Home!

The flight was delayed 45 minutes and we waited very anxiously until Marissa finally appeared
at the top of the escalator in the Salt Lake Airport.

"I'm huggin' my whole family today!"

Kylee

Mickelle

Marissa's trainer, Jamie Nava

Grandpa, Scott F. McNeil

Such a happy day!

Grandma, Kathy McNeil (Nonni)

Mom!

Dad!

Kasenya!

Marissa was able to be Kylee's escort in the Salt Lake Temple that evening
as she received her own endowment.  It was a wonderful time with many of our
family and friends there.

Our neighbors were waiting in the street with a banner as we returned home.  They had also put a banner on the garage door and many had written personal notes to Marissa.  It was a fun welcome home!

Pics of the Last Week

Today we're planning to walk around Rutgers campus for a little bit with the other sisters in our zone to enjoy one last P-day together! Omar and Azucena are still amazing. It's sad that I won't be here for Azucena's baptism when she feels ready- it should be soon!I'm excited to teach 2 or 3 final lessons tonight! I hope to leave this area strong, with Sis. Cole feeling confident that she can do all she needs to do! Transfer Conference and night at the Mission Home with all of the departing missionaries tomorrow night!! Crazy!I'll see my family and some friends on Wednesday!!!

 

I will be changed forever thanks to my decision to serve a mission and the learning process Heavenly Father has put me through here. I'm so grateful for the relationships I've gained and the Spirit that I've felt every day!!! I've experienced my own conversion and seen the difference that the gospel of Jesus Christ makes in the lives of others!

 

I'll be clinging to the message of this scripture when I go home: Alma 37:36-37. Look it up! I love you! :)

 

Love always...

hermana Martin!

 

After the baptism, we were invited to spend some time with the members in one of their homes. We also visited a cute family who surprised me with a cute good-bye cake and gift. Then we visited a home full of all of our favorite Peruvians!

Some of the cute Young Women/ recently-graduated girls in our ward (plus Sis. Cole and her slyness) threw me a fun little "despedida" after coordination meeting on Friday!

2 companionships of elders each baptized someone yesterday! It was really exciting. Two amazing ladies!

Martinos!

OMAR WAS BAPTIZED YESTERDAY!! It was a beautiful ceremony!! He was so happy and felt the Spirit so strong! We met him exactly a month ago today, and he has already changed so much for the better from receiving the restored gospel in his life! I have some pictures that I can share later!! :) Sis. Cole and I have just been overfilled with joy throughout this whole experience of teaching Omar, as well as his sister, Azucena, who wants to be baptized shortly!

Today we went on the departing missionary trip and visited Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, 9/11memorials, and a giant, beautiful Catholic cathedral in Newark! It is a crazy time!

I am about to go into my departing interview with Pres. Taggart in about 10 minutes!

I hope Mickelle had a wonderful birthday! Can we celebrate again when I get home? Sounds like you're having lots of fun!

The gospel is true!

Love,

Hermana Martin

Omar and Hermano Sarabia, our member who baptized him!

Omar, his sister, Azucena, and her baby, Liam!

The group! :) I love how happy they look!

Departing Missionary Trip Pictures & People I Love!

My Mexican amigos/ former zone leaders on the Statue of Liberty!

Ridiculously beautiful cathedral in central Newark, which we also stopped by on the departing trip

Teardrop Memorial, facing New York.

Lady Liberty

Sisters on the ferry with the Taggarts' cute daughter, Sophie, who also joined us on the trip!

There she is!! We climbed up a lot of stairs and made it to her feet!

3 sisters from our original MTC group! (Plus Elder Jeffries who was there to drop somebody off for the trip, also in the original district).

Saying goodbye to Hermano Agustin!

Hermana Ramirez (member) and her cute family, who we visit!

 2 other boys, and 8-year-old whose family are members and a 9-year-old who the elders taught, got baptized the same day! The bishop and one of the missionaries in our ward baptized them.

 

So we were out knocking this door of some potential investigators in a trailor park, when we found this chair that says, "New Brunswick Ward."
 What?! Pretty sure these people have never been to our church before...

Awesome Hondurian family in our ward all there to support 8-year-old Leandro being baptized!