hair. They can share the
gospel too! :) Also, I love older people, they are hilarious, which made Sunday so
funny. You know our ward is old, when they have an electrical wheelchair lift
on the stand in sacrament. And I had to use a microphone to even make a comment
in Relief Society. I love it here :) Also, please pray for our investigator,
even though there are old people here, we are teaching my first teenager on my
mission. She is 14, and the only nonmember in her family. But her family is
less active.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#istruggleridingbikes</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, Sister Olsen and
I had to be on bikes for a day! The elders had to borrow our car to go to
Oakland, and so we said "ok we need your bikes then, we have
appointments." So we took them. So. Painful. Here is Sister Olsen's
version/account of that day for you:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's been SO
cold here!!!! I'm freezing my buns off!!! Last thursday was the coldest day of
the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And
guess what we got to do all day..............................WE WERE ON
BIKE!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I hated every second of it! haha just kidding!
It actually was REALLY fun and it was REALLY FUNNY to watch sister martin struggle
on the bike because she's so short!! hahaha we were in our fancy fur coats with
tights on and our nice shoes...riding elders bikes. I kept looking back at her
and each time I did I almost crashed because I was laughing so hard. I bet we
looked RIDICULOUS!! hahaha it was the funniest day of my mission! The elders
had to borrow our car to go to Oakland and so we were like okay sure! Give us
your bikes and they couldn't believe we wanted to ride bikes! We were like
"Well, we have places to go, people to visit! We have appointments all
day! We aren't walking!" haha half way through the day I repented and said
a prayer for all the missionaries on bike. I take being in car for granted. I
now have a new respect for elders and sisters on bike. "<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that is enough
said. Except she was kind enough to not mention when I fell off trying to
contact a sweet Asian couple on the street. Haha. Thank goodness our members
gave us rides in the evening. Alamo is also super hilly. And riding a bike is
so dangerous!We of course had Mission Leadership Council the next day, which
was a bunch of sitting for hours!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#tightlikeuntoadish</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We call our car the
Jaredite boat. It is a Chevy Malibu, therefore, tight like unto a dish.
Horrible turning radius. We miss our Corolla. But we are grateful to not be on
bikes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sister Olsen and I are
also giving a training! AT ZONE CONFERENCE! This is one of the biggest training
opportunities, and one of the assistants specifically told me they counseled
with President who needed to give the training, and they picked us for our
conference! Thankfully we don't have to do it al 3 days, just our own zone
conference. We were given the topic of "asking inspired questions". We
are so excited, and already have an object lesson planned.This is also the
funnest zone conference of the year! We get to do missionary Christmas things,
like a white elephant exchange, and our mission president's wife is reading us
a Christmas story, and we have a bunch of Chirstmas special musical numbers. We
have been soooo busy with meetings and trainings, we are excited to get into
more proselyting time together and exchanges this week. I have been feeling so
much anxiety about how fast this part of my mission will go. I am so happy, and
I don't want to stop being a missionary!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I LOVE CHRISTMAS!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I LOVE YOU ALL!,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sister Martin</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PICS:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so excited and happy to be together again!! Especially for the holidays :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. We were in a trio for a day...funnest night ever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. we love bikes:)..hahaha</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Santa already loves us!!!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More pictures for
those of you who can appreciate more pictures of me...:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1)This first pic is at
our first district meeting together. We ate these things called
"Dropeys" ? Our district leader brought them to us. They are
basically licorice with salt. Suuuuper nasty.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2)We have too much
fun. This was our first official companion picture.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-67053042330156010552013-12-02T17:19:00.001-08:002013-12-02T17:19:14.401-08:00God Works in Mysterious Ways<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Family,<br /></div>
First of all, TRANSFERS.</div>
I got transferred to Alamo!! haaaaah I kid you not. Heavenly Father must really want me to learn to do hard things. But I am excited as well because SISTER OLSEN will be my companion! We were MTC companions!! We will be paired-up Sister Training Leaders for the Walnut Creek Zone. We have been praying to serve together again but we started to think we would both really be training our whole mission. Alas, the Lord listens to specific prayers! Hopefully we can help fire up Alamo. I already plan on many Texas/Alamo jokes with the members...<br /></div>
I am sad to leave Sister Evans. She was a huge blessing and example to me of humility and obedience. She has grown tremendously these past 3 transfers. We have laughed and cried through a lot of hard things, relied on the Lord to bring some less actives back, build up a new ward, fired up a few members,and we were even blessed with a miracle baptism. East Bay will be in good hands. She will be receiving a Tongan companion!<br /></div>
<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1537704086" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> was interesting. We had a scary start to fast and testimony meeting, and we HAPPENED to of course have a random nonmember walk in our doors just to see what it was like. Sister Evans and I both shared our testimonies, and the end was about missionary work and the Atonement, so I hope they left with a better feeling. The guy was not interested in meeting with us, but we gave him and Book of Mormon, our number, a pamphlet, and let him know he was welcome anytime.<br /></div>
Oh yeah, Thanksgiving. We ate a fancy dinner with our bishop and his family. I got to see Katie Ruefenacht again (their daughter, a good friend of mine from BYU). We had a fancy green jello square on a lettuce leaf for an appetizer, multiple silverware, candles, and nametags to our assigned seating. Very fine dining experience! And the only one I needed. Last years four dinners I think were a little much. This one was perfect and delicious. We also did some service and raked our elder's nonmember neighbors yard. Service is the best! I am thankful I get a chance to do it so much on my mission.<br />Sister Ruefenacht, Bishop's wife, was particularly sad to see me leave. When I told her, she said "oh my gosh....seriously?!...well I guess the church is <i>true</i>...."</div>
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Well, my mind is a mess with stress. A lot to do today. So there will be more next week!</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">LOVE,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-49944875595801260962013-11-26T05:45:00.001-08:002013-11-26T05:45:12.734-08:00Diligence Wins Everytime!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Dearest Family,</div>
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<strong>P-Day Miracles</strong></div>
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First, I wish I could have written you last Monday night instead of afternoon. Because we had an awesome story after. So we had the Walnut Creek sisters in our car, as the elders had theirs. We all got done with the hike in Oakland and had to face traffic on the way back. We had to go to Martinez to meet the elders cause they had left their bikes at a member's home. We are almost there when the elders call us and tell us they are still in Oakland because of an accident. That would mean there was 10 minutes lef tin P-day, 30 minutes til they got there, we are all in hiking clothes in a different area. I really prayed to know what to do, what would be the most obedient thing. We decided to just take the sisters home, but as we were leaving the parking lot of the grocery store we pulled into, we saw a family standing outside with a sign that said "need a job. please help." I felt so moved by this family, which had a husband, wife, and a small baby wrapped in her arms, I pulled over to the gas station across from them. I told the sisters we were giong to be a miracle for that family. We proceeded to go into the gas station to buy random food and juice. As we were checking out, we talked to a man in line and the cashier. We got BOTH of their information, and one even asked for a Bible, so we gave him a Book of Mormon, and said missionaries could deliver the Bible later. They were amazing contacts. Then we walked across the street to the family. They were from Romania, spoke very little English. We gave them the food and talked to them about the gospel, and gave them Book of Mormon. We said we wanted to meet with them with a friend (a man in our ward who served his mission in Romania) who spoke Romanian. Within that 30 minutes, we had like 3 miracles. Diligence of proselyting at 6 for the win! Even if we were in "normal" clothes, we couldn't help that. I was just reminded how powerful members can be...dressed in normal clothes all the time...at gas stations a lot...just saying. YOU CAN DO IT!</div>
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<strong>SICK</strong></div>
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Also this week was interesting as I was SICK! Ironically, Becky just asked me in her email if I got caught in the nasty weather here, with the rain and a ton of wind. Well, yes, literally caught in it. I was on exchanges and we were knocking on doors and contacting in the rain. I did take a rain jacket and umbrella, but sometimes you just get caught in downpours. My boots have holes in them, so it got through to my feet all day. Anyways, with the weather change and general horrendous allergies here, and who know what else, I had major sinus pain and a cold, I had to call the mission nurse and she was afraid of it turning into sinusitis, so she told me to STAY HOME for a few days and rest. That was painful, I have never had to do that on the mission (minus the MTC). But we were still able to teach one of our lessons over the phone, I organized a lot of papers and binders, and read almost all of "Our Heritage" in the missionary library. Amazing what just reading about church history does to inspire your testimony. So with NyQuil and naps, I feel much better now. It was exactly what was needed. This East Bay business must be stressful, that sleep felt way too good!</div>
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<strong>Prayer</strong></div>
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This week I have pondered a lot about specific prayer. Our zone had a training on it and also I re-read Elder Gifford Neilson's talk from Conference. He asked us to pray for some pretty specific things. There is a lot of power when we remember that God wants to "give us good gifts": Luke 11 teaches</div>
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<em><strong>9 </strong>And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.<strong>10</strong> For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.<strong>11 </strong>If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?<strong>12</strong> Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?<strong>13</strong> If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give <sup>a</sup></em><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/11.13#" rel="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&volumeUri=nt&bookUri=luke&chapterUri=11&noteID=13a" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><em>the Holy Spirit</em></a><em> to them that ask him?</em></div>
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So let us be specific in asking for good things. Call upon that power of heaven. Because who are we? Children of God.</div>
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Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday this week to Mom and Heather!</div>
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Lots of Love,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-59148262919499799652013-11-18T15:40:00.001-08:002013-11-18T15:40:41.406-08:00Remember the Alamo!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Hola Familia,<br /></div>
This week I did a special exchange with Sister Olsen and her companion so that Sister Evans and Sister Kwan, our companions could have their very own exchange with a STL, instead of just being stuck with us all the time haha. It was great! I got to go to Alamo... Where I have never faced such rejection in my life!!! There is literally nothing but residences there, so its all talking to rich white people in their yards. We were offering a lot of service, but once we mentioned the word "missionaries" it was like jekyll and hyde. I was very proud that Sister Kwan was very diligent. I liked the exchange, but was happy to go back to East Bay for sure.<br />It's interesting, because the moral of the story is, MEMBERS ARE THE KEY! If you haven't caught on yet. Because the town RIGHT next to Alamo is baptizing families like crazy. Why? Because the members are finding them, and the ward mission leader literally fills their calendar for them. So while members continue to catch on, we fill our own calendars, but the areas that have figured this out are seeing the fruits.<br /></div>
This week was also an AMAZING leadership training. It was two days long, with all the district and zone leaders, and the sister training leaders.<br />I had to give a training on "dynamic leadership" with a cool science experiment. We had breakout sessions, large discussions, food, etc. It was a spiritual feast! I came away with so many more tools that I applied right away to my exchanges, and it made it 10 million times better! I learned how asking inspired questions and all the skills of teaching investigators applies well to the sisters I am over. Not that that was news, but it was good to see examples of how that is. We needed this training, because there are now more missionaries who have been out 6 months or less than older missionaries in our mission. There are district leaders who are in their 3rd transfer. We have so many new missionaries, we have to make sure we bring them up right :)<br /></div>
Thanksgiving is soon!!! We are teaching our ward FHE lesson tonight on gratitude, followed by a Thanksgiving dinner. We invited Brad and Alvaro to come. We are listening to Christmas music and getting ready to prepare a Christmas message in our finding efforts! The weather is getting colder and we are going hiking again today for zone activity.<br /><br />Well this week is a challenge to you all to write me about how you gained a testimony of paying tithing or living word of wisdom.<br /><br />Much love,</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-57387321396839484502013-11-11T19:31:00.001-08:002013-11-11T19:31:37.407-08:00High(er) Expectations<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is Annette's
Baptism in Walnut Creek! She has been learning from missionaries forever! I
taught her almost the whole time I was there! AND GUESS WHO BAPTIZED HER?
NORMAN!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Here is Alvaro's Baptism. He is really shy, so just ignore that is may or may not look like a mug shot...haha. We promise he was really happy. His mom was happy too, we even had her say the opening prayer...IN SPANISH!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Well, I am sure the apartment maintenance loves having two sister missionaries with thick hair live there...we had to call them to pull this out of the shower drain! Sick.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well I like this new thing I discovered on
email about inserting the pictures instead of just attaching them. Hopefully it
works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well at Mission Leadership Council, President
Meredith just got back from a 3 day long training from Elder Ballard! We
discussed a lot of ways to improve and teaching shortly and powerfully. We
talked about high expectations. How much of the scriptures have absolutely
MIRACULOUS things happen, parting the Red Sea, surviving a den of lions, not to
mention all the Savior's miracles and miracles in the Book of Mormon. What did
it take to have these? FAITH and KNOWING WHO YOU REALLY ARE. Not just a prophet
or a missionary, but a child of God, which means you have divine in you. But
how do we build that faith in ourselves and others? The emphasis in this
training was on having spiritual experiences and then also sharing and hearing
testimonies. We discussed bearing testimony frequently, and promising specific
blessings, especially as we have seen them in our life. As we share this with
others, it helps them build the cinderblock foundation of their testimonies'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have also been talking about becoming more
consecrated missionaries. The law of consecration is a celestial law. It not
about just changing behavior, but changing your whole nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had a miracle of one of our less actives
coming to church this week. We needed a female for our investigator. Noone in
our ward seemed to be able to come when it got down to 2 hours before the
lesson. We finally resorted to calling a less active we hadn't seen. She
agreed! Despite our investigator falling through at the last minute possible,
we taught her instead (it was on the Plan of Salvation) and she cried and said
how much she needed the lesson and needed to come to church. It was amazing,
and we KNEW that was what the Lord needed to happen that night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOVE YOU ALL!!! Hug a
cat and invite someone to church.<o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM0ON9FG1bLzmSFiPiOrjpWugEHl52po9WD-yKdRsLh3QuWkoXA70SRZfAzpYez8AK2wuq-shtUCdOGvWVz3lVSQq557oVI55xNJelXv6liovLiFmBKeQLQKm9FOQ7dg3iwRTfILhB44/s1600/915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM0ON9FG1bLzmSFiPiOrjpWugEHl52po9WD-yKdRsLh3QuWkoXA70SRZfAzpYez8AK2wuq-shtUCdOGvWVz3lVSQq557oVI55xNJelXv6liovLiFmBKeQLQKm9FOQ7dg3iwRTfILhB44/s320/915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love,<br />
Sister Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">******Her pics didn't come through for this portion of the email...sorry everyone. Hopefully she'll resend them next week ********</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guess who I got to hang out with for Mission
Leadership Council? SISTER OLSEN! And SISTER COOPER! They just got called as
new Sister Training Leaders.Love them. It was a blast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Inline image 5" style='width:150pt;
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is what we really
feel like after Mission Leadership Council. It is looong. And stressful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Inline image 6" style='width:150pt;
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy Haunted House
Cleaning time! As missionaries, we were locked in from 6-9 pm on
Halloween, not allowed to proselyte, so instead we are supposed to deep clean.
Here we are with the caramel apples we made with the caramel Mom sent. We also
have a coloring sheet and a cleaning checklist ready for the night. Forget
trick or treating, purging out old mission stuff is very rewarding!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Inline image 7" style='width:150pt;
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For example, I finally
let go of my old running shoes. We run a lot on the mission, and you can tell
where I hit my stride haha, they are diagonal. I have new beautiful ones from
Target I am loving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-76119426218100743082013-11-04T17:36:00.001-08:002013-11-04T17:36:04.762-08:00November!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Hello Family,</div>
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If the Lord can hasten His work in a mid-singles ward, then family wards have NOTHING to ever complain about again!</div>
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<strong>Investigators</strong></div>
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We have another investigator with a baptismal date. That is a miracle! His name is Brad. We found him in a park dressed in baggy black and a box of cigarettes in his hand, over his ears, etc. At first we had just been hit on by a drunk man and he had overheard so we debated whether it was too awkward of an image to talk to him. But I thought, "talk with EVERYONE" and so I did. (I have learned not to tell the Lord who is ready to hear it and who is not). He was awesome, told us he was looking for change, gave his info. We tried so hard to get a return appt, but over the next few weeks he kept not showing up, not answering etc. BUT THEN <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_843232238" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">this Saturday</span></span> night he called us at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_843232239" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:30</span></span> saying he was on his way home from Bart and asked if we were still doing the church thing. We were like we are now! So in an hour and a half we managed to take Annette and an awesome priesthood fellowshipper and it was amazing! He said the day after he talked to us he got a job offer. He then not only accepted baptism, but a date! For this month! He has been through so much, with his girlfriend died last year, he has been to jail, etc. Anyways, we were so excited for him, he was nodding his head during Joseph Smith's experience saying "yeah I feel like that guy"! Annette, funny story, was like "are you sure you want to be baptized that soon? It's a big decision.I took like 2 years." But surprisingly that did not deter him, he said "well if we are going to meet 2-3 times a week, I think I can do that".</div>
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Alvaro's confirmation went well. His nonmember mom and uncle came again, and we even had someone come help translate for them in gospel principles! Also we have another nonmember who keeps visiting us every week at church. We are trying to see if we can meet with him. We are also starting a temple prep class for those in the ward who should go through or who haven't been in a while. Also we are talking to the ward about starting a Book of Mormon class taught by us (not on Sundays, but another night of the week). So the ward is picking up on catching the vision of helping other's along in their conversion.</div>
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We also heard back from our old investigator Celeste. I had an impression to call her, even though we had tried several times that week. She answered and we had a great conversation. She is in a rough spot right now so she can't meet with us, but said we can call and text her scriptures, because her land lords threw out her Book of Mormon we gave her. Such opposition these days.I don't doubt Elder Hales saying that the persecution will be like unto the early saints.</div>
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<strong>Season Change</strong></div>
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Well its November, the leaves are changing here. I have worn my boots and tights a few times. But it is still pretty sunny for the most part. It gets cold at night and the early morning, but pretty warm in the afternoons. It will change soon. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_843232240" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Saturday</span></span> for service I helped put up the Christmas lights with other singles wards at the Oakland temple! That was so cool, I have always wanted to help with temple grounds.</div>
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I will attach pictures next week of the baptisms and caramel apples we made :) I LOVE YOU ALL! Have a great week, share a gospel principle with someone.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-16927210686762635492013-10-28T17:51:00.001-07:002013-10-28T17:51:09.932-07:00East Bay Love<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Family,</div>
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Alvaro's baptism was amazing! The day before we took him to the Visitor's Center to watch the Testaments, it was so powerful and amazing. If you havent seen that movie, the first hour is pretty painful and awkward, but its all worth it for the last 5 minutes!!!!</div>
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Then we had a large portion of our ward come support him. His family came, the elders who first taught him got to come, and Bishop even spoke a little Spanish. Everything went well, the priesthood welcomed him and gave him a beautiful new quad set of scriptures. He loves the scriptures so I know he will eat those up! Our first baptism in this historical ward! It was stressful getting a font booked, but through fasting, prayer, and others help, we made it happen. Not a bad problem to deal with honestly!</div>
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A talk given at his baptism mentioned something interesting. He said when we get the gift of the Holy Ghost, the words used are "recieve the Holy Ghost". This means we need to work on and be worthy to welcome that invitation to us to <em>receive</em> Him.</div>
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Sorry its short this week, love you! Happy Halloween! Happy Birthday Dad! I sent you a card tellin gyou how amazing you are.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-72942915261136005102013-10-21T17:18:00.001-07:002013-10-21T17:18:00.011-07:00Boots and Baptism<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Hello Family,</div>
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I am staying in East Bay Midsingles another transfer. Nothing changed.</div>
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We were handed an investigator with a baptismal date this week. Turns out his baptismal date is <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_571460049" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">THIS SUNDAY</span></span>. So Crazy, but we are planning it. His name is Alvaro and he has an amazing testimony about Jesus Christ. He has given up so much addiction in his life. He loves our ward, so he wanted to be baptized here, so the Richmond Spanish elders passed him off to us. We are going to ward FHE with him tonight, studying about the life of President Monson, should be fun.</div>
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GUESS WHO ELSE GOT BAPTIZED?! Annette from Walnut Creek. I have officially hung around long enought to see every fruit from those I taught there. She has investigated for over a year now. I went through everything with her. But through a crazy story she thought the new Walnut Creek sisters had set a baptismal date with her (turns out it was a dinner haha) but she had secretly given up smoking to work towards that date. Also she had some Jehovah's Witnesses come to her door, and she started testifying and telling them that she knew what was right and true! It clicked with her somehow! What a blessing for her daughter who was just baptized over a year ago, to see her mom finally enter the waters! I got to go to the baptism cause it was still in my district and we took Alvaro. I will send pictures probably next week.</div>
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Well we also randomly called this less active guy who was referred to us by another set of sisters. We invited him to go to the midsingles barn dance activity. It didn't sound like he could go, but apparently he did and told EVERYONE that the sisters told him to go. He kept looking for us all night (we didn't go obviously) haha, but SO MANY people at church talked about him, including Bishop, said how much fun he had, how social he was. We are curious to actually meet him ourselves, we are hoping he comes to church soon. But also our bishop's family went to go buy boots for the activity, and talked to the guy at the boots store about the church. They just asked him at the end if he would like missionaries to talk to him and he said YES and gave them his card. Amazing what the power of opening our mouths and inviting those around us, does, whether they are members or not!</div>
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Love you,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-50891662002504400802013-10-15T19:14:00.001-07:002013-10-15T19:14:13.750-07:00Inner City<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Hello Family,</div>
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My week was interesting. I GOT TO DO EXCHANGES IN INNER CITY OAKLAND. Scary. President put one set of sisters there for this first time ever this transfer, and I had to be the Sister Trainer Leader for them. So I went twice. The elders there(who are the assistants to the president) need a lot of help, so they call the sisters a lot to go to their area (they try to give the sisters safer places, but still...) and we visited this miraculous less active wanting to come back to church. But she lives in a neighborhood where she has seen multiple shootings, morning, afternoon, and night.It was in a super ghetto house, and she told us she looked out her window once to see a man bleeding from his head, dead. So sad the world and crime and secret combinations. So my eyes continually are opened to the sheltered life I lived beofre. And this lady was in a mess. She was married to a guy who almost killed her, but now he is out of the country and she doesnt know how to get a hold of him so she can divorce him. She also has a child, a boyfriend, and broke her hand and when she went in to get it treated, got a pregnancy test that came back positive. But she cried to us in her living room when I asked her why she wanted to come back. She felt a prompting to go the visitor's center a week before. She has also thought a lot about her grandma who has passed recently. Just amazing stories of the spirit prompting her. Oakland is such fertile ground for prepared people. However, that means the ward has its own challenges. It's basically run by stake service members, the ward is full of a lot of poor, mostly single people with a lot of problems, no cars, etc. The sisters said there are not very many families at all.</div>
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<br />In East Bay I was trying to to talk with everyone, and this girl even looked mid-single. We set a return appointment, and met her this week. As the lesson started she had some great questions about the Atonement and how we viewed Christ. But soon her friend showed up (they always bring a friend) with her bible and we knew exactly what was happening. It was really funny and sad at the same time, when she pulled out Revelations I said "<em>we know</em> what that says!!" Haha, they weren't sure what to do after that, and didn't even really try. I just gave the schpeel about we could actually give you a lot of answers for that, but really can only invite you to read the Book of Mormon and pray for yourself, ONLY if you are willing and sincere about learning more. They were not, but gave us material from themselves about what the real, or yet "a Christian's definition of gospel" is. Also, when they asked us about our view of heaven and hell, it was so funny to hear them try nicely to tell us that we were going to hell.</div>
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On a happier spiritual note, I gave a zone training this week on small and simple things, how they make us great missionaries (and people). It made me study the word "simple" in the scriptures. I really liked Doctrine and Covenants<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1467991043" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:23</span></span> "That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and <em>the simple</em> unto the ends of the world..." The Lord works through simple servants. I know this to be true, I have seen it!</div>
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I will send another email with pictures from Fenton's Creamery (in Oakland, the one they sit in at the end of the movie "Up". However I do not reccomend eating these things by yourself) and a cool street corner we found after some service in Oakland.</div>
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MUCH LOVE,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-35261814711845111402013-10-08T18:00:00.001-07:002013-10-08T18:00:22.938-07:00You Guessed It, Conference!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Ok, you guessed it, I will give you my favorite recaps of conference...</div>
<b>Edward Dube</b></div>
Besides the awesome accent, the quote "never look back! look at what we still have to do!" "Stop being caught up in personal aspirations, and be interested in the common goal of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."</div>
<b>Elder Bednar</b></div>
Windows letting in light, hence light is shed on our life when we pay tithing. Gaining subtle peace and assurance in our life is more prevalant than temporal blessings. Law of tithing is so simple, and yet it WORKS.</div>
<b>President Uchtdorf</b></div>
10 hours of conference, 3 hours of church, seminary. family history, youth camps, tithing, fasting, etc.-why would anyone want to join such a church?! We see assignments as opportunities to fulfill covenants.God is perfect, but he works through us imperfect people, He knew we needed the responsibilty to grow.</div>
"There is room for you here."</div>
<b>Elder Christofferson</b></div>
"There are enough women in the world who are tough, we need women who are tender."</div>
"Strive to be a disciple without apology."</div>
<b>S.Gifford Nielson</b></div>
It doesn't matter the game plan, just score a touchdown! The exclamation points in the scriptures are about sharing the gospel! Specifically pray, pray for the investigators and missionaries in your ward by name, and invite someone to an activity in or out of the home.</div>
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I also loved his TV voice haha. And the fact he is from Texas. And played for BYU.</div>
<b>Elder Holland</b><br />
"If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it."<br />
In the context of those who know those who suffer from depression, be aware and be charitable because "charity never faileth"<br />
Wow. He went where no general authority has gone before.</div>
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<b>Elder Ballard</b></div>
Top two fears of members in sharing the gospel, 1)fear and 2) misunderstanding. The power of asking and relying on the Lord will help us in this.</div>
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FIND SOMEONE BY CHRISTMAS!!! A challenge!</div>
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<b>Elder Oaks</b></div>
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"Land laws cannot make moral what God has said is immoral."</div>
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<b>Elder Scott</b></div>
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"The Lord sees weaknesses different than rebellion." He shows mercy on weaknesses, but we must repent of rebellion.</div>
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<b>Elder Andersen</b></div>
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"Women have good opinions, if you just ask!....After all, they are your mothers." "A priesthood holder might open the drapes to the sunlight, but he does not own the sun or the light." He addressed so many great things about the role of men and women.</div>
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<b>David M. McKonkie</b></div>
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Basically what missionaries are taught. It's more important to be worthy of the Spirit, than to have the manual memorized. Must study as well. We quote here a lot "the Spirit can not draw from an empty well."</div>
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And of course, <b>President Monson,</b> "Tonight, I will write in my journal, 'this has been one of the most inspiring conferences." SO TRUE! There were so many diverse topics, I loved it!</div>
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My thoughts- the world is becoming more and more gray, which makes the gospel more and more black and white. Some don't like that, and feel we have to conform to the gray. The Lord is clear, and "whether by my own mouth, or by the mouth of my servants, it is the same." We had the privilege of watching one session with some other sisters and their investigator. He was probably in his late 30's, and he was only able to watch a few of the <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1511297587" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> morning talks, but he loved it! He said it was better than the pamphlets the sisters gave him :). He said it is so true "to hear the way the world is going". I thought, isn't that what prophets have always done? What Lehi did when he said Jerusalem would be destroyed? What Noah did when he said the earth would flood? We are being warned of today's spiritual dangers.</div>
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I love conference, I know the words they speak are truly from the Lord and I feel strengthened when I listen to them. I have already made plans to apply specific counsel in my own life, I invite you to do the same. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!</div>
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Much Love,<br />
Sister Martin<br />
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Four of us sisters watching conference at a members home! :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-80515558177658885402013-09-30T18:25:00.003-07:002013-09-30T18:25:49.897-07:00Blessings, Books, and Broadcast<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Hello Family,<br /></div>
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<b>Mission Tour</b></div>
This week we had our general authority visit, Elder Audukitus. It was so good. He basically called us to repentance for not talking to as many people as we could everyday. Then he gave us awesome training on helping a family pray for the first time and also helping investigators invite their friends to their baptism, resulting in many referrals. He said if we talked to more people, we will see baptisms. He helped us see that if we really wanted and relied on the Lord, we could baptize every week of our mission! He picked on my companion out of all the missionaries there to present her talk. We were all told to come prepared with a 3 minute talk on diligence, and were told he would pick randomly 3 people. Turns out he only picked one and he started walking towards us and pointed at Sister Evans. I was soooo grateful it wasn't me! But she had to talk about what our companionship has done to improve our diligence in front of everyone, so basically it was both of us. She did great. He also asked a question about recognizing the Spirit, and no one said anything so I raised my hand and quoted Moroni 7, and he told me "thankyou for that inspired answer" and then we all turned and read from there. This may have been the equivalent of a (spiritual) rockstar concert for missionaries haha. It was such a blessing to have him come visit us and feel his spirit of enthusiasm. Helps he and his wife have a super cool accent too! :)<br /></div>
<b>Book Cleaning Service</b></div>
Some of our service lately for some reason has been cleaning and organizing libraries/ books. A recent one was with our ward at a community clean up day. We were a bunch of mid singles and missionaries and then the people from the community were mostly 70+ years old that were there :) everyone else our ages had signed up to do outside stuff. So with a bunch of baby wipes and grody childrens books, we wiped them down for 4 hours. So I took advantage of the situation, and talked to a lovely elderly couple. Bob and Jackie have been married for about 60 years. They were saying how God put them together in college, it was so cute. We talked about families, family history, being parents, etc. Basically long story short, they were very impressed with everything I had to say. They said the time flew by. I asked them if they would like missionaries to come....and they said no :(. BUT I know that they will someday, things I said "made sense" to them and they felt something for sure. We had a few other members talking to nonmembers there too, so it just showed how this is what we are all about. Serving, making friends. Then questions come up and you can talk about the gospel. It was a great experience.<br /></div>
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<b>Broadcast</b></div>
I got to see Priyali at the Women's Broadcast! It made me so happy to see the fruits of her living the gospel and being in the room with her fellow sisters. I can't imagine her not being baptized and getting to hear the prophet speak. The conference was so great! I loved the first counselor, Sister Stephens. And how about that sister missionary choir?! If you didn't get to see it, here is the link- <a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09?lang=eng&vid=2703212494001" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/<wbr></wbr>watch/general-relief-society-<wbr></wbr>meeting/2013/09?lang=eng&vid=<wbr></wbr>2703212494001</a><br /></div>
You are all amazing. I LOVE YOU!</div>
Love,</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-78396592117004172332013-09-23T18:19:00.001-07:002013-09-30T18:25:13.071-07:00Restoration of The Gospel<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Hi Family,</div>
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So I wrote you my big email last Thursday, and we found out since then that Kevin is actually already a member! The elders who originally told us about him had said he was less active, but then some sisters said that no he was an investigator with a baptismal date. So when we met him, we asked if he had been baptized. He had said no. So we did our best and continued to teach him. He came clean and He met with the bishop, and said he wanted to be re-baptized. He didn't understand that you can't be re-baptized (unless excommunicated), and he was hoping to be. He said he didn't feel like he was really committed to it the first time. So good for him that he is looking to re-commit himself, but he talked with the bishop and he explained about the sacrament :). The adventures of East Bay Mid-Singles. It is extremely ironic with the timing, given we just had a zone meeting training on being honest with our key indicators (our goals/numbers we report), and we found out 3 days later, right before our report was due, that he was not an investigator. Good thing I have been told I have a gift of laughing about these things.</div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1350271720" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> was amazing. The 3 temple workers in our ward spoke about the Restoration and temples. It was very powerful. Especially talking about Restoration, it was straight doctrine and I could feel the spirit testify to me of the truth. Made me ponder if that is how others feel when I teach the doctrine. Made me want to work on being more clear, short, and powerful.A great quote about the temple "man's questions of life, receive answers of eternity". Also someone put the perspective on Alma 34:32 "this life in the time for men to prepare to meet God" as that is why we have temples. They are for this life, which is why those on the other side cannot. This is our only time to be proxies for them. God's work should be hastening, for the living and the dead.</div>
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Celeste came to church! We are also suspicious of her being a member too haha. Knowing our luck, we wouldn't be surprised. She loved all three hours. We are going to try and take her to the women's broadcast this weekend.</div>
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I know this gospel is true. I know that even though we experience hard things, the Lord know who we are and answers prayers. Many of our doubts and questions arise from the fundamental understanding and believing in God and His existence. The Restoration of the gospel cleared up much confusion of Him. The first word from Heavenly Father's mouth was "Joseph",- He knows us individually. Jesus is the Christ, as Heavenly Father pointed out (literally). As we listen to Christ, we find truth and answers in His words. Joseph Smith History <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1350271721" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:19</span></span> starts off with "I was answered".</div>
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Thank you for your testimonies and prayers.</div>
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Much Love,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-51360124589854682872013-09-20T09:44:00.002-07:002013-09-20T09:44:16.421-07:00His work<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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My dearest Family,<br /><br />I hope you are ready, because I have a novel of miracles to write about to you!!! Just know that I don't know what it is except to say this is His work.<br /></div>
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<b>Kevin</b></div>
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We have been teaching Kevin, and he is progressing so nicely. He has a slight learning disability, so we have to get creative and make a lot of visuals and remind him to take notes. He does, and he is so sincere in repenting, it's amazing and very humbling. He will hopefully be baptized in October. He is the one that lives in the mountains. He has an awesome cat.<br /></div>
<b>Celeste</b></div>
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About a week ago, my companion and I decided to street contact downtown Concord. We are still not too familiar with where everything is, but we just started walking, and inviting everyone to visit <a href="http://mormon.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">mormon.org</a>, and if the conversation went well, to learn more. We were passing a bagel shop when I saw a couple sitting on a table outside a bagel shop. I was thinking it would be awkward to go talk to them (Satan...) but my companion was great and invited them anyways. The redheaded girl asked us<i> if we wanted to sit down and talk</i>. When does that happen??!! We had a great conversation, she opened up to us about how she loves Mormons, and thinks the world should be more like them. She has seen missionaries a lot, and our church buildings, but has never officially learned more. After probably a great half hour conversation, we set up a return appointment. Fast forward to the next week to the time of the appointment. We were worried because our church was having some construction work done, and we had wanted to give her a church tour. It was not very nice or reverent. Then it started to be 45 minutes past when she said she would be there, but she had said she was on her way. We finally got a hold of her, only to find out she went to the wrong chapel, but she was walking and way too far away to come to us. So we said we would come to her with our member. We tried calling the elders to see if they had a key and could let us into that building, but they didn't answer. We thought oh well, we can just sit outside. We show up, she brought us flowers. Wow. We start randomly trying the doors, but they were locked. We walk to the back, and my companion half jokingly says "I have faith!" and trys the back two doors. The first one, locked, and I thought oh no way.<i>THEN THE SECOND ONE OPENED!</i> I kid you not, it was the strangest thing. Instead of awkwardly sitting on the grass and telling her we can't go in, we had a wonderful lesson inside. Then she said she had always wanted to come to our services but the times were never posted, even though it said visitor's welcome. Then she says "what are you girls in your early 20's? I'm in my early 30's". It was pure miracle we had a last found someone we could<i>keep</i> teaching! It was an amazing lesson, she is one of the MOST prepared person's I have ever met on my mission. She cried at some parts, and was soooo excited about the Book of Mormon. I remember asking a dumb question when she read the introduction, but she comprehended it amazingly well. Something about what do you think the fulness of the gospel means, and she says "like it's truth, the truthfulness". After the lesson, she texted us saying she was having really good feelings about the Book of Mormon and about Joseph Smith. Now we are blessed to actually be teaching two mid singles preparing for baptism, Kevin and Celeste. </div>
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<b>Gerald</b></div>
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We randomly (there are no coincidences!) decided to street contact downtown Pleasant Hill, and we turn the first corner to find an older man in a wheelchair with cowboy boots on. I talk to him, give him a card, and he says "Mormon? oh yeah , I love mormons! How do I become a Mormon?" He was so sincere about asking us how he could become one. He was so funny "Do I have to go all the way to Utah to become a Mormon? where is your church building? Can I got to church <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1940469297" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">this Sunday</span></span>?" Pure amazing miracle. He gladly gave us his information, we even talked about baptism a little bit. He was awesome, he is a retired fire fighter. He told us "You know I think I was meant to run into you today, it was really great meeting you." We passed him off to the elders, and I know they have been trying hard to find someone to teach. It all sounds like a joke, right? But he was so sincere, the elders are meeting him next week, so I will keep you posted!</div>
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<b>Adrian</b></div>
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Then right after we finished talking to Gerald, we were about to walk past a bunch of teenagers hanging out eating sandwhiches. I walk past, and one boy leans back and says "What cards are you giving out? Can I have one?" Something was in the water that day! He has Mormon friends and went to church a few times. He loves church. We got his info.</div>
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<b>Temple</b></div>
We got to go to the temple. Which by the way, is why I haven't emailed you this week, it becomes our P-day when we go to the temple. For those of you who get to go whenever you want, you are so lucky. Missionaries in our mission are allowed to go only every 3 months. So we were all super excited all week. I even woke up and couldn't go back to sleep around <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1940469298" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:30am</span></span>. The updates at the temple were so moving and so amazing, I almost cried. God's plan for us is so perfect. We were supposed to go and seek guidance to prepare for our general authority visit next week, so that was cool. And we got to go as a whole Oakland Zone, so it was a full session of a lot of missionaries, a very special spirit there.<br /></div>
<b>Stake Conference</b></div>
AND we had stake conference this week, another spiritual feast. I really loved President Stewart's talk. He is from the Walnut Creek ward, and we had taken his daughter out with us before she left on her mission. His talk was actually about sister missionaries! It was titled "Ye Sisters of Israel: Rise Up O Women of God" He talked about how much he loved his mission, how it changed his life, and taught him about long work, hard days, and understanding what he was capable of. He said of course I wanted that for all my children, boys AND girls. He never forced it upon them, but his point was to prepare all young men AND women for missions. Because even if they don't serve, they learn to stay worthy, maybe learn a new language, etc. which will bring benefits in the future anyways. Why not talk about it more with girls for that reason alone? He read from an email from his daughter, serving in Maryland. She said the coolest thing about sister missionaries is that<b><i> they gain a confidence in themselves, but it's not from their clothes or looks, but from the Lord</i></b>. They know their work is the most important work, that you can be led by the Spirit, and that we are of real worth. We see unity being manifested through missionary work as both elders and sisters unite in the Lord's work.<br /><br />Then an 11 year spoke in conference. It was so powerful it made everyone cry. He talked about the stake primary challenge of reading scripture, saying prayers every day, and having FHE every week of the summer. He said once he had a friend over while they were reading scriptures, and when he spelt over that night, his friend asked him about the Book of Mormon, and what was the difference between their churches. This 11 year spouted off the first article of faith about our belief in God, and said we can repent and be baptized and live with God again. It was amazing seeing what happened when our families do the little things, we grow closer to God, and that allows us to share the gospel with others. Simple faith can be so powerful!!!<br /></div>
I must go, but know that I LOVE YOU!! Have a great week, I will be writing again <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1940469299" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Monday</span></span>.<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sister Martin</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3887437640108691105.post-1017692517132775712013-09-10T05:29:00.001-07:002013-09-10T05:29:09.837-07:00On Fire!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Family,</div>
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Literally, Mt. Diablo, close by us, was on fire last night! It has been so hot lately I wonder if that was the cause. But we were driving back from Oakland last night, to see the orange flames and smoke billowing from behind the mountain. It was crazy! Thank Heavenly Father I did not wake up a crispy sister missionary this morning. Although I guess technically I wouldn't wake up...anyways it was far enough away we were ok. I think my emails have been getting crazier. It's because I left my safe little niche in Walnut Creek. Sorry I talk about dog bites, puddles of blood, and mountains on fire. Truly the end times!</div>
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Well transfer calls came, and for the first time in 5 transfers I am staying with my companion! I actually get to finish training Sister Evans! Our ward definitely needed some stability, we are both really happy. We are only switching out one sister in our district, and adding one elder. So now our district leader will be on bike and in a trio, training 2 elders. One of which will be a visa-waiter. We get a lot of those.</div>
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In other news, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1209528197" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> was great. We heard a testimony at "Why I Believe" fireside, about how one guy said if you think about a seed, how much nutrition and everyting it packs, it's all you need. Same thing with faith. It has everything we need. Also, I was so proud, Zaya spoke! Her English has gotten so good. She shared a very simple version of her story and how her heart has changed. Also in sacrament, we heard a good acronymn for times when you want to shrink, remember G.O.D. -Gratitude, Others examples/experiences, and Different perspective.</div>
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We found out our investigator is into Taro cards...I swear I will learn every weird thing a person can be into. Ok, that's probably not true, but it feels like it. I never imagined this would be an issue. But we will press forward teaching him that we need to turn to the scriptures and prayer for answers and guidance! When I was on exchanges, the elders tried to pass a drunk/high 33 year old man to us, while he was sitting around a camp fire in his backyard, after the fact that the cops had just left the house...the elders felt really bad after. We were glad they were there with us at least. Our poor member, it was her first time coming out with us...the sister I was on exchanges with commented how she felt bad we had to work with weirdos. Ha! So true. Mid singles in the world are so lost and confused without the gospel!!</div>
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Well, I love you all! Say your prayers and read your scriptures every day, it wll bring greater light to your life.</div>
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LOVE,</div>
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Sister Martin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0