You can have what you want, or you can have something better.

This week was good! We were able to find a couple new investigators and we are teaching a lot!  On Tuesday, we started teaching Macy Gray's son.  He's a really cool, down to earth kind of guy.  He's so humble and wants to come closer to God.  He allowed me to take a picture with his mom's Grammy...(don't worry, we're there to teach him like we would anyone else.)  We had a really good lesson with another of our investigators and put him on date for baptism.  They are both in the YSA ward.

On Thursday we had district meeting pretty early.  It was a good district meeting, and then afterwards were able to meet with some people named Steve and Karen, for a couple minutes, before heading to knock a couple of doors, and stopping by some part member families, and eventually going to Thanksgiving dinner!  We ate at the Tribbles. He is the counselor in the YSA ward.   It was your typical Thanksgiving dinner.  It was really good.

We also met with another investigator right before church and showed him around, and had a good lesson in the chapel before hand.  We've got a lot of good things brewing up here in Northridge!  We have the Book of Mormon experiment coming too, in December, the 5th thru the 10th.

Sorry me email was a little bit shorter this week, but I'll leave you with a word from my buddy Jeffrey R. Holland.  "You can have what you want, or you can have something better."  The thing that is better definitely is God's plan and will.  He will allow us to have what's better if we WANT- but we have to do our part.  The Gospel changes lives.  I know.  I've seen it.

I love you all!

Elder Martin

"I testify of the great gift which is our Father's plan for us. It is the one perfect plan to peace and happiness, both here and in the world to come."  

President Thomas S. Monson

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey everyone!  Sorry for the shorter email this week, but it was a good one!  Monday was p-day, as always, then we spent some time with the YSA for FHE.

Tuesday we had a couple of lessons and were able to do our weekly planning and really get these two wards under our feet, so we know something about them.

On Wednesday, we decided to stop by a part member family for YSA- the brother was recently baptized but struggles coming out to things, so we stopped by and met with him and his sister who isn't a member and talked about the importance of coming to church and taking the Sacrament each week.  It truly is such a blessing to take the Sacrament.

Thursday we had zone conference.  We had a lot of really good training, especially those, again about the Sacrament.  We also had the new Christmas initiative introduced to us- like last year, it's the "#LightTheWorld" theme.  It'll be good.  Look out for it the day after Thanksgiving.

Zone Conference

 After zone conference we got a text from a former investigator saying he was ready to be baptized, and then, quickly after that we got a call from an older lady, out of state mentioning she had a friend she was talking with and wants us to teach her friend.  So we called the friend and set up a time to meet with her and share the Restored Gospel, and she wants to come to church!  Miracles, right?!  Dinner, not so much of a miracle.  We had, what the member called it, a "squash fest".  Everything at dinner was made out of squash...don't ever do that to missionaries.

Friday, we had a lesson in the morning with one of our investigators...he was quite interesting.  At the end of the lesson he asked if he could learn here or go to where he should go, by where he lives, which is in the other mission...turns out he met with the missionaries in the other mission too.  But the rest of the day was really good.  We spent 6 hours at CSUN, doing a booth and talking with all the kids at the school.  It was great!

Saturday was a good working day, and Sunday was a day full of sitting.  6 hours of church, being that we're in two wards.  But it's ok, they were all 6 good hours.  Some great things!  We had someone at church in the family ward that was able to talk to the bishop for some time and meet a lot of the members.  We didn't have anyone show up to YSA though, except someone brought their boyfriend and we were able to meet with him and set up a time to teach him, it'll be so good!  We also had the YSA Face to Face that was broadcast from Utah State.  If you can get the chance, I would invite all of you to check it out.  There is some good counsel from Elder Ballard and Elder Oaks!

Watching the Face to Face broadcast

I hope you all have a wonderful week.  I'm very grateful.  I'm grateful for all of you in my life, as well as the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm very grateful for His Atoning sacrifice so we can all live with God again.  I love you all!  Have a great, safe, happy holiday!

Elder Martin

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings 

but it also unlocks the doors of Heaven and helps us feel God's love."  
President Thomas S. Monson

The thing to come after this life is eternal JOY

Hey everyone!  I hope everything is going well for everyone!  Life is unfair sometimes and seems really difficult.  I would just like to briefly share what I did at my farewell- when you are going through a trial of faith, we need to do the very things that helped us build our faith in the first place, but we have to immerse ourselves in those things.  We need to exercise faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and in His Atonement. We NEED to pray.  Read and ponder thescriptures, repent, keep the commandments, and serve others.  As we serve others, we're also often times the means by which their prayers are answered.  You never know the impact you can have by serving them.

We had a good week, this week.  On Monday we were able to get the crew together one last time and spend some time together.  Elders Clarke, Ballard, Nykamp, Kerr, Nielsen, and I all went to get some Korean BBQ and boy was that good.  We hit the lanes afterwards and bowled some games.  It was some good fun!  I stopped by the Smith family to say my"byes" to the ward.

Korean BBQ

Brother Smith and Elder Martin

Tuesday was transfer day and we had to set up all sorts of stuff for that.  Later on another Elder and I went to knock some doors while we waited for the new missionaries to to come in, and when the time came, we met our new companions.  I'm with Elder Howell, who is from Idaho Falls. #Mijo3. When we got back to our area, it was pretty late.  We stopped by the institute, because YSA life- and met some members and got our dinner there- haha.  We got back and started to unpack our stuff, it was good.

Elder Howell and Elder Martin

Wednesday and Thursday we did the things we needed to, to get things in the area under our feet, since we're both brand new to it.  We have had a couple of lessons with some people these two days and Friday as well.  We've spent a lot of time in people's homes teaching them the Gospel, which is great for Elder Howell!  His first couple tastes of the mission being in homes teaching investigators.  We've spent some time finding as well and have found a couple of new investigators too.

Saturday we had  a good long day of stopping by people to meet them and we've found some times to meet with people!  Things in this area are looking up! and we're excited!

Sunday was good.  We're covering two wards, so we spent Sunday in two wards.  In the family ward, it was the primary program, and the primary here is tiny, so it went real quick, and all the kids had multiple parts-haha.  It was good though.  There is always a good Spirit when the kids are singing those songs about Christ.  The YSA ward was good too!  After church we had a lesson with one of our investigators, named Jason and talked with him about forgiveness of sins and happiness.  Afterwards, we stopped in on a part member family and are going to teach the son and wife of this member.  I was able to testify of the Plan of Salvation on multiple occasions, which was awesome.  I have found, the more you share your testimony, the stronger it grows.

The thing to come after this life is eternal joy. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. Alma 40:12

The joy of the Gospel is knowing the plan that God has outlined for us.  I know God lives.  I know He loves us and sent His Son into the world to perform the Atonement for us.  With the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it allows us to be reconciled to God both physically and spiritually.  Spiritually so we can repent and be forgiven of our sins, and physically because he died and was resurrected.  Because of that, we too, can all be resurrected.  I love the joy the Gospel brings.  Like Elder Jeffrey R. Holland says,"if you need at this time, lean on and rely on me and my testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement."

I love you all!

#1077 #1241

Elder Martin

"I testify of the great gift which is our Father's plan for us. It is the one perfect plan to peace and happiness, both here and in the world to come." 

President Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon Experiment

Haircuts #Missionarystyle

This week had a lot of down times, but in the working moments, it was really good!  On Monday it was preparation day, as usual.  We carved pumpkins and then got to go and find some new people and then dinner with our bishop.

Tuesday was Halloween and we did what we could to work.  We had to be in early though.  So at 5 o'clock, two zones got together and we had pizza and watched Meet the Mormons at one of the churches.  Then we had to be in our apartments at 7 for the rest of the night.

Wednesday we had MLC and had a good discussion as always.  Thursday was district meeting and then we spent the rest of the day finding!  Knocking doors and talking with those on the streets.

Friday, however, we were able to have a full day to work!  Right near the end of knockout, we knocked a door and no one answered.  As we were walking to the next house, someone came out of the garage.  His name was Lance.  Turns out his sister is a member in Utah and has talked to him about the church many times.  We had a really long conversation and it ended with him getting his quad (Bible, Book of Mormon, D & C, Pearl of Great Price) and having us mark multiple chapters for him in the Book of Mormon to read to help guide his family closer to God.  He really wants to become a member and receive the blessings and is willing to do what it takes.  His wife, however, doesn't believe in Christ, so that is his only hangup for now.  This guy is so prepared!

On Saturday, we did a mini exchange and I was with Elder Kerr.  We had a couple lessons, one with Vince and Megan that went really well and set some expectations there, but also a very sincere commitment on her end.  We also got a text from Juan saying he wants to meet, so we got there as soon as we could.  We had a really good lesson and were able to put him on date for baptism.  As individuals or family come to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no doubt people want to follow Him by being baptized and living His Gospel.  We were able to have a good knockout afterward too.  We found a new investigator named Claira!  It also happened to be the day of transfer calls!

I was told I was leaving to a car area.  Wiley Canyon sure did treat me well!  I got a call from President Henrie a little while later releasing me as a zone leader with "great lamenting" and am going to be a trainer for the third time!  He's placing me in a place where we're doing a big social experiment that has to do with the Book of Mormon.  At the new mission president seminar in July, they showed a video (and then it got relayed to us to see) where a BYU professor and crew did a booth in 4 of the biggest cities in the world.  They let people flip open anywhere in the book and see how it speaks to them.  Our mission president got ahold of the professor and now will be having him and the crew come to our mission for this experiment and placed me here to help with the experiment when they come!  I'll be in a YSA for the second time, but will be in the valley!  Cal State Northridge, here I come!

I've spent some time packing, and today we're going bowling with some of the squad, then getting Korean BBQ!  I'll send pics of it next week!

I love you all!
Elder Martin

The ol' hand in the water trick. (it didn't work)

I got Elder Nielsen to wear the tie I've never had the guts to wear. #HomecomingTie

This is our good friend Dana.

"If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ."  Dieter F. Uchtdorf