July 28th - The LBT and other such adventures from Willcox!

We went up to the LBT (Large Binocular Telescope) and 2 other telescopes this past P Day which was pretty cool minus the fact that we were there forever haha. But this is why I'm on today doing emailing and not yesterday. I woke up at 5am yesterday to do laundry and clean and write a few letters. We left at 7:30 and didn't get back until 6:45. We had 2 appointments last night and we grabbed a few groceries in between the appointments. Quite the day haha. I learned a lot of really cool things though. The 2 tour guides were both members and they connected everything to the Book of Moses and other scriptures talking about the workings of God, which was super cool. To know Science is to know God. One of the telescopes up there is call The Vatican and yes, it is owned by the Catholic Church. The Priests there have PhDs and they said that the more they know about the universe, the more they know about God. Sounds like what we believe right?!    http://www.lbto.org/

We helped out at a Basketball Camp this whole past week that Brother Douglas was running. It was a lot of fun and we got to meet a lot of really cool people! I've gotten a lot better at Basketball since coming here to Willcox but I think I will still never been good haha. Hermana Adams would be so disappointed.   :P

We had a Relief Society activity this past week where Hermana Garcia taught everyone how to knit. It was a lot of fun! I learned how to do a basic chain knot but then ended up talking to people the rest of the time. Sounds like me right? Haha I can't sit still for very long. 

On Thursday we had dinner with the Whittenbrakers. They live WAY out in the middle of farm country. About an hour drive from Willcox. About 5 minutes away from their house I look down and the gas light came on. There is no gas station between here and where they live. Fetch....BUT they work on a farm and were able to help us out! That could have been so bad haha. They are such a sweet family, I like them a lot!

Last Monday while buying groceries, a sister from 1st Ward bought our groceries for us :) and then when we were buying supplies to make food for Sister Rios' birthday Bishop Chaffey was there and he bought the food. Seriously we have been so blessed! I feel like everyone here really looks out for the missionaries. The elders said they've been to Subway twice this past week and members paid both times. Willcox is great :) 

Love you all much! I will talk to you soon!  Bye!

Hermana Martin

P-day field trip to the observatories

Scenic drive up the mountain

Sierra's basketball certificate - "I never played basketball; 

Oh look, I just made a 3-pointer!"

Our District before Elder Howard left :( they made us tree flowers haha!

July 20th - Hermana Garcia and I are staying together!!

Hey!! The transfer call never came! So we are both good haha. Even when you 'KNOW' you won't get transferred there is always that reminder that you just never know....transfer call night is kind of scary but I got an email from President last week that mentioned that we would be staying together so that took all the fun out of Saturday night ;) haha. Elder Howard, our District Leader, is heading up to El Rio so get ready for him my friends! He is great! We'll be getting Elder Driaza who was there in El Rio with me when I first got there. Reunion!

Well we've had a pretty good week here! We were able to find 2 new less actives in English completely by accident, and then 1 for the Spanish branch. We have been able to help them out a lot :)   The one from the branch was able to come on Sunday and ask President about a Patriarchal Blessing which is fantastic! Also Virginia came with us to church! We walked and I held an umbrella over her and her scooter (super hot). After church we then discovered that was her first time going to church in 3 years!! Super happy to have part in that miracle :) PS in Relief Society we were asked on the spot to do a duet to "Love At Home". Oh, I am not a singer....but we did the first verse in English and the second in Spanish. Not bad without practice haha!

On Wednesday we celebrated Elder Howard's birthday which was fun and then had an amazing day! We found 5 new investigators! 1 couple, 2 single men, and then the wife of an investigator we already have. 5 news from 4 different households in one day was nothing short of a miracle :) We're also doing something that my sweet, wonderful trainer did with me where we decide how many miracles we want to see that day and then find them at the end of the day. That has been nice to truly see the hand of the Lord in all that we do.

On Thursday we went to go give blood (first time for Hermana Garcia). The first finger prick I came up low on iron, my bad! Then I said a prayer in my heart and had her prick a finger on the other hand. Just barely made it! Whew, glad I could still donate. At one point Hermana Garcia came in and asked me for the address for the mission. I gave it to her and when she left the worker who was there said to me in Spanish, "Wow, I never would have guessed that you spoke Spanish." I get that a lot at Safeway too when we're shopping. Random people will ask me where I'm from haha. Apparently tall red headed girls don't look like they should speak Spanish. It turns into a great contacting tool though haha!

Melissa took us out to lunch at a cute restaurant called Isabella's after. Super good chimis :) Melissa is such a sweetheart. We take her out to lunch and then she takes the receipt and pays. She is too good to us. We always have such a great time with her. We're going to get together and do a breakfast on Wednesday :)

We were able to later help the Holyoaks move to Safford. We're losing a lot of members of the ward it is so sad :( we love them all so much. Seriously the members are beyond good to us here. Everyone wants to help us, give us food, and just adopt us in general! The elders here before said we would be well taken care of. They were not kidding haha. We are super blessed to be here! Especially to live with the Bushmans. I cannot wait for you to meet them!! I wish I knew how to thank them for all that they do for us.

So for all my young women, I finished memorizing The Living Christ this past week for my Faith project!! It was so cool to say it all together for the first time. I remember being halfway done at Easter and feeling super accomplished haha. Keep on going! Keep doing your Personal Progress! It makes the difference!

Love you all so much! And the adventures in Willcox continue! Have a great week!!

Hermana Martin

The Hermanas out doing their thing.

More of the little black bugs that are everywhere.  She assures me

they will be gone by the time we visit in December!

This is a "vinegaroon" apparently.  They caught it in their kitchen.  UGH!!!!

July 13th - Monsoon Season has started!!

It has been raining a lot lately which I just love! Hermana Garcia not so much haha but that is why we have an umbrella in the car :P I just love how pretty Arizona is. Especially the sunsets. Can't wait to show it to you!

We had exchanges this past week with the Sister Training Leaders. Sister Stuart came here and Hermana Garcia was with Sister Jones in Safford. She said her head really hurt after a whole day of only English. I can imagine! I had a really good time with Sister Stuart. I've been around her a bit but never for exchanges. On Tuesday night with her we visited Tiffany Rios and her family and she cooked us some rattlesnake! It does kind of taste like chicken like everyone says, but has the consistency of fish. But now I can say I did it! Trying all sorts of crazy things here on the mission. 

We had zone meeting on Wednesday and Sister Bushman took us and the elders up together. She is so nice! We also were able to pass by President Kimball's old house that is up there so that was super cool!

Ah I'm running out of time!! Hermana Tapia came to church by herself for the first time ever! And for all 3 hours :D that was awesome! And we sat with Tiffany and Andrew during Sacrament Meeting :) so happy that they were able to come to church with us!

I'm going to leave it at that. Sorry I ran out of time. Love you!!

Hermana Martin

PS There is an orchard out here called Apple Annie's that is super cute! We need to all come together :) The Bushmans are seriously the best ever. I love them like crazy, They took us out there on Saturday morning for breakfast.

Sierra and Hma. Stuart

Hma. Garcia and Hma. Martin

So many bugs!

July 6th - Happy 4th of July!!

Hola hola! It has been a fun week and we've been able to stay pretty busy!  It got kinda dead close to the weekend because everyone was so busy with the 4th of July. There were fireworks for a little bit but then it started to rain. We had a good time with the package that you sent mom! We had glow stick wars!! You have 3 lives and you throw the glow sticks at each other. Yes, we know how to use toys properly haha. Thanks for the entertainment!!!

On the 4th the elders had a baptism. We helped A LOT haha! I made brownies and bought cookies, learned a few songs the day of to play at the baptism, and we also gave the missionary moment! We were asked about 10 minutes before hand and we couldn't practice because I had to play piano. The elders only had a day notice of the baptism change though which was hard, but it all came together super well! The Burrolas from El Dorado are friends of the family and they were there!! Super cool to see them again :)

Let's see....we had 7 less actives at church yesterday!! And 2 investigators :D  We are super excited for them! The Tapias came to church to hear our special musical number. With the baptism and everything it didn't end up so bad! I really want to get back into the piano when I get home when I have time to practice haha. There is a member of the branch who I'm going to start teaching how to play this week. Reminds me of when I was teaching Sam how to play :)  Those were the days!

So our investigator Ramond said that if we are going to teach him about Jesus then he gets to teach us how to box. SO we went to the boxing gym this past week! The next day I really couldn't feel my arms haha. The boxing coach there says I have great potential. We had to hit the punching bag for one drill as many times as we could in a minute and I got 241! He said that's better than his current student so...mom, I'm going to drop out of college and go into boxing. Thoughts? Haha.  COMPLETELY kidding. But it is good exercise for the moment!

We've been working hard and seeing miracles! The area is going great and Hermana Garcia and I are doing really well :) thanks for all your love and support!

I was really sad to hear about President Packer's passing, but glad to hear that he finally getting to rest! All I could think about was his awesome poem from Conference a few years back:   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/these-things-i-know?lang=eng

He will be greatly missed!

Love you all so much!! Talk to you next week! Have a fantastic time on Trek :) take lots of pictures!!

Hermana Martin

PS a new favorite I discovered this morning while reading a book about President Monson that I received from Hermano Robles in El Rio.  Peter 3:15

Trying on Sister Dorsey's heels. We decided I walked like a new born giraffe haha!!

Found a dead mouse and the elders had to come and save us haha!

Found a baby cardinal with a hurt wing. We saved him and

 gave him to a member to take care of him.

This is Sierra, Virginia named her after me haha!