Hi mom!
All is well this week!
So much better! Never in my life have I truly relied on the Savior
before. I never truly understood that phrase until now. Everyday my Savior lifts me up and makes me stronger. Sometimes He has to lay us low
before he can lift us higher!
Well, this week has been a lot of ups and downs but the
ups overshadow the downs a hundred times over! The family we are
teaching came to church again this Sunday. Though we tried to talk them
out of it, few of them left after sacrament but two of them stayed. Mom.
Our Savior lives. This is His work. I have been tossing and turning
trying to figure out what I can do better, what I'm doing wrong, why
this family is not progressing. Well, it was a total surprise, a boy in
our ward was getting baptized that same day. Sunday right after
church!!! So of course we invited them to stay and watch the baptism.
They both agreed to. One of them is 29, his name is "M". The other is
11, his name is "D". "M" is "D's" uncle and they astound me. What
astounds me more was the miracle that happened at the baptism. We went
and looked around to see if they were there. We spotted "D" sitting
with a twelve year old boy who just got the priesthood. His name is
"I". They were laughing and joking and having a blast. Then I spotted "M", sitting by "G". He is awesome, he has a long past of hardship
and mistakes just like "M". "G" had completely taken "M" under his
wing. Then I watched as the Elders from the Elders Quorum walked in and sat down next to "M" and started laughing and joking about things and talking about the
things they learned in priesthood. I was practically in tears. With
little to no effort of my own, this ward had completely enveloped these
two and showed them what it means to be a ward family. Sis Calton and I
could've left and they never would have missed us! I watched as everyone
was talking and laughing. The love, the joy, the peace. Afterward, I
had to fight my way to them because they were so busy talking to others
and asked them how it went (I had not seen them the whole baptism). They
both told Sis Calton and I that they were excited for their baptismal
dates, they bore beautiful testimonies and told us that they had been
praying and that they know that this is the true church. My heart
practically fell out of my mouth (sorry that was gross... haha). There
it was. The answer to my prayers. What could I have been doing better?
What was I doing wrong? Nothing! I was not being patient! This is His
work!!!! Not mine! No matter how hard I work, He will give us situations
to teach in and they will feel the spirit when it is His will to teach
them at that time. There was no way I could've planned all that out! He
is ever watchful over His faithful and I know that He is watching over
me! This ward totally floored me this past Sunday. I am truly blessed
and the blessings just keep coming the more I get to know the people.
Being healthy is something that I have truly gained a testimony
of! I am trying to teach so many people who have such awful addictions.
So many addictions that are so hard to conquer. Mainly drugs here. I
often share D+C 10:5 with them. The one you showed me that day in
sacrament meeting. How would I
know how to work hard if my parents had not taught me how to! I got it
from you and dad. My work ethic is directly from you two! Just like Nephi did, don't pray to have your
circumstances changed. Rather, pray for the strength to change your own
circumstances.(1 Nephi 7:6-19). He has given us hardship so that we can
learn! Trust me... I had to figure that one out myself last week! ha ha!
I got your letter and there truly was a spirit
intervention. I am learning to handle myself. To be a big girl and rely
heart and soul on the one who wears the title Savior. I know He can do
as he promises and that is save. Christ is my light, my life, my true
beacon in my darkest moments. As he should be for all of us! When we
choose Christ we choose change! So much is changing inside of me, I
didn't even know I can do the things He has made me capable of doing! It
is the same for us all! When you choose Christ, you will have moments
when you say, do or feel something and you think, "where did that come
from and when was I able to do that?" Well, it came from your faith! It
came from your Savior! Every great story ever written in the bible or
the Book of Mormon, (or ever in our church's history, especially Joseph
Smith) started with faith. In fact, that is His question to all before
performing a miracle. Do you Believe I can do this? When we trust Him
and hand Him the reigns of our lives, He works miracles! Then, with a
full heart, you will hear the spirit whisper to you, "Thy faith hath
made thee whole." I have never felt so "whole" in my life. All my kinks
and dings are being smoothed out, my rough edges are being sanded, and
my blank spots are being made whole.
I love you all! All my friends and family. All of you
make it possible for me to keep moving on and moving forward. Just the
other day, President Morgan called just to see how I was doing. Me! He
took a moment of his time to let me know he was thinking of me. I love
President and Sister Morgan. I love this gospel. I love my friends and
family. I love my home here in Washmo (Washington Missouri), I love
running to the Missouri river and back every morning (I have lost quite a
bit of weight, I don't know how much, I don't have time to worry about
how much I weigh. All I know is my skirts were not sitting so low on my
hips when I left home! ha ha). I love the way I feel when I am doing
what's right and I am being obedient. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I
love my God and King. My Father which is in Heaven. I love the letters I
get from home. I love my Washmo folk, they never cease to amaze! I love
the Book of Mormon. I love my companion. I love, I love I love.
Send me some pictures for valentines day. All I ask is
pictures and letters! ...and maybe a tube of true aggie chapstick, mine
is all gone and I love that stuff! ha ha ha! I love you mom! You walk
with me always! Happy valentines! I will send pictures soon and I love
you!
Love always and forever,
Sister J. Martinez
PS.
The weather here is hilarious. The last two days were freezing and
snowing. Now it's like 60 outside! pfffffffff! what?! They cancelled
school for the kids everday this past week but Monday. When it snows
even a little bit here, NO ONE, goes outside. They all stay home and
hide... that's fine we'll come knock on yo door!!! ha ha ha!!!!! just
kidding.... sorta, we actually do go knock on their doors... now we just
sound like creepers.... well we're not! nevermind! ha ha ha! love you!
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