Querido Familia,
I'm loving New Jersey more and more! I am also loving the scriptures more and more! Why have I never fully realized what important and great truths are in them? D&C 138 and 2 Nephi 9 blow my mind. I want to encourage everyone to take that scripture study time that I didn't always do during the day before my mission!
Yesterday during fast/ testimony meeting in the Spanish branch my companions and I watch a big bug gently float down clear from the ceiling behind the speaker down into the congregation. An older lady in a furry vest took a Hymn book and "Whack!!" smacked it dead right on the bench. Then she waltzed on up to the podium where a lady was bearing her sweet, sincere testimony and grabbed a couple tissues, plucked up the bug on the bench, and walked out to throw it away in the hall... We have so many good times.
More seriously, we have met a lot of amazing people. We basically searched all the hospitals in our area for a man named "Lewis" who we found on a ward list. Turns out he wasn't in a hospital, but a rehab center/ nursing home. He had a stroke a while ago and his mind isn't quite all there, but he is one of the sweetest spirits I have ever met. In his prayer he asked God to "bless these angels and never let them falter." He is so sweet and faithful. We get called "angels" a lot, especially when we sing with people in lessons.
My companions are great. Hermana Nava is from Murray, UT, and served 11 months in Peru before she got really sick. She healed enough to come back out on the mission again with a new call to New Jersey, but she suffers a lot still and it's hard when she doesn't feel good. We are hoping to get things figured out with the doctor soon to see why she'd been feeling so sick lately. She was a volleyball player at SUU, she is crafty, tidy, and loves to laugh! She has a lot of faith, though, and is a hard worker.
Hermana Daniels is from Sandy and knows my second cousins! She is hilarious and extremely talented musically. She plays the piano a lot for meetings. At zone conference she played "Come Thou Font" on the guitar and the three of us sang for everyone! The two of us have been together just about 24/7 for the past 2 months because we were in the same district and bedroom in the MTC too! I love my companions.
Mission life is teaching me a lot of important lessons. I am realizing weaknesses that I never knew I had. I am being humbled a lot! It has definitely been a time of transition. You learn to communicate with people better, make plans, make sacrifices, concentrate on others, compromise, develop faith, and so forth. It is hard sometimes, but it is also great. I've probably cried more than usual lately, but that's okay. I am learning more how to incorporate the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. I have learned a lot and I know I have a long way to go.
We have our first baptisimal date! Her name is Elizabeth. She is a really pretty, quiet 15-year-old. Her mom is Peruvian. She had been taught by the elders before us. We had met with her, her mom, and her grandma once before and we weren't sure at all what her feelings were about everything. She is very reserved, but we were surprised by how happy she felt about being baptized when we met with her this week!
I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support! Keep being the amazing people you are! The world needs it!
Les amo muchisimo,
Hermana Martin
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