The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of Change

This week was short because of Tuesday p-day last week, and also we were real busy, so it went quicker too.  On Tuesday we went and bowled with some members and our friend Andrea, because she had never been before.  It was some good fun.  Teaching some folks a lesson... : ) Just kidding.

We had a lesson with Andrea later that evening as well, and answered questions and prepped her for her baptismal interview later this week.

Wednesday and Thursday both went really quick because we had interviews with President on Wednesday, and that takes some time.  We had quite a bit of time to get out and knock some doors too, so that was good.  Same with Thursday.  Lots of time to knock and look for those people that the Lord is preparing.

On Friday we were able to meet with Andrea for a little bit and talk about her addiction...with General Conference talks.  She loves them, haha, it's great!  She had her baptismal interview as well, and of course, she passed.  Later on, we went to visit a referral and ran into him, on his driveway and were able to teach him a little bit.  As we were walking away, we ran into another guy that we just started talking to- after a minute, he started opening up to us, and we testified how the Gospel can help him in his life.  I know that no matter who you are, or what you're going through, the Gospel WILL help if you allow it.  Those were just two little miracles that the Lord placed in our path in the matter of minutes.  Shortly after, we were able to do exchanges with the assistants, and I went with Elder Hadley, but stayed and worked in the YSA/Woodland Hills.  We were able to knock for a couple of hours and find some really cool people who could use the Gospel and are willing to act on the invitations we'll leave with them.  To end the night, we were able to have a pass off lesson with some Sisters who were teaching a younger person and passed him to us for YSA.  We had a really good lesson- Elder Hadley and I taught real well together.  Must have been the common denominator of Elder Jensen as a companion. ; )

Elder Martin and Elder Hadley

On Saturday we had a really open day, so we went by and looked for part member families and worked around their homes.  A couple of them, just happened to live on the edge of the mission and it took some time driving there.  We were able to get some good pictures too.

View into LA (If you look closely, you can see the temple)

Later in the evening, we were able to get two investigators to come to the evening session of Stake Conference, and then had an ice cream bar at the Bishops after.  It's a good time for our friends to make other friends in the ward.

Sunday was ward conference in Woodland Hills, so we stayed for all 3 hours.  Man was the Spirit there in great abundance.  Such a great ward, such great speakers, and teachers.  Great leadership in the ward and stake.  I love the Canoga Park stake.  Our investigators were still able to go to stake conference in YSA (it's another stake that CP) so that was good.  The members have been taking great care of them!  We were able to go to the baptism of Marla, as well, who is a sister I was able to teach in my last area with Elder Howell.  It was a great baptism, and she bore a powerful testimony, sharing lots of scriptures from the Book of Mormon by memory, it was awesome.  Very spiritual day!

Because Jesus Christ atoned for us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of change.  We can change and be better.  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

I love you all!
Elder Martin


I forgot to mention the part where I was most scared this week.  I was standing in the road and about a half mile down, I see 3 horses come around this corner.  1 is stray and 2 have riders on them.  I thought it was a leisurely 'jog', until I saw the lone horse run a bit faster, and the rider on another horse starting to yell at it, and whistling.  Also, he had a rope, ready to lasso that thing.  It was coming straight at me, too.  I got a little startled, not gonna lie.  The closer it got, the more it looked like it was running right at me.  So I jumped in the car just before it got to me- the horse just stood there, about 3-4 feet on the outside of the car.  It was cray cray.  So when I get asked if I've been chased by a dog on my mission, no.  Horse? yes.

Role playing at district meeting

Elder Visser, Elder Howell, Elder Johnson, Elder Martin

Mail run

Elder Martin and Elder Horrocks

"The Lord promises to direct our paths, but for Him to do that, we have to walk, trusting that He knows the way because He is the way." L. Whitney Clayton