I really, really wish I had time to write a normal letter, but today has been so crazy that I hardly had time to read all of your letters!
Suffice it to say, "...all is well—I am well enough off." (Joseph Smith--History 1:20). Of course, I've not just had a vision, but things are great here in Everett! I am still happy and still healthy!
More next week, promise!
I love y'all!
Elder Martin
Sunday, June 8, 2014
[5/12/2014] Week 62: Silver Lake
I don't have a lot of time today. It was super good to see y'all yesterday! I always enjoy webcamming, but it never really makes me trunky. So that's a blessing.
So I have been whitewashed into the Silver Lake YSA ward, and my new companion is Elder Haupu of Pearl City, Hawaii. Neither of us has ever served YSA before, so we're learning a lot about how to do this stuff. Fortunately, we have Sister Bartsch, who is from Berlin and whose third transfer this is, to show us everything we need to know--on top of showing everything to her new companion.
Yesterday was our first Sunday in the ward, and I tell you, if you want to feel the Spirit, listen to young single adults talk about their moms and they way they've influenced their decisions. That was a magnificent experience.
We've seen a lot of miracles this week. People have just come out of the woodwork to talk with us and learn from us. We hope to continue seeing miracles because, well, we need investigators! Since this was the AP's former area, we're starting from next to scratch. So far, it's been a blast, especially since Elder Haupu and I get along really well.
I really love the gospel. And I love to be a missionary. Sometimes, it's really hard, and it takes more energy than I feel like I have to give, but I do it anyway, and something amazing happens. Every time.
Please pray for us to find prepared investigators! We need all the help we can get!
I love y'all!
Elder Martin
 |
| Elder Haupu (Hawaii) and I |
 |
| Dustin (L) and Brother Gallant |
We've seen a lot of miracles this week. People have just come out of the woodwork to talk with us and learn from us. We hope to continue seeing miracles because, well, we need investigators! Since this was the AP's former area, we're starting from next to scratch. So far, it's been a blast, especially since Elder Haupu and I get along really well.
 |
| Aaron Simmons |
Please pray for us to find prepared investigators! We need all the help we can get!
I love y'all!
Elder Martin
[5/5/2014] Week 61: Leaving Blaine, WA
Well, we just received transfer calls. I'm leaving Blaine after 6 months, and I'm sad. But that's ok.
It's been one of the most eventful weeks of my time in Blaine, and I have learned quite a bit about the way life works. I think. All I know is that when you live the gospel, everything works out. Everything is so simple. But when you don't and when you pick and choose what you want to obey, things fall apart. The "magic" stops. And you don't even notice it until you've picked and chosen to obey so few commandments that you find yourself facing mortality alone.
I've found that one of the huge blessings of serving a mission is that you get to learn these life lessons vicariously. Maybe it's sort of selfish, but I spend a lot of time observing the decisions others make and making notes of what to do and what not to do. I've learned a lot about how my life is going to be as I begin to raise a family and things.
Our investigators, Jessica and Zack, were married on Friday, so they're now the Flanigans. I'm super happy for them. Interestingly enough, this was the first wedding I've ever attended. And I found it interesting that Bishop Jenkins, though he didn't explicitly use the phrase "till death do you part", said something along the lines of "until the end of this period of mortality". When we commented on this wording in a later conversation with him, he said, "You're right. I just married them and then divorced them right there. To get remarried, they'll have to go to the Temple." Concerning marriage, I know I've learned this one thing on my mission: in some later life (eons from now), I won't settle for marriage to a nonmember or even outside the Temple. To me, it's not worth the gamble.
On Saturday, I learned [again] that miracles do happen and that God does prepare his children. Elder Jones and I were walking in the light rain in downtown Blaine towards the apartment of a less-active member. Instead of turning left to obtain the desired destination, we spotted a nice-looking lady across the street and approached her. Initially, she introduced herself as Irma. Then she became more comfortable with us as the conversation progressed, and we learned her name was Jeanie. Anyway, we talked all about the Restoration (she was astounded that Jesus didn't speak [through prophets] for over 1000 years!) and taught her Lesson 1A using the pamphlet. It was an incredible contact that ended with a baptismal date (though, she wanted to be baptized the next day) and a commission to attend church. She did attend church, we sat with her on Investigator Row, and the Spirit moved her just enough to urge up to the pulpit during Fast and Testimony meeting. She gave thanks to all the members who had so warmly welcomed her, testified of God the Father and His Son, closed in the name of Jesus Christ, and just barely made it across the dais and down the steps before plopping down into the pew next to us in a breath of relief. She'll make a great Mormon in no time!
The zone found 19 new investigators this week, which is yet another impressive feat for 8 companionships. I've really enjoyed being up here in Blaine and working with so many incredible missionaries. I will miss them all, I will miss the members of the Blaine ward, and I will miss Mount Baker. But that's ok. There's more to be done elsewhere!
Because I don't yet know where I'm being transferred to, I don't know when I will be available for Google Hangout. I may have to see if I can get special permission to email y'all during the week when I do find out. If you don't hear from me, I would suggest y'all "be ready always" (1 Peter 3:15) on Sunday to start a video hangout.
Dustin got a puppy! His name is Chico Frijoles Araujo.
Also pictured is Dustin's girlfriend, Gladys, whom he met via ldsplanet.com. She's awesome!
I love y'all!
Elder Martin
It's been one of the most eventful weeks of my time in Blaine, and I have learned quite a bit about the way life works. I think. All I know is that when you live the gospel, everything works out. Everything is so simple. But when you don't and when you pick and choose what you want to obey, things fall apart. The "magic" stops. And you don't even notice it until you've picked and chosen to obey so few commandments that you find yourself facing mortality alone.
I've found that one of the huge blessings of serving a mission is that you get to learn these life lessons vicariously. Maybe it's sort of selfish, but I spend a lot of time observing the decisions others make and making notes of what to do and what not to do. I've learned a lot about how my life is going to be as I begin to raise a family and things.
On Saturday, I learned [again] that miracles do happen and that God does prepare his children. Elder Jones and I were walking in the light rain in downtown Blaine towards the apartment of a less-active member. Instead of turning left to obtain the desired destination, we spotted a nice-looking lady across the street and approached her. Initially, she introduced herself as Irma. Then she became more comfortable with us as the conversation progressed, and we learned her name was Jeanie. Anyway, we talked all about the Restoration (she was astounded that Jesus didn't speak [through prophets] for over 1000 years!) and taught her Lesson 1A using the pamphlet. It was an incredible contact that ended with a baptismal date (though, she wanted to be baptized the next day) and a commission to attend church. She did attend church, we sat with her on Investigator Row, and the Spirit moved her just enough to urge up to the pulpit during Fast and Testimony meeting. She gave thanks to all the members who had so warmly welcomed her, testified of God the Father and His Son, closed in the name of Jesus Christ, and just barely made it across the dais and down the steps before plopping down into the pew next to us in a breath of relief. She'll make a great Mormon in no time!
The zone found 19 new investigators this week, which is yet another impressive feat for 8 companionships. I've really enjoyed being up here in Blaine and working with so many incredible missionaries. I will miss them all, I will miss the members of the Blaine ward, and I will miss Mount Baker. But that's ok. There's more to be done elsewhere!
Because I don't yet know where I'm being transferred to, I don't know when I will be available for Google Hangout. I may have to see if I can get special permission to email y'all during the week when I do find out. If you don't hear from me, I would suggest y'all "be ready always" (1 Peter 3:15) on Sunday to start a video hangout.
Also pictured is Dustin's girlfriend, Gladys, whom he met via ldsplanet.com. She's awesome!
I love y'all!
Elder Martin
[4/28/2014] Week 60: Walking Miracles
AHHHH, OUT OF TIME. Here is my letter to President Bonham. It's all I got! Sorry.
But glad to hear everything worked out miraculously with the car!
"It has been a crazy week (I wonder how many times per week you read that same phrase--missionary work must be pretty crazy all around!). We did at least some sort of service almost every day this week, and, as a result, were able to teach a ton of lessons.
The zone - and especially Elder McRae's district - has done exceptionally well as of late. Finding has continued to go way up as has investigators with a baptismal date. And not only that, there are more investigators make progress all throughout the zone as opposed to in just two or three areas. I can honestly say that most of it probably has to do with Elder McRae's rock-solid diligence in ministering to his district, especially in his preparation of effective district meetings. I've never seen a district leader like him.
I am generally pretty happy. I love Blaine. I love the work. I love my companion, though we occasionally disagree...
A small miracle from this week:
Yesterday, Elder Jones and I had a dinner appointment out in the county, and the member couldn't come pick us up because he was preparing the dinner and couldn't leave the pizza unattended, so we asked our assistant ward mission leader, Brother Ford, for a ride (otherwise, we would have rode our bikes--about an hour-and-a-half ride). He asked if we wanted him to pick us up from our apartment, but since we had the time for it, Elder Jones insisted we would walk to his house (about thirty minutes) and contact people along the way--after all, it was a beautiful day. Brother Ford kept asking if we were sure we didn't want a ride, and Elder Jones continued to insist we would walk. So we did! And on the way to Brother Ford's, a lady in the community named Courtney and her son, Nathan, for whom we moved some heavy furniture about three weeks ago and to both of whom we were introduced by a friend of Kevin, the less-active member, pulled over while driving down one of the busier streets in Blaine just to say hi! Just days ago, we walked past their house as Courtney pulled into the driveway, and we invited her to hear the message of the Restoration.
Her response was, "Yeah, ok, when we have time. But you'd have to talk to my son because he's the one with the scheduling conflicts." Her son was not currently home. Then we saw them yesterday, and they pulled over just to say hi, and we set an appointment with them! This, of course, would not have happened if we hadn't decided to walk. Boo-yah!
Well, I just think you should know that I love missionary work. "
Bye!
Oh, and the best part was hearing about Seth getting his patriarchal blessing! That made my week!
But glad to hear everything worked out miraculously with the car!
"It has been a crazy week (I wonder how many times per week you read that same phrase--missionary work must be pretty crazy all around!). We did at least some sort of service almost every day this week, and, as a result, were able to teach a ton of lessons.
The zone - and especially Elder McRae's district - has done exceptionally well as of late. Finding has continued to go way up as has investigators with a baptismal date. And not only that, there are more investigators make progress all throughout the zone as opposed to in just two or three areas. I can honestly say that most of it probably has to do with Elder McRae's rock-solid diligence in ministering to his district, especially in his preparation of effective district meetings. I've never seen a district leader like him.
I am generally pretty happy. I love Blaine. I love the work. I love my companion, though we occasionally disagree...
A small miracle from this week:
 |
| The Fords and I |
 |
| Kevin (LA found on my birthday) and Elder Jones |
Well, I just think you should know that I love missionary work. "
Bye!
Oh, and the best part was hearing about Seth getting his patriarchal blessing! That made my week!
[4/21/2014] Week 59: Jessica and Zack!
 |
| Mud football! |
Our zone did quite well this week. As a whole, the missionaries in Ferndale found 17 new investigators, meaning that the zone reached standards in that key indicator. Elder McRae, who has a knack for conducting highly effective district meetings, has focused a ton on finding and contacting with the Restoration pamphlet, and so his efforts seem to have had some positive impact on the work. His district has found 22 new investigators in the past two weeks.
Well, Darien, our 12 year-old investigator, obtained permission from his grandmother to be baptized this past weekend, and then she was Life Flight-ed to the hospital in Spokane for what turned out to be a tear in her stomach. She is recovering, but insists on being present at her grandson's baptism (and rightly so), so we have postponed his baptism until she is back in Blaine. We may end up holding the baptism as soon as she returns - even if it occurs on Thursday night and is attended primarily by family - so that she can be sure to witness it before her health recedes.
Jessica and Zack made the decision to be married and baptized on May 2nd and 10th, respectively. We're super stoked because, initially, their wedding was scheduled for December. Of 2015. Miracles! Anyhow, they're really doing wonderfully and are consistently excited to meet with us and learn more about the gospel. They keep their commitments and were both able to find time away from work to attend church yesterday. However, we learned that, again, Jessica's family has come down hard on her with anti-Mormon propaganda, so our appointment tonight might get a little dicey. Good thing we carry the Spirit!
This week, each missionary in the zone had the opportunity to sit and interview with President Bonham. Let me tell you, I am so blessed to be serving here and now with President Bonham. I just know he is the right man for the job!
That's crazy to hear about the Honda. I'm really happy to hear that everyone is all right.
Also, I can't believe that Walker is that big now.
P.S. Last Monday, we played football in the mud flats of Onion Bay just south of the Lummi Indian reservation. It was the craziest, most awesome thing I've ever done on a p-day. Pictures will hopefully come soon.
I love y'all!
Elder Martin
[4/14/2014] Week 58: Spirit and Miracles in the Work
What a week! Much of it was focused on preparing for the baptism of Aaron Simmons, who decided last-minute to become a member of the Blaine ward as opposed to the Bellingham YSA ward. The baptism went well, and the ward is doing a wonderful job of taking him in. It's crazy to think that I just met Aaron a month or so ago, and he's already a member of the Church. The Lord really does send us prepared people!
Elder Jones and I conducted an exchange with the elders in the Everson ward (Elders Larson and Jankowski) this week from Wednesday to Thursday. I spent the day in Everson with Elder Jankowski, and boy was it a rough day. We encountered the grumpiest of grumpy left and right with very little success to be found anywhere. If it hadn't been an incredibly beautiful day, I'd have lost some sanity. Towards the end of the evening, we stopped at the apartment to grab some water, and, having openly discussed our sour feelings toward the day's turn of events, decided to offer a sincere prayer of pleading before heading back out. We asked Heavenly Father to help us keep our chins up that we might find some good in the time we had left. Elder Jankowski and I had planned to visit a former investigator at that time, so we attempted, but did not find him home. We proceeded to tract around the former, and when we knocked on the very next-door neighbor of the former investigator, the door swung open to reveal a familiar face coupled with a familiar voice: "Elders! How's it going?" If you remember, I shared with you a story from an exchange with Elder Cottle almost two transfers ago about helping a group of pastors move an enormous kiosk/desk thing into their new church building in Nooksack. Well, what do you know but we had tracted into the youth pastor from that very same church! And I just happened to be on exchange again in Everson that same day! We exchanged pleasantries and phone numbers, and he asked for a few of our "tracts", so we handed him a Restoration pamphlet and explained to him using the pictures the basis of our message. Whether it will go anywhere, I know not, but to have been received so warmly by someone not [yet] of our faith was an answer to our prayer! We knocked a few more doors and then walked home for dinner with a skip in our step. I am reminded of Alma 26, 27th verse:
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."
I guess the Book of Mormon really is true!
Zone meeting this week went incredibly well. The Spirit was really, really strong and we all learned a lot during the segment of training on repentance. Elder Jones and I felt impressed to include as a learning activity an opportunity for the missionaries to reflect on their own testimonies of the doctrine of repentance and then to write a letter to a friend who had hypothetically committed some sin about which they had confided in the missionary and from the guilt of which they were seeking freedom and release. This gave us all some time to be touched by the Spirit not just as missionaries, but as individual children of God. We learned how much love we have for others and how motivated by love we must be in order to adequately teach the restored principle of repentance.
Things are beginning to really turn upward in the Ferndale zone. This week, Elder McRae spent a lot of time helping the other elders in Ferndale and I think they found a total of 5 investigators between the two areas. That's typically been unprecedented. Elder McRae's district found a total of 10 new investigators (with no help from Elder Jones and I), which is also a huge step in the right direction. Before Saturday, the zone had a total of 7 investigators with a baptismal date and one or two more with dates to come very soon. We're really pleased with the way things are going and can't wait to watch this trend continue.
This morning in Preach My Gospel, I was studying in Chapter 5 about the Book of Mormon. It says on page 104 that “The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ." I have heretofore considered the Book of Mormon to be the keystone in my witness of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and even in my witness of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. Makes sense, right? But first and foremost, we learn from the Book of Mormon that Jesus is the Christ (hence, the subtitle "Another Testament of Jesus Christ"). In other words, it is a sharper, quicker, more efficient, and more powerful tool than the Bible to teach us of His example, pure love, and, above all, His divinity. The Bible works to teach us of Christ and all that He is and stands for. But the Book of Mormon works better and should stand at the center of our faith and hope in Him. A person, never having heard His name, could pick up the Book of Mormon, read nothing else, and know everything they need to know about the Savior and His gospel in order to gain salvation at His hand. Isn't that nifty?
I love y'all! Thanks for the updates!
Elder Martin
 |
| Aaron Simmons baptized! |
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."
I guess the Book of Mormon really is true!
Zone meeting this week went incredibly well. The Spirit was really, really strong and we all learned a lot during the segment of training on repentance. Elder Jones and I felt impressed to include as a learning activity an opportunity for the missionaries to reflect on their own testimonies of the doctrine of repentance and then to write a letter to a friend who had hypothetically committed some sin about which they had confided in the missionary and from the guilt of which they were seeking freedom and release. This gave us all some time to be touched by the Spirit not just as missionaries, but as individual children of God. We learned how much love we have for others and how motivated by love we must be in order to adequately teach the restored principle of repentance.
Things are beginning to really turn upward in the Ferndale zone. This week, Elder McRae spent a lot of time helping the other elders in Ferndale and I think they found a total of 5 investigators between the two areas. That's typically been unprecedented. Elder McRae's district found a total of 10 new investigators (with no help from Elder Jones and I), which is also a huge step in the right direction. Before Saturday, the zone had a total of 7 investigators with a baptismal date and one or two more with dates to come very soon. We're really pleased with the way things are going and can't wait to watch this trend continue.
This morning in Preach My Gospel, I was studying in Chapter 5 about the Book of Mormon. It says on page 104 that “The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ." I have heretofore considered the Book of Mormon to be the keystone in my witness of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and even in my witness of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. Makes sense, right? But first and foremost, we learn from the Book of Mormon that Jesus is the Christ (hence, the subtitle "Another Testament of Jesus Christ"). In other words, it is a sharper, quicker, more efficient, and more powerful tool than the Bible to teach us of His example, pure love, and, above all, His divinity. The Bible works to teach us of Christ and all that He is and stands for. But the Book of Mormon works better and should stand at the center of our faith and hope in Him. A person, never having heard His name, could pick up the Book of Mormon, read nothing else, and know everything they need to know about the Savior and His gospel in order to gain salvation at His hand. Isn't that nifty?
I love y'all! Thanks for the updates!
Elder Martin
[3/31/2014] Week 56: A Breath of Fresh Air
Hey, hey!
There was a lot that went down this week in the Blaine ward, and it all kind of culminated in the form of an utter disaster yesterday during fast and testimony meeting. Nevertheless, no irreparable damage was done, and things are already looking way up! I'll leave it at that.
Jessica is still on the up and up. She had a church tour on Friday evening and exclaimed over and over at the peace and warmth and general sense of "rightness" that emanated from within the building, especially in the chapel. She attended sacrament meeting yesterday and is so well-rooted (and I may dare say converted) already that she was virtually unscathed by the turn of events that took place therein. Jessica is really taking off in the gospel. It's magnificent.
Dustin was hospitalized early this week, and by Friday, he was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer in his lower left leg. You'd think it would have been a pretty rough hit, but, all things considered, he has been jovial and optimistic since the start. In a miraculous way, the ward has gathered round him and buoyed him up, having some form of contact with him daily and showering him with love and support incessantly. Through all of this, in fact, Aaron (recent new investigator from Montana) has preoccupied Dustin's mind and heart as Dustin has described seeing so much of his younger self in Aaron and, thus, desires to give him the best possible opportunities for success. As a result, Aaron is currently living in Dustin's new apartment and has received several personal recommendations for job interviews at Dustin's current and former workplaces.
I had the opportunity to spend Thursday in the Ferndale 2nd ward with Elder McRae this week, and I have to say that he is a breath of fresh air. He has a very unique way of looking at things--especially missionary work. He is a really great district leader and thinks critically and realistically about how he can help improve the missionary skills and, thus, success of the missionaries in his district. He is extremely enthusiastic about everything that happens in missionary work--even the bad. He's also really funny. I had a great time working with him and definitely learned from his unique perspective. I know he is the right man for the job at this time.
I just love to do missionary work. There is a richness of life and interaction here that I have not heretofore experienced and will always relish as long as I live. There is a satisfaction and utter joy that comes from having success and introducing shifts of paradigm in the spirituality of others. I don't ever feel I am able to adequately thank Heavenly Father for time and experiences I have had.
Thanks for the hiccups tip. However, because I broke my thumb in the 9th grade and never had corrective surgery, I don't really have that indentation on my right hand. I don't imagine it could possibly work on the left hand.
Man, that's pretty sweet about Seth's physics project. I remember doing that same project! Except we built Wall-E. And he did drive, but we forgot to unhook the wiring, so by the time we actually presented, the batteries were dead. Fortunately, we caught him doing his thing on film for proof that we weren't slackers. Seth, kudos for not being a slacker! And for having cool hair. And for making funny fat faces. And for using proper grammar on Snapchat.
So Brandon bought the truck. I thought we already owned it by now... But he's going to BYU! Sweet! He'll have to let me know (some time far, far from now) how he likes it.
Wellp, I love y'all!
Elder Martin
P.S. I was supposed to let you know last week that I am safe from the Oso landslide. That is in our mission, and in fact, Elder Larson, who is one of our district leaders in the Ferndale zone (and whose district leader I was back in Everett) just was transferred from the Arlington 2nd ward, in which lies the town of Oso. He knew members there and has not yet heard as to there well-being.
There was a lot that went down this week in the Blaine ward, and it all kind of culminated in the form of an utter disaster yesterday during fast and testimony meeting. Nevertheless, no irreparable damage was done, and things are already looking way up! I'll leave it at that.
Jessica is still on the up and up. She had a church tour on Friday evening and exclaimed over and over at the peace and warmth and general sense of "rightness" that emanated from within the building, especially in the chapel. She attended sacrament meeting yesterday and is so well-rooted (and I may dare say converted) already that she was virtually unscathed by the turn of events that took place therein. Jessica is really taking off in the gospel. It's magnificent.
 |
| Aaron and I |
I had the opportunity to spend Thursday in the Ferndale 2nd ward with Elder McRae this week, and I have to say that he is a breath of fresh air. He has a very unique way of looking at things--especially missionary work. He is a really great district leader and thinks critically and realistically about how he can help improve the missionary skills and, thus, success of the missionaries in his district. He is extremely enthusiastic about everything that happens in missionary work--even the bad. He's also really funny. I had a great time working with him and definitely learned from his unique perspective. I know he is the right man for the job at this time.
|
| The Fords and I |
Thanks for the hiccups tip. However, because I broke my thumb in the 9th grade and never had corrective surgery, I don't really have that indentation on my right hand. I don't imagine it could possibly work on the left hand.
Man, that's pretty sweet about Seth's physics project. I remember doing that same project! Except we built Wall-E. And he did drive, but we forgot to unhook the wiring, so by the time we actually presented, the batteries were dead. Fortunately, we caught him doing his thing on film for proof that we weren't slackers. Seth, kudos for not being a slacker! And for having cool hair. And for making funny fat faces. And for using proper grammar on Snapchat.
Wellp, I love y'all!
Elder Martin
P.S. I was supposed to let you know last week that I am safe from the Oso landslide. That is in our mission, and in fact, Elder Larson, who is one of our district leaders in the Ferndale zone (and whose district leader I was back in Everett) just was transferred from the Arlington 2nd ward, in which lies the town of Oso. He knew members there and has not yet heard as to there well-being.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)