January 26, 2016

Summary:

We decided to give both Juan and Patricia, (the investigators that had accepted a baptismal date), some time without missionaries lessons. We were a little bit sad and felt left without any soon-to-be-reached goals, but then the miracles came pouring in!  Two other investigators that we met last week accepted a baptismal date. Maria Jesus and her son. We also met a great family of four, Maria Louisa and her three kids! We also were led to find two less-active members of the church this week that expressed to us their strong desires to go back to church and feel te spirit there. Their names are Beatriz and Gabriel. 

On Wednesday we had a general meeting with all of the missionaries in the whole world watching. They talked about "Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts." Elder Oaks, and Elder Bednar spoke, along with other general authorities. On Friday, Elder Spitali came and spoke to us as a mission. It was a week FULL of personal revelation.

Spiritual Experience:

In a lesson with an investigator, my companion held up a painting of John the Baptist baptizing Christ. The investigator looked at it and just said, "I feel like I need to do that too. I don't really understand, but I just feel that I need to." 

Funny:

We met a lady who's kind of deaf and she let us go into her apartment to teach her a little about the gospel. We had to speak way loud the whole time. Afterward, we got into the elevator and my companion looks at me and yells, "I don't know how we're going to teach her!!" I covered my ears and my eyes got all big as I reminded my companion that the lady is deaf, not me. She just cracks up laughing and goes, "OH true. Sorry." 

January 19, 2016

Summary:

My new companion is Hermana Saez from Los Angeles, Chile! She's 24 years old and a convert of three years. Our personalities are actually really similar and we get along great! My new area is a lot different from my old one. It's a lot richer and more city-ish. The good news, though, is that there are good people everywhere. We've already been able to meet some new investigators and get the area book into order. We were also able to go to the temple to do a tour with a less-active member. Also, I was happy to see in zone class yesterday many familiar faces, including Hermana Bartholomew from St. George! 

Spiritual Experience:

Last week, we talked and felt like there are some people here who have been recieving missionary lessons for a long time, but aren't progressing much spiritually. We didn't necessarily want to spend all day walking and walking because of a lack of appointments, but we prayed about it together and took a leap of faith, trusting that as we leave those souls who aren't ready to progress, we will find the ones who are. And so it was! We were lead to them! We found some very special and prepared people this past week, including Maria Jesus, Rosita, and Enzo. I'll let you know how it goes with them later on!

Funny Story:

My companion the other day was talking about where all of her companions are from. She goes, "Hermana Penrod is from Cornflake, Arizona." I said, "Snowflake?" She's all, "Yep... Oh woops did I say cornflake?" 

January 12, 2016

Summary:
What a week! We've had District meeting, a Zone Activity in a place called Pirque, Zone Conference, Exchanges in Vicente Valdez, Leadership Counsel, and then we just recieved word that both Hermana Parra and I will be getting transferred, as well as the two sisters that we live with. They're going to do what's called a "White Wash," which basically means all the current missionaries leave the area and new ones come in. They're going to put elders here! I've honestly loved serving here in Cordillera and have learned so much from both of my companions and all of the people.I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything and feel confident that the elders who come will be lead to know how to help the people here who are progressing in the gospel and find others who are prepared. Fortunately, I don't feel that there is anyone who will stop progressing just because Hermana Parra and I are leaving. I will miss Hermana Parra, though. She's the greatest. I know right now is that I'm going to one of the richer stakes of this mission and my companion will be Hermana Sanz. All I know about her is that my companion from the MTC was her trainer and that she's Chilean! I'll tell you more next week I guess!

Funny:
A couple weeks ago we were traveling in the metro, which is the underground train they use here. People are always getting on and singing and playing their instruments and then asking for coins and stuff. Anyways, a couple ladies got on the metro and started singing a song and dancing and stuff and I turned to my companion and said, "Wow, they're so brave. Nothing in the whole world could ever make me sing on the metro." 

Well, last week our Zone Leader tells us all we have to be early to the metro and we were all going to travel to Zone Conference together and that we were going to sing hymns for the people on the way. Of course, a bunch of people got on and I got trapped in between a group of like five people away from the rest of the zone. I caught eyes with my companion and she was just laughing so hard because I was alone in the corner with a my little hymnbook singing quietly. Later she goes, "Nothing in the whole world, eh?

Spiritual Experience:
This actually happened as we were singing, too. I looked over and there was a guy with his wife-beater shirt, flat rimmed hat, and huge headphones. I thought he was listening to his rap music or something but then I looked closer. He was mouthing the words of the hymn that my zone was singing, "All is well, all is well..." He knew every word! I couldn't get to him because I was trapped by people but we made eye contact and I mouthed, "Are you a member?" It looked like he got a little emotional and he just smiled and nodded. 

January 5, 2016

Summary:
It's been a crazy week! We've done two exchanges, celebrated the start of a new year, took a trip to the temple, and had a zone activity in a pretty place called Pirque.

Funny:
We were in a lesson with a less-active family that is just hilarious. They're a couple that lives with their grandson named Mosiah. The grandma was telling a story about how her maid had an encounter with a devilish spirit in her house. She was saying, "... she turned the corner and saw it and it scared her." Mosiah says, "Who? The maid?" The grandpa replies all sarcastically, "No, the devil." We all just cracked up so hard after that. 

Spiritual Experience:
On Saturday, we were able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead for Rosita's parents and her brother that passed away. At first, she was all worried because there weren't any men to do the ordinance for her dad and brother. Right on time, the president of the temple showed up and was able to be baptized in their names. I don't think I'd ever seen Rosita so happy. There is nothing better than watching the face of someone who is beginning to see that families really can be together forever.

December 29, 2015

Summary:
What a great week of Navidad! It was so great to see the family on Skype! Family is really what it's all about.

The week was full of fun events such as caroling, Christmas dinner with a less-active family, and a Christmas deviotional with all the missionaries from the whole Santiago East mission. There are some missionaries with incredible musical talents and we were able to hear some beautiful songs. It inspired me to really think more deeply about all that happened before Christ´s birth, as well as afterward. We were also able to share the Ha Nacido Un Salvador in many different homes this past week and it truly brings a beautiful spirit.

Rosita went to church! We're planning to go to the temple this weekend and do baptisms for the dead for her parents! We also met a family that are less-active members of the church and they have been wanting to get back to the iron rod. Their names are Leonel and Susana and their two sons Leon and Santiago. I don't think I've met a less-active family so desirous to go back to the church in my whole mission! We had a lesson with them yesterday and say that we'll see them in church on Sunday.

Spiritual Experience:
My companion and I were able to teach part of Zone Class yesterday. We talked about using our own individual talents and strengths to bring to pass the work of Salvation. It made me think of the process of calling missionaries. It's not a random raffle, but an inspired calling from God through the first presidency of His church. One day, I was talking with Presidente Morgan and he asked me what my nametag says. I started to say, "The Church of Jesus Christ of..." He cut me off and said, "They all say that. What else does it say?" I looked at it and said, "Hermana Martin." "Exactly. It doesn't say 'Generic Missionary.' Use the strengths that God has given to Hermana Martin."

Funny:
On Christmas Eve, we ate dinner with a less-active family. The wife was setting the table and wanted a certain candle that was shaped like a reindeer to set in the middle. She says to her husband, "Carlos, go get me the reindeer decoration from the other room." Carlos went to look for it and came back with a reindeer decoration, but it was the wrong one. She's all, "No, it's not that one. Try again." He left again and brought another one that was wrong again. She's all, "Are you serious, Carlos? Try again." He left again and brought the wrong one again. Ingrid's all, "Oh my gosh how many reindeer decorations do we have?!" Haha we were laughing so hard. 

December 1, 2015

Summary:

It's been of week of many small miracles! We just got word that I'll be staying here in Cordillera for at least six more weeks with Hermana Parra. I'm so happy! Hermana Parra and I couldn't be more opposite as far as backgrounds go, but we're very similar in personality and we became best friends so quickly! I'd finish the mission with her if I could! The more I learn about her the more I realize how amazing she is too. She lives in a tiny house without even a running-water shower and It turns out that her branch is literally just her family. Her dad is the bishop and they have church in their own house. Her brother is on a mission in Columbia which means that two out of the six members of their branch are on a mission. Good percentage, I'd say! Anyways, I just really love her and I love serving with her. She's fun and sincere.

We were able to do exchanges on Thursday, and I had a good experience getting to know Hermana Andersen from California. She actually reminded me that it was Thanksgiving. I had completely forgotten! On Saturday, we went to the temple to do a tour with Beatrice, a recent convert. It was a great experience and it made her excited to be able to do baptisms for the dead.

Franco was baptized on Sunday. His cousin, Alexis baptized him and it was just a really special day for their family. Even though he doesn't smile in pictures, he truly was happy. haha. He's a great influence on one of his other cousins, Marcello, who is currently less-active. I have faith that this will be a turning point for their family. They are all very special people.

Franco's Baptism

Spiritual Experience:

Hermana Parra and I have been focusing on teaching more simply. When we get stuck and don't know how to help someone, we've been trying to go back to ground zero and teach the basic truths of the gospel. We've seen so much progress since we've started to do this. For example, last night we were teaching a less-active member that we had no idea how to help her because she was like, "all churches lead to God" and such. We taught about the Restoration using the old video. Afterward, she totally changed. She remembered the testimony of the restored gospel that she has. President Uchdorf was inspired this past conference when he talked about the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Funny:

I was on exchanges and we were passing by the house of an old lady that I had visited a while back. We decided to pass by and see how things were going with her. We get in there and she starts telling us the story of how she got to know the missionaries and such, and gets to a point where she's starts talking about "Hermana Martin." I said, "Me?" and she goes, "Yeah, she was north american like you guys..." Then I realized that she was talking about me and didn't know that I was the same person. I didn't know what to do haha so I just listened to her story and made sure not to mention my name for the rest of the appointment. haha

A family we teach with kids who are always wrestling.

A member we teach in his pet shop

November 24, 2015

Summary:

The week went by flying, as usual! Franco had his baptismal interview and all went well. Out of all the investigators I've met so far, I think he's been the one that's changed the most from the first time I've met them. Actually, the first time I met him he told us he didn't want us to pass by to teach him. He gave us a straight-up "No."  It's crazy how things work out, though, and how God really does soften the hearts of people. 

I had exchanges with Hermana Valladares from Honduras. She's finishing up her mission and goes home this week. She's a sister that I've been with almost my whole mission because we were together in Trinidad for about 8 months. They finally transfered her, and then the next transfer, I got transfered too to her same ward. I've always looked up to her. She's known me ever since I didn't speak a lick of spanish, but has always demonstrated the same amount of patience and love. I've learned a lot from her.

On Thursday, we had interviews with our mission President. He is an inspired man and I know that he is led by the Spirit in all that he says to us missionaries. 

Some other highlights of the week were meeting some less-actives. One of my favorites is a lady names Cintia that has an autistic daughter. She's so sweet and I don't know if I've ever met any other less-active member so prepared to recieve missionaries in their home. 

Spiritual Experience:

We had lunch with a less-active sister this week who doesn't come to church because she works on Sundays. It was crazy, because in less than an hour we watched her attitude go from, "There's no way I will ever be able to go to church because I work on Sundays." to "Tomorrow I'll talk to my boss to change my free day to Sundays. I need to go to church." The Spirit really does tell us what we need to hear when we listen.

Funny:

The other night, Hermana Parra and I were both really tired. We ended up talking to a lady and I asked her what day we could pass by to visit her. She told us a day and then my companion was all the sudden like, "AND.... How old are you?" Then the lady and I both just stood there confused and finally the lady repeats the question to clarify, "Did you just ask how old I am?" My companion just cracks up laughing and says, "Oh woah, sorry. I'm so tired. I didn't mean to ask that I meant to ask at what time we can pass by..." and then we all just cracked up laughing.