My Week!

Hey everyone!!!

Well, this is officially my last day in Magna with Sister Garrow. Yup. I got transferred again! This time I'm going to West Jordan! My new companion will be Sister Harvey, she's newish to the mission, this

will be her 3rd transfer. I think she's from Georgia. I met her last night a musical fireside and she is really sweet! We are going to have a lot of fun together. I'm sad to be leaving Sister Garrow, and Magna!

But I guess God has other plans. Sister Harvey and I will be whitewashing two stakes (again 😒) but at least we will have a car! Which I'm grateful for because it's getting really cold and I'm not a huge fan of walking in the snow.

So this week was great, but the absolute best part was last night!! There is a missionary here that puts on musical firesides and they are always really good, and there is a Polynesian gospel choir called Divine Heritage that always sings and they are AMAZING! Last night there was a fireside, and I got to sing! So that was really cool, I'm really grateful for the chance to do that. There was so much beautiful music and the Spirit was so powerful. When it was over I didn't want to move, I just wanted to sit there and live in that moment forever. It was such a blessing, I was able to see so many people I have met and missionaries I have served with over the past year. It kind of hit me how long I've been out here and how many friends I've made. I'm so grateful for all the amazing people God has put into my life.

There is a girl named Kaili I used to teach in the Tongan ward that came to the fireside, and at the very end she pulled me and the two sisters in her area aside and told us that she wants to be baptized on New Years Eve!! How amazing is that!? What better way to start the new year than by making a commitment to follow Jesus Christ by following his example and being baptized. I'm so amazed at this girl, she has such a huge desire to do the right things in her life.

There was a line from the very last song that really touched me, it sang "take me to the King, I don't have much to bring. My heart is torn in pieces, it's my offering."

I think sometimes a lot of us think we have to be perfect before we go to see the King. Many people believe they have to be "at a certain level" or have reached a certain standard of worthiness before they can pray or before they can ask God for help. But that is simply not true, and it's one of Satan's favorite lies to tell. The person in this song is asking to be taken to Jesus Christ, even though he feels he has nothing to give him. Nothing to show for what he's done. His heart is broken and he is broken. But still, he offers what he has left, his broken heart, to Jesus. Probably not knowing that that is all Jesus really wants. Jesus Christ taught that the sacrifice we are to offer in our day is "a broken heart and a contrite spirit". He wants to help us change. He wants to forgive us and help make us better people.

There was another line that sang, "If you can use anything Lord, you can use me." I love line too. Jesus Christ said "If he have desires to serve God, he are called to the work." (D&C 4:3) I know for a FACT that God can use anything and anybody to accomplish his work. I have found answers to prayers so many times in conversations with someone at the grocery store, or on a doorstep. You don't have to be a

spiritual powerhouse or scripture genius to be the answer to someone's prayer. You just have to have the desire to help someone, and be positive, then the Spirit can inspire you.

I want to invite you to pray TODAY, and tell God that you want him to use you. In some way, whether it be big or small. Ask God to please use you to help someone who needs it. You never know how much even smiling at someone can do for them. :) One of the best things about music is that it has the power to touch everybody, it doesn't even have to be good music. Haha!

I love you!! I hope you have an amazing week!! Merry Christmas!! 🎄❤️

Love,

Sister Abby Martinez

P.S. Also this week, someone from the church media department called and asked if they could come follow us around for a little bit and take photos of us that might go up in the new parts of the Provo MTC that they are building! So they came to our apartment in the morning and took pictures of us doing companionship study and then of us teaching a lesson. So that was fun! :) it was kind of cool!

P.S.S I forgot to take pictures at the fireside, but here are some from the week!