Trio Life!

Hola everyone!

This past week went by so crazy fast, so many things happened! 

​Last goodbyes in Ascarate. Nancy and two of her kids!

Ok so, Monday night I finished all of my goodbyes and with a few miracles I was able to say goodbye to everyone that I needed to see. Leaving was weird, but I know that it was time, and I'll go back and visit all of them soon!

So Tuesday morning we meet up for transfers and Hermana Thompson and I got to have the whole ride from El Paso to Santa Fe together to talk about the transfer and our area and make all sorts of goals and plans! She's from Salt Lake City, Utah and is absolutely super cute and an INCREDIBLE missionary! I've already learned a ton from her and from my other companion, Hermana Openshaw! She's from Michigan and is also super cute and has so much love for everyone! 

​Obispo Vidaurri and his family

Trio life is so much fun because you get two best friends instead of just one! I've really never heard good things about trios, but we're loving it and hope we get to stay all together next transfer too! 

​Jahayra and her daughter Miranda

We cover a branch here, we have about 40 members that come on an average Sunday and it was super strange only having 2 people actually passing the sacrament on Sunday. But even though they're small, they're so strong! I've met some incredible members so far and there's a lot of excitement for missionary work and helping the branch grow into a ward. That's our big, long-term goal is to get El Camino Real to a ward as soon as possible! 

Last minutes with Hermana Smurthwaite

Hermana Thompson and I were afraid that we weren't really going to be able to find Spanish speakers up here, but they're coming out of the woodworks! This past week we've found 9 new investigators, which is absolutely basically unheard of in this mission, especially up here in Santa Fe! 

The first 3 we found as we saw a man walking into his apartment and ran over to talk to him. We knocked on their door and had a fairly typical OYM and they didn't seems that interested, but we asked if we could sing for them so they let us in and we sang 'I Am a Child of God'. After we were talking with them a bit and the dad has a lot of interest in the Book of Mormon! We were able to leave all 3 members of the family with Libro de Mormones and they have a lot of potential!

​This is our first companionship picture and it's super fitting haha! A member we ate dinner with makes these fun hats

Then while we were in Walmart that first day we started talking to a woman next to us looking at milk and she spoke Spanish! We found out that she was an investigator about 10 years ago and even went to church 6 times! We will have our 3rd lesson with her today and we are praying that she will accept a baptismal date, and her son and husband are interested as well!

And we received a referral from a member in Espanola for a man named Elder! He's probably in his late 20s and is absolutely the most prepared investigator that I have ever taught! He already understands how to recognize the Spirit; every time it was strong in the lesson he pointed it out before we had the chance to! And the Spirit was SO STRONG because he is so ready and willing to know and to learn. He told us that everything in his life has led him here and that he already knows that it's true. And on our very first lesson with him he told us that what he really wants is to be baptized, hew just wants to watch a baptism first. He should be able to make it to a baptism tomorrow night and he's on date to be baptized Febuary 4th!

​It's super cold here and snows a bunch but the snow hardly ever sticks

And our second day our dinner fell through so we asked one of our superstar members if we could eat with her and she let us come over, and had a friend there at dinner! We were able to teach Sandra the whole restoration and she said that she and her son have been looking for something that fills them more than their current church does. We and Hermana Valles were able to testify that she had finally found exactly what she was looking for.

We've had so many confirmations that this companionship is divinely inspired and that we're exactly where we need to be right now. We're seeing miracles everywhere we turn and we've just had the most incredible week! Missionary life is the absolute best!

There's such a special spirit that comes when you share the gospel with others. I was studying about the gifts of the Spirit a little this week and I found these scriptures that I love in Doctrine and Covenants section 60:2,13

 

2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.

 

13 Behold, they have been sent to preach my gospel among the congregations of the wicked; wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, thus: Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known.

I know these are kind of harsh scriptures but I absolutely love their central message. Everyone has spiritual gifts, Heavenly Father absolutely wouldn't exclude one of His children from having at least one gift, He love us too much to do that. Everyone has some spiritual gifts that they can share and that are to help us to be able to share the gospel, these things that have brought us all of the greatest blessing of our lives, with those that just don't know about it. 

There are so many people that are waiting for this. People that feel something missing in their lives but just can't quite figure out what it is or how to get it. I know they're there because I've been able to find a few of them on my mission and I testify that all of us know someone who is searching. All He asks of us is to open our mouths, and trust in Him. That's all we have to do and we will be able to help others know how to have their own eternal family, to have a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father, to know how to receive more blessings in their lives with the knowledge of the gospel. 

He loves each and every one of His children more than we could ever truly understand. Don't hide your talents! You can be a perfect instrument in His Hands to bless others if you just trust Him.

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Hermana Martin