Mālo e lelei Everyone!!

Mālo e lelei Everyone!!

This week was great!!! We had more lessons than we usually do, and we went on exchanges with some of the other sisters and I got to go back to my old area with one of my old companions so that was really fun!

Since today is mine and Sister Hammond's birthday, this morning we got together to do Zumba with some of the other missionaries (one of them was a Zumba instructor in Chile) and studies! Now we are watching a movie. I don't know what else we will do today but some of the other missionaries sang to us so that was nice! Thank you everyone that has said happy birthday!! I appreciate it! Never would have guessed I would be spending my 21st birthday on the mission but it's going pretty good so far! 😊

On Saturday we had the privilege of going to a fireside in our stake and the speaker was Elder Christofferson's wife!! That was really great to hear her speak on the power of service.

We also had two lessons with Upuia and her kids this week! Misi is the little boy, and Lani is the girl who says amazing prayers that I talked about a few weeks ago.

So something funny that happened this week, we had two lessons with Jenlei. The first time we taught the law of chastity to her we forgot to mention one of the most important parts that pertained to her... that the reasons she can't be baptized yet isn't because she and Rod aren't  married, but that they are living together and not married, which violates the Law of Chastity. So if they are going to live together they need to be married in order to keep the Law of Chastity.

When we went back this week we had to explain that we are not perfect teachers and we left something out... and guess what!? She and Rod are going to talk to bishop about getting married! How awesome is that?! It just shows how much Jenlei wants to keep God's commandments and be baptized! :) We are so happy for her!!

There is a really great video on LDS.org and in the gospel library app called "Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God."

I love this video so much, it's based off of a conference talk by Elder Keetch where he tells a story of how some surfers see a barrier that keeps them from surfing the big waves, and they are really upset.

But when a local gives them binoculars to look through they can see that there are sharks feeding on the other side of the barrier and it is really there for their protection, not to restrict them. This is a perfect metaphor for us and the commandments. Sometimes we don't always understand why certain commandments are given, but it is because we have a loving father in heaven who knows what will make us happy and keep us safe. I highly encourage everyone to watch it, and let it change your perspective of how you view the commandments! I know for myself that the commandments are in place for our benefit and there to keep us safe, Satan is so tricky and it is so easy to get caught in his traps if we are not careful. But if we keep the commandments of God and do the things that will keep our faith strong, praying, reading the scriptures, and going to church, we will be able to not only be strong when trails come, but like Elder Keetch says in the video, we can become what he wants us to become. So my invitation to you all this week is to go watch that video!! Think about how you can apply it to your own life.

I love you all so much and I hope you have an amazing week!!!!

All my love,

Sister Abby Martinez

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY TO YOU ABBY!

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