Hello Everyone!!
World News/Personal Update
This week has been crazy, and honestly most of the news I have for you, you all basically already know: So because of the Corona virus, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has issued a temporary cancellation of all meetings, including church services and college education (RIP BYU friends). Also, Washington State has something similar (RIP UW friends), and the whole US is in a state of National Emergency (RIP America). Clearly this is a global issue, as it affects even those who haven't yet been personally inflicted by COVID-19.
But, luckily despite the church mandate, we missionaries are still encouraged to go out and find people to teach! New Zealand is still pretty safe, so the work hasn't stopped. We were initially sad because we had an activity on Friday (when the church mandate was issued), and we had a lot of less-active members, and non-members coming. Having to cancel that the day of the vent was a little heart-breaking. We were really disappointed about it, but we realized that these precautions are taken as a protection to us.
A prophet of God, President Nelson is receiving revelation from our loving Father in Heaven, in accordance to scientific understanding, in order to protect all of the members of this church. God wants us to stay away from large groups (for now), to keep us safe. That's really cool! So we press forward, knowing the prophet has been preparing us for moments like this for ages. Think about all the food storage, the shift towards a home-centered and church-supported church, the Word of Wisdom protecting our bodies, and even just greater accessibility to have enough witnesses at ordinances like baptism. I am so, so grateful for a living, breathing prophet who can receive guidance for mankind straight from our Father in Heaven, who truly will always only want the best for us.
That's where I am at regarding world news. I'd love to hear from y'all how life is going with all these precautions. It would be good to know what circumstances y'all are at with school, work, etc-- Especially since everyone's reaction to this is going to be a little different. You could use a portion of all that extra time you have to email me hahaha. I just hope all of you are okay and pray you are still finding happiness and joy in your day-to-day.
Support each other as families and remember all those blessings you have in your life!
Okay so in better news, because of these mandates, we missionaries have heaps more time to do the Lord's work. Our companionship just gained 5 whole hours on Sunday to go door-knocking and contacting!
Chased
For example, yesterday we were finding and I had my first (crossing my fingers it's my only) experience getting chased by a dog! I've heard plenty of stories, and it's a lot more common far up north, or in the south, so I assumed I wouldn't really deal with it much here... yet here I am! We were door-knocking and we get to this house with a gate. Now I hadn't had this experience previously, but I know it's not smart to just open a gate and walk towards the door, because if there's a dog it will come at you quick. So we usually try to make noise at the gate to see if any dog is behind waiting to attack trespassers. That's a pretty surefire way to know we will be fine to continue, so we made heaps of noise and decided to open the gate and go in. I started walking towards their steps, with Sister Vaha'I a couple feet behind me, and Sister Rich still at the front gate, and then I heard barking.
Two dogs sped out of the front door and onto the deck, which knowing they were guard dogs, scared me in the first place. But, there was a gate! There was thankfully a gate at the top of the steps, separating us and the dogs. I thought it was funny how it scared us, but figured it was fine. I looked back at Sister Rich and Sister Vahai to see if they were good. We made eye contact, like we were ready to go talk to the owner, and a second later, Sister Vahai screamed!
I looked back at the door and one of the dogs had squeezed through the gate and started bounding towards me! I just remember thinking "Oh shoot", maybe yelling a little bit, and as one does, I ran! Sister Vaha'I was right in front of me, and Sister Rich was at the gate ready to close it as I was starting to feel the dog come up behind me. I felt for a moment, like once I got to the gate, there wouldn't be enough time for Sister Rich to close it, as the dog had already squeezed through the small opening of the other one, but I just kept running. Thankfully either I/Sister Rich was fast enough or the dog was just slow enough that she had time to close it, but not lock it.
At that point it was kind of just funny. The dog was jumping up and nipping at Sister Rich's hand because as we tried to figure out how to lock the gate she was trying her hardest to manually hold it closed. The owner came out and snatched the dog left behind, and as we were struggling with the gate she called the aggressor back. That obedient sucker was off of us within the second she called! We were all laughing how crazy it was as we walked to the next house. Oh and don't worry, we did introduce ourselves over the fence before we left- the owner wasn't interested haha.
It was a good experience, and now I know my reflexes are... alright haha.
We've also been able to see a lot of miracles from doing the work this week.
Not a coincidence For instance, a couple weeks ago we got a referral from a member for a woman who was interested to hear more, but then she moved and was too busy to reschedule our original appointment. Fast forward to this week, we went to go visit someone who we had on our record as being interested in hearing more. As we were going to that person's house we ran into their neighbor, a man who said he knows about us missionaries and was going to come to our activity on Friday. We were confused how this stranger knew about our activity and why he was so kind to us missionaries, but we were excited to see him come. The person we went to go visit in the first place had moved, so the trip to that neighborhood was seemingly unmeaningful.
Come Saturday Night we decide to go back and visit this man since our activity got cancelled. He comes and opens the door, and calls to his wife to come meet us. And *drumroll*** turns out he is the husband of the woman who had just moved and been unable to reschedule a time. We were the ones who invited them to the activity! It was a miracle we found them again unknowingly, and I think they could tell that it was God making sure they had the opportunity to hear the gospel at this time of their lives. We are going to go back to teach them next week!
Conversion
We are also teaching a Chinese woman and her young daughter and this last week we were able to take a whole lesson to focus on the Priesthood. We were able to share what it is, who can have it, and why it is important. It was cool to take the time to really delve into it. This family has been meeting with Jehovah's Witnesses for even longer than we've been teaching them, but lately she has been truly wanting to discern truth-- as the difference in our teachings have been really clear. She is really logical, so being able to explain to her how the Priesthood line of authority works really clicked for her. I even was able to show her my Dad's Priesthood lineage so she could see how close his authority was to Jesus Christ, and how it directly correlates. Basically the Priesthood is really cool, and it's part of the reason we sustain our living prophets and apostles. I could say so much more about it, but I will just say, this family is on the covenant path, they are being actively converted to the Lord. Each lesson we teach, we can see the doctrine just clicks- it makes sense in their hearts and minds. That's what truth does, it gives your mind peace. It's been amazing to be a part of their conversion process and see them change and truly grow as individuals.
Sacrament
We are meant to have sacrament at different members' houses each week, which is really cool. Although, within the Chinese Branch we haven't received these particular accommodations, so with transfers I don't know if I'll be receiving the sacrament. Either way it's been cool to see priesthood holders around the world have the opportunity to use the power of God in their homes.
We are meant to have sacrament at different members' houses each week, which is really cool. Although, within the Chinese Branch we haven't received these particular accommodations, so with transfers I don't know if I'll be receiving the sacrament. Either way it's been cool to see priesthood holders around the world have the opportunity to use the power of God in their homes.
Transfers
We have transfer calls today/tomorrow and we will be swapping on Wednesday!! This means I have no idea where I will be assigned, or who I will be working with by the next time I write. I might be even be moving house again. So that is going to be the main excitement of this upcoming week.
As far as a spiritual thought goes, I would direct you all to the comforting words of the prophet (Russel M Nelson). Know that those blessings you desire of the Lord will still surely be given you in due time as you follow and trust him!
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-message-covid-19I love you all, and please know you are not alone in whatever circumstance you are in.
♡马姐妹
Sister Martinez
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