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