Week 3

Querido Familia,

I am so grateful that I still feel so connected to all of you even when I don't see you. I appreciate all of your support and love! I am excited for Nonni and Grandpa's new calling!! That will be awesome!!

I am into my third week at the MTC now. I have less than a month until my district departs on March 18! Then I have until Aug. 4, 2014!

This week my companion Hermana Larsen and I taught in "TRC" meetings for the first time. People from the area, almost all Church members, volunteer to come into the MTC and hear our broken Spanish in hopes of having an uplifting experience. We are not only supposed to practice teaching, but to try to help them come closer to Christ in some way as well. We could feel the Spirit very strongly in our two short lessons. We sang "Soy un Hijo de Dios" for them, talked about hymns, the Book of Mormon and other topics, and bore testimony to them.

One of our teachers was pretty bold with us last night and told us that we need to be speaking Spanish more- not only in the classroom, but outside when we are eating in the cafeteria or in the "residence," during certain times during the day that we set ourselves or however much we can. I am excited to become more fluent in the language. The district above us is leaving on Monday with a bunch of sisters going to Canada. They are all inspiring and we will miss them! You make friends pretty fast here. It is fun to see all of the new missionaries come in with the little orange dots on their nametags for their first day.

It is so great to be able to soak up this knowledge about the gospel, teaching, connecting with people, and speaking the language. We now have two "investigators" that our teachers role play with us. As a companionship we prepare for our lessons and work on trying to convey what the Lord would have them know specifically related to their needs. We invited one of our investigators to be baptized on our second visit with him yesterday. He said if he receives an answer to his prayer that it is right, he will do it. It's a little scary going into lessons trying to speak in Spanish sometimes, but I was taught to have the mindset of not "What do we think we should teach him/her?" but "What does God want him/her to know?" and in our last discussion I think that blessed me to have a better mindset, work with my companion even better, and have a more effective lesson.

The days are kind of a strange cycle, and it feels like I was just barely in the cafeteria, or getting ready for bed whenever it's time for it again. But it is so neat to have this chance to just be taken care of and really analyze myself and what I want for myself and other people. And do focus on the Lord and his son, Jesus Christ.

I love you all so much. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I'm praying for you!

Mucho amor,
Hermana Martin


Mom- I am so grateful to have those sheets and my pillow and blankets you told me to bring. The sheets and pillows here are a wee bit nasty. I'm also using my cute wardrobe and coat and boots. Thanks so much for sneaking in those cinamon hearts and popcorn and such. :) I love you! I also love getting letters from all of you, so tell mis hermanas that I want to hear from them. Recent pictures are good too. Is there anything I can do for you? What do you want to hear about? Tell the bishopbric and stake presidency if you see them and the ward members that they are all amazing and I am grateful for their support.

I just got back from going to the temple with some sisters on our P Day and doing initiatories. We ate breakfast in the cafeteria afterwards. I would recommend the waffles and omelets in the Provo Temple if you get a chance. I LOVE YOU!! My official release date is Aug. 4, 2014, just FYI.

Love,
Hermana Martin