Monday we got to meet with Jimmy and Anne one last time before Elder Johnson left, and Tuesday before transfers, Jimmy took us to get food. The rest of the day was busy! We had lots to do, and it sure was exhausting, but we got it done. My new companion is Elder Oswald, from Idaho Falls. He and Elder Howell went to the same high school.
On Wednesday we went to visit one of our investigators in Calabasas and we spent a couple hours there knocking afterwards. Those are some nice houses...we had good conversations, though no one was interested. We had dinner with a member at Cheesecake Factory, which does some healing- haha.
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| Fancy house in Calabasas |
Thursday we had district meeting and afterwards went on exchanges with some district leaders. I went with Elder Bourda, who is from Mexico. He's a good Elder, and we were able to have a good knockout and found a really cool lady (who didn't end up keeping her return appointment 😕) We had a recent convert lesson with Andrea afterwards, and she is as solid as ever. Such a good example!
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| Exchanges with Elder Bourda. |
Elder Bourda and I did about 30 minutes of service for a lady who wanted to talk with us, but after we helped, she told us she wasn't interested. Eventually, we exchanged back, and got to teach Qaseem the Plan of Salvation. He understands it so well. Elder Oswald and I had a really good knockout together. We found a lady who was willing to listen to the whole Restoration and she saw how it could be relevant for her and her family, and a little bit after, we talked with another really cool guy. Sometimes, when we knock on people's doors, they immediately ask where we're from to derail us and talk about that and then shut the door. This guy did that, but we kind of turned it around on him, and he eventually opened up to us and we were able to testify how the Gospel will help him. It was a good experience. Later in the evening we met with our friend Ramin and had a good lesson with him. We rest his baptismal date as well. We read from the Book of Mormon with him which is one of the most powerful things. I love reading it with investigators.
On Saturday we had a pretty empty day, so we planned in a lot of time to knock doors. We did have Waffle Love for lunch too, and the workers said to me "He's back!" I must be a regular...We talked to a lot of really good people. We happened to cross paths with a couple of people from Iran, who are some of the most kind people I've ever met. One in particular, wanted to give us a picture of Christ so badly. I felt bad because she had painted it herself in 2000, back in Iran, but really wanted to gift it to us. So kind. There was a baptism in the zone , so we needed to make sure that everything was in line for that and that it happened correctly. We had a lesson with Qaseem and were able to reset his baptismal date as well to help him be ready to make the commitment and covenant that baptism brings.
Sunday was really good. We were the key note speakers in Woodland Hills sacrament meeting. Just kidding, we spoke with a missionary who just got home. It was kind of fun. I didn't write anything down- I had an idea of what to talk on, but just spoke from the heart and mind. It actually turned out really well-surprisingly, haha. YSA ward went well as usual, also. We were able to have 4 people at church, which is pretty good. Things are going well here in the Canoga Park Zone. I love it here!
I'm loving life. Being a missionary is the best! The Gospel is simple. Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. Live the Gospel as it has been outlined and you will be blessed. I know it!
I love all of you!
Elder Martin
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| Private lake behind some houses we knocked. |
"Every day of our lives...we are given opportunities to show love and kindness
to those around us." President Thomas S. Monson
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