3 Samoan Wards

Hey Dad! I will try to write more later today, but I wrote up an email about my week just in case I don't get a chance. I love you so much! I am covering 3 Samoan wards now with 2 companions from Samoa and it has been quite the experience.

Honestly, the first week was reallllyyy rough. I didn't feel like I fit in at all. I loved my companions, but everyone would always talk to them in Samoan about where they are from and their families and who they know. So I couldn't contribute to the conversations. It's definitely a small world when you are Poly and Mormon. Haha and even though I loved my companions and they were good about translating for me and doing everything they could to help me fit in, I felt really alone. Especially coming from being with Sister Robles, the companion I've gotten the  closest with my entire mission, and an area I knew like the back of my hand and had lots of people progressing in the gospel there and members I loved. I definitely felt like a third wheel. But the funny thing is I never wished to be back in my old area because I knew I needed to be here, and even though I felt isolated from everyone else, I knew I wasn't alone because I had the Savior.

Seriously, I asked him to fill that gap of feeling lonely every day... And he did. I had to take it a day at a time. And it just testified to me that my mission is really between God and me, and no one else.

This second week has been almost completely opposite of the first. It's been so good and so fun!! Sister Faaofo and Neemia feel like my sisters. I know by the end of the transfer I'm going to feel like family here. And everyone gets a kick out of hearing me speak Samoan.

I try not to speak it like a tourist ... But it's kind of hard! Haha I've memorized the missionary purpose in Samoan though and we say that in comp study.

It's also weird coming from an area where I'm use to teaching a ton and always having referrals to contact or something to do, and here we don't have a lot of referrals yet. Seriously when we got here the area book was empty. But I'm not stressed about it. Our district has really helped me a lot. President calls us the Island District because it's us, Elders Semu & Mahi & Ball covering the 3 other Samoan wards, and Sister Tomkinson and Afungia covering the Tongan stake. So it's all Polys with me. Haha, but I love it because it's so laid back and it's teaching me a lot about going by the spirit.

Being in the Poly Mission is a whole new experience, in all the best ways. I always said I wanted to go foreign on my mission, and now being in Spanish and Samoan areas I definitely got it :) haha it's very humbling. But to be honest I'm so happy to be here because I get along with Polys and Hispanics. Haha

I just want to let you know I love you and I'm doing SO GOOD!!! I love my mission  so much. I hope you are doing good to and that you made it safely to Clovis. What have you been doing since you got there? Have you seen Jenny yet? How was her birthday?

Love,

Sister Abby Martinez

 

I'm glad you are staying busy and finding lots of things to do in Clovis and with Cindy and with family. I hope everything works out in St. Louis and that you get to see Meema and Grandma and Grandpa. If you do, please give them my love.  I'm glad you have found comfort in reading the scriptures. I did as well when I was going through being very lonely. But I prayed and God told me to be humble and to have patience. Some of my favorite verses that I found were:

Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Psalms 27:14, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

D&C 78:19 "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

I recognize right now that I need to be a lot more humble and being in a culture where I can't really say much to the people has taught me that. Now I just need to accept it and try harder to talk to them and not exclude myself. Because I feel like I do at sometimes. 

I love you guys so much.

Love,

Sister Abby Martinez

Sister Neemia , Sister Martinez, Sister Faaofo