Turbo speed!

Hola everyone!

This was one of the hardest and one of the best weeks of my mission. The roller coaster that is missionary life went like turbo speed or something!

So first off, we had an incredible mission tour and Elder Pearson of the 70 came and talked to us for a few hours! It was so amazing, and definitely one of the mos spiritually powerful meetings I've ever been to! He had so many great suggestions and things for the mission and we know that it's going to be a miracle filled next couple of months as we start applying his council!

The south of the mission with Elder Pearson!

And then when we met with Jahayra she said that the wedding will for sure be on December 25th! And maybe her baptism too! But if they decide to do the wedding and her baptism on different days she'll still get baptized within the next week! I'm so excited!!! She's really been ready for months now and I'm so happy for her, that she finally gets to take that step! She is so cute and was saying that her Christmas present this year is that she finally gets to be baptized <3

One of the really, really hard things though, our other marriage waiter was so excited to try to be able to be baptized this month sometime and we were so ecstatic to see how truly converted she is and her love of the gospel and desire to act, but when we met with her this last week she decided that she's just going to wait till they can work out the wedding stuff (in March) and that she won't be coming to church until then. 

​Zone sports! We play soccer in a hockey arena

We are absolutely heartbroken, like it's just a pit that fills your stomach and you know that they have the freedom to choose what they want because agency and everything, but they're choosing the opposite of eternal life and missing out on so much happiness and blessings. 

So that's been really really hard the past few days as we've been trying to figure out what to do to help them. But we have absolutely the best ward ever here and the best bishop and we were able to talk to him about the situation a little and he calmed our hearts and is going to help us try to get them back. 

But then we were able to start teaching this incredible family that has 3 children that need to be baptized (ages 13, like 10, and 8) and they are the sweetest! The kids really do understand so much about God's love and the gospel and when we extended them the invitation to be baptized on December 31st we couldn't even finish the invitation before the 13 year old, Jose, practically jumped out of his chair and accepted! It is the greatest thing to see people so willing to come unto Christ and make those changes in their lives, and to see people that are actually as excited about the gospel as we are! 

​Saying bye to Hermana March :'( She ws in the CCM with Hermana Moss and I. Also the sun was really bright so...

And then the other sad part, Hermana Moss (my CCM companion and one of my greatest friends ever) is on her way home today. Goodbyes are one of my least favorite things, but I know I'll see her soon! And I'm so grateful that I got to spend a few months serving next to her down here before she left!

Service project! And my last day with Hermana Moss :'(

So yeah, some really really hard things, but there were lots of bright spots and miracles! And I know that the more opposition comes our way, that just means that the enemy is trying to stop us because something amazing is about to happen. So we just have to stay diligent, stay hopeful, and always focus on those bright spots instead of letting the sorrows wear us down. 

Karem Viddauri's mission farewell party! The Washington Kennewick mission is going to get the greatest missionary ever here in January!

I love a scripture in the Book of Mormon: 

Omni 1:26 that says "come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved". 

We've just got to give it our all, every day, as best we can. We all fall short, but God is there, always, to make up the difference. And as long as we just do our best, we have a direct promise from the Lord that we will be able to live with Him again. I love this gospel and the hope it brings! I love being a missionary!

Love y'all, have a great week!

Hermana Martin