Special Lunch with UP Friends

Ron and Kathy Williams, who are University Place Ward friends, and are serving their Mission in New Zealand as well, posted the following on Facebook today:

“Special permission from her mission president allowed us to take our favorite Sister Carly Martinez to lunch in the City, along with her sweet companions!”

We’re so happy they were able to have lunch together today!

Week 11 Auckland NZ: Wu er ling 五二〇

Wu er ling (520) sounds like Wo ai ni 我愛你 (I love you)  in Chinese- used more commonly in texting language.

Kia ora 朋友和家庭!    

I'm just going to share some cool observations I've had of New Zealand so far since I'm not quite settled enough to have distinct highs and lows-- 

Food:

So the Chinese program is interesting because we don't get too many meal appointments, but as for the rest of the mission, missionaries are booked for every meal (called fafugas) of the day and bring extra food home! The Islanders believe every pound they can get a missionary to gain is 4x as many blessings poured upon themselves. I've heard horror stories of missionaries stuffing themselves as much as possible and needing to throw-up afterwards because their bodies can't take it! 

It is crazy the difference between not only the Chinese and the other language programs here, but also just between here and other countries where it might be really difficult for members to feed the missionaries.

Furthermore, I think things in New Zealand are pretty similar to those in America, but I swear they are so much better here in New Zealand! I've been making a New Zealand Food List and Rating things so maybe every week I'll put one of my worth-mentioning ratings in my email.

My first meat-pie here! (Pretty highly rated like 88/100)

Chinese People Here:

Another thing I've noticed is that a lot of people have heard of the missionaries- most of the Kiwi islanders who have a Christian background are uninterested because they have a faith, or are uninterested because of a lack of faith (which they are comfortable with). However, with the Chinese people here, most don't know the difference between us and other faiths who might also have missionaries preaching to them.

Most Chinese people we meet are also really surprised we speak their language! They are willing to talk a bit to us sometimes just because they want to know how we've learned to speak so quickly.  Sometimes, as well, there are times when someone is telling me they are from Taiwan, and I can't help but hope they run into my mission friends (that I met at the MTC) there! It is not uncommon for them to be here for a bit, and then go back to China or Taiwan. Some express interest simply because they remember seeing missionaries in Taiwan, and they were shook that there were missionaries here, too (especially those who speak Chinese).

Our Plant : 

We were door-knocking and we talked to this man from Ireland. He wasn't interested, as he said he grew up at a time when those preaching of Christ weren't the most positive of an influence on his life --  (History explains a lot of people's pre-existing feelings about religion)-- but he was a super kind spirit.  As we were leaving, I mentioned that he had a lot of pretty succulents on his porch- all individual plants.  He quickly said we each should take a few!  I'm not sure what the purpose of them were, but after some polite refusal, we accepted one for our apartment. We were so excited! We named it Leprechaun in memory of the kind and respectful Irish man who gave us one of his plants.

仙童

Simple Truth:  

God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost are three separate beings, all of the same purpose, to help us, God's children, make our way back to him.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).  

I love you all! Hopefully the emails are less crazy as I adjust!

馬姐妹

Sister Martinez

Ate dinner by the beach the other day:

Photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sgY95kdCHMzp7BqHA

Mission Address- mail comes pretty slow, just a heads up:

Letters:

PO Box 33-840

Takapuna 0740

New Zealand

Packages:

7A Auburn Street

Takapuna 0622

New Zealand

Auckland NZ Week 10: Home of the Kiwis

Kia ora 朋友和家庭!

I made it to New Zealand and I absolutely love it here!! My first week has been wild and I'm not really sure what to write about but I'll  try to keep it relevant.

Leaving the MTC:

It was sad and busy!! I cried a ton last Sunday as we said our goodbyes because I just loved our district. On Monday I traveled with 4 Elders to New Zealand + some other missionaries who were laying over in the same flights on the way. They were awesome missionaries and I love that I can see them around and say hi. I had the opportunity to talk to an older man on the flight from Salt Lake to Houston. He was a faithful man, but did not have any desire to believe in the Book of Mormon. But I had the opportunity to have a pleasant conversation and be his first encounter with a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Then the flight from Houston to Auckland was 14 hours sitting in between 2 Elders- no "finding" opportunities there - but it was such a nice flight!! They gave us pillows and blankets and meals. If I weren't a missionary the on -flight entertainment would've been prime! (I'm no allowed to watch movies).  I got some sleep and arrived in NZ at 6 am. This last week was tiring but the jet lag wasn't too bad.

About this Mission/Area:

• I am 1/5 Sisters in the Chinese Program in Auckland.  The next transfer two Sisters are leaving and one is coming in, so it'll be just four Sisters (the usual) again
• The Chinese Program covers all of the Auckland mission and is the only Chinese program in NZ so with permission, on special occasions, I believe we would be allowed to travel down south, too. My companionship currently covers East, South, and West Areas of Auckland.
• We are blessed with our amenities here as Chinese Program Sister Missionaries. We use cars since we have to travel around our whole area every day, and will be staying in the same flat for most of our missions here.
• There is one single Chinese Branch (Ward) in New Zealand (here in the city), so it can be a bit of travel for those who want to attend.
• This mission includes English, Samoan, Tongan and soon Maori wards- I will almost for sure be assigned to an English area for a couple of transfers during my time here.
• I have two more moms!! My two trainers are Sister Rich and Sister Sparrow and I love them both so much!! I seriously think we were amazing friend before we came to Earth.
• We teach a lot of 老人 (older people) from both China and Taiwan.  It is still so hard for me to understand the Taiwanese people's accent, but I love them!
• Chinese people here ask If I'm Chinese and it shakes me! HA
• I think everything here so far is better??? The birds, the chocolate, the desire to recycle, the weather, the acceptance of culture ... except, Chinese people don't give us napkins when they feed us!  (But, that's alright).

What I Do Here:

My weeks from here on out will consist of a few things we do in order to find and teach people the gospel. One thing our mission does is TWE (Talk With Everyone). Our mission expects each missionary to talk with 10 new people a day, to at least offer them a chance to hear our message-that means 30 total within my companionship. That will include door-knocking, stopping people on the sidewalk of the city, or calling referrals.  It also makes all the finding efforts worthwhile when we have appointments. These people are so sweet, and have a desire to learn! And they are so patient with my language. I love going to see people and sharing about Christ!!

We try our best to start our days off well with exercise, and so we Chinese Program sisters always do a Shaun T workout video, which I think is too funny!! I honestly love it.

My thoughts and feelings:

• I am in love with the area, the view, the culture, the languages and the people. I am so happy to be here!
• Some of the work I do is uncomfortable. I went street contacting my first day- it was hard!  But it's getting easier and I'm finding fulfillment and purpose and joy in the work.
• I am so excited to keep working and serving here. It's been a bit of an adjustment, but I've been able to rely on the Lord greatly. 

Simple Truth:

Families are ordained of God, and He placed us in families intentionally to give us an accepting and loving environment to help us learn and grow. Through following God's commandments and coming closer to Christ, we can strengthen our families.

Ephesians 6: 1-4

1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3. That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Sending my love to all my friends in Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and The United States- I'm praying for you all ♡

馬姐妹

Sister Martinez

Photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sgY95kdCHMzp7BqHA

If you would rather look at my emails at your leisure or after my wonderful mother has edited them, she has created and been posting on my mission blog.  I sent an email to her last week when I couldn't send it to the group, and she posted it there!

https://sincerelysistermartinez.blogspot.com

Mission Address:

Letters:
Sister Carly Martinez

PO Box 33-840
Takapuna 0740
New Zealand

Packages:
Sister Carly Martinez

7A Auburn Street
Takapuna 0622
New Zealand

Arrived in New Zealand! Letter from Mission President

November 13, 2019

Dear Brother and Sister Martinez,

It was a great pleasure to welcome Sister Martinez to the New Zealand, Auckland Mission.  She arrived ready to begin her missionary labors with people who are full of faith and love.  We appreciate the privilege of having her here in the mission.

Sister  Martinez’s companions, Sister Sparrow and Rich will help your daughter adjust to missionary life.  They have been assigned to work in the Mangere zone.  We are confident that as they work diligently together that the Lord will bless them and they will experience the joy of seeing our Heavenly Father’s children progress towards baptism in His church.

She will look forward to your weekly letters of encouragement and support.  Monday is her preparation day and the time allocated to her to write emails home to you.  All mailed letters should be sent to the Mission Office (see address below).  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

We have created the New Zealand Auckland Mission blog and we will be posting some more photos: https://jahwalker3.wixsite.com/nzaucklandmission.

We will do everything in our power to help her have a wonderful and productive mission.  We pray the Lord will bless and sustain you in her absence.

Sincerely yours,

President and Sister Walker

New Zealand Auckland Mission

Letters:

PO Box 33-840

Takapuna 0740

Auckland

New Zealand

Packages:

7A Auburn Street

Takapuna 0622

Auckland

New Zealand

Traveling Week 9: God Wants to Answer Your Questions

Hi everyone! I am currently somewhere in the world either on a bus, at the airport or on a plane. I wanted to briefly expound upon last Tuesday's devotional and share my testimony to commemorate my transition from the MTC to the Field.

This last Tuesday we were able to listen to Elder and Sister Uchtdorf speak to us. The Devotional was broadcast live to all other MTCs awake at the time (you know I was trying to get on the screen so Hermana Webb could see me- alas my efforts were in vain).

I had the opportunity to sing in the Choir and tell the story of Joseph Smith's First Prayer in a way I never have before. I wish I could share it with you all right now- that I could sing loud enough for the Spirit and its message to testify to you over thousands of miles!

Nonetheless, if I could fill your hearts up even a portion of how mine was filled that night I would be quite satisfied.

Friends- Joseph saw the Living God. Let me say that again. Joseph saw the Living. God. We don't share this story because a random boy went to pray and felt pretty good about it. Lots of people used to pray and lots of people still pray. That’s a gift. But, we tell the story of Joseph Smith because it restores sacred truths back on the earth. God LIVES, and so does His Son, Jesus Christ! They know us by name. The Heaven is open and if we seek for answers they will pour them down upon us. I know that God loves each and every single one of you and knows you by name.

Furthermore, Elder Uchtdorf's words were hopeful, and loving- they answered some questions of the heart I had been pondering recently.

I would however, rather testify of the gift that modern revelation is. Since being at the MTC, without actively seeking it nor realizing, I gained a great testimony and appreciation of modern-day prophets. (I actually started crying before I even saw Elder Uchtdorf because I could feel his Spirit right as he walked in the building and I was so grateful for the opportunity to hear from him.) 

I've been reading scripture and praying and trying my best to make my Father in Heaven, and all of you, proud. I'm not perfect though, and despite my seeking and efforts, I still feel like I need extra help. 

God knows we need that help, and so He sent prophets and apostles who live righteously in order to be able to speak the words of God and actively put them out into the world. They have a divine power and presence about them because they have been given the authority of God, to minister not to the masses, but to individuals. 

This is my goal as a missionary, to be able to enter a house and have the air of the room change- to have people feel, a nearly tangible difference in the atmosphere. I want to be able to listen to God so well He blesses and trusts me to be able to speak His word.

What does that have to do with you?  First, just as I am out sharing the gospel to those in need- so are the apostles. Except rather than just helping those who haven't heard it before, they are helping you. Listen to their counsel!

Furthermore, concerning recent changes in the stake boundaries: sustain your leaders, and trust these changes are inspired. As a missionary I've realized how important a ward family is for members (And I'm just now going out to the field). God is positioning you where you need to be to be touched by one another, and provide more opportunities to invite others into the fold. I invite you all to pray about the change, that you can have peace and faith to step forward to build up your ward.

Getting back to apostles, let me reiterate the scripture my best friend shared last week in her email (love ya Hermana Webb), D&C 84:88, which says that Christ will be "on your right hand and on your left... and [His] angels round about you, to bear you up." 

Christ wants us to hear and feel and see Him all around us in as many ways possible and I can't think of people who are more Christlike than the apostles and prophets. They trully are His representatives. God doesn't and won't ever leave our side, not for one second. 

What a blessing His words are, what a blessing His apostles are, what a blessing we live on the Earth at the time the fulness of the gospel- knowledge and truth, is being unfolded.

I love you all and I hope you can continue to study and search and feel for yourselves the great love God has for you. I testify in these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

------

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I'm excited to report back soon.

Much love,

Sister Martinez

MTC Group

Early morning video call before traveling

MTC Week 8: Give 'em Heaven!

Kia ora 朋友和家庭！ 

This week was supposed to be Halloween, but it was also Christmas because we got our travel plans! 

Boo! (spoooky downsides of my week):

• I will have to say goodbye to some really good friends soon, and I know this will be the last time every one of us will have the opportunity to be together like this, so that's sad.
• Someone scared Sister Cummings the other day, ran away, and got away with it. We never found out who it was- and we were very confused who would have done that. It was funny, but we really wanted to catch the culprit!
• I feel like any sense of humor I had, died here (哎呀）

Sweet! :

1. Daylight savings gave us the opportunity to sleep more than I have since I was home, so that was a huge blessing.
2. The week leading up to Halloween, Sister Cummings, Sister Hoe, Sister Chou and I low-key dressed up in the spirit of the holiday. We only told our district about it (是一个秘密）so It was fun being sneaky. Don't worry though it was nothing too crazy! Feel free to look at the shared album to see all the days.  The costumes were like Halloween "Bounding", not literal.
3. We're singing Joseph's First Prayer this week for devotional and it sounds so beautiful. The director, Brother Eggot, is incredibly inspirational. I wish I could have you all listen to the arrangement.
4. I was able to have Crumbl twice this week and it was a huge delicious blessing.
5. We are hoping and praying that the Taiwan missionary's travel plans are legit- they got travel plans, but there has been a history of staying a week later due to Visa issues, so much so that from this point on, these missionaries will be assigned to the MTC for 10 weeks. 
6. I went to the temple this morning- a great opportunity since I'm not sure when the next opportunity I'll have to visit will be. (And we got omelets at the cafeteria afterward -- wow!)

中文 （Chinese) :

In Chinese we say 再见（zai jian) to say goodbye, or literally, "See you again!". But we can also say 拜拜 (bai bai) because the people really like using English phrases. It sounds really cute, but it's nonetheless really common.

Spiritual:

This week I've just been able to come closer to Christ and refocus my attention on Eternal goals I have. Sometimes we get too focused on those things that don't really matter. In this last General Conference Elder Uchtdorf told us that discipleship is about being intentional. No one expects us to be perfect, but as we intentionally act in order to reach our eternal goals (Celestial Marriage, Happy Family, Becoming like God- or I don't know-- being a successful missionary ;)), we will find more joy and fulfillment in our lives.

Simple Truth:

God wants us to know truth. Moroni 10:5 tells us "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Because God is our father in Heaven he wants the best for us- he wants us to learn and grow. That's why he gave us scriptures, prophets and the Holy Ghost to teach us truth, and to teach us how to obtain knowledge of truth. We can truly gain knowledge and answers to our questions if we pray to know, believing we will receive.

I will probably not have the chance to email home for another 2 weeks.  The next time you hear from me I'll be in Auckland! I love you all and delight in hearing from you. 

加油！❤

馬姐妹  (Ma JieMei)

Sister Martinez 

1) Us as Ninja Turtles (Happy Halloween!)

2) Me at the temple

Photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sgY95kdCHMzp7BqHA