KEVIN GOT BAAPPPTTIIIIIZZZZEEEEEEDDDDDDD

He's like literally glowing in this picture because of the Light of Christ and baptisms are the greatest and also we were blessed with perfect lighting. Carlos was supposed to be baptized too but some stuff happened that morning and he wasn't able to make it, but Kevin is so pumped to be able to be an example to him and when he gets the Holy Ghost next Sunday and officially confirmed a member of the church he's going to be even more powerful! We had the baptism right after church and about half of the members stayed so there was like 70 people there and we had to move to the chapel for the meeting part of it and all of the members brought food for after and it was the biggest turnout that anyone can remember! He's doing great and it so excited to keep going and learning! 

The rest of this week was awesome too, Saturday night we had this huge pioneer activity with like 2/3 of the members in El Paso and it was so cool and they served a bunch of mexican food made by the members. We had 2 investigators and a less active member come so we were running around like crazy making sure they had people to talk to but it was so fun!

At the Pioneer activity with the Elders that we share the ward with

I have no recollection of anything else that happened this week, I think we had a lot of appointments and things cancel but this week is a brand new week and a brand new transfer so it's the time for new starts and goals! This has only been the second time that I've been able to stay with my companion through a transfer and we're so excited to be able to keep working together! Only a few missionaries are leaving, including one of my favorite elders that I've been able to serve with, but another one of my favorite elders is coming to replace him so I'm super excited! 

Missionary work is the absolute best and I can't even believe that every single day I get to put on a little name tag that has my name right next to that of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I will never be able to adequately express what an honor it is to be able to testify with the power I hold as a representative of Jesus Christ. And the pure and overwhelming joy that comes from watching the light of Christ enter into peoples lives and their countenances.

Alma 28:14 reads

"And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."

Life is hard. We all have trials and reasons for sorrow. But even more than that we all have reasons for rejoicing in the power and light of Christ. I have been able to feel firsthand, and witness secondhand just what power and joy comes from letting that light into your heart and I can testify that it works and that our sorrows can truly be swallowed up by joy if we just turn to God. It takes time sometimes, but I promise that that relief does come.

Hermana Martin

Dust Storms and Venezuelan Food

Hola everyone!

This week was crazy. On Saturday I hit by 8 month mark, but if I hadn't of gone home for a few months I would have hit my year mark on the 8th. I feel like I just get an extra 4 months of my mission and it's super cool! Oh and transfers are this next week so I'll be emailing on Monday instead of Tuesday. I really hope Hermana Bosch and I stay together, but we"ll see how it goes!

We needed a slurpee run one night

We have the best investigators in the whole world. Kevin (one of the miracle amigos) was set to get baptized this past Saturday, but decided to wait so him and Carlos (another miracle amigo) could be baptized together. Carlos still had to go to church twice so he came this past Sunday and they'll both be baptized this coming Sunday after church! They're so amazing and they were determined that since they started learning together, they'd make it to baptism together! We honestly don't even know what to teach them anymore in these days leading up to Sunday because they were so prepared for this gospel that they already know all of the answers and they've gained such strong testimonies in these past 3 or so weeks. 

They're the best!!!

We've been really focusing on finding new investigators recently and the other night was the most successful hour of contacting of my whole mission! We wen't to find a former investigator, and then talked to some of their neighbors and got like 5 return appointments! And a lot of people let us into their homes to talk more since while we were out there a big dust storm started and we couldn't really talk or see or anything and everyone was really nice! And then magically as we came out of one of the houses everything was back to normal and the dust and wind we're like gone. El Paso weather man. 

This week Hermana Bosch and I have decided that we're going to cook real food for lunches and eat healthier and yesterday she showed me how to make fried plantains and a bunch of other assorted delicious Venezuelan food. 

Fried Plantains

Being a missionary is the best. I'm serving in the best ward in the whole entire world with the most amazing investigators and companion. I testify that miracles still happen and I see them countless times every day as I get to witness the Lord directing His work. I know He is aware of each and every one of you and He loves you. No matter what. 

Chamizal Zone

Have a great week!

Hermana Martin

The Corner of Independence and Liberty

Hola everyone!

I have like no recollection of anything that happened this week. 

But HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WOOO AMERICA! 

​We literally found the corner of Independence and Liberty. And it's a few hundred feet from the border!

Oh, we got to attend a baptism for the english ward here (and two of our investigators came to see!) and 5 PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED! It was so cool! The Spirit was so strong and it was amazing to watch 5 people decide to take that first step towards our Heavenly Father. 

Also, last Monday our mission president, President and Sister Miller, left to go back home and our new president, President and Sister Guffey, came. They came to the baptism on Saturday so we got to introduce ourselves and then we had a little zone conference yesterday where we really got to know them and their hopes and expectation for us going forward. I miss the Millers more than words can express, they are some of the most amazing and loving people I have ever had the privilege of meeting, but the Guffeys are just what this mission needs at this time and I know that I'm going to come to love them as much as I love the Millers. 

President Guffey was a convert to the church in his late teens and then was able to serve a mission in Germany so he has the perfect understanding of converts, as well as missionaries! Anyways, they're awesome and I'm so excited to work with them!

For 4th of July we really didn't do much. We had the big meeting with President in the morning, did our weekly planning, and went out teaching, but we did get to see some fireworks on our way home!

That's all I can remember right now, hope you all had a safe 4th, love you!

That big red X and everything behind it is Mexico (they have letters along the border supposedly that spell 'Mexico' and we just happen to have the X). It blows my mind every day that I can just see another country! It's so cool!

Hermana Martin

Monsoon Season!

Hola Everyone!

This whole week it's still stayed around 100 except today WE STARTED GETTING THE RAIN WOOO! It's been so cold this morning, I'm so excited! And plus we get super awesome lightning storms which are like my #1 favorite thing and it's the best. 

After our Family Home Evening with the Familia Carbajal

WE HAVE THE BEST INVESTIGATORS AND WARD AND AREA IN THE WORLD. All the missionaries in the zone text a miracle that happened that day to everyone else and Hermana Bosch and I struggle with which one to choose because there are so many!

I honestly can't remember many specifics of what happened this week. Basically we're crazy busy teaching lessons all the time, and any free time we have in between we're out talking to people and trying to find more to teach. 

Probably my favorite miracle story of the week:

So last week we went home to grab some water or something in the afternoon and as we walk upstairs to our apartment there's these two like 20 year old guys that happened to be sitting next to our door, just talking. So we start talking to them about what we do as missionaries as the gospel and all of that good stuff and they had so many amazing questions! They were really trying to do the right thing, but they just didn't know how. So we set up a lesson with them, which gets cancelled and we're super bummed about it. Then last Sunday we're leaving a lesson and our 8 o' clock just cancelled and we get a text from one of them saying basically 'we're free, can you come teach us?'. So we book it over there and they have their friend with them and we start teaching all three of them.

I don't think there is a more prepared investigator in the world! We've taught their friend almost every day since we've met him , he came to church on Sunday (and brought his little brother!), and he has progressed and grown and understood so much in this last week and he's on track to be baptized on the 9th! 

His two friends are doing great too! The three of them are so ready and have been just waiting for the gospel. Every night Hermana Bosch and I talk about how blessed we are to be able to know these three young men and to help them come closer to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

There are no coincidences in this world and in case I ever started to question that Heavenly Father put 'the three miracle amigos' (as we like to call them) literally right in front of our door. Blessings man!

Hermana Martin