Miracles on miracles!

Hey everyone.  I hope you all had a great week.  I don't have much time today, so this will be short. We were able to have a lot of good teaching opportunities this week.  We spent a lot of time finding this week.  We were also able to go to a baptism in Canoga Park for someone that Elder Jensen and I had found a while back.

With Michael, Cheryl, Elder Jensen

There was also a fire here last week, so the temperatures have been real high. We came out of church yesterday and it was 110 degrees...that's on the weather app, not the car.

News pictures of the fire in Elder Martin's area

We had a funny/weird experience this week too.  I'll share from what is called the "miracle hotline" in our mission.  When we have miracles, we send them in to Sister Henrie, and she compiles them, so this is one we sent in.

"MUST READ!!! Miracles on miracles!  We pulled into our KO location and parked the car in what seemed to be a visitor parking.  About and hour into KO, we noticed a tow truck drive by as we were OYMing-after we teach Miguel the Restoration, we see the tow truck drive by again...this time with our car.  We quickly found out it wasn't visitor parking.  As we chased the tow truck down, someone else in the street had stopped to talk to the driver (miracle #1) so we were able to catch up.  The driver dropped the car for $105 instead of the normal tow fee of $265 (miracle #2).  This opened up a Gospel conversation which lead to simple statements of truth, and a return appointment next week- Tuesday! (miracle #3)  #100dollarinvestigator #HBDElderHaws

KO= knockout, when we knock from 4-6 everyday
OYM= Open your mouth, or talk with everyone

Just some good insight to always keep in mind, Obey the commandments out of love for the Savior, rather than fear from God.

I love you all so much!  I miss you!

Elder Martin

"Every day is a great day in my life.  I hope every day is a great day in your lives-every one of you.  

I hope you can get ready to go in the morning and shake the hand of your companion  and say, 'life is good. 

 Let's go out and have a good day."  

President Gordon B. Hinckley

A Great Week in the YSA

I sure hope that everyone has had a great week with this weather heating up!  I heard it's getting hot back home?

Last Monday was a great day.  We were able to have 4 non members at the church playing basketball. It was really cool, we had the whole zone playing too.  It makes P-day feel a little more like missionary work when you have a purpose behind it, and still are working (playing) with investigators.  It really helps build that trust with them.  We were able to have Kora and Dede at dinner with us too, at the Kozak's.  Good ole Kozaks from the Saugus ward.  What great people!

Tuesday we were able to do an exchange with some of our district leaders, Elder Sosa and Elder Johnson.  I was with Elder Johnson in Canyon Country.  We were biking to and fro the places we were going.  We had a really good knockout.  We talked with some people who were really interested in the Gospel.We also were able to ask inspired questions to help people see the importance of the Gospel in one's life.  With Elder Johnson, we had a really good lesson with a part member family and we simply read from the Book of Mormon with them, but they had questions all ready to be answered.  It was so cool!

Exchanges with Elder Johnson

Cute Sister Aubrey and Elder Martin

Wednesday was filled with miracles.  After exchanging back, we had a really good lesson with Dede.  As we were nearing the invitation to be baptized, her brother walked up, also YSA age, and started asking questions.  How cool?  We also did a little message with a recent convert from a family ward, who has a down syndrome son, and she wants to share the Gospel with her sons caretaker.  We had a really spiritual moment with her, and made a little action plan to help her share the Gospel with him.

Thursday was district meeting, but we also had a really good knockout.  We got to skate a little bit with some kids, but also invited a lot of YSA's to church.  It was really hot, but it was good.  We had dinner, with a part member family, that went well.  We had some real good pupusas.

Friday we had interviews, and that is always good fun to sit and talk with Sister Henrie, while also role playing with the other missionaries as they come for their interviews.For lunch we went to Pho, a Vietnamese restaurant.  It was pretty good.  (Don't tell Elder Horito, I didn't want to go there, but it was good.)

Afterwards, we had yet another exchange, this time, with the assistants.  I was with Elder Call in Stevenson Ranch.  We had a really good knockout and were able to talk to a lot of people throughout the day. He's really good at talking with everyone, no matter the circumstance.

Exchanges with Elder Call

Saturday we were able to get out early.  We left earlier that 10 because there was coordination, but we started knocking doors right after.  It was a good couple of hours until it was about time to go back and study and then exchange back.  The second to last door that we knocked, we were able to find a girl named Calina, from Romania.  Her family just moved here a couple of months ago, and her family is yet to find a church that they are comfortable with here.  It was a good opportunity to teach and testify of the Gospel.  She was able to accept the things we taught and also accepted a soft baptismal date.  It was neat.  We exchanged back at a baptism.  It was a baptism for a 17 year old girl, and her family was there.  Her sister also had friends there who were YSA aga, and so we talked to them after the baptism to find out if they had interest i the Gospel.  It turns out, they do.  We eventually went and knocked on some doors and then had a quick appointment, then dinner with the Aubrey's.  Yet another great family from my first time in this area.  They spoiled me for my birthday, it was so nice of them!  So did Kora, she got me a pinata and some balloons.  Anyway, later that night we gold a hold of those friends from the earlier baptism, and we gave them a church tour of the YSA building.  Church tours really do help out so much!  It was a great day!

Sunday was your typical YSA Sunday.  It was good though.

It's been a really great week!
I love you all!

Elder Martin

Birthday pinata

"God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine."  

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Birthday, Elder Martin!

Thank you Aubrey family for going all out and making Elder Martin's birthday so special.  We are all so grateful for the generosity, kindness, and friendship!  

Hello everyone!  This is going to be a real brief email, with very little time left.

Last Monday, we were able to get two investigators, Dominic and Max, to come to family home evening at the church with all of the YSA's.  It would have been better for them, had FHE started on time...we had to leave to go to a meeting, but the ward really did take care of them, it was cool.

Tuesday we met with a couple of members and got them to do some missionary work of their own, it was cool.  We also got Kora, (recent convert) to do her family history, and we brought her sisters, and Dominic and his friend and played some ball for a quick minute.

With Kora and her sister

Wednesday we had MLC, so not too much happened.  A couple hour long discussions.

Thursday we had district meeting and knockout.  After knockout we just had a quick minute before a lesson, and no dinner, so we just hit up the Aubrey's and grabbed a quick snack.  We did have a really cool lesson with another one of Kora's sisters, and taught the restoration.

Thank you Eric Aubrey, for the snacks!

Friday morning we got to go to the valley and be part of a Temple Visitors center feedback meeting thingy.  It was cool to give them our feedback.  We were some of 4 companionships that got to go. Later on, we had an exchange with Elder Phillips and Elder Chappell.  Elder Phillips and I knocked into a really prepared lady named Christiane.

Elder Phillips and Elder Martin

On Saturday we were able to go to the big park by our apartment and contact some people.  There was a big 7 on 7 football tourney so we got to talk to a lot of people.  One of them, named Grant something...he played safety for UCLA from 98-01, and told me all about how he got trucked in the Rosebowl one year, haha.  Anyway, we had good lunch with our Bishop and some solid contacts throughout the day.

Sunday we were just able to get Dominic to the church.  But that's about it.  We had a good day at church.

I hope you all have a great week this week.  I'll write more next week, I promise.  I love you all!

Elder Martin

"Wonderful, glorious things are in store for you, if only you will believe, obey, and endure."  
President Thomas S. Monson

One Year!

Hello everybody!  Not too much went on this week, so I apologize for my short email.

On Tuesday, after our preparation day, we had dinner at the Wilson's home.  They feed all the YSA missionaries and anyone they bring, every Tuesday.  We were able to have Kora, and 3 of her sisters, as well as Chantel there.  It was so sick!  It was Elder Horito's birthday, so they got a cake with a picture of his family on it, it was sick.  After dinner, we taught a lesson with all of them there.  It was great!  We were supposed to go and meet with the stake high councilman over missionaries, but he had to cancel, and then at that point, the assistants asked us to go to the stake center and prepare and make sure things were ready for zone conference tomorrow.

Wednesday we had zone conference.  It was the North Hollywood, Valencia, and Santa Clarita zones, all at our stake center.  It took up a big portion of the day.  We were able to give a training that went well, I think.  I was giving it, not in the audience.  Some other zone leaders gave a training, as well as the assistants, and President and Sister Henrie. It's always such a good meeting.  We did exchanges after, and I went with Elder Sosa.  Elder Sosa just got released from being zone leader for over the past year, so I was able to learn a lot from him.  We had a good knockout, and then hit Wendy's for dinner, cuz no dinners in YSA.  Our appointment fell through, so we went to the park to talk with people, and played ball with some kids.  You know how it goes, if we win, we teach them.  We won both times. (They're coming to play basketball with us today at the stake center.)  We had a good lesson with Chantel afterwards, really Spirit driven.

Thursday (ONE YEAR!!!) we went and played ball in the morning for exercise, before meeting with some members and sharing a quick message and helping them share the Gospel better in their lives. We call this "Member Inspire" in our mission.  We were able to stop by a couple other people, and then a recent convert from  his ward, had a birthday/graduation party for him and his daughter, so had us over for lunch, and then we exchanged back.  We got bashed by some girls during knockout, but they don't understand we're not going to argue back, we simply invite.  We were able to go by some people, I can't remember who, though.

Friday was just a bad start to the day.  Our washer in our apartment like randomly blew up, Elder Horito had stuff in there, so they were stained with something, so we needed to get to a wash real quick, to get it out while it was fresh.  But the whole morning just had a bad feel to it.  We were able to turn the day around and have a good knockout.  Didn't find anyone too set, but some good people, nonetheless.  Also, when we were going to be home for dinner, we got a call.  The Santa Clarita stake has youth conference, and all the youth are going out with missionaries on Saturday.  We were asked to make the assignments to all the missionaries to let them know if they would or wouldn't be have youth with them, and where they had to meet them.  So I got to call all the zone leaders in the mission and go through their zone.  Very similar to transfer calls, I feel the pain of what the assistants have to do to make transfer calls to the whole mission, hahah.  So there went our dinner hour and time before bed.

Saturday morning we planned on biking with the youth we had, so we packed up the bikes, and planned to do studies at the church where it was more quiet (and central in our area.)  When we got there, some youth didn't show up, so we had to help coordinate throughout the mission again, who didn't need to meet somewhere to have youth.  But it seems like the youth had a good time with the missionaries, I hope they all had a good experience.  We were able to have a lesson with Kora and one of her sisters, Dede, before knocking, and doing some member inspire lessons.  We finally were able to have dinner and cool down a little today, so that was good.

Sunday we had coordination with our ward mission leader and then church.  Got to talk to Caden Bailey, from home, so that was cool.

Caden Bailey and Elder Martin

 Church was good, but let me tell you, YSA is weird...I may have said this last week, but I'm never going to a YSA ward outside of the one I'm serving in. They're great people though, it's just weird. We had a linger-longer after church so we were able to get some people better acquainted with Kora and Dede.  I was able to get to know some other people too, so that was good.  We knocked after that, and then stopped by Kora's to create a better relationship with her family.  It was a success.  We also stopped by a guy named Dominic.  Some Hermana's knocked into him last week.  He was praying to know if God was there and loved him when the Hermana's knocked on his door.  We were able to testify of the power of prayer, and go over the Restoration again.  When we asked if the first vision was something he could believe in, he said "I feel like it happened to me."  It was so neat!  We set a baptismal date with him for July 22.  It was a really good day.

I love you all!  Like my dad would always say, "Remember who you are, and what you stand for!" The world is crazy out there, but as you remember that you are a child of God, and he loves you, you'll recognize and want to obey the commandments a little bit better, and then we'll be blessed.

Have a great week!
Elder Martin

Kora with Elder Horito and Elder Martin

"If today you are a little better than you were yesterday, then that's enough."  
David A. Bednar

We can see out, but the world can't see in, unless they humble themselves and want to come closer to their Savior

I hope you all had a great ending to spring...?  June is right around the corner!  I am not ready for this increase in heat.  Good thing I'm not on a bike...right?

On Monday, we decided to take a little break from packing and cleaning, and we went to the little lookout to where you can see the ocean.  Unfortunately, it was too cloudy again.  Took some dope pictures though!  Came home and finished packing real quick, and the made some visits.

Tuesday was transfer day!  We drove up to Santa Clarita and dropped off all my stuff and my new/old apartment.  We went to the place where they hold transfers, and got to know the new zone.

Good bye, Elder Jensen

Elder Martin, Sister Farrimond, Elder Jensen

We dropped off a couple of bikes for people, and then we headed to knockout.  We were able to talk with a lot of people.  Right as we were about finished, there was a lady across the street that we went and talked to.  She was walking home from work, and we caught her right in time.  She asked if we could go talk in the shade, so we went to some benches and taught the Restoration.  It clicked for her. She really got it.  So we invited her to be baptized, and she accepted a soft batismal date.  She speaks Spanish as her first language, so we passed her off to the Spanish hermana's.  They've been able to meet with her a couple times, so that's good.  We had dinner with a family who has a YSA daughter, and the parents are in some calling that make them in the YSA ward.  There was a girl named Kora, who was baptized about 2 weeks ago, there too, and for the message, she taught everyone the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was really cool, she is so converted already!

Wednesday we weekly planned for a little bit, before we had to go get some things done.  We decided to spend some time at the local college, College of the Canyons, to do some tracting.  The YSA missionaries have been doing this for some time now, and never got in trouble.  Then all of the sudden, today, security came and told us we couldn't do it.  We talked and taught a lot of people.  It was cool.  The security guard did tell us to go to the football stadium, where graduation was and talk to people there, haha.

Elder Horito, Elder Martin at the College of the Canyons

We had a lesson with Kora's sister on obedience and how obedience brings blessings  We also taught Kora's friend, Chantel.  We did that lesson at the church, and it was mutual night for the Saugus ward, so I was able to see some familiar faces, it was cool!  We met with our bishop to introduce me, then had to meet the assistants so they could give us a video to train on, at zone conference.

Thursday we had a lesson with a guy who we're teaching and making sure he is solid before we pass him to the family ward, because we don't want to pass a bad investigator on.  Then we hit up district meeting.  We got to train both districts again and we felt to train on "prayer of faith".  It went well, and in was received well.  We did a little knock out exchange with some Elders, and I was with Elder Turner, what a guy!  For dinner, we were eating with some guys who are here for the summer selling pest control.  We got there, and they said "Elders, what do you want to eat?"  We had even confirmed that day that we were eating with them.  Not good, hahaha.  I saw the scriptures of the other pest guy who wasn't home, and it said "Elder Caden Bailey", I thought, hmmm, that's weird, I know him.  So I asked one of the other guys who he is and he said "He served in my mission."  So I checked if he served in Georgia and sure enough, he did.  When the other pest guys got home, it was Caden Bailey, from my home ward.  It was pretty cool to see him, by surprise, and accident!  We got a couple of scary texts from Chantel, that made it seem like she was dropping us, but after we called, she said "I'm just so excited for baptism!!!" so that was really goo to hear!

Friday we spent some time to plan our training that we have to give at zone conference.  We talked with some people, and then we were able to knock on a door of a potential YSA, and teach him on the doorstep.  It was really cool.  We did another knockout exchange today, and I went with Elder Mekhaeil, my former companion.  It was a good knockout.  We had dinner with a family with a YSA kid, and brought Chantel along.  We were able to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it went so well.  She asked a lot of really good questions and we were able to answer them with the pamphlet.  It was a good spiritual lesson.

Elder Martin and Elder Mekhaeil

Saturday we had correlation in the morning, and then we went through some former investigators to stop by today.  We are short on miles, and there are a lot of people out and about on Saturday's, so we decided to bike.  Yup, zone leaders, and in YSA, on bike.  That's not very common.  We were able to talk to a lot of people.  We picked up a new investigator for one of these family wards, and then another for the Spanish missionaries.  We hadn't eaten today, and one guy we talked to, Elder Horito straight up quoted Alma 8:19...look it up.  (***And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat? ***)
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Sunday we did all sorts of things to prepare for the day, considering we have 1 o'clock church.  We were able to go and invite some people to church.  We had ward council in the morning, too.  It was the most productive, spiritual ward I've ever been to.  It was so good!  At church, we had Chantel there.  We had a lesson planned with her for after, but couldn't do it, so we did it during second hour. Just pulled in some members to help teach.  After church, we had knockout, and were able to talk with a lot of people on the streets.  We talked to a guy who's obsessed with Jordan's, so of course I started talking.  We were able to teach the Restoration, and he invited us back.  He also accepted a soft baptismal invite.  Right as we were done talking with him, the Spanish sisters found us, and told us that they just picked up the most solid investigator ever, and he's YSA.  He was praying that God would show him that He loves him, and then the missionaries came.  Straight general conference status there.  I noticed, while in church, some sirens outside.  I thought how annoying it was, but then thought, we have the Gospel, and are worshiping now, but can still see/hear the outside world.  But those on the outside, see/hear the same thing we do OF the world, but they don't necessarily enjoy the blessings of the Gospel.  We can see out, but the world can't see in, unless they humble themselves, and want to come closer to their Savior.

Monday we were able to talk with a lot of people.  I went on another knockout with Elder Herring, this time.  He's got a solid 4 inches and 150 pounds on me.  He's a big boy.  We got invited in the first door.  It was people trying to mess with us, and tempt us, we invited them to hear the message of the Restoration and act on it, No intent was there, so we left.  The last door, we were able to teach another kid who is YSA aged, and got a return appointment.  We had a lesson with Chantel again, and then we had our zone leadership meeting.  It went really well.

I hope you all have a great week!  Happy Birthday to my brother, Parker!  Everyone wish him a happy birthday!

I love you all!

Elder Martin

"One man or woman, who is willing to testify when the world seems to be going in the opposite direction, can make a difference."  Elder Gregory Schwitzer

Temple trip to transfers

Hello everyone!  It was a very good week this last week.  From stressed temple trip, to transfers!

On Monday we went to go and help a referral move some stuff.  We set up the missionaries to help where they were moving to, to get their foot in the door to start teaching.  So we loaded the U Haul on our end, and they were going to unload it on their end.  Turns out, the other missionaries didn't want to, and they were busy with P-day.  So we used our P-day and went over and helped them unload this stuff, and got a return appointment for the other Elders, you're welcome Elders.  That was about it.  We made a couple visits later in the night.

Elders Moving Co.

Tuesday we had our weekly planning, and a lot of finding.  Eventually we had a lesson with Tabatha and talked about Temples and Families, and the blessings that come from the temple, and how blessed we are to have the priesthood restored to the Earth, that way these things, such as being sealed with our families, is able to be accomplished.  It was really good.  She is also praying for her own baptismal date, which is awesome!

Wednesday we did another apartment inspection in the morning, and also more finding in the morning.  Went and had physical therapy again at the brother's office in our ward, before heading to knockout.  We got a call from a member of ours to see if we could come give a blessing to a lady in the hospital. She knows of the missionaries- she's Catholic, and her family is Jewish, but still asked for a blessing.  It was cool, again with the priesthood, to see the comfort it brought to her family.  We're so blessed too, to know the Plan of Salvation, and that we can be with loved ones again.  As we were leaving the hospital, a lady with two little girls yelled out "Elders!"  and asked what we were doing there.  We told her, and she leaned down to the little girls and asked if "mommy would want a blessing" and they said, yes.  So we were able to give a blessing to their mother, who had just had twin girls, but had complications and was still in the hospital.  It really is amazing to see how God is in the details of all of our lives.  He puts us in the right places, at the right time.  We also went and helped some people 'move a couple boxes.'  But it never is JUST a couple boxes.  Oh well.

Giving blessings at the hospital

Thursday was Elder Jensen's birthday!  We had mail run in the morning, and the we hit up his birthday lunch.  We had district meeting after that, and got to train...yet again.  We had a good knockout today. We talked with a lot of people throughout, planted some seeds.  We had dinner with a real old couple. And then, like halfway through dinner, they both peaced out, and went to check on their pool in the backyard.  It was weird.

Dinner hosts ditched us?

Friday we were able to go to the temple for Elder Jensen's birthday.  We had Brother Devor from the ward take us down.  We were trying to make the 9:15 session, but we didn't leave until 8:00.  We were going to LA in LA traffic, on a Friday morning.  We were on the I-5, running late, and he still hadn't put on his shoes and socks, so he did that while I steered on the freeway, hahaha.

Turns out, we were on Santa Monica Blvd, right in front of the temple at a light,, at 9:08.  Brother Devor dropped us off and we ran in, and made the session, and so did he.  It was great.  After the temple, we had a lesson with Mary Anne, and her daughter Laura.  They made us lunch.  We had a good knockout again.

Running to the temple

Saturday we made a lot of morning visits, and a lot of morning knocking.  We eventually had to fill the font for a baptism in my last ward, West Hills.  And as we were leaving, (you can only be at the baptism if you found, or taught, or have an investigator there.) no suits, because we didn't expect to stay, there was a couple that pulled up and told us that a couple of years ago the missionaries helped them move and they wanted to check the church out.  It just happened that they showed up 15 minutes before the baptism, so we stayed for the baptism, then got them acquainted with their respective missionaries.  It was cool to see that missionaries good example and effort from years ago, paid off now.  Sometimes we can't see the fruits that will come from our efforts, but just know that they always will at some time-the Lords time.

Filling the font

The wonderful Jeffords family with many of the missionaries in the area, that they have had in their home.

We had dinner with a really cool family, and then had to do some errands for some missionaries.  We got home, and the much anticipated transfer calls came...Elder Jensen is staying, and I am leaving...sad day!

Sunday was your typical Sunday.  We had a really good Sacrament meeting.  Some members who are moving, spoke on missionary work, and it was very good!  During Sunday school, we met separately with one of our investigators and it took up part of third hour as well.  It was all good.  After church, our Bishop came up to us and said, "I've got a baptism for you, and teaching isn't needed."  It's crazy! There is a girl who has been coming to church by herself, every Sunday since she was 14, and has participated in everything.  She took seminary, she KNOWS the Gospel.  She finally turned 18 and made the choice on her own to be baptized.  Then we got a really cool referral after church, from a lady who had been going to church in Santa Monica, because she didn't now there was a closer church.  She told us that she had been close to baptism too.  How insane!  We work really hard, and the Lord blesses us, no matter how it comes, the way we expected it or not.  though we knock a lot, and don't see too much success from it, putting our faith forward, the Lord see's and blesses us nonetheless.  Went and said 'good bye' to the Devor family, before going to dinner at the Waldman's, one last time.  Didn't see Drakes house this time though, haha.  e had a really good lesson on the Plan of Salvation with a guy named Matt, who was a referral from some Ventura missionaries...weird, huh?  It's a long story.  It went really well though, so that's good.  Went to say goodbye to the Olsens, and then home for the night.

Brother and Sister Devor

Brother Olsen- ward mission leader

It's been a great run here in Hoodland Wills.  But, I found out that I'm going back up to Santa Clarita, this time I'm serving in YSA.  It happens that I cover part of Saugus, my old ward up there, so it will be cool to see some familiar faces.  I'm also companions with Elder Horito, who was one of my zone leaders in the past.

I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Elder Martin

Mini Cooper- emphasis on mini

"Serve Him by serving His people."  President Thomas S. Monson