Week 23

It is Christmas eve!  And yet it does not feel so.  For one, its like 60 degrees outside right now, and for two, I'm a missionary!  We just had a Zone Conference the other day and talked about kinda what our Christmas should be like as a missionary.  And it should frankly be the Best Christmas Ever, or maybe next years...  As a missionary I will be able to focus more on what the real meaning of Christmas is really all about and i'm super excited for that, as well as to try and share that with others!  And then there was that talk in the Ensign from Elder Holland which was tailored for missionaries pretty much, that was pretty sweet.

Anyways, P-days are alot more boring without the Spanish Elders here.  Oh and it seems like some of you think i got a new area, but i kept it....  We just got more added on is all.  

Thank you so much to all those who sent stuff!  at least some people love me...

Well Shoot! i don't really have too much to say since we'll be talking tomorrow via Skype... 

So until then!!!

Love

-Elder Martin

Pictures

I figured i might as well use it to send some pictures.

1. Here's those rock walls i talked about earlier, not a very good picture though

2. Me with a free shirt i got in Lewisburg eating a giant leg of mutton

3. A picture of my shirt after my crash the other month...  all scraped up...

4. Elder Bethers, my new companion.

5. BLACK SANTA!!! HAHA!!!

Week 22

Life in Shelbyville, or as the local's call it 'Shovel' is purty good.  This past week we've been pretty busy taking on 2 counties.  our area from corner to corner probably takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive.   But at least now we have a car eh?!

The past week we've taught several people, and about 7 of them we have plans to set a baptismal date with this week or maybe next week depending on when we can see them! 

First we have Barbara, She is on probation however so we'll have to get special permission to baptize her.  

Then we have 4 of her grand kids, who by the way are the craziest, unruliest kids you'll ever meet.

Then we have Mike, he's a neighbor of a member in lewisburg.  He's the only one who asks real question's that are good, i like him.

Then we have Donna, a friend of Barbara's, who'll probably get baptized when Barbara does.

And then on top of that we have Jan still!

All of these people are referral's!  So Remember!!! REFER PEOPLE TO THE MISSIONARIES!!!

In other news, the people here in shovel Cannot drive worth beans...  I've witnessed like 2 crashes and several almost accidents, a few of which happened with us.  

I've heard that no one will be home for Christmas? is this true?  Y'all are crazy....  

I actually hope to be able to try and do the call home on Christmas eve if at all possible.  Cause the member were going to on Christmas hate's us, and the ward, and pretty much everything.

But i doubt i can do it on Christmas eve.... so don't bank on it.

That's all for now i guess....

Love Ya'll!

-Elder Martin

Week 21

Transfers!  Kinda....

 

So as you already knew, i was in lewisburg, full time walk, in the shelbyville ward, with spanish working in shelbyville with the full time car...  Well! this transfer they did some changing.   Me and Elder Bethers are still together, but were moving to Shelbyville!  Well, kinda...  They moved the Spanish elders out so we'll be the only missionaries in the ward, and we'll live in Shelbyville half the week and Lewisburg the other half.  So we Finally have a full time car!!!! WOOOOOT!!!!  and also Washer and Dryer!!!! WOOOO!!!!  it's gonna be an interesting transfer indeed.

 

We'll be Super busy this transfer though, we have a ton of less active work to do now that we can drive places.

 

Anyways, Sister McKee is making alot of progress!  President told her he was going to see the missionaries (At the Russel M Nelson visit!!!!!) and he asked if she had anything to say, cause he's just Awesome like that, and she lifted her hand and kinda did a wave thing!  and apparently she also sat up by herself for a few seconds the other day!   Miracles are happening!

 

Now, about the Russell M Nelson visit, That was awesome! he talked to us for about an hour then opened the floor to the missionaries to do a Q and A type of thing.  All of it was just incredible.  Russell M Nelson is probably one of my favorite Apostles to listen to.    We also heard from one of the Zone Leaders (so it possibly isn't true, but i think they said President told them) that another Apostle is coming in February!  I've already seen more general authorities in the past 2 months then i have in my life!  Well... i guess i've seen more in the past 2 days then i've seen in my life too... 

 

But uhhh..... What the heck guys?  i only got a letter from Mom and Dad this week... what's up with that?!  I am calling ya'll to repentance!  Repent Ye, Repent Ye and write the missionary whom you despitefully use! Or else He shall not write you!!!  

 

Oh yeah and also, i just found out today that Patrick, our cousin, was in the mtc with one of the spanish elders who was in Shelbyville...  Small world eh?

 

Hmmmm welp, i guess that's all for now.

 

I'll see ya'll when the world ends here in 11 days

 

Love

-Elder Martin

Week 20

Already week 6 of the transfer?!?

What?!? That's crazy! it felt like this transfer just started!  but next week i could potentially have a new companion, a new area and perhaps by the grace of God, a car!!!!

 

I guess i'll start off by talking about what happened in the Mission.   Sister McKee had a heart attack, 2 strokes and a hemorrhage in her brain... All within the span of a couple of days, all of which could've killed her on their own.  She's been in the hospital for the past week and a half and is currently in an induced coma.   But! things are picking up!  She's been showing signs of recovery and signs of consciousness!  She's opened her eyes on her own several times, she's moved her toes, she can even respond to questions with blinking! 1 for yes and 2 for no!  We have a great hope that she'll make a full recovery soon.  I personally think that because Elder Nelson is coming later this week (Yes indeed! Elder Russell M Nelson coming on saturday!) He'll like raise her from the bed!   But thats all of that for now

 

This last week was pretty good!  Fantastic weather! Hot Dog it was nice! the past 3 days have been in the 70's! what a way to start December off eh? 

 

We helped put the Floyds Christmas lights and tree and stuff, so that was fun.   We met alot of new people,  Gave a few blessings to those who needed them, and even set another Baptismal date!!! With Jan, The Floyds Neighbor.  So that was pretty awesome.

 

However on the other side of the spectrum, Thomas, our recent convert of awesome, relapsed with his smoking saturday night, but we felt we should go over (which is when we found out about it) and stopped him before he smoked too much...  He was one of the blessing's we gave. 

 

So how'd y'all like the Christmas Devotional?  That was really good I thought!   They are all Great speakers.

 

Hmmm... well that's all for now i guess

 

Love y'all!

Elder Martin