Happy New Year

Hey everyone, so I finally caved and have decided to do a group email.

It's just easier this way seeing as we don't really get a full hour to email and there are things I want to share with all of you!

So first off, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I can't believe it's 2016 and that I will spending this entire year on the mission. It's exciting! Things here in Tooele are good. We have a baptism this coming week on January 9th. My first baptism! He is 9 years old. We are really excited. The family has asked Sister Romero and I to sing "I am a Child of God".

For New Years our zone of missionaries (about 30) got together and played basketball and volleyball at the church which was fun, but the best part is being able to hang out with other missionaries, and Sister Gingeritch (my MTC companion) is in my zone so I always look forward to seeing her! There is an elder in my district, Elder Angsioco from the Philippines who played professional volleyball over there and I really enjoy playing with him even though he's a million times better than me, ha ha.

Sister Romero and I are finally starting to find our groove here in Tooele and we are starting to schedule more and more lessons! This week we took one of our less actives down to temple square for a lesson and we got to see all the Christmas lights!! It was so beautiful!! We had a super powerful lesson there. It's amazing to look at the temple and think everything we do is to lead us to this place, where we can make covenants with our Father in Heaven.

This week I have been studying Doctrine & Covenants section 19. I really like this chapter because and I can't entirely explain why but I will try:

So as missionaries, our purpose is to open our mouths and preach truth. Nothing more. We are not to worry about the end result or consequences. Just speak truth, simple as that. The Spirit confirms truth. In D&C 19:37 tells us to "speak freely to all; preach, exhort, declare the truth, even with a loud voice". I love this chapter because the Lord doesn't ask us to be obedient, he TELLS us, and He tells us of the consequences of not being obedient. He is the way and the light, He is the only way. We are commanded to repent and be humble, and as missionaries we invite people to do that. One of the things I like most about being a missionary is that we don't force people to do anything. We invite them. When we teach them truth the Spirt testifies to us of the truth we are teaching and it testifies to them. Whether or not they choose to acknowledge that what they are feeling is the Spirit is their choice. We can only point it out to them. In verse 31 we are told to "declare repentance, faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost." And in verses 39 & 40 the Lord challenges us, are you going to accept this a truth or are you going to continue to run around as a blind guide?

I miss and love you all.

Love,

Sister Abby Martinez