Kia ora 大家!
This week was busy busy busy. It feels like the Lord is stretching me to strengthen my priorities and make hard decisions. We have a lot of appointments now so being able to balance between studying, finding and teaching has been... fun ^-^. It's been really good to just give everyday our all and come back home tired, but happy to continue doing the work the next day, knowing we did our best.
A couple days ago we were able to do a chapel tour here in Howick with a new Chinese friend- we also taught her the first lesson! Then, yesterday we had a different person we were teaching come to church with her son. She doesn't speak English too well but because we live in Howick now we were able to be there at church with her. Honestly the work in the English program is popping, but we have especially been able to see the blessings of double-covering here. By living in Howick we bring better opportunities for the Chinese people who live here to have a church to go to with missionaries who speak their language. I've already had so many small witnesses that we Chinese Sisters were meant to move to this area and focus on the Chinese people here, along with helping those English Speakers in the area.
Highlights:- We were able to go back to church in the Chinese Branch this week since it started back up.
- We went to that Japanese place again this week before one of our meetings. We were able to eat with the other Chinese Sisters and catch up with them a bit! (I got the Egg Donburi with Chicken Katsu it was awesome)
- Its getting darker a little earlier here so I've been able to drive home 'at night' a couple times. Its been nice to just drive and listen to calming music and talk with the trio as we drive home. Something about the night-time vibe is really special.
- Speaking of the trio, it's honestly such a fun time to serve with both Sister Vaha'i and Sister Rich. They are both such a party.
- We bought 拖鞋 , those cozy slides (like slippers) that Asian people wear in the house. It's convenient! Our flat has wood floors, so it's nice to have those house shoes haha and they are so cute! We love them. (Did I mention a couple weeks ago that I purchased a lava lava as well? I am loving the culture here haha)
- One of the women in our Howick ward is translating the Book of Mormon into Maori, so I'm excited to continue talking to her about language and stuff, she is such a boss.
- We had an awesome Zone Conference training, full of research to help us strengthen our testimonies and I was thriving!! I love it when people cite their sources, well-done research makes me so happy.
- One of the members in our Howick ward is moving to Australia, so he decided to leave us some of his study materials from his mission in TAIWAN. Meaning he left us with a Study Edition of the Book of Mormon, which we are so excited to gift on to the Elders here. It is honestly such a gift to be able to read the Chinese scriptures and help the people you are teaching understand it.
-... I guess I have just been tired this week, but it's part of what this 18 months is about so I'm not complaining!
- Oh also! We get ants/fruit flies (??) in our bathroom and we don't know where they come from but they die like spontaneously on the window sill so we're not sure what that deal is about haha
Food Review:
Shrewberries?? Shortbreadies? Ahha? Short berry cookies? I didn't catch the name ahha
We bought these short-bread jam cookie things for Valentines Day to give to members, but then we didn't end up delivering them, so we just at them ahha. The cookies were really good, honestly like a 72/100. Happy Valentines Day ahah
Lowlights:
-I do want to say that this week I've really been pondering about the way I communicate back home and honestly just my mission life in general.
If I were being honest with all of you, the only reason I know of that I came out on a mission is because I knew God wanted me to and I trust His judgment. Sure it's cool to get to go live in New Zealand for 16 months, and it's cool to learn Chinese and explore without thinking about school or work... but, missionary work is hard.
An Elder here (Sister Samuela's Nephew actually!) just gave his departing testimony at Zone Conference, and he jokingly said it best. "Anyone who tells you the mission isn't hard is a heretic" ahahha. Honestly though, this mission that we serve, the Lord's mission, is hard. Its joyful, no doubt, and I know it will be the most memorable time of my life, but gosh darn it is hard. Weaknesses are always being pointed out to me, my testimony is always being tested, people are rarely receptive, and we live on a tight schedule with higher standards than is expected of those not serving.
So sometimes it's hard for me to know what to say, what to tell you all, because sometimes I don't even have insights for myself, or I brush off all the blessings. I think especially as the work slowed down, I felt like I had nothing to say. I try to be real; I like to be positive, but also realistic. However I feel like I've been lacking Spirit recently.
And let me tell you all- I have a lot of things to be grateful for, we see small miracles every day, and I learn a lot every week. I've just been letting my other worries hold me back from communicating those moments to friends and family back home. So, a personal goal of mine is to really buckle down and focus on the joys of this work- because it is a joy! I know as I do so, I'll have the ability to share them with you all.
(Invitation)
For example, this week we had an amazing training in Zone Conference. We talked all about the Apostasy and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how Joseph Smith's first vision started it all. (Our mission President did a huge training on The Great Apostasy from Tad R. Callister's "The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration", and I loved it! Highly recommend).
This training reminded me of an invitation from President Russel M. Nelson that I would like to re-extend to all of you. “Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Act... to prepare yourself for sharing the important messages of the ongoing Restoration. . . . It is your personal preparation that will help April’s general conference become for you not only memorable but unforgettable. The time to act is now. This is a hinge point in the history of the Church, and your part is vital.”
I know as we study not only about the Restoration, but about the Great Apostasy and our need for it, we will be able to strengthen our relationship with God, our testimony in this church, and we will be able to prepare for further revelation in the April general conference. We have a solid 7 weeks to prepare so I strongly urge you all to make a plan, ask your own questions and study! Ask of God because I know he will answer.
My friends who are not members of this church- I would be more than glad to talk with you about the Great Apostasy (the period of time following Jesus Christ's death when we had no authority or wholeness of truth on the Earth today) or the Restoration of the Gospel of Christ (why we have a complete truth and understanding of God today despite that Apostasy). Any question is a good question even if you just want to get a feel for my personal beliefs.
I myself have been doing this study for the past couple weeks, attacking my questions one at a time, reading, pondering and praying about what I've learned. It's been such a joy to be able to gain a testimony of God's love for all of us and how he expresses that love to us. I am excited to continue learning with all of you as we truly prepare to hear from our beloved prophets and apostles in April.
I love you all and pray for you all to be in good health this week!
馬姐妹
Sister Martinez
PS: Time on the mission goes by crazy fast- it's honestly a little scary, but I've learned so much and I do love my life here. I'm so grateful to have this opportunity to serve and I encourage anyone who is on the fence about it to just sincerely ask the Lord what you should do! It is such a great opportunity so I hope fear will not hold anyone back from serving the Lord.
