"Garden State" Update!

(Glad I finally came up with something catchy for my messages! This state really is beautiful!)

Last P-Day our evening appointments fell through and we weren't sure exactly what to do, but we got a call from one of the members to come to one of the member's apartments. The ladies of the Relief Society had planned a surprise party for Hermana Valasquez (the 74-year-old who smacked the bug really loud during sacrament meeting). Hermana Valsquez sang a cute song for us that night and we got a bunch of references of people who the ladies were willing to invite to our next branch activity and possible meet with us for lessons later. It was so good for me to be able to see all these loving members of the church, who we had come to know over the past 5 weeks through separate visits and at church, all together enjoying each other! It is in those moments that New Jersey starts so feel like home.

Weeks ago we started planning a "Noche de Talentos" or talent show/ buffet for the branch! (Inspired by a seminary tradition.) We passed around a list during church where people signed up to share a talent/ bring food, encouraged members to bring member nonmember family and friends, and called a lot of the less-active members of the branch to invite them. At 6:00, thanks to the help from Hermano Pinto from the bishopbric and help the mujeres jovenes/ hombres jovenes in the morning, chairs and tables were set up, music was playing, and decorations were ready. And there was basically only one investigator there with her two kids.

We were a little worried, but luckily around 7:00, we were seeing a lot of familiar faces coming in, and the tables were finally filled with food that people had brought. It was a little difficult to get the talent show started with people who were ready to go, but by the end of the night we were getting all kinds of great talents from people who were volunteering! One little kid asked if we had Michael Jackson music and Hermano Pinto looked it up- the boy blew my mind by jumping up and busting a move like MJ! (Hermano Pinto was grateful when I faded the music down after a few minutes of it though...) And a nonmember, Hermano Calle, who said he wouldn't sing, all of a sudden got up and was belting out an impressive, romantic Latino song! Hermana Valasquez sang her little flirty opera song for us, too. That night was too good to be true. At the end, a bunch of people got up and did a little freestyle, partner dancing to Latino music.

I ended it kind of fast because I didn't want to lose people before we could end with a prayer and scripture and invitation to come to church, but overall it was a great night for everyone! Hermano Pinto said activities would help make the branch more unified. It is hard when the area is so huge and people live far apart, but it is great when people come together and can feel the Spirit.

I've also learned that all that everything really comes down to is a personal conviction, trust, and faith in the Lord. If your testimony is strong, anything is possible and no sacrifice is too great. There are always excuses we can make about doing what we know we should, but if we have a personal testimony of the Savior, we will want to do those things and we can make it happen. The Relief Society president is an example of this to me. Her husband is not a member, she works many hours a week, she takes care of all the women of the ward. On top of that, she has to study for the citizenship test with US history questions- in English- that my companions and I don't even know the answers to. But why did she accept the calling of Relief Society President? Because she has a love for the Lord and says she is so grateful to him that she could never say no.

People are really rude to us sometimes. It's hard to balance teaching and getting everywhere and doing everything in a trio sometimes. I am realizing a lot of weaknesses I need to overcome. But I am grateful for this refining time in my life and I am grateful that the Lord is patient with me. Learning more and more every day! I love you all! THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXAMPLES AND LOVE! Share the gospel!

Mucho Amor,

Hermana Martin