1/26/12

Hello Familia,

It has been another great week here in the MTC. My thoughts will be jumbled, I don't have much time for transitions.

Our progressive investigator lessons finished up nicely with Tomas, two days later we learned that Tomas is actually Hermano Pacheco, our second teacher. It didn't totally surprise us since we had kind of that it would be him. But not knowing it was our teacher made it better for him to know what we needed to work on. He is an awesome teacher, he served in the DR and his Spanish is so good, he sounds exactly like the Natives. He and our other teacher, Hermano Litzenburger, who served in New Jersey, our awesome. We have learned so much in these last few weeks. We started teaching new investigators James (Pacheco) and Mauricio (Litzenburger) and so far they have gone so good. We are teaching about 5 or so lessons a week now, all in Spanish.

There have been a lot of changes in our district. We started out with 11 elders. 3 days ago we had 12 elders and a sister. We now have 9 elders and a sister. Two of our original elders tested out of intermediate and joined the advanced class for three days, they leave to Puerto Rico and New Mexico on Monday, 7 weeks earlier than they had planned. They will do great though. We had an elder move in who has been delayed since he needs surgery, he actually went in today so he will be recovering for a little, he is out of our district now. And the hermana that tried out our class felt brave enough to return, so now she is in with us. That all jacked up our companionships, so now Elder Jellen is in a threesome and Elder Lindsey and I live in our own room, and Hermana Coleman (who is going to Jeff Rock's mission) is in a trio with us during class and when we teach. So it has been interesting.

But like I said, things have been great. I feel so good about my Spanish, I have been so blessed. We had to speak in Spanish all day yesterday for everything, and I only spoke a few things in English, so I feel way good. I can teach very well in Spanish, it is the conversational Spanish that is harder, but it is getting there. I am happy I have so long here, because the time here is invaluable.

I guess not everything has been so dandy actually. There were a few days where I was so frustrated. I just wasn't feeling it, which is bad because I should always be feeling it. But I was down in the dumps about my Spanish, but then yesterday really helped me out. It has taken a little bit of time to get out of my funk, but today I am happy. We went to the temple today, and it was awesome. It keeps getting better and better. I really prepared hard for the temple today, Elder Lindsey and I fasted for our surgery elder and I threw in some other purposes for my fast, like how to teach better and whatnot. I really studied and pondered this morning in study to know what to think about in the temple and what I needed to work on, I ended up with like 10 questions that I wrote on a small piece of paper with some scripture references. It took some time, but I feel like I got my answer. It wasn't just one definite answer. More like a means to an end.

I realized that if I have faith that the Spirit will carry my words, no matter how bad the Spanish is, into the hearts of those I teach; if I strive for total unity in my companionship; If i help bring everyone unto Christ, including myself; If I stay worthy for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost; If I seek charity for myself first, then will I be ready to teach others with the power and authority that I have been granted.

It really is a loft call we have. But with that call is many, many steps until we can realize that authority and gain that power. And I am really thankful that I can know where I need to step, where I need to go to help others, help everyone come unto Christ, because that's what it is really all about.

And I am thankful for my call for Spanish because now I am able to learn, think, teach, and speak simply. For me that really is a blessing. I can just focus on what really matters. Which are the basics.

Well I am almost out of time, I must go. This seemed like a short email, sorry about that. I want everyone to know that I am trying to find time to write everyone back.

Love you all,

Elder St. Martin

P.S. - word is that the 1st presidency is coming next Tuesday for the 50th anniversary of the MTC, if so, my next email will definitely be better.