Hello family and friends!
I think it has been a while since anyone has had much of an update on the mission, so here I am.
I am still in Clarksville, Indiana - next week is transfers so that might change. Things have been pretty good lately!
I am actually coming up on my sixth month mark this Wednesday! That is so crazy to think about. As I sit here it still feels like the first Monday that I sent out an email about the area. It really feels like yesterday that I stepped off the plane. Time flies so fast and it is hard to believe that I am even on a mission let alone been out for 6 months.
Sometimes it is hard to perceive the changes that have occurred since I have been out, but I really do know that I have learned a lot and have had some awesome experiences.
The last several weeks really have blurred together, and that is not a bad thing. We have all been figuring out our ways to beat the heat and not let it deter us from working just as hard as if it were super nice outside. But, the good thing is that people feel bad for us so they usually will offer us some water or something. The heat also affects those we teach because their hours are longer now and then the heats wipes them out so by the time we get over to teach someone they are so tired. It is a little rough, but that just means our teaching needs to get better.
We actually have been running into lots of former investigators, people who have previously met and been taught by the missionaries but they were dropped because they weren't progressing or whatnot. In one week we found about 4 or 5 people who were more familiar with the message than most, and a couple of those seem to be more on top of things this time around, so that is exciting.
Elder Baker and I are working hard and keeping the dream alive: Clarksville Spanish Branch 2012.
We actually had our first baptism this last Saturday, my first one on the mission. She is a super sweet lady from Cuba who already had such a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when we met her. Her faith is so solid and she had already been studying the Bible when we tracted into her. She lives with her granddaughter's family and it took several weeks for them to feel comfortable enough with us so that they would let us come and teach her. But, from then on out she was golden. She has come to church 7 weeks in a row and is so ready for the Gospel, I am so excited for her.
A fear that I have and a constant worry for us is that the people that join the church have such a harder try staying active solely because they attend church in a ward that is all in English and the majority of the members don't speak Spanish. But, that isn't to say that their personal conversion to the Gospel isn't the real issue. So, with this lady I have been so happy to see the members rallying around her. Several of the Spanish speaking members of the ward here have supported our Spanish Gospel Principles class, have helped in lessons and rides, and have been overall a great support for her. So, that has been a highlight lately, watching everyone get involved. Because missionaries aren't always going to be there, and I feel so happy knowing that there are people who are aware of her and her needs and love her.
I am fully aware that many missionaries are able to watch someone be baptized well before their six month mark, and I am fully aware that many don't have that chance until much later and maybe some never at all. My self worth and evaluation of myself as a missionary is not 100% pegged to the number of people that join the church in my area, yes, that is the main purpose that we have, but it isn't everything. Some missionaries use that as a crutch, or an excuse to not work as hard or be as faithful, but I look at it as a learning moment for agency. Some will accept this message, and many won't. We are also accountable as missionaries, and I constantly try to reevaluate myself. But, I have learned so much. I am so thankful that I started my mission in an area that has been the least successful area with the weakest Spanish foundation in the whole mission, it has been hard, but always worth it. The challenges that I have faced and the things I have had to change about myself have resulted in me hopefully being a more faithful disciple of Christ and a better missionary.
I hope all is well and that everyone is doing alright, I love and pray for you all!
Love,
Elder St. Martin
I think it has been a while since anyone has had much of an update on the mission, so here I am.
I am still in Clarksville, Indiana - next week is transfers so that might change. Things have been pretty good lately!
I am actually coming up on my sixth month mark this Wednesday! That is so crazy to think about. As I sit here it still feels like the first Monday that I sent out an email about the area. It really feels like yesterday that I stepped off the plane. Time flies so fast and it is hard to believe that I am even on a mission let alone been out for 6 months.
Sometimes it is hard to perceive the changes that have occurred since I have been out, but I really do know that I have learned a lot and have had some awesome experiences.
The last several weeks really have blurred together, and that is not a bad thing. We have all been figuring out our ways to beat the heat and not let it deter us from working just as hard as if it were super nice outside. But, the good thing is that people feel bad for us so they usually will offer us some water or something. The heat also affects those we teach because their hours are longer now and then the heats wipes them out so by the time we get over to teach someone they are so tired. It is a little rough, but that just means our teaching needs to get better.
We actually have been running into lots of former investigators, people who have previously met and been taught by the missionaries but they were dropped because they weren't progressing or whatnot. In one week we found about 4 or 5 people who were more familiar with the message than most, and a couple of those seem to be more on top of things this time around, so that is exciting.
Elder Baker and I are working hard and keeping the dream alive: Clarksville Spanish Branch 2012.
We actually had our first baptism this last Saturday, my first one on the mission. She is a super sweet lady from Cuba who already had such a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when we met her. Her faith is so solid and she had already been studying the Bible when we tracted into her. She lives with her granddaughter's family and it took several weeks for them to feel comfortable enough with us so that they would let us come and teach her. But, from then on out she was golden. She has come to church 7 weeks in a row and is so ready for the Gospel, I am so excited for her.
A fear that I have and a constant worry for us is that the people that join the church have such a harder try staying active solely because they attend church in a ward that is all in English and the majority of the members don't speak Spanish. But, that isn't to say that their personal conversion to the Gospel isn't the real issue. So, with this lady I have been so happy to see the members rallying around her. Several of the Spanish speaking members of the ward here have supported our Spanish Gospel Principles class, have helped in lessons and rides, and have been overall a great support for her. So, that has been a highlight lately, watching everyone get involved. Because missionaries aren't always going to be there, and I feel so happy knowing that there are people who are aware of her and her needs and love her.
I am fully aware that many missionaries are able to watch someone be baptized well before their six month mark, and I am fully aware that many don't have that chance until much later and maybe some never at all. My self worth and evaluation of myself as a missionary is not 100% pegged to the number of people that join the church in my area, yes, that is the main purpose that we have, but it isn't everything. Some missionaries use that as a crutch, or an excuse to not work as hard or be as faithful, but I look at it as a learning moment for agency. Some will accept this message, and many won't. We are also accountable as missionaries, and I constantly try to reevaluate myself. But, I have learned so much. I am so thankful that I started my mission in an area that has been the least successful area with the weakest Spanish foundation in the whole mission, it has been hard, but always worth it. The challenges that I have faced and the things I have had to change about myself have resulted in me hopefully being a more faithful disciple of Christ and a better missionary.
I hope all is well and that everyone is doing alright, I love and pray for you all!
Love,
Elder St. Martin
