Week 3 - Joining the Missionaries in the MO St Louis Mission

The Kipp Family

The Johnson's great-dane



 

President and Sister Johnson, with Sister Martinez

Hi mom! I'm sending you a letter,  I got your package! I don't think I saw a connector in there, but I did get you PJ pants with owls, and the letter writing stuff and your card! That card was hilarious! No worries though, Sister Calton is letting me use her connector for pictures!

Well, everything is great! I am in love with Washington, Missouri! The members here, as you can tell, are amazing! Most of them are converts and their testimonies just floor me! They each came to the truth through the missionaries and the few that were born into the church are tried everyday about what they believe! I often think "who's the real missionaries here?!" They are teaching me more than I teach them I think! Yeah, the first picture you got was from the Kipps. Their house is big and beautiful, much like most of the houses here. They are such a sweet family! Then the second picture with the great dane, that's the Johnson family! They are recent converts and just got sealed a couple months ago!!!!! They are so amazing! Sister Johnson called us on the phone today to tell us about her amazing missionary moment that she had! They have one great dane, two St. bernards, a cat, and some fish! They have a very busy house with dogs that look like horses and small bear cubs! ha ha! Another lady we teach has a great peirenese! People here love their dogs! Yeah, we live 5 blocks from the Missouri river, Sister Calton and I run there every morning! It's been in the 60's these past couple days but today it's in the 20's. You never know what the weather will be like in Washington! I met president and sister Morgan! They are amazing! They are so loving and happy to be our mission parents! It was cute, at our first transfer meeting, she got up and said I'm so happy to have adopted 250 new kids! ha ha she's a sweetheart! Well, the flight out here was good, I came out here with 12 others that I was in the MTC with. They are practically my brothers and sisters and it was hard to part ways with them! But at the transfer meeting we were each given an envelope with our trainer's name and the area we will be in. We each had to go up to the pulpit and read off our thing and introduce ourselves! it was hilarious! I got up first and Said, "my name is sister Martinez and I'm from Logan, Utah." Then I opened my envelope and said, "I'll be serving with Sister Calton in Washington, Missouri." She jumped up and screamed, "woooooooooo!" and ran down the aisle to the pulpit like it was the price is right! She gave me a big hug and we went back and sat in the pews. Another girl read her envelope and a big Tongan sister stood up and yelled, "COME TO MAMA!" ha ha! everyone was laughing as she ran up and gave her a big hug! Then another elder went up and read his envelope and his trainer yelled and ran up to the pulpit, picked up elder rose like he was a baby and carried him back to their seat! ha ha ha! these people are amazing and so much fun! I am having a blast with sister Calton! She's short, beautiful and full of energy! She is so hard working and I love it!

So my first Sunday here was amazing, The elders in my ward are so awesome too. In fact, Elder Cox saw me at transfer meeting and Said, "Do you know brother Cloward?" I said, "Daniel Cloward?" He said, "yeah! I just got transferred from Charlestown(I think that's it) and he said to tell you hi. The whole family says hi!" I almost cried! I love this mission and all the people in it! We have 3 recent converts. One is 15, the other two are 19 years old! They are amazing. They are the only ones in their families to be members. They each come from different families but they might as well be sisters. They astound me! When I was that age, I was not as strong as them! All the members here are like that! I am the minority here. Most people are Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian you name it! They're all pretty nice and they usually let us in, not because they are interested in changing religion, but mainly just because they love talking about Jesus!

Well, I think I will be skyping from the Johnson's house this week. I'm not sure how that works out but we'll probably call you that day maybe sometime around noon or something. You'll have to tell me how to skype Poo. I think I miss him more than anyone! ha ha! We've never been further apart but spiritually, we've never been so close. I'm so proud to be working alongside him and so many others out here in the mission field. I am so happy out here mom! All these people are amazing! My companion is a blessing and an amazing trainer. I love everyone so much! The area is beautiful! so many hills and trees in every direction as far as the eye can see. I was a little nervous when we left the airport in St. Louis and I choked on the air a bit. It smelt worse than LA but I'm already used to it and loving it. Our apartment actually smells like Tia Connie's when we used to visit. It reminded me of them and how much I love everyone!

I'm so glad to hear you're doing better mom! I love you so so much! I know that what Poo and I are doing will send continued blessings to our family. I constantly think of all the elders that taught our family and how much I wish I could meet them and thank them. Never give up on someone. Heavenly Father has a way of humbling and preparing His children for His gospel! I see it daily! I am so thankful to be part of this amazing work force! I can't imagine my life without serving a mission! I have hard times but they are so quickly overshadowed with all the blessings that surround me!

I love this gospel and am continually grateful for this opportunity! I'm excited for Christmas, mainly because all of our potential investigators want to meet after Christmas is over! ha ha everyone's busy with family!

Well, I love you! I cannot wait to talk to you this Wednesday! you'll have to tell me how to skype Poo when we talk and if you send anything to me send it through normal us postage. Not UPS or Fedex cuz then I won't see it for a long time. It will sit at the mission office forever till a zone leader goes and gets it. Always send everything to the mission office through normal US postage. I didn't see a picture adapter but maybe i will look again.

I love you so much! I am so well taken care of out here, spoiled even! The members are great! I love you and I love all the family! Say hi and merry Christmas to them all for me!

I hope ya'll do something awesome for your birthday! I know I'll be thinking of you!
Love love love love love!

Sister Martinez