Mom! We are so busy here mom! Since I'm a state side missionary, everything others would learn in a couple months we learn in one week! It has been so crazy! I am so so so proud to be a part of this army though! I cannot imagine a better place I would rather be! I wish I could tell you all the amazing things that have happened to me this week! I can't believe how much can happen in one week when you’re on the Lord's time! All mine and Sister Eustice's investigators are doing so well! They are really learning for themselves that there is a better way to live! Also, I found out this past week that Sister Eustice's dad works at thermofisher too!!!!! Isn’t' that weird! He's got one of the greatest daughters in the whole world! We've really learned to rely on each other completely! It has been so stressful always studying and working but when we work as a team with the spirit, we have already had so many miracles. We are preparing to fly out on Wednesday I think! So I will e mail you when we get to Missouri! I can't believe it's already time to leave! ONE WEEK! That’s all we really got! I am absolutely fascinated with how much the Lord can strengthen His army (namely myself) in one week!!!! My district has become my family away from family and my home away from home. All together there are 8 missionaries. 4 sisters and 4 elders! There's elders Fabrizio, Hennen, Percival and Johnson. Then there's my district sisters and roommates, Sisters Broadhead, De Silva, Eustice and I. I have never been so loved and taken care of and at the same time I have never loved a group of people more in my life other than my own eternal family. We all learn, work, study, uplift and pray together. The elders are always offering us priesthood blessings and we are always asking for them to help them practice for the field and also because we have never been so hard pressed and weak. I am so glad to have those four elders! They are my brothers! I know it gets difficult but mom, I have never ever been so strong! I literally feel the Lord speaking through myself and sister Eustice when we teach! I wouldn't trade the look in an investigator's eyes when they feel the truth for anything in the world! I've never felt this kind of love for people before and I just know Missouri will be just as amazing!
I have met so many people here! A few of them remind me of people from home! We had a teacher yesterday (all the teachers are absolutely amazing) who just reminded me of dad! A big jolly Mexican fellow who was super hilarious!!!! The hallways here are lined with old pictures of missionaries doing baptisms or teaching from countries all over the world and from all eras of time!!!!! I am so proud and honored to be counted with those amazing missionaries who walked these halls before me! Quentin L cook came and spoke to us the other day! He talked about how we are literally angels! How angels preach and testify of the truth which is Christ! I am so proud to be one of them! It has been difficult but so worth it! Every minute of everyday is planned out and we are always on the go (one of the blessings of a state side missionary, you only get two weeks to learn as much as you can). President Stice is amazing and he inspires us to not be average missionaries! He tells us to be exceptional, so when we step off that plane in Missouri, the mission president will be able to breathe a sigh of relief because he just got a bundle of hard working soldiers for the lord!!!! That's me mom!!!! I've never been so proud to be somewhere in my life!!! My favorite painting here at the MTC is called the Dove. It is a painting of when Christ was baptized! It is beautiful and they have a HUGE painting of it! I love the colors and the look on Christ and John's faces! You can see the light of the dove in their eyes! You should look it up! It’s fantastic! I have lots of pictures but not very much time to email them all! I will make copies and send them to you as soon as I can! I really love the pictures you sent me! I keep some of them in my scriptures. I have learned so much. When my journal is full, I will send it to you so you can read all my stories since I don’t have time to write about them! I have touched so many people mom! They have touched me and changed my life forever! I have blended in with the sisters and have made so many lifelong friends. Just yesterday I met a sister her name was Hermana Acosta from Australia. It was her birthday and she way hilarious. She was a bigger girl, wearing a purple skirt and a yellow sweater with a green scarf. She's Hispanic and she's hilarious! We were sitting and listening to a devotional and she leaned over to me and said, "My hands smell like mayo, I just had a sandwich before this." then her and I just started wheezing and laughing! She is going to Tempe Arizona speaking Spanish!!!! I just love her! So many stories to tell mom! She reminded me of Rachel!!!! I am having an amazing time! Also, Can you send a pillow and some blankets to the mission home so I have something to sleep with? haha! I just thought of that!
Anyway, I hope I have a little more time to write when I get to the field. So much has happened! SO SO MUCH! Also, I got a box of brownies from Sam Jen and the fam, I got some oreos from Toby and Annette plus a couple more letters from other people! I appreciate it all so much!!!! I am continuing to grow and learn and become strong and confident! I love you mom! I love you all! Elder Martinez and I have great conversations! Though we are so far away, I've never been closer to him. I know it's because we are both on the same errand! That is to be angels for our God and king!!!!!! I am in love with all these people and this work! I love you so much! I will talk to you and write letter as soon as i get the chance!
Always remember! When things go wrong, pray pray pray and pray again! Turn to Christ, read the scriptures! Strengthen your testimony! Show him how tough you can be and how much faith you have and you will be blessed! I know this to be true! I just tested it all last week!!!!!! ha ha!
Love always,
Sister Martinez
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| The 8 Missionaries to leave for MO, 12/17/13 |
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| Sister Martinez (3rd from left) and her companions |
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