Week 4 in West New York

Mis queridos,

Sorry for not giving an update last Monday- I felt really weird after not writing about the week!

A year ago now, I was living on campus at BYU Hawaii, where I was studying, going to the beach, and getting ready to go to the beach and people were setting up the Haunted Lagoon at the Polynesian Cultural Center! I never pictured myself living in a place like this, although I had dreamed of living in New York City which is just a few miles away! Living in West New York is like living in a mix of Little Cuba/ Little Mexico/ Little El Salvador/ Little Ecuador. There are pumpkins and decorations popping up in people's apartment windows and on their porches! I am excited to see what Halloween, Thanksgiving, my birthday, and Christmas will be like here in the mission. Sis. Clark and I bought some pumpkin spice air freshener at WalMart today to make it feel more like at home. 

We don't have very many investigators right now, but tonight we are looking forward to teaching a couple- Adiel and Olinda, who had been meeting with the sisters before us for a while. We really hope and that they will commit to watch General Conference this weekend (which will probably mean getting work off), because that could be the key for them grasping the importance of the RESTORED gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe the prophets can answer some of the questions they have so they will want to get baptized!

We're also going to visit our other investigator, Alfredo, from Guatemala. He works kind of far away at a German bakery just three blocks down from Carlos' Bakery from Cake Boss! (I asked him and he said that Carlos' Bakery is bigger and better than the one he works at. I hinted that he should bring me back a pastry from there sometime but I don't think he really got the hint...) Alfredo didn't know anything about our church before the previous sisters invited him to the English class. At our last lesson, he started speaking in some kind of Mayan dialect on the phone to his friend and I was thinking, "I really hope that's not Spanish, because I'm not getting any of this!" He's a really sincere guy and has been reading the Book of Mormon on his phone while at work. :)

Our numbers of lessons taught have been crazy the last few weeks- first low, then really high, and then really low again... it kind of stresses me out because I'm trying to get the hang of things and be responsible, but I'm also trying to be good at getting all of our studies in because my companion is in training while keeping this area going that the last sisters worked so hard in! I get a little frustrated with Spanish sometimes when I can't understand the people who are giving me directions or when I finally think I've figured out how to explain a principle of the gospel we want to teach and then I remember we've still got to translate it into another language! But I am grateful to be able to get to know the people we've met and already learned to love here. I feel really inadequate sometimes, but I know those are the times when I've really got to turn to the Lord.

I've almost finished reading The Book of Mormon all the way through again. We were challenged to start reading it in August. I have come to have so much more appreciation for all aspects of the gospel since being out here and actually having time to study and apply it. I am excited to apply all the things I've learned in my future family, because I realize more how all the doctrines and commandments that I've learned all my life really are so important! 

Stay strong in the faith! I love you all! You can get through anything. Listen to the prophet this weekend! Share the gospel! Pray and listen to know who God is preparing for you to share the gospel with! It's true.

Love,

Hermana Marissa Martin

Little Miracles All the Time...

Saludos!

 

Wow, this area is amazing! We have come a long way already in the last 12 days as far as getting used to this area and making a lot of friends with the members and have been fed all kinds of amazing food! We are getting in contact with a few investigators and some potential investigators. We walk- a LOT. But our legs aren't even sore anymore, so maybe that means we're getting used to it. :) You meet a lot of people on the streets.  The majority of the population of the people here is from Ecuador, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, I'd say. It is really different being in a dense, busy city with crazy driving and  Latin-American restaurants, delis, and barber shops on every corner and everyone speaking Spanish! It keeps things exciting!

 

Earlier this week we were walking down the road towards home in the HOT, sticky humidity after an appointment that was "juked," when I was trying to feel the Spirit more. I decided that it was about time my new companion gave out a Book of Mormon! We spotted a guy standing in the shade of a tree, smoking a big cigar. My companion and I approached him and we shared a little lesson with him about the Book of Mormon right there on the street. He turned out to be an impressively intellectual man from Cuba, named Sebastian. He told us all about how he once didn't believe in God, but through his own studies and theories, has come to accept God. We weren't able to find which apartment he was staying in when we went back for our appointment. But miraculously, a few days later as we were walking down, I was returning a missed call from a phone number that I didn't recognize- and it was him! Right at the moment we were walking past his house! So he came out and told us about how he'd been studying the beginning of the Book of Mormon and how he liked it and that he will continue to read it! Little miracles all the time...

 

I am really impressed with how actively the bishopric and church leaders work here. Some of the members are also really willing to help us out with whatever we need and give us references to friends. This week we'll be going to a leadership training in Morristown with President and Sister Jeppson and the Assistants and other mission leaders. We'll learn about teaching more boldly and lovingly and do lots of role plays in order to become better teachers!

 

These are some adventures I'd never imagined myself having in my life, but I know God has a plan for me and each one of us! I love you all!

 

Love,

Hermana Martin

Yo Vivo! West New York

I just got transferred! I just got "doubled-in" with a new missionary to the area of WEST NEW YORK! We're right on the Hudson Front and we can see the skyline of New York City from where we are! It's like a miniature NYU itself right here with a Broadway ad 42nd St. and everything! :)

Sunrise on the city! Just 2 minutes into a morning jog, we get to see this view of the Big Apple right across the Hudson River! :)

 

I am writing on a Thursday because the libraries were closed for Labor Day, then we had transfer conference, and thanks to the last sisters here, we've been pretty booked out for appointments up until now! This area is completely opposite of my last area, Hightstown, in many ways because it is a tiny walking area instead of a huge driving area, and I have heard that there are about twice as many members who attend church! It is different to be in the city and around so many Spanish-speakers all of the time- but it is good for us!

I am a bit intimidated to be doubled into an area, especially when Sister Simpson has such a high reputation around here. I am a little scared to mess anything up! My new companion, Sister Clark, is extremely easy to work with and even though she is quiet, she is willing to talk in lessons the best she can in Spanish. The gospel has impacted her life very strongly and I am excited to see her share that testimony with others. I am really impressed with our zone leaders, Elders Benson and Blanco, because they are really motivated, caring, and obedient.

I recognize that a huge trust from the Lord has been given to me by putting me in this area, and sometimes I'm not sure why I am deserving because I still feel new and inexperienced, but I am praying to live up to it. The members and investigators here seem amazing from what we can tell so far. 

Love,

Hermana Martin

Nuestro apartamento- fun place, have to take two sets of stairs and fidget with keys every time we want to get in!

  

Down the street from our apartment in West New York! :) (The recently-called Relief Society President lives in an apartment above this Latino restaurant!)

2. View of the streets of West New York

3. We have a quality fan sitting in our window and a real clothesline going out of it (as an option...)! This is AWESOME! :) New back-east experiences for us Utah/ Arizona girls. :)

  

 

Two past Assistants to the President, Elders Packer and Ream, who have really been good examples of missionary work to me and taught me a lot about how to boldly and effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ. They went home along with a lot of strong missionaries this last transfer.

My last companion/ trainee, Sister Stansel and one of our Zone 9 leaders, Elder Bell, and me! :) Yes, Elder Bell is tall! And he is one of the sweetest guys and most amazing missionaries I've met in my life! ("Have you seen Mormon missionaries like us before? Yes... the tall one? Yes, those are the elders and they are the missionaries who speak English around here!" ;)