Note: After reading Whitney's blog today, I realized I had left a few months out.  
I can't figure out how to insert this in the right spot on the blog so I guess the posts
won't be in chronological order for the next few posts.
Sorry Whitney, maybe you can fix it when you get home.


December 30, 2013

First off thank you so much for the package it was a good surprise ;)  I totally didn't even notice that CalDon was training an Elder Martinez!  Way weird!  But I love the package and the earrings are WAY cute!  Sister Martinez loves owls and they totally match her pajama pants :)  I also got some mail from Ange!  She is amazing!  I will get some pictures of the skirts once I tract them down from UPS :)  We are never home when they come so I have to go to the store and get them tonight.  But I probably wont be able to send the pictures until next week.  

Second I forgot about my letter to you!  If I still had it I would add something to it.  Sister Martinez realized something really cool.  She said when she was home and had trials she would turn to her parents, siblings, or friends.  But for the first time in her life none of them were available.  She had me and  other missionaries, but that wasn't the same.  She pointed out that for the first time in her life she has relied SOLELY upon the Savior to help her through her trials.  That was exactly what I was trying to say in my letter :)  I know you wish you could have helped me through trials.  Really you have.  By raising me in the church you have helped me more than you could ever imagine.  You have taught me to rely on the one person who always knows exactly what to say and exactly what I need.  You have taught me to rely on the Savior mom and that is the greatest gift anyone could ever give me :)  

So all these other Missionaries write a general letter about their week and I know you want to hear some of my stories so I guess I can do the general type everything up :0

Monday was PDay which is always fun.  Tuesday was Christmas Eve!!  That was the day we accidentally got to talk for a minute :)  We visited a couple of Less Active Ward members and took them Christmas Cards.  One lady is Sister Ward who is kinda old and sickly.  We accidentally woke her up and we felt really bad, but she told us to come in and we talked for a little while.  She looked so depressed when we got there, but by the time we left I know she was happier and she had a light in her eyes.  There is no greater calling than a missionary.  I know that the spirit works through us to help lift people's spirits.  She is a confirmation to me that it doesn't matter if we accidentally interrupt people, because the message of this gospel is greater than anything they are doing at that moment :)  Same sort of thing happened with Sister Gardener.  She was sad, but by the time we left she was laughing and smiling.  That is the true spirit of Christmas.

Then Christmas came and went SO fast!  It was weird talking to you guys, because it was like nothing changed :)  I feel like you all are such a big part of my mission already and I can still imagine your voices and see your faces everyday.  You don't know how many trials you have all helped me through :)  We played Quelf with a family that night and completely embarrassed ourselves.  We were at the Betzolds home who are AMAZING.  They have a daughter that is going to the Ogden Utah mission in March and she is awesome :)  

So another cool thing that happened this week was we went tracting ;)  Sister Martinez said we should knock on this random door that had a stroller outside and so we did.  There was a cute family that had about 6 kids who all look under the age of 10.  Reminded me of us!!  We were talking to her for a minute, but she didn't want to hear anything about the BOM and promised us she wouldn't read it because it is a sin to add to the bible. (a common thing that people say out here).  We left saddened.  But the next day we totally wrapped up a Book of Mormon and a Restoration DVD and wrote our testimony in a card.  We dropped it off at their door and we hope and pray that they will soften their hearts.  

We have been trying to get in contact with a Potential investigator named Donald and were finally able to see him last night!!  He had the same question that the lady did about the Book of Mormon being something that is added to the bible.  We talked to him and explained how they support each other and both are word from God.  He invited us to come back and talk with his family this week!!  I am so excited!  He has the most adorable 9 year old daughter!

So that is a short note of what we did this week.  A lot of ups and downs.  A lot of scriptures read.  and TONS of prayers were said.  Oh on the note of prayers... I love my companion.  One time I was praying and heard her moving so I peeked to she what she was doing.  Well her eyes were open too!!  It was silent for a couple of seconds and it was the most awkward thing that ever has happened haha.  We died laughing though and had to redo our prayer :)  I love Sister Martinez!

Also we do a lot of practice teaching and we got tired of teaching invisible people so we made a pillow investigator :)  and I give you Raffael!!  :)  I am loving this work and Having so much fun and feeling the spirit more than ever in my life!  Thank you for everything!!  Love you all!