5/14/12

 Hello all,

 

Feeling refreshed and reinvigorated after getting to talk with my family yesterday!

 

This last week was another good one. Because we have found so many people who welcome us back, we have been trying to get around and see everyone, but unfortunately this isn't as big of a priority for others as it is for us, so we have been running into a ton of missed and ditched out on appointments. That is the work, it is alright, just frustrating.

 

We started our new English class on Tuesday with new lessons and more people. It was pretty good, and more people have called since then wanting to come, so it is definitely a nice, new addition.

 

We did have a good experience with a new family we have been teaching, we already had taught them a great first lesson and commited them to read. So when we went by for the follow up lesson, we were hoping great things. Not all of them read, but some did. The one thing I was most excited to hear was how the father explained how after we left there was a "harmony" in his home that he couldn't explain, a kind of "spirit" that they haven't experienced before. We were so excited to hear that, recognizing the spirit in their home will hopefully help their family and help them read together.

 

As we find and begin teaching these people, it is so sweet to see how they can see the inherent goodness in what we we share before we even sit down to teach them. One of the things I am most grateful for here is that people really do see us as representatives of Jesus Christ. So when they slam the door, it's because they aren't willing to truly accept him yet, and when they invite us back we are so happy because we know we are probably working with someone who has a solid faith in Christ.

 

I have reached my four month mark, and I know that seems so short, but I look back at where I started and can see so many changes. A mission is so interesting. To be honest, I haven't had tons of amazing spiritual experiences, whether that is all part of the plan or me not being receptive, but I have been so impressed to see the intricacies of the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. And although nothing crazy has happened (yet) I know that, like life before and after this mission, that my mission will provide me with multitudes of tiny testimony builders and a gradual shift in the person I am. (My family might not think I am too different yet, but I feel like I am).

 

It definitely is crazy that time flies by so fast, but I am so thankful for all the many opportunities I have had thus far.

 

I hope that everyone has an awesome week! Love you all!

Elder St. Martin